While we love watching our mates' attempt to grow facial hair (with varying degrees of success) for Movember every year, we especially love that's it's for a good cause: raising funds for mental health, suicide prevention, prostate cancer and testicular cancer. And if your inability to grow a mo has stopped you from getting involved yourself, we've got news for you. Move for Movember is a Movember challenge, supported by major partner Lululemon, and there's still time to get involved. Move encourages participants to cover 60 kilometres across the course of a month by either walking or running. That distance was chosen to represent the 60 men that are lost to suicide every single hour across the world. Let's not beat around the bush(-y moustache) — 60 kilometres is some ground to cover in a month. So, if bushwalks bore you or you don't have the time (or the inclination) to smash out a few multi-day hikes, we've come up with a list of more creative ways to hit you that step count goal this month. And it's super easy to get started. Just register to Move via the Movember website or download the app, start collecting donations from your friends and family, pop your comfiest pair of shoes on and get moving. Oh, and make sure you have a smartwatch or your phone on you to make sure every step is counted. [caption id="attachment_781135" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Wildflower Brewing, Cassandra Hannagan[/caption] DO A BREWERY CRAWL The glorious spring weather already makes a brewery crawl an excellent way to spend a Saturday, but when the crawl counts towards your monthly goal? Even better. The obvious location for your beer hop is the inner west, which boasts over a dozen craft breweries (including six in Marrickville alone). To get you started, we've mapped out a route of some of our favourites, which will total six kilometres of stomping. Just remember the two golden rules. First: pace yourself. This is a marathon, not a sprint. You want to get to the end so those kilometres count towards your goal. And second: despite what your mates at uni used to chant, eating is not cheating. And with the plethora of excellent food trucks and pop-up food stalls that frequent these breweries, you're not going to want to skip a feed anyway. PLAY A FEW ROUNDS OF GOLF Some may say golf is a good walk spoiled. But if what you're looking for is a way to break up the monotony of a long walk with short bursts of action and some friendly banter with your mates, then a session on the green is the answer. Across a standard 18-hole course, players will walk an average of nine kilometres, which is a pretty sizeable chunk of your target — and you could clock up even more if your ability to stay on the fairway is, ahem, lacking. Encourage your friends to walk the course with you and donate the money they would've spent on cart hire to your Movember Move challenge instead. And don't worry if you don't know anyone with a club membership. Sydney has plenty of public courses that you can access, stretching from Long Reef in Collaroy to The Coast in Little Bay, both of which offer epic coastal views that'll take the sting out of your last double bogey. [caption id="attachment_788212" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW[/caption] TURN WORKING INTO WALKING Have a desk job? You probably already spend way too much time sitting down. And, if you're still working from home, it's even more likely since all the incidental walking you'd normally do throughout the day — commuting, popping out for lunch and heading to meetings — isn't happening as much. Whatever your situation, it can't hurt to inject a little more movement into your working day, so use this month's goal as an excuse. This could mean forgoing public transport and running to the office for the month. We suggest using the app Runhunters, founded by running coach and Lululemon ambassador Matty Abel, to explore suitable run routes, so you're not covering the same ground every day. Another popular option is to implement walking meetings if the conversation doesn't require a laptop, or it could be a simple as standing up and pacing around the room every time you take a phone call. [caption id="attachment_518293" align="alignnone" width="1150"] Skyzone[/caption] FILL YOUR WEEKENDS WITH KIDULTING ACTIVITIES It's not hard to see why kidulting activities have seen such a surge in popularity recently. These days, the line between work and personal life is more blurred than ever, so switching off for an hour, forgetting all responsibilities and just playing like you did as a kid feels like a huge treat — almost as big as the double scoop ice cream your nan would buy you on the sly. Treat your inner child to a trip to Sky Zone in Alexandria, which has more than 100 interconnected trampolines to bounce, flip and tumble between. You can also work up a sweat next door at Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq chasing your frenemies around in a game of laser tag, or, if you're looking for a kidult activity you can do on a more regular basis, check out False Grip. The studio on the northern beaches specialises in adult gymnastic classes, so you can pick your childhood hobby up again (or finally get to try it if you didn't as a kid). With the help of the experienced coaches, including Lululemon ambassador Tori Hand, you'll learn to tumble, do a handstand and even use the rings. You'll be having so much unbridled fun, you won't even notice how quickly those kilometres are ticking over. [caption id="attachment_786433" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Q Station Sculpture by Tania McMurty[/caption] COUNT YOUR STEPS WHILE DOING YOUR CULTURAL CHORES The arts community really came through for us during lockdown with virtual gallery tours and events, as well as releasing archival material. But there's nothing quite like experiencing art IRL, so now that Sydney's art institutions have opened their doors again, you have a lot of catching up to do. It may not get your heart rate up (unless you're really moved by one of the artworks), but we think it's totally acceptable for wandering around an art gallery to count towards your goal. This month, you can explore an outdoor exhibition by the harbour of artworks that were not selected for Sculpture by the Sea, admire the works of Van Gogh at Moore Park's multi-sensory experience, come face-to-face with famous Australians at AGNSW's Archibald Prize exhibition and visit a living exhibition of over 20,000 plants at the Royal Botanic Garden. There's still time to sign up to Move for Movember, and change the face of men's health. To learn more or register to complete 60 kilometres, visit the website. Top image: Skyzone
Kumiko (Rinko Kikuchi) is a superfan. Joel and Ethan Coen's Fargo is the object of her excessive attention, and she doesn't just fixate over it, she believes it. In particular, she believes there's a briefcase filled with money buried in the Minnesota snow. To understand why she's so intent on thinking the movie is more than fiction is to understand her largely solitary existence in Tokyo. Kumiko is 29 years old and still working as an office lady, a position her boss thinks she should've well and truly outgrown. Her mother only calls to scold her about her dismal personal life, and her only friend is her pet rabbit, Bunzo. So when she happens across a VHS copy of Fargo, embracing its tall tale as truth adds purpose to her days, and trekking across America to find the stack of cash it tells of becomes her destiny. Filmmakers David and Nathan Zellner delve into an urban legend that sprang up around the death of a Japanese woman in the US, first chronicled in 2003 documentary This Is a True Story. Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter makes its own fable out of diving into the strangeness that can stem from both truth and fiction, as well as the tenuous relationship between the two. Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter is in select cinemas on April 29, and thanks to Palace Films, we have 15 double in-season passes to give away. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter and then email us with your name and address. Read our full Kumiko review here. Sydney: win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.au Melbourne: win.melbourne@concreteplayground.com.au Brisbane: win.brisbane@concreteplayground.com.au
Slow living and handmade craft has metamorphosed from bewitching alternative trend to a totally plausible way of life. In what seems to be some kind of conscious resistance to the speed and churn of internet culture, mass production and memes, there's an uptake in the kind of hands-on activities all about a quality time investment and a quality result at the end. Think sourdough starter, knitting, home ceramics kits... hell, even elaborate cocktail-making all fall into this category. Nonna's Grocer, an online concept store that popped up this year is the brainchild of Wollongong-based designer, Madeleine Hoy, and it's all about embracing the 'perfectly imperfect' principles of hand made. Right now, the hero produce on Nonna's Grocer's virtual shelves is a range of beautiful candles made the size, shape and appearance of the fruit and vegetables from your local fruit shop. Lemons, oranges and a family of heirloom tomatoes look so realistically juicy you'd be forgiven for being duped into taking a bite (Madeleine told us that no one's admitted doing that yet). For her next addition to the store, she's teamed up with Marrickville-based studio Defy Design on a fresh product line made from recycled plastic. Tell us a bit about the inspiration behind Nonna's Grocer and the ethos behind the store. Nonna's Grocer evolved about a year and a half ago, the day I learned that my Great Grandparents ran a grocery store in Daylesford Victoria. My dad was showing me these beautiful images of my Great grandfather Giuseppe in front of his shop and I was so inspired by this moment in time, and couldn't believe I hadn't known about it sooner. I immediately began thinking about a way I could combine my design background (I was a set designer) with this beautiful business that was a part of my family history. Thus Nonna's Grocer was born, a conceptual studio where I develop designs that harness the era of a simpler time with a modern twist. A 'Perfectly imperfect' handmade aesthetic is my focus, as well as creating special pieces for humans to encourage them to slowww it down. Whether that's having a bath, a dinner date with your dog, or stretching a hammy, light a candle and enjoy the moment. Your current range is a selection of incredibly true-to-life fruit shaped candles. How do you make them look so life-like? I found a maker in Sydney who casts objects for sculptures and pitched the idea of getting them to cast fruit. We were a bit unsure at the time how well it would work as fruits decompose quickly when encased, so we had to be smart about which fruits could work well. (Turns out peeled fruits don't work well, just so you know). I then started hitting the supermarkets (back in the day when one could tread slowly) and would study 100 lemons at a time to find the perfect one, and my range grew from there. I've got to ask: have you encountered any instances of people accidentally taking a bite? Oh ha, look no one has informed me they have tried to eat one as of yet, but is that really something you would tell people if you accidentally ate a candle? What kind of shopper do you want Nonna's Grocer to appeal to? I like to think Nonna's Grocer appeals to anyone that is interested in quality produce and a slower paced lifestyle. Particularly people that appreciate craftsmanship, design, and looking for creative ways to make their day more playful. What are the craftspeople, brands or concept retailers that you admire and take inspiration from? Oh dear, I love homeware stores that scream 'good quality'. The Provider Store in Surry Hills is pretty special as it celebrates the history and craftsmanship of Japan. Delicious! The New Zealand store KauKau [based in Wellington] is also beautiful, highly recommend checking them out. I am a big fan of designers like Sabine Marcelis and Gustaf Westman who design various pieces in their own aesthetic, never following a trend. I take inspiration from a million different places, but Stephanie Stamatis the art director began styling food in a way that really resonated, and the interior designers from Paris called Studio Classico have a lovely touch when it comes to materials. Oh, and the cheese shop Formaje in Madrid, their packaging and cheese selection is to die for... Honestly, I could go on and on. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Stephanie Stamatova (@stephanie_somebody) You've started with fruit but you've hinted at 'more to come'. What else can we expect to see hit the virtual shelves of your store? I am so excited to share with you what is coming next, but they are all at the back end of development so I am not quite ready to spill the cannellini beans just yet. I can give you a sneaky hint though: one of my pieces will be manufactured at Defy Design in Marrickville, who collect local plastic waste, hand separate them by colour, and then melt them down into new objects. I'm very excited! Discover more about Nonna's Grocer and have a browse at the website or follow on Instagram.
Melbourne's arts calendar never fails to keep us busy, however, it's always had a bit of a lull in winter before Melbourne International Arts Festival and Melbourne Music Week take over the city in spring. But, from next year, that's all set change. The Victorian Government has this morning announced that it will launch a huge new citywide arts festival in the winter of 2020. It's a big shake-up to the Melbourne arts calendar as the new festival will merge the aforementioned Melbourne Festival and arts all-nighter White Night and move them into a winter timeslot. Since its inception, White Night has been held on a hot February night — however, in September last year, it was announced that it would move to August for 2019. Melbourne Fest, which was established in 1986, is usually held in October. [caption id="attachment_650235" align="alignnone" width="1920"] White Night Melbourne[/caption] Exact timings and details are yet to be revealed, but the new "global" festival — as it's being billed by the Andrews Government — will take over the city for several weeks, much like Melbourne Festival usually does in October. While it will no doubt combine the best bits of the two existing festivals, a new creative team will come on to develop a new program and vision. We're told the the 2020 program will feature a "diverse program of visual and performing arts" coupled with with "large-scale takeovers of precincts" after-dark. Hopefully that means more immersive installations like last year's Fire Garden at Melbourne Festival. The inaugural festival — which is yet to be named — will kick off with a 'transitional' year in the winter of 2020. It's set to support Melbourne's tourism and hospitality industries in the quieter months and, no doubt, provide a Melbourne equivalent to Sydney's popular Vivid festival, which kicks off this month. Both White Night and the Melbourne International Arts Festival will go ahead as planned this year, on the weekend of August 22–24 and October 2–20, respectively. The new winter festival will hit Melbourne in winter 2020. We'll keep you updated when new details or dates are announced. Image: Fire Garden from Melbourne International Arts Festival 2018, by Vincent Muteau.
