The Museum of Contemporary Art Australia's super-popular art workshop program is back. Inspired by the gallery's popular Sundown Sketch Club, these two-hour Wednesday evening sketching workshops are led by Sydney-based artist Will French and will take place throughout August. The classes focus on still life drawing, with participants using a range of fine art materials and getting a few tips from French along the way. The ever-changing installation is inspired by the 17th-century champagne-making houses and cellars in France, which are UNESCO World Heritage listed. And the evening is capped off with nibbles, cheese, Ruinart blanc de blanc and a backdrop of Sydney Harbour. There'll also be an olfactory challenge each night, too, with the winner taking home a bottle of Ruinart. The first workshop will take place on Wednesday, August 7, with sessions following on August 14, 21 and 28, all running from 6.30–8.30pm. Tickets are $75 and beginners are welcome. Just make sure to book ahead as these events have sold out (quickly) in the past. Image: Anna Kucera
Chef Darren Robertson's reputation precedes him — those who do not already know him from his time at the tremendously luxe Tetsuya's or as one of the main minds, and palates, behind Australian restaurant group Three Blue Ducks, will surely recognise him as the newly appointed judge on My Kitchen Rules. Now, the famed chef is poised to open his new 100-seater in Bondi — Rocker will open this Friday, June 9 in the former site of The Hill Eatery. The name refers to the nose-to-tail of a surfboard, which ties in with both the style of cooking Robertson is known for and with the surf-crazed Bondi community. This local vibe is echoed in the fitout, which includes timber floorboards alongside concrete panelling and navy blue tiling and table surfaces that give the space a nautical feel. "We utilised a lot of existing materials to create an industrial yet warm vibe that combines coastal elements with hanging greenery," says Robertson. With Rocker, Robertson is again collaborating with Bondi local Cam Northway (Sweet & Chilli) and the project has moved fast since we first chatted about the restaurant back in March. Running the kitchen day-to-day is Stuart Toon, who has a decade of experience as a butcher working with Jamie Oliver. The precise, seasonal menu will be distinguished by regular specials and fresh ingredients. The coffee bar is currently open seven days a week, offering up single origin brews with takeaway toasties, pastries and cakes. For more substantial breakfast options, think locally grown pomelo and rhubarb bircher and brekkie bowls, along with a white bread sandwich of maple-cured bacon topped with brown sauce — which happens to be Robertson's favourite item on the menu. "I know it sounds quite simple but the bacon sandwich is truly, truly amazing," says Robertson. "It's not glamorous, but we're really excited about it." The all-day lunch and dinner service will start from noon, with 'smalls' including parfaits, oysters and salads, as well as Welsh rarebit croquettes. For 'bigs', think pasta dishes like clams with sea lettuce and a wintry beef cheeks and tendon ragu with orange and thyme. Diners can also expect a fresh fish of the day and a rotating steak cut on offer. Desserts included a cheese platter with roasted fig jam and pumpernickel crisps and a parsnip ice cream with white chocolate ganache and roasted chestnuts. On the drinks side, sommelier Chris Morrison (ex-Bistro Guillaume) is at the helm, creating a wine list that is a mix of old school and new school wines from young and exciting winemakers. The short cocktail list will included a house Negroni on tap and a Dark and Stormy made with kombucha, ginger and in-season finger limes. Local craft brewers 4 Pines and Young Henrys and Byron favourite Stone & Wood will appear on tap. It all sounds almost too good to be true, but, from Robertson, the proof is in the pudding. Rocker is located at 5/39-53 Campbell Parade, Bondi. The coffee bar is now open seven days a week from 7am until noon and the restaurant will open on Friday, June 9. Open Wednesday through Friday from noon until late and open for brunch Saturday and Sunday from 10am until late.
'Listening': A rare and admirable quality, but not one that carries connotations of being uproariously fun. Things that do sound fun are 'Tom Ballard', 'Party', 'The Standard', 'comedy', 'live music', and 'Max Lavergne', who does constant funnies here and here. All of these things will be colliding on Halloween Wednesday as the professionally hilarious Tom Ballard hosts his inaugural Listening Party. Each week will feature him interviewing three different interesting guests about their lives, their careers, and a song of their choice that they think is worth listening to. Then, if all goes according to plan, everyone who has paid the $15 ticket price shuts up and listens. Simple! Each week will also feature the aforementioned Max Lavergne and live music from Shed Muzak, who do acoustic covers of popular songs that are approximately a million times more awesome than you would probably think from reading that sentence. The first session features the lives and tunes of Scott Dooley and Nina Las Vegas. https://youtube.com/watch?v=PTJ9Q67mvHQ
The Full Circle community ain't exactly your normal catering company. This offbeat collection of foodies has spent the last three years sourcing and cooking hearty, home-grown meals and bringing it to the local community through a host of pop-up restaurants, public 'soupies', and surprise food events in abandoned factories and warehouses across Sydney. Now they've found themselves a slightly more permanent venue at an uber-trendy Chippendale warehouse and transformed the Full Circle vision of fresh produce and community-building into a three-night-a-week restaurant: The Eat In. The ovens have been fired up, the tables have been thrown together, a mishmash of shelves have been assembled, and the Full Circle Community are collecting all their favourite ingredients and recipes to create one of Sydney's most unique dining experiences. With a 4-5 course set menu at the dirt cheap price of $40 and a brand spanking new menu announced everyday on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, the Eat In looks set to be the trendiest all-you-can-eat feast the city has to offer. To reserve a spot, text the Eat In on 0406 525 123 or just wander past from 6pm on a Thursday, Friday, or Saturday. Get in quick though, as the warehouse is set to be knocked down in the not-too-distant future, so have yourself a night out before it becomes nothing more than a pile of rubble.
Madonna diehards, Britney fans and Spice Girls devotees, you can now spend six weekends in a row giving in entirely to your passion for pop music. DJ Sean Rowling is bringing his epic party, Guilty Pleasures, to Sydney all the way from the UK. You'll find him at Merivale's Palings every Friday night, between February 19 and March 18. On top of unashamed dancing to Rowling's beats and huge collection of tunes, you'll be able to spill your secrets in confessional booths, belt out your fave songs in the safety of numbers with crowd-aoke, feast your eyes on magnificent dancers and check out the Chandon Unplanned house band. Come fabulous and prepare to leave your inhibitions at the door.
Stay tuned. More info on its way. Image: @wellingtonstprojects.
You hear the bass. You hear the drums. You hear the drone of the guitar. Same old, same old. Then the voice comes in, and you're in the Wembley Stadium carpark and the frost is settling on your windscreen. The Vaccines paint a picture. It might not be a very happy picture but you can't help but nod your head. You relate to the lyrics because they're human and this is why they're making such a mark on the London music scene. Too long have we been hearing carbon copy Franz Ferdinands spitting lip curling cleverness with no real authenticity. Creating a vibe closer to The Smiths, they are a must see. Lucky for you they're coming to Sydney as part of the Splendour in the Grass Sideshows series. See them and you will love them. https://youtube.com/watch?v=uQKjI6395iU
Splendour in the Grass ain't all about dancing like a proper noob to That Song You've Been Waiting For and Only You Understand. There's plenty of brain food afoot, with a big ol' program announced for this year's colossal Splendour Forum. Opinionated tweeters, keep your pants on as the Silver Fox comes to Splendour for some hardcore hashtagged debate. Q&A's Tony Jones brings his hard-hitting swagger to the Forum for a special Splendour version of Australia's favourite "NO THEY DIII-IN'T" show on the Saturday. With an all-new Forum Twilight Film Festival, Tropfest live Q and A talks and the very first Splendour Late Night Comedy Club geared up to shake up the sets this year, you might even miss Interpol and Outkast this year. Dusk hours will see A Taste of Tropfest take over the Forum, a dandy little showcase of the film festival's most memorable awww and oooh moments. Comedy enthusiasts and those who enjoy a hearty, ugly-faced chuckle should stick around after dark, as Australia's top comedians (we're talking triple j favourites Matt Okine, Tom Ballard and Mel Buttle, Good News Week’s Claire Hooper, Spicks & Specks host Josh Earl, Greg Fleet and so many, many more) make y'all laugh until a little bit of wee comes out. Writers Marieke Hardy and Michaela McGuire bring their beloved literary salon 'Women of Letters' to Splendour with Lauren Mayberry (Chvrches), Courtney Barnett, Gossling, Jennifer Boyce (Ball Park Music), Nkechi Anele (Saskwatch), Liz Drummond (Little May) and musical comedians Alice Fraser and Genevieve Fricker — all narrating their "Letter to the Song They Wish They’d Written". Love a good keynote? You love a good keynote. Lindsay "The Doctor" McDougall chats to TED Talker Paul Gilding about our super messed up planet (or is it?) in 'Life on Earth in 2030 - Fun, Frazzled or F%*ked?'. There's a bunch more to squeal about at the Splendour website. The Forum is open 10am ‘til late daily at Splendour. If you haven't got tickets yet, the re-sale facility is open until 9am Monday 16 June through moshtix.com.au or phone 1300 GET TIX (438 849). Worth a shot.
