Sydney's intimate, boutique Golden Age Cinema is teaming up with Four Pillars Gin for a mini booze and film festival. Each Wednesday night in February, the 56-seat Surry Hills spot is hosting double bills paired with gin cocktails. It's quite the lineup, too, with a little something for everyone on the bill. The festival is called Hot Summer Nights, so that's the kind of tone it's going for — whether coming-of-age tales, love stories, thrillers or dramas are hitting the screen. First up on February 5 is 60s great The Graduate, followed by seminal 90s classic Reality Bites. Or, if you're heading along with your significant other, perhaps February 12's pair of True Romance and Romeo + Juliet will appeal. The next week, on February 19, Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window will screen, accompanied by Spike Lee's iconic Do the Right Thing. Then, wrapping it all up on August 28 is countercultural romance Zabriskie Point and the adult film industry epic Boogie Nights. These dark cult flicks will all get a beverage to match, made with Four Pillar's juniper spirits. The first screenings each evening kick off between 6.05–6.15pm, then the second start at 8.30pm — but we suggest you get there a little earlier for the drinks. Tickets are $22.50 for each film.
Erskineville's LGBTQIA+ haven The Imperial Hotel is doing it up big for Mardi Gras, boasting two straight weeks of parties, events and pop-ups. Coming up this Sunday, February 23 is a celebration of all things queer fashion when the Mardi Gras pop-up market takes over the main bar from noon–5pm. You'll be able to pick up everything you need — and so much more — for parade day on February 29. On the day, expect vintage and sparkly threads with a locally made, eco-friendly focus. A wide range of Aussie designers and LGBTQIA+ businesses will set up shop — you can nab swimwear from Frida Las Vegas, vintage dresses from The Crown Street Project, vegan beauty products from Sweet Cherry Soda and recycled plastic jewellery from Maraca Club. Plus, you'll find all-out festival wear from Nevada Clothing and handmade wooden accessories from Frank Wood. Alongside the market, there'll be a patch-making and embroidery workshop for beginners, which you can attend for a donation and by RSVPing to rowanyeomans@gmail.com. And from 1–5pm, the UK's Whitley Neill will be offering complimentary gin tastings in the Priscillas Glasshouse upstairs. Once you're all decked out, you can stick around for that night's downstairs Zodiac-themed dance party. For more details, check out the Imperial's full Mardi Gras program here. Top image: Trent van der Jagt
It's no accident that you've never seen a big-screen adaptation of Cinderella in which the stepsisters hack off their own toes to try and fit into the glass slipper. Or that Disney's animated classic The Little Mermaid decided to switch the pitiable death of Hans Christian Andersen's protagonist for a happy ending. Over the last few decades, there has been a concerted effort in popular culture to de-fang fairy tales, replacing the blood-spattered morality of the Grimm brothers with a jamboree in which everyone gleefully walks away knowing a little more about themselves. Despite this widespread plot-wangling, there remains a fairytale that refuses to be brought into the mainstream stable. Oscar Wilde's The Happy Prince tells the story of a bird bound for Egypt who — spoiler — blinds a regal statue (at its insistence), before literally dropping off its perch. Then, a workman learns a heartbreaking lesson about the melting temperature of lead. There's more to it, but you can perhaps understand why Wilde's prince never made a cameo in the Shrek films. These idiosyncrasies, however, are what queer theatre company Little Ones thrive on. Its adaptation takes Wilde's brutally sad tale of Victorian-era inequality, punches up the eight-page plot and laces it with a love story between Janine Watson's glamour-dripping Prince and Catherine Davies' roller-skating Swallow. The Happy Prince played at La Mama in 2017 to full houses and fairytale reviews. Stephen Nicolazzo also took a Green Room Award for his direction. It's coming to Griffin, but not for long. So if Disney's latest live-action Aladdin has more shiny nostalgia-ridden sweetness than you can stomach, the dying ember of decency at the heart of this tale could be just the palate cleanser you're after. The Happy Prince will run at SBW Stables Theatre from Tuesday, June 25–Sunday, July 6. To purchase tickets, visit Griffin Theatre's website. Image: Pia Johnson.
Earlier this year, Manly's Chica Bonita jumped the harbour and opened a stunning new restaurant in the CBD. It had a beautiful Mexican-inspired design, tacos topped with both Mexican and Australian ingredients and a neat lineup of margaritas. But, there was no sign of the famed burrito that'd been served up at its Manly store for almost a decade. Thankfully, the carby, cheesy, steak-filled rolls have now arrived in the CBD — and Chica Bonita is about to start serving them up to-go. From Monday, June 24, CBD workers will be able to ditch their soggy sandwiches for a desk lunch that'll make many a colleague jealous. To celebrate the launch of its new takeaway lunch menu, Chica Bonita CBD is giving away 100 of its signature burritos from 11.30am. To snag yours, you'll need to sign-up via the website, then get ready to line up for a free California Burrito, filled with carne asada steak, guacamole, cheese and fries. Yes, fries. If you're a meat-free eater, there'll also be a (free) vego option. If you miss out, you'll still be able to try the new takeaway lunch dishes, which include three other burritos (all $14), stuffed with either sweet potato and quinoa, squid and chorizo or roast chicken and three-chilli salsa. Elsewhere on the menu you'll find carne asada-topped fries ($15), baby corn with fermented chilli mayo ($14) and three different burrito bowls: lamb barbacoa ($17), duck carnitas ($19) and crispy eggplant ($17).
July is the perfect time to check out Gelato Messina's Creative Department — the gelato fiend is adding truffles to all of its dishes for a ten-day series of eight-course gelato degustation dinners. Head chef Remi Talbot has sourced elite perigord black truffles from nearby Parkesbourne Produce farm. Expect brioche and foie gras gelato with black truffle sauce; pistachio and black truffle gelato with matcha and white chocolate fudge; and grilled kumquat sorbet with koji cream, wattleseed and black truffle. Paired with each is an equally creative non-alcoholic drink, like the lemon myrtle and macadamia bubble tea, or the pineapple, white soy and shiitake sparkling. The degustation will only be available in Sydney from July 3–13 and tickets are $160 per person. These dinners are known to sell out remarkably quickly — with only eight seats per night — so grab yours here.
Australian film festival season is in full swing, filling Sydney's big screens with cinema from around the globe. After showcasing French and Spanish flicks so far this year, it's Germany's turn. From Tuesday, May 21 to Sunday, June 9, the annual fest will head to Palace Norton Street and the Chauvel Cinema to serve up the best new movies from the country that gave us Metropolis, Das Boot, Run Lola Run, and the one and only Werner Herzog. While none of the above are on the German Film Festival bill, there's a very good reason for that. Here, you'll discover new favourites rather than revisit old ones. It all begins with the thrilling true tale of two families on a daring flight from East to West Germany — and with a name like Balloon, you should take the 'flight' part literally. Also on the agenda: a documentary celebrating Walter Gropius' Bauhaus movement, award-winning World War II imposter tale The Captain, and a comedy about naming a baby Adolf. Or, you can see what happens when a couple of pals try to ditch all of their belongings in 100 Days. There is a blast from the past, thanks to closing night's 1931 film version of Bertolt Brecht's The Threepenny Opera. There's also a dramatised take on the efforts to bring the production to life on the stage back in 1928, aka Mack the Knife — Brecht's Threepenny Film. Fancy casting your eyes around the world, even at a German film festival? You can do just that with a few new picks from Austria and Switzerland as well.
We can't think of a much better way to celebrate 'National Cheese Day' (we'll take it as an excuse to eat more cheese), than tucking into a big serve of something decadently cheesy and classically Italian. If you're on board with that dairy-filled scenario, Fratelli Fresh is more than happy to comply. To mark the annual cheese 'celebration' on Tuesday, June 4, the Italian eatery is rolling out a special menu addition at all of its seven NSW outposts. The guest of honour? A dreamy $15 cheese-wheel pasta. Busiate pasta is tossed together with lots of black pepper and cream inside a huge wheel of pecorino cheese, then served straight onto your plate in a hot, cheesy mountain. At most stores, the dish is only making a one-day appearance, though Fratelli Fresh Crows Nest and Alexandria will score it as a permanent menu addition after June 4, with a standard serve clocking in at $25. If you're downing cheese-wheel pasta as a group and looking for a liquid accompaniment, you might be tempted by Fratelli Fresh's new giant Aperol spritz concoction — the Super Spritz is a 1.5-litre share-friendly version of the drink, available for $39. $15 cheese-wheel pasta is available all day on Tuesday, June 4, at all seven Fratelli Fresh restaurants in Alexandria, Bridge Street, Crows Nest, Darling Harbour, the Entertainment Quarter, Walsh Bay and Westfield Sydney.
