Sydney's international dance festival is back at the Sydney Opera House from August 20 to September 2. This year's Spring Dance programme, a two-week line-up of the world's best dancers and choreographers, has been curated by Rafael Bonachela, artistic director at Sydney Dance Company. Leading the bill is Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui's haunting follow-up to Babel, Dunas, created with flamenco artist Maria Pages. Other highlights include a high-energy mix of street dance in Correria Agwa (Running Water), new works from four gifted female choreographers in Sydney Dance Company's Contemporary Women, critically acclaimed performances from Chinese choreographer Tao Ye, the melding of dance with art installation and soundscape that makes Clouds Above Berlin, and homegrown talents representing the brightest and most diverse dance-makers in Australia. The festival will also feature a series of masterclasses from the choreographers behind the shows for $30 a class (bookings must be made by August 8), plus free masterclasses including ballet with David McAllister, artistic director of the Australian Ballet and a jazz class with the Sydney Dance Company's Ramon Doringo. There will also be film screenings, a festival bar and Q&A sessions, all at Sydney Opera House. https://youtube.com/watch?v=a6NmzoOwe7E
UPDATE, December 22, 2022: Jackass Forever is available to stream via Binge, Paramount+, Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Older men, same ol' tricks and dicks: that's Jackass Forever. The fifth film in the prank-fuelled TV-to-movie franchise isn't afraid of letting it show, either, just as it's never been afraid of flashing around male genitalia. No one in Jackass' crew of comic daredevils is scared of that much — or, if they are, they're more frightened of not challenging themselves alongside their buddies — so the proud and purposeful attitude flaunted in the flick's title and usual formula is thoroughly unsurprising. Twenty-two years have passed since Johnny Knoxville, Steve-O, Chris Pontius, Dave Englund, Wee Man, Danger Ehren and Preston Lacy first turned outlandish stunts and practical jokes into an MTV hit, but age hasn't wearied their passion or camaraderie. It also hasn't dampened the gang's fondness for showing their junk, but there's something sweet here among all the penises: the fact that time inescapably passes but doing stupid shit with your mates sparks immortal joy. Jackass Forever is stupid, because the kinds of gags that Knoxville and company love are profoundly idiotic — including the film's opening gambit, where a green Godzilla-esque creature tramples a city but it's really Pontius' package painted like a monster. Also inherently silly: using the cast's bodies to prop up skateboarding ramps, a Knoxville-hosted game show that penalises wrong answers with a whack to the sack, exploding a port-a-potty while Steve-O is using it and a contraption made of harnesses that simultaneously gives three people wedgies. The ridiculous bits go on, including lighting farts underwater and drinking milk on a moving carousel to the point of vomiting. Another reason that Jackass is forever for this troupe: they're still as juvenile now, even though they're all over or approaching 50, as they ever were. Describing Jackass' risky skits and scenes never comes close to watching them, but how funny anyone finds this franchise depends on individual senses of humour and, sometimes, upon your mood on any given day. Regardless, there's always been an art to its follies, as captured on camera by Jeff Tremaine, the series' longstanding director, and also its co-creator with Knoxville and Her filmmaker Spike Jonze. Jackass' slapstick credentials carry on the traditions of Buster Keaton, Charlie Chaplin and The Three Stooges, but lewder and grosser, obviously. The saga's commitment to documenting not just the stunts and pranks themselves, but the setups, attitudes in advance and reactions afterwards — the key interplay between its perpetrators, victims and spectators, too — also sees it deconstruct the brand of comedy it sports as it goes. These sense-defying jesters show their working, in other words, and share the thrills it inspires. No wonder they don't ever want it to stop. Mortality does hang over Jackass Forever, however, as seen in a number of ways — starting with Knoxville's grey hair. It isn't always so strikingly silvery, and he's also shown talking about not wanting to show his bald spot, which Jonze then rushes in to cover with black spray paint. But when the crew's ringleader does let his wintry-hued tresses show, it's the best visual representation possible of how these guys will be adoring all things Jackass till they die. Well that, and the plethora of injuries suffered, including Knoxville's concussion, brain haemorrhage and bone fractures from a bull stunt. Jackass' ridiculous men can't escape the passing years and its impact upon their bodies if they wanted to, but it clearly makes them savour what they're doing. Indeed, also prominent this time around is the sense of gratefulness that they're all still able to give Jackass another whirl, a feeling deepened by the film's dedication to former co-star Ryan Dunn, who was killed in a car crash a decade back. It's been 12 years since Jackass 3D, although we all know that pop-culture hits never die — and, in this case, the brand even manages to survive 2013's hidden-camera comedy Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa — but making this movie with so much of the OG cast definitely isn't being taken for granted by anyone involved. Plus, that aforementioned sweetness also filters through in the kindness and support the gang show in the moment here, even while devising the feature's torturous scenes, egging each other on and clearly enjoying seeing their pals squirm. They're all in it together, even if Ehren does seem to take the bulk of the movie's physical punishment. A new roster of talent joins in as well, but bringing in Sean 'Poopies' McInnerney, Zach Holmes, Jasper Dolphin, Eric Manaka and Rachel Wolfson — Jackass' first female member — isn't about passing the torch. It's about sharing, as the regulars also do with celebrity guests such as Eric Andre, Tyler the Creator and Machine Gun Kelly. Jackass has always had a hangout vibe and a more-the-merrier attitude to its dangerous displays, after all. Dispiritingly, the latter also applies to too many Jackass Forever bits that rely upon animals, including Wolfson's lone solo segment, which are the kinds of jokes that not just this comedy brand and its pranksters but the world in general should've outgrown by now. Perhaps Jackass sticks to its critter-centric jokes for the same reasons it keeps giving cinema as much male nudity as it can: its ageing daredevils just aren't interested in new tricks. Instead, they want to have the same stupid and needless fun they've always had — because no one needs to either participate in or observe any of Jackass' pranks — purely for the sake of it. You can read in plenty of meaning along the way, including the ultimate manchild schtick, performative toxic masculinity and bromance (and, here, mid-life crises as well). Also, laughing along with every setpiece, simple and elaborate alike, is far from a given. But Jackass Forever still makes its audience appreciate its lust for life and rage against the dying of the light, and its cast's undying affection for their always-immature gambit, as well as their willingness to be jackasses purely to get each other and the world chuckling.
In a year that's seen us all pondering holidays close to home, the New South Wales National Parks department has just gifted the state's residents with a trio of new reasons to book a local trip. Perhaps you feel like heading north and enjoying a coastal getaway? Maybe you'd rather go south and roam around the bushland? Either way, there are now three refurbished cottages across both spots ready and waiting for reservations. The first — and perhaps the one you'll be instantly enthusiastic about with the weather warming up — is Davies Cottage, which is located in Myall Lakes National Park on the mid north coast. It was built back in the 50s, on the eastern headland at Seals Rock village, and boasts views out over Boat Beach and Sugarloaf Bay. Here, you can vacation in a group of up to six, and spend plenty of time sitting on the timber deck and staring out at the water. The self-contained abode also comes with an outdoor barbecue and sun lounge chairs — or, for when you'd rather relax inside, a fully equipped kitchen and an open-plan living space. In terms of things to do, you'll be less than a kilometre from Sugarloaf Lighthouse. Or, you can indulge in a bit of dolphin-spotting at Lighthouse Beach or wander through Treachery Headland. Drive over to Wallingat National Park and/or Booti Booti National Park, and you'll find more places to bushwalk, more lookouts and more beaches. [caption id="attachment_784630" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Davies Cottage via Brent Mail, NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment[/caption] The second two refurbed places to stay are located in Kosciuszko National Park, in the Thredbo-Perisher area. It mightn't be ski season at present, but the Creel Bay cottages are open year-round in the Snowy Mountains region. Both — Creel Retreat and Creel View — are surrounded by eucalypt woodland, and boast views over Lake Jindabyne. Three-bedroom abodes that can sleep six guests each, and feature new kitchens and bathrooms, large outdoor decks and barbecues, they're actually former staff lodges that have been repurposed. On the agenda here: peering over the lake and up at the mountains, and, in winter, using it as a base to get to Perisher Valley (which is less than a 30-minute drive away) and hit the snow. In summer, you can take a bushwalk via the nearby waterfall, through the Main Range or along the Mount Kosciuszko Summit. On Lake Jindabyne, you can also fish, paddle and boat — while the Thredbo Valley Track is also ten minutes away by car. [caption id="attachment_784626" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Creel Bay cottages via Murray Vanderveer, NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment.[/caption] If you're eager to kick back by the sea, Davies Cottage's rates start at $1400 — for a seven-night stay (which is the minimum booking period) for up to six people. For those who'd rather a mountain trip, the Creel Bay cottages start at $265 per night, with a two-night minimum stay. Both Davies Cottage and the Creel Bay cottages are now available for bookings. For more information, or to make a reservation, head to the Davies Cottage and Creel Bay cottages pages on the NSW National Parks website. Top images: Davies Cottage via Brent Mail, NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment; Creek Bay cottages via Murray Vanderveer, NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment.
