Next up at Gaffa Gallery is Chindia, a group exhibition exploring the multiplicity of migrant identities in Australia. Showcasing six artists with Chinese and Indian heritage working across various disciplines, the show explores a complex array of themes including politics, displacement, performance, folklore, colonial legacy, violence, diaspora histories and issues of cultural and national identity. Featuring work from Anindita Banerjee, Anurendra Jegadeva, Guo Jian, Lilian Lai, Lucy Wang and Texta Queen alongside short films, Chindia invites its audience to share in the inspirations, motivations and family stories of the artists and performers involved, whilst asking what the lessons learnt mean for the future. Gallery manager and show curator Kimberley Peel explains the exhibition "aims to increase community engagement and participation to create an inclusive, culturally rich, diverse and vibrant society" by both increasing the visibility of migrant artist communities and providing a forum for them to engage with one another creatively. A short run from February 15–26 — don't miss out. Image: Anurendra Jegadeva, Migrant Altar, 2012, Oil on canvas with mounted painted objects, 132 cm x 122 cm with 122 cm x 46 cm. Collection of Singapore Art Museum.
Very rarely do you attend an STC show with no clue what’s waiting for you. Yet Sisters Grimm’s Calpurnia Descending allures, ensnares then disorients, till you’re not sure you’re even in the theatre/on Planet Earth/in this dimension any longer. The Sisters Grimm (Declan Greene and Ash Flanders) are a spicy item on the Australian theatre menu, with their "gay DIY drag-theatre". Their newest creation, Calpurnia Descending, is a cynical farce, co-written by the Sisters and directed by Greene. Its witty, fast-paced dialogue and hilarious one-liners demonstrate why the company has burst beyond the confines of queer cabaret to stir up the Australian main stage. Despite its covetable spot at the Wharf 2 Theatre, Calpurnia refuses to behave politely. It pisses on the sanctity of theatre and is sometimes downright silly. It begins with abrupt fanfare, leaving no time for us to get our bearings and continues full-pelt until every sense has been saturated. The plot loosely follows the return to fame of washed-up New York actress Beverly Dumont, played superbly by Paul Capsis. Pack your asthma puffer for the stitches you’ll be in as Capsis performs the ageing diva, combining irreverence, melodrama and fragility in equal measure. His foil is Ash Flanders as Violet St Clair, the ever-recognisable ingenue who proves the age-old adage: anything too sweet will eventually kill you/make you fat. It's Sandy Gore who delivers the most laughs, though, as she channels the crafts(wo)manship of 1980s New York drag king scene. The voice work and choreography is astonishing, almost too good. At times you have to pinch yourself to remember it's all live. The show transports us to the silver screen of the '30s, which (thanks to the design team) is a surreal world of excess. Jed Palmer’s sound design playfully nudges us at key points of action, and Matthew Gingold and Matt Greenwood’s AV and animation overload us with colour, movement and product placement. Calpurnia never misses a cheap gag either. I found the mix of high-budget tech-experimentation with moments of daggy melodrama delightful. Calpurnia constantly undermines the drama it has set up, making us sprint to catch-up. The flouncing, pouting behaviour of Beverly Dumont is mimicked by the whole production: it asks, “Look at me! Look at me!” then leaves us embarrassed when the zoom-in results in overexposure. It’s as if Sisters Grimm received a healthy budget and so decided to Use. Every. Trick. I for one loved the splurge that afforded such vibrant, vacillating drag and disrobing. Calpurnia Descending has sold out, but try ringing up for a Suncorp Twenties ticket.
The Opera House is smack bang in the middle of a $200 million renovation right now, but the action has ground to a halt because of the detection of asbestos. The Electrical Trades Union (ETU) has enforced a ban on work on starting Monday, July 31, after discovering the carcinogenic stuff in a duct. "The ETU was notified on Friday, and has since discovered that almost all of [the] electricians working on the Opera House renovation have not been trained in asbestos awareness and working with asbestos procedures," reads an official statement by Stewart Edwards and Antony Stegic, ETU organisers. The electricians were employed by Downer, a contractor working with Laing O'Rourke, an international engineering company. According to the ETU, both businesses received results on Wednesday confirming the presence of asbestos, but "did not report this safety incident to SafeWork NSW as a notifiable incident". The organisation has advised employees to refuse to work on all troffers, risers and penetrations, and called for new risk assessments, as well as training and supply of "full personal protective equipment". We contacted a spokesperson for the Opera House, who told Concrete Playground, "The Opera House is committed to providing a safe environment for our staff, patrons and visitors. We are working closely with Laing O'Rourke as the principal contractor to investigate the matter and to ensure their work site is safe and compliant with the Asbestos Management Plan." It's clearly a big, public blow to the reno plans, which at this stage will be on hold for an unforeseen duration of time. However, the Opera House spokesperson seems confident they can address the issue. "Like thousands of buildings around the country built around this time, the Opera House has strict processes in place to monitor and manage the presence of asbestos-containing materials," they said. Given that the Opera House was built between 1959 and 1973, the presence of asbestos is actually not surprising — as unsettling as that sounds. That said, it clearly needs to be removed and better managed. No one wants to be inhaling carcinogens when they head to their next fancy gig under the sails.
Pick your poison, action-franchise edition circa 2023: balletically choreographed carnage; cars, kin and Coronas; or Tom Cruise constantly one-upping himself in the megastar stunts stakes. Hollywood loves them all. Cinemas keep welcoming them all. So, after John Wick: Chapter 4 and Fast X comes Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One to deliver the kind of movie spectacle that always looks best on the biggest and brightest of silver screens. And, as its lead actor's gleaming teeth do, the seventh instalment in the TV-to-film spy series shines. Like Cruise himself, it's committed to giving audiences what they want to see, but never merely exactly what they've already seen. This saga hasn't always chosen to accept that mission, but it's been having a better time of it since 2011's Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, including when writer/director Christopher McQuarrie jumped behind the lens with 2015's Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation. McQuarrie and Cruise have history; McQuarrie first helmed Cruise in 2012's Jack Reacher, and also penned or co-penned the screenplays for the Cruise-starring Valkyrie, Edge of Tomorrow, The Mummy and Top Gun: Maverick before and during their Mission: Impossible collaboration. Prior to that, however — the year before Mission: Impossible was reborn as a movie, in fact — the filmmaker won an Oscar for writing The Usual Suspects. Take the puzzle-like trickery of that mid-90s big-reveal mystery, combine it with Cruise's determination to score the first Academy Award for Best Stunts if and when it's ever introduced (or die trying), and it's plain to see why they make an ace Mission: Impossible pair. With both 2018's Mission: Impossible – Fallout and now Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One in particular, they ensure that a franchise based on a half-century-old formula courtesy of Mission: Impossible's television days still feels fresh and thrilling. Rubber masks so realistic that anyone on-screen could rip off their face to reveal Cruise's Ethan Hunt? Of course they're present and accounted for. Espionage antics that involve saving the world while traversing much of it? Tick that off ASAP. The saga's main Impossible Missions Force operative doing whatever it takes, including sprinting everywhere and relentlessly exasperating his higher-ups? Check. A trusty crew faithfully aiding the always-maverick Hunt, plus slippery adversaries to endeavour to outsmart? Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One gives them a hefty thumbs up as well. Shady forces with globe-destroying aims, being able to trust oh-so-few folks, wreaking slickly staged havoc, those jaw-dropping stunts, top-notch actors: Cruise and McQuarrie, the latter co-writing with Erik Jendresen (Ithaca), feel the need to feed it all into the flick, too. They're also rather fond of nodding to and reworking the franchise's greatest hits. Happily playing with recognisable pieces while eagerly, cleverly and satisfyingly building upon them isn't the easiest of skills, but it's firmly in this team's arsenal. When Mission: Impossible — Rogue Nation labelled Hunt "the living manifestation of destiny", it wasn't the series' finest piece of dialogue. There's a sense of humour about hearing him called "a mind-reading, shape-shifting incarnation of chaos" in Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One, though. That description could also be directed at Hunt, Luther Stickell (Ving Rhames, Legacy) and Benji Dunn's (Simon Pegg, The Boys) latest timely enemy: The Entity, an artificial intelligence that's literally killer. Unlike in The Terminator flicks, this AI is content without mechanical bodies to control. Whether in Russian submarines, Abu Dhabi's airport or on careening trains, it does a commanding job of bending both computer programs and people to its will. The aim: to secure that power, a quest that Hunt is on a mission to thwart. Returning from the OG 1996 movie, IMF head Eugene Kittridge (Henry Czerny, Scream VI) initially gives Hunt and company their orders — and once this troupe has been set in motion, little can stop it. So, when the crew punches its "get disavowed by the government again" card, they still stick to the task of tracking down the two-part key that The Entity wants. Terrorist Gabriel (Esai Morales, How to Get Away with Murder) and assassin Paris (Pom Klementieff, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3) are on the AI's side. Jasper Briggs (Shea Whigham, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse) is among the US operatives trying to bring in Hunt. Back from the last instalment, arms dealer White Widow (Vanessa Kirby, The Son) has her own plan, while ex-MI6 agent Ilsa Faust (Rebecca Ferguson, Silo) appears in her third flick in a row to again link in with the usual team. Then there's pickpocket Grace (Hayley Atwell, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness), a newcomer who is accustomed to flying solo. Atwell and Klementieff are scene-stealing additions to the cast, and the always-great Ferguson has been a standout since Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation. Still, as has been teased, talked about and splashed across Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One's poster, Cruise is the one actually physically soaring. What would a Mission: Impossible movie be without flaunting its riskiest stunt, as performed by its stratospheric name himself, as audience bait? Not a McQuarrie-era chapter, that's for sure. When the scene arrives, getting Cruise riding a motorcycle off a towering cliff in an effort to land aboard the hurtling Orient Express, it is indeed breathtaking — and a gripping, nerve-shredding sight to behold. It isn't alone, though, thanks to a tense underwater opening, cat-and-mouse airport antics, Arabian desert horse chases, Fiat-driving Italian Job-style Rome romps and the high-stakes hijinks on Agatha Christie's favourite locomotive itself. Cinematographer Fraser Taggart (Robot Overlords) and editor Eddie Hamilton (back from the last two movies), plus the entire stunt team, help shoot, splice and execute these setpieces rivetingly. Repeatedly besting past Mission: Impossible action triumphs? Mission: accomplished. Twenty-seven years, notching up three pictures now with McQuarrie at the helm, and with Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part Two obviously on the way (arrival: June 2024), there's a well-oiled air to Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One. That said, to run so smoothly requires care, aka someone doing the oiling, which is why there's rarely a well-worn moment or element be seen. Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One covers some ground that John Wick: Chapter 4 and Fast X already have in 2023 (and Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny as well). It eagerly nods to its own past. And it knows that Cruise could just cruise-control his way through, as could his co-stars, if they wanted. Its biggest feat? Lifting everything that it does, and that a Mission: Impossible flick must, again and again so that seeming routine proves, yes, impossible. There's no self-destruction here — just devotion to an intense and entertaining action extravaganza.
