Spring, plus light- to medium-bodied red wine: what a pairing. It's the duo that not only sits at the heart of Australian wine-tasting festival Pinot Palooza, but has helped the vino-swilling event become such a hit. The weather is sunny, the tipples are heady, and sipping your way through a heap of the latter is on the menu — including in 2023. Earlier in 2023, the beloved wine fest announced that it was not only returning for 2023, but also settling back into that coveted spring timeslot. Now, it has locked in venues and put tickets on sale. The Melbourne-born wine tasting festival will celebrate its 11th year by hitting up Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane again. To close out winter, it'll also make its debut in Perth. On offer at Claremont Showgrounds in Perth, Sydney's Carriageworks, Brisbane Showgrounds and The Timber Yard in Port Melbourne: more than 50 winemakers slinging their wares. Pinot Palooza will spread the party over three August days in Western Australia, as well as three October days in the Sunshine State. In New South Wales and Victoria, it'll be a two-day affair. In its decade of life until now, the fest has welcomed in thousands of vino lovers. Indeed, an estimated 65,000 tickets were sold globally before its 2022 events. When COVID-19 hit in 2020, the popular celebration was shelved for two-and-a-half years, before making a comeback last year. The response? More than 12,000 folks heading along around the nation. 2023's vino-sipping fun will cover organic, biodynamic, vegan and low-intervention wines, and more. Set to share their tipples among producers from Australia, New Zealand and further afield: New Zealand's Burn Cottage and CHARTERIS; Small Island, Ghost Rock and Meadowbank from Tasmania; M&J Becker from NSW and Moondarra from Victoria. The food lineup will feature cheese, salumi, terrines, patê, olives and other perfect vino accompaniments, with Tasmania's Grandvewe Cheese and Victoria's Mount Zero among the suppliers. And, while Pinot Palooza is a standalone fest only across the east coast dates, in Perth it's part of an already-announced collaboration with cheese festival Mould. PINOT PALOOZA 2023: Friday, August 25–Sunday, August 27: Centenary Pavilion, Claremont Showgrounds, Perth Friday, October 6–Saturday, October 7: Carriageworks, Sydney Friday, October 13–Sunday, October 15: John Reid Pavilion, Brisbane Showgrounds Friday, October 27–Saturday, October 28: The Timber Yard, Port Melbourne Pinot Palooza will get pouring around Australia from August–October 2023. For more information and tickets, head to the event's website.
Sydney institution Marigold Chinese Cuisine has been serving Sydneysiders its beloved Chinese dishes and yum cha for nearly forty years. Following a disastrous two years for hospitality due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the iconic Haymarket venue has announced that it is closing its doors to the public on Sunday, December 5 this year. It's shattering news for the city's recovering hospitality industry. Usually open daily for lunch and dinner, including the holiday period, Marigold is a yum cha and Christmas Day staple for Sydneysiders. "Dearest customers and supporters. With a heavy heart, we announce the closing of Marigold Restaurant," reads the statement on the Marigold website. The statement sites the pandemic, as well as plans to extend the Citymark Building as the reasons for its closure. "In the past 39 years, we have been very privileged to have served Sydneysiders and visitors from interstate and overseas, many of whom have become our friends," the statement continues. "The children and grandchildren of our customers have grown up with us and held their milestone celebrations in the restaurant." The devastating news comes just two months after it was revealed fellow iconic Sydney restaurant Golden Century had gone into administration. While there has been speculation that the venue could still be saved, the future for Golden Century remains unclear. If you want to experience Marigold one last time, the Haymarket spot is open seven days a week for yum cha and la carte 10am–3pm, and la carte dinner and dim sum degustations 5.30–9.30pm each day. You can also order takeaway by calling the restaurant on 9281 3388. Marigold is located at Level four and five, Citymark Building, 683 George Street, Sydney. It will close to the public on Sunday, December 5.
Located in the Sydney CBD's shiny new dining and business precinct Brookfield Place, Tenkomori Ramen House's Wynyard outpost has been serving up steaming hot bowls of brothy goodness in the heart of the city since opening at the beginning of the year. To celebrate the beginning of Vivid Sydney, Tenkomori is offering a ramen deal that's seriously good value. For one day only, the eatery is offering $1 ramen. Yes, you're reading that correctly. Break out the gold coins, because from 5pm on Friday, May 27 you'll be able to get a bowl of Tenkomori's signature ramen for just $1. The Tenkomori Ramen on offer as part of the deal is filled with steamed pork loin, pickled takana greens, a fish cake, dried seaweed and a seasoned boiled egg. Head after work and grab yourself a $1 feed before you head out to explore all the lights, art and music Vivid has to offer this year.
If your resolutions for 2023 involve being your best self in the kitchen, this year keeps bringing folks Australia's way who can definitely help. First, Israeli chef Yotam Ottolenghi made his way around the country on a speaking tour. In May, Britain's Marco Pierre White is doing the same. And, also the same month, the one and only Nigella Lawson will enjoy her latest visit Down Under. Dubbed An Evening with Nigella Lawson, this tour will see the television and cookbook favourite chat through her culinary secrets — and food in general, her life and career, and more. If you're the kind of person who starts plotting your next meal before you've even finished the last, or loves eating more than anything else, Lawson's visit will help get right to the guts of your food obsession. And, the two Sydney events at the State Theatre on Sunday, May 21 — at 2pm and 7.30pm — will also feature a Q&A component so that you can ask Lawson whatever you've always wanted to yourself. Even when she isn't answering audience questions, Lawson will have plenty to cover — she has a hefty pile of cookbooks to her name, starting with 1998's How to Eat: Pleasures and Principles of Good Food and including 2020's Nigella's Cook, Eat, Repeat. When she hasn't been filling our bookshelves with recipes, she's been whipping through them on TV, too, on everything from Nigella Bites, Nigella Feasts, Nigella Kitchen and Nigellissima through to Simply Nigella and Nigella: At My Table. And, she's been popping up on Top Chef, MasterChef Australia and My Kitchen Rules as well.
When Suicide Squad reached cinemas screens back in 2016, it garnered plenty of attention. Critics largely hated it, fans loved it and some folks tried to shut down Rotten Tomatoes because of it. Come awards season, it picked up an Oscar (for best achievement in makeup and hairstyling) as well as two Razzie 'worst' nominations. The divisive reactions just kept coming, although there were two things that almost everyone agreed on. Firstly, most people rightfully loathed Jared Leto's interpretation of the Joker. Secondly, the majority of viewers adored Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn. While the DC Extended Universe hasn't gotten a whole lot right in its attempts to emulate the Marvel Cinematic Universe (see Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Justice League, for example), its powerbrokers did seem to pay attention to the super-sized Suicide Squad debate. In response, they're giving the world what it wants: more Robbie as everyone's favourite ex-psychiatrist turned antihero. In Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn), Harley Quinn has moved on from the clown prince of crime (much like DC has moved on from Leto, at least for now, with Joaquin Phoenix playing the character in last year's standalone Joker film). In the aftermath of their breakup — an explosive event, as the film's just-dropped new trailer shows — she rounds up a crew filled with other fearsome Gotham ladies. Prepare to spend time with Black Canary (Jurnee Smollett-Bell), the Huntress (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) and Renee Montoya (Rosie Perez) as they try to thwart supervillain Black Mask (Ewan McGregor). Directed by Cathy Yan (Dead Pigs), also co-starring Chris Messina and Ali Wong, Birds of Prey marks Quinn's first solo cinematic outing — and as the both the first sneak peek and the new trailer demonstrates, it's going big, bold and over-the-top. Bright, vibrant, fun and frenetic are all terms that apply, too. When it hits theatres next month, expect plenty of colour, chaos and formidable gals wreaking havoc, in what's been rumoured to be the first in a Quinn-focused trilogy. With Suicide Squad getting a sequel in 2021, confusingly titled The Suicide Squad and helmed by Guardians of the Galaxy's James Gunn, the pigtailed prankster definitely isn't leaving screens anytime soon. Check out the new trailer for Birds of Prey below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygzqL60kvwU&feature=youtu.be Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) will hit Australian cinemas on February 6, 2020.