Harry Potter is dead. He has ceased to be. He has expired, gone to meet his maker, 100 percent Avada Kedavra'd and this time love 'aint gonna bring him back. Be it known that his murderer was one Daniel 'never gonna pigeonhole me' Radcliffe, who killed off the boy wizard with a lethal dose of convincing American accent and a heady trinity of straight sex, gay sex and self-sex. But Kill Your Darlings is not a murder mystery. The title actually refers to some sage literary advice that writers ought delete their most beloved passages since they're inevitably the most self-indulgent. The film does open with a murder and revisits it in the climax, yet at its heart it is a coming-of-age tale for its protagonist — famed US poet Allen Ginsberg (Radcliffe). It's set in Manhattan during the early 1940s, when Ginsberg was just a college freshman at Colombia University, studying the classics but experiencing a growing disdain for the established order. Inspired by the free verse of Walt Whitman and the free spirit of his dormitory buddy Lucien Carr (Dane DeHaan), Ginsberg quickly fell down the sex-drugs-and-alcohol-fuelled rabbit hole of the underground literary sect, befriending future luminaries like Jack Kerouac (Jack Huston) and William Burroughs (Ben Foster). This was the beat generation finding its rhythm, and in that sense Kill Your Darlings tells something of an origin story for some of America's great storytellers. In the lead, Radcliffe's Ginsberg is a performance of transformation, not just of the character but for the actor, too. Both begin the film as timid young men in an alluring yet perilous world, burdened with complicated pasts and uncertain of how their contemporaries will judge them. By its end, they emerge as commanders of their art; fearless poets and performers. The wide-eyed wonderment with which Radcliffe's Potter viewed his magical world appears again here, though the temptations and possibilities are of an entirely different nature. Most notable is his infatuation with the manipulative Carr, played to perfection by DeHaan (The Place Beyond The Pines). Though never fully demonised, Carr's very much the villain in Kill Your Darlings — a blue-eyed, blonde-haired paramour whose hapless devotees (including Michael C. Hall) will do anything to please him, including writing assignments on his behalf. There's more than a bit of DiCaprio in the young actor, who's quickly ratcheting up an impressive backlog of performances, and his on-screen chemistry with Radcliffe is entirely engaging. There's a lot to like about this movie, and compared to other recent beat-era films (On The Road, Howl) it is easily the best. Filmed over just 24 days, it suffers from the occasional rough edges — both cinematically and textually — however, its fine performances and fascinating subject matter make it more than worth your while. https://youtube.com/watch?v=WRY2ogQpbvg
You've heard the tales. Those mystical, weird-as-blazes stories of entire restaurants manned by robots in Japan, surrounded by glow sticks, frantic lasers, bejewelled dancers and robot battles. The rumours are straight-up true. But don't even think about breaking that piggy bank open for an airfare, the world-renowed Japanese Robot Restaurant from Shinjuku, Tokyo is coming to Sydney for two nights only. This is not a drill. As part of the launch of Contiki’s new 'Japan Unrivalled' itinerary kicking off in March 2015, the travel-lovin' team are bringing one of Japan's major kitschy attractions to you — battling robots included. Set to pop up at 41 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst, the Japanese Robot Restaurant is the sum of your wildest, weirdest and wackiest Japanese-inspired dreams — big ol' J-pop beats, choreographed dancers, fluorescent fitout and tasty Japanese food and bevs — and LASERS. So very many lasers. The kicker? The pop-up will see giant futuristic robots doing battle while you nosh. That's right, bigass robots battling. Just, just look at this: Classic weird, wonderful Japan. This is going to be nuts. Robots Unrivalled will perform February 23 and 24 at 41 Oxford St, Darlinghurst. Tickets are $40 +BF per person (max. two tickets per transaction) and your Bento box is included in the ticket price. There are three sessions: 5.30pm, 7.30pm and 9.30pm. Tickets go on sale at 9am on Wednesday, January 28. For more information or to register for tickets head to www.contiki.com/robotsunrivalled. Image: Lindsay Clark, THINK Global School.
Read three articles about Nicolas Jaar’s debut album Space Is Only Noise and you can probably expect two of them to make some mention to The Guardian dubbing him “The renaissance man of electronic music.” It’s a tag that isn’t at all unjustified. Jaar’s music is not only quick-witted (in the sense that it’s both highly intelligent and sprinkled with humour) and it is spearheading (though not on its own) what could be called an electronic revolution. But the heaping praise can make one wary of his music. What if listening to it is like talking to a really smart person who keeps making jokes you don’t really get? Well, yeah, Jaar’s music is subtle, but it’s also incredibly easy to listen to. If you follow dance music closely you could get high of the way it morphs deep house and techno into something soulful and ambient, and if you don’t its beautiful melancholy is no less addictive. Another great thing about Jaar is his ability to command a room with the barely audible in the same way others command a room with thumping bass. FBi are bringing him over for the Sydney Festival this January, so be at the Town Hall on the 23rd for proof. Read our list of the 12 best things to see at the Sydney Festival in 2013.
Belles Hot Chicken has flirted with all sorts of chook-centric creations over the years, but, this time round, it's teaming up with a famed American chip for an extra-spicy limited-edition menu. Head Chef and Co-Founder Morgan McGlone has just gone and dropped the group's first-ever collab with Cheetos — and not just any ordinary Cheetos either, Flamin' Hot Cheetos. The red-hot menu is available for three weeks from Wednesday, August 28 and features three dishes all made with Flamin' Hot Cheetos: a Flamin' Hot chicken sanga ($13) with Cheetos-crusted chicken thigh, jalapeño and slaw on a toasted milk bun; the Hillbilly Taco ($12), made from white bread topped with Cheetos-coated Cloudy Bay clams, Alabama white sauce and pickled chilli; and Flamin' Hot mac 'n' cheese bites ($9) served with chipotle sauce. To drink, there are $10 Pabst Blue Tall Boys (473 millilitres), $10 glasses of BK Wines pét-nat and $10 alcoholic lemonades, too. While the menu will end after three weeks, Flamin' Hot fans will be happy to know that the spicy Cheetos are now available to purchase at Woolworths, Coles and some petrol stations and convenience stores. The Flamin' Hot menu is available at Belles Hot Chicken Barangaroo, Darling Square and Tramsheds, with the mac 'n' cheese bites exclusively at Darling Square.
