You should be familiar with version 1.0 already — their take on the political equals highly engaging and powerful theatre. Some will recall This Kind of Ruckus, which delved into sexual violence in contemporary culture, making links with sex scandals involving certain rugby league players. For those who aren't, think Wikileaks as live performance meets video art, with a dash of Boal. In other words, contemporary, democratic theatre at its best. Their latest offering branches out into new and more personal territory, as performer Kym Vercoe explores her unwitting visit to a Visegrad spa hotel, revealing the seething political history that lies buried underneath. Unsurprisingly, this work has already garnered attention from both theatrical and political spheres. I'd suggest you grab tickets (along with a beer and laksa) before you miss your chance. https://youtube.com/watch?v=sUhRNocDDjg
Pixar may be the dominating force in animation, but a showcase of artistic hopefuls will be on display at UTS. For its second year, the Sydney International Animation Festival (SIAF) opens its doors to the intricate world of animation, with a lineup that includes Pixar animator Rodrigo Blaas' gorgeously creepy directorial debut Alma as well as Oscar-winning short Logorama. Other anticipated Global Goodies are Jean-Christophe Lie's acclaimed short The Man in the Blue Gordini and Mathieu Bergeron and Yves Martel's (suitably, animated) documentary A Thorn in the Mind, which ventures behind the scenes of six renowned animators. Alongside the two days of screenings, SIAF will also run an inaugural one-day symposium on 'Animated Histories and Futures' as well as screening the finalists for the debut SIXTY40 Proto-ninja Nationwide Animation Competition. Local talent will be showcased in the Animaaate! program, plus the exciting digital vision of dreamtime, Wadu Matyidi. https://youtube.com/watch?v=DCmW4c40iK8
John Tonkin is an artist who takes the relationship between you and the moving image seriously. Currently on view at Breenspace, A Biology of Cognition is a new body of work by Tonkin relevant to his ongoing research into cybernetics and embodied perception. The work is comprised of four interactive video loops that react and change depending on your movements within the space. Playing with those moments of reality where you are contemplative yet distant, Tonkin offers scenarios from everyday life that skirt the poetic but do not fall victim to it. Anyone interested in image-human interconnectivity and perception will glean something from Tonkin's weathery domains.
A definitive example of New Hollywood cinema, Five Easy Pieces (1970) is a film that takes no measures to gild the lily — this is cinema served straight up. In line with other iconic features from the era such as Mike Nichols The Graduate (1967), director Bob Rafelson has managed to channel a particular mood of the time (such as the desire to shirk responsibility) into one personal scenario. Our guide is child-prodigy-turned-oil-rig-worker Robert Dupea (Jack Nicholson), as he makes his way back home to visit his dying father. During this road trip (of sorts) we discover a few crumbs about this cantankerous, always-drinking, apathetic man. Ultimately however, Dupea remains a mystery, both to himself, those around him and the audience — this is a man who has vacated himself. Part of The New Contemporary Galleries Film Program at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, New Hollywood is an ongoing series taking place every Wednesday as part of Art After Hours.
Stainless Steel Rat is the name of the comic book anti-hero thief/conman created by Harry Harrison in 1961. He's the perfect example of a good criminal; picking locks in order to access precious intel, lying profusely to deceive his enemies, slippery as butter when it comes to being caught and completely strident about his moral position. He's a character that manages to compress right and wrong into the same action — a dirty job but someone's got to do it. Sound familiar? Director Wayne Harrison and writer Ron Elisha have delved into the world of the largest information dump in history — Wikileaks — and the life of one of the most controversial figures of our contemporary moment, Julian Assange. While the play presents itself as an 'artistic interpretation' of the events that lead to this Queensland-born kid becoming a wanted fugitive, it promises to be a condensed and lively depiction of how Assange actually managed to overturn the way we understand information, technology and our access to it. Whether you have been engrossed by the release of diplomatic cables and confidential documents or simply tickled by the chaos of it all, this production should fuel any fire already burning. For those who have been in a bubble during the Wikileaks spill, this might be an opportunity to feel the prick.
The closer we get towards “the future”, the more jaded about it we seem to become. For decades after Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, the lack of flying cars was the primary complaint circulating in geek circles, but since the advent of colour television private air vehicles have been synonymous with post-apocalyptic dystopias. Back to the Future II raised hopes for hoverboard transportation by the year 2015 but, while the film’s prediction of a Florida Marlins victory in ’97 proved to be correct, it looks like the availability of hoverboards is about as likely as the release of Jaws 19. Now we’re faced with this whole thing about global warming and the end of the world. This is what seems to take priority in Now and When, two films and an immersive soundscape resulting from a competition inviting architects to create a vision of Australia 40 years from now. 'Now' captures aerial images of Australia’s urban and non-urban regions as they are now. 'When' is a sequence of 17 futuristic environments imagining what these will look like when we reach 2050 and beyond. Though global warming and the lack of actual land is a prime concern, it here leads not to massive dehumanisation and a lack of food sources but to a bunch of Aussies all swimming around happily in the ocean. These water worlds are certainly the most interesting — particularly the submerged city 'Syph', which features separate pods that work together to provide a comfortable underwater life. And for those disenchanted by the idea of living under the sea, some of the proposed cities do take place on more conventional building sites.
They say the camera never lies, but there is little doubt that at times it can be economical with the truth. Yet we continue to be enchanted by the magic of photography and its ability to capture a moment in time, putting our full trust in this most unreliable of narrators. There are so many factors beyond the frame which can affect the final image and how it is perceived by us: the angle from which a photo is taken, the effect of line and of exposure, can easily change the meaning. Whether or not this is caused by a happy accident or deliberate manipulation, it certainly makes for a particularly subversive playground for artists to frolic about in. The artists taking part in the Bad Angle exhibition at Stills gallery have been chosen because their photographs and videos challenge our perception. The pieces examine the practice of looking, believing, capturing and transforming. Using a variety of methods and showing diverse and varied influences, from the suburban uncanny, to the cinematic, the supernatural and the pagan, to name just a few, their works celebrate the magic of the medium we call photography.
There's something very charming about the way us English-speakers group animals together. Sometimes we're all caught up in their appearance: a blush of flamingos, a prickle of porcupines, a whiteness of swans. Or we're taken by the way they move: a fall of lambs, a glide of flying fish, a walk of snails. Other times, it's simple alliteration: a leap of leopards, a bike of bees, a rhumba of rattlesnakes. Or pure creativity: a mess of iguanas, a storytelling of ravens, an aurora of polar bears. Whatever the back story, these collective nouns captivate, so much so that Noun Collective is staging their second exhibition on this very topic. Noun Collective invited artists to respond to their most favourite collective noun, make an artwork and be part of the upcoming palaver of paintings at Gaffa Gallery. Image: Cat Macinnes, A Parcel of Dears
Made famous by Emma Thompson and Kenneth Brannagh back in their heyday, Much Ado About Nothing is arguably, (well if you argue with me), Shakespeare's greatest comedy. It has everything a good comedy should — love, sex, evil plots, mistaken identity and two weddings. For those unfamiliar with the tale, Beatrice and Benedick are the precursors to every rom-com couple you've ever seen. They are the classic couple: hating each other at the beginning of the play, partaking in the most witty verbal abuse, and then by the end realising they are of course, desperately in love. And that's not all of it. There's also a plot to stop the young Claudio marrying the rich Hero, a faked death, a collection of hilariously stupid security guards, and a masked party to make up the rest of the story. Starring the up-and-coming young darlings of the Sydney theatre scene, Toby Schmitz and Blazey Best, not to mention the ever amazing Max Gilies, Bell Shakespeare's production of Much Ado About Nothing should really have its fair share of ado about it, promising to be an exuberant and entertaining performance.
