Culminate is the culmination of a two-year dance theatre laboratory and joint project of Force Majeure, Performance Space and Carriageworks. It's all about putting the experimentation and risk into local dance and will showcase three of the country's best emerging Indigenous choreographers — Ghenoa Gela, Victoria Hunt and Jason Pitt. This is one for those who like their dance uber contemporary and boundary-pushing (hint: there probably won't be any tutus). While last year's Cultivate laboratory stimulated dancers and choreographers with risk-taking experimentation, Culminate will open the project up to the public, with a series of work-in-progress showings. The artists are also holding a free panel on Saturday, August 16, in which they'll discuss questions of cultural diversity in live performance and share their own stories about making work from the perspective of the 'Other'. Maximum plays as part of Performance Space's Score season of works driven by dance, movement, music and noise. Highlights include the genre-defying fusion piece Keep Everything by critically acclaimed dance company Chunky Move, the bodybuilding/dance mash-up that is Natalie Abbott's acclaimed MAXIMUM, and Psychic Synth, a digital work by Pia Van Gelder that will read your mind.
Update Thursday, October 13: Due to rain, the 2022 Sydney Night Noodle Markets will run from Wednesday, October 12–Sunday, October 16 in Prince Alfred Park, Chalmers Street, Surry Hills. To stay up-to-date with any further changes, head to the event's Instagram page. This spring, Sydney's Night Noodle Markets will finally make its glorious return for six nights of tasty things on sticks, bowls of noodles, all the bao you can handle and oh-so-many extravagant desserts. After a couple of disrupted years, the beloved food event will hit up Sydney from Tuesday, October 4–Sunday, October 9 at Prince Alfred Park. With under a month left until the markets return, we've now been given insight into all the food you'll be able to consume across the six-day festivities. After the lineup of vendors was revealed last month — featuring favourites ranging from Hoy Pinoy and Wonderbao to Messina and a non-alcoholic bar from Dan Murphy's — each vendor's menu has now been unveiled and we're here to break down the best eats on offer at the markets. [caption id="attachment_815530" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Messina mango pancakes[/caption] Starting with the market's namesake, there are plenty of noodle dishes on offer. Flying Noodle's gravity-defying noodles are an always-popular option, coming in two varieties — Way of the Dragon with pork belly and honey soy sauce, and The Big Boss, featuring diced chicken tenders marinated in a soybean sauce and served with Chinese broccoli and seasonal vegetables. [caption id="attachment_816579" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Flying Noodle[/caption] If you prefer your noodles less reality-breaking, you can opt for Teppanyaki Noodles' take on yakisoba fried noodles, mee goreng from May's Malaysian or chicken karaage noodles from Queensland's Raijin Noodles & Dumplings. Raijin will also be a popular choice with vegetarians and tofu-lovers alike, offering its karaage noodles with crispy fried tofu instead of chicken, as well as a selection of gyoza. [caption id="attachment_868913" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Teppanyaki Noodle[/caption] Moving on from noodles to all things skewered, a returning highlight of the markets will be Hoy Pinoy. The Filipino barbecue street food masters and regular Gelato Messina collaborator will be back with its perfectly marinated meats. Fan-favourite dishes include the Inihaw an Baboy, pork belly skewers in banana ketchup glaze; Inihaw an Maok, traditional soy-glazed chicken skewers; and Bistek Tagalog, charcoal-roasted beef rump with a soy glaze and served on rice. ToastieSmith will be making its first appearance at the Sydney edition of the markets, rolling out four loaded toasted sandwiches for the occasion. Order the Chicken Barbie and you'll be treated to spiced chicken, American cheese, roasted sesame slaw, pineapple, smashed avocado, yuzu mayo and shichimi powder all between two pieces of bread; or mix things up with the Shrimp-in-the-Egg, packed with fluffy scrambled egg, grilled garlic prawns, cheese, corn chips, sweet chilli sauce, yuzu mayo and slaw. [caption id="attachment_785274" align="alignnone" width="1920"] ToastieSmith Shrimp-in-the-Egg[/caption] Other savoury standouts include Calabang's crispy skewered calamari, Korean fried chicken gua bao and okonomiyaki tofu bao from Wonderbao, creamy prawn wonton sandwiches from Pho Real Vietnamese, a variety of flavours of hand-cut twisted sweet potato on a stick, roti rolls from Roll Up, Donburi Station's chicken donburi, and dumplings from Masterchef alumni Brendan Pang. [caption id="attachment_868916" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Calabang crispy calamari[/caption] Dessert-wise, there are some inventive creations from beloved treat-makers. Alongside Donut Papi's regular array of doughnuts, the Sydney mainstay has created a Mi Goreng doughnut coated in Indomie's cult-favourite instant noodles. 15 Centimetres will be on-site serving up truffle basque cheesecake. Gelato Messina will be on hand with mango pancakes, french toast and deep-fried milo gelato. And, Wonderbao will be pairing its savoury selections with its signature buttery custard bao. Finally, in terms of drinks, choose between beers from Gage Road Brewing Co, Rekorderlig Cider, spritzes from Aperol and Dan Murphy's non-alcoholic bar featuring booze-free Salted Caramel Espresso Martinis. [caption id="attachment_856039" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Hoy Pinoy[/caption] The Night Noodle Markets were set to run between Tuesday, October 4–Sunday, October 9, however, after rain delays, they will run from Wednesday, October 12–Sunday, October 16 in Prince Alfred Park, Chalmers Street, Surry Hills. To stay up-to-date with any further changes, head to the event's Instagram page.
Local fans of a decent tipple will likely already be aware of Paddington Fine Wines, a neighbourhood bottle shop founded in 2017 on the cornerstones of exemplary customer service, top-notch product knowledge and a zest for fine wine. The Paddington store, which has two sister outlets in Darlinghurst and Rushcutters Bay, lives up to its name — boasting a vast array of homegrown and international wines in all manner of styles. The staff are passionate about making sure you get a great drop, providing in-store tastings of numerous and varied styles regularly. If wine isn't your choice of poison, you'll also find a wide variety of beers, spirits and liqueurs — often championing independent Aussie brewers and distillers alongside established big-name international favourites. Images: Kitti Smallbone
Located just a short stroll from Orange's central business district, de Russie Boutique Hotel is an excellent choice for both corporate and leisure travellers seeking a luxurious stay in the area. The hotel boasts 25 stylishly designed self-contained rooms, each equipped with modern amenities to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable stay. Whether you're in the mood for fine dining, boutique shopping, or a visit to one of the region's award-winning cold-climate vineyards, de Russie has got you covered. Enjoy a restful night's sleep on your comfortable king bed with high-quality pillows, and a modern ensuite bathroom. Additionally, the in-room kitchenette facilities provide guests with the convenience of preparing their own meals. Open up your Juliet balcony for a breath of fresh air and take in views of the surrounding area. Whether you're in town for business or leisure, de Russie Boutique Hotel promises a comfortable and memorable stay in Orange.
Need a little more joie de vivre in your life? Bastille Festival is just around the corner, bringing a wealth of French food, wine and entertainment to Circular Quay and The Rocks across four jam-packed days. Running from Thursday, July 17–Sunday, July 20, more than 120 exhibitors will present 80-plus dishes, while there's a huge program of live performers taking over streets and stages. The festival's 12th edition will feature several exciting chef collaborations alongside diverse international flavours reimagined with a French twist. Meanwhile, stallholders will serve authentic flavours, from raclette and escargots to crêpes and macarons, satisfying both sweet and savoury tooths. There's also an exceptional wine offering, with eight wine regions celebrated at this year's event. Featuring both acclaimed and little-known varieties imported from Bordeaux, Burgundy, Provence and beyond, each vino tells the story of its homeland. Champagne is also receiving a little more attention than usual, with pop-up stalls pairing the drink with oysters and seafood delights. Once you've satisfied your French food and wine cravings, it's time to delve into the entertainment program. There will be over a hundred free shows held throughout the festival, from live concerts and street theatre to dance lessons and more. Plus, the most dedicated bon vivants won't want to miss the return of the French Cabaret Night and French DJ Party at First Fleet Park.
When the Vivid Music lineup was announced a good few weeks back, squeals were heard and hashtagged citywide. Since then there’s been time for the dust to settle and tickets to be snapped up, but you’re still sitting on your hands. Vivid kicks off on May 23 y'all, time to turn those circled program guides into reality. Don’t attend Vivid through your smartphone, get amongst the beats and get to one of these must-see rambunctious gigs, Studio parties and epic concerts. With kitsch seventies disco, brash garage punk and politically-charged hip hop on the bill, choose your own Vivid adventure through sound with these top picks. SIBERIAN NIGHTS The brainchild of cosmic Melbourne trio Midnight Juggernauts, Siberia Records plays host to a swag of electronically-grounded, eclectic artists worth giving a significant damn about. For their highly-anticipated label party Siberian Nights they’re bringing Mancurian electronic wizard Andy Stott and his formidable bass/vox fusion to The Studio on May 23, alongside Sydney threesome Black Vanilla, Forces, Cassius Select (Guerre), DCM and Four Door. Plus, the Middy Juggs will be jamming as well, bringing their fully immersive experience AERIALS to psych everyone out. GOOD GOD TIN PAN ALLEY Shenanigans will run rife from the Chinatown basement to the Joan Sutherland Theatre, as Good God Small Club packs up and brings its undying party vibes to the Opera House on May 30. Headlined by the man Rolling Stone called "the next Rodriguez", cult South African musician Penny Penny and his seven-piece band, the stage will get some support act lovin' from Bart Willoughby of seminal indigenous band No Fixed Address, ever theatrical Royal Headache frontman Shogun flying solo, Melbourne soft rockers Montero and Sydney's indescribable Donny Benét. MS. LAURYN HILL The First Lady of hip hop, Ms. Lauryn Hill, has been this lineup's biggest talking point. Known not only for her groundbreaking 1998 album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill but also for her subsequent ‘disappearance’ from the music scene, she’s back — with plenty to say. Two Opera House shows are scheduled for May 27 and 28 and the good seats are evaporating, so skip the pricey night out this weekend and book yourself in. ACO FEAT. THE PRESETS Dropping out of the Conservatorium of Music worked out pretty well for The Presets. After ten years on stages and three full-length albums, The Presets will finally make their Opera House debut. The Sydney electronic heavyweights are doing it in good company too – hand-in-hand with the Australian Chamber Orchestra, directed by Richard Tognetti. If the joining of such potent musical forces weren’t ambitious enough, they’ve decided to navigate their way through 42,000 years of musical history and more than 230 songs. Prepare to lose yourself in a mindbending journey from Mozart and Bach to Miles Davis and Bob Dylan, while Ignatius Jones masterminds the visuals. The first show (Sunday, May 25, 2pm) is already sold out, but if you’re quick, you might be in with a chance of scoping out the second (Thursday, May 29, 7pm). R.I.P SOCIETY 5TH BIRTHDAY Rough and tumble Sydney label R.I.P. Society have been hand delivering you the grungiest, straight-up fun garage rock and unfathomably catchy electronica for five whole years — so they’ve got a few toasts to give. Fronting up a chock-a-block lineup to The Studio, the beloved label has invited some of Australia’s best to party down, with some iconic neighbours on top. New Zealand's legendary trio The Dead C will arrive for an exclusive Sydney headlining spot, along with buds Feedtime, Bed Wettin’ Bad Boys, Woollen Kits, Native Cats, Rat Columns, Cured Pink, Holy Balm, Ghastly Spats, Housewives, Constant Mongrel, Half High and Wallaby Beat DJs. Kicking off from 5pm on May 24, this is sure to be one rambunctious afternoon-to-midnight affair at the House. SINCE I LEFT YOU - A CELEBRATION OF THE AVALANCHES Sydney artist management, touring company and all round nice guys, Astral People, have rounded up their buds with Stones Throw whiz kid Jonti to pay tribute to Melbourne electronic legends The Avalanches — in particular their seminal album Since I Left You. Celebrated as the biggest Australian album of its decade, the 2000 album was apparently assembled from approximately 3,500 vinyl samples, selling over a million copies and winning multiple ARIAs. In a project originally developed for 2013's OutsideIn Festival (gaining thumbs way up from The Avalanches themselves), Jonti will re-visualise those thousands of vinyl samples onstage on May 24 with the help of a ten piece band; including celebrated Sydney alt-pop singer-producer Rainbow Chan. If you’re wanting more Astral love, check out their Studio party; with Chicago acid house pioneer Phuture’s Australian debut; the collaborative project of L-Vis 1990 and Bok Bok, Night Slugs; Andras Fox playing everything live; and Sydney favourites Ben Fester, Preacha and Rainbow Chan kicking on 'til 3am. MODULATIONS LONG WEEKEND As if the Modulations project weren't epic enough, creators Modular and Carriageworks have extended the concept to a Queen’s Birthday bash of such epic proportions we won’t be surprised to see Lizzie herself in attendance. Between Friday 6 and Monday 9 June, Carriageworks will be transformed into a music-art-food extravaganza, to be headlined by The Pet Shop Boys in the only Australian shows of their 2013/14 multimedia Electric tour. Plus, there’ll be a one-off appearance from bizarre yet beautiful experimenters Liars, and a full-day showcase presented by LA indie label Wild Records, whose current darlings include Gizzelle, The Delta Bombers and Luis and the Wildfires. Innovative culinary delights will be provided by Sydney favourite Porteno in pop-up mode — Friday to Sunday from 5pm and Monday from midday. THE MUSIC OF MORODER - THE HERITAGE ORCHESTRA Presented by those constant bringers of Internet-hyped gigs, Red Bull Music Academy, this is one tribute show that’s sure to end up on everyone’s Instagram feeds. Paying tribute to the legendary music of Giorgio Moroder with new arrangements and special guest vocalists, 40-piece British rulebreakers The Heritage Orchestra will revisit every last gem from the career of 'the godfather of EDM', from his disco-fuelled hootenannies with Donna Summer to his 1977 landmark album From Here To Eternity. While the Don of dance himself won't be performing on the night, he'll most likely sit in on one of the trips down memory lane. If you missed out on tickets to Moroder’s super special studio party or intimate convo event, just hang around the Opera House. He’s sure to be milling about and down for a chinwag about Daft Punk, just try it. ANNA CALVI Brian Eno reckons she’s “the biggest thing since Patti Smith”, Nick Cave’s invited her on tour and Karl Lagerfeld draws on her for inspiration. And now, Anna Calvi is set to bless Vivid audiences with her cinematic spectacle. She’ll be blasting her way through classically influenced, timeless songs from recent album One Breath, accompanied by haunting film noir visuals, in just one show – Wednesday, May 28. Nab a ticket before they sell out. FISHING Eclectic Sydney duo Fishing have been trying out their peculiar brand of experimental loops, remixes and layered synths for a few years now, whittling away EPs and singles and pricking ears at FBi Radio and online. After revealing a brand new single 'Chi Glow' with Collarbones' Marcus Whale in mid-April, Russell Fitzgibbon and Doug Wright are finally ready to unleash their debut album Shy Glow for Vivid on June 5. Taking their genre-defying electronic sound to The Basement with a host of fellow producers and DJs, Fishing will unleash their debut album on the eve of its official release date — an LP described by the pair as "an eclectic delight that never holds on to any one idea for too long". Head here and here for the entire Vivid music lineup and get amongst it. Words by Jasmine Crittenden and Shannon Connellan.