The art of flower making has been around for at least 2000 years. When the Chinese invented paper back in 100 BC, they started creating blooms, lanterns and fans pretty much immediately. And even now, thousands of years late, stunning paper flower arrangements are the stuff of many a maker's Instagram feed. Now, it's your chance to find out how it's done. Flowersmith and Papetal founder Jennifer Tran — whose works have appeared in the National Sculpture Magazine of China, Martha Stewart Living (US) and The Design Files (Australia) — is dedicating a wintry Sunday to sharing her secrets. On June 17 at Kinokuniya Books, she'll be hosting two workshops, one on peonies at 11.30am and the other on apple blossoms at 2pm. Whichever one you attend, you'll spend 90 minutes learning how to make your own flowers, before leaving with a Jen-created sample, plus a bunch of instruction sheets, so you can continue your new-found obsession at home.
One-off art exhibitions, hedonistic New Year's Eve events, limited-time cellar doors and frosé pop-ups: these are just some of the wild and woolly parties that the Baba's Place and DOOM JUICE teams have each thrown over the past 12 months. So it's only natural that the pair would combine forces for a food-, booze- and music-filled Marrickville block party. DOOM'S PLACE will take over the Sloane Street warehouse where the renowned restaurant usually resides for a four-hour get-together between 6–10pm on Sunday, April 2. On offer at the party: $6.66 glasses of DOOM JUICE's natural wine and $7.77 cans of the Baba's Place and DNA Distillery rakija and tonic RTD cans. Making a return for the night will also be the cherry kofta, a fan-favourite dish at the pop-up restaurants that Baba's Place used to run before it took over its Inner West warehouse. The much-hyped Mapo Gelato will be on site with a limited-edition rosé sorbet that owner Matteo Pochintesta has created in collaboration with the DOOM JUICE crew. Plus, there will be tunes to carry you through the night. DJ Ziyad Nori will kick things off before local punk rockers DOWNGIRL will bring their anthemic tracks to a performance in the centre of the Baba's Place dining room. There will also be a range of limited-edition merchandise available on the day. You can see a sneak-peak of the t-shirts and hats over on Instagram. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Baba's Place (@babasplace__)
Something big went down not long ago, somewhere near Tapachula. A group of 50 Mexican kids, raised in impoverished conditions and commonly abused, learned to surf. Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote that, "in the presence of nature, a wild delight runs through the man, in spite of real sorrows", and this is exactly what filmmakers Stefan Hunt and Jonno Durrant have captured. The film's center is the Mision Mexico, a shelter founded by Australian husband-and-wife team Alan and Pam Skuse. As we are shown, the young residents become the first real surfers in the small coastal town. If you don't already believe in the transformative power of nature, Somewhere Near Tapachula will teach you something worth learning. The film is touring Australia with 100 percent of profits donated to Mision Mexico children's refuge. It is also showing on 26 February at Berowra Community Centre, Hornsby; 27 February at the Chauvel, Paddington; and 1 and 3 March at Manly Twin Cinema, Manly. https://youtube.com/watch?v=x3Jokei2bGM
Time to scope out an enormous bib and the hardiest pair of gloves you can lay your hands on. On June 2, House of Crabs will host a one-off seafood orgy by the name of 'Endless Bag Monday'. And yes, it means exactly what you think it does. You get to eat as much crab (and as many prawns, mussels and clams) as you, your stomach and your shell-cracking knuckles can handle. The feast kicks off at 6pm. We suggest you arrive right on time because you'll have only two hours to get your money's worth. Tickets are $100, which ain't cheap but, the boil is banging and the atmosphere streaks ahead of the city's hotel seafood buffets. Given that the venue inspires queueing on regular nights, bookings are most definitely recommended. Guarantee yourself a bottomless bag by calling (02) 9699 3177 or sending an email to houseofcrabs@drinkndine.com.au.
Making your own hologram, meditating in virtual reality and trying out Sydney's newest video games are all on the agenda at the next MAASive Adults-Only Late Night, happening on select Thursday nights at the Powerhouse. On top of all that, a bunch of digital experts will be on-hand — from engineers to designers to researchers — ready to answer your high-tech questions, and, if you're interested, take you on a guided tour of the museum's exhibitions, including This Is a Voice and Interface. Plus, MAAS members will be invited to get their hands on a hololens. While MAAS Late is free (online registration essential), entry to a sneak preview of the museum's newest exhibition Future Park will require a ticket. It's the creation of high-tech Japanese collective teamLab, who've built a futuristic playground, made up of eight interactive light installations. Expect to find yourself wandering through an imaginary jungle, composing a symphony, designing a city, playing a genius's version of hopscotch and inventing animals. As usual, the bar will be open, with happy hour taking place from 7–8pm. If you can't make the first one on November 23, head along on January 4, 11, 18 or 25.
Thought ballet was just for girls? Prepare to have this misconception flipped on its head when The Australian Ballet's new production of Spartacus heats up the stage in Sydney this November. Bringing bold new life to the classic tale of an enslaved gladiator and his quest for freedom, the work shines the spotlight on some seriously talented male dancers, led by director, choreographer and Australian Ballet alum Lucas Jervies. Expect high-impact, captivating scenes played out before you, as Spartacus fights to escape his captors and free his beloved wife Flavia. The powerful production features sets and costumes by award-winning French designer Jérôme Kaplan, matched with a gutsy score by Aram Khachaturian. All of those usual pirouettes and arabesques will be supercharged, courtesy of the dancers' tutelage under acclaimed fight director Nigel Poulton, who has worked on some major Hollywood films, including Pirates of the Caribbean V, The Bourne Legacy and I am Legend. Images: Justin Ridler
Australia has been wandering merrily down the psychedelic rabbit hole more fervently than usual over the last couple of years. Big breakthrough names like Tame Impala, Jagwar Ma and Jinja Safari enchanted festival crowd after festival crowd, making it easy for newcomers like Richard In Your Mind, The Frowning Clouds, The Otchkies and everyone involved with the Nuggets compilation to find solid audiences for their whimsical, sitar-fuelled jams. So, when British psychedelic newcomers Temples announced their first Australian tour, slow nods of heartfelt approval spread through the states and territories. Hailing from Kettering, Northamptonshire and lead by the unbelievably British-named James Edward Bagshaw, Temples found traction in Australia after their heroes Johnny Marr and Noel Gallagher gave them ups for their debut single 'Shelter Song'. Soon followed their debut studio album Sun Structures via Heavenly Records, featured on triple j and praised for its neo-psychedelic prowess. Temples will journey down the East Coast with Sydney psych-pop favourites Deep Sea Arcade, headed for the Metro on Friday May 9. Ticketholders are advised to turn off their minds, relax and float downstream on arrival. https://youtube.com/watch?v=vs4i41cOv0s Image by Dave Lichterman.
UPDATE: OCTOBER 11, 2021 — Creed Bratton's Australian tour has been postponed to September 2022, with The Office star now playing Sydney on Thursday, September 22. Current tickets will still be valid for all upcoming tour dates. The below article has been updated to reflect this change. Dunder Mifflin's most eccentric employee is coming to Sydney, and he has plenty of stories to share. Best known for playing a highly fictionalised version of himself on the US version of hit sitcom The Office, Creed Bratton isn't someone that viewers will forget quickly — and if you enjoyed his antics as a quality assurance director at everyone's favourite Scranton paper company, then you just might want to check out his live stage show. Beyond The Office, the real-life Bratton has quite a history. He started as a travelling musician, played lead guitar on the first four albums by American rock group The Grass Roots, and has released his own solo records, too. On-screen, he has also popped up in Grace and Frankie, western flick The Sisters Brothers, and Comedy Bang! Bang!. Bringing his variety show to Sydney's The Factory on Thursday, September 22, Bratton is continuing what he's doing for years — solo stage shows, that is. As well as music and comedy, he'll chat through the ups and downs of his career, including the obvious: his time on The Office. If you've ever wanted to know why Creed loved spider solitaire so much, whether he actually did any work and if the character was ever really in a cult ("you have more fun as a follower, but you make more money as a leader," he once claimed), this might be your chance.