Darren Aronofsky may have been lauded for his portrait of The Wrestler, but he certainly doesn't pull his punches in the ballet world. Turning the dial up to 11, Aronofsky brings glorious new meaning to the term 'melodrama' as he refashions the tragic tale of the Swan princess into a sexy, haunting and sublimely over the top cinematic romp. Taking more than a few cues from Dostoyevsky's The Double, Roman Polanski's Repulsion and of course Powell and Pressburger's seminal The Red Shoes, Aronofsky and his screenwriters serve up Nina Sayers (Natalie Portman), a timidly ambitious ballerina desperate for perfection. When ballet company director Thomas (Vincent Cassel) ousts his prima ballerina (Winona Ryder) and instead selects Nina to play the lead in his revamped production of Swan Lake, the pressure immediately begins to take its toll on his new princess. Thomas knows Nina is perfect for the virginal White Swan, but he forces her to confront her lack of sensuality and wild abandon required for the sultry Black Swan. This role is better suited to the free-spirited new recruit Lily (Mila Kunis), and this perceived treat to her new reign fractures Nina's fragile psyche. Add to the mix a terrifyingly infantilising mother (a scene-stealing Barbara Hershey) and a history of stress-induced scratching, and Aronofsky has a veritable crucible of psychological factors to toy with on screen. And toy he most definitely does, leading his audience into the depths of Nina's psychosis via Portman's utterly spellbinding performance. She is simply exquisite, literally and figuratively flapping about on stage, rail thin and wild-eyed. It is a testament to her committed preparation that Portman looks at home in the ballet company, and similarly she seamlessly slips into Nina's protracted childhood amongst her wall-to-wall pink, plush toy filled bedroom. There's even a music box, complete with a twirling ballerina. Yes, everything is that black and white in Black Swan, and that's exactly how Aronofsky wants it. If you're searching for any hint of nuance or subtlety, you're in the wrong place. Aronofsky is more like a bull in a china shop, but therein lies all the fun. See Black Swan for Portman, for the production design and for the sheer, ballsy, maddening brilliance of it all. https://youtube.com/watch?v=5jaI1XOB-bs
If the Venice Film Festival can dedicate an entire island to virtual reality, and Brisbane can host its own VR festival, then Melbourne's year-round cinema hub can make the interactive technology a permanent part of its collection. As well as launching a new limited-offering VR commission, the Australian Centre for the Moving Image is adding a VR Lounge to its screen-filled spaces. Come September 23, ACMI will not only say hello to Prehistoric VR, a free two-week step back in time, but will also ask visitors to get comfy in their newest addition. The former, called the first 360-degree VR puppetry experience of its kind, comes from performing arts company Erth Visual & Physical Inc and award-winning visual artist and filmmaker Samantha Lang, while the latter will showcase a rotating array of VR works. The third ACMI commission that has asked established performing artists to turn a live stage work into realistic 360-degree virtual reality, where Prehistoric VR is headed isn't a surprise — when it comes to interacting with creatures that no longer roam the earth, life finds a way. Until October 8, the immersive experience dives onto the ocean floor, and back 200 million years, to encounter the aquatic critters from the Ediacaran to the Cretaceous periods. On the permanent front, ACMI's new ongoing VR Lounge will form part of its free Screen Worlds exhibition, kicking off with mystical fairy tale The Turning Forest. Created by Melbourne-based VR company VRTOV, who also have space at ACMI's co-working space ACMI X, it premiered to rave reviews at the 2016 Tribeca Film Festival, even earning comparisons to The NeverEnding Story. ACMI's commitment to virtual reality isn't new, with the centre premiering the spooky Ghost, Toast and the Things Unsaid and immersive dance experience Stuck in the Middle With You in 2016. As ACMI Director and CEO, Katrina Sedgwick explains, "as the national museum for film, TV, games digital culture and art, ACMI is fascinated by the rapid evolution of VR and the new ways practitioners are engaging audiences through this platform." Image: Renee Stamatis Photography.
As it turns out, not even an electrical fire can keep Nomad down. Al and Rebecca Yazbek's acclaimed Surry Hills Mediterranean diner suffered extensive damage after a fire broke out in the restaurant's ceiling in early September, but the show's far from over. While the Foster Street restaurant site undergoes a hefty rebuild and some much-needed repair work, Nomad will keep chugging along, albeit in a slightly different forma. It has popped up around the corner at 85 Commonwealth Street for a three-month residency. This new space was previously home to modern Thai institution Longrain and most recently the much-hyped Orana in Residence pop-up, so it's safe to say Nomad is joining some pretty good company. Nomad Up The Road — as the pop-up is called — takes the form of a sophisticated 140 seater, decked out with much of the original restaurant's artwork and furniture. It has front-row seating along the open kitchen, as well as roomy, group-friendly tables, and a private dining area for 24. [caption id="attachment_748861" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Petrina Tinslay[/caption] Chef Jacqui Challinor continues to head things up in the kitchen, but, without Nomad's famed woodfired oven, expect a few changes to the food. On the menu, long-standing favourites like the kingfish ceviche, duck mortadella and that creamy cannellini bean hummus join a slew of new inventions. Kingfish croquettes are served with XO sauce and finger lime, ricotta dumplings are saucy and topped with shiitakes and calamari gets an Argentinian twist with chimichurri and fried potatoes. To finish, there's the famed olive oil ice cream sandwich, as well as an orange blossom sundae and a black sesame and white chocolate doughnut. Nomad Up The Road is open for lunch and dinner from Monday to Saturday, and its ever-popular bottomless rosé lunches have made the move over, too. For $75 a head, you get 90 minutes of endless glasses of rosé and a five-course menu. Nomad's Foster Street space will open with a suite of upgrades early in 2020. Find Nomad Up The Road at 85 Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills. It's open from Monday–Saturday midday–3pm and 5.30pm–midnight. The OG Foster Street restaurant is slated to reopen in early 2020. Images: Petrina Tinslay
You can never have too many occasions to eat cheese, but this returning Australian cheese festival isn't just keen to shower cheese fiends with creamy goodness. A collaboration between Bruny Island Cheese Co cheesemaker Nick Haddow and the organisers of Pinot Palooza, Mould wants dairy lovers to explore and devour the mild, hard and soft bites that Australia's best cheese wizards have to offer. Returning for a fourth time in 2022 — after a chaotic couple of years, as all fests have endured — the cheesy event will paint Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney yellow for a couple of days in each city this winter. And there won't just be a few cheeses on the menu. More than 75 artisan cheeses from around the country will be ready and waiting for you to devour, spanning dairy from 27-plus producers. That lineup includes Bruny Island Cheese Co, naturally, plus Grandvewe, Milawa Cheese, Yarra Valley Dairy and Stone & Crow. There'll also be wares from Section 28, Red Cow Organics, Nimbin Valley Cheese, and newcomers such as Dreaming Goat, Long Paddock Cheese and Second Mouse Cheese. The 2022 events will span multiple days in each stop — running over three days in Brisbane and Melbourne, and two days in Sydney. For the first time ever, Mould is also headed to Hobart in October, if you feel like a cheese-eating trip to the Apple Isle this spring (with exact festival dates still to be announced). Alongside unlimited tastings of Australia's best cheeses, Mould will also feature flavoursome fare from cheese specialists that've been created just for the fest, too. Think of it as a cheese tasting trip around Australia without leaving the city. Of course, snacking on samples and purchasing slices and slabs to take home with you are just two ways to enjoy cheese. The fest will have cooking demonstrations, masterclasses and talks so you can stretch your cheese knowledge as well as your cheese stomach. And it wouldn't be a cheese festival without beverages to wash it all down with, so expect a bar serving Aussie wines, whisky, vodka, gin, beer, cider, cocktails and sake — all of which match nicely to a bit of cheese. Unsurprisingly, Mould is rather popular. Last year, attendees tucked into a one million samples across the fest's three cities, and also took home over 3.5 tonnes of Aussie dairy products. So, if this the kind of event that your cheese dreams are made of, you'll want to nab a $45 ticket ASAP. MOULD — A CHEESE FESTIVAL 2022 DATES: July 1–3 — John Reed Pavilion, Brisbane Showgrounds, 600 Gregory Terrace, Bowen Hills July 22–24 — The Timber Yard, 351 Plummer Street, Port Melbourne August 12–12 — Carriageworks, 245 Wilson Street, Eveleigh October TBC — Hobart TBC Mould — A Cheese Festival tours Australia from July. For more information or to buy tickets, head to the event's website.
It's a classic wine-lover's dilemma: you're keen on a restaurant's rare drop, but you can't get a sip without paying up for the whole bottle. P&V Wine + Liquor Merchants is looking to solve this quandary, at least temporarily, with the launch of a month-long tasting series presented at its P&V Paddington location. Teaming up with wine tech innovators Enomatic from Friday, June 27–Sunday, August 3, this series features the brand's wine serving system, where each glass is presented at the ideal temperature and freshness long after the cork is popped. With this specialised equipment at hand, P&V will delve into their deep cellar to pour ultra-rare, cult and small-batch wines. Without needing to stress about doing major damage to your wallet, this is your chance to sample highly coveted vino, with weekly in-store tastings and special appearances throughout the month. Expect scarce by-the-glass pours featuring Italy's barolo legends Rinaldi and Cappellano, jura icons Ganevat and Overnoy, and Australian wineries Sami-Odi and Wendouree. If you get involved, you're invited to settle into L'Avant Cave, the cosy wine bar attached to P&V's Paddington store. Here, the tasting experience is taken to even greater heights with a menu of snacks and small plates paired with these exquisite wines. With tastings available during regular store hours, guests will get a heads-up on the weekly wine lineup via the store's Instagram.
Sydneysiders are in for one big night of live music when the Young Henrys Rock & Roll Circus rolls back into town next month. After taking its show down to Melbourne for the first time during Good Beer Week in May, the free blowout is set to return to its home city on Halloween night. Head in to Frankie's on Wednesday, October 31 , when some of Australia's best musical talent will join forces for one night only. Expect a 'super band' to once again take the stage. Dubbed The Replicas, the band is made up of members from The Delta Riggs and The Preatures, along with Wild Honey's Adam Della Grotta. They'll perform classic hits, 70s–90s English punk covers and alternative favourites for the masses from 8pm until the wee hours. Joining the band on stage is a lineup of guest singers, including Dave Faulkner (Hoodoo Gurus), Joe Jackson (Sloan Peterson), Melissah Marie (Moody Beach), Gideon Bensen (Fiction Writer), Caitlin Harnett, Andy Golledge, Jess Kent and Charlie Collins — with many more announced closer to. And Young Henrys will of course be taking over the bar's taps with its brews and cider, too. Image: Katje Ford.
