Looking for ways to celebrate Sydney's warm weather? Make tracks to the Woollahra Hotel then, because this eastern suburbs oasis knows how party, particularly in its leafy rooftop terrace. And from now till Thursday, April 30, the bar's offering up a luxe deal. For a celebratory tipple, order a bottle of Moët & Chandon Rosé Impérial. At $130 a pop, this isn't your average bottle of bubbly. Coming from one of the world's most lauded champagne makers, this pink-hued, red fruit-driven vino is sure to take your drink game to the next level. So go ahead, grab your mates and splash that cash — you're celebrating, after all. Plus, the Woollahra is throwing in a complimentary — and complementary — charcuterie platter for every bottle you buy. Expect plates piled high with the likes of bresaola and pastrami, plus cornichons, hummus, grilled peppers, olives and toasted bread. A pretty perfect wine and food pairing for when you want to party in style. To book a spot for your crew, head here. [caption id="attachment_762744" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Anna Kucera[/caption]
Are you ready for a fiesta? If so, The Happy Mexican has got just the occasion for you. The Lansdowne Hotel's newcomer is throwing a huge party celebrating Mexican culture on Saturday, July 27 — and it'll be giving away a tonne of freebies in the festive spirit. Dubbed the venue's "biggest party yet", this big bash will kick off at 8pm, slinging 500 free tacos — from its unconventional cactus-, corn- and refried bean-starring nopales version to the sweet and sour pork with pineapple pastor taco — alongside 200 free beers and $10 piña coladas all night long. Plus, if you get in before the venue hits capacity, you'll score free entry, too. All of the freebies will operate on a first-come, first-serve basis, so you'll want to get in quick. You're also encouraged to immerse yourself entirely in the celebrations by dressing in theme to compete in a Mexican costume contest. If you're stumped for ideas, the crew behind the joint recommends that you take inspiration from renowned Mexican characters, sports teams, wrestlers and more — but anyone who opts to wear the Mexican national soccer team's jersey will be able to snap up free vodka and tequila shots. Whatever you choose, you'll want to put some thought into it, with the three best-dressed scoring prizes including a $200 bar tab. Once you've warmed your belly and body up with all of the celebratory giveaways, you'll want to stay to boogie your way into the early hours. You can expect DJs to spin tunes from 10.30pm as well as an appearance from The Happy Mexican's very own mariachi band.
Have you ever been to a show where the band yelled about how amazing you were in between every song? And then at the end told you it was the best show they've ever played, and actually meant it? If not then you didn't go to Alt-J's gig at the Oxford Art Factory last October, which is completely understandable considering it sold out in three minutes — which is completely understandable considering they're one of the most deservedly hyped acts around right now. They've taken a genre (art-rock) and made it better by completely blowing it apart, subverting all conventions with their special blend of folk, pop and brains. This is music that's both radio-friendly and thought provoking. And for that we should be thanking them instead of the other way around. At Saturday's Laneway festival Alt-J announced they would play one intimate Sydney sideshow at the Metro Theatre this Wednesday, at which they'll be supported by City Calm Down. Tickets go on sale Tuesday, 5 February at 9am through Ticketek. If you're cool with your year peaking in early February we suggest you act swiftly. https://youtube.com/watch?v=MPH89HIBLiw
Much-loved nerdy white guy and Seth Cohen-endorsed musician Ben Folds is bringing his upbeat brand of piano pop back to Australia. Though you might remember his music best from the battered walkman you rocked in the late '90s, rest assured that this talented US Adelaide enthusiast is still a force to be reckoned with. And nothing proves this more than the fact that his backing band will be the nation's best symphony orchestras. From mid-November, Folds will be touring all of Australia's major cities (except Brisbane, oddly enough) performing with each state's respective orchestral talents. Taking both excerpts of his new Concerto for Piano and Orchestra as well as jazzed up versions of his old pop hits, this dynamic musician will be creating an exciting and unique show in some of the nation's best venues. Of course, this is a tour Folds is familiar with. He's performed with some of the world's best orchestras over the past decade, and before he gets to our shores this year, he'll be taking the Ben Folds Orchestra Experience all around Europe. Hardcore fans might even remember that Australia was the site of his first orchestral work — this performance with the Western Australia Symphony Orchestra was immortalised on film in 2005. But you don't need to know all that to enjoy the show. Whether you have a long history with 'Brick' and the rest of his early work, or just really like that Triple J Like A Version he did of 'Such Great Heights' — this is a show not to be missed.
With lion dancing, modern Chinese cuisine and film screenings of Chinese classics, the Art Gallery of New South Wales is undoubtedly the best place to celebrate Chinese New Year outside of Chinatown. The vast majority of these events are free, with highlights including Chinese High Tea, fan dancing performances, tai chi workshops and a lecture from the Deputy Director of the Hubei Provincial Museum. Tours of auspicious symbols in Chinese art will also make more of the culture legible to newcomers. Two exhibitions are also timed for the occasion. In the Asian gallery, ritual art from ancient China (more specifically, the Chu kingdom during the Warring States period) will be on display. But the big draw card is undoubtably the terracotta warriors. Perhaps the most incredible archaeological find of the century, these iconic figures will be displayed alongside other recent finds which have rarely been seen outside China. This exhibition is the only part of the program you will need to pay for, but at a meagre $20 is certainly worth a look. Image: 'Group of soldiers', Araldo De Luca
A couple of years ago an empty shopfront with 'Keys Cut' signage re-emerged as an artist-run initiative where artists could show without being obliged to sell, and a bit of funding that meant they could pay exhibitors. Emma White's current show, 'While You Wait', is a nod to the history of the site and to the philosophy of the directors of the Locksmith Project. She’s made a giant key for the window, some touchably-realistic replicas of household-type sets on colourful chains hanging inside the store, and she will be making more creations for the duration of the show. During the gallery hours, White will be in-residence with her tools: wire, pliers, markers, coloured putty, a roller and an oven — and visitors can not only watch her work but get a fully-baked copy of their own keys to take home, and leave their spares behind. On the last night of Emma’s show, the Locksmith Project will be launching and selling the third issue of their self-titled ‘whenever we can-nual’ journal that showcases works and research in emerging contemporary art. The limited run of 300 multi-volume boxed sets, dedicated to “basically anything that constitutes making art work”, is already available to pre-order.
If you're going to celebrate an invented food-themed holiday, you have to go big. If you're Mister Fitz and it's National Ice Cream Sandwich day, then you clearly have to turn things to eleven. Behold, their 20-scoop monster of an ice cream sandwich. Dubbed the 'Baby Got Back' in keeping with the ice cream parlour's usual hip hop-themed menu, the giant creation features more ice cream than you've probably eaten all winter, all stuffed between two super huge M&M cookies. Because old Fitzy is known for smashing extra goodies into its frozen treats too, the dairy deliciousness inside also boasts a decent smattering of mini M&Ms. If you're keen on trying it out and you've got a few mates to help — you only need to look at it to know this isn't a solo dessert — then you'd best get in quick, with the mammoth ice cream sandwich only available today, August 2. It's also only available via Deliveroo, meaning that you won't have to worry about gorging on this behemoth in public (but hey, if you're keen on munching your way through this, you're probably not all that worried about making a mess anyway).
You may already know and love FOMO Festival after they slayed their debut in Brisbane last year. Well, this year they're back, bigger and better. The one-day festival is spreading its wings in 2017 and carrying the good times to Adelaide and Sydney, which is a huge leap for a young summer festival. They'll be gracing Adelaide with their crispy vibes on Friday, January 6, Brisbane on Saturday, January 7 and Sydney on Sunday, January 8. But onto the important stuff — the lineup. The festival is being headlined by Flosstradamus and Empire of the Sun (they're back again!), both here exclusively for FOMO. On the eats side of things, there'll be food from Butter, Pub Life Kitchen, Eat Art Truck and Messina. Check out the full lineup below. FOMO 2017 LINEUP Flosstradamus Empire Of The Sun Peking Duk JME GoldLink Metro Boomin Hannah Wants Slumberjack George Maple Feki Maribelle Lastlings Be there, or suffer ironic FOMO.
