Sydney Film Festival might be over, but the Art Gallery of New South Wales isn't putting away its projector. In fact, it's cranking it up every Wednesday, Sunday and on select Saturdays, all to celebrate women in cinema. Called Merrily We Go to Hell, the venue's latest program focused on formidable female filmmakers and their trailblazing work — dating from the 1930s onwards. Running from Wednesday, June 26 through until Sunday, September 1, the cinema series kicks off with the movie that gives the whole program its name: Dorothy Arzner's 1932 box office hit. In the pioneering director's hands, a rom-com becomes an exploration of scandal and adultery (and a then-unknown Cary Grant also pops up). Remarkably, Arzner was the only female director working in 1930s Hollywood. Other highlights include Ida Lupino's 1950s noir The Hitch-Hiker, glorious 1960s Czech New Wave classic Daisies, Elaine May's delightfully funny A New Leaf, Claudia Weill's female friendship-focused Girlfriends and Anna Biller's vivid, lurid The Love Witch. Or, you can catch Lynne Ramsay's Ratcatcher and Morven Callar, the Tilda Swinton-starring Orlando from Sally Potter, Lucrecia Martel's The Headless Woman and Indonesian feminist neo-western Marlina the Murderer in Four Acts.
If your ideal weekend includes meandering through a farmers market, picking up fresh fruit and veg, then add Hillview Farms Produce and Artisan Market to your hit list. Happening every Saturday, the market has everything you need to make a Saturday night feast, or to get meal prepping for the week ahead. What began as an apple orchard, then a fruit and veg stall roaming various Sydney markets and an online store with home deliveries, Hillview Farms now has several market stalls and an online store, as well as hosting its own Saturday market in its Leichhardt warehouse — all with the promise of getting Sydneysiders some of the best pesticide-free produce around. Not only can you pick up perfectly ripe produce, beautiful blooms and a large range of artisanal goods from the market, but you can do it knowing that local farmers, producers and growers are being supported. First-time customers get a free takeaway coffee at checkout, should you need some java after a big Friday. Just remember to bring your reusable shopping bags along, then get ready to fill them to the brim. Hillview Farms Produce and Artisan Market runs from 8am–2pm every Saturday. There is free onsite parking, and it is are located 200 metres from Hawthorne Light Rail Station.
Prepare to say "accio remote!" and get comfier than Hermione Granger in a library. In the latest news that'll keep you glued to your couch this summer — and your latest fodder for an at-home movie marathon — everyone's favourite boy wizard will soon be working his magic on Netflix. You won't need the Marauder's Map to find these enchanting flicks. Come Tuesday, January 15, all eight movies in the Harry Potter series will hit the streaming platform, bringing their Hogwarts-set adventures to both Australian and New Zealand audiences. If you've watched your DVD copies from the 2000s so many times that they're showing a little wear and tear — or your laptop no longer has a disc drive — this is butterbeer-worthy news. Yes, everything from Harry's (Daniel Radcliffe) first visit to Platform 9 and 3/4, the Yule Ball, the Triwizard Tournament, many a fluttering snitch and He Who Must Not Be Named will be at your fingertips. Prime viewing for wizards, witches and muggles alike — all 19 hours and 39 minutes of it. The Fantastic Beasts films won't be joining them, with this journey through JK Rowling's wizarding world keeping its focus on the original franchise. The news comes hot on the heels of Stan's announcement that it's now home to a hefty batch of Marvel, Pixar, Star Wars and Disney movies and TV shows. If you're thinking that a time-turner might come in handy over the next few months, we completely understand. Find Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber Of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and the Goblet Of Fire, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 and Part 2 on Netflix from Tuesday, January 15.
From Thursday, January 5–Sunday, January 29, Sydney Festival is kicking off 2023 in a massive way. The huge citywide fest's second year under Artistic Director Olivia Ansell boasts 748 performances across 54 venues, including more than 100 unique events — 26 of which won't cost attendees a thing. And, there's 18 world premieres and 14 Australian exclusives. No matter what kind of cultural experience take your fancy, there's clearly no shortage of highlights in the 25-day program. That includes turning Sydney Town Hall into a beach courtesy of 26 tonnes of sand, which is exactly what Lithuanian opera Sun & Sea, is doing. Performed in the round, it explores the climate emergency, is certain to make for a memorable show, and is one of Sydney Festival's Australian exclusives. Also unlikely to be forgotten quickly: the Australian premiere of Frida Kahlo: Life of an Icon, a multi-sensory art experience dedicated to the iconic Mexican painter. Hailing from Spanish digital arts company Layers of Reality, alongside the Frida Kahlo Corporation, it'll take over the Cutaway with holography, 360-degree projections and live performances of traditional Mexican music, as well as a virtual-reality system that'll let you step inside the artist's iconic pieces. Other standouts include Bonobo hitting the decks at the Masonic Centre, and turning its banquet hall into a unique dance party; performance piece In Chamber, which literally takes place in a safe in the basement of the Margot Kimpton Hotel; ROOM, the latest surreal theatre piece by James Thiérrée; and Tracker, which sees choreographer-director Daniel Riley combine dance, ceremony and text. Or, there's also 16 days of live music inside the 70s-era underground bar beneath Martin Place's Harry Seidler-designed Commercial Travellers' Association building (yes, the mushroom building). That subterranean space remains unrenovated, so expect The Weary Traveller, as the fest-within-the-fest is called, to serve up a huge blast from the past (plus tunes by Alice Skye, Astral People, Automatic, June Jones, Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith, Lil Silva, Party Dozen, Tom Snowdon, Moktar, Two Birds with Bayand, Coloured Stone, HTRK and Potion). In the same structure, the 28-room hotel itself is being taken over by American artist Kelsey Lu. You'll want to check in for this one, and stay the evening — because In The Lucid: A Dream Portal to Awakening is an eight-hour audio journey. Heartbreak High fans will want to catch Blue, and fans of homegrown theatre as well — it stars and has been written by AACTA Award-winner Thomas Weatherall, and will enjoy its world premiere at Sydney Festival. Or, for something completely different, a Shinjuku-inspired magic bar will pop up at Darling Harbour, transporting you to Tokyo if you haven't already made Japan holiday plans now that the country has reopened its borders. The list goes on, including Bloodlines, an exhibition paying tribute to artists lost to HIV/AIDS; The Party, which'll celebrate Sydney's LGBTQIA+ nightlife and party culture between 1973–2002; and Retrosweat hosting a big 80s pool party that, yes, will involve aqua aerobics. Or, there's flamenco dancer Sara Bara in Alma at the Sydney Opera House; Dead Puppet Society and Legs On The Wall's take on the Trojan war in Holding Achilles; drag brunch show Smashed: The Brunch Party hosted by Victoria Falcone; and Prinnie Stevens singing tunes by superstars like Aretha Franklin, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Whitney Houston and Beyoncé. Plus, Sydney Symphony Orchestra will celebrate Lunar New Year outdoors at Parramatta Park; Polar Force at Carriageworks explores the extremes of ice and wind by pairing Antarctic field recordings with live industrial percussion; and Restless Dance Theatre's dance piece Guttered is set in a real-life bowling alley. And, Lego lovers can check out a new Brickwrecks exhibition, which recreates shipwrecks with the plastic bricks. Also, ENESS, who was behind the 2022 fest's Airship Orchestra, is back with Cupid's Koi Garden — which'll give Tumbalong Park a six-metre-tall immersive water-play park right in the middle of summer. Top image: Sam Roberts Photography.
If you know your chim chim cher-ees from your chim chim cher-oos, this one's for you. This spring, over three consecutive performances, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra will play the entire score of Mary Poppins live, while the original film screens in the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall. Released way back in 1964 and based on a series of books by Australian-born writer P.L. Travers, the Walt Disney film has been a childhood staple since. If you haven't spent at least one sleepless night trying to memorise the spelling of supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, then, quite frankly, you haven't lived. Other unforgettable songs among the score include "A Spoonful of Sugar", "Feed the Birds" and "Let's Go Fly a Kite". They're all the work of the Sherman Brothers, who wrote more film scores than any other composing duo in history. Just some of the soundtracks in their oeuvre are Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Jungle Book, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, Charlotte's Web and The Aristocrats. That's right, you have a lot to thank them for.
Plastic is a major ecological burden impacting oceans around the world, including here in Sydney. Researchers predict that by 2050 plastic will outweigh fish in the sea. Those looking to make a difference while enjoying a uniquely Sydney experience can join this guided kayak around Sydney Harbour that also serves to cleanup the ocean. Sydney by Kayak is an organisation that runs kayaking lessons and tours throughout the city. For the past several years, the company has been running guided tours with the express purpose of removing rubbish from the ocean. The sustainability-focused tours generally hit the harbour four days a week: Monday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. Each tour runs from 9.30–11am and costs $50 per person. Included in the tour is 90 minutes on the water taking in the sights and removing rubbish from the water, two kayak guides to take you around, photos in front of the Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge and a complimentary coffee (in a reusable cup of course). All equipment is also provided and cleaned with marine safe disinfectant between tours. Sydney by Kayak is aiming to collect 200 kilograms of rubbish in February 2021 and also donates $15 from every seat sold to funding Seabins around Sydney. You can book online or email laura@sydneybykayak.com.au for a private tour for 8–12 people.
Fast forward to the end of December and we all know we're going to be committing to staying fit come 2021 for our New Year's resolution. We may not follow through, but a fresh sportswear outfit can be some good motivation. If you're looking to get in early, LSKD is lending a helping hand by taking up to 70 percent off its sportswear in its huge Black Friday sale. Formed in 2007, LSKD (pronounced loose kid) is an Australian-owned and operated clothing company specialising in sportswear, streetwear and accessories. The company produces high-quality, stylish clothes for both men and women ready for a trip to the beach, gym or a night out. From 6pm Tuesday, November 24 until Thursday, December 3, LSKD will be offering a heap of its threads wildly low prices, from women's tights, tanks and sports bras to men's tees, hoodies and shorts. This is the brand's only sale of the year so check out the store and maybe save a few bucks. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
If jungle vibes while shopping for greenery sounds like your perfect outing, head along to the Jungle Collective's indoor plant sale on Saturday, January 16–Sunday, January 17. It's the latest greenery-filled Sydney market from the Melbourne nursery, which stocks all kinds of weird and wonderful species. Yes, it is trucking its way up north again for another venture — and, after hosting plenty of online-only events over the past year, this sale is a 100-percent in-person affair. Whether you're after a hanging pot plant, some palms for the garden or a giant Bird of Paradise, chances are you'll find it here. Have a reputation for killing your cacti? Overwatering your ferns? Don't worry — there'll be horticulturalists on site on the night to give you advice and chat through any questions you might have. Get inspired by greenery aplenty and learn to incorporate plants into your home and living spaces, all while browsing and soaking up some tunes. Jungle Collective is turning this event into a bit of a maze, too, so you'll enter in one spot, wander along a designated path and leave in a completely different area. Best get in quick though — these markets are always popular, with more than 170 different species usually on offer. Due to expected demand, the sale will be held in 30-minute sessions across both days, and attendees will need to register for free tickets in advance. Plus, if you come decked out in at least two items of beach attire (think: inflatables, bathers, towels, sunglasses and hats) — and spend at least $10 — you'll also get $5 off your purchase.
