There are few things in life that can't be improved with a nice single malt or two, including your own talents. Unleash your inner artist with a drink in your hand at Whisky & Watercolour, the new boozy creative collaboration between The Whisky List and Billy & Scarlet. The former, with help from whisky connoisseur Dan Hutchins-Read of The Glenrothes, brings scotchy scotch scotch to the easel. Yes, Ron Burgundy would approve. The latter, aka illustrator Jill Tasker, brings mini-lessons in watercolour techniques. Combine the two together, and you'll learn and taste something new — and paint your own watercolour whisky bottle (what else?) too. The first in what will hopefully be a series of Whisky & Watercolour workshops takes place at WeWork Pyrmont from 7pm on June 2, with tickets costing $75. For that price, you'll get to sip, eat your way through some nibbles, pick up a new skill and make a whisky-themed masterpiece.
Grab your leg warmers, throw on some lycra and get your skates on, literally, at the frostiest, quietest event in the Vivid lineup. Yes, the Silent Disco Ice Skating Festival is back for another round of peaceful gliding fun. If you've always wanted to relive Blades of Glory, here's your chance. From May 26 to June 9, a purpose-built ice rink will transform Chippendale's Central Park Mall. Take to the floor, put on your headphones and skate along to live DJ sets, with Bobby Gray/BBG — aka one half of dance music duo SVSSY — and DJ Urby among those spinning tracks. The silent disco fun kicks off at 4pm daily; however anyone just keen for some ice time, sans tunes, can head along from 10am. Regardless of the time of day, capacity is limited to 45 people at a time, with sessions running for 30 minutes starting on the hour, every hour. Sounds cool as ice, doesn't it? Or even better, really, given that Cool As Ice is actually the name of a Vanilla Ice-starring '90s rom-com that somehow doesn't involve ice skating. Throw in the fact that it's all free, and it's a winter wonderland indeed.
Sporting horn-rimmed glasses and a cranky hankering for complaining, Woody Harrelson is clearly having fun in Craig Johnson's Wilson. Channelling his inner Larry David, he plays the cantankerous title character with a mischievous twinkle in his eye, delivering his misanthropic lines with glee. His grouchy protagonist drips with the same attitude he displayed in The Edge of Seventeen, Now You See Me and the Hunger Games movies – and yet not once does it feel like he's following a playbook. But while you could never accuse Harrelson of going through the motions, the same cannot be said about his latest film Here, a world-weary middle-aged grump is content with spitting acid at everything around him, until a series of life-changing events threatens to interrupt his sour status quo. Alas, though it is based on Daniel Clowes' graphic novel of the same name — and as such possesses the same spirit as the cartoonist's Ghost World and Art School Confidential — this big screen adaptation could hardly be more formulaic. That the film can't quite fashion its episodic antics into anything more than obvious observations — about the state of modern society, family and the notion of making a mark — certainly doesn't help. Nor does the unconvincing seesawing between comedy and something more serious. When we first meet Wilson, he's a lanky, bearded package of conflicting impulses and disdain. When he's not admonishing people on the street for taking a shine to his cute pooch, he's annoying strangers by sidling up close and starting intrusive conversations. For a while, he's happy in his unhappiness — but after his only friends move away and his ill dad takes a turn for the worse, he finds himself yearning for a connection. Looking up childhood pals and hooking up with women in the supermarket doesn't work, so he tracks down his ex-wife Pippi (Laura Dern), only to learn that he has a 17-year-old daughter (Isabella Amara). Clowes wrote the screenplay himself, while Johnson previously — and effectively — delved into dysfunction in The Skeleton Twins. Despite this, Wilson simply isn't the winning collaboration it could've been. Instead of providing any real insights into its motley crew of miserable souls, or fleshing them out beyond easy caricatures, the film instead uses its array of characters for eccentric amusement and overt sentiment. An old man doesn't literally yell at a cloud, but it wouldn't feel out of place. The same is true of a big schmaltzy family hug. Of course, if there had been a huge hearty embrace, there's no prizes for guessing who would've been in the middle — and who would've been forced to the edges. Films about curmudgeonly men too often run loving eyes over their protagonists while pushing women to the side. Here, Dern shines brighter than the material asks, while the always-great Judy Greer is squandered in yet another thankless girlfriend role. Ultimately, their treatment is emblematic of a feature that only knows how to do one thing well. Wilson, the man, may serve up great work from Harrelson, but Wilson, the movie, soon proves that 94 minutes in the character's company are far too many. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kudZx_f7-mk
As we're technically adults and can't spend all day in bed watching Nickelodeon's The Wild Thornberrys, sometimes we have to find other ways to live vicariously alongside the natural world. And the new exhibition opening at Black Eye Gallery is just the ticket. Amelia and the Animals is open from May 2-14 and features photos taken by Robin Schwartz of her daughter (pretty much the IRL version of The Wild Thornberrys) as they travel around the world. And 13 years of adventures yielded a certifiable truckload of amazing imagery. The exhibition covers the life of Amelia, Schwartz's daughter and muse, and her adventures with animals. But not garden variety pets — she's run with monkeys, tigers, llamas, and elephants. Schwartz is a US-based photographer and the 2016 Guggenheim Fellow in Photography. Her work is displayed in galleries around the world.
Outdoor escape artists We Are Explorers are leading 20 adventurers on a two-day Wilderness Survival Course for the weekend of May 20 through 21. The excursion will take participants through rainforest and caves in a remote valley along the NSW Central Coast, where they will be led by Australian survival experts on a hike to a secluded campsite. Upon arrival, the group will be taught to build their own shelter and campfire using ancient techniques. Apart from natural campsite building, ticket holders will learn how to catch, cook and eat their own dinner, bush forage, make weapons and learn traditional Aboriginal celestial navigation skills. This course will basically turn the novice into a bad ass, whether you just want to show off on your next camping trip or prepare for the apocalypse. All tickets will also include a weekend photography package, so you can remember yourself in all of your "into the wild" glory.