For a little while, after seeing some great photos of insane looking parties in New York and London where brass bands and gypsy-punks like Gogol Bordello were all downing Wodka and getting rowdy, I thought gypsy was going to be the new black. It looked like it could take off... A few years later and it seems to have never quite gotten to that point here in Oz (though there has been a steady growth in gypsy influenced bands touring in their caravans and not washing much). We are lucky to be getting a visit and a lesson in authentic gypsy music from one of the finer proponents of the genre. The London based Paprika Balkanicus (not sure why they named themselves after the capsicum derived spice), with members from Slovenia, Serbia and Romania, are virtuosic performers who have graced almost every major world music stage. They have whipped up frenzy and furore at Edinburgh Fringe, Womad and Glastonbury and even picked up a BBC World Music award along the ride. Their music is lead by Bogdan Vacarescu who could be the East European equivalent of Slash with some serious violin shredding. The Crooked Fiddle Band will do their best to not get out-shredded in support. If you suddenly feel like you are in a Tony Gatlif movie then you'll be ok on the night because they have taken out the tables, so bring your dancing shoes.https://youtube.com/watch?v=KTN_cKD-MTE
Open up your eager eyes, Sydney: The Killers are headed our way. The Las Vegas-born rockers will hit up a heap of arenas Down Under to cap off 2022, and destiny is calling you to Qudos Bank Arena on Monday, December 19. Given the band's lengthy back catalogue, Brandon Flowers and company won't just be playing 'Mr Brightside' on repeat, but will be making a hot fuss over plenty of their hits — including tracks from their 2020 album Imploding the Mirage. The tour is named after that record, even though they released another one, Pressure Machine, in 2021. That's what happens when live gigs get put on hold during a pandemic, clearly. [caption id="attachment_831494" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Raph_PH via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] Remember: somebody told you that you'll be dancing along to 'Somebody Told Me', 'Smile Like You Mean It', 'When You Were Young', 'Bones', 'Human' and 'The Man' as well. Fancy seeing The Killers in a winery instead? They're also playing A Day on the Green shows in the Barossa and Geelong, if an interstate trip is on your agenda.
Bickering and bantering. Battling all over space. Blasting retro tunes. That's Guardians of the Galaxy's holy trinity, no matter where its ragtag crew happens to be in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Since 2014's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1, Peter Quill aka Star-Lord (Chris Pratt, The Super Mario Bros Movie) and his pals have offered the MCU something shinier than the gold-hued Adam Warlock (Will Poulter, Dopesick): a reprieve from the ever-sprawling franchise's standard self-seriousness. Friends but really family, because Vin Diesel is involved, this superhero team got gleefully goofy in their initial big-screen outing, 2017 sequel Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and 2022's straight-to-streaming The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special. They've popped up elsewhere across the comic-book film saga plying a sense of silliness, too. Welcomely, even when they're slipping into Avengers and Thor flicks, they've always felt like their own distinctive group surfing their own humorous but heartfelt wavelength, a power that isn't generally shared across Marvel's output. Arriving to close out the Guardians' standalone trilogy, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 zooms into the movie series' fifth phase with a difference: it's still a quippy comedy, but it's as much a drama and a tragedy as well. Like most on-screen GotG storylines, it's also heist caper — and as plenty of caped-crusader flicks are, within the MCU or not, it's an origin story. The more that a James Gunn-written and -directed Guardians film gets cosy within the usual Marvel template, however, the more that his branch of Marvel's pop-culture behemoth embraces its own personality. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 couldn't cling tighter to its needle drops, of course, which leap to the 90s and 00s this time and hit with all the subtlety of a Zune player being thrown at the audience. It also stuffs out its duration and over-packs its plot. But, the obligatory post-credits sting aside, this farewell to part of the MCU always feels like a zippy, self-contained Guardians of the Galaxy movie — including when it's also a touching dive into Rocket's (Bradley Cooper, Nightmare Alley) history — rather than a placeholder for more and more future franchise instalments. That said, thanks to past MCU chapters, this third Guardians effort begins with Rocket feeling alone in the world, and Quill drunk and despondent. (The soundtrack: an acoustic version of Radiohead's 'Creep'.) The latter's beloved Gamora (Zoe Saldaña, Avatar: The Way of Water) is no longer the same woman he shared a galaxy-saving life with — instead, she's an alternate version who can't recall their romance — and he isn't coping. Demigod Warlock scorching his way through the Guardians' floating home of Knowhere snaps him into action, though, when their flying interloper tries to raccoon-nap Rocket. Only tracking down the High Evolutionary (Chukwudi Iwuji, Peacemaker) will save the gang's gravely injured furry friend, which means a face-off with the megalomaniac inventor who made the genetically engineered critter and is militant in his quest to create a utopia. As Quill and fellow Guardians OGs Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista, Knock at the Cabin) and Groot (Diesel, Fast and Furious 9) go a-rescuing — with the icier Gamora along for the ride for a payday, plus later crew additions Mantis (Pom Klementieff, Thunder Force), Nebula (Karen Gillan, Dual), Kraglin (Sean Gunn, The Marvelous Mrs Maisel) and Cosmo the Spacedog (Maria Bakalova, Bodies Bodies Bodies) doing their bits in various ways — it's impossible not to see art imitating life in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. A universe-creating overlord who is obsessed with dominance and perfection, and also intellectual property rights, being challenged by a thick-as-thieves troupe who'd rather be happy and scrappy? Yes, this is the movie that Gunn has whipped up for his brief trip back to Marvel following a controversy-sparked visit to the DC Extended Universe to direct The Suicide Squad and TV's Peacemaker, and before getting installed as that rival realm's new co-head honcho. Just as Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 doesn't ever scream "all that matters is setting up the next movies!", which is a relief after that's all Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania did, Gunn doesn't ever lay his real-life parallels on too thickly. He's busier ensuring that the Guardians' tussle with their all-controlling foe is as irreverent as it is emotional — bringing up those family bonds like Groot should be cracking a Corona, too — while pinballing between settings and setpieces. The gang's lively time on a base crafted out of organic matter is an eye-catchingly squidgy and fleshy standout; from the tactile production and costume design through to supporting parts by Gunn's The Suicide Squad star Daniela Melchior and his Slither lead Nathan Fillion, it's delightfully executed. And yet, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is at its best when it's jetting backwards to when a young Rocket was dreaming of being more than a mad scientist's test subject — of being more than the GotG version of Frankenstein's monster, that is. Spending a fair chunk of the film's hefty 150-minute running time in origin mode could've proven mere padding. Instead, in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3's present, it's the fight scenes that just keep coming that play that way. So does the Drax-and-Mantis double act after the movie's midway point, even with Bautista and Klementieff still firing in their comfortable comic pairing. When he's just a kit in a cage, having Rocket form a band of misfit toys with otter Lylla (Linda Cardellini, Dead to Me), walrus Teefs (Asim Chaudhry, What's Love Got to Do with It?) and rabbit Floor (Mikaela Hoover, The Suicide Squad) could've been too saccharine as well, but these unflinchingly bleak, earnest and empathetic flashbacks brim with soul and heart. The GotG flicks have always been about finding somewhere to belong and someone to belong with, after all, with this swansong thoughtfully explores how and why that need to connect is so deeply wired in through pain and trauma. A Guardians film that beams brightest when there's only one Guardian in focus — and not the 70s- and 80s-worshipping, Patrick Swayze name-dropping Quill? Perhaps that's why the trilogy is coming to an end. At their core, Rocket's Vol. 3 storyline and Quill's Vol. 2's daddy issues have more than a little in common, but shifting the GotG series' attention past the team's biggest Footloose fan is refreshing almost a decade in. (And while Pratt fits this big-name franchise better than Jurassic World, basically playing Burt Macklin: Space Protector, Cooper's excellent voice work makes him Vol. 3's MVP.) Knowing when something's time has come is a hard lesson to learn, of course. Among Gunn's many trademarks overseeing playful entries with a distinctive personality in an oft-formulaic broader saga, swinging big with difficult emotions, choices and realisations has always ranked up there with jokey patter and as anarchic a vibe as the MCU would let him get away with. Naturally, he signs off from Guardians in that exact fashion — and with a picture that relishes being its own thing, bloat, repetitive gags, well-worn dynamics, over-used music and all, over ticking franchise boxes.