Barangaroo House is taking 'rosé all day' to the next level, transforming its entire three-storey venue into an homage to this pink drink for the entire month of October. Expect daily serves of the stuff in the form of bottomless rosé lunches, pop-up raw bars and a rosé vending machine, along with hot pink decor aplenty — including graffiti, neon lights, a disco lift and a hidden, all-pink room to boot. Heaps of food and drink specials are on offer across all levels. Start at House Bar, which is serving up $12 glasses of frosé and $35 carafes of rosé sangria, plus rosé spritzes for $18. Meanwhile, a custom vending machine will dispense mini bottles of Moët & Chandon rosé and a pop-up oyster bar will be on every Thursday through Saturday. Swing by during weekday happy hour, which features $2 oysters and $6 glasses of rosé, along with $6 prawn rolls and $10 cocktails. Next, make your way upstairs to Bea, where a second rosé raw bar features the likes of kingfish with rhubarb black pepper and caviar served with all of the accompaniments. On weekends, Bea is also offering $55 bottomless rosé lunches (Friday through Sunday, must be added to a main meal or set menu). Up on the roof, Smoke is pouring and shaking a heap of rosé cocktails ($18–19), including the Coming Up Rosé (Belvedere, Lillet Rose and Chandon sparkling rosé with watermelon juice) and the Rosé Highball (rosé vermouth, Aperol and Campari with pomegranate and tonic). DJs are on every Saturday from 4pm, too. For the full lineup of eats, drinks and entertainment — as well as to book a table — head to the Barangaroo House website.
Step into the Upside Down at Australia's most famous landmark. Fans of Stranger Things have been counting down the days to the smash hit sci-fi show's second season for over a year. Now, a select few will be given the chance to view the premiere in the most spectacular surroundings imaginable: the Sydney Opera House. The screening will take place on Friday, October 27 at the same time the season opener debuts in Los Angeles, hours ahead of its worldwide release on Netflix. What's more, the Opera House's northern and southern foyers will be transformed into the world of Hawkins, Indiana circa 1984. There'll be pinball machines, an '80s soundtrack and themed chow from the likes of Benny's Burgers. And yes, fans are encouraged to dress up. There will actually be two screenings at the Opera House – the first at 10.30am and the second at 12pm. Each session will run for approximately three hours, including pre-show entertainment. Tickets are free, and will be made available to Opera House newsletter subscribers from 10am on Wednesday, October 11, and to the general public from 9am on Friday, October 13. If you want to subscribe, you can do so via this link.
Forget about deckchairs and picnic blankets – you won't need either at Mov'In Bed. Instead, movie lovers are invited to snuggle up in a bed under the stars, in what is surely the most comfortable outdoor cinema experience in Sydney. Located at Moore Park's Entertainment Quarter, this year's lineup is bursting with great titles across a wide variety of genres. Whether you're an action fan, feel like a laugh or need a heartwarming romance to cuddle up close to, the team at Mov'In Bed have got you covered. Below, we've picked out five of our favourites from the jam-packed program. Happy viewing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kSuas6mRpk ACTION: KILL BILL VOLUME 1 & 2 Two movies means twice the action in this blood-spattered double bill from legendary director Quentin Tarantino. Join Uma Thurman's deadly assassin, a ruthless killer known as The Bride, on what the movie advertisements referred to as "a roaring rampage of revenge". Over the course of more than four hours, our sword-swinging protagonist cuts down dozens of enemies on her way to her final target. The dialogue is stellar, the choreography intense, the music as cool as in any film of the past 20 years. Oh, and the cast? Phenomenal. Put simply, Kill Bill is the work of a master at his brilliant best. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntxS1bBg5o0 HORROR: HAPPY DEATH DAY Think Groundhog Day, except Bill Murray keeps getting brutally murdered. That's the basic premise of Happy Death Day, an ingenious new horror flick from the producer of Get Out, Insidious and Paranormal Activity. Jessica Rothe plays an unfortunate college student forced to relive the same day again and again — a day that ends with her being killed by a masked assailant. Find the killer, break the cycle — or at least, that's the plan. Mixing scares with a healthy dose of black comedy, Happy Death Day is perfect if you like movies like Scream or Drag Me to Hell. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJmpSMRQhhs ROMCOM: THE BIG SICK One of the surprise hits of the year, The Big Sick is an utter delight and one of our absolutely favourite films on the Mov'In Bed program. Based on the experiences of its writer and star, the film follows aspiring Chicago comedian Kumail Nanjiani and his fledgling relationship with Emily (Zoe Kazan). There are two complications. Firstly, Kumail's family want him to marry a nice Pakistani girl. Secondly, Emily is soon struck down by a mysterious illness that leaves her in a coma. A romcom unlike any other, The Big Sick is funny, heartfelt and never ceases to surprise. See it with someone you love. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQFIu9InG7Q COMEDY: GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2 It has been quite the fun year for Marvel movies — and before Thor: Ragnarok showered cinema-goers with offbeat antics, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 got there first. A sequel to 2014's superhero space effort, it's a case of keeping the intergalactic adventure going as Star-Lord (Chris Pratt), Gamora (Zoe Saldana), Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista), Rocket Raccoon (Bradley Cooper) and Groot (Vin Diesel) try to save the universe, again. This time, they've got some daddy issues to deal with in the form of Kurt Russell, but the series' inability to take itself too seriously and ace '70s soundtrack remain. It's the perfect cure for comic book movie fatigue, so gather the gang. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgVo96JaqeM DRAMA: EYES WIDE SHUT An iconic filmmaker's last-ever movie. A real-life Hollywood duo diving into a tale of marital disharmony. A film that holds the Guinness World Record for the longest continuous shoot. There's much that intrigues about Stanley Kubrick's Eyes Wide Shut; the film took a whopping 400 days to make, had been on the director's slate since the late '60s and stars Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman back when they were the biggest couple in the world. And, that's all before even contemplating the film's story. Cruise and Kidman play a married couple rocked by infidelity and one particularly wild night, in an erotic drama that's provocative, probing and has to be seen to be believed. Snag tickets to these flicks and check out the full program for Mov-In Bed here.
Formerly known as Sausage Queen Brewing, Queens of Chaos is housed at The Sausage Factory on New Canterbury Road in Dulwich Hill. Here, you can learn how to make your own snags via an on-site class, or simply opt to feast on your favourites that have been hand-twisting by the experts, while sampling its excellent selection of brews. The beer's ethos is all in its name: it's for the bold, uninhibited, life-of-the-party types. Wondering which brew to choose? We can't go past the deliciously tart Pash Rash Rhubarb Pineapple and Hibiscus Sour.
Escape the hustle and bustle of city living and stay in the beautifully restored terrace house, the White House in the gorgeous town of Molong in the Orange region. All the heritage elements you would expect can be found in this quaint house on the heritage-listed main street: timber floors, throughout, high ceilings with pressed tin and large timber windows. The well-equipped two-storey property has plenty of space for those travelling in a group. Downstairs you'll find the kitchen, living room, toilet and laundry with views out onto the courtyard with a large lemon tree — a perfect spot for your morning coffee if the spacious terrace verandah doesn't take your fancy. There are three bedrooms (one queen and two doubles) and a bathroom upstairs. Molong is a quiet town a 25-minute drive from Orange and close to the region's standout wineries. If the great outdoors is on your itinerary, Molong is also a short drive from Lake Canobolas Reserve and Mount Canobolas. As with many of the small towns in the region, you can find numerous boutique shops, pubs, grocery stores and cafes. Images: David Brodie
In the words of Tyrion Lannister, it's not easy being drunk all the time. Everyone would do it if it were easy. That may be true, but you can certainly give it a go, when Game of Rhones returns for another year. An epic wine tasting event inspired by the grapes of France's Rhone Valley and the works of George R. R. Martin, this year's Game of Rhones will visit all Seven Kingdoms – by which we mean Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Wellington and Auckland. Each event will welcome more than 40 different winemakers, including Shaw + Smith, Yarra Yering, Tarrawarra Estate, Olivers Taranga and Paxton Biodynamic Wine (although exact producers vary city to city). There'll also be a number of food vendors on hand as well to ensure you don't go hungry. In between goblets, ticketholders will get the chance to chat with sommeliers at the Rhone Bar, vote for their favourite vintages as part of the People's Choice Award, and take part in a blind tasting 'torture chamber' that we promise is more fun than the name makes it sound. It should also go without saying that dressing up as your favourite GoT character is highly encouraged. Zombie John Snow, anyone?
