There are plenty of ways to enjoy Vivid this year. Fighting through the crowds is one option — but a far superior one is to soak up the epic views, while sipping premium wines, at the Grant Burge Wines pop-up cellar door. Chief winemaker Craig Stansborough will travel all the way from the Barossa Valley to host a series of wine tastings throughout the festival, backdropped by incredible views of Sydney Harbour, at The Squire's Landing. Your evening will begin with a glass of sparkling wine and canapes on arrival, before getting stuck into a flight featuring premium vino from Grant Burges' most coveted ranges. Stansborough will guide you through each delicious drop, giving you a little slice of a wine country cellar door experience in the city. If there's anything you want to know about winemaking, the Barossa Valley or Grant Burge, ask away. If not, stick to sipping slowly and getting lost in some extraordinary views. Consider staying afterwards for a Vivid-inspired dinner at The Squire's Landing and practise matching your meal with some Grant Burge wines from the menu — you'll be an expert, after all. The Grant Burge Wines Vivid Masterclasses cost $50 per person. There'll be two sessions a night, 5–7pm and 7.30–9.30pm, across May 25–26 and May 31–June 2. To book into a session, head this way.
Got a taste for the finer things, but your bank account doesn't feel quite the same way? Luckily, you can satisfy the former without totally draining the latter, when Botswana Butchery celebrates International Caviar Day on Monday, July 18. The New Zealand restaurant group's Martin Place outpost is dishing up a budget-friendly taste of the high life, in honour of one of the world's fanciest ingredients. Roll in from 12pm and you can enjoy bumps of Black River Siberian caviar straight off the back of your hand, for just $5 a pop. Plus, you can match the gourmet seafood snack to drink specials like $10 vodka shots and $15 glasses of Perrier Jouet. If you're feeling extra fancy, the restaurant's usual caviar service will also be on offer, with two styles of Giaveri caviar served by the 30-gram or 50-gram tin, and matched with rice crisps, blinis, chopped egg and other classic accompaniments. Restaurant bookings can be made online, though there'll be walk-ins available too. Top Image: Garth Oriander
Your novelty festival gumboots are going to get a big ol' workout this summer. Returning for its fourth year to the banks of the Murray River at Echuca-Moama, Riverboats Music Festival has announced their 2015 lineup — with Sarah Blasko, Dan Sultan and Tex Perkins at the top. One of Australia's most laidback riverside festivals just 2.5 hours from Melbourne, Riverboats is a three-day camping, indulging and dancing affair running February 13–15. Melbourne's Dan Sultan and Sydney's Sarah Blasko headline a super rootsy local lineup: Tex Perkins and The Dark Horses will showcase their new album, legendary Sydneysiders The Whitlams follow up their 2013 sold-out national orchestra tour while unmissable festival favourites The Bamboos are sure to be a Riverboats highlight. Also on the Australian artist-only bill is Adalita, Mick Harvey, Diesel, Fraser A Gorman, Matt Walker and The Lost Ragas, Sal Kimber and The Rollin' Wheel, Stella Angelico and The Switch and Raised by Eagles. Snuggled within the natural amphitheatre of Echuca's Aquatic Reserve, Riverboats is one of the Murray River's most anticipated music festivals. Festival producer David Frazer sees the event as a more chilled-out alternative for festival enthusiasts and hardcore foodies alike. "Riverboats provides festival-goers with an opportunity to experience a truly beautiful part of Australia without the queues, ticket prices and hassle of larger events," he says. "We are particularly proud of the fact Riverboats has remained boutique in both its size and philosophy, yet continues to attracts artists of the calibre of Dan Sultan, Sarah Blasko, Tex Perkins and the Whitlams." Riverboats isn't contained to the river bank; there's also a bunch of side quests you can buy tickets for alongside the main festival. If you're keen to get entirely thematic with the festival's name, punters can hop on a two-hour river cruise aboard a century-old paddle steamer — with locally-sourced brunch and live music from Sal Kimber and The Rollin' Wheel. One of the best (and tastiest) bits of Riverboats will also return for another year: the Beechworth Bakery will host Sunday's Official Festival Breakfast on the top floor of their bakery with a live set from alt-country Melburnians Raised by Eagles. Break out the picnic rugs and cheese platters, Riverboats is a solid summer option for punters wanting the camping music festival experience without the drunken drongos. RIVERBOATS MUSIC FESTIVAL 2015 DATES AND LINEUP: FRIDAY 13 FEBRUARY Raised by Eagles Stella Angelico and The Switch Diesel SATURDAY 14 FEBRUARY Fraser A. Gorman Mick Harvey The Whitlams Adalita The Bamboos Dan Sultan SUNDAY 15 FEBRUARY Sal Kimber and The Rollin’ Wheel Matt Walker and The Lost Ragas Tex Perkins and The Dark Horses Sarah Blasko Riverboats Music Festival runs February 13 - 15 at Echuca-Moama on the Murray River. Tickets are on sale now from the festival website or call the Echuca-Moama Visitor Information Centre on 1800 804 446. Images: Riverboat Music Festival.
The idea of a covers album is pretty well established in music, but less so in literature. Badly done it's too easy to end up making apologies for plagiarism. Normally, to cover literature you need to rearrange into the voice of a nasty minor character or take a lifetime to churn out a translation. Artists tend to be less daunted by this challenge, with the site Recovering the Classics especially literal in its efforts. Local art purveyors the Affectors have taken up the challenge, filling the Comber St Gallery with book-themed illustrations at the Art of Storytelling. They've eschewed the literal cover, inviting 25 local artists instead to illustrate some classics. The results of these artistic pairings — for sale on the night — include Wayne Nichols' rendition of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Chris Nixon's On the Road and Australian comics-industry stalwart Jason Paulos's Journey to the Centre of the Earth. Augmented by live music at opening night, the Art of Storytelling will include Green Fairy concoctions and Little Creatures served throughout the night. Image: Journey to the Centre of the Earth by Jason Paulos.
Handpicked Wines' weekly yoga sessions have returned for 2019, taking place every Saturday from 11.30am—1pm. Yoga and Wine will take over the Chippendale cellar door for a one-hour class, followed by a 30-minute wine tasting. For the exercise portion, two experienced yogis will share the weekly schedule. Expect a focus on vinyasa with teacher Emmie Rae and a focus on meditation and asana with instructor Jessica Kaye-Smith. Post work-out, the cellar door's resident sommelier will lead a tasting of global drops. Handpicked Wines partners with wineries across Italy, Chile, France and New Zealand — and has its own vineyards in the Mornington Peninsula, Yarra Valley, Margaret River and Barossa Valley — aiming to bring wines from around the world together in one place. The entire experience will cost $35, and all you'll need to bring along is your yoga mat. There are only 15 spaces available per session, with the first two classes already sold out. To book from February 16 onward, head to the Handpicked website.
If you haven't yet made it to the track this spring, here's your chance: the City Tattersalls Club Cup, happening at Randwick Royal Racecourse on Saturday, October 17. One of the biggest events of the season, it's a serious, day-long shindig. Test out your punting instincts with a bet in one of three major races: The Cup, The Nivision and Melbourne's Caulfield Cup, which will be screened live on a trackside super-screen. Kick back to live music, with tunes from legendary Mauritian-Australian DJ Havana Brown. Knock back a champagne or two in the pop-up Chandon bar. And, if you're in need of a dose of glamour, slip into the Clinique Pamper Lounge for a make-up touch-up. The best views will be found all day in the luxurious Grandview Dining Room, where you can indulge in some cracking fine dining. But if that sounds like budget-blowing material, consider checking out The Bucket List Beach Club Marquee. This year, for the first time ever, the Bucket List has been a regular attendee at the races, bringing a piece of Bondi to the turf, with Lifeguard stations, Kombi vans, surfboards, signature cocktails and live entertainment. An $80 ticket includes entry to Royal Randwick, a main and two drinks. The menu, created by The Bucket List's chef, Tom Walton, includes tasty morsels like Queensland fresh prawn and truffle rolls with celery and herbs; fish and chips; and tuna poke tostados with avocado, soy, sesame and shallots.