In 2023, for the 11th time, the wondrous cinematic world of Wes Anderson will expand. The beloved filmmaker's latest release Asteroid City is set to zoom into Sydney picture palaces midyear, complete with all of the writer/director's trademarks — a star-studded cast, a quirky setup, symmetry aplenty and pastel hues all accounted for. And, it arrives just two years after The French Dispatch finally made it to screens in 2021. So, that's Anderson's new movie, plus his most recent one before now — aka what you're next eager to see from him, and likely what you last watched from his filmography. Because you can never have too much of a good thing from this filmmaker, 2023 is also delivering a retrospective of his work at Palace Central: In Focus: Wes Anderson. On Thursday nights from Thursday, May 4–Thursday, June 22, cinema lovers can enjoy Anderson's distinctive visual stylings, compelling soundtracks and roster of familiar faces, with the venue playing seven of his flicks across the program's run. First up, catch the Jason Schwartzman-led hit Rushmore, then dive into the family dramas of The Royal Tenenbaums and wear matching tracksuits to The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou. There's also the stop-motion animation delights that are both Fantastic Mr Fox and Isle of Dogs, because no one does animated cute critters like Anderson. And, The Darjeeling Limited is here with its chaotic train trip, too, plus the exceptionally cast The Grand Budapest Hotel and The French Dispatch as well. Each session starts at 8pm, with tickets costing $10 for Palace Movie Club members and $15 otherwise.
This article is sponsored by our partners, General Assembly. It’s all too easy to get caught up in the work-sleep-eat grind. But the last thing the folks at General Assembly want to see is you, losing your precious youth to blood, sweat and tears. So they’ve come up with a simple, straightforward, foolproof solution. On Thursday, September 25, they’ll be hosting an epic, free warehouse bash at Work-Shop (80 George Street, Redfern). And all things work-related will be left at the door. All you have to do is turn up, ready to chat, dance and sample some high-quality, handcrafted beverages. Any ‘I-should-be-networking-and-handing-out-my-business-cards’ sensations can be completely and luxuriantly ignored. Guest DJs Seekae will be spinning a three-hour set, shortly before jetting off around the world. This year, the Sydney-London three-piece has played at SXSW, blitzed the UK with a sold-out tour and released their third album, The Worry. In the meantime, drinks will be sponsored by the Rocks Brewing Company and Naked Wines. The former is a local craft brewery based in Alexandria, run and operated by fifth and sixth generation descendants of convicts. The latter is a crowdfunded wine business. Customers invest in independent winemakers, and, in return, score exclusive access to fine, handmade wines at wholesale prices. Entry is free, but you'll need to secure yourself a spot by booking online via the General Assembly website. General Assembly hosts events and classes in tech, design and entrepreneurial business, with campuses in Sydney, Melbourne and around the world.
Do you ever get nostalgic for the excitement of school fetes, but sans the dorky talent competitions and your mum hawking homemade jam by the gym? Well, this might be the just the event for you. Turn Out is a fete made for grown-ups, rather than kids under 12. Run by Decode Media, the event will take over Eveleigh's Locomotive Workshop from 5–9pm on Friday, October 26 and 10am–5pm on Saturday, October 27. There'll be a bar instead of pony rides, and, rather than pancake stalls, food varying from Asian-style snacks to sweet treats. The indoor jungle vibes will be high with numerous plant stalls, and market stalls selling homewares, jewellery, and clothing – much cooler wares than you would have found back at your primary school fete (most likely). Add DJs and a bunch of record shop pop-ups to the mix — and some old-school arcade games — and you've got one very un-daggy organised event to spend your weekend at. There'll be talks and workshops as well, so you can turn your Saturday brain to learning about sustainable fashion, kokedama, floristry and book-binding. Spots are limited so make sure you RSVP to the event to stay up to date with registration details.
She may only be 24 years old, but Sarah Callaghan has the confidence of a veteran performer. Trained in improv at the Second City School in Chicago, the British comedian broke out in a big way last year, with the debut of her critically acclaimed solo show, Elephant, at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Set in her bedroom, the show combines personal stories about ambition and the desire to escape, with gut-busting comic jabs delivered with a wry smile or a sneer. She's only in Sydney for a single night, so be sure to snap up tickets while you can.
Everyone loves digging into a bowl of hearty, cheesy, carby pasta — whether it's the middle of a drizzly winter today or the peak of summer. But sometimes, depending how fancy you go, they can set you back nigh $30. For World Pasta Day (a thing, it seems), Fratelli Fresh is shunning exxy bowls and instead celebrating with a day of $10 pastas on Thursday, October 24. All six Fratelli Fresh stores — Alexandria, Bridge Street, Crows Nest, Darling Harbour, Entertainment Quarter and Westfield CBD — will be offering six different pasta dishes for only a tenner. All day. Choose from rigatoni with slow-braised lamb ragu, prawn linguine, gnocchi with pancetta and goat's cheese, and mushroom ravioli (among others). To redeem the deal, you will also need to purchase a drink, but we still think it's pretty lovely considering some of these dishes are usually priced at up to $35 price tag. Book your spot for lunch or dinner via the website.
How'd you like to populate your Christmas feast with local, artisanal goods to make your relatives impressed and your in-laws floored? Carriageworks is bringing back its Christmas Market, where you can buy fresh seasonal produce just a couple of days before Christmas. Importantly, you can also buy last-minute gifts ahead of the big day — because we know what you're like. Taking over Carriageworks on the evening of Wednesday, December 21, the market will go full Christmas with a cornucopia of goodies from more than 80 of Australia's best producers, restaurants and designers. Think, homemade puddings, seafood, fresh cherries, award-winning cheeses and more. Expect the best from the weekly Carriageworks Farmers Market and more, including Christmas hams, handcrafted spirits, bottled cocktails and floral bouquets made to complete your Christmas table. Just some of the stallholders include Bondi Oysters, LP's Quality Meats, Flour and Stone, Sonoma, AP Bakery, Broomfields, Nonna's Grocer, Wildflower Brewery and Pepe Saya. The food and drink options available for your on-site consumption on the night are nothing to scoff at either. You can kill up on eats from Bar Pho, Blini Bar, Kepos St Kitchen, Bird and Ewe, and Chat Thai, plus wander the stalls with a drink from Atomic or Archie Rose in hand. "We are delighted to once again bring together so many incredible local and regional producers from all across the state for the annual Christmas Twilight Market, offering Sydneysiders the chance to fill their Christmas table with the best in seasonal produce," Creative Director of Carriageworks Farmers Markets Mike McEnearney says. "Come celebrate the holiday season and stock up on gifts and treats perfect for festive entertaining." Images: Jacquie Manning
Whether it's half a capsicum or a few slightly withered mushrooms, we're probably all guilty of throwing away perfectly good food. But collectively, food waste costs Australians up to $10 billion each year. To put that in perspective, about one third of what is produced ends up in landfill. Given 2 million people still rely on food relief, this is pretty baffling. Think.Eat.Save. will see Oz Harvest team up with the United Nations Environment Program to tackle the problem and advocate more sustainable solutions. On July 21, some of the nation's top chefs, politicians and celebrities will be donning aprons and dishing up a delicious free meal to thousands of members of the public. Made from surplus food, it should inspire you to switch on socially and get creative with those odds and ends at the back of the fridge. With an increasing global population and the effects of climate change expected to reduce agricultural yield by up to 5 percent in some areas, it's time to start thinking collectively and enhance efficiency. Check the website to find out where your city's free food hotspot will be.
They might not have been big on colour blocking or ironic fanny packs, but for our ancestors fashion was still an important way to define status and style. We use our clothing as an aid and we use it as a weapon, and this was the situation even when we wore Cabbage Tree Hats instead of Conical Asian ones. This year History Week is taking a sartorial spin, rummaging through the wardrobes of our ancestors via talks, exhibitions, workshops, and parades. Highlights include a parade of retro wedding gowns through the Eryldene Historic House and Garden, displays of period clothing and an exhibition of pre-Sartorialist fashion photographs from the last 160 years. Sometimes things get more specific, with one exhibition zooming in on the "1970s feminist lesbian fashion" of Annandale, Balmain, Leichhardt, Lilyfield, and Rozelle. Events will be taking place all over New South Wales, from Sydney city to the mid-north coast. Check the website for the full program.