You've heard the rumours, now it's official: the Kings Cross pub to beat all pubs is reopening, and FBi radio are at the helm of the new era. While you may not have been quick enough to catch the members launch last week, the news is still good, with the official launch she-bang happening next Friday. As if a new live music venue in Sydney wasn't enough of an event, they've decided to jazz it up a bit. Possibly Australia's most contagious band, Dappled Cities Fly, will be headlining and previewing the material from their new album. But that's far from all. Turns out they've somehow crammed five stages into the joint, so you can take your pick of acts from the line up. I'd suggest wearing your dancing shoes for Canyons or World's End Press, or perhaps Kirin J Callinan for something with a little more swing. If you'd rather just mooch around looking indie, Belles Will Ring or The Laurels should do the trick. With about a zillion acts to choose from, you're certain to find something that's 'your thing'. And did I mention? This whole extravaganza is free. Dig in! Oh, and remember to check out the new interior by Matt Woods while you're at it.
AMP's AMPLIFY Festival began as an experimental think-fest in 2005 and is now a celebrated biennial treat bringing the world's top thinkers in innovative technologies together for one hell of a chin-wag. The theme for this year's festival is "Everything Connects" — an exploration of the interconnectedness not only of emerging technologies themselves, but also of the nature of their impact on our world. In this new world order, information and how we get it is constantly changing before our very eyes. It is also radically transforming how we think, what we see, how we relate socially and the ways in which we conduct our business. The AMPLIFY 2011 line-up is as extensive as it is impressive: we have Obama's technology policy advisor Prof. Mike Nelson, the inventor of Wi-Fi Dr. John O’Sullivan, and key players from MIT's Centre for Digital Business and the Deloitte Centre for Edge Innovation Dr. Andy McFee and John Hagel respectively. Natalie Tran, video blogger extraordinaire will be there, as will founder and director of the Zero Emissions Research Initiative Gunter Pauli, and too any other great minds and future-shapers to mention. This is literally a genius-fest. If you miss out on/can't afford the limited tickets available to attend in person you can catch the live streaming of the speaker sessions for free here. *5% of all ticket sales go to the One Laptop Per Child program.
Remember this? Sure, Brian Eno may not be coming back this time, but the city can look so lovely all lit up, and light sculptures are seriously more sustainable (and less noisy) than fireworks. Living up to their name, the good people at Vivid Sydney are arranging for the installation of 40 light sculptures all around Circular Quay, turning the area into an immersive and interactive exhibition from 6pm to midnight each evening. Like, really interactive. Like, you are allowed to climb on some of them! And others include a giant etch-a-sketch where you get draw with light, and fireflies that gather and group themselves according to the movement and position of observers' torches. We're also promised a crystal spiderweb and some giant rainbow men (I can't help thinking of these guys but I'm sure it'll be much more advanced) but the rest they're keeping quiet for now, so you'll need to go see them, wander amongst them and clamber all over them for yourself.
If you've never been interested in silent films, this Spanish production might change your mind — and if they are your taste, you'll be pleasantly surprised. Blancanieves, which translates to 'Snow White', is a unique interpretation of the classic Grimm Brothers fantasy. Set in Andalusia, Spain during the early 1900s when bull fighting, flamenco and romance were at their best, the film expresses all the gusto and passion of Spanish culture — even without those sultry words. The protagonist of the story is Carmen (Macarena García), the daughter of famed matador Antonio Villalta (Daniel Giménez Cacho). On the same fateful day, Antonio is injured in a bullfight and Carmen's mother dies whilst giving birth to her. Carmen, who is raised by her grandmother until her death, goes to live with the paralysed Antonio, and his nurse-turned-wife, Encarna (Maribel Verdú). As her evocative name implicates, Encarna runs a house of horrors, treating her husband and stepdaughter with cruelty while masking her own bizarre fetishes. According to the traditional story, the stepmother is insanely jealous of the budding beauty and tries to do away her. Of course, our heroine survives (with a little amnesia) and is taken in by a group of travelling dwarves who nickname her 'Blancanieves'. By accident, it is discovered that Carmen has her father's knack for bullfighting. They travel around Spain as she stares down bulls in a gladiatorial yet glamorous fashion, most notably in an emotive last torero. Dubbed "a love letter to European silent cinema", by director Pablo Berger, Blancanieves had been in his heart for quite some time. Inspired by a photograph of bullfighting dwarves, Berger started on the project in 2003. Eight years later, he got wind that The Artist, another black-and white silent film, had premiered at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival. "I almost threw my phone against the wall," he told the Guardian. The high concept was gone." If he worried that Blancanieves would look like a copycat of the Oscar winning Artist, I disagree. As do copious others; the film received ten Goya awards (the equivalent of the Spanish Oscars). Blancanieves has all the qualities of a classic silent film but with a fresh twist that keeps our modern minds guessing. By incorporating Hitchcock-type cinematography, Berger crafts a beguiling version of the traditional story that is in turns melancholy, eerie and erotic. His cast of devastatingly beautiful Spanish beauties, such as Verdú (from Y Tu Mamá Tambien and Pan's Labyrinth), makes us swoon with every lash bat and tear roll. The roles of the dwarves are also unexpected — possibilities for betrayal and even romance can be found. So if you're looking forward to a debonair don of a prince charming in this story, forget it. But with a fantastically ambiguous ending that will have you wanting more, his is a part that's hardly missed. https://youtube.com/watch?v=HanTDiiZLpg
Wollongong. It seems like a bit of a quiet place. But take a quick wander around the centre of town and little things begin to jump out at you. Film festivals. Art. Coffee. There's a lot going on down there. And it's hard to ignore the walls these days, as well. Wollongong is covered in street art, a good chunk of which seems to be the legacy of returning local street art festival Wonderwalls Wollongong. Artists like Rone and Phibs have graced the walls in the past, this year Smug, Askew One and Fintan Magee are a few of the highlights. As well as making the city its studio, Wonderwalls is throwing a one night, art show and opening night party at Stupid Krap, and you can get closer to the ideas as a quartet of artists tell all with free food and drink Saturday afternoon. Meanwhile, the art keeps on going up all weekend and you're welcome to come watch. Grab a map and get wandering.