Sydney dancefloor demons, bust out your baggiest Adidas tee because DJ Jazzy Jeff is going to 'Boom Shake the Room' at The Soda Factory this Saturday night. Straight after his pool party at the Ivy, the Grammy-winning hip hop megastar is heading over Surry Hills way for a smaller, more intimate show to please his loyal, local fans. DJ Jazzy Jeff (Jeff Townes) formed one half of '90s super duo DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince with Will Smith, and has since gone on to become one of the biggest names in contemporary hip hop. Now, after dropping in on the American diner-cum-club that is The Soda Factory, he has decided he wants to leave his mark there. The gig goes down this Saturday night, without any cover charge to speak of. The Soda Factory is well reputed for smashing short notice parties, and DJ Jazzy Jeff is likely to make this one for the ages. https://youtube.com/watch?v=ZwS14TiO7Pk
No longer just the realms of Monica Trapaga yazz residencies and kiddie-aimed pantomimes, the Twilight at Taronga series is taking it up a huge, cred-worthy notch. Kicking off a frankly kickass lineup set to play mega concerts at Sydney's Taronga Zoo, Bright Eyes' soul-searching dreamboat Conor Oberst, twee monarchs Belle and Sebastian, the one and only Rufus Wainwright and Powderfinger's legendary nice guy Bernard Fanning are just the tip of Taronga's genuinely killer program — spanning each Friday and Saturday night from Friday, January 30 through Saturday, March 21 after hours at the zoo. Being one of Australia's most high-fiveworthy zoos, Taronga's drummed up an Australian contingent worth crossing seas for: Paul Kelly presenting Merri Soul Sessions, You Am I, Sarah Blasko, Dan Sultan, Something For Kate, Little May, Jack Ladder and the Dreamlanders, Hiatus Kaiyote and more are all confirmed to front that top notch Sydney Harbour backdrop. And Ken Done's designing the marketing collateral, because 'straya. One of the most contemporary lineups the Twilight at Taronga series has seen in its 19 years running, the feathered, furred and finned will have plenty to choose from this summer. Whether the giraffes are Conor Oberst fans or the bilbies get into some sweet Belle and Sebastian remains to be seen. And you should see the also-announced Melbourne Zoo program — they get the motherflippin' Village People. TWILIGHT AT TARONGA 2015 PROGRAM: Friday 30 January – BERNARD FANNING, supported by Little May Saturday 31 January – BELLE AND SEBASTIAN, supported by Special Guests Friday 6 January – PAUL KELLY PRESENTS THE MERRI SOUL SESSIONS featuring Clairy Browne, Kira Puru, & Vika and Linda Bull, supported by Hiatus Kaiyote Saturday 7 February - YOU AM I, supported by Jack Ladder & The Dreamlanders Friday 13 February - SARAH BLASKO, supported by Luluc Saturday 14 February - ANTHONY CALLEA presents Ladies & Gentlemen, The Songs of George Michael, supported by Caterina Torres Friday 20 February - THE BEAUTIFUL GIRLS, supported by Caravana Sun Saturday 21 February – THE BAMBOOS, supported by Katalyst with special guests (Original beats set) Friday 27 February - BOYS IN THE BAND – 50 years of hits! Saturday 28 February - BJORN AGAIN Friday 6 March – CONOR OBERST, supported by The Felice Brothers Saturday 7 March - RUFUS WAINWRIGHT performing The Best of Rufus Wainwright, supported by Lucy Wainwright Roche Friday 13 March – DAN SULTAN, supported by Benny Walker and Pierce Brothers Saturday 14 March - JAMES MORRISON BIG BAND Friday 20 March – SOMETHING FOR KATE, supported by Jen Cloher Saturday 21 March - ROSS WILSON and Mental As Anything Tickets for Twilight at Taronga's full program go on sale 9am, Friday, October 31 over here.
Every year, the MCA showcases the best of Australia's next generation of creative talent in the Primavera exhibition. For the class of 2014, curator Mikala Dwyer has chosen 13 such young artists. With over 30 years of experience in the field, Dwyer is most well known for her innovative installation and sculpture work, such as her the strangely weighty, strangely ethereal hanging forms of The Hollows in this year's Biennale. She's always been entranced with subjects like alchemy, magic and metamorphosis, and perhaps this influenced her choice of this year's talent, who explore everything from surrealism to robotics and queer fertility. Madison Bycroft's, Ben Denham's, Caitlin Franzmann's and Lucienne Rickard's works are grounded in a deep-seated interested with our bodily relationships with our environment and each other. Sean Peoples, Veronica Kent, Hossein Ghaemi, Nick Dorey and Emily Hunt completely revise this premise by exploring the infinite possibilities of telepathy and the surreal. Indigenous painters Barayuwa Mununggurr and Alison Puruntatameri take inspiration from the land and their upbringing, while filmmaker Ishmael Marika's works are a product of her Indigenous cultural identity and heritage. Meanwhile, controversial artist Paul Yore and Marian Tubbs prove to be ever more relevant in today's world, providing a social commentary on gay politics and virtual reality respectively. Image: Paul Yore
You'd be hard-pressed to find anything more universally loved by Sydneysiders than the gorgeous stretch of coast along the Bondi to Coogee walk. And now that the daylight hours are getting longer and spring is well under way, there's no excuse not to don our walking shoes to enjoy the iconic scenery. Perhaps the one time of the year when Sydney really outshines itself in the looks department is during the annual Sculpture by the Sea, the world's largest public art exhibition of its kind. It's been 18 years since its inception, but the views evidently haven't gotten any less tiring to look at, with visitors growing more and more every year. This year, over 100 works from 34 artists around the globe will dot the landscape from Tamarama to Bondi once again — with a dozen sculptures from Japan alone. This year there'll also be sustenance on the trail — and holistic, ultra-Sydney sustenance at that. The Grounds of Alexandria is running a pop-up cafe, The Grounds by the Sea, for the duration of the exhibition. Image: Byeong Doo Moon, I Have Been Dreaming To Be A Tree II ... 2011. Photo taken by Jacqueline White.
For most of us, the Oscar Awards ceremony is a glitzy bubble enviously watched from our living rooms. Once a year, we have the opportunity to glimpse the lives of revered actors, directors and creatives, even if it is only from our lowly perch in front of the TV. Now, Melbourne artist and musician Darren Sylvester is bringing the spotlight to our homes (read: Alaska Projects). Known for combining video, sculpture and music to portray his refreshing outlook on the modern condition, Sylvester is taking a not-so-subtle jab at the self-involved culture of celebrity in his latest exhibition, Won. In a reconstruction of the Oscar winners' acceptance area, visitors themselves are able to walk up the red carpet and have their time to shine behind the microphone. With stage lights, luxurious backdrop and a curtain of flowers, Sylvester's recreation of the Oscars may not be the real deal, but let's face it, it's as close as we'll come.
Hope you're feeling hungry, because Taste of Sydney is back. One of the biggest, tastiest gastronomic events in town, this four-day foodie festival, which starts cooking on Thursday, March 9, will once again welcome some of the biggest names in Sydney's restaurant scene to cook up their signature dishes in Centennial Park. This year they've broken up their selection of restaurants into the precincts they reside. Representing Paddington (where everything seems to have opened this past year) will be two of Sydney's newer restaurants: Tequila Mockingbird and Saint Peter (which we named as one of our favourite new restaurants of last year). Respective chefs — Regan Porteous and Josh Niland — will make their Taste debut alongside Guillaume Brahimi, who'll be representing Paddo pub The Four in Hand. The CBD will be brought to Centennial by Bouche on Bridge and — another of our favourite restaurants of 2016 — Mercado, and Turkish eatery Anason will rep Barangaroo. If you've been in previous years, you'll have sampled dishes from Porteño, Kensington Street Social and nel. — these guys will all be returning with new noms for 2017. When you're not busy stuffing your face (but let's be honest, that's why you're there), you can also try your hand at cooking school, learn some skills alongside one of the aforementioned chefs in a masterclass, or up your wine knowledge with an expert from The Wine Society. Tickets cost $25, which will get you entry to the festival and access to some workshops and free tastings. You'll have to purchase food separately, but it's still a pretty good way to try some of Sydney's fanciest food without committing to a whole meal (and hefty bill). TASTE OF SYDNEY 2017 LINEUP Saint Peter Mercado Bouche on Bridge Tequila Mockingbird Porteño nel. Anason Kensington Street Social Gastro Park Taste of Sydney will return to Centennial Park on March 9–12. For more info and to buy tickets, visit sydney.tastefestivals.com. By Tom Clift and Lauren Vadnjal. Image: Alana Dimou for Bouche on Bridge.
Tessa Zettel and Karl Khoe, otherwise known as the design duo Makeshift, are the sorts of people you look upon and think: wow, if only I was that humble. That morally for the planet. That eco and that sans ego about it. Yet this is what they do, and they do it oh-so-quietly well. A quick glance at their website and the image of a serious empire begins to emerge. They design. They make art. They write. They teach. They print art publications on 100% recycled paper - in Australia! - using soy-based inks. Oh, I know. But despite their moniker, which would have you seeing slap-dash and bush carpentry, Makeshift are an innovative, slick team brimming with social responsibility. For this latest project Colony Collapse, which builds upon their previous flora installations, they have turned their hand to beekeeping. Using found objects such as a child's wheelbarrow and an old meat safe, Zettel and Khoe have built a mobile beehive for Australian native, sting-less bees. This centrepiece of the exhibition utilises PVC pipe as a kind of express subway tunnel from Gallery 1 of Firstdraft to the bustling pedestrian pathway that is Chalmers St, Surry Hills. The bees move from inside to out - unaware of opening or closing times - inhabiting their current role as artwork or educators of the urbanite. Not known to do anything by halves, Zettel and Khoe plan to take a bigger and better beehive bus on the road later in the year, with visions of a custom-built honey cart on the streets of Sydney's Circular Quay. One small step for the self-sufficient, one giant leap for taking just a little bit of time to search out Sydney’s sweet flowers.
