When the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras arrives each year, it fills the Harbour City with LGBTQIA+ celebrations, including in the New South Wales capital's cinemas. Queer Screen's Mardi Gras Film Festival doesn't just confine its movie love to the big screen, however. And, when it hits streaming as well, it isn't solely about Sydney audiences. That's the case again in 2024, with 161 titles showing both in picture palaces and via nationwide small-screen sessions. In its 31st year, MGFF is running in two parts: as a physical fest from Thursday, February 15–Thursday, February 29 at venues around Sydney, then online across the country from Friday, March 1–Monday, March 11. The IRL component has a date with Event Cinemas George Street and Hurstville, Ritz Cinemas Randwick, Dendy Newtown, the Bearded Tit, Hayden Orpheum Cremorne, the Sydney Opera House, the State Library of NSW and Westpac OpenAir Cinema. The at-home section is headed to your couch, of course. Attendees venturing out of the house can kick off MGFF with opening night's Femme, which stars Nathan Stewart-Jarrett (Culprits) and George MacKay (1917) in a British neo-noir thriller about a drag performer seeking revenge after an attack. Then, after launching in 2023 with Australian director Goran Stolevski's coming-of-age film Of an Age, the fest will close in 2024 with the filmmaker's Housekeeping for Beginners. Other in-person highlights include All of Us Strangers, as led by the internet's boyfriends Paul Mescal (Foe) and Andrew Scott (Fleabag), which screens at Westpac OpenAir Cinema; a night at the Sydney Opera House dedicated to music from queer flicks, spanning tunes from Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Moonlight and Portrait of a Lady on Fire; and the Billy Porter- (Big Mouth) and Luke Evans (Good Grief)-starring Our Son, about a long-term marriage disintegrating. Documentary A Portrait of Love, focusing on Archibald award-winning artist Craig Ruddy and directed by My Name Is Gulpilil's Molly Reynolds, will enjoy its world premiere at the fest. So will Australian feature In the Room Where He Waits and Argentina's Blue Lights, the first about a theatre actor in hotel isolation for seven days upon returning Down Under for his dad's funeral, and the second exploring friends and family members who get together for a 70th birthday party. From the retro titles, John Waters' 1974 classic Female Trouble gets a 50th-anniversary spin, 1984's Another Country with Rupert Everett (Napoleon) and Colin Firth (Empire of Light) will mark its 40th birthday, and 1995's When Night Is Falling scores a 4K restoration. The Ritz will be alive with The Sound of Music, too, via a sing-along session with the Order of Perpetual Indulgence and the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Choir. Elsewhere at the fest, other standouts range from the Australian premiere of Filipino animation The Missing and Gena Marvin-focused doco Queendom to France's Along Came Love and Noёl Coward exploration Mad About the Boy: The Noёl Coward Story. Or, there's Melbourne-set Aussie coming-of-age film Sunflower, Hacks star Meg Stalter in Cora Bora, Japan's I Am What I Am about the expectations placed upon an asexual woman, Hilma af Klint biopic Hilma from director Lasse Hallström (The Nutcracker and the Four Realms), another Sydney stint after SXSW for The People's Joker and Sundance-winning documentary Kokomo City.
Every Thursday between November 30, 2023–January 11, 2024, the Ritz Cinema will become the dreamiest place in Sydney. Across a seven-week period, the picture palace is paying tribute to the filmography of Sofia Coppola — melancholic sisters, cake-eating monarchs and Los Angeles teens breaking into celebrity houses all included. It all kicks off exactly where the second-generation filmmaker's feature directorial career began, aka with The Virgin Suicides and its ethereal score by Air. From there, viewers will play tourist in Tokyo with the Oscar-winning Lost in Translation, head to 18th century France with Marie Antoinette and laze around an LA hotel with Venice Golden Lion recipient Somewhere. The real-life tale of The Bling Ring and the civil war drama of The Beguiled also get a run — and wrapping up the lineup is Coppola's brand-new Priscilla. Showcasing Coppola's films also means showcasing a fantastic array of performances — including Kirsten Dunst in three of Coppola's flicks, Bill Murray singing karaoke and befriending Scarlett Johansson, and everyone from Nicole Kidman to Colin Farrell proving a treat. Screenings start at 7pm each week.
Everyone has a favourite kind of cocktail — and if yours is the good ol' trusty tipple that is the old fashioned, November is your time to shine. Every year, Woodford Reserve hosts Old Fashioned Week, which is about putting the brand's booze to work in a classic concoction. In 2023, it runs from Saturday, November 4–Saturday, November 18. Hailing from the alcohol label and showcasing one specific type of drink, the fest is popping up at more than 40 bars across Australia, including 15 in New South Wales. Even better: there's a complimentary Woodford Reserve old fashioned up for grabs for everyone. To claim your sip, you will need to head to the event's website, enter your details, then activate your voucher when you're in one of the participating watering holes. Your places to hit up: Chin Chin, Baxter Inn, Earl's Juke Joint and Fortunate Son, as well as Hickson House, Doss House, Shady Pines, Bancho, Tokyo Bird and Jolene's. The list also includes Duke of Clarence, Cardea, Pocket Terrigal, Stitch Bar and Jacksons on George. And, of course, whether you're drinking your free beverage or not, old fashioneds are firmly on the menu. Top image: Steve Woodburn.
Add screaming to the ever-growing list of things that Sydney Sweeney can do spectacularly well. Indeed, thanks to Immaculate, which gets the Euphoria and The White Lotus star putting her pipes to stellar bellowing use, the horror genre has a brand-new queen; long may she reign if this is what audiences have to look forward to. This film about a nun who moves to a convent in the Italian countryside, then mysteriously becomes pregnant without having had sex, isn't just a job for Sweeney. She auditioned for the movie a decade back, it didn't come to fruition, but she strove to make it happen now. She stars. She produces. She enlisted Michael Mohan, who she worked with on Everything Sucks! and The Voyeurs, as its director. The passion that drove her quest to bring Immaculate to viewers is just as apparent in her formidable performance, too, including echoing with feeling — and blistering intensity— when she's shrieking. No one should just be realising now how versatile an actor that Sweeney is. Her portrayal of Sister Cecilia, who found her way to becoming a bride of Christ after a traumatic near-death incident in her younger years, is exactly what the film's title suggests: immaculate. It's also a showcase of a role that requires her to be sweet, dutiful, faithful, ferocious, indefatigable, vengeful and desperate to survive all in the same flick — and she kills it — but adaptability, resourcefulness and displaying a multitude of skills has been her on-screen wheelhouse beyond just one movie. Take Sweeney's last four cinema releases, for instance, all of which hail from 2023–24. Reality, Anyone But You, Madame Web and Immaculate couldn't be more dissimilar to each other, and neither could the actor's parts in them. Throw in her Saturday Night Live hosting stint, and she's firmly at the "is there anything that she isn't capable of?" stage of her career. When the virginal Sister Cecilia arrives in Europe from Detroit, it's on Father Sal Tedeschi's (Álvaro Morte, The Wheel of Time) behest after her home parish closed down. He's patronising in his attitude in-person, however. Before that, customs share the same demeanour when they stop her for not having a return ticket, commenting about whether she looks like a nun. Prior to that, though, Mohan opens Immaculate with another sister (Simona Tabasco, from season two of The White Lotus) having an unholy time of it at My Lady of Sorrows. She attempts to flee, which ends badly. Even her fellow devotees aren't a help. That something sinister awaits Cecilia is hardly a shock, then — and while the setup might seem like nunsploitation 101, or even just the basis of much in the sizeable religious-themed horror canon, Mohan and screenwriter Andrew Lobel (Mysteries Unknown) possess the same willingness to commit that their star beams with from within her tunic and wimple. Their novice's introduction to the abbey flutters through donning the requisite apparel, getting shown around, taking her vows, literally kissing the ring of the bishop overseeing the proceedings and endeavouring to settle into a life of piety where tending to older sisters entering their final days is the main task. In the also-twentysomething Sister Gwen (Benedetta Porcaroli, The Hummingbird), Cecilia finds a friend, luckily, as well as someone who isn't willing to meekly take whatever rules and restrictions are thrust her way. But any sense of routine is short-lived. Carrying a child wasn't Cecilia's plan, obviously. Neither was being grilled about it, then worshipped for it, then controlled because of it, all while sparking envy among some of her fellow nuns. Cecilia is as surprised as anyone, with that jolt evolving from astonishment to distress the more that her belly expands, the convent exerts its sway, and the expecting nun begins both investigating and fighting back. Awash in red hues — in blood, costuming and lighting alike — alongside darkness and shadows, while constantly subverting religious iconography and whipping up a claustrophobic air, Immaculate delivers not only bumps and jumps, but a deeply visceral viewing experience. No one is shy about brutal or gory body horror. Sudden cuts are no stranger, either, but do such a feverish job of plunging the audience into Cecilia's mindset that they prove far more than mere easy scares. Reteaming with familiar talents off-screen, too — such as cinematographer Elisha Christian (The Night House), editor Christian Masini and composer Will Bates (Dumb Money), all veterans of at least The Voyeurs — Mohan fashions the film around sharing his protagonist's inner state in every stylistic touch. With its church setting visibly opulent, yet winding through secret laboratories and dusty catacombs similarly in the plot, production designer Adam Reamer (another The Voyeurs alum, who also has Insidious: The Red Door on his resume) achieves the same feat: My Lady of Sorrows is meant to be the ultimate refuge for Cecilia, but it becomes creepier, more terrifying and more of a trap at every turn. When a movie is this detailed with its aesthetics, and so finely tuned to disturb, it keeps drawing out an instinctive response again and again. As it digs into the power that religion, especially Catholicism, can hold over its adherents — plus the treatment of women and their bodies, including the lack of agency, that theology can inspire — Immaculate also unsettles thematically. These trains of thought aren't new, of course. In the 60s and 70s, the likes of Rosemary's Baby, The Devils and The Exorcist were paving the way for Sweeney and Mohan's third collaboration. Giallo, Italy's brand of lush horror-thrillers that came to prominence at the same time, is clearly and expectedly an influence, and not just via Suspiria. More recently, 2021 nunsploitation Benedetta also says hello. Pivotally, this is a feature made with affection and respect for what precedes it, though, without trying to be anything's second coming. On the lengthy lineup of elements that work stunningly in Immaculate, such as its handling of suspense despite viewers knowing that something wicked is afoot from the get-go, its seductive atmosphere, its bold and wild leaps, and its willingness to get surreal, the film's lead casting is miraculous. It's no wonder that Mohan and Christian adore relaying this tale by staring at Sweeney, and by seeing Cecilia's reactions in her eyes — again, what a range that she can convey. She doesn't solely shine in big moments, of which there's plenty. The tiniest glimmer of fear can say everything when it's written across her peepers. The first burst of life-or-death resolve does the same. And there's nothing more haunting than Immaculate's last two minutes, which demonstrate that rich, raw and riveting performances aren't just a habit for Sweeney — they're a calling.
