Brook Andrew is a master of the interdisciplinary arts practice. He has tackled a huge range of media and produced thought-provoking, innovative work that has been shown all over the world. Travelling Colony is made up of a number of hand-painted caravans standing together like a grazing herd in the large foyer of Carriageworks. The doors of each caravan are left wide open, inviting the viewer in. You can't help hesitating before you enter, expecting to interrupt a scene or trespass onto someone's space but each caravan is left stark, with almost no personal adornment, like a home left abandoned. In each, there is a small television set playing interviews of Aboriginal members of the Redfern community, those that have been here for their whole lives, have passed through at different times, or are newcomers. They talk about what Redfern means to them, the community and its place in history as the “Black Capital of Australia.” The works serve as a commemoration of achievements of the community, people who have made significant contributions to the Aboriginal theatre and arts scene. It’s a living history, archives that record the future and progression of the community as well as the past. Repetition is a strong theme in this exhibition; in the numerous caravans clustered together, in the linear, zigzagging pattern (based on traditional Wiradjuri patterns) that travels across the caravans as a kind of extended canvas, housing the stories of the community which are played on a loop. The vehicles imply that the stories will keep travelling, repeating themselves, living on in the memory of the people and of the audience strengthened by their visual potency. Andrew creates a playful way of inviting audiences to see a community through the eyes of its members and to question the nature of how history shapes the present. Travelling Colony forms the centrepiece of Black Capital, an art initiative at Carriageworks that considers Redfern’s place as Australia’s urban Indigenous capital, a part of Sydney Festival. Image: Susannah Wimberley
Is it dramatically poetic or just ironic that one of the few productions that has left me gaping like a fish is titled Babel, meaning words? This giant undertaking throws together 18 performers from across the globe (speaking almost as many languages and working across many modes of performance), choreographers Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui and Damien Jalet, and visual artist Antony Gormley. Babel is the third in a trilogy that began in 2003 with Cherkaoui and Gormley's collaboration on Foi, yet it is imposing enough to stand on its own. Taking as its starting point the Biblical story of the Tower of Babel, the production explores notions of language, communication (and miscommunication) and ongoing efforts towards cross-cultural empathy. With a work primarily composed of movement, which also utilises music, visual representation and a multiplicity of languages, it's inevitable that you will feel a tad lost at times. Think twists and turns, rather than questions and answers. The work manages to be starkly realist and profoundly inspiring in the same breath, punctuated by comedic hooks that ensure you're kept in the loop. From the first to the last moments of the work, Gormley's cube-like structures loom before us, as endeavours, obstacles, cages and shelters. Manipulated by the performers, they structure the home, the city, the nation, while transporting us to a world far removed from our own. The music and songs woven throughout echo this theme of unity and difference, blending Renaissance choirs with traditional Turkish melodies, alienating while at the same time comforting. The deep, resonant bass drum seems to throb even during moments of silence, the pulsing heartbeat that is part of the raw, almost primal nature of the production. Even when in unison, each dancer appears as their own being: a flick of the wrist or a nod of the head betraying their own particular mode. Rather than compromising the work, this frayed-at-the-edges feel only contributes to the energy of the performance as a whole. Energy and strength are very literally foregrounded in the choreography, prompting the audience that I was a part of to oscillate between gasps, tears and thick bursts of applause. Babel appears as a whirlwind, a storm that comes from nowhere and seems to depart only moments after it begins, leaving everything changed in its wake. It is an impressively multifaceted meditation on reality and possibility, otherworldly while utterly at pace with our times. https://youtube.com/watch?v=7TmlXlQqmM4
Picasso crossed Spain to Barcelona as a young man, before settling in to paint in France. To accompany the artist's Sydney show, the Art Gallery of NSW's series of celebrity talks brings dancer Rafael Bonachela to explain how the same two countries have influenced his work. With a gentle Spanish accent and a yen for making dance easy to enjoy, Bonachela has been reworking the Sydney dance scene since 2008, when he took up the directorship of the Sydney Dance Company. Bonachela's time with the company has seen it move from its blue period to more vivid and abstract movements. Having moved himself as a young man to Barcelona, where the new environment threw him into a world of dance and a more cosmopolitan life, he knows the strength of a locale's influence in the creative process. A spoken topography that might lead to another lingering look at Paris in the subsequent screening of Jean Cocteau's Orphée in the Gallery theatre. And while Bonachela may dance with an economy of movement, with his words he's generous to a fault. Orphée is free, but you may need to pick up tickets in advance from the Info Desk. Image by the Sydney Dance Company.
Manu Chao visits Australia for the first time to play exclusively at Sydney Festival. Having made music since the late '80s as leader of rock outfit Mano Negra and then as a solo artist, Chao is one of the world's most well-known and respected musicians, with a huge cult following in all corners of the globe - from South, Central and North America to Europe, Japan, Africa and back - selling more than 10 million albums. Chao's music is multilingual and broadly multicultural, blending rock, reggae, punk, ska, and found sounds in compositions sung in English, Portuguese, French, Spanish and Italian. The Paris-born, Barcelona-based artist of Spanish descent finds inspiration in street culture and local bar scenes, and has long collaborated with musicians and artists who share his ethos. Chao's first solo album, 1998's Clandestino, was a huge success, shifting in excess of four million copies worldwide to become the second biggest-selling world music album in history after Ry Cooder's Buena Vista Social Club. His next album, 2001's Proxima Estacion: Esperanza ('Next Stop: Hope' - a reference to an announcement on a Madrid train station) consolidated his place as one of the world's most successful recording artists.
At most, I expected to tolerate I'm Your Man. It is, after all, about boxing, for which I (and, let's generalise, most theatregoing folk) care not. So it came as a surprise when I loved I'm Your Man, and if you allow yourself to be transported through the doors of Belvoir Downstairs into a so-real-seeming boxing gym, creator/director Roslyn Oades and her multitalented, impressively athletic cast ensure you will, too. My (self-appointed) job is to convince you to take that first step and turn up. I'm Your Man spends time with the fighters, trainers and aspirants at a Sydney gym, and one in particular, Billy Dib, as he gears up for his world title fight. Oades spent 18 months observing and gathering interviews with these athletes, scratching at the psychology and culture that makes them. Her little bit journalistic, little bit anthropological documentation is distilled through a technique she's pioneered called headphone-verbatim, last seen in her Stories of Love and Hate. Rather than memorising the lines, the actors have the recorded audio from these interviews fed to them onstage through headsets and focus on wholly and accurately replicating the subtleties of speech. It might sound awkward, but it really works. We're used to theatre speech being worlds removed from everyday speech, and there are some great verbal quirks — fast-talking, stumbling, on-the-run grammar — that would normally never survive the flattening of the rehearsal process. These rediscovered idiosyncrasies of voice prove totally bewitching, and it's a neat antidote to theatrey declamation. (Plus, no complaints about dodgy accents here.) But more than just document, I'm Your Man immerses you in its characters' world. Even before you see your seats, the walk down the corridor carries you into another, intoxicating world — one where whitewashed walls brandish fight posters, articles, autographs and inspirational quotes; one that sounds of fists hitting vinyl and sneakers squealing against the lino. It smells thankfully not of sweat but of Deep Heat. It's powerful. You soon get a sense for just how this milieu might become a clubhouse, and a comfort. The sharp observation extends to the gym-bright but cleverly flexible fluorescent lighting (Neil Simpson), evocatively ringside sound (Bob Scott), and host of behaviours, exercises and rituals enacted by the performers (Mohammed Ahmad, Billy McPherson, Katia Molino, Justin Rosniak and John Shrimpton). The wrapping of wrists is hypnotic. In place of the usual dramatic climaxes, you want to clap feats of core strength and skipping. These actors may not have memorised lines, but they've been doing some hardcore practice. Often Billy Dib and his team seem to make boxing bear the weight of dreams and ideals bigger than it could possibly contain. Their stories of struggle, migration, self-improvement and community admiration come together to produce insight into the motivations of people who pursue something that most of us don't understand, and in some cases, can't abide. I'm Your Man acknowledges that real-life violence and the competitive violence of sport are not wholly disentwined; it just won't let the violence be the whole story. After earning their trust over many months, Oades clearly had her subjects open up to her, and she's honoured that trust by using their words with warmth, empathy and unflinching honesty.
