On the former site of Spawn Point on Clarence Street, you will find the latest project from the Old Mates Place crew: Ginny's Canoe Club. The pop-up venue has proven to be a hit with locals heading there for post-work drinks in the cool basement bar. The menu is built around small plates, cocktails and wine. Chef Joey Astorgo (ex-Cho Cho San and Smalls Deli) has helped pull together the selection of delicious numbers, snacks and late-night eats. If you do arrive taco-ready, there are various flavours on offer — jerk mushroom and a fancy take on fish fingers. Accompanying the tacos are Sydney rock oysters with pineapple hot sauce, spanner crab sandwiches, pumpkin tostadas, potato and kimchi quesadillas, Albacore tuna with avocado and nori, and the house special Ginny's mini Cubano sandwich. There's also an after-hours menu that's only available from 10pm — helping to combat Sydney's severe lack of late-night restaurants. Here you'll find highlights from the pre-10pm menu like the mini Cubano, tostadas and quesadillas alongside chips with dip and olives. Ginny's accepts walk-ins but "strongly" recommends making a booking on their website.
Acclaimed visual artist Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran has transformed Sullivan+Strumpf's Zetland gallery with a series of surreal sculptures for his new exhibition The Guardians. The Sydney-based Sri Lankan-born artist has created an array of ceramic and bronze statues depicting colourful figures which he's named The Guardians. Simultaneously beautiful and ghoulish, the figures have been crafted by Nithiyendran using building and glazing strategies. The figures vary significantly in shape and size, from mid-sized creatures to multi-coloured larger-than-life creations. According to Nithiyendran, "the figure's allusions to ideas around regeneration, renewal and even collapse are particularly pertinent in our current global climate defined by social, environmental and public health shifts/upheaval". The Guardians follow exhibitions from Nithiyendran at the Gold Coast's Home of the Arts, Tasmania's Dark MOFO and the Art Gallery of New South Wales including a 70-sculpture exhibition titled Avatar Towers as part of Archie Plus. You can catch the exhibition from Thursday, October 14 through until Saturday, November 13 and entry is free. The gallery is open 10am–5pm, Tuesday–Saturday. [caption id="attachment_828750" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran in his studio with Four headed seated figure, 2021, earthenware, approx 119 x 41 x 35cm. Photo courtesy the artist and Sullivan+Strumpf.[/caption]
Like Rollerfit, Retrosweat, Beyoncé dance classes and Morning Gloryville raves, Fitness Playground gyms offer an opportunity to exercise that isn't scary, or boring. You can work out with your friends, attend a circus-inspired trapeze classes or hang from monkey bars. The people are friendly, the energy is great and everyone knows your name. There are three FP locations (Surry Hills, Newtown and Marrickville). They've just added a third level to their Surry Hills location specifically for classes, something all three gyms specialise in. Our favourite class is Circus Fit, but there's also barre, anti-gravity yoga, pilates and Athletica — small, intensive group training classes that feel like a personal training session. We're giving away a one-year Fitness Playground 'Play' membership and ten personal training sessions to one lucky reader. You'll have full access to all three gyms, as well as group fitness classes and Athletica personal training sessions. To win, all you have to do is enter your details below. [competition]608085[/competition] Learn the story behind Fitness Playground and find out what happens at a 'Circus Fit' class. If you're keen to check out Fitness Playground, head along to the Open Week exclusive to Concrete Playground readers.
Even if you're not much of an opera connoisseur, this iconic Sydney Festival event is a must. Each year, Opera in the Domain brings some of opera's biggest hits to thousands of Sydneysiders under the starry night sky. Bring a blanket and a picnic basket and lose yourself in the marvel that is the human voice. No time to pack food? Never fear: there will be bars and food stalls aplenty.
Tonic's corner location and elegant dining room makes it stand out in the small, simple town of Millthorpe. The menu is seasonally focused, so it changes frequently and showcases a rotating list of local producers. Chef Tony Worland is a protégé of Gordon Ramsay, but, despite his experience, the prices at Tonic are pretty reasonable: $70 for two courses, and $80 for three. The menu might include braised oxtail with caramelised pumpkin and the Mandagery Creek venison served with lentils, rhubarb and pink peppercorn. Millthorpe's proximity to Orange means their wine list is impeccably chosen, and the staff are ridiculously knowledgeable to boot. This is fine dining that can suit most budgets, and is a top-tier destination for any food and wine fanatic. Make a weekend of it with our guide to eating in Orange.
Food is one of the most powerful ways to create, share and evoke memories. Nostalgic smells, textures and flavours have the ability to take us right back to a particular place and time. That's why Chef de Partie Connor Denton has invited diners to feast on a seven-course menu inspired by cherished memories and moments from his life. The Heirloom pop-up will be held at Surry Hills institution Arthur on Monday, April 22–Tuesday, April 23. Denton will creatively draw on experiences such as childhood bushwalks, first hot pot encounters and evenings spent fishing by the river, to innovate nostalgic dishes that tell a story. Think: updated old-school Aussie favourites, like a Christmas prawn-inspired dish featuring king prawns, school prawns, Meyer lemon, and aioli, brought together with a homemade hot sauce. The dining experience at 544 Bourke Street, Surry Hills, will cost you $110 per person. There is limited seating, so book now to ensure you don't miss out.
Every Wednesday, the Australian Museum hosts a dynamic after-dark event called Culture Up Late. It focuses on a significant cultural, scientific or historical issue and invites the public to get involved. And no, it's not all seminars and papier-mâché — think more VR and live music. On February 21, the museum is turning its sights on saving the ocean, and it's inviting scientists, activists, artists and you to come along. Culture Up Late: Turning the Tide will include a conversation with renowned marine biologist Lucas Handley, weaving marine animals out of recycled materials with Aboriginal Elder Karleen Green, making wearable art with artist and activist Marina DeBris and an interactive VR experience. Chasing Coral will transport you to the Great Barrier Reef to witness first-hand the ongoing effects of coral bleaching. There will also be live music, workshops and heaps more to explore. The Culture Up Late sessions show Australian Museum in a new light, and let the public experience culture, performance, art, science and storytelling after the working day is done. During these evenings, visitors can also tour the museum's extensive collections and exhibitions, including Mammoths – Giants of the Ice Age, which features a 42,000-year-old baby woolly mammoth named Lyuba. If you want to learn more about protecting our oceans (and visit the Great Barrier Reef without purchasing a plane ticket) you're in luck — we're giving away five double passes to Turning the Tide. To enter, see details below. [competition]656228[/competition]
Following years of lockouts and lockdowns, the dance floor has finally made an emphatic comeback in Sydney. The past year had seen the reemergence of storied nightclubs Club 77 and Arq to name a few, as the city's nightlife kicks into the most vibrant it's been in years. One such club, The Abercrombie, is making full use of its 24-hour license and multiple dance floors for Sydney WorldPride by rolling out a stacked program of parties. Curated by DJ Kate Monroe and party-starter Xander Khoury, the venue has enlisted the help of party crews Heaps Gay, Kerfew, Barba, Sugar, Angels Only, Canned Fruit, Fur Ball, Queer Techno Collective and Queer House Collective to bring together three weeks of packed dance floors, thumping bass and joyous energy. Kicking things off is the Pride, Play & Party opening event on Friday, February 17. Throughout the weekend, Queer Techno Collective is in charge of a full venue takeover on the Saturday, and Heaps Gay and friends will be hosting kick-ons for this year's Fair Day on the Sunday alongside Sugar who will be bringing soul, funk and disco tunes to the bar's rooftop Casa Rosa. Fur Ball and Canned Fruit are keeping the good times rolling mid-week with a free Wednesday night hump day event. Queer House Collective is presiding over the tracks on Friday, February 24, followed by an all-inclusive community-led Parade afterparty on Saturday, February 25, which will rage on until 8am Sunday morning. Then Sugar returns later that day for a recovery rooftop party that promises to treat any sore heads with top-drawer tunes and hairs of the proverbial dog. The final week of the program features sex-positive dance party Show Us Ya Tips on Friday, a night curated by South Asian creative collective Kerfew on Saturday, and a final queer techno night from Barba on Sunday. Phew. On the consecutive Mondays of February 20 and 27, Irregular Fit is hosting a set of DJ masterclasses with one of Sydney's finest tastemakers, Ayebatonye. If you've always dreamed of being behind the decks this could be your chance to take the plunge. Keep your eyes on the Irregular Fit and Abercrombie Instagram pages for details on how to apply for a spot in the free classes. The full program features a swath of free events as well as a few ticketed nights — and all events are free for drag performers and First Nations attendees.
If you're starting to feel like a new season hasn't truly started until Finders Keepers has come to town, you're not alone. The ever-expanding art and design market has been bringing us face-to-face with some of the country's most quirky and creative designers for over a decade now — and it's set to do it all over again when it returns this December. The focus remains, as ever, on helping you discover and connect with the next wave of independent and emerging artisans. Expect to find debut collections from the likes of Sydney-based printmaker The Tilbury Press, Marrickville's Dezion Studio, The Great Undressed's locally made lingerie and bright, fun jewellery from Binko Banko. The Finders Keepers Artist Program, an initiative that was introduced last year to support emerging artists, will highlight the spring/summer recipient Mosey Me's bright, abstract designs across all market collateral for the season. Many of the market's seasoned vendors will also return — so, if you've been kicking yourself since last round that you didn't pick up a Posie candle, a tie from Peggy and Finn or one of Bridget Bodenham's mugs, you're in luck. As usual, there'll be live music and other entertainment scattered across the weekend to keep the good vibes going. And you're covered when the inevitable shopping-induced hunger strikes, with everything from empanadas to marshmallow cakes on offer. Tickets are $5, available at the door and valid for the entire weekend. So, if you can't stop thinking about that one thing you didn't buy, you can make a return visit. Start creating your shopping list now and head to the Finders Keepers directory to see the full scope of vendors. Finders Keepers Spring/Summer Sydney will run from December 6–8 at 12pm–9pm on Friday, 10am–7pm on Saturday and 10am–5pm on Sunday. Images: Samee Lapham.
Last year's inaugural Antidote, Sydney Opera House's new festival of ideas, action and change, saw an impressive lineup of LBGTQI+, Indigenous and feminist rights activists — and 20,000 balloons — fill the iconic building last year. For its second weekend-long run on September 1 and 2, the festival is bringing in a host of international heavyweights to inspire and incite positive change in this crazy messed-up world. Leading the list is investigative journalist Ronan Farrow, whose exposé on Harvey Weinstein in The New Yorker — along with The New York Times' piece — won him a Pulitzer Prize and triggered the start of last year's global #MeToo movement. He'll speak alongside WikiLeaks whistleblower, trans activist and US Senate candidate Chelsea Manning and Black Panther comic writer Ta-Nehisi Coates. These high-profile American voices will be joined by a pretty diverse list of thought-provokers, including Syrian urban planner Marwa Al-Sabouni, South African storyteller Sisonke Msimang and Liz Jackson, the founder of disability self-advocacy organisation, the Disabled List. You'll also be able to settle in for a night of queer stories with Maeve Marsden and get Benjamin Law and his mum to answer some of your most embarrassing questions. Extending its practical positioning, the festival will also feature a few workshops this time around — you'll be able to learn how to fillet a fish with Saint Peter's sustainable fishmonger Josh Niland and Kirsty Mootz will show you how to make your own organic skincare with things you find in your house. Antidote comes at a time when a lot of us are angry and anxious about what's happening in the world. Hopefully you can take away some action points — and if you don't, well, talking it out should at least prove cathartic.