At a train station in India, a young girl begins to sing while a man watches, rapt. He is a tea seller, but no one seems to notice the small stall where he brews chai. He begins to tell a story — an Indian fairy tale. The station is crowded, but the stage contains only one performer. Guru of Chai is the latest work by New Zealand theatre company Indian Inks. Jacob Rajan performs the show solo, adopting seventeen different characters and a good deal of shadow puppetry to tell the tale of seven daughters plotted against by their stepmother. This one's been doing the rounds for a few years now and picking up glowing reviews all along the way. Diving through layers of truth narrative and style, Guru of Chai is pure storytelling and by all accounts a completely transporting experience. Image: Robert Catto.
The Shangri-La is spoiling us this winter. First there was an all-you-can-eat Malaysian banquet curated by international guest chefs, and now Altitude, the 36th floor, harbourside dining spot, is hosting boozy Saturday brunches with panoramic views to boot. Buckle up, breakfast lovers. There are waffles, syrupy pancakes, eggs, fresh seafood, salads, desserts and even fine cheeses to accompany free-flowing bellinis and mimosas. Go the whole hog and treat yourself even more with an upgrade to unlimited Chandon or Veuve Cliquot. When your biggest problem is juggling sinking premium bubbles, fighting the urge to inhale your meal, and taking in the resplendent sea view at the risk of letting your delectable Arabian-buttered eggs go cold, you know you're at the right event. This royal brunch kicks off on Saturdays at 11:30am, and runs until 2:30pm. Seatings start at $75pp and bookings are recommended. Check out the menu here — we'll see you there.
Parklands Food Fest is returning to western Sydney with a lineup of some of the city's best chefs and food trucks. The festival, which is now in its sixth year, will feature Dan Hong (of Sydney's Mr Wong and Ms.G's) and his mum, Angie. Angie, who is also a restaurateur, is known for her weekly Monday Hong family dinners. While it's hard to snag yourself an invite to one (it's close friends and family only), you will be able to see her on stage recreating Vietnamese classics at the festival on Saturday, September 9. As well as the mother-son act, there will be over 50 food stalls, serving up everything from Egyptian meat pies from El Qahirah to seafood paellas and Salvadorian tortillas. Food rescue charity OzHarvest will also be parking its truck at the Abbotsbury site to serve up zero-waste meals. (Don't be put off though — OzHarvest employs award-winning chefs to help create their dishes.) Little Veggie Patch Co.'s Mat Pember will hold workshops teaching you how to grow produce anywhere. Pember promises the workshops won't just be for the lucky few Sydneysiders who have a garden, but will also be appropriate for those in apartments. Image: El Qahirah.
PS40 is throwing its own hottest 100 party this public holiday Friday. Hops & Pop will pair the CBD laneway bar's picks for best songs of the year with local booze and food. Along with their usual native-inspired cocktails, the bartenders will be slingin' their new collaboration with Young Henrys — an easy-drinking Smoked Shandy which combines YH's Newtowner and PS40's smoked lemonade. For food, patrons can expect a PS40-style sausage sizzle, topped with native botanical relishes. All proceeds from the snags will go toward developing indigenous communities in Australia. The party will be rocking until 2am so you can get your long weekend started off with a bang.
White Rabbit Gallery's spring/summer exhibitionRitual Spirit promises to transport you to a world that's half-godly and half-human — that in-between place where the afterlife and the spiritual meet the earthly. The works of more than 20 artists from China and Taiwan, both young and old, will feature. Among them is Geng Xue, who was shortlisted for Young Artist of the Year 2017 in China. She sculpts in bronze and ceramics, among other materials, and her recent solo show explored Mount Sumeru, which, for Buddhists, is the centre of the universe: physically and spiritually. In addition, there's Yu Hong, who's known for her powerful, intimate figurative paintings; Tianzhuo Chen, whose multimedia works combine colour and kitsch to comment on celebrity, fashion, drugs, hip hop, New York vogue, Japanese Butoh and London raves; Cheng Ran, who explores philosophical issues, such as identity and dying, through video; and Xu Bing, whose installations and print mix images with text.
Andrew Upton's been at the Russians again and this time it's Anton Chekhov's Three Sisters that has fallen prey to his adaptation laser. Not known for his trick titles, Chekhov's work revolves around three sisters getting to grips with life in 1850s Russia: Olga (Alison Bell), a schoolteacher, Masha (Eryn Jean Norvill) an artist of sorts, and Irina (Miranda Daughtry) an idealist who is being flattened by reality. Oh, and their brother, Andrei (but he made the title much less snappy). Opening on the first anniversary of their father's death, Three Sisters documents the efforts of this foursome to experience joy and fulfilment as the bland reality of adult responsibility slips a noose round their necks. This may sound like a broad synopsis, but it's a pretty broad play. Even with Upton's modifications, this thing runs at three hours. It's said that tragedy plus time equals comedy. Not always. It also equals the Russian classics.
It has been a whole year since The Dolphin Hotel threw open its revamped doors, which can only mean one thing. Yes, a first birthday calls for a first birthday party — and, given the Surry Hills pub is quite the stylish joint inside, it's marking the occasion in a fittingly ace manner. First up, the music. Get 'Out of Mind, Out of Sight' with '80s rockers The Models, who'll be strutting their stuff live. They'll have support from a back-to-back DJ lineup, including The Original Roman, Ben Fester, Kali, Adi Toohey, Andy Webb, Ariane, Mike Sydney, Dj Salami, Dreamcatcher, Jimmy Sing, Michelle Owen, Parihaka, Physique and Keep Sydney Open's Tyson Koh. So, you know why you're celebrating on August 3, and what you're partying to — but does this shindig have food and drinks to match? If you've been to The Dolphin before, then you already know the answer, with Maurice Terzini and Monty Koludrovic taking care of the nosh and James Hird on beverage duty. As far as eating up a storm is concerned, expect to munch through a few greatest hits menus of the venue's faves, such as sandwiches, pies, and freshly roasted and carved porchetta panini in the public bar; pizza slices, burrata and Afghan bread in the dining room; and a separate mortadella and natural wine party in the wine room. Drinks will range from Negronis to gin and tonics to champers, draft beer and tinnies, plus the usual menu. And, if all that doesn't sound like enough fun, tickets only cost $20. That includes food, plus a cash entry donation to Crown St Public School.