It has proven to be a massive year for Big Scary, who have released their highly anticipated follow-up record to 2011's debut, Vacation, and now have a freshly announced national tour that will see the Melbourne duo popping into every corner of Australia. Not Art, the band's second record, saw Tom Iansek and Jo Syme shift into a new direction in terms of sound and production. Though they're primarily known for their alt-rock aesthetic, Iansek has this time sought out new influences from the likes of Kanye West and has thus produced a record that dips into hip hop whilst still maintaining elements of their signature pop sensibilities. On tour, the duo will expand into a four-piece live band — something they've never tried before — in order to fulfil the complex and lush textures heard throughout their record, most prominent in lead singles 'Luck Now' and 'Phil Collins'. Kicking off the proceedings will be Melbourne singer/songwriter Courtney Barnett, whose latest musical adventure and stellar songwriting can be heard in the form of her new single, 'Avant Gardener'. https://youtube.com/watch?v=K_EjSuYWzxA
It's time to say farewell to one of Sydney's most beloved outfits, The Paper Scissors. On August 29 the trio wrote a teary and thankful "au revoir" letter on their official website to announce their indefinite disbanding. Reflecting on the highs and lows of their career as musicians, they wrote: "We'd like to thank everyone who's been with us for the last 7 years. You helped us make music that we are immensely proud of, you let us indulge and you came and got your ears blasted and danced and made our musical lives so much fun." The indie outfit first surfaced in 2005, their unique brand of garage-punk rock glazed over with soul-tinged vocals quickly amassing fans via two albums (Less Talk More Paper Scissors and In Loving Memory), a handful of EPs and their notoriously frenetic live shows. Join them on Saturday night for the last hurrah at The Standard. https://youtube.com/watch?v=H5EqYCBq0E4
Update Monday, March 7: Due to severe weather warnings for the weekend, King Street Carnival has been forced to cancel its two outdoor stages at Camperdown Memorial Park and Sydney Park. Refunds will be provided for the ticketed events. The in-venue gigs in the style of King Street Crawl will still go ahead across all three days. The festival is working to secure indoor performance spaces for some of the artists on the original outdoor lineup. Keep an eye on the King Street Carnival Instagram for up-to-date information. Before 2020 turned the world upside down, King Street Crawl was a yearly tradition. After taking the last two years off due to COVID-19, the inner west institution is returning with a massive new three-day event pushing out from King Street and into neighbouring roads and two idyllic outdoor spaces. King Street Carnival will run across the weekend Friday, March 11 and Sunday, March 13 throughout Newtown's main road as well as Enmore Road, Erskineville Road, the Sydney Park Amphitheatre and Camperdown Memorial Park. Heading up the outdoor concerts is legendary group Yothu Yindi who will share the headlining spots with the likes of Rolling Blackouts C.F., Sarah Blasko, Middle Kids, Stella Donnelly and Ratcat among others at Camperdown Memorial Park throughout the weekend. Over at Sydney Park, Horrorshow, Confidence Man and You Am I are topping the bill, accompanied by Barkaa, Young Franco, King Stingray and Tropical Fuck Storm. Sydney party mainstays Heaps Gay and Inner West Reggae Disco Machine will also be taking over the park's Brick Pits throughout the weekend. This year, the Camperdown Memorial Park and Sydney Park Amphitheatre showcases will be ticketed. Tickets are on sale now, starting at $55 for a Friday-only past and increasing up to $137 for all three days. However, if you're strapped for cash, never fear, as King Street Crawl's usual array of free gigs will still be stretching out along King Street and across the inner west, with local artists like 1300, Dante Knows, Liyah Knight, Big Skeez, Ultracrush, Party Dozen and Good Pash taking to the stage across the weekend. Check out the huge (and we mean huge) lineup at the King Street Crawl website. [caption id="attachment_793807" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Buoys; April Josie[/caption] Top image: Destination NSW
It's a decades-old inner-west tradition: watching the Newtown Jets' home footy game from up on the hill at Henson Park, that is. But things have been dialed up a few notches over the years with the introduction of The Beer, Footy & Food Festival. After a two-year pandemic-related hiatus — and then multiple weather-related postponements — the beloved festival returned in April of this year, but after so long out of the game, the team behind the festivities has decided to return for a second 2022 edition. A good time for footy lovers, foodies and everyone in between, the event is set to dish up a huge afternoon of family-friendly fun. As well as the match-up between the Inner West's two most beloved footy sides — the Jets and the South Sydney Rabbitohs — you can expect a celebration of another Inner West triumph: craft beer. Keep that thirst in check with drops from 33 different brewers, including Grifter, Wayward, Batch, Yulli's Brews, Young Henrys, Hawke's, Willie The Boatman, Glebe Brewing Co, Brickworks and a heap more. Doom Juice will also be onsite pouring glasses of natural, minimal-intervention wines to enjoy while you watch the game. And, organisers have roped in a good number of food vendors, too. Get ready to enjoy snacks from the likes of Bush, Happy as Larry, Brooklyn Boys Bagels, Good Ways Deli, and Sparky's Jerk BBQ among others. And make sure you pack your footy so you can take part in the post-match kick-around on the hallowed turf of Henson Park.
To anyone who's ever seen a boy band struggle to croon over the screams of an enraptured crowd, the energy from the adolescent girls losing their minds would seem enough to solve the looming global energy crisis. Is it clean? Not always. But there are 60 years worth of gig footage — from The Beatles to One Direction — that classifies this energy as renewable. Fangirls understands this, and it is returning to Sydney to share that boy hand love. The hit show first came on the scene with sold-out sessions during its Belvoir debut in 2019, and has also popped up at the Seymour Centre — but the critically acclaimed Aussie musical will be presented in the Opera House's Drama Theatre from Thursday, July 28–Sunday, September 4. The musical peeks into the poster-plastered bedroom and love-heart-emblazoned diary of teen girl fandom. It's a celebration of the time in your life when you're convinced the haircuts of a pop group may well bring civilisation to its knees. It's witty and fun, sure. But writer and lyricist Yve Blake also probes an insidious double standard: why is it that when boys cry at the footy, that's the love of the game, but when girls cry at a Justin Bieber concert, that's pathetic? Through protagonist Edna (Manali Datar), a city girl conspiring to confess her undying love to True Connection frontman Harry, Fangirls also examines the sorts of messages sold to young women as well as the power of the modern fan. In the age of the internet, pubescent devotees are a coveted market, but they are also the new talent scouts, organising online to confer godhood on anybody playing acoustic guitar in their bedroom, rhyming 'your face' with 'gotta get out of this place'. Fangirls is boppy and sugary in spades. But it also asks you to spare a thought for those crying, screaming and full of joy in the front row. They're going through a hugely transformative time. And, they may be the ones keeping your lights on in years to come. [caption id="attachment_851096" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dayna Ransley[/caption]
This July, where there's smoke in Parramatta, you can bet there's fire. Acclaimed ensemble Casus Circus is on its way to Riverside Theatres with Chasing Smoke, a show that blends the spark and flare of bombastic circus with the slow-burning beauty and nuance of 65 000-plus years of First Nations storytelling. Directed by Samoan Australian Natano Fa'anana and performed by Australia's only all-First Nations circus ensemble, this award-winning show takes a completely unique approach to documenting Indigenous experience and history. It is both a celebration of survival and culture and a lament for what has been lost and is still under threat. And, its limited season will run from July 16–17 only. Too often we consider circus as a medium powered purely by spectacle — the swallowing of fire and the juggling of buzzing chainsaws. But Chasing Smoke is an altogether more stunning feat. It manages to balance the sheer delight of contemporary circus spectacle with the weight of a sustained and often painful, but ultimately powerful narrative. You've never been under a Big Top like this. Chasing Smoke is happening at Riverside Theatre from July 16–17. For more information and to book, visit the website.