The constant flow of COVID-19 news was interrupted, temporarily, earlier this month when a former Prime Minister's memoir launched. Well, was leaked. According to the book's publisher Hardie Grant, a pirated version of Malcolm Turnbull's A Bigger Picture was allegedly shared multiple times from an address "within the PMO [Prime Minister's Office]". And that's not the only reason the book made headlines. As well as calling out Kevin Rudd's potty mouth, Turnbull spills the tea on his relationship with now Prime Minister Scott Morrison and even calls him a "Machiavellian plotter". If this is the kind of inside gossip that get's you excited on a Monday, you'll be happy to know you can hear even more from the man himself at a one-off Sydney Writers' Festival event. At 7pm AEST on Monday, April 27, Turnbull will be chatting to writer and presenter Annabel Crabb about his memoir, his ex-colleagues and the 2018 leadership spill. The talk will be live streamed via the Sydney Writers' Festival YouTube channel, website and Facebook page. While the literary festival has been cancelled inline with the government's restrictions on public gatherings, it's hosting a series of online events and podcasts that'll reimagine its 2020 program. You can check out more of them over at Sydney Writers' Festival website. [caption id="attachment_660576" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sydney Writers' Festival by Prudence Upton[/caption] Top image: Flickr/Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff
There's no doubt about it, it's cold. Sydney's winter weather has settled in — we've seen frosty mornings, snow on the mountains and rain aplenty. Luckily, Japanese casual apparel retailer UNIQLO has got some super snug clothing to keep you warm throughout the chilly season. What's more, it's giving away 10,000 free Heattech products to make sure you're cosy to the core. Essentially thermals, the Heattech innerwear comes in three levels of warmth — warm, extra warm and ultra warm — in the form of singlets, long-sleeve shirts, turtle necks, leggings, long johns and tights. So, whatever this winter holds in store, UNIQLO will help you stay nice and toasty. To nab yours, you'll need to complete an online version of 'hot and cold'. Available to play from 10am Wednesday, July 15 to 11.59pm Sunday, July 19, the virtual game will see you navigating three levels (aptly named warm, extra warm and ultra warm) looking for 'invisible' Heattech tops. If you find the tops and complete all three levels, you'll be sent a code to redeem a free men's or women's Heattech product — you can choose from any of those listed above, up to the value of $19.90 — at any Uniqlo store in Australia.
For a lot of us, it's been many months since we've seen a live gig in an actual theatre. Thankfully, there are still a few venues offering a top-quality gig experience that you can tune into comfortably from your couch. We're not talking shaky hand-held iPhone footage either, but rather full-blown performances with stellar sound, lighting and staging. Keen to catch one this weekend? You're in luck, because Parramatta's Riverside Theatres will see emerging Aussie artist Odette take the stage on Sunday, September 6 as part of its Riverside Theatres Digital series. The British-born singer grew up in Sydney's inner west and is known for her soulful pop and inimitable style. Her music has been on rotation on the likes of Triple J and Triple J Unearthed, including her hit song 'Take It To The Heart'. The 23-year-old already has an album under her belt, To A Stranger, as well as a handful of singles. Her intimate one-hour set kicks off at 7pm and can be streamed via YouTube. To access, you can buy choose-what-you-pay tickets (from $18) via Riverside's website. All proceeds will go towards supporting the artist, as well as Riverside Theatres and its staff, so you can support Sydney's struggling arts scene. Odette: Live at Riverside will run from 7–8pm on Sunday, September 6. Nab your tickets here.
Heading to the snow anytime soon? For yet another year, Thredbo's après ski shenanigans are bringing a stack of live gigs to the village every single night of the week. Once you've done your dash on the slopes, slip off your skis, grab yourself a cocktail and kick back (or get up and dance). On Friday, August 9 and Saturday, August 10, G.H. Mumm will take over the Thredbo Alpine Hotel with its massive, weekend-long event Red Sash Sets. We're talking confetti canons, lots of red lights and bucketloads of champagne — soundtracked by Aussie DJ duo Mashd N Kutchr on Friday evening and Hot Dub Time Machine on Saturday. The following Saturday (August 17), Corona will grab the reins, with its Sunset Sessions, starring Set Mo. Come Saturday, August 24, the entire Village Square will transform into an epic live concert venue, courtesy of Heineken. On the program are Client Liaison, KLP, Kayex and Michelle Owen. Then, in the first week of September (4–8), Rainbow Mountain: A Heaps Gay Ski Week will usher in spring with five days of DJ-fuelled parties, drag queen performances, long lunches and races. Last, but not least, it'll be Canadian Club's turn on Saturday, September 14. Expect a vintage-style soiree involving retro sweaters, roaring fires and the Alpine Hotel's bubbling hot tub. Hosting will be Hugo Gruzman (Flight Facilities) and Tom Tilley (Triple J/Client Liaison), with complimentary sets by Falcona DJs and Happiness is Wealth, which is a live performance that blurs the lines between audio and art. Lock in your dates for a ski trip with gigs galore. For the full music lineup, head here. If you're looking for an even more jam-packed escape to the snow, check out Thredbo's events calendar here.
A lantern parade led by a moon goddess, a dancing lion, k-pop stars and a cornucopia of international food stalls are all planned for Cabramatta's 2019 Moon Festival. The traditional event, which has been celebrated across South East Asian communities for thousands of years, marks the spring equinox — one of two days in the year when day and night are of equal length — and the coming of harvest season. Head to Cabramatta from 9am on Sunday, September 8, to join the free festivities, where you'll be in the company of more than 90,000 revellers. In between feasting to your heart's content from eateries across the suburb — and a pop-up version of the hawker-style food precinct District 8 — look out for live music, dancers, theatre and a performance by Andy Trieu (from SBS PopAsia) and k-pop idol Kevin Kim of boy group ZE:A. There'll also be a bunch of fun, food-related happenings, including a prawn peeling challenge and a moon cake-eating championship. Moon cakes are round pastries filled with lotus seeds, red beans, orange peel and a yellow "yolk" that represents the moon. You can expect frivolities to finish up around 8pm, with an epic fireworks display.
When a film casts a universally adored actor as an unlucky-in-love character, it sends the world a message: that romance's joys and heartbreaks spare no one. When a movie tasks its protagonist with grappling with technology, it makes another statement: that the advancements meant to makes our lives easier can, and often do, have the exact opposite effect. Not just tried-and-tested, but commonplace, these cinematic choices have become cliches. The truisms they represent are already well-known and well-worn, too. And yet reminders don't go astray when they're not only clever and compelling, but baked into a catfishing thriller as twisty, perceptive and engaging as Who You Think I Am, which turns subverting expectations into its very mission. Nothing is what it seems in this French standout. As the picture's moniker makes plain, that includes its protagonist, as played by Juliette Binoche. Starring in a film that initially appears a kindred spirit to last year's rom-com Let the Sunshine In, the acclaimed talent again steps into the shoes of an unhappily single 50-something who's newly navigating the dating pool. Where Claire Denis' rom-com poignantly revelled in the ebbs and flows of being unattached later in life, filmmaker Safy Nebbou uses the scenario as a springboard to examine the contradictions of today's always-online, always-connected society. Finding a partner, whether for now or forever, may be as straightforward as swiping across a screen these days, but it's also burdened with complications and deceptions. There's a glimmer of defiance twinkling in Binoche's eyes when her character, university academic Claire, takes her love life in a drastic direction after her divorce. Adjusting to the new status quo, she still wants to be desired. So, if her ex can run off with someone much younger, then she can have flings with men half her age. When her latest squeeze starts fading out of her life, she also takes up cyberstalking. To discover why Ludo (Guillaume Gouix) has called time on their dalliance without any real explanation, Claire becomes Clara, a fresh-faced fashion intern aged just 24. Soon, the professor isn't just trawling through social media looking for answers about her latest breakup — under her new persona, she's cosying up to Ludo's friend and assistant Alex (François Civil). The ordinary act of clicking "like" on Facebook sparks a thread of direct messages, then texts, then hot-and-heavy phone calls, with Clara and Alex's online affair getting serious quickly. Adapted by Nebbou and co-screenwriter Julie Peyr from Camille Laurens' novel, Who You Think I Am isn't content to just inch towards the expected revelation one keystroke at a time. Nor is it happy to merely probe the unfair importance placed on appearances in the online dating realm, or the ageist tendency to erase women over a certain age. All of the above play a part in this icily, meticulously shot flick, but its insistence on never fitting neatly into any category extends to a narrative that keeps branching off in different directions. Framed by chats between Claire and her therapist (Nicole Garcia), as obsessed with duality as any Hitchcock classic, and also purposefully referencing the notoriously slippery and seductive Dangerous Liaisons, the end result is snaky thriller, a contemplative drama and even a thorny romance. Or, much like Claire, it's a movie with more than one identity. Continuing an exceptional recent run that also includes witty literary comedy Non-Fiction and the stellar, space-set High Life, it goes without saying that Binoche is the glue holding Who You Think I Am together. The film is impressively scripted, structured, shot and styled, and would retain these facets even with a different lead — however the right performer can always elevate a great picture to a higher level. While investing in the story's twists and turns is crucial, and something that Nebbou achieves with aplomb, believing in Claire is even more vital. Whether agonising over the right wording for her next message, itching for the phone that becomes her portal to another world, or confidently embracing not just her online charade, but the chance to rewrite her own tale, Binoche ensures that audiences are with her lonely, yearning character every step of the way. A catfishing movie that makes you empathise with the perpetrator? That's just one of the delights of this sharp, smart and savvily layered surprise package. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShwXIOszzIM
With its latest film festival, Dendy Newtown isn't reaching for the stars — instead, it's happy with making it to the moon. Celebrating 50 years since the lunar landing, as everywhere in town seems to be, the cinema chain is screening a heap of flicks about the Earth's only natural satellite. Love in-depth documentaries? Twisty sci-fi? Feel-good dramas? They're all on the lineup. The newest movie on the bill is Apollo 11, aka the latest doco to ponder the enormous feat of sending humanity where it had never gone before. Naturally, it's worth seeing on a big screen. Other highlights include Duncan Jones' Moon, starring Sam Rockwell as a man working at a lunar base; Aussie comedy The Dish, about the Parkes Radio Telescope's role in broadcasting the huge event; and Ryan Gosling-starring Neil Armstrong biopic First Man. You can also explore the impact that three women had on the mission thanks to Hidden Figures, and relive Apollo 13's struggles in the Tom Hanks film of the same name. Thanks to documentaries Moonscape, Moonwalk One, The Other Side of the Moon and Armstrong, the list goes on, with the Moon Film Festival running from Tuesday, July 16 to Wednesday, July 24. Times and dates for each individual flick vary, so start planning if you're keen on looking up while looking at a cinema screen.