After the success of their production Bennelong earlier this year, Indigenous Australian dance company Bangarra Dance Theatre is back with three homegrown dance stories performed as ONES COUNTRY — the spine of our stories. Commissioned by Bangarra's long-time artistic director, Stephen Page, the program presents three dance works, each taking viewers on a journey across Australia — from the desert and rough terrain of Arnhem Land to the waters of the Torres Strait Island to the urban life of Indigenous Australians. To bring you his first choreographic work, Place, Bangarra choreographer Kaine Sultan-Babij draws on his own experiences as a young, queer Aboriginal man living in a global society. Fellow Bangarra dancers and Torres Strait Islander women Elma Kris and Nicola Sabatino join forces in Whistler, an authentic story from their land, inspired by the call of the dugong. And finally, Elder, Yolgnu songman and Bangarra foundation member Djakapurra Munyarryun returns with his first choreographic work for Bangarra, Yalu. ONES COUNTRY — the spine of our stories opens Friday, November 24 at Carriageworks and runs until Saturday, December 2. Image: Edward Mulvihill.
Combining archival footage, animation, music and text, the bomb is a full-scale immersive experience that drop the audience right in the heart of the history of nuclear weapons. A 61-minute film draws you in to this gruesome, apocalyptic world while electronica rock trio The Acid provide the tense, pulsating soundtrack live in the room. the bomb explores the immense power of nuclear weapons, the perverse appeal they have, and the profound death wish at the very heart of them – a subject that is, depressingly, more relevant today than at any time in the past 30 years.
If you're a North Shore resident and you can't find something to do in September, you're not trying hard enough. That's when the region's annual Emerge Festival takes over Sydney's northern suburbs for a month-long celebration of community and culture. More than 30 events comprise the 2017 program, ranging from Chatswood's annual street fair to a short film festival dedicated to joy and diversity, and from Willoughby's craft beer affair and its Visual Arts Biennial as well. An afternoon of jazz, a chance to learn how to play croquet (attn: Heathers fans), bushwalking to find beetles and bugs, a pop-up repair cafe for broken household items and a three-day oasis hangout are all also on the agenda. Theatre, ballet, the Sydney Taiwan Festival, deckchair chill sessions, arts and writing workshop: they're all on the stacked lineup too, and the list keeps going on. It all promises to be a busy few weeks — and if you don't live in the area, you might want to cross the bridge to get in on the fun.
Think Sunday brunch can't get any better? Think again. The concept of indulging away the morning after a big night out is tried and tested, but Moya's Juniper Lounge have managed to improve perfection with their gin-soaked liquid brunch. From August 20 until the end of the year, the third Sunday of each month is now a Vietnamese soup and Red Snapper cocktail wonderland — and if you're wondering what the latter is, it's a Bloody Mary with gin. Yum. Banh Xeo Bar will be on food duties, while Melbourne Gin have the tipples taken care of. All you have to do is crawl your way out of bed, shuffle along to the fine Redfern establishment and prepare for some curative eats and hair-of-the-dog drinks. Of course, if you're feeling fresh and zesty instead, it'll make the perfect start to your Sunday session as well. The festivities start from midday, with Moya's opening up a few hours early before rolling into their regular jazzy evenings. And yes, there'll be $10 Negronis on offer all day as well.
John Bell returns to STC in Florian Zeller's tense, fractured thriller that places the audience inside the mind of a man afflicted with dementia. Andre has always kept two watches — the one on his wrist and the one in his head. But with Alzheimer's his new self-appointed timekeeper, Andre's clocks have begun to run amuck. People walk in and out of his house at odd hours, some familiar and some not, despite many of them wearing the same face. Andre gets the sense that someone wants to throw him out of his house, but he can't remember who. He is a man besieged by his own limitations, bitter and suspicious of all who cross his path, lest they prove to be an enemy he cannot recall. Disorienting and terrifying, The Father is a Lear-inflected spiral into oblivion. Be sure to bring a torch — the darkness is unrelenting.
Of all the Sydney lookouts, rooftop bars and dizzying nth floor venues, the summit of the Harbour Bridge remains the most iconic way to take in the city from above. This winter you can make it even more memorable by joining a Sunset Sessions Climb, and be treated to performances by local acoustic artists at the very top, against the stunning twilight sky. Every weekend throughout July and August, weekend climbs will include a rotating schedule of shows from flamenco guitarists, cajon players and acoustic vocalists to Sydney Acoustic Duo, When Elishia Met Tommy, Taryn La Fauci and Son of Ra. There's probably only a few spots around the globe where you can admire one of the most spectacular cities in the world, drenched in a rosy sunset, from 134 metres above the water, to an acoustic soundtrack, with your mates or that special someone right beside you. But luckily for us, one of those spots is right here in our city.