A new dining experience at harbourfront restaurant Luna Lu's promises to be a feast for all the senses, complete with one of the most iconic views on the planet. Using dynamic digital design and projection technology, the first-floor bar of this Asian-fusion fine diner — set within a historic 180-year-old heritage dockland building overlooking the Campbells Cove promenade, with uninterrupted views of the Sydney Opera House — is transformed into an underwater wonderland, a tranquil Chinese garden and a cosmic star scape as diners enjoy their meal. Every Thursday and Sunday evening, this immersive dining adventure melds gourmet cuisine with a sense of wonder. While a la carte dining is available with a $40 entry fee per diner, there is also a three-course set menu available for $120 per head, featuring Luna Lu's most popular signature dishes, including its indulgent honey yuzu crispy fried chicken and the restaurant's unique take on Peking duck, infused with rose wine and served with a 24-hour tamarind jus alongside the usual trimmings. The meal concludes with an elevated riff on the famous street treat, deep-fried ice cream, flavoured with pandan. Bookings require a two-person minimum, but the entire dining space can be reserved for larger parties. The digital displays can be tailored to any event's needs, whether celebrating a birthday, an anniversary or even a wedding. While the projections will certainly wow guests, the biggest gasps will inevitably be reserved for the spectacular attraction across the water — few restaurants in Sydney can boast a better vantage point on the architectural masterpiece of the Sydney Opera House than Bar Lulu.
For wannabe wizards and witches, the most magical place in Australia right now is located in Victoria. After boasting the country's only run of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, then playing host to a natural history exhibition based on the Fantastic Beasts films, the state is now temporarily home to a new Harry Potter-themed experience. This time, you can walk around an illuminated woodland filled with nods to the Wizarding World, with Harry Potter — A Forbidden Forest Experience finally arriving Down Under. Accio joy, clearly. Think: Lightscape, which is returning to Melbourne in 2024, but all about the world that's sprung up around the Boy Who Lived on the page, screen and stage. So, with Harry Potter — A Forbidden Forest Experience taking over The Briars Community Forest in Mount Martha until June, attendees can enjoy a nighttime stroll an hour out of Melbourne. Entering the Forbidden Forest is clearly the big attraction, as lit up with dazzling lights, all while also spying creatures from the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts movies. A hippogriff features, as do nifflers and unicorns. You also have the chance to pose for a photo mid-wand duel, and to summon up a patronus spell as well. Accordingly, visitors here aren't surrounded by all things Wizarding World after dark in a forest; they can be join in like every aspiring Hogwarts student has always wanted to. Sounds and special effects also help bring the experience to life, as aided by award-winning behind-the-scenes folks. Expect to spend around 90 minutes being immersed in the all-ages event — plus however long you need at the onsite shop afterwards buying merchandise. That's part of the village at the end of the trail, where you'll also be able to grab a bite and something to drink. Wands crossed for butterbeer, obviously. Harry Potter — A Forbidden Forest Experience has hit Australia after seasons in the UK, Europe, the US and Singapore, with Warner Bros behind it just like the films and upcoming Harry Potter TV series. Also helping conjure up the fun is events platform Fever, adding to a recent Australian slate spanning Banksy and NBA exhibitions, plus the Unko Museum: The Kawaii Poop Experience. Find Harry Potter — A Forbidden Forest Experience at The Briars Community Forest, Mount Martha, until Sunday, June 9, 2024. Head to the event's website for tickets and further details.
Few Brisbanites can boast the intimate knowledge of the city's burgers, doughnuts and freakshakes that foodie and prolific Instagrammer Adam Pinzone does. As @foodieadam, he captures these stars of Brisbane's dining scene close-up in all their oozy, glistening glory — a pastime he's devoted himself to since moving to Brisbane from the US in 2015. In partnership with Pullman Hotels and Resorts, we're helping you explore more on your next holiday and make sure you get those experiences that the area's most switched-on residents wouldn't want their visitors to miss. In Brisbane, we've called in Adam, whose favourite spots range from the city's most over-the-top burger eatery to a Japanese dessert bar blasting comforting cover songs. A stay at Pullman's King George Square hotel in Brisbane — located in the centre of the city and just a stroll over the Victoria Bridge from South Bank — will not only put you in the thick of all this action, it will let you rest and digest in five-star luxury at the end of the day. Read on for Adam's perspective on Brisbane's food hot spots, and check out the rest of our Explore More content series to hone your itinerary for some of Australia's best holiday destinations. REVERENDS FINE COFFEE Located in the city centre, Reverends Fine Coffee has a kitchen that punches well above its weight for how small it is. Plus, the staff have so much character, they make each visit feel like coming home. The atmosphere inside the narrow, exposed-brick space feels very Melbourne, and it's a nice escape. Of course, the coffee is still the major draw, with aeropress, pour over and cold-brew options, a house blend sourced from local roaster Uncle Joe's and a constant rotation of new single origin beans on offer. THE BREWER'S PANTRY Part of The Charming Squire — James Squire's industrial-chic brew bar in South Brisbane — The Brewer's Pantry does breakfast, lunch, dinner and all the bits in between. The weekly brekkie specials here are the kind of thing you can't find anywhere else, and are borderline crazy at times. Think cookies and cream french toast with Oreos, or cheesy-garlic-bread-inspired eggs on toast with pickled enoki mushrooms. You can't go wrong when you put yourself in the hands of a bearded chef who has a passion to always one up himself. VAQUERO DINING A night at European/contemporary Australian restaurant Vaquero Dining in Albion means dinner and a show. There aren't many places where you can watch the meat being prepped while you eat. Plus, because everything is done in house, the prices are affordable and the portions are generous. Their Scotch eggs are perfect, and Vaquero also provided me with my introduction to sheep's brains. I've slowly worked through the whole dessert menu — though for me nothing tops the chilli granita chocolate cocktail to finish a meal here. SONDER There's not many places I lose track of time in, but I can easily spend hours in Sonder relaxing and eating Japanese desserts. There's something about a dessert cafe that plays cover songs and serves delicious sweets that is just relaxing. Located in Sunnybank Hills, Sonder makes a particular specialty of ice-cream, even offering mini-cone flights of four, six or eight. And the absolute best thing? It's open till midnight. VIEILLE BRANCHE Sweetly cluttered with antiques from the Normandy seaside, Vielle Branche is a French cafe tucked away in the industrial part of Albion. The menu ranges from traditional croque monsieur — made with creamy bechamel, gruyere and double smoked leg ham — to the more intense smoked duck tartine (the French style of open sandwich) and a platter so indulgent it's dubbed the Complet Gerard Depardieu. Everything is made in-house, including their insanely delicious chocolate brownies. Plus, on Sunday it transforms into a jazz hall. Magic! CHARBOYS I always get asked what are the best burgers in Brisbane. There's no one obvious winner, but Charboys would definitely be on the list. After starting life as a market stall years back, Charboys opened on Boundary Street before moving to the current spot on Edward Street in 2016. Their offering is nothing too over the top; just great quality burgers and fries with addictive seasoning. FLOUR & CHOCOLATE There aren't many places that I casually travel an hour to get to, but this is one of them. Flour & Chocolate Patisserie in Morningside has earned its place as one of Brisbane's best bakeries, with the friendliest staff and pastries that break diets. Lines often snake out of the doorway as Brisbanites show up on the days dedicated to producing the full range of their favourite baked goods. Doughnut day (Wednesday) is well worth taking the day off work for (or at least a long lunch). COFFEE ANTHOLOGY Coffee Anthology on Margaret Street in the city offers up great service, premium coffee and a delicious, affordable breakfast menu that is worth waking up early for. The seasonal waffles are a particular highlight, with flavours ranging from matcha to Cherry Ripe (that's a chocolate cherry waffle with cherry coulis, toasted coconut, French vanilla ice cream and herbs). Ultimately it's all in the service of the coffee, though. Coffee Anthology is all about showcasing beans from Australia's best boutique roasters, including Small Batch Roasting Co, Reformatory Lab and Proud Mary. ZE PICKLE Ze Pickle have creativity and personality. With so many burger joints in Brisbane, it helps to be different. At Ze Pickle, that means they do a doughnut burger (the Doughnutfukwitdis) with Nutella smoked bacon, and a dessert (named #WhothefuckisMaxBrener) consisting of a cookie skillet-baked just enough to hold its shape and topped with marshmallow gravy. You even have the choice to order with Reece's Peanut Butter Cups baked inside. I used to travel once a month to the Gold Coast for this. Fortunately, word of mouth drove Ze Pickle to expand to Fortitude Valley. JULIUS PIZZERIA South Brisbane's Julius Pizzeria is Italian done well. It's about the quality of the ingredients, not quantity. The service and execution is always on point, too. I will always come here every season for the new range of frittelle (fried ricotta dumplings) and late-night comfort food. They don't take bookings so you have to rely on your luck when coming to Julius Pizzeria, but it is well worth the wait. Explore more with Pullman. Book your next hotel stay with Pullman and enjoy a great breakfast for just $1.
El Camino Cantina has two locations in Sydney, and they're both giving the people what we want. If you're heading to a Tex-Mex bar and eatery, then you want plenty of tacos — and, ideally, you want them cheap. Enter weekly $2 Tacos session, which is exactly what it sounds like. Head to El Camino's joints in The Rocks or Manly every Tuesday, and you can tuck into a highly affordable feed, with the selection changing each week. They're not your ordinary flavours either. Even if you think that there's no such thing as a bad taco, you can treat your tastebuds here. Fancy a cheeseburger taco? Beer-battered barramundi? Coffee-spiced smoked pork belly? They're all on El Camino's usual menu, so expect them to feature among the $2 range. And if you'd like a beverage, the regular range of margaritas, cocktails, wines and beers are on offer. Consider this a PSA: slushie machines are a big deal here, so you might want to sip something semi-frozen.
Another supermarket staple is on its way out, at one Australian grocery chain at least. Single-use plastic bags have become a thing of the past, and other single-use plastic items have done the same. Now, Harris Farm Markets has ditched artificial colours from within the products on its shelves, too. In an Aussie first, the company has spent five years ensuring that artificial colours have been eliminated from all the food and drinks on its shelves at all of its locations. The supermarket chain, which operates in New South Wales and Queensland, is the only major grocery provider so far to go all-natural when it comes to the colours in its products. [caption id="attachment_815760" align="alignnone" width="1920"] J&A Photography[/caption] "For over 50 years, Harris Farm Markets have been delivering goodness to Australian families. To continue to do this, we knew we needed to eliminate artificial colours from our shelves," said Harris Farm Markets co-CEO Tristan Harris. "So, for the past five years we have been working with our suppliers to find new methods of production if needed and alternative ingredients if required. Now, our pasta sauces, dips, juices, peanut butter, cookie dough, curry pastes, chocolates, soups, noodles and even orange juices, just to name a few, are all free of artificial colouring," he continued. The move has seen everywhere from wholesaler The Market Grocer and chocolatier Koko Black to dip company Fresh Fodder and pastry chef Anna Polyviou change their products to comply with Harris Farm Markets' determination to eradicate artificial colours. "It has meant, however, that some product lines have been eliminated, because we have to stand firm on our commitment," advised Harris. "We take immense pride in what we sell, and even more pride in what we don't sell, and from now on, we don't sell food with artificial colours. We are also incredibly proud to be the only major grocery provider in the country to be now artificial colour-free." [caption id="attachment_815760" align="alignnone" width="1920"] J&A Photography[/caption] Harris Farm Markets has always had a particular focus on fresh local produce, which is one of the reasons why the chain has both stood the test of time and amassed a considerable following. Another big obsession: sustainability, including via its imperfect picks section. That's where shoppers can pick up seasonal fruit and vegetables that mightn't look picture perfect, but still taste as great as ever, all as part of the chain's efforts to help stop farm wastage. For more information about Harris Farm Markets, and to find your closest store, head to the company's website.