You might not expect cocktails to feature in a health kick. But, head to the inaugural St-Germain x La Maison Wellness Weekend, and you'll discover that you can have your liqueur — and drink it, too. Taking over the Paramount Recreation Club in Surry Hills, on September 14–15, this event is all about 'healthy hedonism'. Indulge, sure, but look after yourself, too. In a two-hour session, you'll take part in a yoga and meditation class. Then, after finding your zen, you'll be feasting on brunch and snacks — and St-Germain spritzes, all included in the ticket price. St-Germain, the 100 percent natural French elderflower liqueur, so you can expect your spritzes to be even more refreshing than usual. Plus, it's low in alcohol. Your host for this retreat will be La Maison Wellness's Camille Vidal, a London-based yoga and meditation teacher, who's spent the past fifteen years in the hospitality industry. She's written two cocktail books — How to Drink French Fluently and How to Spritz French Fluently — in collaboration with alcohol magazine, Punch. Now, she's also launching a La Maison Youtube channel full of recipes for 'mindful' cocktails. At this event, Vidal will be talking about the importance of balance and mindfulness. Sessions will take place on Saturday, September 14, from 12.30–2.30pm and 3.30–5.30pm and on Sunday, September 15, from 11.30am–1.30pm and 2.30–4.30pm. Tickets cost $33.43 per person and include a bunch of pressies to take home, including a sports bag, sports towel, two St-Germain glasses, a 50ml bottle of St-Germain and a cocktail recipe card. To book your spot in for the inaugural Wellness Weekend, head here.
Leichhardt small bar Golden Gully continues to come up with some top-notch collabs for its monthly locals feast. Over the past few months, there have been breakfast for dinner, sour beers and street food and P&V Merchants' natural wines and fermented food pairings. Now, tacos and tinnies are getting The Gully treatment — and, this time, the bar has teamed up with Taco King's Toby Wilson (The George Hotel, Bad Hombres, Ghostboy Cantina) for the vegan eats. On the menu, you can expect to start with shiitake ceviche tostadas and jerusalem artichoke tacos with peanut mole, chiltepin hot peppers and fried raisins. These will be followed by cauliflower tacos topped with cashew cream and seaweed, and coconut pandan arroz con leche (Spanish rice pudding) for dessert. Behind the bar, they'll be slinging tinnies from local brewers Akasha Brewing Company, Hawkes Brewing Co. and Young Henrys. The food and booze will cost you a reasonable $50 all up, and previous months have sold out, so snag your tickets before it's too late. Tacos and Tins has bookings available from 6.30–9.30pm. Images: Taco King by Kimberley Low and Golden Gully by Trent van der Jagt
How nice it would be to sip tequila on the coast of Mexico instead of braving winter. But, unless you have a trip booked in the next three weeks, you're going to have to see it out in Sydney. Luckily, our city also has stunning beaches — and some top-notch Mexican eateries, too. One of them is Avalon's Alma, perched just metres from the beach. So, if you're wishing to ward away your winter blues by sipping on tequila and tucking into a Mexican feast, here's a pretty good spot to do so. To celebrate World Tequila Day (mark your calendars for July 24), the northern beaches restaurant has teamed up with award-winning tequila makers Herradura to create a menu inspired by the drink. Available from July 24 until August 24, the menu will feature Alma's usual menu with plenty of Mexican flair, but with the added bonus of tequila and daily cocktail specials. Think the likes of agave-glazed haloumi, ceviche, tacos galore or, if you're feeling daring, the chilli lime crickets (yes, crickets). Drinkswise, you can expect a refreshing Aperol and Herradura tequila concoction with guava, lime, sugar and kombucha and even one with pork belly-washed reposado tequila, tomato extract, lemon and jalapeño 'mist'. There'll also be a ticketed five-course dinner on Thursday, August 8. For $65, you'll get to tuck into tostadas layered with habanero salsa, chunky duck confit tacos, and grilled spatchcock with creamy oaxacan black mole sauce. This will all be topped off with paired tastes of Herradura tequila throughout. It's a surefire way to curb your wanderlust in no time. Alma's Herradura-inspired menu will be on offer from July 24 through August 24. To reserve a table, head here. The five-course feast paired with Herradura tequilas will occur from 7pm, Thursday, August 8 and can be booked here.
These days, loads of places do raclette — Loluk and Handpicked Wines are just a couple that spring to mind. But you know who did it first? Bistro Papillon. And now the Clarence Street restaurant is bringing back its famed Soiree Raclette series — on the first and third Monday of each month, the charming French restaurant will dish up a fromage-filled feast of your cheesiest of cheese dreams. For $55 per person, the two-course dinner kicks off with one of Bistro Papillon's signature French-style entrees, like garlic and parsley baked snails or a chicken liver pâté. That's followed by the main event: a traditional dish of golden, oozy raclette. The cheese is scraped hot from the wheel straight onto your plate to complement an assortment of smoked and cured meats, potatoes and slices of crunchy baguette. Throw in a glass or two from the restaurant's all-French wine list and your week will be off to a very solid start. Book a table in advance on the website. Soiree Raclette dinners are available at 6pm or 8pm.
Haymarket's 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art is throwing an all-night electronica party this month in the form of its second annual Club 4A. It'll take over Chinatown's Dynasty Karaoke on Saturday, May 25 from 7pm–3am. The party has been curated by Sydney artists Mathew Spisbah and Rainbow Chan, and features a lineup of musical guests alongside audiovisual artists. The headline act is Berlin-based electronic musician Rui Ho, who hails from Shanghai and is making her Australian debut. Rui Ho's music fuses traditional Chinese and modern club influences. Rainbow Chan will also take the stage in collaboration with Sydney electronic composer Marcus Whale, and artists Del Lumanta and Milkffish will team up, too — their set will include live electronic improvisations using ambient sounds and Milkffish's signature Filipino folkloric instruments. More Filipino influence will be found in producer Yumgod's performance, which will include his signature deconstructed hip hop footwork. On the visual art side of things, Hong Kong artist Harry Chan has created new LED works for the event. And video artists Kynan Tan and Craig Stubbs-Race will present animated pieces throughout the night. Tickets are set at a very reasonable $20 and first release is already sold out, so nab 'em while you still can. Club 4A will run from 7pm–3am.
