Like beer? Like a bit of hip-hop? Think the two together sounds like the perfect combination? Then this may be right up your alley. Sydney hip hop movers-and-shakers Big Village have teamed up with Newtown brewers Young Henrys to create a limited release beer, Big Village Brew. Okay, so no idea how it'll taste. But we'll deal with that later; the launch party at Factory Theatre sounds like a good night out, with a pretty busy line-up of live acts including Triple J darlings Suburban Dark featuring Jeswon (of Thundamentals), P.Smurf (Daily Meds) and Rapaport (Loose Change). While you're sampling this newly designed tipple, you'll also be treated to some local support acts, including Tenth Dan and a couple of inner-west hip hop veterans in Reverse Polarities. Tickets can be bought online at the Factory Theatre site. Pre-sale tickets are $10, tickets at the door are $15. https://youtube.com/watch?v=poLJLqAh5dY
Celebrating Japan by actually heading to the country is back on the agenda, with the Asian nation's strict border rules finally relaxing. Can't make the trip ASAP? Fancy getting your Japanese thrills in a cinema instead — or until you can hop on a plane? Then Australia's annual touring Japanese Film Festival has timed its return well. As it does every year, this year's JFF has compiled a selection of must-see recent and retro Japanese movies, and will bring its lineup Sydney in December. There's two parts: a rundown the latest and greatest flicks the country has to offer, screening from Wednesday, December 7–Sunday, December 11 at Palace Central, Palace Norton Street and Palace Verona; and a classics series, showing iconic films on 35mm from Monday, December 12–Wednesday, December 14 at The Chauvel. The 2022 fest will open with historical drama Dreaming of the Meridian Arc, which hops between present-day Japan and the Edo period to tell the tale behind the man who completed the first-ever map of Japan. Also a huge highlight: the retro season's focus on filmmaker Mikio Naruse, with 1954's Sound of the Mountain, 1960's When a Woman Ascends the Stairs and 1964's Yearning on the bill — and showing for free. Back to the recent titles (and the paid part of the program), standouts include psychological thriller Lesson in Murder, which starts when a college student gets a letter from a serial killer on death row; drama In the Wake, about the victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011; and the animated Blue Thermal, with the world of competitive gliding soaring onto the screen. Anime Supremacy! is unsurprisingly focused on characters who live and breath anime production; Baby Assassins gives battling the yakuza (and being hitmen) a kawaii spin, and culinary documentary The Pursuit of Perfection follows top Tokyo chefs Takemasa Shinohara (Ginza Shinohara), Natsuko Shōji (Été), Yōsuke Suga (Sugalabo) and Takaaki Sugita (Sushi Sugita). Top image: Baby Assassins Film Partners.
Heading to the pub is an essential pastime for Sydneysiders. It's a chance to kick back, let off some steam and catch up with our crew over a drink or two. And after a big week at the office, it's a well-earned escape from the daily grind. But, grabbing a beer doesn't have to just be about switching off. In fact, it can be a chance to expand your horizons with discussions to challenge and inspire. On Wednesday, October 16, the University of Sydney is bringing a lineup of its best and brightest to descend on a bunch of Sydney's top watering holes for a series of free talks — 21 talks in 11 bars, to be exact. And yes, it's completely free. Enter Raising the Bar, a public talk series bringing together 21 of USYD's top academics. From discussions about the future of medicine to practical strategies to combat burnout and workplace stress, these talks are all about making continuing education as accessible as grabbing a drink. To help you navigate the event program, we've narrowed down five top picks for you. Don't forget that the bars will be open for business, too — so pick a venue, grab a beer and settle in for a night of learning. SURLY'S HOUSING HACK: A NEW MODEL TO HOME OWNERSHIP AT 8PM We don't need to remind you that buying a home in Sydney is a tough ask. And no, it doesn't have anything to do with your love for smashed avo. Sydneysiders are up against it when it comes to getting their foot in the property door. The market is changing. Mortgages are rising. Job security is dwindling. And the gig economy still proves as appealing and precarious as ever. But before you resign yourself to renting your way into retirement, you'll want to head along to this next talk. Sophia Maalsen is a lecturer in Urbanism at the University of Sydney and is obsessed with reshaping Australia's housing system. In this talk, Maalsen dives into new housing models that embrace greater diversity and new technologies to open up the market to a new generation of urban dwellers. THE GLENMORE MAKING POLITICIANS LISTEN AT 8PM Trust in politics is at an all-time low. Many of us think our voices are ignored by those in power, and throwing our hands up in the air feels like the only option. But is there anything we can do to change that? For Marc Stears, director of the Sydney Policy Lab and ex-professor of political theory at the University of Oxford, we all have the ability to make an impact. In this talk, Stears uncovers the tactics and techniques used by citizens around the globe to spark social change. From striking for the climate to calling up your local MP, discover which methods are proven to succeed and what approach you should take to make a real difference. [caption id="attachment_654874" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Alana Dimou[/caption] PS40 WHEN NOT TO KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON AT 6.30PM Your inbox is a mess. Your phone is ringing off the hook. And you're about to walk into a big meeting with a disgruntled client. Sound familiar? Feeling swamped, stressed and strung out is how most of us spend our time at the office. Being busy is like a badge of honour, working late is expected and fielding urgent emails after-hours is just another part of the job. And we'll get up and do it all again tomorrow. But Helena Nguyen, a senior lecturer in Work and Organisational Studies at the University of Sydney Business School, believes we need to reconsider our approach. Her discussion explores the impacts of our emotions at work, why we shouldn't brush stress under the rug and what strategies every workplace should implement to make our jobs more sustainable and satisfying. THE SUSSEX HOTEL 3D PRINTING OUR WAY TO BETTER HEALTH AT 6.30PM Organ donation: it's something we don't think much about until it matters most. As life expectancies increase, the demand for organ donation continues to rise. And with the possibility of transplant rejection at play, what can we do to meet demand both now and into the future? Hala Zreiqat believes 3D printing is the answer. Leading the charge in biomedical artistry, Zreiqat is passionate about using tech to improve the lives of patients globally. Her research into 3D-printed organs is paving the way for new and revolutionary medical technologies. Her talk unpacks the science and engineering that goes into this process and shares how close we are to 3D-printed organs becoming a reality. HARPOON HARRY'S WAITING FOR THE END OF TIME AT 6.30PM In the scheme of the universe, we're about as significant as a speck of dust. Over millions of years, stars and planets have come and gone. In fact, humans have only been around for a tiny blip of time by comparison. So, what does the future hold for our place in the cosmos? Join Geraint Lewis, an astrophysics researcher, as he reveals the galactic collisions and hyperactive black holes that have existed in our universe. This talk will take you on a journey into the fascinating and complex world that is the dark side of our cosmos. Expect to discover what the future of our universe may look like and the ultimate darkness and mystery that could lie ahead. All of these talks (plus many more) will take place on Wednesday, October 16. Registration for each individual event, while free, is a must, so head over here to check out the full program and nab your free tickets.
The team behind bAKEHOUSE Theatre Company's latest project doesn't care what your nan thinks is appropriate dinnertime conversation. There's a lot being said about religion and politics at the moment, but there's plenty not being said too. Or perhaps it's just not being heard. The Laden Table won't give you that luxury. When three generations of two families, one Muslim, one Jewish, get together to observe Eid and Yom Kippur respectively, things are bound to get a little rowdy. Amidst stories of cultural differences and similarities, of old lives and new ones carved out in a foreign country, sits a secret that affects both families and is slowly worming its way into the light. Devised as an antidote to 'dinner table racism', The Laden Table challenges not only the way society perceives certain groups, but the way in which they perceive each other. Co-writer Nur Alam has said that the project is about fostering understanding, but it's not taking any prisoners along the way.
It hasn't been the greatest couple of years for dining out at fancy restaurants. But, when it comes to the World's 50 Best restaurant awards, the show must go on. After a COVID-driven break last year, the prestigious awards have named their 2021 picks for the greatest restaurants in the world. Taking out this year's top spot was the newest incarnation of Denmark's Noma, led by renowned chef René Redzepi. While no Aussie venues claimed a position among 2021's 50 Best list, two Victorian restaurants secured spots in the 51–100 lineup. Dan Hunter's Brae placed 57th — up from its 2019 ranking of 101 — and Ben Shewry's Ripponlea fine diner Attica came in at number 97, shuffling slightly from its previous position at 84. Both have been regular contenders in the awards for the past few years. [caption id="attachment_616539" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dan Hunter and Ben Shewry[/caption] The 2021 World's 50 Best awards were unveiled at a glitzy ceremony held overnight in Antwerp, with the 51–100 lineup announced a couple of weeks earlier, on September 23. Coming in second place was another famed Danish diner, Geranium, while Spain's Asador Etxebarri retained its 2019 title of third best restaurant in the world. If you're planning any future overseas adventures based entirely around food, you'll be interested to know that both the USA and Spain cleaned up in this year's rankings, each with six restaurants earning spots among the top 50. Running annually since 2002, the World's 50 Best awards are chosen by a panel of over 1000 culinary experts, guided by a strict voting procedure. They're now hosted by a different country each year, with Melbourne playing host city back in 2017. Check out the full list of The World's 50 Best award-winners for 2021 over here. Top Images: Colin Page, from the cookbook 'Brae: Recipes and stories from the restaurant'.
Creative space Commune is hosting another precinct party. The series, dubbed Our Hood, brings the neighbourhood together for an evening of culture, art and music together with wellness, maker markets and food stalls. March's party will take it back to the 90s for a night of all things nostalgic. The Saturday, March 30 event will see live performances from 20-year-old electro pop producer Lupa J, 80s nostalgia duo Froyo and punk Italo disco group Gauci. On the culture side, there'll be talks hosted by TEDxHaymarket, a dance class run by The Jungle Body and yoga with superstar Dusty Glass. You can also expect art installations and life drawing classes. And, of course, there'll be plenty of food and drinks flowing, and an 80s-style pick 'n' mix cocktail bar. Entry is ten bucks. The event is also dog and family friendly, so it's really a catch-all kind of event. Image: Sam Ali.
It has been a long, hard year and you may be looking at your screen right now daydreaming of a holiday on a secluded beach or exploring deep inside a rainforest. SurfStitch is looking to make that dream a reality by offering one of its customers a $5000 Luxury Escapes voucher to use towards a holiday. All you have to do is add a new addition to your wardrobe by making a purchase at SurfStitch. You can shop for a new swimsuit from brands like All About Eve, Calvin Klein and Peony. Maybe you've had your eyes on those low cut Doc Martins all the cool kids seem to be wearing these days or a Misfit button-up to complete your summer look. These are all available through SurfStitch — and if you pick one up you'll go into the draw. Treat yourself and you might be treated to a luxury holiday. Even better, pick up a new outfit for someone special this holiday season and then nab the holiday for yourself. Yes, Christmas is a time of selflessness ,but how good would $5000 be to make up for the lost time and cancelled holidays of 2020. The voucher can be spent on a range of accommodation options around Australia and overseas as well as some unforgettable travel packages and experiences. You could explore Australia's Top End on an eight-day tour from Darwin to Uluru, spend a week beachside at a luxury villa in the Maldives or take a ten-day tour of Japan including a stay at Mount Fuji. The gift card is valid for three years, so fingers firmly crossed international travel is back to normal by then. All you have to do is use Klarna when you check out. Klarna is an app that offers buy now, pay later and loyalty rewards programs. Find out how to sign up for Klara, browse SurfStitch's online store and learn more about the competition through SurfStitch's website. Go into the draw to win a $5000 Luxury Escapes gift card by making a purchase from SurfStitch and using Klarna at the checkout between Tuesday, December 1 and Thursday, December 31. The winner will be drawn on Tuesday, January 5. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
Could 2011 be the year of the infographic? They're all over the internet: eye-popping visuals which make sense of complex data sets through bright colours and great typography choices. In a world where information bombardment is enough to make your head spin, infographics are bringing order to the chaos of endless facts and figures. Perhaps the logic of the infographic could be applied to the design of nutrition labels, another daily dose of confusing percentages, milligrams, serving sizes and calorie counters. US magazine Good has teamed up with the University of California Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism's News21 project, inviting designers to rethink food labelling. Their instructions? "Redesign the food label. Incorporate the existing nutrition facts and calorie counts. Or reimagine a label entirely based on food quality, food justice, or lesser-known chemosensory characteristics. Consider a food's carbon footprint or its cultural significance. Above all, make the redesigned label informative, instructive, and memorable." Enter the competition before July 1 and use your design skills to inspire better food and nutrition literacy. [Via Good]
Heading to the East Sydney Hotel is like going on a day trip to the country. Not because of its distance from the CBD, but because of its self-proclaimed title as Sydney's 'last country pub'. The Woolloomooloo venue is filled with timeless memorabilia and mismatched timber furniture, and has a classic pub menu with some decent craft brews on-tap (along with all the classics). It's the perfect atmosphere for the upcoming winter months, and for a spot of afternoon jazz. Sundays bring live jazz and a great opportunity to chill out and get away from the chaos of inner city living. Cool cats Geoff Bull and his band The Finer Cuts (veterans of the Sydney jazz scene) play from 5pm until 8pm, creating a fluid set of smooth tunes and frenetic beats.