Head down to Surry Hills every Wednesday–Sunday for $10 cocktails made with one of Australia's most beloved gins. Four Pillars, the repeat winner of World's Best Gin Producer, has launched a happy hour at its Sydney gin laboratory running 5–7pm every Wednesday–Friday and 3–5pm on weekends. The happy hour deal is available at Eileen's Bar, the lab's public bar. Negronis, martinis, Tom Collins and the distillery's signature G&Ts are all on offer for just $10. Plus, you can nab some cheap bar snacks to pair with your financially-savvy drinks. The affordable cocktails make an ideal post-work drink for those heading back to the office, or the perfect lead-in to Saturday night out. The deal is only available for a limited time, although Four Pillars haven't revealed when it will wrap up. To ensure you nab a spot during happy hour, you can book at table at Eileen's bar via Four Pillar's website. [caption id="attachment_774870" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Anson Smart[/caption] Images: Anson Smart
The best way to start an interview, I find, is to break the ice a bit. In this case, I was interviewing the young spunky dudes behind the latest Bayswater road venue, The Courtyard. I introduced myself to James and politely informed him that he had pen on his face. "Ah thanks," he replied, "it's a scar." Smooth. Anyway, luckily the guys are lovely and have a good sense of humour, which is impressive when you learn that on top of opening a bar, they work regular jobs. The Courtyard is a bar that's built on friendships; that of the three owners Julian Tobias, James Reynolds and Alec Brown and that of their friends (and friends-of-friends) who helped them put it together. Reynolds (also an engineer) and Brown have been mates since their uni days. Brown (also a DJ) met Tobias working the decks at The Club, which Tobias also owns (as well as The Island). The area has suffered its fair share of businesses going bust (the constant redevelopment of the old Bayswater Brassiere, the long-abandoned Lincoln and the closures of Time to Vino and Concrete Blonde), but Bayswater Road itself is a pretty, terraced-lined and leafy street with lots of potential. It's got a new residential building opening at the old Mansions site (which I'm sure nobody will miss). So here’s hoping The Courtyard is a sign of good things to come. And really, if you can redevelop The Bourbon to somewhere we'd actually be seen drinking, anything is possible. The bar itself is built on a maze of hospitality connections and Sydney social networks such as "interior designer friends who helped us out with colour palates, textures and furnishings" or "one of our connections put us in touch with Jasper, an incredible cocktail bartender from New York" and "good friends" who run successful restaurants in Sydney helping them create their menu and wine list. These guys have a lot of experience amongst them promoting, bartending and running venues around Sydney but admit "we're not experts on a lot of things but have a lot of connections so we just went straight to the top and asked for help," says Brown. "We just said," agrees Reynolds with a laugh, "I'm sure I've let you into a club at 4am or given you a free drink at some point, so now I'm calling in that favour." The result is a casual/cool bar that fills the gaping hole in the Cross for a nice place to have a drink and something to eat without wrestling with surly security, trashed teenagers or Underbelly characters. Located underneath Hugo's, the Courtyard's best asset is its ample outdoor seating area, which is decorated with long high tables, green palms and garden patio-style seating. As for the music, there's going to be live acoustic sets, and it's no surprise that many of Brown's DJ buddies are popping by. "I've got some pretty good pull in the industry and lots of people are just showing up for cameos," he says. "You might just turn around and see Flight Facilities here." The food won't break any records for originality, with sliders, salads and snacking boards like antipasto and zucchini flowers. It's very reasonably priced though and there are some good flavour combinations. The beef brisket slider with aged cheddar and pickled onions is our pick. On the drinks front, the aforementioned Jasper Soffer (from the renowned Pegu club in New York) has been consulting on the cocktail list, which admirably doesn't have any drinks based on vodka. But before all women under 25 get tense, don't. "Any cocktail can be made with a neutral base like vodka on request, but we want people to experiment with something a bit different," says Brown. Such as the El Mariachi with tequila, watermelon, chilli, lime and sugar. Try it. You might like it. They're also doing pitchers like Pimms and Sangria ($45) and shots (yes shots) like a Pine Splice with pineapple-infused pisco, homemade lime syrup and fresh lemon ($11). The wines, too, are fairly approachable with some good internationals from France, Italy and Austria — like a Laurenz 'Singing' Gruner Veltliner, and most are around the $30-$50 mark by the bottle. "If you back yourself on your food, cocktails and your wine, people will come back because they know its good," says Reynolds. "We spent a lot of money to make sure we know it is." "I'm not sure what the other operators are doing, but I've been working in this area for five years and seen places come and go I think we've created somewhere that we ourselves would like to drink in, at this point in our lives, and we're confident others will too,” says Brown. You'll likely see James, Alec and Julian there on any given night, drinking with some of the many people that helped them open their bar — and when you do, give James a big, awkward high five for us. Courtyard Bar opens on Friday, 22 March. 33 Bayswater Road, Potts Point; 0413 827 740; http://www.facebook.com/thecourtyardbarsydney.
The pandemic has impacted countless celebrations. Birthdays have been postponed, weddings got cancelled, some people spent Christmas in lockdown. But one national day the pandemic won't stand in the way of is National Bacon Day. Saturday, September 4 marks International Bacon Day and, locally, an all-star lineup of restaurants and suppliers have assembled to provide one-off menu items that go extra heavy on the bacon. Among those participating are Colin Fassnidge, Nomad, Sixpenny, Bistro Rex, and Cuckoo Callay. Nomad will serve a bacon, leek, manchego and Manjimup truffle pie, Sixpenny, who recently launched delivery, will be baking a presumably next-level take on the classic Aussie cheese and bacon scroll, Cronulla's Blackwood Pantry is making B&Es available for delivery via UberEats, and Good Ways Deli is crafting an elevated take on the bacon butty with streaky bacon, Pepe Saya butter and brown sauce on a ciabatta roll. Swing past the Surry Hills outpost of Cuckoo Callay and nab a bacon and manchego potato cake with artery-hardening bacon fat asparagus, poached egg, bacon hollandaise and crispy onion, or order a three-course Father's Day mystery meal from Colin Fassnidge. National Bacon Day isn't just an excuse to get neck-deep in bacon; it's (other) purpose is to promote locally sourced pork. "We do our best to use only Australian produce and with animal products there are no exceptions," says Good Ways Deli's Jordan McKenzie. "Buying local goes a long way towards using less resources, less plastic, and meaning farmers and producers get paid properly." Jacqui Challinor of Nomad echoed this sentiment, saying: "Now is such an important time to get behind our Aussie farmers and give them some much needed support. With the restaurant and export industries suffering so heavily right now, the farmers are feeling the full effects of this. Eating bacon is a pretty enjoyable way of showing them some love of I do say so myself." Jacqui Challinor is a wise woman.
Looking for a DIY punch-in-the-gut experience (who isn't)? Shut yourself into your room, close the curtains, turn up your computer real bright, and cue up the Children Collide film clip for 'Loveless'. Initially, your eyebrows may be knitted with confusion, as you're confronted with the square sight of the band's frontman, Johnny Mackay, done up in clown face and staring straight back at you. The song itself wafts with a bare yearning that knocks around your head long after it finishes. We won't ruin it for you, but suffice to say by the end you won't quite be sure what just happened for the past five or so minutes. Children Collide are now giving the song its first live airing, with a 12-date tour across the country. They'll be joined on the Loveless tour by bands DZ Deathrays & Damn Terran, making it a triple threat assault of the senses. Get amongst it – after all, we can't shut ourselves in our rooms all the time. https://youtube.com/watch?v=oCZhYf9hPCE
Just a couple of weeks ago, the stretch of Elizabeth Street between Goulburn and Campbell was a "cultural chernobyl": one of the most God-forsaken, bricked-up eyesores in the CBD. A crew of professional photographers have unilaterally hijacked this carpark wall, installing a street gallery of 40 large-scale works at their own expense, and subsequently earning the support from the council. The artists have declared it the Elizabeth Street Gallery. The photographs are beautifully composed shots of urban Sydney life in all its chaos and contradiction. The ethnic diversity of Western Sydney, the sunny affluence of Manly, the gentrification of Newtown and the swagger of the local hip hop community are all there in vibrant colour, extreme contrast and short focus. It's a neat conceptual circle: the city and its people reflected back at themselves. The crew — Dean Sewell, James Brickwood, James Alcock, Andrew Quilty, Nick Walker and George Voulgaropoulos — work nine to five at Fairfax. They're part of a generation of artists remixing blank city spaces, and they're not waiting for authorisation from state institutions. The repercussions of this guerilla project stretch far beyond the beautification and creative invasion of public space. The Elizabeth Street Gallery is exemplary of that awe-inspiring combination of pragmatism and utopianism that artists do best. Their ingenuity is often laughed at, then swiftly incorporated into the mainstream. Five years ago, temporary galleries in empty shopfronts were considered out-there and unrealistic. Now, high-end retail pop up stores grace every second block of Oxford St and the Elizabeth Street Gallery looks like it's being kept. It's an ironic indication of the unquantifiable and often unrecognised contribution artists make to cities and communities. While you're in the area, swing by The Conductor's Project — a likeminded public art project that installs contemporary works in disused display cabinets (inside the ticketed area) at St James and Museum Stations. The Elizabeth Street Gallery seems to be staying in place for the forseeable future.
