Marius von Mayenburg's The Ugly One is all kinds of satirical, and while it tends to be the convention to call satires 'searing' or maybe 'biting', let's bypass those particular clichés in order to say that the play moves on at an, er, 'cracking' pace. It is, at roughly an hour, quite short and a lot happens onstage. Like engineering, office politics, extramarital affairs, a lot of fruit getting eaten, and a bunch of surgeries rendered (especially the first) with ingenious and brutal sound effects that really justify the 'cracking' thing. "We'll start with the nose," the surgeon explains at the start of each, "because it sticks out furthest from the face." Onomatopoeia ensues. Faces are the big thing of the play, with the central characters transformation from having an "unacceptable" face to one that is perfect, precipitating a new age of personal and professional success that turns weird when his plastic surgeon starts replicating the procedure all over town. The subsequent confusion and upset is absurd enough that you don't feel bad about it, but hits close enough to home that feeling bad about not feeling worse comes into effect. The simple production design and sensitive performances keep the play poised between allegory and relatability, ending up at a point where you know you're not that shallow, but may be left wondering if you're not-shallow enough.
Love it or hate it, winter is on the way out. Whether you're celebrating the coming of spring or mourning the end of the cooler months, your last and best chance to do either is at the Northern Beaches Market, which marks the end of the season on Saturday, August 31. Organised by Cambridge Markets, the masters of any event with artisanal goods and collapsible stalls, it's what the business does best: a gathering of makers, growers and artisanal wizards from all over a region of Sydney (north of the bridge in this case) for a day of browsing by locals. With markets usually coming in at a bustling total of 100-150 stalls, you'll have from 10am to 3pm to visit James Meehan Reserve in Dee Why to browse to your heart's content. Bring deep pockets, a deeper bag and an empty stomach. You'll be strolling among homewares and fashion, hot food and cold drinks. It'll make for an exceedingly fun day out. Northern Beaches Market runs from 10am to 3pm on Saturday, August 31. For more information, visit the website.
Yum cha might literally mean "drink tea" in Cantonese, but that doesn't mean you can't add a little liquor to the mix. With this in mind, Chin Chin Sydney is reviving an old favourite for this April only, as Boozy Yum Cha returns for a limited series of weekend lunches from Saturday, April 5–Sunday, April 27. Held across Saturday and Sunday sessions from 12pm, the menu is decked out with shareable fried and steamed goodies, from prawn wontons and barbecue pork buns to drunken Hokkien noodles. Meanwhile, optional extras like Sichuan-style chicken stir-fry and bacon and egg fried rice will satisfy even the biggest hunger. As for the booze, expect free-flowing drinks throughout, with plenty of stellar choices on the menu. Think Young Henrys Newtowner and Alpino Prosecco alongside Chin Chin's strawberry- and yuzu-infused Jasmine Dream cocktail. Plus, a rotating list of wines will help keep you satiated. All that's left to do is get the crew together and choose between a 90-minute or an extended two-hour session that gives you more time for sumptuous bites and sips. Whichever you choose, bookings and walk-ins are welcome.
Sydney winemaking duo Sebastian Keys and Zachary Godbolt have brought their beloved natural, organic and vegan wine brand DOOM JUICE to a brand-new cellar door. Boasting a sun-lit courtyard and a mural from local favourite Struthless, the new wine venue is housed in the garage of The Music & Booze Co's new live music venue The House of Music & Booze in St Peters (formerly the White Horse Hotel). Each Sunday, the cellar door turns into the Saint Lawrence Bistro and hosts a different chef from some of Sydney's best and most cutting-edge restaurants and bars. Already locked in to take over the kitchen: Toby Stansfield (The Old Fitz), Marcelo Munoz (Continental Deli CBD), Wesley-Cooper Jones (P&V), Sammy Rozsnyoi (Cafe Paci), Luka Coyne (Fish Shop), Ed Saxton (Sagra) and Anna Ugarte-Carral (10 Hats). "Every week will be different. [The chefs] are all working on their own speciality things," confirmed Keys. "The whole point of DOOM JUICE really, we wanted to be a really great way to get into natural wine, to be one of the first points of call into the wine world." Joining the DOOM JUICE crew each Sunday will be Sydney party collective Fruit Bowl who's hosting its weekly Fruit Bowl Sundays event upstairs in The House of Music & Booze, meaning you can hit the dance floor after you enjoy some natural wine and top-notch eats. Saint Lawrence Bistro Initial Schedule September September 11 - Ed Saxton (Sagra) September 18 - Jack Fitzhenry (Bastardo) September 25 - Wesley Cooper Jones (P&V Paddington) October October 2 - Toby Stansfield (The Old Fitz) October 9 - Sammy Rozsnyoi (Cafe Paci) October 16 - Cicerone October 23 - BTB Kirribilli October 30 - Dan Rocha (Wholebeast Butchery) November November 6 - Marcelo Munoz (Bar Louise) November 13 - Anna Ugarte-Carral (10 Hats) Images: Angus Bell Young
Upstairs at the Beresford is opening up its doors and letting the creatives loose on May 1 for liveMUSIC vs liveART. The night is all about interplay — local bands will take to the stage as artists of the visual persuasion let the music inspire them and go to town on a blank canvas for our viewing pleasure. The artworks will then be auctioned off for charity. The Merivale family has brought together a stellar lineup of local music talent, including the new worst-band-in-Sydney, Teenage Hand Models, and She Rex. On the paint and pencils side of things, Jodee Knowles' piece is sure to pull a few bidders with her moody illustrations that would have rendered the young Tim Burton her infatuated slave in decades past. Other artists practising their under-pressure game faces for the night are Brett Chan, Nico, Fesselet, Daimon Downey, Bafcat, Love Arial and Terho, while Quantum Force, Leper & Crooks and Firesaint round out the band lineup. The night is 100 percent all proceeds to charity and is going for a decided environmental tone, with both chosen funds working for wildlife protection (WWF and Wildlife Warriors).
If the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, then could it also be the gateway to a conscience? Cilla Madden of Collaborate believes so, and this forms the premise of her Eat Green Design project, a sure highlight of Sydney Design 09. As the assumption that there will always be more fish in the sea starts to wear thin, and we begin to realise that we may have bitten off more than we can chew (or replenish), ‘you are what you eat’ begins to acquire new meaning. This project focuses on providing food for thought on sustainability in a purpose-built exhibition space, which doubles as a restaurant. The idea is to encourage reflection and discussion on ethical and sustainable practices and products at every level of our everyday consumption. Madden has involved the cream of the designer crop, as well as a huge range of professionals, all working in line with the sustainable brief. Architect Hannah Tribe has designed and built the space, which is filled with furniture, lighting and objects from a range of local designers, including the NEW TO YOU range, which recycles and recreates objects for use as tableware. Chef Jared Ingersoll, of Danks Street Depot, has created a menu of local organic and seasonal food, and Fair Trade coffee will be available during talks from numerous guest speakers on the sustainability topic.
This double bill is a March must-see. Contemporary performance artist Liam Benson documents and exhibits his work through photography and video, and this exhibition, Noble Savage, seeks to examine the anxieties surrounding Australian cultural identity through the lens of a "privileged white male of Anglo-Celtic heritage with a queer awareness". Through this, he unravels the evolving state of 'White Australia' by confronting its inherent complexities and through the dichotomy of cultural anxieties. Just look at the above shot, which contrasts the headwear of the KKK and Liam’s delicate embroidery work, using bridal tulle, diamantes and pearls. It's called The Terrorist. Tully Arnot won last year’s inaugural NAB Private Wealth Emerging Artist Award, so is currently in high demand. In Gallery 2 you'll find his highly anticipated solo exhibition, titled Trace Etc, which continues his exploration of the value of our relationships with non-sentient forms, and how these feed into our capacity to interact meaningfully with one another. For example, he will be exhibiting a series of solar-powered green straws that look like weird moving blades of grass in a meadow.
It's beginning to look a lot like Sydney Film Festival time — or, the start of the official countdown period, at least. The first big capital city cinema showcase of the year might not kick off until June 8, but their initial announcement of titles will have you marking down the days in your diary (there's 34 sleeps until the full program is released, and 62 until opening night, just in case you were wondering). Given the batch of 26 flicks SFF has just dropped upon eager cinephiles in the lead up to the 63rd fest, excitement and enthusiasm is the natural, understandable reaction. Kicking everything off on opening night at the State Theatre will be the world premiere of acclaimed Indigenous filmmaker Ivan Sen's Goldstone, the sort-of sequel to his 2013 film Mystery Road. Described as "outback noir", the Australian film follows the same character, detective Jay Swan, as he investigates the disappearance of a Chinese girl in the remote settlement of Middleton. It includes a stellar cast of Aaron Pedersen, Jacki Weaver and David Wenham, with Sen himself having directed, written, shot, edited and scored the film. Those who caught Mystery Road at 2013's festival will be making a beeline for this one. Maggie's Plan, a rom-com with Ethan Hawke, Julianne Moore and Greta Gerwig; comic drama Demolition, starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Naomi Watts; and Everybody Wants Some!!, Richard Linklater's spiritual sequel to 1993's Dazed and Confused, are all certain to top everyone's must-see list. And you thought last week's news about the fest's David Stratton-curated Martin Scorsese retrospective was big. The Commune, Thomas Vinterberg's return to his Dogme 95 roots, also joins the feature slate, alongside Sing Street, a charming '80s-focused offering from Once filmmaker John Carney. So does the Academy Award-nominated coming-of-age effort Mustang, as well as Angry Indian Goddesses, which is essentially India's answer to Bridesmaids. Francofonia combines fiction and documentary to explore the Louvre during and after World War II, while Venezuelan character study Desde Alla (meaning 'from afar') comes direct from winning the Venice Film Festival's prestigious Golden Lion. Genre fans, you're taken care of too, courtesy of heavy metal horror flick The Devil's Candy, Aussie director Sean Byrnes' follow-up to The Loved Ones. Plus, Tehran-set supernatural spookfest Under the Shadow will also be screening, which had Sundance and SXSW audiences buzzing. SFF, with its dedicated award for Australian documentaries, has always done well in the factual realm. While the titles competing for the prize are yet to be announced, the first glimpse of the ripped-from-reality selection is impressive. Heart of a Dog presents artist and musician Laurie Anderson's expressionistic ode to her pet pooch, late mother, and partner Lou Reed, while Janis: Little Girl Blue uncovers the real rock, blues and folk legend. Sticking with all things music-oriented, Sonita tells the story of how a gutsy Afghani refugee's love of rap music changed her life. And then there's Werner Herzog's dulcet tones narrating his internet doco, Lo and Behold: Reveries of the Connected World, the Sundance-winning sexting scandal chronicle that is Weiner, and Chantal Akerman's personal mother-daughter portrait, No Home Movie — the late Belgian filmmaker's final feature. Basically, if you can't find something that you want to see, you're not looking hard enough. Of course, the best news is yet to come, because this is just a sneak peek of SFF's complete 250+ roster of movie wonders. The 2016 Sydney Film Festival will run from June 8 to 19. Feast your eyes on their currently announced titles by checking out the festival website. The full program will be released on May 11. Updated: April 21, 2016.