This March, Victoria Park will be awash with the sounds of over 20 of the world's biggest names in house, electronica and techno. Days Like This will bring EDM talent from Europe and North America to Sydney Uni's grassy slopes. Of note is Sven Vath, Maceo Plex, Booka Shade, Marcel Dettman, The Black Madonna and Floating Points, as well as a handful of local acts. Aside from having a huge grassy dance floor and views of the city skyline (plus it's within walking distance of numerous bars and pubs), there will be a range of market stalls, bars and food outlets for your festival fuel. And after being called out for the complete lack of female artists on last year's lineup, you can expect an actual female presence this time round, including Cassette, Kali, Gabby (all from Australia), Heidi (Canada) and Sonja Moonear (Switzerland).
An authentic Greek cafe and dessert bar is opening in Ramsgate, bringing filoxenia, the warmth of Greek hospitality, to the residents of Sydney's south. The Good Filo will channel Thessaloniki and the ancient city's millennia-old baking traditions in their handmade delicacies. Visitors will be able to purchase lunches, desserts and Greek pastries, from moussaka to tsoureki. A strong, black coffee is recommended on the side to wash it all down. Launching on Rocky Point Road on January 3, the store will be captained by Aki Daikos and head baker Kiriakos Metaxotos. The former might be familiar from Tella Balls, while the latter will produce all the cafe's delights by hand, following recipes that have caused generations of mouths to water. Expect paninis, pastries, moussaka, baklava, bougatsa (made from your choice of semolina custard, cheese or a minced meat filling between layers of filo pastry) and galaktoboureko (semolina custard wrapped in a sheet of golden filo). Other delicacies include peynerli, a type of thick-based, Greek pizza first enjoyed by Greeks who lived on the Black Sea, and the tsoureki, a stringy-textured pastry with a semi-soft crust which fills the store with intense, spiced aromas when baked. Other highlights stem from inventive food hybrids, such as the croissantaboureko, which combines croissants with galaktoboureko as its name suggests; and the tsourektabouriko, which is a tsoureki with a galaktoboureko centre, all in the shape of a doughnut. https://www.instagram.com/p/BdWJQ6FDkW_/?taken-by=thegoodfilo There's also daily-made fresh bread, and it pretty much goes without saying that you shouldn't leave without trying a Greek frappe. And keep an eye out for other experimental specials, such as the Greek monsieur. "There really isn't a place like it in Sydney, and it's always been my dream to bring my motherland to Sydney," says Daikos. The Good Filo will open on January 3 at 336-342 Rocky Point Road, Ramsgate. For more information, head to the cafe's website.
In Nosedive, the first episode of the third season of Black Mirror, life's ups and downs are dictated by social media. Everything Lacie (Bryce Dallas Howard) does is rated by those around her, and she rates them in turn. Those rankings contribute to an overall score, out of five, which influences where she can live, hang out, travel, shop and more. Being Black Mirror, it's both a bleak and creepy vision of the future, and an idea that's not all that far removed from reality. If you watched the episode and thought "wouldn't that make a great game?", then you're not the only one. Five stars to you and to American game publisher Asmodee Group, we guess. The latter has turned Nosedive into a game that requires players to "create a 'perfect' life by collecting Lifestyle cards, while avoiding any dings to your Social Score that could cause everything you've worked for to come crashing down," according to its sale listing on the US version of Target's website. The strategy game is designed to be played by three to six people, and also has an app component. Each person's Social Score is based on how much other players like the experiences you give them via the app, with more than 1000 available. Nosedive will cost US$19.99, and whether it'll make the jump to Australia is yet to be seen. It's not the first off-screen chance that Black Mirror fans have had to feel like they're in one of the anthology series' episodes, thanks to an immersive London exhibition dedicated to the show last year. Via The Wrap.
It is usual not to smile when seeing a family torn apart by the death of a child. There are too many reasons to cry or become angry. And yet, even amidst the most shocking of revelations, The Only Child has the power to also draw sympathetic, mirthful laughter from its audience.Developed by Melbourne company The Hayloft Project, The Only Child is a gift especially developed for Belvoir Downstairs. Writer/director Simon Stone and co-writer Thomas Henning (of the Black Lung) have led an exceptionally talented creative team in their reconstruction of Henrik Ibsen's Little Eyolf. The result is a resounding success, an example of theatre that taps into the most ancient qualities of the art: balancing tragedy and comedy and presenting narratives that can drive a stake into anyone's soul, regardless of their place in life. The Hayloft Project is creating theatre in the same spirit as that undertaken by the likes of Shakespeare; by using existing stories to develop new work for a specific ensemble of actors, in a specific space, the company has produced a piece of tremendous poetry, truth and effect for today's audience.Photo by Patrick Boland
H&M, the Ikea of fashion, have really been kicking goals lately. Not only have they proven themselves the ultimate champions of affordable Swedish threads, they've nearly approached world domination. The much-loved brand boasts over 3000 stores in more than 50 countries, and each store they open in Australia is met with a frenzy. We saw it at Melbourne's GPO earlier this year and we're about to see it at the Macquarie Centre next month, but that will be nothing compared to the craziness announced for next year. H&M have just announced they will open a Sydney flagship store at the Glasshouse on Pitt Street in mid-2015. The fashion goliath will stand at three storeys tall and cover 5000 square metres. We were just joking about the comparison to Ikea, but seriously, you're probably going to get lost in there. As expected with such an enormous space, the store will house not only the latest clothing collection but also homewares, sportswear and accessories. Stock will be replenished daily, and the shopping centre will increase its trading hours to cope with the undoubtedly huge crowds. For comparison, 1.7 million people have passed through the Melbourne flagship store since its opening in April. Of course, there must be a reason for all this hysteria. Not only are the clothes cheap and of decent quality, H&M's Australian manager Hans Andersson has practically announced the brand as saviour of Australian fashion. "Sydney ... has world-class restaurants, yet the shopping is not up to the same standard," he said. "It has to change; as retailers we have to do better." For those that are too impatient to wait until next year, Sydney's first H&M store is opening in North Ryde on October 16 and a pop-up store also just appeared in the CBD as part of Vogue Fashion's Night Out. It's all happening! Maybe kill some time by sharpening your nails and perfecting a snarl to intimidate other shoppers. Via The Sydney Morning Herald.
I was about just verging into adolescence when my parents took me to Loch Ness. It was painful attempting to keep up that despondent, outsider teen thing when all I could think about was what if we actually saw her. Nessie, I mean. She didn't pop up but I did get an excellent oversized pencil from the souvenir stand, commemorating that moment of awkwardness (braces) and magical thinking (water monster oft depicted in suburban gardens using car tyres cut in half). I threw away the shackles of being too-cool-for-quetzalcoatls after that, and fell headlong into a fantasy bent. The sphinx, the griffin, that most phallic of fantastical creatures the unicorn, and, given the local landscape, the bunyip all became worthy of my bookshelf. I'm thankful, then, that the American History of Natural History focussed their brainy attentions on the topic and pulled together a traveling exhibition that traces the foundations of these lurking legends. Mythic Creatures: Dragons, Unicorns & Mermaids has now come to Sydney's very own Australian Maritime Museum, just in time to pique holiday interest in things that go bump in the night and in the daylight too. The exhibition looks at ways in which humans have been inspired by nature and folktales to bring chupacabras and yetis to our cynically spellbound attention. Mythic Creatures has a hefty holiday program for the taking, where kids can explore wild things and their ways, including a (night at the) museum sleepover. Full information is available online. Image: Mermaid rescued Collection Canadian Museum of Civilization
If last week's drastic drop in temperature has you dreading the blustery days ahead, Merivale is giving Sydneysiders a reason to push forward into winter. This June, the Sydney hospitality monolith is launching Bottoms Up, Sydney, a daily happy hour that offers 49 perfect off all the booze at a whopping 37 of its venues. No joke. From 5–7pm every day in the month, its bars, restaurants and pubs will be slinging all cocktails, mixed drinks, spirits, beer, wine and even Champagne (up to $200) at nearly half price. That's precisely $8.67 packaged Japanese cocktails at Ms. G's, $9.95 thyme Campari tonics at Charlie Parker's and $7.65 margaritas at El Loco, plus cheap wines by the glass at The Newport and Fred's and even cheaper craft beers at the Queens Hotel and The Paddington. Punters can also expect additional partner events and offers on throughout the month, so keep an eye on this space. And organise knock-off happy hour drinks ASAP. Bottoms Up, Sydney will run every day from June 1–30 from 5–7pm. You can find the full list of venues here.
