If your end-of-month plans included a trip to the Gold Coast to see Travis Scott, Logic, Chvrches and Carly Rae Jepsen, then we have bad news: Sandtunes, the new festival with all three leading the lineup, has been cancelled. The event has endured a tumultuous run since it was first announced in July, when it was billed as a two-day seaside music fest at Coolangatta Beach. In September, "after listening to responses from the local community", organisers moved the festival to the definitely not-by-the-shore Metricon Stadium. But it seems that patrons weren't impressed with the change of venue, even when ticket prices were slashed to help reignite interest. As the event notes, "without sand between our punters' toes, the very notion of the beachside festival in a stadium meant low sales". As a result, the debut fest won't be going ahead — on its scheduled dates of Saturday, November 30 and Sunday, December 1, or at all. https://www.facebook.com/SandTunesFestival/photos/a.352133325459956/410100329663255/?type=3&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARApmpGdy5jXx8Xi-9m6RCcZxSnRhY1fQxz9d-ZUZpM7EGPBFrtO1wf-gOYL8tJ0qZ-nxEwmhqno3z-rlZM-1sSPnoKyC5l7CHaq6J3pSmrLQJIrBQeGrziAYhbHJ5qYUVDLaE9HMU8sR6BvffsvLOyKj-cqCrTvjyqnZ0tgaCJJGEe_A9cL_17b23XlTQ3vUg5ZYjn2tqg7MInBAQmSmgVc84QzoHWNgXd7QloG2ER7vWs4JS7GH35iCwI9kS34Fj6jcSGwONORmWpmiUJbF3zmmzzTifplLQWUUoq4rAk-chmpA1emaWuC3FsBe-MsT0GUvOHyEE1oq0wZH3r3dGU&__tn__=-R That also means that the fest's plans not just to run this year, but to become an annual part of southeast Queensland's event calendar, have fallen by the wayside. "This whole concept started with bringing a great music festival to the beach which we see happening the world over in major locations like Spain (Barcelona Beach Festival) and Alabama (Hangout Music Festival). I'm disappointed because I believed this could have grown year-on-year into something really big but unfortunately, we weren't even able to get it off the ground here," said Paul Dainty, president and CEO of promoters TEG Dainty. While it's hardly surprising that the change of location away from the beach dampened music fans' enthusiasm, Sandtunes' timing in general wasn't fantastic, with the fest's dates overlapping with part of Schoolies. The rest of event's lineup was also slated to feature Juice WRLD, Dean Lewis, Sampa the Great, Tkay Maidza, Cub Sport, Kait, Kwame, WAAX, Kian, Alice Ivy, Genesis Owusu and Saint Lane. For folks keen to see Scott, it's especially unwelcome news — Sandtunes would've been the Texas-born rapper's only Australian performance this year. It seems that Carly Rae Jepsen's Aussie tour will still go head, just not in Queensland, with tickets for her Sydney and Melbourne shows still on sale at the time of writing. As for Logic, Sydney and Melbourne ticket sales have "been postponed while we work through some tour logistics", although co-presenter Triple J reports that his visit won't be going head. Sandtunes ticketholders who purchased by credit or debit card will receive refunds automatically within ten working days, while those who purchased in an agency will be contacted by phone with a fortnight to make refund arrangements. For more information about Sandtunes' cancellation, visit the festival website.
Purported as putting "the hilarity back into charity", the Cupid's Undie Run tells hopefuls to leave their Sunday best at home and don nothing but their underwear. Participants raise money for the Children's Tumour Foundation of Australia, an organisation dedicated to fighting neurofibromatosis, a genetic disorder which can cause deafness, blindness, cancer, and chronic pain. Runners are rewarded for their good deeds with prizes, post-race entertainment, drinks, and awards.
You can never have too many food trucks and chicken wings, and King of the Wings is hoping that the poultry-loving people of Sydney agree. After slinging their spicy pieces around Brisbane since 2014 — and proving one of the first purveyors of meals-on-wheels in southeast Queensland, in fact — they're heading south to bring their tasty morsels to a whole new batch of hungry customers. Come May, King of the Wings will pop up at The Observer Hotel in The Rocks for what they've dubbed 'Wing Week', serving up tender, tasty chicken galore. The full details of the event yet to be revealed; however, just running your eyes over their menu should be enough to motivate you to be there. It's about quality over quantity here, with the self-proclaimed wing kings specialising in five flavours: their signature Southern-style herb and spice rub, a sweet chilli-infused honey sesame sauce, traditional American barbecue, the extra hot 'Chillogy' and a Portuguese crumb. The Sydney pop-up comes hot on the heels of King of the Wings adding a second, split-level design truck to their fleet, as well as competing in last year's New York Wingfest — where they took out the best new vendor field, and came second in the best wing sauce category. Sydneysiders, if you want to find out why, you'll just have to head along. King of the Wings will pop up at The Observer Hotel in The Rocks, Sydney in May. For more information, keep an eye on their Facebook page.
While Sydney yesterday experienced an unseasonably mild day, our southern counterparts were experiencing the next ice age. It got so cold yesterday that it started snowing in parts of of Victoria, and this morning residents in Melbourne's outer northwest woke up to a nice blanket of snow covering their properties. Current 'feels like' temperature? Zero degrees. That's literally freezing. Here's what it looks like: A video posted by Brad Clark (@bradclark) on Jul 12, 2016 at 2:36pm PDT A photo posted by Matt Anderson (@mattriand) on Jul 12, 2016 at 2:41pm PDT Closer to home, that chilly city Canberra was also hammered by cold weather, with temps dropping to just one degree overnight. Looks fun. But also horrendously cold. Black Mountain is a white mountain. #CanberraSnow pic.twitter.com/p41SjyeFOJ — ABCcameramatt (@ABCcameramatt) July 12, 2016 A photo posted by Andrew Barr MLA (@andrewbarr) on Jul 12, 2016 at 2:32pm PDT So, yeah, it's freezing. But before you start feeling smug about the warm 11 degrees it is outside, know that the freeze is coming for us. It's gonna be a chilly one tonight. Top image: Matt Anderson via Instagram.
Since late in 2019, when Disney launched its own streaming platform, fans of its animated classics, beloved hits and many, many super-popular franchises have been able to binge their way through the Mouse House's back catalogue from the comfort of their couch. Later this year, however, movie buffs will be asked to leave their houses to check out a selection of the company's famed titles — all thanks to the new pop-up Disney+ Drive-In that's coming to Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. Yes, a streaming service is running a drive-in. Or, to put it another way, a product designed to get everyone watching on small screens at home is now endeavouring to lure viewers out to watch its flicks on a big screen from their cars. That's a very 2020 situation, with Disney+ teaming up with Openair Cinemas to make it happen. The drive-in will kick off in Brisbane, at Northshore Hamilton — in the event space next to the Brisbane Cruise Terminal, to be specific — on Thursday, September 17, screening films every night (except Tuesdays) until Sunday, October 18. Brisbanites with a long memory might remember that the stretch along the river has been used as a drive-in before, with the Brisbane International Film Festival doing so back in 2011 and Eat Street Northshore also screening movies. As for what'll be screening, the Disney+ Drive-In is theming its various evenings, with double features on offer on most nights. That means on 'Star Wars Wednesday' you'll catch The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi, The Rise of Skywalker and Rogue One; and on 'Throwback Thursday' there'll be a focus on nostalgic movies like 10 Things I Hate About You, Mrs Doubtfire, Mighty Ducks and Edward Scissorhands. Then there's 'Disney Super Fan Friday', serving up both live-action and animated versions of Aladdin, The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast; and 'Sing Along Saturday', where Moana, The Greatest Showman, The Little Mermaid and both Frozen films will screen. Next comes 'Pixar Sunday', including everything from Cars and Ratatouille to Inside Out and Wall-E — and, finally, 'Marvel Monday' will feature the likes of Black Panther, Thor: Ragnarok and Captain Marvel. The pop-up will then head to Sydney from Thursday, October 22–Sunday, November 15, with both its program and its location yet to be revealed. Lastly, it'll hit up Melbourne, too, with both dates and the venue still under wraps. Folks interested in either season can sign up for updates via the drive-in's website. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ue80QwXMRHg Popcorn, snacks and drinks will be available onsite — or you can bring your own. It's strictly a no-alcohol affair, though. And, ticket-wise, you'll be paying per car; however, prices vary depending on a number of factors. For a single film, you'll pay $42.53 if there's one or two people in your car, and $52.75 if there is three or more. For a double feature, that changes to $73.74 and $84.51. Disney+ Drive-In presented by Openair Cinemas kicks off in Brisbane, at Northshore Hamilton, on Thursday, September 17 — with its season running until Sunday, October 18. It'll then head to Sydney, at a yet-to-be-disclosed location, from Thursday, October 22–Sunday, November 15. Lastly, it'll hit up Melbourne, with both dates and the venue still under wraps.