Since 1965, nature's many astonishing sights have been immortalised annually by the Natural History Museum, London. If a photographer took a stunning shot of the animal kingdom, odds are that it made its way to the institution's prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, which it developed and produced, and has been using to celebrate those exceptional snaps of the world around us for a huge 58 years. It's a hotly contested field, with the latest round attracting 38,575 entries from 93 countries. From that hefty number, more than 100 have been highlighted for their stunning looks at plant and animal species alike — and they're on display right here in Sydney. Each year, the Australian National Maritime Museum joins in the fun by hosting the local leg of this spectacular exhibition, which runs from Saturday, April 1–Tuesday, October 31 in 2023. [caption id="attachment_895846" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The magical morels by Agorastos Papatsanis, Greece.[/caption] That vast amount of entries not only demonstrates how much we all love creatures great, small, cute, majestic and everything in-between, but also how deeply we adore both taking and looking at snaps of them as well. While checking out the eye-popping results, expect to say "awwwww" more than once. Entry is free for museum members and $25 for adults, with this year's showcase featuring everything from polar bears and bees to snow leopards and flamingos — plus forest greenery, sea stars and the sights beneath Antarctica's ice. Images: Wildlife Photographer of the Year is developed and produced by the Natural History Museum, London. Top image: House of bears by Dmitry Kokh, Russia.
Nature documentaries rarely simply spy the earth's wonders, point cameras that way and let the planet itself do the talking. Instead, films such as 2017's The Ancient Woods are by far the exception rather than the rule. And yet, the best footage within any movie about our pale blue dot makes viewers wish that more favoured the "a picture is worth a thousand words" approach. Take The Giants, for instance. When it includes talk, which is often, it's no lesser a feature. The conversation and commentary offered is illuminating, in fact. But when it wanders through Tasmania's colossal foliage within the Styx Valley, Southern Forests and the Tarkine, which is also regularly, it feels like it barely needs to utter a single thing. This isn't merely a factual affair about flora, with environmental campaigner and pioneering former Greens senator Bob Brown firmly at its core, but The Giants knows that paying tribute to both is best done by staring at leafy surroundings as much as it can. It's no everyday feat to get a movie-watching audience admiring the natural world while peering at a screen, even if the frequency with which David Attenborough's docos arrive has helped everyone both think and expect otherwise. Indeed, notching up that achievement is a mammoth accomplishment on the part of The Giants' filmmakers Laurence Billiet (Freeman) and Rachel Antony, plus cinematographer Sherwin Akbarzadeh (Carbon — The Unauthorised Biography). Crucially, it assists what was always going to be a fascinating ode to bloom as much as any plant that it waters with attention. When you're crafting a documentary that intertwines a love letter to Australia's ancient native forests and their ecosystems with a powerful portrait of a hefty figure who has devoted much of his life to fighting for them, showing all the green splendour it possibly can is equally a must and a masterstroke. A doctor who turned politician after first establishing roots in Tasmania's environmental movement in the 70s, Brown has spent many of his years either around or battling for The Giants' woody namesakes. The film tells that tale, plus more before it, deploying the familiar birth-to-now doco format. Thanks to its human subject, aka the movie's other giant, it's a greatly inspiring story — one that on its own, assembling the usual archival photos, news clips, home videos and talking heads, is a hearty piece of motivation to follow in Brown's activist footsteps. As an interviewee, he adds insights about his experiences, dreams and goals, and the way that Australia's lavish landscape has been treated. Among those joining him: his twin sister Jan, partner Paul Thomas, successor as Greens leader Christine Milne and current Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young. Brown was born to a family of police officers, but enforcing the law wasn't his calling, as The Giants steps through. His closeness with his mother also earns the spotlight, as does the way that nature provided solace and excitement from his early years onwards. The decision to study medicine, his struggles with his homosexuality, his shift to Australia's southernmost state, the first sprouts of his passionate crusading and his move into politics are all covered, as are his stint fasting on top of Mt Wellington to protest the nuclear-powered USS Enterprise sailing into Hobart, the jump to the federal level and interrupting US President George W Bush's 2003 speech to Australian parliament. There's no surprise that the film needs 112 minutes to fit all of the above in and more, like Brown's status as the first out gay man in parliament, and also to highlight the breathtaking beauty that's been Australia's for millennia. On-screen as in away from the cinema, don't ever underestimate the impact that trees can and do make. Here, in a picture that starts with 100-metre-tall eucalypts regnans that dwarf dinosaurs, and similarly heroes Huon pines and Tasmanian myrtle beech, majestic rainforests and the gargantuan plants within them make a rousing and riveting documentary even better. The arresting imagery would bring to mind Peter Dombrovskis' famous photography of the Apple Isle's Franklin River — specifically Rock Island Bend, as captured in a snap that's widely credited with saving the waterway — even if it wasn't given a shoutout. Courtesy of the University of Tasmania's Terra Luma research project, 3D forest scans dazzle as well, as turned into surreal and striking cloud animation by Alex Le Guillou. As much as roving one's eyes over the wilderness speaks for itself, The Giants gets chatting to deepen viewers' understanding of nature's marvels. Accordingly, an appreciation of algae and mushrooms also springs — 2023 is the unofficial year of the fungus on screens big and small, after all, given that it's a year that's seen both The Last of Us and The Super Mario Bros Movie become hits. Regardless of how popular spore-producing organisms are in pop culture right now, knowledge about their pivotal function is a call to act within Billiet and Antony's film. The Giants also gleans that explaining what's threatened by logging, damming and climate change, especially while showing it in intricate and impressive detail, is a stirring way to encourage viewers to do their part for the cause. It's one thing to ask people to make an effort to make a difference when the movie stops rolling, whatever their personal version of facing deforestation, bulldozers, expansive mining operations and the like is. It's another to demonstrate that playing a part for the planet can and does bring about change, as Brown's life story epitomises. He has the right words to stress the case as well, whether he's noting that "there is nothing a small group of people can't do when the idea they're espousing's time has come" or championing civil disobedience as obedience to nature — and, yes, aiding with justifying why the film isn't solely gorgeous shots of tremendous trees. The Giants has the right overview of his five-decade impact to go with it, alongside all that wondrous forest footage that says everything, including that the living world in the 21st century always needs all the help that it can make blossom.
Calling all frog-lovers and environmentalists alike — this Vivid-exclusive installation is bringing larger-than-life versions of the amphibians to Barangaroo Reserve. Talk a stroll across the famed Light Walk and you'll find these giant frogs from Dawes Point Reserve and Barangaroo Headland to Darling Quarter and Tumbalong Boulevard. Be sure to keep an eye (or an ear) out, the installation also doubles as a scavenger hunt. The event hopes to raise awareness of the role these incredible creatures play in our ecosystems, as well as how damaging the decline in their populations can be for our environments. Spend some time with the unique critters as you walk past these massive installations and you'll learn just how important they are, with some deeming them to be signifiers for coming environmental change. Night Walkers will bring these huge, lit-up frogs to Sydney from Friday, May 26. There will be eight frogs for you to find, representing each of the endangered species, alongside nearby panels with each exhibiting their very own frog songs. So, don your environmental caps and head over to explore the giant frogs in all their glory.
If sparkling wine puts some extra fizz into your life, then you'll want to drink your way through this Sydney event. Across Friday, May 26–Saturday, May 27, the Bubbles Festival is coming to town to celebrate the most effervescent boozy beverages there are. You'll sip, you'll chat, and you'll meet the folks who make and distribute the tipples in question as well. You'll also eat canapes — no one wants to down champagne, prosecco and other sparkling drinks on an empty stomach — while you're sampling and tasting across two hours. At least ten different wines will be on offer, and your $94 ticket also includes a champagne tasting glass to take home with you. The venue: the Royal Automobile Club of Australia on Macquarie Street. You can take your pick of three sessions: from 6–8pm on Friday, and at either 12–2pm or 3–5pm on Saturday. If you're feeling like really treating your sparkling-loving self, you can pay an extra $65 for a VIP ticket, which gets you access to a special cuvée tasting before the regular doors open — and two tasting glasses, rather than one.
Antebellum opens with a sprawling, roving and weaving single-take shot that's designed to garner attention from the get-go. Constantly roaming — and saturated with both sunlight and colour, in case you aren't instantly glued to its vivid sights — it surveys a stereotypical-looking plantation in America's south. This is where resident belle Elizabeth (Jena Malone) lives. A troop of Confederate soldiers under the leadership of Captain Jasper (Jack Huston) also call it home, too. And when the latter aren't in combat, they join Elizabeth in imposing their might on the property's other residents: its enslaved Black workers. Watching this conspicuously eye-catching introduction, it helps to know what Antebellum's title actually means. The term refers to a time before a war, and is typically used in relation to the American Civil War — but, in the movie's first sequence, it certainly seems as if that historical conflict is raging away. Indeed, that'd explain the soldiers' presence, as well as the cruelty and brutality meted out to the plantation's slaves for daring to speak while picking cotton, refusing to acquiesce to every single order or trying to escape. First-time writer-directors Gerard Bush and Christopher Renz haven't chosen Antebellum's moniker by accident, though, and that clash between the word's definition and the sights seen on-screen is crucial to their movie. Yes, Antebellum hinges on a twist, endeavouring to use the horror genre to explore US race relations in the manner that Jordan Peele has recently perfected. Alas, this copy-cat flick consistently proves far less surprising, powerful and clever than it thinks it is. Here's the setup: attempted runaway Eden (Janelle Monáe) is one of the property's enslaved workers, and subject not just to beatings, brandings and forced labour, but also raped regularly by the general (Eric Lange) who has claimed her as his own. She's planning another escape; however, thoroughly unexpectedly given the surroundings, a mobile phone suddenly rings. Now Monáe's character is called Veronica Henley, and she's a well-known activist and author. Also, everything about her life — including the conference in New Orleans she attends, meeting up with her outspoken best friend Dawn (Gabourey Sidibe) while she's there — is firmly set in the 21st century. Obviously, how Monáe's dual roles intertwine is best discovered by watching, as is the reappearance of Too Old to Die Young's Malone as a modern-day caller for Veronica. But even if you'd hardly call yourself a horror or thriller fan, or even just a movie buff, the big shift here isn't hard to guess. Bush and Renz rely so heavily on their one twist that the film resembles M Night Shyamalan's more forgettable works more than Get Out, Us or TV series Lovecraft Country, and suffers noticeably as a result. Their aim is undeniably bold, smart and timely, unpacking systemic racism by not only looking at how Black Americans have been treated both in the present and in the country's history, but by finding a way to firmly, unmistakably connect the two. And yet, Antebellum feels more like an exercise in making a provocative genre film than a feature that actually says something substantial about engrained prejudice in the US — a topic that sadly continues to remain relevant, but is treated here as stock-standard horror fodder. Take the movie's always-lurid, often-violent imagery as an example. Visually, Antebellum isn't easily forgotten, but its parade of grim frames is a double-edge sword. On the one hand, it reinforces how horrific the idea of slavery is, and shows the audience exactly why in graphic detail. Of course, viewers already know this, even without such heavy-handed reminder. Accordingly, Bush and Renz seem to revel in startling sights almost for the sake of it. If its main victim didn't seem so much like a symbol — more than a fleshed-out character, that's for sure — Antebellum might've succeeded in getting viewers to stare unflinchingly at her pain, experiencing it with her like Australian standout The Nightingale did so expertly, but it really just appears to put her through the wringer to evoke shocks rather than emotion. Most of Antebellum's cast are only asked to fit a specific type, too, as Malone, Huston and Lange all demonstrate. In fact, although Kiersey Clemons (Hearts Beat Loud) pops up as a new arrival at the plantation and Tongayi Chirisa (iZombie) also features among the property's fellow captives, the film tasks them with little more than being present and distraught. The exception is Monáe, with the Moonlight and Hidden Figures star turning in a masterly performance. That's a credit to the musician-turned-actor and her all-round excellence more than the material, though. And if everything around her didn't feel so formulaic and calculating, this'd be a far better film — rather than just an ambitious one that mistakes jumping on a bandwagon for actually making a meaningful statement. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nf--afqelY
If you and your partner have a little (or a lot) of pent-up energy, and you're looking for a different outlet to help ease it, here's an option: Sydney's axe-throwing joint Maniax is hosting Valentine's date-night sessions from Friday, February 11–Friday, February 18. The St Peters joint is doing two-hour public sessions that'll cost you and your other half $120 in total to hurl hatchets — and will let you do something different to mark the occasion. Also, that price also includes a beer, wine or canned spirit each afterwards to celebrate. For the uninitiated, Maniax gives you the chance to very safely throw a hunk of sharpened steel attached to a flimsy handle, and compete with your partner and/or friends to see who has the most Viking blood coursing through them. Chuck those axes, sink a bullseye, and then calm down after all the hatchet-lobbing excitement with a drink with your significant other.