If you've been languishing in the absence of Goodgod, here's your chance to get that basement mojo working again. The Goodgod folks are back. And they've just announced their first move: a reassembling at the Opera House during Vivid LIVE for a four-night extravaganza, happening over two weekends. Dubbed Goodgod Super Club, the event will take over the Studio, turning it into the nightclub of Goodgod's dreams. Every evening, a genre-smashing, powerhouse DJ will team up with a like-minded Aussie for extended sets, designed to make you dance until you're free. "For decades people have gone to nightclubs to dance their troubles away," said Goodgod's Jimmy Sing. "But nowadays it feels that clubs are rarely designed with that dancefloor experience and its liberating potential in mind. So that's what Goodgod Super Club's purpose will be — a seriously incredible dancefloor journey." Opening proceedings on Friday, May 27 will be Simon Caldwell (Mad Racket) and Bradley Zero, who hails from Peckham in the UK. If you've checked out the Boiler Room, listened to NTS Radio or ever made it to a Rhythm Section pool hall party, you'll be familiar with this underground dance hero. Get grimy when Mike Who (Astral People, FBI Radio) and Oneman (aka Steve Bishop) hit the decks on Saturday, May 28. Oneman has built a major following on the back of his flawless mixing of grime, old-school UK garage, DMZ-era dubstep and Atlanta's purple haze rap. Just a handful of the names he's played sessions with are Major Lazer, SBTRKT, Jamie xx, Jackmaster and Ben UFO. After a week's rest, you'll be hankering to get back into the action. Magda Bytnerowicz (4our) and Kyle Hall (Wild Oats) are your hosts on Friday, June 3. Hall, who comes from Detroit, is the progeny of techno's second wave pioneers: Omar-S, Theo Parrish and Carl Craig, and his latest album, Joy, is an homage to the Motor City. By way of grand finale, Chanel (LOW TON) will be arriving on Saturday, June 4, alongside New Yorker Joey LaBeija and Brooklyn rapper Junglepussy. LaBeija's album Shattered Dreams has featured in the world's leading galleries, including MoMA and the Brooklyn Museum. His relentless creative mix is a mashup of ballroom, rap, Rihanna and reggaeton, underpinned with addictive percussion. Tix go on sale on Wednesday 23 March at 9am. Get your mitts on them over here or by calling (02) 9250 7777.
Saharan nude, matcha green and pink lily are just some of the personalised leather accessory colours you'll be able to nab at Maison de Sabré's pop-up store from Thursday, May 13. The luxury leather brand will launch its first Australian brick-and-mortar store inside Pitt Street Mall, and it's set to stay until July 2021. The 85sqm pop-up space will also host new product launches, exclusive collaborations and real-time product personalisation through augmented reality. Maison de Sabré's complete range of leather accessories including phone cases, wallets and bags will be on show. Gold or silver monogram detailing is available on all products, with colours like lavendar purple, walnut brown, black caviar and lapis blue. Maison de Sabré was founded on the Gold Coast in 2017 and now is sold in Japan and the USA.
You know what's better than a haunted house? A haunted hotel. You know what's better than a haunted hotel? A massive bloody party inside a haunted hotel. We can only assume that this was the reasoning behind the second coming of Harpoon Harry's Horror Hotel. This year, they've teamed up with photography collective Hobogestapo to transform the entirety of the Surry Hills venue into a wicked party, packed with spooky trimmings. Featuring music from Frames and Hobogestapo's very own Hobophonics — and with costuming being described as essential — this should be one ghoulish get-down. Doors will be open from 8pm.
Do you remember the first time that you saw a pastel-hued facade, ornate interior detailing, or something gloriously symmetrical indoors or out, then thought "that looks like something out of a Wes Anderson film"? For almost three decades now, we've all done it. Since his feature debut Bottle Rocket, the Asteroid City and The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar director has firmly established his stylistic trademarks, ensuring that a Wes Anderson movie is always immediately recognisable as a Wes Anderson movie no matter which of the filmmaker's regular actors is in front of the camera. Brooklyn-based husband and wife Wally and Amanda Koval shared this line of thinking to the point of creating an Instagram account around it in 2017. Accidentally Wes Anderson now has 1.9-million followers. The social media feed is a curated selection of images from real life that look like Anderson has staged, styled and shot them, but hasn't — and after taking films as inspiration for an online compilation of images, Accidentally Wes Anderson has taken the IRL route itself via an exhibition. At Accidentally Wes Anderson: The Exhibition, 200-plus images await — and they're all coming to Australia for the first time. Following past runs in Tokyo and Seoul, and present seasons in London and Los Angeles, the immersive art experience will make its Down Under debut in Melbourne from Wednesday, September 18, 2024, complete with ten rooms. Some of the exhibition's walls feature facades that Anderson must covet, others find landscape that'd make the perfect Anderson backdrop, and plenty highlight either vintage vehicles or enchanting hotels. Yes, pastel tones pop up frequently. So does symmetry, including in the exhibition's presentation. The idea is to make you feel like you're stepping into Anderson's flicks by showing how the world beyond his frames often conjures up that sensation anyway. To borrow from a different filmmaker, is this the Wes Anderson version of Inception? Attendees enter an exhibition of real-life pictures inspired by an Instagram account that's inspired by Anderson's moving pictures, particularly his aesthetic within them that takes cues from real life. Accidentally Wes Anderson has also been turned into a book, too, plus a website with a map spanning almost 2000 spots across the planet that fit the theme. At Accidentally Wes Anderson: The Exhibition, patrons arrive via the lobby, then explore a space dedicated to portals, then embrace an array of facades. Checking out sections devoted to coastal scenes, planes and trains (and automobiles, of course), sports, accommodation and nature is also on the agenda. There's a space that'll get you watching big-screen travel adventures, too — and, just for Australia, one about Aussie spots that evoke Anderson. For souvenirs, you'll exit through the Accidentally Wes Anderson shop.
Dance music lovers are well and truly catered for this Spring. With the new three-day festival S.A.S.H. Sleepout geared for September, lovers of big drops and tight beats have already been planning carpools for the warmer months. Planning an exclusive dance music haven to rival your imagination, festival promoters Disktrict want to keep the tempo high until November with the second instalment of Return To Rio. Founded by Ricky Cooper (Tricky) and Nick Law (Lawless), Disktrict launched as a local dance party arbiter of Sydney's east in mid-2012. It didn't take the DJ duo long to dabble into festival territory, holding a rainy but relatively successful Return To Rio a year later. The three-day dance music festival promises more surprises and rhyming riddles than ever — Disktrict are keeping tight-lipped about the lineup until all of the limited 1500 tickets sell out. Taking over the Del Rio Riverside Resort in Wiseman's Ferry for a weekend in mid-November, Return To Rio shares many of the same traits with the ill-fated, end of summer retreat, Playground Weekender. Due to a major risk of flooding, the five-year-strong dance festival was cancelled in 2012 just hours before it was meant to take off, and wasn't able to recover from the financial blowout. Hopefully the weather doesn't make any threats this time around. The poolside party vibes, the obligatory fancy dress and the beautiful venue have stayed the same but the let-your-imagination-go-wild ethos and a greater emphasis on exclusivity seem to be the defining characteristics of Return To Rio. Even buying a ticket is shrouded in secrecy, with organisers encouraging punters to ask their music industry friends where the ticket scoop's at. Ticket prices have taken a small leap up from $120 to $150, but Return to Rio are promising an even better beat-heavy lineup than last year's, which included Mad Racket, S.A.S.H., Love Bombs, Start Cue, Murat Killic, Wonderland Ave, Simon Caldwell and a truckload of others. Return to Rio runs November 14 – 16 at Del Rio Riverside Resort, Wiseman's Ferry. Tickets and more info available here. Images by Kate Ryan.
Goodfellas has all of the charm of an old school barbershop, mixed with all of the modern convenience of a modern salon. Specialising in fades, trims, beards and shape-ups, the barbers has men leaving each appointment feeling better than ever. Your service can also include a hot towel, face mask and special hair treatments, too. The stylists here are especially knowledgeable and prices are very reasonable — crew cuts start at $20. The place has a vibe all its own, with tiled floors and walls and those classic barbershop chairs — you'll nearly expect to see a barbershop quartet singing out front. Image: Hai Phung
A business card with Carly Rae Jepsen's immortal words "Call Me Maybe" has been doing the rounds on Facebook for the last few months. And while we had a little giggle at this one, it pales in comparison to some of the wacky and wonderful business cards out there. With designs that range from a balloon to a fortune cookie to a lego piece, here are some of our favourite creative business cards. Mais Pilates Studio's business cards The Bombay Bakery's Edible Business Card Charlotte Simonsen, Your Local Lego Expert Pfizer's Viagra Business Cards Freelance Photography Business Cards Divorce Lawyer James Mahon Design your Own Future with Daniel Butler Cut the Excess Weight with this Fitness Trainer Furniture specialists Tok & Stok Gengaivan Likes Everything Second-Hand Local Chest Physician Dr. Niphadkar's Card Reboot your Life with Psychologist Jack Napier Fly into Paperplane Graphics
"Fan art" comes in a bizarre array of forms. Couch-dwelling admirers of films and television series have brought us such timeless works of art as Elvis murals made from burnt toast, life-size stormtrooper costumes and the burgeoning industry of "fan fiction". While this sort of fandom, at times bordering on obsession, tends to be fairly laughable, Spanish artist Iñaki Aliste Lizarralde has transformed her TV fixation into something truly fascinating, creating hand-drawn, blueprints of some of television's most beloved apartments. With these intricate aerial views fans can now take a virtual tour through the apartments of Sex and the City, The Big Bang Theory and Friends, while forever wondering how a bunch of characters that seem to divide their time fairly evenly between coffee houses and trendy bars manage to afford these fab pads. Friends - Chandler & Joey and Monica & Rachel's Apartments The Big Bang Theory - Sheldon & Leonard and Penny's Apartments Frasier - Frasier Crane's Apartment Sex and the City - Carrie Bradshaw's Apartment Original Batman TV series - Wayne Manor
The spookiest time of the year is here, which means different things to different people. Perhaps you think you're never too old to don a costume and go trick-or-treating. Maybe you just like the excuse to eat plenty of lollies. Or, you could enjoy diving headfirst into as much horror viewing as you can manage. For folks in the latter category — and those who like dressing up, too — the Georges River Council is hosting the type of event you'll want to add to your calendar. On Saturday, October 30, it's celebrating Halloween by bringing back its Frightful 80s Drive-In Cinema, which'll be free to attend at Donnelly Park in Connells Point. As for what you'll be watching, this pop-up drive-in is screening 80s vampire classic The Lost Boys. Get ready for a blonde-haired Kiefer Sutherland, not one but two Coreys (Haim and Feldman), and a tale of teenagers and the undead set in a Californian beach town. Entry opens at 5pm, with the film kicking off at 7.30pm. There are no bookings or tickets, so arriving early to nab a spot is recommended. Also, if you deck out your car in a costume — yes, you read that correctly — and you can win a prize for the best-dressed vehicle. Top image: Elder.