Melbourne's famed burger joint 8bit has finally arrived in Sydney, joining a string of other eateries in Darling Square's new food precinct Steam Mill Lane. To celebrate the opening, it's giving away free burgers this Thursday, May 3. Yep, burgers — for free. Best pop a "work lunch" into your calendar now. From noon until 2pm, the good people at 8bit will give away 300 of the eatery's signature cheeseburgers — that's a beef patty topped with tomato, lettuce, red onion and pickles, then sauced with the holy trinity of ketchup, mustard and secret sauce. Lucky for Sydneysiders, the 130-seat diner is 8bit's largest joint yet, so there will be plenty of space to tuck in. Of course, these bad boys will only be available until sold out, so make sure you get there right at noon to secure one.
Considered Brisbane's Banksy by many, famed Australian artist Anthony Lister is at it again. This time, he's launching a ten-year anniversary show in Kings Cross from Wednesday, July 17 — and it's free to the public. Culture is Over pays homage to the bygone era of Kings Cross as the thriving cultural hub of our city. The exhibition marks ten years since Lister's pop-up event No Win Sitch — which took place in the now-closed Porky's Nite Spot strip club, and helped the artist gain international recognition. Fittingly, Culture is Over will also take over the old Porky's digs with an exploration of just how much Sydney has changed in the past ten years. This latest installation is inspired by Lister's iconic artwork Moloch of Luna Park, which depicts the unidentified horned man that is said to have terrorised theme park guests back in 1979. Expect paranormal and mythical themes in a mix of painting, sculpture and video installation — all of which track how, according to Lister, our city has "lost its soul", thanks to the lockout laws. Opening night will take place on July 17 from 7–9pm. The free exhibition will then run for one week until July 24, with opening hours from Monday– Friday between 11am–3pm. For serious collectors (and serious fans with some cash to splash), some of Lister's artwork will be available to purchase, too. Images: Yasmin Suteja.
Harry Seidler is the second most popular result when searching 'Harry S' on Google. Amongst a lifetime of achievements and accolades, his Google popularity would probably be of little concern to him if he were still alive today. Seidler was one of Australia’s most prolific architects, who throughout his career designed over 180 buildings embracing modernist methodology and fully expressing the principals of the Bauhaus. Take that Harry Styles! On Friday, November 7, the foyer spaces of three iconic Harry Seidler buildings in Sydney’s CBD will be transformed as part of the 2014 Sydney Architecture Festival. Expanded Architecture have curated an exclusive one-night only event called Temporal Formal at Seidler City. Guests are invited to join a guided tour through some of the city’s most identifiable buildings, exploring specially commissioned, site-specific installations that explore the intersections between art and architecture. The exhibition includes light, sound and performance art as well as installations made from "crushed glass, water-dissolving lace, liquid chalk, modulated furniture, fog, digital interactive projection, cross stitch and crochet.” That's no mild foyer art.
Forest Lodge. That often overlooked suburb wedged in between Glebe and Annandale. You've got the essentials any decent suburb needs: local video shop, good coffee, a standard Thai joint and a pub for the boozers. And now the residents of Flodge even have their very own official beer club, the newest venture from the Roxbury. Craft Beer Club is held on the last Thursday of every month (except for December) with the next event on 29 November. This month's Beer Club will showcase three interstate breweries and one local brewery. "Beer Club is designed to support Australian micro brewers and great beer, something that we're very passionate about here at the Roxbury," says bar manager, Craig McVea, "The night is very casual with each brewery sampling one to two brews with the first usually being a flagship beer and the second a limited release brew."
Winter puts most of us in a slump but that doesn't mean your sense of style also has to fall behind. Rather than go out and buy a new wardrobe, give new life to your existing clothing with Philips' range of garment-care tools. Philips is giving away five prize packs (worth $164.85 each) that include a Philips Handheld Garment Steamer, Rechargeable Fabric Shaver and Sneaker Cleaner. The 3000 Series Steamer not only removes wrinkles on almost all iron-safe fabrics, including delicates but also reduces odours and bacteria so that you can prolong your wear between washes. The handy gadget is compact and foldable, meaning you can throw it in your bag on your way to the office or even bring it with you on any upcoming travels. If you've been living in your knitwear all winter, it's time to revive your sweaters. The 1000 Series Fabric Shaver removes unsightly pills on all garments and is conveniently rechargeable by USB. Don't overlook your footwear — your shabby sneakers can still be saved with the electric sneaker cleaner, which features three types of rotating brush heads to bring your shoes back to their original spotless glory. Enter below to be 'fit check-ready year-round. [competition]968206[/competition]
Sydneysiders know a thing or two about beloved creative spaces becoming endangered. Unfortunately, this is not a new phenomenon. Fortunately, sometimes the cries of despair are heard and the venue is saved. In 1984, Nimrod Theatre was saved from redevelopment with droves of theatre lovers forming a syndicate to buy the building. Thus started the new life of Belvoir St Theatre. Thirty years on, with government support from the Major Performing Arts Board of the Australia Council and Arts NSW, the theatre is one of the most acclaimed venues in the country. It continues to play host to the best and the brightest of the arts and entertainment industry, with a dynamic roster of works spanning its 'Upstairs' and 'Downstairs' theatres.
A multi-channel video installation entitled Vertigo and photographic work from her, Tidal Walk, contextualise Fiona McGregor's new series at Artspace. Against the ground of documentation of her previous performance work, she will present durational performance pieces that reflect on water as a necessary resource for the body, and as a major element of the environment in which the human body exists. "When I see a tap running unattended, I feel like I am watching someone bleed," say McGregor, and her Water Series explore similarities between how the circulatory and digestive systems of the human body and the movement of water through physical environments. It's an accumulative project in which the first work, Water 1: Descent sees the artist lying still covered in salts for 24 hours as rainwater equal to her body weight is released onto her forehead in drips. The second 24-hour piece, Water 2: Passage brings saltwater into the artist's body via an IV drip while another tube extracts her blood; this performance culminates in McGregor's back being tattooed with water. Water 3: Expulsion moves the water-body interaction to its final stage, from impact upon to journey through to production, wherein throughout a final 24 hour period McGregor will consume large quantities of water and use the resulting urine to power a small fountain.
Remember a few weeks ago when we told you that New York City were #blessed by the birth of the XL xiao long bao? Remember how we all collectively freaked out and thought 'that's a thing that I want!'? Well, prepare thy loins for a summer of hot, soupy spills because the XL XLB is hittin' Sydney and Melbourne — hotter, bigger and soupier than ever. Din Tai Fung, known for their general dumpling prowess and cute, Chinese New Year themed animal dumplings, are the proud parents of Australia's first super-sized dump dump. Just like their American counterpart, the Din Tai Fung XLB is designed to be sucked up with a straw, so bulbous with soup is she. They'll be serving them for $8.90 a pop throughout November — but unfortunately not at their café court venues. This meal deserves a sit-down experience. For the uninitiated, prepare to have your world rocked. The xiao long bao is a steamed, soupy dumpling filled with a flavoursome broth and a pork and prawn filling. They usually come in mouth-sized portions but Din Tai Fung will be serving them up at seven times their usual size (hence the need for a straw). Grab 'em from November 1 to November 30 at Din Tai Fung World Square, Central Park, Westfield Chatswood and Westfield Miranda in Sydney, and at Emporium in Melbourne.
A lacklustre vehicle for two fine actors, Diane Keaton and Brendan Gleeson are wasted in Joel Hopkins' Hampstead, a light-on-charm plod-along which harbours not much more than a giggle every now and then, some pretty scenery, and a particularly nice looking veggie patch. Keaton is Emily, a recently widowed woman who lives in an upmarket block of apartments in London's Hampstead, neighboured mostly by other rich women her age. Her days involve throwing her hands up in the air about her debts while wandering around with her peers signing petitions and having brunch. Unsurprisingly, she feels as though something is missing from her life. Enter Gleeson as Donald, a gruff Irishman who lives in a ramshackle hut on the heath, in perfect binocular-spying distance from Emily's attic. He grows his own food and fishes in the lake. One thing leads to another, there's some perfunctory plot development, and the two meet and strike up a romance. The only problem is that there's so little chemistry between the two that at one point, during a scene where they're kissing in bed, I found myself wondering whether it would rain tomorrow and if I had washing to put on at home. The two actors do their best with the cloying, Richard Curtis-wannabe script, which aims for whimsical and lands on limp. Turns out Donald has built a cottage on the Heath without permission, doesn't pay rent or taxes, and is being evicted by the council who plan to build apartment blocks in place of him, leaving him homeless without any relatives to rely on. Emily, on the other hand, is worried about whether she's going to have to sell her super lush apartment because she's bad at accounting. Naturally the two bond over their "similar" circumstances. Based on the true tale of Harry Hallowes, who did actually live on Hampstead Heath in a DIY shack, the story itself is quite interesting. But the romantic comedy angle feels as though it's being squeezed out of a nearly-dry sponge. Hampstead isn't bad. It just isn't, in the grand scheme of things, particularly good either. If you want to feel warm and fuzzy, there are plenty of better, sweeter and more charming British films worth watching. Also, if fishing and cheese picnics are someone's idea of "trampy" dates, then line me up. I'd swipe right on that any day of the week. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsJv_bJBHSY
From the shaken to the stirred and everything in-between — this May, the country's world-class mixology scene will be celebrated in a very big way at a month-long drinks festival. The inaugural Australian Cocktail Month is set to kick off Sunday, May 1, descending on venues across a heap of Aussie cities with a diverse lineup of crafty collaborations and exclusive concoctions. In total, 145 bars are taking part in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Darwin, Geelong, Gold Coast, Hobart, Melbourne, Newcastle, Perth and Wollongong — and in Sydney, of course. Here in the Harbour City, 25 spots will help Australian Cocktail Month celebrate its second year. And, both boozy and alcohol-free cocktails will be on the menu. Wondering where you'll be heading? Hit up local favourites such as About Time, Frank Mac's, Hickson House, Jangling Jacks, Maybe Sammy, PS40 and Re, for starters. Along with the other venues taking part, they'll spend the month whipping up creative-charged festival cocktails (and mocktails) using drops from both local brands — think: Brix Distillers, Four Pillars and Archie Rose — and international labels. To get among the best of it, grab a $20 Australian Cocktail Month ticket and enjoy full access to all of the participating venues' cocktail creations. Alcoholic drinks will be priced at $14 a pop, with low-alcohol and booze-free options clocking in at $10. Top image: Hickson House, Steven Woodburn.