When a film leaves you standing outside the cinema afterwards gasping for air, you know it has made a deep impact. The discomfort which Pedro Almodovar's latest film, The Skin I Live In, has imparted upon me is one I will be feeling for some time. The story follows the rather sinister Dr Ledgard (Antonio Banderas), an eminent plastic surgeon who has been developing an artificial skin in his own laboratory for the last 12 years — a skin which is sensitive to touch and yet resistant to external damage and which could have saved his wife, who was horribly burned in a car accident 12 years earlier. In his idyllic mansion near Toledo in Spain, Ledgard has been experimenting on his own human guinea pig, the enigmatic and elusive Vera (Elena Anaya). With the collusion of Marilia (Marisa Paredes), who has looked after Ledgard since he was a child, Vera is kept prisoner in an upstairs bedroom, wearing nothing but a flesh-coloured body suit to protect her new skin. As the movie jumps back and forth through time, the story begins to unfold. There is stunning mise en scene and camerawork, paying homage to cinema of the '40s and '50s, particularly to masters of the film noir genre such as Hitchcock, and a masterfully evocative music score. These provide the audience with various signs, clues and premonitions, gradually revealing the true nature of Dr Ledgard's most unethical experiment and the motives behind it. Questions of perception and external impressions are central to the film's theme. If you change someone on the outside by giving them a new skin, or a new body even, what happens to their identity underneath? As we come to realise that Vera ressembles Ledgard's dead wife, Gal, we wonder, could this be her? Or is it someone who Dr Ledgard has refashioned to look like her? Almodovar has always been one to question identity, but this time round he has gone much further. Moreover, with the generous dose of humour usually found in his work distinctly lacking here, this is possibly the darkest film he has ever made. The Skin I Live In feels much more a psychological thriller and marks a different direction for the director, yet his spirit still pervades. Almodovar has a talent for revealing humanity at its rawest and most preposterous in a way which, far from alienating the audience, usually tells us a great deal about ourselves, albeit it on a subconscious level. In this sense, it is still the same Almodovar at work here, but his investigations into the human condition have delved much deeper to produce a film that will get right under your skin. https://youtube.com/watch?v=EolQSTTTpI4
Get up close and personal in Rushcutters Bay with some theatre stripped down to the basics. Six solo performances, written and directed by both established and up and coming Sydney artists, will be taking place each night at the BARE BOARDS BRAVE HEART festival at subtlenuance. The pieces use themes as diverse as Justin Bieber and eroticism, Celtic lore, sexuality, human courtship rituals and expressing our feelings through art, as they tackle the human condition and a variety of other social conundrums. Each piece will offer a unique perspective or line of investigation through which to explore personal expression and the meaning of things in general. subtlenuance was founded by Danieli Georgi and Paul Gilchrist in 2008, both of whom are writers and directors in their own right, and have received praise for much of their work in and around Sydney. Sharing a love of unconventional theatre, and indeed for unconventional performance spaces, the pair previously founded Thrown Together Theatre, experimenting with pop-up theatre in non-traditional venues and unusual locations. Their latest offering promises to be innovative, challenging and inspiring.
If I am honest, the title of the latest offering in the Late Night Library series, taking place at Surry Hills library every Thursday evening, did make me titter a little: Jodie Foster's Beaver. It is, in fact, the name of the latest monologue by Daniel Mudie Cunningham, part of his ongoing project: The Jodie Foster Archive. The prolific Sydney-based artist, curator and writer has been collecting clippings, photos and bios of the star since he was a kid. More recently the collection has evolved to include his own self-penned “Jodie Performances” which parody some of her most famous movie scenes, in an attempt to subvert her into the gay icon he wishes she always had been. No doubt some lively discussion will ensue about this most topical of subjects (gay rights). With cheese, wine and scintillating conversation all on offer, it feels like so many taboos are being broken: eating, drinking and talking in the library after dark! So head along if you fancy some risqué adults only entertainment, or even if you just want to browse the selves and borrow a book. The library itself will be open until midnight. Entry is free, but if you want to take part in the event, booking ahead is essential: 02 8374 6230
Harper Lee wrote one novel. But the novel was To Kill a Mockingbird, and it was enough. Terrence Malick has likewise only directed five films. Pictures that build slowly, like a symphony of long, slow notes. And it's enough. The Palm d'Or winning Tree of Life centres around a father (Brad Pitt), a mother (Jessica Chastain) and their son Jack (Harry McCracken as a boy, Sean Penn as an adult). All of the other characters, the flow of life and nature, and the film's full narrative build around the empty void that the death of Jack's young brother leaves in their family, in his life and in the soul of their mother. Though the film exists in the shadow of a death, its preoccupation is life and how to live it. Jack grows up to be like his dad: a man neither he, nor his father, want to be. Around this, his mother's grief for his brother propels the action. In her imagination she rebuilds the world from nothing, from the big bang to the birth of her son, as though she is searching in the imagination of God, or perhaps only in the world, for some beginning, some end to the reason for his death. Her grief is as big, as cold, as vast, as fiery and pure as these things. It touches everything. Through her, the film constantly talks to God or to nature — it has no preference — and to the totality of the universe, with galaxies endlessly swirling and rock aflame, it poses the question: "What are we to you?" The star of Terrence Malik's film remains the sensual. Everything is touchable. Hands drift through fields of high grasses, hands cup a newborn baby's foot, hands touch rough lawns and sheets, throw stones, throw footballs, hover in prayer over empty dinner plates. This is a great strength of the film, but if Tree of Life has a flaw, it's also this. Despite sharing his characters' dream worlds, grief and inner life, the story in this film is clearly Malik's most of all.
We like to pretend in Australia that it's not actually cold in winter. My knees would appeal to the contrary. But you do have to go a fairly long way from Sydney to see snow and find enough ice that you might be able to skate on. Or perhaps, because of the hard work of some fairly cool dudes, you don't. Once again the Winter Alpine Festival is coming to Sydney. If you feel like ice-skating outside St Mary's Cathedral, or nibbling on a winter delicacy from the Alpine food stalls with fare from all over the world, then jump on board. Highlights of the festival include ice skating at Bondi beach, the Winter Festival Bar where you can hear either traditional Bavarian beats or a collection of European DJs and performances from some of Australia's finest ice-skaters. Really the attraction to this festival is the ability to pretend, just for one night (or as many as you choose to go), that you're living in Europe in winter. And when the chai lattes are free and the bar can be wandered into as you please, who could say no to a snow experience on these cold Sydney winter nights? Check the website for dates for the Sydney and Bondi festivals. Note: the festival will be located in Bondi from June 30 - July 14, then outside St Mary's Cathedral from July 28 - August 14.
Lenin wrote secret letters with milk when he was in prison in Siberia. Not many people experiment with such strange pigments, and even less out of need than curiosity. For some artists held in Australian detention centres, working on the Refugee Art Project, paint and other art supplies became hard to get a hold of, so they made art with what they had at hand. Which led victoriana-like, delicate watercolour drawings done with instant coffee, among other ingenious ideas. These and other results of the Project will be on display at the Mori Gallery as part of Refugee Week, featuring work by artists originally from Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Iraq and further afield. Detention centres are essentially prisons. Artworks at the Mori exhibition are by people stuck there, children and adults; a few released into the community, but most of them still behind bars. They get money from sales, but it doesn't do much to get them out of such places and into a life. Nonetheless, bearing witness to them is of no small importance. And once you're there, maybe you can think of something more useful to do. Image by All Fadhel.
There's an old Chinese saying: 'Good things come in pairs'. With the exception of tinnitus and earwax, this is largely true. Just think of shoes, poached eggs at a cafe, Wayne's World, toasted crumpets, the seventh Harry Potter film, the original and the remix of the Bedroom Intruder video — and Gotye concerts at August's Graphic Festival. Gotye (aka Wouter De Backer or Wally) has just announced a second show to follow his sold-out one on August 20, which as far as good things go, ranks pretty highly. Wally is a jack-of-all-trades and a master of, well, all — whether it's singing, songwriting, producing, being a one-man band or traversing an array of sonic landscapes. Gotye: An Animated Album Preview promises to be no less varied or enterprising. For the first performance of his third album, Making Mirrors, he'll be joined on stage by a 10-piece mini orchestra and will set the score to original visuals by some of Australia's top animators, including Rubber House, Lucinda Schreiber, Mechanical Apple and pictureDRIFT. The only problem with Gotye's previous videos is that they're as short as they are catchy, so news of a second chance at witnessing this hour-plus audiovisual extravaganza makes us more excited than a nice pair of cosy socks. Get in quick though — tickets are sure to be even hotter than the second Franco brother. Okay, we'll stop now... https://youtube.com/watch?v=8UVNT4wvIGY
The Verge Festival has everything. Experimental Cinema, claims of the Best Comedy Ever, great sunset film screenings and croquet. With origins as a festival of experimental art, the Verge has grown into a University-wide arts festival with events ranging from pure weird to straight up drama — but all of them with something that takes their efforts away from the everyday. Opening night is packed with music and art by its hosts, the charity-supporting Major Raiser, who'll be dedicating the night's efforts to youth mental health — a subject close to their heart. Closing night promises a laser maze on the dance floor, while the middle of the fest sports Pride Week Party and night markets. During the rest of the festival, the Uni's flashy promenade, Eastern Avenue, will be taken over by giant shipping containers as part of Uncontainable, as artists decorate the containers' outsides, and fill the insides with pre-made exhibtions. Some occasional Impro playmaking is promised, while Underbelly artists Fetish Frequency offer a DIY audio story to drag you around the Sydney University campus. There will be nights of nice words at Outspoken, and the Story Club's return from the Comedy Festival, starring Playschool veteran Benita Collings. SUDS is getting into the festival spirit by staging the bloody Titus Andronicus, as well in-situ drama like Animals at the University's tiny Roundhouse and and some Strindberg in the tennis courts.
Concrete Playground is proud to present Trilogy as part of this year's Sydney Underground Film Festival. One way to respond to an entertainment phenomenon like Star Wars is to go for the throat, three times. Trilogy, a film by the interdisciplinary artist Kostas Seremetis, takes all the operatic action, humanoid life-forms, intergalactic futurism and helicoid rivalry of the Force, collaging and cutting the images to produce a cinematic experience of excess and spectacle. The actual facts of the film are as follows: arranged as a salad of sight and sound, Seremetis has siphoned the images from the Star Wars trilogy, displacing the action across three screens. Look to the left and you'll see a scene from first Star Wars, look to the middle and you'll find Empire Strikes Back and, glance to the right, sure enough, Return of the Jedi. This remodelled vision of the franchise asks us to question our normal visual experience with the moving image, offering a spliced and fractured account of this epic legacy that perches half-way between abstraction and pop. https://youtube.com/watch?v=1t3gM4PC-RA
The Sydney Latin American Film Festival (SLAFF) is a film festival with a conscience. Since 2006 the good people behind this non-profit film festival have been pouring their proceeds into various community support programs in Latin America including the Argentine Institute for Sustainable Construction (IARCOS) and Misión México, a refuge for Mexican children run by Queensland couple, Pamela & Alan Skuse. September and October, the SLAFF is presenting a series of film and cultural events under the banner of Latin American Cinema & Song. September, Cine en Construcción will bring five films from the San Sebastian International Film Festival to Sydney with screenings at the Spanish Cervantes Institute in Chippendale. The pick of the festival though sounds like it might be Cine 428 - a night on the green of the Addison Road Community Centre - all themed to whisk you away to the gaucho cowboys and romantic terrain of Argentina. With a screening of the coming-of-age film, The Last Summer of La Boyita (looks like Deenie meets Shane on the set of The Motorcycle Diaries - yes, that's a blanket covering those stereotypes), music by DJ Spex, fiesta-style party lights, hay bales and meats for sale in the form of asado (traditional Argentinian BBQ) - tell me, is there much more you could ask for? Oh, and it's only eight bucks. Please, travel never smelt so sweet.