Last time that Kenneth Branagh took on a cultural icon, he stepped into Hercule Poirot's shoes, starring in and directing a new adaptation of Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express. He'll return to the character in next year's Death on the Nile, continuing a filmmaking career with a noticeable theme: bringing famous figures and stories to the screen. Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, Mozart's opera The Magic Flute, Marvel's initial Thor flick and fairy tale Cinderella all appear on his resume, however one particular chap has always retained pride of place. Thirty years ago, Branagh jumped behind the camera for the first time for a cinematic version of William Shakespeare's Henry V. In the decades since, he's directed and acted in Much Ado About Nothing, Love's Labour's Lost and As You Like It, too. So it was only a matter of time until he did the obvious, turning his attention to a Shakespeare biopic. Shakespeare in Love, this isn't. Shakespeare in Retirement would've worked as a title, though. With Branagh both starring and helming as he usually does, All Is True's take on the Bard sees him back in Stratford-upon-Avon, where his family has always lived while he's been triumphing in London. It took a fire to bring him home, with his beloved Globe Theatre burning down in 1613 during a performance of Henry VIII. Devastated, old Will has pledged never to work again, vowing to spend time with his wife Anne Hathaway (Judi Dench) and adult daughters Susanna (Lydia Wilson) and Judith (Kathryn Wilder) instead. Alas, absence hasn't exactly made the heart grow fonder. As Shakespeare switches from penning flowery prose to trying to make a garden blossom, drama still keeps finding him. Grief rears its head, over the son he lost years ago, while Anne's stoic sadness at being left to take care of the household also bubbles to the fore. So does Judith's simmering anger at being constantly overlooked due to her gender, as well as Susanna's gossiped-about troubles with her fiercely Puritan husband (Hadley Fraser). If being a genius isn't easy, living in the shadow of one is a much tougher feat. Still, in a reflective screenplay written by Ben Elton, it's Shakespeare's struggle to not only adjust to an ordinary life, but to weigh up his flaws and failings over the course of his life, that drives the film. In a movie filled with allusions to its subject's work, All Is True takes its name from the alternative moniker for Henry VIII, which would prove Shakespeare's last play. Elton's script is definitely fictionalised — although perhaps less than his recent British sitcom, Upstart Crow — and yet the eponymous phrase remains apt. At the heart of the handsomely shot feature sits an important notion that applies not only to the Bard, but to art in general: whatever unfurls on the page or stage speaks to something within its creator. Just as Shakespeare clearly resonates with both Branagh and Elton, the great playwright's acclaimed words were borne of his own emotions. Sure, All Is True includes one of those typically grating moments where a character utters its title in dialogue (no prizes for guessing who does the honours), however in painting a portrait of the Bard as a conflicted, haunted man, it conveys both the inner source and hefty toll of his output. In the acting stakes, Branagh makes for a melancholic later-in-life Shakespeare, repeatedly digging his hands into the earth as he grapples with being brought back to normality. Leading quietly, sensitively but commandingly even under a pronounced prosthetic nose, he's matched by the steely Wilder, a great stint of comic sneering by Alex Macqueen as one of the Bard's naysayers, and a witty appearance by Ian McKellen as the writer's long-term patron, the Earl of Southampton. And yet, while buoyed by strong performances and making good on its premise, the film always plays like a minor ode rather than a major work. Walking in the footsteps of greatness is a difficult task, as the movie makes plain, although Branagh has been trying for decades. With All Is True, he shows why — and demonstrates that passion, intelligence and enthusiasm can go a considerable way. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1I5cKmiONDI
When Sydney's first Harry Potter-themed boozy brunches were announced early last year, the city couldn't say 'accio butterbeer' fast enough, with the two sessions booking out quickly. So the return of the Wizard's Brunch is sure to be enthusiastically received — especially as it's set to be held on the spookiest of days: October 31. This Halloween feast is set to recreate the Great Hall with floating pumpkins, fortune tellers and and fire performers. Fingers crossed for butterbeer, pumpkin pasties, cauldron cakes and maybe even a treacle tart. And hopefully no trolls in the dungeon. There will be two sessions: a family-friendly brunch and an adults-only dinner. But aside from the time and date, details are scarce. The particulars such as the venue and how many galleons you'll have to spend haven't been revealed as yet, though keen muggles can sign up to The Wizard's Brunch email list for more information. To give you an idea, though, last year's events were held at MacLaurin Hall at Sydney Uni and tickets cost around $200 for food and booze.
This month, galleries and creative spaces across Sydney will throw open their doors for a massive celebration of contemporary art and artists for Art Month Sydney's milestone tenth anniversary. As part of this year's jam-packed lineup, Art Month Sydney is hosting a series of after-work tours of the city's most prolific art precincts. And on Thursday, March 28, the final precinct tour will take place in and around the streets of Redfern and Chippendale. It's set to be a great finale — following similar tours around Paddington and Woollahra and East Sydney — with artist-run initiatives, cultural centres, leading commercial galleries and universities all getting involved. To take part, simply explore the Art Month Sydney map here, pop on some comfy shoes and start your tour at 6pm. You'll get to visit 107 Projects, Duckrabbit Gallery & Studios, Pine Street Creative Arts Centre, The Japan Foundation, UTS Gallery, Galerie pompom and more on this after-hours gallery hop. The tour finishes at The Lansdowne Hotel, where a party will be kicking off at 8pm. The lineup of DJs and live performers is yet to be announced — but we've been promised 'weird pop and downer ballads with silver linings'. Sign us up. For more information on the Art at Night: Chippendale and Redfern, or to check out the full Art Month Sydney program, head this way. Image: courtesy of Art Month Sydney.
How does a film festival celebrate a big milestone? By doing what it always does best. For the Iranian Film Festival, which hosts its tenth event in 2021, that means showcasing all of the latest and greatest movies from the Middle Eastern country. From winners at notable international fests such as Sundance and Venice, to the nation's 2021 Oscars submission, this year's lineup doesn't skimp on highlights. When the event hits Dendy Newtown between Thursday, June 10–Wednesday, June 16, IFF will kick off with Titi, Ida Panahandeh's film about an ailing physicist who's working on a theory about black holes and the end of the world. From there, cinephiles can expect to dive into flicks about a brick-manufacturing factory and its ancient methods, (The Wasteland) as well as music-fuelled road movies (Bandar Band). A certain standout, Yalda: A Night of Forgiveness topped the World Cinema Dramatic category at Sundance 2020, and spins a powerful story about a woman seeking atonement on television after being sentenced to death. Or, there's also Sun Children, the Oscar-shortlisted effort that follows a 12-year-old and his pals as they try to support their families. In total, 17 films will play during the festival — which should give you ample opportunity to leave your couch behind for the big screen for more than a few sessions. That said, there'll also be an online component after the in-cinema fest, running from Sunday, June 20–Wednesday, June 30. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDSk_08MvBQ
Everyone has one: a Disney film that's so intertwined with their childhood, even thinking about it makes you feel like you're six years old again. Perhaps you've always said "no worries" to The Lion King. Maybe you've never had a friend like Aladdin. Or, you could've learned that it's better down where it's wetter thanks to The Little Mermaid. Whether one of the aforementioned flicks is your favourite Mouse House movie — or even if you prefer Alice in Wonderland, Sleeping Beauty or Peter Pan — you'll find plenty to get nostalgic over at Dendy Newtown's next festival. Yes, with a name like Disney Classics Festival, it's pretty self-explanatory. Also on the bill: The Jungle Book, Lady and the Tramp, The Emperor's New Groove, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Who Framed Roger Rabbit. While some of these movies have been remade in live-action or using photorealistic CGI in recent years, this fest — which runs from Saturday, June 26–Sunday, July 11 — is all about the original animated flicks. And, like all of Dendy Coorparoo's festivals, different movies screen on different dates — and multiple times — so checking out the session listing is the best way to schedule your viewing.
Treating yo'self hasn't been the easiest thing to do over the past year or so — but for one week, Salt Meats Cheese is serving up a rather tasty menu that'll do the trick. That'd be its Truffle Week lineup, with truffles popping up in all kinds of dishes. Yes, that includes truffle cocktails. From Monday, June 21–Sunday, June 27, SMC will be adding truffles to pizza, polenta, gnocchi and pappardelle — so that's four of Italian staples covered. It'll also be whipping up baked truffle brie and deep-fried bocconcini with truffles, if you feel like getting extra cheesy with your truffles. And, still on that topic, you can add a jug of truffle cream cheese to any dish you like as well. You'll need something to wash it all down with, so truffle margaritas are also on offer. They'll be garnished with freshly shaved truffle, and also feature a truffle salted rim. Or, you could opt for a truffle sour, which even includes truffle oil. Truffle Week is taking place at all SMC venues during its seven-day period. And if you're wondering why the Italian chain has suddenly gone truffle crazy, it's to celebrate the Australian truffle season — which is as good a reason as any.