Are you looking for a chance to update your wardrobe that's a little greener, and a lot cheaper, than hitting the shops? The Clothing Exchange, created by two Australian women back in 2004, hosts regular events across three states to encourage us all to swap our good quality clothes — the ones that you're tired of but aren't too tired-looking — with other like-minded shoppers. How does it work? Each event is held in a different city venue, such as at the Surry Hills Library, which is where the next event is due to take place at 10am on Saturday, August 18. There is a $15 entry fee, and each person can bring up to six items to exchange for buttons, which are then used as currency during the event. There are rules. Items that you wish to swap must pass the quality control by the Clothing Exchange ladies on the day. And no elbowing. (Okay, we made that last one up. But the sentiment is true. This is a friendly clothes swap, not a bargain basement free-for-all.)
The Sydney Design Festival will return from March 1–10, showcasing the best in Australian and international design in a whopping 138 events taking place across the city. Curated by Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences (MAAS), this year's festival theme is 'accessing design' — a challenge to broaden the term's definition — and spans tours, workshops, exhibitions, panel discussions, makers markets and podcasts. The festivities will begin with Methodic Optimism, a talk by award-winning architect Ana Luisa Soares, who hails from Portugal's Fala Atelier design firm. Additional highlighted speakers include Rachel Wingfield of London studio Loop.pH, preeminent Japanese-Australian fashion designer Akira Isogawa, and blind design practitioner Duncan Meerding. Other discussions topics include cultural and social development, aged care and housing, issues of accessibility and a new age of recycling. You'll want to visit the Powerhouse Museum, if not just to check out the immersive Agora installation. Commissioned by the museum and created by architecture film Penhale and Winter, the space acts as a meeting place for those interested in design and science. As far as exhibitions go, an interactive musical installation has been created by MAAS Research Fellow Ollie Bown, and will be on display at the Australian Design Centre for the duration of the festival. Over at the Leo Kelly Blacktown Arts Centre, a new program will explore the Tasmanian Aboriginal cultural practice of delicate shell necklaces. Plus, Golden Age Cinema will present Jiro Dreams of Sushi, the Australian Design Centre will host a makers market and a live podcast recording of In Situ Science will take place on March 6. Yes, it's a lot to sort through. Luckily MAAS has also provided these festival itineraries, which focus on certain topics of interest, such as women in design, indigenous design and shaping the future. Image: Atmeture by Loop.
If you've been pining for Cafe Paci since the Darlinghurst restaurant closed in 2015, then here's some good news. Chef Pasi Petänen will again team up with Dennis Roman, Zoltan Magyar for a second pop-up at Mecca's Alexandria roastery and cafe, where they'll be hosting 12 feasts involving wine and collaborations. Taking place over four weeks, the dinners find their inspiration in the colours of the season. Each week's menu is dedicated to a particular shade. So, in week one, look out for red ingredients, from red prawns, radicchio and red cabbage to duck, beef and paprika. In week two, yellow will take over, bringing with it saffron, ginger, honey, yellow-tail kingfish and yellow wine, among other sun-coloured delights. Then, in week three, it's white's turn, which means crab meat and calamari in savoury dishes and popcorn and white chocolate for sweet teeth. Finally, green, with its endless possibilities, will be wrapping up proceedings in week four. Think green-lipped abalone, seaweed, avocado, coriander and honeydew melon. Some specific dishes have been rumoured, including white salad, strawberries with smoked capsicum, corn with butter and cabbage with parsley and anchovies. For each offering, there'll be a matching wine available by the glass or bottle. Dennis and Zoltan put together the drinks list from a handpicked selection of local and international producers. The feasts will take place on Thursday, Friday and Saturday each week, kicking off on Friday, October 12 and finishing on Sunday, November 4. Tickets are $85 for a five-course, set menu. Match the entire banquet with glasses of wine for $65 or buy drinks individually.
Can I ask you to do something? As you read this sentence would you mind imagining the sound of 43 third generation Rajasthani musicians singing and playing the following instruments: the dholak (a double-headed hand-drum), the kartal (a wooden block and copper plate instrument literally meaning ‘rhythm of the hand’), a kamancha (an ancient violin), the sarangi (a short necked lute that resembles the sound of the human voice), the morchang (a percussive instrument held in place by the teeth of the player with the sound altered by movements of the tongue and throat), and the algoza (a collection of flutes that produces rapid swinging sound through breath and skillful finger movements). If your imagination is at all stimulated by this you will most likely enjoy The Manganiyar Seduction, an all-male ensemble of musicians who have combined their musicality acquired through a history of hereditary education (known as Gharânâ) with a spectacular and colourful stage show. While The Manganiyars would have traditionally performed for the kings of Rajasthan, director Roysten Abel has added ‘seduction’, stage cues, and a touch of Bollywood glamour to the formula, arranging the musicians in compartments (or ‘magical boxes’) that are framed by lights reminiscent of a celebrity’s bathroom mirror or that 1970s game show Hollywood Squares. The performance begins with a solo musician until the other Manganiyars are theatrically revealed. As this process continues and as each member of the group contributes to the overall sound the music gains momentum to such a point that we are thumped by a community of resonance and song. Or as the Irish Independent has exclaimed: "The effect is like that of a gospel Mass or a slow-building rave: a joyous, communal experience of the seductive power of music." And unlike an average band you might see lazily moaning about the metaphorical throws of a relationship gone wrong, the musicians from Rajasthan have a repertoire covering, well, life itself. Singing on subjects as varied as birth, marriage, weather, feasts, Sufi songs written by mystics, ballads about kings, Allah, and the origins of the Supreme Being Krishna, there really is something for everyone. Catch a free half hour preview performance at the Sydney Festival's Festival First Night on January 9.
When someone asks where the party at, Motorik answer. The Sydney-based dance collective and record label are known around the traps for throwing the most outrageous of raves in secret locations. After three years of warm-ups and killer releases, they're ready to get epic for their third birthday this Saturday. With the 15th release coming up for the label — a casual facemelter of an EP from The Presets' K.I.M — and their own show on the brand new FBi Click, Motorik have a bunch of reasons to get messy. They've also released the next instalment of their 'Under the Influences' mixtape series with K.I.M, streaming over here. But you came here to find out what makes the crew tick huh? Andrew Santamaria from Motorik took us through his top five tracks, set to gear you up for Motorik's epic birthday bash this Saturday. https://youtube.com/watch?v=KJm1MHBFoFQ CSMNT61 — KEEP HOLDING ON "The first ever release on Motorik Records. It got the ball rolling for everyone. Still one of our proudest moments as a label or party." https://youtube.com/watch?v=ippnJFRMpeM WORDLIFE — VISION "We love the Wordlife bros, have done for years before they became Wordlife and will do for ever more. This is their first release on our label and if I'm not mistaken our most successful one. They're going form strength to strength, with their new live set one not to be missed. They are, of course, playing the birthday party. I'll be front and centre... high-fiving you." https://youtube.com/watch?v=AiuDNGYQdTg JENSEN INTERCEPTOR — SYSTEM ADDICT (SCNTST REMIX) "This is the new one from our main man and label stalwart, Jensen Interceptor. He's been bringing the bangers to the table since day one. Today is no different." https://youtube.com/watch?v=fulX7PEQeXU THE FINGER PRINCE — YOUR FACE "The final piece in our four-fingered puzzle of artists that inspired Motorik to evolve from putting on raves to creating a recorded history of our times. Also a personal favourite." https://youtube.com/watch?v=wORSreFpLIw ERIK & FIEDEL — DONNA "Pretty much every time I'm asked about a top ten or five or even one, this track is in there. It was one of the first techno records I ever heard. It didn't make much sense to me for ages, all I knew was that it was wildly different to anything else I was listening to. It still stands out as both an inspiration and conundrum. I. LOVE. IT." Motorik's 3rd Birthday is happening this Saturday, July 19 at a 'secret base location'. Tickets available here and third release ($55 +bf) are selling fast so click those heels.
We’ve got a pretty decent skyline down in Sydney, so it’s nice that the folks at St George are continuing to make proper use of it even when the sun has gone down. The St George Open Air Cinema will be returning to Mrs Macquarie’s Point this summer, screening major new releases and some of the year’s best art-house films. Obscuring just the right amount of the killer harbour view will be a three story high screen hydraulically raised from the water, on which all 36 of the scheduled films will come to life with the help of state-of-the-art Dolby Digital surround sound. This season’s line up includes Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson’s rendition of The Adventures of Tintin, Spanish maestro Almodóvar’s unique tale of psychological obsession and sexual perversity The Skin I Live In, and the high-action heist movie Contraband. You can’t BYO food or booze to this outdoor cinema, but why would you want to eat sandwiches when you can wash down a hand-made chili king prawn pizza from the on-site bar and restaurant with some Cloudy Bay sauv that hasn’t been warming up in your bag for the last hour? Advance sales commence at 9am on 15 December and can be purchased through the official website or from Ticketmaster retail outlets.
