The annual reason to not entirely obliterate yourself on New Year's Eve, Field Day, has announced announced one of its most all-round thumbs-up inducing lineups yet, with one big name at the top: Tyler, The Creator. The chart-topping American rapper will be heading to Australia for the first time since releasing his highly lauded album IGOR. He'll be joined on stage by fellow American and trap master RL Grime, gold masked German DJ duo Claptone, British rapper Skepta, dancefloor starters Disclosure and electro duo Snakehips, among one heck of a killer lineup. Local legends aren't scarce this year, either, with the likes of Hatchie, Pnau, Hayden James and more locked in for NYD sets. Returning to The Domain on New Year's Day, January 1, 2020, Field Day proves once again that some lineups are worth skipping the last NYE UDL for. [caption id="attachment_735766" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tyler, The Creator by Sam Rock[/caption] FIELD DAY 2020 LINEUP Tyler, The Creator Antony & Cleopatra Chris Lake Claptone Dena Amy Disclosure Dom Dolla Eves Karydas Glades Green Velvet Gunna Hatchie Hayden James IAMDDB Jauz Lastlings Nyxen Pnau RL Grime Running Touch Skepta Snakehips The Japanese House Tokimonsta Ybn Cordae Image: Field Day/AP Photography.
Aquabumps is the brick-and-mortar incarnation of cult photographer Eugene Tan. By the late '90s, he had become obsessed with photographing Bondi Beach — as well as any other beach he happened to be near. And he decided it was time to share his shots with the world. So, in 1999 — well before blogs were such a common thing — he started posting his images online. He'd email them to his fans and, when Facebook, came along, he set up a page. Today, Tan has tens of thousands of followers. Every day, they open his emails or jump on his social media accounts and spend a few minutes imagining they're at the beach, rather than at an office or in some inner city traffic jam. Tan's images look incredible online. But they're even more jaw-dropping in his one and only gallery. You can see them in all their giant-sized glory and maybe even take one home. In addition to wall-sized works, there are cards and medium-sized prints, too.
Much has happened in the world of Marvel over the past year or so. Black Panther started 2018 on a high, Spider-Man returned to its animated roots, Captain Marvel is currently rampaging across the big screen (and the box office), and the man who started it all, Stan Lee, sadly passed away. Oh, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe completely changed the game with the snap of a few fingers. We know that you know what we're talking about — Avengers: Infinity War sat atop the box office Down Under for 2018. Of course, ever since the third Avengers movie hit screens, excitement for its follow-up has been feverish to say the least. Now, after a brief teaser for Avengers: Endgame was revealed last year, Marvel has finally dropped a full sneak peek at what's shaping up to be the biggest movie in MCU history (and probably of 2019 as well). Once again, it all starts with a despondent Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.). He says it feels like a thousand years since he first strapped on the Iron Man suit, but it's only been 11 for viewers. From there, expect a glimpse of the remaining gang, complete with new matching outfits, and with Hawkeye, Ant-Man and Captain Marvel joining the team for one mighty big showdown with Thanos. Expect a few flashbacks to better MCU times as well, plus a reminder of just why Infinity War was so heartbreaking — and what's at stake this time around. Check out the trailer below — and if you're counting down the days counting down the days until the film hits, there are just 40 sleeps left. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcMBFSGVi1c And if you can't get enough Endgame action, here's the original trailer as well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hA6hldpSTF8 Avengers: Endgame releases in Australian cinemas on April 24.
Sydney hosts so many summer blockbuster art exhibitions that you would expect winter would see the city swept into a bit of an aesthetic lull. Not the case. Carriageworks has just launched not one, but two large-scale installations, the MCA has brought over Chinese artist Sun Xen for a week-long residency, and you can catch two Indigenous artist-led exhibitions during NAIDOC Week. All of these will have you happily heading out in the cold.
The man behind some of Britain's best sitcoms is coming to Australia to share his expertise with the country's aspiring comedy writers. Best known for writing and co-creating Black Books, The IT Crowd, Father Ted and Big Train, Graham Linehan is heading to our shores to debut his one-day workshop Insights Into The Art Of TV Comedy Writing. In a world first, the six-hour sessions will give eager funny folk the chance to learn from the five-time BAFTA winner, with two classes taking place on June 17 and 18 at Melbourne's Wheeler Centre, and a further two being held on June 23 and 24 at Sydney's Darlinghurst Theatre. Tickets range from $99 to $219, including both morning and afternoon tea, with limited spots available. Attendees will learn more than simply turning computers off and on again — or the fact that some ovens can cook anything. According to Lineham, figuring out comedy "is something I've been trying to do for the last twenty five years and I'm hoping that I've gained enough insights into my own process that I won't actually mess yours up too much." Graham Linehan's Insights Into The Art Of TV Comedy Writing takes place on June 17 and 18 at Melbourne's Wheeler Centre, and June 23 and 24 at Sydney's Darlinghurst Theatre. Early bird ticket sales commence at midday on April 16, with general public sales kicking off at 1pm on April 17. Visit the Frontier Comedy website for further information.
Now in its fifth year in Sydney, Electric Gardens Festival takes over Centennial Park for a day of electronic bangers from international DJs and Australian producers. This year's lineup takes a UK garage and pop turn with '7 Days' singer Craig David. The UK artist has come a long way since his breakout in 1999, featuring on Artful Dodger's 'Re-Rewind'. David will be bringing out his TS5 show, which combines his DJing skills with his chart-topping pop and R&B skills. He's already flexed the high-energy set at Glastonbury and Tomorrowland, and now it'll close out Electric Gardens on February 22. Joining him is London's DJ EZ. Otis Roberts (as he's known to his family) is a longstanding champion of UK garage, regularly appearing on the bill at Exposure, Twice As Nice, Garage Nation, Pure Silk, Sun City, Frisky and Club Sidewinder. Australia's own What So Not is returning to Sydney after playing everywhere but for a long while. Swapping Paris nightclubs for our inner-city parklands, Chris 'Emoh' Emerson will be bringing the wonky, bass-heavy tracks to this year's festival. He's joined by fellow Aussie, Shockone who recently released album A Dark Machine. There's also 'There For You' UK duo Gorgon City, Berlin techno duo Pan-Pot, and Filth on Acid's Reinier Zonneveld. As always, set times are generous so you can really get into the four-to-the-floor. See the full lineup below. ELECTRIC GARDENS 2020 LINEUP Craig David presents TS5 DJ EZ Gorgon City What So Not Alan Fitzpatrick Ann Clue Eelke Kleijn Koan Sound Live My Nu Leug Nora En Pure Pan-Pot Shockone Reinier Zonneveld Live Rene Lavice Wilkinson DJ set
Plenty changes over the course of ten years. If you're living in a post-apocalyptic world populated by zombies, however, that mightn't necessarily be the case. Arriving a decade after the first film, Zombieland: Double Tap returns to the decimated America inhabited by Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson), Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg), Wichita (Emma Stone) and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin), with the quartet still trying to survive among the ravenous undead — and getting comfortable in a desolated White House in the process. It's a case of same main cast, same director (Ruben Fleischer, who also helmed last year's Venom) and same basic premise for the long-awaited sequel. In the just-released first trailer for the film, the gang have also picked up a few new skills, and then cross paths with a few new survivors. But, story-wise, the follow-up is saving the bulk of its surprises for the full flick, which hits cinemas this October. Among the newcomers, Rosario Dawson plays Nevada, Zoey Deutch (Set It Up) pops up as Madison and Avan Jogia (Now Apocalypse) joins as Berkeley, while Luke Wilson and Thomas Middleditch (Silicon Valley) show up as virtual doppelgangers for Tallahassee and Columbus. If you're after more excitement, both monster trucks and combine harvesters feature as weapons, Harrelson dons an Elvis costume and a Santa suit, and fireworks prove a great way to distract zombies. Watch the first trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlW9yhUKlkQ Zombieland: Double Tap releases in Australian cinemas on October 17.
Sydney music-lovers have a new house, disco and techno festival to add to their calendars this spring, as Output Festival prepares to drop-in to Goat Island on November 25. The boutique festival's Sydney debut sees the private island transformed into a one-day, bass-driven dance party, complete with three outdoor stages set up throughout the island. You'll be dancing your heart out on a private island, sipping craft beers and cocktails, and catching that sun set majestically over the harbour. As far as festival settings go, this one's downright epic. The inaugural festival was initially going to be held in the Sydney Harbour National Park, but, due to an overwhelming response, it was moved to Goat Island. As you need to catch a ferry to access the island, tickets now include a return water transfer from Darling Harbour. Organisers have dropped a cracker of a first round lineup too, featuring Glasgow dance duo Optimo, local legend Mall Grab and Melbourne favourite CC:DISCO!, alongside The Blue Mountains' Fishing and Northern NSW youngster Willaris. K. Tickets are $89 + booking fee and you can grab yours online. Image: Alison Klein via Flickr.
Imagine a lavish rooftop perched above the CBD, surrounded by plush day beds, fairy-lit foliage, and futuristic arcs. Sounds like something you'd find in Hong Kong, but it's a space that will actually exist in Sydney when the new Arc by Crown development is finished in late 2018. Property developers the Crown Group are currently working on the 25-storey Clarence Street building, which will comprise of over 200 high-end residential apartments and penthouses. But perhaps more exciting to us is the fact that the Arc complex will also be home to a range of five-star hotel suites, which will include this insane openair space located on the roof of the building. Designed by Koichi Takada Architects, the luxe space will include day beds, a water feature (not for swimming — there's an Ice Cave pool for guests for that) and, we're guessing, a bar (although nothing has been confirmed on that front). As well as the roof, the complex will also open up to Kent and Clarence Streets with multiple levels of retail and food offerings for the general public to get amongst. Arc is just one of a handful of the Crown Group's Skye Hotel Suites that will be rolling out across Sydney over the next few years. The group's set to unveil 72 luxury suites within Parramatta's V by Crown complex mid-year and has announced plans for another urban resort at Green Square, to open in 2019.
Do gelato and cocktails go hand-in-hand? Gelato Messina believes they do. To prove it, Messina has invited Archie Rose Distilling Co to take over its Darlinghurst outpost for three nights from Thursday, May 16 till Saturday, May 18. The Messina Creative Department head chef Remi Talbot has joined forces with the gin, rum and vodka distillery to bring the shop its next alcoholic pairing in the form of an eight-course (and eight-drink) gelato degustation. And, as you'd expect, it looks insanely tasty — and incredibly creative. Dishes include foie gras ravioli, beetroot and hibiscus granita, a savoury gelato sandwich served with bouillabaisse and a take on the French dessert paris-brest made with choux pastry, almond and burnt vanilla. If you've dined at the Creative Department before, you'll know the food doesn't look like standard food, either — it often looks like pieces of art. It'll be the same on these three nights, with the granita served in a delicate pink rock-like bowl and a banana and feijoa dish plated to look like the iconic Andy Warhol banana. Drinks are equally extra and include the Peach Cobbler, made with sparkling wine and nitrogen frozen peach; the Wattle You Make Of It, with wattleseed, finger lime and black walnut; and a boozy banana milkshake called Little Miss Muffet. Sessions for these collabs sell out quickly, so, if you'd like to go, we recommend booking in ASAP. It'll cost a pretty penny at $190 per head — but, if you're willing to break the bank for one night of culinary delight, we reckon this one will be worth it.