One pair of Aussie pastry chefs are on a mission to make the humble lamington famous. Well, famous outside of Australian borders — just how Iranian-born jalebi and Italian cannoli are now found the world over. To do this, Min Chai and Eddie Stewart, founders of Australia's N2 Extreme Gelato, have launched Tokyo Lamington. Currently available in Singapore and Tokyo, the dessert brand doesn't just make traditional takes on the quintessentially Aussie chocolate- and coconut-covered cake. Instead, the sponge gets an international makeover with iterations in pandan, ube, lemon myrtle, black sesame, matcha and milk tea. While the duo has initially been focused on piquing the interest of overseas tastebuds, the chefs are heading back Down Under this July to the lamington's motherland for a one-day pop-up. [caption id="attachment_774462" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nikki To[/caption] On Tuesday, July 7 — and on Tuesday, July 7 only — the pair's untraditional lamingtons will be available at Koko Black stores across Sydney and Melbourne. The chefs have collaborated with Koko Black's Master Chocolatier Remco Brigou to create three flavours that are definitely luxe and a little Aussie. There's a sweet and sour davidson plum lamington made with dark fruity Sao Thomé Callebaut chocolate; a triple choc number with 80 percent dark chocolate ganache and finished with chocolate shavings; and a caramelised coconut sponge coated in white chocolate. On the day, you'll be able to buy these lamingtons in packs of three for $21 at the following Koko Black stores: The Strand Arcade and the QVB in Sydney; and Carlton, Chadstone, Como Centre, Doncaster, Highpoint Shopping Centre, Town Hall, Royal Arcade and The Glen Shopping Centre in Melbourne. Like all good things, we expect these sweets to sell out fast, so head in early if you can. Tokyo Lamington's limited-edition lamingtons will be available at select Koko Black stores across Sydney and Melbourne on Tuesday, July 7. Images: Nikki To
From the crime antics of Murder on the Orient Express to the slow TV phenomenon that was SBS' The Ghan, lengthy train journeys have chugging across our screens over the past year. If watching folks make a long trip in a locomotive has you wanting to hit the rails yourself, you'll soon have a new luxury Australian option: the Great Southern. Set to embark on its maiden journey in December 2019, the Great Southern will cross the country from Adelaide to Brisbane — and vice versa, of course. The trek up north will take three days and two nights, while the return leg will occur over four days and three nights. If that seems like a considerable amount of time, that's because this kind of trip isn't just about getting from A to B. It's also about taking in the scenery and the general experience. Passengers departing from Adelaide will stop at the Grampians National Park, then hop off again at Canberra, and also enjoy the northern New South Wales coast on their way to Queensland. For those boarding in Brisbane, dining by the beach in northern NSW awaits, as does a day in the Hunter Valley and Newcastle, plus some time at the Twelve Apostles. The latest venture by Great Southern Rail, the Great Southern will be comprised of 28 carriages and two locomotives, with up to 214 guests able to take each journey. It doesn't come cheap — starting at $1649 per person — but that price does include your food and wine onboard, any dining that takes place off the train, and all of the off-locomotive experiences across the multi-night the trip. As you'll clearly be sleeping on the train, that's also included. Great Southern Rail also operates Australia's other two long-distance train treks, The Ghan (which runs from Adelaide to Darwin) and and the Indian Pacific (which journeys from Sydney to Perth). Tickets will go on sale on Monday, December 3, with the Great Southern's first season taking to the rails between December 6, 2019 and January 27, 2020. It'll operate 16 departures over that period, should you be looking for a different kind of getaway across the summer of 2019–20. Image: Great Southern Rail.
Jolene's Sydney is a Nashville-inspired bar boasting one of the biggest collections of whiskies in Sydney. Located across from Sammy Junior and the Prince of York, Jolene's comes from Simon Rose-Hopkins, who has worked across other American-themed Sydney venues like Surly's American BBQ and Nola Smokehouse and Bar. The CBD venue boasts a collection of more than 150 different whiskies, including 100 sourced specifically from American whiskey distillers. At Jolene's, you can opt for your whisky neat, on the rocks or in one of the bar's many exciting cocktails. Try the Country as Fuck (with bourbon, blackberry, lemon and sweet tea), Redneck Sangria (with vermouth and prosecco) or Tennessee Truck Stop (with Jack Daniel's, vanilla, pancake syrup and banana). Head down for the happy hour from 4–6pm on Tuesday–Saturday. Taking influence from whiskey-loving Nashville, the dimly lit bar has red velvet booths named after country singers. You can spend your night in the Chris Stapleton, Johnny Cash or pop-country queen Taylor Swift booth, or big groups can book out the 12-seat VIP Dolly Parton booth. The Nashville influence doesn't stop there. Keeping in the spirit of the southern musical hub, Jolene's hosts local country and rock musicians three nights a week. Every Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 8–11pm, you can stop by for back-to-back sets from artists such as Steve Edmonds Band, Lozz Benson, Blake Dantier and Duncan Toombs. Rose-Hopkins, a frequent visitor to Nashville, says, "The bar is my way of paying homage to some of the best nights of my life and bringing that genuine Southern hospitality to York Street." Food-wise, patrons can expect a reserved menu of diner-style American snacks. Think hot dogs and tater tots. And, while the drinks menu is obviously veered towards whiskey aficionados, there are gin and vodka cocktails on offer, alongside a selection of craft beers on tap. Top image: Michael Klimentos Bottom image: Jo Forster
Sydney's Kent Street has a fancy new resident that's open for house-roasted coffees in the morning and wagyu and cocktails at night. Kuro is the new CBD restaurant, bar and cafe from Executive Chef and Co-Owner Taka Teramoto, who has spent time in the kitchens of Michelin-starred restaurants in Paris and Tokyo, including Restaurant Pages and Florilège. At Kuro, Teramoto is joined by Head Chef Nobu Maruyama (Bar H) and together they've created a menu fusing Aussie produce and Japanese techniques. For starters, expect wagyu tartare with jerusalem artichoke chips, Japanese meatballs with furikake (an umami-rich seasoning) and egg tofu with sea urchin. Larger plates feature the likes of aged duck breast with black garlic, bass grouper with glass noodles and braised beef tongue with miso red wine. Plus, a highly marbled cut of Rangers Valley beef is sure to please Sydney steak lovers and you can round out your meal with a matcha crème brûlée, perhaps, or some coconut mochi. While it's only serving up dinner at the moment, the restaurant will also launch lunch in the coming weeks. [caption id="attachment_748778" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Megann Evans[/caption] Alongside the 40-seat dining room, called Kuro Dining, is an eight-seat bar, where Tokyo bartenders Fumiaki Michishita and Yasushiro Kawakubo have created a Japanese-inspired (and absinthe-heavy) cocktail list. There's the Sober Experience (soba-infused Jameson and absinthe with kabosu and 'umami syrup') and the Green Hour (French gin, dry vermouth, absinthe, apple and champagne cordial). The Lava Flow of Mt. Fuji is a Japanese twist on a piña colada, made using brown sugar shochu and matcha, while The Last Wave pulls inspiration from Aussie beaches, combining Manly Spirits gin, Chartreuse and shrimp (yes, shrimp) and kombu bitters. The bar also features heaps of Japanese spirits — including whisky, gin, sake and shochu — draught beer and a 120-bottle wine list courtesy of sommelier Wanaka Teramoto (116 Pages, Paris). If you're need of caffeine instead, stop by the brew bar on weekdays from 8am for single origin, house-roasted coffee, teas, matcha lattes and breakfast pastries (including banana bread and chocolate brownies). [caption id="attachment_749049" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Megann Evans[/caption] Designed by Potts Point's Henderson & Co, the space itself is also impressive — and the lighting particularly so. Fifty-six American oak light 'portals' spread across the walls create an ever-changing ambiance throughout the day and into the night. Other design elements include a copper-tiled bar, sandstone and brick walls, polished stone and marble tables and a massive, blossom-shaped capiz chandelier. Cracks in the existing concrete floors have been filled with gold — a nod to the Japanese pottery-fixing technique of kintsugi — and soft fabric screens create semi-private dining spaces throughout. It may seem like Kuro already has a lot going on, but its most exciting offering is still to come later this year. Dubbed Teramoto by Kuro, it's a ten-person omakase personally served by chef Teramoto and sommelier Teramoto. You'll be seated at the kitchen-side counter, so you can watch the action while you feast. We'll keep you informed for when this portion of the restaurant opens. Find Kuro at 368 Kent Street, Sydney. The brew bar is open Monday–Friday 8am–3.30pm and 4.30pm–late. Kuro Dining is open Monday–Thursday 5.30pm–late and Saturday 5.30pm–late. Kuro Bar is open Monday–Saturday 4.30pm–late. Lunch service and Teramoto by Kuro will launch later this year. Images: Megann Evans
Capsule of the good ol' days of rock 'n' roll, Blender Gallery is Sydney's home of fine art music photography. It's here where you can peep behind-the-scenes shots of The Beatles, Hendrix and Debbie Harry, see our beloved Bowie and Prince through the decades, and maybe even purchase limited edition prints of Cher in all her '70s glory, Joni Mitchell ice skating and Kurt Cobain in concert. The gallery of iconic rock through the ages hosts an unbelievable collection of photographers from Tony Mott to Brian Aris. To see what's on, just stop by the space to see whose famed face is immortalised this week.
Since launching late last month, Sydney's billion-dollar Metro North West railway has already seen over one million passengers pass through its train station doors. To help even more commuters travel the 36-kilometre journey, linking Rouse Hill and Chatswood, Transport for NSW has launched a new on-demand bus that'll pick you up and drop you right by a new railway station. Cooee Busways works a little bit like UberPool, combining both fixed route and on-demand transit. To book a trip, jump on the smartphone app — which you can download for free for IOS and Android — input your pick-up location and your destination station, and a booking confirmation will be sent through with a nearby pick-up spot and estimated drop-off time. You'll also be sent a SMS notification two minutes before the bus is due to arrive, with its corresponding bus number. It'll then drop you at the station, possibly picking up a few other passengers along the way. The on-demand buses operate between 5am and 9pm on weekdays (including public holidays) and run to the Tallawong and Rouse Hill Metro stations, as well as to the Schofields Train Station. The area they service, at the moment, includes Schofields, The Ponds and Kellyville Ridge, and is outlined in the map below. As the on-demand bus service is currently only serving a fraction of the Metro's surrounding suburbs, we're hoping there are plans to expand it in the near future. Fares cost between $2.20 and $3.66 (depending on how far you're travelling), and concession card holders pay between $1.10 and $1.83. You can pay either through the app or by tapping your credit or debit card on board the bus. You, unfortunately, can't use your Opal card on the service. While the idea of on-demand public transport may seem novel, it's not new for Sydney. As well as an on-demand ferry, the city already has on-demand buses running in the inner west and eastern suburbs. Cooee Busways are now running from 5am–9pm, Monday to Friday in the Schofields, The Ponds and Kellyville Ridge areas. You can download the app for free via the Apple or Google stores.