The Manly Jazz festival is heading back into town this October long weekend, bringing its blend of New Orleans jazz, gospel, Latin and roots to the beachside suburb for the 41st time. So jump on a ferry and get over to the northern beaches for three days of smooth sounds this spring. Held in a variety of indoor and outdoor venues dotted along the beach, the jam-packed program features over 100 free performances. On the lineup you'll find jazz drummer Carl Allen, who's flying in from the US to take the stage by the water, fusion group Back to Back and 'Sydney's first lady of blues' Alice Terry. A tribute show to one of the greatest singers of all time — Aretha Franklin — is also on the program. Those wanting to get a bit more hands on can also head to a workshop, or to the pop-up garden, which will be stocked to the nines with craft beers, cider, wine and Mexican snacks from local eatery Bar Troubadour.
For dazzling views of the Grose Valley and wombat spotting, head to Mount Banks. The 2.4-kilometre return trail starts at the Mount Banks picnic area and begins with a short yet steep climb before ascending gradually to the summit. Most peaks in the Blue Mountains are sandstone but this still has a basalt covering created by volcanoes 20 million years ago. For the flora fiends among you, take in smooth-barked monkey gums and native wildflowers. Once you hit the top, the view of Grose Valley from the summit is awesome. If you'd like to extend the hike, opt to link up with the Mount Banks Road cycle route, which will make the trek about 4.7 kilometres all up. Image: Elinor Sheargold, Department of Planning, Industry and Environment
Over the past decade or so, Orange has become recognised as one of Australia's finest culinary regions. And, for one special weekend this winter, Orange Winter Fire Festival will have the town bursting with great food, drink and cultural events, all with a wintry flavour. The festival will capitalise on the town's winemaking status as some of the best local drops are showcased at events inspired by classic Australiana images, such as crackling bonfires and chargrilled feasts. Held across the weekend of July 31–August 1, the festival kicks off on Friday with a smoke and fire dinner at Philip Shaw Wines and a premiere of Inferno, a docudrama about frontline firefighters, at the Printhie Apple Packing Shed. The fiery festival continues with hot cocktails by firepits at the Oriana Hotel and a stargazing session that focuses on First Nations peoples' knowledge and stories of the skies. With wine tasting sessions and sing-alongs, plus so much more taking place over the festival, a road trip to the Orange Winter Fire Festival would make for a pretty perfect winter weekend. Of course, with some COVID-19 restrictions still in place, it won't be exactly like previous iterations of the festival. As well as in person events, the festival with include a virtual program called Very Local, which you can enjoy from the comfort of your couch from Friday, July 31 through Sunday, August 16.
The Scandinavian crime fixation currently sweeping non-Nordic nations shows no signs of abating. Jussi Adler-Olsen's Department Q series provides the latest instance, a four-instalment-to-date police procedural setting a duo of detectives in search of answers to dead cases. The Keeper of Lost Causes is the first feature to result. All the elements exist in director Mikkel Nørgaard and writer Nikolaj Arcel's version of the novel. (They're both veterans of the burgeoning genre with resumes that encompass television's Borgen and the Swedish-language The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo as evidence.) An odd couple, an against-the-odds task, brooding backstories, a pretty prey and a cat-and-mouse game with the perpetrator furnish a feature that stays within the confines of the expected — except for one significant deviation. As well as tracking the law enforcement quest to uncover the truth, the film gifts viewers with the victim's perspective: her tale told as a parallel to the investigation. The Keeper of Lost Causes is in cinemas on July 31, and thanks to Madman Entertainment, we have ten double in-season passes to give away. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter (if you haven't already), then email us with your name and address. Read our full review here. Sydney: win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.au Melbourne: win.melbourne@concreteplayground.com.au Brisbane: win.brisbane@concreteplayground.com.au https://youtube.com/watch?v=68sO1s9Hy70
Action Bronson is one MC in Queens you might actually want to take home to meet your mum. Not only can he rap, he can cook. Before gaining attention of hip hop aficionados with his 2012 Party Supplies-produced mixtape, Blue Chips, he spent hours searing ahi tuna and whipping up frittata napoletana for New York gourmets. While you can still keep up with Action Bronson's culinary adventures in Action in the Kitchen, you'll be more likely to find him on a stage somewhere these days. In August 2012, he signed to Vice Records, who also have Snoop Lion on their books. Having released studio LP Rare Chandeliers in November, Action Bronson will bring his verbal agility, gonzo-style wit, and titanic vocabulary to Sydney for the first time on January 12. Supporting him will be founder of Stones Throw Records, Peanut Butter Wolf (US), multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, producer, and arranger Jonti, who supported Gotye on his 2012 American and European tours, and Sydney DJ Mike Who?. Concrete Playground has two double passes up for grabs. For a chance to win, make sure you're subscribed to Concrete Playground then email your name and postal address to hello@concreteplayground.com.au by 5pm, Wednesday 9 January. https://youtube.com/watch?v=J2AHvZWojSc
As far as fortieth birthdays go, this one promises to be a serious banger. The inner west's much-loved Newtown Festival returns this November, celebrating the big 4-0 in style, with a huge day of community, art, music and food. Brainchild of the Newtown Neighbourhood Centre (NNC), the event's main aim is to raise funds and drum up support for those doing it tough in the area. It's also a great excuse for people to get together and show some love for a unique pocket of the world. Taking over Camperdown Memorial Park on November 11, this year's outing sees the return of a bunch of festival favourites, including the Better Read Than Dead writers tent, the Eco Village and the ever-popular Sassy Treats Dog Show, celebrating all of those four-legged festival-goers. There'll be a sprawling collection of over 300 stalls, slinging everything from food to fashion, and the soon-to-be-announced music lineup showcases artists who've each got their own strong connection to the Newtown community. If you'd like to host a stall, albeit food or fashion, applications are now open. In the lead up to the festival, NNC will also host a series of gigs, live street art performances and open air movie screenings to celebrate its four decades of life. Newtown Festival's $5 entry fee, collected at the gates, goes directly to the NNC, which provides support services for disadvantaged groups in the local community. Image: Katje Ford, James Simpson and Jess Gleeson
Good Neighbours celebrates NSW artists who identify as living with a disability. After a two-year project that began with the partnership of Artbank and Create NSW in 2015, the exhibition came to life on June 29 and will be open until October 6. The project fostered creative relationships between the artists and local peers living with and without disabilities. Something beautiful came from the project, and now Good Neighbours: a supportive art community. Some features include colourful prints adapted from a graphic novella, charcoal drawings, watercolour paintings exploring mental illness, and sculptures of kangaroo paraphernalia. Good Neighbours will also be debuting Daniel Kojta's digital video, Walking All Over My Friends 2017 – his year-long project exploring the limitations of his physical abilities. Some pieces are solo ventures, while others are collaborations. Either way, the art at Good Neighbours celebrates the value of helping others, drawing from the Artbank collection and other private loans you'll have to check out for yourself. Image: Jesse Jaco.