Whatever the new year may bring, one consistent silver lining is the inevitable return of Sydney Festival, which will once again transform our city into a cultural carnival this January 9–27. It's a collective festival which spans visual art, performances, theatre, live music, installations and immersive classes that express multicultural voices and ideas. The diverse 2019 program features 18 world premieres, five Australian premieres and eight Australian exclusives. Sydney Festival's always-packed Indigenous program Blak Out continues to remain a central focus of the festival and this year will feature First Nations stories from Australia, New Zealand and Canada. As part of Blak Out, an overnight vigil will be held on the eve of Australia Day at Barangaroo, from sunset right through to the morning of January 26. It's a reflection on the impact of the arrival of the First Fleet and Australia's colonisation on its native people, with musical performances and stories told by community Elders throughout the night. Alongside this vigil will be a large-scale sign spelling ALWAYS, designed by Bangarra artist-in-residence Jacob Nash. It will remain on the Barangaroo headland for the entire festival as a declaration that it 'always was, always will be, Aboriginal land'. Another highlight of this part of the program is the Bayala language class series, which offers free entry-level and intensive courses in Indigenous language and culture. These have booked out for the last two years. If you missed Blak Box — a glowing structure that provides a surround-sound way to listen to the voices of Elders and future leaders in Blacktown's Indigenous community — during its time in Barangaroo earlier this year, you'll be able to catch it in western Sydney when it makes its way to the Blacktown Showground Precinct from January 9 until February 9. There's also a varying musical lineup to look forward to, from 13-piece Cuban mambo band Orquesta Akokán and South African neo-soul singer Nakhane to acoustic 'desert-blues' trio Les Filles de Illighadad and pop legend Neneh Cherry. Plenty of other pop artists made the docket, too, with Jonathan Bree hosting a songwriting masterclass at Carriageworks on January 17 and American pop composer Julia Holter performing in the Festival Garden's Magic Mirrors Spiegeltent on January 20. Performing in the same tent is Irish musician Camille O'Sullivan, who will extol the songs of icons David Bowie and Leonard Cohen with her own interpretation from January 10–13. As usual, the festival has wrangled its fair share of big theatre productions. A new commission from Sydney Festival is 1930s Shanghai-inspired cabaret Shànghǎi MiMi, which will make its world premiere at Parramatta's Riverside Theatre. It features award-winning director Moira Finucane, a cast of acrobats and aerialists, and a rare Chinese jazz and blues band. Another new commission is Pigalle, which will see the Spiegeltent turned into a Parisian nightclub for a delightfully over-the-top show of disco, cabaret and burlesque. Home is yet another must-see from acclaimed theatre-maker Geoff Sobelle. His interactive show blends aspects of theatre, choreography, illusion and live music that reaffirms the meaning of home. This one includes lots of audience participation — you can expect to be pulled on stage to become a part of the show and occupy the on-stage house. You can also get involved with Counting and Cracking, which tells the story of a Sri Lankan family migrating to Australia and includes a communal feast. Spoken word poet Omar Musa will take the stage in both Sydney and Parramatta for Since Ali Died — a politically focused story, rap and song inspired by Muhammad Ali. Also coinciding with the festival is an installation by American artist Nick Cave, which will exhibit at Carriageworks from November 23–March 3. Titled Until, the giant and multi-dimensional artwork speaks to the critical issues of gun violence and race in the States. And Paddington's Cement Fondu art space will host The Ropes video installation by renowned dancer and choreographer Amrita Hepi from January 11–March 3. And, as a celebration for the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing, three interstellar-themed art precincts will pop-up around the city. Multiple 'moon drops' — that is, large water bed-like pillows — will allows guests to experience the weightlessness of walking on the moon at Darling Harbour, while a pop-up at World Square will allow you to contribute kilometres to help Sydney 'cycle' 384,400 kilometres to the moon. Sydney Festival will run from January 9–27, 2019. Tickets are on sale now at sydneyfestival.org.au. Image: Daniel Linnet.
Dumplings are great, but have you ever eaten bottomless bowls of them surrounded by koalas on a rooftop at sunset? No? Well, that's exactly what you can do at Wild Life Sydney's Koala Rooftop when it teams up with dumpling experts New Shanghai for a series of all-you-can-eat feasts. Coinciding with Lunar New Year, the dumpling sessions run at 6pm, 7pm and 8pm daily from Wednesday, January 22–Thursday, January 30. Tickets will set you back $50, which includes 30 minutes of endless dumplings and after-hours access to the zoo. Dumplings will include the likes of prawn and pork wontons, chicken and celery parcels, xiao long bao and vego numbers. It's suggested you get to the Darling Harbour zoo 45–60 minutes before your eating session, so you have plenty of time to visit the other animals — including kangaroos, crocodiles, wombats and platypus — and make your way up to the Koala Rooftop. You can also hang around after your eating marathon until the zoo closes at 9pm. As an added bonus, Wild Life will be donating $5 from each ticket to charities helping care for animals injured and orphaned during the devastating bushfires.
The Art Gallery of New South Wales's annual celebration of Aussie faces is back for another year. The Archibald finalists are currently on display at Art Gallery of NSW until Sunday, September 8, running in conjunction with the Wynne and Sulman Prizes — recognising the best landscape painting of Australian scenery or figure sculpture and the best subject painting, genre painting or mural project, respectively. The prestigious portrait competition pulls a compelling lineup of artworks each year, portraying an eclectic mix of artists, musicians, politicians, sports heroes and other notable Aussies. This year's $100,000 prize attracted a record 919 entries, with Tony Costa's portrait of fellow artist Lindy Lee, simply titled Lindy Lee, taking out the top gong. Meanwhile, Tessa MacKay was awarded the 2019 Archibald Packing Room Prize, chosen by the packing room team, for her hyperreal portrait of actor David Wenham, called Through the Looking Glass. Both of which will be on display, of course. Plus, you'll see a painting by Vietnamese-Australian artist, actor and writer Anh Do, a portrait of Paralympic champion Dylan Alcott by Sydney-based stencil artist Kirpy, Carla Fletcher's cosmic work of Del Kathryn Baron and a hyperreal self-portrait of a nude, pregnant Katherine Edney. Although the guessing game is over and the winner announced, it's the actual exhibition that's the exciting part — it's a chance to catch an incredibly varied collection of portraits of some pretty exceptional people by some of Australia's top artists. Even though the prize runs for a few months in Sydney alone, it never fails to draw a crowd. Plus, if you don't agree with the judges' pick for the Archibald, you can cast your own vote for ANZ People's Choice Award while you're there. The Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes 2019 will be running is on now until September 8. Tickets cost $20 (or $18 for members) for entry to the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman exhibitions — or add entry to The Essential Duchamp for an additional $16. To purchase tickets, visit the Art Gallery of NSW's website. Plus, across Saturday, June 29 and Sunday, June 30, ANZ cardholders (ANZ access card, ANZ Visa debit card or ANZ credit card) can enter the Archibald Prize exhibition for free. Simply present your valid card (or mobile wallet) at the gallery ticketing desk for your complimentary ticket. For more info, head this way. Top image: Lindy Lee by Tony Costa
Influential Los Angeles-based restaurant and bar E.P. & L.P. is winging its way to Sydney to take over The Dolphin Hotel for one epic evening. Co-owners Grant Smilie (Australian DJ and co-director of the Royal Croquet Club) and fellow Aussie David Combes opened their West Hollywood venue with head chef Louis Tikaram (ex-Longrain) in 2015, and have been enjoying firm success for the last two years. They'll take over Crown Street's most eclectically renovated pub at 5pm on Sunday, June 11, treating you to five hours of drinks, snacks and music. The menu is split into two sections. On the first, dubbed Wine Room Aperitivo, you'll find blue swimmer crab congee, wagyu crackers, Hollywood abalone and Kakoda Fijian-style ceviche, all priced $5–7. Meanwhile, on Tikaram and Dolphin head chef Monty Koludrovic's bar menu, to be served in the Dining Room, you can pick from Lou Dogg's famed crispy chicken sandwich, Mullum Fries (tofu fries with soy and peanut) and Marty's Pizza (five-spice caramel hock with Thai basil and pickled chilli), among other offerings. The drinks list is a collaboration between E.P. & L.P. and The Dolphin. Look out for Dirty Bubble Teas, beer buckets and a few of of L.P.'s best-loved cocktails, such as the Where Love Lives Margarita (passionfruit, guava, lime, chilli, mezcal, damiana, salt) and California Love on The Roof (rosé, rosé aperitif blend, seasonal fruit). "This will be my first time back in an Aussie kitchen since leaving Australia to open E.P. & L.P. in 2014," said Tikaram. "I'm super excited to be teaming up with the guys at the Dolphin, to share my experiences and influences from Southern California so far and also tell my story through the menu from as far back as Mullumbimby. It's going to be one hell of a Queen's Birthday weekend." As you might've guessed, Grant Smilie will be on the decks until the party winds up until 10pm. Joining him will be Beni and a bunch of yet-to-be-announced special guests.
International headline acts are fun and all, but if you like your festivals with a little more adrenaline, this one's for you. The inaugural Seal Rocks Adventure Festival is crashing onto the mid-NSW coast later this month. Descending on Seal Rocks Treachery Camp, about 90 minutes north of Newcastle, it's set to deliver a weekend of hands-on blood-pumping fun over the weekend of May 17–19. The program of this boutique BYO camping festival is jam-packed full of activities, balancing out an after-dark schedule of live tunes and film screenings. By day, you'll have the chance to battle your mates in an interactive game of Archery Attack, learn some new moves in a circus skills workshop, go deep with a free-diving short course, and flit between rock climbing, surfing, slacklining, yoga and zorbing — yep, this one involves crashing around a field in a giant bouncing bubble. There'll be a disco-themed 'doofercise' workout class to kick things off each morning, classes to teach you how to start fire with just a couple of sticks, and an ongoing challenge to see who can fit the most humans on a giant stand-up paddleboard. Booze is BYO, but vendors like The Perfect Paella, Dr Drool and Tim's on Treach will have pop-ups to help fuel your adventures — and a restaurant will pop-up on the Saturday night for a four-course Saturday feast. Or, you can boost your own cooking skills at a pizza making class. By night, there'll be moongazing tours and campfires, while the stage heats up with local acts like Thunder Fox, The Regime, Elaskia and Belle Badi. And if you're after more inspiration, there's the Adventure Film Festival, emceed by Alice King in the Talking Tent each night. Adult camping tickets clock in at $340, which gets you an entry pass, a campsite and access to as many of the weekend's activities as you can handle. Groups of mates and families are welcome, and capacity is capped at 500. There are glamping and cabins options, too, for those who want a little more comfort at the end of a long day of adventuring (and have extra cash to spare). Seal Rocks Adventure Festival will take over Seal Rocks Treachery Camp on May 17–19. Tickets start at $340 and can be bought over here.