After bringing hobbits, dwarves and walking trees to life in The Lord of the Rings and Hobbit films, New Zealand's Weta Workshop has their sights set on something smaller for their next project: bugs. Forget sending creepy crawlies scurrying across cinema screens, however. A creative collaboration between the five-time Academy Award-winning special effects wizards and the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa in Wellington, Bug Lab: Little Bugs, Super Powers will be scampering through the Melbourne Museum. With its Australian premiere season due to infest the Nicholson Street institution between 23 June and 15 October, the immersive exhibition gives little critters a big stage — and a boost in size as well. Visitors can get up close and personal via ultra-detailed large-scale models that look like a cross between colourful bug art and everyone's giant bug nightmares, with six particular specimens in the spotlight: the orchid mantis, bombardier beetle, jewel wasp, dragonfly, Japanese honeybees and katipō, aka New Zealand's most dangerous native spider. If you're easily spooked by insects, you might want to stop reading. Or, perhaps going along and getting a bug's-eye view of the world will help? Physical and digital adaptive stations will allow attendees to explore bugs' abilities in detail, test their own against them, and probably inspire a few folks to pretend to be Spider-Man. Elsewhere, bug chambers will showcase their adaptive skills, delving into camouflage, mind control, super speed, swarm intelligence and deadly venom. A section dedicated to the ways in which the creatures in question are influencing new technologies — think fly-like collision-tolerant drones, nanotechnology based on butterfly wings and 3D printed objects created from silk — will also be included, in what promises to be much, much more interesting than any bug-related science lessons you took at school. And if you just can't get enough, the attached IMAX theatre will be screening Bugs: Mighty Micro Monsters 3D during the exhibition's run. Bug Lab: Little Bugs, Super Powers comes to the Melbourne Museum from 23 June and 15 October, 2017. For more information or to buy tickets, head to their website.
The festive season is in full swing, which probably means there are more than a few long, lazy weekday lunches in your very near future. Handy then, that modern Chinese spot Holy Duck is rounding out 2018 with a series of cheap bottomless dim sum feasts, happening six days a week at its Castlecrag restaurant. Any lunchtime, from Tuesdays through Sundays until the end of the year, you can swing by here and eat your fill of dumplings and other dim sum classics for a bargain $25. The menu boasts ten different styles, from steamed scallop and prawn dumplings and soup-filled xiao long bao, to crispy duck spring rolls and wontons with a Shanghainese spicy sauce. And there is no time limit on your booking. Perfect if your office is located around St Leonards or Chatswood. You'll probably want to book in advance to secure a table — just be sure you don't have too much work waiting for you back at the office after lunch.
It's been a while in the making but planning for the 'adult Triple J' is now well underway, with Myf Warhurst at the helm. After taking control of digital music channel Dig in October last year, Triple J today announced that the over-30s station will be rebranded as Double J and officially launched on April 30 with Warhurst as regular presenter. The new station name is a throwback to Triple J's early days as Double J — a time when listeners were introduced to The Ramones and Joy Division and the station became a landmark in Australia's music history. Now, Double J will focus on the nostalgia of the '80s and '90s "celebrating the iconic music you grew up with" (N.B. This means a lot of Nick Cave, Nirvana and INXS), while adding in some palatable new sounds. "We have wanted to build a station like this for a number of years and now, with your help, we are really proud to deliver Double J," says Triple J manager Chris Scaddan. "While it won’t be a throwback to the music of the original Double J, it will be a station that takes the best elements of triple j’s past - a name, a presenter and the incredible archives, thrown headlong into the future with the best new sounds around." The reaction on Twitter has been positive with a touch of needling. — Callum Wilson (@Cal___) April 8, 2014 HEY! Gen X (old people) stop listening to @triplej its sad & you're making it uncool.We made you another thing over here #DoubleJ #TripleJ — Michael Davis (@MikeyMikeD) April 8, 2014 Regardless, the move is a necessary step to satisfy those who have felt disconnected from the national youth broadcaster of late. Alongside the usual complaints — "The Doctor sucks"; "Dubstep sucks"; "I hate hipster music and banjos" — Triple J has courted some controversy in the past few months about the homogenisation of their playlists. Faced with the familiar, high-rotation airplay of young indie acts like San Cisco, upcoming bands and old favourites alike have been reportedly feeling pressure to conform to a specific sound. Double J will hopefully help to quell this unrest and provide a bit of diversity to the listening landscape. "One of the best things any of us working in the media can do is to deliver something that audiences genuinely want," says ABC director of radio Kate Dundas. "We recognise people want to stay connected to music and discover new artists as they go through life — that’s the simple aim of Double J." Double J will launch at midday on Wednesday, April 30, with a live broadcast from Warhurst. The former Spicks and Specks favourite will present a daily show from 11am–3pm weekdays. The full list of programs and presenters will be revealed on air and you can listen in via the ABC radio app, online at www.doublej.net.au, or on your digital radio or TV.
Spend a lobster, get a lobster — and get some change as well. If you fancy treating yourself to an indulgent but affordable seafood bite, you can nab a lobster roll from Motto Motto from Tuesday, November 9 for just $16. The Japanese chain is adding the limited-edition menu item to its range at all stores Australia-wide, which includes Castle Towers, Macquarie Centre and Marrickville Metro in Sydney. Whether you're levelling up your lunch or you're hankering for a seafood dinner, your next roll just got a whole lot fancier. Motto Motto's version comes with lobster — of course — as well as shallots, avocado, black fish roe and yuzu dressing. If that's started your tastebuds watering, you'll want to get in quick, as it's only expected to be on offer for around a week. And, obviously, you don't need to pay for your purchase with a $20 note — but when you're buying lobster, you know you want to.
UPDATE, August 18, 2023: This screening is no longer showing at Roseville Cinemas, aka Sydney's oldest cinema, playing at The Reservoir Cinema in Surry Hills instead. This article has been updated to reflect that change. They're the world's most fearsome fighting team, or so the catchy theme tune goes, and they're heading back to the big screen. There's always a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie in the works of late, or so it seems — a couple of new flicks released back in 2014 and 2016, and a new animated flick is on its way in 2023 — but seeing the 1990 live-action film in a cinema is a rare treat. Mark 7pm and 9.15pm on Saturday, August 19 in your diary, Sydneysiders. This isn't any old screening, though. Haus of Horror is behind it, after showing horror movies at Parramatta Gaol and Camperdown Cemetery earlier this year. This time, The Reservoir Cinema in Surry Hills is the setting. Because the next Haus of Horror season won't begin until the weather gets warmer, the horror event fiends are heading indoors, going green and showing Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in stink-o-vision. Yes, you'll receive scratch 'n' sniff cards, which you'll use to emit appropriate scents as you watch. Already thinking about pizza, as TMNT always inspires? You'll be able to smell it during the session as you watch Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo and Raphael (and Sam Rockwell in a blink-or-you'll-miss-it part). Also, there'll be pizzas to purchase, a bar serving drinks, pre-film trivia testing your Turtles knowledge and a photo booth. Tickets start at $35, or cost $57 with a pepperoni ooze pizza and $60 with a vegan version.
Barangaroo's Ume Burger is harking back to its fan-crazed pop-up days, this time heading out to Rhodes to join forces with beloved local cafe Left of Field. The pair's one-night block party will take over Gauthorpe Street next to the cafe on Friday, March 23 from 5.30pm. Unsurprisingly, it's all about the food at this party, with a brand new yet-to-be-revealed collab burger on offer, along with Ume classics and sides — we hope this means the Menchi burger with pork katsu and tonkatstu sauce will make an appearance, or the Japanese fried chicken with curry mayo. Left of Field will also serve up its signature pavlova hotcakes while Australian Brewery slings ice-cold brews and DJ Levins sorts the tunes. If Ume's past pop-ups are anything to go by, it's best to get there early and score yourself some tasty eats before it's all gone.
With its cracking wine scene and passionate local producers, Orange is one of Sydney's favourite autumn weekenders. But finding time out to make the 260 kilometre trip isn't easy. So in May, the town will be coming to you — or, more specifically, to the Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel. A follow-up to the inaugural We Heart Orange, held in 2014, the event incorporates a month's worth of Orange-inspired happenings. From May 1, the hotel's drinks list will gain a slew of bottles from Orange-based wineries, including Logan, Philip Shaw, Ross Hill, Heifer Station and 15 others. You'll be able to sample them any time during the month. But if you're looking to boost your wine knowledge, pop in on May 14 or 28 for an evening masterclass, to be hosted on the hotel's top deck, complete with water views. The headline act is the Taste Orange Food and Wine Festival, set to take over Robertson Park on Saturday May 16 and Sunday May 17. Wander around all day trying gourmet produce and wine, which will be travelling in from the country for the weekend. For best value, book yourself some tasting sessions before you go — $30 buys ten x $3 coupons and a complimentary glass. We Heart Orange will wrap up on May 29 with a grande finale, when Racine Restaurant pops up in the Hotel's Sunset Room for one night only, with executive chef Shaun Arantz presenting a specially curated menu.
Upkeeping a healthy lifestyle during winter can be a bit of an uphill battle — and we're not just talking about that incline over at Heartbreak Hill. It's cold, it gets dark before the workday is even over, and we're burying our bodies under at least two layers of clothing. However, eating healthily is a habit that is fairly easy to maintain — if you know where to start. Forget the notions of lifeless salads or hours spent in the kitchen though. It's time to explore the world from your sofa. Together with DoorDash, we've put together this list of exciting healthy feeds that you can get delivered right to your front door.