There's a new ladies night in town, but it's a far cry from the sessions of budget bubbly and trashy tunes you've encountered elsewhere. Instead, Camperdown's Lady Hampshire has launched a monthly pub session sans-stereotypes, promising a safe, fun and inclusive space for all female-identifying and non-cis bodies. Proudly dubbed See You Next Tuesday (it runs the second Tuesday of each month), the event taps into the pub's laidback vibe, yet offers a program of kickass, female-friendly activities to boot. We're talking things like beer yoga, dancehall classes, clothes swaps and drives for local women's shelters, intergenerational trivia and workshops with the likes of cake queen Katherine Sabbath. After a successful launch in November and a festive second effort in December, the third party will celebrate live music and ice cream on Tuesday, January 16. Taking care of the former is indie punk band Scabz, while the latter comes courtesy of Gelato Messina — and it's free. There'll also be an ice cream-eating competition, should you feel the need to devour a whole litre of frosty goodness in a ridiculously short period of time. Plus, this instalment of SYNT will feature brews from Sparkke Change Beverage Company, an Adelaide outfit run by nine women, available for just $5. The gloriously named Vadge Draw will be back too — $5 will get you your very own bronze clam keyring and entry into the monthly prize pool, with prizes for January including a double pass to Gelato Messina's Creative Department degustation. Image: Charlotte Koch.
Last year Vodafone enlisted the help of Charlie Parr - the self-depreciative country and blues musician from Minnesota - for their Australian and New Zealand phone promotions. Nothing like an ad to propel your music into the national psyche. Yet while Vodafone advertising has had an expected change of heart and moved on, Charlie is in fact a real person and is coming to The Basement as part of his East Coast Australian Tour. Described as "a confused and shy individual" this bearded folk singer has apparently "failed at most things in life", and even music has rendered him unemployable (a victim of society and its demand for qualifications?). Inspired by the gospel/country/blues greats such as Charlie Patton, Reverend Gary Davis, and 'Bukka' White, Charlie Parr both celebrates and extends this musical legacy. So if you have craving for the sound of a 12-string guitar played piedmont blues style (rhythmic finger picking on the guitar), accompanied by a range of lake and nature metaphors, you have found the appropriate food. If you can't make it to The Basement, Charlie is also doing a free in-store appearance at Mojo (32 York Street, Sydney) from 12.30-1.30pm on the same day.
What's more terrifying than standing out at high school? It Lives Inside scares up an answer. Here, fitting in with the popular kids has haunting costs — literally — as Indian American teen Samidha (Megan Suri, Never Have I Ever) discovers. Her story starts as all memorable movies should: with a sight that's rarely seen on-screen. While beauty routines are familiar-enough film fodder, watching Sam shave her arms, then use skin tone-lightening filters on her photos, instantly demonstrates the lengths that she's going to for schoolyard approval. Among the white girls that she now calls friends, she also prefers to go by Sam. At home, she's increasingly hesitant to speak Hindi with her parents Inesh (Vik Sahay, Lodge 49) and Poorna (Neeru Bajwa, Criminal). And when it comes to preparing for and celebrating the Hindu ritual of puja, Sam would rather be elsewhere with Russ (Gage Marsh, Big Sky), the boy that she's keen on. It Lives Inside's frights don't spring from razors and social media, or from shortened names and superficial classmates; however, each one underscores how far that Sam is moving away from her heritage. Worse: they indicate how eagerly she's willing to leave her culture behind, too, a decision that's affected her childhood bond with Tamira (Mohana Krishnan, The Summer I Turned Pretty). As their school's only students with Indian backgrounds, they were once happily inseparable. Now Sam considers Tamira a walking reminder of everything that she's trying to scrub from her American identity. Keeping to herself — skulking around clutching a jar filled with a strange black substance, and virtually hiding behind her unbrushed hair — the latter has become the class outcast. So, when she asks Sam for help, of course no is the answer. Making his feature debut after a sizeable list of shorts —and winning SXSW Austin's 2023 Audience Award in its Midnighters section with the unsettling results — writer/director Bishal Dutta loads It Lives Inside's early moments with gnawing unease. Everything that Sam is putting herself through doesn't sit cosily, nor is it meant to. Distress has been eating away at Tamira as well, as her horrified stare everywhere that Sam looks constantly makes plain. Wild and wide eyes shaped by fear and uncertainty may be one of this genre's staples, but Krishnan sports a perfectly petrified pair of peepers as she pleas for assistance. After Sam smashes the ever-grasped canister in anger, annoyance and disbelief, letting out the flesh-eating demonic entity inside, Suri joins in with her own frequently aghast eyeballs. Casting Get Out's Betty Gabriel as a concerned teacher at Sam and Tamira's school savvily reinforces what audiences can quickly spot with In Lives Inside: this is a social thriller just like Jordan Peele's Oscar-winner (and also Us and Nope), plus everything from Sorry to Bother You and Parasite. Here, with a moniker and a central stalking force that also brings It Follows to mind, cues similarly taken from The Babadook, plus high-school humiliation that'd do Carrie proud, it's the pressure to eschew one's roots to blend in that scores the horror treatment. The supernatural presence doing the spooking is a Pishacha, which hail from Hindu and Buddhist folklore — and, as it feeds on negative vibes, its targets aren't random. Indeed, in painting a portrait of the pains that accompany being caught between the traditions of your parents' homeland and the daily reality of the only place you've ever known and its homogenous demands, Dutta gets his movie sinking its teeth in. There's no doubting that It Lives Inside's feature filmmaking first-timer is a student of scary movies: conventions from English-language frightfests spanning decades keep peeking through. Accordingly, the plot co-penned by Dutta with Ashish Mehta (Hush Hush) does inescapably feel like plenty of other flicks, complete with being set in a Spielbergian-esque town. This film loves splashing around red hues to get nightmarish as well, and peering intently at everyone quivering in Pishacha's presence. Using alarmed and startled people on-screen to evoke the same sensations in viewers might be one of the simplest tricks in the book, but it works: empathy is one helluva horror-movie tool. Dutta understands that, and also how powerful it is to witness Sam being so visibly shaken by being trapped between her background and the Americanised ideal that she's decided is her future. Also working swimmingly: Suri and Krishnan, who both make expressive horror stars (as, given Dutta's affection for close-ups, they need to). When Tamira disappears, forcing Sam to take her otherworldly mythology tale and its life-and-death manifestation seriously, Suri keeps adding weight to It Lives Inside's layered emotional journey. Trying to erase your heritage because you think that's the only option and then grappling with what that truly means aren't easy things to deal with, with or without confronting a monster. While many of the movie's most potent moments don't involve the Pishacha in the frame, Suri sells it all — the angst, the facade, coping with her supposed pals thinking that speaking another language is cute, the frustration over her mum's disapproval and choices since moving stateside, the realisations, and the terror and panic all included. It Lives Inside isn't without its own chilling visual touches, though; proving that hinting works better than showing, one early altercation with the picture's boogeyman gives Dutta an instant resume highlight. And, that it's the situation and its significance rather than the actual murderous beast that lingers is 100-percent by design. Musing about immigration, displacement and conformity, and joining the ranks of culturally specific horror such as Under the Shadow and The Vigil, this is a tense and thoughtful film — even if it too, like Sam, is torn between two realms. Thankfully, the meaning that lives inside It Lives Inside gives freshness to a movie that knows it's working with a formula; filtering US teen horror through the Indian American experience is also one of Dutta's clear quests.