Get those brain juices flowing and beef up your repertoire of interesting chat, the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (MCA) is hosting its Conversation Starters: Truth or Dare series this weekend. Packed with over 25 free and ticketed events, the weekend-long program is the second of its kind for the museum, this year inviting visitors to explore the inexactness of truth. On September 8 and 9, your perceptions will be shaken and your inner lie detector honed, with a lineup of thought-provoking talks, interactive workshops, games, performances and dinners. The series takes cues from artist Sun Xun's work in manipulating image, sound and text, plus the current climate of 'fake news' to ignite conversations on what (and who) to trust. Start your weekend with a creative writing workshop, led by Paola Balla and then hit a free lunchtime session on learning how to tell a convincing lie (and not get caught), hosted by comedian Michael Hing, illusionist Adam Mada and author Felicity Castagna. Afterwards, ponder the question "When is it OK to lie?" at the interactive Ethics of Truth panel and 'fess up to a lie that you told your parents as a kid at the Don't Tell Mum confession booth. From 3–4.30pm, join Jay Katz and Miss Death as they discuss the credibility of certain 'otherworldly' conspiracy theories from Sasquatches to life on Mars. To end the first day, put your senses to the test with a unique three-course meal on the MCA Sculpture Terrace overlooking the harbour. Each course will involve some form of edible trickery (Heston-style) and be accompanied by a glass of wine. Meanwhile, provocateurs will spark conversations across the table about what the truth means to you. Sunday will see MCA curator Clothilde Bullen explore the truth behind fake Aboriginal art and its impacts, while Hing returns to the stage to teach you how to spot a liar with emotional intelligence expert Eleanor Shakiba. You can also take part in an interactive workshop with artist Aleks Danko which allows you to have a go at controlling and altering newspaper headlines. For more information on the program or to purchase tickets, visit the MCA website. Image 2: Kai Leishman.
With their third studio LP, Wilder Mind, in hand, Mumford and Sons are heading our way this November. Their Sydney performance, happening on November 14, will take the form of a mini-festival in The Domain, personally curated by Marcus and his band mates. Titled Gentlemen of the Road, the event is an Australian extension of the tour that has been taking the Brit rockers to small, off-the-beaten-track towns all over the UK and the US. So far, they’ve invited the likes of The Flaming Lips, James Vincent McMorrow, Primal Scream and the Foo Fighters to join them. Their Sydney lineup is bringing us a slew of big names, both local and international. From far away, there’ll be UK songwriter and 2015 NME Solo Artist of the Year Jake Bugg, in his only Australian show; synth poppers from Baltimore Future Islands; and UK indie pop rockers The Vaccines. And three lucky local acts have also scored spots on the bill — Brisbane’s The Jungle Giants, who are currently touring their second album, Speakerzoid; 2014 triple j Unearthed Artist of the Year, Meg Mac; and Brisbane’s Art of Sleeping, who’ll be opening the show with their compelling folk-rock.
Playing fictional movie star Vincent Chase in eight seasons of Entourage — and in the forgettable Entourage movie, too — Adrian Grenier got pretty comfortable playing someone who was constantly in front of the camera. That trait remains in his latest project, twisty new Netflix thriller series Clickbait. This time, Grenier steps into the shoes of a man who disappears suddenly, leaving his loved ones distraught. Then, when he pops up afterwards, it's in an online video that makes a shocking claim. In the clip, Nick Brewer (Grenier, Stage Mother) holds a card that says "I abuse women. At 5 million views, I die." His sister (Zoe Kazan, The Big Sick) and wife (Betty Gabriel, Get Out) are already distressed, but their nightmare only worsens once the video starts doing the rounds — unsurprisingly. Across eight episodes, the show then follows their efforts to find and save him, as well as the information they uncover along the way about the man they thought they knew. Swapping between different perspectives throughout its run, and stepping up the stakes in the process as well, Clickbait ponders the big, broad, important and constantly relevant intersection between our identities and our increasing use of social media. Just how our online and real-life selves can differ — and what types of behaviours we might indulge virtually that we wouldn't IRL — is only going to continue to garner the world's attention, which this Melbourne-shot series clearly attempts to tap into. Yes, if you spot any familiar sights while you're binging Clickbait from Wednesday, August 25 — or while you're watching the suitably tense just-dropped first trailer for the series — that's because it was filmed in the Victorian capital. It's a big month for high-profile shows that were made in Australia and are now hitting streaming, actually, with Amazon Prime Video dropping the Byron Bay-shot, Nicole Kidman-starring Nine Perfect Strangers as well. Check out the trailer below: Clickbait will be available to stream via Netflix from Wednesday, August 25. Top image: Ben King/Netflix.
It's not every day that a neon blue van pulls up in Sydney and starts handing out free food and free drinks. But, in North Bondi from 9am–5pm on Friday, February 19, that's exactly what's happening. Setting up shop at the North Bondi Surf Life Saving Club, the Ultra Violette Airstream is making its Sydney debut. It's a very brightly coloured van run by the sunscreen brand. And, yes, free protection from the sun's rays is part of the giveaway. You'll also score some free Rollers Bakehouse croissants, ice cream and coffee. Fridays are already great as they are, but that should put an extra spring in your step. Free merchandise will also be on offer, because this one-day-only event is all about reminding you to slop on some sunscreen. Clearly, when it comes to a topic this important, Ultra Violette is willing to do whatever it takes to make sure that message sinks in. [caption id="attachment_717602" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Kitt Gould[/caption]
This post is sponsored by our partners, the Aroma Festival. For six days, Adore Estate’s nomadic coffee lab will call Playfair Street home as part of the Aroma Festival. Made out of two shipping containers, it’s an experimental cafe, where you can sample up to five different blends, watch a host of brewing methods in action, check out expert baristas working their magic and purchase specialty tools of the trade that you can test out at home. Over the past year or so, the lab has been popping up at all kinds of major food events, including the Sydney and Brisbane Fine Food Shows, the Melbourne International Coffee Expo and the Royal Easter Show. Adore Estate Coffee, even more ubiquitous, has been adding some rather hefty accolades to its awards swag, including Silver at the Sydney Royal Fine Food Show in both 2014 and 2013. The team has been working hard at developing and perfecting the label’s five signature coffees: Pure Organic, a single origin from northern Peru; Mastro, a distinctive sweet, smooth blend that brings together Africa, Asia and the Americas; Jackson, a rich, chocolatey special; Florito, an intense blend of hill-cultivated beans from Guatemala and Costa Rica; and Jackson 5, a full-bodied, balanced number. Try them all in one fell swoop from July 21-27. Opening hours will be 11am-2pm Monday-Friday, 10am-4pm Saturday and 10am-5pm Sunday.
Paramount Recreation Club — a rooftop dedicated to fitness above the newish Paramount House Hotel — is gearing up for the festive season. On Saturday, December 1, the yoga mats and gym balls will be swept aside to make way for the club's Holiday Market. If you're on the hunt for locally designed and made gifts, then make sure you add this one to the calendar. The good folks at Paramount have handpicked a bunch of their favourite brands and designers, including linen from In Bed, Le Labo's fragrances, Japanese basics from nearby store Provider, Mud ceramics, and bits and bobs form Dinosaur Designs, The Plant Society, Maison Balzac and The Locals Market. Anyone who arrives within the first hour (i.e. between 10am and 11am) will score free coffee, courtesy of Coffee Supreme, while the Rec Club Kiosk will serve healthy eats right up until 4pm.
Think of all the best things in life: the beach, beats and booze. They're all essential to a pre-game beach party (and, coincidentally, all start with B for some reason). So last weekend we teamed up with Sonos and got a pretty little beach house in Byron, loaded up on Stone & Wood beers, set up Banoffee on the balcony and got her to sing out towards the bay. It was Concrete Playground's own Beach Break. Duo-to-watch Kllo were there too, and we got to listen to their sweet electronic tunes with the Saturday arvo sun sky-high over Byron Bay. While Banoffee played 'Let's Go to the Beach' — and we basked in the glory of the fact that we were indeed already at the beach — we sipped on wines from Jacob's Creek and Stoneleigh Wild Valley and G&Tea cocktails made with Four Pillars gin, Earl Grey tea and Fever Tree soda. Also being shaken and stirred was Baron Samedi spiced rum punch and an Aperol and watermelon concoction that made it feel like summer all over again. Here's some snaps we took of the festivities. We're keeping these on-hand for gloomy days stuck in the office. Video: Andy Fraser.
She's collaborated with Kendrick Lamar for Miami Art Basel and Grammy Award-winner Lizzo for World Pride Day. And now, acclaimed New York-based artist Shantell Martin has landed in Sydney to lend some of her bold, artistic flair to Mardi Gras. Known for her signature black and white designs that are often delivered as live art performances, the artist and LGBTQIA+ activist descends on MCM House for a pop-up exhibition showcasing a slew of new exclusive prints. She's here in collaboration with Absolut Art, with the collection on show until Thursday, March 5. Expect to catch a series of monochromatic works, offering an exploration of Martin's oft-visited themes of identity, intersectionality and play that are right on key for the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. If you see something you like, there'll be a range of the artist's pieces available to buy at the pop-up or from the Absolut Art website Also up for grabs is a one-off piece Martin created live earlier this week, inspired by her trip to Australia and its own LGBTQIA+ pride.
