The most powerful companies in the world understand that power exists only insofar as the public continues to allow it, for without their buying power, these companies are nothing. The most famous and certainly most destructive example of this approach took place in the 1950s, when Hollywood’s major motion picture studios agreed to blacklist a group of their most successful screenwriters on account of their affiliation with the communist party. No crimes were committed, no treason alleged, yet these men were suddenly denied any ability to work in the industry to which they’d dedicated their lives and provided so many financial and critical accolades. Families struggled, many crumbled, and some of the blacklisted even died. And all of it because a few powerful conservatives including John Wayne and gossip columnist Hedda Hopper (played here by Helen Mirren) deigned to call them ‘un-American’. The best known of the so-called Hollywood Ten was screenwriting legend Dalton Trumbo (Bryan Cranston), the highest paid writer in town and the scribe behind such hits as Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo and Kitty Foyle. When he refused to comply with the infamous hearings of the House Un-American Activities Committee, Trumbo was immediately blacklisted and imprisoned, and soon realised the only way he’d be able to continue working was to write B-movies for a pittance under an assumed name. So began an extraordinary period in Hollywood’s history that ultimately resulted in not one, but two Academy Awards going to entirely fictitious writers. It's a story so fantastic it would seem to surpass the imagination of even the likes of Trumbo. Trumbo tells a compelling tale. Led by a remarkable performance from Cranston, the extensive cast breathes much life into the story – and while it feels insufficiently told, the portrait of the man at its centre remains a moving one. [competition]562052[/competition] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gryhSJxx7I
South Eveleigh is fast becoming one of Sydney's best spots to grab lunch or an after-work drink, and every now and then the precinct pulls together its favourite chefs, producers and suppliers for a festival of culinary delights. That's exactly what's happening on Thursday, June 22 and Friday, June 23 for Dark Day Dark Night. The free two-day festival will take over South Eveleigh's Innovation Plaza and Locomotive Street between 4–9pm each day. Expect one-off menus from South Eveleigh venues, pop-up bars, food trucks, live music and tours of the historic buildings. Kylie Kwong's much-hyped restaurant Lucky Kwong is usually a lunch-only affair, but it's opening for two very special dinners as part of Dark Day Dark Night. There will be three sittings at Lucky Kwong each day of the festival — at 4pm, 5.45pm and 7pm — with each seating coming with a $55 price tag. This entitles diners to a complimentary drink and a five-dish set menu of menu highlights including the venue's famous crispy prawn wantons, as well as caramelised pork belly with Davidson plum and stir-fried Boon Luck Farm greens. Firepop will also be popping up in the plaza to serve up barbecue lamb skewers and MBS9 wagyu, alongside Pepper Seeds and its top-notch Thai food. Plus, South Eveleigh regulars like Coyoacán Social, Re-, BrewDog and RaRa Chan will all be getting in on the action. When it comes to drinks, Waywards, Batch Brewing Co, Yulli's Brews, Wildflower, BrewDog, Vinden Wines, P&V, Archie Rose, Lark and Forty Spotted Gin will all be on-site, doing $2 tastings and $8 full pours of their respective beers, wines and spirits. The arts lineup will be headlined by the Burrundi Theatre for Performing Arts and the Andy Golledge Band, who will be joined by Crawfish Po'Boys, Zia Jade, DJ Victoria Anthony and Kaleidoscope Dream. There will also be a Sip and Sketch life drawing session, a guided tour from Matthew Mewburn from Eveleigh Works, an after-dark look at the South Eveleigh garden and native Australian ingredients from Clarence Slockee of Jiwah and roaming flame dancers. You can explore the full program at the South Eveleigh website and reserve your spot at a Lucky Kwong dinner via Resy.
From psychic shopfronts to vintage vaudevillian, it's a strange but compelling world down here. Currently at Chalk Horse are two solo exhibitions by local artists: Tara Marynowsky's beautiful and ethereal creations and Kate Mitchell's exploration of chance encounters. Marynowsky's small-scale works in Venus of Venus are more than simply pastel shapes on pretty paper. There is something slightly darker looming beneath their quiet elegance. Over the past few years, her work has been influence by her passage into motherhood and its accompanying joys, pains and anxieties. Her figures are softly outlined and filled in with ghostly watercolour, giving them a spiritual or translucent quality. Some are limbless, while others look like an assemblage of limbs, as opposed to cohesive bodies. With breasts sprouting out of odd places and nipples fringed with flower petals, there is a sense of maternal care and nurturing. Another aspect of her practice is making additions and alterations to vintage postcards. With eyes embedded in hairnets and veils, clown lipstick, coloured noses, and sharp eyelashes, the women appear slightly vaudevillian, becoming both demure and demonic. In playing with these old cliches of beauty and etiquette, she undercuts them with a sinister humour. In stark contrast, Kate Mitchell's Future Fallout is a continuation of her performative storytelling and cartoonish happenings. A 47-second film plays on loop, showing Mitchell cycling up to a ‘psychic shop’. As she tries to enter, the set falls down and she hurriedly cycles away again. It as if there is a thwarted narrative here — we assume something is going to happen, but the expected action abruptly falters and changes direction. Another work, It’s in the Bag, features a glowing orb inside a takeaway bag. This could be a comment on the neatly commoditised ‘new age’ culture of today. There’s also Fell Into It, an intimate little work that might easily be skimmed over as it looks more like stylised wall text. Mitchell narrates a chance encounter with a past murderer who tells his story and then instructs her to carry two rocks (apparently embedded with “quartz and gold”) on her person for seven years. This is a peculiar offering from a stranger with a dark past, yet it as if there is now a contract that exists between them. Interestingly, different temporal states are woven together in this work: each person's past, the present of the agreement, and the unknown future. Mitchell playfully meditates on chance and futurity, occupying the space between intent and outcome. Her art navigates through life's twists and turns, probing material realities and the ethical choices we make.
Each week as Thursday night rolls around, the motivation to cook is difficult to find. The meals you prepped on Sunday are long gone and the weekend feels so close, yet so far. Luckily, Surry Hills' French bistro LoLuk is handling the cooking for you and rewarding you for making it through the week with all-you-can-eat moules frites for just $29 every Thursday. Enjoy endless fresh cooked mussels and crispy golden-brown fries until you're so full, you'll skip brekkie and lunch on Friday morning. The moules frites are served with your choice of three sauces: roquefort (blue cheese, cream and white wine reduction); provençal (tomato, garlic, white wine reduction, thyme and rosemary) or marinières (white wine reduction, cream, garlic, shallots and thyme). LoLuk also ensures that all the sauces come mixed with a healthy dash of love. The mussel feast kicks off at the Bourke Street bistro each Thursday from 6pm and continues until 10pm. Bookings can be made via Loluk Bistro website or by contacting the team at booking@loluk.com.au or on 7900 6251.
Interior design trends may come and go, but coastal-dwelling (and coastal-obsessed) Aussies, the Hamptons-inspired look is timeless — and certainly worth the investment. Oneworld is your one-stop shop for such homewares — think cosy linen lounge chairs, rattan day beds (for you and your pet) and shutter-style bedheads.