A simple and surprisingly affecting love story set against the stunning summery glow of rural New South Wales, Love Is Now is the feature film debut of writer-director Jim Lounsbury. The story concerns Dean (Eamon Farren) and Audrey (Claire van der Boom), two young photographers who embark upon a romantic holiday cycling along the NSW harvest trail. Lounsbury's screenplay suffers from a lot of the familiar shortcomings of first-time film outings, including patches of dodgy dialogue and a distinct lack of self-awareness. Nevertheless, the film is made worthwhile thanks to its sympathetic characters and some gorgeous cinematography, not to mention an absolute gut-punch of an ending. The weakest section of Love Is Now is definitely the first half-hour. The prospect of yet another indie film romance about an artistically sensitive guy and the free-spirited girl who changes his life isn't exactly electrifying, especially when it never manages to convince you that she'd want to get with him in the first place. Even by that low standard, Dean and Audrey's meet-cute is seriously unconvincing, although credit to the actors for doing what they can with the stilted getting-to-know-you banter. Van de Boom, in particular, is fantastic in the film, recalling the screen presence of a young Rachel Griffiths. And while it's a little hard to believe that Audrey would fall head-over-heels with Dean, Lounsbury's screenplay does an excellent job capturing the feelings that accompany such a sudden and unexpected romance. The spontaneity. The excitement. And, of course, the jealousy. Once you accept them as a couple, Dean and Audrey begin to grow on you, to the point that, when things start to turn sour, it's easy to find yourself caught up in the melodrama. The climax of the film sheds a whole new light on their relationship, and your visceral emotional reaction more than makes up for the fact that, narratively, it's sort of a ridiculous cliché. Love Is Now also earns big points in the technical department. The quintessentially Australian landscape is captured beautifully by cinematographer Anthony Jennings using digital SLR cameras – Nikon helped foot part of the film's bill, and as a showcase of what their products can do, it appears to be money well spent. Shots of long roads and eucalyptus trees at sunset aren't exactly a new direction for local cinema, but still, you can't deny it looks good.
It's no surprise that many of us are looking to upgrade our home comfort level at the moment. Aussie furniture brand Koala is keen to help you do just that with its Boxing Day sale where you can nab up to 20 percent off mattresses, sheets, sofas, desks and armchairs to help you upgrade your pad or improve your night's sleep. A heap of products from across the brand's range are on sale from Thursday, December 24 to Sunday, January 3 including the popular Koala mattress. Also on offer in the sale is the WFH desk, which is made in Ballarat from hand-sanded timber, easy to assemble and designed with home office use in mind. If you've found yourself working from home a lot more this year, you can pick up the desk for a sweet 15 percent off. Comfy Koala sofa beds, TV units, pillows, bed bases and more are going with a 20 percent discount, too, so you can give your whole house a makeover. And everything comes with a 120-night trial — though, it might be hard to give any of these up after four-months of comfort. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
International travel might be off the cards for the next little while, but that means it's time to soak up all the goodness in your own backyard. Australia and New Zealand are chock full of world-class travel opportunities, with lush rainforests, dazzling coastline, pristine outback and more, just waiting to be explored. And one lucky local will get to hit the road and see part of it for free, thanks to a bumper new competition from Surf Stitch. The fashion retailer has joined forces with campervan hire crew Travellers Autobarn to give away a two-week road-tripping adventure of a lifetime. The winner will score 14-day van hire — with the chance to go cruising around either New Zealand or Australia with their besties, kicking off from a location of their choice — as well as a $1500 wardrobe worth of fresh threads from Surf Stitch, to keep you all looking extra good on tour. Where and when your adventure will unfold, is entirely up to you — and COVID-19 restrictions, of course. At the moment, there are restrictions on travelling between states and territories in Australia, all of Victoria is in lockdown and you can't fly between Australia and NZ — so, if you do win, be sure to check the laws before heading off on your adventure. Restrictions aside, you could go tripping along NSW's north coast, splitting your time between sandy beach and rainforest. Touring the untouched wilderness of Tassie. Or maybe gallivanting your way around the famed Fiordland National Park and Milford Sound on New Zealand's south island. Whatever your local travel bucket-list looks like, this prize is sure to help you tick off a few gems, while giving that holiday itch a good scratch. To be in with a shot at winning your ultimate road trip, simply jump on the competition website and enter your details. Then, decide just which part of this grand old backyard is calling to you the loudest. You can enter the competition by filling in your details over at the Surf Stitch website. Entries close at 11.59pm AEST on Friday, August 14. The competition is open to citizens and permanent residents of Australia and NZ. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
It's not all about the New Year's Eve party — you can't forget about the recovery session on the first day of 2020. Luckily, Manly Wharf Hotel has it covered with two days of harbourside festivities. On New Year's Eve, the party kicks off at 6pm, so get down early for a few cocktails, nab a spot to watch the fireworks and enjoy local talent on the decks before headliners Friendly Fires take it up a notch. The English indie-dance trio will be playing an exclusive DJ set of disco, pop, yacht rock and vintage rave jams to take you into the roaring 20s. When New Year's Day rolls around, return to the scene of the crime for complimentary canapés and sips of Chandon and Heineken from 3–5pm. That should get you back on your feet just in time for some sun-soaked bangers when locals Set Mo take to the decks. First release tickets for each day are $35 or $60 for a two-day pass.
This show is curated by Bev Shroot and Louise Thoeming, winners of the Dominik Mersch Gallery Curator Award, an inaugural prize developed to support emerging curators. In bringing their winning concept to life, Shroot and Thoeming will be presenting Outsiders, Imposters and Aliens, which will explore the idea of ‘otherness.’ The exhibition features seven artists whose work examines marginalised individuals and groups living in the shadow of the mainstream. Each artist will explore a different facet of alienation and detachment, dwelling on the difficult-to-draw line between insider and outsider.
In New York all the best parties involve unconventional hours and unconventional venues. I know this because I’m currently in The City So Nice They Named It Twice, recovering from one that ended at 8am with a subway commute in the company of six barefoot teenaged ravers followed an overpriced breakfast under the neon lights of Kellogg’s Diner. But as I deliberated over a deluxe burger or blueberry pancakes, I started thinking — the experience isn’t as unique to the city that never sleeps as people tend to believe. In Sydney we’ve got more than our share of bars that shut down at the stroke of midnight due to things like neighbours and laws, but when this happens it definitely doesn’t mean home time. Here are some of the top places to hit if you like to stay on your feet past the small hours (just don’t do so barefoot because that’s gross and dangerous). 1. SLOWBLOW Once a month party duo Slowblow take over the front room of Goodgod, transforming a scene already likely to result in a sunrise kebab into an all-night sonic escapade through funk, disco, house, techno and into the beyond. Resident DJ’s include Dreamcatcher, Junglesnake and Softwar, with more local acts helping to keep you on your feet until the wee hours. When and where: 11pm - late; Goodgod Small Club 2. TIKI DISCO Our newest after-hours frolic takes the vinyl joyride from the basement to the tropics. You don’t know which ones exactly yet because it’s kept a secret, but what you do know is that there will be bamboo, pina coladas, great DJs and other various manifestations of jungle madness. Keep you eye on the internets for the next event then email tikidiscoretreat@gmail.com for the location. When and where: Secret locations and various times 3. ONE NIGHT STAND Monotony of ordinary nightlife experiences leading to high stress and pent-up tension? Let it all out via a One Night Stand with local events company Picnic in an secret inner-city warehouse location. These monthly parties are BYO and themed, which means you can get sloshed and wear a costume, plus they round up some of the city’s best DJs to play sets from the moment the gates open until whatever time everyone decides to go home. When and where: 10pm - late; Secret inner-city warehouse 4. WORMWOOD This late night fringe fusion of music and art is headed up by Octopus Pi. The umbrella brand’s general aim is to create events that stimulate the mind and projects that occupy time, space and a third dimension in the brain. Wormwood might even occupy a fourth. Normally hosted in art spaces like Marrickville’s Dirty Shirlow’s or Red Rattler, Wormwood intersperses musical offerings with projections, portraits and other twisted visuals. When and where: 9pm – late; Marrickville 5. MAD RACKET Mad Racket has been throwing mad parties since 1998, and after briefly infiltrating Bondi Junction they’re back at their original location of Marrickville Bowling Club. Snagging a different headlining artist each event, Mad Racket has seen late night revelers getting down to the tunes of Moodymann, DJ Levon Vincent and Dutch heet nieuw ding Tom Trago under the bowling club’s copper ceiling. Check their website for upcoming shows. When and where: 10pm - late; Marrickville Bowling Club 6. MOTORIK! If techno gets your juices flowing then chances are you’re quite familiar with Motorik!, and if your experience with the genre stops at Simian Mobile Disco then get ready to have your expectations stamped out with a reverberating electronic beat somewhere in a dark inner-city warehouse. Motorik! takes techno back to its purest form, which means taking you into the early hours with one heaving pop-up party. When and where: 10pm - late; Secret inner-city warehouse 7. HAHA INDUSTRIES Put a bunch of twentysomethings in a BYO-policy warehouse and fun stuff is bound to happen, but HAHA’s real draw is the consistently great DJs. Dean Dixon and Dave Fernandes are two guys with a self-proclaimed heavy petting fetish for vinyl only, and a policy of only playing music that will make you dance. Adding to this eclectic mix are guest artists specialising in anything from electronic to African drum sets. When and where: 10pm – late; Secret warehouse location
Ever feel like you deserve a prize for just how much you love your wine? Are your efforts as an amateur sommelier yet to be properly rewarded? WineMarket are ready to make your dreams come true with a truly massive giveaway. Every case of wine you buy from WineMarket this February will put you into the running for a five-night getaway on the West Coast, complete with a wine lover's experience of Margaret River and a chance to explore Perth in style. Along with flights and four-star accommodation the lucky winner and a friend will win a tour of a Margaret River winery, a fancy dinner for two in Perth, a scenic tour around the city, five days' car hire and more (to the value of $4500+). The more cases you buy and the more friends you get involved, the better your chances, so now's the time to stock up your cellars for a rainy day. Or if you've already got a healthy supply, get an entry just for signing up to WineMarket's newsletter. Check out the WineMarket website for all the details and to enter. Just hurry — the competition closes on Saturday, February 28, 11.59pm. To all you wine lovers, we salute you and wish you luck.
We've heard of moving-out parties; however Barack Obama's version of a final celebratory shindig is about to put everyone else's to shame. What do you do when your time as the most powerful man on the planet is just about up, and you're about to vacate the world's most famous home? You bring SXSW to the White House. Obviously. The event is called SXSL, with the last two letters referring to the south lawn of Obama's not-so-humble presidential abode. As announced on the White House blog, South by South Lawn will bring together creators, innovators, and organisers for a one-day shindig on October 3. And as far as heading along is concerned, eager attendees can apply online. Yep, the Pres is throwing his very own festival, complete with interactive, film and music components. SXSL-goers will listen to panel discussions and learn about new technologies, watch shorts at the 3rd Annual White House Student Film Festival, and groove along to live performances by well-known and emerging artists. While there's no word on a lineup just yet, Obama's summer playlist could possibly provide a few clues. Clearly, both the US commander-in-chief and First Lady Michelle Obama had a mighty fine time when they attended and spoke at SXSW earlier this year. And clearly, once Obama out of office, nothing quite like this is likely to happen anytime soon. Image: Zach Rudisin.