The northwest suburb of Epping is set to host its own one-off festival when the first (and last) Langston Weekender hits town later this month. Launching into summer from Friday, November 30, until Sunday, December 2, the event will descend on buildings, carparks and roads surrounding Langston Place's soon-to-be demolished Westpac building — the soon-to-be demolished The three-day celebrations will transform the precinct into a hive of fun and colour, complete with market stalls, food and drink pop-ups, entertainment and art. A dedicated foodie hub will play host to a plethora of favourites, including Jerusalem-style street food from Knafeh, baked goods from Brickfields Bakery, sammies from Satriale's Deli, and specialties from Koi Dessert Bar, Burgers By Josh and Mecca Coffee. Meanwhile, a broad-ranging live music program will make its home within specially converted site The Underground, backed by libations from the likes of Grasshopper Bar and Wayward Brewing Co. Throw in live art performances by Andrew Dennis and Zara Pasfield and a special happy hour offering (to be announced via the event's Facebook page), and you've got yourself one heck of a street party. It'll also be one last chance to enjoy the space before it turns into a construction site for new development The Langston.
This Historic Houses Trust exhibition, one of the first since Margaret Olley's death last year, is part of the long goodbye to the iconic Modernist Australian artist. It celebrates Olley's life and work through an exploration of the place at Duxford Street, Paddington, that she packed with flowers, antiques, easels, wine and friends and called home. The giant terrace was a living thing; it remains an ongoing legacy of Olley's contribution to Australian art history, and will shortly be dissected and born again as a public arts centre. In the meantime, Margaret Olley: Home offers a glimpse of Duxford Street's glorious, colourful chaos. The show comprises a compact series of paintings and photographs of the interiors of Duxford Street, a small recreation of a room in the house and a film by Catherine Hunter. Every saturated stroke in Olley's oils (bridging from 1972 to 2011) are charged with energy and vigour - they form a fluent conversation with exhibition curator Steve Alderton's photographs and suggest something far from a still life. In its totality, Margaret Olley: Home is fragmentary - an affectionate snapshot of somewhere huge and rich and strange that belongs to a bygone era. Not unlike Olley's paintings, the show is impressionistic. It's a bit like looking through a kaleidoscope - a scattered, light-filled view that indicates the outlines of things in movement much more than their complete form. We're left with a sense of finding and creating art in the everyday. Of creativity as a lived, daily adventure and of art stretching off the canvas, out of the gallery and into the home. A must see mainly for admirers of Olley's work.
It's been 14 years since Iron Man first soared onto cinema screens, started a huge film and TV franchise, and sparked popular culture's biggest current behemoth — and, 29 movies, a heap of streaming shows and oh-so-much success later, is there any realm that the Marvel Cinematic Universe hasn't conquered? It's the main reason that plenty of people go to the movies. It keeps pumping out new Disney+ shows every few months, too. All things Marvel were already a hit on the page, obviously, before the comic book company's wares became box-office catnip. And Marvel-themed events, including exhibitions, keep popping up as well. Back in Brisbane in 2017, the Gallery of Modern Art played host to a huge showcase of Marvel costumes and props, in fact — and while that was a one-city, once-off affair, Marvel fans can now take a gander at a new batch of MCU paraphernalia. Fancy getting a close look at mjolnir, stormbreaker, the necrosword, Zeus' lightning bolt, and Valkyrie's dagger and sword? Then you've clearly seen Thor: Love and Thunder, and you'll now want to make a date with the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) in Melbourne. The Federation Square venue has welcomed in a selection of items from the fourth Thor flick, including all of the aforementioned weaponry — which plays a significant part in the Taika Waititi (Jojo Rabbit)-directed feature. Also on display: outfits by costume designer Mayes Rubeo (an Emmy-winner for WandaVision and Oscar-nominee for Jojo Rabbit), including those worn by Chris Hemsworth (Spiderhead) as Thor and Natalie Portman (Vox Lux) as Jane/The Mighty Thor. ACMI's new Thor: Love and Thunder showcase includes pieces donned by Christian Bale (Ford v Ferrari) as galactic killer Gorr the God Butcher as well, and by Tessa Thompson (Passing) as King Valkyrie. And yes, clothing that decked out Russell Crowe (Unhinged) as a tutu-wearing, lightning bolt-flinging Zeus is also now in the museum's range. The Marvel costumes and props have joined the centre's centrepiece exhibition, The Story of the Moving Image, which is free to view — but they'll only be on display until July 28, 2023. And no, there are no screaming goats on offer, sadly — but if you've seen the movie, you probably still have that sound stuck in your head. The Thor: Love and Thunder costumes and props are on display at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image, Federation Square, Melbourne, as part of free centrepiece exhibition The Story of the Moving Image, until July 28, 2023. Read our full Thor: Love and Thunder review. Thor: Love and Thunder image: Jasin Boland. ©Marvel Studios 2022. All Rights Reserved. Exhibition images: courtesy Marvel Studios, Peter Tarasiuk Photography.
"Does it always have to end up in a big giant dance battle?" asks the latest Step Up film, Step Up All In. Yes, that's an actual line of dialogue in a movie about trading fancy footwork for supremacy. The feature's Moose (Adam G. Sevani) poses the question to his ragtag gang of friends when yet another squabble sees them settling things on the dance floor. In doing so, he becomes the series' most self-aware expression, as well as the clearest enunciation of its purpose. Dance battles — plus contests, trials, tryouts, auditions, and any other competitive outlets — remain prominent not only to showcase performers' skills and add drama but to allow something to be dreamed about and aspired to, then achieved, attained and overcome. So if you've seen even one dance movie, whether from the Step Up franchise or any other (or even just Zoolander or Guardians of the Galaxy), then you know that yes, it does always have to end up in a big giant dance battle. Of course, there's more to be learned from the many efforts that have shuffled across screens since the days of Busby Berkley, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. What other important knowledge do dance films impart? We trawled through the best and worst to find out. Nobody should stay in the corner If there's one lesson the Step Up franchise preaches again and again, it's that playing by the rules doesn't offer a path to glory. If the first film's hero, played by Channing Tatum, hadn't vandalised a prestigious performing arts school and been burdened with helping clean up as punishment, the entire course of the series may have changed — and Tatum may not have become the cinema superstar he now is today. Indeed, he peddled the same message in the semi-autobiographical Magic Mike, where working a stripping job frowned upon by most offers the titular character his only hope of earning enough money to finance his dream business. Tatum is following in formidable footsteps, with ignoring instructions a dance movie staple across all possible extremes of the subgenre. In family-oriented effort Girls Just Want to Have Fun, a young Sarah Jessica Parker constantly falls afoul of her dad in her efforts to dance, while in Dario Argento's horror film Suspiria, an American ballet student in Munich finds out the truth about her new school when she flouts the rules and sneaks around. Perhaps the best-known instance comes from that perennial favourite, Dirty Dancing. Everyone remembers when Baby (Jennifer Grey) disregarded her father's decree that she stay away from bad boy dance instructor Johnny Castle (Patrick Swayze), and when she wouldn't stay in the corner. (No one remembers when Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights unsuccessfully tried to recreate the same scenario.) Stick it (or step up) to the man In the fourth Step Up film (known as Step Up Revolution and Step Up: Miami Heat in differing parts of the world) it's not just a competition the dance crew seeks to win, though that's obviously part of the equation. In an oft-used scenario, they also square off in an against-the-odds battle with a heartless property developer threatening to gentrify their neighbourhood. Filmed flashmob-style performances help them wage both wars, providing contest entries and disrupting their nemeses efforts, but it is the challenge to authority that resonates as the feature's strongest statement. Dancers just don't know how to lie down for the man, so it seems, with putting bodies on the line their favourite form of fight. Step Up 3D, Honey and Centre Stage: Turn It Up also offer variations on rallying against authority, while an attempt to stop a corporation destroying a Brazilian rainforest drives The Forbidden Dance (a barely recalled effort attempting to cash in on the lambada craze, but the one that isn't called Lambada). And if there's one thing Footloose cemented in the consciousness of multiple generations, first in 1984 and again in the 2011 remake, it's that anyone who dares bans dancing must be defied, confronted and trounced. Stop, collaborate and listen Part of the fun of the Step Up series as it has continued is its unashamed amalgam of styles and genres. Never afraid to try something new and different when it comes to the dance scenes, if nothing else, the films themselves offer an inventive array of settings and show a wide range of sources of inspiration. Step Up All In's first breakout sequence ramps up the horror in a striking mad professor's laboratory number, while its climax sees its characters see past their rivalries to embody the same maxim in the story as well as the aesthetic. The movie is in good company, with seminal 1980s feature Breakin' teaming breakdancing with jazz ballet, Save the Last Dance's entire conceit based around the pairing of classical and ballet, and even Australia's own Strictly Ballroom introducing a Spanish influence into the titular type of dancing. Other features have interpreted the concept a little differently, but still with the same result. In Black Swan, a shy but ambitious ballerina must channel her dark side and break free from her prim and proper facade to get the lead in a production. The Full Monty saw middle-aged men get their gear off to make money after becoming casualties of Sheffield's declining steel industry. Mad About Mambo found football skills in samba. Recent release Cuban Fury tasked Nick Frost's uncharacteristic romantic lead with overcoming a childhood fear of salsa dancing to earn respect and pursue love. https://youtube.com/watch?v=j8XGmZ8HDIU There'll never be a crisis you can't dance your way out of The catharsis of getting your groove on has become so embedded in the dance film genre that almost every movie has its own example. Diving into your passion as an escape from your problems is sound advice; if movies have taught us anything, you'll emerge with a clearer head at the very least. The quintessential angry dancing scene from Footloose has become so iconic that Kevin Bacon once again kicked off his Sunday shoes to recreate it — well, with the help of a double — on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon to celebrate the film's 30th anniversary earlier this year. The High School Musical movies gave Zac Efron not one but two opportunities to express his ire, the third film's moving feast of fury far superior to the second film's weak wander around a golf course. Andrea Arnold's excellent social realist effort Fish Tank shows a more serious side as its teen protagonist copes with her ills — including a liaison with Michael Fassbender — through hip-hop dancing. The trope has also been parodied in Hot Rod, where Andy Samberg's wannabe daredevil punch-dances out some anger in the forest, as well as TV's Flight of the Conchords in a number called Bret's Angry Dance. Cult comedy hit The FP took dancing through a crisis to the other extreme, with its characters forced onto their feet — duelling in an arcade game called Beat-Beat Revelation — to survive. Just do it Working as a welder by day and an exotic dancer by night, but dreaming of a more traditional way to tap your toes? Moved to the big city with stars in your eyes, but not sure if you have what it takes to give it a go? Flashdance, Burlesque and the aptly titled Make it Happen each offer a fictional testament to trying instead of wondering, as does almost every film in the subgenre that culminates in a competition: think Battle of the Year, Streetdance, Stomp the Yard, How She Move and even Take the Lead's Antonio Banderas-led ballroom dancing-focused effort, all of which address self-doubt and champion taking a chance. Billy Elliott shows just what can eventuate if, struggling valiantly through all obstacles in your way, you make it to the top of your chosen field. In Silver Linings Playbook, the stakes and the outcome are much more modest, but even securing a sense of achievement is worth the effort.