Cabinets of curiousity, like wunderkammers, lumped together from different places with little in the way of unifying features, apart from that fact that the curator of the box thought they went quite well together. They were part of what Rapture of Death author Prue Gibson calls "that style of 19th Century inquiry." That same style has mixed with local chatter at the Sydney chapter of big-in-Japan lecture series Pecha Kucha. Essentially talks about whatever, by whoever, they feed the same pressing spirit of Inquiry that Gibson loves. The Carriageworks itself is really a big wunderkammer, its projects connected by their curation into the same steel box and a now-familiar spirit of inquiry into drama, dance and TV cooking. It's also the venue for Sydney Pecha Kucha's first event of 2011. Gibson herself will be talking there, along with other speakers like Monster-Childrener Joseph Allen Shea, jewellry-crocheter Erin Field and photographer Billy Maynard. Each presentation is 6 minutes and 40 seconds long, so there's room for a wide line-up. Twelve presenters are booked in all, giving you lots of amassed variety to fire up your own sense of curiosity.
Watching filmmaker Tom Kuntz's work you get the unsettling feeling he has somehow tapped into our collective subconscious and is hanging out our dirty washing for all to see. In his advertising work, such as for Skittles, he employs seemingly unrelated objects or concepts to symbolise our hidden desires, the elusive want, which can in fact be directed towards whatever product is being advertised. This relationship between the 'signifier' (i.e. whatever appears in the film) and the 'signified' (the desired object) was examined in great detail by the famous French psychoanalyst Lacan. His theories would provide some good background reading for this event. Produced in collaboration with maverick music deconstructoralists the Lucky Dragons, the untested installation, which will run for two weeks as part of VIVID Sydney, will be an experiment in image and sound. The objects portrayed will be insects, represented by images of large, unearthly looking insects and with sounds made by either rudimentary musical instruments, or by body parts. It will most likely make no sense, and perfect sense, at the same time. Tom Kuntz has made music videos for bands such as the Avalanches, Electric Six, MGMT and LCD Soundsystem. His advertising work has included ads Skittles and Old Spice, and he's also made several very intriguing short films. His installation will be running for the duration of the festival from 11am daily.
When British indie band Bloc Party blew up and flew up the charts with their first album Silent Alarm, lead singer Kele Okereke kept a cool head. He continued his degree in English literature and didn't tell his parents yet that he was musically inclined. Their first single, 'Banquet', got such worldwide airplay that Kele had to bite the bullet and admit to being the rock star he was. Following three critical and commercially successful albums, the band went on a hiatus. 2010 was a big year for Kele as a person and as an artist: coming out as gay and releasing his first solo album, The Boxer. The album and its accompanying singles 'Tenderonie' and 'Everything You Wanted' showed a different side to Okereke. Whereas Bloc Party's music was thumping, dark and personal, The Boxer seemed to express a more lively, dance-driven yet sardonic sound. His live shows are packed with energy and sweat as he transports you through his solo and band catalogue. Supported by Melbourne pop outfit Strange Talk, this will prove to be an unmissable show. https://youtube.com/watch?v=bdQioZHYpvQ
I'm sure the rise of garage rock in the 1970s ran correspondingly with the rise in guitar sales worldwide. Music was easy again – all you needed were some instruments, some friends and a garage. You could be famous, you just needed a little bit of effort and a little bit of luck. It faded though and music became a business again. In 2000, however, Swedish band The Hives led another revival of sorts. Music was back and music was fun, and it still is. The Hives are continuing to strip rock back to basics, delivering powerful performances wherever they go. With frontman Howlin' Pelle Almqvist, a force of nature on stage, the band is turbo-charged, full of showmanship and always, always well-dressed. Supported by The Grates on their Splendour in the Grass sideshow tour, do not miss The Hives because you'll miss what music can and should be. https://youtube.com/watch?v=1M02bAWDFkI
In the mood for a little cross-consuming over a glass of champagne? Australia's first interactive online market place, The Young Republic, is launching itself into the world of the real with all the lights, glamour and speciality objects it can muster. Taking over the Aurora Bar with their very own night market, The Young Republic will be showcasing a range of pieces from designers such as Fiel Sol, Toby E, TopazTurtle, KnitKnit, Dubbleyou and ATAT. Also on offer will be a 'fashion installation' (yep, these exist) featuring Casper & Pearl,Sovii, Das Monk, KID., Ames and Evyie. To attend simply RSVP to: rsvp@youngrepublic.com.au
Depending on your tastes, the horror subgenre of torture porn (Saw, Hostel and Wolf Creek are three well-known examples) sits somewhere between the poles of either a gratuitous abomination or an artistic lens into humanity's darker proclivities. While we live in a world filled with humans inventing new ways of inflicting terrible physical and emotional pain upon one another, there is always the question of whether such things need to be recreated in fiction. One straightforward answer is: well, if it's part of the human condition, then it's suitable for art. Enter The Woman, the latest indie horror creation from American director Lucky McKee, based on the novel by Jack Ketchum. The premise is simple enough: pillar-of-the-community Chris Cleek (Deadwood's Sean Bridgers) and his nuclear family become the guardians of a wild woman (Pollyanna McIntosh) that Chris captured out in the woods one day, and he is adamant that the woman must be civilised for the good of the town. The Cleeks are no Henry Higgins, however, and the film quickly reveals the disturbing home truths hidden behind their docile demeanours. The Woman is definitely a card-carrying member of the torture porn subgenre, and anyone who is not a fan of graphic violence and complete disregard for human decency should stay away from this film. Having said that, The Woman is also playing into dangerous territory because of its key subject matter: the imprisonment and abuse of women. When The Woman screened at the Sundance Festival earlier this year, one audience member hurled insults at the film's creators until security hauled him out, and whether or not you think the film is misogynistic, its male leads certainly are. Gore and controversy aside, The Woman does make for an interesting lesson in non-conventional horror film-making. The cheap shock scares used in mainstream horror films are non-existent, and instead McKee uses grinding sound design (similar to that of Gaspar Noe's Irreversible), acid-trip cross-fading and spinning cameras (again, Irreversible) to activate a different sense of terror within his audience. Does it work? Not always, sadly, and all three of these techniques overstay their welcome by the end of the film. Another good choice is that all of the performances are understated, with some characters (rightly) coming across as almost shell-shocked, while Bridgers' relaxed attitude to brutality registers as real-world chilling. But it doesn't always work, and The Woman is marred by some shocking performances, such as a do-gooder high school teacher (Carlee Baker), who never seems to care about what she's saying. The often clunky dialogue also doesn't help the actors. Overall, this film is going to turn most people off. However, if you do like your horror served extra rare, The Woman is definitely worth hunting down. https://youtube.com/watch?v=o3lUAZLB4JY Image by Chelsea Boothe
Founded after the a purchase of an old church organ, Fitz and the Tantrums harken back while embracing the new. Lead singer Michael Fitzpatrick started work on his solo side project alone, crafting soul songs in the mould of standards. Quickly realising his dreams were bigger than just one man meant slowly incorporating a composer, then another singer, then a 7-piece brass outfit. Although he describes the output as soul music, the music also draws on more modern genres including indie rock and pop. Of the first EP, Songs for a Breakup Volume 1, Fitzpatrick says it was a conscious effort to make something new, "I did want to try and make a big sounding record without guitars." Their live shows are an embrace of different live atmopsheres, making gigs a unique mix of big bands and rock concerts. Make sure you don't miss this sterling example of California firepower. https://youtube.com/watch?v=bb6cBKE3WzQ
Every Saturday morning at 10, FBi show All the Best tells a collection of real and fictional Sydney stories. Its weekly themes run from 'ritual', to 'silence', to an exploration of Sydney's compass points north, south, east and west. After a successful late night live recording at Surry Hills Library, it's getting ready for another go. A live version of the show with a Power Trip theme will join faces to its words at the Sydney Writers' Festival this Thursday evening. As part of its lust for power, the show will combine documentary short stories with readings from Festival authors along a similarly forceful vein. Journalist Wendy Bacon will help document her turbulent days editing Tharunka, alongside pieces on modern-day magic and the cost of war. Peppered among them, Mandy Sayer will read from her fiery World War II novel Love in the Year of Lunacy, sharing a stage with show regular Vanessa Berry and fellow Festival guests, investigative reporter Anna Krien and Iranian/Australian writer Sara Haghdoosti. Singer songwriter Fergus Brown will make live music, and push into the action with occasional live score. Image by Wendy Bacon, from an original 70s edition of Tharunka . Click through for full image. Warning: contains one extremely rude word.