What even is creative non-fiction? A legitimate question, and in fact one that writers themselves often ask. Creative non-fiction is kind of like the awkward cousin who's around your age but who you only ever see at Christmas and Easter and you have never had anything to say to. Yeh. That one. What are we supposed to talk about? And yet the truth is that people read creative non-fiction on a regular basis. Heck, you've probably even written some yourself. Magazine profiles, long-form narrative journalism, essays and memoirs are all examples of it — the writing form that not only reports the facts but also tells stories. Interesting, investigative, insightful stories. Feel like finally getting familiar with said cousin, in the hope of family Christmas celebrations being moderately less awkward? On Saturday November 2, The NSW Writer's Centre will host the 2013 Creative Non-Fiction Festival — a day of workshops dedicated to the craft of writing non-fiction, curated by writer and all-round shit-stirrer Benjamin Law (Gaysia, Good Weekend). And the line-up of guest speakers is eclectic and brilliant. Including the likes of authors and radio hosts Monica Attard (Russia: Which Way Paradise?) and Dominic Knight (Disco Boy), new kids like Nadia Saccardo (Smith Journal), veterans such as John van Tiggelen (The Monthly) and Delia Falconer (The Service of the Clouds) and then just genuinely hilarious people like Clementine Ford (Daily Life). If you were ever after a crack team of engaging, entertaining and respected Australian writers then these are your guys. This hand-picked group are among the best journalists, memoirists, columnists and editors in the country. Sustenance on the day comes from Cantina Mobil food truck. Tickets are on sale now and the full list of speakers and program for the day is available here. Get in quick!
What could be better then a series of parties celebrating creativity and art? A series of parties celebrating a fusion of creativity, art — and vodka. That's right, ABSOLUT are gearing up to release their latest limited edition vodka bottle, and this time the occasion will be marked through a series of events featuring artistic collaborations from Australia's best and brightest talent, both known and unknown. The Blue Room events are all about consumers collaborating with artists and celebrating originality in all its forms. The Blue Room competition, which ran from August 27 through till September 13, asked creative thinkers to submit their ideas via the brand's Facebook page, with a handful of local artists then selected to collaborate with some of Australia's most prolific visual artists. Making up the impressive group of resident artists are audiovisual DJ Sampology, fashion designer Emma Mulholland, sculptor Dion Horstmans and digital artist Jimmy McGilchrist. With parties set to be held in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane throughout the month of October, the events are an opportunity for amateur artists to bring their artistic vision to life with the collaborative assistance of one of the residents. The first of The ABSOLUT Blue Room parties will kick off at Sydney's Goodgod Small Club on October 17. Get into the spirit!
It has been a couple of years since The Jungle Collective first started taking over Australian warehouses and slinging plenty of plants, all thanks to its huge sales in Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney. These leafy excuses to fill your home with greenery always have a bit of a celebratory vibe, so the outfit's next New South Wales outing should come as no surprise — it's hosting a plant sale house party. While all of those gorgeous green babies are the main attraction — and more than 170 varieties of them, too — browsing and buying in an old heritage building isn't something you get to do every day. It's happening twice, across the two days of Saturday, March 9 and Sunday, March 10. You'll pick up everything from fiddle leafs and monsteras to giant birds of paradise and rubber trees, as well as oh-so-many ferns and hanging plants. You'll also be able to shop for designer pots, get expert advice from the horticulturalists onsite, listen to jungle tunes and even nab a $5 discount if you show up in fluro attire. It's all happening at 260 Victoria Avenue, Chatswood, with two-hour sessions held at 8am, 10am, 12pm and 2pm on Saturday, plus 10am and 12pm on Sunday. While entry is free, you'll need to secure a ticket to head along — they'll be available from midday on Monday, March 4.
Spending your silly season in Sydney, but your loved ones are in another city? Missing the usual family shindig? Feeling a little home alone? PS40 has your festive fun covered, thanks to its Home Alone Orphans Christmas Party. We're not saying that someone will slap their hands to their face and scream as if they've just put on aftershave, but, well, we're actually pretty sure that several someones will do just that. Really, what everyone will be doing is drinking their way through the bar's boozy Christmas cocktail menu, listening and tapping their toes to Christmas tunes played by a jazz-funk band, and eating their way through Christmas-themed canapes. And, saying "Christmas" a whole lot, of course. 'Tis the season, ya filthy animals. The merry get-together takes place from 6pm on Saturday, December 22, and entry is free. Image: Alana Dimou
Summer in Sydney isn't just good for swimming and sundowners. It's also the best time of year to get out and about and catch some live music. For that very reason, Merivale is throwing a series of free (yes, free) warm weather gigs across Sydney. Dubbed See Sound, and presented in conjunction with Furphy, this season-long live music program will take place every weekend at Vic on the Park (plus Bondi's The Royal and Coogee Pavilion). If you live in the Inner West, the Vic on the Park is probably already one of your local haunts — and your pup's, too. It might be best to leave Fido at home this time, though. You'll want full danceability as the See Sound series takes over The Vic's stage from 8pm every Friday night. On Friday, December 21, Absolutely Everybody — a monthly party night that usually takes place at fellow Inner West pub The Landsdowne — is switching locations for its end-of-year bash, the Chrisco Disco Bonanza. This special set will feature pysch-pop duo World Champion, pop trio Baby Beef and DJ duo Fox Force II. And the good music vibes are spilling over into other days on Vic on the Park's calendar, too. Head down from 12pm on New Year's Day for a recovery Furphy and lineup of performances from Amyl and The Sniffers, Straight Arrows, Candy and Neighbourhood Void. You can visit the rest of the See Sound program over here. Gig updates will happen throughout summer, so keep checking in to find out who's up next.
In celebration of International Women's Day, the Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre is hosting some of Western Sydney's leading female industry figures for Girls Talk Women's Work. The empowering conference will run on Thursday, March 8 and consist of three panel sessions on the topics of music, arts, business and politics. Discussing how to navigate the male-dominated political and business worlds is Liverpool mayor Wendy Waller, business advisor Inu Ran (Western Sydney University Launch Pad), Liverpool Councillor Charisma Kaliyanda and director Dolla Merrilles (Museum of Applied Arts and Science). The music panel will explore stereotypes that exist within the music industry and boasts executive director Yarmila Alfonzetti (State Opera of South Australia), music director Amelia Jenner (FBi Radio), hip hop artist Kween G and founder/director Carly Roberts (Picnic). The art panelists will discuss the importance of collective experience and the idea of performance as resistance. Artists Claudia Nicholson and Caroline Garcia, theatre maker Emele Ugaluva, writer/activist Bee Cruse, Treehouse Theatre co-founder Catherine McGuire-Donvito and Western-Sydney based curator Lizzy Marshall will join forces for this one. Each session includes a Q&A and the provided lunch will be accompanied by surprise performances. It's free to attend, though RSVP is essential and the event is specifically geared for those between the ages of 12 through 25.