If you identify as female, then you're invited to slip out of your workaday apparel and join a naturist tour of Pipilotti Rist's Sip My Ocean, which is currently showing at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA). The event aims to recognise and celebrate diverse experiences of femaleness, as well as to break down barriers between the viewer and the artwork. The only rule is that you can't wear any clothing. Sip My Ocean is the biggest Pipilotti Rist exhibition ever to have hit Australia. For the past three decades, the Swiss artist has been exploring the outer limits of video art and this show covers her journey, from single channel videos created in the 1980s to recent, giant-sized immersive installations. "Pipilotti Rist has mesmerised thousands of MCA visitors — and their Instagram followers! — with her dazzling environments, colourful kaleidoscopic projections, videos and sculptures," said Elizabeth Ann Macgregor OBE, director of the MCA.
As Australia, along with the rest of the world, battles to contain COVID-19, many of us are spending more time indoors than ever before. Now, with federal restrictions looking to be in place for at least another four weeks, it's likely you'll have to find new ways to stay entertained (and get a little creative). By now, you've probably binged a fair bit of Netflix, maybe signed up for a free TAFE course, completed a 1000-piece puzzle and looked into how to upskill from your couch. Not to mention baked a bunch of bread and ordered numerous cocktails from your favourite Sydney bars. All these are great. But now, if you're feeling everything is getting a tad tedious, it might be good to tap into your inner artist (or kindergartener) and play with paints. Seeing as you can't chuck on your apron and head into a studio, Redfern not-for-profit 107 Projects is now bringing the fun — and the paint — to you. Over the next three months, 107 Projects is offering an at-home version of its usual Art Somewhere initiative. The subscription service will see a surprise craft pack on your doorstep every two weeks, with some top Sydney creatives behind them — so don't just expect watercolour landscape sessions. One week you could be learning the art of calligraphy, the next embroidery or polymer clay. Each box will come with all the materials and tools you need to make a masterpiece. Plus, there's the option to add a six-pack of Mountain Goat craft beer to aid creativity, naturally, and you'll also receive tips on how to turn those tinnies into treasures. If you're keen to have a crafternoon (or few), you can sign up for the entire three months for $160 or $240 with beer; two months for $100 or $160; or one month for $60 or $90. You can also get a one-off box, which will set you back $30 or $50 with beer. All will be hand-delivered fortnightly if you're a Sydney local (see delivery zones here) or can be picked up from 107 Redfern Street or Green Square's Joynton Avenue Creative Centre. If you live outside the free delivery zone, 107 Projects can post packs (sans brews) to you for an additional $10. Check out the website for more information and to sign up. 107 Project's at-home Art Somewhere packs are now available to order, with the first box slated for delivery on Wednesday, May 6. Free delivery is available across a heap of Sydney suburbs, with $10 delivery fee outside those areas. Pick up is also available from 107 Redfern Street or Joynton Avenue Creative Centre. To check out subscription options and to sign up, head here.
If you have a little (or a lot) of pent up rage after spending two months in lockdown, here's a safe outlet: Sydney's axe-throwing joint Maniax is reopening this Saturday, June 13, and it's offering a sweet deal for a limited time, too. The St Peters joint usually charges $60 a head for its two-hour public sessions — but, until June 30, you can get a public session plus pizza plus a beer, cider or non-alcoholic drink for $75. That's $15 for beer and pizza. At the moment, Maniax is accepting bookings of up to ten people. For the uninitiated, Maniax gives you the chance to very safely hurl a hunk of sharpened steel attached to a flimsy handle, and compete with your friends to see who has the most Viking blood coursing through them. Hurl those hatchets, sink a bullseye and calm down after all the axe-lobbing excitement with brews and pizza. You can continue the merriment by exploring the rest of Precinct 75, which houses a number of awesome designers and creators, as well as the Willie the Boatman tasting bar.
My early memories of Sydney revolve around a couple of otherworldly images. When I was a young child, my family and I immigrated to Australia as Eastern Bloc refugees. Our Villawood stay took place before the centre had a substantial role detaining anyone. But still: my father had been jailed in the old country for political agitation. In the context of my father’s post-imprisonment paranoia, I was convinced that a blimp that would sometimes float above the city was a giant bomb — a pacifying threat — and I was similarly wary of the plum trees within the hostel grounds. A couple of older migrant children had told me that these were where redback spiders came from. Artspace's new multidisciplinary group show, the Others’ Other, treads similar ground, dealing with familiar migrant issues of “territorial borders” and “cultural identification”. One of the issues with video art, I believe, is that it invites a kind of passivity in its audience. There’s a shift in power towards the artist in work that, realistically, has to be viewed on the artist’s terms and for a set duration. I think the same can sometimes be said of migrant stories, that the travails of the displaced are seen as a special, unimpeachable form of hardship that has to be treated with reverence. So, I find it deeply heartening that video art highlights of the Others’ Other are substantially more nuanced, inviting emotional responses outside the topic’s usual range. Jun Yang’s Paris Syndrome (2008) constitutes a series of scenes of a blank-faced couple walking through various appropriations of Viennese landmarks in Guangzhou, China. The work plays on the disappointment tourists can feel upon finally seeing real, flawed places previously imagined as more glamorous, beautiful or meaningful than they are. But seeing Yang’s piece in Sydney, the sense of otherness is compounded further. It’s something utterly alien, an impression deepened by piece’s stunningly good cinematography. Only the central couple’s vacant faces undercut how otherworldly and beautiful their setting is. The couple’s boredom in the face of the staggeringly new brought me back to my own first experiences of Australia. Dinh Q. Le’s From Father to Son: A Rite of Passage (2007) provides a similarly loaded yet blank slate for personal interpretation. The work plays scenes of Martin Sheen in Apocalypse Now side-by-side with strikingly similar moments in his son Charlie’s ten-year subsequent role in Platoon. Neither Sheen is a commanding presence, but the same gestures are seen a generation apart. I brought my own experiences to this exhibit, but I think that such personal reactions to a form so frequently aloof do say something about the strength of Yung and Le’s work. Suffice to say, if you’re even remotely interested in ideas of emotional distance, you should sidle up to Artspace and check this exhibit out.
Borders are finally open, interstate travel is firmly back on the cards and holiday-planning feels a whole lot less sketchy than it has for the past two years. And, in a show of fitting timing, you've just scored an extra excuse to cross the Bass Strait for that long-dreamt-of Tassie getaway. Namely, the sprawling new-look cellar door expansion unveiled at Devil's Corner. The renowned winery sits on around 180 rolling green hectares in Apslawn on the Great Eastern Drive, around one hour and 45 minutes southeast of Launceston. A major seven-month expansion to the site's award-winning cellar door has recently upped the ante, cementing its status as one of the region's must-visit wine-sipping destinations. The cellar door has more than doubled in size and scored a refreshed look by celebrated Tasmanian architects Cumulus Studio. Visit and you'll discover an assortment of indoor-outdoor spaces that pay homage to the property's rugged, natural surrounds; all offering sweeping views across the vines and down to the Moulting Lagoon wetlands. It's been designed and built using a similar approach to that of the winemaking here, embracing the natural elements this pocket of the world's been gifted with. On the upper level, the new Hazards Tasting Room is your spot for sipping, swirling and immersing yourself in Devil's Corner's vast catalogue of cool-climate drops. It's named after the mountain range that towers over the region; the vistas of which you can admire while partaking in one of the guided tastings, happening from 10am daily. Onsite eateries The Fishers and Tombolo both have new and improved homes within the cellar door precinct. What's more, punters can choose from various indoor and openair dining areas to enjoy their woodfired pizzas, fresh local oysters and loaded bowls of chilli mussels. Matched with a few glasses of Devil's finest pinot noir or a self-guided tasting paddle, of course. Downstairs, set into the hill, sits the Devil's Den — a cellar, events space and bar, where private functions, and food and wine masterclasses will take place overlooking the neat rows of vineyard. And for some of the site's most breathtaking vistas, head to the top of the lookout tower, where you can experience the winery's grand scale like nowhere else. Time for an interstate wine-sipping adventure? Yes, we think so. Find Devil's Corner Cellar Door at 1 Sherbourne Road, Apslawn, Tasmania. It's open daily from 10am to 5pm.
Hungerford Hill's architecturally stunning cellar door and two-hatted restaurant make it one of the most recognisable wineries in New South Wales, let alone the Hunter Valley. Established back in 1967, the boutique vineyard overlooks the Brokenback Ranges. Head to the barrel-shaped tasting room and the accompanying underground cellar to sample a range of the region's best drops, including Hungerford's preservative-free or single-vineyard series. Or sit in either the sculpture courtyard or indoor terrace and indulge in a six-course mini degustation ($50) with paired wines. The estate's fine dining restaurant, Muse Restaurant, is housed next door, within its own stunning building. Run by Troy Rhoades-Brown, Muse serves contemporary Australian fare, with a seasonally changing menu. Dine a la carte or opt for a tasting menu with wines to match. Plus, don't forget to pop into the Hungerford Espresso Bar for a caffeine hit before you roll out.