These days, the term 'neighbourhood watch' is more likely to evoke an Orwellian state than a sense of community. Lally Katz is well aware of this, and opens her new play with a few lines about Kevin '07, recalling a more hopeful time in recent Australian history when a widespread sense of discontent and disillusion was nonetheless familiar to many. Directed by Belvoir's resident director, Simon Stone, this sharp suburban drama is all about how people reflect and deflect the behaviour of others in the most unexpected ways. On sleepy Mary Street, recycling bins are hastily wheeled to the kerb, taking residents only a safe heel-spin away from the sanctuary of their own homes. An elderly Serbian migrant, Milova (Kris McQuade), who attempts to visit the unreceptive Ana (Robyn Nevin) for coffee, elicits immediate sympathy when she is regularly dismissed as a spy. The huge mortgage of distrust that defines contemporary Western society is identified in Ana's insistence that she is “busy, always busy”. Ana is a flinty-eyed Hungarian immigrant who has survived World War II and outlived two husbands. Katz wrote the role specifically for Nevin. Inspired by a feisty Hungarian neighbour of her own, she developed Neighbourhood Watch under Nevin's fierce instructions to create a role that was "tough and funny". Ana lives all alone, save for her fearsome watch dog, Bella, who is, significantly, heard but never seen. The ageing migrant forms an unlikely friendship with the somewhat flaky young Catherine (Megan Holloway), an anxious aspiring actress who needs distraction from her own internalised monologue just as much as Ana needs an audience for hers. Both women have hard life lessons to learn — one about the pitfalls of trusting too much; the other about the penalties of trusting too little. The set is innovative and imaginative: Slate-grey carpet climbs up the walls; the only fixed item is the piano upon which Stefan Gregory plays his score. Stone uses a fast-turning revolving stage to spin the audience back in time and to take Catherine imaginatively back through Budapest. The turntable effect also reflects how different characters' paths both cross and fail to cross. The need for real community and friendships is challenging material to explore, and overall Neighbourhood Watch meets the challenge, showing how connecting with others may enable us to move forward in our own lives.
What do bread, bagels, pasta, pastries, biscuits and beer have in common? Other than the fact that they're all delicious, they're all also made from grains. And, they'll all be on offer at Sydney's latest food festival, which is dedicated to the humble crop behind so much of what we eat today. If snacking on artisan bread, downing a plate of penne and washing it down with a pint of lager is your idea of a delicious multi-course meal, then the Grains Festival has you covered. Taking place in the very fitting space that is The Flour Mill of Summer Hill — aka a working flour mill until 2009 — from 10am on Sunday, July 1, the event celebrates grain-based food and beverages in an array of forms. And carbs, obviously. Bringing their best grain-focused fare are the likes of Knafeh, Brooklyn Boy Bagels, Brasserie Bread, The Bread and Butter Project, Adamo's Pasta, The Farm Wholefoods and more, while Young Henrys, Cake Wines, The Grifter Brewing Company and Capital Brewing Co will be on drinks duty. With the area set to become a foodie precinct as part of its redevelopment, the festival is really all about getting folks to visit the new space — but it'll also feature playdough for any younger attendees, plus live tunes for everyone. Grains Festival takes place from 10am on Sunday, July 1 at The Flour Mill of Summer Hill, 2 Smith Street, Summer Hill. For more information, visit the event's Facebook page.
You know those beach movies from the fifties? The ones starring moondoggies and beachbunnies, with synopses like "four boys, intent on making records in a big surf competition, meet four girls intent on marriage"? Well, imagine that but the girls have a bit more ambition, and the film is set at night with a more disco deadbeat vibe. A Hole in the Sky Records is kinda like that. Psychedelics at the clambake, you dig? If you think my description is a little loopy, then may I refer you to the official label bio that informs us that the founders were swept up in a tornado in '68 and are currently sending their tunes from outer space. This January, that very label is making a trip back to planet earth headquarters to host a little party at everyone's favourite danceteria, Good God. From their impressive stable of bands (which includes Tame Impala, Jacques Renault and The Delicate Genius), they'll be trotting out Perth psychpopniks Pond and a band much loved in these parts, Canyons (in fact, we featured them in our book). What's more, all proceeds are going to a Haiti earthquake relief fund.
Most Aussies flock to cinemas in summer to escape the heat, but this March, why not embrace it and catch a few flicks while floating in Wylie's Baths, when the heritage-listed tidal pool plays host to the Floating Film Festival. After being cancelled due to some wild weather in November, the festival will run across March 15 and 16. It features a lineup of marine-themed films, including Blue The Film, a documentary about ocean pollution and its devastating impact on marine life, and Duct Tape Surfing, a moving short-film about a surfing paraplegic. If the thought of spending hours in the water gives you wrinkly finger-filled nightmares, fret not — you can also watch the films stretched out on the pool's surrounding rocks and deck. On the deck, you'll also find wines by the Yarra Valley's Innocent Bystander, G&Ts by Four Pillars and summery snacks. As an added bonus, profits from the night go to maintaining the baths, so you can spend many a summer cooling off in its waters. Updated: December 14, 2018.
It’s a '70s vibe with '50s tunes that the trusty Paddington watering hole The Unicorn and its downstairs den Easy Tiger are rockin’. Or, more accurately, rollin’. New night Roller Dog Thursdays features slick roller-skating waitstaff to take your order of $10 all-you-can-eat hotdogs. And trust us, if you're going to be gorging yourself on hotdogs, having waitstaff on wheels to bring them to you isn't just a gimmick; it's a necessity. Some of the finger-licking bites you can expect include spicy frankfurts served with bacon, cheese and fried jalapenos (Spicy Gambino), a pork and fennel sausage with prosciutto, cabbage and bocconcini (Italian Gangster) and a hot dog trying its very best to be a taco (Mexican Bird Man). Forget about waiting a whole year for the next hot dog eating competition: Roller Den Thursdays is the new time for you and your belly to get reacquainted.
By now, everyone should know what the big deal is with superstar chef David Chang. To those unfamiliar, only two words are necessary: pork buns. We in Sydney have had a chance to experience Chang's Momofuku empire thanks to Momofuku Seiobo opening a while back, but the rest of his restaurants overseas sadly still evade us. Now Momofuku Seiobo is stepping back in time to bring us a taste of New York's Momofuku Ssäm Bar's 2007 menu, some of which is now iconic — like Chang's signature pork belly buns with hoisin, cucumber and spring onions. Best of all, you won't have to fight for a reservation, just for a spot in the queue; no bookings are being taken for Ssäm Bar 2007. All dishes are $10-40, and you get a Tanqueray G&T on arrival. The Momofuku Ssäm Bar 2007 is one of our top ten picks of Good Food Month. Check out the rest of our recommendations.