While Chinese art might conjure up images from centuries past for a lot of us, the White Rabbit collection maintains a focus on contemporary Chinese art created during this century. The collection rotates throughout the year, consistently bringing in new explorations into modern art in China. Beyond the art, White Rabbit also runs its own teahouse, serving up specialities in all types of Chinese tea. The warming teas sit alongside a selection of snacks, including a plate of handmade dumplings. A trip to the White Rabbit immerses you in contemporary and traditional Chinese culture, all without the cost of a plane ticket.
Earlier this year, a little-known band named Mumford and Sons joined Nirvana, Offspring, Joy Division and Kings of Leon in a hall of fame that declared their debut single 'Little Lion Man' one of the hottest tunes of all time, according to Triple J listeners. It seems that while the ridiculously talented Laura Marling and 'nu-folk' band Noah and the Whale were steadily reviving the folk music scene over the past couple of years, Mumford and Sons were hiding out in south-west London concocting the debut album that would win them an instant appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman. So how did a Christian folk band who sound as if they’ve named themselves after their local funeral parlour achieve such instant mainstream success? Maybe it’s the masterful, melancholic voice of Marcus Mumford, combined with the rolling, cacophonous jumble of banjo, guitar, drums, dobro, organ, keyboard and double bass. Maybe it’s those rich, other-worldly lyrics — or possibly it’s the boys’ religious enthusiasm releasing listeners from the shackles of mind-numbing mainstream radio into a land that time long forgot, a land where we can kick off our shoes, link arms and do-si-do. Live, Mumford and Sons radiate enthusiasm similar to a Dawson’s Creek episode — in that passionate, complex, beyond-their-years, geeky kind of way. Considering they are only in their early 20s, their debut album Sigh No More is strikingly rich, thoughtful and powerful, cultivated by the kind of passion used to run an old-fashioned, much-cherished family business. They return to Sydney for the second time in six months to play at the Enmore on August 3, with tickets on sale from Thursday, April 8 at 9am.
In a Powerhouse Museum first, this new exhibition will focus on rarely-seen artefacts from 19th- and 20th-century Persia. Iranzamin will feature ceramics, tiles, embroidery, carpets, armour, textiles and other hand-woven crafts from the Powerhouse Collection to tell the story of the people and culture of Persia through to modern day Iran. The temporary exhibition will look at how traditional objects have influenced Australian artists, such as textile designer Florence Broadhurst. The opening also coincides with Nowrouz (Iranian New Year), and so there'll be a special celebration to mark the day on March 20. There'll also be an event on April 3 to mark Sizdehbehdar: the Persian national day for celebrating Mother Nature. Image: War Amulet, 1800s, Persia, Powerhouse Collection
If you like burgers with all of the taste and none of the meat, then you probably got excited in late 2021 when Grill'd teamed up with Impossible Foods. The national fast food chain and the big name in meat alternatives paired up on a range of cruelty-free burgs, which are available at all Grill'd stores. But that was just the beginning of the two brands' collaboration — and of Grill'd's meat-free offering. Now, if you head into the burger joint's outposts in Crown Street in Sydney and Collingwood in Melbourne, you'll only find plant-based menus on offer. The two stores have been completely converted into Impossibly Grill'd venues, which means that you won't find a trace of meat in any dish. Instead, diners will be able to eat their way through 23 plant-based burgers, including ten using Impossible's beef alternative, ten made with chicken-tasting Plantein, one that features a veggie pattie and three using Fable's mushroom meat. Among those options, highlights span the Impossible crispy facon and cheese, which comes with an Impossible patty, facon, cheese, lettuce, onion and tomato; a chicken-tasting option with brie and cranberry sauce; and the Fable truffle, which pairs its shiitake mushroom meat with truffle mayo. Plus, there's a range of 'healthy fried chick'n' burgs, including smokey and jalapeño-laden varieties. For sides, you can also tuck into Impossible loaded chips — or just sweet potato or zucchini chips — as well as 'healthy fried chick'n' bites. And, if you'd like to ditch the burger concept completely, there are two chick'n salads on the menu as well. To match their new menu focus, the Crown Street and Collingwood stores now sport leafier interiors, too, and decor in shades of green and an earthy red. Also, at all of the chain's locations, Grill'd is bringing its 'meat-free Mondays' deal for a limited time — so you can nab a free plant-based burger for every plant-based burger you buy on a Monday. Find Grill'd's new Impossibly Grill'd venues at 241 Crown Street, Darlinghurst and 230 Smith Street, Collingwood.
In Love Lies Bleeding, a craggy ravine just outside a dusty New Mexico town beckons, ready to swallow sordid secrets in the dark of the desert's starry night. Tumbling into it, a car explodes in flames partway through the movie, exactly as the person pushing it in wants it to. There's the experience of watching Rose Glass' sophomore film emblazoned across the feature's very frames. After the expertly unsettling Saint Maud, the British writer/director returns with a second psychological horror, this time starring Kristen Stewart in the latest of her exceptionally chosen post-Twilight roles (see: Crimes of the Future, Spencer, Happiest Season, Lizzie, Personal Shopper, Certain Women and Clouds of Sils Maria). An 80s-set queer and sensual tale of love, lust, blood and violence, Love Lies Bleeding is as inkily alluring as the gorge that's pivotal to its plot, and as fiery as the inferno that swells from the canyon's depths. This neon-lit, synth-scored neo-noir thriller scorches, too — and burns so brightly that there's no escaping its glow. When the words "you have to see it to believe it" also grace Love Lies Bleeding — diving into gyms and in the bodybuilding world, it's no stranger to motivational statements such as "no pain no gain", "destiny is a decision" and "the body achieves what the mind believes" — they help sum up this wild cinematic ride as well. Glass co-scripts here with Weronika Tofilska (they each previously penned and helmed segments of 2015's A Moment in Horror), but her features feel like the result of specific, singular and searing visions that aren't afraid to swerve and veer boldly and committedly to weave their stories and leave an imprint. Accordingly, Love Lies Bleeding is indeed a romance, a crime flick and a revenge quest. It's about lovers on the run and intergenerational griminess. It rages against the machine. It's erotic, a road trip and unashamedly pulpy. It also takes the concept of strong female leads to a place that nothing else has, and you do need to witness it to fathom it. Stewart is Love Lies Bleeding's shaggy mullet-wearing heartthrob, a surly and oft-silent type who knows what she wants and doesn't. In the first category for the gym-managing Lou: a life free of abuse for her sister Beth (Jena Malone, Rebel Moon — Part One: A Child of Fire), who has scuzzy and vicious husband JJ (Dave Franco, Day Shift) lurking about; nothing to do with the shooting range-owning, gun-running, insect-obsessed, ponytailed Lou Sr (the scene-stealing Ed Harris, Top Gun: Maverick); and, from when she first sets eyes on her, muscular and permed out-of-towner Jackie (Katy O'Brian, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania). It's 1989, Lou is unwilling to be anyone but herself — iron-pumping patrons try and fail to insult her with "grade-a dyke" — and she's also introduced knowing how to clean up a mess and navigate amorous complications. Glass initially finds one of her protagonists with a hand deep in a backed-up toilet, and with local hang-about and past fling Daisy (Anna Baryshnikov, Dickinson) pleading for a date. More muck and more relationship chaos are in store for both Lou and for Love Lies Bleeding. Breezing in en route to a bodybuilding championship in Las Vegas, Jackie reciprocates her affections, then moves into her house — but the day before they meet, she's sleeping with JJ for a job at Lou Sr's. That's just some of the shit, metaphorical rather than literal, that Lou will have to get more than elbow-deep in. The FBI agents hovering around asking questions fall into the same camp. Alongside gleefully subverting the usual take on powerful women characters on-screen, Glass carves into idyllic perceptions of love. Love Lies Bleeding's central romance is urgent, instant, sweaty and horny, and also opportunistic, perilous and thorny. The idea that discovering your special someone is transformative also receives a stunning spin, and far beyond the fact that bulging biceps and doing everything on steroids — sometimes literally there — are rarely far from returning Saint Maud cinematographer Ben Fordesman's lens. It isn't merely Glass, Fordesman, editor Mark Towns (another Saint Maud alum), composer Clint Mansell (Sharper) and the meticulous team of sound designers who go all in on crafting Lou and Jackie's plight as an evocatively visceral and squelchy fever dream, heated sex scenes, an onslaught of gore and brutality, and an eagerness to get weird all included. Almost every time that she rolls out a new performance, Stewart is in never-better form again and again, which is true once more in this phenomenal portrayal. The anxiety, tension and vulnerability that's pulsating through Lou is evident in a look, a line reading and posture alone, as is determination, devotion, grit and complexity. Stewart masters something that's only matched by the electric O'Brian, as Glass demands: mesmerising viewers, and making them fall as head over heels for this chemistry-dripping pair and the movie they're in as they do with each other. For O'Brian, who also has The Mandalorian and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. as well as Westworld and The Walking Dead on her resume, has studied martial arts since childhood, takes part in bodybuilding contests off-screen and was previously a cop, it's a star-making, can't-look-away turn. Add obsession to the forces pumping ravenously through Love Lies Bleeding, which befits its filmmaker; this isn't her first picture about transformation and connection. The links between Saint Maud and Love Lies Bleeding mirror Lou and Jackie, with the two duos as much kindred spirits as opposites. Glass relishes the magnetic clash, then revels in it. What it truly means to change, and why, and the motivations to try; attempting to abandon old and forge new habits; what a person can and can't find in another; where faith and trust kick in: they all throb through both flicks. But jumping from a claustrophobic British setting to the expansive American west, plus from ailing bodies to musclebound figures, is also Glass' journey. Contrasts abound within Love Lies Bleeding itself, which is intimate but sprawling, raw and tender, sweet and savage, gets love and sex butting heads with carnage and death, grim but blackly comedic, and also dark and distressing yet swoonworthy and romantic. In her two features so far — a helluva debut, then this astounding follow-up — Glass has also proven herself a builder, but not of the bodies that her second movie peers at with as female a gaze that cinema is capable of. There's no watching Love Lies Bleeding and not spying its influences, as was the case with Saint Maud. That said, that both take those inspirations as foundations to construct something else entirely is equally inescapable. These are no one's copies. True Romance, Wild at Heart, Lost Highway, Thelma & Louise, Showgirls, Badlands, Paris, Texas, Raising Arizona, Bonnie & Clyde, Natural Born Killers: consider them all Love Lies Bleeding's siblings. So are Nicolas Winding Refn's Drive, Only God Forgives and The Neon Demon, as spied in the intoxicating hues that dance across the screen. Although it similarly only reached cinemas in 2024, Ethan Coen's Drive-Away Dolls would make a glorious double with one of the standout movies of the year. For a burning, bulging, blistering and brilliant plunge into filmmaking at its most exhilarating, however, Love Lies Bleeding stands and shines fiercely atop its own cliff.
First Tropfest announced they'll be moving to Parramatta next year, then Sydney Sacred Music Festival plan a gig on a carpark rooftop, and now local music festival The Plot have confirmed they'll be returning to the Western Sydney suburb for November's festival. Parramatta is being graced with some seriously awesome events lately — and the all-Aussie festival is the icing on the cake. Now in its third year, The Plot comes courtesy of the folks behind Groovin' The Moo. The lineup, which features more Aussie artists than you can fit on the tray of a Ford Falcon, will take place at Parramatta Park on Saturday, November 19. The licensed, all-ages event will include every musical genre under the sun — the lineup includes the likes of party boys The Bennies, Montainge, Vera Blue, Indian Summer, Nicole Millar and Elizabeth Rose, just to name a few. And this will all happen in some sweet sunny grasslands with local food and beverage stalls, which are yet to be announced. Those who have attended the festival before know that food is a big part of the day, with last year's event featuring nosh from local vendors Knafeh, The Emporium, Sundweesh and Riverside Brewery. But we know what you're here for — here's the first lineup announcement. THE PLOT 2016 LINEUP A.B. Original Alex Lahey Allday The Belligerents The Bennies Bootleg Rascal Buoy Dorsal Fins Dylan Joel E^st Elizabeth Rose Gold Fields Indian Summer Ivan Ooze Japanese Wallpaper Lanks Luca Brasi Mallrat Montainge Nicole Millar Ocean Alley Paces Pierce Brothers Running Touch Tash Sultana Thela Plum Tired Lion Vera Blue Ziggy Alberts The Plot will take place on Saturday, November 19 at Parramatta Park. Tickets are on sale now at theplot.co.