Bottomless brunch is a firm foundation of Sydney culture right now, flogging everything from Bloody Marys to boat vibes to Middle Eastern yum cha. The next venue to join the ranks is the Stuffed Beaver Crows Nest, which will sling all-you-can-eat poutine alongside unlimited top-ups of booze every Sunday in spring, starting this week on September 23. For a very reasonable $49 per person, patrons can nab bottomless mimosas and house beer, as well as endless rounds of pulled pork tacos and the aforementioned Canadian classic: the ultimate hefty combo of cheese, gravy and chunky fries. Yup, they're going to have to roll you out of there. Reservations are necessary and must be made between 12–3pm. The deal is up for grabs at the Crows Nest location only, so don't book at Bondi and end up disappointed.
IKEA might be your go-to for snuggly new sheets and doonas, but now the Swedish retailer is keen to help our four-legged mates get a good night's sleep, too. And you can help the cause, simply by donating some old linen. From July 6 to 14, IKEA Tempe is hosting a textiles take-back program, collecting old and unused bedding to be upcycled into comfy beds for animals in need of adoption. Pop in store and drop off any of your pre-loved blankets, towels, sheets, quilts and quilt covers, as long as they're washed, clean and in acceptable quality. You can find the full guidelines here. The textiles will then be distributed to RSPCA shelters across the state. Just think: you'll get to clear out the back of that linen cupboard and make a dent in the 500,000 tonnes of textiles that end up in Aussie landfill every year, all while helping some cute fluffers sleep a whole lot easier this winter. If you're keen for a cuddle, drop off your old wares on one of IKEA Tempe's pet adoption days. On Saturday, July 6 and Thursday, July 11, from 11am–2pm, you'll get to meet some of the cute NSW cats and dogs currently in search of their forever homes.
Wearing your heart on your sleeve might not be all that cool, but wearing your love of ramen proudly emblazoned on your chest? Well, that's completely acceptable. In fact, the designers at Japanese casual-wear retailer Uniqlo wholly encourage the idea, who've just released a line of covetable ramen-print t-shirts. The fresh designs are part of the label's latest spring/summer t-shirt drop, working the theme 'wear your world' with authentic pop culture images from around the globe. The ramen collection is a nod to Japan's most iconic ramen joints, including Ippudo, Menya Musashi, Setagaya and Hokkaido Ramen Santouka. Some, like the t-shirt for Ebisoba Ichigen, feature bright bowls of noodle soup, while others are printed with recognisable restaurant logos. Other Uniqlo pop culture collections to hit Aussie stores include one called 'The Brands', one devoted to 80s American movies and an art-meets-fashion tribute, SPRZ (Surprise New York + Eames). The t-shirts are retailing for $19.90, but if you're in Brisbane or Sydney, you can try and nab a free one at the collection launches. Brisbane's Queen Street Mall store will be running giveaways tomorrow — Saturday, October 6 — from 11am–3pm, while Sydney's Pitt Street location will do the same the following weekend, at Saturday, October 13. Uniqlo's Wear Your World ramen t-shirts are available now for $19.90 each. You can purchase them from all Australian stores or online here.
Food festivals have always been a great excuse to make weekend plans, with big-ticket events like the Bastille Day markets and the Good Food and Wine Show regularly drawing hungry crowds. But what about options for members of Australia's constantly growing vegan community? One of the most popular alternative food festivals around Sydney has to be Alive Plant Based Festival, running for one day only on Saturday, March 8. Organised by Vegan NSW and supported for the first time in 2025 by the Central Coast Council, this year's edition is set to be bigger than ever. Ideal for a family day out or a scrumptious solo feast alike, you'll be able to browse the tastiest vegan and plant-based treats around, from hot and fresh desserts to artisanal goodies. You can also look forward to live music, yoga sessions and speakers, and the entire (free-entry) festival is kid and dog-friendly.
If you're a Sydneysider, chances are you've spent some summers swimming at south coast beaches. Or, you've escaped to the likes of Kangaroo Valley, Berry or Milton for a wintry weekend of wining, dining and sitting by an open fire. From pristine coastline to lush bushland and rolling green hills, the Shoalhaven region is — as its name suggests — a holiday haven. Plus, it's close enough to spend just 48 hours there but far enough to leave the city grind behind. So far, 2020 has seen us stay in Sydney more than we'd like. With devastating bushfires raging across the region, we had to forego our annual summer trips and stay put at home. Then, COVID-19 spiked in Australia, causing nationwide restrictions on travel. Although travel is back on the cards now, it's not like we're spending all of our time at our go-to holiday destinations. But our favourite places to visit have been struggling from months of lower amounts of tourism. So, if you want your favourite Shoalhaven winery, cafe, restaurant, boutique shop or place to stay to be there when you can finally book in a trip away, your best bet is to help them out now. To help you do so, we've partnered up with Shoalhaven Tourism to showcase five delicious and beautiful gifts you can buy from your couch that'll bring the south coast to you. By sending some of your money there, you'll support the local, independent and family-run businesses you love to hit up on holidays so they're still there for your next one. [caption id="attachment_769272" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cupitt's Estate[/caption] TOP-NOTCH WINE One thing it seems we love equally as much on holiday as we do in iso is wine. While the Shoalhaven may not be as famed a wine region as the Hunter or Mudgee, it produces some pretty tasty drops. So, why not get some south coast vinos delivered straight to your door? Cupitt's Estate may be the most obvious choice, sure, but it is for good reason. From its easy-drinking riesling and rosé to its Provenance Pinot and Slaughterhouse Red, the vineyard has an impressive range to choose from. You check out Cupitt's full range of grape juice here. On the slopes of Cullunghutti, as it is called by the local Yuin people — or Mt Coolangatta — is another award-winning winery: Coolangatta Estate. It also happens to be the site of the Shoalhaven's first settlement. Known for its reds, this vineyard is selling its primo vino online and delivering across the country for a flat rate of $15. Better yet, if you buy a six-pack of wine, it'll throw in an extra bottle for free. Cambewarra Estate Winery is another one delivering its goods, offering free shipping on orders of six wines or more to anywhere in Australia. You can view its wine selection here and place an order by emailing brett@cambewarraestate.com.au or calling (02) 4446 0170. And, if you're still thirsty, your last virtual cellar door stop should be Silos Estate and Wileys Creek, set within 40 hectares of land just outside of the historic town of Berry. Silos grows seven different grape varieties — chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, semillon, merlot, shiraz, cabernet sauvignon and malbec — and the crew prune and pick all the vines by hand. The result: high-quality small-batch wines, which you can order online via its website. When you travel down the coast next time, you'll want to pop into this picturesque vineyard, have lunch at its restaurant and visit its onsite alpaca farm. [caption id="attachment_769276" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kangaroo Valley Olives[/caption] LOCAL PRODUCE AND GOURMET GOODS No doubt you'll want some gourmet snacks to go with your tipples, too. Boutique olive producer Kangaroo Valley Olives has everything from plump, juicy olives (of course) to oils, tapenades, vinegars and dukkah on its online store. Everything is produced and processed onsite, resulting in the highest quality goods. So it's a good place to look if your pantry is in need of a bit of an upgrade. To order, call 0447491245 or email info@kangaroovalleyolives.com.au. If you've ever been to a trip to Berry, chances are you stopped off at The Treat Factory — one of the biggest gourmet food producers on the south coast. From preserves, relishes, spices and salts to nougats, syrups and lollies, The Treat Factory's got it. While you can't visit its digs on Old Creamery Lane, you can still get its delicious goods delivered to you via its website. If you just want the sweet stuff, then look no further than Clayridge Honey and Woodstock Chocolate Co. to get your next sugar fix. Clayridge is known for its raw, natural honey, specialising in varietal honey from Australian eucalyptus. Right now, you can get free delivery across Sydney metro for orders over $40 — and that includes a three-kilogram tub of premium nectar for $43.50. Meanwhile, Woodstock Chocolate Co. has just about every kind of handcrafted treat to satisfy a chocolate connoisseur. Head to its online store and you'll find truffles, chocolate bars and barks, choc-coated nuts and honeycomb, rocky road, turkish delight and dipped waffle cones — all delivered to you with express shipping for $15. [caption id="attachment_750208" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nathan Harradine-Hale[/caption] SPECIALTY BREWS One of the best pastimes on vacation is hitting up the local cafes and settling in for a leisurely morning of sipping coffee or tea. So, why not bring the barista to your kitchen by buying specialty roasts and teas from your favourite holiday spots? For the caffeine fiends among us, Nowra's Hyper Hyper Coffee and Huskisson's metallic coffee-slinging 50s-style van, Merciers, have you covered. From Hyper Hyper's website, you can get two different blends — Blend 6 and Cut Snake — plus drinking chocolate and decaffeinated beans. At the moment, Merciers only has its air-roasted Jervis Bay Blend available for delivery, but you can also sign up for a fortnightly or monthly coffee subscription here. If you're more of a tea drinker, you're probably more familiar with the oh-so-quaint Berry Tea Shop. Dedicated to all things tea — from rare leaves to pots, cups and tea cosies — it's sure to delight even the most