Eveleigh Markets have always been about allowing Sydneysiders to buy and sample fresh produce and homemade food from regional NSW and ACT, things you might not get to try if you've never been to the region. It's not just about country farmers, though — Surry Hills-based celebrity chef Kylie Kwong has a regular stall at the markets as well, selling things like steamed Berkshire pork buns and organic green tea. Now you can add wine to the list of yummy things you can try at the markets. This June, the markets are hosting Eveleigh Uncorked, a wine and cheese fair where over 40 wineries and 20 cheese, bread and olive producers will be showcasing their wares in the historic Blacksmiths Workshop. After browsing the markets, you can taste wine from boutique wineries in Mudgee, Orange and the Hunter Valley, and there'll be plenty of specialised cheeses, olives and crusty sourdough on hand to go with it. Eveleigh Market Manager Ariana Aljinovic says the event will "continue Eveleigh Market’s tradition of bringing the maker to the buyer and will be a wonderful opportunity for the Sydney community to learn more about the wine and cheese making process".
In most situations Concrete Playground would not advise heading back to an unknown person's hotel room that was going to be full of strangers. That way spells trouble, you would say. Especially when you know whipped cream is involved. But this Thursday, perhaps you should live on the edge a little, and head to the Darlo Bar where ten artists have taken over the seven hotel rooms to turn them into a series of gallery and performance spaces. Selected by Jesse Willesee himself, the artist behind Darlo Bar's May exhibition Paintings in Hotel Rooms, you will be able to wander inside private spaces, exploring the unknown, all to the tune of Sydney's newest musical discovery Whipped Cream Chargers. Don't forget your room key.
Having hosted numerous sold out pop-ups in Adelaide and Melbourne since 2013, the Urban Winery Project is now on its way to Sydney. The crew will be teaming up with Three Blue Ducks to host a four-course dinner and grape stomping session (yep, involving your bare feet) at the Ducks' Rosebery warehouse. "After three years in Adelaide and two in Melbourne, we couldn't ignore that a huge number of our followers were calling for us to come to Sydney," says David Bowley, founder and winemaker at Vinteloper, the Adelaide Hills-based winery behind the Urban Winery Project. "The distance means it's the hardest UWP we've attempted, but at Vinteloper we're never afraid to put it all on the line." UWP decided to team up with Three Blue Ducks for their "amazing chefs", as well as their "values and philosophies". Bowley says, "They sit by side with our own. Plus, they have the amazing Rosebery venue, perfect for a winery pop-up. How could we choose anywhere else?" There'll be two events, held on Wednesday, March 8 and Thursday, March 9. Each will be a free-flowing type of evening, combining drinking, eating and wine-making. On arrival, you'll be sipping on wine and sampling from roaming plates. When you're ready, you'll be invited to partake in various stages of wine making. "Our team are on hand to explain people through each activity, starting with some plucking of grapes off the stems. Then, we remind everyone that fortune favours the brave," says Bowley. "After a nibble on an entree and some more wine, we invite people to roll up those cuffs and jump in, to immerse themselves in the world of winemaking ... It's that Lucille Ball moment that we've all been waiting for." The point is to show you that winemaking is a whole lot of fun. So, you'll be spared too many rules and long, monotonous speeches, in favour of good, old-fashioned, hands-on experience. "As the hours roll on, it's a full sensory overload, with the wafts of our accompanying feast filling the air, sounds of glasses clinking and grapes popping, as you see, first-hand, the basket pressing creating the juice that will be turned into next year's wine to accompany next year's feast." The four-course dinner is a slightly more formal, sit-down affair. That said, food will be served on share plates around a long table, so it's still an inclusive experience. You're encouraged to "talk, share and ask questions". Bowley set up the Urban Wine Project in 2012 to give city-dwelling people the chance to experience wine making. "Loads of people drink wine, but a tiny percentage know anything about how the beverage they love ends up in their glass," Bowley says. "We rip back that curtain and expose the craft in its raw state, in the hope that, by seeing inside and participating in making wine, every glass of wine they drink for the rest of their lives will taste a little bit better." Urban Winery Project and Three Blue Ducks' pop-up is happening March 8 and 9 at 6.30pm for a 7pm start. Tickets are $135pp for four course with wines and an interactive winemaking experience. Bookings (02) 93 890 010 or via UWP's website.
If you missed out on nabbing tickets for the Blondie and Pretenders tour (the first two Sydney shows sold out in a matter of days) we’ve got good news: an extra Sydney show has been added to the bill. I’m sure there’s no need to delve into how epic this collaboration is: this is the greatest BOGOF of all time. For the price of one, you get two of the coolest bands of the ‘70s and ‘80s, two style icons and double the dose of new wave classics. Decades might have passed since Blondie and Pretenders topped the charts, but both bands’ timeless appeal resonates with younger fans generation after generation. Meanwhile, Debbie Harry's ever-faithful to the peroxide bottle, while Chrissie Hynde continues to rock out in her signature boy’s tshirts and skinny jeans. As for the music – I can only vouch for Blondie who played a festival in the northern part of the world a couple of years back and the (younger) crowd was blown away. This is one legend that will never be 'past it'. Touring together for the first time ever, both bands will team up to play across Australia before heading to New Zealand. They play the Enmore Theatre for their third and final show on December 9.
Monday, March 3, will see The Necks return to the Opera House's Joan Sutherland Theatre, in the finale to their first Australian tour for 2014. Since last visiting home shores, The Necks have released their 17th studio album, Open, to rave reviews. The Music said it was a "living masterwork" and Spin described it as "one of the most mesmerising records of the year: an hour-long, labyrinthine, uninterrupted dream." What's more, Open is the first of The Necks' albums to have had a release in the US, via label Northern Spy. In 2014, the group also celebrates 25 years in the business, having released debut album Sex back in 1998. Since then, their jazz-meets-ambient minimalism sound has developed a cult following all over the world. Their live shows are truly hypnotic experiences, unbound by conventional limitations and driven by a commitment to never playing the same thing twice. The Necks' appearance is part of Music at the House, a special program featuring contemporary music. Other artists on the bill include Neil Finn, Iron & Wine, Neko Case, Flying Lotus, Grizzly Bear, The National, Bonobo, Buddy Guy and Ludovico Einaudi. Tickets for The Necks at the SOH will go on sale to the public on Friday, December 13, at 9am. Here are the rest of the tour dates: Friday 7 February 2014 - Byron Bay Community Centre, Byron Bay, NSW Saturday 8 February 2014 - Brisbane Powerhouse, Brisbane, QLD Sunday 9 February 2014 - Governor Hindmarsh, Adelaide, SA Monday 10 February 2014 - The Ellington Jazz Club, Perth, WA Tuesday 11 February 2014 - The Ellington Jazz Club, Perth, WA Monday 17 February 2014 - Corner Hotel, Melbourne, VIC Tuesday 18 February 2014 - Corner Hotel, Melbourne, VIC Wednesday 19 February 2014 - Corner Hotel, Melbourne, VIC Thursday 20 February 2014 - Lizotte's, Newcastle, NSW Saturday 22 February 2014 - The Street Theatre, Canberra, ACT Monday 3 March 2014 - Sydney Opera House, Sydney, NSW Image by Camille Walsh.
Masters of late night snack fuel Ben & Jerry's have been dishing out pop culture-riffing flavours like Liz Lemon Greek Frozen Yoghurt, Stephen Colbert's AmeriCone Dream and, of course, Schweddy Balls for years. Then the masters of frozen confection go and create something called 'Free Cone Day', an annual event which defies haters. You can score an ice cream on the house, as part of the company's yearly, worldwide tradition thanking its fanbase for all the gluttonous support. On Tuesday, April 9, Ben & Jerry's Scoop Shops around Australia are hosting the eighth annual Free Cone Day — scooping out free ice cream from 12pm until 8pm. Suss out your nearest Scoop Shop purveyor of frozen dairy heaven here, and rock up on April 9 to claim your cone. Check out Ben & Jerry's Facebook page for updates.