Lana's highly collaborative Chef Series returns in 2025, featuring a host of new one-night fusions between some of Sydney's best culinary talent. Executive chef Alex Wong and Restaurant Ka's Zac Ng are kicking off the event this year, drawing from the former's stellar reputation for seafood-driven, Asian-Italian cuisine and the latter's contemporary Cantonese cooking. [caption id="attachment_991075" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Leigh Griffiths[/caption] Ng is set to be the ideal partner, bringing decades of experience from many of Sydney's most respected restaurants. Building his reputation at Flying Fish, Sepia and XOPP by Golden Century, he now leads Ka – an innovative 10-seat chef's table where he blends Cantonese-style flavours with modern techniques and flair. For this exciting event, the duo will produce a fascinating sharing menu for $129pp, featuring dishes like mud crab tart with silken tofu, pork jowl with abalone, and scallop tortelli with coral prawn and trout roe. Make this lavish feast even more special with a Mercer Wines pairing for $65 extra. Presented in Lana's dining room in the converted Hinchcliff Wool Stores building on March 4, this bold collab is the first of several to come. [caption id="attachment_991077" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Steven Woodburn[/caption] Top image: Yusuku Oba
Vegans, it's a great time to be in Sydney. In February, world-famous animal-free chef Matthew Kenney opened his first Australian restaurant in Woolloomooloo. And now, the city's own Alfie's Kitchen – creators of innovative, plant-based degustations – has announced that it's moving into permanent digs. Before this, Alfie's shared its creations at secret warehouse feasts, held at various spots around Sydney. If you've ever attended one, then you'll know that head chef and co-owner Joey Astorga creates original, beautifully-plated dishes, often featuring native ingredients. Examples include paperbark smoked leek with finger lime and kipfler potato; hazelnut pâté with salted plum, roasted beetroot and toasted wattle seed; and rhubarb and lemon myrtle mousse with frozen strawberries. Both these – and numerous other delights – will be on the menu at Alfie's new home, Paperbark. A collaboration with Sydney's plant-based fast food joint Verd, the restaurant is moving into the Casba complex on Danks Street in Waterloo, where you'll also find Kepos & Co. and Allegra Dining. At dinner, choose between a la carte and tasting menus. Or, if you're peckish, go for bar snacks, such as salt, vinegar and pepperberry potato churros. When the weekend rolls around, brunch will be on offer. Astorga is planning some fun takes on classics. Think smashed avo, soldiers and toasties, but with unusual ingredients, such as finger lime and marinated oyster mushrooms. The drinks list is big on small-batch, minimal-intervention Australian drops. "The wine list reflects what we drink, small producers who care about every aspect of what they do," said Alfie's co-owner Hellene Algie. "We want to highlight the great minimal-intervention wines being made around the country." There's also a bunch of local craft beers and a signature cocktail menu made up of botanical-infused concoctions. Paperbark will open on Wednesday, June 20 at Casba, 8-18 Danks Street, Waterloo.
From the inventive mind of contemporary Irish playwright Edna Walsh paired with the assured direction of Kate Gaul, TAP Gallery presents the Sydney premiere of Penelope, a creative reworking of the bloody climax of Homer's The Odyssey. At the bottom of a drained swimming pool there is an unlit, untouched barbeque; nevertheless, the atmosphere is hot and electric. Over 100 suitors whittled down to just four men. They conspire how to win the affections of Penelope in the absence of her warrior husband, Odysseus. Both Vaudevillian and tragic, this is a play steeped in the anxiety of Odysseus's return. It is a compelling cesspit of violence and anguish, sparked with offshoots of cabaret and black humour. This is Gaul’s second undertaking of a Walsh play. Her disciplined handling of last year’s The New Electric Ballroom earned great praise. In the wake of its success, expect this production to be another memorable tour de force of contemporary theatre.
Pull out your loose change stash and check under the couch, because one of the best food deals we've seen in a while will hit The Rocks next week. For one day only, The Argyle is slinging dumplings for just ten cents a piece. Head on in from 11am on Tuesday, April 23 and bring your appetite — and all the silver coins you can find. Expect a dim sum feast of gyoza, har gow and shumai on offer, with prawn, vegetable and pork varieties up for grabs. There is one catch — punters must purchase a full-price drink to access the ten-cent dumpling extravaganza. The deal is available all day and bookings are recommended — so head here before all the tables for next week are snatched up. If you miss out this round, you can still nab $1 dumplings (and $5 Asahi) at the venue every Tuesday — though the deal isn't nearly as appealing once you've considered the ten-cent version.
The Streets of Barangaroo is flexing its culinary muscles with a huge new two-day food festival that's bringing a tasting trail, a First Nations native food market and a thoughtful series of talks to this waterfront suburb. The Great Graze will pop up across Barangaroo between Saturday, October 29 and Sunday, October 30, showcasing all of the best eateries the suburb has to offer and the skills of some of Australia's favourite chefs. Kicking things off will be the Food for Thought speaker series in the lobby of One International Towers. A series of sessions will be hosted by Myffy Rigby, each of which will treat audiences to insights and home cooking tips from the likes of Matt Moran (Aria, Chiswick, Barangaroo House), Brent Savage (Monopole, Yellow, Cirrus) and the authors of Furst Nations Food Companion, Rebecca Sullivan and Damien Coulthard. Savage will also be hosting a four-course lunch at his hatted restaurant Cirrus with the help of Australian seafood expert John Susman. The $140 feast will be centred around sustainable seafood and will feature coral troat, charcoal bread with whipped ricotta, whole john dory, jacket potatoes, grilled asparagus, pavlova and a sustainable platter featuring Cloudy Bay clams, Kinkawooka mussels, Sydney rock oysters, yellowtail trevally and blue swimmer crab. Restaurants and cases throughout The Streets of Barangaroo will be setting up market-style stalls out the front of their venues, offering tasting plates for between $6-16. Hop between restaurants and discover leek and truffle spring rolls at Lotus, mango pancakes at CHI by Lotus, honey prawns at Zushi, kingfish tostadas at Tequila Daisy, umami potato gems at Ume Burger, a Booze & Bump champagne and caviar combo at Devon Cafe and tossed wings with house peach tea at Belle's Hot Chicken. These are just a few of the dishes that will be on offer to try your way through across the food-filled weekend. The First Nations food market will also pop up at the Barangaroo food festival, featuring stallholders like Warndu, Blak Cede, Bush to Bowl, Chocolate on Purpose, IndigiEarth, The Unexpected Guest, Meat Brothers and Native Foodways. The final piece of The Great Graze's puzzle will be a hefty entertainment roster including roving performers and live musicians throughout the precinct and DJ sets out of Barangaroo House's new tune-heavy Japanese restaurant and bar Rekodo. [caption id="attachment_871572" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Rekodo, Steven Woodburn[/caption] The Great Graze is taking over The Streets of Barangaroo from 11am–5pm Saturday, October 29 and Sunday, October 30.
In the National Art School's quest to make art accessible and engaging for all, it birthed the monthly event NAS NEO. The free after-hours event brings together live music, food and drinks, and art of every kind — with a particular emphasis on interactivity. Head to the staggering sandstone-walled venue on Thursday, June 8 for the next iteration, On Print, which celebrates a broad range of print techniques via workshops, drag performances and exhibitions. The headline act for the first winter NAS NEO is Battlesnake, the psychedelic rockers who supported KISS on their recent tour Down Under. Catch their hits like 'I Am the Vomit' and 'Nightmare King' on your arty weeknight. Sticking to the night's theme, drag performers will wear dazzling screen-printed creations for both group and solo numbers. Flex your own creative muscles in a range of workshops. There's collage printing with Tristan Chant, the talented artist who fuses screen printing and chopping and rearranging images to form something new. Attendees can try their hand at Chant's creative practice via silk screens (and are encouraged to bring their own t-shirt to use in the session). Do you know what frottage is? Well, if not, you should be even more excited to head to Marcus Dyer-Harrison's session on the artform. Tracing and rubbing over material objects (say a coin or a leaf) with a lead pencil will leave a version of your subject embellished on your page. Through this technique, you can create new versions of the ordinary things in your surroundings — and uncover a new way to see and explore your world. Tickets are free, but you need to RSVP. Hands-on art, live music and dinner chosen from a lineup of food trucks? Better than whatever else you had planned for a Thursday night. Can't make it on the 8th? The next NAS NEO is on Thursday, June 22 and will be spotlighting contemporary Indigenous art — RSVP and then add it to your diary ASAP. NAS NEO: On Print takes over the National Art School grounds in Darlinghurst on Thursday, June 8 from 6–10pm. For more information, head to the website.