discerning of tea lovers (and grannies). Sure, you can't go there at the moment and sit down for a cuppa and a slice of cake, but you can still get its brews to enjoy from the comfort of your home. You can have a virtual browse here. For something stronger, Jervis Bay craft brewery Flamin Galah Brewing Co is delivering cases of cold ones across Sydney. Check out its full range of tinnies and merch here. [caption id="attachment_769279" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Appleye Jewellery[/caption] FUN HOMEWARES AND ACCESSORIES To keep with the culinary theme, you can buy some tongue-in-cheek, pop art-inspired tea towels, which are sure to brighten up your kitchen. This Old House Studio, located in the heart of Berry, is a studio and gallery and it has a whole range of pun-heavy cloths. The ones with Freddie Mercury, Dolly Parton and David Bowie's alter ego, Ziggy Stardust, are among the best — and they're all available for shipping to Sydney. For more fun-yet-functional kitchenware, Meraki Home & You has plenty. Want to eat watermelon out of a bowl that looks like one? Check out this quirky ceramic number. Getting into baking but don't have any measuring cups? Fill these flower-shaped ones with your flour. The Nowra store also has a bunch of bold mugs, decorative plates, planters, clothing, accessories and lotions all available to order online. Milton's Miss Moss and Nowra's Appleye Jewellery Designs have a bunch of jewellery that will level up your WFH wardrobe, too. Miss Moss is known for championing Australian designed, ethically made wares, so you can feel good about your online shopping habit here. We particularly like these earrings. Appleye is also an eco-conscious brand, specialising in silver, gold and semi-precious stones, and makes all of its jewels by hand. Check them out here. [caption id="attachment_769551" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Paperbark Camp[/caption] VOUCHERS FOR YOUR NEXT VISIT If you're more keen to start prepping for your next south coast trip than you are on stockpiling goods and gifts, then load up on vouchers instead. It helps the local businesses now and it gives you a future vacay to look forward to. Over the past few years, the Shoalhaven region has gone through a bit of culinary revolution, so there are plenty of fine places to dine. Rick Stein's restaurant at Bannisters Mollymook is a must for seafood fans (gift vouchers available here). You can also plan a visit to Tallwood Eatery, which is just a stone's throw from Mollymook Beach and serves up inventive dishes like breakfast ramen, cuttlefish skewers and glazed lamb with kohlrabi and kombu oil. It's got $50, $100 and $200 vouchers you can buy online. You can also pre-pay for your next night at Milton's new bar and bistro Small Town, by calling (02) 4454 2264. Of course, you'll need accommodation. But if you don't want to book right now, you can put some money towards your stay without any dates — which is a bit of a win-win. If you're after luxury, Mt Hay Retreat just outside of Berry has only five private suites, plus sweeping views across hilly farmland. Not to mention a heated indoor pool, a giant chess set and a 'cloud swing'. You can buy a voucher as a gift or for yourself here. If you're wanting to get back to nature on your holiday, you may want to look into Jervis Bay's stunning Paperbark Camp, which is also selling vouchers for its lush glamping tents. For those who want to seek some thrills on their holiday, you can explore the bush canopy on ziplines and rope bridges at Trees Adventure Nowra Park. Purchase a gift card and it'll cover a 2.5-hour session — and it's valid for three years. If you're more interested in the south coast's epicurean delights, buy yourself a cooking workshop voucher at Far Meadow Table, which is home to everything from a kitchen garden to an open wood oven and Argentine grill. Typical classes run from 9.30am–3.30pm and include morning tea and a long table lunch (prepared by yours truly). Support the Shoalhaven places you love by buying online. Check out Shoalhaven Tourism's Spend Here This Year site and bring the south coast to you. Updated on Wednesday, June 17.
In many ways the world of Nosferatu speaks for itself. As soon as the screen is filled we're immersed in an unsteady shadowland of shifting angles and skulking menace. The origins of the film are less well-known. Pinned as the first vampire film in the history of cinema, director F.W. Murnau based his story off Bram Stoker's Dracula, changing the names and locations, since rights to the book were not granted. Despite Murnau's tactfulness, Stoker's widow sued and a court ordered that all copies of the film be destroyed. I mention this only because it's a fact that seems to imbue the film with all the more power, as though we're watching something that escaped history's protocol. Simply put, Nosferatu is a tale of a monster in search of a throat, told through the lens of a German Expressionist. The story takes place in the fictitious city of Wisborg, where elongated and gaunt figures move, fall and are lured through an impossible world of dungeons, doors, coffins and dreams. Like other modernist movements, German Expressionism was one of several trends around the turn of the century that disposed of realism in search of a different version of the truth. Practitioners like Murnau favored distorting the external world in order to express an inner emotional state. This film characterises one of the great examples of this kind of storytelling, holding its own in the sea of schlocky lesbian vampire films and teenage-angst ridden TV-blood suckers. The film is also screening at 2pm Wednesday 7 and Sunday 11 of September. Entry is free, but depending how crowded it is you may need to get tickets in advance. Nosferatu part of a series of films screening in conjunction with Mad Square: Modernity in German Art 1910-1937, an exhibition currently at the Art Gallery of New South Wales.
And boom, just like that, we're a brief nine weeks out from Christmas. We don't quite know where the time went or what happened, but present-buying season is upon us. What better time to kick into gear and avoid the dreaded last-minute shopping scramble, by hitting the Virtual Ethical Christmas Market this weekend. This annual event is normally an IRL situation, but it's headed online this year, now open to shop at your leisure, right up until the big day. Once again, organisers have curated a bumper selection of goodies from a range of small, ethically minded local businesses. If you're after gifts that are fair-trade, eco-friendly, socially-conscious, vegan or all of the above, consider this marketplace your one-stop-shop. Catch homewares from the likes of Plant Lab, Food Wraps 101, The Karma Collective and The Other Straw, or deck out that wardrobe with finds from labels like Colour Coded, Frske and Remuse. There are skincare and beauty products courtesy of The Essentials Lab and Nur Organics, alongside a diverse range of accessories, stationary, kids' gear and food products. Tick off your entire gift list at once and make this Christmas one with a conscience.
When The Fast and the Furious took Point Break's premise and swapped surfing for street racing, it seemed like one of those easy Hollywood knockoffs that would speed into cinemas and then race right out of viewers' memories. Eighteen years, seven sequels, plenty of Coronas and a whole lot of talk about family later, we all now know that wasn't the case. It's the high-octane franchise that just keeps tearing up tyres and tearing across silver screen, and it has yet another new addition. The first Fast and Furious spinoff, Hobbs & Shaw reunites two of the series' newer players: Dwayne Johnson's Luke Hobbs, the government agent who has been a F&F staple since 2011's Fast Five, and Jason Statham's Deckard Shaw, the villain from Furious 7 who starts buddying around the gang in 2017's The Fate of the Furious. Directed by John Wick and Atomic Blonde's David Leitch, it's basically an excuse to put the two action heroes in the same movie again, watch as they bicker and banter like a muscular odd couple, and throw in the usual world-saving, car-racing antics. It also sounds like box office catnip —complete with the ridiculous stunts that the franchise has become known for, this time featuring a helicopter, a long chain and a truck in one of them. After releasing a first sneak peek earlier this year, the film has now revealed an extended three-and-a-half minute trailer. Check out the new clip below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZ7PAyCDwEg Because two of today's biggest stars isn't enough for this initial foray outside of the main F&F stable, Hobbs & Shaw also features Idris Elba as the flick's villain — plus Helen Mirren reprising her role as Shaw's mother, and The Crown's Vanessa Kirby joining the fold as his sister. Johnson reportedly wanted Hobbs to not only have some family as well, but to have an incredibly high-profile family member; however bringing Aquaman's Jason Momoa on board didn't work out due to scheduling conflicts. Fans of Vin Diesel and the original gang, don't worry. Ninth and tenth F&F films are due in 2020 and 2021 respectively, so Dominic Toretto and company will be back to live their lives a quarter mile at a time once more. Also on the agenda is a female-focused spinoff focused on the ladies of the franchise, because this series remains furious about stretching out its run for as long as possible. Hobbs & Shaw opens in Australian cinemas on August 1. Image: Universal Pictures
The Money lands at Sydney Opera House's Utzon Room via the UK Houses of Parliament, Edinburgh City Chambers and Lisbon City Hall, among other left-of-field venues. It's not just a theatre show, but an immersive game in which you play a part. The premise is pretty simple: you're given a wad of cash and you have to decide how to spend it. The catch is, your choice must be legal. Plus, you've got to persuade everyone else at your table to agree with you before you run out of time. Otherwise, the money moves on and you stay put. Take your pick of two roles. As a Player, you're a paid, active decision maker. As a Silent Witness, you're an observer, but with the power to buy in anytime you like and change the game's course in one fell swoop. If you've long held strong opinions about the spending of tax payers' money or the habits of billionaires, this is your chance to test them out.