The minds behind Barossa Grape & Wine Association and vinous event organisers Revel have another specialised wine exploration to add to your calendar, this time devoted to the famed South Australian wine region of The Barossa Valley. On Saturday, July 14, Barossa. Be Consumed makes its Sydney debut, before returning to North Melbourne's Meat Market for the second time on July 21. Expect a one-day celebration of the Barossa's finest, showcasing a huge 44 of the region's wineries, including Yelland and Papps, home to 2018 Young Gun of Wine finalist Michael Papps, and Turkey Flat Vineyards, winner of the 2017 Jimmy Watson Trophy. You'll have the chance to meet producers while you sample their best creations, and then have bottles of your favourite wines shipped straight to your door. Drops from the likes of Seppeltsfield Road Distillers, Barossa Distilling Company and Barossa Valley Cider Co. round out the liquid offerings, while the region's top edible produce will be showcased at the Barossa Maker's Table. Meanwhile, local acts like Sam Brittain will deliver the soundtrack to your wine appreciation, and you'll even have the chance to try your hand at that beloved Barossa pastime, Kegel — a traditional German bowling game.
If you don't spend the festive season floating around Darling Harbour in a Christmas-themed pedal boat while surrounded by buoyant Christmas baubles, then is it really the merriest time of the year? In Sydney, clearly not — because Cockle Bay's old-school pedal boats are making a comeback this summer, complete with a seasonal makeover. In the words of the festive song from Love Actually that you'll now have stuck in your head, Christmas will indeed be all around you when you take to the water in one of these floating vessels. Sure, many of us have enjoyed a date on a pedal boat, holding hands and having conversations about the weather (actually, if movies are to be believed, most of us fall into that category), but you can now you can relive the experience while getting festive. Until Sunday, January 26, the leg-powered vehicles can be hired from the Cockle Bay Marina for $44 a pop, which'll get you a whole 30 minutes on the water. If you think half-an-hour in the blistering Sydney sun sounds like a recipe for sunburn, you'd be right but, thankfully, the boats come equipped with a shade to keep you cool. The boats will be hitting the bay from 10am–8pm seven days a week throughout their two-month run. They seat two adults, so you can plan a date or bring a mate. If you have little ones in tow, you can also bring two kids along — but the four-person capacity still only covers a maximum of two adults. You do have to wear a life jacket while cruising on Darling Harbour, and you can book online in advance.
Sydney is a pretty great place to be all year round, but especially in September. Spring has hit (although the last few days of cold, wet weather may have had you thinking otherwise), and the city is abuzz with Sydney Fringe Festival happenings. Yes, we wait in anticipation all year for the festival to come around— and now, somehow, it's almost over again. But not before a raucous, late-night closing shindig. Next Saturday, September 28, the City Tatts Hub, based in the City Tattersalls Club on Pitt Street, will host an epic six-hour dance party. From 7pm until 3am, you'll be shimmying and shaking through the venue's different rooms with each one dedicated to a different decade of dance — from the mighty 80s prom to a Cuban club straight out of the 40s to a soul train disco from the 70s. And to celebrate another successful year of shows, parties and gigs, we're giving away a double pass to this final farewell. Not only will you and mate get access to the party, you'll also get to sleep in a lush room at the Novotel Sydney Darling Square once the music stops. And, since we know you'll be weary from a long night of dancing, we've also thrown in late checkout (at 12pm) and a buffet brekkie. To be in the running, enter with your details below. [competition]742466[/competition]
We’re all familiar with the hangover blues — when memories of overpriced cab fares and too many drinks make an unwelcome reappearance. However, you can ease that empty wallet guilt by knowing you splashed your cash for a good cause. If you scoot down to Bondi this weekend, Project Futures and the Age of Intimacy are cooking up Life’s a Beach — a party with heart. Well-versed in fundraising events, Project Futures is a not-for-profit organisation that combats human trafficking worldwide. They have teamed up with lingerie label The Age of Intimacy to put on this DIY extravaganza. Forty bucks will buy you access to a range of good-time pop-ups. In addition to tasty nibbles from the likes of Cantina Mobil, Monster Rolls and The Nighthawk Diner, there will be jumping castles, sumo suits and 'silly beach games'. Hydrating the event will be Young Henrys, Holgate Brewhouse and The Hills Cider Company. The goal is to raise $10,000 with proceeds going towards sustainable support services for trafficking survivors. Crank up the party in the name of social awareness.
Update Monday, March 7: Sparkling Sydney has been postponed after unprecedented rainfall has meant Pirrama Park Pyrmont is expected to be unaccessible. The event will now be held on Saturday, April 30. This article has been updated to reflect this. Sipping sparkling might be a pivotal part of your pandemic routine, but nothing has felt particularly bubbly over the past few years. Here's one easy way to change that in 2022: spending a day drinking the fizziest wines possible in a harbourside park. After being forced to postpone its 2020 and 2021 events multiple times due to COVID-19, plus postponing its 2022 event due to severe weather, Sparkling Sydney will finally return from 11am–6pm on Saturday, April 30 with more than 60 sparkling wines from 20 local regional wineries. If you're all about the bubbly things in life, prepare to be swept away by the city's most effervescent booze fest, which'll descend upon Pirrama Park in Pyrmont. Once again, the 2022 edition of Sparkling Sydney is set to deliver a jam-packed day of gourmet food and fizzy fun — although this time around it'll be ticketed, starting at $29 for pre-sales and hitting $39 for general sales. Varieties on offer will include blanc de blanc, petit verdot and moscato, sparkling malbec, pinot noir, pinot meunier, sparkling rosé, verscato, prosecco, sparkling zibbibo, and zinfandel shiraz. No, you won't be short on options. Of course, there'll be plenty of top-notch eats to match — and other tipples, if you'd like to knock back Six String Brewing Co beers, Brix Distillery spiced rum cocktails, sparkling spritzes and non-alcoholic sparkling vinos, too. The Sparkling Sydney lineup also spans wine and oyster matching sessions, sparkling wine bath soaks, and a lineup of live music and DJs, including the Crawfish Po'Boys, Electro Alley, Spyglass, and DJs Kate Monroe and Charlie Villas. Sparkling Sydney runs from 11am–5pm.
Working from home certainly has its advantages, including the lack of commute, the expanded wardrobe choices and, if you have a pet, the fact that your favourite furry friend can curl by your side. Don't have your own four-legged bestie? Always eager for more doggos in your life? Add a lunchtime date with Guide Dogs Australia to your schedule, and enjoy the overwhelming cuteness of the organisation's first puppy zoom meeting. With Wednesday, April 29 marking International Guide Dog Day, Guide Dogs Australia is giving the country what it wants: adorable dogs, virtually. The puppy zoom meeting will run for half an hour from midday, and feature gorgeous little labrador guide dog puppies — as well as experienced guide dogs, too. One of the pups, a three-week-old cutie, is even called Zoom — so you can bet it'll get plenty of attention. And yes, the whole event is taking place via Zoom, the platform, as most things in life seem to be at the moment. As well as gawking at endearing dogs, you'll also learn more about the guide dog journey — and how they assist people with blindness or low vision. Guide Dogs Australia's Puppy Zoom Meeting runs for free via Zoom from 12–12.30pm on Wednesday, April 29.
Amongst the perfectly manicured lawns, Lucky’s Liquors, Wal-Marts and red front doors of American culture, Alan Ball sees something both deeply disenchanting and incredibly optimistic. It’s these conflicting sensibilities that make his screenplays so hauntingly eloquent, whether they deal with a depressed suburban father in a mid-life crisis, a family-run Los Angeles funeral home or a race of vampires living uneasily in small-town Louisiana. His candidly provocative television series True Blood, for instance, is not so much about Twilight-esque resistance as it is about indulgence, hate crimes, bloody murders and mass orgies. On September 8 Alan Ball will lay bare his own brutally cynical and achingly romantic mind through a talk at the Sydney Opera House. ‘Alan Ball: Vampires, Death and the Mundane’ is a discussion of Ball’s creative process, and promises to be no less seductive and no less engaging than a naked Mena Suvari writhing around in a bunch of roses. And to inject some straight up hilarity into his idiosyncratic brand of black humor, Ball will be conversing with comedian, writer and super fan Wil Anderson. Make a night of it with a pre-theatre dinner and drinks — and be wary of those not indulging.