A pop-up wine bar dedicated to chilled reds is coming to the Royal Botanic Garden for three days in February. You may remember the Fellr Garden of Fizz, which brought a summer of seltzers to the same site. Well, this time, South Australia's Taylors Wines is taking over the waterside Mare and Foal Lawn for the Taylors Garden of Chill. Chilled red is having a real moment and, with summer in full swing, this is prime time to enjoy a cold, crisp glass of rouge vino. The pop-up will run from Friday, February 9–Sunday, February 11, bringing a selection of Taylors red wines served chilled, plus shiraz slushies and charcuterie. If you're someone who likes their leftover pizza straight out of the fridge, you're also in luck — the Garden of Chill will be serving cold slices of Pasticceria Papa pizza. Each day, there will be a special discount on offer whenever the temperature hits its maximum — so if you head down when the sun is at its peak, you can expect to be treated to that day's drinks deal. "We talk a lot about temperature at Taylors, but it really is the single most-important factor to getting the most out of your wine and somehow seems to be the biggest pitfall, says Taylors Wines Managing Director Mitch Taylor. "If you're one to serve your reds at room temperature or you drink your whites icy cold, we encourage you to pop down for an afternoon at our Garden of Chill to discover the joys of a perfectly chilled glass of wine."
If your walls are looking in need of a bit of a makeover, head straight to Blinq Art on Paddington's buzzing Oxford Street. The fine art photography gallery has vibrant pieces that will brighten up any bedroom, kitchen or WFH office. Here, you'll find photographic prints covering everything from fashion to landscape, architecture, wildlife, photojournalism, travel, street photography and lifestyle shots. Better yet, prints are available in a heap of different sizes, so you can tailor your new favourite piece to suit any amount of wall space.
For some, friendly banter with whoever happens to be behind a car's wheel is a regular part of booking a ride. For others, the obligatory bout of awkward conversation with the driver is the most dreaded part of the trip. Or, maybe you're just having a bad day and don't feel like chatting. Perhaps you're usually happy to talk away, but you're stressed, have too much on your mind, and have emails to check while you're getting from point A to point B. Whether you like a good chinwag with your driver or prefer riding in silence, Uber has introduced a new feature that lets customers choose their level of conversation. It's called quiet mode, and it lets you choose if you want a chatty ride or a quiet one. The catch: it's only available for Uber Comfort trips, which are about 20 percent more expensive than regular UberX trips. But, according to the Uber website, the ridesharing service's Comfort offering also comes with a range of additional benefits, including requesting a specific temperature within the car (warm, hot, cool or cold) and giving passengers a bit of extra time to make their way to the vehicle (up to ten minutes). Drivers will also have a minimum rating of 4.85 and will have clocked at least 500 trips, and cars will be at least a 2013 model. It's certainly a sign of the times that ordering a conversation (or lack thereof) can now be done at the touch of a button, rather than in person. That said, pre-selecting quiet mode will stop the dreaded, always uncomfortable "I don't feel like chatting" convo before the uncomfortable silence, as well as awkward small talk. Uber Comfort is now available across Australia.
If the recent onslaught of margarita-fuelled events (see: here and here) hasn't yet alerted you to the fact that it's currently National Margarita Month, here's another reminder: it's National Margarita Month. To mark this month-long celebration of limey drinks and salty rims, Merivale is offering $10 classic margaritas. At 19 of its venues. All week. This means, from February 17–23, you can knock off work in the CBD and make a beeline to Bar Topa for tapas and cheap drinks, or head down to Bondi Beach on Saturday for a dip in the sea then swing by Totti's after for many refreshing beverages. Speaking of post-swim margaritas, Coogee Pavilion is also offering up cocktails for a tenner on both its ground floor and rooftop. If you find yourself on Oxford Street, you can stop by both Charlie Parker's and The Paddington for marg, and, on the other side of the city, Queen Chow Manly is also in on the deal. There's an extra incentive to track down these cheap drinks, too — every time you purchase a $10 classic margarita at one of the 19 venues, you go in the draw to win a trip for two to Mexico. Just make sure you get your 'boarding pass' on purchase, scan the QR code and enter your details with the unique code. MARGARITA MONTH VENUES Bar Topa Bar Totti's Coogee Pavilion Ground Floor Coogee Pavilion Rooftop El Loco Excelsior El Loco Slip Inn Establishment Main Bar hemmesphere J&M Little Felix Palmer & Co Queen Chow Manly The Paddington The Royal Totti's Charlie Parker's The Grand Hotel The Royal George Hotel CBD
It's been a heck of a long time coming, but after multiple delays, it looks like you might be able to board a tram on Sydney's new CBD and southeast light rail by the end of the year. While Transport for NSW is confident the project — which will see trams running from Circular Quay through Surry Hills to Randwick and Kingsford — will be completed by March 2020, it has today floated the possibility that part of the line could open by the end of this year. A spokesperson for Transport for NSW has said that it "continues to discuss" opportunities with ALTRAC, the consortium delivering the project, to bring an opening date forward to 2019. This would include opening part of the line from Circular Quay to Randwick as early as December. The complete line out to Kingsford is on the cards for completion a few months later. That's slightly ahead of schedule from the May 2020 date we were given back in October — but still a year behind the original estimated completion date. According to Transport for NSW, 100 percent of the concrete slab has now been laid, and all 14 of the new light rail stops are now up to the system installation and testing phase. Test trams have already been hitting the tracks between Moore Park and High Street, and there are plans to run them through Surry Hills and the CBD in the coming months — although barriers still remain in place along that section of the track. Overall, it's been quite the saga for the light rail project, which has faced legal stouches, cost blowouts and delays galore, due to everything from awry overhead wires and a discovery of thousands of Indigenous artefacts. Tram operator Transdev has already started hunting for its first 100 new drivers, who'll kick off training in the middle of this year. As always, we'll keep you updated on any news related to the light rail — including further delays and opening dates.
Darling Harbour's Chinese Garden of Friendship has been transformed by global entertainment company Fever. The picturesque outdoor area has welcomed a stunning light installation that is sure to inject some awe into your summer nights. The immersive experience will be running until the end of March, combining lights, augmented reality and an optional Chinese Banquet before the show. Guests will be able to explore the gardens while the light show takes them through the four seasons. On their journey, they can also use their phones to participate in an AR Treasure Hunt where they'll find hidden plants and animals. Adult tickets start from $50 for entry to the show, however if you want to make a night of your trip, you can add the Chinese banquet for an extra $115 a head. Included in the banquet is a varied selection of popular dishes from The Gardens by Lotus. Highlights include oysters with flying fish roe, salmon sashimi, prawn dumplings, pork xiao long bao, duck pancakes, slow-cooked short ribs and a seasonal dessert. Fever, the company behind the activation, has led exhibitions, theatre experiences and festivals in cities across the globe including a Stranger Things drive-thru in Los Angeles.
In October 2015, Dead Studios got Internet famous when Kylie Jenner posted a selfie wearing one of their cropped tees. Traffic to the label's site increased by 500%. Head to the flagship store on Bondi Road and give it a good Instagramming yourself. While you're there, you can check out the latest additions to the self-described "clean street luxe" range. Founded in 2013 by New Zealand-born Sam Moore (ex-head designer and buyer at General Pants), Dead Studios bring unisex street wear to both men and women — from sweatshirts and moth hoods to box mesh tees, muscle shirts and 'destroy' jeans. Blacks, whites and greys make up the palette. Bold printed logos and statements are splashed across shirt fronts and down the sides of pants. Many pieces are vintage washed and hand-distressed. The icing on the cake is an in-store coffee machine. Dead Studios has partnered with Allpress to deliver steaming brews from 7.30am on weekdays and 8am on weekends.