If seasonal change has left you in a dizzy headspin of new colours and fabrics and prints and jackets — or if, y'know, you just like some fancy new clothes now and then — you'll be pretty pleased to know that the Big Fashion Sale is coming back to Sydney for four days this March. The name pretty much says it all. This thing is big. You'll find thousands of lush items from past collections, samples and one-offs from over 50 cult Australian and international designers, both well-known and emerging, including Kenzo, Marni, Phillip Lim, Karla Špetić, Adidas, Kowtow, Macgraw, Thursday Sunday and more. With discounts of up to 80 percent off, this is one way to up your count of designer while leaving your bank balance sitting pretty too. Prices this low tend to inspire a certain level of ruthlessness in all of us, though, so practise that grabbing reflex in advance. This is every person for themselves. The Big Fashion Sale will be open 9am till 8pm Thursday, 9am till 6pm Friday and Saturday, and 10am till 4pm Sunday.
Urban Winery Project is back in Sydney for its seventh season, again taking over Three Blue Ducks Rosebery for two nights on Wednesday, February 21 and Thursday, February 22. Patrons can expect another year of top-notch food, Vinteloper wine and grape stomping shenanigans. Founded by the team behind Adelaide Hills wine label Vinteloper, the event originated in Adelaide back in 2012 and also popped-up in Melbourne in 2016 and 2015. This is UWP's second year running at Three Blue Ducks, with last year's guests stomping enough shiraz to fill a whopping 3456 bottles, making it the largest batch yet. While famed chefs Andy Allen and Mark LaBrooy prepare a feast over an open grill, guests will get their hands — and feet — dirty, too. The event's signature immersive experience begins with some good old stomping of the grapes and is accompanied by a winemaking and appreciation seminar, along with a Q&A. Diners will also be the first to sample and potentially purchase the wines made at last year's event, including a red blend and a white blend. Once the messy part is done, guests gather around share tables for Allen's four-course degustation, matched with Vinteloper wines including a shiraz, tempranillo, gewürztraminer and riesling. There's no denying it's a pricey night, but, for the caliber of food, wine and the chance to stomp your heart out, it will at least be a paycheck well spent. Urban Winery Project X Three Blue Ducks Rosebery Pop-Up is happening on February 21 and 22 at 6.30pm for a 7pm start. Tickets are $140pp for four courses with wines and an interactive winemaking experience. Bookings via UWP's website.
Move over, regular old land-based yoga — there's a new type of bending, stretching fun in town. That'd be FloatFit, which combines high-intensity interval training with getting flexible, all while you're floating on water. No, you're not on a boat. And no, you're not on a large-scale floating platform. Instead, you'll work through your workout on an AquaBase, a one-person exercise platform that adds an extra dimension to your exercise, working your core as you continually stay balanced. If that sounds like your kind of thing, AquaPhysical is hosting a number of free classes throughout February so that you can give it a try. From February 5 to 17, multiple sessions will be held in Baulkham Hills, Liverpool, Lidcombe, Concord, Camperdown and Salamander Bay. It's a one-day per venue kind of deal — sometimes in the morning, sometimes in the evening — so make sure you check the schedule. And, while you won't pay a thing if you're a member of the pool, non-members will still have to pay to get in.
Sydney's beloved taco-slinger Toby Wilson (Ghostboy Cantina, Bad Hombres) has recently returned from Mexico and he's brought a legit taste of the street food scene back with him. To showcase his new recipes, Wilson will take over the Mecca Alexandria kitchen with Las Taquerias de Mexico — offering a set menu of tacos and snacks over two sittings a night on March 16, 17, 23 and 24. The eight-course taco degustation is based off of Wilson's food journey, with regional dishes from Mexico City, Guanajuato, Guadalajara, Oaxaca and Baja California represented on the menu — think lamb barbacoa tacos, zucchini flower and Oaxaca cheese quesadillas, ceviche tostadas and al pastor tacos. Other dishes will be announced on Wilson's Instagram in the lead up to the pop-up. For drinks, they've imported tequila and mezcal from the distilleries Wilson visited on his trip, with Mexican beer, cocktails and natural wines also on offer. There will be an additional drinks pairing option available for $40, or patrons can buy drinks as they go. As it's a fairly intimate venue, tickets for each sitting are limited. $60 for snacks — sans drinks — is definitely on the pricey side, but Wilson's tacos could certainly be worth it.
You know that feeling of unbridled joy and energy you get in the opening scene of The Lion King when you scream "naaaants een-vwen-yaaaaaaa ma-ba-gee-chi-ba-va" (or some variation thereof) as baby Simba is hoisted up by Rafiki? That's why you should pay to see the Spice World: The Movie at Moonlight Cinema on February 9. Even though you've seen it a million times, you have it on DVD and Blu-ray (for some reason), and on a USB drive that's permanently in the TV, you should still buy a ticket. The sheer thrill that you'll feel when an outdoor cinema full of adult women all scream "you gotta, you gotta, you gotta, you gotta SLAM SLAM SLAM SLAM" will be an experience like no other. The joy of sharing, nostalgia and sing-screaming are all rolled into one sing-a-long event at the Belvedere Amphitheatre at Centennial Park, so snap up a ticket while you can.
In 2011's Le Havre, Aki Kaurismäki explored Europe's refugee crisis in his trademark way: with empathy, a droll sense of humour and a bittersweet outlook. He tackles the same subject with the same approach in The Other Side of Hope, although you could never accuse the Finnish filmmaker of simply retracing his own footsteps. Rather, the writer-director steps from a tale of transition to one of acceptance. It's a shift that not only reflects global events over the past seven years, but also comes with a much-needed message. What the world needs now is compassion, Kaurismäki posits — an idea that applies when asylum seekers arrive in prosperous nations searching for better lives. The Other Side of Hope begins when Syrian refugee Khaled (Sherwan Haji) hops off a boat in Helsinki. Looking for a new home far from Aleppo, he just wants the chance to start afresh, however Finland proves far from welcoming. Meanwhile, leaving his wife and his old salesman life behind to enter the restaurant trade, Waldemar Wikström (Sakari Kuosmanen) requires help getting his new business going. Both men are fleeing their respective pasts, but Wikström's plight can't compare to Khaled's, and the film doesn't claim otherwise. Instead, after Wikström spies Khaled hiding behind his eatery, the movie shows how an act of kindness shapes their intertwined fortunes. In other hands, a parade of cheesy cliches would ensue, but Kaurismäki isn't any other filmmaker. There's a reason that he's considered Finland's best living auteur, and why his movies receive widespread international attention. While they're the kind of plaudits that every director dreams of, no one views the world quite like Kaurismäki. He fills his frames with characters that wear their eccentricities on their sleeves, yet couldn't be more relatable. He shows people struggling with all types of problems, both commonplace and more extreme, while still banding together because it's the right thing to do. Further, he charts life's ups and downs without avoiding its sorrows, but never removing optimism from the equation either. Indeed, there's a word that sums up his work perfectly: humane. Another word springs to mind: absurd. It's evident when a fight quickly turns into a job offer and when salted herring is served up as sushi, two of the movie's wry, hilarious developments. From its deadpan humour to its rockabilly soundtrack, The Other Side of Hope is often offbeat, albeit in a very specific way. Kaurismäki isn't trying to make an over-the-top comedy — instead, his film recognises how odd everyday existence really can be. It's why his cast turn in portrayals that seem naturalistic as well as a little detached, whether the world-weary Kuosmanen is grimacing through a poker game or the scene-stealing Haji is relaying Khaled's background with a calm demeanour. Lensed by Kaurismäki's regular cinematographer Timo Salminenn, the movie's visuals operate in the same manner as the performances. Every shot overflows with lifelike detail, with smoke hanging in the air and pain oozing from a stranger's glare, yet every image feels like it has been meticulously arranged. It's the same sensation that great still-life paintings evoke: of not only capturing reality, but capturing the artist's unique perspective along with it. Of course, The Other Side of Hope isn't a static image frozen in time. Observed with the same compassion it champions, and proving as earnest as it is amusing, the film is an intricately composed portrait brimming with melancholy, sincerity and worldwide relevance. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asR1B7NrhQQ