Mid-April 2018 was a great period for Beyoncé fans, with the superstar singer taking to the Coachella stage and making it her own across two huge sets. Bey isn't playing the festival in 2019, but she's still staking a claim on this part of the year. After simultaneously releasing a Netflix documentary about the epic show and a 40-track live album just this week, it looks like more Beyoncé specials are heading to the streaming platform. As part of the deal for Homecoming: A Film By Beyoncé, Netflix signed on for three Beyoncé projects, according to Variety. Just what the other two will be and when they'll land is yet to be revealed; however the streamer has been growing its music library in recent years — it also has concert and music docos about Bruce Springsteen, Lady Gaga, Justin Timberlake and Quincy Jones in its catalogue. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fB8qvx0HOlI For now, Homecoming: A Film By Beyoncé remains the concert documentary you definitely knew you needed, but didn't know existed until recently Picking up where the most-watched live-streamed performance of all time, the film follows all of the on-stage and behind-the-scenes action, including the 100-plus dancers, the show's powerful homage to America's historically black colleges and universities, and "the emotional road from creative concept to cultural movement". Like the real-life performance, the film clocks in at 137 minutes, so expect a lengthy and intimate tour through the festival set everyone has been talking about for 12 months, including behind-the-scenes footage and candid chats that delve into the preparation process and Bey's stunning vision. You know what else is lengthy? The 40-track live album Bey also dropped on Spotify. As well as live renditions of 'Sorry', 'Crazy in Love' and 'Soldier' — the latter which was performed with former Destiny's Child group mates Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams — from Coachella, the album, also called Homecoming, features a song by Blue Ivy (Bey's daughter) and two bonus tracks. It's also doubly exciting that the album is available on the easier-to-access Spotify, as Bey dropped her most-recent album Lemonade exclusively on Tidal, her husband Jay-Z's streaming service. Head to Netflix to watch Homecoming: A Film By Beyoncé and listen to the album below: Images: Courtesy of Parkwood Entertainment
After the pandemic forced the music festival industry into two years of uncertainty, cancellations and postponements, one mainstay of the scene is definitely making the most of 2022. Port Macquarie's longstanding boutique music gathering Festival of the Sun (FOTSUN) has already returned for one edition in 2022, and it's backing that up with a second before the year is out — and the lineup for its second iteration within 12 months is full of local favourites. Usually popping up at the end of the year, FOTSUN jumped at the first opportunity it had to return to the Port Macquarie foreshore, hosting a two-day festival back in May. Not content with its one-off autumn edition, it will now be popping back up at the Port Macquarie Breakwall Holiday Park for three days between Thursday, December 8–Saturday, December 10. Round two's lineup is a genuine party starter, with the majority program based around vibrant pop acts and sunny indie rock bands. Leading the way are Canberra duo and KFC tastemakers Peking Duk, with Vera Blue, Cosmo's Midnight, Confidence Man and Alex the Astronaut joining them at the top of the bill. [caption id="attachment_636238" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Confidence Man at BIGSOUND 2017 by Bec Taylor.[/caption] Further down the lineup, you'll find a who's who of up-and-coming rock bands — namely Pacific Avenue, The Terrys, The Dreggs, Eliza & the Delusionals, Stumps and Teenage Dads. Also on the lineup: Benson, Nyxen, Felivan, Rum Jungle and Good Lekker. Plus, there will be a rare appearance from fast-rising pop singer-songwriter ASTON who has helped pen hit songs for K-pop group aespa, as well as Jessica Mauboy, Ricki-Lee and FOTSUN lineup mates Cosmo's Midnight. Festival of the Sun does things a little different to most other festivals in Australia. Not only is it BYO — meaning that you can bring in your favourite craft brews and you won't be stuck forking out the exuberant prices most festivals charge for alcohol — but it's also located in a beachside caravan park. Thanks to the latter, hot showers, mid-festival ocean swims and even cabin stays are all on the cards as well. Here's the lineup: FESTIVAL OF THE SUN DECEMBER 2022 LINEUP Peking Duk Vera Blue Cosmo's Midnight Confidence Man Alex the Astronaut Pacific Avenue The Terrys The Dreggs Eliza & The Delusionals Stumps Benson Nyxen Felivand Teenage Dads Rum Jungle South Summit Caroline & Claude Full Flower Moon Band Good Lekker ASTON Holiday Scuffs Mild West The Colliflowers Mikk Psychoda Festival of the Sun will return to the Port Macquarie Breakwall Holiday Park from Thursday, December 8–Saturday, December 10. Tickets are on sale now.
Misc. Magazine is a new free magazine dedicated to showcasing the work of up and coming and amateur artists, writers, designers, photographers and other creative types, giving Sydney's young creative community a chance to have their work published in a tangible format for distribution amongst the public. Want to get on board? The first issue of Misc. will be launched at this week's Purple Sneakers, with copies of the magazine available on the night. If you like what you see, why not get creative and join in for issue #2? RSVP to mag@misc-magazine.net to check it out.
If you haven't already heard, Kinchin Lane in Wetherill Park is hosting a two-week-long summer festival this month. The western Sydney food and entertainment hub will be heaving with live music, great food, drinks and hands-on workshops, making it a great spot when you want to switch up your date night routine. But with so much on offer, where should you and your boo begin? In partnership with Stockland, we've rounded up six great ways to enjoy date night at Kinchin Lane this month. [caption id="attachment_842854" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Arvin Prem Kumar[/caption] ENJOY LIVE MUSIC AND TOP-NOTCH EATS AT SUMMER EATS AND BEATS What's more romantic than enjoying al fresco live music with your special someone? Not much, we'd argue. On Friday nights this month, Kinchin Lane's Summer Eats and Beats festival will host a lineup of exciting local acts, who'll be taking to the stage to add some live background music to date night. If you're keen for a little boogie, DJs will be playing on Thursday and Saturday evenings. And let's not forget — the key to anyone's heart is through their stomach. There's an exciting range of delicious eats at Kinchin Lane that you can check out right here. [caption id="attachment_842855" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Great Cocktails (Unsplash)[/caption] LEARN A NEW SKILL AT THE SUMMER MOCKTAIL WORKSHOP Relationships all about finding the right balance — just like a good mocktail or cocktail. Practice your mixing skills with your boo at the Summer Mocktail Workshop on Saturday, February 26. For $20 you will get the best tips from an expert mixologist as you learn the secrets behind what makes a great mixed drink. Appreciate the flavours in a Lemon Myrtle Spritzer and experiment with native ingredients in a Bush Tucker mocktail. Now you have a new skill that you can practise together. HEAD TO TIMEZONE FOR SOME FRIENDLY COMPETITION Live out your retro romantic fantasies with a trip to the arcade. Timezone is conveniently located in Wetherill Park and is home to all things fun. Whether you want to show off your bowling skills, play a little laser tag, or win your person a prize on an arcade game, TimeZone is filled with activities that will add a bit of spark to date night. [caption id="attachment_842853" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Arvin Prem Kumar[/caption] HAVE AN INTERACTIVE DINING EXPERIENCE AT SOJU After you have worked up an appetite running around at laser tag, head to Kinchin Lane Korean fave Soju and enjoy a romantic dinner beneath the glowing lanterns. But the fun doesn't have to stop at the arcade — Soju serves up a great selection of Korean barbecue and hot pot that brings an interactive dining experience to your table. Don't feel like doing the cooking? Tuck into delicious Korean street food, fried chicken, bibimbap and more. Don't forget to wash it down with a pick from the soju menu, too, or a refreshing soju-based cocktail. [caption id="attachment_842856" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Arvin Prem Kumar[/caption] AND THEN, SATISFY YOUR SWEET TOOTH AT SAN CHURRO Treat your sweet to a sweet treat — you know they deserve it. Head to San Churro for a shared plate of the namesake churro, crispy, cinnamon-coated deep-fried dough served with couverture chocolate, Spanish caramel and fruit. This will satisfy any sweet tooth and bring a bit of sugar and spice into your night. ENJOY A LUXE CINEMA EXPERIENCE AT HOYTS What better way to end date night than catching a flick in premium surrounds? Head to Hoyts Lux for a bit of well-deserved indulgence. Relax on the comfiest recliners and enjoy sleek in-cinema service where you can pair your movie with a selection of delicious eats and top-range drinks at just the press of a button. This date night activity will be sure to score you some major brownie points. To find out more about Kinchin Lane's Summer Eats and Beats festival, head to the event website.