One of the most celebrated novelists of our time delivered the keynote address 'Freedom to Write' and joined a playful panel discussion 'Television has Replaced the Novel' at this weekend's Festival of Dangerous Ideas. Across the two-day festival held at the Sydney Opera House, he offered some amusing insights. What entertaining snippets and truth nuggets did we learn from the irreverent Rushdie over the weekend? 1. The closest Salman Rushdie has ever come to death was the last time he was in Australia. He was in an accident on the highway between Sydney and Milton where his car was hit by a lorry carrying fertiliser; he jokingly claims to have been "literally hit with a truck load of shit" (for which he kindly thanks Australia). 2. He says that we have no idea what the future will remember, for all we know they might remember Twilight. He claims to not want a poor opinion of the future, but if Fifty Shades of Grey is what is remembered, he's glad he won't be part of it. 3. He REALLY doesn’t like Fifty Shades of Grey. 4. Instead, he is optimistic that novels, such as The Tin Drum by Gunter Grass and One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez, will be remembered in the future. 5. He believes we must allow for freedom of speech, as it's better for ideas to be expressed and not repressed. 6. People’s feelings are hurt all the time, however speech should not be limited because of people getting offended. His advice: just get over it. You have to have skin that’s a little bit thick if you’re going to live in an open society. 7. He thinks religion is boring and hopes people will get sick of it. 8. He believes religion is about what didn’t happen. Unlike fiction, it doesn’t say on the cover of the Bible, a novel. 9. On the topic of inventing games with Christopher Hitchens, Rushdie claims he and Hitchens invented the clean ones — while Hitchens and Martin Amis invented the dirty ones. 10. One game they invented had the premise of "titles that don’t quite make it", with a inexhaustible list: Mr Zhivago, Toby Dick, Two Days in the Life of Ivan Denisovich, The Big Gatsby, Mademoiselle Bovary… Having squandered a day playing this myself, it comes with a warning of being a highly addictive form of literary procrastination. 11. He can understand why children's writers walk around with smiles on their faces — except Roald Dahl, who he claims was an arsehole. 12. His eldest son inspired him to write Haroun and the Sea of Stories because he asked the question, "Why don’t you write books that I want to read?". 13. His son, around nine years old at the time, offered Rushdie some of the best literary criticism he has ever received. Upon reading the first draft of Haroun and the Sea of Stories, his son said with an apparent lack of enthusiasm, "Yeah, it’s good." When Rushdie probed for further feedback, his son responded slowly, "Some people might be a bit bored." His final criticism, "It doesn’t have enough jump." With this, Rushdie rewrote the story. 14. He doesn’t believe that the television has replaced the novel, stating, "I'm so not on the death of the novel team." 15. He is not such a fan of shows like Lost, or any reality TV show starring anyone whose name starts with K. Unless, it was about Kafka. 16. However, Rushdie enjoyed Homeland season one, and is currently watching Game of Thrones. In terms of comedy, he’s a fan of The Big Bang Theory. 17. He liked the ending of The Sopranos. 18. He decided to dabble in writing for television, as TV series these days push the limits of weird, and he thought, "I do weird." He spent a year and a half writing a sci-fi television series pilot that was never made. He joked it was about a flesh-eating unicorn. (We hope that one day it will be produced). 19. He was a little chuffed to have been unknowingly featured in episodes of iconic sitcoms — Seinfeld, The Golden Girls and Cheers. 20. He recounts cute jokes. For example, two goats break into the projection room of a cinema. Whilst munching on the spools, one says to the other, "So, how's the movie?" The second goat replies, "The book was better." 21. He would like to see the works of Proust adapted into a television series. That might explain why he’s a novelist and not a cable TV executive. FODI images: Daniel Boud
Tis' the season for overcrowded shopping centres and gift shopping. But swallow any impending dread because, this year, you don't have to go to Westfield. Be it food, homewares, fashion or art you're after, Watsons Bay's Cambridge Markets have you covered. On Wednesday, December 20, head to Robertson Park and peruse more than 120 stalls. And what could be more magical than getting your Christmas gift and food shopping done in one fell swoop? Getting your Christmas gift and food shopping done at twilight. The markets will run from 3–9pm. The markets will have a particular focus on Christmas food, meaning you can get everything you need to have a feast for the ages. Meats will be supplied by gourmet butcher Kingsmore Meats and organic produce will be provided courtesy of The Regional Store. While you're there, why not treat yourself too? Swing by stalls like Hooked on Poke and Sol Botanica for a bite, or pop over to Nutie for gluten-free doughnuts.
Marly Bar's weekly free live music night Low Pressure is set to take over all three floors of the beloved Newtown hotel this July for a return of its blockbuster one-day music festival. From 5pm on Saturday, July 30, Pressure Fest will see 14 of the country's most exciting young bands, musicians and DJs taking to the stage. On the ground floor, you'll find an indie and rock-focused showcase headlined by influential four-piece Body Type off the back of the release of their impassioned debut album Everything Is Dangerous But Nothing Is Surprising. Joining them will be Moaning Lisa, Velvet Trip, Lorelei and local hardcore troupe Arse. Upstairs, the lineup spans a variety of genres. There are the psychedelic sounds of Skeleten, neo-soul songwriting from Maina Doe, electronic pop from Goddess911 (one of the many projects from Cloud Control's Alister Wright), and DIY experimentation from Eternal Dust. There will also be a special appearance from Gordon Koang. Koang has been called South Sudan's "King of Music" and has been taking crowds by storm across the country since he was granted asylum here in Australia. In the venue's below-ground rave cave Tokyo Sing Song, DJs Andras, Deepa, Bria and Ciara will all be taking to the decks to ensure the dance floor continues until late. Entry is free and there are no bookings, so you'll have to rock up early to ensure you nab a spot. [caption id="attachment_828929" align="alignnone" width="1929"] Cassandra Hannagan[/caption] PRESSURE FEST LINEUP: Upstairs Skeleten Maina Doe Gordon Koang Goddess911 Eternal Dust Ground Body Type Moaning Lisa ARSE Velvet Trip Lorelei Tokyo Sing Song Andras Deepa Bria Ciara Images: Tom Wilkinson
If your love for our national spread goes far beyond merely smearing it onto your toast every morning, this may be the perfect getaway for you. A Vegemite jar-shaped tiny house, called the Vegemite Villa, is popping up in NSW for two nights this December. The four-metre-high and two-metre-wide cabin can sleep two and is filled with some Mitey-fine paraphernalia — think Vegemite-themed socks, slippers, eye masks and an alarm clock, shelves lined with jars of actual Vegemite and even a bed that looks like Vegemite on toast. Spend a night here and you'll be a very happy little Vegemite. The jar-shaped cabin will pop up in Brogo, NSW, near the home of Vegemite's parent company and Aussie dairy giant Bega Cheese. If you do manage to snag one of the two nights here — December 6 and 7, available to book exclusively through Booking.com — you'll need to prepare yourself for a decent drive. Brogo is located a 5.5-hour drive south of Sydney or a 7.5-hour drive north of Melbourne. This isn't the first time Booking.com has created an OTT getaway, either, with the digital travel company previously setting up an Avo-Condo (yes, a tiny home shaped like an avocado) in Circular Quay last July. The Vegemite Villa is popping up at 610 Warrigal Range Road, Brogo, NSW from December 6–7, 2019. A night in the villa will set you back $89, with bookings opening at 10am AEST on Wednesday, December 4 via Booking.com.
Whether you missed out on a Splendour ticket or are gearing up to see your fave acts twice, you'd better be quick if you want to get your mitts on some sideshow tix. Splendour has made its final gig announcements and sales to the general public kick off at 9am sharp on Wednesday, 27 April. In other words, right now. All up, eleven official shows are planned, mainly in Sydney and Melbourne (but there are a few locked in for Adelaide and Perth too). You'll be able to catch James Blake, who exploded onto global stages at the wee age of 22 with he debut EP CMYK and is now working on his third album, Radio Silence. For some post-hardcore action, you'll want a spot booked for when Texan titans At The Drive-In hit town. It was 16 years ago that Relationship of Command was released and these gigs are the band's first since 2012. You might well want to spend some time at the arenas (Sydney Olympic Park and Hisense Arena) finding out why The 1975 is one of the world's most sought after acts. Their second album I Like It When You Sleep, For You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware Of It surmounted its extraordinarily cheesy title to top the ARIA and iTunes charts and secured the band gigs all over the place, from Coachella to Glastonbury. Next up is Jake Bugg, who became the youngest ever bloke to enter the UK charts at number one back in 2012 when he was just 18 — and four years later, is three albums into his career, with On My One due for release on June 17. Just lately, he's been on the road with Mumford & Sons. For some super smooth electro anthems, go see London-based Jack Garratt. This is the kind of guy you want to take camping with you – not only can he sing (in an incredible falsetto), he can also write, record, produce and play several instruments. You'll want your whistling skills handy for this next one. Peter, Bjorn and John (they're a Swedish trio, if you hadn't guessed), are responsible for one of 2006's catchiest tunes, 'Young Folks' and, in April 2015, they made a come back with 'High Up (Take Me To The Top)'. And for an escape from today's ubiquitous pop and electro, save your money for Mark Lanegan. He's 50 years of age and has been involved in the recording of just as many albums, nine of which are studio solo creations. You might well know him better as the front man of '90s rockers Screaming Trees. He brings his epic, Nick Cave-esque baritone to penetrating lyrics and bluesy melodies. So hop to it. SPLENDOUR 2016 SIDESHOWS James Blake SYDNEY: Tuesday, July 26, Hordern Pavilion MELBOURNE: Wednesday, July 27, Margaret Court Arena At The Drive-In SYDNEY: Sunday, July 24, Enmore Theatre MELBOURNE: Friday, July 22, The Forum The 1975 SYDNEY: Saturday, July 23, Sydney Olympic Park MELBOURNE: Sunday, July 24, Hisense Arena Jake Bugg w/ Blossoms SYDNEY: Tuesday, July 26, State Theatre MELBOURNE: Wednesday, July 27, Palais Theatre Jack Garratt w/ Kacy Hill SYDNEY: Thursday, July 21, Metro Theatre MELBOURNE: Wednesday, July 20, 170 Russell Peter, Bjorn & John SYDNEY: Wednesday, July 20, Metro Theatre MELBOURNE: Thursday, July 21, The Corner Hotel Mark Lanegan Band SYDNEY: Saturday, July 23, Factory Theatre MELBOURNE: Friday, July 22, Croxton Bandroom Beach Slang / Spring King SYDNEY: Wednesday, July 20, Oxford Arts Factory MELBOURNE: Sunday, July 24, The Corner Hotel For the full list of sideshows and to book tickets, visit secretsoundstouring.com.