We're the country that gave the world Cate Blanchett, Nicole Kidman and Margot Robbie, to name just a few renowned Australian actresses owning the silver screen in recent years. Accordingly, we're no stranger to celebrating formidable women in cinema. It tracks, then, that Melbourne's Australian Centre for the Moving Image has curated a world-premiere exhibition dedicated to femininity across screen history — which is running from Wednesday, April 5–Sunday, October 1. Six-month-long showcase Goddess: Power, Glamour, Rebellion declares its affection for ladies of the screen right there in its name. Examining how women are represented in cinema and television, it pays tribute to standout ladies, how depictions and expectations of femininity have changed, and what female talents have symbolised — and been forced to deal with — about and from the society around them. It's both a massive and a landmark exhibition. More than 150 original costumes, objects, artworks, props and sketches are now gracing the Federation Square venue's walls and halls, all championing oh-so-many women and their impact. Launched in-person by the one and only Geena Davis, who is also the exhibition's lead ambassador, Goddess fittingly includes outfits worn by her and Susan Sarandon in 1991's Thelma & Louise — and that's just the beginning of its treasures. Among a lineup that spans threads that've never been displayed before, various cinematic trinkets, large-scale projections and other interactive experiences, attendees can check out odes to Marlene Dietrich in 1930's Morocco, Pam Grier's spectacular Blaxploitation career, Tilda Swinton in 1992's Orlando and the aforementioned Robbie via 2020's Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn). Plus, there's Mae West's sky-high heels from 1934's Belle of the Nineties, as well as Michelle Yeoh's fight-ready silks from 2000's Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. The list goes on, clearly, covering Anna May Wong, Marilyn Monroe, Laverne Cox and Zendaya as well. And, everything from Glenn Close's Cruella de Vil in 102 Dalmatians to the Carey Mulligan-starring Promising Young Woman also gets time to shine. As it does with its big exhibitions, ACMI is pairing Goddess' wide-ranging display with soundscapes by Melbourne-based composer Chiara Kickdrum, and also hosting a sprawling events program complete with late-night parties, performances and talks — and film screenings, of course. Fancy taking an in-depth curator tour of the exhibition after hours? That's on the bill monthly. There's also a music program called Goddess Nights from late May, which'll focus on three femme-centric live music lineups with performances by DJ JNETT, CD, POOKIE and Ayebatonye — and a curated range of food and booze put together just for each evening. For film buffs, movie series Divine Trailblazers will focus on contemporary actors at the height of their powers, while the Goddess Sundays is all about on-screen personas. So, the first includes Angela Bassett's Oscar-nominated performance in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Academy Award-winners Michelle Yeoh and Jamie Lee Curtis in Everything Everywhere All At Once, Cate Blanchett conducting a masterpiece in Tár, Viola Davis in warrior mode in The Woman King, Filipino actor Dolly De Leon stealing every scene she's in in Triangle of Sadness, and Leah Purcell writing, directing, producing and starring in The Drover's Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson. Images: Eugene Hyland Photography.
The government's restrictions and regulations for COVID-19 containment are changing at a rapid pace. But there are two words we're all hearing on repeat: stay home. As much as is possible within each person's specific set of circumstances (including their job and requirements around food, exercise and health), every Australian is being encouraged to avoid leaving their homes unless absolutely necessary. We're being told that minimising the time spent outside is vital in getting through this crisis. As a result, many of the services that contribute to the lifestyles of city dwellers have been temporarily suspended, including cultural institutions, cinemas, clubs, pubs and gyms. But we still need to be able to access the essentials: household essentials, booze and, of course, food. Up until now, delivery services have been viewed as merely a convenience or something to facilitate laziness. Now, they're more important than ever. IT'S ONE OF THE SAFEST WAYS TO GET FOOD Supermarkets are still open to purchase food and other household items, but we'd rather avoid them as much as possible right now. The stories of stockpiling — and subsequent product shortages and buying restrictions — paint a pretty dire picture of a simple visit to the shops. Plus, with many of our favourite activities currently on hiatus, we have to find fun where we can. Yep, you may not be able to go to a gallery or play team sports, but you can still shirk your cooking and cleanup duties and let someone else prepare dinner. In the wake of the restrictions on public gatherings, many restaurants and cafes have shifted their operations to takeaway and delivery, so you can eat well in the comfort of your own home. And, to put your mind at ease, it's worth remembering that commercial kitchens are held to extremely rigorous food safety and hygiene practices, and most have upped their cleaning and sanitation procedures as the COVID-19 situation unfolded in Australia. For Domino's, this means daily audit checks and no human contact with the pizzas after they leave the 265-degree ovens. IT'S KEEPING PEOPLE INDOORS Obviously, the increased availability of delivery services means there are fewer people out on the streets, which can only be a good thing right now. But some places have taken it one step further. For example, Domino's has introduced a zero-contact delivery for all delivery orders place through the app or over the phone. The person delivering your meal will leave it on your doorstep and call or text you to confirm it's there — and they'll wait until they can see you've picked it up, too. This is just another simple step, facilitated by technology, to limit person-to-person contact with those outside your household. It also means you don't need to leave your house for too long and miss that live-stream of furry koalas, a theatre show or a gig. IT'S KEEPING PEOPLE EMPLOYED As the restrictions continue in an effort to manage the COVID-19 outbreak, huge job losses are occurring over many sectors, including hospitality. Maintaining (and supporting) delivery services is vital to ensuring this number does not continue to grow. In fact, it could help minimise the issue. Some companies, including Domino's, are currently seeking out temporary workers to keep up with increased demand for delivery services. The company is also supporting other essential workers with its Feeding the Frontline efforts, which delivers pizzas to those working tirelessly to support the community during this time — think healthcare, supermarket, government, education and emergency workers — to keep morale up and more people in jobs. Domino's is now offering zero-contact delivery across Australia. To order, head here.
Sydney abounds in whisky bars, gin joints and wine libraries. But, until now, vermouth — that ancient potion of mystical, medical qualities — hasn't received its own shrine. Enter Banksii, a brand new bar and bistro dedicated to vermouth, which has just opened at the harbourside Streets of Barangaroo precinct. Vermouth has had somewhat of a revival in Sydney this year, and Banksii solidifies its place on the city's figurative back bar. Run by Bar H's cracking team — chef Hamish Ingham and sommelier Rebecca Lines — the new venue will be open for lunch, dinner and drinks seven days a week. Aperitifs, ahoy. On Lines's drinks list, you'll find no fewer than 40 vermouth options. Drink 'em straight, drink 'em on ice, drink 'em while howling at the full moon and drink 'em in cocktails. In short, drink 'em anyway you like. "Vermouth has an exceptionally long history and by the 17th Century was incredibly popular in Europe and England as an aperitif," said Lines. "There has been a recent rediscovery of vermouth and we'll be focusing on it being served straight as an aperitif and in a tight cocktail list, focusing on classics such as martinis and Negronis." Vermouth not your thing? Get into the 100-strong wine menu, emphasising both homegrown and Mediterranean wines. Meanwhile, chef Ingham — ex-Bar H, Pier, Becasse, Flying Fish and Billy Kwong, and 2004 Josephine Pignolet Young Chef of the Year — has been busy coming up with contemporary dishes that combine Mediterranean influences with Australian botanicals. By the way, in case you're wondering, the name Banskii is not in homage to the homonym-nal street artist, but to Sir Joseph Banks, Australia's first European botanist. Ingham will be serving up his creations noon and night. The offering will be all about keeping things light and fresh, with star dishes including grilled prawns with curry leaf butter and pickled turmeric, kangaroo carpaccio with pickled radish and nasturtium, a botanical greens and cheese pie, and a glazed roasted half duck with red vermouth-soaked native plums. "I've had a great time incorporating botanicals in new dishes and I'm really happy with the menu we have developed and am excited for people to experience it," says Ingham. "We have a lot of ingredients on the menu that people may not have heard of that we want to showcase in an exciting and accessible way." Luchetti Krelle has taken care of design matters, making the most of the waterfront location by incorporating indoor-outdoor seating for 200 people and drawing from 18th century ideas (because that's when Sir Banks was around). They're the design firm responsible for the aesthetic wonders of Bar Brosé, the new Tilbury Hotel, ACME, Cronulla's Blackwood Pantry and The Butler, among others. Banksii joins a slew of other eateries that have opened down at Barangaroo over the last few months, including Belles Hot Chicken, Lotus, Cirrus, Zushi and The Rabbit Hole. Banksii is now open for lunch and dinner at 33 Barangaroo Avenue, Barangaroo South. For more information, visit banskii.sydney. By Jasmine Crittenden and Lauren Vadnjal.
Get ready rock fans, for the Arctic Monkeys are returning to Australia and New Zealand. The British band will embark on their biggest down under tour to date this autumn for their latest album, AM. The album, which was released this past September, is the band's fifth consecutive number 1 in the UK and also debuted at the top spot in the ARIA Albums Chart. So, Aussie and Kiwi fans, get stoked because you'll soon have the chance to hear their awesome collection of new jams, including chart toppers such as 'R U Mine?' and 'Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High?' Original fans needn't worry, because the Monkeys never forget to pay tribute to their old school favourites. You'll probably still get your chance to belt out 'Fluorescent Adolescent's, "Oh the boy's a slag / The best you ever had / The best you ever had." https://youtube.com/watch?v=6366dxFf-Os
You've found it! The perfect gift. You go to hit 'add to cart' and then you see it — a Christmas shipping deadline date that has long since sailed past you, leaving only that sinking feeling of losing something that was never yours. But there's an easy way to avoid that mini tragedy: shop local, and shop good old-fashioned bricks and mortar. The unique gifts right here at home are sure to please even the most difficult, seen-it-all giftees. By the Concrete Playground team.