My first thought here is, why not erotic fan ghost stories? Why not put Albert Einstein in the middle of a sweaty flesh muffin with Grace Kelly and Biggie Smalls? I want to hear stories told about Cleopatra taking it mummy style (that means being wrapped up and covered in salt for thousands of years, FYI) at the hands of Burke, while Wills is getting nailed by Martin Luther. And what about the basement? JUST DON'T GO INTO THE BASEMENT! But for the time being, you will all have to be satisfied with these two events existing as separate sessions of some of the funniest and scariest spoken fiction in town. Hosted by the Imperial Panda and Sydney Writers' Festival, Erotic Fan Fiction and Ghost Stories gathers up a clutch of Sydney's best writers and performers to deliver the seedy antics of celebrities, or the ghoulish moans of sinister spooks. Or both, dammit. Come hear Charlie Garber, Virginia Gay, Ewen Leslie and Eddie Sharpe spin sauce through the fictive legs of the famous, then chill out before Nick Coyle, Claudia O'Doherty and others stab you in the heart with a cold blade of fear. No money back for dying of either lust or fright — both of these events are free. Image by James Brown
John Kaldor: what a dude. He's been comissioning art since the 1950s and is a patron, collector and general all-round play-maker for the contemporary arts in Australia as well as serving on boards and councils for major international art organisations. He's discovered things and endowed them and is so beloved by the arts community that when he spoke at a graduation ceremony at the National Art School last year the Cell Block Theatre overflowed with people who crowded around doorways trying to hear him. Being such a dude, he's now not only gifted the Art Gallery of New South Wales his personal collection, but has donated enough to fund (with additional money from the Belgiorno-Nettis family, who are also no slouches in the arts department) a new gallery floor. When the John Kaldor Family Galleries, as they're to be known, open on April 21st, AGNSW will double the space it has for exhibiting contemporary art. Selections from The Kaldor Family Collection will occupy the space exclusively until March 2012, and will always be represented in the gallery. To celebrate this major historical OMG, the 21st and 22nd have been designated an Open Weekend with performances, talks, film screenings and the chance to paint on the walls of the new space. I don't know if I'm allowed to say 'Holy shit wow!' on here, but if so: "Holy shit wow!"
Too expensive? Too long? Seats too far away? Regardless of your reason for not going to the (capital O) Opera, there has been a noticeable drop-off in opera attendances in recent years. It is no surprise then to see young opera companies emerging to reclaim an art that has often been considered to be the epitome of live performance. One of the more dedicated companies is the humbly named Sydney Chamber Opera, who are bringing their production of The Cunning Little Vixen to CarriageWorks at the end of this month. Chamber operas are one of the perfect tools for reinvigorating interest in the art form. Intimate and petite, they are able to offer very affordable tickets and therefore have the financial freedom to take more risks in their material. Sydney Chamber Opera are embracing this completely, and are following up their first production (Notes from Underground by Jack Symonds and Pierce Wilcox, after Fyodor Dostoyevsky) with a tale of woodland animals tackling love, heartbreak and the enduring cycle of life and death. Directed by Kate Gaul (of Siren Theatre) and conducted by Jack Symonds, this version of The Cunning Little Vixen promises to be as sleek as a wild fox. Julie Goodwin, previously seen in national tours of Phantom of the Opera and West Side Story, helms a cast of beautiful ferals amidst a stylish, clear-cut world where the rhythms and melodies of life flow relentlessly on.
If your daily commute involves ferrying across Sydney Harbour, you may need to find an alternative way home tonight. Thick smoke from NSW's ongoing bushfires has led to the cancellation of all State Government-operated ferry services. That includes ferries running between Circular Quay and Manly, Parramatta, Double Bay, Mosman, Taronga, Neutral Bay and Watsons Bay. The Manly Fast Ferry has also stopped, but some other private services still seem to be running ferries. Yep, the smoke's that bad. https://twitter.com/FerriesInfo/status/1204205372841615361 Replacement buses have been organised for the F1 Manly service only and will continue to run between Manly Wharf and Circular Quay for the foreseeable future. The other routes won't be receiving replacement buses, so Transport for NSW is telling commuters to delay their journeys. There's no word on when the ferries will resume just yet — but it's safe to assume that you should plan an alternative route home. The Bureau of Meteorology predicts that the smoke cover will linger until a southerly comes through, around 5pm. This is what it looks like on the harbour: https://twitter.com/UrbanFerryist/status/1204195795848687616 Today's thick smoke follows weeks of poor air quality, with a severe fire danger level (and total fire bans) declared across the Greater Sydney, Central Ranges, Illawarra, Greater Hunter and Southern Ranges areas for today. As of midday, the NSW Rural Fire Service was continuing to battle 85 fires across the state, 42 of which are uncontained. And the smoke isn't just causing issues on the water — it's wreaking havoc across the city. According to The Sydney Morning Herald, Fire and Rescue NSW have responded to multiple alarm call-outs triggered by the smoke — including the paper's own offices — and Transport for NSW is also warning commuters that alarms may be activated in train stations. During periods of reduced air quality, NSW Health suggests that everyone cuts back on strenuous outdoor activities, as well as going outside in general — if you can. Those with chronic respiratory or heart conditions are especially advised to avoid all outdoor physical activity and stay indoors where possible. It's also recommended that you carry your inhaler, follow your Asthma Action Plan, and keep your other medication with you for all breathing-related conditions. If you start experiencing symptoms, even if you're otherwise fit and healthy, seek medical advice. For those staying indoors, NSW Health also suggests turning your air conditioner on — if you have one — and using it on recirculate mode to keep the particles from outside out. With Sydney firmly in the grip of warm end-of-year weather, and temperatures expected to reach 37 in the city today, residents are also advised to be wary of the heat, as well as its combination with the hazy air. Drinking plenty of fluids, taking cool showers to keep your temperature down, soaking your feet in water and draping a wet cloth around your neck are also recommended. For the latest updates on traffic and public transport delays, head to Live Traffic NSW and Transport for NSW's official Ferries Twitter account. Image: Tim Snape.
Apologies to your couch, your favourite streaming platform and that pile of old DVDs sitting on your shelves, but when it comes to watching a movie, there's nothing like seeing it on the big screen. And while heading out to the flicks is a year-round activity, it's even better when summer hits, when outdoor cinema season is in full swing. Getting comfy on a beanbag, sipping brews and bubbles in the open air, staring up at the silver screen as the sun goes down — that's what catching a summer film is all about. In fact, that's exactly what's on the agenda at IMB Bank Sunset Cinema, which returns to North Sydney from Thursday, January 17 to Saturday, March 30. Taking over North Sydney Oval for more than two months of movies under the stars, this year's season is made for cosy summer date nights and stress-free hangouts with your mates. And if you're wondering what to watch, here are five blockbusters to feast your eyeballs upon. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dKzet0o4i0 AQUAMAN Back in 2016, the DC Comics Extended Universe pitted Batman and Superman against each other to see who'd emerge victorious; however, the film series was clearly asking the wrong question. If a battle between Justice League superheroes did arise, Aquaman would obviously come out on top. He has at the global box office, at least, with the Australian-shot blockbuster now the highest grossing flick in the franchise. It's easy to see why, with Aussie director James Wan (The Conjuring, Fast & Furious 7) helming a comic book effort that isn't afraid to be over-the-top — in its eye-popping visuals, its action both above and below the water and its use of charming star Jason Momoa. Showing: Thursday, January 31 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95ghQs5AmNk GLASS Back in 2000, fresh from the success of The Sixth Sense, M. Night Shyamalan gave the world one of the best superhero movies ever made. Now Unbreakable has a follow-up, but Glass doesn't just add a second chapter to that tale. It's also a sequel to the director's last film, Split. Capping off a trilogy that no one saw coming, the film spins a story involving Bruce Willis' indestructible hero David Dunn, all 23 personalities inhabiting James McAvoy's Kevin Wendell Crumb and Samuel L. Jackson's fragile comic-book lover Elijah Price. To say more is to say too much, although it does directly follow the events of its immediate predecessor. With Shyamalan writing and directing, it's safe to expect plenty of twists, of course. Showing: Wednesday, February 27 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6S9c5nnDd_s BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY Fresh from rocking the Golden Globes, where it picked up Best Motion Picture – Drama and Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama for Rami Malek, Bohemian Rhapsody is here to rock Sunset Cinema. And if you've already seen this immensely popular Freddie Mercury biopic and had to stop yourself from singing along, you're in luck — that's on the agenda here. The sounds of Queen will echo through the outdoor screening, charting the band's formation, its rise to fame, Mercury's private life and the group's memorable music. Just remember to stay in your seats during the fantastic Live Aid concert scenes — you'll be tempted to jump up, sing and scream, but you won't want to block the view of the fellow film fans behind you. Showing: Wednesday, February 20 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5i_iDqkQqtI VICE A child interred in a Second World War camp. A glam rock groupie in the 70s. A psychopathic investment banker. Batman. John Connor. Christian Bale has played many roles since becoming an actor at the age of 13, and now he steps into the shoes of former US Vice President Dick Cheney in Vice. It's a powerhouse performance in a movie that spins its true tale with a sense of humour. The Big Short's Adam McKay is in the director's chair, adopting the same kind of tone as he did in that satirical banking industry flick, while Sam Rockwell plays President George W. Bush, Steve Carell plays Donald Rumsfeld and Amy Adams plays Cheney's wife, Lynne. Showing: Friday, January 25 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLuFxzUC5UI HOLMES & WATSON When Sir Arthur Conan Doyle first put pen to paper, scribbled down a crime mystery and conjured up an intrepid sleuth, he couldn't have known just what he'd done. That was back in 1887, and Sherlock Holmes is still going strong 142 years later — although, you can surely put Holmes & Watson on the list of things that Doyle could never have anticipated. This time around, Will Ferrell dons the detective's deerstalker, while his Step Brothers and Talladega Nights co-star John C. Reilly steps into John Watson's shoes. The game is afoot as the famous pair try to protect Queen Victoria (Pam Ferris) from the notorious Professor Moriarty (Ralph Fiennes). As you'd expect, this isn't your usual take on the idiosyncratic sleuth. Showing: Saturday, February 2 and Friday, February 8 Sunset Cinema will take over North Sydney Oval from Thursday, January 17 to Saturday, March 30. Check out the full film program and book tickets here.