Can't make it to Venice any time soon? Don't worry — a taste of the Italian city is coming to Australia. At the beginning of every year, the canal-heavy locale erupts into a colourful festival complete with elaborate costumes and masks. It's a tradition dating back to the 12th century, and it's making its first trip to our shores. The Carnevale Australia Masquerade Ball will brighten up The Peninsula at Docklands on February 11, 2017, asking attendees to don their fanciest threads and best facial covering in the name of the most appropriate theme imaginable in mid February: amore, or love. Indeed, the event certainly plans to share plenty of affection, and not just through its elaborate theming and food. The ball will also include a live silent auction, with proceeds going towards earthquake victims in the Italian village of Amatrice. If that sounds like your kind of shindig (and who doesn't want to dress up, party and pretend they're in Venice?), be prepared: masks are mandatory, and with tickets starting at $450, your masquerade fun doesn't come cheap. In good news for anyone that doesn't have that kind of spare cash, it's also a taster for things to come, with the ball acting as a launch event for Carnevale Australia's full two-week celebration, slated to be held in late October / early November 2017. The Carnevale Australia Masquerade Ball takes place on February 11, 2017 at The Peninsula, Docklands. For more information and to buy tickets, visit the event website and Facebook page. Image: L G.
We know it’s early. As in, department store-early. But this year's Christmas shenanigans in Sydney are looking like so much legitimate fun, we're more excited than mid-‘90s Mariah Carey. Besides, even though the holy day is still two months away, the shindiggery kicks off in less than four weeks — with the 2014 program announced this week. As is the tradition, Sydney's festive season will begin with the lighting of a massive, bauble-covered, tinsel-wrapped tree in Martin Place, scheduled for November 27, from 6pm. But this year, Sydney's not toasting not just any old run-of-the-mill fir — it's a fully interactive adventure. Using onsite tech, including an interactive dance pad, you'll be able to change the colours of the tree's decorations and even send it a personal text message, which will appear on its branches. Performers programmed for the official illumination party include the Lahs Lahs, Eddie Perfect, a motley crew of Sesame Street characters, Santa and a yet-to-be-announced mystery headliner. The tree will act as the centrepiece for a new 24/7 'street light disco' in Martin Place. Cue enormous, mirror-ball effect banners shimmering and glimmering day and night. If all the action gets you working up an appetite, you’ll be able to indulge in sweet treats at a GPO pop-up bar entirely dedicated to decadent desserts. Just down the road at Pitt Street Mall, a very different kind of Christmas tree will be setting a record. At ten metres and made entirely of LEGO, it'll be the tallest plant of its kind ever to have been constructed in the South Hemisphere. Here's the world's largest LEGO Christmas tree, in LEGOland California, to give you an idea of what you'll be Instagramming: Looking up, you’ll see what looks like a 'floating forest'. It’s interactive, too. A free smartphone app will enable passers-by to control the colour sequencing of its 24,000 lights. Meanwhile, Town Hall and King Street will get to experience something akin to a mini, summertime Vivid, with dramatic light projections set to transform their facades. These will be the main acts in a series of lights and decorations that will appear all over the city. For the ears, there'll be live choirs and carols, echoing around Pitt Street Mall every Thursday evening and, for the first time, in Martin Place — every night during December. December 16 will see the annual warm-fuzz inducing Christmas at Town Hall concert, while various Sydney suburbs will host free family concerts, scheduled for Rushcutters Bay (November 29), Rosebery (November 30), Alexandria (December 6) and Surry Hills (December 7). "The City of Sydney has been working closely with local businesses for many months to make sure that this year's Christmas season is the best yet," said the Lord Mayor in a media statement. "Our elaborate decorations, our series of concerts, our fireworks and our special events for people of all ages will make the city centre the top Christmas destination this year. We're inviting everyone to visit the City and enjoy the spirit of the season."
Having premiered at Hobart's MONA earlier this year, Katthy Cavaliere: loved is now bunkering down at Carriageworks for five weeks. And you can check it out for free. Curated by Daniel Mudie Cunningham, the exhibition is a retrospective, covering the Sydney artist's career between 1998 and 2011. Fifteen major pieces, including videos, photographs and mixed media installations, explore the relationship between objects, love and trauma. Cavaliere died of cancer in 2012 at just 39 — three years after losing her mother to the same disease. Among them, you'll find loved — a video performance that made the 2011 Venice Biennale — as well as empty stockings: full of love (2010), a performance installation made up of Cavaliere's mother's stockings, clothing and other objects, and featuring a recorded song from the family archive. Meanwhile, afterlife (2011) is a photograph of a massive hourglass containing her ashes, over which Cavaliere's shadow looms. "The story of Katthy's work is the story of the eye," Cunningham said. "Fixated on life as seen through a peephole or lens, Katthy presented the world – her world – as an inverted looking glass, reflecting back a life lived inside out, back to front and upside down." Image: Katthy Cavaliere, untitled home 2007. C-type photo (detail). Artbank collection.
Out to shake-up the image of Middle Eastern fare, Glebe's Thievery is transforming itself into a month-long Middle Eastern yum cha pop-up, running until the end of September. Drawing on Executive Chef Julian Cincotta's recent jaunts across Asia, the menu delivers a clever twist on the Chinese dim sum experience — a flavour mash-up that sounds a little left-field, but that Cincotta promises works a treat. Here, you'll find yourself tucking into creations like lamb kofta pancakes, bastourma-spiced char sui lamb cutlets, baba ganoush dumplings and Middle Eastern salt & pepper bug tails — and maybe with a rose and pistachio Chinese doughnut bun for dessert. And, in homage to yum cha's traditional roots — the word translates to 'drink tea' in Cantonese — the feast comes complete with its own specialty range of tea cocktails, served in share-friendly teapots. Try drink like the Turkish Sour Cherry Iced Tea with rye whisky and a Hot Buttered Chai, heavy on rum and spices. Middle Eastern yum cha will be on offer for Saturday lunch, and dinner Tuesdays to Saturdays. Opt for an a la carte selection, or leave the decisions at the door with the 11-course set menu for $53. Updated: September 5, 2018.
Lacking a little fizz in your life lately? Thankfully, a crew of local booze legends are teaming up to deliver a drinks festival with a serious amount of sparkle to see you safely through to summer. P&V Wine + Liquor Merchants and Mary's are joining forces with The Unicorn, taking over the pub on Saturday, November 30, for the second iteration of What A Fizzer — a tasting party dedicated to their favourite bubbly beverages. Head along to quaff your way through an expert curation of over 100 beers, wines and ciders — from champagnes and small-batch local sparklings to pét-nats and wild-ferment brews. Tickets start at an easy $50, which will score you tastings of everything on show, as well as a snack pack of Mary's goodness, starring a beef or vegan burger, and a P&V tote. If you're looking to invest in some take-home fizz, you'll also find a pop-up P&V bottle store, stocked full of fizzy drops at discounted prices. The main event runs from 1–5pm, though the fun will continue well into the night, thanks to a special Unicorn x Mary's collaboration menu, secret cellar list and a swag of entertainment.
This year, due to Australia's efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19, Sydneysiders won't be heading to the now-cancelled Sydney Royal Easter Show, but they can pick up showbags from their local Woolworths. After the show's scrapping for 2020, Bensens Showbags has brought a heap of its top pop culture-themed showbags to 210 supermarkets across NSW. Whether you're after a Friends bag, a Stranger Things number or a Harry Potter one, you'll find them filling the shelves at Woollies. The supermarket chain is stocking 12 different showbags, all for $30 each. You can see the full list here. [caption id="attachment_765741" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Chicane Showbags[/caption] If you'd prefer a Bertie Beetles, Wonka or Kit Kat bag, you'll also find those online at showbags.com.au, which is delivering a huge range of candy and chocolate-filled bags across Australia. We mentioned Bertie Beetles first, of course, because they've become such a show favourite — and to reflect that fact, there are ten different options available. Ordering online does take 1–3 business days, though, so if you'd like one before the weekend, you may need to swing by Woolworths. If you do, check out the the latest COVID-19 advice and social-distancing guidelines from the Department of Health. Woolworths is now selling 12 showbags at 210 of its NSW supermarkets. You can check out the full list of participating stores here. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website.
Indulge your inner heathen this month with an unholy trinity of decadent food, wine and art. Event organisers Many Hands have collaborated with a troupe of local talent to put on For the Pan, a candlelit pop-up restaurant and art installation featuring as part of Sydney's annual Art & About. In the name of all things pagan, chef Mathew Alcorso will be experimenting with ancient cooking techniques and ingredients, preparing a three-course dinner over hot coals. Wash it all down with craft beers by Yullis Brews, the Surry Hills hang-out's new brew, or make merry with Harkham Wines, Roman-style — the winery will be providing an exclusive drop, specially fermented in a clay amphora for the event. After dinner, the art space will come into its own, with the doors opening to the public and a variety of works by local creatives on display. Think jewellery, ceramics, collage, textiles, painting, prints, performance art and floristry. Drinks and DJs will be on hand to ensure this not-so-pious party continues well into the night. The ticketed banquet will run from 6pm to 9pm, with doors opening freely to the public afterwards.