Ridiculous as it may sound, some of the most compelling on-screen moments of the past decade have been found in the simple 30-second commercial spots for Apple products. Think back, for example, to the excitement on the face of the deaf girl as she's finally able to use sign language on her mobile phone, or the hypnotic dancing silhouettes cutting loose to Jet's ridiculously catchy 'Are You Gonna Be My Girl'. Best of all, picture that deployed soldier on the distant battlefront, tearfully touching the screen just as his newborn son gently does the same from all the way back home. Like the products they were marketing, Apple ads tapped into the notion of selling ideas and emotions — not items — and $500 billion later it was pretty clear we liked what we saw. Because of that, though, one of the biggest challenges facing the Steve Jobs biopic Jobs was to simply be better than the ads for the products he invented, and on most fronts it was, unfortunately, unsuccessful. Not unlike 2010's The Social Network, the Jobs film tracks its protagonist's story from his college days through to his stewardship over what is now, economically, the largest company in the world. We're presented with an unflattering portrayal of the man whose extraordinary vision sat alongside his infamous temper, ego and capacity for cruelty, particularly in matters concerning close friends and family. Steve is played by Ashton Kutcher in a performance that impressively captures the tech legend's mannerisms and cadence. The problem, however, is that Jobs feels more like a movie about Apple than the man who founded it. Whilst we're presented with at least some of his highs and lows (the movie is at its best during those low points, most notably his dismissal by the Apple board), whenever the products rate a mention, they're given almost comical reverence; messianic machines bathed in ethereal light. There's no denying the Cult of Apple exists, but this film wasn't the place to indulge it, and when coupled with some serious omissions, such as Jobs's founding of Pixar, it's hard to not consider this biopic more Performa than performer. https://youtube.com/watch?v=FrvkCS0ZGPU
With SPECTRE marking the now twenty-fourth film in the iconic James Bond franchise, it’s remarkable to think that not a single scene has ever been filmed in Australia. Now’s your chance, however, to show Bond’s producers what they’re missing out on by spending an amazing day living out the exhilarating, adventurous and exclusive lifestyle of its hero right here in your own home town. Bond’s long-term partner Heineken has teamed up with the boutique experience cultivators over at MrAristotle for a brand new project, The Catch. Throughout November and December, Heineken will be hosting exclusive SPECTRE 007 events that are so mysterious participants won’t know what’s in store until they’re suddenly whisked away and thrown right into the middle of the action right as it happens — like this one, where you and three friends will go into the running for a day that will earn you eternal bragging rights, give you a taste of the ultra-high life and make after-work drinks never quite feel the same again. Firstly, you’ll be picked up by your own private luxury helicopter and taken for an aerial tour of some of the city’s most famous landmarks. Next, your pilot will shuttle you and your team north along the coastline and over some of our most magnificent beaches until you arrive in a secret destination deep within the gorgeous countryside. Once down, a car will be waiting to ferry you to one of the region’s oldest pubs where you’ll enjoy a gourmet light lunch and a sampling of the local beers (and of course, ol' expat Heineken) while taking in the stunning surroundings. Then, your personal helicopter will be right there to take you and your friends back to town via the Olympic Village and over the glistening Harbour. To be in the running, sign up via the Heineken's The Catch website and have your mates locked, loaded and ready to move at a moment’s notice, because as any spy will tell you — you’ll never know when they’re coming for you, so you just have to be ready.
In just over a month, fully vaccinated Sydneysiders could be sipping beers in pubs, eating meals in restaurants, having friends over to their homes and seeing movies in cinemas. By the time that mid-October hits, the city's residents will have spent more than a quarter of 2021 in lockdown — but if 70 percent of New South Wales residents over the age of 16 have had both of their COVID-19 jabs by then, the state's roadmap out of lockdown will begin to kick in. Among the big things on the cards at that key milestone, which both Premier Gladys Berejiklian and NSW Police Minister David Elliott have been talking up for some time now: the reopening of hospitality venues to fully vaxxed folks, doing the same with gyms and retail, having up to five visitors to your house and gathering in groups of 20 outdoors. This all forms part of the first stage of NSW's strategy for living with COVID-19 without citywide and statewide lockdowns, which the Premier finally announced today, Thursday, September 9, after promising to do so since mid-July. Falling in line with Australia's new 'National Plan to transition Australia's National COVID Response' that was announced in July, the 'Reopening NSW roadmap' currently focuses on what'll happen when 70-percent of eligible NSW residents are fully vaxxed. As has been advised for weeks now in the daily press conferences, that's when loosened restrictions will kick in — and they'll only apply to folks who've rolled up their sleeves twice. "I cannot stress enough how important it is for people to get vaccinated — if you have not had both doses of the vaccine by the time we hit the 70-percent milestone, you will not be able to take advantage of these freedoms," said the Premier. And if you're wondering when rules will start easing for fully vaccinated people — and those with medical exemptions — that'll happen on the Monday after NSW hits that 70 percent double-dose mark. Based on current vaccination rates, the NSW Government currently expects to reach the 70-percent threshold around the middle of October. ROADMAP TO FREEDOM UNVEILED FOR THE FULLY VACCINATED pic.twitter.com/oHVzfM6rsC — NSW Health (@NSWHealth) September 9, 2021 When that milestone is hit, those five-person at-home and 20-person outdoor gatherings will permitted — as long as all adults are vaxxed. Hospitality venues will be able to reopen, too, with the one person per four-square-metres rule applying inside and the one person per two-square-metres rule outside. And if you're eager to stand up and drink (yep, hello vertical consumption), you'll need to do that outdoors only. When it comes to shopping, retail stores can reopen under the one person per four-square-metres rule. They can only serve fully vaccinated customers, with unvaxxed people only permitted to access shops deemed critical retail. Hairdressers, nail salons and other personal services businesses can open with one person per four-square-metres, too, with a maximum of five clients at each premises. Keen for a workout? Gyms and indoor recreation facilities will reopen under that one person per four-square-metres requirement as well, and can host classes with up to 20 people. Sporting facilities including swimming pools can also reopen. Eager to head to a show, watch some sport or see a movie? Major recreation outdoor facilities — which spans stadiums, racecourses, theme parks and zoos — will be under the one person per four-square-metres rule, with a cap of 5000 people. At other outdoor ticketed and seated events, 500 people can attend. And, indoors venues such as cinemas, theatres, music halls, museums and galleries will be allowed to reopen with the one person per four-square-metres rule in place, or by filling to a maximum of 75-percent fixed seated capacity. [caption id="attachment_779829" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Cassandra Hannagan[/caption] Regarding weddings, they'll go up to 50 guests and allow dancing, but you'll only be able to eat and drink while sitting. The same caps will apply for funerals as well, and churches and places of worship will be able to open under the one person per four-square-metres limit. And, at the 70-percent double-dose mark, domestic travel — which includes trips to regional NSW — will be permitted. That means that caravan parks and camping grounds will be allowed to open. Also, carpooling will be on the cards again. Masks will still be required in all indoor public venues, including public transport, front-of-house hospitality, retail and business premises, on planes and at airports. Outdoors, though, only hospitality staff will be required to mask up. And, QR code check-ins aren't going anywhere. In fact, it's expected that that's how you'll show that you've been jabbed, as linked to a vaccination passport; however, exact details of how that'll work haven't yet been announced. At the 80-percent double-dosed threshold, more restrictions will ease again as well. But, other than flagging that "the government intends to open up further freedoms around international travel, community sport, major events and other areas" at that point, the full details haven't been revealed there yet either. If you live in one of Sydney's Local Government Areas of concern — areas that've been under tighter stay-at-home conditions due to higher case numbers — this roadmap should still bring good news, as the aim is to apply it statewide. That said, the Premier noted that while the rules will ease at that 70-percent fully vaxxed mark, tighter restrictions might be necessary on a targeted basis to contain case numbers. That might include only allowing fully vaccinated people to enjoy the relaxed rules within their LGAs, the Premier advised. "I also want to stress that at this stage the roadmap says that any person who is 70-percent double-dose vaccinated is able to participate in the freedoms that come forward from that time," Berejiklian said. "However, at any stage... if there's a concentration in a suburb or Local Government Area or a constant outbreak that wasn't anticipated, NSW Health can restrict movement and give advice to [put in place restrictions] if it is going to put too much pressure on our hospital system." The changes outlined in the roadmap will come into effect after the state already sees a few very minor tweaks to the current lockdown rules implemented from Monday, September 13. NSW residents were told that something would change once the state hit six million jabs, so that's what's happening next week. As the Premier has already advised, the rules around outdoor gatherings will change slightly — allowing people who live outside of Sydney's Local Government Areas of concern to enjoy outdoor recreation in groups of five, as long as all adults are fully vaccinated, and also letting fully vaxxed adults in LGAs of concern to go outside for outdoor recreation in family groups for an hour a day. It's worth noting that the national plan requires all of Australia to reach each vaccination threshold overall before an individual state or territory that's met that milestone can ease restrictions — but that hasn't been mentioned in NSW's roadmap. Today's announcement came as the state reported 1405 new COVID-19 cases in the 24 hours to 8pm on Wednesday, September 8. Wondering where you can currently get vaccinated? There's a handy online map that helps you find your nearest clinic. Keen to keep an eye on vaccination rates? A heap of online resources will help you do that as well. The first stage of the Reopening NSW roadmap will kick in on the Monday after New South Wales reaches the 70-percent fully vaccinated mark. For more information about the status of COVID-19 in NSW, head to the NSW Health website. Top image: Cassandra Hannagan.
Regional art galleries can sometimes get a bad wrap. Images of lacklustre landscapes kept too long in storage and mystifying sculptures might come to mind. But, with its impressive permanent collection, and as host to high-calibre touring exhibitions, Wollongong Art Gallery puts these preconceptions to bed. It's one of the largest regional galleries in Australia and has been a feature of Wollongong since opening in 1978. The gallery is home to a collection of First Nations artworks from the 1950s onwards as well as contemporary and Asian art collections. Images: Jasmine Low
Only two hours' drive north of Sydney, the Hunter Valley is home to some of Australia's most highly awarded wines, and it's a region filled to the brim with history. With summer just around the corner, and adventure on our minds, we've partnered with tours and activities app Klook to bring you a guide to five epic food and drink experiences you can have in the Hunter. And, right now, Klook is offering a Taste of Europe Wine Tour ($199), which includes travelling around on a big, red 1965 double-decker bus. It's especially handy for day trips, and you don't have to fight over who'll be designated driver. If you prefer to hop between cellar doors at your own pace, then check out Klook's $1 Wine Tastings. TASTE SPARKLING WINES AT PETERSON HOUSE While the Hunter Valley is better known for semillon than sparkling wine, there's one winery that breaks all the rules. Peterson House, in Pokolbin, has the most extensive array of sparkling wine in the region thanks its founder Ian Peterson, who celebrated his first grandchild's birth by setting out to create his own sparkling wine. Now, Peterson has so many bubbles to choose from, from a pink blush to the traditional pinot noir chardonnay meunier, it's hard to know where to start. Thankfully, it offers a tasting catered to each drinker's personal preferences. You can select your flavour preferences and taste six sparkling wines all chosen specifically for you. PAIR WINE WITH HANDMADE CHOCOLATES Ask any sommelier on the planet and they'll tell you the hardest thing to pair with wine is chocolate. But, the folks at Glandore Estate like to face a challenge head-on. Through rigorous trial and error, the team has managed to create a chocolate and wine pairing experience that needs be savoured to believed. Crisp chardonnay is paired with a white chocolate coconut and lime truffle, and a decadent blueberry chocolate square is matched with shiraz. Each one-hour tasting includes six Glandore wines matched with Adora Handmade Chocolates. INDULGE IN SOME LOCAL CHEESES When you're working with the name Two Fat Blokes, you know there's going to be unapologetic indulgence on the cards. The Hunter Valley gourmet kitchen and tour operator knows a thing or two about the classic cheese and wine pairing. In a one-hour tasting, you'll get to try nine kinds of cheese, from a locally made labneh to the most epic cheddar selection you've ever tasted. Each cheesy bite is paired with a Hunter Valley wine, from verdelho to tempranillo, showcasing the most complementary flavour combinations. If you're joining Klook's limited All-Inclusive Winery Experience, you'll follow this tasting with an epic Italian-style feast. BE SERENADED AS YOU SIP Outside of the hustle and bustle of the central area of the Hunter Valley, you'll discover a secret hideaway known as Iron Gate Estate. As you (literally) pass through the iron gates of this Pokolbin estate you'll feel like you've been transported to a Mediterranean villa, complete with water fountains, rose gardens and, if you've booked Klook's day tour, a sultry Spanish guitar player will serenade you as you settle in with a glass (or two) of wine. And when you've had a long day filled with wine tastings, don't you deserve a little moment of relaxation? The boutique, family-run winery produces chardonnay, sweet shiraz, semillon and sparkling rosé, among other varieties, which you can sample as you pretend you're in Marbella. [caption id="attachment_787854" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW[/caption] SINK A COUPLE OF FROTHIES Even the most seasoned of wine drinkers requires a little palate refresher every now and again. When in the Hunter, point your compass in the direction of Iron Bark Hill Brewhouse. It's one of four breweries in this neck of the woods, and this one, set among the vines at Peter Drayton Wines, has ten beers and two ciders pouring on tap every day. You'll taste pale ales, lagers, stouts and wheat beers. Our pick is the Wheatermelon — an American wheat beer with fresh watermelon juice added during fermentation. And, as there's plenty of room on the London-style red bus, you can take a pack home along with your favourite wines from the day. Planning a day trip to the Hunter Valley? Take advantage of Klook's Taste of Europe wine tour on the big red bus, or see more details about Klook's $1 Wine Tastings offer, here.