Calling all feline fans. Catmosphere, Sydney's space-themed cat cafe, is launching Cat Cinema. This May, you'll be able to cat-ch your favourite flicks while socialising with the resident cats. Cult classics will be played on the just-refurbished cafe's 120-inch screen and purrfecting the night will be complimentary vegan popcorn shakes for each guest. The feline experience will set you back $40 and includes light refreshments during intermission and, of course, many curious cat companions for the night. Bean bags are also supplied for you and your cats' comfort during the movie. As well being a place for you to pat a cat over a cupper, Catmosphere houses displaced and rescued cats and hopes to encourage visitors to foster furry friends of their own. While exact dates and films have not yet been announced, the cinema is set to launch in May. Keep an eye on the cafe's Facebook page for further updates. Catmosphere is located at 66 Foveaux Street, Surry Hills. For more information, opening hours and to book your very own cat cuddle session, visit catmospherecafe.com. Images: Andy Fraser
Your mates at Concrete Playground know how much you guys love Nutella. Sydney went nuts over those damn Tella Ball milkshakes, Melbourne eats so much of the stuff they caused a temporary nation-wide shortage back in 2015, and Australia lost its collective shit when a toaster-shaped Nutella food truck started rolling around the country. Long story short, the food truck will be hitting the road again this month, embarking on a road trip from Sydney all the way over to Perth. We figured you'd want to hear about it — especially as all the goodies on board will be free. Alistair Fogg, the man behind Sydney's Nighthawk Diner (which has just opened a permanent store in Chippendale) must have had excess Nutella lying around, because he's once again devised the menu for the food truck. This time, he'll be drizzling Nutella on pancakes, crumpets, bagels, waffles and even acai bowls. And, yes, it's all free — although there is a limit of only one item per customer per day,. The nine-stop road trip will spend two days in Sydney, pulling up in Chatswood from 7–10am on Friday, May 11 and Cronulla the morning after from 8–11am. From there, the truck will head to Griffith before going down to Adelaide and across to Perth. As for everywhere else, well, cross your fingers and hope you might be added to the itinerary. If not, we'll send you a Nutella-smeared postcard. Find the complete list of dates, times and locations for the Nutella Road Trip here.
It's no secret that here at Concrete Playground, we love an event or two (hundred). Every single day, our fair city is buzzing with cool, classy and downright crazy happenings. Sure, the daily grind can often leave you wanting to crawl straight into bed at tools down, but that inner culture vulture of yours needs to be fed. So, we've teamed up with uberPOOL to round up the best things to do in Sydney after work tonight. Rather than heading straight home, check out a taco and tequila fiesta, a late night exhibition or a mini film festival and have something interesting to talk about at work tomorrow. And with Uber's newest service, which allows you to share rides with people heading in the same direction as you, getting to these events has never been easier — or cheaper (see: free). To celebrate the Australian launch, the ride-sharing service is giving you five free uberPOOL trips in select Sydney suburbs until Friday, May 11 (to be booked between 4pm and 8pm), so you can save your precious dollars for all the excellent events below. The day is still young, so figure out what you'll be doing tonight, order that uberPOOL at the closing bell and pat yourself on the back for not succumbing to the call of your usual mid-week Netflix and binge session.
There aren't many better ways to spend a day than hanging out on an island, gorging on delicious food and drinking all of the wine. That's what the aptly named Wine Island serves up, and did every year before the pandemic hit — and, after a two-year interlude since 2019, it's making an eagerly awaited comeback in March 2022. Once again, Sydney's Clark Island will play host to quite the indulgent weekend of wine tasting, this time from Friday, March 18–Sunday, March 20. As always, the well-loved food and wine festival promises a packed lineup, starting with the cocktail you'll enjoy on the boat ride over. It's hosting two sessions per day, too, so you can choose between 10am and 4pm tipples. The island itself will be set up as the ultimate boozy adult playground, with Rosabelle, Dal Zotto, Dandelion/Heirloom Vineyards, Thomas Wines, Chateau Tanunda, Silent Noise, Nepenthe and Hungerford Hill among the wineries pouring their wares. Or, for those who mightn't want to sip vino all day, 4 Pines will be hosting a beer garden, Archie Rose will sling gin drinks from its own bar, Fever-Tree will be doing spritzes, and there'll also be both punch and iced tea bars — plus drinks from Brix Distillers, Grainshaker Vodka, Ned's Whisky and more. As well as pairing top-notch vino with even better views, a swag of masterclasses are also on the program, with assistance from Silent Vino Disco! and Wine Selectors. Expect everything from music-and-wine matching sessions to 'Pinot and Picasso' alcohol-fuelled art classes — plus an Archie Rose gin masterclass, too. And, to keep you fuelled for that big day of wine appreciation, food options will span oysters, lobster, burgers, Italian eats and cheese platters, as well as sweet treats from the dessert bar. There are two Wine Island ticket packages available, starting with the $109 'five-star experience', which includes ferry transfers, a cocktail on your way over, five tastings, a souvenir tumbler and a masterclass. Then there's the $209 'seven-star experience' — with ten tastings, a meal voucher, a tote bag, access to a VIP area and unlimited tastings at the rosé garden bar. Wine Island returns to Clark Island in Sydney Harbour from Friday, March 18–Sunday, March 20, 2022. Tickets go on sale at 12pm AEDT on Wednesday, October 27, with pre-sale from the same time on Monday, October 25.
With Australia implementing new COVID-19-inspired restrictions almost every day at present — including limits on mass gatherings, as well as the amount of people in indoor spaces — the country's cafes, restaurants, bars and other venues have been suffering a sharp downturn in customers. Many are introducing takeaway options, or encouraging patrons to buy vouchers to use when the current situation is over. And, in Surry Hills, a heap of businesses are banding together to offer new neighbourhood passes. Paramount House Hotel has teamed up with a number of local hospitality spots to sell two types of curated vouchers, which enable folks to work their way around the neighbourhood. Think of them as a best-of package of Surry Hills eating, dining, and culture experiences, so you can grab a few bites to eat, knock back a couple of drinks, see a movie and even enjoy a night's staycation — all by hopping between the area's venues. [caption id="attachment_748503" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Kitti Gould[/caption] The standard pass starts with chilli coriander ramen at Chaco Bar; fermented potato bread with kefir, dashi jelly and roe at Ester; and a hopper plate with dahl, sambal and herb salad at Lankan Filling Station. It also includes a shawarma or falafel pita with a pomegranate soda at Shwarmama, two glasses of wine — of the sommelier's choice — at Poly, and two classic margaritas at Tio's. And, it'll let you pick up a 250-gram bag of coffee at Reuben Hills, tuck into a breakfast dish with a coffee at Paramount Coffee Project and nab 20-percent off your final bill at Nomad, as well scoring a movie ticket and some popcorn at Golden Age Cinema and Bar. You can work your way through each of the above deals at your own pace — or make a huge day of it and do it all at once — with the neighbourhood pass costing $150. Fancy bunkering down overnight while you eat and drink your way across Surry Hills? You can also purchase a $300 overnight pass, which includes everything already listed as well as one night's accommodation in an Everyday Room at Paramount House Hotel. Both kinds of passes are available to purchase online — and can be used now, saved for later, or given as a gift. Even if you're not fond of venturing far from home at the moment, understandably, buying one to use down the track means that you're helping support these businesses. Plus, it gives you something to look forward to when you can next leave the house. Surry Hills neighbourhood and overnight passes are available to buy online — visit www.stilllocalstillopen.com to make a purchase or for further details. If you're choosing to go out and support local businesses, have a look at the latest COVID-19 advice and social-distancing guidelines from the Department of Health.
The term 'hotel bar' is set to take on a whole new meaning when Estate opens within the Crowne Plaza Coogee Beach on Friday, March 13. The four-in-one venue boasts a seafood-focused dining room, a tropical terrace bar, a dedicated taqueria and even a hidden karaoke room. The multimillion-dollar refurbishment is headed by Chef (and Creative Director) Matthew Butcher, who has worked alongside a few of the culinary greats — including big names like Gordon Ramsay and Vue de Monde's Shannon Bennett. Butcher is joined by Head Chef Scott Eddington, who has clocked time with Rene Redzeppi at Noma, as well as at Australian favourites A1 Canteen, Belle's Hot Chicken and Melbourne's Mamasita. [caption id="attachment_764320" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lobster roll[/caption] Start off at the Terrace, an outdoor bar giving off Bali beach club vibes. Think beanbags, heaps of tropical palms and a projector screening sunset films and live sporting events. Bar snacks — such as lobster rolls, waffle fries and puffed pork with guacamole — are served out of a vintage Airstream trailer alongside locally made beers and wines. Meanwhile, over at the dining room — dubbed Kitchen — expect an ocean-themed fit-out that reflects the menu's focus on fresh, local seafood. Whole Moreton Bay bugs with green chilli butter, scampi risotto with caviar and salmon crudo with finger lime all make the regularly changing menu, as do tableside guacamole, lobster rolls and smoked mussels. For dessert, dig into Cherry Ripe bombe alaska or white chocolate s'mores. [caption id="attachment_764319" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Taqueria[/caption] In the Taqueria, there are neon lights, orange furnishings and bright patterns aplenty. The main offering here is the soft-shell tacos, which come in five varieties: pork belly with tamarind glaze, grilled fish with chipotle mayo spicy tofu, chorizo and barbecue chicken with tomatillo salsa. Otherwise, you can tuck into a big ol' bowl of vegan nachos. There are heaps of margaritas and micheladas going around, too — and a 25-strong tequila list is also available. Also hidden within the premises is Confessional, a private karaoke room that can (and should) be reserved for late-night revelry. Views of the Coogee coastline surround the venue and it's set up to fully embrace in those views —the courtyard even has three-step bleachers installed, from which punters can look out over the the ocean. Estate will be run separately from the hotel, though nothing is stopping you from turning your night out into a new excuse for a staycation. Find Estate within the Crowne Plaza at 242 Arden Street, Coogee from Friday, March 13. Terrace is open 4–10pm Monday–Thursday and 12–10pm Friday–Sunday; Kitchen is open 5pm–late Monday–Thursday and 12pm–late Friday–Sunday; and Taqueria is open 12pm–late daily.