In 2014, the ultimate celebration of French cinema in Australia will mark its silver anniversary with one of its most impressive programs yet. Lighting up Palace Cinema locations around the country, the 25th annual Alliance Française French Film Festival has film-faring Francophiles covered, with light hearted comedies to searing dramas, as well as hat-tips to two of France's most legendary filmmakers. The festivities kick off on opening night with a screening of Nils Tavernier's inspiring sports drama The Finishers followed by a post-film cocktail party. Other big tickets include the bloody Palm d'Or nominated epic Michael Kohlhaal, Bruno Dumont's lauded biopic Camille Claudel 1915 and the Monaco-set espionage thriller Möbius starring The Artist's Jean Dujardin. Lighter options can be found in the festival's romance and comedy streams. Stylish indie ensemble 2 Autumns, 3 Winters has garnered plenty of positive buzz internationally, while Bright Days Ahead offers something for the older crowd, recounting the tale of a newly retired senior who strikes up an affair with a much younger man. Patrons can also preview the works of France's future filmmaking elite, with a program of short films from renowned Parisian film academy La Fémis. At the other end of the spectrum, fans of the classics might enjoy a retrospective of the works of new-wave pioneer François Truffaut, including his medium-shifting masterworks Jules and Jim and The 400 Blows. Closing night serves up another iconic slice of French cinema, in the form of Jacques Tati's wonderful 1958 comedy Mon Oncle. For the full Alliance Française French Film Festival program, visit www.affrenchfilmfestival.org. We have six double passes to give away to the Alliance Française French Film Festival in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter (if you haven't already), then email us with your name and address. Sydney: win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.au Melbourne: win.melbourne@concreteplayground.com.au Brisbane: win.brisbane@concreteplayground.com.au
There I was, breaking open the piggy bank to rustle up enough cash for a plane ticket to Burning Man festival, Glastonbury or maybe even Fuji Rocks, when out of the blue Splendour in the Grass announce their lineup for 2010. Suddenly my dreams of northern-hemisphere summer festival frolicking burst into flames and I'm plotting a cheap ride up to Queensland in July. Headlining are the Strokes, who sold out their Hordern Pavillion gig earlier this week in less than 48 hours. Thank you for giving all us disorganised Sydney fans a second chance to set the room (or field) on fire with you. Pixies must love life Down Under as they are back for a second time this year, as well as folksters Mumford and Sons and Laura Marling. And packing her lungs for her second Aussie tour is the crimson-haired Florence and the Machine. Homegrown favourites are out in full festival force and include Empire of the Son, Paul Kelly, the Temper Trap, the Vines, Wolfmother, Lisa Mitchell and the delectable Angus and Julia Stone. And to top it all off with an electronic cherry are Goldfrapp, Hot Chip, Grizzly Bear, LCD SoundSystem, Foals and Delphic. Oh, and did I mention Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, The Magic Numbers, Two Door Cinema Club and Kate Nash? What about Ben Harper, Ash and the Scissor Sisters? Surely this is a festival organiser's wish-list published by accident? And if it is true, do they not realise the immense stress that such a line-up inflicts on perfectionists when it comes to coordinating stage visits? As long as I see the Strokes, I'm happy. But then again I'm happy hanging out in the camping ground drinking cider and talking bollocks. To celebrate their 10th anniversary, Splendour in the Grass are stretching the fun from two days to three, and have moved homes further north to the slightly warmer winter location of Woodford, Queensland. Bring on the port-a-loos! Tickets on sale 9am, Thursday May 6
When most people think about Mardi Gras, the parade is the first thing that comes to mind. But there's plenty more on offer and this year's 'fearless' program is chockers with new and returning events. Along with the permanent return of Taylor Square's rainbow crossing, there are over 100 parties, shows, and late-night shindigs happening around Sydney between February 15 and March 3. We've picked just nine that partygoers, art connoisseurs, and music fans can all get excited about.
Combining tequila, orange liqueur and lime juice, a classic margarita isn't all that complicated. But, this beloved cocktail can also be rather versatile. If you've grabbed a meal and a drink at El Camino Cantina, you've probably tasted one or several non-traditional varieties. And if you head by the lively Tex-Mex chain's Sydney venues in The Rocks, Manly Wharf, Entertainment Quarter and Westfield Miranda before Friday, January 22, you'll be able to sip four new types that are certain to get you feeling nostalgic. When you were a kid and eating Iced VoVos at recess, we're guessing that you didn't ever imagine drinking an Iced VoVo-inspired margarita — but, that's now a reality. It's one of El Camino Cantina's 'retro ritas', alongside a Fruit Tingle-inspired version, one that takes its cues from Cottee's cordial and a guava flavour. All four are available cadillac-style, which means they come with a float of Grand Marnier. You'll pay $20 for a 15-ounce drink, $24 for a 24-ounce serve and $30 for a tasting paddle of any four (in 220-millilitre glasses). At The Rocks only, an extra six flavours are also on offer — so we hope you like Caramello-flavoured margaritas, or versions with jelly, red frogs and lemonade ice blocks, among other options. Images: Michael Gribbin.
If you're kicking yourself for missing this year's Big Fashion Sale, which took over the Paddington Town Hall back in March, you're about to get a second chance to amp up your wardrobe on the cheap. The always-popular designer sale will again return to Sydney — but this time it will operate as a pop-up store, setting up shop on Oxford Street for 11 whole days. The shop will house an enormous array of items, including past collections, samples and one-offs from more than 50 highly sought after Australian and international designer brands. As with the March sale, you can expect big names like Romance Was Born, Stella McCartney and Ryder to be joined by brand new sale additions including Mara & Mine, Henry Beguelin, Emilio Pucci and Alberta Feretti. Again, discounts will be up to 80-percent off, so you can nab some well-made (and otherwise rather expensive) threads without emptying out your bank account. And, if you can't make it along from Thursday, June 20 to Sunday, June 30, the Big Fashion Sale will be launching something new in July — it's first-ever online store.
Everybody’s favourite genuinely alternative radio station FBi are once again delivering the music goods. FBi co-founder and president Cassandra Wilkinson has joined forces with FBi co-conspirator Paul McLeay, writer and musician Jim Flanagan and Catch Communications director Chrissy Flanagan to create a record label dedicated to the up-and-comers. The label has been christened Lazy Thinking Records (aptly represented by a sloth in the logo) and they’re launching tonight with a massive party at the Red Rattler Theatre in Marrickville. The event kicks off at 7pm, supported by Rita Revell, Greenwave Beth, JaysWays and Artefact alongside some slick projections and will be the first in a series of Lazy Thinking Records Thursday night events designed to profile progressive musicians. Wilkinson says the label will focus on local and unsigned talent, niche artists with an odd or non-commercial sound and anyone who is overlooked by the bigger labels. She says they wanted to create a label that they themselves would be happy to release with and that approaches the whole process ethically, taking into account the individual needs of the artists rather than the bottom line. She believes bigger labels have their place but aren’t necessary right for all musicians, particularly up-and-comers. “My view is that it’s a big eco-system. There needs to be a space for small artists to find their sounds and be championed at the start of their career,” says Wilkinson. "It’s been so wonderful to meet so many young unsigned artists. They can get nervous about dealing with professionals and we want to support and protect them. Some sounds take a while to take hold… Not everyone is ready for a big audience and not everyone will ever be." As of yet, the label is still in negotiations with various artists and has no announcements to make regarding who will flesh out their stable, but it’s all in keeping with their ethos — to take time, consider the needs of the talent and know that good things come to those who wait. Lazy Thinking Records launch party is happening tonight at Red Rattler Theatre, 6 Faversham Street, Marrickville, from 7pm. Tickets $12.
Across two seasons in 2016 and 2018, Fleabag was the only dramedy that mattered. If you weren't watching Phoebe Waller-Bridge's smash hit, you were hearing all about it from everyone you knew. If you were watching it, you were then rewatching it — and, of course, telling all of your friends. But before it was a hit TV series, Fleabag was a one-woman theatre show. That history behind Phoebe Waller-Bridge's award-winning series isn't new news, of course. As the television version of Fleabag kept picking up accolades — a BAFTA for Best Female Performance in a Comedy for its writer/creator/star; Emmys for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, Outstanding Comedy Series, Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series and Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series; Best Actress and Best Television Series Golden Globes; and a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series among them — that past was well-known. But if you haven't seen the OG stage production, a recorded version of that stunning performance is coming back to the big screen in Sydney. The story remains the same, charting an incredibly relatable tale of trying to balance work, life, love and the like. When it was playing theatres from 2013–2019 after premiering at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Fleabag was just as applauded. And, as plenty of hit UK productions are, it was filmed by NT Live, then beamed into cinemas. It's that recording that's heading to picture palaces again from July 13, complete with Waller-Bridge stepping through the story of Fleabag's titular character. Captured at London's Wyndham's Theatre, it initially started doing the rounds for filmgoers in 2019. Indeed, that debut silver-screen stint broke box-office records. If you're unfamiliar with the TV show, let alone the theatre production before it, Fleabag's existence is perhaps best described as chaotic. Friends, family, job interviews, keeping a guinea pig-themed cafe afloat — they're just the beginning. The idea behind it came at one of Waller-Bridge's pal's storytelling nights, as a challenge to create a character for a ten-minute slot. Images: Matt Humphrey.
Carriageworks will again open its arms for performance and video artist John A. Douglas and his ongoing meditation on the illness that shapes his life and art with Body Fluid II (redux). With Douglas occupying the stage attached to a dialysis machine, the show is set to offer an insight into our powers of transformation and mortality. Dialysis, we often forget, requires its patients to be stationary for hours at a time, so this will necessarily be a contemplative, still work that the audience can engage with for as long as they choose. Throughout the ten-hour sittings, Douglas's accompanying video installation will provide a figurative landscape that hops from space to surreal forest to the surface of a cell, using bewitching macro photography from the Museum of Human Disease UNSW. Douglas's signature golden figure is present throughout the imagery, an homage to Nicolas Roeg's The Man Who Fell to Earth — also Bowie's screen debut— the story of a humanoid alien subjected to invasive medical testing and imprisonment. The artist will remain dependent on daily dialysis until he secures a kidney transplant, so this is one exhibition where it does not take too much mind-stretching to draw the link between the life and art. Body Fluid II (redux) is part of the Switched On season at Performance Space, which is part of ISEA (itself under the umbrella of Vivid this year). The works featured each take something from the electronic world and combine it with other practices such as theatre, dance and sound. You'll be able to play mini games throughout the Darlinghurst streets with Perth's pvi collective, watch as experimental dance meets motion-sensing technology in Breathing Monster by French choreographer Myriam Gourfink and consider what human society should put down for posterity with the launch of the Forever Now project, to be concluded at MONAFOMA 2014.