The Vines are a long way from their Rishikesh days. The reformed, Craig Nicholls-run, Sydney staple is back with a new double album Wicked Nature — their sixth studio album — and two new members. Drummer Lachlan West and bassist Tim John have joined Nicholls for the latest reincarnation of The Vines, a band that quite simply refuses to surrender. Wicked Nature has been released independently and was produced in part by Nicholls, indicating an authentic sound uninfluenced by commercial pressures. After a three year hiatus from any touring The Vines will return to the stage for an exclusive one off show to perform their new material — in the carpark of Enmore's Vic on the Park. Creating a bonafide ruckus over the October long weekend, The Vines will play a free show on Sunday, October 5 from 1–6pm. Considering Wicked Nature has been in the holding tank for two years, The Vines are pretty keen for fans to become acquainted with the new sound. We spoke to bass player Tim John about recording Wicked Nature, joining the band with fellow newbie Lachlan West, and what's in store for the future of The Vines. Check out the interview here. Entry to the Vic show will be on a first in, first served basis so get there early. https://youtube.com/watch?v=OPWeDWeedg0
Want to escape to another, more fantastic universe? Cirque Stratosphere has taken over the Sydney Opera House's Concert Hall this summer, with flying acrobats, death-defying stunts and futuristic space age vibes. It's been over 50 years since man landed on the moon, but our fascination with what lies beyond our stratosphere — zero gravity, black holes and UFOs — has not dwindled. And this circus is launching us into a different galaxy altogether. From the creators of CIRCUS 1903 and The Illusionists: Direct from Broadway, which came to Sydney in 2016 and 2018 respectively, this dazzling show features Olympic-standard acrobats and gymnasts. So, expect some jaw-dropping spectacles. From hoop dives at great heights to impressive stunts on roller skates, plus hypnotic LED ring rotations and a Wheel of Death, this circus is one that defies Earth's limitations. Throw everything Isaac Newton taught you out the window. [caption id="attachment_757070" align="alignleft" width="1920"] Jordan Munn[/caption] And, after sell out performances in December, it's back for another round, with additional shows running from Tuesday, January 14 through to Sunday, January 19. Cirque Stratosphere is showing every day between January 14–19. For performance times and tickets, head here. Images: Jordan Munn
The CBD's new coffee-filled laneway precinct is about to officially launch — and it's doing so with free food and drinks aplenty. The Barrack Place Block Party is going down on Friday, April 12 from midday and will see the laneway's vendors give out over 500 complimentary meals and drinks throughout the arvo. Expect cold brew coffees and pastries from St Dreux; probiotic tonics and lemonades from Cali Press; mini beef pho from Bar Pho; specialty coffee, sandwiches and wraps from Batch Espresso; and the signature rou jia mo from Mo'st — that's a Chinese sandwich stuffed with stewed pork belly, capsicum, coriander and chilli. Plus, Barber and Co will offer up free G&Ts and Seedlip will sling non-alcoholic cocktails, including grapefruit spritzes and basil smashes. Apart from all the eats and drinks, there'll be free neck massages, games and a DJ set by Sydney local Alice Quiddington, as well as beanbags to enjoy your freebies on. Only the first 100 customers at each venue will nab the free stuff, though, so best get in early. Barrack Place Block Party runs from midday–4pm.
Sydneysiders, if catching public transport is a necessity for you over Easter, if won't impact your Opal card balance. Whether you're heading off on holidays, keen to get around town without worrying about designated drivers, have to go to work, or just prefer trains, buses, light rail, the Metro and ferries to cars, you'll be able to hop onboard for 12 days without paying a cent. Mark your calendars accordingly — because you'll be riding the rails (and roads and harbour) without opening your wallet between 4am on Thursday, April 14 and 3.59am on Tuesday, April 26. All services are included in Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, the Hunter and the Illawarra, other than private ferries, the airport train line and point-to-point bus service. Still, that leaves you with plenty of options for getting around town (and even day-tripping) without troubling your bank balance. Wondering why Sydneysiders are getting 12 days of train travel without spending a cent? It's a result of two things: trying to get more folks back into the CBD, and just out and about in general, as the New South Wales Government has been pushing whenever lockdowns haven't been in effect; and attempting to make up for the 24-hour train shutdown back in February. And yes, it's a mighty great excuse to venture to spots you mightn't usually visit over the break — or even just on the public holidays if that's all that you get off work. Public transport across Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, the Hunter and the Illawarra will be free between 4am on Thursday, April 14 and 3.59am on Tuesday, April 26. For further information, head to the Transport for NSW website.
A good night at the theatre is like a night in the garden of Gethsemane: your ideologies are shaken up and you are forced to doubt your beliefs, but because of that you come away with a deeper understanding of things. A night with David Hare can have a similar effect. He writes dialogue that is sharper than razor blazes, with which he cuts through the crap to reveal uncomfortable truths about the way the world is. "It's an organised hypocrisy, it's called democracy," says embattled Home Secretary Meredith Guest as she tries to explain her politics to her ideologically rebellious daughter Suzette; and Gethsemane essentially is a play about multi-levelled moral hypocrisy. While the critique of Tony Blair's corrupt party fundraising is not particularly timely, the exposure of the degraded state of modern journalism and politics as well as our society's perpetual cynicism are pertinent and provocative. This is one of director Neil Armfield's final productions during his time in charge at Belvoir and he has brought together a shining cast who execute the perfectly crafted script memorably. The set and lighting design are also worthy of note; while both are sparse and restrained they work together to subtly transport us around the offices and living rooms of Downing Street to a buzzing cocktail bar and the Sicilian seashore. Hare's cold and unforgiving world is offset by the honesty of the relationship between Suzette and her ex-teacher Lori Drysdale, but as usual his attempts at touching the heartstrings don't come off as well as the intellectual appeals: at the end of the three-hour journey there is not a dampened eye in the audience, but minds are buzzing for hours. Photo by Heidrun Lohr
There are no shortage of spectacular hikes in the Snowy Mountains. But that doesn't mean adding a few more isn't a good idea. To that end, work is soon to start on an epic new adventure: the Snowies Iconic Walk. This 44-kilometre multi-day trail will take you on a journey from Thredbo to Lake Crackenback. Set for completion in 2022, the walk will pass through Charlotte Pass, Guthega and Perisher in the Kosciuszko National Park. So you'll be able to organise sleepovers according to your budget — in either luxury resorts or your tent. On top of that, the beautiful Thredbo Valley Track will be getting a 21-kilometre extension, turning it into a 61-kilometre-long escapade. Built for walkers and mountain bikers, the extended trail will allow you to travel from Dead Horse Gap all the way to Jindabyne. Plus, it'll have the capacity to host long-distance mountain biking comps. Not only is this news good for adventurers, it's also good for seasonal workers, many of whom work at the Snowies through winter, but head elsewhere once the snow has melted. "It means people won't just have jobs three months of winter, they'll have work for 12 months of the year, thanks to a steady stream of visitors, mountain bikers and walkers," said Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW John Barilaro. The NSW Government has contributed $27 million in funding via the Regional Growth Environment and Tourism Fund. The Snowies Iconic Walk will open in 2022. Image: Thredbo Valley via Destination NSW.
One of Sydney's favourite Italian food emporiums is hitting the road, literally. After spreading around the New South Wales capital since 2012, Salt Meats Cheese brought their cheesy delights, delicious pizzas and more to Queensland back in 2015, and they're currently cooking up a new Brisbane eatery. In the interim, however, they're going mobile with their first food truck. Meet Fuel, a pizzeria-on-wheels that started driving through the streets of Brissie on May 5. Serving up the expected array of artisan cured meats, cheeses and other items featuring the two, the custom-made vehicle was designed by Salt Meats Cheese co-owner Stefano De Blasi, and has been brought to life by Brisbane food truck experts Van Demons. Planning to do the rounds of markets and mobile foodie gatherings, Fuel features quite the taste of Salt Meats Cheese's favourites mixed with a few fresh creations: a Truffle Mortadella pizza; mixed plates of cheese, charcuterie or both; and mouthwatering Nutella pizzas and Oreo calzones for dessert, for example. The truck will also be serving up wood-fired breakfast offerings, including bacon and egg rolls, Turkish pide with egg, spinach and parmesan, and smoked salmon on focaccia. It's great news for Brisbanites keen on grabbing a bite before their new Gasworks digs opens later this year, though Sydneysiders will have to let their stomachs grumble with envy. Or, they can head to one of Salt Meats Cheese's five locations and get their fix from a store, rather than a vehicle. Fuel will be stopping by the Milton Markets on May 7 from 6am to 3pm, as well as Gasworks Newstead from 5pm until late. To keep an eye on the truck's future whereabouts, head to the Salt Meats Cheese Facebook page.