In 1997, Christmas changed. With a single episode of Seinfeld, the world became privy to a new form of holiday celebration that eschewed other traditions and denominations. Instead of a tree, an unadorned pole gets pride of place. Rather than share happy stories, everyone gathered airs their grievances. And, instead of settling down on the couch after a hearty meal, attendees compete in feats of strength. Okay, so maybe you still enjoy tinsel, turkey and street cricket with your family on December 25. Even so, The Glenmore is making sure you can have some Festivus fun as well. The pub's shindig takes place on the official Festivus date of December 23. The Glenmore's rooms will be 'themed' like Jerry's apartment and the rooftop will have live music going from 3pm. In keeping with tradition, there'll be a grievances wall, so you can air yours and be infuriated by everyone else's. Not so Seinfeld are the $12 Aperol spritzes. Don't forget to dress up, too — there will be Festivus prizes.
Plumbing the rich history of Irish theatre, you might expect Tom Murphy’s The Gigli Concert to revel in the kind of bleak existential humour that characterises the work of Samuel Beckett, or perhaps the seductive wit of Oscar Wilde. Though treasured wells of inspiration and formal innovation, these modernist gods of prose and stage can tend to hinder recognition of Ireland's contemporary dramatists. Presented by Darlinghurst Theatre Company and O'Punsky's Theatre, Murphy's theatrical tale (and by some accounts, his finest) is set in a dank, dirty chamber strewn with books and liquor. As the lights come up, in shuffles a bleary-eyed JPW 'Jimmy' King (Patrick Dickson). Spending his days gulping down cheap vodka, perusing the pages of Heidegger and Kierkegaard, and pining after the disinterested love of his life, this shabby intellectual is a quack psychiatrist, or ‘dynamatologist’. However, his routine is disrupted by the arrival of a mysterious Irishman seeking psychiatric treatment. The unlikely patient (Maeliosa Stafford) is tight-lipped and stiff-jawed — a self-made construction manager and family man. As psychotic outbursts begin to fracture his no-nonsense manner, it becomes apparent that he is consumed by the odd desire to sing like Italian opera singer, Beniamino Gigli. There is a slippage between patient and psychiatrist as the pair take it in turns to drive the vodka-fuelled sessions, divulging lost loves and marital bitterness. Jimmy's pseudo-scientific ramblings are a delightful fusion of ‘reach your potential’ diagrams and catchphrases. The intoxicated swagger and gestural exuberance of Dickson’s performance is certainly entertaining. The physicality of his stage presence counters the common assumption that Irish dramatists bury the body under verbal complexities. With the rhythmic twang of his Irish accent and his hard pragmatism, Stafford’s enigmatic Irishman is the perfect compliment. Reflecting on his gritty, impoverished childhood, he becomes an engaging storyteller. Oscillating between scepticism and romanticism, the character is difficult to pin down. There's also a third character, Mona (Kim Lewis). A married Irishwoman, reeking of rough charm and brash humour, she is Jimmy's lover. Arguably, this underwritten character functions largely to shine light on Jimmy's flaws; however, Lewis makes the most of the material, painting a sympathetic woman of iron-clad bravery, unlike her male counterparts. Director John O'Hare has rallied together a strong cast and they deliver the vivid and memorable performances necessary to bring this long and dialogue-heavy play to life. Gigli's operatic tenor is woven through at various volumes, almost like a fourth character. This musical backdrop is integral to understanding the mystical union between the characters. As Stafford's Irishman ponders: "Like, you can talk forever... but singing. Singing d'yeh know? ... The only possible way to tell people who you are."
It's always a good idea to wear sneakers when you're walking around a gallery, but they're the only kicks that'll do when Sneakers Unboxed: Studio to Street arrives Down Under. First staged by The Design Museum in London, this exhibition pays tribute to the footwear's origins and evolution — through sports to fashion, surveying iconic brands and names, and obviously touching upon basketballers Chuck Taylor and Michael Jordan's relationships with the shoes. In total, more than 200 sneakers will be on display during Sneakers Unboxed: Studio to Street's Australian-premiere and Australian-exclusive season at the Gold Coast's HOTA Gallery. The six-level spot will give over its walls and halls to shoes, shoes and more shoes over the summer of 2023–24, starting on on Saturday, November 25, and marking the site's first major design exhibition since opening in 2021. While a hefty amount of trainers will feature, the entire showcase will span 400-plus items. The other objects at Sneakers Unboxed: Studio to Street include photos, videos, posters, artworks and process material, all helping to explore the journey that the footwear style has taken in its design and culturally. Expect to learn more about sneakers that were initially made specifically for getting sweaty, which is where the Converse Chuck Taylor All Stars and Nike Airs come in (and, with the latter, to add to a year that's already seen the movie Air step through the story behind them). Also set to feature: the shoes that've become cultural symbols (such as the Vans Half Cab and Reebok InstaPump Fury), future advancements in making kicks (as seen with Biorealize for Puma) and big-name collaborations (Jordan, of course, plus Run-DMC and more). Attendees will also check out sneakers that've made a splash on the runway (Comme des Carçons and A-Cold-Wall*, for instance), find out more about plant-based sneakers (such as Veja and Native Shoes) and customisable kicks (as Helen Kirkum and Alexander Taylor are doing), and dive into celebrity endorsements (Travis Scott with Nike, Pharell for Adidas and the like). Laid out in chapters called 'STYLE' and 'PERFORMANCE', the exhibition's first part goes big on aesthetics and its second on the act of making the best trainers — covering Chuck Taylor's basketball clinics, sneaker culture in New York City and everything that's happened since. Images: Ed Reeve, Design Museum London.
Whether you like a semillon from the Hunter Valley, a pinot noir from the Yarra Valley, or a robust shiraz from the Barossa, you can get it all at the inaugural Lakeside Long Lunch. For one glorious day in September (Saturday 28), representatives from some of Australia's best wine regions will gather in Sydney's west. Hosted on the idyllic banks of Sydney International Regatta Centre's lakes in Penrith, Lakeside Long Lunch is all about spending several boozy hours sampling vinos. You'll get to taste fine drops from Margaret River's Robert Oatley Vineyards, Bimbadgen Wines from the Hunter Valley, and Yarra Valley's Oakridge Estate. Plus, there'll be drops from the Barossa Valley, Mudgee, Orange and further afield. In between tastings, you'll want to tuck into lunch, too. You can choose from an opulent lobster gnocchi with pomodoro sauce and vanilla oil; braised lamb soft tacos topped with pomegranate; and charred Middle Eastern chicken with couscous and garlic yoghurt. Meanwhile, vegans and vegetarians can feast on a chickpea and tofu coconut curry served with jasmine rice and coriander sambal. There'll also be food trucks on site — think food from Agape Organic, Busfood and Arlecchino. There'll also be music soundtracking the event, with tunes from Suite Az, Voli K, The Lovefools, Hype Band and Will D Music. You can expect a lot more entertainment and activities on the day, too. Your $99 ticket covers everything, so you can kick back, relax and focus on the important things in life: eating and drinking. Got cash to splash? You can upgrade to the VIP package for $349. Lakeside Long Lunch at Penrith's Sydney International Regatta Centre is taking place on Saturday, September 28, from 10am. To purchase tickets, head here.
Dragging yourself off the couch on a Sunday isn't always easy, but you'll feel a little more inspired with Since I Left You's Slow Sundays. Launched this month, the dog-friendly event series celebrates the simple joys of a lazy Sunday. Expect hands-on workshops, market stalls, rejuvenating food and drinks, and an ambient soundtrack to lift your end of the week. Held Sunday, February 23 at 1pm, the first edition is all about gardening. Pocket City Farms will bring its urban farming expertise to the table through two interactive workshops. You'll learn the ins and outs of propagation to help you grow free plants, while there's also a pickling class, so you can turn those gross veggies in the back of the fridge into a tasty treat. Meanwhile, Petersham's Wattle & Bee will be swinging by to present a talk on Houseplant First Aid – perfect for those who struggle to keep even the heartiest plants alive. Throughout, a downtempo and ambient soundtrack by the Closed Circuits DJs will strike the ideal vibe for a laid-back Sunday session where you can put your green thumbs to work. Tickets are just $20, come with a cocktail or gourmet toastie on arrival, and include a furry plus-one.