Gauchito Gil is Argentina's Robin Hood. As such, it seems fitting that Australia's own Malbec Day has been borrowed from the South American country, where the majority of the world's malbec comes from. If this day is a donation from the grape god, it's one we're happy to accept. After a successful six years, Gauchito Gil is once again bringing Malbec Day to Sydney with a four-hour wine bonanza at Carriageworks on Sunday, April 14. The event comes from the organisers of the Pinot Palooza and Mould cheese festival, and mirrors the free-reign tasting set up. Your $60 ticket includes a wine glass, and from there you'll be able to move around, sampling over 60 Australian, French and Argentinian malbec varietals. Other events have been known to get a little boozy, so to soak up all that wine there will be top-notch empanadas from five local restaurateurs — who'll be vying for the prestigious Golden Empanada award. It really doesn't matter if you know everything there is about malbec or if you don't know much at all, because Malbec Day is about education and celebration of the Argentine grape. And what better way to celebrate than with an bottomless glass of wine? Gauchito Gil's Malbec Day has two sessions 11am–3pm and 4–8pm.
The 60th edition of Wildlife Photographer of the Year is winging its way to Sydney from London's Natural History Museum, bringing along 100 images selected from 59,228 entries across 117 countries and territories. This year's winner is Shane Gross, a Canadian marine conservation photojournalist, for his work The Swarm of Life. This stunning image captures the mesmerising underwater world of western toad tadpoles — now a near-threatened species due to the widespread destruction of their habitat. Winner of Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year is Germany's Alexis Tinker-Tsavalas. His image Life Under Dead Wood depicts slime mould alongside a teeny-tiny springtail. It's made up of a combination of 36 images, each with a different focus, taken in rapid succession. Also in the exhibition are three images from Australian photographers. See Jannico Kelk's Hope for the Ninu, winner of the Animals in their Environment category, which portrays a greater bilby (ninu) in a fenced reserve. Then check out A Diet of Deadly Plastic by Justin Gilligan, which won Oceans: The Bigger Picture category for his mosaic of 403 pieces of plastic found inside the digestive tract of a dead flesh-footed shearwater. And don't miss Matthew Smith's Under the Waterline, which won the Underwater category for its depiction of a leopard seal beneath Antarctic ice. Wildlife Photographer of the Year is showing at the Australian National Maritime Museum between Thursday, May 15–Sunday, October 19.
Stanley Kubrick is renowned for pioneering the use of found classical music in his films. There’s perhaps no Kubrick scene more memorable than Alex being bound with a straightjacket and specula as Ludwig van plays to scenes of concentration camp ultra-violence in A Clockwork Orange, and if there’s one thing in The Shining more harrowing than Jack Nicholson’s eyebrows it’s the haunting score. But no Kubrick film is more lauded for its dramatic marriage of sight and sound than 2001: A Space Odyssey. Ligeti’s spectral "Requiem" plays to a mysterious black monolith and Strauss’ 1986 "Also Sprach Zarathusa" strains to the fabrication of a hominid’s first weapon, while the soundless moments paint the chilling void of the infinite beyond clearer than any music could. At this year's Sydney Festival the soundtrack of Kubrick’s sci-fi masterpiece will be played live by the Sydney Symphony and Sydney Philharmonic Choirs as the film plays on a gargantuan screen. You’ll have trouble looking away even without any surgical lid-clamps. Read our list of the 12 best things to see at the Sydney Festival in 2013.
When you want a drink that suits any occasion, a negroni is a good all-rounder to have in your home bartending repertoire. It's easy to make, requires only three ingredients, and tastes as good in the summer months as it does curled up by a winter campfire. When you want to expand on your cocktail-making talents without venturing too far from the classic aperitif recipe, you can experiment with different spirits to make entirely different flavour combinations. Together with Campari, we've listed six drinks in the negroni family that you can play around with at home. Once you've found your preferred tipple, head to the Campari website to download two recipe books for 55 more twists on a negroni offered up by leading Australian bartenders. FOR A MIDWEEK MOVIE NIGHT, MAKE AN AMERICANO When hump day comes around, sometimes you just want to chill at home and watch a movie. There's a drink to match that moment. The Americano is a lighter introduction to a negroni that pairs well with salty snacks and a marathon viewing schedule of your favourite show. It was created in 1915 to satisfy American tourists travelling through Rome; tourists wanted a splash of soda in the popular Milano-Torino cocktail of the time and the honorary name has stuck ever since. 30ml Campari 30ml Cinzano Rosso Soda water Making this one is easy. Pour Campari and Cinzano into a rocks glass over plenty of ice. Add a splash of soda water and stir to mix. Garnish with a slice of orange or lemon. FOR A DINNER PARTY APERITIF, SERVE A BOULEVARDIER Bookmark this one for your next soiree. The Boulevardier has all the elegance of its birth era with a distinct flavour addition: oaky bourbon. Credited to an American-born writer who founded a magazine in Paris called the Boulevardier, the cocktail was first written about in 1927 and the recipe essentially substitutes bourbon for gin. The Russell's Reserve in this recipe gives it a spiced warmth, as well as adding to the overall deep red colour of the drink. 30ml Campari 45ml Russell's Reserve 10 Year Old Bourbon 30ml Cinzano Rosso Pour all three ingredients into a mixing glass. Add ice and stir to reach the desired dilution (should take a couple of seconds). Strain into a coupette or stemmed glass. Express the essential oils of an orange peel, but don't use the orange as a garnish. This one is served chilled, without the fuss of ice or fruit. FOR A WEEKEND PICNIC, TRY A NEGRONI SBAGLIATO When you're planning a catch-up in the sunshine, it's customary to reach for the bubbles. The fizz of prosecco can work well with the bitterness of Campari in this short and refreshing concoction that was created by mistake. The Italian word 'sbagliato' translates to 'mistaken' and the story goes that, in 1972, a bartender called Mirko Stocchetto accidentally poured prosecco into a negroni instead of gin. Bar Basso in Milan, where Stocchetto worked, still offers the drink today. It is traditionally served in a large wine glass, however, it tastes just as good in a regular tumbler, which is far easier to balance on a picnic blanket. 30ml Campari 30ml Cinzano Rosso 75ml prosecco Pour all three ingredients into a glass over plenty of ice. Stir to mix and garnish with an orange wedge. FOR AN IMPROMPTU DATE NIGHT, OPT FOR A ROSITA If your drinks cabinet leans more towards the agave plant than it does a juniper shrub, we have a negroni recipe that might excite your senses. Created in the 1970s, the Rosita has a complexity beyond your classic negroni by replacing gin with tequila. It's usually served in an old-fashioned glass and if you don't have an orange for a garnish, most other citrus fruits are a good substitute. It's an impressive drink, and looks like you've made more effort than you really have. 30ml Campari 30ml Espolon Blanco Tequila (or another 100-percent agave tequila) 15ml Cinzano Rosso 15ml Cinzano Extra-Dry Pour all four ingredients into a mixing glass, add ice and stir for a few seconds. Strain into a glass. Express the essential oils of an orange and use as garnish. FOR YOUR NEXT BARBECUE, OFFER A KINGSTON NEGRONI Barbecue smoke filling the air. Sun setting in the distance. You want a drink that suits the laidback mood and stands up to the stronger flavours of grilled meats or veggies at your next barbecue. Considered a perfect after-dinner drink, the Kingston Negroni is a relatively recent creation that comes out of New York, rather than Jamaica. It has swagger, moreish flavour, and the richness of a negroni — but instead of gin, reach for a full-bodied, aged rum. 30ml Campari 30ml Appleton Estate Reserve Blend 8 Year Old Rum 30ml Cinzano Rosso Pour ingredients into a rocks glass over plenty of ice. Stir to mix and garnish with an orange wedge, just as you would for a classic negroni. FOR SUNDAY SUNDOWNERS, STICK WITH THE CLASSIC NEGRONI We said it at the beginning; you can't go wrong with a classic. At 101 years old, the negroni has come a long way from its origins in Florence, when Count Camillo Negroni ordered an Americano with gin, rather than soda. It has the perfect balance of bitterness and sweetness, and the drink is only further improved by a fragrant wedge of orange. When you want to see out the week with a drink in hand, we suggest sticking with this classic. Pay close attention to the quality of your ice to ensure your drink is chilled, but not too diluted. 30ml Campari 30ml London dry gin 30ml Cinzano Rosso Vermouth Pour ingredients into a short glass over a block of ice. Stir to combine the ingredients and garnish with a wedge of orange. Download the free Negroni Cocktail Book for 60 different negroni recipes to try at home. Remember to Drinkwise.
