Ricky Gervais isn't one to do things by any ol' book, especially advertising endorsements. The creator of award-winning, shame tingle-inducing comedy The Office, professional Golden Globe crasher and 'World President of Entertainment' has created two videos to advertise the new partnership with Netflix, available in Australia today. The global communications giant has recruited Ricky Gervais to star in a Netflix advertising campaign that unveils the tie-up. In classic zero phucks Gervaisian style, the comedian has provided his own take on Optus's 'Yes' campaign, which is more like an 'Okay' campaign. Here he is accepting the sweet, sweet cash from a company he's "never heard of". With Netflix launching in Australia today, Optus customers can get among the streaming service filling your news feed right now — for free. Whut? Yep, new and returning Optus customers get a six-month subscription for free when they sign up to one of several eligible packages (before July 5). You'll be able to catch up on House of Cards in commute on your smartphone, sick out on the back verandah with some Orange Is the New Black on your laptop, and then retreat for some quality Derek time in bed on your tablet. For more information on how to get the free Netflix hook-up happening for you, visit the Optus website.
As authorities and aid organisations scramble to provide relief to the more than eight million people affected by the Nepalese earthquake, two good-hearted Sydney pubs have announced they’ll donate a portion of their Friday and Saturday takings to Oxfam. On Friday, May 1, Keg & Brew in Surry Hills will set aside all the proceeds from one keg of Murray’s Angry Man and one keg of Stone & Wood Pacific Ale. Then on Saturday, parent venue Dove & Olive will follow suit, contributing the money made from kegs of Holgate and Young Henrys. Both venues will have visiting brewers on hand, like Simon ‘Wombat’ Kraegan from Young Henrys, to chat to punters about what they’re drinking — and presumably try and spruik sales for a damn good cause. The fundraiser is inspired by head chefs Devendra Sherchan at Keg & Brew and Nirajan Khadji at Dove & Olive, both of whom are originally from Nepal. In additional to the beer, they’ll also be serving one-off Nepalese dishes starting early next week, with that money going directly to Oxfam as well. So, if you’re looking to have a few beers this weekend, consider heading up to Surry Hills. You’ll never feel less guilty about drinking more than you should. For more information about Keg & Brew and Dove & Olive, visit their websites here and here. To donate directly to Oxfam’s Nepalese Earthquake Appeal, head to www.oxfam.org.au.
Sydney's barbecue barons are back at the ranch. Porteno has reopened after a fire damaged their Surry Hills restaurant in January. More than 40 firefighters flocked to put out a fire at the Cleveland Street barbecue joint on January 3, 2015. The SMH reported that 21 staff were in the building at the time the fire broke out, and all evacuated it unharmed. Duty Commander for City of Sydney Kernin Lambert said that about 80 percent of the restaurant was saved, but the fire was in the kitchen and was believed to be related to the kitchen exhaust. The Porteno lads didn't let this slow them down, cranking out the delicious goods at their Double Down Diner pop-up with Gelato Messina in Hyde Park for Sydney Festival, then heading over to Rushcutters Bay to open their Popteno pop-up for the last few months. Now they're back in action at the Surry Hills homestead from today. Find Porteno at 358 Cleveland Street, Surry Hills. Officially reopened from Tuesday, April 21. Image: Rima Sabina Aouf.
Mary’s of Newtown has been thinking about kebabs for a while. With mastery of the burger under its belt, the team has been wondering how it might fare in the realm of the mighty shish. And, as of this Thursday, the speculation will be turned into action when Mary’s first ever kebab stand opens — inside The Cliff Dive. That’s right, you’ll soon be complementing your Pacific Island-inspired cocktails and late night grooves with roast lamb and smoked chicken rolls As you’d expect, Mary’s, headed by Jake Smyth and Kenny Graham, won’t be delivering any old, ordinary take on the kebab. Instead, they’ll be vamping up classic recipes with fun, tasty twists. Promised delicious-ness includes smoked chicken with pickles, egg yolk and garlic sauce, and roast lamb neck with XO and pickled turnip tops. Vegetarians will be taken care of too. “We’ve always loved the idea of doing kebabs,” Smyth told Good Food. “We’re just really excited to be opening a kebab joint in a nightclub — the world needs more of them.” You can say that again. Wolfing down a late night kebab indoors while the party's still raging sure beats queueing in 3am cold and looming regret. Mary’s Cliff Dive kebab stand is open between 8pm and 2am every Thursday, Friday and Saturday. It joins the club's current culinary specialty: South East Asian street food straight from the grill, including wild ginger beef and satay chicken skewers. Mary's already operates in two locations — at the original eatery, at 6 Mary St, Newtown; and its CBD store opened in December 2014, at 154 Castlereagh Street. Via Good Food.
If you're one of those fancy, fancy people with more Christmas party invitations than actual days on the calendar, you're going to need a good few outfits this December. Sure, you could crank a horrific reindeer jumper worthy of Seth Cohen to each one, but we've got something fancier for you to throw on. Formidable fashion duo, Romance Was Born, have made their mark as the go-to for party showstopper pieces. Just in time for Christmas, they're having a gargantuan sale, selling items from their RWB Spring '14 collection, Tripsy Gypsy, for anywhere between 30 - 50 percent off. That's some pretty epic discounts for some pretty epic threads. Nab special edition pieces straight from the archives, whether for your own glorious wear or for a hit-it-out-of-the-ballpark Christmas gift. But be prepared to get there early, this is some shiny, shiny must-have gear we're talking here. And be civil to each other, no hair-pulling, shirt-ripping etc. etc. Find the Romance Was Born sale in Sydney at Level 3, 101-111 William Street, Darlinghurst for one day only on Saturday, November 29, 10am-5pm. Image: Zan Wembley.
If you like your tunes a little off-centre, extra crisp and wholly unconventional, OutsideIn is your jam. Locked in to be held over three levels at Manning Bar in the University of Sydney, the boutique music festival cooked up by Sydney touring and management agency Astral People and record label Yes Please returns for its third instalment on Saturday, November 29. Before we get all up in three levels of OutsideIn goodness this Saturday, we checked in with the Sydney crew on the lineup for a few cruisy hangouts. These homegrown legends know their hidden parks, underground jazz dens and gaming hubs like the back of their talented hands, so we nabbed some hot tips. Which underground adventure cave does Seekae blow off steam in? Where will you find Black Vanilla defying gravity of a weekend? Which underrated park do Fishing sink a few post-work tinnies in? Here's your guide to Sydney's best hidden spots, from some of Sydney's best tune-makers around. SEEKAE by George Nicholas. Outside: Clovelly Bowling Club "Ain't nothing better than knocking a jack around the green with a couple of m8s. This is where dreams are made." In: City Hunter Internet Cafe II, Haymarket "Conveniently located just a brisk five minute walk from our Sydney studio, City Hunter II offers gaming for the refined gentleman. Combining the rustic beauty of wooden floorboards with high-tech halogen light technology, the cafe's VIP room is great spot to kick back and pwn some n00bs. It should be noted that this place is probably the reason the Seekae album took three years make." FISHING by Doug Wright. Outside: Giba Park, Pyrmont (By Night) "It's a sleepy spot perched on a cliff in deep Pyrmont. You get prime views over the water towards Balmain and the Anzac and Harbour bridges, and it's a perfect place to sink a few post-work tinnies and dream of living in the lush apartments behind you." In: MGM Spices, Cleveland Street "This Indian grocery shop is a veritable treasure chest of flavours. Our lives have become one million times more fragrant and delicious since we started coming here." BLACK VANILLA by Marcus Whale. OUTSIDE: MARRICKVILLE TENNIS CLUB, HENSON PARK "A Greek bartender will greet you curtly but with accommodation and for the price of 12 dollars an hour, you can practice your awful serve and serviceable groundstrokes on these slow, low, synthetic grass courts." IN: SKYZONE TRAMPOLINE PARK, ALEXANDRIA "Yes, it's everything you've ever dreamed of: vast fields of trampolines, guaranteed to work your core muscles and make you feel superhuman. You'll hate the regular experience of gravity for days afterwards." RETIREE by Ryan Powderly. Outdoor: Angophora Reserve, Avalon "Peacocks used to roam free all around Angophora, waking up locals with their call first thing in the morning. If you were lucky, you might witness a mating display, or even find a big pretty feather on the bush track. One morning about 15 years ago, they were all gone. Nobody knows what happened. But the reserve is still home to hundreds of sulphur-crested cockatoos, koalas and a giant dead specimen of Sydney Red Gum Angophora Costata, believed to be the largest of its species. Our friend Max lives close by and reckons he once saw a rare Corroboree Frog there. Somewhere a bit off the track we shot our EP teaser video in a cave." In: Tokyo Jazz Cafe, Bondi Junction "The Junction, like Tokyo, has a few very secret, magical surprises. Some don't have signs, some are down weird dark arcades, and some only exist if you walk through a wall, like Platform 9¾. While out looking for free Wi-Fi, I stumbled across the stairwell to Tokyo Jazz Cafe. Yes, they have free Wi-Fi, but that's not why I go back again and again. Yoriko and Peter (the owners) have created something exquisitely rare. You'll just have to go and find it to see why it's our favourite place. Live Jazz on Saturdays." OutsideIn is happening at Manning Bar, University of Sydney on November 29. General admission is $80 +bf. More for info and the full lineup, head over here. Image credits: catbagan via photopin cc; Clovelly Bowling Club via Alice Main; Jordon via photopin cc; GavinBell via photopin cc; Giba Park via Jim;; Angophora Reserve by AJG Pics.