Weather: crisp. Pretzels: everywhere. Cinemas: packed to the brim. Yes, that's the Berlin International Film Festival. And while plenty of chatter about sickness filtered through the fest's landmark 70th year — and plenty of grim looks at anyone who dared to cough between February 20–March 1, too — the 2020 event marked its massive anniversary in its usual star-studded, movie-filled style. Among the highlights: Willem Dafoe's moustache beaming its gloriousness from the red carpet, while the actor promoted the most divisive film of the festival; Indigenous Australian storytelling thrust into the spotlight multiple times, showcasing standouts from both the big and small screens; and a Golden Bear winner from an Iranian director, who was banned from filmmaking and unable to leave the country to attend the festival. This year's event also commemorated a 100-year-old masterpiece via an immersive exhibition, celebrated Helen Mirren's momentous career by giving her an award, and invited plenty of filmmakers to pair up and chat about their careers — including Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon's Ang Lee and Shoplifters' Hirokazu Kore-eda. That's what happened on the ground. If you couldn't be there, don't worry — Berlinale's massive film program will keep spreading its delights over the coming months. After spending 11 days in Berlin's cinemas (and eating the city's schnitzels and spatzle, of course), we've picked ten movies to look out for. Fingers crossed they make it to a screen Down Under sooner rather than later. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRUWVT87mt8 FIRST COW Every time Kelly Reichardt steps behind the camera, something astonishing happens, as everything from Wendy and Lucy to Certain Women has shown. So the fact that First Cow ranks among the writer/director's best work is no small feat indeed. Stepping back to 19th-century America, Reichardt spins the story of a cook (John Magaro) and a Chinese entrepreneur (Orion Lee). Two outcasts among the fur-trapper community, they spark up a friendship — and, once the Chief Factor (Toby Jones) ships in the region's highly coveted first cow, they pair starts an illicit but highly profitable business making delicious biscuits using milk stolen direct from the animal in the dark of night. As always in Reichardt's features, there's such empathy, sensitivity and tenderness to this magnificently told tale, which continues the filmmaker's thoughtful exploration of characters on the margins, as well as her ongoing interrogation of the American dream. https://vimeo.com/391958174 GUNDA Move over Babe, Piglet and Porky — cinema has a new porcine star. Or several to be exact; however other than the eponymous sow, they're not given names in Gunda. Indeed, not a word is spoken in the latest engrossing, meditative and moving documentary from Aquarela's Victor Kossakovsky. Instead, the observational film devotes its black-and-white frames to watching its main subject give birth, care for her squealing and inquisitive little ones, roll around in the mud and simply go about her life. Of course, viewers know that these cute critters are living on a farm, that the piglets are destined to become meat, and that their story won't end happily. Interspersed with brief glimpses of cows and chickens — two other animals bred for human consumption — this film screams its abhorrence of eating flesh through its stunningly intimate imagery. And to the surprise of no one who saw his Golden Globes and Oscars speeches, Joaquin Phoenix is one of the doco's executive producers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBcY5-QzqTU THE WOMAN WHO RAN Alcohol. Conversation. A scene-stealing cat. Combine all three, and South Korean great Hong Sang-soo is firmly in his element. The booze flows freely as Gamhee (Hong regular Kim Min-hee, a 2017 Berlinale Best Actress winner for On the Beach at Night Alone) enjoys her first time away from her husband in five years, visiting friends around Seoul while he's off on a business trip. In the prolific director's typical fashion, much of The Woman Who Ran unfurls as his characters simply chat — about lives, hopes, dreams, problems and, with a pesky neighbour in the movie's funniest moment, about feeding stray felines. Hong's penchant for long, patient takes, playful repetition and echoes, and expertly timed crash-zooms are all used to winning effect, in a film that slots perfectly into his busy oeuvre (he's made 23 movies since 1996) and yet always feels distinctively insightful. Also, and we can't stress it enough, look out for one helluva kitty. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=El4-2zrNppA UNDINE For the second time in as many films, German writer/director Christian Petzold teams up with rising talents Paula Beer and Franz Rogowski — but you could never accuse the filmmaker of doing the same thing twice. Back in 2018, the trio turned Transit into a war-torn romance that mused on conflict's lingering scars, while here, they're reinventing a German myth about a water spirit who can only turn human through love. Undine (Beer, this year's Silver Bear winner for Best Actress) is a historian who guides museum tours about Berlin's origins. When her boyfriend Johannes (Jacob Matschenz) breaks up with her suddenly, she warns him that she'll have to kill him. Then she meets industrial diver Christoph (Rogowski), but even as their love blossoms, her previous relationship isn't easily overcome. Petzold is no stranger to pondering the impact of the past on the present (see also: Barbara and Phoenix); however in the enchanting, beguiling, beautifully shot Undine, he's at his most haunting. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjw_QTKr2rc NEVER RARELY SOMETIMES ALWAYS The third film from talented American writer/director Eliza Hittman (It Felt Like Love, Beach Rats), Never Rarely Sometimes Always took home Berlinale's Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize — the festival's second most prestigious award — but it would've been a more than worthy overall winner. First premiering at Sundance, where it also nabbed a jury prize, this a heart-wrenching gut-punch of a movie that's about an ordinary teenager in an everyday situation, while simultaneously focused on a crucial topic. When small-town Pennsylvanian 17-year-old Autumn (Sidney Flanigan) discovers that she's pregnant, she only really has one option. She's certain her family (including Sharon Van Etten as her mother) won't help, and the local women's clinic advocates having the baby, so with her cousin Skylar (Talia Ryder) she hops on a bus to New York. Their experiences in the Big Apple are tense and devastating, as is this potent, compassionate and naturalistic entire film. [caption id="attachment_763961" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Mughal Mowgli Ltd, BBC[/caption] MOGUL MOWGLI Riz Ahmed not only stars in but also cowrites Mogul Mowgli — and given that he's playing a British Pakistani rapper, and the Four Lions and Rogue One actor also happens to be British Pakistani rapper himself, this incisive drama understandably feels personal. It's also electrifying from the moment when, early in the film, Ahmed's character Zed takes the stage and unleashes his politically charged lyrics about his experiences to a responsive audience. Zed is on the cusp of stardom but, just as he secures his next big opportunity in a supporting slot on a lucrative European tour, his health unexpectedly begins to fail him. Exploring the fallout, including the professional disappointment, Zed's struggles with his cultural heritage upon his return home to London and the tough reality of facing a shattering diagnosis, writer/director Bassam Tariq makes an exceptional debut, crafting a film that's as bold, dynamic and probing as its central performance. [caption id="attachment_763958" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Caroline Fauvet[/caption] JUMBO In Portrait of a Lady on Fire, one of the best films of 2019, Noémie Merlant played an 18th-century artist who fell in love with the betrothed woman she's commissioned to paint. In the neon-hued, loosely based-on-a-true-story Jumbo, she's once again falling head over heels — this time for an amusement park ride. Her character, fairground worker Jeanne, is shy to the point of being teased by everyone around her. While her mother (Emmanuelle Bercot) doesn't fall into that category, she does repeatedly try to push her out of her comfort zone, including setting her up with the park's new boss (Bastien Bouillon). But in Belgium-born, France-based writer/director Zoé Wittock's debut feature, nothing makes Jeanne feel the way that Jumbo, the theme park's new ride, does. It's a quirky, even whimsical concept, but both Merlant and Wittock treat Jeanne's love affair with sensitivity and enthusiasm — two traits the character isn't accustomed to receiving elsewhere. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgyisKVoFzY THERE IS NO EVIL The death penalty casts a dark shadow over There Is No Evil, an anthology film that explores capital punishment and its impacts. Across four segments, writer/director Mohammad Rasoulof charts the ripples that state-sanctioned killing has upon Iranian society — via a stressed husband and father (Ehsan Mirhosseini), a conscript (Kaveh Ahangar) who can't fathom ending someone's life, a soldier (Mohammad Valizadegan) whose compliance causes personal issues and a physician (Mohammad Seddighimehr) unable to practise his trade. While some sections hit their mark more firmly and decisively than others (the film's introduction sets a high bar), this year's Golden Bear winner has a lingering cumulative effect as it ponders the threats and freedoms of life under an oppressive regime. Rasoulof has actually been banned from filmmaking in Iran, restricted from leaving the country and sentenced to prison, all for examining the reality of his homeland — and, after 2013's Manuscripts Don't Burn and 2017's A Man of Integrity, There Is No Evil continues the trend. [caption id="attachment_763954" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Michael Kotschi/Flare Film[/caption] ONE OF THESE DAYS After turning in an astonishingly raw and powerful performance in 2017's A Prayer Before Dawn, British actor Joe Cole does so again in US-set drama One of These Days — albeit in completely different circumstances. In a nuanced and naturalistic performance, he plays Kyle, a small-town Texan department store employee who's overjoyed when he wins the chance to compete in the local car dealership's annual 'Hands on a Hardbody' contest. If he can outlast his fellow competitors by placing his hand on a truck for longer than anyone else, he'll drive off with the vehicle he's certain will change not only his life, but that of his wife (Callie Hernandez) and their baby. Also starring True Blood's Carrie Preston as the marketing guru in charge of running and promoting the contest, One of These Days doesn't hold back in exploring the toxic cycle that sees the struggling and desperate chase wealth at any cost, with German writer/director Bastian Günther helming a clear-eyed but immensely empathetic film. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARNPF52AZAQ HIGH GROUND A high-profile Australian cast and an acclaimed local director traipse through the country's colonial past in High Ground — and while that description applies to a growing number of Aussie films (Sweet Country and The Nightingale, just to name two recent examples), it'll never get old. Indeed, while Stephen Maxwell Johnson's (Yolngu Boy) frontier western feels like a natural addition to this growing genre, it also makes its own imprint. The setup: on what's supposed to be a routine expedition, almost an entire Indigenous tribe is wiped out by northern Australian police. Their leader, ex-World War I sniper Travis (Simon Baker), isn't responsible for the carnage, but it weighs heavily on him in the aftermath. In this gorgeously shot, deeply contemplative drama, that especially proves the case twelve years later — when Travis is enlisted by his superior (Jack Thompson) and his ex-partner (Callan Mulvey) to track down one of its revenge-seeking survivors, all while accompanied by the boy-turned-tracker (Jacob Junior Nayinggul) who also lived through the slaughter. Images: First Cow © Allyson Riggs/A24; Gunda © Egil Håskjold Larsen/Sant & Usant; The Woman Who Ran © Jeonwonsa Film Co. Production; Undine © Christian Schulz/Schramm Film; Never Rarely Sometimes Always © 2019 courtesy of Focus Features; Mogul Mowgli © Mughal Mowgli Ltd, BBC; Jumbo © Caroline Fauvet; There Is No Evil © Cosmopol Film; One of These Days © Michael Kotschi/Flare Film; High Ground © Sarah Enticknap/High Ground Picture.