If things in Sydney were different right now, celebrating Bastille Day would be as easy as walking into a heap of restaurants and taking advantage of their menus. But, with the city in lockdown, that clearly isn't the case. Cue the Bentley Group's at-home range, which is marking the occasion from the date itself — Wednesday, July 14, of course — right through until Sunday, July 18. The main option: Monopole's French-themed menu, which costs $140 and serves two. You'll tuck into potato and leek soup, ocean trout rillette with a baguette, confit duck cassoulet and a layered chocolate cake with raspberry sauce. There's a $110 vegan version, too, and you can order them both to pick up. Feel like trying something different? Yellow is making licorice bread. The restaurant is known for it, and it's only making limited numbers, with servings available to pick up from Ria Pizza + Wine between 10am–5pm on Saturday, July 17 and Sunday, July 18 . And if you're wondering what licorice bread is, it is indeed made with licorice. And, while it isn't a Bastille Day special, you'll either want to try it immediately or you definitely won't.
Talented pooches have been barking their way to big screen stardom since the birth of the medium, and Cannes Film Festival even gives out awards for ace pupper performances. In Australia for a few years now, we also celebrate the intersection of canines and cinema — via our very own dog-themed movie showcase. At the Top Dog Film Festival, doggos and puppers cement their status as humanity's favourite film stars in a touring program of pooch-centric shorts. For more than two hours, dogs will leap across screens in a curated selection of heartwarming flicks about humanity's best friend. Over the last few years, the lineup has included films about dog-powered sports, dogs in space, dogs hiking through the desert, senior dogs and more. The festival hits Sydney's Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace on Sunday, August 1 and Ritz Cinemas in Randwick on Sunday, August 15 as part of its 2021 run, and rushing after tickets the way your best four-legged friend rushes after a frisbee is recommended. Given how much we all love watching dog videos online, not to mention attending pupper-centric shindigs in general, this event is certain to be popular. You'd be barking mad to miss it, obviously.
When you think of the Hunter Valley, you probably picture wineries. But, if you look beyond the vineyards, you'll find there's a whole lot more to the region than grapes. To celebrate its 75th anniversary, The National Trust (NSW) is hosting a bunch of free open days at its properties across New South Wales. On Saturday, May 29, you can immerse yourself in the Hunter region's history at three of the National Trust's properties in Beyond the Grapes: Discover the Hunter. Head to the historic Tomago House from 10am–4pm to take yourself on a self-guided tour of the property as well as enjoy lawn games and tunes in the garden. Between 10am–1pm, you can also catch the Maitland Repertory Theatre perform a live reading of the play Voices from Tomago. Later in the afternoon, explore Maitland on a historic walking tour from 2pm–3pm followed by an afternoon tea (with sparkling, no less) in the garden at Grossman and Brough House — tickets are $25 and include both the tour and the tea. Miss Porter's House, located in Newcastle West, will be open, too, so you can step back in time to the early 1900s and learn about the life and home of the Porter family. Plus the popular walking tour, A Walk with the Porters, will be happening but with limited capacity. Tickets are $15 and include light refreshments. Beyond the Grapes: Discover the Hunter will run from 10am–4pm on Saturday, May 29. Entry the historic sites is free but bookings to the walking tours are essential. Head to Eventbrite to reserve your tickets at each property: Tomago House Grossman and Brough House Miss Porter's House To find out more about the full program, head over here.
Keen to ring in the Year of the Ox with a barrel of laughs? Then make tracks to Chatswood to catch its two-show comedy fest at The Concourse. Not only will it leave you in stitches, but also shine a big ol' spotlight on diversity in Aussie comedy, with a stellar lineup of Asian Australian performers. Taking over the Concert Hall stage on Saturday, February 27, the festival is being hosted by Chinese Australian comedian and writer Jennifer Wong and will include live performances by Sydney-based band Dragonfruit (Yvonne C Lam and Colin Ho). The 6pm show features the likes of ABC TV heavyweights Nina Oyama (Utopia) and Lawrence Leung (Lawrence Leung's Choose Your Own Adventure), plus Sri Lankan-born comedian Suren Jayemanne, Sydney Fringe Festival performer Harry Jun and Fillow Talk from improv duo Happy Feraren and Jeff Mesina. At the 9pm gig, expect the Lunar New Year laughs to continue with performances by comedian and actor Michael Hing (Where Are You Really From? and The Other Guy), all-round talented human Diana Nguyen, TV star and comedian Alex Lee (SBS The Feed), up-and-coming stand-up star Lizzy Hoo (SBS Voices) and Fillow Talk again. [caption id="attachment_800424" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Diana Nguyen[/caption] Pre- or post-show, you can really lean into the Lunar New Year celebrations by hitting up the Chatswood Year of the Ox Festival, which has both an epic food trail and a decadent dessert trail. Then, after you've had a full-blown feast, check out the luminous ox sculpture at Prosperity House. Lunar New Year Comedy Festival's shows run from 6–7.15pm and from 9–10.15pm on February 27. To nab tickets, head here. Top image: Fillow Talk
Chocolate and Valentine's Day have long gone hand-in-hand, but two Sydney eateries are upping the seasonal sweet treat ante in 2021. For two weeks between Sunday, February 14–Sunday, February 28, the Guylian Cafes in Circular Quay and The Rocks are hosting decadent high teas that'll have chocoholic couples thinking they're in heaven — and it's super affordable, too. For $50, you and your chosen chocolate-loving date can work your way through a menu that features Guylian's chocolate seashells, Belgian waffle bites and fruit to dunk in chocolate dipping sauce, and a changing array of other chocolate desserts. So, you could also be tucking into cherry ripe tarts, chocolate doughnuts topped with caramel chocolate mousse and chocolate brownie biscuits with a caramelised hazelnut chocolate glaze. There are also gluten-free and allergy-free options as well. Drinks-wise, you can choose to wash all that chocolate down with a bellini, mimosa, sparkling wine, tea or coffee on arrival. And if you'd like to turn the occasion into a double date, a session for four costs $100.
Dumplings are great, and they go extremely well with bottomless drinks. But have you ever eaten non-stop bowls of them not only as you're sipping away, but while surrounded by koalas on a rooftop at sunset — or while peering down at a 365-kilogram crocodile? No? Well, that's exactly what you can do at Wild Life Sydney's Koala Rooftop and Upper Croc Deck when the venue teams up with dumpling experts New Shanghai for a series of all-you-can-eat feasts. Coinciding with Lunar New Year, the dumpling and drinks sessions run from 5.30–8pm from February 11–13 and from 6–8pm on February 18–20. Tickets will set you back $80, which includes 30 minutes of endless dumplings and bottomless drinks, plus after-hours access to the zoo. Dumplings will include the likes of pork wontons, chicken and celery parcels, xiao long bao and vego numbers, plus spring rolls and rice noodles, while the drinks range includes sparkling, red and white wine, beers, soft drink and juice. Just where you'll sit, eat and drink is up to you — so you'll need to choose between the Koala Rooftop or Upper Croc Deck. It's recommended that you allow between 45–6pm minutes before your booked time slot to take your self-guided tour beforehand — but you can also hang around after your eating marathon until the zoo closes at 9pm.
El Camino Cantina is known for its colourful interiors, cheap Tuesday tacos and giant margaritas, including at its venues all around Sydney. Those oversized drinks are a huge drawcard, and they're on offer every day — but every now and then, the lively Tex Mex chain throws in a few specials. Sydneysiders, it's that time again. Until Monday, March 13, El Camino's local outposts are celebrating those easy-to-down slushie margs with a month-long ode to the frozen cocktail. In the spotlight: ten of the chain's favourite special flavours, including varieties like Skittle, marshmallow, fruit tingle, sour apple and 'rita colada. The lineup also includes classics like mango, strawberry and lychee — and a watermelon and chilli number as well. The Rocks' venue is serving all ten for the entire month, with El Camino's other locations at Entertainment Quarter, Miranda and Manly rotating through them. Drop by any site on National Margarita Day, which falls on Wednesday, February 22, and there'll also be a limited-edition one-day-only 'rita: a mango and gold Grand Marnier float version made with aged Patrón Anejo tequila, gold leaf and dry ice.