Asylum seekers. Refugees. Migrant communities. In today’s Australia, these descriptions aren’t likely to generate warm feelings and positive stories. More likely these are buzzwords for negativity, for political disagreements and protests. What people won’t read in the immigration reports is that many refugees and migrants come from cultures where textiles, sewing and clothes-making are everyday practice, meaning they arrive with skills which fit quite perfectly into Australia’s thriving creative communities. And in that lies the intersection between fashion and social good. That’s right, philanthropist and CEO of The Social Outfit Jackie Ruddock is giving you a very good reason to bust out those credit cards: her social enterprise employs and trains migrants in producing fashion with a contemporary Australian aesthetic. The local fashion industry is not without its challenges, but it's not going to disappear. So when it comes to providing stable employment opportunities, education and empowerment to those who already have the skills to create, it feels a bit like a no-brainer. Many migrants come to Australia from interrupted educations, and employment in a physical shop allows them to become part of Australia’s culture and economy. Through business interactions, speaking in English and seeing each piece from conception to creation through to sale, employees are getting a truly beneficial education in a real-life classroom. The Social Outfit itself came into existence after Ruddock launched a 365-day social experiment where she committed to wearing a piece of Ken Done’s fashion line and donating $3 per day to her chosen charity, The Social Studio in Melbourne. “It wasn’t my intention to set up in Sydney,” Ruddock explains, “but we’d built so much interest that we had to ask ourselves what it would look like.” So with her steadfast following and believe in the cause, Sydney’s own fashionable social enterprise was born. An independent venture from Melbourne’s flagship, built through close collaboration. Nothing is by accident, down to the Newtown shop fit-out, designed entirely by Nina Maya, a Sydney designer who also contributed to Colour Chameleon, The Social Outfit’s first line, made up of donated digital prints from the likes of Dragstar and Ken Done. Two square cut-outs hide among the wooden shelving, allowing customers a direct view into the sewing room behind the shop, where every single piece is hand-created. Just to add further to the social cause, much of the fabric used is excess from fashion designers, otherwise awaiting its fate in the landfill. They say that location is everything and the inner west was the ideal connection to the migrant communities of Western Sydney and the inner city shopping destinations. Equally important was the shop’s accessibility via public transport, making King Street an easy choice. Having only just opened up the volunteer-run permanent shop (they had a pop-up in The Rocks last year), Ruddock and the board of seven have already seen massive support from the local creative and fashion communities and the possibilities for development seem endless. Next up, they have partnered with Sydney TAFE to provide Certificate III in clothing production through the in-house sewing school. This is just one more way The Social Outfit is providing detailed education and hands-on experience and celebrating the contribution of these communities to a caring and creative Sydney. The Social Outfit is at 353 King Street, Newtown. Words by Annie Bettis; images by Rima Sabina Aouf.
Orange has more delicious produce and wines than almost any region in NSW. The area’s high altitude, cool climate and rich volcanic soils work like magic for local producers, making it the perfect growing environment. Usually you would have to drive for several hours to experience the goodness of Orange, but this month the goodness comes to you, as Taste Orange bringing the region’s best wine and food to Sydney. On August 21-22, Martin Place will offer tastings, cooking demonstrations, discussions and live music from the town’s culinary elite. Arrive between 11.30am and 2.30pm to sample the region’s plumpest fruits, olives and meats at the farmers market and watch Orange local and Master Chef winner, Kate Bracks, host a live cooking demonstration using local ingredients. There will be a Millamolong Polo lounge in the evenings where you can chill and enter a draw to win tickets for you and nine friends to visit the state’s premier polo tournament on a bus named ‘Driving Force’. Return at 5pm for an outdoor pop-up bar serving the region’s award winning wine at $7 a glass. The bar will feature 24 of the region’s best wines, including Citibank NSW Wine Award winners Logan, and Angullong, whose Cabernet Merlot and Shiraz were featured on the 40 best wines of the state. If you want to learn more about the region’s premium wine and food production, Bracks, the farmers and the winemakers will be happy to chat. You may not be surrounded by the colours of the state’s Central West but Taste Orange will provide a rare opportunity to taste and buy produce straight from the makers themselves. Read full event details here.
Carriageworks is a hotbed for a diverse cultural program, and the latest event to transform the former Eveleigh Rail Yards is At First Sight, a brand-new music event curated by FBi Radio's Marty Doyle that provides a utopia for music-lovers. At First Sight is part record fair, part live gig, and all entertainment. The all-ages event offers a chance to flip through records from a variety of the city's best independent record stores, labels and private dealers, entirely for free. Maybe you will find a hidden treasure or something completely new and unexpected — just let the magic of the crates consume you. Then you can head inside for a live gig from noon and catch a collection of Australia's most captivating independent musicians including HTRK, who will be playing material fresh from the studio; psychedelic Sydneysiders The Laurels; Melbourne quintet Beaches; and garage pairing Super Wild Horses amongst many more, all for just $35. Independent record stores and live music venues have seen better days in Sydney, so At First Sight provides a perfect opportunity to get out and celebrate music. Whether you are want to find an old classic or fall in love with a band at first sight, or both, you can do it here. So why not enjoy some of the most exciting contemporary Australian bands and DJs before picking up a record or two to spin until the early hours of the morning. Thanks to Carriageworks, we have ten double passes to give away to At First Sight. To be in the running, subscribe to Concrete Playground (if you haven't already), then email hello@concreteplayground.com.au with your name and address. Why do we have such an enduring love of vinyl? Read more from the artists of At First Sight.
At every change in season the folks at Seasoned Music create a one-off boutique music event. This season's autumn event is inspired by the concept of a German beer garden. Expect plenty of schnitzels and imported beer, to be enjoyed to the tune of some of the world's most-renowned musical artists. This season's playlist includes Swiss DJ Lee Van Dowski and Michel Cleis, both of Candenza Music. Sip your beer amid twinkling fairy lights and naturally, huge, high-quality speakers. The event is as much about the atmosphere as it is the music. Arrive early and dressed to impress. The enchanted autumn evening ahead of you is sure to make you forget your end-of-summer woes. Tickets are available via Moshtix here. To win one of three double passes to Seasoned Music: Autumn 2012, just make sure you are subscribed to Concrete Playground then email your name and postal address through to hello@concreteplayground.com.au
As the weather gets chillier, one of the nicest night time options is to settle yourself in a cosy bar with some loved ones and simply relax over a glass of wine. Since Sydney's small bar revolution began, we've seen a wave of establishments open which are perfect for the once-maligned activities of chardonnay-sipping in intimate and relaxed surrounds. Now, not only do we have some of the loveliest wine bars around, but we also have a wealth of options. We've whittled down a list of what we think are the best places to grab a glass of wine in this fine city. From the most seasoned connoisseurs to first-time wine drinkers, there is something for everybody, and the onset of winter is the perfect time to get to know all of these cosy establishments. 1. Love, Tilly Devine Address: 91 Crown St, Darlinghurst The people at Love, Tilly Devine are excited about their wine, about the future of their neighbourhood, and about their food. The bar is tucked away in a Darlinghurst alley, with open windows and exposed brick walls, cosy and endlessly welcoming. Don't come to Love, Tilly Devine if you want to get drunk. There are other places to do that. The staff are happy to help out if you feel a bit befuddled by the seemingly limitless selection (the wine list currently sits at just under 300 varieties), and suggest the perfect seasonal food to accompany your drinks. For review and details click here 2. The Wine Library Address: 18 Oxford St, Woollahra Tucked in between the boutiques at the Woollahra end of Oxford Street, The Wine Library melds a high end bar at the front with a trim courtyard in the middle and nookish intimacy out the back. At 7pm you'd be hard pressed to swing a kitten - there's a queue that snakes out the door as locals and blow-ins from across the bridge cram in for their share of prosecco and a board of prosciutto. At lunch they get it just right. There's plenty of room to breathe and time to ponder the clipboarded menu which takes a jolly tour around some of the best of Europe. All of the food is matched up impeccably with the wine list, because after all that's what The Wine Library is all about. For review and details click here 3. 