Last year's inaugural Antidote, Sydney Opera House's new festival of ideas, action and change, saw an impressive lineup of LBGTQI+, Indigenous and feminist rights activists — and 20,000 balloons — fill the iconic building last year. For its second weekend-long run on September 1 and 2, the festival is bringing in a host of international heavyweights to inspire and incite positive change in this crazy messed-up world. Leading the list is investigative journalist Ronan Farrow, whose exposé on Harvey Weinstein in The New Yorker — along with The New York Times' piece — won him a Pulitzer Prize and triggered the start of last year's global #MeToo movement. He'll speak alongside WikiLeaks whistleblower, trans activist and US Senate candidate Chelsea Manning and Black Panther comic writer Ta-Nehisi Coates. These high-profile American voices will be joined by a pretty diverse list of thought-provokers, including Syrian urban planner Marwa Al-Sabouni, South African storyteller Sisonke Msimang and Liz Jackson, the founder of disability self-advocacy organisation, the Disabled List. You'll also be able to settle in for a night of queer stories with Maeve Marsden and get Benjamin Law and his mum to answer some of your most embarrassing questions. Extending its practical positioning, the festival will also feature a few workshops this time around — you'll be able to learn how to fillet a fish with Saint Peter's sustainable fishmonger Josh Niland and Kirsty Mootz will show you how to make your own organic skincare with things you find in your house. Antidote comes at a time when a lot of us are angry and anxious about what's happening in the world. Hopefully you can take away some action points — and if you don't, well, talking it out should at least prove cathartic. Antidote will take place at the Sydney Opera House on September 1–2, 2018. Tickets will go on sale at 9am on Friday, June 22 here.
Perhaps you're a diehard Tetris fiend. Maybe you just can't get enough of Mario Kart. Or, you could be an avid Untitled Goose Game devotee. Whichever video game takes your fancy, it has likely robbed you of more than a little precious slumber — so you might as well lean into it and enjoy your next overseas getaway in a video game-themed hotel. Catering for folks who really do want to eat, sleep and breathe the button-mashing pastime, old-school gaming company Atari is getting into the accommodation business. Launching its own line of places to stay, it's planning to open at least eight hotels across the US. Construction on the first — in Phoenix, Arizona — is due to start in the middle of this year, with other sites in Las Vegas, Denver, Chicago, Austin, Seattle, San Francisco and San Jose set to follow. Keeping to the theme, guests can expect plenty of gaming — obviously. That'll apply to the hotel's look and feel, as well as to the activities on offer. Design-wise, the aim is to make you feel like you're staying inside an Atari console. The Atari Hotels website calls the hotels "a unique lodging experience", and notes that they'll combine the brand "with a one-of-a-kind video game-themed destination". That'll include both virtual reality and augmented reality, while some sites will also feature venues and facilities to host esports events. Given that Atari has been around since the 1970s, was one of the industry's pioneers, and is known for a hefty range of games — spanning classics like Asteroids, Centipede, Pong and even Rollercoaster Tycoon — it's safe to assume that the company's big-name titles will all pop up in some shape or form as well. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnfvlqjvk7A Other than that, just what the Atari hotels will entail is being kept pretty close to the organisation's chest for now. Opening dates haven't been announced yet either, if you're eager to make travel plans. Atari Hotels' first site will begin construction in Phoenix, Arizona in mid-2020. Visit the chain's website for further details.
It's fair to say we all like giving a polemic, but rarely do we like to receive one. Yet when that polemic comes via the wit and deadpan metre of stage star Toby Schmitz, whose new play about plays is brazenly titled I Want to Sleep with Tom Stoppard, we’re inclined to listen with ease. The show takes place within the confines of a family dinner to which fledgling actor Luke (Tom Stokes) has unexpectedly brought his rather more mature, capricious, and uncompromisingly sardonic girlfriend, Sarah (Caroline Brazier), to meet his bourgie parents, Tom (Andrew MacFarlane) and Jackie (Wendy Strehlow). They want to redirect him into a more income-generating, useful, or at least existent job; she's weathered a couple of decades' worth of such masked contempt and proudly claims to write 'theatre' in the religion box of the census. The four's bickering and underhanded games soon overwhelm the pasta and salad, though pair exceedingly well with some 12 bottles of wine. With Tom Stoppard, Schmitz wanted to put aside theatrical metaphor and resurrect the straight-out 'issues play', a genre that's frequently derided, largely due to the habit of its entrants to become one-dimensional or didactic. He certainly succeeds in making the issues play fashionable again. But does he succeed in making it good? That's up for debate. The jokes are great, and performances, particularly Braziers', transcendent, but the play is missing something. It has a little to say about theatre in contemporary society, and connects with few things broader, but what a show like this is crying out for above all is a powerful grounding in humanity. If the characters are having realistic arguments on stage, those arguments have to reverberate in their realistic behaviour and story. And I too frequently didn't believe these characters. That's the best way I can account for the alienation I felt at some points I was meant to be laughing. Who are these people who are so extreme, mean, hyper-combative, and baffling in their actions as to make them inhuman? I still don't know. The riff on female versus male power that eventually emerges is similarly jarring. It may be that in weaving all its self-referentiality, Tom Stoppard couldn't avoid getting tangled. However, I'm clearly in the minority, particularly on opening night, when the crowd is 100 percent theatre people, who are the best possible audience for this play. We could all write 'theatre' in the religion box. The repartee, one-liners, and particularly the stage-culture references have seemingly everyone in stitches; the silence when Tom offhandedly dismisses Sarah's life's work is thick with recognition. It's something that does strike a chord with any theatre disciple, even if we ultimately worship at different altars.
Western Sydney Parklands is Australia's largest urban park, comprising over 5,000 hectares of green space, all for public recreation. You could spend months exploring all the paths, trails and loops this gorgeous area has to offer, but here we've partnered with Adidas to map out one particularly rewarding route. Plus, we've picked out some highlights where you can stop for a respite along the way. Start off at Shale Hills car park (within Shale Hills Dog Park) and head north towards Bungarribee Park. Take a look, then plan your own adventure using the map below. [caption id="attachment_802885" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Pexels; Brett Sayles[/caption] CALMSLEY HILL CITY FARM You might be right in the heart of western Sydney, but you can still experience a slice of rural life. After an hour or so of walking, you'll come to Calmsley Hill City Farm where there's not only an opportunity to pet a range of cute farmyard animals, but also the chance to watch a sheep shearing show or join a cow milking demonstration. If you've got a bit more time on your hands, relax in the grounds with a picnic or take advantage of the free public barbecue facilities. With its focus on sustainability and education, the farm is the perfect pit stop if you're walking with the whole family in tow. SUGARLOAF RIDGE AND MOONRISE LOOKOUT An ideal spot to recharge your batteries, Sugarloaf Ridge on Border Road has large grassy areas where you can lounge to your heart's content. Just a few minutes' walk away is Moonrise Lookout: a picturesque spot that affords you views over western Sydney and, on a clear day, even as far as the CBD, 40 kilometres away. Both Sugarloaf Ridge and Moonrise Lookout are part of the Moonrise Loop, one of the Western Sydney Parklands' most-loved routes and a tramp that will make you forget you're in the middle of Australia's most populous city. [caption id="attachment_803675" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Pexels; Kampus Production[/caption] LIZARD LOG MARKETS Lizard Log is a nature-themed playground loved by young and old alike and, if you time it right, you can be lucky enough to be there at the same time as Mickey's ice cream van, which does a mean selection of soft serve favourites. If you pop down on a Saturday, you can also have a wander around Lizard Log Markets — a showcase for urban farmers and local producers to sell their wares. There are plenty of stalls selling everything from crafts to pre-owned goods, and it's also a fantastic place to grab a feed with a range of different cuisines on offer each week. SALUTI Named after an Italian greeting, Saluti is a cafe, a woodfired pizza restaurant and a wine bar. However, if you're journeying through the parklands and don't have time for a full sit-down meal, there's an extensive takeaway menu for you to get your teeth into. There are a range of sandwich filling options, available on turkish bread, in a wrap or in a panini, plus mouth-watering pastries and muffins and burgers jam-packed with extras. For those keen to keep moving, there's no better place to get a quick takeaway coffee or juice on this route. BUNAGARRIBEE PARK Bungarribee Park covers 200 hectares, contains native wildflower and tree life in abundance, and has an award-winning playground for the kids. It's also home to the Warrigal Dog Run, one of Sydney's largest off-leash dog areas and, if you're a fan of our four-legged friends, the perfect setting to meet a whole host of pawsome pals. Dogs are happiest when they have space to run around, a group of playmates, and enthusiastic humans to lavish attention and treats upon them, all of which means Warrigal is practically puppa heaven. Your pats, ear scratches and belly rubs will certainly be appreciated. STALLION BURGERS Located just next to the Warrigal Dog Run is Stallion Burgers, a killer joint that, unlike a lot of burger places, opens early and acknowledges that burgers are great at any time of day. Everything on the menu is served on soft milk buns and, really, your main issue is choosing where to start. For breakfast, it's hard to look beyond The Kingston which features a chorizo patty, egg, cheese, tomato and mayo. The house specialty, though, is The Stallion, comprising of two beef patties, two types of cheese, whisky sour pickles, onion, tomato, lettuce and — like many a burger emporium — a super-secret sauce. The shipping container outlet also serves hot drinks, soft drinks and water to keep you hydrated. SYDNEY ZOO When you think of zoos in Sydney, you probably think of Taronga. But its younger cousin is well worth your time. Founded in 2015, almost a century after Taronga Zoo opened, Sydney Zoo bills itself as Australia's most advanced zoo. Entry will set you back $39.99 right now and inside you'll find over 1000 species as well as the country's largest reptile house. In addition to sustainability and welfare, the zoo has a strong focus on innovation and technology; it uses the latest techniques to optimise visitor engagement and habitat design. It's the ideal place to see and learn about animals — local and foreign — in an environment tailored to their needs. Time your run to end here and you can spend the rest of the day exploring. It's open from Wednesday to Monday, 9am–5pm. In need of a new pair of runners? Take a look at the new Adidas Ultraboost 21 runners here. Launch the map below to start plotting your own running adventure in and around Sydney. Top image: Western Sydney Parklands
Mosman has officially handed in its Fun Police badge, embracing the people's love for partying down and lifting the ban on outdoor balloons. An untameable menace to the streets of Mosman and a taboo at outdoor shindigs since July 2011, balloons have not danced merrily in the breeze in the Northern Sydney suburb for a few joyless years. More than 50 events found their balloons (metaphorically) popped as the council slammed down a cynical fist on balloon litter. Now, after a glittering review of the No Fun Allowed policy revealed Mosmanites know how to party responsibly, the Mosman council has changed their minds. Last Tuesday's council meeting declared joy back on the Mosman menu, with outdoor balloons allowed to roam free at hootennanies Mosman-wide. The obvious and environmentally-friendly catch: don't let 'em go. Cr Carolyn Corrigan told the Mosman Daily it was high time the council stopped spending their time gaining a rep as the "balloon police". “Kids love balloons and it is lovely to have them at parties," she said. "We need to make sure we are encouraging people to be responsible and think about the way they dispose of the balloons.” Local party businesses had reason to throw their own shindigs in store after last week's announcement. Born To Party owner Shannon Kilford told the Mosman Daily she was pleased to see the council finally changed their fun-hating minds after balloon sales saw a catastrophic decline in the area. “It was frustrating, I didn’t understand the ban in the first place because the balloons we use are biodegradable,” Mrs Kilford said. “So I’m all for the change, it’s amazing and nice to see someone has listened and understood that maybe they got it wrong in the first place.” So ner, take that haters. Sadly the all male strip revue is taking the brunt of the Fun Police now, with all-male show Hotshots under fire by Mosman residents for being too risque for Mosman RSL. You win some, you lose some. Via Mosman Daily.