Who knew that a simple zoom out could be so heartbreaking? Iranian-Kurdish journalist and Manus Island detainee Behrouz Boochani, that's who. Secretly recording his indefinite detention in Papua New Guinea's controversial facility for asylum seekers, it's a filmmaking flourish he uses several times throughout Chauka, Please Tell Us the Time. Shooting his restrained surroundings on a mobile phone, his camera captures images both scenic and ordinary — a beach and a communal space, for example — only to then lurch backwards to reveal bars obscuring the view. The statement Boochani makes with this stylistic choice might be obvious, but it's important. For the incarcerated, freedom and normality is so close and yet so far. That applies not only to peering beyond their fenced-in confines, but trying to flee oppression in search of a better life. They're ostensibly right next door to their ideal destination, Australia, and yet the place they're forced to inhabit couldn't be further from their dreams. Indeed, as they struggle with their imprisonment, endure a climate of violence, and make calls to their families back home, their situation more closely resembles a nightmare. Of course, this has all been splashed across countless news headlines; in fact, when the documentary was released in June last year, the Australian government had just that week settled a $70 million lawsuit with Manus Island detainees. But as 2016's Chasing Asylum demonstrated, there's a difference between hearing about the harsh conditions Boochani and company suffer through, and seeing them first-hand; just as there's a difference between seeing asylum seekers as a faceless mass, and getting to know their individual stories. A collaboration with Iranian-Dutch filmmaker Arash Kamali Sarvestani, who produced, edited and composed the suitably emotive score, the movie is less an interview-filled expose, and more a moody portrait of the daily reality of life on Manus Island. Men share tales of bleak incidents within the facility, and try to speak to wives, children and mothers left behind. In between, the camera roams — sometimes over bunk beds no one would want their worst enemy to sleep in, sometimes finding a kitten fenced in behind the wire. Poetic in its depiction of the banality of detainment while offering an impassioned polemic on a punitive regime, Chauka, Please Tell Us the Time is a film of juxtapositions — its subjects yearn for beauty while experiencing abject horror. It's no wonder, then, that Boochani and Sarvestani have chosen to name their feature after a term with a significant double meaning. 'Chauka' refers to both a local bird known for emitting noises at specific times, and the solitary confinement facility within the camp. The film is showing on Sunday, April 22 at the MCA as part of the 21st Biennale of Sydney. Tickets are only $10. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwaVMPYEzrA
Think back to your kindergarten years and there’s probably a few things that still stick in your mind, whether it’s snuggling with your favourite plush at nap time or getting your hands sticky with glitter at the craft table. But what happens when you turn these fond memories of normalcy and childhood on their head? If you’ve seen Annette Messager’s latest retrospective exhibition at the MCA, you’ll know that such cherished toys can instantly be transformed into ghoulish terrors more likely to be found in a nightmare than a five-year-old’s playpen. Now you too can follow Messager’s creative footsteps and try a hand at reinventing everyday objects into works of art, grotesque or not. MCA’s series of Subversive Stitching workshops, led by textile expert and artist Nicole Barakat, promises to teach embroidering, stitching and sewing for you to apply to your dolls, soft toys and clothing, with the twist that results need not be pretty. Beginners are welcome and materials are provided. It’s certainly high time we all sit down at the craft table again.
Two Little Boys follows the series of unfortunate incidents that make up Nige (Bret McKenzie) and Deano's (Hamish Blake) long-term mateship. Things get tricky when Nige accidentally runs over and kills a Scandavian soccer star. He has no one to turn to but Deano and, unfortunately, Deano is not the kind of guy to turn to in a time of crisis. The mishap leads to more unfortunate events with hilarious and bizarre consequences. Directed by Robert Sarkies and based on the novel by Duncan Sarkies, Two Little Boys is a cheeky comedy bound to make you laugh and appreciate the one of a kind relationship between two best mates. Thanks to Hopscotch, Concrete Playground has ten double passes to giveaway to see Two Little Boys. To go in the running just subscribe to Concrete Playground (if you haven't already) then email hello@concreteplayground.com.au
The woods are a dank and dreary place in Disney's big screen adaptation of this beloved Broadway show. A star-studded fairy tale mash-up, Into the Woods contains no shortage of great actors, none of whom can do anything to distract from the film’s horribly awkward pacing or the apparent visual indifference of its director. Combine that with the script's (mostly) toothless treatment of Steven Sondheim’s subversive source material, and this is one Hollywood musical that sounds hideously out of tune. The story takes place in a generic far away kingdom, where a lowly baker (James Corden) and his cheery wife (Emily Blunt) enter into a bargain with the neighbourhood witch (Meryl Streep): locate four magical objects, and in return she'll lift the curse that prevents them from conceiving a child. The search takes them deep into the nearby woods, where they encounter a multitude of bedtime characters, including Cinderella (Anna Kendrick), Little Red Riding Hood (newcomer Lilla Crawford) and Jack the Giant Slayer (Daniel Huttlestone). Sondheim doesn't just include these names because they're familiar. Although fairy tales are aimed at children, they're inevitably packed with plenty of adult subtext. Into the Woods, in its best moments, subverts our expectations, delving more explicitly into the ideas lurking under the surface of these kid-friendly fables, or in other cases turning them totally on their head. The sexually suggestive interplay between the pre-teen Little Red Riding Hood and the lecherous Big Bad Wolf (Johnny Depp) is seriously un-Disney, while Chris Pine's delightfully hammy performance as the somewhat less than charming Prince Charming speaks to the folly of unrealistic romantic expectations. His rendition of 'Agony' is the highlight of the film by far. Sadly, these tongue-in-cheek moments rarely go as far as you would like. The instances of morbid and self-aware humour are great, but they're ultimately secondary to a dull, drawn-out story. Furthermore, although the songs are generally well written and performed, they increasingly tend to bog down the narrative as opposed to driving it forward. At the same time, despite the endeavour feeling too long, a number of the major character arcs feel seriously short-changed. The witch, in particular, simply up and disappears once the movie has nothing more for her to do. Then there's the matter of director Rob Marshall, who between Nine and the most recent, nigh-unwatchable Pirates of the Caribbean movie seems determined to prove that his Oscar for Chicago was a complete and utter fluke. His unimaginatively framed musical sequences make Tom Hooper's super-extreme Les Miserables close-ups look positively artful, while the overcast grey-green colour palette of cinematographer Dion Beebe saps the film of whatever energy was left. For a film about magic, Into the Woods contains next to none. Here's hoping this isn't an indicator of what 2015 movies have in store.
UPDATE: MARCH 18, 2020 — Organisers have announced that all remaining sessions of the 2020 Alliance Francaise French Film Festival have been cancelled from Thursday, March 19 — hopefully to be rescheduled at a later date, but with further details to be decided down the line. The decision comes "following the Australian Government's additional restrictions on non-essential social gatherings". Ticket holders will receive a full refund. 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. In one of the films screening at this year's Alliance Française French Film Festival, Oscar-winner Jean Dujardin (The Artist) takes his obsession with a deerskin jacket to quite the extreme. In another of movies on the 2020 program, Eva Green (Penny Dreadful) rockets into space, playing a single mother who's also the only woman in the European Space Agency's astronaut training program. And, in yet another flick showing at the fest, voodoo, a secret literary society and a Haitian teen all combine. In other words: no matter what kind of French film you're looking for, you'll likely find it on the event's 31st lineup. If you're eager to catch the three aforementioned movies, then put Deerskin, Proxima and Zombi Child on your must-see list. There's more where they came from, of course, with the 2020 festival screening 49 new and classic French flicks when it tours the country from March 10. It all begins with Olivier Nakache and Éric Toledano's The Extraordinary, which dramatises the real-life efforts of Frenchman Stéphane Benhamou — who runs his own Parisian shelter for autistic youth who aren't cared for by the system otherwise. And, when the fest comes to a close, it'll do so with comedy The Bare Necessities. In the Cannes-premiering title, a radio show agony aunt in a small village is completely unaware that her adult sons have been calling in with their own problems. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIsEZ2tTavU Other highlights: Xavier Dolan's Matthias & Maxime, which stars the acclaimed Mommy filmmaker as one of two friends forced to confront their feelings for each other; Oscar-nominee Les Misérables, about clashes between cops, teens and gangs in Montfermeil; and the 1968-set How to Be a Good Wife, which sees Juliette Binoche run a housekeeping school that prepares teenagers to become housewives. Or, French film lovers can catch Farewell to the Night, where The Truth's Catherine Deneuve is forced to deal with her grandson's radicalisation; Invisibles, a comedy abut an illegal women's shelter; and rom-com Room 212, the latest movie by Sorry Angel's Christophe Honoré. For those particularly interested in How to Be a Good Wife, this year's fest is putting on special bushfire-relief sessions in all capital cities that'll donate 100 percent of the ticket sales to the Australian Red Cross Bushfire Appeal and Rural and Remote Mental Health — so you see a movie and support a good cause. The same will be the case with In the Name of the Land, a drama about French farmers. Elsewhere, French and Russia trade nuclear threats in submarine thriller The Wolf's Call, a secret manuscript sparks a twisty whodunnit in The Translators, and life in 90s Afghanistan gets animated in book-to-screen adaptation The Swallows of Kabul. Because TV is increasingly finding a place on the film festival circuit, small-screen fans can also feast their eyes on the first three episodes of French series Vernon Subutex, which stars Romain Duris as an ex-record store owner trying to work out what to do next with his life. The Alliance Française French Film Festival tours Australia from March 10, screening at Sydney's Chauvel Cinema, Palace Norton Street, Palace Verona, Palace Central and Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace from March 10–April 8; Melbourne's Palace Balwyn, Palace Brighton Bay, Palace Cinema Como, Palace Westgarth, Kino Cinemas and The Astor Theatre from March 11–April 8; Perth's Palace Raine Square, Cinema Paradiso, Luna on SX, Windsor Cinema and Camelot Outdoor Cinema from March 11–April 8; and Brisbane's Palace Barracks and Palace James Street from March 18–April 14. For more information and to buy tickets, visit the AFFFF website.