Charismatic multi-instrumentalist Ben Caplan and his band, the Casual Smokers, will be bashing out poetic ballads and foot-stomping gypsy anthems at the Spiegeltent for Sydney Festival in January. Hailing from Canada, Caplan has carved out a genre-defying reputation, weaving between folk, jazz, blues and soul. His powerful lyricism and deep, gravelly tones (not to mention a fantastic beard) have won over audiences internationally. Rugged, raspy and full of on-stage banter, Caplan's live performances promise energetic and melodious fun. His unique style of music is perfectly suited to the Spiegeltent, a pop-up dancehall reeking of old-world charm and intimacy. Ben Caplan and the Casual Smokers is part of Sydney Festival's unmissable program of after-dark delights that will be hosted at various venues around the city. https://youtube.com/watch?v=6zvGP3xMzc4
When Skrillex and Four Tet took to the Coachella stage back in April, they did so to help plug a gap left by Frank Ocean dropping out of the Californian festival's second weekend. When they make the trip Down Under this spring, however, they won't be filling in for anyone, headlining 2023's lineup for electronic-meets-hip hop festival Listen Out. Back for another year — after 2022 marked its first gigs since 2019 — this fest will do the rounds throughout September, including hitting up Centennial Park in Sydney on Saturday, September 30. This is the first time that Skrillex will play gigs in Australia since Listen Out 2018 and, as well as Four Tet, the DJ and producer will have plenty of company. [caption id="attachment_900829" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Josef W[/caption] Also on the bill: Lil Uzi Vert, Ice Spice, Coi Leray, Piri, venbee, Mallrat and Jyoty, as well as Marc Rebillet, Metro Boomin and Kenny Beats, with Ebony Boadu will be on hosting duties. 2023's fests around Australia mark Listen Out's tenth birthday, and will bring curated stages to its four stops. So, The Atari Stage is primarily about hip hop artists, while 909 Stage features major dance acts. Then, over on the Prophet Stage, you'll enjoy cutting-edge electronic and house acts. LISTEN OUT 2023 LINEUP: Arrdee Coi Leray Four Tet Friction Ice Spice Jbee Jpegmafia Jyoty Kenny Beats Lil Uzi Vert Mallrat Marc Rebillet Metro Boomin Piri Skrillex Spinall Venbee Wongo B2B Little Fritter Young Franco Yunè Pinku Ebony Boadu as host 1TBSP Ayebatonye Donatachi Handsome Kobie Dee VV Pete Willo Plus triple j Unearthed artists to be announced + more Top image: Leo K.
How many bricks of Lego does it take to build a bar? It probably wasn't the first Lego-related question we were going to ask (or test for ourselves), but The Brick Bar is proof that there are tangible answers to life's most ambitious questions. According to the creators of Australia's first bar made entirely out of Lego, it's a million bricks. And while we don't actually know if anyone counted a million bricks, you can try and fact check this point it when it pops up on Sydney Harbour on November 16 and 17. The bar has already made a stop in Melbourne, and its Sydney stop will see it take to the harbour on floating venue Starship Sydney. Why exactly the vent is held on a boat is unclear, but, one thing's for sure: you better be certain you're into Lego. Each session will run for 90 minutes over Friday night and all day Saturday. You can expect elaborate Lego sculptures placed around the adults-only space — the Melbourne bar had a Lego bath, a Lego water feature and a Lego throne. There will be DJs playing across the afternoon and night, and you can try your hand at Lego table tennis or a Lego building competition. And there's a ball pit for some reason. As for food, it's likely there will be brick-shaped burgers and bevs will be served in Lego keep cups. Punters will also be able to make use of a huge pile of surplus bricks to fashion their own Lego creations, in public, with no shame at all. Just don't walk around barefoot.
Pilot and architect by trade, Massachusetts-based photographer Alex S. MacLean knows a thing or two about perspective. Taking a bird's eye view of theme parks, tennis courts, playgrounds and waterslides in the US, MacLean's latest series Playing is a playful reminder of the surrealist, hedonist nature of leisure time. Water parks, tennis courts, putt putt courses, basketball courts, public pools — we've gotten pretty good at adapting to climate, taking advantage of natural geographical perks and building the ultimate escapist fun houses for our selves. MacLean explores about the dynamic relationship the constructed American landscape and the idea of play — we continue to build playgrounds well after our playdates have turned to wine dates. So, taking cues from MacLean and his whole Playing collection, I guess you could say there's a bunch of concrete... playgrounds... out there. Yeeeop. Concrete. Playgrounds... Via Fast Company and Design Wreck. Images courtesy the artist.
A peaceful, luxury cabin perched right on the beach, with the waves crashing gently in the background. They're the ingredients of a primo night's sleep and they've now come together as part of IKEA's new pop-up SÖMN (Sleep) Studio, located right on Bondi Beach. Happening on Thursday, March 28, the pop-up will be celebrating and promoting great sleep, hosting a program of free events and a competition that'll see one lucky duo putting in a comfy 40 winks in these idyllic beachside digs. The sleep-focused lineup features a workshop with The Sleep Specialist Olivia Arezzolo, a myth-busting panel discussion presented by sleep expert Dr Elise Facer-Childs, Dr Thea Brejzek and radio personality Matt De Groot, and a healthy breakfast led by best-selling author Sarah Wilson. A pop-up onsite cafe called Fermented, open from 7am–9pm on Thursday, will showcase Swedish-inspired eats, with a wall of fermented krauts, pickles and other condiments that diners can pick and mix to their meal. And you can go in the running to win the ultimate night's sleep inside IKEA's Scandi-style Bondi B&B on the Thursday night. As well as sleeping right by the beach, the winning duo will be guided through choosing their ideal mattress, pillow and bedding (which they'll get to keep), and will also enjoy a special program of activities designed to help give the best possible shut-eye experience. To enter, head to IKEA Australia's Facebook page before 5pm on Wednesday, March 20. All events are free, though you'll need to book via the website to secure a spot.
Experience quintessential Italian leisure and cuisine at Nico's Bottomless Lunch every Saturday. Chef Nicola Ronconi, hailing from rural Italy, brings the dolce vita philosophy to Sydney's dining scene at Nico, a new culinary gem in Cammeray. Savour an Italian feast with Nico's carefully crafted banquet menu. Begin your culinary journey with signature homemade focaccia and smoked butter, followed by ricotta frittelle, scallops with nduja butter and finger lime, and roasted figs with stracciatella. Dive into your choice of freshly made pasta and finish with the iconic lemon tiramisu ‚ the perfect palette cleanser. The package includes free-flowing sparkling, wine and beers for $89 per person. Or, elevate the experience with classic Italian cocktails for an additional $25, featuring a taste of the Amalfi Coast, the Limoncello spritz. Bookings are essential, so reserve a table for a Saturday celebration filled with delicious Italian flavours. Images: Kera Wong.
If you're new to golf, head to Finley Golf Club, around 20 kilometres outside of Tocumwal on the southern border of NSW. With no bunkers or hills to worry about on this course, beginners can let loose on the fairways as much as they like. And with daily tee times available for non-members, getting involved couldn't be easier. Head to the website to plan your day on the green. Image: Visit Victoria
Buzzing at the heart of Blue Beetle are two contrasting notions: fitting in and standing out. Jaime Reyes (Xolo Maridueña, Cobra Kai) wants to feel at home not just in his own slice of El Paso-esque Texan spot Palmera City, but beyond his neighbourhood. When he assists his sister Milagro (Belissa Escobedo, Hocus Pocus 2) working at the well-to-do's houses, he searches for opportunities, especially given that he's in need of a steady job to help his family save their home as gentrification swoops in. Thanks to a run-in with Kord Industries, its warmongering CEO Victoria Kord (Susan Sarandon, Maybe I Do) and an ancient artefact known as the scarab, however, the recent Gotham Law University graduate will soon be his hometown's most distinctive resident. Getting covered in blue armour, being able to fly — wings and other bug appendages come with the suit — and hearing a robotic voice (Becky G, Power Rangers) chatting in your head will do that, as will having a multinational company try to swat you down because it wants to deploy the technology RoboCop-style. So scampers the latest entry in the DC Extended Universe — a movie that grapples with the same concepts as the ever-earnest Jaime beyond its storyline. It slots into its franchise while providing something new 14 entries in, before the DCEU comes to an end with the upcoming Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (under fresh DC leadership, a different silver-screen saga is coming, which might still link in with Blue Beetle). Directed by Ángel Manuel Soto (Charm City Kings), this is the superhero genre's first live-action flick with a Latino lead, be it from DC or Marvel. It's a family drama as much a caped-crusader affair. It's a story about immigrants striving to thrive and retain their own culture. And, it revels in an 80s sheen and sound. Blue Beetle battles enthusiastically to claim its own space, then, as almost constantly seen and felt. Alas, that doesn't stop it from getting generic as well, as much save-the-world fare is. When it soars in its own direction, Blue Beetle does indeed make an impression. When it marches dutifully in the standard superhero line, it can play like another by-the-numbers movie about great powers and great responsibilities in an ever-sprawling on-screen realm. Mostly, the former outweighs the latter — and Blue Beetle's charms go a long way. Accordingly, this initially made-for-streaming picture serves up a case of taking the struggles with the highlights, which is another of its messages. And there are highlights, particularly whenever Soto's feature feels like it's in a world away from Shazam! Fury of the Gods, The Flash (just to name 2023's other DC movies so far) and the like. That approach worked for Joker and The Batman, two DC films that aren't in the DCEU or new DC Universe, and are each scoring sequels. Jaime's journey to becoming Blue Beetle is instantly familiar: Marvel's also insect-focused Spider-Man and Ant-Man flicks have spun similar origin stories. Here, alien biotech-slash-treasure sparks his big change, as given to him for safekeeping by Victoria's niece Jenny (Bruna Marquezine, God Save the King) because she disagrees with her aunt's combat-for-profit ways. Thanks to Blue Beetle's dedicated, warmhearted embrace of cultural specificity, Jaime's family are always along for the ride, adding a Spy Kids vibe to Soto's film. His mother Rocio (Elpidia Carrillo, Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities), father Alberto (Damián Alcázar, Acapulco), Nana (Adriana Barraza, Penny Dreadful: City of Angels) and uncle Rudy (George Lopez, Lopez vs Lopez), an inventor with a firm individualist streak, are swiftly immersed in the chaos — and Milagro, too — as Victoria keeps valuing the scarab, suit and cash she thinks they'll inspire over any human fallout. Although Blue Beetle has an 84-year history on the page, the eponymous figure's solo live-action cinema debut is as much for newcomers as devotees. Soto's love letter to inclusion isn't only about shining a spotlight on Latinx characters and their experiences, or putting the full Reyes crew at its core — or delivering a clash between the one percent and everyone else, blending the eat-the-rich trend with caped crusaders. It's about accessibility as well; at a time where big film franchises have become so serialised that they're akin to ongoing TV shows on the big screen (and with bigger budgets), and so laden with fan service that the off-screen cheers are virtually choreographed, Blue Beetle doesn't require hours and hours of viewing homework or years and years of devotion to jump in. Again and again, it's plain to see how Soto and screenwriter Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer (Miss Bala) clearly want their feature to stand apart, even when it leans into the superhero template. Also easy to spot: how Blue Beetle would've stuck much closer to the usual mould without such warmth showered upon its characters and its committed performances. Affection goes two ways here, raining down from Soto and Dunnet-Alcocer, then beaming back up from Maridueña and his co-stars. Jaime and his relatives could've stepped into Blue Beetle from a heartfelt TV series that charts the ins and outs of their lives as a loving and hardworking migrant family in a place brimming with prejudice and corruption. They could take the opposite route now instead and it'd feel just as fitting. It's hardly surprising that Sarandon is cartoonish by their side — but, other than giving the plot a threat while personifying corporate and American evil, plus the lust for power and wealth at any cost, she's not being asked to do much else. The respect, detail and authenticity that's evident in Blue Beetle's cultural homage, family focus and casting help give Blue Beetle its gleam. It still becomes a sea of smashed-together pixels late in the piece, though, just with well-portrayed characters that the audience cares about, and also ample splashes of neon and synth like this is Tron with superheroes. What does a twentysomething who's undergone a Peter Parker/Miles Morales-esque life shift with a Venom-meets-Iron Man technology end up physically fighting? Something comparable and visually bland, even if said nemesis gets a backstory rife with suffering at Victoria's hands. Blue Beetle isn't without aesthetic flair beyond its nostalgic riffs, with one scene that's shot to resemble an immigration department raid both grabbing attention and making a statement. It also doesn't lack heart anywhere. And, it's fun with something meaningful to say, neither of which are givens in this genre. That said, finding the balance between being oneself and having another force and its influence flittering around isn't only an issue for Blue Beetle's likeable protagonist.