10 William Street Address: 10 William St, Paddington From the people that brought Sydney Fratelli Paradiso, 10 William Street sits inside a converted storefront in the most boutique of boutique shopping strips in Paddington. Given that Paddington has declined since its hey-day back in the '90s as Sydney's groundbreaking dining and drinking scene, 10 William Street is proof that there's still life in Paddington yet, and gives you a very welcome reason to pay a visit. Stripped back and simple, 10 William Street is blessedly free of pretention - there are white walls, naked lightbulbs, a wooden counter and a big chalkboard advertising the entire wine list. While the selection of drinks is vast enough to satisfy the most seasoned connoisseurs, those who feel at a loss when it comes to swilling and sniffing bouquets will also be at home in this comfortable bar. For review and details click here 4. 121Bc Address: 4/50 Holt St, Surry Hills (enter via Gladstone St) With a focus on regional Italian flavours, 121BC's wine list changes monthly, and is complemented by the menu of fresh, seasonal food which is uniformly delicious. If you have trouble picking precisely what it is you want to drink from the prolific wine list, the staff are enthusiastic, knowledgeable and happy to help you out and explain the ins and outs of your drink like an over-zealous chemistry teacher. The long bar around which stools are clustered makes the most of the slick, narrow inner-city space, seating about twenty five people in the sultry, intimate room. The seating arrangement means 121BC works best if there's just the two of you, as you'll be seated beside one another at optimum footsy-playing distance. For review and details click here 5. Timbah Address: 375 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe For a relaxed atmosphere, a guy on the piano in the corner, and a feeling of being very sophisticated for a Sunday afternoon without having to hoof it to the Eastern Suburbs, Timbah is well worth visiting Timbah has introduced an interesting new concept. The first six people to order wine on any night choose the six bottles that will be served by the glass for that night, taking that horrible 'oh dear which wine shall I choose' feeling out of the equation. When those six run out, another lot are chosen. For review and details click here 6. Shop & Wine Bar Address: 78 Curlewis St, Bondi Beach A cafe by day, the Shop & Wine Bar transforms Cinderella-style into one of the best wine bars in town come sundown. The Shop & Wine Bar has nailed the kind of relaxed, Melbourne-esque local wine bar schtick to the ground. Catering to the people of Bondi since 2004, The Shop & Wine Bar is one of the best places to go to if you want a cool, casual place to simply chill with a glass of wine and a few close friends. The wine is the focus here, with a good but carefully curated selection hovering around the $30 mark, mostly sold by the bottle rather than by the glass. You can also get the odd sharing plate if you want something to line your stomach with. For review and details click here 7. Bentley Bar Address: 320 Crown St, Surry Hills While Bentley is an award-winning restaurant, nothing stops you from stopping in just to experience their extraordinary wine bar. With a makeover from Melbourne architect Pascale Gomes-McNabb, the space has been transformed in recent years from the seedy pub of the '90s to a chic, understated dining and drinking space. The Bentley has one of the most comprehensive wine lists in Australia, with over 600 local and overseas bottles on their ever-evolving wine list, curated by award-winning sommelier and Bentley co-owner Nick Hildebrandt. For review and details click here 8. Berkelouw Wine Bar Address: Level 1, 70 Norton St, Leichhardt Wine has to feature pretty heavily on everyone’s winter craving list, when a cosy chair and a glass of red seem to be all that can shake the winter blues. So if you want all that, and to be surrounded by the comforting smell of bound paper, Norton Street’s Berkelouw Wine Bar is your place. Not for the rollicking weekend crowds that inhabit other pubs nearby, this is more the place you could visit for an afternoon aperitif after browsing through the bookstore below. It turns out the grand piano taking pride of place in the centre of the room isn't just for show. Small ensembles, pianists and singers will croon away your troubles as you sit looking down on to busy Norton Street below. For review and details click here 9. Vini Address: 3/118 Devonshire St, Surry Hills If you’ve ever wanted to travel to Italy for the food but haven’t had the chance, Vini brings an authentic taste of regional Italy direct to Sydney. Yet Vini is not just a place for foodies. As the name suggests, wine lovers are well catered for. After a few glasses, however, you might find your memory of the meal becomes a little hazy. The intimate, cosy atmosphere of Vini makes you feel as if you're dropping into your local. With consistently good service and food that satisfies all your senses, a wait in the pub is well worthwhile. For review and details click here 10. The Passage Address: 231a Victoria St, Darlinghurst There's something a little ol' timey about The Passage. It's intimate without being cute, antique without being themed. This long, slim space - decked out with brown leather, marble tables, and crisp black and white artworks by local designers Babëkuhl - is a truly unique offering on the Sydney scene. While their tailor made cocktail menu shines in and of itself, The Passage has an enviable hand picked wine list which alone is worth the visit. Serving mostly by the bottle, their small and curated wine list is predominantly Australian and offers several biodynamic and organic options alongside the more traditional choices. For review and details click here
Sustainable Table is a not-for-profit organisation that wants to turn our money into a more sustainable and responsible system of food consumption. From October 7-14, they’re inviting you, and some big-name restaurants near you, to Give a Fork!. The inaugural event's focus ingredient is seafood, and over 150 dinner parties have been registered, at which each diner will donate what they would normally spend on food to Sustainable Table. Given that "60% of our personal eco-footprint [is] embodied in the food that we buy", a number of restaurants in Sydney and Melbourne are also throwing their hat into the sustainability ring, donating a portion of profit from selected dishes to the organisation. Some restaurants have even gone the whole hog, writing menus specific for the occasion. Participating eateries include The Commons in Sydney and Lamaro's in Melbourne. Longrain in both Sydney and Melbourne will be cooking up fishy delights and giving away a bit of dosh for the cause. By encouraging people to host their own sustainable seafood shindig, or enjoying a delicious meal at certain, ethically aware restaurants, Sustainable Table are inviting us to help save the environment, before it gets too forked up. To register, find out more about the restaurants involved or simply discover more about the cause, visit Sustainable Table's website.
How does this sound for a way to celebrate the end of the working week: live Christmas carols and Adriano Zumbo macarons, delivered straight to your office door? This Friday, December 13, for one day only, that's exactly what Uber will be offering to workers across Sydney. Between midday and 5pm, a new UberCAROLS option will show in the Uber app — on both iPhone and Android. Put in a request for instant carols, and within a few minutes, your very own private choir will arrive at your office door to sing three festive tunes at top volume. They’ll be armed with both powerful, classically trained voices and a dozen 'Zumbarons' in candy cane and Christmas pudding flavours. Total cost is $50, but given that the macarons are valued at $30, it's a fine deal. The singers come from the Ascoltati Choir and the Sydney Conservatorium, so you can count on professional-standard performances. Cash isn't necessary, as payment will be charged via your Uber account. The only potential hiccup is that Uber is expecting demand to be exceptionally high, so if you can’t access carollers immediately, they’re hoping that you’ll hang in there patiently until you can. Uber is a smartphone-facilitated car service that enables anyone to call a private driver on-demand at the push of a button. In Sydney, the company offers regular cabs (at no extra charge), unmarked Caprices (at 20-30% more than taxis) and luxury BMWs, Audis and Mercedes for special occasions. In July this year, Uber teamed up with Messina to deliver gelato to homes and offices Sydney-wide, providing relief to those put off by the famous queues usually seen winding down Crown Street. Adriano Zumbo, who became a household name after appearing on MasterChef as a guest judge in 2009, is renowned for his technically challenging and exceptionally tasty desserts.
Summertime in the Garden of Eden began as a piece of scratch theatre, whipped up in three weeks and playing to packed out audiences in a suburban Melbourne shed. Its makers, the Sisters Grimm (Ash Flanders and Declan Greene), have since ridden a massive wave of recognition, which sees the show coming to Sydney's Griffin Theatre as part of the Independent Season, just months after their hilarious Little Mercy played at the Sydney Theatre Company. The Sisters' work leaves gender roles exploded in their wake, shattering familiar tropes of stage and screen. In Summertime, the cotton fields of the American South provide rich pickings for their brand of melodrama, drag, and obscenity — undercut at all times by a keen, subversive edge. Thanks to Griffin Theatre, we have two double passes to the first preview performance of Summertime in the Garden of Eden on November 20 to give away. For your chance to win, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter (if you haven't already), and email win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.au with your name and address.