To celebrate Ramadan, the good folk at the Commune are hosting a series of Iftar feasts. The series of feasts is being called Middle Eats (hat tip to the delicious pun) and indeed traverses the Middle East, with feasts from Syria, Iraq, Iran (Persia) and Egypt all featured in the lineup. The events are open to all, whether you observe Ramadan or not, and are a great way to show support by feasting heartily. The menu is shaping up to be decadent. For the Syrian feast, think Mukloubi with lamb, fried cauliflower, and pistachio ice cream, thanks to Almond Bar. The Iraqi feast by Parliament on King will feature eggplant and pomegranate molasses salad, Iraqi yellow spice-rubbed chicken and a sweet cheese roll. The Persian feast (also by Parliament on King) consists of lamb stew with vegetables, chicken in pomegranate and walnut sauce, and Sholeh zard (a Saffron rice pudding). On Friday, Koshariisrner is cooking up an Egyptian feast of okra stew with lamb, fava bean dip, and semolina cake. And if that doesn't make your stomach grumble, we don't know what will. MIDDLE EATS DATES: June 19 — Syrian Feast with Almond Bar June 20 — Iraqi Feast with Parliament on King June 21 — Persian Feast with Parliament on King June 22 — Egyptian Feast with Koshari Korner
French, Spanish, German, American, Japanese: Australia has no shortage of film festivals categorised by country. But what about the stories of those with no nation at all? Lighting up screens for the first time as part of this year's Refugee Week, the films in the Refugee Film Festival will explore the trials and tribulations of people fleeing persecution and war. The festival will be held at the State Library of NSW from June 17-18. Standout titles include The Staging Post, which chronicles the lives of two asylum seekers stuck in Indonesia as a result of Australia's policy of turning back boats; The Land Between, about sub-Saharan African migrants living in the mountains of northern Morocco; and Constance on Edge, a ten year project that tells the story of a Sudanese refugee family making a new life in Australia. Cinephiles outside of Sydney and Melbourne can also put their hand up to host a screening themselves. For more information on how to make that happen, as well as the full festival program, go here.
On June 11, things are getting hot at The Bank Hotel. Tongue-tinglingly hot. Face-meltingly hot. Homer Simpson running, screaming and waving his hands around hot. That's what happens when you spice up your Sunday with a chilli festival, after all. Adding some zest to the long weekend and to Sydney in general, the King Street pub is hosting the inaugural Newtown Chilli Festival from midday. There'll be a chilli brew off, chilli-inspired cocktails and chilli barbecue specials — aka chilli galore. And yes, there'll definitely be enough hot hot heat to help you turn several different shades. Of course, it wouldn't be a chilli festival without the spiciest event of them all: a chilli-eating competition. If you're currently thinking "I can consume anything!", there's vouchers, hot sauce and beer on offer in your tastebuds emerge victorious. Our tip, and we think you'll need it: remember that milk is a chilli-lover's best friend.
Red Bull's artist development program Sound Select is about uncovering and supporting the very best of local talent by pairing them up with established acts. The result is a monthly gig that's both emblematic of the sonic culture of our cities and pushes the boundaries of the music we know and love. This month's incarnation of the sonic celebration is curated by Laneway Festival's Travis Banko and is themed around 'kaleidoscopic soul', choosing artists who fuse the genre with R&B, hip hop, pop and electronica. Taking over the newly resurrected Lansdowne Hotel on Friday, July 28, the gig will bring together three Sydney acts: Stones Throw signee Jonti, jazz hop duo Slum Sociable and Future Classic's Bus Vipers. As usual, entry is $3 with RSVP, or $10 on the door without. Since launching in the States in 2012, Red Bull Sound Select spread to Canada and New Zealand before launching in Sydney in April last year. They hold monthly live gigs around the city to support upcoming artists and allow us to discover them. Tickets are now on sale over here.
In his second solo exhibition at Galerie pompom, multidisciplinary artist Todd Robinson continues his penchant for exploring audience reception and how we as viewers encounter art. Featuring photographic, sculptural and video works, The Wringing Core is comprised of two seemingly separate, but in fact, connected, collections. Firstly, a series of sartorial studies exploring the interaction between garments Robinson has created and tactile materials (think water and sand), and the second, a series of sculptures — strikingly simple vertical wooden forms that are crumpling and bending in places, as if being bent by an invisible force. They make gentle reference to bodily articulations, subtly recalling flexed elbows, bending knee joints and responsive spines. The exhibition also references figurative sculpture, along with therapeutic practices like meditation and relaxation exercises. If this all sounds a little vague, that's probably because Robinson's work avoids absolutes and defies closed construction — typically embracing a sense of flow, openness and what the exhibition describes as "the multiple intelligences of bodily knowledge." Bring an open mind, and while you're there, why not check out James Lieutenant's Supergods exhibition. Image: Todd Robinson, from the series The Wringing Core (detail), 2017.
The MCA's Anna Davis has curated this survey exhibition of leading Australian artist Jenny Watson, which features works from the 1970s up to the present day ranging from her early realist drawings and paintings to several series of works on fabric. Evidencing Watson's naive, unaffected style, The Fabric of Fantasy showcases her special ability to blend autobiography and psychology with imagination, wit and deadpan delivery to explore her dreams and desires. Based in Brisbane but an avid traveller, Watson often incorporates textiles purloined during her adventures into the surface for several of her paintings — which could be anything from sequins to horsehair to magazines. Influenced by punk and the feminist movement, a significant part of Watson's work involves self-portraits or alter egos — think longhaired Alice in Wonderland-like figures in dresses, ballerinas, rock guitarists, plus the odd horse or cat — and often uses hand painted text alongside distilled imagery to bring to life an unusual interior world. Whether you're a fan or not, don't miss this chance to see over four decades of work from a truly fascinating conceptual painter. Image: Jenny Watson, 'The Pretty Face of Domesticity' (2014).
Fuzzy is bringing the party to the people with Listen Out, which will be coming to Sydney's Centennial Park on Saturday, September 30 for its fifth year after dates in Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane. Some highlights on this year's lineup include US rappers Mac Miller and Future, New York-based electronic producer Jai Wolf and UK artists Duke Dumont and Little Simz. Aussie acts get a look-in via Safia, Perth avant-electronic bedroom producer KUCKA and dance duo Pnau. Kicking off at 1pm and running through till 10pm, Centennial Park's open greenery layout and pond views offer the perfect backdrop for the Sydney part of the tour. Tickets are now on sale — so be sure to grab them while you still can. See the full lineup below. LISTEN OUT 2017 LINEUP Bryson Tiller Duke Dumont Future Getter Green Velvet Jai Wolf Kucka Little Simz Mac Miller Malaa Mallrat Pnau Safia Touch Sensitive Vallis Alps What So Not Alice Ivy Annie Bass (in Sydney only) Cc Disco (in Melbourne only) Muto (in Melbourne only) Ninajirachi Nyxen + more Images: Mitch Lowe.