Stan & Ollie begins with a glorious shot — an image that's strikingly composed, and that couldn't better encapsulate the film to come. Comedians Stan Laurel (Steve Coogan) and Oliver Hardy (John C. Reilly) sit in their shared Hollywood dressing room in 1937, bantering away in their playful, genial manner. Their backs are to the camera but, as they're both perched before individual mirrors, their faces are reflected in lights at either side of the frame. Stan's thinner visage smirks wryly from the mirror in front of the more jovial, sizeable Ollie, and vice versa. Director Jon S. Baird enjoys the affectionate interplay between the two comic stars, and gazes at them just as fondly. Most importantly, the filmmaker visually signifies the enormous presence that his two subjects had in each other's life. Worlds away from his last movie, the drug-addled Irvine Welsh adaptation Filth, Baird returns to comparable moments throughout Stan & Ollie. Just as the eponymous pair were at their professional best when they were together, the film shines brightest when it looks upon the two in tender exchanges. When Stan sits side-by-side with an ailing Ollie in a hotel bed, and when the duo recline on the deck of a ship against a sunset backdrop, Stan & Ollie offers an ode not only to their enduring partnership, but to the pull they felt towards each other. That's the entire picture from start to finish — however there's a particular heart-swelling sensitivity evident in these loving scenes. After spending its opening minutes on-set during the making of comedy-western Way Out West, Stan & Ollie jumps forward to 1953, when the pair's fame has faded and their double-act has nearly fractured. Reuniting after a rocky parting over contract matters, they embark on a tour of the United Kingdom largely to boost the chances of making their first film in years. But half-empty crowds in second-tier venues await, as does the scheming of an uncaring promoter, bickering between their wives (Shirley Henderson and Nina Arianda), and more than a decade of unspoken feelings about the way things have panned out. It hardly helps that, as the two ruminate upon what they had and what could've been since, they're continually met with astonishment from ordinary punters who didn't realise they were still alive. Given cinema's penchant for biopics — half of this year's Oscar acting contenders are nominated for playing real-life figures — it's surprising that Laurel and Hardy's story hasn't graced the silver screen before. Better late than never, obviously, with screenwriter Jeff Pope (also a writer on the Coogan-starring Philomena) penning the filmic equivalent of a warm hug for two of the industry's bona fide icons. There's no escaping Stan & Ollie's kindly, laudatory tone, but it's thoroughly deserved. While the zany vaudeville energy that the duo are known for only comes through in recreations of select routines, Coogan and Reilly put in pitch-perfect performances that capture exactly why their characters had such an impact on comedy as we know it. Indeed, Stan & Ollie's casting proves a cinematic stroke of genius, of the kind that every film aims for but only a select few manage. It's especially fitting that both Coogan and Reilly have become well-known for their own two-handers in recent times — the former with Rob Brydon, as largely seen in The Trip and its sequels; the latter with Will Ferrell, though last year's Holmes & Watson is best burned from everyone's memories. Experienced hands at bouncing off an on-screen partner, they're so adept at it here that their charming double-act feels like the real thing. Crucially, they sell both the sweetness and melancholy of a life spent tied to another, although the movie's most deeply moving element comes via postscript. When Hardy died, Laurel never performed again, but kept writing new material for them to share. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RE5xbDTkzQQ
Zombies are invading this year's Japanese Film Festival. They're hitting Sydney courtesy of horror-comedy One Cut of the Dead, but this isn't your average undead flick. It might be about a film crew trying to make their own zombie movie, as routine as that sounds; however the gleefully low-budget effort offers up plenty of surprises. Come for the found footage-style, one-take opening and stay as it veers into unexpected territory — and for the opening night celebrations that the fest is serving up with it, too! That's just one of the movies on JFF's 2018 lineup, which also features two things that everyone loves: cats and ramen. The former comes in the form of The Travelling Cat Chronicles, about a cute feline hopping around the country. The latter is a part of foodie drama Ramen Shop, about a blogger sifting through his family's history, as well as absolute classic Tampopo, the iconic noodle western which has been given a 4K restoration. Other standouts hitting up Event Cinemas George Street include crime flicks The Blood of Wolves and My Friend 'A', as well as The Third Murder — aka the other movie from Shoplifters Palme d'Or-winning filmmaker Hirokazu Kore-eda this year. Bowie fans will also want to catch Sukita, about rock photographer Masayoshi Sukita, who was a favourite of the star musician. All up, Sydney's leg of the fest boasts 31 films, screening across Thursday, November 15 to Sunday, November 25. And, JFF also has a free classics program, which runs until Wednesday, October 31.
The subjects of Kare Martens’ paintings are not pretty. They are former sea men: scarred, missing teeth, big bellied, tattooed. But somehow he has crafted a small series of lovely portraits that gently allude to the strange and lonely life of men at sea. In Martens’ native Norway, young men not interested in pursuing further education instead went to sea. They returned with experiences not easily understood by other people. Martens’ portraits of these “rabbagastas” aim to tell the stories that underlie their gruff exteriors. The sailors’ tattoos are codes: a sparrow is five thousand miles of voyaging and two sparrows are ten thousand; a pig protects from drowning; pinup girls remind the sailor of what awaits him at home, a ship means he has circumnavigated Cape Horn. One sailor’s ship is sinking across his chest. Perhaps the most effective images are those of sailors sleeping. Here they are at their most vulnerable: an arm flung sideways across the bed; a pair of glasses falls aside. Martens is a designer by trade, and this influence shows in his attention to composition and subtle, spare colour. But the work is that of a skilful, traditionally trained painter. There is no other way to say this: the sailors’ flesh is just so fleshy; pink and sandy and broken with wide pastel blue strokes. Martens imbues his paintings with tenderness, honesty and respect without veering into sentimentality. This is painting as storytelling. Image: Kusse-Holger (Pussy Holger) by Kare Martens.
If there's one place we're gagging to get to right now, its the pub. There's nothing quite like that first sip of a freshly poured froth monster on a warm day with your mates. But, since we're bunkering down at home for a little while longer yet, our pals at Bridge Road Brewers are bringing the beer to your house, instead. On Thursday, September 23, you can take part in Sour Times, a one-hour virtual sour beer tasting session with Bridge Road Brewers founder Ben Kraus and head brewer James Dittko. These two beer brainiacs will take you on an exploration of the sour beer style, highlighting brewing techniques, recipe development and sampling some of Bridge Road Brewers delicious sours, of course. To make sure you're all kitted out for this sampling session, the folks at Bridge Road Brewers will send you a sour beer tasing pack filled with tasty treats. Inside the pack you'll find a Belgium table beer named Hoppy Sour, a raspberry sour with passionfruit for extra tang and a tropical sour that'll take your palate poolside. Want to make your next virtual work drinks a little more brew-tiful? You can. Sour Times Virtual Tasting with Bridge Road Brewers will kick off at 6pm on Thursday, September 23. For more information and to book, visit the website.
The Sandstones — two blocks of 1880s buildings on Bridge Street now home to the New South Wales Government's Land and Education offices — are set to become a posh hotel. On 10 November, Pontiac Land Group, a private company based in Singapore, lodged a development application for their transformation. The company has agreed to pay Government Property NSW $35 million for a 103-year lease. Meanwhile, the Government's offices will be shifting to Parramatta. Pontiac will be spending a whopping $300 million on the renovation. The plan is to create 253 rooms and suites — 61 in the current Lands building and 192 in the Education building. Loads will have excellent Sydney Harbour views. In addition, the Lands building's ground level will be turned into retail and dining spaces, which will be open to the public. You'll also be able to catch a lift to a rooftop salon, even if you're not staying in the hotel. And the centre of the Education building will score a brasserie, large lounge area and courtyard filled with greenery. Pontiac is working with Make Architects (the folks who re-did Wynyard Station and surrounds), alongside landscape architects Aspect Studio and interior designer BAR Studio. Lead architect Ian Lomas said, "we have explored the buildings' shared social and physical heritage, respectfully and deferentially weaving in our new layer, while embracing the spirit of invention, exploration and discovery that is part of Sydney and these buildings' DNA." Greg Incoll, development director at Sandstones, said, "these magnificent buildings have held a commanding presence in Sydney for more than a century but the vast majority of people have only experienced them from the outside. Pontiac Land Group is not only preserving the heritage of two buildings rich in social and economic significance, but making a valuable contribution to Sydney's tourism economy."
Since the original Danks Street store opened in 2004, Fratelli Fresh's family of high-quality providores have become a benchmark for those keen to spend more on their weekly groceries. While some Sydneysiders' will tell you about the delicious meals served in the attached Cafe Sopra, locals frequently return for what's stocked on the shelves. The newest Fratelli Fresh instalment opened in Alexandria last year and, as always, its restaurant/supermarket combo just works. Stop by for imported Italian smallgoods, seasonal produce and the cheese selection emitting wafts of pungent goodness from the walk-in cool room.