A shot-by-shot remake is an infinitely worthy cinematic venture, as recently proven by James Franco and Seth Rogen's tender tribute to Kimye, 'Bound 3'. But even this was not as raw, nor as pure as it could have been, had it been a truly zero-budget affair in the noble tradition of 'Badder Romance' and Be Kind Rewind. But now The Redux Project offers you the chance to appear in ultra lo-fi remakes of scenes from iconic Australian favourites like Muriel's Wedding and Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. All in the name of humorously critiquing the world of modern cinema. Who's behind this idea? Performance Space in association with Sydney Festival and Carriageworks present the project masterminded by the UK's Richard DeDomenici, an old hand at the budget remake, having produced Reduxes the world over, starring whichever enthusiastic locals applied. The artist is seeking volunteers now to appear in movie scenes for The Redux Project: Mega Aussie Redux, the results of which will be edited and screened at Carriageworks along with the original films that inspired them. Which films are we talking? Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, The Matrix, Priscilla and Muriel will all be getting the royal (/peasant) treatment. I myself am absolutely volunteering, in the hope of bestriding the 438 bus, swaddled in 15 metres of aluminium foil a la Priscilla. The shoots will take place in the first week of January 2014 (Monday 6th – Sunday 12th), at locations across inner-city Sydney. If you would like to volunteer, shoot an email to redux@performancespace.com.au with the subject ‘REDUX: Count me in’. Let them know if there is a particular shoot you would like to be part of, and send a photo to assist with casting. Image from DeDomenici's Dawn of The Dead: Redux (shot in Westmoreland Shopping Centre, England).
Every New Year's Eve, Sydney Harbour throws more parties than you can poke a stick at. Some are great — and some are not so great — but we have high hopes for the Sydney Opera House's NYE Party At The House, which will see the upper concourse of its western boardwalk play host to the most cultured rager in the city. Its high vantage point means uninterrupted and super Instagrammable views of the iconic fireworks, which will be curated by Romance Was Born. But there's more to do at the party than just wait for the fireworks. Think an uninterrupted flow of Piper Heidsieck Brut NV Champagne, cocktails, premium beers and Robert Oatley Signature Series wines. You'll also be able to zero in on a seriously yum menu of canapes by Matt Moran and ARIA Catering. Drinks, food and music make up the perfect party trifecta, and in true Opera House style, there will be some stellar sounds. You may know L'Tric as the Australian duo behind the infectious 'This Feeling'. They'll be on hand to help you ring in the new year with some feel-good tunes, and DJ Dan Rowntree will also be providing nu-disco vibes. Start practicing your best dance moves. Tickets are $595 per person and, as you'd expect for the price, they include all your food and drinks for the night. Yes, all the Champagne and canapes. All. Night. Long. So go thirsty, go hungry and go ready to dance — and welcome in 2016 at The House. NYE Party At The House is happening at the Sydney Opera House on the upper concourse of western boardwalk on Thursday, December 31 from 7.30pm – 1am. Tickets are $595 + booking fee. Capacity is strictly limited, so book your tickets early here.
This one's been a schlong time coming. Standing attention in all its morning glory, the giant obelisk in Hyde Park is now proudly sporting a bright pink condom. Erected this morning, the 18-metre tall pink dinger is one heaving ad campaign for HIV awareness — and an installation we've been hoping someone wood do to the obelisk for years. Not ones to dick around, the team behind the ACON’s 'I’M ON' campaign are raising awareness around HIV transmission — with the awesome aim to help end HIV spread in NSW by 2020. Rolled and installed by two cherry pickers, Sydney's giant jimmy hat will stick around for the next seven days. LOOK: Sydney's Obelisk in Hyde Park has been covered with a big pink condom this morning. A giant erection! pic.twitter.com/0t7iuNj5QH— SameSame.com.au (@samesame) November 6, 2014 ACON CEO Nicolas Parkhill told SameSame that while HIV-preventing drugs are emerging into the market, condoms are the key to the fight against the disease spread. "The need for gay men to ‘stay safe’ by using condoms is at the core of NSW’s strategy for eliminating HIV transmission by the end of the decade,” he said. "We won’t be able to achieve this goal unless gay men use condoms when they’re having high-risk sex with casual partners, particularly in situations where a partner’s HIV status isn’t known — it's that simple." Via SameSame and Junkee.
Quittin' time means it's time to catch some good ol' live music this weekend. From intimate fundraisers with Sarah Blasko to late nights with Mykki Blanco and rambunctious pub crawls with Dune Rats, now's not the time to miss all your buds who've headed to Hobart's Dark Mofo. Get amongst it and wrap your eardrums around some solid live tunes. Dune Rats There are few bands with enough unfaltering stamina to line up a debaucherous, beer-fuelled pub crawl to kick off every night of their Australian tour. But Brisbane's Dune Rats leave the rules at home, abiding by one big ol' proviso: "no kooks, no gutties." Whatever the blazes that means, these bloody corker dudes surf self-generated waves of laidback party-fuelled philosophy. Dune Rats' BC Michaels, Danny Beusa and Brett Jansch have been away from home for some time now, heading to the US, staying in a New York AirBnB warehouse, driving along the West Coast from San Diego to Vancouver and filming their own (sorta) web series American Death Trip of Dreams. After months on the road, the Dunies will head back home to Australia for a national tour, showcasing their debut album released on June 1. It'll be the first time the trio have played to home audiences for months and is guaranteed to be one messy affair. Check out our chat with Dune Rats bass player Brett Jansch over here. When: Saturday, 21 June - 8:00pm Where: Oxford Art Factory , 38-46 Oxford Street Darlinghurst How much: $18.50 https://youtube.com/watch?v=lU3n6vRX8yY Mykki Blanco Cross-dressing spitfire MC Mykki Blanco is in the country for Dark Mofo, heading north afterward to blow Sydneysider minds at Good God. One seriously multitalented artist, NYC-based Blanco is a rapper, performance artist and poet who grew up listening to riot grrrl music. The significantly internet-hyped New Yorker's setlist will inevitably include writhing party jam 'Wavvy' and heavier tracks like the recently released 'Initiation' — both as likely to intrigue audiences as attract them to the dance floor. Think bass heavy, post-trap anthems with a killer MC at the helm. When: Saturday, 21 June - 1:25am Where: Good God Small Club , 53 - 55 Liverpool St Sydney How much: 30 +BF https://youtube.com/watch?v=w39Fxx10CEI Sarah Blasko ARIA-winning artist and bighearted Sydney legend Sarah Blasko will play an intimate gig at Giant Dwarf in Redfern on World Refugee Day, Friday 20 June. With all ticket sales going straight to the Refugee Council of Australia, Blasko's fundraiser is a direct response to the federal government's funding cuts to the RCOA, announced as an addition to the recent budget. After the release of her stunning fourth album I Awake to critical high-fivery in 2012, Blasko is breaking out of creative hibernation to play for a cause. "I'm emerging from what I'll affectionately call my 'fifth album writing cave' to play this special show at Giant Dwarf (the latest venture from the Chaser team) during Refugee Week. I'm an ambassador this year and The Refugee Council need financial support now more than ever to continue their positive work within refugee communities in Australia," said Blasko. "They are also an important force in lifting the veil on our country's treatment of asylum seekers. So, come watch me sing for the night and you'll be supporting them. I promise at least one new song and special guests." Blasko will be joined onstage with special guests, alongside her solid session buddies. Tickets are available from Giant Dwarf's website. When: Friday, 20 June - 7:00pm Where: Giant Dwarf , 199 Cleveland St, Redfern How much: $45 https://youtube.com/watch?v=IyzF4dRpqow The Cairos Brisbane's hyped-up and Island-signed foursome The Cairos are currently running a national tour that you cannot afford to miss but certainly can afford to attend. Immediately following a national support slot for Sydney big timers The Holidays, the triple j Unearthed-winning newbies to Island Records are taking their celebrated sound across the country with their own headliner tour. The Brissy lads are keeping the motor running off the back of releasing their brand new debut album Dream of Reason. Tracks 'Desire' and 'We All Buy Stars' just scream "hear me live" and if the feedback coming out of their recent Asia tour is anything to go by, this is going to be one of the most justified sub $30 spends this year (now you can't even use budget-related gripes as an excuse to not go). Plus they just got a new keyboard. Now you're really obliged to head along. Make sure to get there early as Chinese psych band Nova Heart kicks things off. Seems Beijing psychedelia proves a perfect support pairing ahead of the Brisbane up-and-comers, so pop in early for a crispy Good God cocktail and a fully-fledged bliss out. When: Saturday, 21 June - 8:00pm Where: Good God Small Club , 53 - 55 Liverpool St Sydney How much: $20.40 + bf https://youtube.com/watch?v=LAsjO3UIUsY RUFUS Electro dance trio RÜFÜS know a thing or two about touring. Currently on the road for their national Worlds Within Worlds tour, the Sydney threesome have whipped up thousands-strong crowds with their euphoric melodies at many an Aussie festival over the past few years. This time, however, the triple j favourites have collaborated with Red Bull and Melbourne art and design studio ENESS, creators of otherworldly interactive light installations. The ENESS wizards have done their light-fuelled thing in unexpected spaces worldwide — from the streets of Mumbai to the French Alps. Now bringing both creative teams together, RÜFÜS combine material from their debut album Atlas with a 12,000-LED-strong backdrop. Operated in real time, the hyperreal set responds to the music in a fusion of virtual projections with physical space. It's a perfect complementary partnership for the trio's escapist dance sound. The Worlds Within Worlds tour is also RÜFÜS' last hurrah in Oz before heading to Berlin to work on their next record. It's worth checking out, especially if Vivid Sydney didn't quite satisfy your appetite for trippy light installations. (Really, can that ever be satisfied?) When: Saturday, 21 June - 8:00pm; Sunday, 22 June - 8:00pm Where: Enmore Theatre , 130 Enmore Road Newtown How much: $39.80 https://youtube.com/watch?v=-75cTvn8gXQ Words by the Concrete Playground team.