As escapism goes, it's hard to top cinema, where worlds come alive and transport you away like nothing else can. Cinema feels timeless, even though it has only been around for 130 years. At first, films didn't have any sound; to fill the awkward silence, cinemas hired in-house musicians to sit at an organ or piano and play along to the screen - sometimes playing music written for the movie, but often improvising. As time and technology went on, the musical scores began to be recorded and integrated into the film itself. By now, film soundtracks have become an art form in their own right. Over the past couple of decades, live performances of these soundtracks alongside a screening of the film have become headline events for symphonic orchestras and concert venues worldwide. According to Dr Dan Golding, this trend has brought new life to the orchestral industry. "This is the primary exposure to an orchestra for a lot of people," said Dr Golding when chatting to Concrete Playground. "And it means that this is the way that a symphony orchestra is part of the cultural life of a city. I've been going to the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra since I was three. I love classical music…I've never seen an audience react to anything like they did to Home Alone when that was first performed by the MSO." [caption id="attachment_986870" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Andrew Pogson and Dan Golding (left) host the Sydney Symphony Orchestra conducted by Nicholas Buc.[/caption] Dr Golding is a published author, critic, the Chair of Media and Communication at Swinburne University and a composer — having developed the soundtrack for the immensely popular indie game Untitled Goose Game. He's also a co-host of the podcast Art of the Score alongside Andrew Pogson and Nicholas Buc. Together, they'll be taking to the Sydney Opera House stage in September to dissect, discuss and dive deep into the music of Japanese composer Joe Hisaishi alongside the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Ahead of that, we spoke to him for his two cents on the music that makes movies come alive. On the Origins of 'Art of the Score' and Taking the Show Live "I didn't know Nick before [Art of the Score]. Andrew did. Andrew knew each of us independently of each other. And what would happen with Andrew and I is that we would meet up for lunch and about three hours later we'd be finished dissecting the latest soundtracks that we were interested in. The way that I understand it, the same thing would happen with him and Nick. I think Andrew just was like 'we should start a podcast to talk about this stuff', because at that point there weren't many good film soundtrack podcasts.. And we would do some talks for the MSO, when they were doing a film concert. But it's a different scenario. Winning over a crowd and feeling like you're not getting in the way of the music. That's really important because not everybody comes to see an Art of the Score show. They want to see the music, and that's the most important thing. So we're there to kind of help amplify that and help give someone a better experience, a more guided experience." On the Difference in Composing to Picture Versus Composing for the Concert Hall "I think that composing to picture, composing for video games, there's another need that you're taking into account, and that's the need of the media … although you can make the argument that when Mozart's composing for the King of Austria, the King of Austria is his number one audience, in the same way as maybe a director is in a film. I think about the audience a lot. With a classical piece of music, it's not to say you wouldn't think about the audience, but it's maybe a more holistically coherent work because you have that luxury of presenting just the music by itself. But I think that for games and for film, you're always bouncing off of something else. You're reacting to somebody else's creative vision. And often, especially in film, you're composing to, what we say in academic terms, a linear piece of media. That said, I don't think any of that makes it artistically more or less coherent or valuable. I'm not interested in the [argument] that film music is lesser or video game music is lesser because it's not as artistic as something composed for the concert hall. I just think that's so short-sighted." On the Role of Joe Hisaishi's Music in the Popularity of Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli "You can think of Hayao Miyazaki and Joe Hisaishi as being one of the great composer-director relationships in film history. Truly the same category as Steven Spielberg and John Williams, or Alfred Hitchcock and Bernard Herrmann. It's also the rare instance where I think all of Hisaishi's feature films have been done by Miyazaki, so they've developed a voice together. I think that Hisaishi's music is so full of emotion and a kind of vibrancy and life, while a lot of Miyazaki's images are quite still — there's a really beautiful kind of interplay between the two that creates a kind of audiovisual experience that's not really reducible to one or the other. It creates something more than the sum of its parts. I think Miyazaki and Hisaishi together create something that would be lesser without one or the other." On the Unifying Magic in Hisaishi's work "I think that there's something about the depictions of nature in the Studio Ghibli movies that Hisaishi's music really brings out. And then there are those melodies which are, you know, earworms sometimes in the case of My Neighbour Totoro, Ponyo or Howl's Moving Castle. That tune has led a whole new life on TikTok and social media in the last couple of years." Is there a universal trait across his compositions? "Yeah, absolutely: piano. If I was to do a very silly reduction of his work: it's like a lush orchestral swell with a bit of rhythm out of it that sort of comes to a head, and then a very spare piano melody that comes out of that. The piano in his music just has a way of cutting through. I think that's also part of it being animation, [which] tends to have much more lively soundtracks. But his music calls attention to itself, which I love. It's not always in vogue with Hollywood, which loves to have music blend into the background." On What Audiences Can Look Forward to with 'The Music of Joe Hisaishi' "So we're there on stage as hosts, getting out of the way of the music, but also providing a bit of a guide to the music and helping audiences have some context for some of the pieces that they might not have heard before. The show has a lot of Studio Ghibli, of course, but because it's a concert portrait of the composer, we've also got a whole bunch of other stuff in there. We're going to have some work of his that isn't film music that might be drawn from other media. He's done some TV and video game work, some work for advertising and some work for the concert hall. So, [there will be music] illustrating the broader life of the composer and his creative work, but at the same time, [we'll be] finding a bit of fun in it as well. We like to get the orchestra to do something that they're not supposed to do — it gives you that insight into the creative process of these things." [caption id="attachment_986871" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Tim O'Connor[/caption] 'The Music of Joe Hisaishi' will run performances from Thursday, September 25 to Saturday, September 27, at either 7pm or 2pm, produced in association with Concert Lab. For more information or to book tickets, visit the website.
One of the single most iconic pieces of political advertising in living memory, Shepard Fairey’s Hope poster from Obama's 2008 Presidential campaign has inspired countless imitations. Now an Australian campaign group is getting in on the action, albeit with a slightly less positive spin. Plastered on the side of a building on Regency Street in Chippendale, this 4.5 metre poster featuring Tony Abbott’s face along with the word 'hopeless' was designed by Sydney-based graphic artist Michael Agzarian, who is the driving force behind the 'Abbottsolutely Hopeless' campaign. According to the campaign's website, the poster represents "the grim situation Australia finds itself in with Tony Abbott as Prime Minister leading an equally inept and uncaring ministry." To be clear, this poster isn't graffiti or street art. Agzarian spent more than $3000 of his own money getting the billboard legally placed, and is now asking for donations to fund additional posters around Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne. He's even hoping to get some placed in Warringah, Abbott’s own Northern Sydney seat. The current poster is payed up for the next four weeks. The original Shepard Fairey Hope poster was subject to a legal battle, following revelations in 2009 that it was based on a picture taken by Associated Press photographer. The case was eventually settled out of court, while the street artist subsequently pleaded guilty to destroying documents related to the case. Back at home, Abbott continues to lag in popularity, with the Sydney Morning Herald reporting on a recent Newspoll survey that indicated that two-thirds of participants believe the Prime Minister is out of touch, while more than three-quarters consider him to be arrogant. Via SMH. Images: Abottsolutely Not.
As if the furore generated by the Vivid Sydney lineup announcement wasn't enough to stir your loins, Fuzzy Events have announced a banging lineup for their new electronic music event, Curve Ball, taking over Carriageworks on June 11. The partnership between Vivid Sydney, Carriageworks and Fuzzy has wrought a tight little lineup across two stages with a hefty side of visual arts. The lineup is fronted by enigmatic producer Zhu, who'll be joined by Sydney favourites Cosmo's Midnight, Basenji and Nicole Millar, as well as hyped-up newcomers JOY, Elk Road, Cleopold and Yuma X. It's a who's who of up-and-coming electronic artists and they've even hinted at adding a few more names to the already stellar bill, so best to start stretching now and break in your dancing shoes. Carriageworks is bringing the fire with an immersive audio and visual experience to accompany the tunes as well as large scale art installations. It's just one part of Carriageworks' program for Vivid Sydney which also includes the world premiere of Bjork's VR project BJORK DIGITAL (which you know is going to get weird and wonderful). Curve Ball is happening on June 11, 3-10pm. Tickets are on sale now for $79 here. Image: Carriageworks.
While Messina's main jam is crafting supremely scoffable varieties of gelato, the brand's love of food extends far beyond the freezer — as it has proven plenty of times over the past few years. Sometimes, it likes to team up with other culinary hotshots. Sometimes, it just likes to whip out a creative dessert. Either way, your tastebuds always benefit. From 12pm on Friday, October 22 and Saturday, October 23, Messina is busting out one of its specials. If you've had its famous mango pancakes before, including at its yum cha sessions, you'll already be hungry. The crepes come stuffed with mango sorbet and whipped cream, and they've proven immensely popular every other time they've popped up. So, it's no wonder that Messina is turning the tasty occasion into a mango pancake party. The reason: Sydney's reopening after almost four months in lockdown. Even if that wasn't why, desserts like these don't need any justification. The whole thing will go down in the carpark at Messina's Rosebery HQ, until sold out each day — so getting in early is recommended.
Who knew so many people around the world over the age of five (and their parents) would be singing along to a tune sampling “Baa Baa Black Sheep?” Even if you happened to be living under a rock during the when "Somebody That I Used to Know" first surfaced, you would still most likely know the song, which seems to have been playing through some kind of tree root radio system. Now that it’s safely embedded in our brains, you can see ol’ Wally live. Although it’s unclear whether or not Kimbra and Wally will be getting their birthday suits painted on stage or having five people with grim expressions to strum his guitar, what is clear is that Bertie Blackman and PVT will be the supporting acts. This will be his first and (apparently) only Aussie tour since Gotye hit it big time. He seems pretty excited to be playing for local audiences again, saying "the band is sounding hot and I'm so into some of the new visuals that have been made, it's exciting!" Yes, it’s time to get excited people.
Each year for six years now, Australia's annual Wineslinger Awards have named the country's top spots for ace drops, picking where you should be sipping and buying vino. There are two parts to its annual selections, starting with a longlist, then naming four winners. 2023's Top 55 arrived in November, so now it's time for the main gongs — aka the best of the best in Aussie wine venues. Accordingly, Wineslinger isn't about vino itself, or bars in general. As the name makes plain, it's focused on watering holes that specialise in wine. The four prizes cover the best Wineslinger, Best New Haunt, the Maverick prize for places that push the limits and the People's Choice gong. While the first three awards are voted on by around 150 industry experts, the latter stems from vino aficionados at home. [caption id="attachment_884952" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Roberto Pettinau[/caption] Melbourne boasts 2023's Wineslinger recipient, thanks to Marion in Fitzroy. The awards recognised the venue for laying "reasonable claim to capturing the essence of what are, somewhat inelegantly, known as 'barstaurants'," said the Young Gun of Wine team, which runs Wineslinger. "Perhaps this pitching of wine and food in equal measure was not necessarily the intent, but having one of Melbourne's best-loved culinary sons orchestrating the food message was always going to draw crowds. Having said all that, with the shared resource of the flagship Cutler & Co, the wine offer has always been formidable, and deserving of just as much attention." Marion took out the Wineslinger accolade after Sydney's Dear Sainte Éloise scored it in 2022, Melbourne's Embla nabbed it in 2021 and the Carlton Wine Room picked it up in 2020. The Best New Haunt field also went to a Victorian venue, with Collingwood's Commis receiving the nod for a joint that the Young Gun of Wine crew described as "equal parts wine den, cocktail lounge, shared-plate bistro, chic art gallery and chilled neighbourhood hangout". In the Maverick category, Silver Sands Beach Club in Aldinga in South Australia came out on top, earning some love for being "the type of wine clubhouse that will ideally serve the neighbouring McLaren Vale region and the Fleurieu Peninsula beach community, plus a steady stream of wine nerds making the pilgrimage south from Adelaide". As for the People's Choice, Western Australian's The Corner Dairy in Doubleview took the honours. That means that no New South Wales, Queensland, Australian Capital Territory or Northern Territory sites made a showing in the four gongs, but all states and territories do feature on the full Top 55. The Wineslinger Awards were created by Rory Kent, who also founded the Young Gun of Wine Awards. Where the latter prize aims to recognise stellar up-and-comers, the former is all about excellent and innovative places where vino lovers can enjoy an ace drop. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Young Gun of Wine (@younggunofwine) WINESLINGER AWARDS 2023 WINNERS: Wineslinger: Marion, Fitzroy, Victoria Maverick: Silver Sands Beach Club, Aldinga, South Australia Best New Haunt: Commis, Collingwood, Victoria People's Choice: The Corner Dairy, Doubleview, Western Australia WINESLINGER AWARDS 2023 TOP 50: ACT Bar Rochford, Canberra Rizla, Braddon NSW 10 William Street, Paddington Bar Copains, Surry Hills Bar Heather, Byron Bay Bar Superette, Merimbula Beau, Surry Hills Bentley Restaurant & Bar, Sydney Caravin, Potts Point Dear Sainte Eloise, Potts Point Fix Wine, Sydney Le Foote, The Rocks Lil Sis, Chippendale P&V Merchants, Paddington The Sir George Hotel, Jugiong The Wine Library, Woollahra Where's Nick, Marrickville [caption id="attachment_623527" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nikki To.[/caption] NT Stone House, Darwin QLD Agnes, Fortitude Valley Alba Bar + Deli, Brisbane Cru Bar + Cellar, Fortitude Valley Paloma Wine Bar, Burleigh Heads Snack Man, Fortitude Valley The End, West End Zero Fox, Teneriffe SA Alt. Wine Bar, Unley Good Gilbert, Goodwood Hellbound, Adelaide Jennie Wine Bar, Adelaide Loc Bottle Shop, Adelaide Silver Sands Beach Club, Aldinga Stanley Bridge Tavern, Verdun Stem Bar & Restaurant, Adelaide The Salopian Inn, McLaren Vale [caption id="attachment_860199" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Earl Carter[/caption] TAS Havilah, Launceston Lucinda, Hobart Molto Bar and Cellar, Hobart VIC Bar Marenda, Daylesford Carlton Wine Room, Carlton City Wine Shop, Melbourne Commis, Collingwood Geralds Bar, Carlton North Gimlet, Melbourne Marion, Fitzroy Osteria Illaria, Melbourne Public Wine Shop, Fitzroy North Torquay Wine Store, Torquay Union Street Wine, Geelong Winespeake, Daylesford WA Besk, West Leederville Lalla Rookh, Perth Mayfair Lane, West Perth Mummucc', Wembley The Corner Dairy, Perth Wines of While, Perth For more information about the Wineslinger Awards, visit the awards' website. Top image: Marion, Harvard Wang.