"Siri — write my Her review". "[da-dup]…I'm not sure I understand". Yeah, okay. So, it's not perfect, but the fact is, I just had a conversation with my phone. What's more, I didn't feel weird about it, and — most crucially — neither did the people around me. It's for this reason that Spike Jonze's new movie Her feels eerily and uncomfortably plausible. Familiar, even. In fact, inevitable. Set in the almost certainly near future, Joaquin Phoenix plays Theodore Twombly — a gentle, retiring man who works at BeautifulHandwrittenLetters.com penning heartfelt correspondence between people he's never met. In his personal life, his wife (Rooney Mara) has left him and now communicates exclusively via their lawyers. In short, nobody really talks anymore. Then one day he buys and installs a new operating system called 'OS1' — an artificially intelligent construct that names herself, or rather itself, 'Samantha' (voiced to perfection by Scarlett Johansson). At first Samantha simply streamlines Theodore's life, triaging his emails and encouraging him to get out more, but gradually, as she evolves and learns more from their interactions, they begin to fall in love. It seems ridiculous, yes, but thanks to Jonze's masterful script and direction, it never really feels it, and that's what makes HER the first must-see film of 2014. "Is it a real relationship?" Theodore asks his best friend (a game designer played by Amy Adams), to which she replies: "Well… what is real?" It sounds like hack freshman philosophy but actually cuts to the core of the film, because — in essence — Theodore's relationship is largely indistinguishable from every real-world, long-distance one. In this increasingly international age where overseas employment and study opportunities beckon with greater frequency and ease, it often feels like the number one obstacle for couples to overcome is mere geography. Hence, nobody bats an eyelid when two people attempt to sustain a relationship exclusively and indefinitely via phone calls, meaning — to the outside world — Theodore's interactions with Samantha are just as commonplace and unremarkable. And ultimately, who's to say they're not? Look around you right now. How many people are on their phones — talking, listening, scrolling, reading or playing? The loneliness and isolation of an increasingly interconnected world is a pervasive and fascinating phenomenon, but few have yet explored how humanity's growing fusion with technology might lead to actual relationships with it. Well, except maybe for the Japanese. To say much more is to risk giving away precious moments and quiet surprises (of which there are many), though it's worth noting Her pleasantly avoids a lot of tech in-jokes and future gags that could easily have rendered it a far more pedestrian affair. Ultimately, it is a beautiful, imaginative and provocative offering by Jonze that asks some fascinating questions about the direction love is taking in the technological age. Could we love an operating system, and — more importantly — could it love us back? "Siri - do you love me?" "[da-dup] Look…a puppy!" Man, love is hard. https://youtube.com/watch?v=ne6p6MfLBxc
Sydney can't get enough of zombies at the moment. Fresh off the news that the undead obstacle course Run For Your Lives is headed our way, now it's time to look drop dead gorgeous and graduate at every(dead)body's favourite high school dance: Zombie Prom 1986. After selling out the last three years at The Vanguard, the team behind The Empire Strips Back has teamed up with Oz Comic-Con to move the Shermer High School end of year dance down the road to the much bigger Factory Theatre and take it to the next level. Think zombie dancers, a zombie house band and zombie DJs pumping out the best '80s hits all night long. The best part about it is that dressing up is pretty much mandatory. The dress code is '80s prom night, but zombies, so when 'Thriller' comes on you just know it's going to look incredible. Zombie Prom King and Queen will be crowned, so come dressed as your best cheerleader, quarterback or geek and have the best night of your undead life.
If the word ‘organ’ makes you think of dreary church services and scary old-lady piano teachers, head to the Opera House on November 12. And let rockstar organist Cameron Carpenter help you rethink your thoughts. He’s a 34-year-old from the good ol’ US of A, who’s travelling the world, singlehandedly changing the instrument’s musty, dusty image. Rather than sticking with traditional repertoire, he busts out into all kinds of grooves — from pop tunes to originals. He’s even learning Percy Grainger’s ‘Colonial Song’ specifically for his Aussie gig. “I tend to change the program at the last minute… that’s part of the fun,” says Carpenter, describing Grainger as his “very favourite composer in the world”. Also on the program is the Australian premiere of Carpenter’s composition Music for an Imaginary Film. Rather than playing the Opera House’s in-house organ, he’ll be bringing his unique ‘International Touring Organ’ along. Massachusetts-based makers Marshall and Ogletree built it with pipe samples from all kinds of instruments — from cathedral organs to Wurlitzers. The concert is the last in the 2015 Utzon series.
If you haven't been Gelato Messina's eight-seat degustation bar since it opened last April, this July is the perfect time to do so — because they're adding truffles to all their dishes. In conjunction with Madame Truffles, Messina's Creative Department is crafting a special seven-course gelato-meets-gourmet mushrooms degustation for just two weeks. So what kind of truffle-gelato goodness have the masterminds come up with? There's a pine and eucalyptus gelato that's a mix of 67 percent chocolate and black truffle cremeux, salted caramel, Jerusalem artichoke crisp and caramelised honey served with a ginger and lemon myrtle infusion. Using ingredients from the Dominican Republic, Japan, Tonga and NSW, Messina will take your tastebuds on a sweet and savoury journey. There are also two kinds of sorbet on the special Truffle Week menu: apple and nasturtium sorbet, and black truffle oil and vanilla oil sorbet. Sorbets are paired with a finger lime tonic and a spiced chai latte. Tickets are $130 per person and, with just eight seats available at each of the three sittings each night, you can book for groups of two, four, six or eight of your gelato-loving mates. And based off how quick these things sell out, you'll want to grab your tickets ASAP. Head to the Messina Creative Department page to nab a seat. If you miss out, a limited editing truffle flavour will be available to buy at the Surry Hills store. Seats at the truffle takeover are now sold out, but, look at that — you can win a double pass by completing our reader survey.
Now that the weather has become slightly chillier and you've accepted that you might have to pop a jacket on when you head out for the day, what's the best way to keep feeling as invigorated as one does while sipping a G&T on a summer's day at the park? Green Park Hotel's latest Thursday night event, Gin in the Park, obviously. The kind folks at the Darlinghurst public house have all sorts of juniper-heavy evenings planned to keep us all feeling upbeat and refreshed during the dreaded post-summer blues. PICNIC AT THE PUB Now that it's cooler, there's no need to brave the great outdoors because Green Park is serving picnics at the pub. To snack on while sipping $10 G&Ts, these adorably retro picnic hampers contain all the classic goods that some might think of as simple fare but are undeniably moreish — cubed cheese, Jatz crackers, pickled onions, dips and cucumber sandwiches are all on the menu. It's called a 'povo picnic', but it sounds pretty priceless to us. DON'T BOTHER WITH THE BOWLO If, in addition to your delightful picnic, you feel like a spot of lawn games, you're in luck. The Greeny ups the ante on Thursdays with, what they refer to as, "silly" versions of lawn game classics. Ring toss, skittles and Jenga will all be on offer, so you can let your competitive side come alive without having to take yourself too seriously — gin in hand, all the while, of course. There'll also be plenty of martinis if you wish to shake things up from your usual G&T. Disclaimer: the pub doesn't have an actual lawn — it's more of an astroturf-covered pool table situation. But hey, when you can play with martinis on the pour, does it really matter? [caption id="attachment_714426" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sean Foster.[/caption] MEDITATIVE EXPERIENCES Have you ever meditated with a cocktail in hand? We wouldn't question if you had, you gin fiend, but we promise you've certainly never done it like this. The Green Park is spiking its Thursdays with unconventional gin events in collaboration with Hendricks, such as this immersive meditative martini experience. It'll elevate your love of gin to whole new sensory plains, with blindfolds and noise-cancelling headphones all part of the adventure. You can take part on these gin-credible (we had to) Hendricks Meditative Martini Experiences once a month (and of course on Thursdays) — April 18, May 16, and June 6 — but make sure you sign up, as places are limited. BOOGIE TO THE SOUNDS OF LOCAL DJs Gin in the Park certainly wouldn't be complete without a heavenly soundtrack that distils the night into one to be remembered. At Green Park, there'll be a rotation of local DJs hellbent on making your Thursday as enjoyable as possible — just like a cruisy Sunday arvo with mates at the local park. Who can you expect to be dishing out your pre-weekend boogie? The beloved resident DJs Kate Monroe, Hamo and Dom de Sousa. Gin in The Park takes place every Thursday from 5pm at Green Park Hotel. Visit the pub's website for more information.
Sydney Dance Company's first show of the season presents its dancers at their most open, honest and mindblowingly athletic yet. In the words of choreographer Rafael Bonachela, ab [intra], which is Latin for "from within", is an exploration of our "primal instincts, our impulses and our visceral responses". Rather than beginning with a script, Bonachela worked backwards. While improvising and experimenting in the studio, he asked dancers to anonymously write down their emotions, ideas and questions on hundreds of yellow Post-It notes and created a narrative from them. Throughout the piece, dancers shift from portraits of intense intimacy to explosions of dynamic interaction and moments of stillness. Costumes are minimal, exposing an unsettling mix of vulnerability and power, and the original score, composed by Nick Wales, combines both classical and electronic influences. ab [intra] is Bonachela's first full-length work since 2012, when 2 One Another and a collaboration with the Australian Chamber Orchestra called Project Rameau both took the stage. This is his tenth year as artistic director of the Sydney Dance Company. https://youtu.be/CQVMpxo5UaQ Images: Pedro Greig
The Lady Hampshire is making a huge comeback. After scoring another transformation, this Camperdown staple is now ready to welcome newcomers and regulars alike with back-to-back weekends of partying. To kick off its return, the revamped dedicated live music venue is hosting a month-long celebration of music from Friday, April 14 until Saturday, May 20. The venue's weekly live music takeovers are shining a spotlight on both local and international artists from Wednesday to Sunday night. So grab a beer, take a seat, and dance the night away. The space has been taken over by PUBLIC hospitality group, which aims to prioritise keeping the heritage of the place intact, with a focus on community and experience. Keeping the locals and live music in mind, the venue's massive upcoming weekend gigs are set to be The Lady Hampshire's reintroduction into Sydney's ever-growing scene of live music in pubs. If you head over early, or need a quieter place for a breather, head on up to the 100% recycled urban beer garden. As a bonus, you can sip your way through the night next to Aussie icons like Kath & Kim, Steve Irwin, Cathy Freeman and Adam Goodes with Scott Marsh's gorgeous mural adorning the wall. The likes of Bootleg Rascal, Abby Bella May, Close Encounters, These New South Whales and Radicals are all on the bill, so make plans to hit up the live music venue on Friday and Saturday nights, in particular, to catch these artists on stage. You can stay up to date with the gig guide over at the pub's Instagram page. You'll also be able to get into a heap of these gigs for free — just be sure to RSVP via the event link beforehand.