If summer screams ice cream to you, then there's only one way to start the season: indulging in your favourite frosty treat. That's great advice in general, but gelato chain Gelatissimo has an even better spin on it. Hit up one of its 48 stores around the country from 5pm until closing time and you'll nab $3 scoops. The date: Friday, December 1. The place: at all Sydney Gelatissimo shops. The offer: creamy gelato for just a couple of gold coins, all to celebrate the official start of the warm weather and indulge in a dessert staple. The deal stacks, too, so you can get a double scoop for $6. Friday, December 1 also happens to be the day that Gelatissimo is releasing its latest limited-edition flavours, which you can try for just $3 a pop as well. Get ready for cookies and cream made with Milkybar, a mint version but made with KitKat and a blue take.
Award-winning US playwright Aleshea Harris' breakout hit Is God Is graces Sydney this month as part of its Australian debut. In what promises to be a rollercoaster ride of thrills, kills, and societal commentary, Is God Is follows twin sisters Racine and Anaia on a journey across America to track down their abusive father. The goal? To exact their vengeance for the cruelty they endured at his hands growing up. Harris says Is God Is takes its cues from "the ancient, the modern, the tragic, the spaghetti western, hip-hop and Afropunk," in a production that aims to reclaim the trope of "the angry Black woman". Intrigued? Think an edge-of-your-seat thriller that mixes the Wild West violence of Kill Bill with the dark humour and biting satire of Get Out. Harris' gripping (and at times brutal) writing has been setting Off-Broadway theatres alight for some years now, winning her some of the most prestigious international playwriting awards along the way. After a glowing reception in Melbourne, this production from Sydney Theatre Company and Melbourne Theatre Company is on its way to STC's home at The Wharf. Creative powerhouses Zindzi Okenyo and Shari Sebbens, whose last partnership seven methods of killing kylie jenner took both Sydney and Melbourne by storm, are back to co-direct an ensemble cast of eight in this electric work of theatre. "Step aside, Quentin Tarantino and Martin McDonagh." said one New York Times critic after experiencing this fast-paced, high-stakes revenge odyssey. You've got to see it for yourself. And if you're looking to keep the party going post-show, you're in luck because the first three Fridays in October will see Sydney Theatre Company present "Nights at The Wharf" — a slick curation of DJs by Sounds of Afrobeats, plus art, entertainment and food. The series of free events will be held at The Theatre Bar at the End of the Wharf, featuring multidisciplinary artists from the African diaspora. Friday, October 6, will see Sounds of Afrobeats collaborate with Musonga Mbogo; Friday, October 13, will be Afrobeats x Kobla Dido; and Friday, October 20, will see Sounds of Afrobeats x Jpegsbynaa.
There are plenty of ways to show your excitement for a new TV show. Maybe you adore watch parties. Perhaps you're the kind of television fan that loves dressing up. Or, you could be partial to drinking games. Another option: theming your food around whatever you're viewing — yes, even when it's a series about zombies. What should be on the menu to celebrate The Walking Dead spinoff The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon's arrival? How about twice-baked charcoal croissants? For one morning only, 100 of the pastries will be up for grabs, with streaming service Stan teaming up with LODE Circular Quay on the limited-edition snack. LODE has called the croissants 'The Sugarcoa-dead Daryl', fittingly, and you can only nab one at 5 Sai Ying Lane from 8am on Tuesday, September 12 until they're all snapped up. Sporting a charcoal hue, the pastries come filled with macadamia frangipane, as well as raspberry and rhubarb compote. On top: Italian meringue. And if you're wondering why croissants, The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon sees its namesake (Norman Reedus, Triple 9) wash up in France, as you can observe when the show hits Stan on Monday, September 11.
If you've ever wanted to turn your childhood into a movie, Theater Camp is the latest film that understands. It's also happy to laugh. Unlike Minari, Belfast, The Fabelmans, Aftersun and Past Lives, this isn't a drama, with Molly Gordon, Ben Platt, Noah Galvin and Nick Lieberman making a sidesplittingly funny mockumentary about a place that's near and dear to them. What happens when four friends reflect upon their formative years, when they all fell in love with putting on a show? Theater Camp is the pitch-perfect answer. Looking backwards can be earnest and nostalgic, as Gordon and company know and embrace. Going for Wet Hot American Summer meets Waiting for Guffman and A Mighty Wind, they're just as aware that it can be utterly hilarious. Watching Theater Camp means stepping into Gordon, Platt, Galvin and Lieberman's reality. None are currently camp counsellors, but the realm that they parody genuinely is personal. The film's core quartet initially came into each other's lives via youth theatre. With Gordon and Platt, the picture even boasts the receipts — aka IRL footage of the pair performing as kids — from a time when they were appearing together in Fiddler on the Roof at age four and in How to Succeed in Business at five. This team was first driven to bring their shared experiences to the screen in an improvised 2020 short also called Theater Camp. Now, they flesh out that bite-sized flick to full length as enthusiastically as any wannabe actor has ever monologued. All four co-write, while Booksmart and The Bear star Gordon directs with fellow first-time feature helmer Lieberman. Gordon, Dear Evan Hansen stage and screen lead Platt, plus Galvin — who similarly portrayed that Broadway hit's title role — act as well, playing three of the adults at AdirondACTS. Gordon and Platt cast themselves as Rebecca-Diane and Amos, Theater Camp's co-dependent life-long best friends forever. The film's central vacation spot was the joined-at-the-hip characters' ultimate escape, and still is. That said, their move into teaching at the same venue is a clear sign that their aspirations as performers haven't come to fruition. Every year now, Rebecca-Diane and Amos guide teen campers through all things theatre — and towards putting on the season's big show, an original that the duo also write and direct. But Theater Camp's summer in focus isn't any old summer. Before the thespians of tomorrow arrive, while the financially struggling AdirondACTS is in fundraising mode, founder Joan (Amy Sedaris, Somebody I Used to Know) falls into a coma due to "the first Bye Bye Birdie–related injury in the history of Passaic County". While she's incapacitated, that leaves her finfluencer son Troy (Jimmy Tatro, a YouTuber and now The Afterparty and Strays talent) in charge. Also in upstate New York while the sun shines, the histrionics ramp up and everything becomes a performance: the camp's put-upon backstage go-to Glenn (Galvin, The Good Doctor), who is largely ignored and underappreciated by his peers; costume guru Gigi (Owen Thiele, Hacks) and dance instructor Clive (Nathan Lee Graham, Katy Keene), who couldn't be more passionate about their respective disciplines; and staff newcomer Janet (Ayo Edebiri, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem), who knows less than the students. Representing a neighbouring private-school camp that's been flashing its cash for years trying to buy AdirondACTS' land from Joan, lawyer Caroline (Patti Harrison, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law) struts around in an effort to convince Troy to sell. And there are kids, of course, of varying skills and with an array of theatre-related hopes (Minari's Alan Kim, Young Rock's Bailee Bonick, Chapelwaite's Donovan Colan and The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers' Luke Islam are among them). Gordon, Platt, Galvin and Lieberman focus their script on the production of Joan, Still, Rebecca-Diane and Amos' centrepiece musical for the year and a tribute to their absent mentor — and, as finances keep proving an issue, Troy's cluelessness constantly has an impact and Caroline is adamant about snapping up the facility, on saving the entire site. Chaos ensues, which is predictable in the film's broad strokes but, crucially, never in its minutiae. While foreseeing that arguments, tantrums, rivalries, broken dreams, battling egos, budget woes and behind-the-scenes mishaps will all flow