Tortuga Studio’s In the Night Garden has been a strong mark on our cultural calendar across its brief existence. From a promising 2011 debut, to an enthusiastic 2012 follow-up, it has taken the laneway intersection behind St Peter’s Tortuga Studios and filled it with luminescent art of all descriptions. The night has featured realtime projection, heads aglow, a mushroom-like tree of lamps, live binding and live painting. This year, Tortuga is adding writers to the mix. Visitors will be able to settle into an overlapping mashup of writers’ workspace, as a single desk switches faces from one set of writers to the next. The word work will be curated by Zoe Adler Bishop, with local wordsmiths Tabula Rasa (long-time, critical denizens of the Sydney arts scene and fresh off a recent relaunch) adding their keyboard pounding power into the back-lane lineup.
Looking for ways to celebrate Sydney's warm weather? Make tracks to the Woollahra Hotel then, because this eastern suburbs oasis knows how party, particularly in its leafy rooftop terrace. And from now till Thursday, April 30, the bar's offering up a luxe deal. For a celebratory tipple, order a bottle of Moët & Chandon Rosé Impérial. At $130 a pop, this isn't your average bottle of bubbly. Coming from one of the world's most lauded champagne makers, this pink-hued, red fruit-driven vino is sure to take your drink game to the next level. So go ahead, grab your mates and splash that cash — you're celebrating, after all. Plus, the Woollahra is throwing in a complimentary — and complementary — charcuterie platter for every bottle you buy. Expect plates piled high with the likes of bresaola and pastrami, plus cornichons, hummus, grilled peppers, olives and toasted bread. A pretty perfect wine and food pairing for when you want to party in style. To book a spot for your crew, head here. [caption id="attachment_762744" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Anna Kucera[/caption]
Are you ready for a fiesta? If so, The Happy Mexican has got just the occasion for you. The Lansdowne Hotel's newcomer is throwing a huge party celebrating Mexican culture on Saturday, July 27 — and it'll be giving away a tonne of freebies in the festive spirit. Dubbed the venue's "biggest party yet", this big bash will kick off at 8pm, slinging 500 free tacos — from its unconventional cactus-, corn- and refried bean-starring nopales version to the sweet and sour pork with pineapple pastor taco — alongside 200 free beers and $10 piña coladas all night long. Plus, if you get in before the venue hits capacity, you'll score free entry, too. All of the freebies will operate on a first-come, first-serve basis, so you'll want to get in quick. You're also encouraged to immerse yourself entirely in the celebrations by dressing in theme to compete in a Mexican costume contest. If you're stumped for ideas, the crew behind the joint recommends that you take inspiration from renowned Mexican characters, sports teams, wrestlers and more — but anyone who opts to wear the Mexican national soccer team's jersey will be able to snap up free vodka and tequila shots. Whatever you choose, you'll want to put some thought into it, with the three best-dressed scoring prizes including a $200 bar tab. Once you've warmed your belly and body up with all of the celebratory giveaways, you'll want to stay to boogie your way into the early hours. You can expect DJs to spin tunes from 10.30pm as well as an appearance from The Happy Mexican's very own mariachi band.
You've probably heard of CollegeHumor, and we don't just mean the bad jokes everyone seems to make when they set foot on a university campus. We're talking about the website founded by two high school friends back in 1999. Today, it's home to some of the internet's funniest and most offbeat content — and the source of much time wasted by those who love to laugh. It's also where comedians Jake Hurwitz and Amir Blumenfeld got their start, though you might know them from their Jake & Amir web series turned TV show. Fellow funny man Streeter Seidell cut his comedy teeth in the site's sketch team, came to fame through his Prank Wars videos, and now he's writing for Saturday Night Live. The trio is travelling down under for the very first time, sharing the CollegeHumor love and telling their stories. You'll laugh, and you'll see rising comic stars in action. Australia’s Josh & Steve, from Channel [V]’s Free Shit Men and Magic 8 Ball, are also on the bill, for those keen on watching some homegrown emerging talent.
Midnight in Paris, which opened the Cannes Film Festival in May, is a deliciously frothy, light, fun film which shows Woody Allen is still in top form. Few film directors have experienced as many dizzy highs and debilitating lows as Mr Allen at the box office, but his 41st film definitely has that certain 'je ne sais quoi' that holds you in thrall to this most irreverent of directors. Gil (Owen Wilson), a self-described Hollywood hack screenwriter, is in Paris with his sexy but spoilt fiancee, Inez (Rachel McAdams). Gil wants to walk around the higgledy-piggledy streets in the rain; Inez prefers the company of her Tea-Party type parents and an insufferable pedant called Paul (Michael Sheen). Gil is, we are given to understand, financially successful, but harbours an increasingly desperate desire to move to Paris and strike out as a novelist. He's already written most of his first novel — aptly about a man who runs a nostalgia shop — but Inez isn't exactly encouraging him to finish it off because she fancies a beach house in Malibu. One moonstruck night, Gil wanders off on his own after a wine tasting, slightly drunk and somewhat maudlin. As a bell rings midnight, a yellow vintage Peugeot pulls up, and unseen champagne drinkers beckon him into the carriage. Gil finds himself magically transported back in time to his favourite era, Paris in the 1920s. Suddenly, he is swapping witty repartee with Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemmingway, and Pablo Picasso's muse, the beguilingly lovely Adriana (Marion Cotillard). Allen's film is not just a love letter to Paris; it's a beautifully envisaged valentine to all the literary luminaries who lived in Paris during the Roaring Twenties. Some literary references will make you wish you had paid more attention at university, but others, like Salvador Dali, are gratifyingly universal. He sprouts some very funny lines about rhinoceroses. Midnight in Paris isn't a serious film — it makes no effort to justify how or why Gil can time travel, because it simply doesn't matter. It's an exercise in fanciful filmmaking, a frolic through his light-as-a-feather fantasy of bohemian Paris. The most implausible thing about this film isn't, strangely enough, the plot; it's that Gil is with a woman like Inez in the first place and that he can tear himself away from Gertrude Stein's famous salon long enough to trawl expensive furniture shops with her. https://youtube.com/watch?v=BYRWfS2s2v4
Staying back after school has never been more stocked with good art and a cheeky tipple. The National Art School is launching Sydney's newest after-hours art party: Twilight Sessions. A free series of midweek soirees featuring art, live music, workshops, talks and film, Twilight Sessions has all the art party trimmings, with one marked difference: it's all going down in the Old Darlinghurst Gaol. Created to coincide with the International Year of Light (which it is, apparently), Twilight Sessions is launching on Wednesday, February 25 — the first of four dotted throughout the year. So what's in store for this Wednesday hootenanny? Sticking around after Sydney Festival, celebrated, light-based installation artist Bill Culbert will be showcasing his largest solo work in Australia to date — after he blitzed the 55th Venice Biennale. You can partake in free twilight drawing sessions in the gallery, inspired by Culpert's exhibition and led by artists and NAS faculty Lynne Eastaway, Margaret Roberts and Tania Rollond, or a photography workshop with respected Australian photographer Peter Solness (places limited, bookings essential, $25 per person). Once you're all arted out, you'll find Astral People's Mike Who spinning a few tunes at the pop-up bar. Mike Who has warmed up stages for the likes of Action Bronson, Oneman and Peanut Butter Wolf, so it's a pretty big pull for NAS. For the nibblers and noshers, there'll be tasty treats and wine and beer available on the night. Now you're nice and wine-fuelled, wander through NAS's Chapel for an an exhibition from Margaret Olley Drawing Week, and upstairs, Sydney artist Gary Warner invites you to make music on the social 'lamellaphone', an interactive musical instrument made from discarded street sweeper bristles, designed to be played by several people in tandem in a manner similar to an African thumb piano. Twilight Sessions will launch on Wednesday, February 25, and run from 6-9pm. It'll be back four times in the year to coincide with NAS Gallery’s 2015 exhibition program, including the Redlands Konica Minolta Art Prize, New Disciples: 50 Years of Ceramics and Rosemary Laing.