Fast and furious, wet and wild. No, it’s not an ad for a summer roller-coaster ride; it’s the frantic dash in a 12m-long painted boat known as the Dragon Boat Races. Dating back 2000 years, the race was traditionally held on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month of the Chinese Calendar to encourage rains for prosperity — the dragon, the symbol of water, was the object of worship for the ancient Chinese. Today, it’s a heart-thumping sport boasting crews of roughly 20 rowers. Grab a waterside seat and watch some of Sydney’s best dragon boat teams battle it out in this highly competitive, thrilling sport.
We've had our eyes on talented multidiscplinarians and conductors of happenings zin for some time. But as they've plied us with shots at the Sydney Festival and induced us to party at Underbelly Arts, we've wondered, when are they going to stop with these shenanigans and go pro? Finally, the duo of Harriet Gillies and Roslyn Helper is listening to the demands of the public and synergising to optimal efficiency. With their one-night only art event Really Professional, they are announcing to the world that they are truly, properly, really professional. If you are in any doubt as to their professionality, just look at them in the picture above with power suits on and what looks like hair that is brushed. Such professional. Much sponsorship prospects. Clearly, we know nothing of what we're in store for on Tuesday, May 27. Just count us in.
Spring is here, and the weather's notionally improved enough for outdoor sports. With winter receding and some fitful glimpses of the perhaps over-glorious summer to come, one film festival is giving you some excellent reasons to get active outdoors before the local climate is ready for it. This year's Sydney Bicycle Film Festival has a week of screenings, rides, markets and art, weaving in and out of a freshly minted Sydney Rides Festival that promises to take this year's cycling festivities to a truly city wide scale. From the harbour to the beach, this year's Festival launches with a Taylor Square street fair Saturday October 8, following on with a halloween ride from Surry Hills, Bicycle art at Somedays Gallery and some sprinting at the Standard. Cinematic highlights include Richard Press' Bill Cunningham, New York on octogenarian photographer Bill Cunningham who turned early work in women's fashion to a lifetime using his camera as a notebook for the New York Times, biking shorts from Ghana and Indonesia and first all-female BMX vid Chick Flick. Most screenings are at the Opera House, but you can ride with the festival from city to surf towards the final sessions at the Bondi Pavillion. Image by Sylvia Robles. Tickets for Bondi sessions can be found at Moshtix.
For palaces of glamorous consumption, Apple Stores sometimes play host to the occasional quality cultural moment. Overseas, they're regularly graced by authors and filmmakers. Here in Sydney, the Presets, Wolfmother and even the Wiggles have found space on the George Street's store's stage, before 2011 Sydney Film Festival directors like Joshua Marston started turning up as well. This year, they've teamed up with Aussie design community INfront to put on a series of talks from local creative types who have something interesting to explain to the world at large. For August, Interacting with the Past: Museums for the Next Generation brings you the Powerhouse Museum's new technologies guru Seb Chan, who is bound to take you to a digital place you hadn't imagined finding culture in before. A star of Sydney's first round of TEDx talks, until recently Chan also edited the electronic music buffet that is Cyclic Defrost, having earlier been at the centre of the early Sydney rave scene. So while its army of discreet cleaners may often make it more polished than your average venue, there can be some unquestionable substance to go with this Apples Store's shine.
Looks like it's time to throw An Unexpected Party; The Hobbit now has its own beer. Set to be released as a trio of microbrews, the Hobbity bottles will be available in the coming weeks, brewed to promote the next Tolkien-penned chapter of Peter Jackson's epic film series, The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (out this December). With chilli-infused Smaug Stout on the line, this is a branding exercise we can get behind. Created far over the misty mountains cold by Washington state-based microbrewery Fish Brewing (backed by an army of investors including New Line Productions, Warner Brothers, BevLink and Ocean Brands), the three Hobbit-themed beers take on the personas of three of the series' most villainous characters in 650ml bottles. First off the rank, the Gollum Precious Pils, golden and somewhat bitter like its namesake. Then there's the ol' Smaug Stout named for our fiery treasure hoarder, a black imperial stout infused with chillies (classic dragon beer) and the perfect companion for lengthy, Orc-pursued journeys to Lonely Mountains, if you will. Finally, the Bolg Belgian Style Tripel is a robust beer embodying the evil Orc leader, crafted with enough dark strength to lead an army of goblins, Wargs and Bats in the Battle of the Five Armies. While we're yet to learn whether the Hobbit beer will make its way to Australia, the trio will be available in the US (here's hoping some nifty Australian boutique bottle shops get importing). For now, we'll just have to take a trip to the real life Green Dragon. Via Grub Street and Beer Pulse.
Since the Australia Government introduced an effective and indefinite ban on international travel back in March to help stop the spread of COVID-19, no one has been heading overseas for a holiday. There has been plenty of talk since about what the future of global trips might hold over that time, of course. It's expected that the country's international borders unlikely to reopen until next year, for instance, while the entire international tourism industry isn't predicted to return to normal until 2023. If you plan to jet overseas via Qantas once you're able to, the airline's chief has advised one requirement you'll have to adhere to as well: you'll need to have had a COVID-19 vaccination. Speaking on A Current Affair on Monday, November 23, Qantas CEO Alan Joyce said that the airline is "looking at changing our terms and conditions to say, for international travellers, that we will ask people to have a vaccination before they can get on the aircraft". "Certainly for international visitors coming out and people leaving the country, we think that's a necessity," Joyce said. But when asked if the requirement would also apply for local flights, he wasn't certain. "Whether you need that domestically, we'll have to see what will happen with COVID-19 and the market," he advised. https://twitter.com/ACurrentAffair9/status/1330788260856131584 That means you'll need to add one more thing to your pre-travel checklist — with Joyce's statement coming at a time when a COVID-19 vaccine looks closer to becoming a reality. In the past few weeks, the companies behind three different vaccine candidates have announced positive results from their ongoing clinical trials, covering potential immunisations developed by Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca. As a result, there is currently hope that vaccines might be able to start being rolled out in the new year. When you are able to receive a jab, it won't cost you a cent, as Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison flagged back in August. Obviously, the government won't provide further details about how everyone will get vaccinated until a working vaccine actually exists. For more information about the status of COVID-19 in Australia, visit the Australian Government Department of Health website.
2020 will forever be known as the year everyone wore an extra groove into their couch. And because the past 12 months have just been so chaotic, you probably haven't managed to do everything you wanted to — even working through your streaming queue. You've been distracted by quite the hectic circumstances, so that's perfectly natural. Now that life slowly seems to be returning to normal — and now that holidays are upon us, too — you're probably wondering which series you should catch up on. 2020 delivered a heap of stellar new shows, however, so that isn't a straightforward question. Thankfully, in collaboration with streaming service Binge, we're here to help. Here are five of the year's absolute must-sees, all of which you can binge in full now — including via a 14-day free trial for new customers.
The art onslaught of September is behind us. Sydney Contemporary and its fellow art fairs have packed up, Chippendale's BEAMS have stopped shining, and the MCA's Primavera remains as a token of the art storm that blew threw something. But October is no slouch. Here are six exhibition opening in this fine tenth month that have got our attention. Top image: Ben Williams Photography.
It's been 13 years since Danny Rogers and Jerome Borazio decided to fill a Melbourne alleyway with tunes in 2005. Thankfully, Laneway Festival has just confirmed it will be heading back to its collection of unconventional venues for another year, revealing it's 2018 dates and first two headliners. Returning to Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane, Fremantle, Auckland and Singapore next January and February, Laneway will raise a plastic cup to the middle of summer with what looks to be one heck of a lineup. Following on from the announcement of two of 2018's headliners — California's inimitable Anderson .Paak with his live band The Free Nationals, and Canada's Mac DeMarco — the festival has dropped the full lineup. On it is a slew of exclusive sets, which will see you get down to BABADNOTGOOD, Odesza, The Internet, and sway along to The War on Drugs and Father John Misty. The full lineup was initially slated to be announced tomorrow, but has been brought forward after it was leaked online this morning. Visa pre-sale tickets go on-sale this Thursday, September 14 and the rest of the tickets going on sale at 9am on September 18. But, enough chit-chat — here's the full 2018 lineup. LANEWAY 2018 LINEUP Aldous Harding Alex Cameron Amy Shark Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals BABADNOTGOOD (exclusive to Laneway) Billie Eilish Bonobo (exclusive to Laneway) Cable Ties City Calm Down Dream Wife Father John Misty KLLO** Loyle Carner Mac DeMarco Miss Blanks Moses Sumney ODESZA (exclusive to Laneway) Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever (Sandy) Alex G Shame Slowdive Sylvan Esso The Babe Rainbow The Internet (exclusive to Laneway) The War On Drugs TOKiMONSTA Wolf Alice (exclusive to Laneway) Image: Andy Fraser.
Will and Garrett Huxley, Melbourne-based performance and visual artists, are showcasing their new absurdist digital work The Asset at the Oxford House hotel in Paddington until February 16. Every evening, just after the sun goes down, the Oxford House team will play the short surreal video full of colour and glitter down by the pool. [caption id="attachment_880970" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ladies of Absinthe, The Huxleys[/caption] The film includes the Huxleys swimming about in bright, sparkling costumes — basically having a whole lot of fun underwater as they bring total absurdism into our lives. And let's be honest, with the world as it is now, we could all do with some of this. [caption id="attachment_880968" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Fantastic Party, The Huxleys[/caption] Coming to prominence with works in Mona and Dark Mofo in the early 2010s, The Huxleys have spent the past 15 years making art — with their works being displayed at major galleries in London, Berlin, Moscow and Hong Kong. [caption id="attachment_880969" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Golden Years, The Huxleys[/caption] Head down to Oxford House after dark to catch Will and Garrett Huxley's latest work, The Asset, which plays every night until February 16. Find more info on the website. Top image: Under Pressure by The Huxleys
For a moment, inside Cadence, I feel I’ve landed in Call of Duty, one of those teenage, first-person shooter games. Then I’m inside a type of war-themed dancehall, then a Yun-Fat Chow movie of black ops and modern warfare. Camouflaged soldiers from Australia, the US and Afghanistan are ripping and bending across desert and tarmac. Every move leaves an imprint, which tracks itself symmetrically across the screen to form thick and fast tribal medallions. This new four-panel video work is Cadence by Baden Pailthorpe, the inaugural artist-in-residence at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra. He’s a different kind of war artist, concerned less with conflict and experience of war than its aesthetics and technology. Pailthorpe stamps out the gritty brashness of battle, replacing it with a subtle meditative quality and a super coolness: war in saturated HD, video art at its most stylish. Wherever I am, this is a weirdly sexy and bloodless war game. I’m not sure what that says politically, but it’s a seductive piece of media. This is the art of now — glossy and sleek with an undercurrent of zooming ADHD action. You can get a sense from this vimeo preview that Pailthorpe’s work is design meets simulated gaming meets contemporary video art. "Cadence" is the perfect name. Dance rhythms replace gunfire and a steady-pulsing kinetic energy make it all softly hypnotic, and slowly addictive. Cadence shows new media art is, at its best, as conceptually developed and skillfully executed as traditional disciplines. What you can’t get from the online preview is a sense of the lush, Twin Peaks-ish soundtrack. Beautifully crafted and elegantly choreographed, Cadence’s video-art cousin could be Daniel Crooks' Static No.12 (remember it from the 17th Biennale of Sydney?), just as appropriately subtitled “seek stillness in movement”. The military body in action has never seemed so lovely.