Netflix's algorithm has clearly figured out one of the most obvious facts about humankind: we all really love dogs. With the streaming platform's latest documentary series, it has dedicated six episodes to different canines from around the globe — and the two-legged folks who care for, groom, dress and even fish with them. Of course, the barking balls of fluff are the real drawcards. Called Dogs, the thoroughly feel-good show follows puppers in Syria, Japan, Costa Rica, Italy and the US, each with their own stories to tell. One episode explores life in a dog sanctuary in the Costa Rican rainforest, another relays the tale of a Siberian Husky trapped in Syria after his owner was able to flee to German, and yet another jumps into Japan's love of cute pooches — dog strollers are a common sight on the streets of Tokyo, after all. The show is described by the streamer as "an inspirational journey exploring the remarkable, perhaps even magical qualities that have given these animals such a special place in all of our hearts", and it's clearly designed to tug at your heartstrings — but if you can't get enough when it comes to adorable canines, you won't be complaining. Given that Netflix announced earlier in the year that pets make the best binge partners, all based on a study that it commissioned, the show is hardly a surprising addition to its lineup. All-too-easy to watch in one sitting (yes, Netflix, we are still watching), Dogs also boasts an impressive pedigree, with Academy Award-nominated documentarian Amy Berg (Deliver Us From Evil) both executive producing the series and directing two of its episodes. Other filmmakers involved include Life Animated's Roger Ross Williams, The Jinx's Richard Hankin, and Undefeated's T.J. Martin and Daniel Lindsay. Before diving into the full series, go barking mad for the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pLCmLgjiJ8 Dogs is now available on Netflix. Images: Netflix.
Swedish fashion blogger and international face of Rekorderlig Cider, Caroline Blomst, had a very busy schedule while visiting Australia for the first time this month. Attending shows at L’Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival, shooting street style for her blog in Sydney and Melbourne, as well as a Sydney exhibition of her work at the Somedays Gallery in Surry Hills were just a few of the things on her to-do list. Blomst and her boyfriend Daniel Troyse launched their blog, Stockholm Street Style, in 2005, and in 2007 the pair added Caroline’s Mode. According to Blomst, “People have a hard time understanding that it’s a job and not a hobby.” With her Stockholm-meets-Paris style, she adds “I try and keep it simple, minimalistic and comfortable but still I want to add some pieces to make it chic which is the Paris part”. We caught up with the fashion forward model-turned-blogger to ask her thoughts on blogging, designers and Australian fashion. What have you learnt since you started blogging? In the beginning hardly anyone knew what a blog was, it was only the hardcore bloggers that knew. I think in the last 2 years maybe people are starting to learn what a blog is. I’ve been doing this fulltime - 6 months into blogging, so since late 2005. The hard thing is to make people realise that it’s a job and that we do it seriously. It’s not a personal blog, it’s more like a fashion magazine in the blog forum but from my sense of style. It’s still something new to people but for me it's like I’ve been doing it forever. Do you have any advice to give to fellow bloggers? I think if you want to start a blog today it is very important that you find a niche, that you do something that not everyone is doing. For example, if you want to do street style you might want to focus on bloggers or you might want to focus on models or men? Something that makes you unlike everyone else and also consistency - keep updating frequently. We do five posts a day for street style I know that’s quite a lot but I think for blogs its hard because on the internet you need to keep going all the time. Make your own content so that you’re not constantly re-posting other peoples' stuff. Who are some of your favourite designers? My favourite designers are Isabel Marant (surprise surprise!). I also love Chanel, Celine, and Balenciaga. Swedish designers? I’d say Carin Wester - she does both menswear and womenswear - and it’s really nice stuff. Also in Australia, which is totally new to me, I have discovered Bec & Bridge (which I love!), Scanlan and Theodore and Maurie & Eve. What is it about the designer that makes you love them? I think for Isabel Marant they have a very French chic but kind of minimalistic style, which is very much me. Carin Wester, I mean she makes very casual pieces that are wearable for everyday; the casual kind of approach but you feel well dressed. Balenciaga and Celine for their great accessories like bags and shoes, and also Chanel for their bags. What are your thoughts on Australian fashion? I think it looks kind of similar to the fashion in Europe. Actually people were telling me when I came, 'oh they are so behind' but I think that is not true at all. I think you have a lot of interesting designers that I had never heard of before. It’s been very interesting getting to know what they do. What did you get up to at L’Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival? We went to some shows - the opening show, the Harper’s Bazaar show and maybe 4 other shows and we tried to stay outside shooting some street style. We also promoted Rekorderlig Cider that sponsored some of the shows. So which city in the world is your favourite fashion city? I would have to say Paris. I mean shooting street style in Paris is amazing because of the light and they’re are so many people to pick fromm and the shopping - they have everything. I would choose Paris for fashion definitely.
The Melbourne Festival program has been released, and as you can imagine, it is jam-packed with world class music, dance, theatre, film, visual art and forums. It is Melbourne’s flagship cultural event, and with good reason. Some of the artists featured are on the rise and pushing boundaries, where others are well-renowned, established organisations that are bringing their award winning pieces to this great city. One thing Melbourne Festival loves to do is to collaborate, collide and blur the lines between art forms. This year we will see legendary Detroit techno producer and DJ Jeff Mills work with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra for Light from the Outside World. Framed Movements, curated by Hannah Mathews, examines the shifting boundaries between art and dance, and Complexity of Belonging — a collaboration between Anouk van Dijk from Chunky Move and Berlin director Falk Richter — uses dance and acting to explore identity in the age of social media. A strong point of difference for Melbourne Festival when comparing it to the plethora of arts events this city holds is it’s strong acknowledgement of the role of circus in Melbourne’s art scene. Opus from France and Cirkopolis from Canada both look spectacular and provide a rare opportunity for an Australian audience to see the tricks of pioneers in their field, while The Nanjing Project is a collaborative work between Australian and Chinese circus performers. If it’s music you’re after from this year’s program, we imagine you will be spending a fair amount of time at the Foxtel Festival Hub. We are particularly excited about Since I Left You, where musicians Jonti and Rainbow Chan will rearrange and reinterpret the Avalanches seminal record — and its 3,500 vinyl samples — via live performance. Or you may be drawn to Pop Crimes, a celebration of Roland S. Howard’s songs, with many musical guests performing on what would have been his 55th birthday. If you’re more interested in shaking your groove thing, head to The Bamboos' performance during the middle weekend. If you haven’t had your film fix from Melbourne International Film Festival this year, ex-MIFF director Richard Moore will be curating films for Art Politics and Protest. While we’re on the subject of film, Clint Mansell — renowned for his eerie and expansive soundscapes in Darren Aronofsky films — will be performing a retrospective of his film scores with a nine-piece band (and accompanied by haunting visuals, of course). Theatre is going to be high on the agenda this year as well. Revered master of stagecraft Heiner Goebbels will bring 40 Slovenian teenagers to town for his lauded 2012 work, When the Mountain Changed Its Clothing, while Hipbone Sticking Out and Hello, Goodbye & Happy Birthday are two Australian productions to consider. For dance, we can’t go past Trisha Brown Dance Company from the USA performing 18 of her brilliant postmodern dances. Our art pick for the festival at this stage is Carsten Höller’s Golden Mirror Carousel, partially because it looks awesome, and partly because you can ride it. Like last year, the festival will begin with Tanderrum: a powerful event of story, song and dace, where elders from the five clans of the Kulin nation invite the people of Melbourne to celebrate the ancestors who were here long before our time. The Ilbijerri Theatre Company will facilitate the event, and it is a proud symbol of the resilience of Melbourne’s Koori culture, and statement of optimism for the future. We could easily go on, but we’ll stop there for now. Melbourne Festival is on from October 10-26. Tickets go on sale at 9am on Tuesday, July 29. Head to the festival website for all the details.
When some of Australia's biggest events were forced to change their 2020 plans due to the pandemic, it was hoped that'd be a one-time deal. But more than halfway into 2021, COVID-19 and Australia's response to it keeps causing havoc with the music and events industries. The latest casualty, following Bluesfest and Vivid Sydney: this year's BIGSOUND. If your spring routine usually involves bar-hopping around Brisbane — and around Fortitude Valley in particular — while listening to up-and-coming musicians, then you're in for bad news. The music-fuelled celebration normally takes over the Queensland capital every September or October, and did so virtually in 2020. Plans had already been announced for the event's physical return this year; however, given the current lockdowns in both Sydney and Melbourne, organisers have now scrapped the 2021 conference and festival altogether. "Without our music mates in New South Wales and Victoria and no certain timeline as to when domestic borders will remain open, BIGSOUND 2021 wouldn't be able to deliver on its promise to reunite the music community for three extraordinary days of connection, conversation, and music discovery," said QMusic CEO Kris Stewart in a statement announcing the cancellation. BIGSOUND's 2021 event was due to run from Tuesday, September 7–Thursday, September 9, with the three-day program slated to feature conferences, live festival showcases, secret shows and official parties. Around 150 musicians were expected to take to the stage, with past events showcasing everyone from Gang of Youths, Flume, Tash Sultana and Courtney Barnett to San Cisco, Violent Soho, Methyl Ethel and The Jungle Giants. Instead of trying to move around this year's fest or adjust to lockdowns and restrictions, the BIGSOUND team will now work towards staging the next event in September 2022. That said, 100-percent First Nations youth-led music conference Little BLAKSOUND will still go ahead this September, as presented by Digi Youth Arts. And, with 2021 marking BIGSOUND's 20th anniversary, work is underway to find a way to celebrate that milestone in some shape or form this year, too. BIGSOUND 2021 will no longer place between Tuesday, September 7–Thursday, September 9 in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane. Current ticket holders will receive refunds, as will artists who've paid application fees. For further details, visit bigsound.org.au. Top image: Kymie at BIGSOUND 2019 by Lachlan Douglas.
To be released December 24, 2012, The Kombi Trail is a tale of nine students fresh out of university who embark on the journey of a lifetime with the Cold War as a backdrop and a VW Kombi as means of transportation. This book tells of who they met, where they went and what they experienced. Among bizarre and sometimes frightening circumstances the young men encountered. Written by Robert Cox, Roger Sherwin, and Tony Thompson, this is tale straight out of 1961 and over three different continents. It's an entertaining tale of the relationships between these men and those they meet. Sharing a home and life-changing experiences, these men and their VW Kombi conquer treacherous mountain passes, severely unstable roadways, and river crossings. The young men travel to Anatolia, the Middle East, Asia and Africa. Here are some pictures (via Retronaut) of their travels, the people they met and of course, the VW Kombi. take a look at these photos and keep your eyes peeled for the release of the book.