is easy, the particulars, and the whys and hows of what's going on, rarely take the expected route. Indeed, because they've been there, lived that and are now eagerly and warmheartedly satirising it, the Theater Camp crew perfects the art of going specific to get universal. Accordingly, if you were once a budding drama geek as well, prepare to be seen and spoofed but also celebrated. Prepare to be showered in lines, references, costumes, sets and moments that couldn't be more authentic, in fact. If you don't know your Damn Yankees from your Hamilton, though, prepare to plunge into a madcap world that's the epitome of youthful fervour and adult malaise swishing together. Theater Camp mightn't dazzle if it didn't feel so bona fide — and if it didn't so gleefully and visibly love playing around in its very own microcosm, just like children discovering their own place to belong at a theatre camp and actors finding themselves in role after role. Gordon, Platt, Galvin and Lieberman couldn't have better riffed on their favourite time as kids and what might've been if they hadn't found success, or enlisted a more-willing cast. In the crowded mockumentary field, they're also spot-on at cannily deploying the genre's tropes. Watching Theater Camp also means wanting to sit down to see Blackmail and Botox, A Hanukkah Divorce and The Briefcase, The Door & the Salad next. No one can, because they're each purely creations of this very amusing flick; what fun the film's key foursome must've had coming up with those titles alone. Theater Camp is a stage-adoring screen gem that's a lively labour of love and a clear work of fun, too: to lampoon treading the boards, summer camps and the exact place where both meet, and to do so this entertainingly, requires knowing the theatre scene and its training grounds intimately. Wanting to catch The Crucible Jr and even an immersive stage version of Cats (that surely couldn't be worse than 2019's cinema take) — yes, that equally springs from laughing heartily through this ode to performing as a dream, a job, a future, an obsession and a way of life.
Whether or not Noora Niasari was ever explicitly told to write what she knew, the Iranian Australian filmmaker has taken that advice to heart. Her mother listened to the same guidance first, even if it was never spoken to her, either. The latter penned a memoir that has gone unpublished, but helped form the basis of the powerful and affecting Shayda. This account of a mum and her daughter attempting to start anew in a women's shelter doesn't entirely stick to the facts that writer/director Niasari and her mother lived through. The Sundance-premiering, Melbourne International Film Festival-opening, Oscar-contending feature — it's Australia's entry for Best International Feature Film at the 2024 Academy Awards — isn't afraid to fictionalise details in search of the best screen story. Still, the tale that's told of courage, resilience, rebuilding lives and finding a new community is deeply and patently personal. Perhaps even better, it's inescapably authentic. Add Shayda to the list of recent features that couldn't be more moving while flickering across the screen like they're projections of a memory. Aftersun, Past Lives and now this Melbourne-shot and -based effort sport not only that sensation but also that look. None closely visually resemble any of the others, and yet each plays like a window into their directors' histories. What a glorious trend that cinema is enjoying right now: films made by helmers grappling with and sharing their own stories, all crafted by feature first-timers and each hailing from female directors as well. A fourth movie bonded by the same elements is on its way in How to Have Sex, and may more follow. Also magnificent: how so much connects Aftersun, Past Lives, How to Have Sex and Shayda in spirit and origin, and yet each is its own exceptional film. In Shayda's case, Niasari peers back at being barely of primary-school age and making a new home. Fleeing to a women's shelter is the only option that the film's eponymous figure (Zar Amir Ebrahimi, 2022's Cannes Best Actress-winner for Holy Spider) has to get away from the abusive Hossein (Osamah Sami, Savage River), whose controlling nature is matched by that of their patriarchal culture. So, Shayda leaves with six-year-old Mona (debutant Selina Zahednia). As she waits for her divorce proceedings to go through — a complicated task under Iranian law and customs — she seeks refuge at a secret site overseen by the caring Joyce (Leah Purcell, The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart). Even surrounded by kindness and filled with desperation for a better future, every iota of Shayda's decision is fraught and tense; Niasari starts the film with Mona at an airport being told what to do if she's ever there with her father, should he try to take her not only away from her mum but also back to Iran. Exceptional French domestic thriller Custody also chronicled the difficulties faced by a woman striving to break free from a dissolving and dysfunctional marriage, including for her safety and that of her children. The setting varied, as did the cultural context. It wasn't additionally a picture about displacement, as Shayda is; however, it too rippled with anxiety and intensity that dripped from the screen. Niasari's film sees the terror and the trauma, as well as the infuriating bureaucracy that makes an already-distressing situation even more upsetting. It shreds nerves as Hossein receives unsupervised visitations with Mona, and simply as its namesake literally makes her way through the world with the fear of her husband's threatening presence always lurking over her shoulder. Again, this is a feature packed with been-there-seen-that minutiae, and made to echo from the screen with that very air. Shayda spies hope just as clearly, though. Someone endeavouring to spark a new existence half a world away from everything they've ever known has to possess that feeling, which the movie never loses sight of. Neither does cinematographer Sherwin Akbarzadeh (The Giants), who lenses a lived-in, closed-in but also visibly warm film — plus a fluidly shot feature, and yet one that knows how meaningful it is to sit in the moment. Accordingly, hope keeps lingering as Niasari's on-screen surrogate for her mum makes the utmost that she can of living with Joyce and fellow women needing a safe space, and as she fights for Mona, battles for independence and reclaims her agency, too. It's there as she still ensures that Farsi, Persian dance and celebrating Nowruz, or Persian New Year, remain entwined in her daughter's upbringing. Shayda isn't merely hoping for a brand-new way forward; she's doing everything that she can to be herself again, which still means cherishing her background and passing on its traditions. Among the talented women attached to this Sundance Audience Award recipient — emerging victorious in 2023's festival's World Cinema — Dramatic competition — Cate Blanchett is the best globally known name. The Tár and The New Boy actor executive produces, lending the kind of attention that her involvement can give a debut feature, but Shayda belongs to filmmaking star-on-the-rise Niasari, plus the always-wonderful Ebrahimi and fresh discovery Zahednia. With the film arriving so closely with Aftersun, Past Lives and How to Have Sex, it might seem as if making a movie that's so ripped from the heart and soul is easy, although that's unquestionably not true. Another thing that all four features have in common: they feel effortless to watch, but also like the product of hard, meticulous, all-in work. Here's one more: they also make something so personal resonate universally. With Shayda, conveying the fact that Shayda and Mona's plight sadly isn't unique is a clear but never heartstring-tugging aim. That Ebrahimi plays Niasari's lead so soon after winning Cannes' top acting prize is a pure stroke of lucky timing, with casting happening before that accolade. She would've been marvellous without the gong on her mantle already, of course — and marvellous she is. Quiet power shimmers in Shayda's strongest moments. Determination simmers silently even when the character is at her most fragile. Being resolute and being vulnerable aren't positioned as opposites in her devastatingly multi-layered performance. First-timer Zahednia is a find and also just as understated as Ebrahimi; their pairing as mother and daughter is a dream. Not that Shayda skimps on dialogue, but words aren't often needed thanks to their potent portrayals, including to see the world through Shayda and Mona's eyes.