In Time offers up one of the most fascinating and original movie premises in recent memory: It chronicles a future in which human beings no longer mature physically beyond the age of 25 years, their bodies forever frozen in time while their minds continue to develop. The promise of eternal youth, however, is far from assured, since the moment you come of age your life is governed by time, marked for death, as it were, by a glowing, neon-green countdown tattooed onto your forearm. Time has, quite literally, become the new currency of this future: it's earned, spent, stolen, donated or — for the lucky few — inherited. Those with bountiful stores effectively become immortal, while the poor simply hope to survive from one day to the next. If you're thinking it all sounds like a brutally inequitable system ripe for an Occupy Time Street kind of uprising, then you've cleverly spotted the subtle message director Andrew Niccol has attempted to slam into your brain with a sledgehammer. As far as Niccol's concerned: the financial system (sorry, time system) is unfair and in need of an overhaul. The majority of people, let's call them 'the 99%', have next to nothing, while the wealthy have more than they could ever need. It's all so cruel and unnecessary. Somebody really should do something — isn't that right, actor Justin Timberlake? Arise our hero: factory worker and all-round nice guy Will Salas (Timberlake). When fate drops a century of time into his otherwise empty hands, Salas seizes upon the opportunity to escape the desperation of the ghettos and live the high life amongst the time-wealthy elite of New Greenwich — an exclusive district separated by numerous 'time zones' for which the toll to cross is more time than the poor could ever afford. Once there he quickly catches the eye of epoch-heiress Sylvia Weis (Amanda Seyfried) and all seems well until 'Timekeeper' police officers (led by Cillian Murphy) spoil the show and take Salas into custody under the misapprehension he stole the time that was gifted him. From that moment forth In Time feels like one long, extended chase sequence separated by awkward flirting as Will and Sylvia embark upon a Bonnie and Clyde-meets-Robin Hood crime spree to redistribute the wealth to the people. The heavy-handed nature of both plot and script comes as a huge surprise to fans of Niccol, whose previous works, like Gattaca and S1mOne, were subtle and captivating philosophical musings on the increasing role science plays in our lives. Perhaps most frustrating of all is the manner by which In Time consistently glosses over or even entirely ignores the more fascinating elements of the world it's created. Who discovered the means by which humans could cheat death? Why was everyone subjected to it and why on Earth did they think neon-green digits glowing unceasingly in our arms would be anything short of maddening? The film, of course, is not without its redeeming features. The concept alone makes it almost worthwhile, and Niccol teases us with some wonderfully poignant moments, compelling characters and unsettling abstractions. https://youtube.com/watch?v=fdadZ_KrZVw
If you’re a Grand Designs fanatic, you'll know all about the Surry Hills Small House. Back in Season One, the impossibly compact yet beautifully designed dwelling was an audience hit. And now, it could be yours. On October 18, the Small House is going under the hammer. The only catch — the starting price is a cheeky $1.875 million. Back in 2010, architect Domenic Alvaro and partner Sue bought a non-descript carpark, squashed between an industrial building and a classic Sydney terrace on Belmore Lane. Unable to expand outwards, they decided to go up. The Small House is a rectangular prism, six metres wide, seven metres long and five storeys high. Inspired by architects from Tokyo, the structure incorporates three bedrooms and two bathrooms, as well as living, kitchen and dining areas, a lock-up garage and a rooftop garden. An internal staircase allows plenty of natural light to stream in. In 2011, the Small House was named World House of the Year at the World Architecture Festival in Barcelona. ''Perhaps this is where Sydney needs to go,'' Alvaro told the SMH in 2009. ''As this city becomes less affordable to live in and more crowded, we have to start thinking about better ways of using space that allow people to have a reasonable quality of life and still have something to live in.'' If the price tag puts the Small House out of your reach, enjoy this pint-sized bunch of more affordable yet inspired teeny-tiny homes. Via Daily Telegraph.
Throughout October, Greece is the word in Australian cinemas. That's right, Hellenic-loving cinephiles — it's Greek Film Festival time. Now in its 24th year, the annual showcase of the European country's film output is set to do the rounds once again, highlighting the best contemporary efforts being made across the Aegean Sea. Accordingly, prepare for the kind of backdrops that'll make you want to book your next holiday, probing insights into the nation's migration situation, and for a few strange and wonderful confusions — they don't call their current spate of movies "the Greek Weird Wave" for nothing, after all. If you're after more, prepare for a snapshot of not only features and documentaries being made in Greece, but a showcase of talent and tales that have spread around the world. To help you whittle down your viewing list, we've picked five must-sees from this year's lineup. https://vimeo.com/192731022#at=0 DOGS OF DEMOCRACY Anything cats can do, dogs can do too, right? If you've ever had both feline and canine four-legged BFFs, you'll know that the latter frequently wants to follow in the former's footsteps. In Dogs of Democracy, that's just what's happening — as anyone who saw and fell in love with Turkish cat doco Kedi will recognise. This time around, it's playful pooches on the streets of Athens that are in the spotlight, in an effort by Greek-Australian philosopher and filmmaker Mary Zournazi. What can the city's strays teach us about tumultuous everyday life? You'd be barking mad not to watch and find out. Dogs of Democracy screens in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=6&v=CQFdGfwChtw THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER Ever the master of exposing humanity's true nature in unexpected, unnerving and bleakly amusing ways, and of serving up clinical visuals and a commanding tone in the process, Yorgos Lanthimos is up to his usual tricks in The Killing of a Sacred Deer. Of course, where the Dogtooth, Alps and The Lobster writer/director is concerned, there's no such thing as usual. Here, in his second successive feature to star a career-best Colin Farrell, he steps inside the struggles of a doctor whose family is forced to cross paths with the son of one of his patients. Nicole Kidman, Alicia Silverstone and Dunkirk's Barry Keoghan round out the cast — the latter in an astonishing performance — as Lanthimos serves up a savagely accurate exploration of self-interest, sacrifice and the horrors of everyday life. The Killing of a Sacred Deer screens in Sydney and Melbourne. https://vimeo.com/211444789 ROZA OF SMYRNA There's a reason that filmmakers keep coming back to Romeo and Juliet, or R+J-like stories. Conflict, love, tragedy, heartbreak — even if real life often has a happier ending, the Bard's story of a star-crossed but ill-fated romance captures its ups and downs. Add Roza of Smyrna to the pile following in its footsteps, in a Greco-Turkish tale that blends its amorous affairs with a portrait of relations between the two country. Greek veteran Leda Protopsalti stars as the titular character, a formidable family matriarch whose youthful exploits drive the movie. Roza of Smyrna screens in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=7&v=goJzKqpAdEk AMERIKA SQUARE After making a splash in Chevalier, Greek actor Makis Papadimitriou stars in Amerika Square — and gets immersed in a different kind of battle. Here, he's playing a Greek nationalist in a country still tussling with immigration and refugees, and his character has strong feelings about it. An African singer looking to escape with her tattoo artist boyfriend and a Syrian doctor trying to leave with his daughter also form part of the film's narrative. Exploring the current state of the nation, the powerful drama is Greece's submission for the best foreign-language film category at the 2018 Oscars. Amerika Square screens in Sydney and Melbourne. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L98Lc1F7UtA KISSING? Mumblecore, the American low-budget indie movement that gave us Greta Gerwig, Joe Swanberg, Mark Duplass and more, is going Greek. You won't find any of them in Kissing?, sorry, but you will find a raw, candid effort about the ordinary existence of almost thirtysomethings trying to get by. Yes, Danny (Thanassis Petropoulos) and Stella (Iro Bezou) are navigating the maze of life and love tahat you'd expect; however filmmaker Yannis Korres' feature is made all the more resonant due to his country's economic turmoil. Kissing? screens in Brisbane. The Greek Film Festival runs from October 10 to 22 at Palace Norton Street in Sydney, October 11 to 22 at Palace Como and The Astor Theatre in Melbourne, and October 12 to 15 at Palace Barracks in Brisbane. Head to the festival website for further details.
For Australian and Canadian artists, it's difficult to escape the influence of isolation — along with the sense of natural abundance that comes from being part of a tiny population inhabiting a massive land area. Both Ben Frost, who was born here but now lives in Reykjavík, and Canadian Tim Hecker, whose calls Montreal home, create electronic music of epic proportions and striking contrasts. Where Frost combines classical minimalism with punk and metal, Hecker explores the crossroads of dissonance, melody and noise. Their getting together may well produce earthquakes. Ben Frost and Tim Hecker is one of our top ten picks of the Sydney Festival. Check out our other favourite events over here.
It might sound like some sort of lunar identity crisis, but the rare super blue blood moon proved a pretty spectacular addition to last night's skies. Stargazers across Australia had prime position to view the celestial phenomenon, which hasn't occurred anywhere in the world in over 35 years. The event combined the first total lunar eclipse since 2015, with a blue moon, or the second full moon of the calendar month. Clouds might have made for sketchy viewing in some parts of the country, though, as always, social media is chock full of impressive snaps from folks lucky enough to catch the astronomical treat. Here are some of the best shots of 2018's blue blood moon from around the planet. A post shared by Ken Perkes Photography (@perkesken) on Jan 31, 2018 at 11:44am PST A post shared by Jenny Herron (@jenniferherronn) on Jan 31, 2018 at 9:15am PST A post shared by Justin DeLand (@aperture_of_the_soul) on Jan 31, 2018 at 1:15pm PST A post shared by +15⚓🌴🍀🌊 (@cristian_perrone) on Jan 31, 2018 at 1:24pm PST A post shared by Jeff Morris (@itwasthelight) on Jan 31, 2018 at 8:33am PST A post shared by Landscapes-Astro-Cityscapes (@bay.photography) on Jan 31, 2018 at 9:58am PST A post shared by Senai Senna (@sennarelax) on Jan 31, 2018 at 1:13pm PST A post shared by Carlos Sanchez (@officialcarlossanchez) on Jan 31, 2018 at 7:14am PST A post shared by Maria Heni (@henimaria) on Jan 31, 2018 at 5:38am PST A post shared by @harsha_taurus on Jan 31, 2018 at 2:41pm PST
Still sad because you missed The Avalanches much hyped comeback show at Splendour? Well, start saving your pennies because they're back for the Falls Music & Arts Festival. They're just one of the artists on the 2016 lineup, alongside Childish Gambino, London Grammar, Grouplove, Broods, Jamie T, Parquet Courts and heaps, heaps more. As always, Falls will be heading to Byron Bay for three nights over New Year's Eve. The NSW festival will run simultaneously with legs in Marion Bay and Lorne. Falls will also be setting up shop in Fremantle for the first time with Falls Downtown, a two-day city festival slated to take place over the weekend of January 7-8. Anyway, this is what you're after — here's the full lineup. FALLS FESTIVAL 2016 LINEUP Childish Gambino (No Sideshows) London Grammar (No Sideshows) The Avalanches Violent Soho Matt Corby Alison Wonderland* Catfish and the Bottlemen* Fat Freddy's Drop* Ta-ku The Rubens* The Jezabels Ball Park Music Grouplove Bernard Fanning* Jamie T Broods Tkay Maidza Grandmaster Flash Illy MØ Hot Dub Time Machine DMA's AlunaGeorge Booka Shade Client Liaison Vallis Alps Parquet Courts City Calm Down LDRU* Modern Baseball Tired Lion* Remi* RY X Marlon Williams* Lemaitre Shura *Not Playing Fremantle
If you've never indulged in a deep-fried feast, $10 pub meal or messy night at The Abercrombie but wish you had, procrastinate no longer. You have precisely one week to do so before the pub calls last drinks (ever!) on Thursday, January 9. The imminent closure was made public just before Christmas, with manager Dane Gorrel citing the Central Park Development as the cause. “We’re shutting down due to the development going ahead around Central Park,” he told Pulse Radio. “They’re going to be building a big commercial shopping mall around and above us.” As you’d expect, the farewell party is no shy affair. Six nights of entertainment have been announced. A music fest is promised for Saturday, January 4, with Thomas Bullock, Cos Mes, Chida and others. Sunday, of course, will see the final Abercrombie incarnation of cult dance party S.A.S.H. The organisers have expressed sadness at leaving their “home” but have promised to take up residence elsewhere: “Abercrombie may soon be gone, but S.A.S.H. will never die,” a Facebook post reads. “Keep your eyes and ears peeled as we’ll be announcing S.A.S.H. new home (sic) very soon!” The beginning of the week will take the form of a multi-evening Last Supper, with $10 steaks from 6pm on Monday, $10 schnitzels on Tuesday and $3 tacos on Wednesday. Finally, Thursday, January 9, will be the last day of trading, with 'One Last Party' on the program, headlined by DJ Koze. For updates and more information, visit The Abercrombie’s Facebook page.