Not into over-priced roses, cheesy cards and set-menu dinners? Regardless of how you feel about Valentine's Day and all the clichés that come with it, none of us want to be the one who let our date down with a mediocre meal or — gasp — nothing at all. So, rather than feign forgetfulness, you could treat your partner in crime to the ultimate staycation. To help you do that, we're giving away a lavish one-night getaway to the northern beaches not on February 14 — after all, you can celebrate love on any day of the year. The prize includes two of you living it up for an all-inclusive night at Lilypad Palm Beach — a lavish, resort-style escape on the water (literally). The floating paradise comes with a bottle of French bubbles courtesy of Dom Pérignon, and either prawns and oysters or charcuterie and cheese on arrival, plus your own private concierge and a self-drive boat so you can explore the surrounds. Winners will also get dinner, which includes eye fillet steaks, lamb and haloumi kebabs or fish (upon request) alongside prepared salads, and a breakfast of fruit, granola, croissants and banana bread. Drinks-wise, the lucky couple gets vino and alcoholic bevvies on top of a bottle of French bubbly. Or, hop in the boat and go to The Boathouse Palm Beach, which is a 15-minute ride away. Once you've indulged in everything you can on-board, you can make use of the accommodation's water equipment — think paddle boards, fishing rods and snorkel gear alongside your private boat. A night here usually costs a cool $1650, so make hay while the sun shines. If you want to check out how you could spend your time here, check out Lilypad Palm Beach's Instagram. Keen to treat your partner in crime without spending a dime? See details below to enter. [competition]759404[/competition]
"Your little cinematic universe is about to change forever." That's how Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds, Ghosted) describes being asked to enter the Marvel realm in the first trailer for Deadpool & Wolverine. After that, he calls himself "Marvel Jesus". How true the Merc with a Mouth's words will prove won't be known until July 2024, when the full film hits cinemas — but the trailer itself has already made history. Disney premiered the debut sneak peek at the 34th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and the only one arriving this year, during the 2024 Super Bowl — so, on Monday, February 12 Down Under. Within 24 hours, it had become the most-watched movie trailer of all time, notching up a whopping 365-million views. The game itself also became the most-watched Super Bowl ever, attracting 123.7-million viewers in America alone to see the Kansas City Chiefs beat the San Francisco 49ers to win back-to-back titles. (And, yes, to also see Taylor Swift watching along before she brings her Eras tour to Australia.) But on top of the folks who caught the Deadpool & Wolverine trailer during the game, another 240-million-plus people sought it out online. Announced in 2022, Deadpool & Wolverine gives the sprawling Marvel Cinematic Universe something that fans have been waiting for for years. Deadpool will officially become a part of the MCU. So will X-Men hero Wolverine. So, they're about to become the franchise's favourite big-screen odd couple. Reynolds has been playing Deadpool since 2009's X-Men Origins: Wolverine, so this isn't the first time that him and Hugh Jackman (Faraway Downs) are teaming up as their famous characters — but, again, it is the first time in the MCU. Before now, Jackman has already busted out the adamantium claws in nine movies, starting with 2000's X-Men and running through to 2017's Logan, which was poised as his swansong in the role. But when you've been playing a part for that long, in that many flicks, what's one more go-around? After a non-Wolverine gap spent starring in The Greatest Showman, The Front Runner, Bad Education, Reminiscence and The Son, Jackman is clearly ready to get hairy again. That Deadpool & Wolverine is part of the MCU, the comic-to-screen realm that's been going since the first Iron Man flick and will likely never ever end, isn't a minor detail. The two characters have always been Marvel characters, but because of rights issues behind the scenes, they've stayed in their own on-screen sagas. But when Disney (which owns Marvel) bought 20th Century Fox (which brought the X-Men and Deadpool movies to cinemas so far), those business issues disappeared. Deadpool & Wolverine arrives six years after 2018's Deadpool 2. It also marks a reunion in another way. Behind the lens: director Shawn Levy, reteaming with Reynolds after Free Guy and The Adam Project. Also starring: Emma Corrin (A Murder at the End of the World), Morena Baccarin (The Endgame), Rob Delaney (Argylle) and Matthew Macfadyen (Succession), as well as Leslie Uggams (American Fiction) and Karan Soni (Miracle Workers). Check out the first Deadpool & Wolverine trailer below — if you haven't already or you're keen to again: Deadpool & Wolverine will release in cinemas Down Under on July 25, 2024. Images: courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2024 20th Century Studios / © and ™ 2024 MARVEL.
Okay, let’s all agree on one thing: French people sound nicer than us. It seems, then, almost guaranteed that So Frenchy So Chic in the Park is a Sydney Festival will sound over and above the usual sounds of Aussie summer. But all reductive stereotypes aside: with Lilly Wood & the Prick, Féfé and ten-piece ska band Babylon Circus, it’s got to be a good day. It's all happening at Sydney Uni’s St John’s College, and you can buy a gourmet hamper or picnic box on the day (which includes tarte tartin, provencal pork belly terrine, tortes and other French fare) for the January 18 affair. Tres bloody chic.
UPDATE, JANUARY 6, 2023: New year, new Moonlight Cinema program, with the outdoor venue's January lineup also filled with highlights. Catch sneak peeks of the Margot Robbie-starring Babylon and British rom-com What's Love Got To Do With It — or check out new Whitney Houston biopic I Wanna Dance With Somebody, Tom Hanks getting cantankerous in A Man Called Otto and the wild true tale that is The Lost King. Plus, January's retro programming includes Twilight, The Princess Diaries, Con Air, Clueless, Magic Mike and the OG Top Gun. So, that's sparkly vampires, 90s greats, royal hijinks, Nicolas Cage, barely clad men and a need for speed taken care of. If nothing says Christmas to you like catching a festive film under the stars, ideally while kicking back on bean beds and eating a picnic, then Moonlight Cinema's November and December 2022 program has you firmly in its sights. The beloved Australian outdoor movie-viewing setup is back for another summer, and it's kicking off with a heap of recent big-name flicks — plus a couple of weeks of the merriest pictures that it can find. Fresh from revealing its dates for the summer 2022–23, Moonlight Cinema has now locked in its first titles, with the openair picture palace heading to Sydney's Centennial Park from Thursday, November 24–Sunday, March 26. The lineup kicks off with Don't Worry Darling, and also includes Top Gun: Maverick, Smile and Ticket to Paradise — plus Elvis, Where the Crawdads Sing, Bros, Bullet Train, Thor: Love and Thunder and Minions: The Rise of Gru. Yes, there's a throwback session of Grease in the first part of the program as well – because retro flicks are always a big part of this event — and then the festive fun begins. Yes, Elf, Home Alone, The Holiday and How the Grinch Stole Christmas are on the lineup. So is Die Hard twice and Love Actually a whopping three times. To wrap up December, there's also a preview session of Steven Spielberg's new release The Fabelmans, culinary thrills with The Menu and a preview of Australian drama Blueback — plus the family-friendly Lyle, Lyle Crocodile and Whitney Houston biopic I Wanna Dance with Somebody. The rest of the Moonlight lineup will drop month by month. Nosh-wise, Moonlight Cinema will again let you BYO movie snacks and drinks, but the unorganised can also enjoy a plethora of bites to eat from food trucks — perfect, messy treats made for reclining on bean beds. There'll be a VIP section for an extra-luxe openair movie experience, a beauty cart handing out samples, and dogs are welcome at — there's even special doggo bean beds, and a snack menu for pooches.
Many people say you can't have a bad meal in Japan, whether you're grabbing drinks in a small laneway bar, knocking elbows with locals at a local ramen spot, or even just having a pit stop at a convenience store. This September, Barangaroo House turns into a three-level playground celebrating Japanese food and drink brilliance with limited-time menus and pop-ups. [caption id="attachment_1020297" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image supplied[/caption] Perth's Papi Katsu will take over Smoke Bar on September 5 to kick off the month-long event. On the rooftop of Barangaroo House, enjoy izakaya-style bites like bluefin tuna gyoza tacos and scampi tartare on crispy chicken skin, alongside Nikka whiskey cocktails. [caption id="attachment_1020295" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image supplied[/caption] One floor down, Rekōdo's transforms into a ramen bar soundtracked by jazz vinyl records. When Newtown ramen joint Rising Sun Workshop pops up from September 17-19, lunchtime crowds will be treated to $20 ramen bowls. Pick from shio ramen, a heavier shoyu ramen or a vegetarian miso ramen — and pair your noodles with fusion snacks like yakitori with kosho romesco and momen tofu in gochujang sauce. [caption id="attachment_1020301" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image supplied[/caption] And all month long, you'll find a Japanese kombini on the ground floor. House Bar will be serving riffs on iconic Japanese 7-Eleven items such as egg sandos, tuna onigiris and yakisoba-stuffed sandwiches alongside ice-cold Asahi and Nikka highballs. If you're going in for a second Asahi, win some Japanese snacks and exclusive merch from a vending machine. Nikka features throughout the festival, but fans of Japanese whisky will be delighted to hear that's not all. Every Friday in September, Barangaroo House will be pouring glasses of one of Japan's most exclusive whisky exports: a Nikka Decades blend made from whiskies spanning nine decades. The venue owns one of the 100 bottles available in Australia. At $60 for a 15ml pour or $120 for a 30ml pour, the whiskey is served tableside via trolley and can be paired with a $50 karaage chicken and caviar combo for a luxe night out. [caption id="attachment_1020296" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image supplied[/caption]
Kicking off on June 8, two of Australia's favourite independent bands, Founds and Fire! Santa Rosa, Fire!, will be joining forces for the Gemini Tour — six dates with stops in the Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, Sydney, Newcastle, Melbourne, and Adelaide. Eclectic, intimate, and hypnotic, Brisbane darlings Founds recently signed a deal with Inertia Records and are hard at work on their debut album, Hadean. With an energy in their spectacular and highly visual live show that's seen them compared to Mogwai, Bjork, and Enya, the sextet are not to be missed. Hard at work on their second album, the follow-up to 2010's Sea Priest, with renowned Welsh producer Gareth Parton (Foals), indie five-piece Fire! Santa Rosa, Fire! Have toured in the past with acts like Band of Skulls and British Sea Power.
Art fans may be intrigued by the sound of You Promised Me, You Said a Lie to Me, an international exhibition soon to be opening at Anna Schwartz Sydney. Curated by Melbourne's Alexie Glass-Kantor, the diverse collection of paintings, sculptures and installations takes its title from an eighth-century Irish ballad and echoes its themes of love, loss and impermanence. Ambitiously showcasing a collection of the hottest, most covetable artworks currently making waves internationally, the exhibition includes the films and video works of Ireland's Jesse Jones, the cross-medium creations of France's Laurent Grasso, 52 individual paintings by Singaporean artist Heman Chong and a new work commissioned specially for the exhibition by Australian artist Susan Jacobs. Aside from the works themselves, the show should provide an insight into Glass-Kantor’s current take on both the international and Australian scene — with implications for those eager to anticipate the tone she will set as the new executive director of Sydney's Artspace come November. Image: Laurent Grasso, Visibility is a Trap
The East Village's panoramic rooftop terrace doesn't just boast city views — from this weekend, the Darlinghurst hotel will also offer a brunch every Saturday and Sunday. From Saturday, March 10, the venue will open from 10am, with a DIY bloody mary station ready and waiting. It will include every garnish and condiment you can think of, from citrus, celery and cucumber to bacon, prawns, bocconcini and seven types of hot sauce. Choose your spirit base — gin, tequila, vodka or white rum — then go nuts with the add-ons. One cocktail will set you back $18, or you can indulge in two hours of unlimited access to the booze buffet for $40. For food, the kitchen's serving up pub grub like breakfast sloppy joes and fried chicken and waffles ($18 each), along with healthier options like spiced beef bibimbap, vegan garden bowls and wholemeal blueberry pancakes ($15–22). This means you can still nurse your hangover while brunching with your more active friend who's just finished their Saturday morning workout.