El Camino Cantina's approach to margaritas is like Gelato Messina's to frozen desserts, taking inspiration far and wide from other beloved foodstuffs. In the past, the lively Tex-Mex chain has served up candy-flavoured margs, Long Island iced tea-flavoured ritas and soft drink-influenced tipples. Next on the list: Vodka Cruiser versions. On offer at the chain's Sydney venues in The Rocks, Manly Wharf, Entertainment Quarter and Westfield Miranda: nine flavours of its beloved ritas that pay tribute to the ready-to-drink staple. You'll be able to knock them back until Saturday, September 30 — in 15-ounce ($21) and 24-ounce ($25) glasses topped with a Grand Marnier float, and as happy-hour specials from 4–6pm Monday–Friday (costing $12.50 and $15). Flavours on offer include Summer Peach, Lush Guava, Pure Pineapple and Wild Raspberry — and also Ripe Strawberry, Sunny Orange Passionfruit and Bold Berry. Or, you can sip Juicy Watermelon and get some tang with Zesty Lemon Lime. If you're a fan of its margs, you'll probably have noticed that El Camino mixes up its menu regularly with specials like these — which gives you more excuses to try more flavours.
Festival FOMO is real, and festival sideshows are one solution: the gigs you go to when you're not going to the main gig. Can't make it to Adelaide for two music-filled October days at Harvest Rock II? Loving the South Australia-only fest's lineup? Some of the event's highlights have announced dates along Australia's east coast — and one of them is Sparks. The iconic duo, aka brothers Ron and Russell Mael, will draw upon a whopping 57 years of making ridiculously catchy and smartly funny tunes on their first tour of Australia since 2001. In Sydney, they'll be unleashing highlights from their enormous back catalogue at none other than the Sydney Opera House. Thanks to 2021's double of Edgar Wright-directed documentary The Sparks Brothers and Cannes Film Festival opener Annette, the Maels have been everywhere of late — and, when that includes the Harbour City on Tuesday, October 31, they'll be busting out tracks like 'The Number One Song in Heaven', 'This Town Ain't Big Enough for the Both of Us' and latest single 'The Girl Is Crying in Her Latte'. In a glorious move, Sparks have been beginning their recent sets with 'So May We Start' from Annette, too, which won them the Best Composer award at Cannes.
If January 26 finds you looking for a thoughtful way to reflect on the impact of the arrival of the First Fleet and Australia's colonisation of its First Nations people, you should join the folks from Sydney Festival the evening prior. For the fifth year in a row, the festival will be running a vigil at Barangaroo Reserve. Unlike previous years, the 2023 iteration will span 40 minutes from 8.30pm, in place of the overnight ceremony that's taken place in years gone by. [caption id="attachment_884051" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Daniel Boud[/caption] This year, the event is titled Vigil: Awaken and will celebrate the reawakening of the spirit of Me-Mel (formerly Goat Island). The island is currently in the process of being transferred to Aboriginal ownership and management. Across the 40 minutes, the ceremony will reflect on the deep cultural significance of the island, and celebrate its return through ceremonial smoke, flares, music, light, performance and narration. The event is free and registration is not required this year. Images: Victor Frankowski
In and around Newcastle this weekend This Is Not Art (TiNA) makes a window into the world of up and coming and too-strange-for-main-stage performance, music and prose. TiNA is a has been a hybrid of a number of festivals in its time. This year it's three: the National Young Writers' Festival, Critical Animals and the Crack Theatre Festival. New ideas, new performers and new shows all get a chance to shine in a free festival that connects you with arts, artists and writers who you might never otherwise encounter. It's a four day deal, owning literary highlights like Women of Letters, the NYWF Spelling Bee and even a Younger Young Writers' Program. Critical Animals shows off Walking the Digital City and Bodies in Distress (from the intriguingly-named Centre for the History of Emotions at UWS), while straight stories get a look in with a series of three late night readings the NYWF Festival Hot House Show and Tell and the In the Dark. On the performance side, Crack offers Impossible Plays, some time with Achilles at Home and the Toilet Show, a play made from graffiti on cubicle walls. Not to mention a word with Concrete Playground's own Editor-in-Chief, Rima Sabina Aouf, talking on digital critics in the panel I've Started a Blog… Now I'm a Critic. This year's This is Not Art is camping-free, so alternative accomodation suggestions are on the website. Image by owlandowlet.
From August 19, Settlement Services International will be presenting a unique exhibition from a group of artists seeking asylum in Australia. On display at Bankstown Arts Centre, Home: Between Here and There will evoke unfinished journeys and the shared experience of asylum. The exhibition is the product of a 10-week course, which focused on professional development and assisting the artists' transition into the Australian cultural scene. The eight works created challenge understandings of ‘home’ and fixed identities. Each artist will share an intriguing and personal narrative through their work, reflecting on notions of place and belonging. The artists featured in the show include Babak Jahangirzadeh, Damon Amb, Farid Assadi, Hayder Shakir Al Bdairi, Mahdi Jahangirzadeh, Mohanad Al Ghezi, Mohammed Alanezi and Sefullah (Amir) Akbari. Join the opening reception on August 19, 6-7.30pm. Image: Hayder Shakir Al Bdairi, The Memories, 2015
Earlier this year, Goose Island migrated down under from its home in Chicago, setting up shop in Tasmania. Now, the craft brewery is bringing its Migration Week event series to Australia for a hop-fuelled week of brews, eats and Aussie-American mashups. To kick off the very first Aussie Migration Week, Goose Island will take over The Bank Hotel in Newtown on Wednesday, November 8 from 6pm, bringing together the best of Chicago and Aussie culture. At The Chicago Session, you can enjoy unlimited schooners of Goose Island's premium brews (until the kegs run dry, that is) including the Midway IPA, the award-winning IPA, plus the barrel-aged Halia, Lolita, Matilda — flown in direct from Chicago. Paying homage to its roots, Goose Island will also serve up plenty of American snacks and throwback tunes from its early days when the brewery was just a mere gosling. Want to get in on the fun? We have several double passes to give away, so you and a mate can join the flock for a night of frothy fun. Enter below to win. [competition]644273[/competition]
One of the big 'pulls' of this year’s Falls Festival is the Brooklyn-based quartet Grizzly Bear. And now we know that shortly after hauling in the New Year, they will be making their debut performance at the Sydney Opera House. Currently at the peak of their career, enjoying critical acclaim and receiving vigorous nods of approval from the likes of Paul Simon, Radiohead and Fleet Foxes, the indie-rock outfit has built a reputation for creating music that is texturally rich. Whether it be swirling psychedelic tones, sunny melodies or melancholic folk, Grizzly Bear has a knack for crafting "pop music with an ear for the ambient". Their fourth album, Shields, was released in 2012 and is considered their most compositionally ambitious venture to date. From the boisterous album-opener, 'Sleeping Ute', to the epic finale, 'Sun in Your Eyes', this intricate suite of multilayered songs has an inquisitiveness and emotive resonance that stays with you. Grizzly fans are likely to jump at the opportunity to catch the indie-rock trailblazers at Sydney's iconic Opera House. The Concert hall acoustics are sure to complement the band's genre-melting tapestry of tunes. Tickets go on sale at 9am on Friday, 4 October, from the Sydney Opera House website.
Sydney Good Food Month, the city's always jam-packed month filled with one-off and limited-time food and drink events, has returned for a special summer edition throughout January. The annual culinary festival puts Sydney's world-class food scene front and centre, taking over restaurants around town, hosting food pop-ups and serving up dinners from some of the world's best chefs. If you're looking to get into the spirit of the month, the choice is overwhelming — with events spanning everything from luxe French champagne nights to all-star chef collaborations. You can look through the full lineup at the Good Food Month website or, to make your decisions easier, we've put together a list of five of our favourite events you can still nab a spot at this month, ranging from affordable nights out to unforgettable multi-course feasts.
If you've been looking for an excuse to hit the slopes this winter, the annual Transfer Banked Slalom is returning to Thredbo on Friday, August 12. Now in its eighth year, the event invites snowboarders of all ages and skill levels to compete in the race located at Thredbo's Playground Area below the chairlift. Entrants can compete in a range of categories from 12 years and under through to the open men's and women's races. Or, if you're not quite confident enough to compete yourself, you can head along on the day to watch from the YETI chill zone. There will be drinks and plenty of talent displayed on the day with some big names competing in the open categories including Olympians Tess Coady, Scotty James, Valentino Guseli, Jarryd Hughes and Josie Baff. As with all good days at Thredbo, there will also be an afterparty at the Merritts Mountain House Deck. All competitors are invited to celebrate after their ride down the mountain with Adelaide brewery Pirate Life adding to the festivities with beers and live music. Passes to compete in the event are $89 and must be accompanied by a lift pass which competitors can get a discount on.