December 31: it’s the date that divides the forward-planners and the party crashers, the prepared and the procrastinators. Each year, there are those who are ready months in advance of the big day, planning each minute of their NYE celebrations, then – dragging our feet in anticipation of the same old midnight anticlimax, or fear of commitment to the wrong party – there’s the rest of us. Luckily, last-minute friends, there are still days to finally make that NYE 2012 decision. Pat yourselves on the back for not rushing into house party #6709, or resigning yourself to watching the fireworks on the TV, as Concrete Playground has rounded up the ten best places to party this New Year’s Eve. Sydney Harbour Fireworks Why? Because they’re the best in the world. Aerial acrobatics, light projections, synchronised crowd ‘fireworks’, and the big ones – those world famous Sydney Harbour fireworks. If there’s one we couldn’t leave off the list, it’s this one. Be clever about it; pick a vantage point, (according to the Sydney NYE website there are 71), plan your food, drink and toilet options (usually no BYO alcohol), and be prepared for the crowds. The action starts at 6pm, and this year creative ambassador Kylie Minogue has chosen the pretty colours and things. Download a free smartphone app to be part of the mobile phone ‘fireworks’ on the night. Peats Ridge Why? Because NYE should be a four-day festival. As Concrete Playground’s Music Editor puts it, “You could spend one hour trying to get a cab to some party trying to hear some fireworks, or you could spend it heading up to the beautiful Glenworth Valley for Peats Ridge”. And from previous lack-of-taxi experience at NYE, we’re sold on that statement. From Saturday Dec 29 to Tuesday Jan 1, the mega line-up includes John Butler Trio and a DJ set from Friendly Fires. Pack fancy dress for the Peats Ridge tradition, an NYE masquerade party. Shore Thing Why? Because it’s a massive dance party on the beach. Put your hands up for... Fedde Le Grand, The Chemical Brothers DJ set, and Knife Party – two of the guys behind Pendulum. On Dec 31, tens of thousands of people will make their way to Bondi Beach for an epic dance party, plus as midnight strikes Bondi gets its own firework display over the ocean. Tickets are still available ($145-$232). Boom Boom NYE Why? Because it’s like a house party with international DJs. US DJ Marcellus Pittman (Unirhythm, 3 Chairs, Detroit) is headlining Boom Boom NYE – a secret, underground party for those in the know. There are a limited number of tickets to the Boom Boom parties, featuring the Paradise Lost ensemble and DJs Daniel Lupica and Karim. The party starts at 9pm, tickets are $50 including champagne and canapés and details of the secret underground CBD oasis are revealed to partygoers only. Field Day 2013 Why? Shake off that NYE hangover with an awesome festival in the Domain. Hot Chip, Two Door Cinema Club, The Vaccines, Mark Ronson (DJ set), Django Django, TEED, Erol Alkan, Jaguar Skills, AC Slater, Future Classic DJs, and mother-flippin’ Coolio! Need we say more? Field Day takes place in The Domain on January 1. Tickets are $135-$237. NYE at Bar at the End of the Wharf Why? Stellar views with a live blues soundtrack. Pull up a pew at the Bar at the End of the Wharf on December 31 for perfect, up-close views of Sydney Harbour Bridge. There will be live music from the charismatic Rockabilly-country maestro Pat Capocci Combo and bluesy-folksy singer-songwriter Lucky Luke (Webb), as well as food and a glass of champagne for $185 per person. NYE Player Haters Ball Why? Old skool tunes, excellent DJs and only $20. The Left Eyes, featuring Milan Ring, will be covering all those R‘n’B classics from R Kelly to TLC, at this special Player Haters night. DJs Smart Casual and Daniel Darling will be spinning a mix of garage, soul, rock and blues in the front bar at Sydney’s favourite small club, and there’ll be plenty of hip-shaking tracks at the Danceteria. The party starts at 8pm on Dec 31, and entry is just $20. The Sailor’s Club Why? For glamour, Harbour views, boaty folk and good times! Rose Bay’s Harbour-side restaurant is boasting three great options for New Year’s Eve. There’s a Sunset dinner, from 5-8pm, for those early birds who want to catch the last sunset of 2012 then head into the city; the Captain’s Dinner Party, from 9pm to 2am, is the main shindig, including a three-course dinner, fireworks and dancing ($350 pp); and on New Year’s Day there’s a tempting, chilled out Deckside Recovery lunch from midday. Glenmore Hotel Why? Exclusive rooftop views and a tasty food and drinks package. It’s all about location come NYE, and the newly renovated Glenmore Hotel has that and then some, with exclusive views from the hotel’s rooftop bar. So what does the $275 price tag include, bar that money-can-buy vista? A tasty-looking list of food and drink throughout the night, is what, including a three-hour drinks package, Sydney rock oysters, mini wagyu sliders, Nigiri sushi, and champagne at midnight. Glam Fest at Sydney Opera House Why? Because if you’re gonna spend it, there’s no better spot. If you’ve got the cash, why not go big guns and spend NYE in the city’s prime location, right at Sydney Opera House. Sure, most of us don’t want to spend $495 each on any old fireworks – so SOH have called in non-stop entertainment, including The Big Hit Orchestra, DJ Stephen Ferris, and a glam rock themed night of hula hoopers, tattoo artists and food trucks so smoking that Matt Moran is proud to put his name to them. The night is strictly over 18s, from 7pm-1.30am.
You may have heard that, this week, two Australian restaurants won some fierce kudos on the international stage, being named in the World's 50 Best Restaurants of 2017 list. Ben Shewry's Attica was placed at number 32 (as was predicted), but Dan Hunter's regional Victorian restaurant Brae pleasantly surprised everyone, moving up 19 spots to crack the top 50 at position 44. Following his win, Hunter has announced that he'll embark on an Australia-wide tour this May to promote his upcoming cookbook, Brae: Recipes and Stories from the Restaurant. The 256-page book, which was announced before his placing in the World's 50 Best and will no doubt be all the more in demand now, will illuminate some of the Birregurra restaurant's most famed recipes — think the burnt pretzel with treacle and pork. He'll be hitting up Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide to host events with some of Australia's best chefs to chat about his journey from small-time chef to world-famous restaurateur. At Melbourne's Cutler & Co, Brisbane's Urbane and the Penfolds Magill Estate Restaurant in Adelaide they'll be serving high-end snacks with matched drinks. But in Sydney, Hunter and Quay's Peter Gilmore are pushing the boat out with a five-course meal event and matched drinks for $450. Brae: Recipes and Stories from the Restaurant ($75) is published by Phaidon and out on May 1. The A Taste of Brae events will coincide with the release date — you can book here. Image: Colin Page.
The countdown to the 2022 Sydney Fringe Festival is underway, with the city's huge independent arts finally set to return for its first physical fest since 2019 from mid-August. And while the full program hasn't been unveiled as yet, here's something that you can block out in your calendar now: spending six weeks enjoying everything from cabaret and drag to comedy and live tunes in First Fleet Park in The Rocks. From Tuesday, August 16–Sunday, September 25, Runaway Gardens will return to Sydney for Sydney Fringe — and the Magic Mirrors Spiegeltent along with it. Amid the impressive pop-up venue's stained-glass windows, velvet aplenty and, yes, mirrors, you'll be able to watch boundary-pushing burlesque, laugh at big comedy names and sip your way through a mimosa-fuelled drag brunch club. [caption id="attachment_861860" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Chris Pavlich Photography.[/caption] Headlining the program is the previously announced Bernie Dieter's Club Kabarett, which'll unleash its second 2022 season upon Sydney — sword swallowing, hair hanging, Cirque Du Soleil aerialists and all. German kabarett superstar Bernie Dieter leads the charge, and she's been described as "an electrifying cross between Lady Gaga, Marlene Dietrich and Frank-N-Futer in sequins", if you're wondering what you're in for. Also on the lineup: the Poof Doof Drag Brunch Club, which is exactly what it sounds like. Spend your Saturdays drinking while checking out an array of drag, comedy, burlesque and cabaret performers, with your beverages included in your ticket. If you're keen on checking out the live music bill, Runaway Gardens is focusing on legendary performers playing intimate gigs, with Daryl Braithwaite, Kate Ceberano, Diesel, Renee Geyer, Richard Clapton, Ross Wilson & The Peaceniks, and The Black Sorrows doing the honours. And if you're eager to get giggling, the comedy lineup includes Arj Barker, Jimeoin, Akmal and Lawrence Mooney, as well as a Multicultural Comedy Gala featuring Dilruk Jayasinha, Georgie Carroll and Tahir. Merrick Watts will talk you through vino in the Idiot's Guide to Wine, too — and, across two Friday Up Late gigs, Odette and Jack Ladder will unleash their musical talents. Plus, there's a gin-fuelled Festival Club running a best of the fest program every Thursday night, covering comics, cabaret, circus and musos, wit help from the house jazz band. As well as all the action in the Magic Mirrors Spiegeltent, Runaway Gardens will boast an outdoor bar and pop-up restaurant, all with views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The precinct will operate from 4–10pm Tuesday–Thursday, 12–11pm Friday–Saturday and 12–10pm on Sundays. And if you're wondering about the rest of the Sydney Fringe Festival lineup, that'll drop on Monday, August 1. [caption id="attachment_861862" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Andre Castellucci[/caption] Runaway Gardens will take over First Fleet Park in The Rocks from Tuesday, August 16–Sunday, September 25. For more information, or to buy tickets, head to the event's website. Top image: Andre Castellucci.
Lend the environment a helping hand, while getting down to some great tunes, when Sydney Water's Beat The Bottle initiative hosts its next clean-up event in Parramatta on July 22. You can join a team of volunteers ridding the Parramatta River foreshore of plastic and other pesky waste, and helping to keep Sydney's waterways beautiful. To help get you in the mood, Purple Sneakers DJs will be throwing down tunes throughout the afternoon, plus there'll be an interactive percussion performance by the innovative Junkyard Beats crew, turning recycled objects into musical instruments. And as well as those feel-good vibes you'll get for helping out the planet, all participants will score themselves a free reusable stainless steel bottle for their efforts.
Warami is a Darug word meaning 'good to see you'. It's also the name of an annual festival of Indigenous culture in western Sydney that starts with National Sorry Day in May and ends in NAIDOC Week in July. The festival honours and celebrates the thousands of years of continued history for the Burramattagal people (who are part of the Darug nation) in the area we know as Parramatta. Every year, there's a program of family-friendly arts and crafts workshops, bush tucker food stalls, music and dance performances and knowledge tours. This year's program is going digital for the first time — and, as part of the program, there's a free showcase of comedy, music, storytelling, dance and art in Warami Live on Sunday, July 5, from 12–2pm. The two-hour live-stream will include deadly jokes from comedian Sean Choolburra, performances from electro-soul duo Bow and Arrow, country singer-songwriter Maddi Lyn, soulful singer-songwriter Evie J Willie, and hip hop artist Barkaa. You can also expect storytelling from longstanding Koori Radio host DJ Naian. Plus, even more performers will be announced nearer to the day. Can't wait till then? Check out the free Warami program running from now until July 5.
Indian-born artist Roopa Pemmaraju has earned widespread acclaim for her eponymous fashion label, which fuses bright Indigenous art with modern design. Following her MBFW appearance earlier in the year, we now have the chance to see her collaborative vision up close. The Melbourne artist has teamed up with four renowned Indigenous artists — Pauline Gallagher, Elizabeth Napaljarri Katakarinja, Judy Napangardi Watson, and Rowena Nungarrayi Larry — to digitally transfer their original artwork onto silk and turn them into fashion-forward pieces. The resulting Rhapsody of Colours art installation is now running for free throughout Lane Four at the Galeries until September 30. You can expect the Galeries building to be brimming with eye-popping, vibrant colours over its usual beige. Another plus: Since launching her label in 2006, Pemmaraju has been a strong supporter of Fair Trade practices, meaning you can drool over her work without feeling one ounce of guilt.