The internet has made everything a lot easier. The technology and anonymity of the internet has eased a lot of things: shopping, communicating, dating (supposedly). It was only a matter of time before criminals took advantage of the virtual world. The Silk Road is a website selling real drugs virtually. Anonymously connecting buyers with sellers of heroin, LSD and cannabis, the website has had to enlarge its servers to handle the increase in traffic since being exposed by mainstream media. The website is infuriating for Australian law enforcement for two reasons: first, with its base of operations overseas Australian Federal Police have no jurisdiction over it, and secondly, the use of a virtual currency, called Bitcoins, means there is no paper trail which would usually lead to suspects. The best case scenario for the good guys is to increase monitoring of incoming online shopping mail. However with online shopping a $30 billion industry in Australia, it seems, at least in the short term, these new drug trafficking methods might prove too difficult to stop. The downfall of the site could be the very thing that has made Ebay such a success – feedback. With customers exchanging money for goods they want guarantees, something that these online drug dealers can’t reliably provide. And of course there will always be the traditionalists who prefer the personal touch of buying from their local flesh-and-blood dealer. [Via SMH]
Bluesfest experts already know that Iron & Wine will be folkify-ing Byron Bay come Easter 2014. But what they don't know (or haven't, until today, at least) is that the Texan singer-songwriter formally known as Sam Beam will be making headline appearances in Sydney and Melbourne. Since his last Australia tour, Iron & Wine has released two albums: the slick and poppy Kiss Each Other Clean (2011), which entered the US Billboard Chart at Number 2, and now, Ghost on Ghost. Representing yet another extension of Beam's creative repertoire, it combines '60s soul influences with dashes of '70s rock. Beam's idiosyncratic voice meets a punchy horn section, string flourishes and retro-style female harmonies. "As an artist, I think you should be exploring all the time," he told American Songwriter recently. "It's a transition in the way you think about your work. If your work is more about the process of working, then you are still in pursuit of good results, but the result is not where you get your satisfaction. It's the process — the process of exploring and doing." Iron & Wine will play the Sydney Opera House on April 22 and Melbourne's Forum Theatre on April 23. Tickets are available via Handsome Tours' website. Photo by Craig Kief.
Imagine if your teenage years had involved a little more arts and culture. Maybe it would have inspired a career in filmmaking or perhaps you would have discovered your love of theatre a good decade earlier than you did. At the very least, you'd have saved yourself a whole lot of after-school boredom. Such is the premise of new initiative Playwave, which aims to hook young people up with the best of Sydney's arts and culture scene. Created by Shopfront Arts Co-Op with the support of the City of Sydney and a raft of top local cultural institutions, Playwave is out to boost access to dance, theatre, film, music, opera, literature and visual arts for local teenagers aged 15 to 19. By signing up for free, members can use Playwave's online platform to access free and discounted tickets (up to an estimated maximum of $30 per ticket), exclusive events and experiences, original content and special offers, putting them front and centre of Sydney's thriving cultural scene. The platform even allows users to rate and review shows they've been to, and to share photos and video, inviting them to really engage with the city's cultural offerings. Though already in operation, Playwave will launch properly alongside Sydney Festival, offering members discounted tickets to a handpicked selection of its events. Know a youngster who could use some exposure to Sydney's arts scene? Sign them up to Playwave here.
NAIDOC Week happens in July every year, with a packed program of events to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The theme this year? 'Voice. Treaty. Truth.' One of the biggest events of the week is NAIDOC in the City, which invites Sydneysiders down to Hyde Park for a day of festivities from 11am–3pm on Saturday, July 13. The event is a sensory delight (seriously). Underground earth ovens will be temporarily installed in the park, cooking up slow-cooked samplers of everything from crocodile san choy bau and kangaroo chilli pies. You'll get to catch loads of music and performances including hip-hop duo Nooky and Koibe Dee, electro-pop group The Merindas, performances from the Muggera dancers and loads more. While you're there, visit weaving and jewellery-making workshops or go check out the art gallery curated by Boomalli Aboriginal Artists Co-Op and APY Art Centre Collective. There will also be a range of market stalls showcasing arts, crafts and books. NAIDOC in the City is held in Hyde Park from 11am to 3pm, find the full program here. Image: Joseph Mayers
Where do partygoers go when the party's over? Well, so far, it's been Hugo's Lounge, where DJs and indefatigable punters have gathered every Sunday to deny the weekend's demise. Now, 13 years on, Sydney's long-running dance night is moving around the corner to new club, Santa Barbara. Though the change has inspired some controversy, Sneaky Sundays devotees need not be concerned. Founders Black Angus and Miss Connie Mitchell (aka Sneaky Sound System) intend to continue in the spirit that has ensured the night's longevity, with all their favourite DJs being made well aware of the new location. And why not mark a change of address with a launch party? On February 24, Sneaky Sunday's loyal DJ talents, including Sam Francisco, Cassette, Jimmy 2 Sox, Ajax, Dangerous Dan, Jonny Pow and, of course, Sneaky Sound System, will be warming up their new home.
Situated in Sydney's CBD, the rebranded Novotel Sydney City Centre is, as its name suggests, centrally located near iconic landmarks such as the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Darling Harbour. Adjacent to Wynyard train station, it offers convenient access to Sydney Airport, Barangaroo and beyond. Housed in the former location of the Mercure Sydney Wynyard, the hotel boasts 283 newly renovated rooms across 22 floors, reflecting a $20-million refurbishment project completed in November 2023, led by Australian studio Dezign. The hotel has a keen focus on emphasising sustainability and family-friendly amenities. As the first Novotel in Australia to embrace "Hypothesis," it aims to minimise waste and maximise functionality for its guests. There are self-check-in kiosks in the lobby, and all in-room information is shared via QR codes to minimise paper waste. There are rooms ranging from family accommodations to suites with wet bars and balconies with views of the surrounding heritage buildings. Select suites offer modular furniture for personalised arrangements, allowing for flexibility and space efficiency to suit a guest's bespoke needs. With natural textures, timber accents and abundant greenery in the rooms and lobby, the hotel provides a tranquil retreat amidst the city's bustle. Downstairs in the lobby, you'll also find the Birdie Bar and Restaurant — which offers a fusion of British and modern Australian fare on a menu that champions local produce and celebrates Aussie fauna of the feathered variety.
It might be getting darker earlier but Vivid is lighting up Sydney's night sky brighter than ever, and it is about to get even more luminous with the opening of the [yellow tail] [colour]3, a pop-up wine bar, over the June long weekend. The bar will be open at the Overseas Passenger Terminal in the Cargo Hall from June 8-10pm, 4pm to midnight, allowing Sydneysiders to celebrate the final few days of Vivid Sydney with a splash of colour and an additional splash of wine. Whilst the bar could rest on its laurels of being a blink-and-you'll-miss-it experience, it has decided to go much further and live a dual life as an art instillation. Our personal favourite element is that the bar will be created from large multicoloured illuminated cubes. It is as if an artist has solved the coolest Rubik's Cube ever and is letting us have a party inside their food-, drink-, music- and art-filled work. Operating out of the same venue is Vivid's Terminal Projekt, a three-day and two-night visual and sonic feast that will attempt to stimulate all of your senses. The musical program of Vivid has grown each year and this anticipated event has sourced an excellent electronic line-up that includes Hamburg's house specialist Tensnake and the Grandmaster Flash-inspired HNQO to soundtrack your evening as you witness 3D-mapped projections and groove the night away. It is a party of the proportions that Vivid-goers have come to expect. We have one package for you and three friends to Vivid Sydney's Terminal Projekt to give away. The prize includes four tickets to Terminal Projekt on Sunday, June 9, featuring Tensnake and 3D mapper Kit Webster. You also get a complimentary pop-up dining experience at Vivid Terminal Bar for all four of you, where you can choose from Panama House, Mexicano or Bourke Street Bakery, and a complimentary glass of [yellow tail] wine each. To be in the running, subscribe to our newsletter (if you haven't already) and then email hello@concreteplayground.com.au with your name and address.
Halloween: love it or hate it, there's no doubt it's growing in popularity here Down Under. And after two years spent on our couches, we'll be damned if we don't use any holiday as an excuse for a celebration. When you're at uni, throwing on a half-assed costume and heading to some sticky beer-soaked party seems like the height of a good time. But if you're reading this you're probably in the over-25 set and would way rather relax on your couch solo than freeze your tail off at a random party in some Reject Shop number — or even worse, watch your friends' kids run around on a sugar high. So we're here to help. We've teamed up with the devilish minds at Devil's Vine to pen a guide to getting into the spirit of things this Halloween — think delicious dining options, movie marathons and costumes guaranteed to impress. [caption id="attachment_873494" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image credit: Chester Newling.[/caption] HOST A SPOOKY (YET SOPHISTICATED) HALLOWEEN SOIREE Sipping beer out of plastic cups is out — sipping a juicy red at a dinner party with friends is in. Luckily we've got just the ticket: a Devil's Vine wine-soaked Halloween dinner party. We've taken care of the menu, decorations and entertainment options, so head on over to our Halloween guide to get the skinny. HOLD THE ULTIMATE HORROR MOVIE MARATHON Remember those days of staying up all night watching horror flicks with your friends at sleepovers? To get into the Halloween spirit this year, you're going to be holding a version of that with an adult twist. (No, not like that — get your minds out of the gutter). It's all about providing the ultimate in comfort, snacks and wines. One easy way to get your guests into the spirit is to give each of them the task of bringing a Halloween-themed platter. Some of our go-tos are a charcuterie board with 'mouldy' cheese, a platter of pumpkin-spiced treats, or one with only trick-or-treat-worthy lollies and sweets. Drinks-wise, it's all about the vino, and lots of it. Our pick is a Devil's Vine red — it's juicy but not overly sweet, so extremely easy to drink. Pour your cab sauv, merlot, shiraz or red blend into goblet-sized glasses and kick back to watch your flick. [caption id="attachment_859412" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kathy Najimy as Mary Sanderson, Bette Midler as Winifred Sanderson, and Sarah Jessica Parker as Sarah Sanderson in Disney's live-action HOCUS POCUS 2, exclusively on Disney+. Photo by Matt Kennedy. © 2022 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.[/caption] For your movie option, we'd recommend opting for something camp and scarily hilarious — this is about bringing the Halloween spirit, not scaring yourselves so silly that your friends are unable to go home alone. Some of our faves include What We Do in the Shadows, Beetlejuice, Shaun of the Dead, The Addams Family and Addams Family Values, The Cabin in the Woods , the OG Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters II, Ready or Not, Tucker & Dale Versus Evil, The Lost Boys and Hocus Pocus (which you can also follow up with the just-released and long-awaited sequel). Being in your comfy 'fits and stuffing yourselves silly also presents the perfect opportunity to tell some "scary" stories of your own over your glass of red — less of the ghost persuasion, though, and more about your mate's recent Tinder nightmare or horrifying mother-in-law tales. And hey, if someone brings out the ouija board, we're not responsible. GOING TO A PARTY? CHOOSE YOUR COSTUME WISELY So your mate convinced you to attend that Halloween party. Maybe the person they're keen to date will be there, or they heard from a friend of a friend it's going to "go off". Hey, we get it — we're pushing thirty but we're not dead yet. But if you're going to do Halloween at our age, you're going to do it right. The days of just throwing on a $5 pair of cat ears are over — you are an adult and will spend money on your costume accordingly. Just like any party, the best part is getting ready, so invite your friends over, pour yourself a glass of Devil's Vine wine and get to work. We've put together some of our favourite costume options to spark some inspo: Barbiecore Be inspired by Tash's incredible dance outfit in the last season of Love Island UK, or Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling on skates in Malibu. Think bright pink lycra, big hair, bold lips and chunky dad sneakers. Bridgerton-inspired Regency 'fits Thanks to shows like Bridgerton and The Great, costume shops are absolutely heaving with Regency-inspired pieces these days. Perfect for solo costumes and couples 'fits alike, these ones make it look like you've made a lot of effort while you've actually got it together with minimal fuss. Marilyn Monroe One of the most notable actresses of recent generations is really going through another present-day moment, thanks to Kim Kardashian's Met Gala look and that questionable Netflix movie Blonde. She had so many iconic looks over her time that it's hard to nail one down — but we think if you're looking to give the sequinned treatment, get a nude tight slip like this one and cover it in glitter. Or, opt for a white dress like this one and find the nearest grate. Clueless suits Thanks to Gen Z's ongoing fascination with all things 90s (or what those of a certain age refer to as our childhood), thrift shops are bursting with oversized blazers and mini skirts these days. And if you're attending a Halloween party with a gal pal, you could do much worse than a costume inspired by one of the 90s most enduring duos by donning matching Clueless-inspired 'fits. Find a good checked number in a pale shade and die it yellow — or opt for a navy number if you're more a Dionne than a Cher. Beetlejuice and Lydia Thrift an old black suit, paint some white stripes down it and give your hair a temporary (and very important) spray of white hair paint — job done. For Lydia, either hunt down a red ball gown — or find acres of tulle and get to work with scissors and thread. This Halloween, make a date with Devil's Vine. Available for RRP$11.99 per bottle at Dan Murphy's and RRP$14.99 at per bottle at BWS, head online or in-store to check it out.