American singer-songwriter Ray LaMontagne, who put pensive folk back on the charts in a big way in 2004 when his single 'Trouble' hit number four on the US charts, is returning to Australia — after ten years of absence. His Just Passing Through tour will take him to Bluesfest in Byron Bay, then down the highway for gigs in Sydney and Melbourne. All shows are in acoustic format, with Ray performing in duo mode, alongside Wilco's legendary bassist John Stirratt. Expect new tunes and a selection of hits. Even though we haven't seen Mr LaMontagne for so long, he's been busy. His seventh album Part of the Light came out in May this year, and, back in 2010, God Willin' & the Creek Don't Rise picked up a Grammy for Best Folk Album Of The Year. As you might've guessed, mad, long-tortured fans have already nabbed most tickets. But, thankfully, a second run of shows has been announced. If you've been cursing your luck, jump in quick. LaMontagne will play the State Theatre in Sydney, on April 24 and 25. You can pick up tickets over here.
If more good music and delicious food are among your New Year's resolutions — which is completely understandable — then the CBD's Restaurant Hubert is ready to give you a helping hand. Nightly from Monday–Saturday throughout January, the French eatery is serving up all the favourites from its a la carte menu, soundtracked by live jazz. Yes, its Jazz January program is back for another year. The curated lineup will bring you jazz of all kinds, with musicians hitting up the venue's stage each evening to keep you entertained while you eat. As for the menu, Restaurant Hubert is renowned for its French fare. You'll find Restaurant Hubert specialties including escargots XO, duck a l'orange and chicken fricassée on offer, each of which will transport you to a classy Parisian eatery. Reservations are required, and Jazz January runs from 5pm till close each evening. [caption id="attachment_673758" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Cole Bennetts[/caption] Top image: Daniel Boud.
One of the most iconic performances of Sydney Festival, this show gives the public free access to what would, in usual circumstance, be an expensive night out. Enjoy the sounds of Sydney Symphony Orchestra and celebrate the 40th anniversary of Sydney Festival with a 'best of' from the performances the orchestra has played throughout the years. For the ruby anniversary of the festival, all attendees are asked to dress in red — so pack a picnic, don your ruby slippers and enjoy a glamorous night with your loved ones. All for free. Sydney Festival will also be running Opera in The Domain for free on January 23. More details here. Check out more of the best Sydney Festival events under $50 here. Image: Catherine McElhone
There's one mass gathering that's immune to the disruptions of COVID-19 and that's the nightly parade of Phillip Island's famed little penguins. And while the feathered friends have been continuing their daily pilgrimage from ocean to burrow without the usual audience, they'll soon be waddling back into our hearts thanks to a new live stream series. From Tuesday, August 25, you can catch the penguins' ritual sunset parade in real time from the comfort of your couch, as it's streamed for free via the Phillip Island Nature Parks Facebook page and YouTube channel. At 6pm (NZT 8pm) each night, tune in for half an hour to see the birds make their familiar journey from the water, across the dunes and back to their homes to cosy up for the evening. Not only will you get to spy those adorable penguins in action without having to brave the cold, but Phillip Island's rangers will be on hand providing some expert commentary to match. Score a daily dose of cuteness, learn a few fun penguin facts and even ask some questions of your own. Top image: Tourism Australia
Seizure Prom The "frustrated creatives" who started new Australian writing launchpad Seizure four years ago are gearing up to host their first ever prom. You'll get the chance to hang out with the Seizure lit crowd and get some classic prom shots taken (time to drag out that year 12 dress/tux and hairdo to match). This time you'll want the photographic evidence; with the organisers taking inspiration from the Under the Sea Dance in Back to the Future, it'll be a fine-looking affair. Friday, July 18, at the Giant Dwarf. More info here. Crooked Colours Pulsing synths, addictive percussion and mellow crooning have seen this Perth trio launch from strength to strength, making waves both locally and abroad. From Unearthed beginnings through to shows at Groovin' the Moo and Laneway, Crooked Colours have generated a following hypnotised by their feelgood ambience. These electronica lads are currently on their first ever national tour, promoting the brand spanking new EP, In Your Bones. Friday, July 18, at Goodgod Small Club. More info here. Symbiosis Jane Sheldon is not what you might think of when you think 'opera singer'. Last we've seen the New York-based Australian soprano around Sydney, she's been singing fragments of Charles Darwin's Origin of Species at the Australian Museum or facing a wall mesmerically warbling Holocaust poetry for the Sydney Chamber Opera. She fuses her ARIA Award nominated voice with contemporary experimentation, all while working with such international institutions as the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra and the Boston Camerata. Her latest project sees her setting up at the relaxed 107 Projects to perform a set of contemporary avant-garde works. Friday, July 18, at 107 Projects. More info here. Hendricks and Hendrix Nights at Chip Off the Old Block It's a pleasure to walk into the Chip Off the Old Block, tucked away on narrow Little Queen Street, and find not a sugar skull, novelty lamp or plastic flamingo in sight. Each table’s supplied with bowls of unshelled walnuts and pecans, shiny nutcrackers and rumpled paper bags to catch the shells, as well as a pack of cards — as if to encourage guests to put their phones down, entertain their busy thumbs another way, and have an old-fashioned conversation. Saturday is Hendricks & Hendrix night (9-11pm), which offers up the sublime combo of $10 Hendricks G&Ts, Jimi on the stereo and free hot chips. Saturday, July 19, at Chip Off the Old Black. More info here. Foe, Like the Enemy Pop-Up The acquisition of good vintage clothing can be a difficult feat. Much like the metaphoric fog, sometimes you have to sort through a whole bunch of crap until you find something good. Fortunately for us, the guys behind Foe, Like The Enemy have trawled through Asia and the Americas to source the best vintage clothing they could get their hands on. Until Saturday, July 19, at Shop 1, 50-52 Foveaux Street, Surry Hills. More info here. Bondi Feast There's plenty of food at Bondi Feast, but it's not the main course. The Rock Surfers Theatre Company's annual festival serves up offbeat performances, comedy and writerly projects from some of our favourite creative Sydneysiders, all backed up by a rotating cast of food vendors in the Bondi Pavilion's Festival Bar. With tickets to shows starting at $10, consider it a tapas of ideas, hilarity, provocation and feels. See such high-brow theatre as Awkward Conversations With Animals I’ve Fucked and My Struggle The Life and Times of an Individ (In a World Full of Hipsters). Saturday, July 19 (continuing until July 26), at the Bondi Pavilion. More info here. Charlie's Country There are very few faces as synonymous with Australian cinema as that of actor David Gulpilil. His third and most recent film with Rolf de Heer marks the last part in a loose thematic trilogy — one that began with The Tracker in 2002 and continued with Ten Canoes four years later. Gulpilil looks far older than his 61 years, but as Charlie he may never have been better — he's just taken home a best actor award at Cannes for it. It's a performance loaded with understated feeling, one that's obviously informed by a wealth of personal experience. His very face tells a story, about a country, its people, and its cultural and cinematic history. What a wonderful piece of acting in a likewise remarkable film. All weekend long at Palace Verona. Full review here. Tabaimo: MEKURUMEKU No one does inner turmoil and domestic horror quite like the Japanese. It seems so many of their artists have found that magical space between buttoned-up manners and social graces and unbound anger, anxiety and fear. The secret seems to lie in restrained contradiction. In a major solo show at the MCA, Mekurumeku, Japanese artist Tabaimo has managed to strike this eerie balance perfectly, presenting a body of work spanning just over a decade. All weekend long at the MCA. Full review here.
Taking his homegrown charm to fans one last time, Bored Nothing is wrapping things up in spectacular classic pub style. Launching his second album 'Some Songs' (the first to be recorded outside his beloved bedroom set-up), frontman Fergus Miller will be playing two unforgettable shows in both Sydney and Melbourne. Born and bred in Geelong, Miller has decided to call it a day after three years of recording and producing the dreamy, melancholy tracks Bored Nothing is famous for. After two months gallivanting through Europe for late 2014 touring, a string of support gigs for Brisbanites The John Steel Singers and the release of a handful of hypnotic singles, the new year feels like the perfect time to end Bored Nothing's killer run on a truly great note. Pinned for two packed-out performances in Sydney and Melbourne, these intimate east coast gigs are a fitting send off before Miller sheds his Bored Nothing moniker once and for all.