Ahhh, the 1980s. It may have been a decade of shame for the fashion industry, but for today's TV and film producers it's a limitless goldmine of nostalgia. Red Oaks, The Americans, Deutschland 83, the 'San Junipero' episode of Black Mirror and, of course, Stranger Things, have all benefited from the public's deep-seeded yearning for the MTV-era. And that's to say nothing of the countless '80s properties that have been rebooted, reimagined or received unexpected sequels. King among the works mining '80s nostalgia is Ernest Cline's 2011 sci-fi novel Ready Player One, now adapted for the big screen by director Steven Spielberg. And it is, to put it bluntly, a nerd's wet dream writ large. Set in a densely overpopulated and largely dystopian future, the story sees the world's impoverished masses spending the majority of their time jacked into a VR universe known as The Oasis. But despite being billed as a digital paradise in which anyone can be whomever they want, the reality (both real and virtual) is far narrower. A competition drives every individual within the Oasis, promising both unimaginable riches and control of the program itself. One such desperate contestant is teenager Wade Watts (Tye Sheridan), who escapes his daily grind in the slums by assuming a virtual identity and racing his vintage DeLorean against his fellow gunters (short for "Easter egg hunters"). Together with his friends (none of whom he has ever actually met in real life), Wade works to secure victory over the thousands of professional gunters hired by IOI, a shady corporation whose malevolent CEO Nolan Sorrento (Ben Mendelsohn) wants to assume control of the Oasis and monetise its every available pixel. Given that Ready Player One is positively overflowing with pop-culture references, Spielberg should be applauded for inserting so few of his own. There's the DeLorean, of course (Spielberg produced Back To The Future), and the iconic musical cues to accompany it. But by and large his movies take a back seat to other fan favourites like Alien, The Breakfast Club and – in the film's most outstanding sequence – Stanley Kubrick's The Shining. The movie is also heavy on the video game references, from Atari originals through to Overwatch. At its best, Ready Player One uses these tips of the hat to advance its story in wildly creative ways. For the most part, however, the never-ending winks are little more than pavlovian treats. As a result, scenes often feel like cinematic fast-food: delicious at the time but lacking in substance and quickly forgotten. Spielberg has, for most of his career, been a master of crafting movies that appeal to all ages. And yet even though the majority of the references in Ready Player One are aimed at those born between 1970 and 1990, it's hard to see the film speaking to many viewers above the age of 25. While the CGI is impressive, the action is far too frenetic. The dialogue, meanwhile, is painfully hammy (the gamer jargon, in particular, feels like Spielberg was given all the parts to an IKEA wardrobe without any instructions on how to put it together). At least Sheridan and his co-stars do a solid job, and Mendelsohn is nothing if not committed to his performance – albeit in service of a role that oscillates haphazardly between a serious villain and a pantomime one. It's hard not to see a great many current or imminent real-life scenarios akin to the world of The Oasis. Which is why it's such a pity that, instead of exploring the dangers of a plugged-in existence, Ready Player One opts to keep things light, ultimately saying little more than doesn't this all look cool? And sure, Spielberg's approach makes for an entertaining blockbuster. But we can't help but wonder about the movie that might have been. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSp1dM2Vj48
Culinary puns, food-themed songs, and the delightful adventures of a burger-slinging family: on the small screen, that's what Bob's Burgers has been serving up since 2011. Just like the dish that's right there in the title, there's more than one way to enjoy this animated gem, however, with The Bob's Burgers Movie set to hit cinemas in May this year. The film has been a long time coming — and not just because the series it springs from has been on the air for a whopping 12 seasons now. The Bob's Burgers Movie was originally due to reach the big screen back in mid-2020, but the pandemic got in the way. Think of it as the movie version of IRL supermarket shortages. Thankfully, 2022 is here with the promise that The Bob's Burgers Movie will be a real thing that we'll all get to feast our eyeballs on — and soon. And if your appetite for a movie-length musical comedy-mystery-adventure flick about Bob Belcher (H Jon Benjamin, Archer) and his nearest and dearest isn't already ravenous, the film's just-dropped trailer is here to help. Sexy burgers, a big summer for Tina and trying to keep Bob's Burgers afloat after a ruptured water main causes a huge sinkhole right in front of the store: they're all on the movie's menu, as is a mystery that only Belcher kids Tina (Dan Mintz, Veep), Gene (Eugene Mirman, Archer) and Louise (Kristen Schaal, What We Do in the Shadows) can solve. And yes, The Bob's Burgers Movie does offer a solution to the feeling that every Bob's Burgers' fan has felt more than once: not wanting this colourful, hilarious and engaging animated meal to end when you're binging through it in 20-minute episode blocks. Check out the trailer for The Bob's Burgers Movie below: The Bob's Burgers Movie will open in cinemas Down Under on May 26, 2022. Images: Courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2022 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.
Late night eats could be more important to inner city Sydney bars than ever, with the passing of new State Government legislation forcing venues to keep their kitchen open while there's alcohol being served. According to the Daily Telegraph, the Liquor Legislation Amendment has been passed through the State Lower House and will hit the floor at the Upper House this week. This new move could mean venues have to keep kitchens open and chefs hanging around hoping for drinking punters feel like a little nibble, a serious financial strain on any bar. With Sydney venues already jumping through every hoop to boost dwindling figures after the introduction of the lockouts, this could be some pretty bad news for CBD/Kings Cross/Surry Hills et al. Bar owners are pretty worried, mainly because most late night punters are more interested in another round than a sit-down meal — or they'll head elsewhere for a nosh, to Hot Star Large Fried Chicken, Fatima's or Golden Century. Sure, the model works for already late night food-focused spots like Darlinghurst's Henrietta Supper Club and Surry Hills' Brooklyn Social, who both keep the kitchen open late, but will every bar be able to make the switch and keep the chefs on? It probably depends on the type of venue. "If the market was there to keep a kitchen open late at night we would, but it’s not," Kings Cross venue co-owner Danny McPherson told the Tele. "Sometimes we don’t have many customers around and we don’t get a lot of business after 10pm so it is insane to try and regulate something like this. It is going to mean we will need to pay to keep our chefs on which is going to really burden us financially." Then there's the issue of spots without kitchens, whether a venue like Oxford Art Factory could really run with this new legislation. With police looking to extend the lockout from the CBD and wanting everything shut down by midnight, and #notearsshed over the recent lockout-blamed closure of the Backroom, Sydney venues are truly being put through the financial ringer by the government — according to the Telegraph, businesses have reported a 40 percent revenue loss post-lockout. The legislation hits Upper House this week, we'll keep you posted. Via Daily Telegraph.
Luke Mangan is in the midst of reshuffling his 21-restaurant empire to make room for his next brand — Luke's Kitchen, which will open in Waterloo on February 15, taking over the MOJO by Luke Mangan space on Danks Street. Posited as more of a "neighbourhood eatery" than the existing space, the modern Australian menu will consist of snacks, share plates and sides, along with daily specials like whole fish and roasts carved at the table. As part of the opening selection, dishes will include Tasmanian ocean trout sashimi with coconut yoghurt; roasted organic chicken with cauliflower purée, asparagus and preserved lemon; and barbecued marron (Western Australian crayfish) with peach, celery and truffle honey. In the kitchen, 29-year-old chef Mathew Leighton will be at the helm. The Sydney-born young gun is a Mangan veteran, having worked across multiple venues including Glass Brasserie, Chicken Confidential and multiple Salt restaurants in Asia. The existing warehouse space has been given a softer revamp using an earthy colour palette, warm pendant lighting and retro touches, including a beaded curtain and floral screen. For seating, they've installed large wooden tables, a street-view benchtop and a new bar. For drinks, the menu boasts an extensive selection of wine by the glass, bottles that span a wide range of varietals and regions, and cocktails by the group's mixologist, Karl Higgins. "It's unpretentious, it's comfortable, and it's a place where guests can swing down for a glass of wine and oysters, or the works," says Mangan. The famed Australian restaurateur is calling Luke's Kitchen his flagship venue, with further expansion of the new brand expected in 2018. For those who are sad to see MOJO go, the New York-inspired wine bar will relocate to the CBD later in the year, where Magan feels the bar's city vibes are better suited. Luke's Kitchen will open on Thursday, February 15 at 8 Danks St, Waterloo. Opening hours are Wednesday through Thursday from 4pm to late, Friday from noon to late, Saturday from 10am to late and Sunday from 10am to 4pm. Images: Minhky Le
Spend a cruisy summer Saturday evening listening to acoustic songs and staring at Sydney Harbour thanks to Cockatoo Island's sunset sessions. Every Saturday until February 16, you'll be able to listen to music from local acoustic musicians. Venue 505 has curated the lineup, so you know you're in for an ace run of talent. Sets start at 5pm, but we recommend heading over to the island early to soak up as much sun as possible. And, because the combination great music and gorgeous begets some refreshments, there will be beer and wine, as well as cheese and charcuterie boxes available to purchase. Tickets are $25 each.
Here's something that no one thought about before the pandemic: checking whether the border between Victoria and New South Wales was open or closed. Restrictions on travel between Australian states have been a big part of the past two years, as we've all had to live with. But overnight — from 11.59pm on Thursday, November 4, in fact — Victoria fully reopened to NSW. The change means that all of NSW is now classed as a green zone under Victoria's traffic light-style border permit system, allowing all NSW residents to head south without quarantining or testing. That applies to both travellers and workers, and marks the first time in more than six months that Victoria has deemed the whole of Australia — every Local Government Area within the country, in fact — as green zones. You do still need to get a permit under Victoria's border system, however, and you have to verify that you aren't COVID-19 positive — and that you aren't currently considered a close contact of a positive case and therefore required to isolate. But other than that, the border is open. And, it applies to everyone, whether or not you've had both jabs. That said, Victoria does have different rules in place for the unvaxxed under its reopening roadmap, which visitors will need to abide by. So, those who haven't had two vaccinations will be under much stricter conditions while in the southern state. BREAKING: the NSW-Vic border opens tonight at 11:59, allowing free travel between Australia's two biggest states well ahead of the Christmas period. #Reunited pic.twitter.com/MY5xhkqO7B — Dom Perrottet (@Dom_Perrottet) November 4, 2021 For the trip vice versa, NSW is allowing free travel to Victorians, but only if they've had two jabs. If you fall into that category, there are no other requirements for entering New South Wales unless you've recently been to a venue deemed "of high concern" in Victoria. Otherwise, if you're over the age of 16 and you aren't double-vaxxed, you still can't enter NSW for recreation. The border change comes just days after NSW dropped its quarantine requirements for double-vaxxed Victorian travellers, on Monday, November 1, and a couple of weeks after Victoria did the reverse. And yes, the summer of 2021–22 is shaping up to be the summer of travel, as Australia's borders start to reopen. That's now applying internationally, much to the delight of everyone who has long been dreaming of an overseas holiday. And, albeit at different stages as Aussie states open up at their own rates, it's kicking in domestically as well — with Queensland, Tasmania and South Australia recently announcing when they'll reopen their borders, too. For more information about the status of COVID-19 in NSW, head to the NSW Health website. For more information about the status of COVID-19 in Victoria, head over to the Victorian Government's website. Top image: Mulwala Bridge by Yun Huang Yong via Flickr.