Think your old rusty bicycles belong in the dumpster? Think again. Yes, that old bike can indeed be reincarnated if it falls in the right hands. Carolina Fontoura Alzaga's hands to be exact. Alzaga transforms bicycle chains into beautifully rustic looking chandeliers. Her passion is repurposing castoff materials, and she does it well. Since medieval times, chandeliers have been used as elaborate decorations associated with wealth and power. Alzaga shatters this concept with her warm and elegant designs. Using aspects of her cultural past from Mexico, Brazil, and the U.S., she is able to create unique and appealing artwork. She aims to combine the idea of discarded and forgotten items with the power and influence associated with chandeliers. Using her creativity and visions of a healthier planet, she gives 'trash' a second chance. Below is a video that describes Alzaga's mission to preserve our world. You can order your own chandelier here. Alzaga handcrafts each one upon order. Take a look at these pieces from her ongoing series titled CONNECT.
Sydneysiders can get a closeup look at the world's largest animals this summer at the Australian Museum. Its latest exhibition, Whales | Tohorā, lets you walk through a life-sized heart of the blue whale, explore the 18-metre skeleton of a bull sperm whale and examine other whale bones — the most extensive collection of whale skeletons ever displayed, apparently — be serenaded by whale song and watch live ocean footage — all created using the latest research on whales. The interactive exhibition was created by the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa and will be on display until April 28, open from 9.30am–5pm daily. The installation specifically honours the whale's cultural and historical significance within the South Pacific Islander communities, with stories and traditions of the Māori People highlighted throughout the exhibition. Image: Humpback whales by Jeremy Cresswell.
Go buy a 3D printer right now, and show us what you can invent. Every industry is getting cooler thanks to this democratising technology, which is in the process of bringing us 3D-printed organs, 3D-printed cities, and 3D-printed sex toys (including a vibrator modelled on Justin Bieber's head). And what can it do for broken bones? One Victoria University of Wellington graduate has cleverly used 3D printing to reinvent the clunky, sweaty arm cast we all had to wear in primary school after a violent game of handball. Called the 'Cortex', Jake Evill's invention is breathable, eco-friendly and washable. Its polyamide can also be reused. Unlike the oh-so-analogue plaster casts of yore, the Cortex's structure has the potential to be digitally tailored to the injury. Computer software can receive x-rays and measurements of the limb, and via an algorithm, the printer produces (within a slightly lengthy 3 hours) a lightweight cast which protects and supports in all the right places. And excitingly, it can be worn under a long-sleeve shirt. While some would mourn the hallowed tradition of messy cast graffiti, it's our surmise that 3D printing culture will quickly come up with an upgrade for that, too. Via Gizmodo. Image from http://jakevilldesign.dunked.com.
Three world-renowned artists. Two galleries. One big summer of art — and one city bursting with things to see. When Sydney International Art Series returns for 2023–24, it'll do so with a trio of blockbuster Australian-exclusive exhibitions showcasing some of the biggest names to ever unleash their creative talents: Wassily Kandinsky, Louise Bourgeois and Tacita Dean. The newly revamped Art Gallery of NSW will host both Kandinsky and Louise Bourgeois: Has the Day Invaded the Night, or Has the Night Invaded the Day?, both from November 2023. The former will offer a comprehensive overview of the Moscow-born artist's career and work, as drawn from the Solomon R Guggenheim Foundation's holdings. And the latter will be the first monographic exhibition to be presented in the Art Gallery's new SANAA-designed building, complete with more than 150 works, marking the largest survey of Bourgeois' work ever displayed in Australia. [caption id="attachment_889026" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Wassily Kandinsky, Improvisation 28 (second version), 1912, oil on canvas, 112.6 × 162.5 cm. Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, Solomon R. Guggenheim Founding Collection, By Gift 37.239. Photo courtesy Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation.[/caption] Fans of Kandinsky's abstract art can look forward to a thorough examination of the European modernist's experimental, influential style, including tracking his beginnings in Munich in the early 1900s, his time back in Moscow during World War I, his role as an instructor at Germany's famed Bauhaus school, and his late years in Paris. The exhibition comes to SIAS after running at the Guggenheim Museum New York as Vasily Kandinsky: Around the Circle in 2021–2022, and will be paired with British medium Georgiana Houghton's 19th-century spirit paintings for its Sydney stint. The Bourgeois showcase will display 13 years after the Paris-born artist passed away in New York in 2010, and after she stamped her imprint upon the art of the 20th century. Visitors to Louise Bourgeois: Has the Day Invaded the Night, or Has the Night Invaded the Day? will see her Personage sculptures from the 1940s, textile works of the 1990s and 2000s, and plenty in-between, with the exhibition playing up the duelling themes and ideas in her work by taking over AGNSW's major exhibition gallery and 'the Tank'. This exhibition is a collaboration with The Easton Foundation in New York, too, and ranks among the most extensive exhibitions dedicated to a female artist that Australia has ever seen. [caption id="attachment_889027" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Louise Bourgeois, The destruction of the father 1974-2017, archival polyurethane, resin, wood, fabric and red light, 237.8 x 362.3 x 248.6 cm. Glenstone Museum, Potomac, Maryland. Photo: Ron Amstutz. © The Easton Foundation.[/caption] Over at the Museum of Contemporary Art, and equally impressive, exciting and a must-see, is a three-month focus on Berlin- and Los Angeles-based UK artist Tacita Dean that's the largest in-depth presentation of her work in the southern hemisphere. Spanning film, photos, installations, drawings, prints, collages and sounds, and highlighting the poetic vision lingering in her works, this showcase will go heavy on new art from the past five years — all pondering memory, history, time and chance. In the process, it'll display pieces that've never been exhibited in Australia, from recent films through to chalkboard drawings and collaborations with The Royal Ballet. SIAS' three big exhibitions are expected to bring around 28,000 people to Sydney to see them, New South Wales Minister for the Arts and Tourism Ben Franklin announced in a statement. "Securing these extraordinary, world-renowned artists for the Sydney International Art Series reaffirms Sydney as Australia's cultural capital and a global hub for the arts, where art and creativity are celebrated and nurtured." [caption id="attachment_889029" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tacita Dean, Paradise (still), 2021, 35mm colour anamorphic film, with music, Paradiso by Thomas Adès. Image courtesy the artist; Frith Street Gallery, London and Marian Goodman Gallery New York/Paris, © the artist.[/caption] 2023 is shaping up to be a huge year for art lovers Australia-wide, also including a world-first pop art exhibition on the Gold Coast featuring works by Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring; a separate Warhol exhibition in Adelaide that's all about his photography; a showcase dedicated to Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera and Mexican modernism, also in the South Australian capital; Brisbane's upcoming fairy tales exhibition; the currently displaying Alexander McQueen showcase in Melbourne; and the Victorian capital's world-premiere ode to women in film history. [caption id="attachment_889024" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Wassily Kandinsky, Landscape with rain, January 1913, oil on canvas, 70.5 x 78.4 cm. Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, Solomon R. Guggenheim Founding Collection 45.962. Photo courtesy Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation.[/caption] SYDNEY INTERNATIONAL ART SERIES 2023–24: Saturday, November 4, 2023– Sunday, March 10, 2024 — Kandinsky at AGNSW Saturday, November 25, 2023–Sunday, April 28, 2024 — Louise Bourgeois: Has the Day Invaded the Night, or Has the Night Invaded the Day? at AGNSW Friday, December 8, 2023—Sunday, March 3, 2024 — Tacita Dean at MCA Sydney International Art Series runs from November 2023 — head to the AGNSW and MCA websites for further details. Top image: excerpt from Wassily Kandinsky, Landscape with rain, January 1913, oil on canvas, 70.5 x 78.4 cm. Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, Solomon R. Guggenheim Founding Collection 45.962. Photo courtesy Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation.
Looking for one-of-a-kind and original gifts this festive season? You're in luck. Inner west art and design store Hypmotive are pulling together a bunch of local businesses for a makers market just in time for Christmas. Popping up at Marrickville Metro between Saturday, December 11 and Sunday, December 12, the Marrickville Makers Market will arrive just in time for you to get all your gift shopping done without the manic rush of a Christmas Eve trip to Kmart. There will be 20 different creative businesses setting up stalls at the markets selling everything from screen-printed tea towels to handmade ceramics and Christmas decorations. Nab posters and zines from Amy Blue Illustrations, artworks from Helen Nehill and native plant souvenirs from Outer Island. The market is free and will be open 9am–5.30pm on Saturday and 10am–4pm on the Sunday.
Writing a prescient tale is the science-fiction holy grail, and a feat that Philip K Dick firmly achieved. Making a movie that becomes the prevailing vision of what the future might look like in the entire world's minds? That's a stunning filmmaking feat, and one that Ridley Scott notched up as well. The reason for both? On the page, 1968's Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?. In cinemas, 1982's Blade Runner. And if you need reminding of how stunning a story that the iconic sci-fi author penned, or how spectacular a film that the legendary director then turned it into, look no further than Blade Runner's return to the big screen — with a live score. When Dick pondered the difference between humans and artificial intelligence more than half a century back, he peered forward with revelatory foresight. When Scott followed fresh from Alien, he did the same. Now, with the clash between the organic and the digital a daily part of our lives in this ChatGPT-heavy reality, of course it's time for Blade Runner to flicker again. Film lovers, get ready for another dream movie-and-music pairing. Get ready for synths, too. Vangelis' stunning score will echo as Scott's feature screens in at Sydney's Aware Super Theatre on Saturday, February 3, 2024 for Blade Runner Live — an event that premiered in London in 2019, made its way around the UK, then hit Japan earlier in 2023. This session will screen the Final Cut version of the movie. Wondering how it differs from the OG release, and also the House of Gucci, The Last Duel and Napoleon filmmaker's Director's Cut? First unveiled in 2007 for the feature's 25th anniversary, it's the only version that Scott truly had full artistic control over. Blade Runner's narrative, if you're new to the franchise — which also includes exceptional 2017 sequel Blade Runner 2049 and recent animated series Blade Runner: Black Lotus, with a new Blade Runner TV series also on the way — focuses on the one and only Harrison Ford (Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny) as cop Rick Deckard. His task: finding replicants, aka androids, which turns into quite the existential journey. It's almost impossible to name a movie or TV series in sci-fi that's popped up over the four decades since Blade Runner first arrived that hasn't owed Scott's film a massive debt — and any synthesiser-fuelled score that hasn't done the same with Vangelis.