Adorned with designs from floor to ceiling, Stone Heart is home to a number of needle artists perfect for your next tattoo or piercing. Behind the colourful Darlinghurst shop front, not far from Hyde Park, resident artists and guests from around the world will consult, design and ink your new piece of custom body art in a number of different styles, from the more traditional to minimalist fine lines. For those of you with regrettable tattoos from back in the day, Stone Heart's resident laser technician can lighten and remove ill-advised body art, ready for the cover-up design you picked while waiting. The studio is also home to a number of professional and experienced body piercers. Quotes and appointments can easily be requested on the website, or just stop by and try your luck with a walk-in.
Stationery and craft lovers, we have found your mecca. If the beautifully dressed front window (bunting guaranteed) doesn't grab you, the walls of hilarious, handmade cards, tags and rolls of washi tape most certainly will. The second room (!) displays rows of blank cards, boxes of rubber stamps and a collection of notebooks that would make Hemmingway spit his martini. With all the pretty paper and all the pretty stationery, Paper 2 also makes for the perfect place to get lost in if you're waiting for a table at its busy neighbour, Four Ate Five. But it's definitely worth a trip all on its own.
If there's one thing we love, it seems, it's a dose of Mother Nature in the form of a leafy, green houseplant. Located on the Redfern end of Bourke Street, Merchant & Green is the neighbourhood's leafy oasis, providing you with all things green. The shop is packed wall-to-wall with greenery. Walk in and you'll find yourself in a floral haven, with orchids, monsteras, cacti, succulents, ferns and bonsai, to name a few. You can find terrariums, colourful blooms and lush bouquets, cards, ceramics, pots and planters, candles and other homewares, too. The folks here also know a thing or two about gardening if you're in need of some tips. Plus, to help fuel your plant obsession, Merchant & Green run a bunch of workshops. Put your green thumb to work and learn how to create a terrarium or kokedamas (Japanese moss balls). Or, you can arrange a bouquet of Australian wildflowers, macramé or make flower crowns. Whether you're wanting some new green babies for your home (and some wares to match), gardening tips, a last-minute-gift bouquet or to show off your green thumb in a workshop, make sure you drop by this little Redfern shop.
Known for its gelati hues and conspicuous prints, Gorman is the Aussie brand behind that seagull and chips bikini that Katy Perry wore that one time. The label was launched in Fitzroy, Melbourne by Lisa Gorman in 1999, and since then it's become an iconic presence in the Australian fashion landscape. The main Sydney store in The Galeries also stocks the Gorman Home Time range — so you can flounce around in your lobster-print dress and geometric-heeled shoes by day, and tuck yourself in between sheets covered in clouds or pastel-coloured fish by night.
Since 2018, Frenchies Bistro and Brewery in Rosebery has been hosting an annual one-day Fresh Harvest Beer Festival. This year, for the first time, the event is turning into a week-long extravaganza. For six days — from Monday, May 5, to Saturday, May 10 — the venue will run a massive program of happenings, from tastings and tap takeovers to food pairings and a raclette night. Whether you're a Frenchies die-hard or a curious newbie, you're bound to find something for you. Head in on Thursday, May 8, from 6.30pm for a free evening of IPA tasting. And, if you like what you try, return on Friday, May 9, from midday, when IPA will take over the taps for the day. Look out for Ryefield WCIPA, Double Phresh IPA, Cryo Nelson Hazy IPA, and loads more. Come Saturday, May 10, raclette night will kick off at 7pm. For $89, you'll spend the evening melting Swiss raclette cheese on your very own raclettier and nibbling on house-smoked saucisson and cured chorizo, cooked potatoes and pickles — while sipping on a schooner of Ryefield IPA or Double Phresh IPA. Also promised are releases of limited-edition beers and hoppy food pairings. See the rest of the program over here.
When Sydney Film Festival looks backwards in 2025, as it does every year with a featured retrospective, it'll be following in its own footsteps several times over. The work of Iranian director Jafar Panahi has graced its screens again and again over the fest's history. More than a decade ago, in 2011, a retrospective just like this also highlighted some of his movies alongside those of his compatriot Mohammad Rasoulof, in fact. Long may this trend continue; a filmmaker this bold and daring should always be in the spotlight. Panahi's body work speaks for itself — and also speaks to his ongoing fight to chronicle contemporary Iran and the reality of life for its people, a battle that he's kept waging despite repercussions regularly coming his way. By his nation's ruling regime, the writer/director has been banned from filmmaking, and also from travel. He's been arrested and imprisoned as well. Indeed, it isn't just his movies that send a message of resistance; his quest to make them, to retain the right to do so, and the pursuit of freedom that goes with that ceaseless campaign, is also a statement. SFF's 2025 Jafar Panahi: Cinema in Rebellion program is celebrating its namesake with a program of all ten of his features, all screening across the festival's dates of Wednesday, June 4–Sunday, June 15. From 1995's The White Balloon to 2022's No Bears, audiences can witness Panahi's progression as a filmmaker — and how his exploration of existence in Iran, especially for women and others suffering oppression and censorship (including himself), has evolved and solidified over almost three decades. With every one of his titles, SFF attendees will also watching be award-winning pictures. The White Balloon gave Panahi his first Cannes accolade, for best first film. Then 1997's The Mirror took home the Locarno International Film Festival's Golden Leopard, 2000's The Circle nabbed Venice's Golden Lion, 2003's Crimson Gold earned an Un Certain Regard prize back at Cannes and 2006's Offside collected a Silver Bear in Berlin. More Cannes love came for 2011's This Is Not a Film (the Carrosse d'Or at the Director's Fortnight) and 2018's Three Faces (for best screenplay), plus more Berlin recognition for 2013's Closed Curtain (another Silver Bear) and 2015's Tehran Taxi (the Golden Bear), and more again from Venice for No Bears (a Special Jury Prize).
Been there, done that, repeating it all over again: in cinemas and among direct-to-home movies alike, that's sequel territory. Not all second efforts, or third or fourth or 15th, retread the first flick. Some expand the initial story instead. Others take the OG concept in completely different directions. If there's a way to jump back into a hit — or even just capitalise upon a well-known movie name — however, then someone has tried it. With a handful of such films, Monster Fest Weekender III Part 2: The Spawning is celebrating the art of the sequel. As the event's 2025 name makes plain, it's having fun with its chosen theme this time around, too. Monster Fest Weekender initially popped up a few years back, giving fans of genre cinema a second chance to enjoy Monster Fest each year — and yes, the film festival itself is a sequel as well. Monster Fest's main festival will still return later in 2025 — it took place in October in 2024 — but this'll help tide you over until then. From I Still Know What You Did Last Summer and Return to Oz to The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 and Robocop 2, the three-day Monster Fest Weekender III Part 2: The Spawning is jam-packed with follow-up flicks, all playing in Sydney at Event Cinemas Burwood from Friday, April 4–Sunday, April 6. You can also check out Return of the Living Dead Part II, Phantasm II, Candyman 2: Farewell to the Flesh and Re-Animator 2: Bride of Re-Animator.
Sydney, you're spoilt for choice when it comes to eating and drinking before, during and after Vivid. Go open air at the Opera House for Korean fried chicken and Archie Rose cocktails, feast on a multi-course dinner curated by Nigella Lawson and served underground, or visit a plant-based American diner (complete with a roller skating rink). Alternatively, head to Kingsleys Woolloomooloo for a two-course pre-Vivid dinner while overlooking the harbour. You'll start with shared plates of seared Hokkaido scallops with champagne beurre blanc, caviar and chives, and locally caught calamari with citrus mayo, togarashi and green onion. Both come with warm sourdough with smoked butter. Come main time, meat lovers will be tucking into a 300 gram, 120-day grain-fed, MB2+ Black Angus sirloin with cafe de Paris butter, red wine jus and shoestring fries. Or go for the potato gnocchi and baby burrata with a decadent sauce of confit tomato, asparagus, chervil, white wine, lemon, butter and parmigiano reggiano. Whatever you pick, the two courses, which are available from 5-7pm throughout Vivid, will set you back $89 a head. And, once you're done, you'll be just a stone's throw from all the lights of the city.