For us, summer is all about getting together with friends and family to toast to the silly season with delicious drinks. And this year, Moët & Chandon is making your end-of-year celebrations even sparklier with its pop-up drinking destination coming to the Sydney Harbour foreshore. You and your crew can enjoy a luxe day at Moët & Chandon's Sydney Effervescence from Thursday, December 2 till Saturday, December 4. Set against the backdrop of the Royal Botanic Gardens, this glittering installation will take you far beyond your typical harbourside drinks. Inside a breathtaking 500-square-metre sculpture, you'll get to sip champagne in the luxe Moët & Chandon Lounge as you soak in the spectacular harbour views. Tickets to this sparkling experience are $35 per person and include a Moët Mini on arrival. And while there are some walk-in spots available, we recommend booking ahead to secure your spot. Not only is it going to be an ideal place to reconnect with loved ones but also it'll provide a fitting backdrop to get that all-important festive (and glitzy) snap with your mates. Ready to immerse yourself in the effervescent world of Moët and Chandon this summer? For more information and to book your tickets, visit the website.
This year, Parramatta has joined in on the Good Food Month action, with events spreading beyond Sydney's inner city and into the new suburban hubs. Over four days this October, see laneways, car parks and squares transformed into themed hubs of foodie heaven. Don't miss the stalls at the Middle Eastern bazaar, or the cocktails at the neon playground that pays homage to Tokyo after dark. There'll be discos and desserts, boutique beers, live entertainment and the Art Amble, a specially curated outdoor art-walk through installations and innovative video art. Download the full program of Parramatta Lanes here.
Bangarra Dance Theatre's new work Dark Emu is an exploration of the relationship between Australia's Aboriginal people and the land — and their extraordinary knowledge of Australia's plants, animals, landforms and climate. It's also a portrait of the harrowing impact European settlement had on this bond. The show takes inspiration from Bruce Pascoe's nonfiction book of the same name, which covers the complexities of indigenous farming, fishing and landcare techniques. "Before colonisation, Aboriginal people were one with the land and respect for earth, sky and ocean was central to life," says director Stephen Page. "We want to make people aware of the strength and resilience of Aboriginal people and celebrate their profound knowledge of agriculture and aquiculture, which belongs at the epicentre of Australian history." Premiering at Sydney Opera House between June 12 and July 14, Dark Emu is Page's 25th project for Bangarra. In putting together the 70-minute, four-part show, he worked closely with dancers and collaborators Yolande Brown and Daniel Riley, as well as the Bangarra troupe. Image: Daniel Boud.
UPDATE, August 27, 2021: From Friday, August 27, Cruella will be available to stream via Disney+ — and as part of your regular subscription. A killer dress, a statement jacket, a devastating head-to-toe ensemble: if they truly match their descriptions, they stand the test of time. Set in 70s London as punk takes over the aesthetic, live-action 101 Dalmatians prequel Cruella is full of such outfits — plus a white-and-black fur coat that's suspected of being made from slaughtered dogs. If the film itself was a fashion item, though, it'd be a knockoff. It'd be a piece that appears fabulous from afar, but can't hide its seams. That's hardly surprising given this origin tale stitches together pieces from The Devil Wears Prada, The Favourite, Superman, Star Wars and Dickens, and doesn't give two yaps if anyone notices. The Emmas — Stone, playing the dalmatian-hating future villain; Thompson, doing her best Miranda Priestly impression as a ruthless designer — have a ball. Oscar-winning Mad Max: Fury Road costume designer Jenny Beavan is chief among the movie's MVPs. But for a film placed amid the punk-rock revolution, it's happy to merely look the part, not live and breathe it. And, in aiming to explain away its anti-heroine's wicked ways, it's really not sure what it wants to say about her. Here, the needle drops have it. If compiling Cruella's soundtrack involved more than typing "60s, 70s and 80s hits" into Spotify, it doesn't show. A snarling rendition of The Stooges' 'I Wanna Be Your Dog' proves as blatant as it sounds. When a plan comes together to The Beatles' 'Come Together', you'll wonder if the laziest algorithm in the world made that choice. And would it really be a film about someone called de Vil — a naming choice that's spelled out with such force, you could spot it from the moon — if The Rolling Stones' 'Sympathy for the Devil' wasn't given a spin? As the Mouse House keeps exploring its antagonists' nefarious urges (see also: the two Maleficent movies), it routinely just covers the bare necessities, story-wise. Here, it takes that approach in as many places as it can. Indeed, in telling viewers that Cruella is saddled with childhood traumas, too, it seems to think that two-plus over-stretched hours of 70s cosplay will suffice. Before she becomes the puppy-skinning fashionista that remains among Glenn Close's best-known roles, and before she's both a wannabe designer and the revenge-seeking talk of the town played by Stone (Zombieland: Double Tap), Cruella is actually 12-year-old girl Estella (Tipper Seifert-Cleveland, Game of Thrones). Sporting two-toned hair and a cruel that streak her mother (Emily Beecham, Little Joe) tries to tame with kindness, she's a target for bullies, but has the gumption to handle them. Then tragedy strikes, an orphan is born, loss haunts her every move and, after falling in with a couple of likeable London thieves, those black-and-white locks get a scarlet dye job. By the time that Estella is in her twenties, she's well-versed in pulling quick heists with Jasper (Joel Fry, Yesterday) and Horace (Paul Walter Hauser, Songbird). She loves sewing the costumes required more than anything else, however. After years spent dreaming of knockout gowns, upmarket department stores and threads made by the Baroness (Thompson, Last Christmas), she eventually gets her chance — for fashion domination, as well as vengeance. It worked for director Craig Gillespie in I, Tonya, but the wry narration that guides Cruella's story quickly overstays its welcome. The knowing tone, obvious observations and taunts of a death that can't stick in a prequel all purely hit the expected beats, as almost everything here does. Co-screenwriter Dana Fox also penned Isn't It Romantic, but trades satirising one genre's tropes for leaning into another's (yes, villain origin stories are their own genre now). Fellow scribe Tony McNamara was nominated for an Oscar for The Favourite and an Emmy for The Great, so the fact that Stone often feels like she has stepped out of the former and into this — right down to her subterfuge and scheming beneath the Baroness' feet — is no surprise. The Devil Wears Prada's Aline Brosh McKenna gets a story credit, too, because Disney isn't attempting to conceal its inspirations. Cruella may stem from Dodie Smith's book, then the cartoon, then the live-action remake, but it has been cut from a clear pattern. There's zero vampishness in the end result, but plenty of botched ideas and muddled themes. When Estella is driven to succeed, rebel against being treated poorly at work and punish the person responsible for her pain, they're far more fascinating aspects of her character than the movie meaningfully examines — perhaps because they don't quite fit her journey to the monochrome side. Empathising with her plight is easy several times over. After an early incident, understanding why she doesn't love dalmatians is as well. Gillespie and company don't come close to selling the leap from ambitious and avenging to future animal cruelty, though. The latter isn't actually a part of Cruella, but in giving its central figure the Joker treatment, the film's character arc is always a stretch. It also undercuts the much more potent notion that some people are just evil, and don't need a sob story as an excuse. If, in all of their eagerness to stick to a template, Cruella's powers-that-be just wanted to pair Stone up with another English acting titan — swapping The Favourite's Olivia Colman for the on-screen treasure that is Thompson — and then let them have at it, that's understandable. It's also as a good enough reason as any for this or any movie to exist. Alongside Beavan's Vivienne Westwood- and Alexander McQueen-influenced costumes, plus Nicolas Karakatsanis' (another I, Tonya alum) constantly moving camerawork, the acerbic Oscar-winning Emmas are the reason that the film has any bite to go along with its empty barks. But the duo's gleeful cartoonishness, flamboyance and winning ability to wear the hell out of their outfits only takes Cruella so far. Even with their obvious commitment, this intellectual property-extending exercise is more filler than killer. After you give it a whirl, you'll put it back on the rack and rarely spare it another thought. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgZgFHDGHrY&feature=youtu.be Top image: Photo courtesy of Disney. © 2021 Disney Enterprises Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Recreating a neighbourhood stalwart in a suburb with no real community heart is a tough task. The flurry of suits that blow in and out at lunch time, the tourists tracking back from Circular Quay hungry for an arvo snack, and the Friday after-work cheese and wine crowds all are a far cry from the loyal locals you see at Newtown's Continental Deli. But, even so, the boys behind the neighbourhood deli-cum-bar — Head Chef Jesse Warkentin, General Manager Mikey Nicolian and Porteno's Joe Valore and Elvis Abrahanowicz — have managed to successfully transplant a bit of their neighbourhood charm to Continental's new Phillip Street location in the CBD. "Since we opened Newtown, we've continued to hear that the only problem is that there isn't one in every neighbourhood," says Nicolian. "So, we wanted to bring it to as many people as we could." Menu-wise, much remains the same. You'll still find artisanal cheeses, an outrageous list of charcuteries, the steak tartare with Parmigiano-Reggiano and some sandwiches at lunch. And although pasta dishes such as the rigatoni with broccolini, cuttlefish and sausage have been added, it's not the main focus. "Having pasta is not that big a difference," insists Nicolian. "It's something that we love and it fits our identity but we're definitely not a pasta joint." And of course, Continential Deli CBD is a champion of conservas, particularly seafood. Offering everything from anchovies to canned clams and Continental's own tinned Fremantle occy. "It's a pretty cool world to explore once you get into them," says Nicolian. "It can be as approachable as you like, with sardines for example or you can go as extravagant as you like with something like baby eel at $87. It's not cat food." The drinks are a little daintier (although Continental's still play on classics) with elegant glassware to match. Canned cocktails such as the famed Mar-tinny, Can-hattan and Cosmopoli-tin are still very much available with a new one in the works, the Ameri-can-o. Plus, the wine list's six times the size. The fit-out, designed by co-owner Sarah Doyle, has a refined Euro bistro touch with the New York accents of Art Deco posters and dark wood and leather chairs. Round tables fill the restaurant section by the open deli and kitchen with a 16-seat marble top bar on the other side of what Nicolian calls "the wall of wine." Sure, the one-level, open-plan space is different to Newtown's split-level terrace, but it echoes the same familial sentiment. "It's a different environment [to Newtown] but the backbone of the place is still very closely linked," notes Nicolian. "It's a homely environment. You want people to feel at home." Continental Deli is open at 167 Phillip Street, Sydney from noon till midnight Monday to Friday, and 6pm till midnight on Saturday. Images: Kitti Smallbone.