Having treated Sydneysiders to a taste of village-style Sri Lankan and Southern Indian food at INDU, not to mention modern Mexican at two Mèjico locations, the Sam Prince Hospitality Group (SPHG) has announced the game plan for its next venture – a contemporary Japanese restaurant inspired by the rebellious music of the '80s and '90s. Named Kid Kyoto, this CBD offering is one that'll march to its own beat, drawing on the alternative spirit captured by the likes of Nirvana, Beck and Radiohead back in the day. To that end, expect a fitout that's bold and fare that's fearlessly original, with Head Chef Seb Gee (China Doll, China Diner) and SPHG group manager Richard Prout developing a menu that nods to a pretty experimental attitude. "The whole restaurant – what you see, hear, taste, smell and touch – will be influenced by the soundtrack we listened to whilst visiting Japan. In particular the music of the izakayas in Tokyo and Kyoto," Prout explained. "Guests will come for the food and stay because they hear that song that reminds them of a particular time in their life." Kid Kyoto is set to open on Bridge Lane, Sydney in late spring.
Tucked away among the George Street construction chaos and down De Mestre Place, with only a single 'B' hanging outside to hint at its location, Burrow Bar is hard to spot. So you could be forgiven for not having visited yet. But you're on your own if you don't pop in on December 4, because Burrow is holding a very special birthday party. In honour of its second birthday, the owners have invited along bartender friends from some of Sydney's favourite haunts to jump behind the long, narrow bar and show off their skills. This includes Jonathan Carr (Door Knock), Lachie Beange (Archie Rose), Alex Gilmour (Tio's), Jimmy Snelgrove (PS40), Phil Gandevia (Bentley) and Julius Yates (Earl's Juke Joint). Burrow Bar is the brainchild of four friends with a hefty dose of hospitality experience between them. At the moment, the bar's appearance sits firmly in the 'rustic charm' category: sandstone walls, exposed timber ceilings and an eclectic mix of furniture. A refurbishment is scheduled for soon after the event, spurring on the "next era of Burrow Bar". So if you're a fan of the original venue, this is the opportunity to bid it adieu.
Cocktail Connoisseur hosted at the Loft is set to mix things up (no pun intended) with the final shakedown taking place on 1 November. The competition, aimed at bringing together expert mixologists and bona fide cocktail aficionados, is at grand final stage after grueling prelims around the country. The great thing about this comp? They've enlisted your help to judge signature creations from some of Australia's finest up and coming. Apparently, it's all about sharing the love at Cocktail Connoisseur. And hey, we're not complaining. Suntory Australia is inviting members of the public to rate bespoke cocktail creations whilst enjoying freebie cocktails and canapés. What's not to love? To get to this point, 550 entrants across Australia participated in initial rounds, which involved a series of blind tasting by judges according to aesthetic, taste and aroma of each entrant's signature cocktail. The result? A total of five entrants from each state, which were then whittled down to five overall champs. It is these five champs we're going to see in action on 1 November, and if you're anything like us you'll be doing the ring around to ensure it's a cracker of a night. RSVP to rsvp@theloftsydeny.com essential before 30 October for free entry. Places are limited.
Established in 1897, Petersham Bowling Club stands as an iconic Sydney institution deeply rooted in community activism. In 2006, locals rallied to thwart a proposal threatening its existence, paving the way for a board composed wholly of community members. Their first move? Removing poker machines and erecting a stage — transforming the club into a vibrant hub. Today, the Bowlo remains a bustling and dynamic community centre, a space that's authentic, friendly and seemingly untouched by time. That could be because it hasn't seen a renovation since 1972, and it is time for an upgrade. Luckily, the club has announced its plans for a full-venue accessibility update, ensuring inclusivity for all. [caption id="attachment_593816" align="alignnone" width="1280"] @thepbc[/caption] To kickstart the fundraising efforts, the not-for-profit club has announced a free weekend-long music festival, Sham Fest. From Saturday, April 6–Sunday, April 7, expect an eclectic lineup of local bands, line dancing, games and (of course) lawn bowls. And don't miss the Auslan interpretation for main acts in collaboration with the local deaf community. So, join the community spirit at Sham Fest this weekend. Check out the website for the full lineup, and remember to donate in support.
Slowly, Australia is starting to emerge from COVID-19 lockdown, which includes bars, pubs and venues — but life isn't back to normal just yet. That means that Isolation Trivia is still going strong and, on Saturday, June 13, going green as well. Yep, it's hosting a session dedicated to animated favourite Shrek. If you know why it really isn't easy being an ogre, you've watched the vibrant CGI animation more times than you can remember, and you've memorised the voices of Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy and Cameron Diaz, well, this is for you. And, as no one who has ever seen Shrek before can manage to forget, a whole lot of Smashmouth — aka 'All Star' and their version of 'I'm a Believer' — will also likely feature prominently. No bookings or registrations are required — all you need to do it hit up the event Facebook page at 6.25pm. And if you're wondering exactly which parts of the Shrek franchise you'll be quizzed on, this trivia night will focus on the 2001 movie that started it all, plus 2004's Shrek 2. So, no need to worry about Shrek the Third, Shrek Forever After, Puss in Boots, or all the Shrek short films, TV shows and TV specials. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwXOrWvPBPk
For the Sydney Festival 2022 lineup, this race-conscious Australian retelling of Edward Albee's classic play Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? is adding a fascinating chapter to the storied history of one of the most acclaimed theatrical works of the 20th century. Based on the play that originally starred Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, the story takes place over the course of a single evening in the apartment of academic couple George and Martha who invite their new colleagues, Nick and Honey, over for a drink following a faculty party. What follows is essentially a booze-fuelled cage fight between the hosts. For the Sydney Festival run, acclaimed First Nations director and actor Margaret Harvey takes the reins for a thoroughly contemporary reimagining of Virginia Woolf. The result is a uniquely Australian perspective that explores themes of identity, illusion and desire. Key to this new voice is Harvey's considered stable of players. The production stars Wagadagam man Jimi Bani (Mabo) as George, Susan Prior (The Rover, Puberty Blues) as the powerhouse Martha, with Juanita Navas-Nguyen (Bluey's Big Play, A Doll's House) and Congolese-born Melbourne actor Rashidi Edward (Rabbit) rounding out the cast. Image: Caitlyn Miles (CommonState)
There's no one quite like Frank, the person, and there's nothing quite like Frank, the film. The former, as played by Michael Fassbender while wearing a papier mache mask, is a soul seemingly eccentric but really just looking for the essence of creation and contentment. The latter is quirky by design but beautifully bittersweet by execution, revelling in all life's failures and flaws. Frank leads an experimental rock band with the fittingly unpronounceable name of The Soronprfbs, and that's exactly where Jon (Domhnall Gleeson) finds him. Downtrodden in his dismal everyday routine, Jon wants desperately to be a musician but lacks the opportunity and the ability to extend himself. His unlikely encounter with his new friend with the obscured face brings both, one fruitful, the other less so. As the reconfigured group ventures from the Irish wilderness to the South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas in search of musical fulfilment, the solace they find comes from internal, not external, forces. Journalist turned screenwriter Jon Ronson, of The Men Who Stare at Goats fame, turns fact into fiction in Frank, taking his characters and narrative from his own experiences. With co-scribe Peter Straughan and director Lenny Abrahamson, he spins a story inspired by Frank Sidebottom, the comic persona of musician Chris Sievey, as fine-tuned and fleshed out where necessary. The basics remain, including the large and unusual headwear that demands attention in every scene that it appears in. Added in the tinkering with the tale is thoughtfulness that resonates like a homage while investing a layer of universality. That relatable spirit weaves through a film that ponders the oft-contemplated contrast between reality and perception in an interesting and endearing fashion. While Frank must resort to announcing his emotions on screen for the benefit of Jon, and to the disdain of his other avant garde band mates — Hysteria's Maggie Gyllenhaal and The Rover's Scoot McNairy among them — the sentiment of his every sentence is always clear, heightening the feature's commentary on communication and identity. Of course, much of the success stems from casting, including Fassbender in the titular role. Gleeson is wonderfully uncertain, Gyllenhaal convincingly curt and McNairy ever eclectic; however, it is the hidden figure that combines all their traits and more into a singular yet complex package. Again, it is his words that do all the talking, offbeat charm oozing from every wide-ranging conversation and progressive tune. Indeed, whilst shot with the same anarchic energy that adjusts to the mood of the story, Frank is a film to listen to as keenly as to watch — from every inflection in Fassbender's sometimes strange, sometimes touching dialogue to the diverse array of noisy, catchy, cute and unconventional songs. https://youtube.com/watch?v=IblHV2x64f8
Music lovers all over the country have been holding their breaths for the much-awaited Parklife lineup announcement. And yesterday they were able to exhale with utter excitement at the acts that are set to hit the stages around Australia in late September and early October. We have a double VIP pass to giveaway in each city that Parklife will be making an appearance. Lucky winners of the VIP tickets will not only gain access to the exclusive Garden Bar, which offers such treasures as toilets, phone chargers, massages and the chance to catch up with Parklife artists, but they'll also get free drinks and a Parklife Mixtape, and be able to skip the ever-dreaded queues. To go in the running, just head to the Concrete Playground Facebook page and leave a comment under this story telling us which artist you want to see most, and which city you want tickets for. Entries will close at noon on June 21. Parklife dates and venues:Parklife Brisbane - Saturday, September 29 at Botanic GardensParklife Sydney - Sunday, September 30 at Centennial ParkParklife Perth - Monday, October 1 at Wellington SquareParklife Melbourne - Saturday, October 6 at Sidney Myer Music Bowl and Kings DomainParklife Adelaide - Sunday, October 7 at Botanic Gardens Discounted presale tickets ($25 off in all cities except Adelaide, which is $17 off) are available from 12pm on June 21 until midnight on June 25. Head to parklife.com.au for more info.