Ceramicist Milly Dent is inviting you to get your hands dirty. In April, she'll be hosting workshops in porcelain casting and mould making, giving you the chance to create your own pieces, then glaze them with stunning colours. There'll be two workshop series, each taking place over three sessions. The first session will involve a mould making demo and an introduction to slip casting, followed by an opportunity to make your own mould. At the second, you'll experiment with an array of porcelain – both white and coloured – as well as a bunch of underglazes and glazes. Finally, when the third session rolls around, it'll be time to cast a third creation and put the finishing touches on your previous works. The first series will be held on April 10, 17 and 24; and the second on April 11, 18 and 25. All sessions will run from 6.30–8.30pm. Milly Dent has exhibited at numerous of Sydney's galleries, including Saint Cloche, the Australian Design Centre, Kerrie Lowe and Damien Minton. Images: Amy Piddington
Everyone loves Gelato Messina's creative ice cream concoctions; however, believe it or not, there is a way to make their chilled sweet treats even better. You know how dessert takes oh-so-divine when it caps off an amazing meal? Yep, that's how to amplify your Messina experience. At the latest instalment of their Messina Eats pop-up series, Melbourne burger joint 8bit is in the spotlight. Following in the footsteps of Huxtaburger and Mr Claws, Wonderbao, Hoy Pinoy, Burn City Smokers and more, they're serving up four epic burgers and loaded fries, while the appropriately arcade game-themed shindig will also feature a gaming station to keep you entertained between bites. As for your final course, Messina will be unleashing the Mortal Cookie Kombat — a milk choc chip cookie and milo crumble, topped with a scoop of dulce de leche gelato. And, it wouldn't be a burger feast without some milkshakes to sip on, which Messina is taking care of as well. Messina Eats runs from noon until sold out on March 23 and 24 in the carpark at Messina's Rosebery HQ.
If your pup's been trying to sad-eye his or her way into your Easter celebrations, but without much chocolatey success, here's a solution for you both. On Saturday March 17, Mad Paws, an Aussie pet-sitting network, is hosting its annual Dog Easter Egg Hunt at Sydney Park. For four furry hours, your drooling, slobbering one will be the focus of all attention. As well as the main attraction, there'll be an agility course competition, dog whispering sessions, an artist working on pawtraits and a photography corner, where you and your pooch can pose together. Whatever you do, make sure your four-legged friend doesn't leave home until they're looking their very best: at the end of the day, the best-dressed dog will score a special prize. In between all that action, find time to wander around the stalls, which will be peddling doggy treats such as pupcakes, offering massages and dental check-ups, and hosting workshops, including one on first aid. All proceeds will go to Maggie's Rescue, a Marrickville-based animal welfare charity with a no-kill policy.
There's no simple, obvious or clear-cut way to approach the story of Donald Crowhurst. An amateur British sailor who tried to circumnavigate the globe for publicity and prize money, his is a tale so strange that it can only be true. For those unfamiliar with the 50-year-old saga, Crowhurst jumped from selling homemade navigational equipment to sailing around the world as part of a lucrative 1968 contest. Participants were required to complete their voyage alone and without making any stops — something that, at the time, had never been done before. Setting off with virtually no experience on a barely seaworthy boat that he'd designed himself, Crowhurst unsurprisingly ventured straight into troubled waters — and made many questionable decisions once he got there. As a quest for fame and glory, his efforts smack of misplaced hubris. At the same time, with a struggling business to his name and a family to support, he was facing considerable financial pressures both before and after he committed to the trip. His need to win the race, and the £5,000 cash that came with it, was sparked by more than just a desire to stroke his own ego. With Colin Firth taking on the role of Crowhurst, Rachel Weisz co-starring as his wife Clare, and David Thewlis popping up as the pushy publicist keen to sell the story (and embellish it where needed), The Mercy endeavours to depict both sides of its protagonist. The film chronicles the bluster and bravado that undeniably drove Crowhurst's fateful actions, while also exploring the pain and pressure behind them. The details are not only fascinating, infuriating and heartbreaking, but also incredibly complex. Still, just like sailing the seven seas solo, communicating all of that on screen is a hard task to master. No stranger to the real-life plights of obsessive men determined to succeed, director James Marsh (Man on Wire, The Theory of Everything) turns The Mercy into two films in one; a plucky underdog adventure crashing into an All Is Lost-style survivalist epic. Both have their merits, but they don't quite fit together — like much of Crowhurst's vessel, appropriately. While it's easy to admire the efforts of Marsh and screenwriter Scott Z. Burns (Contagion) to offer a well-rounded account, the first half of the movie often feels like it's just ticking as many melodramatic boxes as it can. Instead, the film hits its stride when it leans into the drama of the voyage itself, flitting between Crowhurst's escalating struggles at sea and Clare's own troubles at home. It's these later scenes that showcase Marsh's versatility, as set to a well-pitched score by the late composer Jóhann Jóhannsson (Arrival). With the assistance of cinematographer Eric Gautier (Into the Wild), the filmmaker finds visually expressive ways to convey the physical perils and emotional stresses faced by Crowhurst, while handling Clare's efforts to keep afloat (economically rather than literally) with a suitably reserved yet resonant air. In the process, he also showcases Firth and Weisz's adaptability, whether transitioning from eager to regretful and afraid, or from supportive to strong in the face of tragedy. Firth, understandably, gets more of a chance to shine than Weisz, but their respective character arcs prove equally compelling and convincing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L03PXWLmfQE&feature=youtu.be
Gelato Messina is about to become a place both wonderful and strange. With Twin Peaks finally happening again in the form of an eagerly anticipated third season, the gelato kings are getting in on the action by turning two of their stores — one in Sydney and one in Melbourne — into the show's iconic Double R Diner for one day. Naturally, there'll be themed frozen goodness aplenty, as well as free scoops. It's going to be damn fine indeed. In what will be Messina's first ever store transformations, the Double R Diner is set to take over the Newtown store on May 22. There mightn't be staff called Norma and Shelly on-hand, but there will be custom-made cherry gelato 'pie'. If that's your idea of dessert heaven, then here, the ice cream is what it seems. This must be where pies go when they die. In addition to the limited edition pie — there will only be 50 slices available per store — Messina has created three custom Twin Peaks flavours. They'll be served up for free (yes, free) between the hours of 12pm and 4pm, and then again from 5pm to 10pm. Just what those varieties will be, if they'll be wrapped in plastic, and whether there'll be a jukebox on-site playing tunes you just want to click your fingers to — well, you'll have to head along to find out. You can probably expect good, hot, black coffee too. Let's just hope there isn't a fish in the percolator. Unless you've been trapped in the Black Lodge for the past 25 years, you'll know that the whole thing is timed to coincide with the start of new Twin Peaks season, which will drop on Stan in Australia at 2pm on Monday, May 22. All 18 episodes have been directed by David Lynch, so we're in for quite the treat. Celebrating with pie and gelato is something Special Agent Dale Cooper would approve of — remember his wise words of advice: "every day, once a day, give yourself a present".