In what was the state's largest ever purchase of private land for national parks, the NSW Government acquired the 153,415-hectare Narriearra Station earlier this month. The huge swath of land stretches across Channel Country, the Bulloo River floodplain and wetlands in the far north west corner of NSW, near the Queensland border. Most importantly, though, it's home to more than 25 threatened animal species — including 90 percent of the state's habitat and breeding grounds for the endangered grey grasswren. The park, which is set to be named by the Tibooburra Local Aboriginal Land Council, is also home to many significant stone artefacts, tools and stone arrangements that provide evidence of First Nations peoples' history in the region. Environment Minister Matt Kean says the acquisition of the outback station has put them on track to achieve the 200,000 hectares of new national park land he promised last year. "Narriearra along with the nearby Sturt National Park, will create a vast near-contiguous conservation area of almost half a million hectares, or twice the size of the ACT," Kean said in a statement. While a visit to the new national park certainly won't be achievable in a weekend — it's located around a 13-hour drive northwest of Sydney — it'll be a worthy adventure, especially if you're a budding ornithologist. Within the park, you'll find the Caryapundy Swamp, which is home to tens of thousands of waterbirds, including pelicans, egrets, whiskered terns and a relative of the misunderstood bin chicken, the straw-necked ibis. As well as bird-filled swamp, there is also saltbush shrubland, sandplains, lakes and coolabah-lined channels. For more information about the Narriearra Station, head to the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment website.
Sydneysiders are getting an unexpected foodie treat straight from Adelaide's award-winning Africola. The restaurant's executive chef, Duncan Welgemoed, is set to take over Commune Waterloo in partnership with Taylors Wines next week. Dubbed Celsius, the pop-up will run from Wednesday, February 7 through Saturday, February 10 for two sittings each night at 6pm and 8pm. The name comes from the event's focus on temperature and how much it affects the flavour of both the food and wine we consume. Taylors is taking this theme to a rather unusual level by providing each guest with a Flir One thermal device that connects to your smartphone and allows users view the world in, well, temperature. Taylors will likewise pour each wine at its 'ideal' drinking temp, instead of just following the blanket rule of cold whites and room temperature reds. While we're skeptical about the thermal theme, a chance to taste Welgemoed's dishes is well worth the $99 ticket price in our book, especially considering that Africola's set menu — which features African-inspired smoked meats and veggies — normally runs you $110 with booze, not counting the flights down to Adelaide. This ticket will get you a three-course meal paired with wine, along with the use of a Flir One for the evening, if you're into that type of thing. We're more into the African barbecue bit.
Why drink at one watering hole, when you can head to two, three, six or more? That's always been the motivation behind everyone's favourite boozy journey, aka a pub crawl. And, it's the exact same type of thinking behind the Urban Wine Walk. Taking another wander around Sydney, it's the bar-hopping excuse every vino lover needs — if you need an excuse, that is. From midday until 4pm on Saturday, November 9, you'll saunter around Newtown and Erskineville — and between the likes of The Imperial, The Bank Hotel, Bloodwood, Corridor Newton, Sydney Park Hotel and more — sampling wines and having a mighty fine time. As for the tipples, they'll be taken care of by a range of local and national producers. Tickets cost $75 and places are limited. This moving cellar door will not only serve up more than 35 wine tastings, but also your own tasting glass — plus a voucher for another beverage, and a guide to help you plan your mosey between bars. Image: Sydney Park Hotel, Alana Dimou
No longer just a Saturday brekkie read, Sydney Morning Herald's Spectrum section is launching its own festival — casually directed by Rake actor, professional dreamboat and total legend Richard Roxburgh. Spectrum Now is being pitched as a celebration of Sydney's creativity — music, film, books, stage, dance, contemporary art and design — with over 150 exhibitions, gigs, outdoor galleries, installations, talks, events and wiiiiiiiine times planned for two weeks in March 2015. Under the articulate watch of kickass, award-winning actor, SMH columnist and festival creative director, Roxburgh, Spectrum Now is set to be a Pretty Big Deal. "I'm in equal measure honoured, excited and daunted to take up the challenge to bring a blockbuster program of artistic surprises to Sydney — it’s going to be brilliant," says Roxburgh. "Sydney has one of the most rich and diverse artistic communities in the world... For the month of March during Spectrum Now we will be showcasing that entire community and encouraging them to join us in bringing a degustation of delights to the people of Sydney." While the program won't be launched until January 31, we've got some tidbits of info to nibble on until then. Kicking off on March 11, Spectrum Now will focus around the Spectrum Playground (thanks for the mad shout out guys, woo! Yeah!). For two weeks from March 11–22, the Domain will be transformed into what the team is calling a 'creative pleasure garden', which sounds so overtly erotic we're signing up on the spot. We're talking bars, outdoor sculptures and pop-up exhibitions, alongside a bunch of tasty treats and live music. Talksters will dig on The Full Spectrum series, a program of arts talks, panels and performances curated by SMH's entertainment team. Art enthusiasts, your hallowed halls are getting in on the action too, with Sydney's top galleries and spaces like Art Gallery of New South Wales and the Sydney Opera House planning installations and ambiguous surprises on the foreshore. If you're wanting to get in on the action and host your own event, Spectrum are outsourcing. Event registrations are now open over a spectrum (WEY-OH) event categories including culture, food, arts, film, theatre, books and more. Applications close 12 December 2014. To find out more visit www.spectrumnow.com.au.
Kit Brookman’s A Rabbit for Kim Jong-Il is a comedic damnation of both capitalism and socialism. The two ideologies are fighting over a rabbit. The huge, fluffy rabbit named Felix is Brookman himself, and he's been dressed in the softest downy pullover and long johns by designer Elizabeth Gadsby. Like Friedrich Dürrenmatt’s The Physicists, A Rabbit for Kim Jong-Il uses a drama between individual characters to personify and thereby satirise capitalism and socialism, rendering world politics ridiculous. Admittedly Brookman’s satire today has less kick than Dürrenmatt’s would have had during the Cold War in 1962. Kim Jong-Il has expressed a culinary interest in Felix, a prize-winning rabbit reared by the reclusive, somewhat depressive German Johann Wertheim (Steve Rodgers), living just outside Bonn. As the Dear Leader’s birthday approaches, secret agent Mr Chung (Kaeng Chan) takes it upon himself to procure Felix at any cost in order to prove his loyalty and love for his leader. Believing that Westerners only care for money, he pays a handsome sum of €100,000 for Felix and returns with his loot. Johann then decides he can’t live without his furry friend and follows Chung to North Korea. Johann’s ostensibly well-meaning friend and rabbit vet Sophie (Kate Box) offers to accompany him on the mission. Rodgers is one of Sydney’s most consistently excellent actors, and in this production he is again in great form. He seems slightly ill at ease with the script in the opening scene though, and indeed Brookman’s script improves as the level of action increases. Director Lee Lewis, together with designer Gadsby, successfully transports the action out of the tiny Griffin stage to Germany, Poland and North Korea using projections on the black walls. The play off between socialism and capitalism doesn’t leave either world view looking particularly promising. Socialism as embodied by Mr Chung and Ms Park Chun-Hei (Mémé Thorne) is portrayed as structured, vainglorious and ruthless, while capitalism as embodied by Johann and Sophie is tired, alienating and delusional. All characters bar Felix show a motivation to be loved by others born of being spurned in the past. Felix represents an innocent kindness as an alternative to the selfishness and vindictiveness of the others — the premise being that the pursuit of power doesn’t end well for the innocent. Brookman has a remarkable ability to portray genuine benevolence as a performer without it coming across as saccharine, which is integral to us caring about Felix’s fate. His line to Johann, "I don’t forgive you", is all the more condemning for its reasonableness. A Rabbit for Kim Jong-Il is an ambitious, funny production of which Dürrenmatt himself would be proud.
The 2013 Sydney Film Festival is bringing out Jeff Desom's intense, insanely complex-looking video installation Rear Window Loop. Projected on a 10m-long surface, the panoramic piece allows you to see the world as it appeared to Jimmy Stewart's paranoid, wheelchair-bound photojournalist Jeff in Hitchcock's Rear Window — possible murders and all. The effect is created by splicing scenes together in After Effects, a process more complicated than it sounds in this sentence. "I dissected all of Hitchcock's Rear Window and stitched it back together in After Effects," says Desom on his website. "I stabilised all the shots with camera movement in them. Since everything was filmed from pretty much the same angle I was able to match them into a single panoramic view of the entire backyard without any greater distortions. The order of events stays true to the movie's plot." The three-channel projection runs for 20 minutes. You can get a good idea of the process as well as the finished product in this video, also from Dessom's site. Rear Window Loop won Best Remix in the Vimeo Awards and Golden Nica at Ars Electronica and will be installed at the Sydney Film Festival Hub at Lower Town Hall, which since last year has been the festival's route to incorporating art happenings, interdisciplinary works and playtime, acknowledging the role of film outside the cinema. It's curated by Sydney's favourite cultured revellers, The Festivalists (Jurassic Lounge). You can see Rear Window Loop at the Sydney Film Festival Hub at Lower Town Hall from June 6-14 at 5-6pm and again from 10pm-midnight. The SFF itself runs from June 5-16.