The Domain is set to score a massive infusion of music this January, with the launch of a brand new series of music festivals and parties. To kick off the Sydney Summer Series, which will run throughout January at The Domain, is a disco-filled lineup of international music legends on Saturday, January 12. The inaugural event will feature rock 'n' roll royalty The Jacksons, along with Kool & The Gang and The Village People. Heading the bill, The Jacksons are set to make their first Aussie appearance in five years, with four of the original crew — Jermaine, Jackie, Tito and Marlon — dishing up hits like 'ABC', 'Blame It On The Boogie' and 'Can You Feel It'. They'll be joined by acclaimed artists Kool & The Gang, tapping into a back catalogue of tunes like 'Cherish', 'Celebration' and 'Jungle Boogie', as well as disco kings Village People, unleashing iconic songs like 'YMCA', 'Macho Man' and 'Go West'. California R&B trio The Pointer Sisters are also coming along for the ride, with Sister Sledge and Sounds of The Supremes rounding out that huge serve of old-school disco magic. They'll all play under the stars, embracing summer at one of Sydney's best CBD al fresco venues. There's no word yet on who else will head down under for the new Summer Series, but let's hope it continues the impressive trend of the kick-off event. Sydney Summer Series' inaugural event will be held on Saturday, January 12, 2019, at The Domain. Tickets go on sale here on Tuesday, August 14.
Sure, it can feel like there's an annual event for almost everything these days. But don't expect to hear many complaints about National Margarita Day, especially when Pumphouse has invented a ginormous drink to celebrate the occasion. Appropriately named the Big Marg – this 3.5-litre behemoth is the ideal cocktail to share with a host of friends. Featuring a powerful concoction of premium tequila, zesty lime juice and a splash of agave syrup, the fine details haven't been overlooked for this giant beverage, with fresh citrus garnish and a salt rim balancing its bold flavours and adding just a hint of texture. To help sip the Big Marg, it comes with extra-long straws so you and your pals can soak up this legendary cocktail. Available for $42 until the end of February, Pumphouse is no stranger to weird and wonderful celebrations. You can also put your tastebuds to the test with Chilli Russian Roulette for National Chilli Day or ring in Mardi Gras with a camp-filled cocktail menu adorned with colourful creations and New Orleans originals. Images: Trent van der Jagt.
Unfortunately, art world mega-fame doesn't necessarily indicate great artistic talent (Jeff Koons, I'm talking to you). People get excited about clever marketing and artful hype and it's the sort of industry that does tend to get people jumping on any cool-looking bandwagon travelling past without much thought. Tracey Moffat's name is synonymous with seriously blue-chip Australian art but with good reason: she is a profoundly gifted artist. Spirit Landscapes, Moffatt's latest exhibit at Roslyn Oxley9 gallery, demonstrates her supreme virtuosity as an artist. The diversity of style and technique throughout the show is staggering. Try as you might, it's hard not to act like a teenage girl seeing One Direction when you look at her work. The exhibition features five new series of photographic works: As I Lay Back on My Ancestral Land, Pioneer Dreaming, Night Spirits, Suburban Landscapes, Picturesque Cherbourg and one moving image work: In and Out. The exhibition is very much about Moffatt's personal connection to the land. As you climb the steps to the first floor gallery, you'll be greeted by Picturesque Cherbourg, a series of six collaged photographs that look like brightly-coloured tourist brochures. Each work depicts a different view of the government mission that some of the Indigenous artist's family were relocated to in the 1920s. Many of her relatives still live there. Night Spirits explores the land but through a supernatural lens. The series is comprised of eight works which capture 'spirit energies'. That is, they are photos taken in haunted places with no digital manipulation other than added contrast colours. The works are very reminiscent of the traditional 'haunted' pictures you’ll see on Sci-Fi channel shows: a little grainy and somewhat obscured by small, opaque orbs. At the time of photographing, it was too dark for Moffatt to see what she was capturing with her camera. Another series is comprised of small diptychs in which dreamy 1950s American film heroines gaze adoringly at the beautiful country in which they live. Land that had been stolen from the American Indians. Moffatt has hand coloured the small prints in with ochre, eloquently drawing a parallel between the plight of the American Indians and the Aboriginal people. The most visually spectacular images in the exhibition are the large coloured digital prints from As I Lay Back on My Ancestral Land. The title is quite literal; each frame was captured as the artist lay down upon her Aboriginal family's traditional land, looking up at the sky. Images of a naked female form have been superimposed over the tinted photographs, physically connecting the artist's body to the environment. Spirit Landscapes at Roslyn Oxley9 demonstrates Moffatt's position as one of Australia's most talented artists. This is one exhibition you most certainly cannot miss. Image: 5. from the series As I Lay Back on My Ancestral Land. Image courtesy of the artist and Roslyn Oxley9 gallery.
Vivid Sydney is here for 2022, brightening up as many places around the city as it can manage — and turning almost every walk around town into a glowing experience. Here's another way to soak up the luminous sights while making the most of the citywide fest: hitting up Carriageworks for free installation Contact. The work of light artist Sam Whiteside, this immersive piece includes a monolithic lightwork, complete with thick haze and an intense white and red beam of brightness. If it sounds a tad trippy and also a bit eerie, that's by design. Using algorithmically generated simulations, those shafts of light pulse through the space — distorting your sense of reality. On display from 5–11.30pm on Thursday, June 2–Friday, June 3 and Thursday, June 9–Saturday, June 11 — plus from 5–9.30pm on Sunday, June 5 — Contact also comes with a drone soundscape composed and produced by Patrick Liney. So, it finds another way to steep you in its confines. Another key factor: Carriageworks' architecture, and the shadows that Contact casts among its walls. Images: Jacquie Manning.
Need an excuse to put on your best dress and sip endless vinos all day? Well, come Saturday, September 28, western Sydney continues the spring racing activities with Everest Carnival's De Bortoli Wines Golden Rose Race Day at Rosehill Gardens. So, gather your friends, get frocked up and experience all of the food, fashion and entertainment of the day. Just one of seven events running on consecutive Saturdays until November 2, Golden Rose Day has festivities aplenty. Head on down to Rosehill Gardens Racecourse and you'll find the soothing sounds of a live music duo soundtracking your afternoon. Or, head to the main stage bar to catch DJ Kitsch 78. Plus, you'll be able to watch the 2019 AFL Grand Final playing on the big screen (so you can fittingly cheer on GWS while in their heartland). To keep you well soused throughout the day, there'll be plenty of pop-up bars. Fancy a Pimm's? Head to Pimm's Horse Float where you'll find the liquor on tap. Or, grab a beer from the Iron Jack Bar or a cocktail from the Canadian Club Cocktail Cart. And, to (suitably) line the stomach, you can grab a bite from Rosehill's food precinct Eats at the Garden. If you're having too much fun to call it a day as the sun sets, the nearby Rosehill Bowling Club will host the official afterparty.
Take your long weekend up a notch with a long lunch that's all about gin this Sunday. Hosted at Bondi favourite Drake Eatery, the venue is collaborating with Ester Spirits to create a three-course meal paired with cocktails and spirits, in celebration of World Gin Day and the three-day weekend. Behind the Sunday spread is Drake Eatery owner and Head Chef Ian Oakes and Felix Clarke of Ester Spirits. On the menu, you'll find butter-poached Murray cod and Drake's signature crispy skin duck, paired with the Ester Navy strong gin and the fan-favourite Negroni respectively. The menu plays with a wide selection of local produce including juniper, lemon myrtle, Tasmanian pepperberry, finger lime and mandarin peel, while each drink features native Australian ingredients and botanicals. The lunch will kick off at 1pm, with bookings available for $90. Included in your booking is snacks on arrival, three courses and paired Ester drinks. [caption id="attachment_815360" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ian Oakes and Felix Clarke[/caption]
One of Sydney's best urban cellar doors, Handpicked Wines, invites oyster lovers to come together for an afternoon of shucking and pairing. This hands-on workshop (part of Aussie Wine Month) will be run in partnership with the Sydney Oyster Girls, who will teach you the art of shucking an oyster while they share knowledge of Australia's finest oyster regions. Guests will then enjoy their freshly shucked oysters with a specially paired selection of Handpicked Wines. Tickets include a minimum of 15 oysters to accompany your wine tasting. You'll leave the workshop having learned the differences between oyster varieties, and the distinct flavours from different regions, as well as a new appreciation for the heavenly pairing that is oyster and wine.