The team behind Bacon Brewfest, Wolli Creek's Discovery Markets and the Brewery Yard Markets at Central Park are bringing a new monthly food extravaganza to Sydney. Truckstop! will take over the carpark of Rosebery's Saporium on the first Thursday of every month, starting June 1 from 5pm. The evening will feature some of Sydney's best food trucks in a night of eats, drinks, live music and art. Food will include Brazilian churrasco by MEET Restaurant, yakitori and gyoza from Shiso Fine, freshly shucked oysters from The Shuck Truck, Americana diner classics from The Nighthawk Diner and vegan sundaes from Over The Moo, along with one special guest food truck that will be revealed closer to the event. DJs will be spinning the beats while Work-Shop runs live street art demonstrations. If you fancy a Thursday bevvy, Rosebery neighbours Archie Rose Distillery will be slinging cocktails made using their local spirits and a Coors Australia bar will offer beer and cider — though we're not sure why they're not spruiking a beer made closer to home. The carpark will be decorated with long communal tables, white marquees and fairy lights to create a cosy midweek market atmosphere.
When Amy Schumer starred in Trainwreck back in 2015, audiences may have felt a sense of niggling deja vu. If you'd watched Inside Amy Schumer or any of her standup shows, you knew exactly the kind of character you were getting — not that that was a big problem, necessarily, since seeing the comedian and actress take her usual persona to the big screen was part of the appeal. But even the funniest folks can only coast on the same material for so long. That's not to say that Schumer doesn't throw herself into her latest film with gusto, but rather that her character, the aimless, self-absorbed, recently single Emily, offers very little that's new. The same is true of the film in which she resides, which plays out exactly the way you expect it to. Drunken pick-up attempts? Tick. Gags about intimate personal grooming? Tick. One-liners that only work thanks to Schumer's delivery? Keep ticking. A hard-partying character suddenly forced to address her messy existence? Of course that's what Snatched is about. The film kicks into gear when Emily's cat-loving mother Linda (Goldie Hawn) discovers, via Facebook, that her daughter has been dumped. Emily, for her part, is upset, although seemingly more about her impending, non-refundable vacation to Ecuador than the breakup itself. After trying and failing to find a friend to accompany her on her adventure, Emily discovers an old photo album filled with snaps of a once-carefree Linda travelling in her younger years. So she decides to invite her mother along instead. With a title like Snatched, it's not a spoiler to say that the duo soon find themselves kidnapped by local criminals. Frankly, it's hard to spoil much about this film, given how formulaic it all feels. From the predictable interplay between mother and daughter to the uncomfortable stereotypes about South America and its inhabitants, the uninspired script by Ghostbusters scribe Katie Dippold leaves one person with a huge job. And no, it's not director Jonathan Levine – the man behind The Night Before, Warm Bodies and 50/50 stays mostly on auto-pilot here. Instead, it's Hawn who does the bulk of the heavy lifting. It has been 15 years since the actress was last on screen, but the comic force of the '80s and '90s has lost none of her flair. A committed supporting performance by Joan Cusack aside, it's hardly surprising that Hawn's rapport with Schumer is far and away the best thing about this routine jaunt through the jungle. If all Snatched does is inspire you to seek out some of her earlier work, then at least it will have achieved something of value. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcyeYFXdHNQ
Once the dust begins to settle on Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia Resort 2018, the fashion week will wrap up by flinging open its doors to consumers for two days only. Mercedes-Benz Fashion Weekend Edition brings the glitz, glamour and buzz of the shows to the public, with a curated selection of runway shows, talks and workshops at Carriageworks from May 19 to 20. Across the MBFWE weekend, there'll be plenty to keep attendees busy. Sit where the style set sat just days before and watch the latest Resort 2018 looks from Australia's top designers take the runway. With a few fashion seminars being held during the day, the event really kicks off with Alice McCall's Spring/Summer 2017 — and you can shop the looks you see straight from the runway. Saturday brings a full day of events from style sessions with industry leaders, to a runway photography masterclass on how to shoot like the pros, to hair and makeup workshops with Redken and Napoleon Perdis respectively. Then of course, there are the multiple fashion shows throughout the day featuring the latest active, sports-luxe and resort ready-to-wear collections fresh from the MBFWA runway. And if you need a break from the stylish hustle, give your heeled tootsies a break and kick back with a glass of sparkling and a bite to eat in the MBFWE Hub. If you've ever wondered what actually goes on during these weeks of street style, catwalks and jet-setting glamazons, sneak a glimpse into the world of fashion, and discover the best local and international industry talent to hit Aussie shores. Image: Lisa Maree Williams / Getty Images. Words by Lucinda Starr and Quinn Connors.
Fans of Bob's Burgers are familiar with the many hilarious and heartfelt tunes belted out by the Belcher family and friends. Well, now there's a full album dedicated to the show, featuring the comic voices of Aziz Ansari, Sarah Silverman, Bill Hader and Zack Galifianakis, as well as special guest artists St. Vincent and Cyndi Lauper. To celebrate the album's release, record labels Inertia Music and Sub Pop are joining forces with late-night dumpling and karaoke haunt Goros to host a very special trivia night next Tuesday, May 16 — Bob's Burgers themed, of course. First place winners take home a $200 bar tab, along with a Bob's Burgers merch pack which includes the new album, stickers and a poster. Second and third place also nab sweet $100 and $50 bar tabs, respectively, and bonus question winners receive a round of sake bombs. Entry is free, but space is limited and you must reserve a table to get a spot.
The 31st annual Taste of Manly is a weekend celebration of all things food, drink and culture in the northern beaches suburb. The festival takes over Manly Beach along The Corso for a two-day extravaganza where patrons can enjoy the iconic surroundings while soaking in this indulgent cultural event. Local restaurants will put on special menus while the fine wine and craft beer venues — like the popular Manly Wine and 4 Pines Brewpub — will showcase their artisan booze. The festival also includes special pop-up restaurants, wine and beer stalls, live music and activities, as well as a sustainability hub. It will run from 11.30am until 5pm on both Saturday and Sunday.