People have been known to cry in the opening ten minutes of The Lion King, as the rapturous 'Circle of Life' brings throngs of hand-crafted, often life-size animal figures to the stage. The toughest nuts will at least get a few shivers, and somewhere near me, one susceptible person screamed. It's a powerful reminder that spectacle isn't all superficial. See an awesome spectacle and your spirit swells; you feel alive and open to the world. That's got to be one of the big purposes of art, and it's there by the gallon in The Lion King. Premiering in 1997, the musical has become Broadway's highest grossing and won a stack of Tony Awards. It's back in Sydney with an Australian cast, and the thing is unbelievable to witness — full of innovative spirit and super super high production values. It's probably the pinnacle of musical theatre, and you should count yourself powerless to resist. The songs you remember by Elton John and Tim Rice from the 1994 cartoon are all there — 'Can You Feel the Love Tonight', 'Hakuna Matata', 'Be Prepared' — plus some lesser new additions. The highlights among these are beautiful, tribal instrumental numbers that accompany dance. The lowlight? The hyenas' 'Chow Down', which sounds like awkward Bon Jovi. The story is realised through majestic and brilliantly creative puppetry, costume and stagecraft, most of it conceived by director, co-designer and sometime lyricist Julie Taymor. As well as the aforementioned opening, the scene in which young Simba gets trapped in a stampede of wildebeest pouring into a gorge is pure magic. Are some of the performances dwarfed by all this pageantry? Indubitably. But more often than not they rise to meet it. Honourable mentions go to Cameron Goodall's committed clowning in the role of Zazu and to Kiwi newcomer Nick Afoa, playing adolescent Simba, whose big movement, voice and energy should be put to use on plenty more musical theatre stages. Buyi Zama, the only long-time Lion King-er, is next-level brilliant as the inimitable baboon Rafiki, while Josh Quong Tart does a delicious Scar — a perfect musical theatre villain if ever one was written. I wished I knew some small child I could take along to this and introduce to the magic of live theatre. But in the absence of one, I'm sure I made a suitably wide-eyed observer (and actually, considering the near-total recall of the cartoon I can't help having after a '90s childhood, I'm probably the second-best target market). Don't be a cynic; go fight for your seat at Pride Rock. https://youtube.com/watch?v=-pgZtzDj_7o
It's official: the Philter Public Bar will finally swing open its doors from midday today, Friday, August 21. After announcing its pending launch in November of last year and opening its bottle shop as a teaser in early June, the newest addition to the Marrickville brewery scene is finally here. Set in an old yoghurt factory opposite Wicks Park, the location is very well placed — it's just down the block from Batch and close walking distance to Sauce, Wildflower, Grifter and Willie The Boatman. Yeah, it has turned into one massive brewery crawl indeed. The brewpub pays homage to the building's 1960s heritage, as well as the 1980s Australiana vibe of Philter's can design. Expect "suburban pub nostalgia" aplenty, like hanging Tiffany lamps, hand-painted signage and a handmade tile bar with a bar top that's been rescued from a local pub. Plus a black chesterfield sofa and simple round tables and chairs. The somewhat kitschy, old school fit-out certainly suits the brand well. The public bar overlooks a brand new brewery and boasts a viewing deck with bar stools, so punters can watch the brewers in action while they sip fresh-as drops. It'll produce over one-million litres of beer per year, heaps of which will end up on the bar's taps. This includes Philter's first limited-edition brew — a hoppy dark ale dubbed Marrickville Nights — which will be available at the bar over the following days. First launched back in 2017, the gypsy brewery has become well-recognised for its retro tinnie branding and sessionable styles. It's led by one of Australia's first female brewers (and former Young Henrys head brewer) Samara Füss — who is, fittingly, a bit of a legend in the local beer scene — and Marrickville neighbours and beer lovers Stefan Constantoulas and Michael Neil. The public bar will be open five days per week, but it's run by reservations only on weekends — so you better get booking. Philter Public Bar is now open at 92–98 Sydenham Road, Marrickville. Opening hours are 5–9pm Wednesday–Thursday, 12–10pm Friday–Saturday and 12–6pm Sunday. Bookings are a must from Friday through Sunday, so be sure to nab a table here. Images: Liz Ham
In Unsane, Sawyer Valentini (Claire Foy) moves across the country to escape her stalker David (Joshua Leonard), but can't break free from his grasp. She still sees his face everywhere she looks. She still feels like she's unravelling. She still experiences flashes of pain and anxiety at inopportune moments — when a Tinder date is getting hot and heavy, for example. Alone in a new city, Sawyer seeks professional medical help, yet even that exacerbates her situation. Signing what seems to be a routine form, she's soon trapped in a mental health centre "for her own safety". Even worse, she spies David among the staff. Directing his second feature following his short-lived retirement from filmmaking, Steven Soderbergh puts Sawyer through a recognisable ordeal. As scripted by Jonathan Bernstein and James Greer (in quite a departure from their previous work, the Jackie Chan vehicle The Spy Next Door), the movie takes a leaf out of the well-thumbed psychological thriller playbook. Or does it? Surprises are part of the film's nightmarish world, as well as the genre that it knowingly fits into, but Unsane isn't just a chip off the old block. It slides smoothly into Soderbergh's filmography — in fact, if his 2013 flick Side Effects met his excellent TV series The Knick, it might look something like this. More than that, Unsane pairs a savage takedown of America's profits-before-patients health system with an equally sharp take on society's treatment of women. Specifically, Soderbergh and company dive into the mindset of someone who has been violated and attacked, providing a devastating expression of a victim's fraught, overwhelmed viewpoint. The film's plot continues to set the appropriate scene, pitting Sawyer against hostile doctors, nurses and cops, as well as her stalker, with allies few and far between (Amy Irving plays her mother, while Jay Pharoah pops up as a fellow detainee). If it sounds broadly familiar, that's by design. Here, a woman is harassed through no fault of her own, and is stuck reliving the trauma. She's subjected to unwanted attention from her assailant, and is scrutinised by the powers-that-be when she tries to take control. Further, when she asks for assistance, she's left at the mercy of a system that's complex at best and oppressive at worst. Indeed, Unsane's biggest shock doesn't spring from anything in its narrative, even when the film toys with reality. Instead, what's truly astonishing about the picture is how effectively it relays its perspective. The twists and suspense all work swimmingly, keeping the audience on edge throughout, but figuring out what's true or false is really beside the point. What matters in Unsane is how Sawyer is made to feel over and over again, and how the movie conveys her emotional and mental agitation to the viewers. Who, under intense stress, hasn't imagined something they definitely didn't witness? Who, in the same circumstances, hasn't felt like they're being watched? Who hasn't questioned their own sanity? Who hasn't felt hyper-alert, physically reacting to everything and everyone around them? In bringing these aspects of Sawyer's turmoil to the screen — and making her anguish seem to seep from the screen — Soderbergh's decision to shoot the film on three iPhone 7 Plus handsets is particularly astute. Every shot is intimate and urgent, as well as both voyeuristic and claustrophobic. Each visual composition feels heightened, frequently positioned at a slightly askew angle and often keeping part of the frame out of focus. Every image looks gritty and grim, even bordering on unpleasant. Crafting a literal picture of distress, the director (who also acts as his own cinematographer and editor under different pseudonyms) matches his style with the movie's substance, in an inventive filmmaking masterclass. Regardless of who Soderbergh was pointing his camera-phones at, his shooting technique would've hit the mark. But with Foy on the other side of the filmmaker's jumpy handheld lens, Unsane hits home hard. Far removed from the drama and glamour of The Crown (and with the American accent to prove it), the actor's performance couldn't be less regal. It also couldn't be more committed or compelling. The movie itself might come packaged with a pulpy tone, but the uneasy look in Foy's eye, the jitters in her hands and the stiffness of her stance speak to something more than lurid thrills. In fact, as this powerful film makes plain, they've stared back at many a viewer from their own mirrors. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yOkE3vsU6g
Now that spring has sprung, what better time to give your old ceramics collection a spruce up? Especially since you can score some fab pieces on the cheap, at Mud Australia's one-day-only Sydney seconds sale. The legendary Aussie label is opening the doors to its Marrickville studio on Saturday, November 23, and is slinging a whole assortment of its handmade porcelain and homewares for at least 40 percent off the regular price. There'll be dinner sets, bakeware, tableware, vases, lights and pot plants (and more). Head along from 9am to find some very pocket-friendly deals on designs that are samples, slightly chipped, left over from discontinued lines, imperfectly glazed, or as the team describes, "outrageously organic". You've got until 4pm to load up on cute ceramic bargains and sort out your mates' pressies (and Christmas pressies, it's soon) for the rest of the year. Mud's seconds sale runs from 9am–4pm.
I suppose everyone has to give up the funk eventually… Sydney eight piece Kid Confucius have stripped back the influences coming from D’Angelo, The Roots and future soul, omitted the cheese and even swapped afros for skinny ties on their third album The Let Go. Maybe they’re just giving the funk a rest. The soul, musicianship and texture are still retained on The Let Go, but instead of tight horns and slow grooves, it’s all full throttle guitars and southern licks. They’ve almost done the opposite of Kings Of Leon, instead of disappearing into stadium oblivion and smothering everything with reverb, KC have turned down the fidelity that can be heard on 2005’s Stripes, turning to vintage gear and tape machines with the aid of Tony Buchan (Andy Bull, Macromantics).The latest single is called Big Black Cloud and it’s a smoking rocker following on from the more sunny dual guitar-handclap love song Darling I Need Ya and the garage/soul of Good Luck. They are taking their umbrellas and their Big Black Cloud tour around the east coast with the help of indie rockers Bird Automatic and the Central Coast’s Slow Down Honey, who are making some very sweet and radio friendly pop. https://youtube.com/watch?v=6GDowiGwO08
Move over southern-fried chicken, there's a new bird in town: Philippine inasal. This traditional barbecue chicken dish — along with many more mouthwatering eats to discover — will collide with the fine dining experience of the Shangri-La this September. Straight from Manila, chefs Clayford Manuel, Charie Carmel Ferolin and Jovelyn Adra will be taking up a week-long residency to showcase the best of Filipino cuisine. Prepare yourselves for succulent pork sisig and the classic Filipino adobo — a fragrant dish with marinated meat (usually chicken) in spices — and be sure to leave room for the centrepiece of the feast: an entire spit-roasted pig stuffed with traditional herbs and vegetables and slow-cooked to ensure that it's tender on the inside and crispy on the outside. Then of course, you'll need to sample the array of desserts on offer like the caramelised leche flan, coconut buko pandan and rich pichi-pichi made from shredded cassava and a good dose of sugar. The Shangri-La Philippine Food Festival runs at Cafe Mix from Friday, September 8 to Saturday, September 16. Lunch is available Sunday to Thursday from 12pm to 2.30pm, and dinner from 6pm to 10.30pm. On Friday and Saturday a seafood buffet dinner will be available from 6pm to 10.30pm.