While Messina's main jam is crafting supremely scoffable varieties of gelato, the brand's love of food extends far beyond the freezer. Back before the pandemic, the cult gelateria would team up with a savoury-focused culinary hero every couple of months, then throw a big ol' food party in the car park at its Rosebery headquarters to celebrate the collaboration. While the series has been less regular lately (thanks COVID), one collab that hasn't fallen by the wayside is regular team-ups with Melbourne's Filipino barbecue masters Hoy Pinoy. After a hugely popular pop-up in 2021, the two teams are again congregating at Messina's Roseberry HQ for two nights of barbecued meats and inventive gelato creations. On Instagram, Gelato Messina announced the return with the message: "Considering last time probably brought more people to Rosebery than ever before, we figured it was only right to bring back the Filo street food and BBQ kings to Syd for more people to try it." Hoy Pinoy's skewers are always a big hit at the Night Noodle Markets, however, with the markets suffering yet another postponement (this time due to rain), this weekend pop-up will be your best chance to get your hands on them. The team will be grilling up the skewers (both chicken and pork belly) as well as cheese pork belly loaded fries, steamed rice with papaya pickles and a next-level barbecue plate. Those that opt for the plate will be treated to bistek tagalog-glazed beef short rib, smoked inasal wings, sweet pork sausages steamed rice, Filipino pickles and spicy banana ketchup. For dessert, Messina will be whipping up monay milk buns filled with your choice of ube, leche flan, cheese or pandan gelato. And, to drink, there'll be a combination of sweetened coconut milk and pandan jellies. The whole thing will go down over Friday and Saturday in the car park at Messina's Rosebery HQ. It'll be open from midday for lunch and dinner until sold out.
They say humans only use 10 percent of their brain capacity. Of course, 'they' are idiots, because even someone operating at just 10 percent would be able to plug that persistent non-fact into Google and discover: it's utter rubbish. Speaking of rubbish, Lucy — the new film by French director Luc Besson (The Fifth Element, The Professional — opens this week. Here's the gist: Lucy (Scarlett Johansson) is a no-hope American student in China who ingests a new party drug that inexplicably boosts her brain capacity from 1 percent to 20 percent. The initial symptoms include: pain, inverted roof crawling and the (again inexplicable) immediate development of expertise in martial arts, small arms fire and quantum mechanics. She also gets shot and doesn't care. Kids: stay in school, because — apparently — smart people don't feel bullets. With her now enhanced brain, Lucy concludes she'll need more of the drug to stay alive and hence comes to blows with the Korean drug baron determined to instead spread it on the streets. And...that's...pretty much it. Lucy gets smarter, drug baron gets stabbier and the police remain phenomenally absent and/or ineffectual. Lucy begins by posing a question to the audience: "Life was given to us a billion years ago. What have we done with it?" 89 minutes later it concludes in a similar fashion: "Life was given to us a billion years ago. Now you know what to do with it". Wrong. Seriously, I've no idea what the message of this film was. Assuming it wasn't 'take drugs', then it could only have been the line driven by Morgan Freeman's philosopher character Professor Norman: that people with knowledge should pass it on. However, that's already what we do as humans, so actually, we've not learned anything from this film at all. The concept of wildly enhanced cerebral activity is an excellent one, and was similarly explored in 2011's Limitless. However, neither it nor Lucy felt confident enough to let the science or ethics of the issue be the sole focus. Both kept the chemistry to a minimum and instead padded their scenes with periodic action sequences and flashy special effects. It's precisely what Dustin Hoffman was referring to several years ago when he publicly bemoaned the lack of intelligent science fiction films and called for smarter scripts. The irony of movies like Lucy is that studios believe the only way to ensure box office success for stories about intelligence is to dumb them down to an almost unintelligible level. https://youtube.com/watch?v=MVt32qoyhi0
As the days grow warmer and summer draws closer, it's time to shake off the winter blues and discover somewhere new. To help you out, we've teamed up with Citi to share our favourite dining spots for spring. Whether it's a long lunch in the sunshine or a balmy evening drop-in at one of Sydney's best restaurants, this list will take you on a culinary tour of Australia, Europe and Asia. Through its special dining program, Citi has partnered with more than 400 restaurants — from high-end hatted restaurants to local cafes and trendy wine bars — to offer complimentary wine for all Citi customers this spring. Dine and pay with your Citi card and receive a bottle of wine for free — what better way to welcome the warm weather? KID KYOTO, CBD Pair alternative 90s rock music with Japanese dining, and you get Kid Kyoto, the latest venue from the hospitality group behind Indu and Mejico. Set on Sydney's Bridge Street, the venue offers grungy vibes with a hit of Tokyo izakaya. Neon-lit song lyrics span the exposed brick walls and the moody lighting makes it a spot to be seen, or not, if that's what you prefer. The menu reads like a set list, starting with an intro of gyoza and concluding with an encore of yuzu and miso desserts. If you're feeling adventurous, opt for the Trust Us menu and let the chefs send out anything from smokey edamame with pepperberry salt, to Black Hole Sun Pressed Pork served with apple jam and daikon salad. Use your Citi card to pay, and choose a complimentary bottle of McW Alternis tempranillo or vermentino to pair with the meal. MARTA OSTERIA, RUSHCUTTERS BAY A summer trip to Italy may feel like a distant memory, but if it's the food you're missing make the short commute to Marta Osteria in Rushcutters Bay. Inspired by the streets of Rome, Marta's menu is traditional yet fresh and full of flavour. And, a year on from opening, the venue boasts an impressive crowd of regular patrons. Order an array of antipasto such as the fried zucchini flowers, gnocchi fritti — fried gnocchi, need we say more? — and octopus salad, before committing to the main event of cacio e pepe with pecorino romano or traditional Roman pinza dough. No trip to Marta is complete without indulging in a little Italian dessert and the signature Martamisu with layers of mascarpone cream, coffee soaked hazelnut shortbread and rich chocolate sauce will convince even the fullest of stomachs. Book a seat on the patio and enjoy an ice cold bottle of Chant Du Midi rosé or Mionetto Prosecco DOC as the sun starts to dip into the horizon. [caption id="attachment_662803" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Alana Dimou.[/caption] PAPER BIRD, POTTS POINT Following the closure of Redfern's much-loved Moon Park, the restaurant team returned last year to open up a new venue in Potts Point, Paper Bird. With a focus on East Asian flavours, the menu takes diners on an elaborate journey from Korea to China and Japan in a matter of hours. The signature Korean fried chicken brined in shrimp paste and buttermilk may have left the menu earlier this month, but the rest of the menu certainly holds its own regardless. Whether it's a congee for breakfast, a kimchi and emmental toastie for lunch or an array of share dishes for dinner paired with a bottle of Nobody's Hero pinot gris or pinot noir from the Marlborough region — the versatile menu will have you coming back for every meal. RESTAURANT MOON, DARLINGHURST Upon first glance, Restaurant Moon may appear to be another neighbourhood gallery-bar hybrid, but behind the unassuming exterior lies an experimental collaboration between European and Thai cuisine. Ex-Longrain chef Aum Touchpong Chancaw brings together his love for molecular gastronomy and Thai cuisine with dishes such as duck confit with panang curry and roast pumpkin or fresh betel leaf with smoked salmon, caramelised coconut and chilli. If it's a show stopper you're after, order the Groot After Moon dessert with matcha mousse, strawberry consomme and a chocolate and passionfruit sorbet — but get in quick because they only make four serves a day. To complement the variety of cuisines, Moon stocks a vast array of vino, including Nobody's Hero pinot gris and Partisan by Jove tempranillo, which are free if you're a Citi cardholder. STANTON & CO, ROSEBERRY Located in a renovated warehouse in Sydney's inner south, Stanton & Co draws inspiration from New York's Meatpacking District — think red rusty trusses, mottled brick detailing and dark wooden floors. With a focus on Aussie-Japanese share dishes, you get the most out of this venue by going with a group. Start with soy truffle oysters, miso butter edamame and charred octopus with quinoa before tucking into tender slow-cooked lamb shoulder and artichoke or Moreton Bay bug tempura with ponzu mayo. If you're keen for a meal and a show, grab a seat near the open kitchen or catch some rays on the nearby sun deck while sipping a glass of Coombe Farm Yarra Valley chardonnay or Mount Pleasant Philip shiraz. Finish off the experience with a photogenic liquid lemon meringue for dessert. HO JIAK, HAYMARKET In the midst of Sydney's bustling Haymarket sits a restaurant that may have well been plucked straight out of Malaysia's Penang. With a tell-tale queue that snakes around the corner on a regular basis and wafts of rich mie goreng and spicy char kway teow floating from the premises, there is no doubt this place serves up flavourful fare. Ho Jiak is the brainchild of head chef and owner Junda Khoo, inspired by a childhood of cooking with his grandmother in Penang. Get your hands dirty and order the traditional charcoal-marinated chicken skewers with peanut sauce or a steaming bowl of Hainan chicken laksa, then wash it down with a bottle of Framingham Marlborough sauvignon blanc or McW Alternis petite sirah. Relax, the wine is on Citi. Make your next dinner even better by using your Citi card at one of the participating restaurants to get a complimentary bottle of wine with your meal.