Prepare to sip your way around one of New South Wales' grapiest regions because the Hunter Valley Wine Festival is back for the fifth year. It's a completely different event to the Hunter Valley Food and Wine Festival, in case you were wondering. Here, in vineyard country, one vino fest really isn't enough. Taking place from 11am to 5pm on June 24, it's the reason you've been needing for a weekend jaunt away from the city — not that anyone really needs an excuse for that. The area's wineries, large and boutique included, will come together at Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley for a day-long showcase of the Semillon, Chardonnay, Riesling and Shiraz varieties they're best known for, plus emerging, organic and biodynamic tipples too. Tickets cost $20, which includes five tasting tickets and a tasting glass. When you're not sampling wine with booze-loving abandon, you can also try out some local beer and cider, or eat your way through a selection of local cuisine.
Outdoor escape artists We Are Explorers are leading 20 adventurers two hours north of Sydney to a secret, secluded conservation area for a two-day wilderness surf escape. Keen surfers will set out early Saturday morning — as well as transport to and from Sydney, all gear will be provided, including insurance, permits, surfboards and wetsuits. With surf pros in tow, no experience is required and those that need it will be guided through beginner lessons. Photography is also provided for the entire weekend, so you'll head home with sick shots of you catching some waves. For downtime, they'll be settling up a full tent village with an outdoor kitchen where all meals are provided (campfire jams should be expected). The crew is also planning a few surprises for the drive home — and though we're not sure what that means, we're certainly intrigued.
The Clock Hotel is going all out for Negroni Week 2017, joining forces with Campari to transform their top floor balcony into an 'Italian paradiso' for a cocktail party on Thursday, June 8. The opulent bash will centre around a sub-zero version of the cocktail — which will flow through an enormous Campari ice sculpture throughout the evening — and a giant Negroni that will be filled with not only alcohol, but a burlesque performer as well. Apart from the requisite drinks, a three-piece band will be on-hand to entertain guests, while Italian treats like fresh pastas and a massive charcuterie board will be yours for the grazing. Of course, you can't have a Negroni party without the cocktail and the Surry Hills stalwart is turning out a special menu for the occasion. On offer will be a classic version of the cocktail, the Negroni Royale with elderflower and Prosecco, and the Breakfast in Rome, which will come topped with mini toast. They've also created a non-Negroni option, a smoked chocolate boulevardier with cacao-infused bourbon, Campari, sweet vermouth, chocolate bitters and cacao smoke. Three cocktails are included in the ticket price of $50. If you can't make the party, the cocktails will be on offer at The Clock for the duration of Negroni Week, which runs from June 5-11. Plus, $1 from every Negroni sold will be donated to Oz Harvest — so you'll be doing some good with those booze bucks too.
Ananas is giving bottomless a new meaning: all-you-can-eat mussels and frites. If seafood and fries is your idea of a perfect culinary pairing, then drop by on Mondays to enjoy as much as you can stomach for $30. The stuff-your-face food event may not be a Mad Hatter or Willy Wonka-themed brunch, but hot and fresh mussels is a pretty great way to help cure the start-of-week blues. At Ananas' fresh digs in Circular Quay, enjoy a bucket of steaming mussels with their mariniére sauce — accompanied by plus pommes frites, of course — all while enjoying the view of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Plus, their stellar new location means that you can easily walk over to the Opera House afterwards if you're in need of a little post-mussel muscle movement.
Every July, two things happen. The US commemorates a date that makes film fans think about invading extra-terrestrials, and Murray's Craft Brewing Co on the New South Wales north coast throws a month-long celebration of American brews and food — aka Murray's American Beer Month Festival. Beverage and burger lovers keen on a two-hour weekend trip to Port Stephens will find plenty of both on the agenda, including themed tipples aplenty and meals inspired Elvis. Sip on one of eight brews, including a blood orange IPA, and snack on culinary specials. Yes, an Elvis burg filled with bacon, peanut butter and jam is on the menu — as is a mac 'n' cheese pizza. There'll also be free beer and wine tasting, brewery tours and US-centric entertainment every Sunday. Entry is free and the fest runs daily from 10am; however, if you're keen on jumping on the shuttle from Nelson Bay, that'll cost you $5 each way.
Forget about that chill in the air, and head to Bondi this winter. Over a two-week period starting Tuesday, July 18, the fifth annual Bondi Feast will bring together Sydney performance artists, stand-up comedians and foodies to give you good reason to hit the beach — even though temperatures are low. From eats and drinks to all kinds of art, Bondi Pavilion will play host to a cultural feast bigger than before, with 40 shows and 158 Australian artists set to perform across six different stages, plus a pop-up bar and food vendors dishing out tasty eats all throughout the festival. Think of this year's Bondi Feast as a mini Dark Mofo, with plenty to keep you entertained. There'll be 24-hour plays, private storytellings in Bondi Pavilion lifts that last only as long as your ride, a cappella performances and comedic appearances by the likes of writer and actress Zoë Norton Lodge with her show, Story Club: Solo, Jack Gow who will publicly explore his quarter-life crisis, and female a cappella group Ginger & Tonic's brilliant For Love or Money. Your tastebuds won't be bored either with a different food vendor serving pop-up eats every night. This year you can expect Latin American snacks served up by Bondi Rumba, warming treats from Deutschland by The German Hut and fragrant paella whipped up by Paella del Mar. Tickets for each show range from free to $20, so the festival won't leave your wallet hurting, but will help cure any seasonal blues. The complete calendar of events can be found here. Image: Robert Catto.
Looking to expand your wine repertoire, but don't know where or how to start? Sydney's most prestigious wine show is back, and on Saturday, July 29 you can taste, drink and experience wine judged and deemed the very best by a panel of vino experts. Not sold yet? Said panel will be at your disposal to guide you through all things wine — discover new oeno-trends in grape varieties, uncover the secrets to building a great wine collection and learn new tips to take your palette to the next level of refinement. It's the perfect place to go from wine-enthusiast to wine-expert in a few short hours. Before the show begins, wines are divided by class, ranked and judged on variants including complexity and balance, so once you arrive you can celebrate the winners by tasting your way through their fruits of success. Try full, fruity and fragrant reds and clean, balanced whites. There'll of course be bubbly, as well as flavourful sparkling rosés and nutty fortified wines. Plus, executive chef Tim Browne will pair the prized wines with unlimited gourmet boards of Sydney Royal's award-winning cheese and charcuterie. With up to 2,200 wines on offer (and a limited amount of tickets), you'll want to nab your spot now. Snag a ticket for $80 per person, or grab a friend for a $150 double pass because we all know wine is best paired with a fellow oenophile friend.