When it comes to eating your way through a few scoops of ice cream, no one really needs an excuse. But when there's free ice cream on offer, well, that's obviously as good a reason as you're ever going to get. And it just so happens that Ben & Jerry's is serving up exactly that across Australia until Sunday, November 15 — including at its own stores in Blacktown, Chatswood and Manly, plus at Hoyts venues in Blacktown, Broadway, Penrith and Wetherill Park. We hope you like your ice cream stuffed with dough — cookie dough, that is — because that's what's on the menu. To celebrate 30 years since it first started mixing cookie dough into its desserts, Ben & Jerrys is whipping up 35,000 free scoops from its dough-filled range. Yes, you'll have to choose between the old favourite that is chocolate chip cookie dough, the caramel and peanut butter-heavy 'The Tonight Dough' and the 'Totally Baked' flavour with bits of brownies, too. Or, you can opt for 'Boots on the Moooo'n', with toffee and sugar cookie dough; 'Peanut Butter Half Baked', which is clearly self-explanatory; and a non-dairy version of choc-chip cookie dough. To score your free ice cream, you'll need to register online first. You'll also need to select a times and a location — and then you can get licking.
Dust off your fake blood, vampire fangs and glitter, and get your spookiest costume ready as Melbourne party collective Poof Doof returns with its annual Halloween extravaganza. Taking place at Ivy, this year's Halloqween Bloody Banquet will be going down a little different from other years due to social-distancing guidelines, but just because this year will be a seated affair doesn't mean it's going to be any less bright, bloody and fun-filled. Enjoy dinner and a show with a side of performances from devilish drag stars, singers, performers, and DJs including Kitty Glitter, Charlie Villas and Danni Issues. Food for the night will be provided by Totti's with the menu including the Trick or Truffle mushroom lasagne, Hellfire smoked and roasted chicken, and Phantasmic pear and rocket salad. Each guest will also receive a Grim Reaper's Goody Bag and creepy Absolut cocktail on arrival. If you were worried you were going to be stuck at home for Halloween this year, showing off your new skeleton leotard to your roommates, the Halloqween Bloody Banquet will allow you to flaunt it for the world to see. You'll be the star of the show with a costume extravaganza and red carpet arrival. It's the perfect opportunity to put all the arts and crafts skills you learnt in lockdown to good use. Tables of four, six or eight are available, with first release tickets sold out and second and final release tickets close behind. Tables are available from $169 per person which includes a two-course meal, drinks package, and all the fun and excitement of the night.
We're going to go ahead and call it: one of the best parts of spending summer in Sydney is going to one of our many pop-up bars. Among the latest to launch is Aria and Ruinart's Summer Wine Bar — a collaboration between the harbourside fine diner and the world's first champagne house, founded a whopping 291 years ago. From December 3 to February 13, each Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Aria's Wharf Room and Terrace will be transformed into a 1950s French-vibe pop-up — think warm-hued velvet, wood tones and al fresco-style seating. To drink, expect flutes and magnums of Ruinart champagne, plus martinis and whisky highballs aplenty. On the a la carte snack menu, created by Executive Chef Joel Bickford, you'll find oysters, abalone XO toast with black sesame and crab sandwiches, as well as a selection of cheese and charcuterie. Capacity is limited to just 20 people, so bookings are encouraged. There are seatings available at 5.30pm, 7pm and 8pm; however, walk-ins are also welcome. Aria x Ruinart Summer Wine Bar is on every Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening from December 3 to January 30. To book, head here. Images: Steven Woodburn
Perhaps the greatest trick the devil ever pulled — the devil that is time, the fact that we all have to get out of bed each and every morning, and the sleep-killing noise signalling that a new day is here — was to create alarm clocks in a variety of sounds. Some are quiet, soft, calming and even welcoming, rather than emitting a juddering screech, but the effect always remains the same. Whatever echoes from which device, if your daily routine is a treadmill of relentless havoc, that din isn't going to herald smiles or spark a spring in anyone's step. The alarm that kickstarts each morning in Full Time isn't unusual or soothing. It isn't overly obnoxious or horrifying either. But the look on Laure Calamy's face each time that it goes off, in the split second when her character is remembering everything that her day will bring, is one of pure exhaustion and exasperation — and it'd love to murder that unwanted wake-up siren. That expression couldn't be more relatable, as much in Full Time is, even if you've never been a single mother living on the outskirts of Paris, navigating a train strike, endeavouring to trade up one job for another for a better future, and juggling kids, bills, and just getting to and from work. At the 2021 Venice International Film Festival, Antoinette in the Cévennes and Call My Agent! star Calamy won the Best Actress award in the event's Horizons strand for her efforts here — and while the accolade didn't come her way for a single gaze, albeit repeated throughout the movie, it easily could've. Mere minutes into Full Time, it's plain to see why she earned herself such a prize beyond that withering gape, however. Calamy is that phenomenal in this portrait of a weary market researcher-turned-hotel chambermaid's hectic life, playing the part like she's living it. In our own ways, most of us are. The first time the alarm sounds, Julie Roy (Calamy) is already lethargic and frustrated; indeed, writer/director Eric Gravel (Crash Test Aglaé), who won the Venice Horizons Best Director gong himself, charts the ups and downs of his protagonist's professional and personal situation like he's making an unflagging thriller. In fact, he is. Julie is stretched to breaking point from the get-go, and every moment of every day seems to bring a new source of stress. For starters, her job overseeing the cleaning at a five-star hotel in the city is both chaotic and constantly throwing up challenges, and the hints dropped by her boss (Anne Suarez, Black Spot) about the punishment for not living up to her demands — aka being fired — don't help. Julie has put all her hopes on returning to market research anyway, but getting time off for the interview is easier said than done, especially when the French capital is in the middle of a transport strike that makes commuting in and out from the countryside close to impossible. Also adding to Julie's troubles is well, everything. The childcare arrangement she has in place with a neighbour (Geneviève Mnich, Change of Heart) is also precarious, thanks to threats of quitting and calling social services. Having any energy to spend meaningful time with her children at the end of her busy days is nothing but a fantasy, too. Trying to get financial support out of her absent ex is a constant battle, especially given he won't answer the phone — and the bank won't stop calling about her overdue mortgage payments. It's also her son Nolan's (J'ai tué mon mari) birthday, so there are gifts to buy, plus a party to organise and throw. Julie is so frazzled that having a drink with her best friend is a luxury she doesn't have time for, because some other task always beckons. And when a father from her village, the kindly Vincent (Cyril Gueï, The Perfect Mother), helps her out not once but twice, she's so starved of affection that she instantly misreads his intentions. All of this might sound mundane, and like the kind of thing that plenty of people deal with — and that's partly the point. Full Time hones in on the rush, hustle and bustle to impress how fraught this vision of normality is, and how draining. It isn't by accident that the film is nerve-wracking and sweat-inducing to watch. Gravel shows why that tired stare when the alarm goes off is the only thing that someone in Julie's situation can possibly sport. With the marvellous Calamy proving indefatigable at playing fatigued, the filmmaker truly sees his central character, her stresses and that she's at her wits' end, and he makes his audience feel every aspect of her struggle. One such tactic, as straightforward as it is, couldn't be more effective: for Calamy and for the frames that capture her alike, there's simply no rest. Every sharp, cold, tourism-flouting shot by cinematographer Victor Seguin (Gagarine) ripples with tension and drips with anxiety, including extreme closeups of Julie slumbering and hurtling almost-chase sequences as she flits around; her plight, and the nonstop slog, is inescapable. That keeps ringing true as she scrambles everywhere — her rustic cottage, which she'd clearly like to spend more time in; the route to her local railway station, even though the trains are barely running; and her workplace, where she's at her most composed in her pristine maid's uniform, although it can't mask her inner turmoil. On the Parisian streets, she's frequently sprinting; calling the movie Run Julie Run instead would've fit. Visually, every image that graces Full Time adds to the bubbling, broiling pressure cooker, so much so that feeling like only a tragic end can come — and desperately hoping and praying otherwise — ramps up the intensity for viewers. Calling the end result frenetic and kinetic still doesn't completely capture what a blood pressure-raising experience Full Time is, while remaining devastatingly empathetic and insightful; if The Worst Person in the World met Uncut Gems, it might look like this. The rhythm amplified by editor Mathilde Van de Moortel (Mustang) doesn't give up, and the score by first-time composer Irène Drésel earns the same description. A wealth of feelings and ideas linger along the way — the ever-swirling array of roles that Julie has to play, which makes Calamy's performance all the more remarkable; the intimate and sensory dive that Gravel takes, ensuring that the full brunt of Julie's experiences is unavoidable; and how the character's tussles and vulnerabilities, and the strike for better working conditions, run in parallel. One of the great feats that Full Time achieves: making all of this linger, and this exceptional feature in general, the next time that your own alarm goes off.