I want. I Want. I WANT! and I spend too much time looking in the mirror (and to be honest, at my reflection in shop windows). Ooh so painful to admit.There's something of the narcissist in me, I guess.It is true, as Jason Smith tells us in the catalogue essay for Michael Zavros' upcoming exhibition at GrantPirrie, that "none of us are immune to the lure of beautiful things and degrees of covetousness", and also that "wanting to look good, and wishing to enjoy the benefits of being desirable, are not in themselves irrational desires". It is only when covetousness and vanity begin to define the self that problems arise. Calling in the fox is partly Zavros' response to his own observation of "an ennui pervading consumer markets: a disaffected desire that actually loses touch with the beautiful". Predominately concerned with ideas of male beauty and flawlessness, Calling in the fox is nevertheless a critique of the pitfalls of contemporary culture. Zavros uses oil paint, charcoal and spray paint to fashion recoded images of baroque architecture (Echo, Zavros' largest painting to date recaptures Versailles' Hall of Mirrors), advertising and fitness equipment. These labour intensive paintings homaging artistic and cultural achievement are accompanied by austere bronzes, trophies of the hunt to which the exhibition's title makes reference.The trouble is, Zavros' works are so beautiful, their aesthetic so gloriously now, that upon seeing them covetousness is sure to overflow.Image: Signature Scent, oil on canvas, 2009, courtesy the artist and Grantpirrie.
If there's one thing that the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles taught everyone as a kid — other than the names of famous artists, of course — it's that pizza can't be beaten. That said, there is actually one thing that's better than a regular slice. It's a free slice, obviously. Between 5–9pm from Sunday, January 31–Tuesday, February 2, Made in Italy's new Five Dock eatery will be slinging just that to celebrate its launch. Freebies will be handed out for pick-up orders, and you'll need to register in advance. Fill out the online form, and you'll then receive instructions as well as a code to redeem the offer. And as for the doughy delights themselves, just how Made in Italy makes its pizzas is all there in the name. Its Five Dock store joins the chain's other eateries in the CBD, Alexandria, Annandale, Pyrmont and Rose Bay.
The crew at P&V Wine + Liquor Merchants knows we like to pair wine and cheese, but they're gently trying to tell us that sometimes the two aren't the perfect match we've grown up thinking they are. Instead, they wants us to expand our cheese-pairing horizons — by matching the dairy goodness with spirits and beers. This August, the specialty bottle shop and education space in Newtown is popping a wide range of libations to match Continental Deli's fine cheeses. What exactly you'll be drinking — or eating — is still on lockdown, but you will be pairing eight cheeses, selected by Continental's resident cheese queen Alice, and eight boozy 'not wines' from P&V for $58. If you prefer spending your nights sippin' wine, check out P&V's lineup of regular events. On July 28, you can join a night of natural wine or taste Radikon's legendary grapes on August 3. You can see all upcoming events on the Facebook page.
The working day is done, and you're ready to relax with a cold one. On Thursday, September 26 and Friday, September 27, if you head to Chippendale's Central Park, you can also sip a couple of brews for free. From 4–8pm each day, the inner-city spot will play host to a beer keg-filled kombi, which'll be pouring free samples — and each person can grab two freebies. The giveaway is part of an Australian road trip by hotel chain Four Points by Sheraton, with the kombi hitting the road, travelling around the nation and sharing the brews. You'll also be able to meet local brewers, enter a competition to win a trip to New Zealand, and score a special beer and wings deal at Four Points by Sheraton Sydney if you're still feeling thirsty — or hungry — afterwards.
Lou Reed's Metal Machine Music, first released in 1975, is an enigma. Sonically, its a blend of electronic sounds, loops, tapes and feedback, a pure expression of industrial punk and an avant-garde statement of noise. It pushes the listener beyond the edges of endurance: no matter how much this is 'your thing', it's difficult to listen to for more than a few minutes at a time. There is no beginning or end, no sense of progress: the listener is suspended. Details are overwhelming, but are lost in the overall void of sound. There's a sense of 'accidental' music, yet at the same time it's determined and relentless: simultaneous horror and ambiance. Usually discussed as a cynical fulfillment of contract obligations or an attempt to alienate fans, it was critically condemned, regarded as absurd and irrelevant. There were, however, notable fans: Thurston Moore, for one. A later sign of the cult status of the record was its adaptation for the German chamber orchestra Zeitkratzer in 2002. At the helm of this adaptation was Ulrich Krieger who, along with Sarth Calhoun, formed the Metal Machine Trio with Reed in 2008. This music may not be your thing. In fact, it probably won't be. But for those who have the interest, curiosity and patience, the Metal Machine Trio will undoubtedly be the experience of a lifetime. https://youtube.com/watch?v=CWV5wGRl-Jo
Lal Qila's dedication to Pakistani culinary excellence has attracted many of Australia's pickiest diners, including Neil Perry, Mark Nicholas, Mushtaq Ahmed and Greg Chapel. Now, the Surry Hills institution is bringing its uncompromisingly traditional flavours to inner-city mouths, with the opening of a second branch at King Street Wharf. "We don't do fusion," said Namir Mirza, Lal Qila's founder and restaurateur. "We're about bringing the real flavours of Royal Mughlai cuisine to Sydney… It's about transporting the heat, passion and culture into our food, so that people feel like they're sitting in Pakistan for the evening." You'll find the new Lal Qila at 30 Lime Street. Just as in Surry Hills, much-loved Pakistani classics dominate the menu, such as Chicken Karahi, a mild curry with coriander, cumin and a unique blend of spices, and Sultani Saag, a clay pot curry with baby spinach, ginger, garlic and spices. Match your choice with a traditional naan bread, be it chilli cheese, pashawari (stuffed with dried fruit, coconut and nuts) or a doughy rogani. Bring your own wine or beer or go for a lassi, which comes in mango, sweet and salted varieties. Finally, polish your feast off with a dessert, like Khoye De Gulab Jamun — fried milk dumplings, soaked in sugar and cardamom syrup. Lal Qila is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner. Find their King Street Wharf store at 30 Lime Street, and check out their website for more information.
Sydney's got a brand-new free festival to tempt night owls, culture lovers and everyone in between. Set to light up Macquarie Street for 24 hours from 6pm on Saturday, February 4, the inaugural Mopoke fest will deliver a luminous program of art, music, food and creativity well worth staying up late for. Named after Australia's smallest owl variety, the round-the-clock celebration of arts and culture will transform the inner-city precinct into a playground for inquisitive souls and curious minds, sprawling from Shakespeare Place through to Hyde Park Barracks. The eastern stretch of Macquarie Street will become pedestrian-only for the festival's duration, playing host to a smorgasbord of pop-ups, activations and artistic offerings, all linked by black-lit paths. Wander through to discover theatre performances, gigs, live art, magic shows, a 10-strong multicultural rotation of food trucks and more. You can unleash your own creativity in a glow-in-the-dark Playdough Garden, while Hyde Park Barracks is set to keep the gates open all night long, playing host to an art and design market featuring everything from ceramicists to tattoo artists. The Mint and its surrounds will light up with a glowing after-dark garden, as well as a native-flower market set to a soundtrack of classical music. Meanwhile, the Sydney Eye Hospital courtyard will be reimagined as an artists' plaza filled with magicians, theatre shows and live art — with its fountain glowing in the dark and its building facades lit up through the night. Also shrouded in black light will be Hunter Lane, where you'll catch a DJ and silent disco jamming long into the evening, while the rest of the State Library of NSW grounds will feature an art installation, live jazz and a pop-up bar. You'll want to venture up to the new-look Library Bar for cocktails, spoken word poetry and astronomy chats, too. And in The Domain, a fiery affair awaits visitors, with a luminous white piano soundtracking a troupe of fire twirlers, which you can watch from the comfort of your own picnic lounge. Sticking to the theme, the site will also host a pop-up bar slinging smoke-forward sips and cooking stations dishing up an array of flambéed desserts.
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. In January, the Warner Bros Discovery Open Air Cinema at Darling Quarter is another option, and it comes with one big point of difference: it's all about flicks from Warner Bros Discovery. This year's season runs until Sunday, January 26 — and you have choices before it wraps up for the year. When you're not watching The Blind Side, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice or Miss Congeniality, you can check out The Lego Batman Movie, Man of Steel and Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. There's also DC League of Super-Pets and three Harry Potter films (The Half-Blood Prince and the two Deathly Hallows movies). 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 dishes from Vesta Italian, Noodle Face, Braza Churrascaria, Kürtosh, Gelatissimo, Doodee King, Ichoume', Dopa and MuMian Dining. While entry is free, you do need to reserve your spot to whichever of the screenings you'd like to attend in advance online — and some have already sold out. Screening start times vary, kicking off between 6–6.30pm, and then between 8.15–9pm if there's a second session on the same evening.