Earth Hour is a symbolic action. Although there is carbon saved by turning things off, the point is the unmissable demonstration that a huge chunk of the world's population caring about the same thing at the same time. If we can manage this for Earth Hour, why not for grander environmental things? The Hour started in Sydney in 2007, and has become an international event in the years since. There are Earth Hour events in Kenya, India and Ireland these days, but you don't need to travel so far afield to find a way to join in this time around. At its simplest, all you need to do is stay home and turn off the lights. But if you'd like to have a more social darkened moment, you can head to a candlelit restaurant or one of a raft of other lights-off events.
For most of us, being buried alive ranks among our worst nightmares. For Mike Parr, it's his latest performance artwork. Between June 14 and 17, the Australian artist will be interred in a steel container beneath a Hobart street — spending 72 hours underground as part of this year's Dark Mofo. Appropriately titled Underneath the Bitumen, the piece will see Parr take up temporary residence below the middle lane of Macquarie Street in the Hobart CBD from 9pm Thursday through till 9pm Sunday. He'll descend into a box measuring just 4.5 metres by 1.7 metres by 2.2 metres, accompanied by a sketchpad and pencils, meditation stool, bedding, water and other items he'll need to survive. Once he's down there, the road surface will be sealed as normal and traffic will resume, driving over the top. The public will be able to view Parr's 'disappearance' under the street as part of his performance, and afterwards, the capsule he'll spend three days in will remain in place. While the road will be completely patched up after he emerges, concrete will be poured over the chamber once he's out, creating a time capsule filled with everything he's left inside. That stress you're probably feeling on Parr's behalf, well, that's by design. "The anxiety of the artist's disappearance is the point of the piece," states the Dark Mofo website. Underneath the Bitumen has been crafted as a response to two events in Tasmania's history: the transportation of 75,000 British and Irish convicts to the state across the first half of the 19th century, and the waning of Tasmania's aboriginal population afterwards. "To my knowledge, it will be Tasmania's first monument referencing both the Black War and The Convict System," said Dark Mofo Creative Director Leigh Carmichael. "It is a story that is not well known, but is ever-present, just beneath the surface of our contemporary culture. The fact that Mike Parr's work will happen underground, just out of sight, as everyday life continues above it, is clearly no coincidence." This is the third time Parr has been part of the Dark Mofo program, after a 72-hour performance at the historic Willow Court Asylum in New Norfolk in 2016, with an accompanying two-week exhibition afterwards; and a one-hour piece on Bruny Island in 2017, where he was joined by 72 people aged around 70 years for a show that kicked off at 2am. Underneath the Bitumen runs from June 14-17 as part of this year's Dark Mofo in Hobart. For more information about the artwork — and about the festival which runs between June 13 and 24 — visit the Dark Mofo website. Image: Nick D via Wikicommons.
One on one interviews, a pop-up tattoo parlour, and a live music lineup curated by the team from Splendour in the Grass are among the highlights of this year's Spectrum Now Festival. The 16-day creative arts extravaganza, launched last year by the Sydney Morning Herald, will feature more than 100 free and ticketed events around the city in 2016. The festival, which will run from March 1 to 16, is split into four sections: art, stage, talks and music. Included in the arts section will be an ambitious live painting at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, where Western Sydney artist Tom Polo will spend two weeks creating a gigantic wall painting in view of the public. The stage category will likewise features several standout shows, including performances by the Sydney Dance Company and Bard on the Beach, a burlesque act at Crystal Bar, a performance of La Boheme transplanted to the 1930s, and a night of stand-up comedy with the stars of Workaholics. Two of the most successful events on last year's talks program will return in 2016. Pillow Talk features personal conversations with some of the country's leading creative couples, and will this year include the likes of David and Kristen Williamson, David and Lisa Campbell, and Max Cullen and Margarita Georgiadis. Cultural Crush, meanwhile, invites prominent journalists to interview their 'dream subject'. Those in the spotlight this year include investigative journalist Kate McClymont speaking with film director Bruce Beresford, and columnist Benjamin Law grilling Leigh Sales from the ABC. The previously announced music program features a number of prominent players, headlined by post-punk act The Jesus and Mary Chain. Other standouts include Birds of Tokyo, Calexico and a live edition of RocKwiz. Check out our top picks from the music program. This year's festival hub will be located at The Domain, and will feature fire breathers, burlesque dancers and free live music, as well as a sideshow alley where you can get inked by tattoo artist Leslie Rice or get a haircut from retro barber Tony Vacher. Hanging over the hub will be a giant balloon chain by US artist Robert Bose, who previously created similar works at Burning Man and Coachella.
Nestled at the south end of Darling Harbour is Tumablong Park. The five-hectare, waterside park offers a pocket of serenity, despite being right in the middle of all the hustle and bustle of the city. Brimming with water features, sprawling play areas and the Chinese Garden of Friendship, Tumbalong is frequented by families, culture seekers and tourists alike. In summer, you can cool off at one of the water features or sit under the shade on a deck chair. If you're looking for fun, head to the huge playground or to the communal (free) ping pong tables. There's an old-school carousel within the park, too. For something more tranquil, stroll through the Chinese Garden. There, you'll find waterfalls, sculptures, lakes and local wildlife, such as koi swimming in the ponds, water dragons and lots of colourful birds. While the rest of the park is free, entry to the Chinese Garden of Friendship ranges between $3–6. Tumbalong Park is right by Sydney's International Convention Centre and is surrounded by a bunch of cafes and restaurants. Plus, it's easily accessed by bus, ferry, light rail or train (less than a ten-minute walk from Town Hall Station).
Taking over the New Canterbury Road digs formerly home to the Sausage Factory, Lazy Thinking is a jack-of-all-trades bar, restaurant, record store and live music venue. The bustling Inner West spot is the passion project of Jim Flanagan, one of the former owners of the space's previous residing brewery. Flanagan places the spotlight on all things local here. The beer is from Sydney craft brewers, the records are exclusively from independent Australian musicians, and the food is built on local produce. Each Sunday, Lazy Thinking Live spotlights exciting artists coming out of the Sydney underground — bringing intricate folk singers or ranging punk bands to Dulwich Hill. "Independent musicians and the arts community more broadly were priced out of Newtown and Enmore a long time ago," says Flanagan. "They go out there, do shows there because of the large number of venues, but they don't live there. I love Newtown and Enmore and also go out there all the time. It's just not where the music and arts community lives anymore." "[The Dulwich Hill area should] be full of small venues constantly showcasing the work of its myriad residents. That's what we're looking to start with Lazy Thinking Live." At all times, you can indulge in some bar snacks riffing on lesser-known street foods, including syrup-glazed anchovies, elevated sausage sangas and raw milk cheese with kimchi and blood orange. But if you want to settle in for a full meal at Lazy Thinking, head in on the weekend when you'll be treated to a set menu. The mini banquet runs through sourdough, olives, anchovies and mirin-dressed zucchini flowers, as well as heftier menu items like skinless pork sausage, Tasmanian scallops and lamb arrosticini. The drinks list is just as fun to flick through as the records here, with a far-reaching slate of craft beers available on tap, a selection of solely minimal-intervention wines and a handful of playful cocktails. On the weekends, you can opt for the boozy drinks package, which gives you access to the full suite of tap beers and wines by the glass. The result is an exciting addition to New Canterbury Road, which is focused on fostering community. Lazy Thinking offers Sydneysiders a new space where you can drop in for a catch-up over an interesting wine and some olives, settle into a boozy weekend lunch, or discover your new favourite independent Australian band.
So you've been to the parade, you've kicked on to Arq, and now it's Sunday and the end of Mardi Gras is in sight. This is when you have to ask yourself: are you going to throw in the towel or will you rally like a champion? Of course, the answer is the latter. That's where Mardi Gras' Laneway comes in, taking over The Beresford and the adjoining Hill Street on Sunday, March 3. Bringing the party to multiple levels of the Surry Hills pub and the bustling outdoor stage will be a bunch of local favourites on the DJ decks, including Atomic Kiss, Dan Azzo and Charlie Villas — all joined by a very special headlining performance. Beloved Brisbane pop group Cub Sport will also be travelling down to Sydney to close out Mardi Gras at Laneway with a set of heartfelt dance floor anthems, dipping into their latest album Jesus at the Gay Bar and their beloved back-catalogue of hits. The party will kick off at 2pm, giving you enough time for a post-parade sleep-in, and will wrap up at 10pm. An appropriate time for a Sunday.