Need a bit of extra motivation to exercise? Would the chance to dress up and step back in time make you more eager to burn some calories? If so, jog along to Retrosweat — a series of themed workouts inspired by '80s and led by Shannon Dooley of Physique Aerobics, who says she's aiming to inject a lot more fun (and eye shadow) into exercising. Her classes celebrate the glorious music and dance moves of the '80s. Think Prince, Michael Jackson and Madonna. Sessions are a non-intimidating 50 minutes long and all experience levels are welcome, so don't rule yourself out if you think you have two left feet. And as to the dress code "G string leotards are encouraged, scrunchies and sweatbands compulsory". Retrosweat runs every week at 7pm on both Tuesdays in Alexandria (Worldwide Dance Studios, 39-40/112 McEvoy Street, Alexandria) and Thursdays in Surry Hills (Hiscoes Fitness Centre, 525 Crown St, Surry Hills).
In one of the best local comedies of the past decade, members of a Chinese Australian family go about their lives on the Sunshine Coast. In one of the most engaging Aussie game shows of the last few years, Indigenous comedians, actors, musicians and artists hang out in a gallery and test their knowledge of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art. The first program comes courtesy of The Family Law, while the second arrives in the form of Faboriginal — and if you haven't seen either by now, it's time to rectify that. Both series are streaming as part of SBS On Demand's Australian Made collection, which is being showcased on the free platform in partnership with Sydney Festival — and was curated by the fest's artistic director Wesley Enoch, too. The full lineup includes ten television shows that explore the diversity of Australian culture. They're great to watch at any time of the year, but they're also an excellent way to reflect upon the nation on and around January 26. Other titles include documentary series Untold Australia, which steps through Aussie tales you don't normally hear about; First Australians, which tackles the country's history from a First Nations perspective; and Future Dreaming, where four young Aboriginal Australians ponder what their lives might hold. In addition to animated series Little J and Big Cuz, the full lineup also features two Ray Martin-fronted factual programs: Is Australia Racist?, which interrogates that very question; and First Contact, which takes six non-Indigenous people into Aboriginal Australia for the first time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXpwQw_QaNI
The inaugural Cronulla Life Markets were held last January, and, in 2018, they'll be back. This time, they're happening over three consecutive nights from January 4 to 6, bringing artworks, crafty bits and bobs, homewares, jewellery, candles, essential oils, live music and a herd of food trucks to Sydney's southernmost beach. Kicking off at 7pm and winding up around 10pm, each evening will be dedicated to a particular theme. Foodies should head along on Thursday, when all things edible and drinkable will be centre stage — including burgers and brisket by Earlwood's Barlow and Co, pizza and porchetta by Wollongong's Arlecchino and Asian-influenced animal-free eats by Vege 4 Love. Meanwhile, Friday will be for families and, if live music is what gets you going, swing by on Saturday to hear Dan and Emma May perform a swag of jazzy classics and related tunes.
With summer now getting into full swing, is it not the perfect time of year to enjoy some of Australia's best underground gypsy-folk-rock-storytelling artists in the lazy, setting sun of a Sunday afternoon under the shady trees of Victoria Park? There'll be sausage sandwiches and cold soft drinks for sale too. Each of these acts have been tearing it up in their own way all through 2009, so a bit about each:Mr Fibby are a truly unique mix of theatre, music, and storytelling. In a howling dervish of despair, they wander through faux fairy tales most lamentable, past monstrous trees, men once dead, jealous lovers, lost gypsies, shattered hearts and moons as red as blood. The genre of what it is they does doesn't even have a name yet. Based out of Canberra, they've been absolutely smashing the festival circuit in 2009 and creating for themselves a strong band of dedicated followers. Catch them now in their finest light – the outdoors definitely suit them best.If ‘Bloke Folk’ were a genre, The Ellis Collective would be all over it. Simple and gritty tales of an Aussie male hiding a broken heart behind big talk, a tinnie and a smoke. The past twelve months have seen them play at Australia’s largest and smallest festivals. They have been compared to seminal influences including John Schumann, Paul Kelly, and Tim Rogers.Owen Campbell, an Aussie born to Irish mother and Scottish father, was introduced to a diverse range of music at a very young age. Playing guitar since age ten, his style has developed over fifteen years into a gravelly blend of blues, roots, soul and country, with a voice that belies both his young years and his virtuosity on the slide guitar.
Paddington's much loved restaurant Fred's has been a go-to dinner spot since it opened back in 2016. Now, internationally renowned head chef Danielle Alvarez is opening for the daytime crowd, starting Saturday, April 28. The new Saturday morning offering will see the front bar reimagined into a European-inspired café from 8–11am each week. It'll serve up pastries, sweet treats and coffees for dine-in or takeaway. The succinct brekkie menu has been curated by Alvarez and includes options like savoury scrolls with goat's curd and leeks, buttermilk scones with lemon curd, apple and quince galettes, and plum and almond cakes. Plus, there will be canelés, those rum and vanilla pastries from Bordeaux with a custard centre and caramelised crust. Everything will be made in-house using organic flour and butter. Apart from these goodies, there will also be $65 seasonal produce boxes on offer from Sift Produce. The company — who supplies to the Fred's kitchen — works specifically with small-scale farmers who practice regenerative agriculture, so each box will include just-harvested ingredients sourced directly from local growers. You'll need to pre-order by sending Sift an email. The chef sees this new offering as a step toward turning Paddington into a destination for home cooks. "I would love our guests to be able to buy some of the produce we offer in the restaurant, to cook with the ingredients at home and get a better understanding of what true seasonality means," Alvarez said. It's certainly in the right spot, with the neighbourhood's adored seafood restaurant Saint Peter also just opening a Fish Butchery, plus the institution that is the Paddington Markets happening across the road every Saturday.
Bernard Herrmann agreed to compose music for Alfred Hitchcock's films on the condition that he would be given total control over of his arrangements. A meticulous and progressive composer, Mr. Herrmann felt that any interference with his own vision would result in taxidermy music: it would look alive but actually be dead. Although this made him a difficult man to work with, his contribution to Hitchcock's 1960 thriller Psycho is probably one of the most recognisable scores in the history of cinema (in close competition is of course the alternating E and F notes from Jaws). It's one of those scores that's impossible (once you have seen Marion Crane get theatrically stabbed in the shower) to imagine anything other than those piercing, repetitive, high-pitched jolts of sound when thinking of the film. Now, for one night only, the score will be performed live alongside a screening of the film to celebrate its 50th anniversary - an all strings Sydney Lyric Orchestra providing the chills. And, since Mr. Herrmann thought that film scores should have legs of their own, this performance may even have pleased the man behind the notes.
There's more to the 1920s than glitter and opulence. Montreal's Cirque Éloize, a troupe known for its circus and dance performances, are telling a lesser-known tale of a time that also hallmarked the monotony of mass-production lines and grey industrial drone. Inspired by Fritz Lang's seminal 1927 film, Metropolis, and no doubt others in the same vein such as Terry Gilliam's Brazil, Cirkopolis tells a tale of rebellion against this forbidding landscape. Set within an opulent art-deco backdrop and a quintessential original jazzy soundtrack, the performance sees 12 acrobats and multidisciplinary artists strive in a quest for freedom and individuality in gravity-defying acts and contortionist movement. After touring across Europe and the US, Cirkopolis is finally coming to Sydney these school holidays. There have been rave reviews of the show so far, and it won the Drama Desk Award for Best Unique Theatrical Experience earlier in the year. Certainly no ordinary circus.
In news that's miffed more than a few snow bunnies just days out from the start of the ski season, New South Wales ski resort Thredbo has announced an all-out tobogganing ban on its property. A statement published on Thredbo's website says that "to maximise safety for guests, employees, and resort property, Thredbo prohibits the use of toboggans and other miscellaneous snow sliding equipment that is associated with 'Snow Play' within our leasehold area". The statement pointed out the "inherent risk" of sliding around on a toboggan, due to limited control, and suggested that too many punters have been breaking the rules, taking the snow sliding equipment beyond the designated tobogganing areas and out onto ski runs. It doesn't look like there'll be any back-tracking on the resort's decision either, with the statement confirming that "no enquiries will be entertained from toboggan or miscellaneous snow sliding equipment users". While fellow NSW ski resort Perisher hasn't formally mentioned any changes to its snow play offering, The Sydney Morning Herald has reported that tobogganing is currently prohibited there as well. If that's the case, it looks like you'll have to travel to interstate to get your tobogganing kicks this winter. The ACT's Selwyn Snow Resort and Corin Forest, and Victorian ski resorts Mount Hotham and Falls Creek don't appear to have made any changes to their tobogganing and snow play policies. Victoria's Mount Buller and Mount Stirling have gone one step further, confirming they won't be following Thredbo's lead. "Mt Buller Mt Stirling Resort Management has no plans to ban tobogganing in existing authorised areas on Mt Buller or Mt Stirling," said the group's CEO, Mark Bennetts. "Tobogganing is a great family activity, and we look forward to welcoming all guests to our resorts to enjoy a day in the snow".