How does a show featuring some of Australia’s most experimental, unusual and innovative music sound to you? If a whole evening focused on some of the most eclectic purveyors of rock and electronic music from around the country sounds like your thing, then Unpopular Music 2011 has got you covered. The event sees four of Australia’s leading underground music advocates – New Weird Australia, Octopus Pi, Sound Series and Refraction – join forces to put on two separate shows this Saturday evening. The first, starting at 6pm at Enmore’s Hardware Gallery, features Sydneysiders Thomas William and Scissor Lock premiering material from their debut collaboration Jewelz. Other artists in tow include Melburnians Monolith, Und and Anna Chase. This is due to wrap up some time before 9pm, but then things are going to get really interesting — there will be a ‘magical audio tour’ leaving Hardware at 8:45pm and arriving at Dirty Shirlows in Marrickville in time for the second 9pm show. How exciting! The second show features Brisbane psychedelic outfit Strange Forces, with other groups including Sydney’s Zeahorse, Brisbane’s Secret Birds and veteran Sydney punk group Scattered Order. Tickets for the two shows are $12 all up, and $2 from each ticket goes towards the upkeep of Sydney’s FBi radio station!
Sydney winters mightn't be known for their ice and snow; however, that doesn't mean you can't slide across a frozen surface in the centre of the city. From June 23 to July 16, St Mary's Cathedral forecourt will become a winter wonderland thanks to the return of the Skating At Sydney Festival. Return, you say? It's a case of same event, new name for the event that was previously known as the Winter Festival. Don't worry, all of the frosty fabulousness Sydneysiders know, love and won't find anywhere else in the CBD is back: ice skating, ice sliding, and eating German sausages included. It's the next best thing to heading to Europe when it's oh-so-cool, just without the bone-chilling, teeth-chattering cold. And, did we mention that there's gluhwein (aka warm, mulled, spiced wine, aka your new favourite winter drink)? Entry to the area is free, but you'll have to pay for all of the fun stuff, with the fest open from 10am to 8pm Monday to Thursday, 10am to 10pm on Friday and Saturday, and 9am to 8pm on Sundays.
Cyril Hahn is back. Last time we saw him in these parts, he was playing the Museum of Contemporary Art for Future Classic. Now, he's taking on a national tour. Hahn says his friends described his tunes as "sex music or make-out music". So, if you're in that kinda mood, head down to Max Watt's on February 27 and get your mojo working. More formally, Hahn is known as one of Canada's best R&B remixers and creator of epic anthems. We first heard his magic back in 2012, when his reworking of hits by Destiny's Child and Mariah Carey racked up millions of hits on YouTube and Soundcloud. We're not going to even think about how many affairs they might have started. Since then, Hahn has signed to PMR Records and continued to produce one sexy remix after another. He's also released stacks of originals across three EPs: Perfect Form’ (2013), Voices (2014) and Begin (2015).
When the weather starts to cool, our stomachs start to grumble for hearty snacks and meals: think burgers and fries, sausage rolls, pasta, brownies and doughnuts. Let's call autumn and winter the seasons of indulgence, and let's call Vegan Collective's next market the ideal celebration of tasty treats for this time of year. It's all there in the name at the Autumn Indulgence Night Market, so head along from 7pm on April 12 and prepare to eat delicious vegan food made by local providers. Treat Dreams, The Vegan Teahouse, My Little Panda Kitchen, Rhubarb Bakes, Green Wise Monkeys, Herbisaurus, and GogoVego will be among the stallholders, so we'd recommend arriving hungry. Vegan Collective's last market attracted around 400 attendees to feast on meals and bites from 2o local vegan makers, in case you needed more convincing. Val York will spinning tunes for the occasion, and Astrix Little will bust out a live set. As for everything else, keep an eye on the event's Facebook page. Image: Vegan Collective / COMMUNE.
Calling all gallery goers. If your love of art is on par with Charlie's love of chocolate, we've got something that'll bring a golden twinkle to your eye. We're giving away a golden ticket to the Art Gallery of NSW, which grants you and a mate access to every single exhibition held there this year. That's free passes to some of the most exciting curatorial offerings in town in your hot little art-loving hands. So what's lined up, you ask? Well, until Sunday, March 3, you can check out Masters of Modern Art from The Hermitage. The exhibition is an eye-poppingly awesome selection from the St Petersburg's State Hermitage Museum that includes works by radical innovators Monet, Cézanne, Matisse, Picasso, Gauguin, Kandinsky and Pissarro. Works by legendary Australian artist Brett Whiteley are also on show until Sunday, March 31. From early drawings of Sydney and France through to the landscapes, interiors and nudes of his later career, this survey celebrates the integral, inspirational role drawing played in his creative process. In April, the gallery hosts the most comprehensive Marcel Duchamp exhibition to ever be seen in the Asia-Pacific, treating visitors to about 150 works and documentary materials from the influential artist's rich career in The Essential Duchamp. You'll get to see early gems like Portrait of Dr. Dumouchel (1910) and Sonata (1911) alongside later career-changing works including Nude Descending a Staircase No. 2 (1912). And in November, the gallery is set to host, Japan Supernatural, a blockbuster exhibition of Japanese artworks, including those by Takashi Murakami. But that's not all. The passes also include entry into an exhibition dedicated to masterpieces from Taipei's National Palace Museum, plus the annual Archibald, Wynne & Sulman Prizes. To enter, see details below. [competition]684175[/competition]
If you've been making plans to revamp your style, but haven't been able to rustle up the coin, here's your chance. For two weeks, Hugo Boss will be hosting a mega sale at its outlet stores. You'll be able to score a further 50 percent off a massive range of premium clothing — from comfy t-shirts and soft sweaters to suave suits and women's dresses. Whether you're after a suit for a special occasion or looking to level-up your wardrobe, Hugo Boss's end-of-year outlet sale will have you sorted for a fraction of the fashion label's usual prices. You'll have to get in quick to score though, with the sale running from Wednesday, December 16 to Friday, January 1. Hugo Boss end-of-year outlet sale will run from Wednesday, December 16 to Friday, January 1. To find your closest outlet store, visit the website.
Three of Sydney's Japanese food favourites are coming together to celebrate all things sake across August. Nakano Darling, Tachinomi YP and Yakitori Yurippi are teaming up for Sake Month to present a range of special set menus and snacks to pair with a wide variety of sake. At both Nakano and Tachinomi YP, diners can order a limited-time sake and otsumami (Japanese for 'snack') set, with varieties of the Japanese spirit paired with moreish finger food. The menu is available daily during August and changes week to week with new combinations popping up throughout the month. Over in Crow's Nest, Yakitori Yurippi is also making the most of Sake Month with its Hide's Izakaya chef's table experience. This seven-course izakaya-style menu is limited to 24 people each Tuesday with seatings available at 5pm, 7pm and 9pm. "It's been a pretty cold winter, but it's clear that everyone loves being out again with friends and family," the venues' co-owner Tin Jung Shea said. "We get it and we wanted to create something special to give our customers more chances to have fun, stay warm, and try some amazing Japanese cuisine while they're getting back to dining out."
If the cloying coverage of a certain “fairytale” wedding has left you craving something satisfyingly dark and bittersweet, Ruby Moon asks why red-hooded children never make it safely to grandmamma’s house. It is a subversive re-jig of Little Red Riding Hood that “begins like a fairytale,” but ends somewhere else entirely. The best fairytales, after all, are fractured and fraught with danger; they meld tenderness with malice and romance with depravity. One day little Ruby Moon puts on her red dress and sets off to visit her grandmother at the end of the cul de sac. She never returns. Unable to compress their grief or console each other, her parents resort to re-enactment as a form of solace. When brown paper parcels containing dismantled doll parts start arriving on their doorstep, their suspicions take on a new, warping desperation and they begin interrogating their neighbours in earnest. They refuse to refer to Ruby in the past tense, convinced that behind closed doors, someone knows what happened to their daughter… Ruby Moon was short-listed for the Queensland Premier's Literary Awards, and is playwright Matt Cameron's most celebrated play. It's both a profoundly felt moral story and a surreal tragicomedy about the terrible price of love. It begs the question, if little Ruby had even reached her grandmamma's, would she have been better off?