Kelly Reichardt's Night Moves is a work of moral and technical greys. A measured, minimalistic environmental thriller about a small group of activists planning to blow up a dam, it's a tale that creeps along with low, silent tension, propelled by the work of its three primary actors and the morally ambiguous actions of the characters that they play. What it lacks, however, is a sustainable sense of momentum. Without it, the film struggles to stay afloat. Reichardt's eco-warriors aren't the most original of characters, but she's able to get away with it thanks to the calibre of her cast. There's paranoid loner Josh (Jesse Eisenberg, jumpier than usual), rebellious trust-fund kid Dena (a dressed-down Dakota Fanning) and burnt-out ex-marine Harmon (Peter Sarsgaard, disaffected and acerbic). Together they hatch an act of environmental terrorism as a means of upsetting the consumerist status quo. As in her previous films Meek's Cutoff and Wendy and Lucy, Reichardt's directorial approach is one of dispassionate observation. The camera follows the anarchist trio without any undue flair or sense of judgement. As such, the suspense becomes increasingly interwoven with questions of audience culpability. Viewers will go back and forth as to whether the group's actions are in any way justifiable. But after observing every step of the mission's meticulous preparation, it's difficult not to feel invested in its success. In one sequence, for example, Dena must try to convince a supplier to sell her 500 pounds of ammonium nitrate fertiliser without providing proper identification. It's a simple scene, entirely dialogue driven. And yet it's as riveting as watching a time-bomb tick backwards down to zero. Where Night Moves begins to falter is in its handling of the fallout from the attack. It's not a spoiler to say that things don't go the way the group expects, and soon cracks in their solidarity begin to appear. There's tension to be mined here, in the fear and mistrust, but Reichardt seems unable to really exploit it. The narrative and visual minimalism, initially such an asset, eventually leaves the audience feeling numb. By the time the movie stumbles to its unconvincing conclusion, the atmosphere has entirely disappeared. https://youtube.com/watch?v=s7-VqKLYZks
Sweet news: beloved Sydney mainstay Chat Thai is celebrating its 16th successful year — and what's a sweeter way to celebrate than with a brand-new range of dedicated desserts? Chat Thai OG Thaitown and Tokyo Lamington have teamed up to create tasty Thai-inspired treats to toast the restaurant's sweet sixteen. The Haymarket staple has continually served up an enticing array of Thai cuisine to Sydneysiders at an affordable price point for years, spanning over six Sydney locales after growing a cult following. Chat Thai OG Thaitown has decided it is time to honour its achievements with an exclusive collaboration birthing an original and unconventional snack range. By partnering with the experimental lamington brand, the much-loved Thai restaurant hopes to recognise achieving its milestone by bringing the iconic flavours of Thailand to Australians in a new and inventive offering. "This collaboration is more than a fusion of flavours; it's a celebration of two culinary worlds coming together," said Pat Laoyont, owner of Chat Thai. From Wednesday, September 20, the limited-edition birthday range will be available across three Sydney locations and Tokyo Lamington's Melbourne flagship outpost. The dedicated range will feature lamingtons inspired by Thai flavours alongside a range of savoury dishes combining a fusion of Chat Thai favourites and Australian classics. "We are honoured to partner with Chat Thai, a name synonymous with authentic Thai cuisine, to create something truly special," said Adds Eddie Stewart, co-founder of Tokyo Lamington. Among the seven lamington flavours on offer, you'll find Thai milk tea, a Khanom buaing (candied egg yolk) option, mango black sticky rice and a take on popular deep-fried pandan-flavoured ice cream. On the other hand, the savoury selection will star Chat Thai's famed Mussamun beef curry in the form of a golden, flakey pie alongside a herbaceous and chilli-forward larpb gai sausage roll and a tom yum mushroom quiche. However, this collaborative effort is only available during September, so you'll want to get in quick to get your hands on one or more exclusive treats. To find the limited-time birthday menu, hit up Chat Thai's flagship location or Boon Cafe in Haymarket or Tokyo Lamington Newtown from Wednesday, September 20 — the exclusive range will launch in Tokyo Lamington's Melbourne location later this month.
At the heart of Love, Loss and What I Wore is the idea that objects, such as clothing, hold memories for us. For some people this leads to hoarding in an effort to keep as many facets of our past close at hand, while others need to cleanse their wardrobes and shelves every few months. It makes sense in a culture of consumption that, if you are what you eat, then maybe you're also what you wear. Romantic comedy sisters Nora and Delia Ephron — creators of When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle and You've Got Mail — developed this Off-Broadway hit from the book of the same title by Ilene Beckerman and fleshed it out with anecdotes from amongst their circle of friends. Now, this successful suite of monologues is premiering at the Sydney Opera House. This is a show that's unashamedly pitching itself at women, though men with a penchant for feminine labels will also enjoy its stories woven out of encounters with dresses, shoes and accessories. Bringing these tales to life is an ensemble of well-known Australian performers, led by Magda Szubanski and Natalie Bassingthwaighte. At 90 minutes, this theatrical event makes for a perfect dinner-show-drinks combo for a gang of fashion-focused friends.
Sydney's getting another alcohol-fuelled brunch, and this one has a dress code — of leotards, lycra, spandex, leg warmers, and anything glittery, sparkly, shiny and neon. While you're channelling a thoroughly 80s vibe, teased hair won't go astray. Perhaps it'll even make you more aerodynamic on the roller rink. On Saturday, August 31, it's time to dress up in all of the above and strap on a pair of roller skates. You can't dance around a Roller Disco Brunch without them. The rink will pop up on the Cruise Bar rooftop, meaning you'll get to bust some moves while taking in views of Sydney Harbour. When you're not busting out your smooth retro moves to plenty of the era's hits — yes, Cyndi Lauper songs will be given a spin by the DJ — you'll be tucking into bottomless mimosas and pizza slices. There will be three 90-minute brunch sessions: at 11am, 1pm and 3pm. These will set you back $75.23 and include your food, booze and skate hire. If you just want to get your skate on, there'll be three more sessions — at 5pm, 7pm and 9pm — that just include a turn on the skates. These tickets are $39.55 each. Peachy keen, jelly bean? You can buy tickets now. UPDATE: MAY 28, 2019 — This article previously stated that the Roller Disco Brunch would be held on June 22, 2019. This has now been changed to August 31, and the above has been edited to reflect the new date.
Good news for those of the hardcore punk generation — or those who wish they were. After the disappointment felt due to the cancellation of their scheduled 2013 tour, Dead Kennedys are returning with their Bedtime for Democracy tour, playing a comprehensive string of shows around the country. Dead Kennedys — in all their changing forms — have been galvanising the masses against political apathy since 1978. The current lineup is East Bay Ray, Klaus Flouride, D. H. Peligro and Ron 'Skip' Greer, who'll take tunes from the group's extensive back catalogue. Show them your support (and your utter disdain for The Man) at The Hi-Fi on October 5, and be more punk than anyone else you have met in your life. https://youtube.com/watch?v=Ds_TRSoQkJ0
Thought gin was just a summer drink? Legendary local distillery Archie Rose is here to remind you that that ain't so, by way of a cosy cocktail experience that's sure to warm your cockles and leave you with a whole bunch of new stand-out winter sips. The crew is taking its popular Hot Gin Terrace event on a cross-country tour and the next stop is Chippendale's Gin Lane for two tasty 90-minute sessions (6pm and 8.30pm) on Wednesday, August 10. Guests will gather around the fire with a hot cocktail in hand, as State Buildings Beverage Manager Eoin Kenny and Archie Rose Brand Ambassador Mitch Gurrin dive into the history of gin's wintry side. For example, did you know that steamy cocktails were traditionally heated by red-hot pokers? Well, this crew is bringing it back. You'll enjoy a warm G&T on arrival, plus another classic heated cocktail to follow, a recipe card and an Archie Rose enamel mug to keep. There'll also be a curated menu of other warm gin concoctions available to buy from the bar. [caption id="attachment_666851" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Gin Lane[/caption] Book your tickets for Archie Rose's Hot Gin Terrace at Gin Lane for one night only on Wednesday, August 10 (6pm and 8.30pm).