Spooky season is creeping up quickly, which means it's time to make a dash to the costume shop and make Halloween plans stat. One event celebrating the haunted holiday is the Entertainment Quarter's family-friendly, three-day spook fest. Dubbed Halloween Family Fest, it'll have everything from carnival games to thrilling rides, haunted houses, a ghoulish disco, trick or treating, costume competitions and an openair cinema. Of course, there's a global pandemic to be mindful of, so pre-booking tickets is encouraged. You can also expect social distancing measures to be in place, plus numerous hand washing facilities and sanitising stations around the precinct. Halloween Family Fest is taking over the Entertainment Quarter from Friday, October 30–Sunday, November 1. Opening times are 5–9pm Friday, 10am–9pm Saturday and 10am–4pm Sunday. Pre-book your tickets here.
Sydney's northwest just got an injection of Italian glamour with the opening of Sarino's inside Mullane's Hotel in Baulkham Hills — right opposite the new billion-dollar metro Metro Northwest railway. Run by Momento Hospitality (Bella Vista Hotel, The Governor), the second-floor restaurant is sleek and minimalist, with expansive skylights catering to the theatricality of an open kitchen, where guests can watch the chefs at work around a central charcoal oven or, if they prefer, retreat to one of three hidden private dining rooms. The lofty space also has an attached craft distillery, which will begin pumping out almond liqueur for the restaurant's affogatos and limoncello using fresh lemon's from the Colosimo family (founders of Momento) orchards in early 2020. The food leaving the kitchen is sophisticated and refined, and honours the family's Calabrian heritage. It's all made using produce from regional NSW, too, where possible. Executive Chef Joe Cavallo is plating up dishes such as the buffalo ricotta, buffalo mozzarella and parmigiano regiano ravioli — we count three cheeses — with burnt sage butter and pistachio, the porchetta with roasted apple and leek ash, and a 1.2-kilogram bistecca alla Fiorentina. We're also pretty keen to try the antipasto and cheese menus, which covers cheeses from Italy and Victoria, house-roasted capsicum, marinated olives, artichokes, and salumi from Italy and Byron Bay, including a 24-month San Daniele prosciutto. Pair your meal with one of more than 200 wines and finish it off with a tipple in the adjoining cocktail bar and intimate lounge space. Try the Sunday Roast negroni, which adds notes of rosemary and butter-washed gin to the classic Italian aperitif. Guests can expect to sip rare single malt whiskies (with a hefty price tag) and store the spirit in their own private liquor cabinet for safekeeping. Two dozen top-shelf whiskies from around the world are available, and your drop will be served in crystal glassware with specialty ice and complimentary mixers and snacks. Then just lock it away for when you next come back (you know, if you have the cash). Find Sarino's Restaurant and Bar on level two of Mullane's Hotel at 34–36 Brookhollow Avenue, Baulkham Hills. The restaurant is open from 4pm–midnight on Thursday and Saturday and from 12pm–midnight on Friday.
Kids these days. What will they think of next? To find out, be sure to check out ARTEXPRESS at the AGNSW this month, showcasing the most outstanding works created by the 2015 Year 12 cohort for the HSC. One of the Gallery's most popular annual exhibitions, this is a show that never ceases to drop jaws, and also to incite inferiority complexes in everyone over the age of 18. From traditional painting, drawing and sculpture to photomedia, textiles and time-based forms, ARTEXPRESS this year will showcase 55 outstanding student artworks produced for the 2015 HSC Visual Arts examination (ugh, don't remind us). The selection process for the exhibition began in November after the practical component of the HSC was done. "Selection took days of careful consideration of 400 pre-selected bodies of work from the 9000 HSC Visual Arts students in 2015,"says Leeanne Carr, Art Gallery of NSW coordinator of education programs and curator of ARTEXPRESS 2016. "I am always struck by the passion of student artists, their ability to understand the world in unique ways, and to use the power of visual language to communicate." This is an annual favourite for all ages and remains open until May 15. By Roslyn Helper with Shannon Connellan. Image: Si Yuan Shelley Gu, Tempe High School What happened to I? (detail), ARTEXPRESS 2016.
Find a parking spot and follow the rainbow at The Grounds of Alexandria this winter and you won't find a pot of gold — but you will find a whole lot of sugary treats. Which might be even better. On Friday, July 26 and Saturday, July 27 (and Thursday, August 15 and Friday, August 16) The Grounds' garden will be lit up and turned into a dessert laneway inspired by Willy Wonka. Sweet smelling carts will be hawking colourful waffle cones (with lots of ice cream flavours and toppings), fresh doughnuts, blueberry crepes, fizzy sherbet drinks and all the lollies you can imagine. There'll also be a chocolate fondue station with fruit, brownie cubes, choc chip cookies and so much more. Wander between them, grab a cocktail from the outdoor bar, and try the lot. If you need savoury before your sweets, book a table for dinner at The Potting Shed. After a bowl of mussels and a few glasses of wine, it will be hard to say no to a hot jam doughnut. The market will run under The Grounds' colourful installation of giant neon lollipops and jumbo sweets from 6–10pm. The installation itself will be open daily until Sunday, September 22, but the new dessert options will only on offer during the night markets. The Garden of Sweets Dessert Markets are open from 6–10pm on Friday, July 26 and Saturday July 27, as well as Thursday, August 15 and Friday, August 16. The laneway installation open from 7am every day until Sunday, September 22.
A huge celebration of Greek food, music and culture is coming to Burwood on Sunday, November 12. The Greek Street Fair will takeover Railway Parade and Burleigh Street (just near Burwood train station) from 11am–5pm with food trucks, market stalls, performances, mascots and family-friendly activities. You'll be able to buy goods made by members of the local Greek community, feast on a garlic-laced array of traditional Greek eats and catch live performances and Greek tunes. Heading up the program are the Paradise Band, DJ Krazy Kon who is hosting his Greece Mix, Vol 28 (20 Years Edition) album launch, and much-loved viral food and TikTok personality YiaYia's Kitchen who will be there cooking up a storm. There will also be a couple of giveaways on the day, with the chance to win a two-night stay at Crown Plaza Burwood by entering the free draw, or a $50 Westfield voucher by uploading a photo with Mitos the Greek Street Fair Donkey who, we must inform you, is in fact a human dressed in a donkey outfit and not an actual braying creature on four legs.
She's the grand dame of Sydney pools, with a one-of-a-kind location on the edge of the harbour and a history that dates right back to 1936. But according to the experts, the North Sydney Olympic Pool is in pretty bad shape and needs some drastic upgrades. Fast. In the wake of an engineer assessment, which deemed that the 50-metre pool and grandstand were "deteriorating rapidly" and "nearing the end of their usable life", North Sydney Council has submitted plans for a hefty revamp. The proposal clocks in at a cool $57.9 million, with the council only able to cover $28 million of the cost. It's hoping to secure the remaining $30 million from the State and Federal Government. If the funds do not become available, there are fears the pool could close. "Independent engineering consultants have confirmed that the 50m pool, concourse and grandstand require urgent remedial work so we are progressing to DA stage to keep the project on track," North Sydney Council General Manager Ken Gouldthorp said in a statement. "However, unless grant funding becomes available, we will need to look at our options. No one wants to see North Sydney Olympic Pool close." The new design features an upgrade to the existing 50-metre pool along with a new grandstand and indoor gym, a sundeck, a cafe, 25-metre indoor pool and a family leisure area complete with warm water play zone. [caption id="attachment_617786" align="alignnone" width="1920"] North Sydney Olympic Pool.[/caption] A revamp has been on the cards since back in 2014, when North Sydney Council first started developing potential design options for the project. It gathered extensive feedback on the six leading concept plans and ended up with this current proposal, which will soon be placed on public exhibition for a fresh wave of community consultation. Across its 83 years of life, the historic pool's played host to the Empire Games, survived a length change to fit in with the then new metric system, and witnessed 86 world records, set by the likes of Murray Rose, Dawn Fraser and Shane Gould. It's not the only Sydney pool to feel the effects of age — it was revealed late last year that Balmain's Dawn Fraser Baths was in need of a $6.7 million repair job, while Lane Cove Aquatic Centre's 50-metre pool was forced to close ahead of schedule due to safety concerns bumped up by a mix of old age and wild weather.
Annette Larkin Fine Art hosts their first-ever Carl Plate exhibition this month, with a show focusing specifically on his Paris Works 1970–1971. So who is Carl Plate, you ask? He was an influential modernist painter and collage artist in post-war Sydney, and arguably the first Australian non-figurative artist to secure solo shows in NYC and London — a big deal at the time. He traveled extensively through Europe and was excited by what he saw of the modernist movement. Drawn to abstract, non-representational language, he was a life-long fan of collage throughout his career, using materials sourced from papers and magazines to create poetic, lyrical worlds of shapes, lines and forms. This show captures a time in his work where he broadened his colour palette dramatically, pared back the details and returned to a purer form of collage (solely cutting and pasting), creating a series hailed as 'luxurious' and 'sumptuous' by the critics of the day. You've got from October 11 till November 11 to have a squiz. Image: Carl Plate, Untitled No. 85 (1970), PVA on vinyl bonded French cotton.
Open the cinema doors, HAL, because Randwick's Ritz is serving up a very special 13-week film feast. You won't need someone to strap you to a chair and force your eyes open with a specula to get you to watch this fantastic movie lineup — and you won't have to wander around a maze-like haunted hotel to get there, either. The Sydney picture palace is turning its attention to celebrating a movie master, with the one and only Stanley Kubrick in the spotlight. On Thursday nights between Thursday, April 18–Thursday, July 11, the cinema will unleash all 13 of the British filmmaker's full-length features upon eager cinephiles during Kubrick: A Complete Retrospective. That means showing everything from anti-war film Fear and Desire, early noir The Killing and the controversial Lolita through to Kubrick's final completed effort, aka the Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise-starring erotic thriller Eyes Wide Shut. Discover why "I am Spartacus!" became such a famous cinema phrase, find out how Dr Strangelove learned to stop worrying and love the bomb, and plunge into the horrors of the Vietnam War with Full Metal Jacket. Sure, 2001: A Space Odyssey and A Clockwork Orange pop up in retro programs around the country quite often, but there's never a bad time to see these classics the way that they were meant to be seen. The same goes for The Shining, which is also never far from a big screen somewhere, but is playing here in its extended edition. Each week's film kicks off at 7pm — and many of the movies will be playing in 35mm or 70mm, with some in 4K instead.