Since opening in 2011, Bowral's Biota Dining has become one of Australia's most-adored regional restaurants. With every passing year, more hats are added to its portfolio. But, like many a high-achieving chef, owner James Vile has been dreaming of new possibilities. In January 2019, one of them will be realised when Barn by Biota opens. This project will see the restaurant take over a stunning, 100-acre property in nearby East Kangaloon for two nights per month with a 60-person dinner party featuring hyper-local ingredients, all sourced from within a radius of just a few kilometres. Seated around communal timber tables decked with local plants and flowers, guests will feast on honey, meat, yabbies, fruit, garlic and potatoes sourced from the property itself and transformed into delightful dishes by head chef Ryan Kovac, who's worked extensively with Viles. Further produce will come from neighbours' backyards and from a bunch of Biota's favourite farmers, including Redleaf Farm (pork and eggs), Pecora Dairy (cheese and lamb) and Quarter Acre (fruit, veggies, herbs, edible flowers, edible weeds). Before dinner, you'll be treated to a tour of the property in the company of owners Louise and John Keats, followed by a spot of yabby fishing and drinks around a stone outdoor fire pit. This is all included in the price of dinner — $190 a head. Anyone who's keen to stay the night are able to book The Loft, a luxurious two bedroom above Barn, surrounded by dreamy rural views. The Loft sleeps four and starts at $280 a night. It can be booked through Airbnb and is open for reservations right now — so call your besties and start planning that summer getaway. Barn by Biota is located in East Kangaloon. The first two dinners will take place on 11 and 25 January, 2019. For more information and to reserve your spot at the dinner or The Loft, head to barnbybiota.com.
Like lots of Melburnians this year, Fonda will be celebrating its birthday month in lockdown. But fiestas will still be in strong supply regardless of restrictions, thanks to the restaurant group's newly dropped takeaway offering. In honour of its tenth birthday, Fonda has launched a menu of DIY taco kits and bottled margaritas that are primed for nights in and sunny picnic sessions alike. At $60, the taco kit comes packed with everything you need to make eight tacos — corn tortillas, fresh fillings, guacamole, pico de gallo and chipotle aioli, plus your choice of the signature chicken, slow-cooked beef brisket or roasted sweet potato. To wash it all down, you'll find a range of pre-batched margaritas in house flavours like Coconut, Makrut & Chilli, Watermelon & Lime and Chilli Mango. Grab a mixed four-pack of 100ml serves for $60, or try any flavour by the share-friendly half-litre bottle for $65. What's more, the Fonda folk have put together the ultimate playlist to soundtrack your festivities, sure to transport you to a night out at the OG Richmond restaurant — find it here. The taco kits and margaritas are available for pick up from Fonda Hawthorn, Windsor, Richmond, Collingwood and its Bondi outpost in Sydney. Pre-order online.
With four glorious days off work, the Easter long weekend can go one of two ways. Some of us use it as an opportunity to get out-of-town for a relaxing weekend away, devoid of the hustle and bustle of day-to-day Sydney. Others? We dive headfirst into what this city has to offer, partying each night away knowing there's a few extra days to recover before you return to work. Marly Bar is facilitating the latter with a huge four-day program of parties taking over the venue. The whole thing kicks off with two events on Thursday, April 14. There's Breko's popular Music Bingo featuring DJ sets, prizes and free drinks for those that can flex their musical knowledge; and there's Reverb, a new weekly techno and house night taking over Marly's underground dance floor Tokyo Sing Song. Elsewhere across the weekend you'll find free live sets from Lady King and Ange on the Friday, two stacked hip-hop lineups, a late-night dance party from the Picnic crew, and a full venue takeover on Easter Sunday featuring some of Sydney's most exciting up-and-coming musicians and DJs. Hip-hop fans are spoilt for choice on Saturday, with influential group Bodega Collective popping up with their Pass the Mic series downstairs, and the team behind Parramatta Nights curating a lineup of western Sydney hip-hop upstairs featuring breakout drill star Kahukx alongside Big Skeez, Lil Spacely, Shely210 and many more. Many of the events are free, with tickets to Picnic's One Night Stand and the Easter Sunday party available online.
The month of beer is officially upon us; October and the beer jubilee it brings with it are here. And this year, there'll be a number of seriously enticing events in the winding sandstone lanes of Sydney's heritage precinct. Celebrate the Best of Beer at The Rocks, with food and drink offerings at pretty much every restaurant, bar and cafe in the 'hood. Highlights include The Australian Heritage Hotel's 13th Annual Australian Beer Festival, which runs from October 13–15, boasting more than 120 Aussie craft beers to try from 30 different brewers. Gloucester and Cumberland Streets will be alive with the sounds of glasses clinking at blind tastings, live entertainment and meet-the-brewer events, all while Munich Brauhaus is showing everyone how Oktoberfest should really be done. There'll be authentic German beer flowing to be paired with Bavarian delicacies such as pork knuckle, warm pretzels and an 'Oktoberfest platter'. There's also a pure bier on tap each fortnight from now until the end of October. Also worth jotting in the diary is a Guinness & Oyster Festival happening at The Mercantile, where you'll be able to sample oysters and many other seafood dishes with a backdrop of local artists, Irish ensembles and live oyster-shucking demonstrations. MORE FOOD AND BEER OFFERS AROUND THE ROCKS HAPPY HOURS — Endeavour Tap Rooms: $9 pints, $5 middies, $10 mystery tasting paddles and $1 wings. — El Camino: $10 Monday lunch specials and $7.50 craft beers Monday to Friday, 5–7pm. — The Argyle: $7.50 espresso martinis, $10 cocktails, $5 beers and wines and $15 pizzas Monday to Friday, 5–8pm. — Wild Ginger: $5 house beers 12–6pm, daily. FOOD AND DRINK DEALS — The Orient Hotel: $29.50 for mussels and a Stella Artois. — Phillip's Foote: $25 for roast pork with crackling and a Lord Nelson Three Sheets Pale Ale. — Ribs & Burgers: $15 for a sriracha chicken burger and a beer.
Pairing wine with food has been done to death. Sure, grilled snapper does taste that little bit nicer with a glass of chardonnay, but the truth is, Australians really love beer — and gourmet food prepped by the country's top chefs. So why not perfectly match the two? Bar Ume's executive chef, Kerby Craig, and Lion's craft beer ambassador and beer sommelier, Paul Daley, have put their heads together to curate a decadent four-course lunch, where each dish has been expertly paired with a different beer. Every meticulous detail has been kept in mind when crafting the pairings, including mouthfeel, aroma and, of course, flavour. This is not just another excuse for a brew. Craig and Daley highlight that beer is not just for enjoying with pub grub. We all know lager tastes great with a schnitty, but New Zealand salmon sashimi paired with an Asian dry lager might just be one of the best marriages you'll experience. It's a blind tasting — so you'll receive a new type of beer in a non-descript glass with each dish served, letting your senses guide you through the gourmet courses. The bottle will be presented at the end of each course, proving how beer can accompany so much more than the backyard barbecue.
Next month, the bustling Night Noodle Markets will return to Hyde Park for eight nights of tasty things on sticks, bowls of noodles, bao and extravagant frozen desserts. Taking over the inner city park from October 11–18, the fifteenth iteration of the fairy light-lit markets will see over 30 of Australia's favourite food stalls set up shop — serving humans and dogs alike. Wait up — dogs? Yep, this year, the NNM have launched the aptly named Night Poodle Markets. On Saturday, October 12, the NNM will be filled with floofs galore, a roaming dog photographer and dog treats from The Doggie Bakery. Tickets to the one-off event are just $5 — which include a doggy portrait and treat — with 100 percent of profits going to the NSW RSPCA. You can sign-up for this very exciting event from Tuesday, October 1. In terms of food for humans, the NNM has just unveiled its full menu. And Gelato Messina is preparing to wow Sydneysiders once more with a brand new menu. While last year's frozen treats were inspired by the Philippines, this year, they're an ode to Thai sweets. Choose from the Bangkok Banana, a Thai milk tea cheesecake sandwich with sponge and meringue; the Phuket Bucket, banana fritters served with caramelised banana gelato and peanut crumble; the Coco Phangan, mango sorbet with coconut sticky rice; or the Eye of the Thai-ger, a multi-layered dessert of condensed milk pudding, condensed milk crumble, shaved ice, lychee gelato and jellies. Or don't choose and eat them all — you can spread them out over eight nights, after all. [caption id="attachment_742360" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Eye of the Thai-ger[/caption] Elsewhere on the NNM menu, you'll find Bangkok street food snacks, foot-long potato fries, bao, spicy biang biang noodles and paella. Sydney's all-vegan Flyover Fritterie & Chai Bar will also be making an appearance, as will Crows Nest's purveyors of fried chicken Johnny Bird and Redfern's much-loved maker of baked goods Donut Papi. As all great things must come to an end (of sorts), this'll be the last year the NNM will be held at Hyde Park. Details are scarce for now, but we're being told they'll relocate to "a larger space" in 2020. We'll let you know when more details on that drop. In the meantime, start scheduling your visits the market — and cross your fingers that this year will be a little less rainy. The Night Noodle Markets run from October 11–18 at Hyde Park as part of Good Food Month.