For devoted peaty whisky drinkers, too much smoke is never enough. And, when it comes to smoky drops, Ardbeg is king. Made on the remote, windswept island of Islay — just off Scotland's southwest coast — this much-drunk drop has been found in connoisseur's cabinets for more than 200 years. Not only is it unbelievably smoky, it's also surprisingly sweet — something which fans describe as 'the peaty paradox'. As a way for you to test your capacity to handle this complex flavour, Ardbeg is hosting The Smokehouse, a series of venue takeovers featuring whisky tastings, cocktails, smoke-infused eats and live entertainment. The first event will kick off at The Oxford Tavern on Saturday, October 27 from midday. This inaugural event is making good use of Black Betty, The Oxford Tav's renowned barbecue, so you can expect generous platters of barbecue pork ribs, slathered in Ardbeg-infused barbecue sauce, cornbread, slaw and pickles, plus pulled pork and beef sliders. On the cocktail menu, look out for the Untamed Beast — an explosion of Ardbeg 10 Years Old, apricot and smoke — as well as An Unassuming Wisp, a bold yet all too drinkable concoction of Ardbeg An Oa, coffee and wattle cola, among other new creations. For serious whisky drinkers, the ultimate experience is the flight: a tasting paddle containing three of Ardbeg's smokiest drops, accompanied by beef jerky done three ways. Begin with the original, infused with smoky Vegemite, before moving onto the Soljanka flavoured with sauerkraut, spicy pickle and smoky mustard. Last but not least, blow your head off with the hot-hot-hot Habanero. The Oxford Tavern's Ardbeg Smokehouse will take place this Saturday, October 27 from midday until sold out. You can book a table via The Oxford Tavern's website.
It's always great when a new lineup announcement tells you what you'll be doing, and also how you'll be feeling — and the latest addition to the Summer Camp bill definitely does exactly that. Get ready to murder the dancefloor, and no, you'd better not kill the groove. And if ain't love you're feeling about Sophie Ellis-Bextor joining the fest, then why does it feel so good? The UK pop star — aka the reason that you now have her own hit 'Murder on the Dancefloor' and Spiller's 'Groovejet (If This Ain't Love)' stuck in your head — headlines the new Summer Camp drop, and she has company. Also now making their way to the festival's debut shows in Sydney and Melbourne in November: DJ Kiddy Smile, DJ Jodie Harsh and Coucou Chloe. The event's lineup was already big — and now it's clearly even bigger. Ellis-Bextor and company join Years & Years, aka British singer and actor Olly Alexander (It's a Sin), as well as New Orleans' Big Freedia, Australia's own The Veronicas, plus Cub Sport, Ladyhawke, JessB, Kinder and more. DJ, gonna burn this goddamn house right down indeed. [caption id="attachment_863383" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Laura Lewis[/caption] Postponed from last summer, Summer Camp is a new touring pride festival — and yes, while the fest is no longer taking place during the season that shares its name, the weather is still bound to show up for the occasion. After first kicking off at Sydney's Centennial Parklands on Saturday, November 5, it'll then head to the Velodrome in Melbourne on Saturday, November 12. If the latter venue sounds new, that's because the fest is moving to a bigger site since its last announcement. In addition to live tunes from all of the above acts across two stages, the festival will feature dance, performance art and art installations, as well as food and beverage offerings. Over 150 DJs, drag queens, dancers and performance artists will be involved in each city. Given the name, it's clear what kind of vibe that festival founders Kat Dopper (creator of Heaps Gay) and Grant Gillies and David Gillett (creators of Red Mgmt, and former Sydney Mardi Gras marketing and international talent managers) are going for. So, expect a cruisy summer camp-meets-arts and music playground-type atmosphere that's also all about inclusivity and supporting young diverse artists. Summer Camp will also host big after parties in each city, with tickets only available to folks heading to the fest. Sydney's will take place in the new Liberty Hall at the Entertainment Quarter, while Melbourne's is headed to The Industrique Warehouse. Tickets for the after parties won't be available until September; however, if you're after tickets for the fest itself, the third release will go back on sale at 11am on Thursday, August 4. SUMMER CAMP FESTIVAL 2022 AUSTRALIAN DATES: Saturday, November 5 — Centennial Parklands, Sydney Saturday, November 12 — Velodrome, Melbourne SUMMER CAMP FESTIVAL 2022 LINEUP — FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT: Years & Years Big Freedia Sophie Ellis-Bextor Coucou Chlo Jodie Harsh Kiddy Smile The Veronicas Cub Sport Ladyhawke Kinder JessB Djanaba Tanzer Triple J Unearthed DJs: Half Queen Jawbreakers Mowgli May Charlie Villas — Sydney Cunningpants — Sydney Dan Azzo — Sydney Deepa — Sydney DJ Naian — Sydney Isa — Sydney Latifa Tee — Sydney Red Rey — Sydney Squeef — Sydney Stereogamous & Family — Sydney Zotdotcom — Sydney Butch le Butch — Melbourne Carolina Gasolina — Melbourne Dirty Versachi — Melbourne Hip Hop Hoe — Melbourne Nick Spurway — Melbourne Soju Gang — Melbourne Sophie Forrest — Melbourne Stev Zar — Melbourne PERFORMANCE & ART: Carla from Bankstown — Sydney Amyl — Sydney Brian — Sydney Burlee Chassis — Sydney Cassandra the Queen — Sydney Demon Derriere — Sydney Faggy — Sydney Fetu Taku & Dancers — Sydney Fox Pfluger — Sydney I Miss You Productions — Sydney Kade Power — Sydney Karna Ford — Sydney Karmaisavich — Sydney King Cxntessa — Sydney Lady Fur — Sydney Leilani — Sydney Lorcan Power — Sydney Marlena Dali — Sydney Millie Sykes — Sydney Radha — Sydney Stelly G — Sydney The General Public — Sydney Twiggy Styx — Sydney Tyra From Bankstown — Sydney Vic — Sydney Yummy — Melbourne Bede Nash — Melbourne Bettie Rosé — Melbourne Cerulean — Melbourne D Flowers — Melbourne Dandrogyny — Melbourne Glitter and Snatch — Melbourne House of Divine — Melbourne House of Silky — Melbourne Krayola — Melbourne Limmerence — Melbourne Max Drag Queen — Melbourne Minnie Taur — Melbourne Real Hot Bitches — Melbourne Real Sick Bitch of Melbourne — Melbourne Simple — Melbourne Summer Camp head to Sydney and Melbourne in November 2022. For further details or to nab tickets — with the third release back on sale at 11am on Thursday, August 4 — head to the festival's website.
Giving someone the gift of food or beer can be an easy choice — it's certainly a timesaver, and it's obviously very easy to order if you're in lockdown — but it can also show that you know what they love. And if your dad likes beer and liquorice, he's likely to be more than a little keen on a new limited-edition brew whipped by by Darrell Lea and Nomad Brewing Co. If you're known to have a hankering for both of those things, you might be as well. The beer in question: Darrell Lea Batch 37 dark chocolate liquorice stout. It sounds a bit like chocolate bullets in beer form, and its release has been timed for Father's Day. The confectionery company says that it sells plenty of bullets and liquorice at this time of year, so doing a liquorice brew was a straightforward next step. As a result, if you can never quite decide between getting your dad a few brews or his favourite sweets, you've now got another choice. As the name makes plain, Nomad has infused this stout with Darrell Lea's Batch 37 liquorice, with the Sydney-based brewery also adding natural liquorice flavour to the mix. Flavour-wise, as well as liquorice — which is one of those foods that people tend to either adore or abhor — you can expect to a creamy, rich and also bitter taste. You won't find the brew at Darrell Lea stores, though. Instead, you'll need to head to Nomad's website or to a bottle shop. Darrell Lea Batch 37 dark chocolate liquorice stout is available via Nomad Brewing Co's website for $11 per can or $45 per four-pack, or via select bottle shops.
Over the course of one year, Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei travelled to 23 countries to document the plight of refugees around the world. Australia wasn't one of them -- although it easily could have been. Ai will, however, be heading to our shores in March of next year as part of the 21st Biennale of Sydney, coinciding with the release of the film chronicling his travels, Human Flow. A moving documentary that's mammoth yet intimate in both its scope and impact, Human Flow is pieced together from daily experiences in camps in Afghanistan, Germany, Kenya, Turkey and more, chronicling the personal toll for those trying to find a better life, while also conveying the bigger picture. Thanks to striking aerial shots that capture the sights of mass human migration, the latter proves much more literal in a visual sense than you might initially expect. With Ai also appearing on camera intermittently — conducting interviews, swapping passports and even dancing — his strong feelings about the global refugee crisis also shine through. It's a topic the artist has previously addressed in everything from his studio in Lesbos to his current series of New York fences, with Human Flow proving an empathetic, urgent and impassioned addition to his body of work. Ai Weiwei's piece Law of the Journey — a 70-metre suspended inflatable rubber raft with figures — will also be on display at Cockatoo Island during his visit, forming part of the Biennale from 16 March until 11 June 2018. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YP5F7-RwVgM Human Flow opens in Australian cinemas on March 15, 2018. The 21st Biennale of Sydney will run from Friday March 16, until Monday June 11, 2018. Image: Director Ai Weiwei in Human Flow, an Amazon Studios release. Photo Courtesy of Amazon Studios.
Sandy beaches in the Blue Mountains? You bet. Jellybean Pool might not have blue sea waters, but it has more than enough wild charm. Take a short walk down from the Glenbrook Information Centre and you'll find this long-beloved swimming hole. Leave your things on the sand or surrounding rocks while you explore the pool, and keep an eye out for the abundant birdlife, including kestrels, lorikeets and kingfishers. The pristine natural surroundings and easy journey make it popular with Sydneysiders, so it's best to go before lunch if you want a less busy swim. If you're feeling intrepid, make a weekend of it by pitching a tent at Euroka Campground. Image: Nina Matthews, Flickr
How do you like your roast? If size matters, book in at Forrester's any day of the week for The Big Yorkie. If you can't go without ocean views, try the Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel. If you like a twist on tradition, head to Casa Esquina for a taco roast you can hold in your hands. Or, for a more refined take, head to The Botanist in Kirribilli. This year, it's peddling a signature take on the classic beef wellington. You'll be served a juicy fillet of grass-fed beef with mixed mushrooms, spinach, prosciutto and jus, encased in delicate pastry. On the side – creamy mashed potatoes and a leaf salad dressed in shallot vinaigrette. To make it even more posh, add your pick of starters and sides — from yellowfin tuna crudo with whipped tahini and kombu salsa to grilled half-shell scallop with garlic butter, or broccolini with roasted sesame and chilli crunch. Bookings are available every Sunday in June, but you'll need to make them by 6pm on the Friday before. Bottom image: Yasmin Mind
On Tuesday, November 22, Bondi restaurant Luis Tans will do away with their regular Asian-South American programming to present a five-course tequila degustation. Head Chef Leandro Legname (ex-Bridge St Garage) has brought in gun Bulletin Place bartender Thalita Gabriela Alves (who was nominated for last year's Bartender Magazine's Rookie of the Year) to create an array of tequila concoctions to accompany the dishes, making this degustation a boozer's dream. Guests will dine on a Mexican prawn cocktail (which is a prawn in an actual cocktail — see above), followed by dishes like salmon ceviche, slow-marinated tequila chicken with tangy salsa and an intriguing-sounding tequila lime pie shooter for dessert. The best part is that this degustation is actually quite reasonably priced at $75 for five courses with matching tequila cocktails. Not a bad option for a Tuesday night in Bondi. To book, email bookings@luistans.com.