Winter is here! The 2013 ski season officially launched last weekend and Thredbo's claim to the winter social scene got a boost — introducing the Rekorderlig Poolside bar at the Thredbo Alpine Hotel. This little piece of Aspen high life, nestled into the NSW heart of the Snowy Mountains, invites you to bask in its heated pool, your favourite Swedish cider, fire pits, world-class DJs, heaters and beanbags. The bar will be operational over June weekends, Thursday to Saturday (all weekends are long this close to Mount Kosciuszko — it's an altitude thing), and then open nightly for the July leg of the season. Rekorderlig ciders are the order of the day, along with daily drink specials, and if you buy two winter ciders, they will shout you a pair of boardies (imagine how many pairs you could have by August). Plus, after you have soaked out all those first-day aches, you can dry off with one of the provided towels and get prepped for Thredbo after dark. Sydney DJ Abel El Toro, took out first night honours on the poolside turntables last Saturday, bringing his brand of Ibiza beats to the ski slopes. If that is any indication of nights to come, Rekorderlig Poolside should shape up to be the perfect Thredbo icebreaker.
Flicks, facts and finding out plenty of things you didn't know: they're all on the agenda at the Antenna Documentary Film Festival. Since making its debut in 2011, the annual event has eagerly jumped into the informative side of cinema, offering a stellar showcase of docos from around the world as well as quite the learning experience. Returning for another year from October 10 to 15, this year's fest promises insightful explorations, thought-provoking dissections and more across 50 shorts and features from 20 countries. See the sights and folks of rural France in opening night's Faces Places, and step into the world of an iconic singer with closing night's Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami. In between, enjoy everything from eye-popping fireworks (in Brimstone & Glory) and candid looks at female sexuality (Venus), to a movie-inspired trip to Iceland (Atlantis, Iceland) and an account of Bell Shakespeare Company's staging of Macbeth in a juvenile detention centre (Kings of Baxter, which makes its world premiere at the fest). Taking place at Palace Verona, Chauvel Cinema, Palace Norton Street and the Museum of Contemporary Art, the festival isn't just about watching, however — it's also about examining the world of factual filmmaking. Accordingly, Antenna also includes a day-long natter about the state of the documentary industry, called Doc Talk, for those eager to dive even further down the doco rabbit hole.
One of the permanent markered events in the Sydneysider spring calendar, Newtown Festival remains one of Sydney's go-to events for grass lawn sprawlers, like-nobody's-watching dancers and festival food stall enthusiasts — and it's still only a gold coin donation. The always-anticipated festival in Camperdown Memorial Park will this year be celebrating the Day of Independence for Australia's newest micronation, 'Newtown Republic'. Heh. Themes. Sitting at the top of the lineup are shiny handclap-triggering foursome Deep Sea Arcade, beloved punk rockers Straight Arrows, reggae-driven hip hop crew Astronomy Class and epic prog-rock favourites sleepmakeswaves. Magical Mystery Tour-like psychedelics Richard in Your Mind, rascally garage punk trio Bloods and Sydney's suavest disco-funk-cranking-epic-shoulder-pads-wearing smooth talker Donny Benet will be hangin' out too. Country bluegrass supergroup The Morrisons will soundtrack your spring festival meandering, Day Ravies will psych you out, newcomer East is a definite bright spark to catch, party-triggering hip hop crew Daily Meds will be an undoubtedly must-see set, while sassy vintage rock-n-rollers The Fabergettes will be sure to have you mum dancing like a boss. This is just the start of the huge local lineup — we haven't even talked about the dog show. Or the live art hub with Phibs, Peque and Unique painting all day. Or the writer's tent with talks from Dr Karl and the Moriarty Sisters. With over 80,000 people making their way through the gates every year, Newtown Festival remains one of Sydney's best local 'how sweet is Sydney' ops — also still raising funds for the Newtown Neighbourhood Centre. Newtown Festival 2014 is on Sunday, November 9.30am – 5.30pm in Camperdown Memorial Rest Park, Newtown. Entry is by gold coin donation, there's no glass or BYO and there's no entry after 5pm. For more info head to the festival website. Top image: Newtown Festival.
Netflix's algorithm has clearly figured out one of the most obvious facts about humankind: we all really love dogs. With the streaming platform's latest documentary series, it's dedicating six episodes to different canines from around the globe — and the two-legged folks who care for, groom, dress and even fish with them. Of course, the barking balls of fluff are the real drawcards. Called Dogs, landing on Netflix on November 16 and just dropping its first "awwww"-inducing trailer today, the show follows puppers in Syria, Japan, Costa Rica, Italy and the US, each with their own stories to tell. One episode explores life in a dog sanctuary in the Costa Rican rainforest, another relays the tale of a Siberian Husky trapped in Syria after his owner was able to flee to German, and yet another jumps into Japan's love of cute pooches — dog strollers are a common sight on the streets of Tokyo, after all. The show is described by the streamer as "an inspirational journey exploring the remarkable, perhaps even magical qualities that have given these animals such a special place in all of our hearts", so it's clearly designed to tug at your heartstrings — but if you can't get enough when it comes to adorable canines, you won't be complaining. Given that Netflix announced earlier in the year that pets make the best binge partners, all based on a study that it commissioned, the show is hardly a surprising addition to its lineup. Dogs also boasts an impressive pedigree, with Academy Award-nominated documentarian Amy Berg (Deliver Us From Evil) both executive producing the series and directing two of its episodes. Other filmmakers involved include Life Animated's Roger Ross Williams, The Jinx's Richard Hankin, and Undefeated's T.J. Martin and Daniel Lindsay. Before the series hits your streaming queue next month, go barking mad for the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pLCmLgjiJ8 Dogs will be released globally on Netflix on November 16.
Ready to say hello to those first few beams of spring sunshine? The Artbank team sure are. They are busy preparing their annual Social Club, which will be a veritable feast of art, food, music and performance rolled into one open-invite event. As our local leader in art lending, Artbank is a government-supported organisation designed to equip the general public with cutting-edge contemporary art. And on August 29, over 3,000 artworks will be on display at the Waterloo headquarters. It’s a perfect opportunity to wander around and check out the latest exhibition, Visible Storage, while imagining how its works might look hanging in your own home. DJ Fleetwood Crack will be spinning tunes into the late afternoon, and there will be a host of performances happening across the venue. Food comes courtesy of Eat Art Truck, and a new Market Place will feature stalls from five of Artbank’s creative friends. This art party will be a multi-sensory treat, dishing up a chilled Saturday session with a smattering of cultural stimulation, from noon through to 4pm.
Nothing says 'I love you' like 3D-printed, artist-design chocolates, right? That's what Melbourne-born artist Ryan L Foote is banking on this holiday season. He's created a whole new meaning to Christmas chocolates by creating a range that digitises his otherwise classic chocolatier techniques. Chocolates by Ryan L Foote will launch with three 3D-printed collections — inspired by Australia, Hong Kong and the Asia Pacific (which includes singe origin chocolate grown in Vietnam, Indonesia, The Philippines, Papua New Guinea and Australia). The artist has spent the past two years living between Australia and Hong Kong, and his chocolates collections reflect this. In the Australian collection, there are flavours like avocado smash, white chocolate with wattleseed, lemon myrtle cream with macadamia nut, finger lime with hazelnut, and spicy chocolate with mountain pepperberry. The Hong Kong collection includes egg tart, buttery pineapple bun, red bean ganache, salted coconut, milk tea and even preserved three-year-old mandarin rind flavours. The chocolates' unusual contemporary design takes inspiration from architecture, Pacific geological formations and natural minerals — making these sweet treats standout from your average convenience store variety. Alongside the chocolates are 3D-printed porcelain cups and crystalline-glazed plates that have also been designed by Foote. You can pre-order for your loved ones at the Kickstarter campaign now, with orders shipping out for Christmas. Chocolate pledges range from $20 to $477, with gifts starting at a box of drinking chocolate and ending at a deluxe entertainment box that includes three boxes of chocolate, one box of drinking chocolate and two porcelain cups, plates and serving platters. You've got to really love your family to go for that one, though. Chocolates by Ryan L Foote are available to pre-order through Kickstarter campaign until November 18. After that, you'll be able to buy them from chocolatesbyrlf.com .
For loved ones that prefer their flowers edible, Gelato Messina is once again happy to oblige. It has created a new frozen floral creation, dubbed Feeling Thorny, a limited-edition gelato rose, which will be released exclusively for Valentine's Day this year. The glittering red rose is complex inside and out — in true Messina fashion. Petals are made from salted caramel chantilly, laced with strawberry compote and dulce de leche, and the rose is set atop a white chocolate-lined waffle cone filled with dulce de leche and earl grey gelato (and more strawberry compote for good measure). It's then placed in a 'flower pot' made from choc-hazelnut praline mousse and chocolate brownie crumble, sitting on an edible chocolate disk. Yes, it's as decadent as it sounds. To serve, the dessert needs to be removed from the freezer to the fridge ten minutes before you're ready to indulge, then cut down the middle (using a hot, sharp knife) to reveal the cross-sections of gelato inside. The treat can only be out of the freezer for 30 minutes, so plan accordingly. The rose will cost you $40 — likely less than a dozen (non-edible) V-day roses — with one rose serving two. Orders are only available for pickup on February 13 or 14 from noon–10pm and quantities are limited. Feeling Thorny is available at seven Sydney locations — Rosebery, Darlinghurst, Tramsheds, Bondi, Parramatta, Miranda and Penrith — as well as at South Brisbane, Melbourne's Fitzroy and Canberra's Braddon outposts.