To call Enough Said a romantic comedy seems wrongly restrictive. Essentially, it's just that, but really, it's much more. A quirky divorcee starts falling for a slobby, overweight but very loveable dude, then realises it's her friend's despised ex-husband. Antics ensue. The title and the poster are something of an undersell — 'Enough Said' sounds like any other moronically make-believe candyfloss crap in which an unlikely yet star-crossed couple with Hollywood cheekbones and poreless skin battle for 90 minutes and get together — forever, of course — in the final scene. The title is oddly generic; try slipping 'About Time', 'Here's the Thing' or 'Wouldn't You Know?' in its place. Here's the difference: Nicole Holofcener is one of the smartest, wryest female American directors around. Friends with Money established her as a someone who makes real films with real characters for real grown-ups. She then joined the television glory days, directing episodes of HBO's Enlightened — two short seasons of confronting and hilarious viewing. Laura Dern and Mike White's amazing creation, the deluded yet totally empathisable Amy Jellicoe, could make you question if your own deepest-held longings are just impossible and impossibly vivid self-deceptions. With Enough Said, Holofcener makes a pitch for the mainstream, moving in on the edge of the territory staked out by James L. Brooks: rom-coms that are actually, miraculously both romantic and comedic. I can't help but wonder if it's because her last film, Please Give, was a well-intentioned but dour project that somehow missed its mark, as well as the wide audience that this super cluey director deserves. In Enough Said, she's cast Julia Louis-Dreyfus in the usual Catherine Keener role. Where on earth has Louis-Dreyfus been for the last decade and a half? She is a flat-out great leading actress. Here, she perfects what she revealed on Seinfeld in the 1990s: a character's failed attempts at carefree casualness. With wide-eyed, sideways glances and upturned intonation, she relays cluelessness and hopefulness, her yearning earnestness betraying her surface breeziness. (A side note: Claudia Karvan does this best in Australia.) The whole cast is spot-on, and James Gandolfini is especially endearing in his last, quite slight role — though I couldn't help wonder what complexity Louis CK could have brought to the character. There's something extraordinary about seeing quite ordinary women on film. In Gravity, Sandra Bullock's astronaut-taut face barely moved from the effects of what one hoped was zero gravity but was more likely astronomical proportions of filler and muscle relaxant. By contrast, Keener and Louis-Dreyfus aren't great beauties, but they are uncommonly lovely and a delight to watch — animated, bright, baffled and trying and trying and trying their fallible human best to succeed in love. Despite the unambitious nature of this easy Friday night film, Holofcener is a freakishly perceptive observer of our time's obsessions and longings. There aren't nearly enough films about the relationship between your different relationships and love after love. I laughed at the film's sticky, recognisable truths for the whole hour and a half. She's succeeded in making something for the masses without resorting to lowest-common-denominator bullshit. And that's really something. https://youtube.com/watch?v=nEEJaIjF_Lo
It's been a couple of years since Sydney last enjoyed a live performance from Courtney Barnett, but this August, the acclaimed singer-songwriter will return to the harbour city for a show at a little venue called the Sydney Opera House. She'll play her first headline show in the iconic venue's biggest space: the Concert Hall. Off the back of her second album Tell Me How You Really Feel, Barnett's set to tear up the stage with her signature indie-rock energy and a full band in tow. She'll perform all the hits from this forthcoming record, including 'Need A Little Time', 'Nameless, Faceless', and the just-released 'City Looks Pretty'. Lauded as one of this century's most unique Aussie voices, Barnett's set a new tone with her latest work, following collaborations with the likes of Kurt Vile, The Breeders and long-term partner Jen Cloher. The past few years have seen the musician absolutely killing it internationally, nominated for both a Grammy Award and a BRIT Award, and scooping up a bunch of other top honours, including the Australian Music Prize 2016, APRA's Songwriter of the Year, and four ARIA awards. Courtney Barnett will perform in the Sydney Opera House's Concert Hall on Saturday, August 25 as part of the year-round Sydney Opera House Contemporary Music Program. Tickets go on sale at to newsletter subscribers at noon today and to the general public on Monday, April 23 here. Image: Pooneh Ghana.
Attention foodies: Sydney Living Museums and Real Food Projects are teaming up this December for the first ever Christmas Artisan Food Gift Market. This culinary celebration will feature the very best of local Sydney products. Treats include locally blended olive oils, coffee roasted in Annandale, shortbread from Bondi, pickles from Marrickville, honey from Surry Hills, beer brewed in Newtown and many more seasonal food gifts. The festival will also feature a series of up-and-coming artisan producers such as Pud Inc, Griffin Jerky and The Vegan Teahouse. The festive market atmosphere will also include food trucks, live music and a wrapping station to set you straight for Christmas. So if you're looking for something special to bring to Christmas dinner or just want to load up your pantry, check out this one-off event held at the Hyde Park Barracks Museum on December 18 from 4-9pm.
They're taking to hobbits to Isengard at the Ritz Cinema this September, with one movie marathon to rule them all. Round up the Fellowship, stock up on lembas bread for sustenance and hide your finest pipe-weed from the Southfarthing for one sitting of all three of Peter Jackson's beloved OG Tolkien film adaptations — in their extended forms. Kicking off with The Fellowship of the Ring and ending with The Return of the King, this cave troll of a marathon clocks in at 686 minutes plus breaks, starting the journey at 11.15am and including two 30-minute meal breaks (breakfast and second breakfast, if you will). If you make it to the final handful of endings, you can pat yourself on the back and smash a ringwraith screech at the nearest Randwick resident on your way home (note: do not actually screech at the residents). Tickets are the precious and come in at $25 for the whole ordeal.
Walsh Bay's luxe precinct, Pier One, will soon be home to a perspex pop-up kitchen thanks to the duo behind travelling Jerusalem street food container, Knafeh. The Bearded Bakers have temporarily retired their mobile, shipping container-chic bakery and upgraded to a futuristic, plastic prism. Inside, they'll continue whipping up their unique baked goods and cocktails, and also put their own spin on neighbouring food shack The Kerrigan's dishes. During the October pop-up, expect delicacies such as the flavoursome fattoush salad, The Kerrigan's chicken wings with added spice and dukkah, and a cocktail inspired by Moroccan tea (which will complement their famous Knafeh dessert). And, due to the transparent walls of the pop-up, you'll be able to appreciate the harbour while you demolish all this great food. If you've had the Knafeh experience before, you'll probably remember the singing and dancing that comes with the magnificently bearded service. Fortunately, all of this is expected to remain. Knafeh on the Pier will be open for Good Food Month, every Thursday to Sunday between October 5 and 28. Drop by Thursday to Saturday from 5pm–10pm, and Sundays from 3pm–10pm.
Spring is looking to be an incredibly classy culinary adventure in Pyrmont. Boasting several of Sydney's most acclaimed restaurants, the dining precinct at The Star has planned some pretty big chef collaborations, customised cocktails, wine pairings and gourmet cuisine crossovers, alongside live jazz and — magic performances. Here are a few of the must-eat food experiences. WHISKY, JAZZ AND JAPANESE APERITIVO AT SOKYO Sit back with a whisky sour, an old-fashioned or a highball made from legendary Japanese whisky distillers Suntory — Sokyo brings in live music for one very laid-back Wednesday night on October 11. Complete with whisky cocktails, Japanese snacks and canapés, you'll indulge in one of Sydney's highest-awarded, contemporary Japanese restaurant with a backdrop of live jazz and a DJ set. There will be four snack stations offering the best in Japanese bar snacks, including pork katsu sandwiches. chicken yakitori don, tuna nigiri sushi and mini goma with mochi. Whisky, Jazz and Japanese Aperitivo will be held on Wednesday, October 11. $89-95 for tickets. DINNER WITH MATT PRESTON AT BLACK BAR & GRILL Award-winning food journalist, TV personality and cravat connoisseur Matt Preston will be your host for the ultimate whisky-paired dinner. With chef Dany Karam of BLACK, Preston will discuss the delicate flavours in the relationship between food and whisky. Each dish will be served with an exclusive Johnnie Walker blend, all of which have been dished up to perfectly complement the whisky's subtle and diverse tones. Dinner with Matt Preston will be held on Wednesday, October 18. $250 per person. TENDER STORIES AT BLACK BAR & GRILL Karam collaborates once again with some culinary talent from Melbourne, as one of Australia's most innovative chefs, Scott Pickett of Estelle, heads north to collaborate with the BLACK chef. The menu puts a contemporary spin on Australian, Italian and French cuisine and comes paired with Australian and French wines. You can expect smoked wallaby, whipped cod's roe, Flinder's Island lamb and smoked pork, along with other fascinating dishes, paired with rosé, riesling and Loire Valley Sancerre. Tender Stories will be held on Wednesday, October 25. $187-193 per person. AN ITALIAN AFFAIR WITH LUMI BAR & DINING AT BALLA Two of Sydney's foremost Italian chefs are joining forces to bring what might be one of the most Italian feasts in Sydney. Head chef of Pyrmont's LuMi Bar & Dining Federico Zanellato is crossing the road to collaborate with Balla's Gabriele Taddeucci for a four-course meal paired with Italian wines. In this elaborate meal you can expect slightly obscure Italian delicacies such as milk-braised salted cod, zucchini-flower stuffed rabbit, squid ink risotto and layered custard chocolate cake. An Italian Affair will be held on Tuesday, October 31. $175 per person. Head to The Star this spring for some stellar food and drink events. BLACK Bar & Grill has unveiled its Black Magic Menu, with specially-designed cocktails and performances by an in-house magician every night until November 12, and Balla celebrates seafood with a gourmet, three-course lunch menu featuring seasonal produce over a vista of the harbour, every weekday from 12–2:30pm until November 10.
Vanfest is a solid reason to road trip into the outback for the first weekend of summer. The outback festival is only in its fourth year, but it's quickly become one of NSW's best regional music events. Set against a backdrop of cows and countryside, the lineup will rival that of a city festival; Amy Shark, Tash Sultana, Dune Rats, Thundamentals, San Cisco and Cosmo's Midnight are just several of the 13 huge names performing this year. There will also be rides, pop-up bars, market stalls and VIP areas. There will also be a Van City at the festival offering a good variety of accommodation, ranging from the affordable, six-man, 'lights off'-style tent to a luxurious, double-bed-and-doona glamping option — and pretty much everything in between. There's 'freestyle camping' where you bring your own tent, or you can save yourself the potential embarrassment of looking like a tent-pitching fool and book pre-pitched tents for a little extra.