Think watching a movie under the stars is a summer activity? Think again. Braving the elements to catch a film in winter comes with its own rewards: snuggling up next to your nearest and dearest, enjoying the brisk night air, and sipping hot mulled wine, for example. After luring cinephiles out of the cinema and into bed, the folks behind Mov'In Bed Cinema have something else up their sleeves now that the weather is cooler. As part of the broader Bastille - The Food Wine Art Revolution festival, they're turning the Tallowoladah Lawn outside of the MCA into a pop-up openair movie theatre — complete with views of the Opera House and Sydney Harbour. Screening six sessions over four days between July 13 to 17, Le Cinema lets attendees get cosy in 50 deck chairs (with blankets, of course), and offers up a glass of mulled wine and popcorn to complete the outdoor film-watching experience. Movies include Life Is Beautiful, Moulin Rouge! and The Boat That Rocked — and it wouldn't be a French cinema outing without Amelie on the program.
As part of the 40th Mardi Gras Festival, soon-to-be-knighted British artist Isaac Julien will be visiting Paddington's Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery, armed with his stunning, 29-year-old film Looking for Langston (1989/2017) and a solo exhibition filled with new large-scale and silver gelatin photographic works. The film, which visited MoMA, New York City, and Tate Britain in 2017, is an exploration of African–American poet Langston Hughes, particularly his relationship with other artists of the Harlem Renaissance, an explosion of culture and art that took over Harlem, New York City, in the 1920s. As part of the adventure, Julien makes references to works by 1980s artists, including James Van der Zee, George Platt Lynes and Robert Mapplethorpe. In addition, Julien's film Young Soul Rebels (1991) will show at Golden Age Cinema on February 18, as part of the Queer Film Festival. He'll also make an appearance at the AGNSW on Wednesday, February 14, in conversation with Maud Page, the gallery's deputy director, following a screening of Looking for Langston in its original 16mm format.
Astral People's Summer Dance series is taking place once again within the sandstone walls of the National Art School. Like previous years, big names in EDM will descend upon the Darlinghurst courtyard over several weekends. Expect international and local record spinners providing the perfect backdrop to your summer Sunday. For the first one, Astral People has secured British-born Detroit-signed producer Dan Shake to headline, along with Project Pablo from Canada and two Sydney natives: FBi Radio's Saturday evening host Adi Toohey and Fortune Taylor, who specialises in deep dance and 'obscure boogie'. All this in the historic location, surrounded by lush gardens, electronic beats and plenty of people on the same mission: to spend a Sunday letting loose on the dance floor.
Film fans — pack your picnics, pillows and insect repellent, and prepare to spend your summer evenings watching the big screen under the stars. From December 1, Moonlight Cinema returns to Sydney for another season of great viewing, great weather (hopefully) and great food. Yep — here, all three go hand-in-hand. The first part of this year's program — covering December and January — features advanced screenings of movies yet to hit cinemas, new releases and a heap of old favourites. The February and March lineup will be revealed early next year, but rest assured, there's something for all tastes on the current bill. If you're after an early glimpse at an exciting upcoming flick, then Guillermo del Toro's gorgeous monster romance The Shape of Water, the Greta Gerwig-directed Lady Bird and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, the latest movie by In Bruges filmmaker Martin McDonagh, should all do nicely. Those who'd like to catch an openair session of efforts already screening in cinemas can pick from the likes of Justice League, Murder on the Orient Express, Detroit, Thor: Ragnarok, The Mountain Between Us and Star Wars: Episode VIII — The Last Jedi (once it's released on December 14). And, if you've got the urge for something retro, make a date with Love Actually, Dirty Dancing, The Breakfast Club or Back to the Future. Also featured are sneak peeks of everything from Pitch Perfect 3, to new Pixar animation Coco, to Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks in Steven Spielberg's The Post. Or, if you're a fan of Australian cinema, check out Kylie Minogue and Guy Pearce reuniting post-Neighbours for Swinging Safari; the absolutely stunning new outback western Sweet Country; and what sounds like an Aussie-as comedy, The BBQ. Pairing your movie choice with something to eat and drink is all part of the fun, so BYO supplies or grab something tasty on-site.
Dial your Christmas spirit up a notch at this year's Sydney Living Museums Christmas Fare. With over 40 of Sydney's best artisan food producers, this annual Christmas Fare will host some of the state's finest edible creations and provide plenty of inspiration for the looming Christmas lunch. There'll be more than 40 artisan stallholders including Cornersmith (pickles), Pecora Dairy (cheese), Los Lacayos (Spanish-style nougat), Chunky Dave's (peanut butter), The Jam Bandits (preserves), and more. Pick up some edibles for Christmas Day or put together a hamper for a special human. Plus, Chur Burger, Brooklyn Boy Bagels, Baxter & Bird and Young Henrys will be providing the food and drinks for you to consume on the evening. Entry is by gold coin, which will also allow access inside the Hyde Park Barracks Museum. Eat, drink and be merry — the Christmas season has spoken. Images: James Horan.