Blue Bayou isn't Justin Chon's first film as an actor, writer, director or producer, but it's a fantastic showcase for his many talents nonetheless. It's also a deeply moving feature about a topical subject: America's immigration laws, which are complicated at best and draconian at worst. Worlds away from his time in all five Twilight flicks — because Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Anna Kendrick aren't the franchise's only breakout stars — Chon plays Antonio LeBlanc. While the Korean American tattoo artist has lived in Louisiana since being adopted as child, the name he was given upon his arrival in the US still sparks cognitive dissonance, as the job interview that opens the movie illustrates. It also doesn't stop both the casual and overt racism frequently directed his way, or the deportation proceedings that spring after he's accosted in a supermarket by New Orleans police officers. Helming and scripting as well as starring, Chon layers Antonio's situation with complexity from the outset. He's getting by, just, but his criminal record makes it difficult to secure more work — which he needs given his wife Kathy (Alicia Vikander, The Green Knight) is pregnant. He's a doting stepdad to her daughter Jessie (Sydney Kowalske, Doom Patrol), but her birth father Ace (Mark O'Brien, Marriage Story) is one of those aforementioned cops. Also, Ace has a bigoted partner, Denny (Emory Cohen, Flashback), who makes antagonising Antonio his daily mission. And, after that grocery store run-in, the latter discovers that his adoptive parents didn't ever complete the paperwork required to naturalise him as a US citizen. His life, his wife, his kids, that he has no ties to Korea: sadly, it all means nothing to the immigration system. Based on the plot description, it'd be simple to accuse Blue Bayou of throwing too much at its protagonist, dialling up his hardships and wallowing in his misery, all to tug at heartstrings. The film inspires a strong emotional reaction; however, this isn't just a case of calculating narrative machinations manipulating viewers to feel everything — or even something. There's a sense of inevitability to Chon's feature, his fourth after Man Up, Gook and Ms Purple, and it's all by design. The path that Antonio's life is forced down isn't surprising, complete with tough truths and heartbreaking realities, but it's filled with authenticity. Piling on misfortune after misfortune isn't merely a ploy when all of Blue Bayou's dramas can easily accumulate as they do here, and when no one's struggles are ever limited to just one or two troubles. There's no contrivance in sight, but rather a firm understanding of snowballing sorrows and their overwhelming impact. Still, Chon walks a delicate tightrope. He could've veered into tear-wringing movie of the week-style melodrama, clogged it up with cliches and failed to evoke even a single genuine feeling — or, alternatively, he could've deployed too much restraint and crafted a clinical, procedural film that saw Antonio as a mere cog in a system. The space he's carved out in-between is both masterful and organically messy; finding the right balance is a mammoth task, and embracing the whirlwind that sweeps along Antonio, Kathy and Jessie is inherently chaotic. The result is a stirring and empathetic film that's also precise and intricate, especially when it comes to the emotional deluge weathered by its central trio. At every turn, Blue Bayou plunges viewers into their turbulent existence, sees their plight with clear eyes and acknowledges all that that encompasses. That's true not just in the story's ups and downs, but in every shimmering sight lensed by cinematographers Ante Cheng (Death of Nintendo) and Matthew Chuang (My First Summer). Blue Bayou looks both gritty and romantic at once, finding the immensely tricky midpoint between staying in the moment with all its bleak developments, and also savouring the details, including the small joys and wins, as one does when recalling memories. The movie's urgent, bustling pacing falls into the first category as well, while the second camp spans a fondness not just for water and water lilies — its most heavy-handed piece of symbolism — but also for lingering close-ups of Chon, Kowalske and Vikander. The time spent with Chon and Kowalske alone is revelatory, in fact, soaking in their bond as if it's the most meaningful thing in the world. There's an openness and genuineness to these scenes — an in-the-moment earnestness — that marks Blue Bayou at its finest. The whole film takes the same approach as it shows not only what Antonio is battling against, but what he's fighting to retain; however, these tiny slivers of connection are its crowning glories. Chon is terrific on-screen and -off throughout, but he's exceptionally sincere and full-hearted when he's lapping up oh-so-fleeting seconds with scene-stealer Kowalske. That said, he brings the same resonance to Antonio's well-intentioned but self-destructive choices, especially in the film's midsection. His rapport with the also-excellent Vikander resounds with the kind of hard-fought love that's learned to survive and thrive against the odds, too. Visually, thematically and thanks to potent performances, Blue Bayou would make a stellar double with Monsoon — another big-hearted yet small-in-scale gem that's also about immigration, identity and the interpersonal flotsam that washes up when the pair collide. Scenes where Antonio befriends Vietnamese refugee Parker (Linh-Dan Pham, Mytho), who has similarly lived in the US since childhood and invites him to her family gatherings, particularly bind the two films. They're different in a plethora of ways but, crucially, both pictures recognise the importance of atmosphere in conveying an emotional state, putting audiences in the thick of it with their characters, and peering into minds and hearts. That's where Blue Bayou echoes, whether or not it's playing the Roy Orbison-penned song that gives it its name. This is a movie about migration, discrimination, resilience and endurance in an uncaring world, and about oppressive bureaucracies, engrained prejudice and a supposed land of the free that rarely lives up to that ideal, but it's always a film about people first and foremost.
On Wednesday, August 21, the front page of The Sydney Morning Herald led with an explosive exposé revealing a culture of on-the-clock drug use, sexual abuse and unsafe work environments for female employees across the Swillhouse Group's collection of Sydney venues, including Shady Pines, Restaurant Hubert, Alberto's Lounge, the Caterpillar Club and the now-closed Frankie's Pizza. The bombshell report by Sydney Morning Herald's investigative reporter Eryk Bagshaw and Good Food reporter Bianca Hrovat contained shocking allegations including experiences of sexual assault, sexually inappropriate behaviour from male staff, and staff being pressured into drug and alcohol use. The report, which was compiled from a months-long investigation, also found failures in management with complaints from staff minimised or improperly resolved. Swillhouse Group CEO Anton Forte was aware of this misconduct and made various attempts to curtail certain behaviours amongst his staff, including hiring an HR specialist and introducing specific sexual harassment policies. In 2023, Forte went as far as prohibiting 50 percent discounts and free knock-off drinks for staff in an attempt to "prioritise and promote a culture of safety and wellbeing". The report stressed that Forte himself has never been accused of misconduct by his staff. The backlash against Swillhouse Group in the wake of the report has been searing. Hundreds of comments from customers have appeared on the Swillhouse Group's various Instagram accounts. One comment posted to Restaurant Hubert's feed read: "So disappointed and sickened to read the article in the SMH about sexual abuse. Abusing women like that for your fun has a detrimental affect on them that has lifelong consequences. The worst thing is that you'll say something to the media and that will be it, nothing will change." Another added, "So disappointed. You were my favourite place in Sydney, but I'm so sad for all the women who have had to endure such horrible things - and that's just the stuff we know about from the ones who have been brave enough to speak out!" [caption id="attachment_932655" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Andrea Veltom[/caption] Industry backlash has been just as swift. Swillhouse Group's debut culinary and music festival, Swillfest, which was due to take place on September 21 with tickets already sold out, was cancelled after major sponsors, artists and masterclass chefs pulled out en masse. The respected hospitality magazine Gourmet Traveller also announced that it would be removing Restaurant Hubert from the digital iteration of its prestigious annual Restaurant Guide, although the venue will still appear in the already-produced print edition. Editor Joanna Hunkin said in a statement relating to the removal of Restaurant Hubert: "While these allegations are not isolated, I cannot stress enough, it is not the prevailing norm. We cannot let this tarnish an entire industry, which is full of decent, hard-working and conscientious humans." Revered chef Neil Perry — one of the nation's most respected restaurateurs and the chair of the Australian Restaurant and Cafe Association — confirmed to The Herald that Forte would be stepping down from his position on the board of the Association with immediate effect. On the evening of Thursday, August 22, Swillhouse issued an apology via its social media channels, emphasising that the reports of abuse were historical and also announcing the cancellation of its upcoming Swillfest. "This week, our business has faced scrutiny with distressing claims about how Swillhouse used to operate in the past. We sincerely apologise to anyone who has felt hurt, unsafe, unprotected, triggered, or unheard. We particularly extend this apology to our female staff, guests, friends and family," the statement reads. It continues: "We acknowledge that Swillhouse was not always perfect and that we got things wrong in the past. We sincerely regret that any of our former staff have felt let down or unsafe. Questions about workplace safety and inclusiveness have been an industry-wide issue, and we are committed to being part of the solution, not the problem. Several years ago we began the process of building a better workplace where our people feel protected and where those poor behaviours are not tolerated. No one should feel unsafe in their workplace. That's not OK. "While we cannot right the wrongs of the past, we acknowledge them and apologise for any hurt caused. We assure our people, our customers, our friends and our patrons that we currently have best practice policies and processes in place to ensure our people work in the safest possible environment today and tomorrow. "We understand and respect community expectations and, today, are proud to have a workplace that is inclusive and diverse, where our people have a voice and we listen and support them. We recognise we can always be better and are making our workplace systems and support even stronger. "Our responsibility and focus right now is to our people and their wellbeing and for this reason, we don't feel it's appropriate to go ahead with plans for Swillfest on 21 September." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Swillhouse (@swillhouse.hospitality) A follow-up article published by The Herald and Good Food on Thursday, August 22, written by journalist Dani Valent, alleged systemic failures across Australia's hospitality sector, representing "endemic" levels of widespread gender-based violence and sexual danger in the workplace. If you need to speak to someone about an experience you have had or are seeking information, please contact 1800Respect on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800respect.org.au. Top image: Kristoffer Paulsen
It's Friday night. You've just finished work for the week, don't feel like cooking, and you're in the mood for some grub and live music. Head to the Inner West and you'll find the Flour Mill Food Markets filling Summer Hill's Harvest Park with some of the area's best eats. Among the delectable eats will be seafood rolls from East Blue Seafood, Street Food Project Sydney's barbecued meats, katsu sandos from That Katsu Guy, Jeery's roti tacos and Sharon Kwan Kitchen's noodles. You can also pick up sweet after-dinner bites like Sticky Bakes' much-hyped sticky-date pudding and gooey choc-chip creations from Thicc Cookies. Local musicians will be providing the soundtrack for the night, performing from 5pm live under the stars — which have a high chance of being out according to the weather forecast. The food trucks will be operational from 4–8pm on Friday, April 27. Street parking is available; however, Flour Mill is encouraging diners to utilise the Lewisham West light rail station just beside the park, or either of the Summer Hill or Lewisham train stations that sit roughly a five-minute walk away. And, if you don't want to leave Spot and Fido at home, the market is dog-friendly so make sure to bring along your four-legged pals.
When Sydney Theatre Company released their 2009 program including an "untitled project" from Steven Soderbergh, there were some grumpy mummers from prospective subscribers who felt that being asked to sign up for a play nobody knew anything about was a bit rich, or, worse, that the company was over-investing in international celebrity appeal as if glittery names like Steven Soderbergh were enough in and of themselves. When Soderbergh finally announced what the production would be several months ago, the murmuring was far from hushed. That he was basing his project on a real life child homicide case that is yet to go to trial was enough to whip up a mild flurry of outrage - and we all know there's nothing like a bit of controversy to conjure public interest. In fact the machine of publicity and media scandal lies at the heart of this new play. Using the still-unfolding mysterious story of murdered Florida toddler Caylee Anthony, it will draw on themes of parental neglect and the eternal appeal of murder mysteries and crime investigation, but also on the nature of media frenzies and sensationalist public spectacle in the modern age. This much anticipated final production of STC's 2009 Main Stage season has been extended until February 7. Image courtesy of Picture Media.
Fried chicken lovers: start drooling. KFC is set to unveil a brand new burger inspired by the flavours in Peking duck, but there's a catch: the only place you can get your hands on it will be at their new music festival on Cockatoo Island. The Colonel is throwing the music festival in the iconic Sydney Harbour spot with an all-star local lineup on Sunday, March 13, and yes, all tickets include free KFC Peking Cluk burgers. As for the headliners at the festival — it's Peking Duk, of course. The rowdy DJ duo are stepping up to help the Colonel as KFC's official burger spokespeople, and will be performing at the festival alongside beloved Yolngu rapper Baker Boy and Sydney favourite Thandi Phoenix. Attendees will be treated to Peking Duk's brand-new live show that they created over the last two years. The show has only been seen a few times at the likes of Field Day and features big party energy, remixes of previous material and plenty of synthesisers. "We've been in the bunker making the live set totally different, totally unique. It's going to be fun and it's going to be an experience that nobody's had before," Peking Duk's Reuben Styles told Concrete Playground. Adam Hyde of the duo put it more succinctly: "Get clucked, go cluck yourself, cluck off and have a clucking great time on Cockatoo Island with the boys."
Kate Mulvany can't seem to keep away from history's big bads at the moment. Fresh from a turn as Shakespeare's dastardly prince-killer Richard III, The Rasputin Affair is her latest written work, a study of the mystical Russian royal advisor and his infamous brushes with death. With Europe in the throes of the First World War, a small group of Russian dissidents decide to do away with the hypnotic holy man, Grigori Rasputin. The king, Tsar Nicholas II, considers him indispensable and the conspirators believe the only means of breaking the spell is to eject Weirdy-Beardy into the underworld. Their chosen weapon? A plate of poisoned cupcakes. But Rasputin hasn't gotten this far by falling prey to suspicious-smelling baked goods. He also claims to be a messenger from God. If the attempt succeeds, will the poisoners have knocked off a legit prophet? Since coming to power, Vladimir Putin has been an almost constant source of weirdness. The Rasputin Affair proves that he is simply continuing in a rich tradition.