UPDATE, March 13, 2023: Navalny is available to stream via Docplay, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. Man on Wire did it with The Walk, The Times of Harvey Milk sparked Milk and Dogtown and Z-Boys brought about Lords of Dogtown. Werner Herzog went from Little Dieter Needs to Fly to Rescue Dawn, too, and the Paradise Lost films were followed by Devil's Knot. One day, Navalny will join this growing list. Documentaries inspiring dramas isn't new, and Alexei Navalny's life story would scream for a biopic even if director Daniel Roher (Once Were Brothers) hadn't gotten there first — and so compellingly, or in such an acclaimed way, winning the 2022 Sundance Film Festival's Audience Award for its US doco competition in the process. When you're a Russian opposition leader crusading against corruption and Vladimir Putin, there's going to be a tale to tell. Usually only Hollywood screenwriters can conjure up a narrative like the one that Navalny has been living, though, typically in a Bourne-style spy thriller. Actually, John le Carré, Ian Fleming or Tom Clancy might've come up with something similar; still, even the former, the author responsible for such espionage efforts such as Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and The Night Manager, could've struggled to imagine details this staggering. Creating a fictional character as complicated, captivating and candid as Navalny's namesake would've also been a stretch. Indeed, there are two key aspects to this engrossing doco: everything that it explores about its subject's life, especially in recent years, which is a dream for a documentary filmmaker; and the engaging pro-democracy advocate himself. Often Navalny chats to camera about his experiences, demanding and earning the viewer's attention. In a movie that doesn't overlook his flaws, either, he's equally riveting when he's searching for a crucial truth. Another stark fact haunts Navalny from the outset: it was never guaranteed that he'd be alive to see the film come to fruition, let alone reach an audience. The outspoken Putin critic, lawyer and dissident confronts that grim reality early on, giving Roher the holy grail of soundbites. "Let's make a thriller out of this movie,' he says. "And if I'm killed, let's make a boring movie about memory," he continues. In August 2020, Navalny nearly didn't make it, after all. In an incident that understandably attracted international headlines and just as expectedly sits at the core of this documentary, he was poisoned while flying from Tomsk in Siberia to Moscow. The toxin: a Novichok nerve agent. The instantly suspected culprits: the Kremlin, as part of an assassination plot that he survived. No matter whether you're aware of the minutiae from press coverage when it happened — or of his treatment by Russia prior or since, in a country that hasn't taken kindly to his campaign against its president — or you're stepping through his tale for the first time while watching, Navalny couldn't be more gripping as it gets sleuthing as well. Among other things, it's an attempted-murder mystery. That fateful flight was diverted to Omsk because Navalny was so violently and deathly ill due to the Soviet-era toxin. His stint in hospital was tense, and evacuating him to safety in Berlin was never guaranteed. Although the poisoning is just one aspect of his story, and of this astonishing and anger-inciting film, identifying the people responsible is firmly one of Navalny's quests and Navalny's focuses. With extraordinarily intimate access, befitting his central figure's frankness and determination, Roher shot the aftermath of the incident as it unfolded; one moment in particular must be seen to be believed. Navalny takes up help from Christo Grozev, an investigative journalist from Netherlands-based group Bellingcat (or "a nice Bulgarian nerd with a laptop" as he's called here). As the evidence mounts, they start contacting the men they've worked out were involved. Most calls end promptly. Then, when Navalny impersonates a Kremlin higher-up, phoning to get answers as to why the plot went wrong, answers spill (answers that involve Navalny's underwear, in fact). With apologies to the most skilled screenwriters and authors that've plied their trade in spy narratives, this is an exchange so wild that it can only be true, as Navalny's audience witnesses while perched on the edge of their seats. This is a compulsive, revelatory, fast-paced movie, as directed with agility by Roher. There's as much of a pulse to its early summary of Navalny's career, including what led him to become such a target, as there is to his to-camera discussions and the unravelling of the Novichok ordeal. News footage and imagery shot on mobile phones help fill in the gaps with the latter, but the as-it-happens calls — and the digging before it — are so suspenseful and so deftly shot by cinematographer Niki Waltl (In the Bunker) and spliced by editors Maya Hawke (Janis: Little Girl Blue) and Langdon Page (Mapplethorpe: Look at the Pictures) that it's hard to see how any dramatisation could top it. Composers Marius de Vries (CODA) and Matt Robertson (a music programmer on Cats) add a nerve-shredding score, too, as part of the doco's polish. Navalny doesn't need it, as seeing its subject's flight back to Russia in January 2021 after recuperating to Germany — a flight back to charges and imprisonment — also makes plain, but the whole package is expertly assembled. There's still more in the absorbing documentary's sights, such as Navalny's relationships with his ever-supportive wife Yulia and children Dasha and Zakhar; his social-media following and the well-oiled flair for getting his message out there, including via TikTok; the charisma that's helped him strike such a wide-ranging chord; and his fondness of playing Call of Duty. Navalny is a frightening portrait of Russia, an account of battling its oppressive status quo and a layered character study alike — and, smartly and astutely, that means looking at the man in its moniker's past approach to consolidating opposition to Putin as well. Navalny has previously thrown in with far-right groups to amass a cohort against the Russia leader, a move that warrants and gets a thorough line of questioning, resulting in frustration on his part. As it lays bare what it involves to confront authoritarian power, demand freedom and fight against the state while putting your life on the line — be it in inspiring or dubious-at-best ways — this film has to be unflinching: it couldn't be as complex as it is otherwise.
UPDATE, April 24, 2023: Slowdive are no longer on the Daydream bill, after drummer Simon Scott was injured. This article has been updated to reflect that change. Float on, festival fans: come April, Australia's newest excuse to see a heap of bands in one spot will make its way along the country's east coast. That touring event: the just-announced Daydream, which joins the country's ever-growing roster of excuses to see and support live music. Daydream is hitting the Hordern Pavilion in Sydney on Saturday, April 29 with quite the roster of indie-rock talent — headlined by Modest Mouse three decades after the Washington-born group first got together. Don't listen to the title of the band's acclaimed 2004 album, though — this is good news for people who love good news, not bad. Joining Modest Mouse on the bill are Australian favourites Tropical F*ck Storm, and the roster keeps going from there. The lineup varies slightly per city, with Beach Fossils and Cloud Nothings also taking to the stage at all stops, plus Majak Door in Sydney. [caption id="attachment_817946" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Somefx[/caption] Top image: Modest Mouse by Matthewvetter via Wikimedia Commons.
Cats have been given enough attention over the years and we’re calling it. Finally. Miley fans will have to find a new symbol of ironic-cool to turn into those memes that they repost daily. The internet's best friend has had its time in the spotlight and it’s time for man’s best friend to shine. The Dog Lovers Show is the largest event for canine enthusiast in the Southern Hemisphere. Over 200 exhibitors and more than 500 dogs will congregate at The Royal Hall of Industries from November 7-9 for a celebration of all things dog. Highlights will include Pet-A-Pooch: a playground for dogs of all shapes and sizes where visitors can freely play with the puppies. Also, The Royal Canin Breed Showcase will feature over 25 different breeds of dogs and breeding experts to provide advice for visitors on selecting the appropriate dog for your lifestyle. There will even be an Ask-A-Vet Zone providing free consultations to answer any questions you may have about your own fluffy friend. Grab some cheeky discount tickets via their website, or simply lose a few hours cruising around for pictures of baby sausage dogs. There's no shame — we're all in the same gushy puppy-loving boat for this one.
If the words bubbly and antipasto are your requirements for a damn good time, read on. Sydney's first ever Italian sparkling wine festival, Bolle Italia is coming to the recently opened Bar Machiavelli in Rushcutters Bay this October. This brand new festival will give wine enthusiasts and people who just really like the sound of a popping cork the chance to taste a glass (or a bottle) of some of the world's best sparkling wines — in particular paying tribute to world-class Italian sparkling wines from Friuli to Sicily and Piedmont to Sardinia. Festival founders and Italian sparkling wine importers Heath Felton and Marco Zaccariotto created the festival after they noticed the increased demand for quality sparkling wines in Australia over the past few years. "The Bolle Italia wine festival will give Australians the rare opportunity to taste quality Italian sparkling wines coming into the market, and learn how to recognise the difference," said Felton. For those wanting to improve their dinner party chit chat, sommeliers will be running masterclasses, so you can drop comments like 'creamy' or 'nuanced flavours of brioche and lemon zest' and actually know what you are talking about. If pairing your bubbly with a meal is more your thing than swilling the cheapest sparkling from a plastic flute at the races, be sure to nab a ticket to the Bolle Italia Degustazione — a six-course degustation with an exclusive menu designed by Bar Machiavelli's owner and chef, Paola Toppi, for 2016's Good Food Month.