Were you one of those kids who you watched Lords of Dogtown and swore to yourself you were going to become a skateboarding superstar, the next Jay Adams? If you're one of the committed ones who actually bought yourself a board and taught yourself to skate, now's your time to show off your skills — and if you never made it past a poorly executed kickflip, you're of course still invited to come along and take it all in. The annual Australian Bowl-Riding Championships are back and set to take place at Empire Park on Newcastle's famous Bar Beach. The first true national competition for any skateboarding discipline, the championships showcase the best riders of all ages from around the country. You can catch skating's best women battle it out in the ladies comp, best dudes in the pros and masters comps and best juniors in the under 16s comp. It's a spectacular weekend for competitors and spectators alike, so get on down and watch the battle of the boards to see who will be crowned the kings and queens of the bowl. Image: Dean Tirkot
Newly incorporated Artist-Run-Initiative AIRspace Projects INC will be holding a fundraiser-meets-exhibition this month, starting with a celebratory opening night on December 1. For the past four years Sally Clarke and Brenda Factor have been running the formerly independent space and pulling together some killer exhibitions. Now the team are excited to be rolling out a bunch of new projects including video weekends and AIRseum — an unconventional museum dreamt up by artist, scientist and museologist Catherine Polcz. The exhibition spreads across four galleries and features both established and emerging artists including Liz Day, Yiorgos Zafiriou, Katy Plummer, Ali Noble, Stella Chen and Susan Andrews. You'll be able to snap up multiples, series, publications and even originals, all to support what the gallery calls "a struggling species" (i.e., artists). It's a good opportunity for would-be-investors, and a chance to buy a truly awesome Christmas present for someone. AIRfair will be open from 11am Thursdays-Saturdays from December 1 to 16. Image: Yvette Hamilton, A Loved One Sleeping #3 [detail], photographic print, Edition of 5. Image courtesy of the artist.
How'd you like to populate your Christmas feast with local, artisanal goods to make your relatives impressed and your in-laws floored? Carriageworks is bringing back their Christmas Market, where you can buy fresh seasonal produce just a couple of days before Christmas. Importantly, you can also buy gifts just days before the big day — because we know what you're like. Taking over Carriageworks' regular Saturday morning meet on December 23, the market will go all Christmas with a cornucopia of the spoils of 115 of Australia's best producers, restaurants and designers — think homemade plum puddings, succulent hams, fresh cherries, smelly cheeses and more. Expect the best from the weekly Carriageworks Farmers Market and more, including Christmas hams from Linga Longa Farm, cherries from Kurrawong Organics and gluten-free mince tarts from Kitchen Green. Plus, there'll be plenty more joining the party — expect to see Cornersmith, Flour and Stone, Pasta Emilia, Suzy Spoon's Vegetarian Butcher and Pepe Saya there too. Of course, you can grab a snack as well, with Billy Kwong, Bar Pho, Agape Organic and Bibim Bowl setting up stalls for the morning. Look at that, Carriageworks just saved Christmas. Images: Jacquie Manning.
Performances are often called 'unique', but there is no other word to describe Aquasonic. Avant-garde ensemble Between Music have spent years researching the possibilities of performing music underwater. AquaSonic is the result of numerous experiments with scientists, deep-sea divers and craftspeople to develop a style of singing and create instruments capable of being played underwater – such as the hydraulophone and the electromagnetic harp. Featuring five musicians submerged in individual glass aquariums, singing and playing custom-made instruments, the result is a haunting, disquieting performance that wouldn't be out of place in American Horror Story. Image: Charlotta de Miranda
This Sydney Festival classic returns for yet another evening of gorgeous music by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra under the open night skies. Grab your friends, family, or current flame, pack a picnic basket and a blanket, and relax into the summery dusk for a night of music that will make you feel a bit like you're living in a film. No picnic? No problem: there will be food stalls aplenty on site. It's BYO so, if you're feelin' thirsty, remember to pack a bottle of something chilled. The Crescent, Parramatta Park, 20 Jan. Image: Jamie Williams
An engaging commentary on our hyper-consumerist society, this witty installation by Japanese artist Hiroshi Fuji examines the trend of mass consumption and its environmental impacts. Appropriate for both children and adults, the exhibition turns unwanted plastic toys into colourful landscapes and dinosaur sculptures that are both visually appealing and thought-provoking. Evoking nostalgia for childhood, this reflection on capitalism, mass production, and the environment is a feast for the senses. Can't get enough? You can buy tickets for children's workshops with the artist. Image: Keizo Kioku.
Imagine starting the day with a spot of yoga above the city. That's the new weekly promise at Level Seven, the Primus Hotel's newish rooftop pool bar. In collaboration with lululemon, the Pitt Street venue adding six-week season of sky-high sunrise yoga sessions to its lofty repertoire. And each class is free. From 7am every Wednesday between November 8 and December 13, instructors Brooke Elliston and Ciara Fanning will lead 50-minute flow on the rooftop. Early risers can stretch their limbs, salute to the rising sun and sink into savasana before trundling off to work. The classes are free, but you'll have to register beforehand.
The man behind the book that inspired the movie about the man behind the movie affectionately known as the best worst movie of all time is on his way to Australia. If you found that sentence a little bit on the baffling side, just know that it's got nothing on the mind-bending saga behind the creation of Tommy Wiseau's The Room, aka a flick that really has to be seen to be believed. The Citizen Kane of Bad Movies, The Room is a bonafide cult classic. In fact, it's so beloved that Wiseau's co-star Greg Sestero wrote a book, The Disaster Artist, about how the whole thing came together. His text, in turn, has been turned into a film directed by and starring none other than James Franco. And to celebrate the film's Australian premiere, Sestero is heading down under. Sestero will take part in Q&A screenings in Sydney and Melbourne, at the Hayden Orpheum on November 17 and 18 and Cinema Nova on November 21 and 22. Make sure you come armed with a question… a maybe a couple of plastic spoons.
There's a new ladies night in town, but it's a far cry from the sessions of budget bubbly and trashy tunes you've encountered elsewhere. Instead, Camperdown's Lady Hampshire is launching a monthly pub session sans-stereotypes, promising a safe, fun and inclusive space for all female-identifying and non-cis bodies. Proudly dubbed See You Next Tuesday (it runs the second Tuesday of each month), the event taps into the pub's laidback vibe, yet offers a program of kickass, female-friendly activities to boot. We're talking beer yoga, dancehall classes, clothes swaps and drives for local women's shelters, intergenerational trivia and workshops with the likes of cake queen Katherine Sabbath. It all kicks off with a launch party on Tuesday, November 14, featuring chats with City of Sydney councillor and founding Vivid Ideas curator Jess Scully, and MTV presenter and DJ Flex Mami. Sydney's all-girl Bad Bitch Choir will deliver a special performance, followed by more great tunes from DJ Nes. The launch will also see a lineup of free tacos, along with complimentary Pimm's cocktails and Frank Strongs boozy lemonade, while the legendary Ab Fab ladies throw down words of wisdom from the big screens. You'll also catch the gloriously named Vadge Draw — $5 will get you entry into the monthly prize pool and your very own bronze clam keyring. Image: Steven Woodburn.