One of the most strenuous undertakings of summer is deciding how best to allocate your funds to Sydney's music festival onslaught. This year doing so has proved especially draining to both brain and bank balance what with all the excellent new boutique festivals cropping up alongside the circuit mainstays, but hopefully you've made appropriate arrangements for the fact that Laneway appears a little later on the calendar. This year Laneway returns to the castlesque grounds of Rozelle's Sydney College of the Arts with an indie-dense doozy of a line-up. Headliners Bat for Lashes, Yeasayer and Nicolas Jaar help comprise the exciting international contingent, alongside plenty of budding artists you'll have heard a lot of already over the last few months (ahem, Flume). In alphabetical order, the St Jerome's Laneway Festival 2013 Lineup: ALPINE ALT-J# BAT FOR LASHES CHET FAKER CLOUD NOTHINGS DIVINE FITS EL-P FLUME HENRY WAGONS & THE UNWELCOME COMPANY HIGH HIGHS* HOLY OTHER JAPANDROIDS# JESSIE WARE JULIA HOLTER KINGS OF CONVENIENCE THE MEN MS MR THE NEIGHBOURHOOD NICOLAS JAAR## NITE JEWEL* OF MONSTERS AND MEN* PERFUME GENIUS POLICA POND REAL ESTATE# THE RUBENS SHLOHMO SNAKADAKTAL TWERPS YEASAYER Strangely, there are some tickets still for sale. Get yours here. https://youtube.com/watch?v=iqkLWlZx7A4
From piecing together messages or wondrous discoveries hidden among the stars, to using the constellations as a guiding force for navigation, or simply sitting back and admiring the view, stargazing has proven to be an enduring hobby. To honour this, Vivid Sydney is taking to the skies with the return of its stunning annual drone shows, in partnership with the Australian Traffic Network. Across six nights from Sunday, May 28, you'll be able to look up and witness over 1000 drones lighting up the night sky to create the biggest drone show the Southern Hemisphere has seen to date. Written in the Stars will take audiences on a visual exploration of space, delving into the natural world of our solar system by featuring awe-inspiring landscapes from the Sun through to Jupiter — along with some unexpected stops and visitors. A rework of Gustav Holst's 'The Planets' by Peewee Ferris will soundtrack the shows, available via the Cinewav app (which you can download here), to heighten the experiential journey. And you'll be able to marvel at these sights for free. Catch the recurring light shows from 9.10pm from your vantage point of Circular Quay or The Rocks. This event will only light up Sydney Harbour for six nights throughout the duration of Vivid Sydney 2023. Written in the Stars is running from 9.10pm on Sunday, May 28 and Wednesday, May 31 then June 4th, 7th, 12th and 14th. For more information, visit the website.
Moseying along George Street can involve many things. Rushing to get the train at Town Hall, weaving in and out of QVB or The Galeries, trying to avoid throngs of people doing the same thing — they're all on the list. But on Friday, December 2, the stretch between Market and Park streets will host a huge three-course lunch, serving 600 people right there on the pavement. The literally sprawling al fresco midday meal sold out last year and is back for a second iteration called A Feast for the Senses. Luke Mangan's Glass Brasserie at Hilton Hotel has been enlisted with pulling together the food, while sommelier Samantha Payne is in charge of the wine and the Ministry of Sound Orchestra will be dishing up the soundtrack to the lunch. On the menu will be smoked King Ora salmon, roasted spatchcock with citrus and tarragon salsa, and passionfruit meringue with coconut anglaise and fresh berries. There's also a vegetarian version of the meal featuring grilled sugar loaf cabbage with white polenta and soffritto. [caption id="attachment_860256" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ministry of Sound Orchestra[/caption] If you're wondering why Sydneysiders are being asked to sit down for lunch in the middle of the city street, it's part of a day-long series of dining pop-ups around town that's been dubbed Open for Lunch. Aiming to highlight the culinary talent we have in this city, the overarching event is all about long-table lunches, other dining and drinking activations, and just spending a day out of the house. Four sections of George Street are set to be shut down on the day, alongside a pop-up out west in Parramatta. At the latter, a Western Sydney Long Lunch will take place at Commbank Stadium. There, diners will first wander between stations, sampling food and drinks from Parramatta restaurants like exciting new opening Misc. From there, guests will be seated at a communal table and be treated to a two-course set menu from Matt Moran, followed by a Mowtown Greatest Hits performance from Human Nature. In the YCK Laneways precinct around York, Clarence and Kent streets in the CBD, another feast will be taking over George Street between Market and King Street. At this neighbouring long lunch, members from the Cash Only Diner, Stitch Bar, NOLA Smokehouse, The Barber Shop, Esteban, PS40 and Rockpool teams, as well as Anna Polyviou, will be handling the food and drinks for a three-course meal accompanied by music from Gretta Ray and Yorke. If you want to inject some Nashville energy into your work week, Porteno's Ben Milgate and Elvis Abrahanowicz are hosting the George Street Hoedown between King Street and Martin Place. Think: eats inspired by the city, music from Josh Hedley while he's in the country from America, cold beers and Tennessee whiskey. And, Merivale is also getting in on the action with the Disco Picnic on George Street between Angel Place and Hunter Street. This summer party is being curated by mimi's Jordan Toft and Totti's Mike Eggert. You can expect antipasti, porchetta, beers, wine, negronis, and live entertainment from Groove City and two special guests. [caption id="attachment_757522" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mike Eggert, Bar Totti's[/caption] Sydney's Open for Lunch will take place across Sydney on Friday, December 2. For further details and to buy tickets, head to the event's website. Images: Destination NSW.
Not to be confused with the god-awful metal band Dead Letter Circus (sorry if you are into that sort of thing), DL Chorus make wonderfully melodic rock, with dabblings of folk and acoustic elements. They have been kicking around for a while and have been building a faithful fan base who've fallen in love with their earnest songs of life and love, bounced back and forth by boy/girl lead singers. They released The August Magnificent, their self-produced debut album, last year, and have now decided to see what it's all 'aboot' when they head off to Canada to do a string of gigs and industry conferences. But before that they are providing you with a chance to see them on home soil, if you're keen to take a trip down Shire way, for a show at the Brass Monkey in Cronulla. https://youtube.com/watch?v=83oWsG0cJcc
Two of Sydney's most loved venues are coming together to lift spirits in lockdown, thanks to a pop-up restaurant that's designed to keep you well-fed from breakfast through to dessert. Poly/Ester Provisions is the newly launched takeaway project from Poly and Ester, and features a refined menu that includes favourites from each restaurant — plus selections from Jersey Milk and AP Bakery. Start the day right with wood-fired brown butter muesli, buttermilk croissants from AP Bakery and malted sourdough. While you're browsing the menu, you can also nab a slice of lemon polenta cake or Gulbarn tea for later. As you move down the selection of tasty treats, the meals get heartier. For lunch, you can choose between a potato and cheese borek baked in Turkish pastry, or bucatini cacio e pepe. If you're planning a 'treat yourself' meal for dinner, you can work your way through the menu from the Jersey Milk cheese and the barbecue oyster pack, which sit among the aperitivo selection, to mains like confit spatchcock and pastrami cauliflower. And, for dessert, there's a gooey lamington fudge to end the meal. Fancy extras like garlic butter, Western Australian truffles, fermented hot sauce and caviar, as well as a simple selection of some of Poly and Ester's favourite wines, are all on hand as well to really elevate the night. Pickup is available from Poly from 12–4pm Thursday–Saturday, and there's free delivery to locals living within three kilometres of the restaurant is available — as long as your order totals over $100.
From clowns to furry critters to dolls, 80s and 90s pop culture drew plenty of scares from childhood staples. Decades later, Hollywood is conjuring up plenty more by bringing it all back again. With the IT remake not only working a charm back in 2017, but releasing a star-studded sequel later this year, the folks behind it are reviving another old favourite: Child's Play. While the horror franchise released its last instalment, Cult of Chucky, as recently as 2017, the new Child's Play is starting all over again. Remaking the original 1989 movie, it'll re-introduce the world to the psychopathic flame-haired plaything with a lust for murder. This time, the toy will terrorise Aubrey Plaza, who plays a young mother to a son who comes into possession of the knife-wielding doll. Whether you've seen any of the seven other Chucky flicks or are too creeped out by the idea to watch, you can probably guess where the story goes — this time, however, the murderous plastic moppet has been updated for the 21st century. And if you're excited about the character's comeback, then you'll be just as excited to know that even more is in store, with a Child's Play TV series also in the works. Check out the unsettling first trailer for the new Child's Play movie below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFy8ZgLd574 Child's Play releases in Australian cinemas on June 20, 2019.
As any Sydney seafood aficionado should know by now, The Morrison has a constant focus on the not-so-humble oyster. But when the month-long Oyster Festival takes over, that focus turns into an overwhelming obsession. From Thursday, October 1 through to Saturday, October 31, the Sydney bar will become a shucking shrine to the freshest oysters around. And one of the major drawcards is Oyster Hour. Between 6pm and 7pm every single day, you'll be able to eat as many oysters as you can handle at just $1.50 a pop. Throughout the month, Chef Sean Connolly will be conjuring up his favourite oyster dishes, including the Million Dollar Oyster topped with snow crab meat and caviar, fried chicken po' boys with oyster mayo and a oysters served with the likes of fermented chilli XO sauce and Tanqueray gin and tonic. Plus, there'll be oysters paired with bottomless bevs on weekends during the month. Rock up on Saturday and Sunday and you can down a dozen oysters with two hours of bottomless bubbles for just $55 a head. Or you can upgrade your bubbles to GH Mumm for $155 a pop. Bookings are recommended for this. Also on the menu at this year's slightly delayed festival (it's usually held in August, but COVID-19) is the oyster and wine flight option — with three oysters and three wines — for $25 a person.