Tavi Gevinson, the precocious pixie editrix, is finally manifesting her person on our shores. As a hugely successful teen blogger and founder of Rookie magazine, her entrepreneurial chutzpah is something of a phenomenon. Sydney Opera House Concert Hall will host Tavi's Big Big World, part of Ideas at the House, a program which presents conversations with influential personalities. She'll also be at the Melbourne Writers Festival. She's an old hand at public speaking, too, having already given a TED talk. Awash as the internet is with kids promoting their #personalbrands, it's cool to see someone so young found a publication like Rookie, a surprisingly down-to-earth and intellectual voice in the teen zine scene. Launched in 2011, it's festooned with the Tavi aesthetic, which, since her solo blogging days as a 13-year-old, has channelled '90s pop-goth and pretty pastels, movies like Ghost World and all the quirkiest developments of the fashion world. But it's Tavi's self-awareness and feminism that make her a compelling fashion commentator: never glossing over the fact that this is an industry which fetishises youth, she's all for female empowerment. We're looking forward to hearing her speak on a local stage. Book here (from July 12) to see Tavi speak at the Opera House on August 18, and here for her August 23 appearance in Melbourne.
Witness the duo that is claimed to deliver one of the world's most intoxicating live acoustic performances as Mexico's Rodrigo y Gabriela take on Sydney. Since their album release last year, they've toured cities all over Europe, North America and Asia and are now making their fourth visit to loyal fans in Australia. Rodrigo y Gabriela have mesmerized audiences all over the world with their original songs and cover versions on authentic Spanish guitars. The guitarists work wonders on stage as Rodrigo plays the main melody and Gabriela defines the rhythm, creating a perfect harmony that is both charming and exhilarating. Their diverse style has left any acoustic competition in the dust, and for good reason. Accompanied by Bobby Long, a folk-rock artist on the rise, the show will be nothing short of pure entertainment. https://youtube.com/watch?v=vNc5o9TU0t0
We all have at least one mate whose avocado obsession is off the charts. After all, we've collectively chosen the tasty green fruit over the joys of home ownership, right? Well ironically, the two things have now – sort of – become one, as the world's first Avo-Condo lands at Sydney's Circular Quay. The latest edition of Things You Never Knew You Needed, this avocado-shaped tiny home has popped up in celebration of 'National Avocado Day' on July 31. The quirky, custom-built accommodation will set up shop at Campbell's Cove Lookout for just two nights, offering avo-crazed punters the chance to book a once-in-a-lifetime sleepover on Wednesday, July 31, and Thursday, August 1. Perched right on the footpath within its own white picket fence, the Avo-Condo boasts some primo real estate and top-notch views. Though the realistic avocado-styled exterior and avo-themed furnishings inside might be a little harder to ignore. Avo-Condo will be available to book exclusively through Booking.com, from 9am on Monday, July 29. Surprisingly, it's only a little more expensive than an actual serve of smashed avo, clocking in at $100 per night. Avo-Condo will reside at Campbell's Cove Lookout, 4 Circular Quay Way, The Rocks, on July 31 and August 1. Bookings will open at 9am on Monday, July 29 at booking.com.
Sinkane is an energetic four-piece blending together elements of tap, jazz, disco and rock to create a colourful tapestry of tunes. It is an extension of the solo work of Ahmed Gallab, a multi-instrumentalist in high demand. Gallab is a regular on the indie circuit, having recently toured with Yeasayer, Caribou and Born Ruffians, among many. Hailing from Brooklyn via Sudan, he is a self-styled cosmopolitan and intuitive percussionist with a knack for fusing together diverse musical elements. Sinkane marks Gallab's movement from indie-rock fame to a more worldly sound, peppered with personal musical influences, such as Sudanese pop and Afro-futurism. Mustering a synth-heavy style that incorporates free jazz and early '70s funk, the band will be gracing the Spiegeltent for Sydney Festival in January. You won't want to miss this evening of feelgood global music with real soul. Want more Sydney Festival events? Check out our top ten picks of the festival. Image by by Nick Helderman. https://youtube.com/watch?v=Axgv-xW8B6c
Essentially a fancy caravan, Whispers Tiny House holds two people and everything you and your travel buddy will need for a weekend in luxurious seclusion (yes, even the kitchen sink). Although teeny tiny, the space is well-designed and highly functional, set with a bed, power, a bathroom and heating as well as outdoor amenities like a barbecue, an outdoor firepit (available upon request) and chairs so you can sit under the night sky. Plus, it's got 360-degree views of the countryside. You can sleep snug, knowing that you really are right in the middle of nowhere. Well, kind of. You'll actually be just on the outskirts of the Blue Mountains in small-town Marrangaroo, among some spectacular New South Wales national parkland.
This month The Rocks Pop-Up will host an exhibition and pop-up shop displaying original clothing designs by people from refugee backgrounds. It's run by The Social Outfit, an enterprise that seeks to enrich the lives of local refugees and asylum-seekers through creativity. They're the sister organisation to Melbourne’s Social Studio, which currently produces two seasons of clothing a year using excess fabric from the fashion industry. Check out the lookbook here — items of which will be available to buy at The Rocks Pop-Up. It's an opportunity to peruse and purchase the work of some hugely talented designers using hand dyes and digital prints on a range of fabrics, with visual sensibilities born from a different perspective. The Social Outfit is also running a series of free four-day design workshops at their pop-up — in hat-making, eco fabric dyeing, fashion crochet and giant knitting — as well as a runway show. Photo by Hayley Hughes
What's better than spending the day on an island covered in art and dilapidated industrial detritus? Topping said detritus and art with an unexpected encounter with a celebrity art lover. Surprise is de rigueur for Cockatoo Island's Mystery Tours, which pair the general public with art lovers from a more public background. The identity of the tour guide remains a mystery until the tour itself assembles, too. Tours are free, but need to be booked via Eventbrite, phoning 8484 8718 or emailing bookings@biennaleofsydney.com.au Read the rest of Concrete Playground's Top Ten Things to See and Do at the 2012 Sydney Biennale.
While Messina's main jam is crafting supremely scoffable varieties of gelato, the brand's love of food extends far beyond the freezer, as proven through a series of pop-ups it's dubbed Messina Eats. Every couple of months, the cult gelateria teams up with a savoury-focused culinary hero and throws a big ol' food party in the carpark at its Rosebery headquarters. On February 16 and 17, it's teaming up with Melbourne's Wonderbao to create a special Chinese New Year menu as dreamy as the soft, doughy pillows themselves. . Along with traditional pork buns, the team will also be steaming their cult gua bao stuffed with roast pork, fried chicken or eggplant. Because every good bao needs an accompaniment, the pop-up will also be serving up kimchi, pork and cheese-topped fries and slushies to wash them all down. And for dessert? Thin pancakes filled with Messina's mango sorbet and whipped cream. The whole thing will go down over Friday and Saturday in the carpark at Messina's Rosebery HQ. They'll be open from noon for lunch and dinner until sold out. Images: Harvard Wang.