Want to get up close and personal with Taronga Zoo's finest furry friends? Now you can — and you'll be able to sip on excellent wine while you're adventuring through its exhibits after dark. The brand-new after-dark adventure is an exclusively 18-plus edition of the zoo's existing Roar and Snore experience, which takes visitors on a tour of the zoo led by its experts and includes a harbourside dinner with an overnight stay in the zoo's accommodation. Running for only two nights, with one session on Wednesday, November 29, and one on Wednesday, December 13, Taronga Zoo's new Wine Safari experience offers up a roving journey through Taronga Zoo's exhibits accompanied by sips of wine curated by the award-winning sommelier from the zoo's own fine diner Me-Gal. You'll then get to enjoy all of the exciting perks that the original Roar and Snore deal has to offer including a buffet dinner, a night safari, a stay in safari-style tents with views of Sydney harbour and a behind-the-scenes look at animal enclosures the following morning. Each of these exclusive nights will begin at 6pm, with the activities lasting until about 10pm before allowing guests to get some much-needed shut-eye ahead of the following morning's itinerary. Plus, you'll also get complimentary parking and zoo entry. What more could you want?
Every month, Two Good welcomes a new chef to help with its menu. In March, it was Neil Perry and, in April, Paul Farag. Now that May is here, Corey Costelloe has taken the reins. He's owner and head chef at 20 Chapel, Marrickville, which was recently named one of the World's Best Steak Restaurants. Before that, he spent 15 years as executive chef at Rockpool Bar & Grill. Leading Costelloe's cracking menu is a toastie packed with chicken, gruyere and dijon mustard. Then there's a bright salad of roasted pumpkin, green beans and feta, covered in pistachio dressing. For dessert, try the rich devil's food muffin. These specials all available throughout May at Two Good Cafe in Yirranma Place, Darlinghurst, and via the Two Good catering service. All proceeds go to helping women affected by domestic violence, homelessness or trauma find employment.
You don't have to go far to feed that yearning for adventure. Just a short drive from Sydney and you're in the great western playground of Penrith. And there's the perfect activity for every and any kind of thrill-seeker. Maybe you'd like to hit the water with a day of wakeboarding, battle against wild whitewater rapids or experience the wonder of flight with an actual, real-life jetpack. Perhaps roaring along bitumen is more your wheelhouse? Take to the highways on a genuine Harley Davidson or race go-karts on a pro track. Or take fun and games to a more grownup level, hurling weaponry at targets in a mate-against-mate tournament; or, strap on a VR headset for an immersive digital experience of fighting, exploring and puzzle-solving against the clock. Whatever gets your blood pumping, you'll find it in Penrith.
Sometimes, getting out and doing something is really just an opportunity to get out and do nothing, and that's perfectly fine. Especially on our public holiday that celebrates the movement that lead to a shorter working week. For those trapped in loveless leases that don't allow even the tiniest (and cutest) of puppies, doing nothing can very easily involve checking out other people's doggos in a park. Kick off the day with some mates and a trip to Mary's for a takeaway classic cheeseburger and fries, then take your stash over to Camperdown Memorial Rest Park to get serious about some dog spotting. We've even heard tales of owners letting you pat their dogs if you say nice things to them beforehand. Image: Kimberly Low.
Maybe you're keen to celebrate the end of winter and the beginning of the warmer weather. Perhaps 2022 has just been a chaotic year for you, as it has for most of us, and you're desperate to get away. You could always be yearning for a holiday, as almost everyone is. And, you might have the perfect vacation partner that you haven't been able to spend enough time flying to scenic spots with during the pandemic. If a few, most or all of the above applies, Jetstar comes bearing great news: a fly a friend for free' flight sale. Until 11.59pm AEST on Sunday, August 28 — or sold out — the Aussie airline is doing package deals for paired travellers, with one person's airfares included for nothing. Your wallet, your calendar, all that stress you're carrying around in your shoulders — they all love this for you. So will whichever mate or date you're now hitting up for a discounted holiday adventure. The packages cover flights, hotels and, usually, breakfast as well — with deals from Sydney including $484 for two nights at the Holiday Inn Express Little Collins Street in Melbourne, $1122 for five nights at Meridian Port Douglas, and $604 for a three-night getaway at voco Gold Coast. There's also a $732 three-night package at Pacific Hotel Cairns, a $1316 option for three nights at Daydream Island Resort and a $1151 stay for three nights at Hobart's Mövenpick Hotel. Offers and prices vary per city, as do dates for travel, but most destinations remain the same. Melburnians can also stay at the Metro Hotel Marlow Sydney Central for two nights for $434, for instance — and get cheaper prices to Hobart and slightly more expensive costs to Queensland. Whichever you pick — including options leaving from Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and more — you'll need to book online. When you do so, to get the deal, you'll also need to add an extra passenger. Also, checked baggage isn't included, so factor that into your budget — or pack light. Jetstar's 'fly a friend for free' sale runs until 11.59pm AEST on Sunday, August 28 — or until sold out. Images: Jetstar.
We all know that terrible feeling the day after a night of drinking and shenanigans: your head is throbbing, body sore, and stomach growling, but you're just not sure what to feed it. It could be temperamental to say the least. We've done the research and cut out the time needed to decide where you'll be most satisfied. Whether it's a simple bacon and egg roll, a glorious feast with a plate full of grease or a refreshing smoothie that will do the trick, fingers crossed something helps you out this party season. 1. Satellite Cafe Satellite is a funky little cafe tucked away from bustling King Street in Newtown with a cool menu that avoids the overfamiliar eggs-and-toast combination. They like to 'smash their hash' — potato, peas, eggs, and zesty herb and garlic dressing ($14/$16 with ham) — and keep googie eggs sunny with sesame oil, coriander pesto, chilli, shallots, and black sesame ($11). All those herbs and spices work wonders for a pounding head. Carnivores, be sure not to miss the chorizo roll with egg, rocket, and caramelised onion ($9). Appetising to say the least. A decent Little Marionette espresso ($3.50) might hit the spot, too, or to really lift your spirits, try the lychee and spiced boysenberry soda ($5). You'll almost want to be hungover every weekend once you stumble upon this back-street haven. 7-8/80 Wilson Street, Newtown; (02) 8065 4572; Open 7am-4pm everyday; www.satellitenewtown.com 2. Deus Cafe Deus cafe sits alongside its sister store Deus ex Machina, run by former Mambo guru Dare Jennings. Its distinctive style sets it apart from your usual cafe, with music, art, surfboards, motorbikes, and hip clothing all under one roof. Communal tables are spread out across the warehouse-type layout, and an open kitchen in the back corner cracks out an uncomplicated menu (all-day breakfast on weekends added bonus!). This is the place to come for every variation of eggs Benedict ($14-17) or one of their 'custom' breakfasts with ample choice of sides. The mixed berry frappe ($6) is a good, sweet kickstart to the day. But hands down, the best choice for an addled brain is the slow-cooked Boston beans ($17). Paired with pork sausage, baby spinach, poached egg and toasted ciabatta, it is the cure for that morning after delirium. 98-104 Parramatta Road, Camperdown; (02) 9519 3669; Mon-Tues 7.30am-3pm, Wed-Sat 7.30am-9.30pm, Sun: 8.30am-9pm; www.deuscafe.com.au 3. Harry's Espresso Bar Bondi There's something about the Hot Mess Chorizo Scramble ($12.50) here that keeps people coming back. Or it could be the Proud Mary coffee ($3.50) that they're perfectly pouring out at full throttle to the locals as they await their daily fix. Either way, Harry's will refuel you with good coffee and a sincere breakfast. Set away from the main drag in Bondi, it has the simple offerings such as bagels or toasted sourdough ($6) (from Iggy's bakery, even better) that are sometimes the only thing you can handle after a big night out. For something heartier, the Italian Stallion with goat's cheese, avocado, tomatoes, and fresh basil ($13.50) hits all the right spots. So too do the array of pastries on display (from $3) or a fresh orange, carrot, and ginger juice ($8.50) to give your body a much needed cleanse. Shop 2, 136 Wairoa Avenue, Bondi Beach; (02) 9310 2180; Open 7am-4pm every day 4. Double Roasters Despite the name indicating that their main focus is coffee, the simple menu at the recently renovated Double Roasters offers up plenty of homemade culinary delights. There's nothing quite like a bit of sincere heart and soul in your food in order to restore normal human functionality. House-made baked beans are jazzed up with prosciutto and spinach ($12), and the avocado and feta mash with cherry tomatoes and rocket on turkish bread ($8.50) could run the business alone. The iced coffee ($4.50) is pleasing; however, the iced ginger and mint tea ($4) is the perfect thirst-quenching alternative to Powerade. Double Roasters might have that industrial chic-ness to it, but you'll definitely feel at home. 199 Victoria Road, Marrickville; (02) 9572 7711; Open from 6am everyday; www.doubleroasters.com 5. Cafe Shenkin This should most certainly be a stop on your patrol for a hangover breakfast. Cafe Shenkin fuses Israeli and modern Australian cuisine in a way like no other, and there'll be some serious food envy going on once you spy the Portuguese omelette ($16) or hummus plate with fava beans ($18.50) being whisked out to your neighbouring diners. That being said, you can't go wrong with much here: everything is full of taste and will assist in your mission to feel better. A Mexican shakshuka with beans and corn ($19) has a good zing to it, and the Israeli Big Breakfast ($19) sure lives up to its name. Mecca coffee ($3.50) is smooth and consistent, and if you've got room for a sweet treat upon leaving, their Israeli pastry offerings include bureka and chocolate pyramids. 