Thanks to Serial, Making a Murderer, Dirty John and Zac Efron's recent role as serial killer Ted Bundy, true crime might feel like a relatively new trend. With all manner of podcasts, shows and movies devoted to the topic these days, the genre is certainly enjoying an extended moment in the spotlight — but grim real-life tales didn't just begin with the case of Adnan Syed. Around the same time that everyone was obsessing over Serial's first season, Aussie television was turning one of the country's most notorious cases into a two-part drama, with Catching Milat the end result. Dramatising the NSW backpacker murders of 1989–1993, as well as the hunt of now-convicted killer Ivan Milat, it aired on Channel Seven back in May 2015. If you missed it, or you're a new true crime obsessive, it's now on Stan. You can revisit the mini-series — with Malcom Kennard as Milat, Sacha Horler as his ex-wife Karen, Leeanna Walsman as his sister Shirley, and Richard Cawthorne, Geoff Morrell, David Field and Craig Hall as the cops on the case. It's worth noting that Catching Milat is a work of drama — and while it's not as fictionalised as Wolf Creek, which writer/director Greg McLean noted was partly inspired by Milat, it's definitely not a documentary either. Check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_g7cHhCBCs You can watch Catching Milat on Stan here. Updated: May 9, 2019.
In 2022, beloved social enterprise Two Good Co opened a cafe and convenience store in Darlinghurst's Yirranma Place. The venue provides Sydneysiders with tasty breakfast and lunch options, as well as products from local ethically minded businesses such as The Bread & Butter Project, Kua Coffee and Gelato Messina — all while raising funds to help Two Good's goal of supporting vulnerable women by providing pathways out of crisis living. Each month at the cafe, the crew brings in a well-known and well-loved chef or culinary team to create special one-off menu items. Kylie Kwong, Maggie Beer, Peter Gilmore and Matt Moran have all been on curating duties in the past, and the month of August 2023 sees the pleasure fall on food writer and stylist Lucy Tweed. Tweed is known for her ever-popular cookbook series and online recipe brand Every Night of the Week. A purveyor of all things fresh, hearty and not overly complicated, Tweed brings the spirit of Every Night of the Week to Two Good Co's monthly menu. Available throughout August, the menu features two no-fuss vegetarian lunch items and a little sweet treat. Item number one is the scrap burger, which piles up two beetroot and haloumi patties with house pickles, cheese and a honey mustard mayo on a seeded milk bun. Also available: a rustic tomato canned bread soup with cannellini beans and parmesan. Rounding out the offerings is a little lunchtime dessert in the form of a heart-shaped berry-mallow shortcake topped with coconut and strawberry jam. If you want to sample the menu, just head over to 262 Liverpool Street at some point in August.
A real Christmas tree is a fun December addition to any home. The smell of the pine needles fill your home and it won't end up in a landfill like its plastic counterpart. If you're looking where to pick one up this holiday season head along to Tramsheds' Christmas market. The Forrest Lodge food and retail complex has joined forces with florist Don de L'Amour to offer up real Christmas trees and some festive spirit. Up until Sunday, December 13, freshly cut Christmas trees will be available for purchase at the Tramsheds. Don de L'Amour Christmas trees are grown in the Southern Tablelands of Australia before they are brought to Sydney. They come in a range of sizes, so make sure you measure the height of the ceilings before you head down. While you're there, you can bring along a gift to donate to donate to the children at the Westmead Children's Hospital. All gifts need to be new with tags to avoid risk of infection, and suitable for children and teens under 17 years old. The gift depository is open until Wednesday, December 23. Find out more at Don de L'Amour's website. Don de L'Amour Christmas Tree Pop-up Store is open from 9.30am–4pm. Top image: Steven Woodburn
Birds chirp, rainbows form and the sun shines a little brighter when the Sydney Dog Lovers Festival comes around. And in 2023, it's returning for another year of pats, licks and parades on the weekend of Saturday, August 26–Sunday, August 27. Once again, it'll take place at Sydney Showgrounds — and yes, the dedicated puppy cuddle zone is returning. The Sydney Dog Lovers Festival will see thousands of dedicated pooch fans celebrating the noble four-legged monarch of human companionship. There'll be dozens of furry friends available for adoption from dozens rescue groups across NSW in the adoption zone, where you can learn up on what's actually involved with the process. Plus, DockDogs will be back, featuring a competitive long jump and high jump for talented dogs who want to flop into a pool of water. Dogs, amiright? But hold up — you came here to cuddle pooches. We're getting there. Punters can make their way to the Pat-a-Pooch zone to cuddle up to a wide range of Australia's most loveable and popular breeds from puppy to adult dogs — we're talking uppity dachshunds to fluffball samoyeds. This has undeniably been the main attraction of previous year's events, and gives kitten cafes a run for their money. There's plenty more happening over the two days of furry friended fun, including appearances from celebrity vet Dr Katrina Warren. Not sure which type of pooch is perfect for you? Sign up to find your pawfect match, at sessions where you'll be paired with your ultimate dog breed. Already found your tail-waggin' soulmate? Get some expert tips on training, behaviour, first-aid and nutrition in handy seminars.
Sydney's new hole-in-the-wall Mexican eatery Nativo is hosting a five-day fair for Cinco de Mayo. The tiny Pyrmont spot is led by Michelin-trained chef Manuel Diaz, who utilises native Australian ingredients to create his favourite Mexican street food dishes. The fair runs from Tuesday, May 2–Saturday, May 6, bringing a range of playful additions to the Nativo menu across the week. The biggest drawcard is a special four-taco flight that's available for $30. Diners who order the Cinco de Mayo flight will be treated to duck carnitas, a grilled broccolini and crispy potato taco, a slow-cooked beef birria taco, and a cochinita pibil taco made with braised pork shoulder and citrus annatto marinade. There's something for everyone at the fair, including the four-legged members of the family. The kitchen is whipping up dog-friendly tacos made with very lightly seasoned chicken on a 100-percent corn tortilla. If you head over on Thursday, May 4, your fluffiest pal will be treated to the snack for free, or else they're available for $3 on the other four days. Feeling thirsty halfway through your taco flight? Throughout the festivities, Nativo is whipping up $1 servings of aguas frescas in the flavours of horchata, hibiscus mint and tamarind. And, rounding out the activities, there will be a spin-the-wheel game where patrons can win Nativo hoodies and t-shirts designed by emerging artist Salvador Goa, $20 gift cards, and mini-hampers of Mexican staples like Jarritos, corn chips, salsa and tamarind lollies.
Perched on Sydney Harbour and boasting an iconic design, the Sydney Opera House always makes a stunning sight. That's especially true when the sun goes down, with the world-renowned landmark lighting up its sails every night. When the venue uses its evening light show for a cause, though, the luminous display is extra special. That proved the case last night, on Saturday, January 11, when the famed venue illuminated its sails to support bushfire relief. Images of firefighters were projected on the eye-catching structure, in a show of support to the communities affected by the blazes, as well as the men and women fighting the flames across the country. The striking photos were sourced from Agence France-Presse (AFP), Australian Associated Press and The Sydney Morning Herald. As Sydney Opera House CEO Louise Herron explained, "we are lighting the Opera House sails to show our collective support for everyone affected by these devastating fires and to express our deepest gratitude to the emergency services and volunteers for their incredible efforts and courage. As difficult circumstances continue, we want to send a message of hope and strength to the people of Australia." In a further effort to assist — and raise funds — the Opera House is also hosting a huge comedy gig on its steps and forecourt on Monday, March 16. Called Comedy Steps Up for Bushfire Relief, the outdoor gala performance will see Arj Barker, Tim Minchin, Becky Lucas and The Simpsons star Harry Shearer take to the stage, as well as Carl Barron, Urzila Carlson, Joel Creasey, Kitty Flanagan and Julia Morris — with more acts to be announced. All proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to the Australian Red Cross Disaster Relief and Recovery fund, the NSW Rural Fire Service, Wildlife Victoria and WIRES Images: Ken Leanfore.