Throw a stone in any Australian city, and it's likely to land near a burger joint. We're a country of meat-and-bread lovers, and we have the eateries upon eateries to prove it. When you're a burg-slinging place among many, and you've already expanded from your Gold Coast beginnings to Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane offshoots in just two years, what comes next? In Brooklyn Depot's case, they've given their American-themed menu a non-burger makeover. Known for their stacked towers of beef and cheese, alcohol-infused shakes and hefty list of wings, rings, strings and things, Brooklyn Depot has upped their game when it comes to other types of US-style food, thinking beyond the tried-and-tested burgs that have served them so well. Hungry customers can now munch their way through plates of lobster mac and cheese, homemade cheeseburger empanadas, shrimp and grits tacos, loaded pastrami on rye sandwiches and more. Other new inclusions range from French toast grilled cheese to corn beef hash egg rolls to chilli cheddar biscuits with chorizo sausage gravy, giving your use of American food terms a workout as well as your tastebuds. There's also the strange and wonderful combo that is chicken and waffles, made bubble-style with red velvet batter, plus French dip sandwiches (if you've ever wanted one of 30 Rock's sandwich day sangas with dipping sauce, this is the next best thing). The new menu came about after a number of research trips to the US, aka the job we'd all like to have. "We visited over 100 venues including rooftop bars, food trucks, fine dining restaurants and old classic diners," explains Brooklyn Depot co-owner Michael Rose. "It was the ultimate research mission to explore the best of Brooklyn and bring it home." With a fresh range also comes a fresh name, although it's a case of tweaking rather than changing their full moniker — from Brooklyn Depot Burgers & Brew to Brooklyn Depot Kitchen & Brew. Find Brooklyn Depot Sydney store at 65 Holt Street, Surry Hills; Melbourne digs at 399 Lonsdale Street; and Brisbane eatery at 168 Grey Street, South Bank. For more information, head to their website.
As it turns out, Luke Powell of LP's Quality Meats had a long-held dream of opening his own pizzeria. Mates Joseph Valore and Elvis Abrahanowicz over at Porteño had similar fancies. It just took a recent trip to the USA to seal the deal, and now Sydney's set to welcome the group's first joint venture, Bella Brutta, in September. Taking over a King Street shopfront that's been home to many a former pizza joint, the crew's finally bringing its ideas to life — it'll be a laidback 50-seater, with a sunny courtyard and a pizza oven that's just arrived from Italy. With this aspiring bunch of pizzaiolos at the helm, the menu ideas are already coming thick and fast, and while nothing's been set in stone, it promises to be far from traditional. "Everyone's bringing their idea to the table," muses Powell. "It's going to be a bit of a mash-up. Until we get in there, we can't really say what it'll be." The same goes for the booze offering, which continues to morph as yet more ideas are thrown around. That said, with these hospitality stalwarts in charge, it's probably safe to expect an expert curation that doesn't take itself too seriously. "I think it's going to be a huge amount of fun, and that's the main thing," says Powell. Bella Brutta is set to open at 135 King Street, Newtown this September. We'll keep you updated on an exact opening date — but, until then, you can keep up to date via its Instagram.
The Sydney hospitality legends behind The Mary's Group are celebrating the 22nd Biennale of Sydney with the launch of a new venue. Originally welcoming in patrons in March, then postponed until June with the rest of the Biennale, Mary's On The Edge is now open on Cockatoo island — and it's serving up a whole heap of Mary's favourite dishes in one spot for the first time. Patrons can tuck into Mary's famed burgers, chicken schnittys from The Unicorn and Detroit-style slices by Mary's Pizzeria — all at once. The pop-up is also slinging some brand new dishes, including a caesar salad and a few different sandwiches. And, it's pouring natural wines from P&V Merchants, plus Campari and soda, mulled wine, and Young Henrys' beer and ciders. [caption id="attachment_765329" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] The Unicorn chicken schnitzel[/caption] The full-service bistro is open daily, with bookings recommended. So grab your mates and spend an afternoon exploring the top-notch (and free) exhibition around Cockatoo Island — check our top picks here — then enjoy a few drinks with pizza, burger and schnitty in hand. Mary's On The Edge is open on Cockatoo Island until September 6. Opening hours are 9am–4pm Monday–Wednesday and and 12–6pm Thursday–Saturday.
The fifth recipient of Object Galleries Living Treasures title, Australian ceramicist Jeff Mincham is a craftsperson of the highest order. Since he first exhibited his work in 1976 at Adelaide's famous Jam Factory, Mincham has continued on with his dedicated practice for over three decades, working, exhibiting and experimenting with techniques and methodologies. His practice, largely influenced by the ancient Japanese technique Raku which he has both taught and followed, depends on temperature and fire. Having worked with this method for near on two decades, Mincham, impressively, moved to another way of working in the mid 1990s, focussing on drawing from the local scenery. Having spent most of this time operating from a studio in the picturesque Adelaide Hills, it seems natural that his work should have come to evoke the landscape in which he dwells, ceramics being such an organic form of art. Mincham's influential work in ceramics, with it's ferocious and delicate textures and assemblages of light and seasons, is being honoured with a traveling exhibition that starts its first of twelve locations at Sydney's Object Gallery. It is accompanied by a monograph of the artist's work, edited by Margot Osborne. Jeff Mincham, A Good Strike, 2009. Photographer: Grant Hancock
The wonders of the animal kingdom have arrived at the Australian National Maritime Museum, al thanks to a huge exhibition of nature photography. Displaying from Friday, April 8 through until March 2023, the Wildlife Photographer of the Year showcase comes direct from London's Natural History Museum — which has developed and produced the prestigious competition since 1965. Highlighting the astonishing sights that the natural world has to offer, this year's contest attracted over 50,000 entries from 95 countries. That not only shows how much we all love creatures great, small, cute, majestic and everything in-between, but how much we love both taking and looking at snaps of them as well. From that huge number, 100 winning pics were chosen for their creativity, originality and technical excellence, and then tour internationally. And, you can see the eye-popping, awe- (and 'awwwww') inducing results during its Sydney stop right now. Prepare to rove your eyes over everything from up-close-and-personal shots of gorgeous creatures to astonishing visions of sweeping landscapes. It's open every day of the week during its 11-month season — from 9.30am–5pm daily. [caption id="attachment_851476" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Zack Clothier / Wildlife Photographer of the Year[/caption] Top image: Jonny Armstrong, courtesy of Wildlife Photographer of the Year and the Natural History Museum, London.
He lived there. He spent his last moments there. In between, he recorded music, played small gigs, and based his studio and record label there, too. We're talking about Paisley Park, the house formerly known as Prince's private and creative sanctuary. Now, the compound that shares its name with one of his songs is opening to the public. Four months after his tragic passing, the multi-talented musician's siblings have announced their plans for the massive mansion 30 minutes outside of Minneapolis, Minnesota — and, given that the site will celebrate his life, musical output and legacy, Prince fans are going to want to schedule a trip to America's midwest from October 6. That's when the 65,000-square-foot complex will start offering daily tours of a place that, until now, only a few hundred people have had the privilege of entering. We know what you're thinking, and you're right; yes, Paisley Park is about to become the Prince-focused equivalent of Elvis Presley's Graceland. Visitors to the abode-turned-museum will be able to wander through the main floor of site, which was built in the mid '80s. There, they'll see the recording and mixing studios where Prince recorded, produced and mixed many of the iconic tracks we all know and love. Plus, they'll step inside his private NPG Music Club, and get a glimpse the massive soundstage and concert hall where he not only rehearsed for tours, but also held exclusive private events and concerts. Along the way, thousands of artifacts from Prince's personal archives will be on display. If you've ever wanted to feast your eyes on his concert outfits, awards, musical instruments and artwork — or rare music and video recordings, concert memorabilia, automobiles and motorcycles — you'll find them here. According to Prince's sister Tyka Nelson, "opening Paisley Park is something that Prince always wanted to do and was actively working on." While the lyrics of his 1985 song advised that "admission is easy, just say U believe and come 2 this place in your heart", early-bird ticketing — which is on sale now — costs either US$38.50 for a 70-minute self-guided tour, or US$100 for a longer, more extensive VIP experience within what we're hoping are purple-coloured walls.