When Sydney got all revved up about Speed: The Movie, The Play a few years back, it was just the beginning of the city's love affair with comical stage interpretations of famous 90s films. And while there's sadly no blank-faced Keanu driving a bus in the other immersive and amusing adaptation that's about to float into town, there's something just as good. Titanic: The Movie, The Play is heading Sydney's way to take on the tragic romance of Kate and Leo — as well as the just-as-tragic collision of a boat and some frozen water. It'll hit town from Thursday, September 15–Sunday, October 2 as part of the 2022 Sydney Fringe Festival. If you fancy being king of the world for a night, you'll want to make a date with the Australian National Maritime Museum. Yes, your heart will go on as two lovestruck ship-dwellers attempt to overcome their different backgrounds, ignore any rules about getting hot and steamy in someone else's car, and try to avoid a pesky iceberg. And, chances are you'll still laugh along — even though you know how it all turns out. Actually, maybe you don't; if anyone was going to work in Winslet's revelation a few years back that there was actually room for DiCaprio on the door that proved so pivotal to the movie's final scenes, it's this spirited bunch.
Sometimes, a bar asks the questions you didn't know you had. When it comes to wild and wonderful margarita flavours, that bar is usually El Camino Cantina. The Tex-Mex chain loves swirling around different kinds ritas, so much so that limited-edition varieties frequently grace its menus — and for three weeks from Monday, July 18–Sunday, August 7, it's giving its signature drinks a Long Island iced tea makeover. What's better than choosing between sipping a margarita or a Long Island iced tea? Drinking a fusion of the two cocktails. That's what's on offer thanks to the brand's Long Island iced tea rita series, and in seven flavours. Yes, as well as splashing together to different kinds of boozy beverages, El Camino Cantina is pouring them in different varieties as well. So, you can choose between cherry, strawberry, passionfruit, mango, lychee, sour melon and lagoon Long Island iced tea ritas. In Sydney, you'll find them tempting your tastebuds as part of the chain's National Tequila Day celebrations in The Rocks, Entertainment Quarter, Manly and Miranda. In an added bonus, there's a limited-edition tacos range to go with them, costing $7–8 each and $2 on Tuesday. Fancy marinated chilli prawns, crispy bacon and cheddar on a taco? Smoked barbecue brisket with coleslaw? Beef mince with pickles, onions, cheese and secret burger sauce? Nacho-crumbed chicken tenderloins with pico de gallo? They're just some of the special options.
Looking for new threads? Sure, you can head to plenty of markets around town and trawl through food, homewares and other objects, or you can mosey along to Sydney's dedicated fashion get-together. Round She Goes does one thing, and it does it well. If it's clothing, accessories and jewellery you're after, you'll find it here. Filled with preloved designer and vintage fare, the one-day happening will take over PCYC Marrickville from 10am on Saturday, July 9. These editions will boast the market's biggest array of storeholders to date with over 70 stalls, all specially curated by organisers to deliver reasonably priced, high-quality bits and pieces, ranging from beloved brands to handmade items and fashion clear-outs. In terms of the bigger brand-name stalls, you can expect to find items from Jean Paul Gaultie, Prada, Romance Was Born, Christian Dior, Balenciaga and Bianca Spender. Entry costs $4 and prices of the clothes and accessories start from $10. Top image: Leticia Almeida
It's the frostiest of Australia's annual film festivals for two reasons — the time of year it arrives, and the region it showcases — and it's back for 2022 with another round of recent and retro flicks. That'd be the Scandinavian Film Festival, which naturally hits cinemas around the country each winter. Well, winter Down Under, that is. This year's fest will play 19 titles, primarily hailing from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, with the program heading to Palace Norton Street, Palace Verona, Palace Central and Chauvel Cinema in Sydney from Tuesday, July 12–Sunday, August 7. That gives film buffs around a month to get their Nordic movie fix, whether you're keen on a historical epic or a dive into Scandi cinema history. Yes, blasts from the pasts are a feature of the 2022 lineup — starting with opening night's Margrete — Queen of the North. Starring Trine Dyrholm (The Commune) and directed by Charlotte Sieling (Lovecraft Country, Homeland), the historical drama is set in 1402, and hones in on Denmark's Queen Margrete, who oversaw the Kalmar Union that brought together Sweden, Norway and Denmark. Also peering backwards: the Scandi Screen Sirens selection, which celebrates leading ladies from times gone by — all in classics. So, you'll catch Ingrid Bergman in Casablanca, Greta Garbo in Queen Christina and Britt Ekland in The Wicker Man. There's also two Liv Ullmann films: The Serpent's Egg, directed by iconic Swedish filmmaker Ingmar Bergman; plus The New Land, the 1972 gem in the festival's closing night slot. Elsewhere, the program includes Dyrholm again in A Matter of Trust, which heads to Australia straight from premiering at the Tribeca Film Festival; Finnish effort The Woodcutter's Story, which played the 2022 Cannes Film Festival Critics' Week; and The Emigrants, a new adaptation of Vilhelm Moberg's novels. The latter first hit the screen in 1971, in a film of the same name — to which the aforementioned The New Land was a sequel. From a selection of 19 flicks all up, there's also the Danish boarding school-set Pretty Young Thing, which will have its world premiere at the fest; psychological drama Quake from Iceland; Berlinale Crystal Bear Award-winner Comedy Queen, about a 13-year-old girl who wants to be a stand-up comedian; and documentary Nordic by Nature, which was filmed in the Faroe Islands, including in its seafood industry, and also covers two-star Michelin restaurant KOKS. And if Scandinavian talent has you thinking of Game of Thrones' Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, he's accounted for A Taste of Hunger from Denmark. It's about the quest for a Michelin star, actually, with the drama following a couple determined to get one for their restaurant.
Sitting in front of a big screen isn't a passive experience. Whether you're watching a gorgeous Japanese animated delight such as Hayao Miyazaki's Ponyo or viewing one of Martin Scorsese's standouts like 1985 gem After Hours, you're engaging with the film before you. It's flickering through your brain, getting you thinking and also evoking your emotions. Movies can make us feel everything from joyous to angry — and it's this process that drives the Art Gallery of New South Wales' new free film season Zany, Cute, Interesting. The three words that make up the lineup's title might pop into your head while you're watching your way through the program. Or, you could have other feelings about the aforementioned flicks, plus Wes Anderson's The Royal Tenenbaums and Frederick Wiseman's documentary Ex Libris: The New York Public Library. Other standouts on the bill include 1938 classic Bringing Up Baby, 2014's distinctive The Wonders and 2019's engaging Recorder: The Marion Stokes Project. Zany, Cute, Interesting's lineup screens on Wednesdays at 2pm and 7.15pm, and on Sundays at either 1.30pm or 2pm, running through until Sunday, May 16. Tickets are free, but bookings are recommended. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQRawYZl-ls
Pedro Almodóvar has made many a fantastic film over the past four decades. In 2019, however, the Spanish director added one of his greatest movies yet to his resume. We're talking about Pain and Glory. If you saw it, you likely loved it. And, if you hadn't already watched your way through the inimitable auteur's back catalogue before then, the Academy Award-nominee should've inspired you to do just that. You've had a couple of years to start your viewing, of course — and plenty of time over the past 12 months, in fact. But whether you still have some gaps or you're fond of the big-screen experience, Dendy Newtown is giving you a chance to check out eight of Almodóvar's standouts in a cinema. Until Wednesday, April 7, you can swoon over his emotionally charged dramas and rove your eyes over his colourful frames. No one makes movies quite like him, as this retrospective shows. Get ready to spend plenty of time staring at two of his favourite actors, too, with Antonio Banderas and Penelope Cruz each popping up regularly in the director's work. On the lineup: Banderas being exceptional in Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, The Skin I Live In and the aforementioned Pain and Glory, plus Cruz at her stellar best in Volver, Broken Embraces and Oscar-winner All About My Mother. Almodóvar's second most recent movie, Julieta, is also on the bill, so you'll be getting an impressive cross-section of his career. As always with Dendy's retrospectives and film seasons, different movies play on different dates and at various times — so head to the cinema's website for the full session details. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jtrl8Ei15AE
Dancing is permitted again in Sydney again from Monday, March 29, which is just in time for Easter. Yes, that's handy. So, in-between eating all of the chocolate — and other appropriately themed bites — you can give your limbs a workout. One of first potential events on your four-day-weekend agenda: Damn Good Saturday at Redfern Surf Club. Obviously, you now know when it will take place. Kicking off from 2pm and running until late on Saturday, April 3, this day-long party is all about dancing to DJs, having a bite to eat, sipping drinks and making the most of your time off. Hitting the decks are Shantan Wantan Ichiban and Nes, who'll be giving you plenty of motivation to make shapes. Food-wise, the holiday-themed menu will feature popcorn shrimp with chilli lime aioli, spiced jerk fried chicken tenders and shrimp po' boys. And there'll be happy hour specials, spanning both snacks and beverages — such as mango daiquiris and frozen pina coladas — until 4pm. [caption id="attachment_684551" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Images: Pat Stevenson.[/caption] Updated March 29.