You could spend one hour trying to get a cab to some party where you might be able to hear some fireworks, or you could spend it heading up to the beautiful Glenworth Valley for Peats Ridge. This year Sydney’s alternative to a New Years spent in the city is hardcore delivering on their promise to be all about the vibes. The (huge) musical lineup will be headlined by John Butler Trio, who are pretty much Peats Ridge in the form of three musically-adept men. Other acts sure to get the vibes flourishing include NZ’s Unknown Mortal Orchestra, our own Deep Sea Arcade, techno guy Luke Slater and Friendly Fires in DJ mode. On the arts side there’s a new theatre, a trippy Derivan Art Tunnel, an actual circus complete with trapeze artists and a slew of interactive installations. Have your eyes and ears wowed, put your bottles in the bins provided and don’t forget to meet at 6pm for the infamous New Years Eve Fancy Dress Masquerade Party.
Swim season is nearly upon us (finally) and the Andrew (Boy) Charlton pool is starting it off with free entry, free brekkie and free harpists. That last one threw us for a loop, too. The pool will officially reopen for the 2018/19 season on Saturday, September 1 and it's giving free entry to the first 50 people through the door — though you'll have to wake up mighty early as the pool opens from 6am that day. If you're late, it's the standard $6.60 entry fee. And, in true 'early bird catches the worm' fashion, the first three people on line will nab a 12-month 360 active membership, which gets you access to ABC, Prince Alfred and Victoria Park pools. Now, back to the harpist. Singer and orchestral harp player Jake Meadow will perform poolside throughout the morning, while attendees are invited to swim, eat a barbecue breakfast and participate in yoga classes on the deck. And, of course, the ABC pool's proximity to the Botanical Gardens and views across the harbour make it an appealing spot as it is. The event caps off at 10am, though, so late-sleepers should be wary of hitting the snooze button.
Drawing on a background in visual art, band Cambodian Space Project also became known for the psychedelic designs that made up its aesthetic. The artworks quickly took on a life of their own, and now dubbed Sticky Fingers Art Prints, 30 designs in editions of four will be showing at the Newsagency Gallery in Petersham, which regularly supports emerging Southeast Asian art. Srey Thy, lead singer of the Cambodian Space Project, grew up in rural Cambodia during the decline of the Khmer rouge regime and came to idolise singers like Ros Sereysothea and Pan Ron, both of whom disappeared in the Killing Fields. When Srey moved to Phenom Penh to become a karaoke singer, she met Australian musician, Julien Poulson, and, well, the rest was history. The two came together to form vibrant and soulful rock band, the Cambodian Space Project, who have garnered acclaim from local outlets such as Triple J. Aimed at fostering up-and-coming talent, Sticky Fingers has enjoyed a meteoric rise, recently opening up a shopfront in Phnom Penh as well as a studio for aspiring Cambodian printmakers and artists. And while they're in town, you can combine a good cause with a good time and catch the Cambodian Space Project performing live at the exhibition September 21. Newsagency Gallery is open weekends, 10-5.
Consider yourself a gin lover? Well, we've got just the thing for your juniper-loving self — a luxe, gin-fuelled trip to Melbourne. After all, don't we all deserve a little getaway? Thanks to our friends at urban gin distillery Patient Wolf Distilling Co., you and a mate could be jetting off to Melbourne for two nights — with flights, accommodation and gin all on the house. Should you win this prize, you'll spend the weekend at the luxury W Melbourne hotel. You'll also learn about distillation and botanicals in a Patient Wolf gin masterclass — a must-do for all gin lovers — at its home in Southbank, just on the edge of Melbourne's CBD. During the masterclass, you'll hear all about the distillery's story; sample its three signature gins; and get to spend $200 at the bar or purchasing a couple of bottles to take home. You'll also score a $200 voucher to spend on a decadent dinner at W Melbourne's on-site restaurant, Lollo, after a hard day of gin sampling. The competition is open to people aged 18 years and over. See further details below to enter. [competition]814639[/competition]
There can't be many tasks more challenging for a performer than making an unlikeable character likeable, yet when done right, that character's humanity and compassion can often burst though — amplified and disarming — with a powerfully cathartic release. Such is the case in John Lee Hancock's tender-hearted tale Saving Mr Banks, which chronicles Walt Disney's 20-year effort to bring Mary Poppins to the big screen. Disney, however, is not the focus of the film. The man was far from saintly, definitely, but — when played by Tom Hanks — his likability was assured. Instead, Saving Mr Banks focuses on the author of that beloved children's story, PL Travers (Emma Thompson), who was every bit the unlikeable character: stubborn, terse and paradoxically impolite in her constant castigations of anyone who failed to observe common etiquette. Common British etiquette, mind you. Beginning in 1961, Travers had found herself in financial trouble when the royalties from Mary Poppins had all but dried up. Faced with the possibility of losing her London home, she finally acquiesced to the pleas of her exasperated agent and travelled to Hollywood to discuss selling the film rights. Her unease, one she'd staunchly maintained for two decades, was that the story and characters would be 'Disneyfied' by way of frivolous cartoons, childish singing and dancing animals. An author seeking creative control was nothing new to Hollywood, but nobody could quite understand why Travers guarded her story with such unyielding ferocity. That mystery is what lies at the heart of Saving Mr Banks. Presented as a dual narrative, the movie flicks back and forth between Travers' present-day obstinacy in the Disney Studios and her difficult childhood in the Australian outback, with the latter periodically informing and recasting our understanding of the former. It's no secret the true subject of Mary Poppins was not the children, but rather their father — Mr Banks — and the quiet crusade by Poppins to reconnect him with his family. Accordingly, Saving Mr Banks's early scenes focus on the relationship between the young Travers (whose real name was Helen Goff) and her alcoholic yet devoted father, played by Colin Farrell. The parallels are all a little too neat, psychologically, but very much contribute to both the story's greater meaning and the audience's eventual appreciation of Travers' hidden benignity. In the lead, Thompson is unsurprisingly sensational. What initially feels like an exaggerated and caricaturesque performance proves remarkably spot-on courtesy of some unmissable credits, and her ability to transform both mood and meaning with the tiniest change of facial expression demonstrates why she remains top of her game. Hanks is reserved in his turn as Disney, though still proves capable of stealing a scene — most notably during an exquisite description of his own father's strict approach to parenting. In supporting roles, Paul Giamatti offers a lovely turn as Travers' driver, while Bradley Whitford, Jason Schwartzman and BJ Novak are excellent as the bewildered creatives charged with appeasing Travers and adapting her book to the screen. There's a good chance you'll cry in this film, both in moments of tragedy and sentimentality — but really, that's always been the Disney formula. Sweet, heartwarming and consistently funny, Saving Mr Banks is every bit the opposite of its main character, but — just like her — ultimately surprises with some unexpected tenderness. https://youtube.com/watch?v=FvKcwNyOnWo
At a time when representation continues to prove an issue in cinema, this year's Sydney Latin American Film Festival is leading by example. Already responsible for showcasing the kinds of South American flicks that wouldn't make it to Australian cinema screens otherwise, the 2017 event — the fest's 12th — also features a lineup that boasts gender parity. When SLAFF rolls into Dendy Opera Quays between September 7 and 11, half of its program will be directed by female filmmakers. That includes opening night's Havana-set On the Roof, Everything Else featuring Oscar-nominated Babel actress Adriana Barraza, and documentary When Guns Go Silent, about Colombian guerrillas trying to make peace with the government. Other highlights range from Bad Influence, about the issues and struggles of the Indigenous Chilean Mapuche people to Dominican sports drama Sambá (a hit at this year's Tribeca Film Festival) to closing night's Bad Lucky Goat, about two siblings on the run after accidentally killing a farmyard animal. In total, SLAFF 2017 will screen eight features, two documentaries and seven shorts across its five-day stint, highlighting the latest movies from Cuba, Argentina, Mexico, Chile, Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia and the Dominican Republic. And if that's not enough excitement, the bookending screenings will feature parties and performances.