Now in its 19th year, Share the Spirit is an annual festival that takes place on January 26. The event is a celebration of the survival of Australia's First Nations people through music, art and culture. In previous years, Share the Spirit has taken place at Treasury Gardens, but it has been moved to the Sidney Myer Music Bowl this year as part of the Live at the Bowl series. Presented by Songlines Aboriginal Music and supported by Arts Centre Melbourne, the event features an impressive lineup of First Nations talent. Following an Opening Ceremony with Joy Murphy, N'arweet Carolyn Briggs and the Djirri Djirri dancers, musicians such as Archie Roach, Alice Skye, Andy Alberts and Kee'ahn will all take to the stage while Shelley Ware and Shiralee Hood co-handle the hosting duties. Due to having a limited COVID-safe capacity, Share the Spirit 2021 is already sold out, however, it will be live streamed in a few places so you have plenty of opportunities to tune in. Fed Square will be showing the festival live on its big screen — if you would like to head along to an in-person showing — or you can tune in on the Share the Spirit Facebook page or listen to a special broadcast of the festival from 2pm on 3RRR. [caption id="attachment_796726" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jason Lau[/caption] Share the Spirit 2021 runs from 12–8pm. Top image: James Henry
A Hottest 100 at this time of year? What a treat! Triple J's annual countdown is getting a second workout for 2023, thanks to a special iteration focusing entirely on the station's popular segment Like a Version. Over the years, the weekly segment has produced some iconic moments, from the previous Hottest 100-winning rendition of 'Elephant' by The Wiggles to Childish Gambino's take on 'So Into You' (which has amassed a mighty 41-million views on YouTube). These are the moments that the general public has poured over and selected their favourites from, the results of which will be rolled out from midday on Saturday, July 15. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xLIcyWg3mg And, is it really a Hottest 100 countdown without a party? While the usual list is unveiled in peak summer shindig season, this collection of covers is equally an excuse to get together with some friends for a catch-up over the radio — just in winter this time. One venue that's getting in on the action and hosting a get-together is Public House Petersham, which will be broadcasting the countdown in its beer garden from number 100 all the way down to the winner. The Stanmore Road favourite is known for its parties, with one of Sydney's best beer gardens playing host to live music and DJs throughout the year. If you're on the hunt for a Hottest 100 party, head down from midday if you want to nab a spot and enjoy the full countdown, or roll in later in the arvo to listen to the top 20 with a craft beer or natty wine in hand.
Crumpets are truly an underrated breakfast food. Crumpets are often overshadowed by their sweeter, more lavish counterparts, but they're exactly the type of warm buttery treats we all need right now to brighten up a morning at home during lockdown. Kepos Street Kitchen is looking to take your morning up a notch this Saturday and Sunday with these fluffy breakfast staples accompanied with all the trimmings. The Redfern mainstay is collaborating with local crumpet favourites Crumpets by Merna for a two-day pop-up across Saturday, July 31 and Sunday, August 1. The limited-time takeaway menu will feature six packs of Merna's crumpets for $15 as well as a fridge stocked with a whole heap of extras. Think Pepe Saya's butter, lemon curd, smoked labneh with za'atar, and tahini and date molasses. There will also be two special tea blends from Tea Craft on hand including a new blend created especially for Sydney's lockdown. The crumpets will be available from 8am–3pm or until sold out and it's important you wear a mask, socially distance and send along one person to collect all the goods for your household. And don't worry, if you can't make it to Redfern, you can still treat yourself to crumpets with Pepe Saya and Crumpets by Merna's luxe at-home breakfast boxes.
Our local council recently announced their monthly collection. Duly, we put out the rotting backyard furniture and cupboard clogging mess that has fuzzied up the feng shui of our house for too long. Before the trucks even arrived, half of the trash we'd left on the curb had disappeared, only to be treasured by a new owner. So, 'tis true, one man's trash is another man's etc. None seem to be more aware of this than artist Chris Town. His new exhibition, The Daily Detritus, will present the artist's creative interpretations of his own diaries, combining his experiences in spectacularly evocative collages of words, objects and multimedia. Town claims to always include a 'found' object in each of his works, meaning that each dramatic piece is its own treasure. Take time to journey through Town's exhibition and feel the provocation of his urban inspired art.
Sydney's newest social enterprise venue is set to land in Bondi this month, with the launch of Roscoe Street's Heart Cafe. Serving up coffee by Gypsy Espresso, along with healthy breakfast dishes, salad bowls and rolls, it's the work of local charity Wayside Chapel, and is designed to lend disadvantaged youth a hand through its innovative trainee program. The Wingspan Project will see a group of young people facing barriers to employment undertake paid 12-month traineeships at the new cafe, overseen by cafe manager Mo Rosa and chef Antonio Saco, with each trainee finishing with a Cert II in Hospitality. The cafe's menu will hero top local produce, including plenty of ingredients harvested from the Wayside Chapel's own nearby community garden. You'll spy an all-day breakfast menu filled with dishes like miso marinated mushrooms with free-range eggs and edamame mash ($16); organic green hemp quinoa matcha pancakes ($14); and a Middle Eastern-style plate with baba ghanoush and haloumi ($16). At lunchtime, you might tuck into the likes of kingfish ceviche with tiger milk($15), roast chicken with chimichurri ($20), a hearty vegetarian bowl ($10), or one of Heart's signature rolls, maybe loaded with La Boqueria chorizo ($15). To match, there's a range of blends by Tea Craft, vibrant smoothies and cold-pressed juices, alongside Gypsy Coffee. All the profits will go back into Wayside Chapel's Wingspan Project, helping disadvantaged youth. Find Heart Cafe at 95 Roscoe Street, Bondi Beach, from November 14.
The Darling Harbour Jazz and Blues Festival is celebrating twenty two years this Queen's Birthday weekend. Set across four stages, including the world famous floating Harbourside stage, the program looks set to excite. To celebrate this anniversary the festival is pulling out all stops, bringing together the best of the local and international jazz scene, including headliners Dr Lonnie Smith, Trevor Watts, Veryan Weston and former Cat Empire member Harry james Angus, to name just a few. For the first time ever visitors can experience Moonlight Jazz In The Chinese Garden, a unique music event in a beautifully tranquil location, as well as a Festival Bar at Tumbalong Park. Plus, young jazz fans can get up close and personal with one of Australia’s best jazz artists, John Morrison, who will be running free big band workshops on Sunday and Monday at 11am in Tumbalong Park.
Sometimes, your tastebuds crave something special. They hanker for the kind of dish you're not going to eat every day, aka a treat yo'self type of culinary experience. Here are three things that they probably demand in that situation: lobster, truffles and champagne. If that's your idea of an indulgent meal, Lobster & Co has you sorted between Tuesday, February 8–Friday, February 18, which is when it's popping up in Sydney at the ICC Forecourt in Darling Harbour. From 11am–3pm and 5–9pm daily, you'll only really find those three aforementioned items on the menu, too, because it's solely serving up lobster rolls with truffle fries and glasses of champagne. You'll pay $50 a pop for the food combo, which features a whole confit lobster tail sourced from The Geraldton Fishermans Coop in Western Australia, as served on a caramelised brioche bun with buttermilk fennel slaw, plus a side of parmesan truffle fries. As for the champers, that'll cost you $20 extra. Images: Karon Photography.
Stranger Things is almost back, there's more than a demogorgon to battle and every aspiring monster fighter needs a little sustenance. For the series' heroine Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown), Eggo frozen waffles are the food of choice. For Australian fans who love the show and free sweet treats, ice cream waffle sandwiches will keep you going. With Stranger Things' third season set to drop on Netflix next week, Baskin-Robbins outlets around the country are marking the occasion by giving away freebies. Free ice cream waffle sandwiches, that is. To get your hands on yours, you'll just need to visit the chain's virtual Scoop Alley on Uber Eats on Thursday, July 4. It's an online recreation of the ice cream parlour that features in the show's new batch of episodes, where Steve Harrington (Joe Keery) works — complete with his towering head of hair, obviously. If you're one of the first 1985 people to hit the site on the day — 1985, because that's the year the third season is set in — a home-delivered 'Eleven's Waffle Sandwich' will be yours. And, while you won't need buy anything else to get your delicious dessert, you will need to pay for delivery. The giveaway also celebrates Baskin-Robbins' new Stranger Things-themed ice cream range, which will be available to devour from Monday, July 1. As well as the aforementioned ice cream waffle sando, you can buy concoctions called 'The Shadow Cone' (which comes covered in red sprinkles), 'The Mind Flayer Macaron' and 'The Demogorgon Sundae' (which, yes, actually looks like the creepy critter) — in-store, or via Uber Eats. Find Baskin-Robbins' Stranger Things-themed range in stores and on Uber Eats from Monday, July 1, or visit the ice creamery's virtual Scoop Alley on Uber Eats on Thursday, July 4 to nab a free ice cream waffle sandwich. To find your closest Baskin-Robbins store in NSW, Vic, Qld or WA, head to the website.
Each year New Year's Eve is a time to bid farewell to the last 12 months and look forward to the next. And there's possibly never been a year we all collectively want to say goodbye to more than 2020. Just like many of this year's events, New Year's will run like none before. New restrictions have been brought in for Greater Sydney, which mean you are limited to five guests at your house per day, and you must be a resident, be visiting a resident or have a reservation to access to the 'green zone' surrounding the Circular Quay foreshore to watch the fireworks. As a result, the price of exclusive harbourside reservations has really turned up a notch and many venues booked out weeks ago. But, if you're looking for free-flowing drinks, multi-course meals and unbeatable views of the fireworks, there are still spots available at a select few locations. Sydney Tower's Bar 83 is still offering reservations or you can nab a booking at these three waterfront spots. For those who can't go out, the midnight fireworks will be live streamed on ABC. Residents of the northern beaches are currently under stay-at-home orders. For more information about COVID-19 in NSW and current restrictions head to NSW Health.