The Southern Hemisphere's first-ever Ace Hotel opened in Sydney back in May of last year. As expected, it's offering super-sleek accommodation in the heart of the city, but the Ace also boasts a range of extra-curricular adventures, including dining options like the top-notch lobby bar and Mitch Orr's stunning new restaurant Kiln, and residencies from the likes of Summer Camp and FBi Radio. The latest pop-up to hit the hotel will be an independent record label market in its laneway cafe Good Chemistry. Put together by Melbourne's Efficient Space, the one-day market will arrive at the cafe from midday until 5pm on Sunday, April 2. On offer will be a range of vinyl, cassettes, books and t-shirts from an array of independent Australian record labels. Getting in on the action will be the likes of Altered States Tapes, Bedroom Suck, Butter Sessions, Efficient Space , Moonshoe, Music In Exile, Pure Space and Research Records. Sweetening the deal will be a few special items available on the day including one-off releases, early pre-releases and test pressings. Adding to the atmosphere is a drinks list curated by natty wine specialist Mike Bennie of P&V. Entry is free if you want to come down and get your hands on some rare and exciting music while supporting the little guys of the Australian music industry. You can RSVP at the Ace Hotel website. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Efficient Space (@efficient_space) Top image: Nikki To
In the 17 years that Gelato Messina has been in business, over 4000 special flavours have made their way through its 20 gelato cabinets around the country. To celebrate some of these oldies but goodies, Messina is dedicating an entire weekend to its top 40 greatest hits. From July 27–28, lucky Sydneysiders will be able to treat themselves to an entire cabinet worth of limited-edition gelato flavours. The deal will only be available at the Rosebery store, where none of the classic flavours will be available. Instead, expect specials like the Just Like a Milkshake and Have a Gay Old Time. You'll definitely get to taste the Jon Snow (white chocolate gelato with dark chocolate mud cake and almond praline), the Fairy Bread (toast and butter gelato with 100s & 1000s) and the Robert Brownie Jnr (milk chocolate gelato, chocolate brownie and chocolate fudge sauce). Also making the cut is red velvet cheesecake number and peanut butter gelato with chocolate brownie and dulce de leche. Messina took suggestions for the whole 40-flavour lineup, which means that some of your own favourites might've made the list. Here's the full rundown — happy eating: Fairy Bread Montgomery's Goldmine Caramel Cheesecake Hodor Just Like A Milkshake Dark Side Tanti Baci Oreogasm Mango Pancake Pavlova Twixed Goregeous Dave True Romance Cremino Bishop's Banana Lady Of Winterfell The Boss's Wife Drop It Like White Choc Hello Sailor Lamington Sticky First Date Alfajores Ramsay Bolton Yuzu Sorbet Cinnie Bunstein Mamma's Cheesecake Finger Bun Red Wedding Coco Loco Lychee Sorbet Robert Brownie Jr. Have A Gay Old Time Jon Snow Nyc Breakfast In Canberra A Salt On The Senses Dr. Evil Number Two Chocolate Hazelnut Tiramisu Iron Born Gelato Messina's Greatest Hits will be available from July 27–28 at Sydney's Rosebery (58 Mentmore Avenue) store. Only the top 40 specials will be available from 11am until sold out — no classic flavours and no Deliveroo.
This free Sydney Fringe party will invade Kensington Street Festival Village with music, theatre performers, art and food for five magnificent hours from on Saturday, September 8. You'll be watching a bunch of Sydney's best street artists create new commissions — three on the wall and several others that'll go up for auction on the day — in real time to raise money for charity. As they paint, live musicians will perform a spontaneous soundtrack, inspired by the works in progress. When it's time for a bevvie, head to the pop-up festival bar for a G&T from Gin Lane or a glass of vino from Handpicked Wines. As far as eats go, you'll be spoilt for choice. Heaps of Kensington Street's vendors will serve up snack-size offerings — think sammies from A1 Canteen, Italian fare from Olio and French food from Bistrot Gavroche. It will all wrap up around 8pm, but an after party will continue until the early morn at The Gladdy around the corner.
Automata's executive chef Clayton Wells is again hosting an all-star crew of Aussie chefs at his venue this month — all for a good cause. After a highly successful first run in 2018, One Plate for Two Good is set to return with ten of Sydney's culinary masterminds joining forces for a charity lunch on Sunday, February 24 from noon–3pm. Trust us, you're going to want to be at it. Joining Wells in the kitchen this time around are Dan Hong (Mr. Wong, Ms.G's), Monty Koludrovic (The Dolphin, Icebergs), Ben Greeno (The Paddington, Hotel Centennial), Paul Carmichael (Momofuku Seiobo), Trisha Greentree (who's about to join 10 William Street), Luke Powell (LP's Quality Meats, Bella Brutta), Palisa Anderson (Boon Cafe, Chat Thai), Josh Niland (Saint Peter) and Federico Zanellato (LuMi Dining). Yup, they've hit the jackpot with this group. The lunch will consist of 10 snacks — with each chef preparing a different dish — and three drinks, with booze provided by P&V Wine and Liquor, NZ brewery Garage Project and vermouth label Regal Rogue. This year, music will also take a front seat, with each chef contributing to the arvo's playlist. All proceeds from the lunch are going to Two Good Co, a social enterprise that provides food and employment for victims of domestic violence and others in need. If miss out on the event, you can also order tasty salads and soups from the charity — which has a buy-one, give-one lunch delivery model. All of its recipes are created by top Australian chefs, too, so you're really getting some feel good, bang-for-your-buck. The ticket to the Automata event will cost you $100, but, with this calibre of eats and the funds going to a great cause, we reckon it will be one of the best lunches you'll buy. Tickets have just gone on sale, and you can get yours here. Last year's party sold out in 24-hours, so if you want 'em, come and get 'em. To learn more about Two Good or to order lunch to the office, head to their website. Images: One Plate for Two Good 2018, Nikki To.
Much to the dismay of inner city residents, Pyrmont eatery Quick Brown Fox is currently closed due to Sydney's ongoing lockdown. But, in much needed good news: the crew behind the Sydney cafe have launched a new two-month pop-up kicking off on Wednesday, August 4. You can find Buen Taco cooking up a flavour-heavy selection of Mexican eats out of QBF's home on Union Street. The star of the limited-time menu is four tacos: a crispy fish baja taco, a pulled pork carnitas taco, a shredded chipotle tinga taco and birra taco packed with beef and served with a dipping broth. Accompanying the tacos is a lush selection of sides including cheesy beans which can be topped with slow-cooked beef or pulled pork shoulder, and a stewed apple dessert enchilada. If you're looking to spice up date night, a couples pack with two sets of tacos, a side of your choice and two soft drinks is on offer, plus frozen margaritas are available to add on for pickup. The pop-up is running 5–9.30pm Wednesday–Saturday through until the end of Sydney's lockdown. You can order the tacos for pickup or delivery via UberEats and DoorDash. Images: Steven Woodburn
Too many wines, not enough time. That's why food and wine festivals exist — they take the legwork out of it to bring us the best of the best to sample. On the first weekend in October, more than 40 of the highest-achieving wineries in Heathcote, a wine region 30 minutes' drive southwest of Bendigo, will gather at the Heathcote Showground for a vino-palooza of mammoth proportions. This iconic event has been attracting serious winos for more than 15 years — around 4000-plus people from across Victoria and interstate attend annually, so you'll be rubbing shoulders with hardcore sippers, swirlers and some newbies. Gear up to try a bunch of new releases as well as the area's signature drops. The Heathcote wine region has long had a reputation for killer shiraz, but more recently, an array of more unusual Mediterranean varietals have joined the lineup. From Italian nebbiolo to Spanish tempranillo, you'll get to sample them all. Should you and your palate need a break from all that quaffable wine, visit one of the food stalls slinging the best local produce and artisanal goods — Salami Shack, Frying Calamari Brothers and The Farce Charcuterie are just a few of the well-regarded vendors in attendance. If you're travelling from Melbourne or Bendigo, leave the car at home — jump aboard one of the festival-bound buses and enjoy yourself without worrying about the drive back.
As Sydney emerges from nearly four months of lockdown, the NSW Government is investing $66 million into a series of initiatives aimed at increasing outdoor dining, activities and events across the state. At the centre of the plan is a large number of grants that will be given to restaurants and bars to improve their al fresco dining options. "After a long winter, it's time for Sydney to enjoy a meal or drink in the sunshine," Minister for Digital and Customer Service Victor Dominello said. "We're providing five thousand hospitality businesses a $5000 grant to get their outdoor dining venture off the ground - whether that's to help set-up curb-side dining or a pub-style courtyard." To help facilitate this initiative, the state government has permanently eased rules regarding dining on footpaths and public spaces, and temporarily rolled back restrictions on hosting outdoor dining on privately-owned bowling greens and carparks. [caption id="attachment_828769" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Vic on the Park's beer garden[/caption] To encourage people to engage with public spaces in the city, murals, art installations and laneway cinemas will all be funded by the government as part of The Festival of Place, an initiative to help revitalise areas like The Rocks, Darling Harbour, and The Domain. These are part of a broader rollout of state and local government programs designed to encourage patrons to go out and jump-start the state's economy and hospitality industry after a horror two years. The NSW Government's Dine & Discover program has been extended to June next year, with anyone signed up to the program receiving a top up of two more $25 vouchers to spend on food and entertainment. The City of Sydney is also investing $5.7 million into al fresco dining at inner-city establishments. "Waiving outdoor dining fees was one of the first things we did when the pandemic hit Sydney, to make it easier for restaurants, bars and cafes to operate while encouraging physical distancing," said Lord Mayor Clover Moore said when the initiative was announced in June. "People have really embraced it, with participating businesses telling us they've taken on extra staff and seen increased patronage — a crucial aid to staying afloat in these difficult times." [caption id="attachment_814178" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Dolphin Hotel[/caption] Head to the NSW Government's website to learn more about the Alfresco Restart Package.
Brooke Robinson’s Animal/People (directed by James Dalton) has a whiff of Lionel Shriver’s We Need to Talk About Kevin to it — a man and a woman, uncertain of the true identity of their child, make certain assumptions as they attempt to wrangle their own inner beasts. There is animal instinct at work here, but also a great deal of human intent. It is difficult to decide which of the two is more damaging to these parents and their child. As a man (Martin Crewes) is running one morning, he sees a woman who is the victim of an animal attack. He does not stop, but covertly appoints himself her protector, determined to identify the perpetrator and avert a repeat mauling. A woman (Georgia Adamson) encounters the same victim at the hospital where she works. The nature of the injuries sets her thinking, reflecting on her experiences of raising a son. Animal/People is cagey, in its text and staging. The story is related in two monologue streams that complement each other but hesitate to illuminate a complete picture. Crewes skilfully portrays a man hiding so many secrets he has no time to appreciate the rising problems of those around him, nor the way his facade of blokiness and charm falls flat with them. Adamson’s woman is fascinating, torn between warring instincts of maternity and self-preservation. The guilt she experiences for eschewing human vulnerability is tempered by the detachment, vigilance and fear that arises from being surrounded by predators. For the first half, the lights reveal little more than the faces of the man and woman, and it is not until the end that the audience is treated to a blindingly bright view of the stage. It is well worth the wait, as Dylan Tonkin’s set is beautiful — two white walls stretch upstage, converging in a shattered apex. Two (head?) lights shine dully over the carnage. A fleet of fluoros, flickering and angry, swarms from the devastation of the impact. A light layer of torn paper, the beginning of a rat’s nest, litters the space over a bed of black shredded rubber. A Perspex plinth sits centre stage. Lit from below, it is an eerie altar on which the characters sometimes attempt to sleep with little success. Animal/People requires some patience and a little work to assemble as it unveils its plot in a manner designed to maintain a high degree of tension. This does nothing to detract, though, from an ugly, visceral and compelling piece of theatre executed by skilled artists on all sides.