Perched on four kilometres of uninterrupted sand, Terrigal is one of the Central Coast's prettiest and most popular beaches. At one end lies the dramatic sandstone cliffs of Broken Head. At the other, there's tranquil Spoon Bay, backdropped by untouched sand dunes. But these natural wonders aren't the only reason to road trip here. Over the past few years, a bunch of excellent restaurants, cafes and bars have popped up, letting you feast on quality produce and perfectly-composed cocktails, in between soaking up sand, surf and sunshine. Terrigal lies just 80 minutes' drive north of Sydney, which makes it a super-convenient weekender. To help you plan your getaway, we've teamed up with the folks at The Clan. Here's how to spend 24 hours in the region — from a morning coastal walk, to afternoon cocktails and a night in the hotel overlooking the beach. [caption id="attachment_672974" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW[/caption] 6AM: WALK TO THE SKILLION FOR EPIC OCEAN VIEWS Your adventure begins with a stroll to Terrigal's most famous landmark: The Skillion. This is the grassy park at the beach's southern end, which sprawls atop 20-metre high Broken Head. Climb up for beautiful, panoramic views, taking in Terrigal Haven, a sheltered bay where fishing vessels moor. Or stick to beach level, to visit rock pools, take a sunrise dip and study the intricate patterns in the cliff face's Hawkesbury sandstone, laid down more than 200 million years ago when dinosaurs first roamed the Earth. 8AM: BREAKFAST AT MACCOA After conquering The Skillion, you've earned yourself a hearty brekkie. You'll get exactly that at Maccoa, a restaurant that opened in The Clan Terrigal last year. Steeped in airy whites and splashed with colour, it's a light, bright spot that affords 180-degree views, over Terrigal Lagoon. Head chef Melissa Dixon oversees the seasonal, local produce-driven menu. Think classics with a twist, such as smashed avo on house-made corn bread with spinach, semi-dried tomato, feta and chilli pistachio or a brekkie bowl with house-made baked beans, avocado, poached eggs, quinoa, spinach and chorizo. 10AM: STAND-UP PADDLEBOARDING ON TERRIGAL LAGOON Terrigal Lagoon, which lies behind Terrigal Beach, offers 30 glorious hectares of still water made for stand-up paddle boarding. If you haven't your own board, then hire one from the folks at ESS, who stock one for everyone. With so much space, you can go voyaging to your heart's content. Close to the coast, you'll be passing waterfront homes and parks. In the upper reaches, expect idyllic rolling paddocks. For beginners or anyone keen to upskill, ESS hosts SUP clinics for paddlers of all levels – from total beginners to pros. 1PM: PICNIC AT TERRIGAL HAVEN Make the most of the fresh ocean air and enjoy lunch outdoors. Personally, we suggest buying crunchy bread rolls and piling them high with mustard, cured meats and your cheese of choice (or, if you're a meat-free human, with marinated eggplant, capsicum and olives) and eating them on the beach. But if you prefer the winning combination of beach and barbecue, wander down to Terrigal Haven, at the southern end of the beach. Here, you'll find barbecues — which can be used free of charge — ready for charring sausages and caramelising onions, alongside snorkelling and scuba diving facilities. [caption id="attachment_672973" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW[/caption] 3PM: WALK ALONG THE BEACH TO WAMBERAL Just north of Terrigal is Wamberal, another beachside village that attracts far fewer tourists. If you're keen to get moving after your picnic fix, then walk there along the beach. If not, jump in your car. As you travel further and further away from Terrigal, the houses, shops and crowds drop away, until you reach Wamberal Lagoon Nature Reserve, a patch of national park made up of sand dunes and greenery that backdrops Wamberal Beach. In its northern corner you'll find the hidden-away cove of Spoon Bay. Keen to keep going? Continue on to Forresters Beach. 7PM: DINNER AND SLEEPOVER AT THE CLAN Come dinnertime, make tracks back to Maccoa. Tell the team you're a Concrete Playground reader and they'll give you a complimentary bottle of wine. The menu, devoted to sharing, offers a bunch of scrumptious plates, including coffee and cardamom beef cheeks with pumpkin and feta salad; twice-cooked fennel pork belly with Hillbilly Cider sauce, roasted parsnip and apple; and chai-spiced panna cotta with orange-almond cake, ginger anglaise and candied orange. Chances are, you won't feel too much like driving home after that. So, sleepover at The Clan, where you can choose from 21 waterfront rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the beach or the lagoon. It's doing CP readers a solid right now, too, offering you two nights' accommodation for two, with brekkie included, for $299. Next trip to Terrigal, head for breakfast, lunch or dinner at Maccoa — don't forget to mention this article to receive a free bottle of wine — and spend a night overlooking the water at The Clan.
Despite also serving up everything from all-day vegan breakfast to ice cream sandwiches, we still think that fries are the best thing about Lord of the Fries. It's right there in the name, after all. The chain's chips are particularly tasty — as made with Australian potatoes and cooked in a cottonseed sunflower oil blend. There is one thing better than Lord of the Fries' titular dish, however. That'd be free shoestring fries from the chip-loving establishment. And on Wednesday, July 13, the vegan fast food joint is giving away just that. Free. Fries. Yes, really. To snag free fries on Wednesday, you'll need to head to your chosen store in between 4–5pm and you'll be gifted a serving of shoestring deliciousness. You don't even have to purchase any vego nuggets to redeem them. There is a limit of one freebie per person, though, so take that into consideration if you're feeling particularly peckish. You'll get your choice of classic sauces, too. This is clearly great news for anyone who like fries, aka everyone — with folks in Sydney headed to Newtown. And if you're wondering why, that's because it's National Fry Day. Of course it is. There are a few caveats, as is always the case with this kind of giveaway. So, the freebies span one Lord of the Fries stickered cup of shoestring fries and one classic sauce, with the latter popped directly on top of the former. Again, you can only get one per person, and only in-store. And, it's only for shoestring fries — not the classic, chunky or sweet potato versions.
Anyone who has spent time in London will know of Brick Lane. Located in east London, the cobblestone stretch of road is home to vintage stores, street art and the best subcontinental food you'll find in the city. So when Kiran Bains and Alistair French were developing their new Sydney venue, which would offer a contemporary twist on traditional Indian flavours, they knew where to look for inspiration. The finished product is their Darlinghurst eatery, which emulates the trendy London area in both name and vibe. The decor shies away from the stuffy curry houses of yore; exposed brick runs the length of the narrow venue and splashes of graffiti and pendant lighting give the space a trendy feel to match the modern menu. The kitchen presents traditional Indian flavours in unconventional ways and takes cues from culinary neighbours. Take, for example, tandoori chicken burger spring-rolls, bhaji baos and the naan-mi — Brick Lane's take on a banh-mi featuring pork belly and spiced pate wrapped in roti. Chai and chocolate mousse with fried roti and watermelon granita are among your sweeter choices. And just like its London cousin, you're able to snag a good food-and-drink deal here, too. We've sung the praises of the epic $55 banquet in the past. By parting with a pineapple (and a little), you will enjoy an eight-course feed with bottomless wine and beer. The deal proved so popular that the restaurant has decided to launch an even cheaper Friday and Saturday lunch version. For $20, you get two loaded roti tacos plus a glass of wine or beer. What a way to welcome the weekend.
If your new year's resolution involved dancing and singing at gigs and festivals as often as possible, the pandemic has once again delivered bad news. With New South Wales' COVID-19 case numbers continuing to rise in the new year, the state's government banned making shapes and belting out a tune in indoor hospitality and entertainment venues last week — and it's now added doing both at all music festivals, both indoors and outdoors, to the list. The tightened restriction stems from an updated Public Health Order issued on Tuesday, January 11, and came into effect the same day. So, that means that no one in NSW can now sing or dance at music festivals, unless you're a performer — and then, only while you're performing or rehearsing on the premises. If you're wondering what counts as a music fest, the NSW Government website handily lists the requirements, noting that it doesn't include events with a single stage that run for less than two hours, and that have a maximum of two headliners and four performers in total. That definition still covers a huge array of events, however, so you can expect to see festival cancellations popping up — such as Grapevine Gathering, which was meant to take place on Saturday, January 15, but has scrapped the event due to the new restrictions. The aforementioned singing and dancing ban in indoor hospitality and entertainment venues is still effect as well, and the mask rules and density limits that were announced before Christmas. That said, crooning tunes and hitting the dance floor is still allowed in public at wedding services and receptions — if you're getting hitched or heading to a ceremony in the near future. NSW reported 34,759 new COVID-19 cases today, Wednesday, January 12. For more information about the status of COVID-19 and the current restrictions, head over to the NSW Health website. Top image: Grapevine Gathering.
What better way to embrace the wintry weather than with some good old-fashioned outdoor moviegoing? This April and May, Sweethearts Rooftop is serving up the a cinematic experience with a new season of cult classic film screenings hosted up on its roof. The best part? It's free. Running every Tuesday and Wednesday from 7pm, the bar atop the Potts Point Hotel will be breaking out the projector to show a range of classics, including titles like Zoolander, Dumb and Dumber and Edward Scissorhands. There will be some newer hits in there too, like The Wolf of Wall Street and gut-wrencher Amy. The bar will be serving up slices from its newly installed pizza oven, and bags of popcorn and warm cocktails will also be available for purchase. If you're around early, happy hour runs from 4–6pm. The cinema will run every week until August 1, except on June 26 and 27. Image: James Ambrose.
Northern Beaches hotel Manly Pacific has unveiled the results of its $30-million transformation. The extensive revamp features next-level wellness suites, a sparkling new facade, a rooftop pool and multiple bars primed for tourists on the hunt for a distinctly Australian beach stay — or Sydneysiders looking to get out of the city for a staycation. As first announced in 2022, and overseen by local designers Coco Republic, the hotel now boasts 213 revamped rooms, all of which come with a sleek coastal-inspired fitout, a stacked minibar filled with local, independently made products, and access to the hotel's newly upgraded facilities. On entry to the lobby, you'll discover 55 North, an eclectic adjoined bar consisting of timber veneers and paved marble. This inviting drinking hole offers hotel guests and Northern Beaches residents the opportunity to enjoy a cocktail with an ocean view. [caption id="attachment_884496" align="alignnone" width="1920"] 55 North[/caption] Elsewhere in the hotel sits two dining options — Japanese restaurant Tokyo Joe and French diner Bistro Manly — plus a rooftop pool with its own bar serving up caviar, lobster and champagne, and a range of wellness facilities and packages. Guests can visit the infrared sauna adjacent to the pool and the neighbouring Manly Beach Health Club. Or, if you're looking to head offsite for some leisure, you can book surfing lessons, kayaking, beach yoga and massages through the hotel. While these standard stays are already overflowing with laidback coastal luxury, the new Manly Pacific also boasts a selection of deluxe rooms that will really take things up a notch. There are nine two-bedroom Coastal Suites equipped with sweeping ocean views, plus a customisable wellness menu featuring a Peloton bike and classes, a yoga mat, Leif skincare, LaGaia face masks and a nightly turn-down service. The real big-hitter, however, is The Infinity Residence. This all-out luxury one-bedroom suite comes equipped with everything you could ever think of for a beachside stay — and then some. Guests who splurge on The Infinity Residence will be treated to a 177-square-metre room with underfloor heating, a fireplace, a kitchenette, a free-standing bathtub, a 100-square-metre private terrace and a premium mini-bar. The extremely lavish experience also comes with a beach butler who will set up towels, umbrellas and an outdoor dining table for up to eight people on request, and the ability to book a sea plane flight from Rose Bay. Completing the revamp of the accommodation is the introduction of dog-friendly rooms so that you can book a stay with your four-legged pals, and specific work-from-hotel packages that help facilitate working staycations, including a study table, unlimited coffee, complimentary room-service lunches and a knock-off cocktail at 5pm. [caption id="attachment_884492" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Infinity Residence[/caption] Manly Pacific is located at 55 N Steyne, Manly.