Constructed in the 1880s, Balmain's Dawn Fraser Baths is the oldest pool in Australia. But it's in danger of closing as the pool requires millions of dollars in urgent repairs. The Inner West Council says the outdoor pool — which was renamed after local Olympian Dawn Fraser in the 60s — needs approximately $6.7 million in repairs, which include the raising of the boardwalk and pavilions to overcome rising sea levels, storm water upgrades and new bathroom and change rooms. These upgrades are all part of a ten-year draft master plan outlined by the Council. A standoff between councillors, however, has left the Council $2.2 million short. Without the extra funding, Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne says the renovations will not go ahead and the pool could close in the 'immediate future'. Liberal and Greens councillors voted against further funding for the pool, with Greens Councillor Rochelle Porteous telling the Sydney Morning Herald that the pool's disintegration was due to climate change — an issue that the state government should be dealing with. "Local councils will be increasingly facing these kind of costs as not just our pools and recreational infrastructure in low-lying areas and on the coast are inundated more severely on a more regular basis, but also our roads, sewerage systems and utilities infrastructure" Cr Porteous told the SMH. "This requires resources which are beyond the capacity of all local councils and the state government needs to step up." At the moment, the Inner West Council has not acquired the extra money it needs to save the baths, and is hosting a rally to save the pool this Saturday, October 13. The Defend Dawny's rally will take place at Elkington Park from 11am–12pm and is headed up by Cr Byrne. So far, almost 2000 people have registered their interest in the event. Find the Dawn Fraser Baths at Elkington Park, Balmain. It's currently open from 7.15am–6.30pm daily, but hours change seasonally and can be checked here. Image: Destination NSW.
Pyrmont is set to welcome a new Euro-leaning wine bar, helmed by acclaimed Sydney chef Justin North (Hotel Centennial, Becasse). Opening tomorrow within boutique hotel Ovolo 1888 Darling Harbour, Mister Percy pulls its inspiration from the Mediterranean — for its menu, wine list and designer fitout. It's named in honour of Percy Ewart, a former wool classer who worked in the site's original wool store. In the kitchen, Justin North has collaborated with head chef Luca Guiotto (A Tavola, Catalina) to deliver a considered lineup of skewered pintxos and large share dishes, built around classic coastal European flavours and top local produce. You'll find creations such as chargrilled citrus-cured kingfish with horseradish yoghurt, gnochetti with zucchini and cime di rapa, and tortelli with haloumi and broccoli purée. The European vibe is mirrored in the drinks offering, too, with Ovolo Hotel's Group Wine Curator Shun Eto assembling a 100-strong wine selection that heroes Mediterranean grape varieties and local producers. Expect to find yourself kicking back with drops like Beechworth's Jamsheed rousanne or a touriga-shiraz blend from Gundagai — with many wines served by the quartino, 250ml — or, if you veer away from wine, NSW craft beers and classic Italian cocktails. While you're doing that, you can admire the luxurious, old-meets-new interiors by the award-winning Luchetti Krelle (Banksii, Matinee). Local artist Oliver Watts has painted Australian-inspired artworks that adorn both the walls in the 60-person main area and in the two private dining rooms. The former hotel lobby has been transformed into a classy blend of leather, cane bark, plush fabrics and Venetian-style paintings, paying homage to its history while simultaneously celebrating the contemporary. Find Mister Percy at 139 Murray Street, Pyrmont, from Wednesday, August 8. It will open Monday–Saturday 5–11pm, and Sunday 5–10pm.
For the past 11 years, the Sydney Underground Film Festival has walked on the weirder, wilder side of cinema, and 2018 is no exception. In fact, with its 12th program including everything from a time-travelling New Zealand comedy to a bloody Christmas flick to Nicolas Cage at his most unhinged, this year might just be more over-the-top than ever. Returning to Marrickville's Factory Theatre from Thursday, September 13 to Sunday, September 16, SUFF kicks off with what could just be the next great (and greatly hilarious) Kiwi effort. Mega Time Squad stars What We Do in the Shadows' Jonny Brugh, and follows a small-time crook who steals an ancient time-travel device, only to be forced to face the demonic consequences — as happens in madcap NZ movies, obviously. Then, at the other end of the festival, get ready to go full Cage on SUFF's closing night. Sure, you've seen Nicolas Cage do plenty of strange things on screen, but Mandy dials his antics up a few notches and then some. Charting a lumberjack's quest to save his girlfriend from a creepy cult and a trio of satanic bikers, it features a vodka-swilling, revenge-seeking, angrily growling Nicolas Cage that really has to be seen to be believed. Throw in lurid visuals and an intoxicating soundtrack, and it demands to be experienced in a cinema. In between SUFF's two big events sits 25 other features, 13 documentaries, four shorts programs, eight workshops and the return of the late-night cereal cartoon party, so prepare to get comfy across the festival's four-day run. Feature highlights include the Aubrey Plaza and Jemaine Clement-starring An Evening with Beverly Luff Linn, Ethan Hawke stepping behind the camera with music biopic Blaze, the violent vengeance of French effort Revenge and Sion Sono's undead extravaganza Tokyo Vampire Hotel. Or, there's also Guy Maddin's San Francisco mashup The Green Fog, stylishly sensory spaghetti western homage Let the Corpses Tan, and the hypnotic Madeline's Madeline — with the latter about a teenage acting student channelling her woes into her work, complete with a incredibly memorable lead performance. On the documentary front, SUFF-goers can step into a varied array of subjects, including folks who believe the earth is flat, the world's first all-girl punk group, legendary exploitation filmmaker Larry Cohen and another director who has made more than 180 movies in 20 years. The list goes on, but this year's fest wouldn't be complete without the man, the myth and the enigma that is Bill Murray — or a documentary about him, more accurately, although he will be in the country later this year. The 2018 Sydney Underground Film Festival runs from September 13 to 16 at The Factory Theatre, Marrickville. For more information or to buy tickets, visit the festival website
These days, a simple flash of your smartphone can let you pay for stuff without tapping your debit card, see a gig without a hard-copy ticket and even split dinner bills without carrying around a heap of cash. And, thanks to legislation that's just passed through State Parliament, NSW residents could soon leave the old drivers licence card at home, if an imminent Sydney trial of digital licences is successful. The trial, which is set to start in November this year, will be only available for eastern suburb dwellers — namely Bondi, Bondi Junction, Bronte, Clovelly, Coogee, Randwick and Waverley. According to a statement released by the NSW Government, those willing to participate will have to register for a MyServiceNSW account and install a yet-to-be-released trial app. This will allow them to manage and renew their licence, and show it as proof of identity and age at police roadside checks, bars and clubs. For the trial, the digital licence can only be used in the suburbs listed above. If the trial is successful, the digital system will roll out across the state in early 2019. This means that any NSW driver would be able to access a digital version of their licence via the Service NSW app on their phone, eliminating the need to carry the original card. How exactly the government will curb the circulation of fake IDs is not yet known, but the statement says it is using "cutting edge technology" to do so. It will be an opt-in service, and all drivers will still be issued with a card regardless. Plans for the switch to digital were first announced back in 2016, which was followed by a successful trial of the digital licences in Dubbo and subsequent legislation being entered into Parliament earlier this year. The technology is still being developed by the NSW Government, but similar system was rolled out in South Australia in late 2017.
If you're a meat-free diner in Sydney, your ramen options are fairly limited. But for the rest of the month, there's one more you can add to your list — and it looks mighty impressive. Butter, Sydney's palace of fried chicken and ramen, is serving up a special mushroom-filled vego ramen until September 2 at both of its stores: Surry Hills and Parramatta. Unlike its cult-favourite fried chicken ramen, which will be replaced by the vego version for the two weeks, this one features two large fried field mushrooms as the centrepiece. They're floating around with black fungus, ramen noodles and an ajitsuke tamago (a marinated egg) too. And then there's arguably the most important ramen component: the broth. While most ramen broth is made using pork bones boiled for hours, Butter's vego ramen broth is made using a kombu stock, which is mixed with vegetables, chickpeas, cashew nuts, fermented bean curd and preserved mustard. It's simmered for a whole six hours, too — which helps to caramelise the vegetables and give it a deeper flavour. If you miss the limited-edition vego ramen, Butter has an oft-overlooked vegetarian menu that you could dive into instead. It feature giant fried mushroom pieces (yes, the ones from the ramen), which come served with the restaurant's signature hot sauce, the hefty "Biggie Shroom Sandwich" and fried haloumi fingers. We're slightly skeptical about how well a fried chicken joint can do ramen, but if the popularity of its regular ramen is anything to go by, the vego version is at least worth trying. Butter's vegetarian ramen ($18) is available until Sunday, September 2, at Butter Surry Hills, 6 Hunt Street, and Butter Parramatta, Shop 3, 140 Marsden Street.