Summer appears to finally be on its way (albeit a bit too slowly for most of our likings) and that means it's time to start thinking about which music festivals you want to head to in your best summery threads. Homebake is one such offering. This year the organisers have decided to go with a not-so-cheery doomsday theme and, breaking with tradition, have roped in a big-name overseas headliner for the festival's first global edition. Thrown in with acts including Kimbra, Jinga Safari, DZ Deathrays, Hilltop Hoods, Husky and Angus and Julia Stone (playing separately), the headliner this year is iconic American disco-pop outfit Blondie. At the time of writing, more acts are still to be announced. Not content with focusing just on tunes, Homebake also has a comedy stage (presented by the Sydney Comedy Festival), Cinema Pavilion (curated and produced by Kieran Darcy-Smith), and plenty of artiness thrown into the mix. Update: The full line up has since been announced, including Tame Impala, Tim Minchin, sonicanimation, Sticky Fingers and more. https://youtube.com/watch?v=WGU_4-5RaxU
When a filmmaker keeps chiselling away at the same niche, they're called repetitive. When they swap what they know for something new, they're accused of straying past their limits. The supposed ideal seems to sit somewhere in the middle, with directors expected to remain unwaveringly reliable while also serving up constant surprises — even if that very concept defies basic human nature. So what's an acclaimed auteur to do when he appears to be settling into a well-worn groove, as his underwhelming last picture made plain? In Asghar Farhadi's case, he explores the contradiction of trying to be the same yet different, baking the notion into his latest release. With the Spanish-language Everybody Knows, one truth is immediately evident: you can take the Oscar-winner out of his native Iran, but you can't take the familiarity out of his work. The man behind About Elly, A Separation, The Past and The Salesman delights in delving into disharmony in close quarters — into relationships, friendships and family situations where what's left unspoken is as important as what's said, and where complication reigns supreme. The scenarios, characters and narratives vary, and occasionally the countries that his films are set in do as well, however the writer-director's deep dive into complex interactions continues. All of the above proves accurate in this recognisable domestic drama, which is dressed up as a kidnap thriller while shot in sunny hues and scenic locales. If that last sentence seems like a clash of contrasts, that's partly the point, with Everybody Knows examining the foolishness of simultaneously wanting things to change and hoping they remain exactly as they always were. Returning to her Spanish village after establishing a life in Argentina, Laura's (Penélope Cruz) homecoming should be a happy one. She's back for her younger sister Ana's (Inma Cuesta) nuptials, she has her teenage daughter Irene (Carla Campra) and adolescent son Diego (Ivan Chavero) in tow, and everyone from her elderly father Antonio (Ramon Barea) to her ex-lover Paco (Javier Bardem) is delighted by her presence. Of course, no one could've anticipated that Irene would disappear during the lively wedding reception, or that a significant ransom demand would set everyone on edge. When Laura's husband Alejandro (Ricardo Darin) belatedly arrives, he steps into a tempest of flaring tempers and fraying emotions as the close-knit group endeavours to work through their darkest hour. With a name like Everybody Knows, Farhadi's eighth film was always going to hinge upon twists and secrets — of the type that, as the title makes plain, aren't all that twisty and secret at all. For viewers of the director's past work, the minutiae borders on routine, as characters argue about past dalliances, long-held grievances, whispered rumours and deep-seated jealousies, plus a contentious land deal that helped Paco become a successful winemaker. But with Laura's desperation growing, Paco committing to assist however he can, and Alejandro becoming quietly envious of their previous relationship, something else fascinates. In thoughtful and insightful fashion, the movie's main players are all caught between a past they've painted in rosy colours, a present that's fraught with pain, and an idealised future that may never eventuate. Pondering the ripples caused by previous deeds has become a Farhadi trademark, as has upsetting a comfortable vision of life with a challenging alternative, yet the turmoil is both smartly and aptly handled in Everybody Knows. Still, while there's substance behind Farhadi's story and themes, not to mention purpose behind his usual flourishes, Everybody Knows is rarely more than a striving but standard entry on his resume. What helps lift the movie considerably is another of the filmmaker's regular touches, with Farhadi particularly accomplished at wringing excellent performances out of his actors. In roles written specifically for them, Cruz and Bardem show why they've become the English-language film world's go-to Spanish stars, throwing up surprises in their multi-faceted portrayals long after the narrative has stopped doing so. Elsewhere, the soulful Darin demonstrates why he belongs in their company, and there's no false moves among the rest of the cast either. Alas, even with such stellar assistance and intentions, Farhadi often feels as if he's caught between two impulses — between simply doing what he's always done, and giving his fondness for familiarity extra weight and meaning. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYMBGiWXoUc
In preparation for the release of her super-hyped, internet-breaking personal memoir Not That Kind of Girl, your spirit animal Lena Dunham has created a 12-part web series. Taking the whole 'voice of her generation' thing to its logical conclusion, Dunham poses as an agony aunt for people's personal and relationship problems and dishes out some stellar advice. Namely, don't date garbage men and don't yell 'vagina' in inappropriate public places (at home is obviously fine). Though Dunham has worked hard to differentiate herself from her on-air persona Hannah Horvath, it's interesting to note the similarities. For all her faults, the narcissistic Girls character is at least a feminist and a thinker. Here's how the two compare: Takeaway advice: Wear booty shorts and rock on with your bad self. Takeaway advice: Don't bother counting almonds, love your size and rock it in a romper. Takeaway advice: Don't waste time with bad friends. Takeaway advice: Don't fuck garbage people (or something like that). Takeaway advice: The personal is political. Write about whatever you want. Takeaway advice: Ask for help. Mental illness is just as serious as any other disease. Takeaway advice: Bullies are just sad ol' meanies. Takeaway advice: Eating your own stockings doesn't necessarily lead to lots of orgasms. Takeaway advice: Sometimes people just aren't right for each other. Takeaway advice: We're all going to die and Lena Dunham's life is much better than yours. Takeaway advice: We can all be successful, just make a fatty to-do list and hit that shit hard. Takeaway advice: Screaming 'vagina' in a chocolate store is apparently a bad thing. Not That Kind of Girl is released in the US on September 30. Expect overanalysed excerpts on Gawker not long after that.
Determined to close out the year in the most exciting way possible, Darling Harbour hotspot Cargo is hosting one of Sydney's most lively New Year's Eve events. The Cargo team have blended together all the necessary ingredients for an unforgettable night including a pumping lineup of local and international DJs, top-notch cocktails and a stunning view of the midnight fireworks. The venue has been decked out for summer so, on the night, you can expect nautical vibes with boat-style lounges and a pop-up spritz bar by Belvedere Vodka. The lively space will be serving up five different summer spritz options for $15 each, including Aperol, cucumber, cherry, peach and citrus. Local DJ talents Kate Fox, Tom Budin and Paris Lawrence will get the good vibes going with a mix of house, trap and EDM, before internationally renowned DJs Savage and Uberjak'd step up to the decks to see out the rest of the night. General admission tickets to this spectacular end-of-year party are available now from $45. But if you want to add some panache to your last few hours of the year, consider the Upstairs VIP Package which includes a cocktail on arrival plus three hours of canapés and unlimited drinks between 6–9pm. For more info and to purchase tickets to Cargo's New Year's Eve bash, head to the website.
UPDATE, APRIL 4: Due to concerns around the coronavirus, Sony has announced that Ghostbusters: Afterlife will no longer release on its initially scheduled date of Thursday, July 2, 2020, with the film now hitting cinemas on March 25, 2021. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website. There's something strange in the town of Summerville and a group of kids are calling upon themselves to bust it. That's the premise of Ghostbusters: Afterlife, which swaps New York for Oklahoma and grown men (and women) for children — and jumps firmly on the Stranger Things-led 80s nostalgia bandwagon. Whether siblings Phoebe (Annabelle Comes Home's McKenna Grace) and Trevor (Stranger Things' Finn Wolfhard) are seeing things runnin' through their heads or they'll catch an invisible man sleepin' in their beds is yet to be seen, but the film's first trailer does lay out the basics of this threequel's plot. The central duo has moved to the isolated locale with their mother (Widows' Carrie Coon), and into a rundown old house they've inherited from their grandfather. It's filled with ghost traps, containers of spores, mould and fungus, beige jumpsuits emblazoned with the name 'Spengler' and a very familiar car — which might come in handy when the ground starts shaking for no reason and a mysterious green light starts glowing. Paul Rudd also stars as teacher Mr Grooberson, who schools the kids in Ghostbusters lore — because this is a direct sequel to the original 1984 Ghostbusters and its 1989 follow-up Ghostbusters II. In the just-dropped sneak peek, the original characters appear in news footage, and Bill Murray's voice is heard; however, Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, Sigourney Weaver and Annie Potts are all set to reprise their roles in the film. (Harold Ramis, aka Spengler, passed away in 2014). Because bustin' makes everyone feel good, the Afterlife trailer is filled with other nods to the first two films, with writer/director Jason Reitman (Tully, The Front Runner) making both obvious and subtle references to the movies originally directed by his dad Ivan Reitman. Still, let's not forget that a great recent Ghostbusters film already exists, thanks to Paul Feig's wrongly maligned all-female version from 2016 — although Afterlife seems to be glossing over that. Check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahZFCF--uRY After being delayed from its original release date of July 2, 2020, Ghostbusters: Afterlife will now open in Australian cinemas on March 25, 2021.
So, you've launched your big business idea. You've settled into your new digs, sales are going well and you might even have a team to help you run the show. But, how do you know when you're ready to take things to the next level? Expanding a business can feel like entering unknown terrain. The looming fear of what lies ahead can cause many of us to second-guess ourselves and stick to what we know instead. But with risk comes reward, and pushing the boundaries is how every great business grows and thrives. To give you a helping hand, we've spoken to four Sydney entrepreneurs that have expanded their businesses with City of Sydney's Retail Innovation Program. Read on for their advice to you on doing the same and get prepared to take that next leap. [caption id="attachment_735021" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Trent van der Jagt[/caption] SAINT JOHN ESPRESSO: REFLECTING ON THE PAST TO INSPIRE THE FUTURE For anyone who feels restless and is craving a change from their nine to five, Kate Fellowes' story will resonate. Backed by six years of experience working for a large hospitality group, she decided to put her industry knowledge to use and take over the local cafe that was for sale. Fast forward three years and Saint John Espresso is continuing to expand. Coffee and breakfast orders can now be placed online before you arrive, and it also sells a range of full-size cakes — including chocolate and beetroot, polenta and passionfruit and baked ricotta cheesecake — for events. It's also hoping to add a new production arm to the business to boost revenue over the next 12 months and beyond. With the benefit of hindsight, Fellowes' believes the best business advice she has received is often the hardest to hear. It's not just about having a unique idea. "You need to make sure there is a market for your product or service — whether that's sitting outside your proposed site and counting foot traffic, doing research online about the number of people interested in what your offer is, or talking to others in the industry about what it's really like, research is vital," she explains. Fellowes' also champions networking as a key part of growth "Find other small businesses to catch up with and attend start-up events...You will find like-minded people who can be a resource for you." [caption id="attachment_735038" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Trent van der Jagt [/caption] KOSKELA: FOCUSING ON PROFITABILITY TO ENABLE SCALE Back in 2000, Rosebery was far from the gentrified hub of food, design and culture that exists today. But co-founders and partners Russel Koskela and Sasha Titchkosky were ready to take a chance, opening the doors of Sydney's premier design hub, Koskela in a 2000-square-metre, 100-year-old warehouse. The space boasts Australia's largest range of locally made and ethically produced homewares, furniture, lighting and art. Over the past two decades, Koskela has continued to evolve with the retail market, including expanding beyond the original workplace focussed product range. "Innovation is part of who we are. As a small, privately owned Australian company in a really competitive industry, it has to be," tells Titchkosky. To other businesses, Titchkosky suggests using every digital tool you can to learn more about your customer and keep track of trends. She also recommends shifting your main priority from revenue to profitability, which will allow more opportunities to use funds for other projects. For Titchkosky, that includes committing one percent of Koskela product sales to supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists. [caption id="attachment_694681" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Luise Brimble[/caption] RARA RAMEN: LISTENING AND RESPONDING TO WHAT THE PEOPLE WANT Perfecting any cuisine is a fine art. But for Katie Shortland and Scott Gault, co-owners of Redfern's Japanese noodle bar RaRa, the challenge proved even tougher. On a quest to bring authentic, good quality ramen to Sydneysiders, the pair travelled to Japan to train with seasoned ramen chefs. Language barriers aside, the duo learned to craft traditional broths and recipes from scratch. Since opening in 2018, RaRa has become a beloved haunt for inner-city ramen-lovers. "As locals who have lived in Redfern and Alexandria for more than seven years, we wanted to create a space that would appeal to locals, have a great, fresh appealing menu, offering local beers and natural wines in a great atmosphere at a reasonable price," Shortland and Gault explain. Due to popular demand, the team is currently on the hunt for an off-site kitchen to help them grow their offering. Plus, they're not afraid to ask for feedback from those who know their product best: their customers. "Thanks to great customer feedback, we have expanded our vegan and vegetarian menu. We now offer a wider range of natural wines and local beers and have started to sell merch following feedback and demand from customers." [caption id="attachment_734178" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Trent van der Jagt[/caption] CULTURE SCOUTS: EXPANDING YOUR OFFERING INTO NEW MARKETS When it comes to exploring a new city, we all like to get off the beaten track. Since launching in 2016, Culture Scouts has been delivering just that, offering a series of curated walking tours exploring Sydney's thriving cultural neighbourhoods. Over the past three years, founder Emilia Colliver has continued to expand and grow her left-of-field tour experiences. Today, you'll find Culture Scouts running tours across a range of Sydney suburbs from Redfern to Newtown, with the addition of Bondi experiences launching later this year. Plus, its team also facilitates tours to Tasmania's annual Dark Mofo food and arts festival. But it's not slowing down anytime soon. In 2019, Cultural Scouts expanded its offering to partner with big corporate companies including CBA, Lendlease, Tourism Australia and the City of Sydney. For Colliver, her secret to business success has been investing in building a strong team and creating a unique experience for locals and travellers alike. "People tell me that eventually, technology will take over, but I disagree. People still want that face-to-face engagement that Culture Scouts offers, as they get outdoors and discover their cities differently." Learn more about the City of Sydney Retail Innovation Program here.