Since he was 15 years old, Jarvis headed up Pulp, the Sheffield Brit-poppers that broke all barriers of the non-movement. Pulp changed the musical climate in England and abroad with their music, which was described by biographer Allen Sturdy as “a cross between Abba and The Fallâ€. Pulp released 7 much acclaimed studio albums, none more so than Different Class which included their biggest single Common People. He is a much respected figure in the musical and cultural cosmos, and since Pulp have been on hiatus he has collaborated with many leading figures past (Marianne Faithful and Nancy Sinatra) and present (he contributed three songs to the Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire soundtrack). Amongst a plethora of other diverse and ever changing projects and collaborations he has also hosted his own arts series Journeys into the Outside on UK Channel 4. The multi-tasker released his first solo album Jarvis in 2006 and Further Complications was released in May this year. The Steve Albini produced record sees Jarvis turning up the volume and rocking out more with complete with feedback and distorted guitars- including single Angela which according to a Q Magazine interview is about “thwarted lustâ€. His nice-suited self will grace our The Metro Theatre on 7th December.https://youtube.com/watch?v=AzpxtSmEL9s
Summer lineups just keep kicking bigger and bigger goals. The Sydney Opera House has announced their full summer lineup for contemporary music program Music at the House, with Sinead O'Connor, Caribou, Mogwai, Flying Lotus, Rodrigo Y Gabriela and more joining already announced big guns Damon Albarn, Violent Femmes, Max Richter and the Wordless Orchestra, Asgeir, Ben Frost and Tim Heckler and Fat Freddy's Drop. Running December to April, the 20-show-strong summer program is overrun with applaudably huge names. The legendary Sinead O’Connor will make her second Sydney appearance in 30 years with a retrospective set (ahead of her March 2016 memoir release), original 'Buffalo Stance' boundary-breaker Neneh Cherry makes her Australian debut and Britain's instrumental heavyweights Mogwai make their return to Australian shores. Crisp-as-blazes, London-based Canadian Caribou will surf a wave of hype surrounding his recent album Our Love, while Warp's Flying Lotus makes a triumphant return to the Concert Hall (where FlyLo sold the whole damn thing out last year). A tribute to the Twin Peaks mastermind, 'In Dreams: David Lynch Revisited' will see Australia’s Mick Harvey (ex-Bad Seeds) and Sophia Brous (Brous), New York City-based Cibo Matto and Irish-chanteuse Camille O’Sullivan will venture through Lynch's versions of the likes of Roy Orbison, David Bowie and Chris Isaak, as well as his work with Angelo Baladamenti. Swedish vocal powerhouse Lykke Li is set to make her Opera House debut, while fellow Swedes Little Dragon take over the Concert Hall — a fierce upgrade in space from their wildly raved about Oxford Art Factory show this year. Acoustic Brit Award winner Ben Howard is set to take things down a mellow notch, but if you're feeling the need to stomp a few floors, Grammy Award-winning flamenco legends The Gipsy Kings celebrate 25 years since their self-titled breakthrough album, and furiously talented guitar-duelling duo Rodrigo Y Gabriela return to Australia after a way-too-long absence. Music at the House is quickly becoming one of Sydney's most anticipated lineup reveals, with this year's performances including the recently-toured Rodriguez, the return visit of Vivid LIVE favourite Nils Frahm, Grizzly Bear, Bonobo, Boy and Bear, The National, The Jezabels and more — with performances from Max Richter and the Wordless Orchestra, Damon Albarn and Violent Femmes still to come before the end of the year. MUSIC AT THE HOUSE 2015 SUMMER PROGRAM (December 2014 — April 2015): Tickets go on sale to the general public at 9am, Monday 10 November. MAX RICHTER & THE WORDLESS ORCHESTRA (AUSTRALIAN DEBUT, SYDNEY EXCLUSIVE) DATE: Sunday 23 November TIME: 8pm VENUE: Concert Hall TICKET PRICE: From $49 DAMON ALBARN (SYDNEY EXCLUSIVE) DATE: Monday 15 & Tuesday 16 December, 2014 TIME: 8pm VENUE: Concert Hall TICKET PRICE: From $79 VIOLENT FEMMES (SYDNEY EXCLUSIVE) DATE: Monday 29 December, 2014 TIME: 8pm VENUE: Concert Hall TICKET PRICE: From $59 ASGEIR (SYDNEY EXCLUSIVE) DATE: Wednesday 7 January, 2015 TIME: 6.30pm & 9pm (SOLD OUT) VENUE: Concert Hall TICKET PRICE: From $49 BEN FROST & TIM HECKER (SYDNEY EXCLUSIVE) DATE: Sunday 11 January, 2015 TIME: 9.30pm VENUE: Joan Sutherland Theatre TICKET PRICE: From $39 FAT FREDDY’S DROP (SYDNEY EXCLUSIVE) DATE: Monday 26 January,2015 TIME: 9pm VENUE: Concert Hall TICKET PRICE: From $59 LYKKE LI DATE: Monday 2 February, 2015 TIME: 8pm VENUE: Concert Hall TICKET PRICE: From $59 CARIBOU DATE: Tuesday 3 February, 2015 TIME: 7pm VENUE: Concert Hall TICKET PRICE: From $49 FLYING LOTUS DATE: Tuesday 3 February, 2015 TIME: 10.30pm VENUE: Concert Hall TICKET PRICE: From $54 LITTLE DRAGON DATE: Thursday 5 February, 2015 TIME: 8pm VENUE: Concert Hall TICKET PRICE: From $49 MOGWAI (SYDNEY EXCLUSIVE) DATE: Monday 2 March, 2015 TIME: 8pm VENUE: Concert Hall TICKET PRICE: From $59 NENEH CHERRY WITH ROCKETNUMBERNINE+ (UK) (SYDNEY EXCLUSIVE) DATE: Wednesday 11 March, 2015 TIME: 9pm VENUE: Concert Hall TICKET PRICE: From $59 IN DREAMS: DAVID LYNCH REVISITED (FEATURING MICK HARVEY, SOPHIA BROUS, CIBO MATTO, CAMILLE O’SULLIVAN + MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED) (SYDNEY EXCLUSIVE ) DATE: Saturday 14 March, 2015 TIME: 8pm VENUE: Concert Hall TICKET PRICE: From $59 SINEAD O'CONNOR (SYDNEY EXCLUSIVE) DATE: Thursday 19 March, 2015 TIME: 8pm VENUE: Concert Hall TICKET PRICE: From $79 BEN HOWARD DATE: Sunday 29 March, 2015 TIME: 8pm VENUE: Concert Hall TICKET PRICE: From $59 THE GIPSY KINGS featuring NICOLAS REYES & TONINO BALIARDO (SYDNEY EXCLUSIVE) DATE: Tuesday 7 & Wednesday 8 April 2015 TIME: 9pm VENUE: Concert Hall TICKET PRICE: From $99 RODRIGO Y GABRIELA (SYDNEY EXCLUSIVE) DATE: Thursday 9 April, 2015 TIME: 9.30pm VENUE: Concert Hall TICKET PRICE: From $79 ANGELIQUE KIDJO + MAVIS STAPLES (SYDNEY EXCLUSIVE) DATE: Sunday 12 April, 2015 T TIME: 8pm VENUE: Concert Hall TICKET PRICE: From $79 Tickets go on sale to the general public at 9am, Monday 10 November. Visit sydneyoperahouse.com/music for further information and tickets.
Last month, we announced the bittersweet news that Potts Point's two-hatted Gastro Park is set to close its doors and and will be replaced with a new venture by the restaurant's executive chef and owner Grant King. Now, King has given us an inside look into his next project — just one week after Gastro Park closes on May 20, Antipodean Restaurant and Bar will take its place. As the name suggests, the restaurant will focus on all things Australian and New Zealand, using produce from local artisans, farmers, wineries, breweries and distilleries (to name a few), in an effort to truly bring it all back home. "I've been at Gastro Park six years and I thought it was time to get away gastronomy," says King. "When people hear 'gastro', they expect everything to be 'chef-ified' and I want to make Antipodean just more simple." The native New Zealander is committed to making 99 percent of the restaurant antipodean, right down to the dishes and water glasses, which will come from Byron-based Made of Australia. "I'm going out of my way to find small producers, which sounds cliche — but everyone says this and doesn't really go for it," says King. He has even been able to find a producer making aged vinegar, as well as one in South Australia who makes Spanish-style ham. The restaurant will take on a more casual vibe and be revamped as an accessible, neighbourhood restaurant. The expensive tasting menu will be replaced with simpler share plates with only two or three items per dish. King reckons the price point will be halved to $60-80 per person as oppose to the $140-170 of the Gastro Park tasting menus. "Everything will still be handmade and delicious, but there will be much less of a focus on 'designed' dishes." He's currently working with 100 dishes in mind, which will be paired down to around a 25-dish menu that will be completely dictated by the ingredients available — think New Zealand flounder, baked whole with preserved orange, or mussels from South Australia. The fit-out will also be altered to feel more intimate and casual, creating alcoves, wall divides and indoor trees to add more warmth and separation to the existing open space. "I want the venue to show that we're proud of our local produce and that it isn't inferior to the rest of the world," says King. Antipodean Restaurant and Bar will open at 5-9 Roslyn Street, Potts Point at the end of May. It will be open seven nights a week for dinner from 5pm, as well as lunch on Fridays and brunch on Saturdays and Sundays from 10am. For more information and an opening date, keep checking back here or visit antipodeanrestaurantandbar.com. Image: Kimberley Low.
Right when unsuspecting dairy fanatics were gearing up for their Easter Sunday pig-out, Newtown's Gelato Blue went 100 percent vegan. Yep, on Easter Saturday, the inner west favourite kissed all animal products goodbye, thereby becoming Sydney's first-ever plant-based gelateria. Gelato Blue launched the switch with an evening party and managed it with the help of the ubiquitous coconut, whose milk is now providing the basis for their creamier scoops. According to the gelateria's Facebook page, concern about environmental destruction was a major motivation. "Animal agriculture is one of today's leading causes of global warming," states a post published on March 25. "Our gelato continues to taste amazing with a smaller global footprint." In an interview with Good Food, manager Fotini Platis also pointed out that increasing local demand for vegan ice cream played a role. "We wanted to create a product that anyone can enjoy," she said. "Our family lives and works in the inner west. We've had this business for the last seven years, and only started becoming aware what plant-based eating was because of our community." She said the store's inability to cater to vegan customers had made her feel "just as bad as we would have if we were inviting them into our house and there was no suitable food." If you're worried about Gelato Blue's tasty, tasty flavours kicking the bucket or lacking lustre, don't. The day after the change, the store put any potential fears to rest with the announcement of an epic new carrot cake gelato, made with lemon frosting, maple syrup, walnuts and chunks of Rhubarb Bakes' carrot cake. Gelato Blue is just of many eateries to have gone vegan (or opened as entirely vegan) during the past year or two. In Newtown alone, the gelateria joins Gigi's Pizzeria, Superfood Sushi and Bliss 'n' Chips. Meanwhile, in the east, Potts Point's Yellow started serving a 100 percent vegetarian dinner menu in February. Image: Vegan sundae, Gelato Blue.