Whether you're splashing out the on cash a ticket to one of the exclusive parties on the harbour, claiming a spot at Barangaroo Reserve for the family-friendly celebration, or heading to a festival on New Year's Day, there's more to ringing in the new year than the countdown and some fireworks. There's so much going on in Sydney at this time of year, and plenty of ways to say hello to 2020 in style. To make sure you're close to the action, book yourself a staycation at the new West Hotel on Sussex Street, part of the Curio Collection by Hilton. Situated in Barangaroo, this luxurious hotel is the perfect base for checking out all the happenings around town as 2019 comes to a close. [caption id="attachment_734316" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Fenwick[/caption] PREPARE FOR, OR RECOVER FROM, A BIG NIGHT OUT WITH A LEISURELY BRUNCH There's not much a good brunch can't do, whether you're getting ready for a big day of celebrating or feeling the repercussions of last night's antics. Hop on a ferry at Barangaroo Wharf and head to Balmain East — once you disembark you'll be able to perch for brekkie at The Fenwick. This harbourside cafe inside a heritage sandstone building even has its own gallery space. Get there before 10.30am to make sure you're in time for breakfast, which is a traditional affair of sweet and savoury cafe dishes done well. The Fenwick serves Little Marionette coffee and cold-pressed juices if you need a cure all, or there are some great twists on classic cocktails on offer. For something a little different, the sprawling Babylon Rooftop and Garden Bar offers bottomless mimosas with a selection of meze plates on Saturdays and Sundays from 10am–1pm. For $49 per person, enjoy two hours of unlimited drinks and Middle Eastern-inspired food, including labneh with peppers, chilli butter and house-made bread, and lentil kofte with pomegranate, parsley and lemon. [caption id="attachment_747370" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ragazzi by Nikki To[/caption] ENJOY A NIGHT OUT ON THE TOWN, STARTING WITH A REALLY GOOD MEAL It's time to toast to the year that was. Take a minute to reflect over a top-notch meal and a bottle of wine, before the party kicks off and you can't hear yourself think, let alone hear anyone else's plans for 2020. A huge amount of bars and eateries opened up this year, so make the most of this opportunity to try something new. The Darling Square precinct has plenty of options, including famed Korean oven-cooked chicken joint Goobne, Steam Mill Lane's Bang Bang (inspired by the Shinjuku district of Tokyo) and the slick new restaurant XOPP, from the family behind Golden Century. If you're after something a little more wine focused, Ragazzi Wine and Pasta on Angel Place is all about minimal-intervention wine, no-waste cooking, regional Italian pasta and Spanish-influenced bar snacks. For those that want to stay within stumbling distance of their bed, Solander Dining & Bar inside West Hotel Sydney has a bold and sophisticated menu championing Australian ingredients and flavours. [caption id="attachment_744474" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Maybe Sammy[/caption] MAKE THE MOST OF ALL THE WORLD CLASS BARTENDERS AT YOUR DOORSTEP One of the best things about booking a little staycation in the CBD, is the ability to have a few bevs and wander back to bed with ease afterwards, especially when there are some seriously talented bartenders in this humble city of ours. You can't miss out on the opportunity for a bar crawl and we recommend Maybe Sammy as your first stop. This 50s-inspired venue was the only Australian bar to make it into the World's 50 Best Bars this year, coming in at number 46 in the world, and it was also crowned Best Bar in Australasia. Three more Sydney bars made it into the top 100, so check out Bulletin Place, PS40 and The Baxter Inn as well, which are all within walking distance. While you're out and about, we recommend Council Place's standing room-only mezcal bar Cantina OK! for a quick tipple, and Employees only for stellar cocktails in a New York speakeasy-style basement bar. [caption id="attachment_749806" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Gin Lane[/caption] STOP FOR A QUICK PICK ME UP WHILE YOU'RE EXPLORING While you're shopping the city streets shopping, you'll likely need to stop to refuel from time to time. There's no shortage of great coffee shops in Sydney, but add these to your list just to be safe. The CBD outpost of Single O is a hole-in-the-wall on York Street perfect for brekkie on the go, especially when you grab one of its loaded crumpets. Then there's June's Shoppe near Wynyard Park, which specialise in open sandwiches with all kinds of toppings, and Skittle Lane — a laneway cafe barely three-minutes walk from West Hotel on Sussex Street. Other quick bites that you can't go by include fresh oysters from the Sydney Fish Market — a must-visit stop in its own right, especially if you're taking a stroll through Pyrmont — and Chippendale bar Gin Lane's special summer soft serves. The cocktail-inspired frozen treats are made from cold-pressed juices, fruit garnishes and, of course, gin. [caption id="attachment_697750" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Moonlight Cinema[/caption] SOAK UP SOME ARTS AND CULTURE Moonlight Cinema's 2019/2020 season at Centennial Park runs from November 28–March 29. The program is, as always, a nice mix of new releases and cult favourites, and in the days around NYE you can catch Dirty Dancing, Hustlers and Joker. While Moonlight is closed December 30–31, on New Year's Day you can recover with a chilled out screening of The Greatest Showman, and, on January 3, the 20th-anniversary screening of classic cheerleading flick Bring It On will make you feel super old. You can buy snacks and drinks on site or BYO nibbles and a bottle of wine. There are also a number of blockbuster art exhibitions around town this summer. Head to the Museum of Contemporary Art to check out the career-spanning exhibition of influential British artist Cornelia Parker, and a showcase of four pieces from contemporary Chinese-Australian artist Guan Wei, twenty years on from his first Australian solo show at the same gallery. START THE YEAR OFF RIGHT BY TAKING A MOMENT FOR YOURSELF It's pretty much universal knowledge that 2019 has been hectic. By the time Christmas is done and dusted, it'll be time to shake that stressful energy off so you can start 2020 feeling fresh and ready to crush it. Take a moment to pamper yourself at one of the many spas around Sydney — if you have the time, escape the hustle of the CBD and head east to Vaucluse. There you'll find farm-to-table restaurant The Botanica and its sister venue Sol Spa. There's a huge range of treatments on offer, ranging from simple facials, body scrubs and massages, to traditional holistic therapies and full-body sessions. You can enjoy an exclusive bento box from the restaurant in the spa's courtyard or pop next door for a leisurely meal. While you're in the area, there are beaches in almost every direction — including the delightfully secluded Milk Beach — where you can get your toes wet or continue the relaxing vibes on the sand. GET STARTED ON THAT NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION TO EXERCISE MORE Another year, another resolution forgotten by February. Whether you want to exercise regularly, get out and explore more, or maybe conquer a fear of boats, get started on your resolution early to put you in the best stead to succeed in 2020. Head across the harbour for some nature with a beachside walk through the lower north shore — the Chowder Bay to Balmoral Beach walk is an easy one-and-a-half-kilometre track, which offers some stunning views and interesting Sydney landmarks along the way. Once you're done, there's plenty of time for a dip in the water, or lunch and a cuppa at The Boathouse. [caption id="attachment_738976" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Title Barangaroo[/caption] EXPLORE THE SHOPS AT BARANGAROO AND PICK UP SOME BOOKS ON YOUR SUMMER READING LIST If you're in need of a new read for a few lazy summer days on the beach, head to Title Barangaroo. The huge, independent bookstore builds on the stellar reputation of its Surry Hills predecessor — you'll find heaps of books from all genres, with a focus on art books and a dedication to quality titles over what's trending. Title also has plenty of films and music, including an impressive selection of vinyl. Get yourself a coffee from South by Dukes and spend a little while getting lost in Title's shelves. If you've got the shopping bug, you can check out other Barangaroo spots like The Waiting Room, Collector Store and Belance. Celebrate your purchases with a hearty dinner at Barangaroo's new German beerhall Beerhaus, before waddling the six minutes it'll take you to walk back to your room at West Hotel on Sussex Street. ENJOY A RELAXED PICNIC AT BARANGAROO RESERVE While Barangaroo Reserve is set to be more than a little bit hectic on New Year's Eve, it's a great spot for a picnic any other day of the week. Plus, there's plenty of places at Barangaroo where you can pick up some delicious treats to take with you. For a gourmet picnic, you can't go past European-style food emporium Bel & Brio, which makes some killer paninis and sandwiches with rotisserie and deli meats. This place is more than just a bar and eatery — inside you'll find an impressive wine cellar and a well-stocked market place where you can buy fruit and veg, cold-pressed juices and freshly baked bread, plus a cafe slinging specialty coffee and pastries. You could also pick up coffee and treats from Shortstop or South by Dukes. LEARN SOMETHING NEW FOR THE NEW YEAR Make learning a new skill a resolution and then immediately smash it out of the park — it'll make you feel really good about yourself. You could learn to shake a cocktail like a pro or build your own gin at Archie Rose Distillery in Rosebery, head to Marrickville or St Peters for an intro to throwing pottery on the wheel, design and make your own earrings at a cute little studio in Town Hall, paint a masterpiece over a glass of wine at Cork & Canvas Darlinghurst or Cork & Chroma Surry Hills, or become a master of the Japanese art of kintsugi, at a studio just six minutes walk from the West Hotel on Sussex Street. Make your New Year's Eve staycation easy by booking at West Hotel to be right on the doorstep of all the city's best happenings.
Biennale, Schmiennale. Okay, fine, I don't really mean that, but while famous people are putting on big shows at buildings with landmark status and getting schoolbusloads of guests of the "I also saw the Archibald" variety, it's awesome that little tiny galleries continue bringing you plastic cups of wine and laser-printed price lists. Happening in and around artist-run initiatives (the by-and-for alternative to museums and commercial galleries) in Chippendale, Waterloo and Surry Hills, safARI is a kind of off-Broadway component to May's visual arts schedule. MOP Projects, Firstdraft, Locksmith Project Space, Serial Space and FBi Radio are hosting, and 14 artists are showing. The month-long festival features parties, talks and guided walks as a way into what Sydney artists are doing now, and the event as a whole is an exploratory contribution to the atmosphere of a city being curated. As a first-time (ad)venture, and one that is based on new works that have been hunted down rather than evolved according to a theme, safARI is a suit with many pockets. Forget stranger danger and take the sweets it offers you. Image: Platform by Rolande Souliere.
Stay tuned. More info on its way.
You don't need to spend big to fill your wardrobe with quality clothing. Instead, it can be just as simple as heading along to Round She Goes — Sydney's leading indoor market for women's preloved and vintage fashion. Returning to PCYC Marrickville on Saturday, July 19, this carefully curated one-day-only event features over 70 stalls dedicated to stylish second-hand designer labels, chic vintage finds and quality handmade accessories. With the doors swinging open at 10am, getting down early is your best chance to uncover the best finds. Along with coveted brands like Prada, Phillip Lim, Gorman and Zimmerman up for grabs, there's also 70s denim, unique jewellery and decades-old statement pieces to discover. Of course, Round She Goes is primed for savvy shoppers and fashion lovers. Yet it's also a sustainable way to shop, as these reclaimed garments still have lots to give. Entry is $5, with pre-booked tickets available online for those keen to skip the queue.
Vivid Sydney is in full swing, and while you're planning which talks to see, figuring out where to catch a glimpse of the lights and checking which gigs still have tickets going, you're probably figuring out a strategic drinking and dining plan too. The bulk of the light installations will again be set up around Circular Quay and The Rocks, and a market dedicated entirely to desserts will also run for three nights of the festival. Setting up shop in the Overseas Passenger Terminal for the second year running, the Milk 'n' Sugar Market will be on-hand for revellers craving something sweet for the third weekend of Vivid. Running from 6–11pm on June 8, 9 and 10, the market will be hocking Brooklyn Boy Bagels' rainbow bagels, cheesecake on a stick, Koi's mandarin mousse cake, dessert arancini, a fairy floss ice cream Froot Loops 'burrito' (that's a thing) and more. You should probably skip dinner. As well as coinciding with Vivid, the market will also run alongside The Rocks Night Market, which is also happening on the same three nights. Plan your movements right and you could fit it all in on one evening.