Have you ever been to a show where the band yelled about how amazing you were in between every song? And then at the end told you it was the best show they've ever played, and actually meant it? If not then you didn't go to Alt-J's gig at the Oxford Art Factory last October, which is completely understandable considering it sold out in three minutes — which is completely understandable considering they're one of the most deservedly hyped acts around right now. They've taken a genre (art-rock) and made it better by completely blowing it apart, subverting all conventions with their special blend of folk, pop and brains. This is music that's both radio-friendly and thought provoking. And for that we should be thanking them instead of the other way around. At Saturday's Laneway festival Alt-J announced they would play one intimate Sydney sideshow at the Metro Theatre this Wednesday, at which they'll be supported by City Calm Down. Tickets go on sale Tuesday, 5 February at 9am through Ticketek. If you're cool with your year peaking in early February we suggest you act swiftly. https://youtube.com/watch?v=MPH89HIBLiw
For ten days, the ATYP Studio will host the return of alumni Yves Blake, delivering her hilarious, music-infused show THEN. Since leaving Sydney two years ago to perform at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Yve has been blitzing the UK, winning over crowds at some of the best theatres in the nation, including The National. At the same time, she’s been running a website by the name of WhoWereWe.com. It’s an interactive platform that asks visitors to answer the question, “Who do you feel you used to be?” So far, more than 1,000 funny stories, nervous voicemails, bizarre photos and embarrassing playlists have been submitted from 154 nations. It is with this information that Yve has created THEN. The one-of-a-kind production is a celebration of the people we once were — be they strangers, legends or fools. Starring Yve’s Bjork-esque voice and a slew of costumes, it features songs and soundscapes sampling everything from flushing toilets to orchestras to dance breaks. Yve says, “We constantly play audience to our friends’ lives online, but forget that scrolling through Facebook is like viewing someone else’s highlight reel. It’s easy to feel behind in the race. I built WhoWereWe.com as a portal for strangers to anonymously reveal memories of dumb decisions, terrible haircuts, of self doubt and censored dreams so that I could transform these stories into music and celebrate them. It’s exciting and heartwarming to recognise ourselves in the words of others, so I figured, the more ‘others’ the merrier.”
Much-loved nerdy white guy and Seth Cohen-endorsed musician Ben Folds is bringing his upbeat brand of piano pop back to Australia. Though you might remember his music best from the battered walkman you rocked in the late '90s, rest assured that this talented US Adelaide enthusiast is still a force to be reckoned with. And nothing proves this more than the fact that his backing band will be the nation's best symphony orchestras. From mid-November, Folds will be touring all of Australia's major cities (except Brisbane, oddly enough) performing with each state's respective orchestral talents. Taking both excerpts of his new Concerto for Piano and Orchestra as well as jazzed up versions of his old pop hits, this dynamic musician will be creating an exciting and unique show in some of the nation's best venues. Of course, this is a tour Folds is familiar with. He's performed with some of the world's best orchestras over the past decade, and before he gets to our shores this year, he'll be taking the Ben Folds Orchestra Experience all around Europe. Hardcore fans might even remember that Australia was the site of his first orchestral work — this performance with the Western Australia Symphony Orchestra was immortalised on film in 2005. But you don't need to know all that to enjoy the show. Whether you have a long history with 'Brick' and the rest of his early work, or just really like that Triple J Like A Version he did of 'Such Great Heights' — this is a show not to be missed.
With lion dancing, modern Chinese cuisine and film screenings of Chinese classics, the Art Gallery of New South Wales is undoubtedly the best place to celebrate Chinese New Year outside of Chinatown. The vast majority of these events are free, with highlights including Chinese High Tea, fan dancing performances, tai chi workshops and a lecture from the Deputy Director of the Hubei Provincial Museum. Tours of auspicious symbols in Chinese art will also make more of the culture legible to newcomers. Two exhibitions are also timed for the occasion. In the Asian gallery, ritual art from ancient China (more specifically, the Chu kingdom during the Warring States period) will be on display. But the big draw card is undoubtably the terracotta warriors. Perhaps the most incredible archaeological find of the century, these iconic figures will be displayed alongside other recent finds which have rarely been seen outside China. This exhibition is the only part of the program you will need to pay for, but at a meagre $20 is certainly worth a look. Image: 'Group of soldiers', Araldo De Luca
A couple of years ago an empty shopfront with 'Keys Cut' signage re-emerged as an artist-run initiative where artists could show without being obliged to sell, and a bit of funding that meant they could pay exhibitors. Emma White's current show, 'While You Wait', is a nod to the history of the site and to the philosophy of the directors of the Locksmith Project. She’s made a giant key for the window, some touchably-realistic replicas of household-type sets on colourful chains hanging inside the store, and she will be making more creations for the duration of the show. During the gallery hours, White will be in-residence with her tools: wire, pliers, markers, coloured putty, a roller and an oven — and visitors can not only watch her work but get a fully-baked copy of their own keys to take home, and leave their spares behind. On the last night of Emma’s show, the Locksmith Project will be launching and selling the third issue of their self-titled ‘whenever we can-nual’ journal that showcases works and research in emerging contemporary art. The limited run of 300 multi-volume boxed sets, dedicated to “basically anything that constitutes making art work”, is already available to pre-order.
If you're going to celebrate an invented food-themed holiday, you have to go big. If you're Mister Fitz and it's National Ice Cream Sandwich day, then you clearly have to turn things to eleven. Behold, their 20-scoop monster of an ice cream sandwich. Dubbed the 'Baby Got Back' in keeping with the ice cream parlour's usual hip hop-themed menu, the giant creation features more ice cream than you've probably eaten all winter, all stuffed between two super huge M&M cookies. Because old Fitzy is known for smashing extra goodies into its frozen treats too, the dairy deliciousness inside also boasts a decent smattering of mini M&Ms. If you're keen on trying it out and you've got a few mates to help — you only need to look at it to know this isn't a solo dessert — then you'd best get in quick, with the mammoth ice cream sandwich only available today, August 2. It's also only available via Deliveroo, meaning that you won't have to worry about gorging on this behemoth in public (but hey, if you're keen on munching your way through this, you're probably not all that worried about making a mess anyway).
You may already know and love FOMO Festival after they slayed their debut in Brisbane last year. Well, this year they're back, bigger and better. The one-day festival is spreading its wings in 2017 and carrying the good times to Adelaide and Sydney, which is a huge leap for a young summer festival. They'll be gracing Adelaide with their crispy vibes on Friday, January 6, Brisbane on Saturday, January 7 and Sydney on Sunday, January 8. But onto the important stuff — the lineup. The festival is being headlined by Flosstradamus and Empire of the Sun (they're back again!), both here exclusively for FOMO. On the eats side of things, there'll be food from Butter, Pub Life Kitchen, Eat Art Truck and Messina. Check out the full lineup below. FOMO 2017 LINEUP Flosstradamus Empire Of The Sun Peking Duk JME GoldLink Metro Boomin Hannah Wants Slumberjack George Maple Feki Maribelle Lastlings Be there, or suffer ironic FOMO.