Soft, plush and fruity, there's a reason everybody loves a good Malbec. The South American red wine pairs perfectly with just about everything, after all — and it even has its own day of celebration. It's no wonder that Porteño is getting in on the action. The Surry Hills' venue's Malbec Festival is their first foray into celebrating the vino varietal, specifically those from Argentina; however with more than 40 different tipples on offer for $40, they clearly know what they're doing. Pairing up with Jed Wines, three things will be on offer: tasting an array of flavoursome plonk, munching on traditional Argentinian favourites from Porteño's kitchen and learning more about South American specialities. It all takes place between 1pm and 4pm on September 24, proving quite the fun Saturday afternoon session.. The ticket price includes tastings, snacks and your own Riedel glass to take home afterwards — and if you're keen to take some Malbec with you too, bottles will be available to purchase.
Sculpture and installation artist Min Wong has a new show opening at Firstdraft on October 4. Titled If You Are Struggling Then You Must Be Happy :), the exhibition explores spirituality, thirst for collectivism and human failure through the spectacle of US counterculture from the '60s and '70s. An artist deeply interested in utopian concerns — in this case the utopian aspirations of West Coast counterculture and how they relate to present-day spirituality — Wong's art investigates how the once genuinely revolutionary ideas put forward during the '60s and '70s were commodified and eventually repackaged into today's self-help/self-care culture. Playfully uniting contemporary sculpture and repurposed material from the hippie era with deliberate references to her practice of Bikram yoga, Wong desires to, in her words, "present a physical space for the viewer to experience the '60s and '70s new wave counterculture as a simulacrum of lost hope, illusory dreams and shattered utopias". Promises to be an insightful show. Don't leave Firstdraft without taking in the coinciding exhibitions from artists Cybele Cox, Aaron Christopher Rees and Masaharu Sato. Image: Min Wong, 60-minutes (2016), shot by Grant Hancock.
If you're in the wretched position of being the world's biggest animal lover but you're not allowed to own a highly Instagrammable Frenchie because your landlord's a dingus, this is the event for you. Behold — the mighty, mighty Super Furry Festival, coming to Surry Hills this weekend. Billed as a "furry, fun day filled with cuddles, activities, music and animal love" the Super Furry Festival will see the most decadent array of adventures for animal lovers in Sydney. Take a breath — there'll be a doggo treasure hunt, a dog doctor, a special market of pet products and even (dog) treat from Messina — plus a kitty cuddle and a bunny snuggle tent. As well as being a delightful day out for you and your pooch, the festival will also raise awareness around pet adoption. The whole thing will be going down at Shannon Reserve from 9am on Saturday, October 14. Entry is free, because sometimes life covers you in glitter and puppies.
Sake has really blown up in Australia over the last decade, with more and more bars able to access Japan's national drink. Of course, we're not sake masters — there are so many more varieties of rice wine that we haven't had the chance to experience yet. Enter Nihonshu Australia, an association of sake importers, who are aiming to change that once and for all. Presented by Nihonshu along with REVEL — who organise boozy events including Pinot Palooza and Game of Rhones — Australia's first sake festival is coming to Carriageworks on Saturday, October 28. There'll be more than 60 types of sake on offer, each representing the drink's different styles, serving temperatures and prefectures of origin in Japan. For $60, punters will get access to unlimited tastings plus a free Plumm glass valued at $35. Food will come courtesy of Paper Bird and Toko, while Déjà vu Sake's Yukino Ochia — Australia's only certified sake educator — will also be in attendance.
Ah, the annual festival of all things Italian — just when I thought I was out, they dragged me back in. Sunday, October 29 marks the day of celebration for the nation that brought us Julius Caesar, Nebbiolo and Dario Argento. This year's incarnation of the street fair is a special one though, as it's celebrating 31 years of the iconic exultation of Mediterranean multiculturalism. As per usual though, Norton Street will be lined with food vendors ranging from nonnas to professional culinary wizards. The big communal table will be back, and The Royal Hotel's verandah will be in full swing throughout the afternoon. There'll be entertainment, beverages, fashion and the Auto Festa, with as many Ferraris and Lambos as you can shake a cannoli at.
What better way to embrace October's fine and dandy weather than with some good old-fashioned outdoor moviegoing? Kicking off this month, Sweethearts Rooftop is serving up the ultimate cinematic experience with a new season of cult classic film screenings hosted up on its roof. From 8pm on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, the Potts Point bar will be breaking out the projector to show a range of well-loved movie gems, including titles like Empire Records, The Breakfast Club, The Big Lebowski and Mighty Ducks. Backing up Sweethearts' usual selection of Mexican eats, there'll be popcorn galore, a swag of food specials and even movie-themed cocktail jugs. Early birds can also take advantage of a range of 'tappy hour' treats between 4-6pm. Image: James Ambrose.