"Imagine you're tracking a terrorist" begins the unseen voice in the opening shot of Dror Moreh's unnerving documentary The Gatekeepers. "You know they're planning an imminent attack and you know they're in a car that your teams have finally located." As he narrates, the clouds on the screen part to reveal footage from a drone flying high above a city. "What you don't know, though, is where they're going to be an hour from now, or who else is in the car with them. So…what do you do?" Moments later there's a flash, an explosion, and the car is destroyed in what you realise is real-world footage of an assassination. In the corner of the screen, an injured bystander slowly attempts to crawl away from the flaming carnage. This is the story of the Shin Bet — Israel's highly secretive internal security service — as told by all six surviving leaders, past and present (and, notably, the only members whose identities are ever made public). Divided into seven sections with austere headings like: 'Collateral Damage', 'Forget About Morality' and 'Victory Is to See You Suffer', The Gatekeepers offers an extraordinary insight into one of the most clandestine organisations in living history. Like 2003's Academy Award-winning film The Fog of War, these interviews reveal both the strategic and philosophical considerations behind some of the organisations most famous (and infamous) operations; however, unlike Robert S. McNamara, the disclosures of these men are remarkably unsentimental and make little attempt at any justification. With their stewardship spanning decades of momentous upheaval, including the 6-Day War, the hijacking of the 300 bus, the invasion of Lebanon, the two Intifadas and the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, there's no shortage of material for the narrators to delve into despite the large pockets of history that remain classified. Rarely do the scenarios veer even close to black-and-white morality, and, not surprisingly, it's questions of assassination and torture that prove most compelling. "What's unnatural is the power you have" , explains the Shin Bet's most recent chief Yuval Diskin, "the power you have to take three people, terrorists, and take their lives in an instant." In all, The Gatekeepers is a candid, revelatory and at times disturbing film that represents one of the 'must-sees' of 2013. https://youtube.com/watch?v=Kpk71yrQUQM
ENESS, the team behind 2022's Airship Orchestra, is back with another magical inflatable installation, appearing in Tumbalong Park as part of Sydney Festival. Following the success of its previous luminous larger-than-life figures, the Melbourne-based design studio is back with another dose of public art plucked from your wildest imagination. This time around, with the addition of water, these six-metre-tall figures are also helping you cool off through summer. [caption id="attachment_874184" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sam Roberts Photography[/caption] As the name suggests, Cupid's Koi Garden takes inspiration from cheeky cupid water fountains, pairing ENESS' interpretation of the famed winged baby with a family of inflatable koi fish. These colourful figures are all equipped with water jets spraying choreographed spurts of water paired with motion-tracking LED lights and a playful soundtrack. All up, it creates a multi-sensory world that's designed to both spark wonder and help you beat the heat. Head to Darling Harbour to discover this free, family-friendly playground of light, sound and art. Open daily for little ones and kidults alike, the immersive activation is running throughout the festival until Sunday, January 29. [caption id="attachment_884090" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dianna Snape Photography[/caption]
While Friday night drinks are a pretty top choice, sometimes a little libation earlier in the week is called for. Thankfully, Barangaroo's West Hotel Sydney is giving you plenty of reasons to switch up your plans to Thursdays instead — whether it's after-work drinks, a catch-up with mates or a date. Every Thursday up until Easter, the hotel's in-house bar Solander will be moving the party outside for something they're calling Jungle Bar. Head out to the openair atrium, decked out with green foliage and festoon lights, where you can tuck into some snacks straight off the barbecue — think charred king prawns, lamb chops and kangaroo sliders — for six bucks each. Plus, the pop-up bar will be slinging four specialty spritzes. For $14, choose from the aptly named Herbal, Lavender or Berry spritz or opt for the bar's namesake Solander spritz. And, if you're looking to bust out some dance moves, there'll be a DJ spinning tunes from 4pm till late. [caption id="attachment_725950" align="alignnone" width="1920"] West Hotel Sydney, Curio Collection by Hilton[/caption]
Marrickville's Pizza Madre is already a firm favourite among pizza fanatics and vegetarians alike. Now, the shop is giving us even more to love with the launch of a monthly pizza and wine dinner. This month, Lo-Fi Wines will be in the house on Wednesday, April 10 from 7–9pm. Expect a pizza feast, along with a flight of six natural wines from Italy and Australia. The Aussie importer sources its wines from family-operated, sustainable producers from around the globe. So, expect minimal intervention, pét-nat and skin-contact wines on offer from Australia's Architects of Wine, Delinquente Wine and Ephemera, and Italy's Al Di La Del Fiume, Colombaia and Alessandro Viola. For eats, there'll be snacks on arrival, followed by a pizza and salad banquet — with enough pizza for guests to inhale one whole pie each. And everything, as usual in the restaurant, will be meat-free. There will be four pizzas up for grabs, including zucchini flower with rainbow tomato, yellow capsicum, black olive and pine nut crumb; potato, spinach and fried capers with fior di latte and smoked cheddar; and the butternut squash with fior di latte and buttermilk ricotta topped with walnuts and smoked garlic oil. The evening will finish up with a sweets and dessert wine pairing. The whole shebang will set you back $75 and seats are very limited — but there are a few spaces left, so grab 'em while you can. Pizza Madre's monthly wine dinners will continue with cool climate bottles from Canberra District's Mallaluka Wines in May and organic drops from the Blue Mountains' Frankly, This Wine Was Made By Bob in June. Keep an eye on the pizzeria's Facebook for event updates and ticket info. Image: Kitti Gould.
The new and improved Sydney Fish Market is one step closer to reality, with the site's final designs unveiled today. The ambitious $250 million revamp, which was first announced back in June last year, will see the original market relocated to bigger purpose-built premises, just next to the existing market at the eastern end of Blackwattle Bay. Designed by Danish architects 3XN, the new harbourside building looks mighty impressive. A curved roof will be crafted from timber and aluminium — a design element that's meant to emulate the scales of a fish. The new market will be much more accessible and make use of its waterfront location with a new promenade, ferry stop and public wharves also being incorporated into the project. According to the State Government, moving the market should open up that side of Blackwattle Bay to the public. "Relocating the fish market to the new site will return Blackwattle Bay's foreshore to the public, improve pedestrian and cycling links and connect more of Pyrmont to the water as part of the long-awaited revitalisation of the area," NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said in a statement today. Inside, the popular cooking school will be expanded and an assortment of bars, kiosks and restaurants will be made a focus so you'll ideally have even more options for staying for yum cha, lunch or dinner. Building expected to kick off in mid-2019 and completion slated for sometime in 2023. Because the build is a new structure, the existing market will continue to operate as usual while construction goes on.
IKEA and Ideabox, a U.S. architectural firm, have teamed up to create a line of fully furnished, prefabricated houses. The new homes, called Aktiv, are one-bedroom dwellings filled with space saving furniture and the usual Ikea fare, including Tundra maple flooring, Pax wardrobes and Abstrakt cabinets. Designed to be eco-friendly, the outside of the home will be made from a combination of fibre cement, corrugated metal and a standing seam metal roof. The Aktiv house is equipped with a dual-flush toilet and energy-star electronics to ensure it is more environmentally sound too. The house will incorporate the fun and design of Ideabox houses together with the functionality, design and personality of IKEA. The Aktiv is set to be priced from US$86,500. Prefab homes have already taken off overseas, and are set to provide Australians with an increasingly attractive construction option in the years to come. Check out ten incredible prefab home designs here. [via PSFK]
Back in 2019, the latest dessert craze landed in Sydney, when Demochi Donut opened on the streets of Banksia. Owner Dennis Chan (Dirty Bird food truck) somehow managed to fuse the airy, crispy elements of a doughnut with that chewy mochi texture — and, unsurprisingly, tastebuds were immediately tempted. Chan started working on these mochi masterpieces after finding a similar fusion doughnut served at a shop in Tokyo. He spent over five years perfecting his own recipe, and then finally released the blended sweet to the masses. Now, he's letting Sydneysiders make a version at home, too, thanks to Demochi's new DIY mini mochi doughnut ball kits. Reflecting the huge amount of time we're all now spending within our own four walls, DIY kits have been popping up frequently in 2020 — spanning everything from deep-fried ice cream to cannoli. We're betting that your stomach is always hungry for these tiny mochi-doughnut hybrids, though, with each of Demochi's kits letting you make 50 doughnut balls. For $25 plus shipping, you'll receive flour mix, original honey glaze, a piping bag and, crucially, instructions on exactly how to whip up your next sweet treat. Expect to spend about 20 minutes in the kitchen, and, if you need some guidance, Demochi has also put together a how-to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PiSjjJ_i03Q&feature=youtu.be To order Demochi's DIY cannoli kits, visit the store's website.
Get psychled! It's a new word that means "get excited about bicycles". Because between Clover Moore tirelessly championing her epic bike lane plan and Lance Armstrong inspiring kids all over the world to get "pumped", it's no wonder Sydney is enjoying a bicycle renaissance. We've sussed out seven of Sydney's best bicycle shops and found that whether you just want to get your brakes tightened or you're out to pimp your ride, there's something in store for everyone. 1 & 2. Omafiets and Glow Worm Bicycles 117B Addison Rd, Marrickville (on Agar St); omafiets.com.au 'Omafiets; literally means 'grandma bike' in Dutch, and the shop is run by three dashing young bike enthusiasts named Ollie, Maurice and Chris. They sell exquisite second-hand Dutch bicycles because the Dutch "produce bicycles for people who understand that cycling isn't a sport — it's the best way to get around town", and because they are excellent value. They also run Chain Lynx, a queer-friendly bike club that happens in-store every odd Wednesday at 6pm. Super. Whilst Omafiets only performs repairs on bikes originally from their store, their sister shop Glow Worm Bicycles (just around the corner) is run by Maurice and specialises in electric bikes. General servicing and repairs of non-Omafiets bikes can be done here and both stores boast a team of highly skilled, super-helpful bike experts. Image courtesy of Saskia Howard and CycleChic. 3. Clarence St Cyclery 4 Clarence St, Sydney; www.cyclery.com.au Established in 1975, Clarence St Cyclery is an institution amongst bicycle lovers. Run by a team of veteran mechanics, the store offers over 200 models in store and feels a bit like an art gallery for bicycles. As of June 2010, they have also opened up a store next door exclusively for women — the first of its kind in the country. What's more, a percentage of every bicycle sale purchased form Clarence St Cyclery is donated to the Cycling Promotion Fund to promote cycling and improve cycling facilities around Australia. 4. Wooleys Wheels 82 Oxford St, Paddington; www.woolyswheels.com Located amongst a stretch of boutique retail and fashion stores on Oxford Street, Woolys Wheels is a three-level bicycle haven. They stock the full line of Giant and Specialized bikes and a wide range of gear to suit all riding levels (including kids). It's a little on the pricey side, but a crew of helpful staff and baller mechanics make it their business to see you’re saddled up and ready to roll no matter the query. 5. Hell on Wheels 463 King Street, Newtown; www.hellonwheels.com.au This is the place to go for everything BMX and feels more like your friend's living room than a shop (if your friend is a bit nuts and crams every conceivable space in their living room with bike and skate gear). They stock all your BMX needs, including fixies, frames, accessories and protection gear as well as skate decks, shoes, hoodies, magazines and DVDs. If it's raining and you're not riding, then check out the epic bike videos on their homepage to make you feel invariably uncool and in awe. 6. tokyobike 1 Marys Pl, Surry Hills; www.tokyobike.com.au This store opened in Sydney in 2010 as the first permanent tokyobike outside the old suburb of Yanaka in Japan. Based on an ethos of the simplicity, comfort and enjoyment that comes with cycling, tokyobikes weigh between just 9 and 11 kilos. There are four different urban commuter models to suit both cruisers and speedsters, which you can take for a test ride at their sunny Surry Hills store. They also stock parts imported from Japan and a range of local accessories and provide bike maintenance and mechanics services. 7. Stallion Cycles Shop 2, 115 Lawson St, Redfern; www.stallionbikes.com The store is about the size of a peanut, but it's crammed with a range of beautiful hand-built vintage cycles, which spill out onto the sidewalk. Priding themselves on their craftsmanship, Stallion is the place to head if you're after custom design, made to order, rebuilt bikes and vintage accessories. They boast an extensive restoration and servicing list, and a Stallion Bikes full bicycle restoration comes with a one-year workmanship guarantee and a free first service. Tallyho! Honourable Mentions Cheeky Transport Bondi Bikes Cycle Re-Cycle (aka The Nunnery) Omafiets image courtesy of Saskia Howard and CycleChic. All other images courtesy of the stores.
For three weeks, Darlinghurst Theatre Company is transforming from a CBD hub for theatre, arts and cabaret into a live music haven, hosting a series of performances from some of the country's most exciting queer and gender-diverse musicians. Heading up the roster of boundary-pushing talent on opening night is local rapper JamarzOnMarz who made headlines in 2020 for speaking out against the policing of Black hairstyles in Australian school uniform codes. Also on the lineup: Charli XCX collaborator Banoffee and a slew of local talents including imbi, Okenyo and Huck Hastings, who will be launching his debut album as part of the program. Each night of the Darlo Sessions will feature a 7pm and a 9pm session. Tickets start at $35, but if you're looking for a jam-packed night of live music, you can purchase a double bill ticket to see both sessions for the reduced price of $76.50. Four tickets from each session are also reserved as part of a 'pay what you can' system for those who may face social barriers to attending. To complete the night, make sure make time to enjoy theatre company's summer menu courtesy of Two Trout Restaurant, featuring a selection of snacks and cheese, as well as ocean trout rillette and barbecue smoked chorizo. You can find the full lineup and purchase tickets via the Darlinghurst Theatre Company's website. [caption id="attachment_800805" align="alignnone" width="1920"] imbi by Rene Vaile[/caption] Top image: Robert Catto