Sydney dancefloor demons, bust out your baggiest Adidas tee because DJ Jazzy Jeff is going to 'Boom Shake the Room' at The Soda Factory this Saturday night. Straight after his pool party at the Ivy, the Grammy-winning hip hop megastar is heading over Surry Hills way for a smaller, more intimate show to please his loyal, local fans. DJ Jazzy Jeff (Jeff Townes) formed one half of '90s super duo DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince with Will Smith, and has since gone on to become one of the biggest names in contemporary hip hop. Now, after dropping in on the American diner-cum-club that is The Soda Factory, he has decided he wants to leave his mark there. The gig goes down this Saturday night, without any cover charge to speak of. The Soda Factory is well reputed for smashing short notice parties, and DJ Jazzy Jeff is likely to make this one for the ages. https://youtube.com/watch?v=ZwS14TiO7Pk
No longer just the realms of Monica Trapaga yazz residencies and kiddie-aimed pantomimes, the Twilight at Taronga series is taking it up a huge, cred-worthy notch. Kicking off a frankly kickass lineup set to play mega concerts at Sydney's Taronga Zoo, Bright Eyes' soul-searching dreamboat Conor Oberst, twee monarchs Belle and Sebastian, the one and only Rufus Wainwright and Powderfinger's legendary nice guy Bernard Fanning are just the tip of Taronga's genuinely killer program — spanning each Friday and Saturday night from Friday, January 30 through Saturday, March 21 after hours at the zoo. Being one of Australia's most high-fiveworthy zoos, Taronga's drummed up an Australian contingent worth crossing seas for: Paul Kelly presenting Merri Soul Sessions, You Am I, Sarah Blasko, Dan Sultan, Something For Kate, Little May, Jack Ladder and the Dreamlanders, Hiatus Kaiyote and more are all confirmed to front that top notch Sydney Harbour backdrop. And Ken Done's designing the marketing collateral, because 'straya. One of the most contemporary lineups the Twilight at Taronga series has seen in its 19 years running, the feathered, furred and finned will have plenty to choose from this summer. Whether the giraffes are Conor Oberst fans or the bilbies get into some sweet Belle and Sebastian remains to be seen. And you should see the also-announced Melbourne Zoo program — they get the motherflippin' Village People. TWILIGHT AT TARONGA 2015 PROGRAM: Friday 30 January – BERNARD FANNING, supported by Little May Saturday 31 January – BELLE AND SEBASTIAN, supported by Special Guests Friday 6 January – PAUL KELLY PRESENTS THE MERRI SOUL SESSIONS featuring Clairy Browne, Kira Puru, & Vika and Linda Bull, supported by Hiatus Kaiyote Saturday 7 February - YOU AM I, supported by Jack Ladder & The Dreamlanders Friday 13 February - SARAH BLASKO, supported by Luluc Saturday 14 February - ANTHONY CALLEA presents Ladies & Gentlemen, The Songs of George Michael, supported by Caterina Torres Friday 20 February - THE BEAUTIFUL GIRLS, supported by Caravana Sun Saturday 21 February – THE BAMBOOS, supported by Katalyst with special guests (Original beats set) Friday 27 February - BOYS IN THE BAND – 50 years of hits! Saturday 28 February - BJORN AGAIN Friday 6 March – CONOR OBERST, supported by The Felice Brothers Saturday 7 March - RUFUS WAINWRIGHT performing The Best of Rufus Wainwright, supported by Lucy Wainwright Roche Friday 13 March – DAN SULTAN, supported by Benny Walker and Pierce Brothers Saturday 14 March - JAMES MORRISON BIG BAND Friday 20 March – SOMETHING FOR KATE, supported by Jen Cloher Saturday 21 March - ROSS WILSON and Mental As Anything Tickets for Twilight at Taronga's full program go on sale 9am, Friday, October 31 over here.
Every year, the MCA showcases the best of Australia's next generation of creative talent in the Primavera exhibition. For the class of 2014, curator Mikala Dwyer has chosen 13 such young artists. With over 30 years of experience in the field, Dwyer is most well known for her innovative installation and sculpture work, such as her the strangely weighty, strangely ethereal hanging forms of The Hollows in this year's Biennale. She's always been entranced with subjects like alchemy, magic and metamorphosis, and perhaps this influenced her choice of this year's talent, who explore everything from surrealism to robotics and queer fertility. Madison Bycroft's, Ben Denham's, Caitlin Franzmann's and Lucienne Rickard's works are grounded in a deep-seated interested with our bodily relationships with our environment and each other. Sean Peoples, Veronica Kent, Hossein Ghaemi, Nick Dorey and Emily Hunt completely revise this premise by exploring the infinite possibilities of telepathy and the surreal. Indigenous painters Barayuwa Mununggurr and Alison Puruntatameri take inspiration from the land and their upbringing, while filmmaker Ishmael Marika's works are a product of her Indigenous cultural identity and heritage. Meanwhile, controversial artist Paul Yore and Marian Tubbs prove to be ever more relevant in today's world, providing a social commentary on gay politics and virtual reality respectively. Image: Paul Yore
You'd be hard-pressed to find anything more universally loved by Sydneysiders than the gorgeous stretch of coast along the Bondi to Coogee walk. And now that the daylight hours are getting longer and spring is well under way, there's no excuse not to don our walking shoes to enjoy the iconic scenery. Perhaps the one time of the year when Sydney really outshines itself in the looks department is during the annual Sculpture by the Sea, the world's largest public art exhibition of its kind. It's been 18 years since its inception, but the views evidently haven't gotten any less tiring to look at, with visitors growing more and more every year. This year, over 100 works from 34 artists around the globe will dot the landscape from Tamarama to Bondi once again — with a dozen sculptures from Japan alone. This year there'll also be sustenance on the trail — and holistic, ultra-Sydney sustenance at that. The Grounds of Alexandria is running a pop-up cafe, The Grounds by the Sea, for the duration of the exhibition. Image: Byeong Doo Moon, I Have Been Dreaming To Be A Tree II ... 2011. Photo taken by Jacqueline White.
For most of us, the Oscar Awards ceremony is a glitzy bubble enviously watched from our living rooms. Once a year, we have the opportunity to glimpse the lives of revered actors, directors and creatives, even if it is only from our lowly perch in front of the TV. Now, Melbourne artist and musician Darren Sylvester is bringing the spotlight to our homes (read: Alaska Projects). Known for combining video, sculpture and music to portray his refreshing outlook on the modern condition, Sylvester is taking a not-so-subtle jab at the self-involved culture of celebrity in his latest exhibition, Won. In a reconstruction of the Oscar winners' acceptance area, visitors themselves are able to walk up the red carpet and have their time to shine behind the microphone. With stage lights, luxurious backdrop and a curtain of flowers, Sylvester's recreation of the Oscars may not be the real deal, but let's face it, it's as close as we'll come.
Hope you're feeling hungry, because Taste of Sydney is back. One of the biggest, tastiest gastronomic events in town, this four-day foodie festival, which starts cooking on Thursday, March 9, will once again welcome some of the biggest names in Sydney's restaurant scene to cook up their signature dishes in Centennial Park. This year they've broken up their selection of restaurants into the precincts they reside. Representing Paddington (where everything seems to have opened this past year) will be two of Sydney's newer restaurants: Tequila Mockingbird and Saint Peter (which we named as one of our favourite new restaurants of last year). Respective chefs — Regan Porteous and Josh Niland — will make their Taste debut alongside Guillaume Brahimi, who'll be representing Paddo pub The Four in Hand. The CBD will be brought to Centennial by Bouche on Bridge and — another of our favourite restaurants of 2016 — Mercado, and Turkish eatery Anason will rep Barangaroo. If you've been in previous years, you'll have sampled dishes from Porteño, Kensington Street Social and nel. — these guys will all be returning with new noms for 2017. When you're not busy stuffing your face (but let's be honest, that's why you're there), you can also try your hand at cooking school, learn some skills alongside one of the aforementioned chefs in a masterclass, or up your wine knowledge with an expert from The Wine Society. Tickets cost $25, which will get you entry to the festival and access to some workshops and free tastings. You'll have to purchase food separately, but it's still a pretty good way to try some of Sydney's fanciest food without committing to a whole meal (and hefty bill). TASTE OF SYDNEY 2017 LINEUP Saint Peter Mercado Bouche on Bridge Tequila Mockingbird Porteño nel. Anason Kensington Street Social Gastro Park Taste of Sydney will return to Centennial Park on March 9–12. For more info and to buy tickets, visit sydney.tastefestivals.com. By Tom Clift and Lauren Vadnjal. Image: Alana Dimou for Bouche on Bridge.