In news that makes my gawky ten-year-old self squeal with prepubescent joy, '90s R&B legends TLC have just announced their first tour to Australia. In a time when 'Genie in a Bottle' and 'Hit Me Baby One More Time' dominated the charts, Tionne 'T-Boz' Watkins, Rozonda 'Chilli' Thomas and Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes taught a whole generation about girl power, cargo pants and combat boots. These were the ladiez who told me not to waste my time with scrubs (FYI: a scrub is a guy who can't get no love from me). Although nearly two decades have passed since their standout hits 'No Scrubs' and 'Waterfalls', TLC will be touring Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth in June of this year. Of course, since the passing of Left Eye in a 2002 car crash, the band will be performing with just two of the original three members. Although TLC's reps have stated there will be some inclusion of Lopes through audiovisual means (though definitely not a hologram a la Tupac). Beaten only by the Spice Girls, TLC still stand as the second highest selling girl group of all time with a mammoth 65 million album sales recorded worldwide. The trio are also universally acknowledged as the number one iPod selection at both karaoke and horrifically late portions of house parties when everyone feels the need to rap terribly and grind on the d-floor like it's 1994. Although TLC have confirmed they are working on a new album set for release sometime this year, this is inevitably going to be a gig for pure nostalgia. Bonus points for anyone who rocks up in white diamantes or primary-coloured overalls, Converse trainers and condom badges. Also, if you don't know all the words and relevant sassy head bobs to 'No Scrubs', you're straight-up not allowed inside the venue. Tour dates: Friday, June 6: Enmore Theatre, Sydney. Tickets from Ticketek. Saturday, June 7: Eatons Hall, Brisbane. Tickets from Oztix. Wednesday, June 11: Palais Theatre, Melbourne. Tickets from Ticketmaster. Friday, June 13: Metro City, Perth. Tickets from Oztix. Tickets on sale 9am on Tuesday, April 24.
Life can feel a little gloomy when your entire city is a couple of months deep into lockdown. But, we can't think of a better time to spread a bit of love and cheer — so why not treat your friends to a little present, just because. After all, you know what they say about the gift of giving — it's not just the person receiving the present that's in for some warm and fuzzies. Luckily, thanks to the wild times we live in, there's no shortage of excellent gifting options available for speedy delivery. To help you pick the perfect prezzie for the well-deserving humans in your life, we've pulled together a few primo options to suit all kinds of different persuasions; from the mate who's been cooking up a storm, to that person who's recently discovered the joys of a good book. Channel your online shopping habit into making others happy and check out these top-notch present picks. [caption id="attachment_771911" align="alignnone" width="1920"] by Rob Palmer, from Josh Niland's The Whole Fish Cookbook[/caption] THAT FRIEND YOU'VE BEEN GETTING ALL YOUR LOCKDOWN RECIPES FROM At this point of lockdown, even your go-to recipe guru is likely running short on inspiration. Remedy that with a few fresh ideas and wise words from the experts, and get them a nice glossy cookbook from the chef behind their favourite restaurant. Plenty of leading local venues have inspired books filled with recipes and tips, that'll both level-up someone's kitchen game and help fill that void when dining out is off the cards. Seafood fans will be chuffed to own a copy of Take One Fish from Saint Peter's Josh Niland, where the chef shares his forward-thinking philosophy on cooking with fish, across 60 cracking recipes. Fellow Sydney chef star Peter Gilmore (Quay) gives insight into his own celebrated cooking style with stunning titles like Organum. For Melbourne mates, try the beautiful homage to all things vegan that is Shannon Martinez's (Smith & Daughters) latest title Vegan With Bite. Or challenge them to up the ante with Brae: Recipes and Stories From the Restaurant by world-renowned talent Dan Hunter, which unpacks some of the incredible dishes plated up at one of Australia's best fine diners. Perfecting the recipe for chilled broad bean broth with strawberry fig leaf and yoghurt whey should keep them busy until the end of lockdown. THAT MATE WHO'S ACTUALLY BEEN KEEPING UP AN EXERCISE ROUTINE DURING LOCKDOWN Sticking to an exercise routine is tough at the best of times. So if you know someone who's managed to get through this crazy iso period without giving up on workouts altogether, they deserve a serious pat on the back. Or maybe a nice little present — like some quality activewear made from recycled plastic bottles, courtesy of Sydney-born brand Nimble. The label's sustainable collection of women's workout threads are extra kind to the environment and ship Australia-wide. Similarly, DK Active is known for its ethically produced line of active threads for men and women, crafted with sustainable fabrics in order to reduce landfill and ocean waste. And if you're looking for the ultimate present for a yogi mate, check out the eco-sensitive yoga mats from Recycled Mats, featuring stunning designs like this one from Indigenous artist Anna Carroll. Or, you know, maybe what your mate is really craving after all that religious exercising is a big ol' box of decadent chocolate treats. Invite them to roll up that workout mat, take a breather and treat themselves to a box of eclairs from Sydney's Madame & Yves, a cake fix courtesy of Black Star Pastry, or some gooey-centred delights from The Cookie Box. [caption id="attachment_775874" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Providoor[/caption] THAT PARENT WHO'S BEEN COOKING THE SAME FIVE DISHES FOR 20+ YEARS They say variety is the spice of life. But if you know someone who's severely lacking in the spiciness department, perhaps it's time to gently nudge them towards a culinary shakeup. Or at least a new recipe or two. The key here is maximum inspiration and minimal effort, which Make Out Meals is serving up in abundance. This Melbourne-based business delivers top-quality meal kits based on menus from your favourite local restaurants and chefs. They feature ingredients, recipe cards and even step-by-step cook-along videos, so your folks can be whipping up Lello's minestrone soup with gnocchi sardi or Babajan's harissa salmon in no time at all. For fresh meals with even less effort involved, Providoor is delivering an excellent range of finish-at-home dishes and banquets from top Sydney and Melbourne restaurants, that might just give mum or dad the boost of confidence to try something new. Of course, a chef-penned cookbook packed with fresh dinner ideas is also a good option here. Especially if mum's got a long-held crush on a certain curly-haired, Irish-accented chef... [caption id="attachment_738943" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Drnks[/caption] THE ONE WHO CAN'T WAIT TO GET BACK ON THE BEERS No one's heading to the pub these days, but you can get the next best thing all packaged up and delivered to your door with a Pub In a Box experience from one of the city's fine booze-slinging establishments. Melbourne craft brewery Moon Dog first trotted out its take on the concept during last year's lockdowns and it's now back thanks to popular demand, available to ship Australia-wide. Clocking in at $99, the box comes packed with a tasty range of house beer — and seltzer — creations, along with a couple of branded beer glasses, a bar mat and beer nuts, to really capture that pub spirit. Parkville pub Naughtons has recently dropped its own version, which comes complete with drinks, a rotating selection of top-notch pub grub (homemade pie, anyone?) and even a trivia card to help you recreate that beloved quiz night. Beer-focused gifting service Brewquets can also help fill the void with its curated packs, which match a lineup of craft beer with extras like beer glasses and classic bar snacks. And booze retailer Drnks is coming to the rescue with its curated boozy care packs, featuring extras like DIY burger kits, aperitivo snacks and picnic eats. THAT FRIEND WHO'S ALWAYS IN NEED OF A NEW CREATIVE PROJECT We all know someone who just ain't happy unless they're getting their hands messy, making or creating something. Ceramics, paint-by-numbers, knitting, terrariums — you name it, if it's got a creative edge, they've tried it at least once during lockdown. But after this much time at home, we bet they're in desperate need of a new pursuit to keep them busy and entertained through the tail-end of this time stuck at home. Have they had a crack at shibori yet? There are lots of local spots spreading love for this ancient Japanese method of resist-dyeing, offering online tutorials and home-delivered DIY kits. Try Sydney-based textile studio Shibori for fun, instructional project kits for novices through to seasoned dyers, or order your mate one of these beautiful packs from Handmaker's Factory in Melbourne's West Footscray. This crew also sells an excellent weaving loom kit, if that's more your friend's speed. If they've got a thing for the tile-of-the-moment, terrazzo, Journey of Something's DIY kit will have them whipping up these cute flecked coasters to grace their coffee table. Meanwhile, local retailers like Craft Club Co have a range of easy-to-follow rug-making kits that will get them hooked on creating fun floor accessories. These beginner packs include all the tools and materials needed for one specific project, though the internet's filled with online rug-making suppliers if they get the itch and want to make more. [caption id="attachment_814288" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Salus[/caption] YOUR HOUSEMATE WHO'S RUN OUT OF QUALITY BATHROOM PRODUCTS Maybe you've been nicking a few squirts of your housemate's luxe moisturiser here and there, maybe you haven't. Who's to say? Either way, a bathroom that's running low on decent product is not a good one to have during lockdown. Replenish the stocks or simply treat your roomie to some pampering essentials with a home-delivered care package full of locally-made bathroom goodies. Melbourne's Hunter Lab has a sleek line of natural skin, hair and body products that have the added bonus of looking very dapper on your shower shelf or by your bathroom sink. The brand's also doing some rather gorgeous gift packs, featuring leather toiletry bags. Sydney-born skincare range Edible Beauty Australia makes botanically-charged products to soothe all sorts of skin types and needs, and offers an array of great gift-worthy bundles, too. And the lineup of high-end spa-inspired products from Salus is filled with good stuff, from purifying rosemary body scrubs, to chamomile facial masks, and rejuvenating body oils made with rosehip and orange. Can't decide? Gift them with a box of treats curated by the experts. Local subscription services like Tis The Box and Bellabox will deliver a regular pack (or one-off box) of new products and cult favourites straight to your door. [caption id="attachment_812098" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Edgar Castrejon via Unsplash[/caption] THAT FRIEND WHO'S BEEN RELYING A LITTLE TOO MUCH ON UBEREATS The kitchen can be a daunting place and the pull of UberEats is strong. So, if you're looking to nudge someone out of the lockdown takeaway rut, you're going to want to make the alternative as attractive as possible. You could whip them up a five-star meal yourself; or you could gift them a few clever things that'll help them level-up their own kitchen game in a jiffy. For example, a flavour-packed, nourishing bowl of ramen is a breeze to master, if you've got a DIY kit to guide you through the process. Sydney's Rising Sun Workshop is slinging a range of these finish-at-home packs for delivery across the city, while in Melbourne, Shop Ramen has an even heftier selection of make-at-home kits, which come complete with all ingredients, a bunch of garnishes and easy-to-follow instructions. Grab your mate a steamed brisket bun kit while you're there. Otherwise, treat them to some honest, homestyle cooking that requires little more than a quick reheat in the oven. Sydney-based FoodSt has a growing menu of satisfying home-cooked meals crafted by its team of actual home cooks using real ingredients. Treat your mate to dishes like a Moroccan lamb tagine, hearty gnocchi bolognese, and spinach and ricotta cannelloni, and remind them what non-restaurant food tastes like. Who knows — you might even inspire them to hit the kitchen themselves. [caption id="attachment_826640" align="alignnone" width="1920"] WellRead, by Frenchy[/caption] THAT MATE WHO'S JUST DISCOVERED BOOKS Know someone who could use a little guidance when it comes to selecting a great read? Hand them over to the experts at Aussie book subscription service WellRead. These guys offer subscription packs to suit readers of all persuasions — and ages — sending customers a different hand-picked title each month. You can sign your mate up for an ongoing delivery, or choose a one-off gift from WellRead's curation of three-book packs. Literati runs a similar subscription offering, heroing fiction titles, non-fiction and classics. Plans start from an easy $21, plus readers can access Literati's program of virtual author Q&A sessions. And over at The Wild Book Box they're playing book matchmaker with pre-loved reads, matching up customers (or giftees) with quality second-hand titles based on their preferences and reading habits. Local versions are also being delivered by the likes of Elizabeth's Bookshop in Sydney, whose famed Blind Date With a Book mystery packs are available to ship Australia-wide. Top Image: Naughtons Pub in a Box
Everyone's favourite non-alcoholic beer brand Heaps Normal is throwing a massive one-day music festival at The Great Club in Marrickville. Pulling together a stacked lineup of local talent, an exciting food and drink roster and a range of extra-curricular activities, the all-day event is offering something for everybody. The genre-bending lineup is headed up by hip hop supergroup 1300, alongside singer-songwriters Babitha and Annie Hamilton, rapper Ziggy Ramo, and punk and DIY rockers Gee Tee, Loose Fit and Research Reatorc Corp. Also on the lineup: Alex Cross, CK & the 45s, Germ Donor, JEP, Maanyung, Solo Career and Tired Girl, plus DJ sets from Body Type and Heartsville. P&V's Mike Bennie has been enlisted to curate the drinks menu. The festival encourages patrons to have fun their own way, with both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks on offer including some of Bennie's favourite mid- to low-strength wines and plenty of Heaps Normal, of course. The drinks list will be accompanied by food from Rosso Antico. Outside of the music, there will be film screenings, illustration workshops from Luke John Matthew Arnold, flash tattoos from Tattoo Rosies, a mullet station and an embroidery station. NORMFEST will be taking over The Great Club from 3pm until midnight on Saturday, December 10. Tickets are $20 pre-sale or $25 on the door if the festival hasn't sold out. There are free tickets available for First Nations attendees if you email marketing@heapsnormal.com.