Have you heard? Legendary pop and dance icons Charli XCX, Duke Dumont, Cosmo's Midnight and Sonny Fodera are taking to the stage with other stellar artists across four stunning waterside locations for the 2023 run of For The Love. On Sunday, February 26, stars from here and abroad will be taking over Wollongong's Thomas Dalton Park for one massive day and night of good-time vibes — with The Gong's glistening stretch of coastline as your backdrop, you'll be dancing to hits and sending out your summer on a high. The 2023 lineup is stacked. The team at Untitled Group — the same minds behind Beyond the Valley and Pitch Music & Arts — have gathered an incredibly strong list of acts to keep the energy high while FTL delivers its signature elevated experience (complete with stand-out fashion and lifestyle elements). Expect Snakehips, Budjerah and KYE, as well as Sumner and Jade Zoe, to make appearances. And while you can experience all of this as a regular punter, For The Love's VIP tickets make it that much better. Enjoy a private bar (avoiding longer lines elsewhere — huge win), upgraded amenities and access to the coveted VIP deck (for uninterrupted views of the stage) and the double-storey VIP fashion lounge (where you'll mingle with FTL's fun-loving ambassadors and social personalities). Is is, by far, the best way to experience this red-hot lineup, which is why Concrete Playground Trips has teamed up with For The Love to create an epic VIP travel package. First off, we're putting guests up in the Novotel Wollongong Northbeach for two nights — just a short drive from the For The Love venue. In each room? Grey Goose Vodka Essences (to start your pre-drinking the right way) and Tend-2 Hangover Relief (the 100% organic pills that will save you a bit of pain the next day). The much-anticipated event is an exceptional way to send off summer — set your reminders now, legends. The VIP For The Love Wollongong package is exclusive to Concrete Playground Trips. To book your curated experience, head to the website.
As you might have heard, the recently rejuvenated Cleveland Street Theatre is now the Giant Dwarf, a Chaser-run space bursting with cheeky antics and defamatory delights. Running alongside regular events such as Erotic Fan Fiction and Story Club is The Chaser's Empty Vessel. Featuring a lively, relaxed atmosphere and a scattering of comic surprises, this freewheelin' talkfest is a monthly event offering up a mix of Sydney's finest (and some of its worst). In the past, the event has been held at various venues about town, surfacing sporadically. However, it's settling into Giant Dwarf for the long haul. After the success of the March kick-off, there's a stack more pollies, comedians, Walkley-winners, and public personalities in store for future editions. If Tony Jones was a less diplomatic mediator and Q&A had a liquor license, it might come close to what The Chaser's Empty Vessel is all about.
Hitting the indoor mini-golf course for a few holes of pop culture-themed fun and a few rounds of delightfully named beverages isn't just something capital city kids should enjoy. Holey Moley Golf Club has officially landed in Wollongong. Crown Street is now home to 18 holes of club-swinging antics. The bar is known for its creativity when it comes to creating courses, and this venue is no exception. Wollongong locals can tap, tap, tap their way through rooms dedicated to The Simpsons and Game of Thrones. Plus, everyone will be able to break out into song at the same time, with karaoke part of the antics. If you choose to work your way through the Happy Gilmore soundtrack, no one will stop you (at least not any of the staff). Images: Tom Wilkinson.
It was a sad day for Sydney's live music scene when Newtown's beloved Sandringham Hotel was placed in receivership last June, and even sadder when it was finally forced to shut its doors in December. But there was also cause for cautious optimism, with word that the team behind two of Melbourne's most iconic venues, the Corner Hotel and Northcote Social Club, would be taking over the site, doing a complete overhaul of the entire place — which, admittedly, had seen better days. Well, it's been a few months coming, but the Newtown Social Club will finally open its doors this Friday, May 3. It will be open from midday to midnight Monday to Saturday and close at 10pm on Sundays. The kitchen will be open all day, serving pizza, nachos, chips and hot dogs. There'll be a distinctly Melbourne vibe to the place, with the owners promising to show every AFL game they can on the TVs in the front bar — a welcome announcement for long-suffering Sydney fans of the code, too often forced to crowd around a Cold War-era audiovisual relic in the basement just to watch the nation's most popular football code. But if you can't wait to christen Sydney's newest live music venue, you've got a bit of a wait coming. Although the bar is open from this week, it'll be another few months before the upstairs bandroom is fully operational. Via Mess+Noise.
If a burger could b-b-b-b-beat box we're pretty sure it'd churn out something awesome. Maybe a little something like this: "I'm fresh … you gotta, you gotta, you gotta be fresh." Not convinced? Just check out BRGRS's promotional video and you'll be sold. And so let it be told — the burger gods behind Pub Life Kitchen have launched a pop-up above the Flinders to bring meaty goodness to all the young lasses and lads around town. Get in quick though, because this baby's only hanging around on Wednesdays and Fridays from 6pm for the next few weeks. The six-item menu includes a whole lot of beefy goodness and canned beers; yes, we're talking serious dude food here. The O.G. (all burgers $16) will get you a thick beef patty jammed between caramelised onion, lettuce, tomato, aioli, and jack cheese. After some hefty dairy between your buns? Go for the Cheesebrgr with patty, double jack cheese, mustard, homemade tomato sauce, onion, and pickle. Beef not your thing? The Bird will having you chowing down on fried dorito chicken, jack cheese, slaw, and tomato. A vego burger, wings ($10), and bowl-o-fries ($8) are also on offer.
The high priestess of dark rock is coming to Australia for Sydney Festival 2016. Locked in to play an exclusive performance at Sydney's shiny new International Convention Centre on Sunday, January 22, Harvey will be backed by her ten-piece band for a career-spanning set. It's been a while between drinks — Harvey hasn't performed in Australia since her 2012 Sydney Festival concert. It's a new live show for the UK indie rock legend, one that's already toured Europe and the US and features all your favourite early classics and newer material. It's also one of the first concerts announced for Sydney's epic $1.5 billion ICC. Image: Maria Mochnacz.
The Chauvel Cinema will showcase the best of contemporary Iranian cinema, as part of Sydney's third annual Persian International Film Festival. Highlighting six critically acclaimed films from the region, the festival aims to challenge audience perceptions while exploring the social and political issues facing people in the Persian world. Certainly, Iran has for the past two decades been among the most exciting global film cultures, in spite of the draconian censorship laws imposed upon its filmmakers. Director Mohammad Rasoulof received a one-year jail sentence for filming without a permit and had his passport confiscated by the security services after making his latest film, Manuscripts Don't Burn. The internationally lauded thriller will open the festival in Sydney and is definitely work seeking out. In a similar vein, both Hossein Shahabi's The Bright Day and Parviz Shahbazi's Tapped explore injustice within the Iranian legal system, featuring characters imprisoned on false or unfair charges. On a blessedly lighter note, closing night will feature Don't Be Tired!, a cross-cultural road-trip comedy. https://youtube.com/watch?v=YKOILvEcHbA
One thing locals know is that Bourke Street Bakery is the place to hit up for your daily bread and/or weekend pastry blowout. And you know who else knows it? MasterCard. Cardholders who register with the Priceless Sydney program can score all manner of perks and freebies at the beloved bakery (t-shirts, sausage rolls — the good stuff) when they book a sourdough-making lesson or simply drop $15 on their usual nomz. But this is just one example of the deals available through MasterCard's Priceless Sydney, which boasts a beautifully curated knowledge of our city's many villages and their hidden experiential treasures. There's something so nice about getting a little bit of royal treatment, a gift or a great deal when supporting local businesses, and Priceless Sydney has it all worked out for you. So what other varieties of fun are on offer through the program? At Lucio's of Paddington you can enjoy a canapé and an aperitivo (I'd choose the blood orange Pettirosso) on the house. Adventurous types can meet George the friendly Blue Grouper of Cabbage Tree Bay Marine Reserve with Pro Dive and walk away with a free snorkel and mask. There's an array of other groovy offers on dining, entertainment, retail, sport and hotels, too. Getting the idea? Even as a source of inspiration and motivation to get you back into the swing of all that the incredible city of Sydney has going on, Priceless Sydney is a very cool initiative. Take advantage.
Bernard Yu and Yen Yee of Melbourne's LuxBite and Anna Polyviou of the Sydney Shangri-La have at least two things in common. One is that they are quickly developing an international reputation for being outrageously talented pastry masterminds. The other is that they're offering to whip you up five courses of eastern sweet treats at their 2013 Asian Dessert Degustation. When renowned dessert heavyweights like LuxBite and Polyviou collide, we can hardly imagine the deliciousness that must ensue. One thing we do know is that you will walk away with a slice of Bernard Yu's 'Lolly Bag Cake', made famous on this season of Masterchef and featuring no less than seven layers of scrumptious lolly-inspired goodness (mere mention of the mandarin Jaffa ganache, musk-mallow and freckles crunch layers have us floating away on a sugar high). With a glass of sparkling, delectable canapes and those five whimsical courses of Asian desserts, not a sweet tooth in this city will want to miss this candy collaboration. The Asian Dessert Degustation is on at the Shangri-La Hotel (176 Cumberland Street, The Rocks) on August 7 and 8 at 6.30pm. Tickets are $125. For bookings call Bonnie on (02) 9250 6247.