This review was written about the Melbourne run of this production in June 2014 at Red Stitch Actors Theatre. Now and then you see a piece of theatre which is so powerful it's like taking a bullet. Grounded is like taking two — one to the head and one to the heart. A haunting depiction of modern warfare, Grounded follows a character known simply as The Pilot, a woman working for the American airforce, flying combat missions over Iraq. She is taken off active duty after becoming pregnant but that’s only the beginning. When she returns to work, she finds herself posted to a different kind of job altogether: piloting drones, remotely, from a base in America. By day she controls killing machines in the skies of the Middle East, then she commutes home to her husband and daughter. This work was written by American playwright George Brant and has rocketed him to fame. Previously, Brant’s work had been played mostly in regional America but Grounded has had an explosion of interest both in his home country and abroad, notching up some serious accolades, including being listed on The Guardian’s top 10 plays of 2013. In this, the show’s Australian premiere, you can see why. In addition to being a well-researched piece on a compelling and uniquely modern issue, it uses the scenario of robotised warfare to make broader statements about contemporary life, work and relationships. You don’t need to be working with drones to empathise with Brant’s view on modern alienation. Kate Cole as The Pilot is magnificent. Both indomitable and vulnerable, passionate and disaffected, bursting with bravado and simmering with repressed sensitivities, her performance presents a complex and highly believable weave of contradictions. It’s only her on stage for 80 minutes and she owns the audience the entire time. Red Stitch has pulled no punches in staging the show either. The lighting is like a visual art piece in its own right, Matthew Adey’s design is starkly effective. A soundtrack by Elizabeth Drake, who scored films such as Japanese Story, works on your subconscious in subtle ways, heightening both the emotion and the growing sense of disconnection. Perhaps the most striking aspect of the play is that the central emotional relationship is not really between people but between the Pilot and the sky. Her love for the open air is palpable and from the moment she is taken off active duty you feel the pain of her separation from it keenly. However much she achieves in life and work, that sense of loss won’t leave her. Progress overshadowed by the sense of loss: if any sensation epitomises modern life it is that. Unsettling and heartbreaking, yet uplifting and amusing in all the right places too, Grounded is an absolute tour de force. Photo credit: Jodie Hutchinson.
We love that salt, meats and cheese is literally what you can expect to find at this gourmet Italian providore in Alexandria. This warehouse has a whole room dedicated to cheese (yes, a room just for cheese!), an extensive hanging selection of imported and local charcuterie meats and a range of diverse and very specific sea salt flavours like vintage merlot, espresso and vanilla bean. The two Italian guys behind this place also run cooking classes every weekend and hire out the venue for private dinners events.
Sydney has a seemingly insatiable appetite for the food truck. And fans of tucker that comes kitsch and on wheels will be pleased to know there’s a new kid on the culinary calendar: Food Trucks After Dark. As the name suggests, it’s all about bringing the best trucks that make food to you after the sun goes down. And they’re teaming up with the folk from Work-Shop, Redfern’s centre for stuff you’ve always wanted to learn but they never taught you at school (y’know, gelato-making, kokedama-crafting, illustrative hand lettering). Work-Shop HQ has just relocated the corner of Cleveland and Eveleigh Streets, and the food truck takeover sets up shop in its newly graffed-up car park every Wednesday and Thursday night. Expect a rotating lineup of all your old favourites, including Veggie Patch Van, Tsuru, Agape and Cantina Movil. As for Work-Shop, it looks like they’re going to continue in the same vein of gloriously specific masterclasses. See: the basics of street art with Sid Tapia and pastry things with pastry chef/probable rockstar Anna Polyviou. Image: Natasha Mulhall.
Earlier this year, we introduced you to Unyoked, an Aussie startup that lets you stay in your own tiny house in the wilderness. Now we'd like you to meet Redleaf, a 280-acre property in the Southern Highlands where you can sleep in an 1890s train carriage surrounded by gumtrees and birdsong. "We wanted a way of sharing this beautiful life we've created — to give people an opportunity to spend a weekend in fresh air, enjoying nature," says Katrina Sparke, who's lived at Redleaf for nine years with her partner Sam and their four children. While the Sparkes were contemplating how to do just that, they stumbled across a disused train carriage in a collector's junkyard in Sydney's northwest. Two cranes and a truck later, it was delivered to their property, which was already operating as a free-range farm, supplying suckling pigs and eggs to some of Sydney's best restaurants, including ARIA and Chiswick. Katrina set about restoring the carriage, now called #343, to its former glory. "It was pretty old and derelict, and needed a huge amount of work," she says. "But much of the original timber, silky oak, was still inside." That meant a whole lot of sanding, polishing and patching up with local river oak. To that backdrop, Katrina added a tin-pressed ceiling a la the 1890s, premium linen, lush cushions, a velvet couch and a marble-tiled bathroom. The aim was to capture the carriage's history, but also to provide touches of luxury. Outside, there's a barbecue and a fire pit to keep you warm on cold nights. The set-up is entirely off-grid and solar-powered. If you'd like something a little more modern, there's a second carriage, born in the 1920s and now known as #1238. "It's quite stylised — a bit like something out of Harry Potter," says Katrina. "The main room is entirely taken up by the bed." At the other end, there's an original train seat, a kitchenette and a deck with a barbecue, overlooking rolling paddocks. When you're not relaxing in your carriage of choice, there's a creek, swimming hole and waterfall to explore, as well as nearby trails for walking and mountain biking. You can also find out a bit more about how the Sparkes run their independent farm. "I want people to come to Redleaf and experience a unique break," says Katrina. "There's no TV and no wifi. It's about getting back to the things that are important in life." Redleaf Farm is located 20 minutes south of Bowral, off Redhills Road in Fitzroy Falls. The carriages start at around $280 per night — #343 can be booked here and #1238 here. For more info on the farm, visit redleaf-farm.com.
A birthday celebration calls for an abundance of food, friends and of course a few beverages. And this Friday, March 30, Cake Wines is celebrating the second birthday of its Redfern cellar door with all three. Its birthday bash will feature US soul and R&B singer Amp Fiddler playing alongside a lineup of local musicians. Tickets are $35 and include access to a giant charcuterie board, but make sure to arrive promptly as it's sure to disappear. There'll also be woodfired pizzas available to order and, of course, plenty of wine by the glass and bottle — as well as a selection of local beers and spirits (if wine is not your thing). While the cellar door is only a youngster, the Adelaide Hills wine label has been around for seven years. And if you haven't yet tried the label's wines — or had a chance to check out its impressive cellar door — now's your chance. Come and talk wine, drink wine and explore the hype of Cake Wines. This is your Easter long weekend social fix. Cake Wines' Second Birthday will run from 3–10pm on Friday, March 30, at 16 Eveleigh Street, Redfern.