Getting around Vivid can be thirsty work. There's so much to see, eat and do — from immersive experiences in Netflix's Stranger Things at Luna Park to a plethora of live performances at the Opera House. But the good news is that Henley's at King Street Bar and Wharf is inviting you over for a pit stop. Drop by from 5pm any evening during the festival and you'll be treated to Vivid Fiesta, which translates to margaritas and Mexican fare at a fraction of the usual price. More specifically, Henley's is offering a snacky spread for two for $49. You'll each get a margarita — be it classic, mango, strawberry, passionfruit, or spicy watermelon — alongside a serving of guacamole and corn chips, plus your choice of two tacos. Don't want to miss out on any of the action while you're resting? Don't worry. Henley's is right on the water, so you'll still have lovely views.
So, you think you can't enjoy a fine-dining experience on a budget? Think again. Until the end of September, upmarket Italian restaurant Otto is offering a steal of a deal: a pasta main with a glass of paired wine plus a dessert available for just $50. Otto is one of Sydney's most palatial dining spots — perched on the Woolloomooloo finger wharf with unbeatable views of the harbour. Until September 22, diners can choose between a Roman classic, bucatini alla carbonara, or the lesser-known Northern Italian pasta variety corzetti served with cavolo nero kale and pistachio pesto. From Monday, September 23 until Sunday, September 30, thick strands of pici pasta will be served with a rich pork and mushroom ragu or diners can opt for another Roman favourite, the ever-popular spaghetti cacio e pepe. Otto's pasta club menu is available until September 30. Walk-ins are welcome, subject to availability.
Canadian musician Dan Snaith was forced to change his stage name from Manitoba to Caribou after a bizarre lawsuit by former Dictators frontman Handsome Dick Manitoba. Having to change your stage name mid-career is not an ideal situation for any artist, but Snaith, like the immortal Prince/The Artist Formerly Known as Prince, has come up smiling. The 'ineffably crisp and kaleidoscopic production style' of The Milk of Human Kindness (2005) and Andorra (2007) gave way to last year's release, Swim. Showcasing Snaith's fascination with dance sounds, Swim is the distilled goodness of over 600 recorded tracks, including the irresistible late-night groove of 'Odessa'. Now Snaith is finally making the trip to Australia for a double bill with Four Tet at The Metro Theatre. Four Tet (aka Kieran Hebden) is riding the wave of his 2010 opus, There is Love in You. Featuring the techno-trip out of 'Sing' and 'Angel Echoes', Four Tet is guaranteed to work the room like a synth wizard. Update: This event is now sold out. https://youtube.com/watch?v=aiSa7THgxrI
The Northern Beaches aren’t famous for their burgeoning art scene. Not yet, anyway. Enter Fifty-One: curated by The Bubble Co., it's a monthly event founded with the purpose of uniting creatives on the Northern Beaches and developing the art scene. Promising pizza, beer, music, local art, and plenty of people with whom you can hold an interesting discussion, there are huge things that can be expected of Fifty-One. This month is the second Fifty-One, with a Dia De Los Muertos theme. Hosted by the Pony Room with a live Mariachi band, Mexican-themed life drawing classes, Mexican beers and tequila sunrises, the setting is perfect for a showcase of the work of local underground artists such as Louis Leinbach, Sabina Fatt, Nick Bazarow, and Billy Reilly. So, come check out the creative side of the Insular Peninsula.
Andrew Levins, lighthearted conversation and whiskey. What's not to like? Bulleit Speak Easy Series is about to launch in celebration of both the rye at hand and Sydney's independent small bar scene. Levin's, Sydney DJ and chef/owner of Goodgod Small Club's The Dip, will take to the decks at the Cornerhouse in Bondi on Sunday 25 November from 5pm to kick the speak easy series off. Bunk down for one of his famous sets or tune in to FBi Radio who will be broadcasting the evening's action. Rumour has it, Levin's might even shout a few rounds of Bulleit Whiskeys. The series' intention? "We're in an exciting time where young people in particular actually give a hoot about what's happening around them and there is a huge appetite for healthy debate and intelligent discourse at the moment. Maybe it's because we're not getting the inspiration from our leaders. People want to hear what independent thinkers have to say but also want to have their own voices heard." You'll also be able to catch Levins and engage a low-key public night at Mojo Record Bar on 29 November from 7pm.
Cocktails, tree-nut 'cheese' boards, and double caramel 'ice cream' sandwiches — there's never been a better time to be vegan. So make this Sunday arvo a boozy one and indulge in a delicious three-course vegan feed at organic restaurant COOH Alexandria. COOH is just round the corner from Sydney's Grounds of Alexandria, but is decidedly less hectic. As such, it's the perfect setting for a semi-upscale vegan degustation. This one includes a vegan 'cheese' board, a main, dessert and a cocktail for $79 per person. With Aussies Googling 'vegan' more than anyone in the world, our collective curiosity with veganism edges out even our progressive friends in Canada and New Zealand. If you can't commit to the whole vegan shebang (and, let's be honest, giving up haloumi isn't easy), join the growing crew of part-time vegans by hopping on the bandwagon just for this Sunday. Advance bookings are required — just contact Mandy at COOH on (02) 9002 1333 or via bookings@cooh.com.au.
Nothing new here, folks — just another notch in Messina's Sydney domination belt. Head to the Tramsheds Harold Park Messina to find 40 freshly churned flavours — 35 signature flavours and five meticulously crafted new specials each week. Messina's strong point is its conceptual ice cream flavours, so the specials are the way to go. Once Donato Toce (head chef) and Nick Palumbo (head gelato science guy) think of a theme, they then negotiate the complex gastronomical terrain of proteins, fat and flavour to create the smooth, creamy milk confection we know as gelato. It's this Heston Blumenthal-style art/science nexus that has resulted in Messina becoming a household name and paved the way for its 18 Australian stores. The Tramsheds store offers all the regular scoops as well as the renowned Messina cakes. And, the heavenly gelato is also available through Deliveroo — oh dear, that's dangerous.
If your pup has its own Instagram account and you refer to yourself as a 'fur parent', we're fairly certain you'll want in on this competition. Local pet food brand Ivory Coat wants to put your dog on the small screen. The luxe brand is currently running a Dog Search, which will see 20 lucky pooches featured in Ivory Coat's next TV commercial. All you have to do is enter your details here, along with a recent, personality-filled photo of your fur baby. All breeds and cross-breeds of all ages are welcome. Along with being featured on TV, your pup could win a portrait by a professional photographer, a pet profile on the Ivory Coat website and social media pages, and a one-year supply of Ivory Coat food. There is one catch, though: your dog needs to be an Ivory Coat consumer. So, if they've never tried the stuff, it's time to grab a bag online or head to one of your local stockists. If your pooch is a little hesitant about changing brands, Ivory Coat is made in Australia using locally sourced meat with no additives or fillers. Plus superfoods, fruits, veggies and wholegrains are mixed in or there's a grain-free option if you prefer. The pet food brand also has options for dogs (and cats) of every breed, size and age. The 20 lucky winners (humans and pooches) will need to be in Sydney for shoot between July 17–19. While NSW's borders are currently open to all domestic tourists, we suggest checking the Australian Government website before booking flights or locking in a road trip. Your doggo should be well-behaved and friendly, but it doesn't need to be dog show-level trained — understanding simple commands like 'sit' and 'stay' will do. If this sounds like your pup, now's the time to make 'em a star. Head to the Ivory Coat website for entry guidelines and T&Cs. 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.
You may be acquainted with Nick Stathopoulos via his recent Archibald entry, Ugly, which controversially didn't make the 54 finalists. The portrait of author Robert Hoge, who was born with a tumour on his forehead and distorted facial features, wasn't chosen as a finalist, but did take out the People's Choice Award at the Salon des Refuses. The work in Stathopoulos's new exhibition, Anthropocene, is of a decidedly less photorealistic bent. This collection of paintings and sculptures was born out of hundreds of the artist's sketchbook doodles — and the result is a hodgepodge of the bizarre, the ethereal, the surreal and his previous toy obsession. It's easy to see why Stathopoulos also does science fiction cover art. There are skeletal things and giant balloon-like heads floating like clouds in the sky and desolate post-apocalyptic-type landscapes. An afternoon spent here would probably leave you feeling like you'd entered a strange other universe. Go on and drift away.
Beached as a whale with a fondness for chuups, bro. Except swap the whale for Gastro Park chef Grant King, and the chips for cider, and you're there. Yup, this one is for the hardcore cider junkies out there. Every Sunday throughout December and Sunday you can chill out in the Beach Road Hotel's outdoor bar The Backyard, sipping on a cold Rochdale Cider and something from the cider-themed menu. The Beached As menu includes the Cider Slider (cider baked pig, crunchy crackles and apple celeriac slaw), Crispy Claw (crispy cider batter, encasing soft shell crab claws, lemon and lime mayo, wrapped in lettuce with cucumber and coriander) and The Rockdale Frostie (Cider caramalised apple ice-cream, with granny smith popping candy). So if a brightly coloured, traditional, medium dry cider with a matching menu in an outdoor bar sounds like your pint of cider, then Bondi is where it's at.