Pop-up parties, grow-your-own shindigs and art-food combos are just some of the new events foodies will be able to experience at this year's Good Food Month. For those who find change a little frightening, though, there's no need to worry, as plenty of staples are also on the menu, including the Night Noodle Markets, Let's Do Lunch and Hats Off Dinners. Five hundred events make up the program, which runs throughout October and was previously known as Crave, with Australia's finest chefs, best restaurants, most skilful farmers, most knowledgeable wine experts and fanciest artisan food producers making an appearance. "As we relaunch Good Food Month, an event which started 15 years ago in Sydney, we celebrate all that is great about our outstanding and remarkably diverse food scene," explained festival director Joanna Savill. "The program is packed and there is truly something for everyone." One of the headlining events is The Great Australia Dinner with Rene Redzepi. Redzepi produces his culinary masterpieces from the kitchen of Noma, Copenhagen, which was placed First on the World's 50 Best Restaurants list (sponsored by San Pellegrino and Acqua Panna) for three years running, and is currently ranked second. As part of Good Food Month, he'll be joining forces with Neil Perry, Peter Gilmore, David Chang, Kylie Kwong and others. There'll be some other one-offs, including the 15th Annual Young Chefs Dinner, the Pyrmont Growers' Market Birthday Bash and Omnivore Sydney, as well as some "regulars" running throughout the month, including Breakfast Club, Surprise Saturday Lunch and Supper Club. Tastebuds already tantalised? Tix are on sale via the Good Food Month website.
Summer is just around the corner, and you may be feeling the itch to splash some cash on new pieces. Maybe you're thinking of finally investing in a pair of those so-hot-right-now wooden-soled sandals, or a comfy jumpsuit for the coming summer parties. Then check out búl, a brand with sophisticated, versatile and comfortable styles. It's SoCal beach chic meets Melbourne edge in an effortless union. Their pieces are also well-designed, decently priced and oh-so modern. If you're familiar with the name, or curious to check it out, you'll be pleased to hear that the Sydney flagship store is opening on Thursday, November 7. The brand, which has two popular Melbourne locations and ran a successful pop-up in Sydney's Strand Arcade earlier this year, has found a permanent home amongst other chic boutiques on Paddington's Glenmore Road (That's right: an opening in Paddington. Keep 'em coming). The Spring/Summer 2014 collection, 'New Zealand', is stocked in the store now, so grab your credit cards and give this Melburnian a warm welcome. Shop 6, 2-16 Glenmore Road, Paddington; (02) 80215432; Open Mon - Wed and Fri - Sat 10am - 6pm, Thu 10am - 6pm, Sun 11am - 5pm.
Who says you can make a film festival out of just three films? But, on the other hand, who says you can’t? Presented as part of the Anode independent arts festival, Speakeasy Cinema celebrates the influence of the contrary and controversial on all forms of culture through a series of documentary films. The first of Speakeasy’s selections will be Beautiful Losers: Making Something From Nothing. “Urban art†can be so hit and miss these days, so when Aaron Rose of New York’s iconic Alleged Gallery wanted to make a film about art and design in 1990s New York as he understood it, the first people he looked to were his friends. These include filmmaker Harmony Korine, skateboarder and artist Ed Templeton and his wife, photographer Deanna Templeton, graphic artist Mike Mills and other key figures in New York’s art and design world. Beautiful Losers shows us what art is to the people who make it, what it means to be a creative and genuinely “countercultureâ€, and the impact this can have on the rest of the world.Next up is Obscene: A Portrait of Barney Rosset. After founding Grove Press in 1951, Rosset published Samuel Beckett, Harold Pinter and Jean Genet, among others, and was integral in helping to distribute the works of the Beats; Kerouac, Ginsberg, Corso et al. It is worth mentioning this first off, as the film focuses predominantly on Rosset’s crusade against censorship or, as his son rightly suggests, hypocrisy. This is a man who possessed a similar visionary genius to his greatest writers, and almost single-handedly restored an author’s right to shock a jaded public into awareness. If you’ve ever waffled on about creative integrity and the importance of free expression, you don’t know the extent of your argument until you know about Barney Rosset.Speakeasy will finish with a screening of The Universe of Keith Haring. Directed by Christina Clausen, the film reflects on the life of influential pop artist Haring. True to its title, the film splits open Haring’s universe; his motivations, his success and failure and the stellar coincidence of being, as Haring says, “in New York at the right timeâ€. That time being, of course, one that centred on Grace Jones, Madonna and other fiercely visual icons with whom Haring eventually worked. Interviews with Haring’s family and many acquaintances, famous and non, are interspersed with clips of Haring himself, affording some significant insights into what the man behind the radiant baby was really about.These films will screen across two days and, if you’ve ever had an interest in art, books or creativity in general, this weekend could be one of the most informative and inspiring of your life.Image: Keith Haring in 1987, Photograph by Annie Leibovitz.
As fans across the globe gear up for the Arctic Monkeys' sixth album to drop later this week, the acclaimed English rockers have pushed the excitement levels even further, announcing a series of international pop-ups and film screenings to coincide with the launch. And even Australia's getting a look-in, with the local edition of the store — named after the forthcoming album Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino — is popping up at Sydney's Golden Age Cinema and Bar, this Friday, May 11, and Saturday, May 12. According to the Arctic Monkeys' website, the TBHC pop-ups will offer a range of "unique and limited album and merchandise items", alongside screenings of the band's favourite 70s flicks. Titles include Le Cercle Rouge, Inherent Vice, The Last Waltz and Michelangelo Antonioni's L'Eclisse. The event's running at the Surry Hills theatre from 11am until 8.30pm each day, though as you can imagine, tickets to the screenings are already selling fast. Only a handful of other lucky cities will also host these Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino pop-ups: Berlin, Tokyo, Paris, New York and the band's own hometown of Sheffield. The Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino will pop up at Sydney's Golden Age Cinema and Bar, 80 Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills. Tickets to the Sydney screenings are on sale here.
Rough and tumble Sydney label R.I.P. Society have been hand delivering you the grungiest garage rock, darkest experimental fuzz and DIY post-punk electronica for five whole years — so they've got a few birthday toasts to give. Fronting up a chock-a-block lineup to The Studio, the beloved label has invited some of Australia's best to party down, with some iconic neighbours on top. New Zealand's legendary trio The Dead C will arrive for an exclusive Sydney headlining spot, along with label buds Feedtime, Bed Wettin' Bad Boys, Woollen Kits, Native Cats, Rat Columns, Cured Pink, Holy Balm, Ghastly Spats, Housewives, Constant Mongrel, Half High and Wallaby Beat DJs. Kicking off from 5pm on May 24, this is sure to be one rambunctious afternoon-to-midnight affair at the House. To celebrate the countdown to Vivid LIVE week, R.I.P. Society founder Nic Warnock has put together a solid playlist to kickstart your week and gear you up for the gig over here. https://youtube.com/watch?v=so67hFjgv-A
Sydney artist management, touring company and all round nice guys, Astral People, have rounded up their buds with Stones Throw whiz kid Jonti to pay tribute to Melbourne electronic legends The Avalanches — in particular their seminal album Since I Left You. Celebrated as the biggest Australian album of its decade, the 2000 album was apparently assembled from approximately 3,500 vinyl samples, selling over a million copies and winning multiple ARIAs. In a project originally developed for 2013's OutsideIn Festival (gaining thumbs way up from The Avalanches themselves), Jonti will re-visualise those thousands of vinyl samples onstage on May 24 with the help of a ten piece band; including celebrated Sydney alt-pop singer-producer Rainbow Chan. If you're wanting more Astral love, check out their Studio party; with Chicago acid house pioneer Phuture's Australian debut; the collaborative project of L-Vis 1990 and Bok Bok, Night Slugs; Andras Fox playing everything live; and Sydney favourites Ben Fester, Preacha and Rainbow Chan kicking on 'til 3am. The Astral People crew have created a playlist for Concrete Playground to get you geared up for the event over here, so get amongst it. https://youtube.com/watch?v=VfAuFAgHpzc
Sick of the same ol' dinner plans? Want to shake up the norm and put a little mystery in your meal? As part of the annual March Into Merivale festival, Merivale is bringing back their Mystery Feasts. You pick the date and time, Merivale picks the restaurant. For an easy $75pp, your ticket grants you a premium three-course dinner (your choice off the à la carte menu) with three glasses of wine at Mr. Wong, sushi e, The Paddington, Bistrode CBD, Felix, est., Uccello or Ms.G’s. Merivale will let you know just a few hours before where you’re off to — oh, the anticipation. They're also offering mystery lunches for $35pp, including one course and a glass of wine. You can pre-book any day or night from Monday to Saturday throughout March into Merivale. Image: The Paddington.