Breathe in real deep — can you smell that? It's the unmistakable, shimmering scent of joy, pride and an inevitable hangover (but that's a problem for future you). That's right; it's Mardi Gras time. It's absolutely essential to attend the official Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade at least once in your lifetime, but if you've been there and done that, you might be looking to experience Mardi Gras in a totally different way. Or maybe you just need a nice party vibe to bookend your night, with some parade viewing in the middle. So, here's a list of bars, pubs and clubs in close proximity to Oxford Street that are having special Mardi Gras events that you can hit up before, during and after Sydney's most fabulous procession. [caption id="attachment_679716" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Katje Ford.[/caption] STONEWALL HOTEL Stonewall is an institution, no doubt about it, and on Mardi Gras night, this prestigious reputation is on display tenfold. There'll be drag hosts, dancing shirtless men, DJs over three floors and dancing till very, very late. The parade will be going right past the establishment. But, they'll have camera people roaming Oxford Street to stream the parade on screens around the venue, so you can keep dancing while being totally on top of what's happening outside. The Gold Class event is already sold out, but keep an eye on its Facebook event for people who double-booked themselves selling tickets at the last minute. Entry: $30 175 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst [caption id="attachment_652495" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kitti Gould.[/caption] THE OXFORD HOTEL The benefit of the vibrant Oxford Hotel is its incredible location on Taylor Square, right at the point where the floats turn down Flinders Street. They're streaming a live feed of the parade from a camera that they've installed on the roof, so no matter if you're close to a window or not, you'll have a prime possie to see it all. Tickets to the event are $155, and you get a drink on arrival, plus canapés will be roaming about if you're peckish. If you're keen to kick on, there's also a ticketed afterparty from 11pm, where DJ Ray Isaac will be playing the only thing you want to dance to on Mardi Gras: the iconic pop divas. Entry: $155 134 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst GREEN PARK HOTEL If you'd prefer to put a few strides between you and the parade crowds, there's no better choice than the beloved LGBTQIA+ establishment, the Green Park. The party kicks off late-afternoon with DJs Dave, Acraig and Roski on the decks until 2am — so it's also a perfect joint to bookend your night. Have a tipple (or ten) before heading around the corner to see the floats turn down Flinders, then come back to dance into the wee hours. Best of all, the Greeny is free entry, so you can save your dollars for the boozy beverages fuelling your all-night dancing. Entry: free 360 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst UNIVERSAL SYDNEY Universal, is always, and will forever be, a whirlwind of fun on any given night, but it's promising to be a particularly wild experience this Mardi Gras. As well as offering a VIP experience to watch the parade with a not-to-be-missed view from 6–10pm, this cherished icon of a gay bar is also hosting some impressive musical acts for its post-parade party — Zoë Badwi, DJ Kate Monroe, DJ Alex Taylor, Beth Yen, James Alexandr and many more. Oh, and there'll be drag queens, dance acts, live art shows, fire performances and aerialists to boot. Plus, if you're the type to be in it for the long haul, this party doesn't end till 10am Sunday. Best to nab your tickets before the night of, because it means you'll get to jump the dreaded queue. Entry: $70 general entry; $140 VIP parade viewing 85–91 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst THE BERESFORD Visiting the icon that is The Bero during Mardi Gras is a must — its famous recovery parties in the laneway between Bourke and Flinders streets are almost as old as Mardi Gras itself. On the night, they're streaming the parade live in the airy courtyard, so you can watch all the colourful action while relaxing in comfort, drink in hand. Speaking of, there'll be a delightful watermelon-citrus Mardi Gras cocktail to sip — obviously titled the Yass Queen— with $2 from every one sold heading straight for Australia's longest-running HIV Charity, the Bobby Goldsmith Foundation. Entry: free 354 Bourke Street, Surry Hills THE TAPHOUSE The Taphouse is conveniently located at the end of Flinders Street, so if you've stationed yourself at the end of the parade route, it's just a hop, skip and jump to this fantastic craft beer and natural wine haven. Or if you'd prefer somewhere to sit while the crowds below you clamour to find milk crates to stand on, the parade is visible from every level. This includes its delightful rooftop, where Sundown DJs are spinning tunes from 12pm and bar staff are slinging rainbow cocktails all day and evening. Best of all, it's unticketed and zero dollars entry. Entry: free 122 Flinders Street, Darlinghurst [caption id="attachment_671514" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Letícia Almeida.[/caption] THE WINERY A few streets away from the action, you'll find The Winery. But don't be fooled into thinking you'll find peace and quiet — this energetic wine bar will be joining in on the Mardi Gras spirit with a live feed of the nearby parade in its lush courtyard. You'll feel like you're in the middle of it all, without the messy crowd-wrangling. Also on offer are $10 Aperol spritzes and a barbecue with chicken wings, prawn skewers, sliders, and a 'dress your own lettuce cup' station. There's no cover charge either — but we daresay tables will be snapped up quick. Entry: free 285A Crown Street, Surry Hills BURDEKIN HOTEL The Burdekin has the trump card of being the first venue on Oxford Street to be able to spot each float as it comes by, and they're taking full advantage of the fact. With several levels offering a range of different events and vibes, the Burdekin is a one-stop shop for all your Mardi Gras partying. In the main bar, you'll get your life dancing to party bangers; the dugout is techno of the 'filthy' variety; Viper offers emo tracks (just in case all the glitter is making you a little too happy); finally, the Mini Bar offers disco and house for your soul. On top of that (literally, top floor), a ticketed Bear Bar party is offering you second-to-none views of Sydney's best street party, and they're also showing the SBS broadcast of the parade on the big screen. Entry: $30 pre-sale or $35 at the door; $50 Bear Bar party 2 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst THE FORRESTERS If you simply cannot wait for the evening to begin (completely understandable), then start your Mardi Gras early at Sparklebutt Mardi Gras Costume Market, a special pop-up event at The Forresters. This buzzing Riley Street pub already offers great drinks and grub, but the pop-up means you'll also be able to get (eco)glittered and costumed up for Sydney's most vivacious event. Starting from midday, designers such as Sparklebutt, A Beautiful Weirdo Glitter Bar, Trash Vintage, Holosexual Wear and many more will be raring to get you Mardi Gras-ready, cocktails in hand all the while. Entry: free 336 Riley Street, Surry Hills THE FLINDERS HOTEL The renaissance period of The Flinders is well and truly underway, and the Mardi Gras offering will be another glittering example of it. This revamped pub has a very limited run of tickets for a small parade viewing party, but if you've missed out on that, they're holding a two-level banger of an afterparty, with Rotarydisco DJs keeping your Mardi Gras spirits high from 10pm till god-knows-when. Tickets are available at the door, if you've been indecisive with your plans. Entry: $100 private viewing party; $20 at the door for the afterparty 63 Flinders Street, Darlinghurst Looking for even more Mardi Gras events? Here are nine more ways to celebrate that aren't just watching the parade. Top image: Upstairs Beresford.
Scottish collective Camera Obscura make deliciously delicate whistful folk pop with notes of country and soul. Their 2006 album Lets Get Out Of This Country is the perfect recipe for a bad day; put it on your stereo and float away. The band have performed in Sydney a few times already, but seeing them outdoors under the shadows of the Hyde Park Barracks for Sydney Festival's Becks Festival Bar will be the perfect way to hear their music. With a beer in hand and the warm summer breeze on your back, you won't have a care in the world. Before the show, make sure you grab a copy of their new record My Maudlin Career and familiarise yourself with some of their new songs. It will make singing-a-long at the show (you know you'll want to) a whole lot easier. Special guest support is Slow Club (UK) and DJs Kate Jinx and Paul Gough https://youtube.com/watch?v=O3CkfvYMCWM
If you're in need of a few chuckles after the last couple of years, then Sydney has you covered across April and May. The Sydney Comedy Festival has a bumper edition on offer in 2022, delivering non-stop laughs from an impressive lineup of local and international comedic talent. From Monday, April 25–Sunday, May 22, venues across the city will play host to a program of side-splitting stand-up, improv, theatre, magic and more. Returning favourites include the always huge Sydney Comedy Festival Gala, which hits the State Theatre, Riverside Theatre, the Enmore Theatre and The Concourse to kick things off from Tuesday, April 26–Thursday, April 28. Whichever date and venue you choose, expect an outrageous night of on-stage antics from a star-studded cast of festival greats and emerging stars. Across the month-long fest, you'll also be able to catch solo shows from the likes of Mark Watson, Judith Lucy, Denise Scott, Aaron Chen, Natali Caro, Oliver Twist, Wil Anderson, David O'Doherty, Gabbi Bolt, Melanie Bracewell, Ross Noble, Rhys Nicholson, Nazeem Hussain and stacks more. Elsewhere, Two Queers Walk Into a Bar is holding its regular showcase of queer comedians hosted by Jenna Suffern and Brendan Hancock, with performances from AJ Lamarque, Marlena Dali and Lily Starr. Also, former Triple J hosts Matt Okine and KLP will be bringing their family-friendly musical group Diver City to The Comedy Store. And, that's where you'll also find Dragon Friends — the DND podcast featuring the likes of Alex Lee, Michael Hing and Ben Jenkins, with live music from Tom Cardy. Images: Ben Sanford
The acquisition of good vintage clothing can be a difficult feat. Much like the metaphoric fog, sometimes you have to sort through a whole bunch of crap until you find something legit. Fortunately for us, the dudes behind Foe, Like The Enemy have trawled through Asia and the Americas to source the best vintage clothing they could get their hands on. Now you get to reap the spoils. From July 16, Foe, Like The Enemy will be holding a pop-up store in Foveaux Street, Surry Hills. For a limited time you can walk into a real-live shop and try on vintage clothes in an actual changeroom. If you're lucky, you might even get a mirror to yourself. But someone mentioned a party? With booze, beats and threads a-flowin'? Totally doable. The FLTE guys have plenty to celebrate, so they're launching the space tonight from 6:30pm with some some very special sets from two of Sydney's best beatlovers — electropop queen Catcall and smooth electronic Nicholas Jaar-like producer duo Phondupe. That's some serious Sydney talent behind the decks for a pop-up launch, we'll take it. To gear you up for tonight, the constantly-working Phondupe have created a brand new beats-laden minimix — just the thing to make your Wednesday that little bit more top notch. The London/Sydney-based duo crank dark, jittery trip-hop via Skype correspondence and online long distance production. After recording in NYC with New York native Justin Dean Thomas, the pair have released a killer EP by the name of Greenhouse. Specially created for the Foe, Like the Enemy launch, here's Phondupe's special minimix to wrap your ears around. Word to the wise, this some crispy shiiiiiiiiihhhhh. Launch night runs from 6.30pm, Wednesday 16 July. The pop-up shop is open Wednesday 16 - Saturday 19 July at Shop 1, 50-52 Foveaux Street, Surry Hills. Words by Shannon Connellan and Natalie Freeland.