The communal workplace fridge — filled with a lifetime supply of tupperware containers, forgotten lunches and that unidentifiable smell that hits you every time you open the door. Sound familiar? If you need a daily reminder of how guilty we all are of wasting food, that's certainly it. We can all do better, which is why Electrolux has joined forces with OzHarvest to create the All Taste No Waste dinner series. It'll be held at the Electrolux Experience Centre in Mascot from September 19–21 and will feature intimate dinners with six of the country's top chefs. Chefs from across Australia will pair up to create one-off menus that take some of the most commonly wasted foods, including chicken, ham and prawns, along with eggs, milk and cheese, and transform these ingredients into delicious dishes. The hope is to inspire guests to reduce food wastage at home and learn new ways to use up leftovers. Wednesday, September 19 will host Jacqui Challinor from Sydney's Nomad and Stewart Wesson from Adelaide's Whistle & Flute. Thursday, September 20 will pair James Viles from Bowral's Biota with Richard Ousby of Melbourne's Stokehouse restaurants. And on Friday, September 21, it'll be Massimo Mele from Tasmania's Grain of the Silos and Mitch Orr from Sydney's Acme. The Australian food waste statistics are far from acceptable — one in five bags of food shopping ends up in the bin, food waste costs the average family $195 per month, and 644,000 Australians now receive food relief each month and one-third of these are children. "As a chef, we're taught a great respect for food," says Viles. "I hope that by inspiring people to use commonly wasted ingredients in inventive ways, we can encourage guests to shop and cook smarter and prevent good food ending up as landfill." Each dinner costs $55 (including drinks) and is limited to 40 guests. All proceeds will be donated to OzHarvest which, for every dollar raised, will provide two meals for Australians in need. Nab a seat at the table by purchasing a ticket here.
Among the many challenges that Australians have faced over the past year, our love of travel has been hit hard — including in our own backyard. Domestic border restrictions keep changing with frequency in response to new cases and clusters in different states, meaning that planning a holiday beyond your own city has been more than a little tricky. And if COVID-19 outbreaks keep happening, this situation may continue for the foreseeable future. If you're a New South Wales resident who's keen to take a trip to the Australian Capital Territory sometime soon, however, some good news has just arrived. The ACT has had various levels of border restrictions with Greater Sydney, the Central Coast and Wollongong since before Christmas, all in response to the northern beaches cluster — but, when 3pm rolls around today, Friday, January 29, no restrictions will remain in place. At the moment, thanks to the ACT Government's previous easing of border limits throughout the January, most restrictions with NSW have already been limited. But today's move will affect the Cumberland local government area, the only NSW region still classed as 'COVID-19 affected' by the ACT. So, folks who've been in that specific region will be able to enter the ACT again. https://twitter.com/ACTHealth/status/1354947026857979906 The loosened rules cover both ACT residents and non-residents — and, whichever category you fall into, you'll be able to travel to the ACT without a declaration or quarantining. That said, the Cumberland and Blacktown local government areas will still remain on the state's list of geographical areas of risk, which means that anyone who has been in either area shouldn't visit or work in a high-risk setting — such as a hospital, other healthcare facilities or a residential aged care facility — for 14 days after leaving the area. For further details about the ACT's border restrictions, head to the territory's COVID-19 hub. For more information about the status of COVID-19 in NSW, head to the NSW Health website.
Okay, so you've heard about Rembrandt and the Dutch Golden Age: Masterpieces from the Rijksmuseum, you've even read about the top five artworks not to miss, but it's a huge, glorious beast of an exhibition and we're not done talking about it. From rare paintings to bespoke pastry to an audio guide set to the strains of a famous blind Dutch recorder maestro (true), we pick five reasons to make the trip to the Art Gallery of NSW for the first ever major exhibition of Dutch masters in Sydney before it wraps up on Sunday, February 18. THE ROOM OF REMBRANDTS Yes, there is literally an entire room dedicated to one of the most celebrated and innovative minds in the history of art, Rembrandt van Rijn. An artist who constantly experimented with style and technique, Rembrandt could do it all. Turning his hand to everything from portraiture to landscapes to biblical themes to animal studies, he kept audiences guessing right up until his death at 63, creating a legacy that influenced everyone from Rodin to Van Gogh to Goya — and he continues to inspire today. Wander your way around seven oils and 16 etchings dating from the early stages to later years of his career, depicting both biblical and secular subjects (including self-portraits). Speaking of which, a crowd will likely be gathered around the iconic Self-Portrait as the Apostle Paul (1661), so hustle in, and secure a good vantage point to muse over the intriguingly ambiguous facial expression. Ask your companion (or if you're flying solo, be bold and ask the stranger next to you) what they read in it. We dare you. THE (FREE) AUDIOGUIDE If you've never experienced the indulgent escapism that comes from popping on a pair of headphones and blissfully wandering 'round a gallery for a couple of hours, now's your chance. Written by exhibition researcher Josephine Touma, the exhibition's audio guide will lead you around a carefully selected cross-section of 26 key paintings (note: there's a lot of information and you won't want to rush it, so have your secretary clear your schedule for a morning or afternoon). Narrated by renowned British actress and voice-to-die-for Miriam Margolyes, the guide also features a musical accompaniment to complement each room, featuring the major composers of the Dutch Republic as chosen by ABC Classics — think Jacob van Eyck, Sybrandus van Noordt and Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck. Oh, and the great news? Unlike what is so often the case with an exhibition of this scale and prestige, the audio guide won't cost you a penny. THE VERMEER You may not realise it, but having a Vermeer in a Sydney gallery is kind of a big deal. There are only 35 known surviving Vermeer's in the world, so seeing one in the flesh is rare. The serenely luminous Woman Reading a Letter (1663) was painted at the height of the artist's powers and is unquestionably one of the most beautiful works in the exhibition. Ponder the painting's mysteries and start the inevitable conversation about whether the woman depicted is meant to be pregnant (FYI: according to Touma, given the historical context and the attitudes of the time, it's more likely that she's just wearing a really puffy/unflattering bed jacket). Also, take note of the interesting position of this work opposite Rembrandt's Self-Portrait as the Apostle Paul — a decision that gave the visiting Rijksmuseum director and curator a big thrill. "There are very few places in the world where you can see those two artists really looking at each other," comments Touma, who also loves the way the inspired placement "brings Rembrandt and Vermeer together in a dialogue". THE TART Oh, how we love it when art and dessert combine forces. Created by Bourke Street Bakery specifically to celebrate the exhibition, The Rembrandt is a tart with spiced custard and crumbled macaroon. Like a delicious cross between a Portuguese custard tart and a crème brûlée — and with warm Christmas spices on top — the tart pays homage to the Dutch Golden Age, with ingredients inspired by the spice trade of the 17th century. Even better, there's a weekly Instagram competition to get involved in if you fancy winning free tickets to the exhibition. Step 1: Head to your nearest Bourke Street Bakery. Step 2: Buy tart. Step 3: Refrain from devouring tart for long enough to snap a photo of it (you'll get extra points for creativity). Step 4: Get custardy fingerprints on your phone as you upload to Instagram using the hashtags #RembrandtAGNSW @artgalleryofnsw and @bourkestreetbakery. If only every exhibition could have a bespoke pastry created in its honour. THE EXTRAS There's a whole host of lectures, workshops, live music, guided tours and performances programmed alongside the exhibition, designed to enhance your connection with both the artworks and the cultural vibe of 17th-century Dutch society. Our top picks? Combine fine art with comedy at The Bear Pack: Dutch Masters on Wednesdays until January 31 at 6.30pm. Sydney funny man Carlo Ritchie of improv duo The Bear Pack and special guests will be performing an improvised play using audience suggestions to 'tell the untold tales of the Dutch masters', to the accompaniment of cellist Ange Lavoipierre. There's also Conversations with ABC presenter James Valentine and guests, where you basically head along for a drink and a chat about the period. Rembrandt and the Dutch Golden Age: Masterpieces from the Rijksmuseum runs until February 18 as part of the Sydney International Art Series 2017–2018.