"I didn't want to simply be a socialite," Jep Gambardella (Toni Servillo) tells us. "I wanted to become the king of socialites." He has succeeded grandly in this most empty of ambitions; his life seems an endless parade of high-society gatherings, fashionable soirees and art gallery openings. A louche writer resting on the laurels of his lone novel and the occasional magazine piece, Jep has turned recently turned 65 and is shaken from his decadent torpor when he learns that his first love has died. The news acts as a reminder of his own looming mortality and is a chance to reflect on the gradual decline of Rome, the city he came to as a young man, at once drawn to its vibrancy and seemingly determined to be unimpressed with it. The film begins with an elaborately staged, gloriously shot party and doesn't reveal its immaculately dressed, glamorously jaded protagonist for several minutes, an approach in keeping with its interest in the colourful characters who inhabit his world. It is peopled with eccentric characters like Jep's combative editor, a spirited stripper who becomes involved with Jep, a centurion nun who eats only roots and a cluster of society wives, conmen and vacuous social climbers. Dispensing acidic observations a la Truman Capote, Jep surveys scenes of debauchery and hedonism with an air of slightly tired amusement. At times he seems the ultimate cynic — when he responds to a friend's taunt about his work and she calls him a misogynist, he corrects her: he is actually a misanthrope. Yet there is something melancholy about the character and the milieu he inhabits, something increasingly desperate about their pretensions and endless search for novelty, a sense that they live in the shadow of the city's great history. Writer-director Paolo Sorrentino's last film was the somewhat divisive little gem This Must Be The Place; this is a much more elaborate affair, stuffing dozens of vignettes of city life into its 142-minute running length. It evokes comparison with his great countrymen Federico Fellini and feels like a belated companion piece to La Dolce Vita, in its ambition, sweep and affectionate but pointedly warts-and-all portrait of a decaying, decadent metropolis. Filmgoers who like a sturdy narrative will likely be frustrated by The Great Beauty's structural looseness and epic sprawl, but those who can tap into its kaleidoscopic approach will find a dazzling, intoxicating feast of colour and life. https://youtube.com/watch?v=Dyt430YkQn0
A coming-of-age story of three orphans and their lives over 18 years in one apartment, Alexei Arbuzov's The Promise has been rarely performed outside of Russia since it premiered in 1967. This new version by Nick Dear (based on Ariadne Nicolaeff's translation) is brought to life by 24-year-old director Simon Stone and a fine cast of young actors. Lika (Alison Bell), Marat (Ewen Leslie) and Leonidik (Chris Ryan) are survivors of the devastatingly brutal Siege of Leningrad where a million or more were killed by starvation, cold or bombing. While the play has moments concerning notions of political ideology and the individual's responsibility to society, the focus remains very much on the personal inter-relationships in their complicated lifelong love triangle. The years go by and they remember the months they spent together as teenagers during the horrific siege increasingly favourably, as they face the realisation that their past mutual dreams have been betrayed. But it's not as bleak as it sounds; the witty dialogue and various character eccentricities ensure a lightness runs through even the darkest moments of this emotionally contained tale.
Are you and your crew due for a karaoke night? If, like us, you don't need much of an excuse to belt out Mariah Carey or a bit of Bon Jovi on a school night, make tracks to Hornsby's Sing Bar. Every Monday to Thursday, the karaoke bar is offering up complimentary booths with any alcoholic bevvy purchase — you'll just have to make sure your mates all have a cold one in hand. On the menu, expect the new seasonal cocktail jugs to give you liquid courage as you sing your heart out. The venue's ten themed rooms are all equipped with high-quality sound systems and technicolour lights, plus they can accommodate a range of group sizes, from an intimate group of four to a whopping 25 people. You can order drinks and snacks from the bar directly to your booth. Better yet, the music list is updated daily — so, if you want to get in on this deal on the regular, you won't have to listen to your mate attempt 'Ice Ice Baby' again. If you come by at happy hour (which is from Monday–Friday, 2–6pm and Saturday–Sunday, 12–6pm), it's just $6 each per hour to rent a room. Bargain. Images: Renato Soares and Anandio Asmaliudin.
A new Sicilian restaurant headed by internationally acclaimed chef Lino Sauro is the latest venue announced for the still-blooming Kensington Street precinct. Opening on the second floor of the newly restored Old Rum Store, it will join first-level French restaurant Bistrot Gavroche and a soon-to-open pop-up private kitchen on level three. The best part? It'll have its own rooftop terrace. Sauro has spent the past ten years in Singapore where he headed Sicilian restaurant Gattopardo. His new Sydney venture will be called Olio, which is the Italian word for olive oil — a very appropriate name given that olive oil, which will make up the base of the Sauro's dishes, will be sourced from his family farm in Sicily. As for the rest of the ingredients, you can expect seafood, wild fennel, raisins, saffron and couscous to play a big part in the menu. Sicily's natural environment — like the ocean and its abundance of olive trees — and historic relations with North Africa and Mediterranean Europe are major influences on Sicilian cuisine. Sauro's own farming heritage has also inspired a passion for cooking with fresh, local produce. For Olio, he's prioritised international award winners in his choice of architects too. LAVA, who are also responsible for designing Abu Dhabi's Masdar eco city centre and Sydney's Martian Embassy, have designed both the indoor dining room and the rooftop terrace to reflect the menu. They'll incorporate the industrial history of the space — like its exposed brick and loft-style windows — into a modern revamp, which will include hints of Mediterranean blue and olive green in the colour scheme and Sicilian tiles. Those dining on the terrace will be treated to views of Central Park's vertical garden and Kensington Street's Spice Alley while surrounded by olive trees. Olio is expected to open in the first quarter of 2017. For a hard opening date, keep checking their website. Images: Lauren Commens.
HelloFresh is a unique and modern cooking alternative, dedicated to taking the hassle out of grocery shopping and inspiring you to cook healthy, home meals — and love it. And for a limited time only, this service has a pop-up store in Paddington, and they want you to pop in. The store is on Oxford Street for a limited time only, and they would love for you to go and visit any time between 10am-7pm. With daily cooking demonstrations, education sessions, and ingredients tasting, they've got plenty of activities for everyone to enjoy and to encourage locals to revitalise their love for cooking. HelloFresh is so committed to reigniting your passion for cooking that for a small weekly fee they plan new delicious and creative meals each week, do your grocery shopping for you, and even deliver it to your door. You are able to choose which food box suits you or your family — whether it be for two, four, or six people —and each kit comes complete with all the ingredients, herbs, and spice you need to create their healthy and tasty meals. They even come with idiot-proof recipes to ensure your dishes taste just as good as their photos look. This food service is a good way for time-poor cooks to indulge themselves with 30-minute recipes whilst avoiding hassle or poor, takeaway-filled diets. Visit them on Oxford Street today to see what they're about and to learn a more about fresh ingredients and how to use them. Visit their website or Facebook Page for more information.
In 2022, beloved social enterprise Two Good Co opened a cafe and convenience store in Darlinghurst's Yirranma Place. The venue provides Sydneysiders with tasty breakfast and lunch options, as well as products from local ethically minded businesses such as The Bread & Butter Project, Kua Coffee and Gelato Messina — all while raising funds to help Two Good's goal of supporting vulnerable women by providing pathways out of crisis living. Each month at the cafe, the crew brings in a well-known and well-loved chef or culinary team to create special one-off menu items. Kylie Kwong, Maggie Beer, Peter Gilmore and Matt Moran have all been on curating duties in the past, and the month of September 2023 sees the pleasure fall on food writer, restaurateur and Creative Director of the Carriageworks Farmers Markets Mike McEnearney. McEnearney is known for his ever-popular cookbooks Real Food and Kitchen by Mike. A purveyor of all things fresh, sustainable and down-to-earth, McEnearney brings a low-effort and high-flavour approach to Two Good Co's monthly menu. Available throughout September, the menu features two no-fuss lunch items and a little sweet treat. Item number one is the mushroom, lentil ragu and cheese toastie, which boasts a rich, herb-forward sauce and melted cheese sandwiched between two slices of thick white toast. Also available: a hearty Middle-Eastern inspired lentil soup coating tenderly spiced meat, topped with a dash of coriander and paired with a toasted slice of dipping bread to sop up the remains of aromatic soup. Rounding out the offerings is a little lunchtime dessert in a bite-sized form — light and crisp round jammie dodgers with a fruity marmalade and creamy hazelnut centre, topped with a generous sprinkle of icing sugar. If you want to sample the menu, just head over to 262 Liverpool Street at some point this month.
Find out what a late night party looks like when Elizabeth Rose is in charge. The beats-cranking Sydneysider is curating a trio of discotheques, the first of which is locked in for the Civic Hotel on March 27, with the final two hitting Melbourne and Brisbane over the Easter Weekend. For each party, she's inviting her favourite local DJ talent to commandeer the decks, kicking off shenanigans before Rose delivers her own midnight set. It's high time Rose celebrated. Over the past twelve months, this young producer's been racking up one impressive achievement after another. First, FBi Radio named her 'Next Big Thing', then QANTAS gave her its 'Spirit of Youth' prize, and then her second EP reached #1 — on both the iTunes AU Electronic chart and triple j. In the meantime, she was singing on tracks for Flight Facilities and The Aston Shuffle. All of that led to Universal Publishing snapping the young DJ up with a publishing deal. So she's throwing you a party. What a legend.