McDonald's has been serving up Big Macs and soft serve cones to Australians for 50 years, and it's been celebrating that fact throughout 2021. That's why the chain gave our tastebuds a Birthday McFlurry earlier this year, among other specials — and now the fast food giant is one-upping that limited-edition treat with a new Caramilk McFlurry. Macca's is no stranger to one-off McFlurry flavours, of course. So, you've probably tried both the good (apple pie) and the bad (bubblegum) varieties before. But Caramilk dessert mashups always take things up a few notches. That's why you've probably already sipped Caramilk cocktails, and eaten the Caramilk dessert jaffles and Caramilk Krispy Kreme doughnuts — and why you've now mentally scheduled in a date with a Caramilk McFlurry (or several). Obviously, this new sweet treat's ingredients are immensely straightforward. We all know what a McFlurry is. We all know what Caramilk is. Combine the two and voila! When it comes to this cult-favourite caramelised white chocolate, there's absolutely no need to overcomplicate things. You'll find the Caramilk McFlurry on the menu at all Australian Macca's outlets from Wednesday, October 13 — and for delivery, too. That said, it really is a limited-edition special, so it's only on offer while stocks last. McDonald's Caramilk McFlurries are available in stores Australia-wide from Wednesday, October 13 while stocks last.
Odd Future may have called it a day, but the gang's still going strong in their own pursuits. One such OFWGKTA rapper who's dropping by for this year’s Splendour in the Grass is Earl Sweatshirt, tipped to be one of the big tickets of this year's sideshows. The Los Angeles-based rapper/producer has brought out two solo albums: Doris in 2013 and I Don’t Like Shit, I Don’t Go Outside, in 2015 — both of which have been commended for Earl's distinctive and cerebral brand of hip hop. The former featured a plethora of guest appearances including fellow OFWGKTA Tyler the Creator and Frank Ocean, as well as RZA and The Neptunes — but don't go crossing fingers for cameos, sorry guys.
There are a few great arts shows on local Sydney radio, Something Else and Arts Tuesday on Eastside, Talking Through Your Arts on 2SER and FBi's contribution to the genre and the Sydney arts scene is the Sunday show Canvas. Canvas normally gets a word in with visiting and local art celebrity, but during the Biennale they're taking their low-key art loving to their elevated FBI Social salon space in Kings Cross. For two nights in July running Canvas Presents will chat with artists live on stage while you sit back and contemplate art with a drink close to hand.
Lovers of Australian architecture take note, the Sydney Architecture Festival 2018 is looking inwards for its 12th edition, with a celebration of two of Australia's most iconic buildings: the Sydney Opera House and Parliament House. Running from Friday, September 28, to Monday, October 1, the festival sets out to explore 'What Makes a Building Truly Great?' with a wide-ranging program of talks, tours and exhibits. The festival also coincides with two landmark birthdays: the Sydney Opera House turns 45 and Parliament House enters its 30th year. Presenting the pair's largely unexplored intertwined history, the festival will consider how these Australian monuments — alongside many others — can be preserved for generations to come. A lineup of leading local and international architectural voices will also explores how Australia can remain at the global forefront of urban development. Highlights include a striking revision of the Opera House's history with architectural historian Dr Anne Watson; a panel discussion on what equals great design with Australian Institute of Architects Gold Medal winners Richard Leplastrier, Brit Andresen and Peter Stutchbury; and the previously untold challenges behind Parliament House with original architect Ric Thorpe AM and ABC's Annabel Crabb. For the first time, an architecture critic will deliver the 'World Architecture Day' address at the Sydney Opera House. Acclaimed New York-based writer Karen Stein will present the speech, drawing from her decade-long experience as a panel member for The Pritkzer Architecture Prize, and as a contributor to many of the world's leading architecture publications. Images: Hamilton Lund
The title for this year's Google Exhibition, which is part of the Sydney Fringe Festival, seems particularly fitting. The artists selected to take part were required to type "distorted reproduction" into the Google search engine, at the same time, on the same day, and choose a site as the starting point for their piece. As our lives become more and more entangled with the online world, we may ourselves be experiencing an increasingly distorted reproduction of reality. The way we think, act, and interact with each other has changed dramatically over the last few years. So much so, in fact, that psychologists and scientists alike believe this is changing the way we think. There are even concerns that children spending a significant time online may be affecting the normal development of their brains. A few years ago the people at Hardware Gallery were questioning, how do you make art? They decided to google it, and so the Google Exhibition was born. As you enter the exhibition, you are struck by the sheer calibre of the works, all of which are not only wonderfully produced but exude a deep personal expressiveness. Perhaps the unique conceptual starting point, choosing a website which resonates in some way, is the cause. Several of the artists chose the same sites, and four main themes dominate: how our memories distort past events; how the insectiside Tebufenozide interferes with the growth, development and reproduction of the codling moth; how images can be distorted with technology; and a psychology test where participants copied a drawing of an owl, which was passed to the next participant and so on, until the drawing had mutated into a cat. Naturally many of the pieces were fairly abstract, such as Kate Deacock's Optical Blur, which was inspired by a series of conical diagrams describing the effects of light on vision. It is a series of red squares, with darker red circles within. The paintings, of increasing size, hang in a row and are quite striking. One of the most moving works was the series of paintings by Deborah Keogh, which refer to a study on memory distortion. The paintings are of her mother, who died when she was young and of whom the artist remembers her clothes and habits, but not her face. Hence the three paintings of women wearing different dresses in each, all headless. Several of the artists produced series of works, as opposed to just one piece. I wonder if this is itself an indication of how the internet is affecting our concentration and ability to focus on one thing, instead tending to think about multiple ideas within a short space of time. By far the most interesting aspect to this exhibition is how it poses the personal against the virtual, which becomes apparent as you read each artist's blurb describing the development of their idea. Also the adage 'nothing exists in a vacuum', oft quoted in relation to the creative arts, has perhaps never been truer than today with the world wide web offering us instant access to any number of artistic references. It is a shame that there isn't a PC in the room to look up the websites chosen. But if you have smartphone, you should definitely type in the web address listed with each piece and have a look at the source of inspiration. To add extra depth to your experience, you might like to do a Google search for 'distorted reproduction' yourself before you go and have a look at the results. See our list of the 10 best things to see and do at the Sydney Fringe.
The Black Lung Theatre and Whaling Firm have endeared themselves to us with bonkers performances of the likes of And They Called Him Mr Glamour. To save their brand of surreal self-analysis from going around in circles, in 2008 they stepped out of their familiar inner-Melbourne world — and into Timor Leste. Working with East Timorese creatives Galaxy and Liurai Fo'er, they've emerged with Doku Rai (You, dead man, I don't believe you), the first international theatre production to be created in East Timor. (Specifically, extraordinarily, in an abandoned colonial hotel on a remote island off Dili. In the distance, Balibo was being filmed.) Going off reviews of its first Darwin Festival and Melbourne performances in 2012, the show breaks the mould of how we think about cross-cultural theatre. It opens with a set from garage rock band Galaxy, stars of Timor Leste, for starters. The story then follows a man who is struck with a killing curse (doku) but continues to rise from the grave. On top of that is a layer of playfulness, meta, multimedia, and more pop musical interludes. Australia hasn't always been kind to the tiny nation that is one of our closest neighbours, so that the kooks at Black Lung can go there and have a mind-meld with locals is an exciting thing. Directed by Thomas M Wright, the production will tour Australia in 2013, then it's on to Europe. Doku Rai is on from 25-28 September. Carriageworks and Concrete Playground would like to invite 20 readers and their friends to a special event on Friday, 27 September. As well as two tickets to the 8pm performance, you'll enjoy complimentary pre-show drinks from sponsors Johnny Q, DWS, Optimiste and Asahi with the director and producer of the show, followed by a post-show talk. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter (if you haven't already), then email hello@concreteplayground.com.au with your name and address.
Written and directed by Oscar-winner Martin McDonagh (In Bruges), Seven Psychopaths maps the hilariously violent and bizarre journey of a struggling screenwriter, Marty (Colin Farrell), in search of focus and inspiration. Marty need not look far, as his best friend Billy (Sam Rockwell) is an unemployed part-time dog-thief and intends to give Marty all the inspiration he needs. Christopher Walken plays Hans, Billy's dog-snatching side-kick. After the accidental kidnapping of a psychopathic gangster's beloved Shih Tsu, Marty is inadvertently tossed into a Los Angeles underworld full of thieves and killers. Charlie, a psychopathic gangster played by Woody Harrelson, is an impulsively violent criminal that will pull the trigger on anyone or anything associated with the theft of his dog. Seven Psychopaths will be released in cinemas on November 8. Concrete Playground has teamed up with Hopscotch Films to present a free screening of Seven Psychopaths on Thursday, November 1 at the newly renovated Dendy Newtown. To go in the running to win tickets, just subscribe to Concrete Playground (if you haven't already) then follow this link to RSVP. Be quick, it's first in best dressed. All tickets have now been allocated.