If ever your heart could be hugged by a live show, Tiny Ruins will leave yours well and truly cuddled. Following the release of their enchanting folk release Brightly Painted One, the native New Zealanders will head to Australia to crank out their softly spoken repertoire in a national tour. As well as giving their newest album a big ol' run around, Tiny Ruins will revisit tunes from their 2010 release Some Were Meant for Sea as well as their 2013 EP Haunts. Expanding her solo flight into a touring trio, Tiny Ruins' Hollie Fullbrook now hangs with bassist Cass Basil and drummer Alexander Freer as a trio. The threesome haven't had a holiday for quite some time, touring for the past few years through Australia, Europe and the US in highly coveted support slots for Fleet Foxes, Beach House, Joanna Newsom and Father John Misty to name a few. Now's no time for Tiny vacationing, with a national tour ready to kick off this July. The NZ folksters have plenty of Aussie radio feature albums, festival slots and critical accolades under their belts and have been gaining traction over the past few years with folk lovers worldwide. But Tiny Ruins are no stage hogs, inviting their buds Shining Bird along for the ride this time. The Sydney favourites have spent the last year gaining high fives Australia-wide after the release of their debut album Leisure Coast gained the crew some serious festival appearances. Shining Bird aren't dudes to waste a touring opp, combining their support spot with their brand new 7" single. https://youtube.com/watch?v=jnqc4falhGk
If you've found yourself at a loss since watching Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again for the third time and successfully memorising all the songs, then, boy, are you in for a treat. Sydney's getting a Mamma Mia-inspired pop-up (in Waterloo, which is very fitting) — and the three days of activities are completely free. On Thursday, November 8, Sydney's own dancing queen Shannon Dooley will host a special edition of her popular Retrosweat classes, where you'll throw down some dynamite moves to a soundtrack of supremely danceable ABBA hits. Then, the next night, the pop-up plays host to a lively Greek feast cooked up by former My Kitchen Rules contestant Helena Moursellas (and accompanied by a bit of Mamma Mia trivia). BYO wine to enjoy alongside classic Greek eats like slow-cooked lamb shoulder and baked feta saganaki. And yes, all the food is free, too — just register ASAP. And rounding out the fun on Saturday, November 10, there'll be a three-hour art class session led by the team at Cork & Chroma. Bring in more wine to get those creative juices flowing as you recreate a scene from the film's locale, the Greek island of Kalokairi. All three events are free, though you'll need to register to secure a spot.
If you're in the wretched position of being the world's biggest animal lover but you're not allowed to own a Frenchie because your landlord's a dingus, this is the event for you. Super Furry Festival is back for its fifth year. Billed as a "furry, fun day filled with cuddles, activities, music and animal love" the Super Furry Festival will see the most decadent array of adventures for animal lovers in Sydney. Take a breath. There'll be a doggo treasure hunt, a dog doctor, a dog fashion show and a special market of pet products a — plus a kitty cuddle and a bunny snuggle tent. As well as being a delightful day out for you and your pooch, the festival will also raise awareness around pet adoption. And you'll even have a chance to adopt a new fur baby. The whole thing will be going down at Shannon Reserve from 9am on Saturday, October 20. Entry is free, because sometimes life covers you in glitter and puppies.
See this preview? It's pale nimbus with raised lettering. The font? Something called Silian Rail. Now let's see Paul Allen's. No time — Huey Lewis and the News just came on. *dances around, throwing blood into the crowd* The last few years have been so replete with wildly improbably events that it's getting hard to find anything worth raising an eyebrow for. But the news that American Psycho, Bret Easton Ellis' subversive and initially banned novel of bankers and blood rages in the 80s has been adapted into a musical, has had us trying to wrestle our brows down from our hairlines for days now. That's right, Les Miserables and Ellis' protagonist, Patrick Bateman, now have more in common than a passing interest in decapitation. But while the former has had its fair share of Australian seasons, the latter is gearing up for his first, under director Alexander Berlage. Potts Point's Hayes Theatre Co will be the first to unleash Bateman (Ben Gerrard), a detached, murderous businessman onto Australian audiences in May next year. Having already completed bloody seasons on Broadway and at the West End, the show is billed by librettist Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa as a dark sibling to the wildly successful Hamilton. American Psycho The Musical may have the same disdain for excess that you do, but it has a slightly better haircut. Make sure you return those video tapes before booking. American Psycho The Musical has sessions at 7.30pm Tuesday–Saturday and 2pm matinee performances on Saturday and Sunday.
The 2019 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade is fast approaching, with Darlinghurst's Oxford Street set to erupt in a colourful celebration of LGBTQI+ culture and communities, as it has for more than four decades. But Australia is home to more than one Oxford Street — and, this year, seven other roadways with the same moniker are getting into the Mardi Gras spirit, all thanks to a series of glorious rainbow sculptures. In the New South Wales town of Mittagong, Deep Lead in Victoria, Rockhampton in Queensland, East Bunbury in Western Australia, Port Pirie in South Australia, Berry Springs in the Northern Territory and East Launceston in Tasmania, eye-catching new Oxford Street signs have popped up. Each bears the street's name, of course; however the designs vary otherwise. A rainbow branching out of a puddle, a giant heart pierced by an arrow, a pink-frosted cupcake, twin flamingos, a unicorn and a giant stiletto all feature across the bespoke signs, as does a cockatoo and akubra-adorned clothes line named 'I'm Spinning Around' after the Kylie Minogue song you now have stuck in your head. The overall exhibition has been dubbed Signs of Love, and it's spearheaded by ANZ as part of their ongoing association with Mardi Gras. For those who'd like to take a gander at the installations but won't find themselves in their vicinity, they'll also be available to view on Google Street View from Wednesday, February 27. While only seven Oxford Streets around the country have had a makeover, an eighth sculpture is also on display at Bondi Beach in Sydney. And while it isn't as brightly coloured as its counterparts, it points to 123 Oxford Streets across the nation. Oxford Street sign titles and locations: New South Wales – 'Signs of Love', Bondi Park, Campbell Parade, Bondi. New South Wales – 'Eternal Flame', Oxford Street (corner Bourne Close), Mittagong. Victoria – 'Coming Out', Oxford Street (corner Battery Rd), Deep Lead. Queensland – 'Pink FlaminGo-Go', Oxford Street (corner Talford Street), Rockhampton. Tasmania – 'Love is Love', Oxford Street (corner Abbott Street), East Launceston. Western Australia – 'I'm Spinning Around', Oxford Street (Austral Parade), East Bunbury. South Australia – 'Turn the Party', Port Pirie Regional Tourism and Arts Centre. Northern Territory – 'We're Not in Sydney Toto', Oxford Road (corner Cox Peninsula Road), Berry Springs. The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade takes place on Saturday, March 2 in Oxford Street and surrounding areas, Darlinghurst.
Pleasures Playhouse took over an abandoned Chinatown cinema back in September 2022, kicking off what organisers thought would be a short six-week event program. Hosting a variety of gigs, parties and film screenings during that initial period, the venue proved a hit — so much so that after a wave of support, it remained open over the summer and into 2023. But all good things must come to an end and the Pleasures Playhouse crew has now announced that Sunday, March 26 will be the venue's final night. "Pleasures Playhouse started out as a pop-up event series back in September thanks to NSW Government funding. We never expected how much love it would get from Eora Sydney folk & our arts scene! Our hearts are full," reads a statement on the venue's Instagram. All is not lost, however, with the post going on to say that the team will work towards making Pleasures Playhouse a permanent fixture of Sydney's nightlife. "We have managed to keep Pleasures Playhouse open a little longer than anticipated, but sadly its doors will close as we work with the venue owners and other stakeholders in hopes of reopening for good," it reads. "The dusty ole cinema needs some TLC, new funding & more approvals from the city and NSW licensing to stay open for the long term." If you haven't yet had a chance to go down and experience the unique venue, or you simply want to have one last dance in the abandoned cinema, there are plenty of exciting events on between now and March 26. Send Noods Cinema will return with three more iterations, screening 1995's Tank Girl, the classic Bob Fosse musical Cabaret and the David Lynch-directed and Nicholas Cage-starring Wild at Heart. There's also a swag of live music and dance parties to come over the final two weeks. Rochelle Jordan will be performing her debut Sydney show; Germany's L.F.T will be throwing down some breakbeat and techno; Discoteca Tropical will be back for its third night of cumbia, highlife and disco; party crew Angels Only will be hosting an all-inclusive queer dance night titled Hostage to Pleasure; and SWITCH will be popping up with bright and bubbly dance music on the final Saturday. Heaps Gay will also be hosting Teenage Dream, a night where attendees are encouraged to bring and read from their teenage diaries, reflecting on the highs and lows of coming of age. Following the screening of Wild at Heart on the venue's final night, the DJ decks will be fired up one last time for a farewell party filled with drinks and dancing. Entry to this is free. Head to the venue's Instagram to stay up to date on all of the shows that you can attend before it shuts its doors. [caption id="attachment_867881" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Anna Hay[/caption] Pleasures Playhouse is located at the Harbour City Cinema, 12/6 Harbour Street, Sydney. It will close on Sunday, March 26.