If you've ever taken a shortcut through the back streets of Chippendale, you may have been struck by the sheer number of galleries and creative businesses which abound in this unassuming little corner of Sydney. Wedged between Central Station, Redfern and Broadway, with a post-industrial landscape of redeveloped factories and warehouses, laneways and neat little workers' cottages, the suburb has been flourishing of late. With its less salubrious past now thankfully left behind, it has become a thriving hub of creativity, innovation and sustainability, and the area, which is steeped in history, is experiencing something of a resurgence. On the evening of Saturday, September 22, this little vibrant quarter will be shining bright when the inaugural BEAMS Arts Festival takes place. Hosted by Chippendale Creative Precinct, over 250 locally based creative types will be filling Balfour Street and surrounds with art, media and light installations, performance and music. Take a jaunt through the streets and see what inspiring delights you stumble upon. Then stop for a beverage and share your experiences with new friends at the communal dining table, the fare being provided by local eateries. Who knows, you might even get to rub shoulders with a few of the area's more famous inhabitants, such as the gardening god himself, Costa Georgiadis. Georgiadis is also a champion of the Chippendale plan, a project to encourage sustainability and community spirit. Or you could bump into the makers of The Gruen Transfer, whose production company, Zapruder's Other Films, is based here. The programme also boasts some unusual musical delights. For instance, two of the bands featured, Thorough Bass and Auberne, bring a unique modern twist to baroque music and instruments. In addition to the exhibits and performances, there will also be workshops and talks for those looking for something more hands on. Amongst the activities on offer, kids can help create a mural imagining Chippendale's future or learn how to take care of plants with Georgiadis. For adults, there will be artist talks at many of the local galleries. The BEAMS Arts Festival is a great chance to celebrate, experience and become part of this diverse and burgeoning community. Image: Colour Splash Study (2009) by Steph Quirk.
Finding a moment or statement from The Princess to sum up The Princess is easy. Unlike the powerful documentary's subject in almost all aspects of her life from meeting the future King of England onwards, viewers have the luxury of choice. Working solely with archival materials, writer/director Ed Perkins (Tell Me Who I Am) doesn't lack in chances to demonstrate how distressing it was to be Diana, Princess of Wales — and the fact that his film can even exist also underscores that point. While both The Crown and Spencer have dramatised Diana's struggles with applauded results, The Princess tells the same tale as it was incessantly chronicled in the media between 1981–1997. The portrait that emanates from this collage of news footage, tabloid snaps and TV clips borders on dystopian. It's certainly disturbing. What kind tormented world gives rise to this type of treatment just because someone is famous? The one we all live in, sadly. Perkins begins The Princess with shaky visuals from late in August 1997, in Paris, when Diana and Dodi Fayed were fleeing the paparazzi on what would be the pair's last evening. The random voice behind the camera is excited at the crowds and commotion, not knowing how fatefully the night would end. That's telling, haunting and unsettling, and so is the clip that immediately follows. The filmmaker jumps back to 1981, to a then 19-year-old Diana being accosted as she steps into the street. Reporters demand answers on whether an engagement will be announced, as though extracting private details from a teenager because she's dating Prince Charles is a right. The Princess continues in the same fashion, with editors Jinx Godfrey (Chernobyl) and Daniel Lapira (The Boat) stitching together example after example of a woman forced to be a commodity and expected to be a spectacle, all to be devoured and consumed. Listing comparable moments within The Princess' riveting frames is easy; they snowball relentlessly into an avalanche. Indeed, after the film shows Charles and Diana's betrothal news and how it's received by the press and public, the media scrutiny directed Diana's way becomes the subject of a TV conversation. "I think it's going to be much easier. I think we're going to see a change in the attitude of the press. I think that now she's publicly one of the royal family, all this telephoto lens business will stop," a talking head from four decades back asserts — and it isn't merely the benefit of hindsight that makes that claim sound deeply preposterous. Later, Perkins features a soundbite from a paparazzo, which proves equally foolish, not to mention a cop-out. "All we do is take pictures. The decision to buy the pictures is taken by the picture editors of the world, and they buy the pictures so their readers can see them. So at the end of the day, the buck stops with the readers," the photographer contends. The Princess isn't here to simplistically and squarely blame the public, but it does let the material it assembles — and the fact that there's so much of it, and that nothing here is new or astonishing even for a second because it's already been seen before — speak for itself. What a story that all unfurls, and how, including pondering the line between mass fascination and being complicit. Perkins eschews contemporary interviews and any other method of providing recent context, and also makes plain what everyone watching already knows: that escaping Diana has been impossible for more than 40 years now, during her life and after her death a quarter-century ago as well, but it was always worse by several orders of magnitude for Diana herself. The expressions that flicker across her face over the years, evolving from shy and awkward to determined and anguished, don't just speak volumes but downright scream. In the audio samples overlaid on paparazzi shots and ceaseless news coverage, that's dissected, too, and rarely with kindness for the woman herself. Being sympathetic to royalty isn't a prerequisite for feeling perturbed by The Princess. Being a fan of The Crown or believing that Kristen Stewart deserved an Oscar for Spencer — which she did — isn't either. All that's required is empathy for anyone whose existence is stripped of choice, who is made to perform a certain role no matter what, who's saddled with onerous tasks that dismantle their agency and identity, and who gets torn to pieces whether they comply or rebel. That's a key reason why Diana's plight keeps resonating and always will. It's also why 'the People's Princess' label continues to echo. The latter was coined to describe her popularity and that feverish obsession, but it cannily cuts to the core of a heartbreaking truth: Diana attained a supposed fairytale but discovered that nothing in life is a dream, a realisation that couldn't be more relatable and universal. As well-established as the details are, the minutiae still spills out as The Princess progresses: the coupling primarily to provide an heir to the throne, the unsurprising distance in Diana and Charles' marriage, the persistent presence of Camilla Parker Bowles, several layers of envy, the 'Dianagate' tapes and the nation-stopping interviews all included (electricity surges during her 1995 tell-all chat with Martin Bashir, thanks to kettles boiling across Britain, are noted). Ignoring how the media kept shaping Diana's narrative would mean shutting your eyes and blocking your ears, even if the score by The Crown's Martin Phipps didn't maximise the tension. Ignoring the parallels rippling through the royal camp today, in the way that Meghan Markle has been treated by the media, is similarly out of the question. It isn't by accident that Perkins lingers on a young Prince Harry at his mother's funeral to wrap the movie up, after all. The Princess' approach isn't new, either. It's effective, though. And, as the same style proved in recent Australian docos The Final Quarter and Strong Female Lead — films that used archival footage to explore how perceptions are manufactured by the press as well — it's nothing short of damning about media practices and the audience hunger they think they're satisfying. Those two features explored how AFL star Adam Goodes was regarded in the twilight of his career, and how the fourth estate surveyed Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard while she was in the nation's top job. They dived into the self-fuelling cycle that stems from predatory coverage and the public's responses, one feeding the other and vice versa. Sound familiar? Watching both alongside The Princess would make for grim and harrowing viewing — essential viewing, too, particularly in a world that shows so few signs of changing.
Sydney's much-anticipated, billion-dollar Metro North West launched in late May to much excitement. But now, on Monday, July 29, the 36-kilometre railway line has caused some peak hour commuter chaos with a "communications system issue" halting all trains between Chatswood and Tallawong. Services in both directions on the line stopped for almost one hour, with replacement buses organised. At time of publication, 11.20am, the Metro was running again at a reduced frequency with buses supplementing some services. https://twitter.com/SydneyMetro/status/1155646538766417920 Transport for NSW is advising commuters to allow for plenty of extra time, listen to announcements at the stations and check information displays. Some commuters have taken to Twitter to report wait times of up to an hour and huge lines for the replacement buses. https://twitter.com/isabelanneok/status/1155632036364767232 The Metro North West — which promises turn-up-and-go services every four minutes (in each direction) during peak times — is just one part of the government's overall Sydney Metro project, which will, along with Metro City and Metro Southwest, see a new railway linking Rouse Hill to Chatswood, travelling under the Sydney Harbour to the city, then down to Bankstown. Sydney Metro West will link the city to Parramatta. Running on all lines will be the new driverless trains. At this point; however, the final stages of the billion-dollar project — Metro Southwest and West, specifically — are not expected to be completed until 2024. For the latest updates on the Metro North West, head to the Transport for NSW's official website and Sydney Metro Twitter account.