Reboots don't just involve huge movie franchises — they can also apply to film festivals, too. When the Turkish Film Festival returns from July 5 to 16, it should feel both familiar and fresh. Indeed, the existing fest has evolved, boasting more films and more screenings in more places, plus a few special events as well. Heading to Palace Norton Street and the Chauvel Cinema, this year's TFF will feature seven movies that showcase the current state of Turkish filmmaking. It all kicks off with Rosso Istanbul, the latest effort from Italian-Turkish director Ferzan Özpetek, before offering up everything from 2014 Cannes Palme d'Or winner Winter Sleep and photographer-focused documentary The Eye of Istanbul to The Water Diviner's Yilmaz Erdoğan and Cem Yilmaz showing off their newest flicks. The program also includes Australian-made, Turkish-set Guardians of the Strait, a doco made by an all-female crew about the narrow waterway twisting through the heart of Istanbul. For those who want to go on a culinary journey as well as a cinematic one, The Turkish Way showcases Catalan cuisine across Turkey, with popular Istanbul chef Maksut Aşkar in attendance. As with all food-focused flicks, you'll want to grab dinner beforehand to avoid a hangry viewing experience. If the inevitable food envy wins out, you can also join chef Aşkar for a one-night only Turkish feast hosted by Efendy on July 14.
Roll up to The Burrows at 200 George Street from 5pm each night, and you'll have company — a selection of Sydney's food trucks will be rolling up with you. Once the sun starts setting every evening, the inner-city hangout will become a meals-on-wheels wonderland. They're calling it Twilight Dining, but you can call it dinner. Kicking off for Vivid, and accompanied by DJ beats, the new culinary gathering will see American-style eats, devilish doughnuts, organic wonders, deep fried pizzas, yum cha, fresh seafood and more tempting your tastebuds. Expect four different vehicles rotating nightly, with Double Dip, Agape, Pimp My Donut, Fritto and Co, Lets Do Yumcha, Mama Lihns, Greek Street Food and The Shuck Truck among those dishing out delicious fare. Plus, there'll be a special guest — a yet-to-be-announced Melbourne food truck cruising up to Sydney for the first time. Drinks-wise, Craftys Pop Up Bar has your bevs covered until 11pm, when you can then head on over to new laneway bar Alleyway. And, as fun as eating up a storm during Sydney's lights, arts and culture fest is, Twilight Dining is an ongoing affair. Yum.
On December 9, tread lightly, and carry a really big sword. Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill saga is coming to Mov'In Bed Cinema, and as always the proprietors are serving up an epic feast to match. If you've never before witnessed this roaring rampage of revenge, then boy are you in for a treat. This bloody four-hour odyssey is unlike any film in the modern era, featuring all the hallmarks — the violence, the dialogue, the kick-ass soundtrack — that make Tarantino one of the all-time greats. Uma Thurman is in career best form as the sword-swinging Black Mamba, carving up the killers on her death list one by one. And what better way to experience this unique double feature than at Sydney's most comfortable outdoor cinema. Mov'In Bed features 150 beds in lieu of chairs, while their food options are damn more exciting than popcorn. This year they've teamed up with the likes of Fratelli Fresh, The Burger Project and Bavarian Bier Café, who'll deliver lamb ragu penne, American-style burgs and crackling pork rolls straight to your bedside. If you feel like dessert, banoffee pie should do nicely, or you can chow down on a cinnamon sugar pretzel doughnut. Mov'In Bed also offers a selection of beverages, including beers, ciders and organic wines. Basically, if your date likes samurai movies, then you really couldn't do much better. Gates open at 5pm and the first movie begins at 8.15pm. Tickets are selling fast, so head here to secure yours now.
Same-day succulent delivery service Little Succers is running a build-your-own terrarium bar in Chippendale for a two days only. Book in for an hour-long slot on December 9 or 10 and you'll be given the tools to build the terrarium of your dreams. The pop-up will stock a variety of succulents of all shapes and sizes ready for you to take home. With pots from Couani and Uashmama — as well as Little Succers' very own custom pots — and soil, crystals and other decorations, you'll have everything you need to create a masterpiece. And if you're looking for a more festive Christmas gift, snag a succulent wreath or a Merry Cact-mus Christmas tree — choose between one clothed in either pompoms or lights. While you're at it, succulent-clad wreaths are available in both large and small sizes to really put you in the festive spirit.
It's in Newtown that you'll find some of Sydney's best locally brewed beer, most epic sweet treats and greatest bowls of ramen. And to celebrate the suburb's delectable contributions to the city's foodie scene, the Newtown Good Food Fair is returning for a fourth year on Sunday, October 8. Organised by the Newtown Precinct Business Association, the event brings together more than 30 of Newtown's brewers, bakers, growers and chefs. These include Young Henrys, Black Star Pastry, Rising Sun Workshop, Acre, Cairo Takeaway, Queen Chow, Suzy Spoon's Vegetarian Butcher, The Stinking Bishops, and Gelato Messina. For your gustatory convenience, they'll all be gathering in two easy-to-reach spots: Newtown Square and nearby Eliza Street. It all kicks off from 11am at both locations with the above food and drinks, as well as live music, and continues until 4pm at Newtown Square and 6pm at Eliza Street.
Girls to the front — and to the stage, to the crowd and to the markets. At Sydney's annual Women in Music Empowerment Day, an all-female lineup will be showcasing rockin', creative and all-round kick-ass ladies across a feast of sounds, art and more. Taking over Newtown's Miss Peaches from 2pm on September 24, the event is the product of Deeper Than House, Stayfly Sydney, Yeah The Girls, Coven Presents and Honey's hard work, with the local crews curating quite the celebratory day for women, non-binary and minority peoples. First, tap your toes to the music of SCABZ, Clueless, Val York, SPORTS, Ines, Jannah Beth and more. Then, wander through stalls selling Mami Watta Collections, Haus of Dizzy, Karameleon and BadGirl Garden's wares. Finally, listen to a panel about gender-related industry challenges, with ALPHAMAMA, FlexMami, Poppy Reid, Rachel Maria Cox and Kailei Ginman among the smart cookies joining in. Live art by Lotte Smith and Sophieaye, and live performances by LUMI SPINNERS, Bella Fuego Entertainment and DES FLEURS are also on the agenda, in what promises to be a jam-packed, empowering Saturday. Tickets cost $15 in advance and $20 at the door, with all proceeds raised going to The Girls Refuge, who offer a supportive, home-like environment for young wom*n who are homeless, or at risk of homelessness due to a number of factors.
Warmer weather means sunny afternoons soaking up some rays with a refreshing beverage in hand. Long weekends too. All of the above combines at Opera Bar Sydney's newest event, aka the ideal way to spend three days off — plus the Friday evening before the fun really begins. From September 29 until October 2, the watering hole with a watery view will be thinking and drinking pink thanks to the Rosé All Day Festival. They'll also be encouraging patrons to wear their favourite hue, be it carnation, cerise, fuchsia, magenta or ruby, and handing out floral crowns to the first 50 guests each day. Drinks-wise, expect the wine of the moment, including frosé, rosé cocktails, rosé spritz, still and sparkling, with varieties such as Yangarra Pet Nat Sparkling, Craggy Range Rosé, AIX Rosé and Pink Claw Grenache Rosé on offer. The Opera Bar's Meat & Cheese Room will even become the Rosé Room for the occasion, while live music will provide a cheery, chilled-out soundtrack. Tickets cost $35 + booking fee in advance or $40 on the day, and include three rosé tipples of your choice. Further plonk, plus platters of oysters and cheese, will also be available to purchase.