A scattering of impressive new rooftop bars have opened in Sydney lately. It's as if proprietors knew summer were coming (and that it would be a real, sunny one this time). Their drinking dens with altitude are each thoughtfully conceived and well executed, offering something for every mood from Williamsburg cool to 1920s garden party, lobster feast to glinting Sydney Harbour appreciation. These are the five new rooftop bars that have proved perfect for a balmy summer evening. They're a welcome addition to great existing rooftop establishments, such as the Darlo Bar and Corridor, which we rounded up here. Sweethearts Rooftop BBQ Sweethearts Rooftop Barbeque is the Cross's open-air diamond in the rough. After you've caught your breath after a heavy-going four or five flights of stairs, kick back at one of Sweethearts' long bench tables, in amongst a mountain of trees, beneath some kitsch but redeeming pastel-coloured fairy lights. Reward yourself with a glass of King Valley Prosecco ($10). And don't be alarmed to see the charismatic barman pulling it as he would a coldie; the wines are on tap here. The food menu, meanwhile, is all about skewers, with a range of meat, fish and vegetable on sticks ready to inhale. 33-37 Darlinghurst Rd, Potts Point; 02 9368 7333; www.sweetheartsbbq.com.au The Glenmore The Glenmore is hardly new, but it certainly has a new lease of life. After being closed for nine long months to accommodate renovations, the doors have once again been flung open. The much loved local's-style pub remains on ground level, but as you head up the stairs towards the first level and rooftop terrace, you can see just how much this oldie has been spruced up. It has one of the best views of the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House, and the retractable roof is a great addition, along with the rustic style wooden benches and red industrial chairs, to go with the new kitchen. You have to try the Rocks favourite, corn on the cob with chilli lime butter and a sprinkling of cheese ($8), and BBQ-style lamb and chorizo skewers, with a topping of corn and tomato salsa ($16). 96 Cumberland Street, The Rocks; 02 9247 4794; www.theglenmore.com.au The Rook Perched up so high, it's a slightly smug experience peering eye-level into office workers' windows as they hunch over computers. As you sit here with a cocktail in hand, lobster tail in the other, you know they might just be staring back thinking, "man I'd really kill for that". We're not a lobster-obsessed nation like the States, so it's a bit of a strange choice for an inner-city rooftop bar to specialise in it, particularly at $50 per half with a side of truffle fries. It feels a bit extravagant and incongruous to the casual bar vibe. The lobster itself, however, is super-fresh and handled beautifully. Half of this eclectic, recycled, and colourful space is seating for eating and half is a bar for cocktail sipping, with drinks being mixed by Cristiano Beretta from the highly regarded Black Pearl in Melbourne. 56-58 York Street, Sydney; 02 9262 2505; www.therook.com.au The Local Taphouse Located at the intersection of South Dowling and Flinders Streets in Darlinghurst, the Local Taphouse can go slightly unnoticed. Which is why we didn't notice it our first round-up of the best rooftop bars in 2011. With 1920s inspired decor and a garden-like roof, the Local is anyone's wonderland. The beer haven is the brainchild of Steve Jeffares and Guy Greenstone, two beer enthusiasts who conceived the inspired idea of opening a taphouse for all those budding beer buffs. Providing more than 20 beers on tap and an extensive range of bottled ales, stouts, pilsners, and ciders of local and international origin, they don't make your decision too easy. They do, however, offer beer pairings for their exceptional food options, most of which incorporate beer in the cooking process. Start with the smoked ale meatballs ($13) to nibble on. 122 Flinders Street, Darlinghurst; 02 9360 0088; www.thelocal.com.au The Oxford Terrace The Hunky Dory Social Club was a pioneer among Sydney rooftop bars, but it and its Little Golden Book menus ran its course. In its place now is the Oxford Terrace, a bar where the exposed brick walls and abutting sky still dominate the decor. Among all the rooftops, this is the one that makes wistful Sydneysiders feel like they might be in Williamsburg. The Oxford Terrace shares owners with the downstairs Konoba restaurant, and the menu carries on the inflections of the Croatian island of Hvar, with woodfired pizzas, grilled seafood, and other Mediterranean-style selections well suited to summer. Get in during the 5-8pm happy hour, where you'll not only get a cocktail for $10, you might also get a seat. 215 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst; 0421 013 254; www.facebook.com/pages/The-Oxford-Terrace/ By the Concrete Playground team.
If you're a typography nerd, a pirate, or just someone who spends a lot of time in the city, you might have noticed all those nicely fonted Xs stamped all over streets, walls, and bus stops. If you love nothing more than a good hashtag, you probably turned to Twitter to stalk the elusive Mr X. Well, the secret might be over, but the fun kicks on: X marks the spot where four of The Rocks' best restaurants and drinking spots converge for a month-long feast of food, drinks, and late-night entertainment. Tropical French bar and brasserie Ananas, New York-inspired steakhouse The Cut, designer Japanese joint Saké, and the splendidly hulking Argyle itself are all getting involved in the initiative, turning one heritage-listed location into a four-pronged drinking and dining destination for the month of March. Each participating restaurant is offering $25 lunch and $35 dinner menus, but really the vibe is all about mixing and matching. Eat your lunch wraps in The Argyle's courtyard then duck under the glowing pineapple after work to unwind over French hors d'oeuvres, or wash down some fresh sashimi with a Japanese martini before heading to The Cut for a Tasmanian wilderness grass-fed sirloin. Ananas and The Argyle will keeping you fuelled with drink specials and DJs on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. For a real gastronomic odyssey, there's Progressive Exchange, a three-course dinner spanning Saké, The Cut and Ananas for $175 including matching wines or cocktails. An extra $50 will get you the premium stuff. Head to argylexchange.com.au for the full list of offers.
Sydney label Strummer is having a pop-up sale at the moment. If you are a fan of the label’s folksy daywear, get yourself down to the Grand Social in Darlinghurst. Sale items include seriously reduced current season stock, past season stock and accessories, as well as one off samples for women and men.
Written, directed by and starring Dax Shepard (Ashton Kutcher's wingman on MTV's Punk'd), Hit & Run is a romantic action-comedy that'll make you laugh just by watching dreadlocked Bradley Cooper as crazed gang member Alex Dmitri. Unable to escape their past, former getaway driver Charlie Bronson (Dax Shepard) jeopardizes his witness protection identity in order to get his girlfriend (Kristen Bell) to an important job interview. However, things don't go according to plan. Hit & Run is in cinemas from September 6. Concrete Playground has 10 double passes to giveaway to see Hit & Run. For a chance to win, make sure you're subscribed to Concrete Playground then email your name and postal address to hello@concreteplayground.com.au
Perpetually moody rockers Sonic Youth are selling some of their vintage equipment and gear in order to raise money for Shelter Box USA, a charity devoted to responding "instantly to natural and manmade disasters by delivering boxes of aid to those who are in most need." The band has already put several items up for sale on eBay with more expected to come in the next few days. For those interested there is a xylophone that was used in the recording of Daydream Nation's 'Kissability', a 1970s Rhythm Ace Drum Machine, a very odd looking glockenspiel, an array of guitar road weary guitar cases complete with band stickers and even a custom-made mixer that was built for the band and used on stage by bass guitarist and vocalist Kim Gordon. So far the best buy looks like the xylophone, which is by far the cheapest item going for just $50. But then again it is hard to go past a vintage 1970s drum machine. https://youtube.com/watch?v=rK9QkjXm0I8
Good news for dumpling lovers: New Shanghai is hosting its first ever Wine and Dumpling Dinner at Chatswood Chase this week. We're talking a feast of delicious dumplings, including New Shanghai's genre-busting soupy and crispy Pan Fried Pork Buns. The event also marks the launch of a new wine list, meaning hand-picked selections served up to match each and every dish. Tempting, yes? It all happens this Tuesday 27th and Wednesday 28th. The six course dinner plus wines is a mere $59 per head. If the usual popularity of Shanghai is anything to go by, we'd be booking fast to secure a table. Not even joining the long line outside the door will get you in on these nights otherwise.
Let's face it: lights are pretty. Who doesn't love a good lightshow? If you were living under a rock and somehow missed Vivid Sydney, then Luminous Nights presented by aMBUSH Gallery might be just the ticket. The nights are designed to showcase Darling Harbour's new-ish permanent light display, Luminous. Serving up a dash of solid tunes to go with the sparkly lights, Future Classic DJs will have you dancing so hard, you might not feel the wintery air at all. Your fingers can also get a workout at these August evenings, with Luminous converting one facade into a gaming console that is activated through your smartphone. Hopefully you get off on the idea of lots of people watching you play Pong, Big Snake or Finger Paint with your best mate in a very public arena. Might be an idea to get in some quick practice before you go. Winning is always much more fun with a crowd after all. https://youtube.com/watch?v=E4TAbn97iVQ