53 Erskineville Road, Erskineville; (02) 9550 5511; Mon-Sun 6.30am-5pm, Wed-Sat 6.30pm-10pm; www.cafeshenkin.com.au 6. St Jude If you're a fan of fritters, then you may already have heard about St Jude's, because they are a blessing in disguise. The seamless combination of corn and pumpkin, lightly fried then served with poached eggs, hollandaise sauce, avocado cream, and baby spinach ($14.50) is enough to ensure a hasty return. The adorable cafe is often buzzing with people but maintains a sense of serenity in this quiet part of the neighbourhood. There's nothing worse than sitting in a cafe with music louder than a Big Day Out concert when your head is as heavy as a medicine ball. The staff are friendly and patient while you decide between the daily breakfast sanga ($13) or omelette of the day ($16). Order a fresh juice ($6) and have a side of the smashed avocado and tomato salsa, too; redemption will follow promptly. Corner Thurlow and Bourke Streets, Redfern; (02) 9310 3525; Open every day 7am to late afternoon. 7. Four Ate Five You may be hard pressed to nab a seat here on the weekends, as this place has a fine menu for those in need of some serious revitalising. Get your eggs scrambled, poached, or fried ($9) then add beef chipolatas ($3.50), haloumi ($4), or potato and fennel hash ($3.50) — whatever floats your boat really; they seem to have all the appropriate additions down pat. The Moroccan baked eggs ($17) with almonds and labne tastes as good as it smells, and so, too, does the homemade creamed corn ($17). But it's the notorious pulled pork sandwich ($13) with its mishmash of aioli and apple tomato chutney on grilled sourdough that will win you over if you've rocked up at lunchtime. Down a banana, cinnamon, and honey smoothie ($7.50) or a coffee frappe ($6), and you're on the mend. 485 Crown Street, Surry Hills; (02) 9698 6485; Open everyday 7am-4pm; www.fouratefive.com 8. Baffi & Mo No matter what time you manage to roll out of bed, Baffi & Mo certainly has you covered. The eclectic cafe with its famous moustachioed sign, has an all-day breakfast and lunch menu that manages to meticulously include all the dreamy combinations you want in a hangover meal. There's the infamous potato hash stack ($16/$18 with smoked salmon) that keeps people coming back and the artfully arranged corn fritters with grilled haloumi ($15) that's consistently pleasing. If grease isn't your cure-all the day following a big night, opt for the banana, chocolate, and strawberry crepes with ice-cream ($15) or an iced coffee ($5.50). Sometimes a sugar rush hits the nail on the coffin, just like Baffi & Mo will do for that grumbling stomach. 94 Redfern Street, Redfern; (02) 8065 3294; Open everyday 7am-3pm. 9. Revolver Sometimes all you need to feel human again, post alcohol indulgent evenings, is a good bacon and egg roll, and Revolver cafe is pulling off an impeccably foolproof version ($8). They don’t give away their secret, but it's definitely the 'awesome sauce' that tempts you to lose all inhibitions and lick the plate in a crowded cafe. If you need something slightly more substantial, don't look further than the Revolver Big Breakie ($16.50) — eggs baked in house-made beans are impressive enough, let alone when paired with a plate full of other goodies. Even the veggie stack ($15.50) could have any carnivore drooling. They serve a mean coffee ($3.20), or a refreshing banana smoothie ($5.50) could give you zest to life again. 291 Annandale Street, Annandale; (02) 9555 4727; Open every day 8am-4pm; www.revolver.com.au 10. Three Blue Ducks After you've had a refreshing ocean dip, stroll on up the hill to Three Blue Ducks and complete the path to rejuvenation. With everything on the menu packed full of flavour, it's worth going with a few people so you can stick your fork in everyone's dish. Sit outside in the sunshine and delve into some scrambled eggs with black sausage, dill cucumber salad, and redcurrant jam ($19) for some serious protein. If you want to get off to a healthy start, their Bircher muesli with yoghurt, pear, and muesli ($14) has got something seriously secretive about it, and a choice of fresh juices ($6) is fortifying to say the least. If you can't manage a sit-down brekkie, grab a bacon and egg roll ($12) takeaway. The pimiento sauce will give you your waddle back. 141-143 Macpherson Street, Bronte; (02) 9389 0010; Breakfast weekdays 7-11.30am, weekends 7.30-12pm; www.threeblueducks.com Top image: Bacon and egg roll at Revolver Cafe. Images by Aimee Sics.
UPDATE, December 9, 2020: McQueen is available to stream via Stan, Doc Play, Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Amazon Video. Glamour meets the grotesque in the couture of designer Alexander McQueen. Indeed, it's not by accident that a recent hit museum retrospective showcasing his work took the moniker Savage Beauty. For two decades as the enfant terrible of British fashion, he crafted clothing that didn't just make a statement, but screamed it down the catwalk, splashed it across glossy magazine pages and shouted it at the world at large. "I don't want to do a show that you walk out feeling like you've just had Sunday lunch," he once said. "I want you to walk out feeling repulsed or exhilarated — as long as it's an emotion." That telling soundbite joins many others in McQueen, the film that ostensibly unpacks the life, career and death of its titular working-class lad turned tailoring apprentice turned provocative toast of the town. But, making their first full-length documentary, directors Ian Bonhôte and Peter Ettedgui do much more than that. Theirs is a movie made in McQueen's image, keen to show more than tell even though it doesn't shy away from talking heads. The filmmakers are well aware that everyone already knows its rise-and-fall story, with the man called Lee by his friends ultimately committing suicide in 2010. Instead of pretending that it's telling viewers something new, the movie focuses on how it approaches its subject as much as it does the specific details of McQueen's story. Cue chapters that take their names from his famous runway shows, in a segmented yet still cohesive film that takes its concept from another of McQueen's own comments. (In one of his trademark displays of cheek, he dubs his own candid home videos 'The McQueen Tapes'.) Each part stitches together a narrative about his fashions — from both his own label and his time at Givenchy — and the context surrounding each highlighted collection. The end result isn't as obvious as it might sound, of course. McQueen refuses to simply state that one particular aspect of McQueen's experiences gave rise to a specific element in his work. Rather, it explores the fabric of his life while demonstrating how he wrangled fabric in bold ways in his designs. The documentary doesn't need to blatantly connect the dots, as each sartorial series makes its own statement. With names such as Jack the Ripper Stalks His Victims and Highland Rape, and challenging pieces within each collection to match, how could they not? Throughout it all, McQueen remains a constant presence thanks to archival footage, while his family members, friends and colleagues offer their intimate recollections and reflections. Even for those unfamiliar with the minutiae, there's much that's recognisable. Never seeming the typical fashionista, McQueen parlayed his talent, artistic eye and hard work into a thriving career from the early 90s onwards. But with success, attention and notoriety came drugs, depression and despair, matters that the movie perhaps doesn't touch on in as much depth as it could've. Still, even when it somewhat skirts over a few areas, the documentary proves revelatory in how it captures McQueen's complicated essence. The designer's clothing pieces were always going to feature prominently, but with its incredible detail, intricate construction and willingness to get dark, the film they're in feels like it was cut from the same cloth. If one scene in McQueen particularly stands out, it's one that's all McQueen's doing. More than that, it's one that he staged with as much theatricality, spectacle and flair as he ever displayed: his 1999 spring show. In a stunning sight to behold, model Shalom Harlow wears a white strapless dress made voluminous with layers of tulle, spins on a rotating platform like a jewellery box ballerina, and is sprayed with paint by two adjacent robots. As a depiction of life splattering and changing something luminous, it's vivid, almost violent and certainly intoxicating, all as its creator intended. McQueen was clearly relaying a message and, in both featuring the runway moment within the film and adopting its attitude, Bonhôte and Ettedgui ensure that McQueen sports the same force and power. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKwCd6WLPdE
Staring at art is easy. Getting into collecting it doesn't always prove the case, however. You might have bare walls and empty shelves positively screaming to be filled, but you also may not know where to start. Our suggestion: Carriageworks' Cut N Polish: Artist Car Boot Sale, which is exactly what it sounds like. Actually, it's even better, because it's bringing together a whopping 140-plus Greater Sydney artists and collectives to sell their works directly to the public. When it returns for 2023 from 11am–4pm on Sunday, May 7 at Carriageworks' Blacksmiths' Workshop, no one will be standing in the middle of you and these supremely talented folks — and no one will be taking commission and reducing the funds that'd otherwise go to the artists, either. You'll also get to meet fabulous creatives, chat to them about their work and hear their stories while you're supporting their practices via a cash-and-carry setup. The brainchild of Consuelo Cavaniglia, Jonny Niesche and Brendan Van Hek, this year's Cut N Polish will feature emerging and established artists alike — such as Zanny Begg, Shahroud Ghahani, Wiradjuri artist Leeanne Hunter aka Wiradjuri Aura, Emma Maye Gibson (aka Betty Grumble), Campbell and Grace Unlimited and more. Entry is free, and prices for the pieces on sale vary — with everything from art, paintings, prints and sculptures to clothes, art books and ceramics on offer. And, because all that browsing and buying is hungry and thirsty work, AP Bakery, Broomfields, Kepos Street Kitchen and others will be on food and drink duty. Images: Jacquie Manning.
If you've got a pile of gold coins burning a hole in your wallet, pockets or that void down the back of your couch — or just a spare $1 in your bank account because you haven't handled physical cash for years — BrewDog might just have the best way to put it to good use. Like beer? Keen to sample it? Always wanted to learn more about the amber liquid you're so fond of drinking? Meet BrewDog's $1 Beer School. No, there's no typo in that figure. A digit or two isn't missing, either. The Scottish brewery wants you to head by its Sydney location at South Eveleigh and go to class. Beer class, that is, aka the best kind of learning there is. All throughout May, for less than the price of a coffee (or just about anything for that matter), you'll taste four BrewDog sips and boost your beer knowledge via a self-guided online tour. The two caveats: you do need to book in advance, meaning that you can't just walk in and decide it's time to go to beer school; and you can only have a maximum of eight people per booking. Happy learning — and drinking. Images: Anna Kucera.