For artists whose work deals in spiritual matters — be that Christianity and the Holy Trinity, Ancient Greece's Titans and Titanesses, Mother Nature or reflections on suicide — the biennial Blake Prize is Australia's biggest award. Its goal is not to preach or proselytise, but to encourage people to talk. At the same time, it aims to reflect our nation's extraordinary religious diversity. This year, 594 entries poured in, from Australia, as well as New Zealand, the United States, Ireland, France, Germany and Switzerland. From February 13, the 83 finalists will show at the Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre for five weeks. The winner, to be announced on February 12, will take home a cool $35,000, while one emerging artist will receive $6000. 2014's winner was Richard Lewer, for Worse Luck I’m Still Here, a new media work telling the story of Herbert Bernard Erickson, a pensioner from Perth who survived a suicide pact in 2012.
Yellamundie Festival is a biennial celebration of First Nations peoples' storytelling. In the past, it has focused primarily on playwriting, however, for its fifth edition, the festival is expanding to include dance and music for the first time. Presented by Moogahlin Performing Arts in collaboration with Carriageworks and Sydney Festival, this year's program features four cutting-edge First Nations performances as well as two live-panel discussions. Two virtual performances originally set to be part of the lineup will also take place later in the year, as the interstate artists couldn't make it due to current border restrictions. On Friday, January 22, you'll be able to see brand-new works from some of the country's most exciting upcoming talents for just $15. Dalara Williams of Black Comedy will present a play about a man seeking solitude at his favourite lookout and Shana O'Brien will examine the emotional connection to ancestry through choreography in her performance Waterholes. On Saturday, January 23, Troy Russell will explore love and loss as seen through the eyes of a couple, while Mark Ross and Brad Steadman will present a multi-disciplinary work that tells stories from the land and the river using traditional language, music and animation. Two live-panel discussions will take place on Saturday. One showcasing the voices of this year's festival, while the second is the free Yawarra (Dramaturgy) International First Nations Panel featuring renowned voices of First Nations theatre practitioners from Australia, Aotearoa and Turtle Island. All the performances and panels will take place at Carriageworks and are available to live stream from your home via Syd Fest At Home. Images: Yellamundie Festival by Rachel Main and Jamie James
If the last 12 months hadn't been affected by COVID-19, the Australian Museum in Sydney would currently be playing host to Tutankhamun: Treasures of the Golden Pharaoh, a blockbuster exhibition of more than 150 objects from the ancient boy king's tomb. That isn't the case due to the pandemic — and, in bad news for anyone interested in history or eager to find out more about one of its most famous figures, the huge showcase will now no longer be displaying at the venue at all. Today, Thursday, March 18, the Australian Museum announced the exhibition's cancellation, advising that it has been informed by IMG, the company responsible for staging the exhibition, that Tutankhamun: Treasures of the Golden Pharaoh would no longer be coming to the venue. Originally, the tour had just been postponed; however, now it has been completely shuttered. If it had gone ahead — with an original launch date of February 2021 — the hefty showcase would've been on display for six months, and featured golden jewellery, elaborate carvings, sculptures and ritual antiquities from King Tut's treasure-laden resting place. And, it would've been available for Australians to see just shy of a century after the tomb was first discovered by British archaeologist Howard Carter back in 1922. Tutankhamun: Treasures of the Golden Pharaoh was also set to include 60 pieces that had never previously left Egypt. Revealing the cancellation, Australian Museum Director and CEO Kim McKay said that "the Australian Museum is saddened that the Tutankhamun exhibition has been cancelled due to the pandemic", but noted that the venue is working on a replacement. "We are already negotiating for a new touring Egyptian exhibition and hope to announce details soon. We know our visitors are fascinated by ancient Egypt and in the next three years, the Australian Museum will open its first-ever permanent Egypt Gallery to display our remarkable collection of historical artefacts," McKay said. Tutankhamun: Treasures of the Golden Pharaoh's was set to display in the Australian Museum's newly revamped space, with the venue reopening in November 2020 after a $57.5 million makeover. As part of its renovations, the site added more than 3000 square metres of public space to its layout, to provide more room to host blockbuster exhibitions. Tutankhamun: Treasures of the Golden Pharaoh is no longer set to display at the Australian Museum. To see the venue's current exhibitions, head to the Australian Museum website. Images: AP Images / King Tut: Treasures of the Golden Pharaoh at the California Science Centre.
There's something for everyone when it comes to Halloween — whether it's eating nauseating amounts of lollies, flexing your arts and crafts skills by fashioning yourself a costume, or pulling that five-piece (mask included) Batman get-up out of storage and donning it to feel like the superhero you really are. Trick or treating never really caught on here, but we'll be damned if we won't use it as an excuse for a spooky time. There are plenty of parties, tours and immersive events happening around town for you to hit up. Here's a list of some of the best things going on in Sydney for Halloween, ranging from the not-so scary (charcoal ramen) to the truly terrifying (a spine-tingling takeover of Luna Park).
Because you're reading this, we know you're not someone who received a pet for Christmas, only to decide it wasn't for you. We know you're one of the good folks. You're probably wishing that you did receive a loveable animal as a gift, even if you already have one — or several — that you adore. We understand your yearning, and so does the RSPCA. And, to find permanent homes for the many cats surrendered into its care from all over the state, it's lowering the adoption fee for adult cats to just $49 this weekend. The weekend-long initiative is called Catchella — like a festival for friendly, furry cats — and will run from Friday, April 12 until Sunday, April 14. Although you can't put a price on the happiness a new purring, slightly standoffish, pet will bring, it's hoped that the low adoption fee will encourage people who have been thinking about adding a cat to their fam (and have considered it thoroughly) to make the commitment this week. While this festival won't feature any music stars, it will feature some absolutely adorable, and adorably named, cats. You could adopt Smoke T Woe, Biffo or Lola — or any of this long list of cats that need a home. And the poster itself is pretty damn cute: Catchella will run at all shelters across NSW. The adoption fees — which usually range from $20–600 — help cover some of the costs of vaccines, training and microchipping for the animals. There's more to pet adoption than overdosing on cuteness, of course, with making the commitment to care for an animal is serious business. For further information, read RSPCA's FAQs and head to a shelter this weekend. Catchella, and $49 adoption fees for adult cats, will run at all RSPCA NSW shelters from April 12–14. Image: Smoke T Woe.
It's Friday night. You just finished work for the week, don't feel like cooking, and you're in the mood for some grub and live music. Head to the inner west, and you'll find this food truck night filling the Flour Mill of Summer Hill's Harvest Park with some of the area's best eats. On offer will be burgers from Nighthawk Diner, tapas from Agape Organics and pasta from Urban Pasta, plus selections from Flour Mill local Soul Tree Cafe's menu like roast harissa eggplant or poached za'atar chicken. If you've got some killer leftovers at home but you're looking for a sweet treat after dinner, head down for the fluffy and powdered sugar-covered Chruby's Dutch Pancakes. Soul Tree will also be making coffees if you need some pep after a long week, and Summer Hill's The Temperance Society will be on hand serving drinks. Local musicians will be providing the soundtrack for the night, performing live under the stars — which have a high chance of being out according to the weather forecast. The food trucks will be operational from 5–9pm on Friday, April 23, with the last orders taken at 8.30pm. Street parking is available, however Flour Mill is encouraging diners to utilise the Lewisham West light rail station just beside the park, or either of the Summer Hill or Lewisham train stations that sit roughly a five-minute walk away.
Lankan Filling Station is shaking things up and ensuring you've got the chance to start your week with some top-notch buryani. The Darlinghurst diner is opening on Mondays from October 9, and also shifting its regular buryani night to the start of the week. To celebrate, O Tama Carey and the crew are hosting a series of guest chefs every Monday afterwards for the rest of the year. Usually, buyriani nights see Lankan Filling Station whip up the signature saffron-scented rice in a chatty pot and serve it with a weekly curry, plus raita, sambol and papadums. Now, each week during the chef series, a talented figure from across Sydney's hospitality scene will arrive at the Riley Street kitchen to put their own spin on the menu. The first four guests have been announced: Mat Lindsay (A.P Bakery, Ester and Poly); Pasi Petanen (Cafe Paci); Jin Sun Son, Seung Kee Son, Kenny Son and Youmee Jeon (Sang by Mabasa); and Jemma Whiteman and Matt Young (Ante) — it's a real who's who of our best restaurants in Sydney list. The restaurant has also teased writer Danielle Alvarez (ex-Freds) and Baba's Place's Jean-Paul El Tom as future featured chefs as part of the series. The special guest set menu will be available for $65 and can be shared between two people. Or, if you want to go all out, there will be an OTT banquet available each Monday for $85. The regular Lankan Filling Station menu will also be available, and you can expect a special bespoke drink to also pop up each week, matching each chef's unique creations. Top image: Parker Blain.