If you spend your free time binging on true crime, then you're probably familiar with the Golden State Killer. Between 1974–1986, the serial killer, rapist and burglar terrorised California, committing at least 12 murders, over 50 home-invasion rapes and more than 100 burglaries. Until 2018, however, the culprit hadn't been caught. Accordingly, it's the type of case that has kept more than a few folks wondering over the years and decades — including writer Michelle McNamara. HBO's new true-crime docuseries I'll Be Gone in the Dark chronicles McNamara's obsession with the case, as well as her hunt to find the perpetrator. Her tale is filled with intrigue, too, with her nights spent sleuthing through unsolved crimes and penning the blog True Crime Diaries while her family slept. Fixating on the Golden State Killer led McNamara to an article for Los Angeles Magazine, plus a book deal. But before she could finish her manuscript, McNamara — who was also married to comedian Patton Oswalt — died of an accidental prescription drug overdose in her sleep. Based on McNamara's book I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer, which was published two years after her death (and before an arrest was made in the case), the six-part series steps through this whole scenario. When the series hits HBO in the US at the end of June — with dates Down Under yet to be revealed, but Australian airings likely to happen via Foxtel — viewers can obviously expect quite the detective story. On offer, as both the initial teaser and just-dropped full trailer show: archival footage and details from police files; interviews with detectives, survivors and family members of the killer; and McNamara's own words, via original recordings as well as excerpts from her book read by actor Amy Ryan (Late Night, Beautiful Boy, The Office). The series also doubles as an exploration of the handling of sexual crimes in the 70s and 80s by law enforcement, as well as an examination of true-crime obsession and pursuit of justice. Check out the full trailer the below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_EVR1fI68o I'll Be Gone in the Dark starts screening on HBO in the US on June 28. An air date Down Under is yet to be announced — we'll update you when further details come to hand. Top images: Robyn Van Swank/HBO.
If 2020 has you thinking about the simple things in life — good food, good booze and nice threads, for example — then block out the weekend of Friday, November 6–Sunday, November 8 in your diary. That's when Sorry Thanks I Love You, P&V Wine + Liquor Merchants' Mike Bennie and Saint Peter's Josh Niland are all joining forces to celebrate all of the above at an event they've dubbed Rack Off. There'll be bites to eat, with Niland and his Fish Butchery team taking care of the menu. They'll be whipping up those famed sea urchin crumpets, too. And to wash all that tastiness down, there'll also be natural and biodynamic wines by the glass and bottle. [caption id="attachment_601490" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Saint Peter, Nikki To[/caption] The main attraction, though, is the fundraising fashion sale. Across two mini warehouse spaces at 17 Oxford Street, Paddington, you'll be able to browse and buy — with items from Comme des Garçons, Issey Miyake, Veja, Rains, Rick Owens, Maison Margiela, Mykita, Hender Scheme, Sulvam, Lucy Folk and Bassike all on offer. Expect to nab a discount, feel like you're in a high-end boutique, but also hang out and drink and eat. A portion of the profits will be donated to integrated cancer hospital Chris O'Brien Lifehouse — and, at the checkout, you can play a game of paper, scissors, rock to either score 10 percent off your purchase or commit to donate 10 percent to the hospital. Rack Off runs daily from 10am–6pm. Top image: Joey Clark.
One of the best parts about living in a bustling cosmopolitan city like Sydney is the ability to taste foods from all over the world. And while certain cuisines get more attention than others, one that rarely gets the credit it deserves is Filipino. Shangri-La Hotel, Sydney is determined to help you get your hands on some Filipino cuisine with its annual Philippine Food Festival, due to take over Cafe Mix for its sixth year on Thursday, September 20. Across 11 days, Sydneysiders can feast on a selection of authentic dishes prepared by guest chefs from Makati Shangri-La Hotel in Manila. Prepare yourselves for sisig (a traditional appetiser of sauteed pig's head with egg, spices, citrus and onion), inasal (chicken marinated in a citrusy, spicy sauce and grilled over hot coals) and more. Experience Filipino cuisine's unique flavours, which take cues from many other cuisines across Europe, Asia and the Pacific Islands and rely heavily on fresh produce and herbs. If fusion is your jam, expect to discover or rediscover a few new favourite dishes. Just make sure to leave room for dessert. There will be a dedicated station to the popular Filipino dessert halo-halo — a concoction of crushed ice, evaporated milk, sweetened beans, shredded coconut and colourful jelly cubes. Plus, pastry chef Anna Polyviou will be whipping up a selection of inspired treats. The Shangri-La Hotel, Sydney Philippine Food Festival runs at Cafe Mix from Thursday, September 20 to Sunday, September 30. Lunch is available Sunday to Thursday from 12pm to 2.30pm and dinner from 6pm to 10.00pm for $65 per person. On Friday and Saturday, a seafood buffet dinner will be available from 6pm to 10pm for $85 per person.
In Kathryn Gray’s 3-screened video work Contingency Plan we witness soundless interviews. Despite this absence, and thanks to the subtitles, you can understand fully the voice of the interviewee. They come across as determined and calculating, and standing amongst the screens, you feel as if you’re taking part in the conversation.In stark contrast is Jim Allen’s video Poetry for Chainsaws. Here, the artist’s voice is present – reading Allen Ginsberg’s poem Howl – but totally obliterated by the noise of three chainsaws left to their own devices. Have a read of Allen’s statement and the accompanying essay, it will enrich your viewing of this evocative video work.Image: Jim Allen, Poetry for Chainsaws, installation view, Artspace, Sydney 2009. Photo: Silversalt Photography.
If you've been looking for an excuse to experience Sydney's new four-storey mega venue Hinchcliff House, its second-level Italian diner Lana is offering up just that with a set of two and three-course set menus for lunch every Thursday and Friday. Located inside a heritage wool store, Lana usually offers its seafood-heavy set menu for $79 per person, but if that's a little out of your budget, you can now cut down the dining experience and opt for 'Lana lite'. The lunch options start from $59 for the two-course option, or you can opt for three courses for $69. No matter which option you decide takes your fancy that day, you'll be presented with three choices for your main: Grimaud duck breast with fermented plum, Murray cod with verjus butter and caviar, or charred miso pumpkin topped with a pepita salsa. You can view the full menu here, which also features Hinchcliff House's sourdough made in-house, kingfish crudo and a caramelised pineapple cream dessert.
If upping your dancing in 2023 was on your New Year's resolution list, then look no further than The Abercrombie this year, with the beloved Sydney venue reopening after eight whole years at the end of 2022. Equipped with a 24-hour license and a new state-of-the-art sound system, the legendary bar is back in a big way with a host of events curated by the who's who of Sydney's dance and electronic scene. Come Friday, January 13, a longtime local party collective is making the move from warehouse raves to The Abercrombie for a massive event spanning multiple days. Velodrome has pulled together a hefty lineup of local DJs for its Spin Club, a huge 14-hour party that will run from 10pm on Friday all the way through until midday on Saturday. Taking over the venue's two distinct stages will be the likes of Fantastic Man, Ben Fester, Crescendoll, DJ Earl Grey, Francis Inferno Orchestra and Mija Healey among a lineup of 11 renowned electronic music tastemakers. Tickets for the night are available for $30, a bargain when you consider that's just over $2 per hour of dancing if you attend for the whole 14 hours. While you're enjoying the sets, you can also sneak off to The Abercrombie's two new internal venues — rooftop cocktail bar Casa Rosa and late-night wine bar Lil Sis — for a reprise from the dance floor and a pét-nat sgroppino with blood orange sorbet.