Public demand for multi-disciplinary, multi-media, multi-sensory, cross-genre events is insatiable right now and Carriageworks is about to take them to a whole new level. Introducing Birdfoxmonster, an epic, immersive dining experience combining food, theatre, music and art, created in collaboration with Erth and Studio A. You'll be sampling dishes inspired by the artists' passions and idiosyncrasies, served on Australian ceramics hand-painted by the artists, while watching video projections and interacting with masked performers. Studio A artists involved include Meagan Pelham, a hopeless romantic whose works are full of wedding cakes, bridal parties and wedding dresses, Thom Roberts, a skilled draftsman and creator of transformative installations, and Skye Saxon, a performance and visual artist who draws her ideas from dreams, memories and metaphysical worlds. Meanwhile, Erth's Scott Wright is taking care of direction, while composer James Brown is providing sound art and Elias Nohra digital art. "We have been working towards this point in our relationship with Studio A for the past five years," said Wright. "We have taken considerable time to find a non-physical space in which we could work together, where we could 'remove the expert'. Birdfoxmonster is a beautiful meeting of minds inviting the public to share the love, wonder and perspective of three incredible artists." Birdfoxmonster is part of Carriageworks' New Normal National Strategy and is one of ten new commissions from artists with disability. Birdfoxmonster is happening on key dates between September 21–30 at Carriageworks, 245 Wilson Street, Eveleigh. Tickets are $70+BF and available via Ticketmaster.
Google's self-driving car has already brought widespread automated-automobiling one step closer. Now, a UK town has announced plans to establish a driverless public transportation system. Milton Keynes, home to about 40,000 residents, and situated approximately 87 kilometres northwest of London, will soon host a fleet of 100 self-driving pods. Each has the capacity to carry two passengers, as well as luggage, and can travel up to 19km per hour. Electronic motors provide power and, at first, the pods will travel in their own lanes. These are likely to be dispensed with once passengers have developed the confidence to travel driver-free. A smartphone app will facilitate the reservation and payment of journeys, which will take place between the Milton Keynes train station and various locations in the town centre — about 1.6km away. Each trip is expected to cost 2 GBP ($3.44), with total revenue to amount to 1 million GBP after 12 months. The system will begin its test run in 2015. Initially, just twenty pods, featuring joysticks or steering wheels enabling human intervention, will be used, with all 100 expected to be in full swing by 2017. The trial period will last five years, at a cost of 65 million GBP. Driverless pods have been used at Terminal 5, Heathrow Airport, since 2011. During the past two years, a fleet of 21 vehicles travelling along a 3.8km track has transported more than 700,000 passengers. The difference with the pods planned for Milton Keynes is that they will not have the advantage of an installed guideway. Instead, their technology is closer to that utilised in self-driving automobiles, dependent on a combination of GPS, sensors and HD cameras. Via the Independent.
Charlie Murphy deserves some serious credit. Trying to forge a career as a professional comedian is pretty tough at the best of times, let alone when your brother is none other than Eddie Murphy. Yet Charlie has not only taken that plunge – he's come out the other side as a top-billed international comedian playing to sold-out audiences around the world. Next month he'll be bringing his act to both Australia and New Zealand, so he took some time to talk to Tom Glasson about comedy, basketball, being Eddie Murphy's brother and even Lamingtons. Charlie Murphy, hello from Sydney! Hey brother - how ya doin' man? Good mate, yourself? Yeah it's all good. I'm just sitting here in Englewood, New Jersey watching the afternoon news you know. Keeping an eye out for new material? Always brother. Got to keep it fresh for you folks in Australia. Well yeah, it's only a little over a month now until you bring your show – the 'Acid Trip Tour' – down our way. You excited? You better believe it man – I've never been to Australia before so this is my first time and I'm super-charged about coming there. First time? Well then you're probably carrying around some serious '80s clichés and stereotypes about us all! [Laughs] Ha, Crocodile Dundee! But you know, I'm looking forward to seeing all that AND the real deal. It's gonna be fun! So what can people expect from your show? Laughs, man! Whenever people ask me that I always tell them the same thing: you should expect to laugh. I mean you ain't going to a basketball game, you ain't going to a magician, you're going to see a comedian. When you see a comedian you should expect to laugh. But yeah, people ask me that a lot because they haven't seen me before – I'm new to most people – and I let them know it's for them to laugh. And you know, this is my first time coming to Australia; I've been to England, Canada, Scandinavia, all over the US and I've been making people laugh and I enjoy doing it. How would you describe your own sense of humour? What makes you laugh? Oh it's adult, man! I leave it raw and you can take it the way you want it. But it's raw and it's adult. I expect my audience to be adult, too. I don't go do lunchtime crowds at high schools, you know – I have an adult show. Who's making you laugh right now? You know man, it's funny - whoever's funny really. All of them can make me laugh, you know what I'm saying? I mean they're all funny guys. I enjoy all of them. Jumping back a few years, you grew up in Brooklyn right? Yeah. I grew up, partially in Brooklyn, 'til I was 13. Then I moved to Long Island and lived there from 13 to 17. And then I went to the military. And your father was almost a 'slashy' wasn't he, in that he was a transit cop but also a part-time actor and comedian? Well, my father was a police officer – a transit officer – and that's what he really was. He did a little stand-up when he was in high school, he did it on the side a bit, but he never really became a professional stand-up comedian. You know, he did talent shows and – my uncle did it as well – he did local stuff but never became professional where it was their way of making a living. Because that's when I think you can say you're a professional comedian; until then you're just dabbling. Where do you think this passion for comedy came from, since you'd almost have to call it a family business now? Ha, yeah. Well, I was already in the business but not as a comedian. You know I was in the business as an actor, I was in the business as a writer, a producer, but I wasn't in it as a comedian because it was obvious to me at that point that I was "Eddie's brother", you know? Eddie Murphy was the comedian, he was the younger brother and so it was always going to be hard for them to accept me as one too. But then The Chappelle Show kind of knocked that door down and I thought: "wait a minute, you can go out now and play with that." You know, that was a free pass to do it because people wanted to see me all of a sudden, and so I started going out, I started developing it and I've never stopped. I've been on the road for ten years straight! [laughs] You just mentioned Chappelle. Did you have any sense at the time that this was your sort of 'shine the light' moment? That this was when it was all going to change, or was it only retrospectively that you came to appreciate how important it all was? Nah I didn't know that this was going to happen. I had no idea and neither did anyone else. What's happened since is actually kind of unbelievable because I started doing stand-up at 42 years old. I didn't start when I was nine like Chappelle or Eddie Murphy or Chris Rock. I didn't start doing stand-up when I was a teenager, or in my twenties or thirties, I started when I was 42 years old…and my brother was Eddie Murphy! I mean he's one of, or rather the, stand-up guy; the recognised God of stand-up, okay? That's my brother, so to have that in front of you, you know what I'm saying, it's very unlikely that you would firstly take a chance to try to get into it, and then secondly - be successful at it, and I've done both those things. And so that's a blessing. I've jumped over those hurdles and I'm now making a presence for myself and beginning to be appreciated for what I do. And now you're coming out to Australia on tour. That's quite an incredible run. Exactly man! And you know, everywhere I've been it's all part of reaffirming that I'm now doing what I'm supposed to be doing; that I made a very smart choice with my life. And I'm doing something special because I can't think of anybody else that's a comedian who can say: "Okay this guy, he did it like this." I think I'm carving a brand new street. I'm curious about your take on comedy at the moment, because – and I'm thinking here about something one of Conan's writers said, a guy called Andrés du Bouchet – his advice to young comedy writers was: "write and perform comedy for 10 years in obscurity then luck out." Do you feel that's a little cynical or pretty reflective of the nature of the industry? No that's kind of true man, because there are guys out there right now who are really really really good and they're not famous. I know who they are because I'm in the world of stand-up, I'm a comedian so I know who the other comedians are. Like the guy I'm bringing with me to Australia, his name's Freeze Love. You've never heard of him, but he's very very funny in his own right and yet he doesn't have a headliner name, a household name yet, so people say: "who's this guy? We came to see Charlie Murphy!" And then this guy comes out and you forget that you came to see Charlie Murphy because he's that funny. When you come to my show I want you to laugh from the moment you get there to the moment you leave. And I'm only on stage for an hour but the show's an hour and a half, you know, so I make sure you get some variety and when you leave your face is hurting. That's my objective – to hurt your face – and I'm not a boxer! There's this idea that comedy runs parallel with the zeitgeist, so in the '60s and '70s it was all about social change, then in the '80s it was the battle of the sexes, in the '90s it was drugs and most recently it's been terrorism and war. And George W Bush! The human punch-line. Exactly! Do you feel like there's a new theme emerging now? Because a lot of the current acts seem to focus on the influence - and perhaps intrusion - of technology in our lives and how dehumanising and lonely it can all be. Totally, that's it man. But at the same time these comics, people like Louis CK, they're sort of embracing that failing aren't they? Embracing their own shortcomings and emerging as anti-heroes. Yeah man, it's all those things! You named almost everything I cover, like my show encompasses all the things you just talked about. We've had the '60s, '70s, '80s…well this is the new millennium and I'm talking about all of it. You're gonna hear about social issues, you're gonna hear about family, politics…all of that in one hour. And it's going to be fun. A few years ago you said you were a huge fan of Obama but just couldn't see him becoming President given the state of things in America. Now that it's happened a lot of people have called this the 'post race' age, but that seems like a bit of a stretch doesn't it? Exactly. That's not true. Things are just different, you know. Racism's still alive and well. Is it as rigid and defined as it was in the '60s? No, but it's still there. That other way, the old way, it wouldn't be able to exist in the climate we've got now, but it's still there. It just adapted. It's gradually leaving though, because if you look at the young people and their intelligence, there's not as much of that ignorance from the old days any more. Actually I was watching that movie the other day, the J Edgar movie with Leonardo DiCaprio - who does an excellent job by the way - but for me that movie was about this man who, before this movie was made and various documentaries were made, he was held up like a God, a man who could do no wrong, a perfect person. And then that movie exposed that not only was he human – that was the first thing – but he was also flawed like all of us. Severely! I really liked that movie. And just finally Charlie, you're a New Yorker and you recently did some promo stuff for Air Jordan with your Leroy Smith character – I'm guessing you've been caught up in the whole Jeremy Lin saga? Oh yeah man – I'm a big time Knicks fan! And my show's called "The Acid Trip" so I'm glad you brought the Knicks up because I point out things that are really really totally unexpected, like if ten years ago you'd said that in 2012 the highest paid rapper would be white, there's going to be a black President and an Asian's gonna be dominating the NBA, nobody would've believed it! An Asian guy from Harvard no less. Exactly! This is all really happening, it's real, see so that's kind of the metaphor for my show because every day of life is another opportunity for you to go: "Oh wow!" Every day something could happen that's never happened in your life before. You could smell something you've never smelled before, taste something you've never tasted before and I don't know how old you are but think about that. If somebody said to me: "How long did it take you to get here?" and – because the first person who did that said "oh it took me 15 minutes" and I replied "Oh really, because it took me 52 years." So that's how you're looking at it, you know? Well it was well worth it Charlie because we can't wait to have you out here. I can't wait to come out there man. And I want you to give me the heads up on what's the first thing I should try to eat? What's an Australian dish, because I've never had Australian food so what would you recommend I eat when I get there? What's it like? Well it's pretty much like American food except sized for humans. But I suppose the Lamington is the go-to option for something sweet, and of course the good ole meat pie. Meat pie? What kind of meat is it? Okay, it might not be 'meat'. Ha, yeah okay. But I'll do it anyway. Just ask for a regular beef pie and if they like you they'll top it off with some ketchup in the shape of Australia. [Laughs] Okay I'm gonna try that man, and I look forward to seeing you all real soon. Thanks brother. Charlie Murphy's "Acid Trip Tour" will hit Melbourne on 19 and 20 April, Auckland on April 23 and then Sydney on April 26. Check for tickets at www.abpresents.com.au and keep up with Charlie via Twitter @cmurphycomedy. https://youtube.com/watch?v=AwgvwFWK_dQ