If justice and equality were concepts that truly applied to everyone, I Am Not Your Negro wouldn't need to exist. In fact, it wouldn't be able to. Author and social critic James Baldwin wouldn't have lived through the murders of three of his high-profile friends, civil rights leaders Medgar Evers, Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr. A decade later, he wouldn't have felt compelled to put his fingers to the typewriter to capture his experiences of America, intending to write a manuscript but only jotting down 30 pages of notes. He wouldn't have been shaped by standing out in a white man's world, and spent his life rallying against it. The list goes on, and the answer remains the same: none of this would've had to happen. Alas, as filmmaker Raoul Peck so powerfully and passionately conveys in his documentary, that was not Baldwin's reality — or ours now. And, as I Am Not Your Negro also makes plain, the difference between the past that Baldwin lived through and our present is virtually non-existent. With Samuel L. Jackson's solemn, patient tones reading the essayist's probing words, the movie steps through the complicated state of American race relations. The deaths of Baldwin's friends provide the framework for not only a picture of history drawn from Baldwin's observations, but of a struggle that still continues. Indeed, when talk show host Dick Cavett asks Baldwin, "is it at once getting much better and still hopeless?" in a clip from 1968, it couldn't feel more relevant now. In a film driven by eloquent statements of harsh facts, such comments keep on coming. "The truth is that this country does not know what to do with its black population," is just one telling utterance of many. Every line feels like a lament and a curse, the former spoken with sadness for humanity's true nature, the latter evidenced by the lack of progress to this day. And yet, I Am Not Your Negro isn't a lecture, as informative as its contents are. Baldwin's writings might dictate the movie's shape and structure, but this is a documentary driven as much by images as words. Peck demonstrates the reality of Baldwin's remarks through a deftly edited array of footage, pairing voiceover with historical photographs, benefiting from archival clips of spirited speeches, and weaving in appropriate snippets from movies that deal with race both overtly and implicitly. Glimpses of King, Evers and X understandably hit home hard, though so do modern parallels and pictures of recent police shooting victims. Indeed, the entire feature lands with the full force that its harrowing, heartbreaking material demands — in sharp contrast to the elegant and poetic way it has been pieced together. Any frame could sit in a history text, and many do. However, as a blend of sights and insights, I Am Not Your Negro could hardly offer a more urgent, perceptive or illuminating viewing experience. With the wisdom of someone who lived, lost, struggled, strived for change and saw others struck down in the process, Baldwin understood that knowing something to be true and facing it aren't one and the same, and that America's history of racial trouble is as built on well-meaning folks failing to act as it is by open violence and hatred. The question that Peck and his film ask is whether the audience can understand that too. Once again, Baldwin says it best: "we are cruelly trapped between what we would like to be and what we actually are." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TG6VE1BRF9I
From the prawn cocktail to the huge map of Australia on the wall, The Unicorn is unashamedly Australian. And they're about to take it even further, launching a new 'My Australia' lunch series. On selected Saturdays, the Paddington pub will feature some of Australia's best chefs, who will display their interpretation of Aussie cuisine. Award-winning chef Duncan Welgemoed has been named as the first to participate. Originally from Johannesburg, Welgemoed heads Adelaide's acclaimed restaurant Africola. Since his arrival in Australia in 2010, he has quickly established himself as one of Adelaide's top chefs — his style has been described as 'more indigenous rather than modern Australian'. Welgemoed will work next to The Unicorn's head chef James Garside, dishing up three courses, including roasted sardines with zhoug, peri peri chicken with Boom Chakalaka sauce (an Africola favourite) and a smoked chocolate and salted butter caramel torte. The lunch costs $50 per person, and owner Jake Smyth has also selected a number of natural wines for the occasion, available at an extra cost.
Separate the things that matter from the things that really don't at this special event with celebrated blogger and author Mark Manson. The man behind the self-help guide The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living the Good Life is coming to Australia for a select number of speaking engagements in Sydney and Melbourne, where he'll espouse the virtues of a healthy dose of pessimism while revealing his strategies for living a better life. Presented in partnership with The School of Life, this special in conversation event will see Manson break apart "the fallacy of unfounded positivity" that is so common in self-help circles. Instead, he'll talk openly about which problems to tackle, and how to "fail better", before concluding the night with an audience Q&A.
Someone's got to say it – we're into the back end of the year and unless you are completely shameless about getting sozzled come the silly season, there's a good chance you're staring down the barrel of a few awkward festive gatherings. You know the ones – where all of your acquaintances have mysteriously vanished and you spend the night grinding out awkward conversations with coworkers/relatives/friends of friends that you're pretty sure you'd hate, if only you knew them well enough. Lucky for you, the Sydney Theatre Company are here to provide some catharsis in the form of Moira Buffini's Dinner, a twisty, nasty comedy that's likely to see somebody walk away with a fork in their eye. Paige isn't thrilled to be celebrating her husband's new book, but she throws a damn good party and it's a chance to rub shoulders with some C-list personalities. With a few schemes lined up to keep the night interesting, the one thing Paige hasn't planned for is an unexpected guest. Acerbic, slippery and with a liberal serving of spite accompanying each course, this is a perfect study in the pitfalls of forced politeness.
Sydneysiders have always liked cheese, but in recent years things have gotten serious. Dedicated fromageries have popped up across our fair city and recently we've enjoyed events featuring gin and cheese, wine and cheese and even vegan cheese. Our stomachs are working overtime to digest all the lactose — and, honestly, we've never been happier. And the love affair continues with this latest cheesy announcement. France (or more specifically, a Parisian centre for cheese, which is a real thing) is bringing Bon Fromage, a free two-day festival celebrating European cheese, to Sydney. The whole thing will happen at Carriageworks on October 14 and 15. First and foremost is cheese — the venue will be transformed into a cheese marketplace and wine bar from 11am till 6pm each day. Organisers will be bringing in half a tonne of cheese for the festival, and it will all be free of charge. Just to recap: free entry and free cheese. But the cheese festival isn't just about eating so much cheese you puke. Masterclasses will be held on how to match cheese with wine, how to tell the difference between varieties and, we assume, the correct way to draw a cheese fondue bath for yourself. There will also be a collection of stalls selling cheese for you to take home and eat later. The festival is supported by the European Union, presumably to get Australians on board with the European cheese industry. To us, this seems like a bit of a misfire because we're evidently already very invested in cheese, from Europe or elsewhere. But whatever — we'll be there regardless.