UPDATE: June 11, 2020: The Hate U Give is available to stream via Foxtel Now, Google Play, YouTube and iTunes. It doesn't take long for The Hate U Give to serve up an unflinching slice of reality. "I was nine years old when I first got the talk," Starr Carter (Amandla Stenberg) notes, and she's not referring to the birds and the bees. In a flashback, her family sits at their dining table. The topic of conversation: how to behave if they're stopped by the police. Starr's father Maverick (Russell Hornsby) is firm with his instructions, telling his three kids to do exactly what they're asked and to always keep their hands in plain sight. With his wife (Regina Hall) by his side, he specifically stresses the importance of remaining calm and polite, even if they're being harassed for no apparent cause. The reason for his stern warning is obvious — by virtue of their skin colour and nothing more, they could find themselves looking down the barrel of a weapon, praying that a cop doesn't pull the trigger. You've heard of Chekhov's gun, which explains that every element in a story must be strictly necessary. If a writer introduces a loaded firearm, for example, then bullets need to fly before the tale is over. The Hate U Give follows this principle, not only starting with a conversation about police shooting unarmed African-Americans, but using that exact turn of events to kick its narrative into gear. In this case, perhaps the concept should be called Tupac's tattoo, with the rapper's words giving the movie its title, philosophy and dramatic arc. The slain star's 'THUG LIFE' chest ink is almost as famous as his music, and its full meaning dictates and shapes this riveting picture: "the hate u give little infants fucks everybody". Hailing from a poor black neighbourhood but attending a well-off private school, 16-year-old Starr knows how difficult American life can be. She can't act like herself around her white classmates, who all sling ghetto slang to appear cool. And she can't bring her school persona home, or tell her ex-con dad about her white boyfriend (KJ Apa). Already caught in a constant juggling act, she's forced into a trickier predicament while driving back from a local party with her childhood crush Khalil (Algee Smith). A cop pulls them over, a single gunshot is fired, and Starr is suddenly the lone witness to her friend's tragic death. Adapted from Angie Thomas' best-selling 2017 novel and inspired by the real-life killings of several black men by US police, The Hate U Give could've approached its story from several positions. It could've kept things personal, following Starr's attempt to balance her conflicting worlds. It could've remained grim, emotional and focused solely on the central fatal shooting. Or, it could've teemed with fury by jumping headfirst into the legal aftermath. Combining all three and more, director George Tillman Jr (The Longest Ride) and screenwriter Audrey Wells (A Dog's Purpose) craft a textured and intelligent movie, which might seem surprising given their last filmmaking credits. Cutting both deeply and sharply, The Hate U Give fleshes out its thorny narrative by embracing the complications of its subject matter. It's never constrained by its YA origins and, if anything, feels more honest, earnest and overt with its statement precisely because it's aimed at teenagers. Succeeding where other message movies have struggled, the end product offers an engaging, impassioned and detailed insight into America today. Here, nothing is simple. In fact, there's nothing straightforward about any aspect of Starr's existence. How could there be when a victim's criminal past attracts more scrutiny than a murderer's actions, when the #BlackLivesMatter movement sparks violent protests among some and becomes a trendy cause for others, and when gang activity fools the desperate into believing they've scored a better life? Examining a society happy to oppress part of the population, and dissecting the punishing cycle that springs when hostility thrives, The Hate U Give's shades of grey extend to the people in Starr's orbit, too. Her best friend (Sabrina Carpenter) can't see her white privilege, but her black cop uncle (Common) knows how the job can go awry. An activist lawyer (Issa Rae) urges Starr to speak up regardless of the cost, while a local drug dealer (Anthony Mackie) violently tries to reinforce the status quo. In a perceptive and powerful film comprised of layered components — difficult topics, diverging viewpoints, different angles and diverse tones — the most multifaceted element of all comes courtesy of its star. She might have just seven movies on her resume to date, including The Hunger Games and The Darkest Minds, however Stenberg shines as brightly and fiercely as her character's moniker. Demanding the camera's gaze and rightly adored by the movie's clear-eyed frames, her performance couldn't better capture the everyday toll of these racially divided times. When generation after generation only knows distrust, anger and prejudice, the world proves devastatingly vulnerable, overwhelmingly fractured and unwaveringly determined all at once. Stenberg makes this plain as much as any twist in The Hate U Give, and does so with both heartbreak and hope. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTKo2SVDwxw
A new exhibition is adorning that colourful Redfern haunt The Bearded Tit. Curator Chloe Wolifson has constructed Animal/Mineral/Spiritual/Physical around Joan Armatrading’s iconic 'Drop the Pilot' — making visual sense of this lyrically confusing song. Each discreet section of the art space will be filled with an interpretation of the feel-good pop classic. The participating artists include: Lisa Sammut, Rebecca Gallo, Sarah Goffman and Lotte Schwerdfeger in collaboration with Louise Meuwissen. As well as unearthing the rhythm behind the words, many of these practices play with found objects — fetishising them, recontextualising them and seeking out their active qualities. So pop along to The Tit this month and you’ll find and engaging set of musically inclined experiments with old and new objects.
Where would we be without movies over the past 12 months? Even when cinemas were closed for a hefty portion of 2020, we all still sought out the joy and escapism of watching a flick — because when you're in lockdown, quarantining or isolating at home, or just spending more time indoors in general, it's particularly cathartic. Still keen to queue up a big heap of movies, and a hefty dose of couch time? Enter Movie Frenzy, the returning week-long online film rental sale. Until Thursday, March 11, it's serving up a sizeable lineup of popular flicks from the past year, all from $2.99 per movie. On the lineup: Tenet's mind-bending action, The King of Staten Island's blend of comedy and reflection, and the joyous laughs of Bill & Ted Face the Music. You can also opt for the murder-mystery thrills of Knives Out, check out a new version of a childhood favourite thanks to The Secret Garden, dive into a fight between Aussie sheep-farmer brothers in Rams and see Russell Crowe act as the title demands in Unhinged. Nicolas Cage's OTT latest, Jiu Jitsu, is also on the list, as are Bloodshot, Dirt Music, Honest Thief, After We Collided, The Outpost, Sonic the Hedgehog, The High Note and Trolls World Tour — and while some are more worth your attention than others, we'll let you do the choosing. You can nab the cheap flicks via your digital rental platform of choice, including Apple TV, Fetch, Google Play, the Microsoft Store, the Playstation Store, Amazon Prime Video, Telstra TV Box Office and YouTube Movies — although just what's available, and the price, will vary depending on the service. And you won't need a subscription, unless you decide to join in the fun via the Foxtel Store. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywhTeWg8970
It isn't hard to find somewhere in Sydney showing movies under the stars over summer. Moonlight Cinema, Westpac Openair Cinema, Laneway Cinema at The Rocks, Mov'In Bed Barangaroo Beach Cinema, Sunset Cinema: they're among your choices. For three film-filled January weekends, so is the Warner Bros Discovery Open Air Cinema at Darling Quarter, which comes with one big point of difference: it's all about flicks from Warner Bros Discovery. The biggest film of 2023 for the studio — and in general — kicks off the pop-up outdoor cinema's 2024 lineup on Thursday, January 11, with the openair picture palace returning after debuting in 2023. That'd be Barbie, continuing its love affair with the Harbour City ever since stars Margot Robbie, Issa Rae and America Ferrara, plus director Greta Gerwig, hit the New South Wales capital on a pre-release promotional tour. Wearing pink is recommended, obviously. As well as focusing on Warner Bros titles, this cinema also comes with an excellent price: $0. Entry to see the films is free, but you will need your wallet if you want a beanbag or picnic rug rather than just a patch of grass to sit on. And, you'll be paying for anything that you eat and drink, including getting click-and-collect pizza from Vesta Italian, Korean chicken from Goobne, Brazilian barbecue from Braza Churrascaria, cakes from Kürtosh and gelato from Gelatissimo. The food range spans Doodee King's Thai cuisine, Ichoume's Japanese bites, Dopa's donburi and Cantonese dishes from MuMian Dining, too. Plus, Archie Rose is setting up a pop-up bar, where beer, wine and soft drink will also be available. Also on the bill until Sunday, January 28, with the cinema running Thursday–Sunday each week across its three weeks on the Darling Quarter North Village Green: four Harry Potter films (The Order of the Phoenix, The Half-Blood Prince and the two Deathly Hallows movies) and all three OG Lord of the Rings flicks. Or, check out The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part, both The Lego Batman Movie and the Robert Pattinson-starring The Batman, more superheroes with Shazam! and The Flash, and the remake of The Witches. Happy Feet, Pokémon: Detective Pikachu, Edge of Tomorrow and The Notebook round out the lineup. While entry is free, you do need to reserve your spot to whichever of the 18 screenings you'd like to attend in advance online. Warner Bros Discovery Open Air Cinema at Darling Quarter runs Thursday–Sunday from Thursday, January 11–Sunday, January 28 at Darling Quarter North Village Green, 1–25 Harbour Street, Sydney — head to the event's website for further details and reservations.
Calling all future Weirs and De Heers: been putting off world domination for too long? It's time for action. And the Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS) is offering you the nudge you need. On June 6, the school will kick off its Three Week Film School For 15 non-stop days, you'll pack more learning into your brain than Mary Poppins can objects into her magical carpet bag. Pro filmmaker Laura Dudgeon, whose film Comfortable won Best Film and Best Director at the World of Women Film Festival, will be leading you through the important (but not boring) bits of film history. She'll teach you how to come up with brilliant ideas and let you in on the secrets of how to become a Brothers Grimm-level storyteller behind the camera. Once you've mastered all that, she'll also run you through the people side of the business — after all, you can't do much without a killer cast and crew. You'll learn how to boss actors around while keeping lighting and design teams in sync with your vision. Finally, with your new knowledge and skills at the ready, you'll have a go at making your own film, from pre-production to shooting to post-prod. Look out, Flickerfest. The course will kick off on Monday, June 6 and will run for 15 days between the hours of 9am and 5pm. For more info and to enrol, visit AFTRS Open. Book by Thursday, May 12, you'll get 20 percent off the full price by entering the promo code WINTERSPECIAL when you go to pay.