The inner west suburb of Dulwich Hill will soon be home to an exciting new tamaleria and Mexican deli. It'll be the first permanent eatery from Rosa Cienfuegos . You may recognise the name from her twice monthly — and super popular — La Casa Latina pop-up at the Marrickville Market and her regular pop-ups at Young Henrys and The Grifter Brewing Co. As of September 16, Cienfuegos will launch her own digs along the budding strip of Marrickville Road. The takeaway-only shop will offer a range of signature Mexico City and Oaxaca-style hot tamales — think chicken with mole sauce, pineapple pork in green sauce and the vegetarian rajas con queso (poblano chillies with cheese). Cienfuegos hails from Mexico City, so you can trust her when it comes to authenticity. "Tamales are a pre-Hispanic dish that is well preserved in Mexico and is one of the most common breakfast items, served on many street corners in Mexico," says Cienfuegos. "Every state has its own style and can go from being wrapped in a corn husk or in a banana leaf, from huge to small and from spicy to sweet." Pre-packed, street-style tacos will also be on offer at the deli counter — ranging from slow-cooked brisket and lamb barbacoa to marinated pulled pork and a spicy cactus salad. Plus, rotating specials like chiles rellenos, empanadas, tuna croquettes and vegan ceviche will make the way onto the menu, along with sides like refried beans and verdolagas (Mexican greens). Apart from the prepared food options, Cienfuegos will also sell branded small goods, including her homemade salsas, sauces, specialty Mexican ingredients and DIY kits for at-home cooking. "There aren't many authentic Mexican options in Sydney, and even though you can buy the ingredients from different suppliers and shops, people are not sure how to use them or what they are for," says Cienfuegos. "I'll be at the shop to help and share recipes with the correct ingredients." The fit-out aims to fit-in with surrounding Dulwich Hill vibe, including with the signage (designed by Jocelyn Eng) that uses images of the surrounding main street. The simple interior focuses on wooden decor, with a bit of Mexican flare coming from the hanging sarapes (brightly coloured rugs). Rosa Cienfuegos will open on Sunday, September 16 at 463 Marrickville Road, Dulwich Hill. Opening hours are Tuesday–Sunday from 8am–6pm, and Thursdays from 8am–8pm.
It's the eternal conundrum; you've had a delicious dinner but you're hankering for something indulgent to cap off the night — do you get dessert? While we're all for satisfying cravings, why limit yourself to gelato or cake? With so many spots serving up indulgent nightcaps in Sydney's CBD, why not opt for something you can really savour and treat yourself to dessert in liquid form. To give you a hand, we've partnered with Glenmorangie to find the best Sydney bars in and around the CBD to hit for a nightcap this spring. Having created the Signet single malt whisky with distinct flavours of chocolate, espresso and mandarin (well, that sounds a lot like dessert) who better to help us pick than the whisky purveyors at Glenmorangie. Finish the night on the right note, with a whisky and a decadent treat. 12-MICRON Wind up the evening watching the bright lights of Barangaroo dance across the water at 12-Micron's late-night dessert bar — whisky in one hand, decadent treat in the other. Headed up by Melbourne pastry master Darren Purchese, this highly inventive 64-seat dessert mecca is sure to satisfy all your post-dinner cravings. You'll finish the night on a high, literally — two-storeys up, overlooking the harbour — and figuratively, as sugary bliss fills your body. A must-try for all sweet-toothed Sydneysiders is the old fashioned sphere with salted caramel, dark chocolate, burnt mandarin, frozen Glenmorangie Signet shots, wattle seed ice cream and flourless chocolate cake ($22). Basically, it's some sort of old fashioned-dessert hybrid and our sweet dreams are made of these. Pair it with a Signet ($36), neat or the rocks, for a truly indulgent nightcap. KITTYHAWK Kittyhawk transports you back to the Liberation of Paris in 1944, a time when the booze flowed thick and fast, and with good reason. Which raises the question, what exactly does one drink when toasting to the end of war? We say whisky. But, seeing as you're in a bar which stocks more than 900 spirits and you're not celebrating a German surrender, choose whatever tipple tickles your fancy. Capping off a night at Kittyhawk you're literally armed with an instruction manual (drinks menu) to help you imbibe. The bar takes indulgence to a level that only the French know how. The Signet La Bouche with Glenmorangie Signet, mandarin curd, lemon juice and Angostura bitters is a smooth finish to the night, while the Kitty Sgroppino, described as a sweet, spicy candy shop, topped with waffle, cherry and strawberry fields ice cream has sweetness well and truly covered. SMOKE, BARANGAROO HOUSE With uninterrupted water views and an upscale dress code, Smoke at Barangaroo is a sophisticated venue that offers far more than a quick beer at the end of the night. With the lights of Sydney's skyline as your backdrop, nestle into one of the leather booths on the expansive timber deck and savour the experience, cocktail in hand. The bar takes an experimental approach to many of the classics; a Jaffa Sour pairs the flavours of Glenmorangie Signet, dark creme de cacao, blood orange juice, lemon juice and egg whites while the Yuzu Martini made with citrus vodka, yuzushu and orange bitters is a fresh take on a martini. BUTTON BAR The espresso martini is the quintessential nightcap — combining the end of the meal staples — coffee and something sweet — into a neat and delicious package. While not all bars get this mix right, Button Bar in Surry Hills certainly does, using the chocolate and espresso flavours of Glenmorangie Signet to enhance the espresso shot and real coffee beans in the sought-after Signet espresso martini. A cosy wood-clad bar decked out like the hull of a pirate ship, with individual leather booths and long communal tables, you can be as private or as raucous as you like. AT HOME Your night doesn't need to end just because you've gone home. Often, one of the best parts of an evening is a nightcap at home, comfy pants on, debriefing about the night that was. Stop by a bottle shop in the city and pick up a bottle of Glenmorangie Signet, then savour dessert curled up on the couch. Equally, if you're trying to impress, the promise of a tasty at-home tipple — served neat or on ice — packed with flavours of chocolate, espresso and mandarin will surely do the trick. Cap off your next night with a decadent post-dinner glass of Glenmorangie Signet.
Empty plates are a diner's nightmare. If you're sitting in a restaurant and there's nothing in front of you, it's either because your meal hasn't arrived or because you've come to the end of a tasty dish. But at Matt Moran's Solotel group, empty plates will now help a very worthy cause: Australia's drought-affected farmers. With the country currently doing it tough, drought-wise — and farmers doing it even tougher — the hospitality empire has launched 'Plate for a Farmer', which encourages patrons to buy an empty plate to support those in need. You can purchase an empty entrée plate for $5 or a main plate for $10, with Solotel matching every dollar spent. The proceeds will then go to Rural Aid to assist with their mental health counselling and other drought support programs. If you're keen to give farmers a helping hand next time you're eating out, you can do so at Aria in both Sydney and Brisbane, plus Bea at Barangaroo House, Chiswick Woollahra, Chiswick at the Gallery, Paddo Inn, North Bondi Fish, Opera Bar and Chophouse. Solotel's initiative recognises the importance of Australian produce and rural suppliers to the group's meals, as well as Moran's background as a fourth-generation farmer. "Throughout my career, having access to the very best produce in Australia has been a joy, but the drought conditions that now shroud our countryside are having a devastating effect on our rural suppliers," says Moran. "As both a chef and a very proud fourth-generation farmer, this is heart-wrenching. Our Aussie farmers' hard work and innovation have enabled the team and me to bring wonderful seasonal menus, year after year. It's now time for us to step up and help them."