Eveleigh's Carriageworks hosts one of Sydney’s best farmers' markets every Saturday, and on Saturday, 19 October, they take their commitment to interesting use of local produce to another level with Wild Tucker, which will introduce you to the exciting flavours of bush tucker. Aboriginal elder Aunty Beryl Van Oploo and Billy Kwong head chef Kylie Kwong team up with Skye Blackburn, an expert on insects as food, for a talk and cook-up based on this exciting new foodie frontier. Check out the rest of our top ten picks of Good Food Month here.
We've all been there. It's a 40-degree day and you're hanging out for a cold beverage but you're fresh out and the bottle shop feels like miles away. You can venture out in the hot sun, risking heatstroke or you can sit back, unwind and summon your own personal delivery driver to deliver a chilled frothy right to your door. Alcohol delivery service Jimmy Brings is making that second option a reality that won't break the bank, with $2 delivery throughout summer. Jimmy Brings offers delivery on a range of alcohol, including summer standards like Furphy, Corona and Four Pines, an expansive wine list, plus gin, vodka, whisky and Aperol just to name a few. The beverage that's all the rage right now, seltzer, is also available if you find yourself in need of an on-demand White Claw. If you're out of snacks or need a bag of ice for your esky, Jimmy Brings can save you a trip to the servo, too, by delivering Red Rock Deli chips, Lindt chocolate, Red Bull, limes, Berocca and ice to your door. It's a great solution to keep in your back pocket for the inevitable time when you forget to bring ice to a barbecue or are out of Red Bull before a night out. To get cheap delivery, you'll need to download the app and enter the code 'summer' — then your delivery fee will fall to just $2. To check if delivery is available in your area, browse the menu and download the app, head to the Jimmy Brings website. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
Streaming platforms, superheroes and Star Wars have become modern life's new certainties, with instances of each continuing to pop up all over the place. When Disney launches its own next big venture, they'll all combine, unsurprisingly — and with the company's own streaming service set to arrive in 2019, the mouse house has begun revealing the details. The platform will be known as Disney+, and will be home to not one but two small-screen Star Wars series, as well as at least one Marvel series as well. Given that Disney owns both Lucasfilm and Marvel Entertainment, it's highly likely that the service will boast an entire galaxy of shows related to each huge franchise. In fact, you could probably walk into a cantina somewhere and make a safe bet on it. There have been 10 Star Wars films and 20 Marvel movies in cinemas already, after all. Fans of the George Lucas-created space opera can not only look forward to the previously announced $100 million Star Wars series The Mandalorian from The Jungle Book, Iron Man and Iron Man 2 director Jon Favreau (and with Thor: Ragnarok director Taika Waititi helming an episode), but also a new spin-off from Rogue One. The latter will be set before the events of the film and will focus on Rebel spy Cassian Andor, with Diego Luna reprising his role from the movie. In the Marvel sphere, while a number of shows have been rumoured for months, Disney have announced that Tom Hiddleston's trickster Loki will definitely be getting his own series. Just what storyline it'll follow, or when it'll be set, is yet to be revealed. That said, it's safe to assume that it might be a prequel series as well. Release dates for both series haven't been unveiled either — and nor has any word on the other Marvel show that has long been rumoured, about Elizabeth Olsen's Scarlet Witch. Disney+ is definitely going big when it comes to bringing the company's well-known properties to the new streaming platform, with a High School Musical TV series, another show based on Monsters, Inc. and a live-action Lady and the Tramp movie also on its lineup. Via The Walt Disney Company. Image: Marvel Studios' Avengers: Infinity War. Loki (Tom Hiddleston). Photo: Chuck Zlotnick. ©Marvel Studios 2018.
From January 19, the 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art will exhibit the work of prominent contemporary Chinese artist Xiao Lu. Impossible Dialogue — curated by Claire Roberts, Mikala Tai — and Xu Hong, features major performance pieces spanning Lu's 30-year career, including a new commission exploring her connection to Australia. At the centre of the exhibition is Lu's iconic yet controversial work Dialogue, in which she fired a gun at her own installation. To kick off the Lunar New Year celebrations, the team at 4A are hosting a free workshop and panel this weekend, discussing everything from the legacy of Lu's work to the representation of gender in contemporary Chinese art. Plus, if you head in on Saturday, February 9, you can get a guided tour of the exhibition and a congee breakfast for just $25. Image: Xiao Lu, Tides (弄潮), 18 January 2019, Sydney. Photograph by Jacquie Manning. Commissioned by 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art.
Julian Marley is bringing his dreadlocks and infectious roots-reggae to Australia this May on an express pitstop tour. The son of the famous Bob, who recorded his first demo at the early age of five, will showcase his soulful voice and hypnotic beats in one show only in each of Sydney, Melbourne and Cairns before continuing on around the world. Marley has music in his veins and experiments with the multitude of instruments that he can play until he creates something he likes. "I don't plan the next step", he says, "somehow things seem to just come together naturally that way." It is that impulse and spontaneity that make his live offerings worth experiencing. He won't be alone either, with The Strides and ManaLion supporting him in Sydney, as well as Natalia Pa’apa’a of Blue King Brown fame performing with the Rumwaropen sisters. It promises to be an all-round mammoth serving of soul that will set your hips swaying and your feet shaking. Julian Marley visits are rare, so make sure you get in whilst you can; you never know when he will be coming back.
Two women, one Chinese, one Indian. One a cleaner, the other a manager. Both are key players in this pseudo-fairytale about global food politics. Trippy sounding stuff, we know. But as with all ambitious projects, just crazy enough to work. Director Lee Lewis writes with relish of meeting playwright Michele Lee at a writers' workshop. "She didn't have much more than an idea, an instinct, a title — Rice –—and an extraordinary talent for dialogue." In the five years since then, Rice has picked up the Queensland Premier's Drama Award and with a successful Queensland season under its belt, is on a national tour, of which Griffin is but one stop. Michele Lee describes the play as working on two scales, giving a glimpse of mass agriculture and the corporations that move food from the ground onto supermarket shelves, while simultaneously developing a friendship between two women from vastly different social spheres. Rice may make you think twice before shopping in a supermarket again, but as theatre goes, you'll be hard-pressed to find anything more homegrown. Support local theatre, kids.
When Hans Zimmer composes a film score, audiences remember it. His list of credits is as massive as his love of music, spanning everything from Dune, Top Gun: Maverick and No Time to Die through to Prehistoric Planet, Wonder Woman 1984 and The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run in just the past three years alone. Also on the German composer's resume: helping put the bounce in The Lion King's score — both versions — and the droning in Inception's memorable tunes, plus Thelma & Louise, Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy, Blade Runner 2049 and more. We could keen naming titles — flicks like Hidden Figures, The Boss Baby, Dunkirk, Widows, X-Men: Dark Phoenix, Gladiator, Pirates of the Caribbean, 12 Years a Slave, Sherlock Holmes, Mission Impossible II and Pearl Harbour, for instance — but all movie lovers know that the best way to appreciate the the Oscar-, Golden Globe-, Grammy- and Tony-winning talent is to listen. And, that's exactly what the Sydney Symphony Orchestra wants you to do on two big winter nights, thanks to its upcoming The Music of Hans Zimmer performances at the Sydney Opera House's Concert Hall. [caption id="attachment_724809" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Hans Zimmer[/caption] Sadly, especially if you caught his 2019 Australian tour, Zimmer himself won't be there. But Australian conductor and composer Nicholas Buc will lead the charge as the SSO plays through a selection of Zimmer's work, focusing on The Dark Knight, Gladiator, Inception, Interstellar, Pirates of the Caribbean and The Lion King. Buc is no stranger to Zimmer's tunes, after conducting the world-premiere live concert for The Lion King. And, he's no stranger to this kind of event in general, with doing the same for Beauty and the Beast, and just leading live film concerts around the country and the world, also on his resume. Taking place on Friday, June 23–Saturday, June 24, The Music of Hans Zimmer will also feature The Art of the Score podcast hosts Andrew Pogson and Dan Golding talking audiences through the music with Buc. The event sits on a growing roster of movie-themed performances for the SSO, including concerts focused on Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, 100 years of Disney flicks, Black Panther and The Princess Bride also in 2023. [caption id="attachment_886230" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sydney Symphony Orchestra[/caption] The Music of Hans Zimmer will hit the Sydney Opera House's Concert Hall on Friday, June 23–Saturday, June 24. Pre-sale tickets are available now, with general sales from 10am AEDT on Tuesday, January 31 — for further details, visit the Sydney Symphony Orchestra's website.
Surf's up at Sydney Olympic Park — and before autumn is over, you'll be able to take to the waves without hitting the beach in the Harbour City. Originally greenlit back in 2017, construction on Urbnsurf Sydney's massive man-made surf park has been underway for a while now, with the facility targeting opening before winter 2024 since last year. Here comes the news we've all been waiting for, then: first, that the site has begun pumping out waves; second, that it has an exact launch date. Mark Monday, May 13 in your diary. That's when the $75-million development will open at its 3.6-hectare venue, giving Sydney its first Urbnsurf complete with perfect waves year-round, plus impressive food and beverage offerings. Expect to have company, though, as the park — the brand's second in Australia, after opening in Melbourne in 2020 — can accommodate up to 1000 people a day. Sydney surfers can look forward a diamond-shaped lagoon with waves up to two metres in height. Thanks to LED lighting illuminating the man-made waves after dark, visitors will also have the option of an evening swim. The lagoon will be capable of churning out waves every eight seconds, with surfers set to catch between ten and 12 waves per hour. And the pool isn't small — it's about the same size as the Sydney Cricket Ground. It'll host a range of sessions catering to all types of surfers, whether you're just learning, are returning to the sport or consider yourself an expert. When surfers are done riding waves, Urbnsurf Sydney will also feature a wellness studio, skate park, Rip Curl store and a surf academy for those looking to take their skills to the next level. Just keen to swim, not surf? There's a pool for that as well. Plus, Sydney hospitality group Applejack has been put in charge of the culinary offerings at the park, as announced in 2023. Applejack owns and operates venues across Sydney such as Forrester's, The Butler, RAFI and Bopp & Tone. The team will be bringing the same produce- and service-driven approach found at its venues to Urbnsurf Sydney's premium restaurant with a rooftop terrace, waterfront cafe and takeaway kiosk. Applejack joins the Urbnsurf family alongside farm-to-table favourites Three Blue Ducks, who provide the food and drink offerings down in Melbourne. Find Urbnsurf Sydney at Sydney Olympic Park from Monday, May 13, 2024.
Twirling elegantly around the stage as part of a world-class ballet performance is one thing, but just imagine getting to do so kitted out in stunning outfits by Jean Paul Gaultier. Announced today, a dark contemporary retelling of Snow White by France's Ballet Preljocaj is set to hit both Sydney and Melbourne this winter, complete with a wardrobe of captivating costumes by the internationally acclaimed haute couture designer. Gaultier's work will complement what promises to be a multi-sensory masterpiece; the show features choreography from renowned French choreographer Angelin Preljocaj, gorgeous set design by celebrated artist Thierry Leproust and a soundtrack of lush Gustav Mahler symphonies. Preljocaj's Snow White adaptation made its Australian debut at QPAC for the 2016 Brisbane Festival, last year scoring the Helpmann Award for Best Ballet. "I was very keen to tell a story, offer something magical and enchanted," explained Preljocaj. "I have followed the version by the Grimm Brothers, with just a few personal variations based on my own analysis of the symbols in the tale". Snow White will only run for five shows at the Sydney Opera House before heading to Melbourne's State Theatre for six performances. Ballet Preljocaj's Snow White will run at the Sydney Opera House from June 6–10 and at the Arts Centre Melbourne from August 1–5, 2018. Tickets to the Melbourne show are currently on sale here, and tickets to Sydney will go on sale at 9am on Monday, March 19 here. Images: Jean-Claude Carbonne. Updated: March 15, 2018.