Alan Partridge (Steve Coogan) is a man with such a proficient ability to inject even the most banal of situations with toe-curling awkwardness that it borders on being a talent. A much-loved character that fans have followed over a range of TV series, specials, radio plays and his I, Partridge autobiography, this latest instalment (and the first big-screen outing for the character) is an unusually high-concept affair which makes the most of its delicious conceit. Having schemed desperately (but unsuccessfully) for his old TV hosting job, Partridge is still clinging onto his local celebrity status, revelling in the soul-crushingly inane show where he tackle questions such as "What's the worst kind of monger? Fish, Rumour, Iron or War?". When the station is taken over by a corporation intent on rebranding the backwater North Norfolk Digital as a vibrant youth station, he barely survives the cull. The upheaval sees the ageing Pat (Colm Meaney) axed, a decision he responds to by returning to a station party with a gun and taking the staff hostage. By dumb luck, Alan finds himself outside the station as the siege begins, and as the only one Pat trusts, he finds himself pushed into being the go-between between Pat and the police tasked with ending the siege. Simultaneously fearful and puffed up with importance, he soon starts to think that being the face of the siege (or "siege face" in his words) could be just the tonic his forever ailing career needs. Among those trapped at the station are the hapless Sidekick Simon (the hilarious Tim Key) and Angela (Monica Dolan), a co-worker so socially inept and desperate that she seems a plausible love interest for Alan. It also wouldn't be a Partridge show without Alan's long-suffering assistant Lynn (Felicity Montagu), who is on hand to massage Alan's fragile ego and generally be bossed around and underappreciated. It's interesting to see how the character of Partridge has softened over the years. Initially a misanthropic buffoon with the soul of a parking station, Partridge now seems completely eccentric and devoid of self-awareness but an essentially sympathetic figure who you actually cheer for as he finds himself in way over his head. The lighter tone hasn't led to a lack of laughs though — whether singing along to Roachford, back-announcing his soft rock favourites with baffling non-sequiturs, losing his trousers while managing to lock himself out of the under-siege building or completely misjudging every single conversation he enters, the painfully funny Partridge remains exhibit A in the argument for Coogan's status as a comic genius. While the pitch-perfect slice-of-life series Mid-Morning Matters with Alan Partridge remains the high water mark of the now sprawling Partridge oeuvre, Alpha Papa is a beautifully written and performed work, likely to delight both long-term fans and introduce a broader audience to one of British comedy's most inspired creations. https://youtube.com/watch?v=qywG2-FC6x0
Fans of 'hard-to-kill' indoor plants should make tracks to Marrickville's newest nursery, Plant Girl. What started out as a same-day delivery service has now expanded to open a bricks-and-mortar store along Sydenham Road — and it's offering black thumb-proof gifts in brightly coloured ceramic pots. Plant Girl is run by inner west local Felicity Keep, who wanted to add a bit of quirk to your indoor plant game. Customers can mix-and-match any combo of plant and pot, with the goal of creating a highly styled, personalised gift or cute new green baby for yourself — with predominately easy-to-keep-alive plants on offer. The shop is open Wednesday through Sunday and offers a much wider range of plants, ceramics and giftware than had previously been available online. At the moment, the plants on offer include snake plants, zanzibar gems, dragon tails and boston ferns, all of which land in the 'low maintenance' and 'hard to kill' categories. That means you don't need to worry about you or your recipient's green thumb (or lack thereof). For more experienced gardeners, the bird of paradise is also up for grabs. As far as the packaging goes, the vibrant pots range from metallic to turquoise and bright pink. You can also nab neem oil leaf shine or a bottle of indoor plant food (in store and online), both of which will help keep your new babies happy and healthy. For those still after delivery, Plant Girl continues to offer door-to-door service within a ten-kilometre radius of their Marrickville shop, which includes all of the inner west and the CBD, plus a chunk of the eastern suburbs and a bit of North Sydney and the lower north shore, too. You can check out the map over here. And, if you order before 11am, you can opt for same-day delivery Monday through Friday. But, when the weekend rolls around, the only place you'll be able to get your hands on these goods is in store. The PlantGirl store is now open at 100D Sydenham Road, Marrickville. Opening hours are 11am–6pm Wednesday–Friday and 10am–4pm Saturday–Sunday. It'll also continue to offer same-day delivery across Sydney from Monday–Friday. To order, head to the website. Images: Felicity Keep and Hipster Mum
Visiting New York City sits on plenty of bucket lists, and there are more than a few reasons why that's the case. But if you've always wanted to head to the Big Apple, wear designer outfits, get paid to write about your love life and, between cocktails and dates, hang out outside your apartment — sitting on the stoop with your significant other, whether you're making up or breaking up — you obviously have Sex and the City to thank. Running from 1998–2004 (forget the terrible 2008 and 2010 movies), the hit HBO series made Manolo Blahniks a must-wear, turned cosmopolitans into the drink of choice for sips with the gang, and gave tutus their moment outside of ballet. It also showered Carrie Bradshaw's apartment stoop with ample attention, including in big, life-changing moments. Unsurprisingly, the filming location has become a tourist attraction over the past two decades. Always wanted to make the trip to follow in Sarah Jessica Parker's footsteps, but haven't yet had the chance? With Sex and the City spinoff And Just Like That... now streaming, Binge has brought a replica of that famous apartment stoop to Sydney. It's popping up in the Pitt Street Mall for three days, between Friday, December–Sunday, December 19, ready to fill your Instagram feed with something other than Christmas party pics. Just like when the Friends couch toured Australia, the Squid Game Red Light, Green Light doll towered over Sydney Harbour and a statue of Borat made an appearance at Bondi Beach, this pop-up is all about three things: indulging one of your pop-culture obsessions, taking snaps and promotion — although And Just Like That... has already had everyone talking after premiering its first two episodes last week. And no, as you're taking photos of yourself living out your Carrie Bradshaw dreams — Manolo Blahniks optional — you won't find any Peloton fitness equipment in sight. Find the replica Sex and the City and And Just Like That apartment stoop in the Pitt Street Mall, Sydney, from 12–8pm on Friday, December 17, and 11am–7pm on Saturday, December 18–Sunday, December 19. Images: Chris Pavlich Photography.
The Domain is set to score a massive infusion of music this January, with the launch of a brand new series of music festivals and parties. To kick off the Sydney Summer Series, which will run throughout January at The Domain, is a disco-filled lineup of international music legends on Saturday, January 12. The inaugural event will feature rock 'n' roll royalty The Jacksons, along with Kool & The Gang and The Village People. Heading the bill, The Jacksons are set to make their first Aussie appearance in five years, with four of the original crew — Jermaine, Jackie, Tito and Marlon — dishing up hits like 'ABC', 'Blame It On The Boogie' and 'Can You Feel It'. They'll be joined by acclaimed artists Kool & The Gang, tapping into a back catalogue of tunes like 'Cherish', 'Celebration' and 'Jungle Boogie', as well as disco kings Village People, unleashing iconic songs like 'YMCA', 'Macho Man' and 'Go West'. California R&B trio The Pointer Sisters are also coming along for the ride, with Sister Sledge and Sounds of The Supremes rounding out that huge serve of old-school disco magic. They'll all play under the stars, embracing summer at one of Sydney's best CBD al fresco venues. There's no word yet on who else will head down under for the new Summer Series, but let's hope it continues the impressive trend of the kick-off event. Image: Destination NSW.
Australia no longer has to wait out the storm; it's time to dance in the 'Purple Rain'. After months of rumours, Prince's Oz tour dates have finally been confirmed. This is the first time in eight years that Prince has toured Australia, and he's bound to return in all of his sparkly, guitar-soloing glory. He'll be at the NSW Allphones Arena Sydney on May 11, 12 and 22. There may be more in the works, however. The last time Prince visited Oz, he performed a series of 'secret' shows and held afterparties at local clubs — so stay tuned. Doves, there is no longer reason to cry. The Prince has returned. https://youtube.com/watch?v=Ij-jM8CcQIQ
So did anyone else shed a tear at the close of season one of Puberty Blues on Channel Ten last Wednesday night? I surely did. Not just for the lack of quality television currently (now no longer) showing on free-to-air but for the kick-ass girls Debbie and Sue who finally came out swinging. This shouldn't be sad, but it is, because it still actually meant something in 2012 and in fact wasn't swamped in the nostalgia we all thought it would be. Either way, fret not that we have to wait a whole non-rating period for Puberty Blues to return, because this Friday night the Bondi Pavilion Theatre plays host to a fundraising evening in honour of Jad Capelja, who played Sue in the 1981 film. Capelja's battle with schizophrenia was documented recently in Australian Story, and Nell Schofield (the original Sue) has resolved to use the renewed interest in Puberty Blues to do something positive for people living with similar mental health issues. A screening of the original, Bruce Beresford-directed film will take place along with a performance by reggae band King Tide, headed by Tony Hughes (who played Danny in the original film). All profits from the evening will go directly to beyondblue. So get your moles on the landline, pull out your high-waisted flares, grab yourself a choccie milk and a chico roll, and take in a classic Australian film, all to the backdrop of our most famous beach.
ISEA2013 and Vivid Sydney have come and gone, swooping down on Sydney to peck at its soul and reveal a seething mass of fun lurking underneath its shiny surface. One of the most remarkable exhibitions that opened up as part of the ISEA2013/ Vivid collaboration was Ryoji Ikeda's test pattern [no 5]. Installed in one of the cavernous bays at Carriageworks, this stunning, large-scale installation has been conjured up by the Japan-born, Paris-based artist. It consists of five projectors set side-by-side on the ceiling, which beam raw data taken from pop culture into an intense series of barcode-like patterns onto a white floor. If my grandparents experienced test pattern [no 5], they would probably panic. They'd think they were the victims of a failed alien abduction plan and had gotten stuck in a teleportation device. But for digital natives, this feels like returning to the womb. The work creates a brain itch, and then scratches it to sooth and comfort you. It presents one of those rare occasions where you can be totally immersed in an environment and Instagram it at the same time. There are various stages involved in experiencing this work. The first is from the sidelines, where your adrenalin spikes as you encounter the 60m by 10m plane of black and white flickers laid out in front of you, accompanied by a deafening soundtrack of intense blips, beeps and drones. The limits of sight and sound are tested. From here it looks like a hologram, like you're looking into an alternate reality where colour and depth have been abandoned in favour of monochromic flatness. The second stage of the experience involves removing your shoes to approach the white floor, and entering into the void. You become submerged in it and you look around to make sure nobody else is freaking out about how physical the light feels. You stand still, scoping out the new terrain as if visiting a foreign planet where you need to adjust to its gravitational laws. You have become an anomalous node inside a digital network. The third and most profound experience comes from moving within it. This is where the trippiest optical and physical sensations occur. It feels like walking through flattened space-time, through history reduced to its digitally primitive state. Movement feels awkward at first as forwards and backwards, near and far become one and the same. But in time, you become connected with the patterns as they roll over you, like when learning to surf, where you stop being afraid to drown and just roll with the waves. The exhibition is open 10am-6pm. Image: Ryoji Ikeda, test pattern [nº3], audiovisual installation, 2010 © Ryoji Ikeda.