We're heading into what can be a pretty tough time of year for the old purse strings. The sun's out, and everyone you know suddenly wants to plan a catch up for the festive season. It can be pricy — and a little exhausting trying to find a spot that'll please the entire crew. Luckily, we've got you covered on both fronts. We've teamed up with Surry Hills spot SaltVine Lebanese Tapas to give away a $250 meal for you and three friends. The eatery, which opened earlier this year, is a reinvention of a classic Lebanese restaurant, combining the tapas style of eating with traditional tastes and flavours. Deconstructed old classics have been turned into fresh bites, but in no way do they stray too far from their roots — think zaatar fries, Syrian string cheese cigars and chargrilled king prawns with chilli, cardamom and lemon. The drinks also have a Middle Eastern flair — the classic whisky sour is amped up with fig, the Beirut sangria includes apricot liquor and there's a selection of Lebanese wines on offer, too. The $250 voucher is valid for four people across the entire SaltVine menu, from drinks to the banquet ($50 per person or $45 per person for the vegetarian option). If you've got some dietary requirements to consider, that's all good, too: the a la carte menu includes many options for your vegan, dairy-free and gluten-free pals. The only requirement is to take the tapas element seriously and be prepared to share (which shouldn't be a problem, as you'll want to try everything anyway). To go into the running, enter with your details below. [competition]695666[/competition]
You can't beat Sydney summers on the water and Pyrmont has a front row seat. Over the past few years, the central inner-city suburb has built a solid reputation for cosmopolitan flavours, action-packed entertainment and a darn good opportunity to people watch. Craving award-winning Japanese? Look no further. How about tasty eats on a budget? You're covered. There are so many esteemed, popular restaurants packed into one hot spot, it's well worth a few repeat visits. There are plenty of reasons to venture harbourside to dine out this summer from moreish nibbles to splashy feasts. We round up some top things to eat in Pyrmont while the sun's up late. APEROL & APPETISERS AT PIZZAPERTA Ever went to treat yourself to an appetiser only to find the starting price could comfortably feed a small family. Rest easy this summer at Pizzaperta with their offering of hot and cold Italian snacks for just $5 each. That's right people, only a crisp fiver. Think cool caprese skewers, montanara mini pizzas and Siciliano snacks featuring focaccia bread with ricotta cheese, cetara anchovies, Sicilian capers and olives. You can even be a high roller (you are at The Star), order the lot and live la dolce vita. BAR SNACKS Book in a bar hop with friends at some of Pyrmont's swankier venues. This summer, the bars at Sokyo, Black and Balla are serving up summer martinis and matching bar snacks. Stroll from one to the next sampling unexpected treats. Start with Japanese-style kingfish wings in shichimi butter at Sokyo Lounge. Savour the squid ink cracker, smoked creme fraiche and mojama salt-cured tuna at Black Bar. Finish off at Balla Apertivi Bar with their wood-grilled calamari skewers, tomatoes and fenol. LOBSTER AT BALLA Forget avo on toast. Balla's slipper lobster is worth the investment. This summer only, our favourite crustacean will be served on bruschetta with crushed pea and lemon ricotta at $28 for lunch or dinner. Since joining in 2011, head chef Gabriele Taddeucci has helped Balla rack up an impressive roster of awards. So clearly, the latest offering won't disappoint. The team have dreamt up a light seafood menu that pays homage to an Italian summer. Also available to sample are splashy wood-grilled marron with extra virgin olive oil bearnaise and warrigal greens for $60 and green lobster tagliatelle with spicy Americana sauce for $32. KING SALMON AT BLACK Seafood is delicious all year round, however, the folk at Black Bar & Grill know that there's no time like summer to truly feast on the ocean's freshest delights. Scampi, caviar, lobster and marron all feature on this summer seafood menu. We recommend taking your time to enjoy the king salmon confit served with horseradish cream, cucumber and squid ink crumbs for $48. This dish takes a little longer to serve up as it's carefully prepared fresh by the team, but it is definitely worth the wait. BENTO LUNCH AT SOKYO Feast on a bento box like no other with Sokyo's summer lunch special available on Fridays and Saturdays. This highly awarded Japanese restaurant headed by chef Chase Kojima is no ordinary sushi bar. Corn-fed chicken and pork belly robata, dengakuman, asparagus tempura, mixed leaves and chef's assorted sashimi and sushi roll — it'll all go down nicely with a glass of bubbly. See everything that's going on at The Star this summer here. Thirsty? Hit these Pyrmont spots for some summer drinks.
Still making plans for the Easter long weekend? How does a barbecue, craft beer and music festival sound? Wollongong is getting its first of the kind when Crafted LIVE takes over MacCabe Park on Saturday, April 15 and Sunday, April 16. They're taking their barbecue very seriously at this one, with a 30-team competition going down, sanctioned by the Australian Barbecue Alliance and hosted by the Shank Brothers (from Channel Seven's Aussie Barbecue Heroes). On the craft brew side, the festival will bring together 20 of the best brewers in Australia, from Wollongong locals Illawarra Brewing Co and Shark Island Brewing to Sydney favourites Wayward Brewing and Young Henrys, and even nabbing Australia's SA much-loved Pirate Life. Live music will be rocking through the day and night, with Melbourne rocker Tex Perkins and blues musician Ash Grunwald headlining. It's an unbeatable trifecta that will feed soul, mind and belly and it's only a short train ride away. Easter plans sorted.
Thank you, Germany, for giving us yet another reason to splurge on our favourite fermented beverage. Oktoberfest is getting an Aussie do-over this year, as Oktoberwest takes over Sydney's inner west, the craft beer capital of Australia. You'll find Young Henrys, Willie The Boatman, Wayward Brewing Co., The Grifter Brewing Co., Batch Brewing Co, Sauce Brewing Co, and Malt Shovel Brewery providing the beer. Aside from the opportunity to sample limited edition brews, there'll also be food trucks, Brewery Bingo and an absolutely killer party. Oh, and of course there'll be tunes. Nostalgia cover band Birdman or The Unexpected Virtue of a Tony Hawk Pro Skater Cover Band will blast the beats while you sit back with your pint, while DJ Don Benet will do his best Kraftwerk impersonation, providing some much-needed German vibes. Keep an ear out also for The Lockhearts, local band Scabz, as well as Frenzel Rhomb's Lindsey McDougall, with more to be announced.
There's something magical about heading into the Art Gallery of New South Wales after dark. Every Wednesday until 10pm, you can wander the collections without fighting hectic crowds and catch a talk, performance or tour — whatever is happening that night. Each week, a series of talks, tours and workshops accompany the AGNSW's current exhibitions. At the moment they are John Olsen: The You Beaut Collection, Sydney's citywide art show The National: New Australian Art, and Australian photographer David Stephenson's Human Landscapes. The best thing about Art After Hours? Every event is free.
If Scenes From a Marriage hadn't already been taken, it would've made a great title for most of Asghar Farhadi's movies to date. From 2003's Dancing in the Dust to 2011's Oscar-winning A Separation and his 2013 follow-up The Past, the Iranian writer-director has filled his resume with features about the struggles of not-so-harmonious domesticity. Now you can add The Salesman to the pack, just as Farhadi can add another Academy Award to his mantle. Still, a shiny new statuette can't mask his fondness for repetition. Farhadi is a master of observing just how the bonds of matrimony can unravel, but seven films in there's no avoiding the feeling that you've seen some of it before. The Salesman opens on the set of a play, with husband and wife Emad (Shahab Hosseini) and Rana (Taraneh Alidoosti) staging a revival of Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman. As Farhadi demonstrates rather unsubtly by cutting from a bed on stage to their crumbling real life home, all isn't well for the couple. That's especially true after they move into a friend's flat and Rama leaves the door unlatched, only to be attacked by a stranger. Understandably she's shaken. Just as understandably, he's driven to track down the perpetrator. Their conflicting responses sit at the heart of Farhadi's latest film, with the writer-director eager as ever to wait and watch as the couples' fraught emotions slowly but surely rise to the surface. Indeed, pumping seemingly ordinary spaces full of the kind of tension that can only spring from fraying intimate bonds is one of the things he does best. Dissecting how even a mere word, look or gesture can completely reshape, change or ultimately unravel a relationship is another. Both talents are on display as Rama takes the reserved and ultimately forgiving route, while the increasingly frantic Emad can't shake his wounded pride — or his need for vengeance. Cue a situation rife with drama, which Farhadi carefully heightens. As he's done before, he makes plain the gender lines driving the divide between husband and wife, as well as the cultural reasons for their behaviour. Here, he also stresses the fact that Iranian society will applaud a man bent on revenge but blame a woman who's a victim and judge another that's made untraditional choices, making hefty material even meatier. Throw constrained yet probing visuals into the mix alongside nuanced and multifaceted performances by Hosseini, Alidoosti and the pivotal Babek Karimi, and The Salesman can only be described as classic Farhadi territory. Still, there's a difference between ticking the usual boxes and expanding them, and here the Oscar-winning filmmaker manages one but not the other. As a result, the movie feels less like an involving effort in its own right and more like a greatest hits package. Many a director has made a successful career out of playing the same cinematic notes over and over again, but just as many have eventually stretched their usual tendencies too far. While The Salesman proves engaging, particularly in its later stages, there's a distinctive sense that next time Farhadi needs to show us something new.
Mardi Gras celebrations may have just finished up for the year, but the marriage equality movement remains in full force. Continue to show your support for the LGBTI+ community at the Swanson Hotel in Erskineville by taking part in SKYY Vodka's #CheerstoEquality campaign, in support of marriage equality. Kicking off this Saturday for four weeks, $1 from each SKYY Vodka equality cocktail sold at the Swanson will be donated to just.equal, a community campaign that advocates for justice and equality for LGBTI+ Australians. On Saturday March 11 the event kicks off at 6pm, and for the first three hours you can enjoy your cocktail from the SKYY Smart Glass, a world-first smart-tech glassware that, as you clink your glass with another, will automatically take a photo of the holders saying #CheerstoEquality. A digital signature petitioning support for marriage equality will then be sent through Twitter using the hashtag #auspol. The SKYY Vodka cocktails available will be the specially-made Equal Parts (soda water, SKYY vodka, cranberry juice and a lime wedge), then there's the mojito, bloody mary or espresso martini. Essentially, this is a chance to have your voice heard and get the attention of political decision-makers whilst enjoying a delicious cocktail. Toasting to the spirit of love, regardless of gender — we'll drink to that.
We get it. Everyone loves an espresso 'tini. Melbourne's got a bar that even does them on tap — and Sydney has a whole venue dedicated to that God-sent concoction of chilled coffee and vodka. After Melbourne nabbed the country's very first espresso martini festival last year, Sydney's getting in on the action with its own dedicated event in The Rocks this May. Sleep, who needs it? The festival, to be held in the Overseas Passenger Terminal on May 26 and 27, is being gifted to our espresso-loving, cocktail-filled city by the caffeinated folks at Mr Black, a NSW-based cold-pressed (and damn fine) coffee liqueur. In short, they know how to capitalise on our weaknesses and we're not even mad about it. The affair will involve some of Australia's best coffee suppliers, cafes and bars, and will come together to create a beautiful array of alcoholic caffeinated beverages. As with any festival of this kind, there will be plenty of optional food and drink from Mary's, Loving Earth Chocolate, Young Henrys and Byron Bay Cookie Co. The festival will run during the first weekend of Vivid Sydney, so you can pair your Darling Harbour light-chasing with a 'tini or two. Tickets will set you back $30 (plus booking fee) a pop, with the first 200 tickets sold including a complimentary espresso martini. Can't argue with that. Image: Nikki To.