With The Girl in the Spider's Web, the Dragon Tattoo saga becomes a franchise that mashes up other franchises. It's a little bit Bond, thanks to the series' happy switching of actors playing Lisbeth Salander. It has a dash of Bourne, courtesy of its returning protagonist and her ongoing crusade against many an unseemly conspiracy. And, with violent vengeance firmly placed centre stage in this more action-packed instalment, it nods to John Wick as well. However, blending all of these parts together, there are a few things that The Girl in the Spider's Web definitely isn't: entertaining, thrilling, or anything other than bland and generic, narrative-wise. Even if you haven't read the book that the film is based on, The Girl in the Spider's Web comes with a sense of deja vu. It's a case of new star, new director and new author, but business as usual otherwise. For the uninitiated, Stieg Larsson's initial three novels were published after his death, then adapted into a Swedish film trilogy starring Noomi Rapace. David Fincher remade the first movie in the franchise, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, in 2011 with Rooney Mara as his lead. Then, in 2015 and 2017, writer David Lagercrantz penned two more books that continued the series, starting with The Girl in the Spider's Web. With Claire Foy stepping into Lisbeth's black and leather outfits, the hacker-slash-vigilante once again punishes men who harm women, tries to unravel a murky scheme and finds herself immersed in a plot with links to her past. This time, she's hired by an ex-National Security Agency operative (Stephen Merchant) to steal a computer program he wrote that can access the world's entire nuclear arsenal. Lisbeth's cyber skills get the job done, but another NSA expert (Lakeith Stanfield) is soon making his way around Stockholm and trying to retrieve the software. He's not the only other interested party, thanks to a shadowy group called The Spiders — who also make Lisbeth face her tragic history, including her estranged sister Camilla (Sylvia Hoeks). Franchise devotees will also spot investigative journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Sverrir Gudnason) and his publisher and lover Erika Berger (Vicky Krieps), although that side of the series takes a backseat to Lisbeth's latest antics. Indeed, while it boasts similar story elements, this film isn't really a mystery-thriller with a detective bent like its predecessors. Rather, it uses the same packaging to place Foy's version of Lisbeth in the kind of chasing and fighting situations that are stock-standard in action flicks. There's an uncomfortable sense of conflict within The Girl in the Spider's Web as a result — a sense that what it's saying and what it's doing don't quite work together. The film presents its protagonist as a fiercely individualistic feminist avenger, but fashions the movie she's in after plenty of other action franchises. Whether she's virtually retracing her own footsteps or stepping into those of other no-nonsense on-screen heroes, this iteration of Lisbeth always feels like she's going through the motions. That doesn't give Foy much room to make an impact. Instead, she's largely tasked with mimicking Rapace and Mara – the latter of whom earned an Oscar nomination for her performance in the role. The Girl in the Spider's Web also squanders much of its supporting cast, most of whom have impressed elsewhere, such as Gudnason in Borg vs McEnroe and Krieps in Phantom Thread. Get Out's Stanfield fares best based on his innate talent and charm, rather than as a result of the material that he's working with. Still, the film soars in one area: its visuals. With both his Evil Dead remake and Don't Breathe, writer-director Fede Alvarez demonstrated a distinctive command of style, which translates here to evocative and moody shades of black, white and grey. Other movies in the series have sported a suitably grim, gloomy sheen, but Alvarez makes it look and feel new here. If only the rest of The Girl in the Spider's Web had managed the same feat. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QTmNtRpnbU
After the Sydney Opera House replaced its Festival of Dangerous Ideas with Antidote last year, we didn't think we'd see it again. But the festival is about to rear its head for its ninth iteration, this time trading in its Bennelong Point digs for a space at Cockatoo Island. Co-founded by The Ethics Centre (TEC) and the Sydney Opera House back in 2009, FODI 2018 won't just have a new venue, but a new partner as well — teaming up with the UNSW Centre for Ideas for the first time. But the concept will remain the same, again bringing together thought leaders and creative thinkers for a weekend of critical discussion around the most important global issues of today. This year's festival, curated by Festival Director Danielle Harvey and UNSW Centre for Ideas Director Ann Mossop, will examine the theme of Trust and Truth, and will aim to incite debate, push boundaries and inspire intellectual freedom. And it has some big names on its bill. Stephen Fry — the Englishman with many hats: writer, comedian, actor, activist — will be holding a talk on the art of furious oration at Sydney Town Hall, entitled The Hitch after the festival's inaugural speaker: the controversial author and critic Christopher Hitchens. On the topic of controversy, activist Megan Phelps-Roper will be taking the stage to discuss her time at the Westboro Baptist Church. The festival's international lineup also includes Israeli-American writer Ayelet Waldman discussing the benefits of microdosing LSD, and Angela Nagle, author of Kill All Normies, exploring the culture clash between the alt-right and the left. Locally, feminist and author Germaine Greer, who's latest novel On Rape just hit the stands, will chat about outrage, while activist Mick Dodson argues the existence of modern-day European colonialism. A heap of thought-provoking panels are also on the program, including discussions on sex robots, the Australian media, nationalism and whether or not inequality is always bad. Those wanting to experience something a bit different can head to a part monologue, part striptease with artist Betty Grumble — called Sex Clowns Save the World — philosophy workshops and a Counterstrike LAN party (basically, a gaming party), where an electronic sculpture shoots "blood" at gamers. As this year's festival is located on an island, you'll need to catch a ferry across to the insightful talks. Thankfully, festival passes include ferry transport to Cockatoo Island — and start at $89. The 2018 Festival of Dangerous Ideas is coming to Cockatoo Island, with Stephen Fry's The Hitch taking place at Sydney Town Hall, on November 3 and 4. Tickets will go on sale at midday, Tuesday, September 4. You can buy tickets and check out the full lineup at festivalofdangerousideas.com. Images: Yaya Stempler
It's time you set your sights on the east coast because Aperol is coming to town in style with its Kombi Tour. The vintage, retrofitted 1976 Volkswagen van is back, chasing the sun with a road trip through some of Queensland's idyllic coastal towns — from Cairns to the perpetually stunning Whitsundays. The Kombi has been cruising around the southeastern corner of the state for the last month but is heading north for the rest of its tour, racing the winter chill and bringing the red-hot vibes along, too. There are five more stops on its journey before Aperol has to hang up its spritzes for winter. If you're in the area, chase the summer feeling and grab a delectable spritz while you still can. NORTHERLIES, AIRLIE BEACH The Kombi's next stop is Northerlies Beach Bar & Grill, just outside Airlie Beach. Aperol is stopping in for four weekends at the mellow beachside resort. Enjoy ice-cold Aperol Spritzes and exclusive specials — like the rosemary-infused Rosy Cheeks spritz — while taking in the gorgeous views of the salty waves crashing into the white sandy beaches. June 16–July 11, Northerlies Beach Bar & Grill, Airlie Beach. More information here. SALT HOUSE FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL Get a taste of the tropics at Salt House in Cairns when the Kombi rolls in this winter. The iconic waterfront venue is also hosting a Food & Wine Festival on Saturday, August 5, which will see winemakers, distillers, brewers and producers descend on the locale and share their wares with attendees. Enjoy local produce while sipping on a refreshing Aperol Spritz — direct from the Kombi. Not able to make it on the festival weekend? Well, you're in luck because it will be at Salt House for four weekends. July 28–August 7, Salt House Food & Wine Festival, Cairns. Book tickets here. CAIRNS ITALIAN FESTIVAL The inaugural ten-day Cairns Italian Festival is the next stop for the brightly-hued vehicle — although it won't actually be moving from Salt House. The waterfront spot is one of the many venues taking part in the festival, so the Kombi will sit tight at the venue for the festival's weekend in July. You'll be snacking on traditional Italian plates, woodfired pizzas, gelato and more — all while sipping deliciously bitter Aperol Spritzes. Saturday, July 29, Salt House, Cairns. More information here. TASTE PORT DOUGLAS The next stop on the 2023 Aperol Kombi Tour is the Taste Port Douglas Food and Wine Festival, held at the Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort. Experience (and then taste) the rich food culture of Tropical North Queensland as top chefs arrive to dazzle you with their inspiring creations. You know the drill: wash it all down with a perfectly chilled spritz from the Kombi. August 10–13, Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort, Port Douglas. More information here. SHERATON, PORT DOUGLAS If five-star luxury eco-certified stays are on your to-go-to list in 2023, take yourself to the Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort. This August and September, you'll be on the doorstep of two staggeringly beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Sites (the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest), plus you'll be perfectly placed for the freshest of spritzes when the Kombi hits the digs from Tuesday, August 8 till Monday, September 11. It'll be the ideal way to toast the end of winter and celebrate the coming of spring. August 14–September 5, Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort, Port Douglas. More information here. For more information on the Aperol Kombi Tour, and to plan your road trip to one of its pit stops, head to the website.
Open to runners of all ages and abilities, Run West follows a 12-kilometre course through several major landmarks. It sees runners race through the new Sydney Zoo while waving at lions, rhinos and giraffes. The 12-kilometre run kicks off at Sydney Motorsport Park on Sunday, March 28, before traversing the zoo, Western Sydney Parklands and winding up at West HQ. If 12 kilometres sounds too far, you can conquer the more friendly four-kilometre Family Run instead — but, that doesn't go through the zoo. If you're a City2Surf regular, this might be a good race to enter in the off-season — although, being March, chances are the weather will be pretty warm. But, like City2Surf, you're encouraged to raise funds for a charity of your choice, so your sweat will be all worth it. If you're ready to commit, sign up right now at super early bird rates, which are $30 per person for the fun run and $50 for the 12-kilometre event.