Legendary vocal-happy label 4AD (Bon Iver, Grimes, The National) has picked up its fourth ever Australian artist. Castlemaine's D.D Dumbo has just signed a big ol' deal to become one of the 4AD family. Celebrated for his minimalist style, mesmerising vocals and ridiculous ability with a 12-string guitar, D.D Dumbo has pricked the ears of the likes of Warpaint, St Vincent and Iron & Wine — picking up invitations for support slots along the way. The Victorian native has landed more support gigs for Daughter and Tame Impala in the UK, along with a debut headline show in London and a highly coveted slot at Latitude Festival. The Castlemaine local will return home in July to support the ever eclectic and straight-up magical Tune-Yards for her Splendour sideshows, working his way from Melbourne's Howler to North Byron Parklands and back to Oxford Art Factory. Jump wholeheartedly on the bandwagon this time around, this kid's going to get expensive. D.D DUMBO AUSTRALIAN DATES: 24 July - Howler, Melbourne (supporting Tune-Yards) SOLD OUT 25 July - Howler, Melbourne (supporting Tune-Yards) 27 July - Splendour in The Grass SOLD OUT 28 July - Oxford Art Factory (supporting Tune-Yards) https://youtube.com/watch?v=qG4DLc9Kotg
The London masters of gin, Hayman's Gin, is offering gin-paired dinners every night this month, in the incredibly British surrounds of the Lord Dudley Hotel. The Woollahra pub's recent English garden-inspired refurb provides an idyllic setting to indulge in the spirit made by the distiller entrenched in London history. Established during the gin craze in the 19th century, Hayman's Gin has been run by an unbroken five-generation lineage of gin producers. Until October 31, you'll be able to sample a number of classic gin cocktails with Hayman's such as their Sloe and Tonic, best paired with the lamb rump; the French 75 paired with cured salmon or a negroni paired with pork and veal terrine. As you taste your way through the distiller's dry, sloe and 'Old Tom' gins with different tinctures and tonics, you'll also be prompted to make some tasting notes to remember the botanical and food pairings you enjoyed the most. What's more, prices are great value — grab an entrée and a cocktail for $25, a main and cocktail for $40 or opt for the Supper Club Special featuring an entrée, main and two cocktails for $60. Image: Jiwon Kin.
This Sunday, November 12, one of Melbourne's most celebrated artisan bakeries is heading to Sydney's eastern suburbs. Betwen 11am and 2pm, South Yarra's Tivoli Road Bakery will take over the kitchen of Woolloomooloo's Flour and Stone. Along with giving Sydneysiders the chance to try some impeccable Melbourne goods without having to take time off work and fly interstate, husband-and-wife team Pippa and Michael James will be launching their new book, The Tivoli Road Baker: Recipes and Notes from a Chef Who Chose Baking. Potts Point Bookshop will be on-hand to sell signed copies. In terms of food, expect sumptuous lemon curd, salted caramel and lamington doughnuts, pork and apple sausage rolls, rye brownies, and pickled carrot, walnut and chicken sandwiches on Tivoli Road's sourdough made using the bakery's long fermentation process.
North Sydney is welcoming the start of spring atop its multi-award winning rooftop oasis. Waverton's Coal Loader Centre for Sustainability is offering up sky-high live music and cocktails on Saturday, September 1 from 1–8pm. The waterfront digs — Sydney's largest public rooftop garden — will be taken over by a heap of acoustic acts and performances, with multiple stages spread across the lush rooftop and its many tunnels and chambers. There'll also be a pop-up bar selling gin, local beer and organic wines. And, as an added bonus, the event is also dog friendly. While drinks will be available throughout the day, BYO picnics, keep cups and reusable water bottles (with refill stations on site) are all highly encouraged — this is the centre for sustainability, after all. Sunset Sessions runs from 1–8pm.
One minute Johnny Took, Matt Mason and Tommy O'Dell were writing nostalgic garage pop in a Newtown bedroom. The next, they were on high rotation on triple j and basking in Channel V praise along the lines of "terminally infectious" and "the next big thing". The trio's sweet acoustic sound first hit the ears of influential label I OH YOU (Violent Soho, DZ Deathrays) in September 2013. "A good friend (who I guess I owe a beer to now) called me up and began barking down my phone about an amazing young band from Newtown," explains I OH YOU director Johann Ponniah. After signing up, the lads released their self-titled debut EP on March 28, swanning into the iTunes Australian Charts at #7. Their single 'Delete' was heard on airwaves around the nation and spent some time hanging about the upper reaches of the ARIA Australian Artists Singles Chart. So this month, DMA's are embarking on their very first East Coast tour. https://youtube.com/watch?v=vKSWC5r1tYg
Sydney's Powerhouse Museum is currently playing host to the largest menswear exhibition ever assembled — and, to celebrate, the museum is holding a new edition of its MAASive Lates after-hours events. A free evening of fashion talks, tours and parades, the night is for adults only and will expand upon what the Reigning Men exhibition offers. The Reign Supreme event will bring together Giuseppe Santamaria (founder of fashion blog Men in This Town) and writer Ali Asghar Shah as they discuss the intersection of fashion, art, history and identity, as well as put on a fashion parade by Sydney sapeurs. You can also do a curator-led tour of the exhibition for only $5 (instead of the regular $20), and you can bring your pre-loved outfits along to one of the drop-in mending or charity stations. Add to that demonstrations that explore sustainable textile use, a screening of documentary Men of the Cloth, and the fact that there's a best dressed prize up for grabs, and you'll be having a very fashionable time indeed. The event is free, but you'll need to register for tickets.
Theatre fans, prepare to get spend much of 2018 in the city's live performance venues. Sydney Theatre Company has revealed their lineup for the year ahead, and it's jam-packed with highlights, ranging from a diverse range of world premiere productions to new stagings of beloved classics to return seasons of recent favourites. STC's first season under new artistic director Kip Williams features sixteen shows across five spaces, with a particular focus on Australian works. "I've aimed to put together works that reflect our city and our community," says Williams about a lineup that boasts high-profile names on- and off-stage, such as actors Hugo Weaving, Jane Turner and Yael Stone; director Neil Armfield; playwright Nakkiah Lui; and a Kate Mulvaney-written two-part adaptation of Ruth Park's iconic classic Australian trilogy, The Harp in the South novels. Standouts include the debut of Michelle Lee's quarter-life-crisis effort Going Down, which explores the experiences of twenty-something woman in millennial Australia; and Still Point Turning: The Catherine McGregor Story, the true tale of the real-life titular figure's struggle to be herself. Weaving pops up in an all-too-timely piece about a demagogue threatening democracy, aka Bertolt Brecht's 1941 classic The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, while Stone takes on Joan of Arc in George Bernard Shaw's Saint Joan. As well as helming Black Blackie Brown: The Traditional Owner of Death, about an archaeologist's discovery of a mass grave in the Australian bush, Lui's Black is the New White is back for another run. The list goes on, with Holding the Man and The Secret River's Armfield also delving into the country's past — and telling an indigenous tale linked to an archaeologist — in The Long Forgotten Dream, which stars actor and The Sapphires' director Wayne Blair. Elsewhere, Mad as Hell's Francis Greenslade joins forces with writer/director Sarah Giles for a new adaptation of absurdist political classic Accidental Death of an Anarchist, with their version partly inspired by Melissa McCarthy's recent satirical efforts on Saturday Night Live; The Children becomes STC's second Lucy Kirkwood-scripted effort in two seasons after this year's Chimerica; and Lethal Indifference turns playwright Anna Barnes' own experiences into a one-woman effort starring Please Like Me's Emily Barclay. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntD0xw81C0Y For the full 2017 program and to buy tickets, head to sydneytheatre.com.au. Image: Rene Vaile.
Next time you are having dinner at your partner’s parents place, I dare you to clear your throat and start a conversation about the merits of polygamy. Or perhaps you might inform your friends that their kids’ brains are rotten due to them soaking up social networking fodder like a dumbifying sponge. And then of course, there’s the mild subject of religious propaganda that is a sure-fire way to win friends and influence people. Genteel conversations like this and our tendency to avoid them like the plague is the impetus behind the brilliantly provocative Festival of Dangerous Ideas. Running over two days across multiple venues within the Sydney Opera House, the Festival will provide a platform for confronting, politically non-plussed voices to lay their opinions on the table and embark on intellectual warfare. The circus begins with Soapbox, a Public Speaking competition on the steps of the Opera House where members of the public are invited to deliver their controversial best under the watchful eye of judges David Marr and Annabel Crabb. Following this hearty debate, thought leaders from across the globe will present a variety of topics that will see the Opera House transformed into a riotous cacophony of human confabulation. This includes Christopher Hithens and Tony Jones analysing why Religion Poisons Everything and Jeff Sparrow explaining Why We Enjoy Killing. Not known for being meek, Germaine Greer will present Freedom: the most dangerous idea of all in the grandiose surrounds of the Concert Hall, while Gary Foley will inform his audience that By 2075 The Aboriginal Genocide Will Be Complete. St James Ethics Centre and the Sydney Opera House jointly present the dynamic program of events too extensive to divulge in detail here. While the core activity of the Festival will be talks, forums and debates, the program also includes theatre performances by Team Loko and a comedy gala MC’d by Judith Lucy.Image by Marc Johns