There are two types of beer festivals: the kind you throw for yourself when you're having a few brews with your friends and the ones that pubs put together with plenty of painstaking planning. A mainstay at The Australian Heritage Hotel, the great Australian Beer Festival falls into the latter category. Luckily, come October, the pub's huge three-day street party is back for its 15th year. The Aussie has always been a proud supporter of local brewers, stocking a small-run Australian brews and launching the Annual Australian Beer Festival back in 2004. So, the place knows what it's doing. Across the weekend, expect more than 130 Australian beers and ciders from over 30 different breweries, including Modus Operandi, Grifter, Six String and Balter. You'll also find gourmet food stalls, an oyster bar and blind tastings aplenty. Plus, you can learn all about your favourite ale at 'Meet the Brewer' sessions or simply kick back to some live tunes. Or, watch the Rugby World Cup on the huge outdoor screen thanks to Feral Brewing. It'll be on for the entirety of the beer fest, so you can sit on a bean bag or hay stack and watch away (with a beer in hand, of course). Whilst entry is free, drinks can only be purchased with vouchers. So, if you're looking to skip queues and get your hands on some beer-themed merch, you can grab early bird packages ($20–65) here. Consider yourself a bit of a brewer? In conjunction with Australian Beer Festival, the pub hosts a home brewing competition. If you take out the top gong, your beer will be produced at Akasha's brewery in Five Dock, then later sold on tap at the Aussie. Registrations close Monday, September 30. To sign up, head here. Australian Beer Festival 2019 will take place on Friday, October 11, from 4–10pm; Saturday, October 12, from 12–8pm; and Sunday, October 13, from 12–9pm. Entry is free, but to skip the queues, you can pre-purchase beer vouchers here.
There are many activities you can do in a two-hour time slot. You could watch all six episodes of the ABC's satirical beauty blog Sarah's Channel, cook 60 packets of 2 Minute Noodles or listen to Pink Floyd's 'Shine On You Crazy Diamond' 4.6 times. But we think the tastiest way to pass 120 minutes is to spend it eating endless plates of tacos. And that's exactly what you can on Friday, October 4, when Sydney's four El Camino Cantina outposts — in Manly, Miranda, The Rocks and the just-opened venue in the Entertainment Quarter — celebrate 'World Taco Day' with two hours of unlimited tacos for just $25 a pop. Rock up at any venue and you'll be able to dig into bottomless tacos topped with cajun chicken and pickled cabbage; minced beef, cheese and lettuce (it's meant to taste a little like a cheeseburger); or mushrooms and chipotle coleslaw. If you want to spend a bit more on your feast, you can also splurge on a $10 lobster or wagyu taco. To redeem the bottomless offer, you will need to purchase a drink of sorts. You can choose from one of the restaurant's five frozen margaritas, a glass of sangria, a Dos Equis or, really, anything else on the extensive drinks menus. Two hours of bottomless tacos are available at El Camino Cantina Manly, Miranda and The Rocks. To book your spot, head to the El Camino Cantina website. Updated: October 4, 2019.
More than four decades ago, a filmmaker wanted to journey to a galaxy far, far away, and he needed a republic cruiser's worth of epic tunes to go with it. Enter John Williams and the theme everyone now knows. When the first notes of Star Wars: Episode VI — A New Hope's score started playing over the film's opening crawl, movie and music history was made. Neither Williams nor George Lucas could've known just what they'd unleashed, nor that Luke and Leia, Han and Chewie, and the next generation of wannabe jedis and empire lackeys would still be gracing cinema screens all these years later. To celebrate the space opera saga's longevity, the Sydney Opera Hose is hosting the Star Wars event to end all Star Wars events: Star Wars: The Force Awakens in concert. We've got a good feeling about what promises to be a force-filled evening of sound and vision, with the seventh film in the franchise screening in all its Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac and Adam Driver-starring glory, and Sydney Symphony Orchestra picking up their instruments to perform the corresponding score. They'll play Williams' Oscar-nominated music live across four concerts on Thursday, September 12, Friday, September 13 and Saturday, September 14 — at 8pm daily, with a 2pm matinee on Saturday as well.
Spring is finally here, and warmer weather means sunny afternoons soaking up some rays with a refreshing beverage in hand. Long weekends, too. All of the above combines at the third iteration of Opera Bar's Rose All Day Festival on this year's October long weekend From Friday, October 4 until Monday, October 7, the harbourside bar with a incredible view of the Bridge will be thinking and drinking pink. Expect frosé, spritzes, pét-nat, cocktails and rosé still and sparkling, with varieties from Provence's AIX, Mojo, Red Claw, Cullen Wines, Cape Mentelle, Cloudy Bay, Chandon and Logan on offer. Buckets of prawns, picnic spreads and alcoholic rosé soft serve will be served up, too, while live music will provide a soundtrack to the weekend. The festival kicks off at 11.30am each day. Tickets cost $35, and include three pink drinks.
Inner west cafe Warren & Holt is graduating from the terrible twos and turning three this November. To celebrate, it won't be serving up fairy bread, but falafel bowls — for just $3. Swing by from 7am and you can order one of the vegan and gluten-free bowls — filled with five falafels, pickled red cabbage, coconut tzatziki, lentil hummus and grilled lemon — for pocket change, to either eat in or takeaway (if you want to save it for a more lunch-appropriate time). The deal is only valid with drink purchase, so you'll need to pick up a Single O coffee, nourishing smoothie, kombucha or juice, too. If the falafel hooks you in, you can make a return visit to try the cafe's gluten-free hotcakes topped with passionfruit curd, its burger on a Brickfields bun or the 48-hour slow-cooked beef broth served with soba noodles. Warren & Holt's $3 falafel bowls are available from 7am until sold out.
This year has been huge for Bong Joon-ho. Not only is the South Korean filmmaker responsible for one of 2019's best movies in Parasite, this same thrilling flick nabbed the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival, took out Sydney Film Festival's top prize and has been named as its country's Oscar contender in the Best Foreign-Language category — all deservedly so. Parasite isn't just a one-off, either. For nearly two decades, the acclaimed director has been making smart movies that continually surprise and delight — and continually defy categorisation, too. Bong delved into real-life murder mysteries in 2003's Memories of Murder, reinvented the creature feature with 2006 standout The Host, and used 2009's Mother to explore an unnerving family relationship. More recently, Bong forced the remnants of humanity to fight for survival on a speeding train, with Snowpiercer enlisting Tilda Swinton, Chris Evans and Jamie Bell among the locomotive's scrambling inhabitants. And, in Okja, the filmmaker introduced the world to a cute super-pig, the girl who adores it and the ruthless corporate executive (Swinton again) looking to profit from it, as well as one incredibly offbeat TV zoologist (Jake Gyllenhaal). If you're keen to rediscover these highlights, or perhaps catch them for the first time, the Korean Film Festival in Australia and Sydney Film Festival are joining forces for a two-day Bong retrospective. Screening at Dendy Opera Quays across Friday, September 27 and Saturday, September 28, it's free to attend — but you'll want to nab an online ticket in advance, as sessions are already booking out.
When Skyfall initially hit cinemas back in 2012, it did so in a big way. The 23rd film in the Bond franchise picked up two Oscars, two BAFTAs, a Golden Globe, two Grammys and a wealth of critical acclaim. The response was understandable. As well as the usual espionage antics, shaken-not-stirred martinis, suits and new standout theme song — all Bond trademarks — Skyfall ranked among the long-running franchise's best films so far. Simply put, it's a pretty stellar film. So, if you've been hankering to revisit it again, you're in luck — Skyfall is returning to Sydney on the silver screen. And this time it's got a live score. Following in the footsteps of the Star Wars and Harry Potter films, as well as Bond's own Casino Royale, Skyfall will grace the Sydney Opera House with help from the Sydney Symphony. The orchestra, led by Australian conductor Nicholas Buc, will perform composer Thomas Newman's award-winning score, plus the franchise's classic theme track (obviously). With three screenings happening across Friday, November 22 and Saturday, November 23, this latest Sydney Symphony film and orchestra pairing is giving you the chance to hear the music behind one of the best films in history like it's never been heard before. Plus, relive Daniel Craig's third stint as 007, as well as Javier Bardem's memorable turn as the resident villain. The Sydney Symphony Orchestra's live Skyfall in Concert performances will take place at 8pm on Friday, November 22 and at both 2pm and 8pm on Saturday, November 23.
