What on Earth has Jim Cameron been doing for the past 12 years? Well, not much - technically - for he has gone virtual, turning that closely guarded world of gaming geeks into pure cinematic spectacle. And that is exactly what Avatar is: absolute spectacle â€" a big, bright and sweeping epic that demands to be seen on the silver screen, behind 3D glasses. The story itself is pretty basic, essentially Pocahontas meets Fern Gully, and considering Sigourney Weaver's presence, it has a few lashings of Aliens (by way of Gorillas in the Mist) as well. Of course none of these references make for a particularly pretty post-colonial reading of the film. Your world is on the brink of utter destruction? Ok, but be sure to waste precious time trying to save the white woman. Not to mention the classic white warrior "going native" and rescuing the noble savages from themselves. Then again, Avatar probably wasn't meant to stand up to such discourse, rather it exists in the world of fairytale; one not so far removed from its gaming brethren or Cameron's Terminator and Aliens shoot-em-ups. And then comes the heart, where, mercifully, Cameron dials back on the stultifying declarations rampant in Titanic, instead presenting the burgeoning love of Jake (Sam Worthington) and Neytiri (Zoe Saldana) as one born of the respect of warriors. And in keeping with the fairytale tropes, every character slots into their allotted caricature very well. Weaver is the impassioned scientist, Giovanni Ribisi the corporate stakeholder protecting his bottom line and, most amusingly, Stephen Lang is Colonel Quaritch the mercenary muscle as well as the source of much comic relief (be it intentional or not). So though you won’t get anything new narratively, Avatar is a visual feast, bountifully colourful with enough glowing UV colours to make a raver jealous. It’s clear Cameron and those talented Kiwis at WETA have absolutely gone to town creating Pandora, as well as the painstaking performance capture required to bring life to the inhabitants themselves. It’s just a shame that some of the brilliant action is sullied by exposition that caters to the lowest common denominator; in 12 years it seems Cameron still hasn’t grasped subtlety, though perhaps it’s better that way. https://youtube.com/watch?v=dyDQoXEBkGw
Touted as the dance event of the Sydney Festival, Bale de Rua is coming to town with a whole lot of sweet dance action that smacks of Brazil. Using original music, traditional melodies, dynamic percussion and ridiculously-impressive production design, the company has created a mini break-beat carnivale, big on energy and athleticism. With a cast of fourteen men and one woman who specialise in hip hop, breakdance, capoiera and congado, Bale de Rua (literally 'street ballet') traces the history of Brazil, from its African roots to contemporary times. It was a sell-out in Paris and massive in Edinburgh and London - sending the critics into praise spasms anywhere it goes. Founded by two street-taught dancers, Marco Antonio Garcia (apparently we'll be hard pressed to find a more sculpted human body), an ex petrol pump/supermarket attendant and Jose Marcel Silva, an ex coffee bean picker/bricklayer, Bale de Rua is both an internationally acclaimed company and a dance school. Most of the dancers are graduates and many of them now also teach Bale de Rua dance classes in the poor neighbourhoods of central Brazil. Photo by Eric Deniset https://youtube.com/watch?v=jlVWj6PdUbE
People jump up and down a lot in Nancy Meyers movies. Her heightened, playful worlds of wealthy white characters may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but Meyers has established herself as a bit of a champion for the Baby boomers. Egad! They still have sex, get drunk and make bad decisions! Meyers’ latest offering almost feels like a remake of Something’s Gotta Give, but the Alec Baldwin/Meryl Streep/Steve Martin love triangle is much more successful than her previous attempt with Jack Nicholson/Diane Keaton/Keanu Reeves. Let’s face it, many would pay to see Streep recite the alphabet, let alone delight in her reapplying her Julie & Julia cooking skills to mouthwatering effect, whilst playing Jane, a confused divorcee rekindling the relationship with her ex some 10 years after the nasty split. She and Baldwin spark off each other nicely, and Martin does well playing the straight man and her besotted architect. Though sugary sweet, there’s a lot to giggle about in this film, as well as a few home truths. Meyers strikes a much better balance this time around, so while having “an ex with benefits†leads to much hilarity, she also shows that a divorced family isn’t anything to jump up and down about. https://youtube.com/watch?v=FtbsGSzTOyI
With summer now getting into full swing, is it not the perfect time of year to enjoy some of Australia's best underground gypsy-folk-rock-storytelling artists in the lazy, setting sun of a Sunday afternoon under the shady trees of Victoria Park? There'll be sausage sandwiches and cold soft drinks for sale too. Each of these acts have been tearing it up in their own way all through 2009, so a bit about each:Mr Fibby are a truly unique mix of theatre, music, and storytelling. In a howling dervish of despair, they wander through faux fairy tales most lamentable, past monstrous trees, men once dead, jealous lovers, lost gypsies, shattered hearts and moons as red as blood. The genre of what it is they does doesn't even have a name yet. Based out of Canberra, they've been absolutely smashing the festival circuit in 2009 and creating for themselves a strong band of dedicated followers. Catch them now in their finest light – the outdoors definitely suit them best.If ‘Bloke Folk’ were a genre, The Ellis Collective would be all over it. Simple and gritty tales of an Aussie male hiding a broken heart behind big talk, a tinnie and a smoke. The past twelve months have seen them play at Australia’s largest and smallest festivals. They have been compared to seminal influences including John Schumann, Paul Kelly, and Tim Rogers.Owen Campbell, an Aussie born to Irish mother and Scottish father, was introduced to a diverse range of music at a very young age. Playing guitar since age ten, his style has developed over fifteen years into a gravelly blend of blues, roots, soul and country, with a voice that belies both his young years and his virtuosity on the slide guitar.
Master of the implied jazz hands, Rufus Wainright returns to Sydney in October to play an intimate man-and-piano show at the the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall. Son of the equally famed Kate McGarrigle and Loudon Wainright III, and brother to Martha Wainright, Rufus has a daunting musical pedigree, which he seems to have all but pushed aside to forge his own (intense) fanbase with his poetic, bare-all lyrics. His debut album, Poses, led to wide acclaim, as has every single thing he's been involved in since (except that drug addiction that led to temporary blindness, perhaps). Rufus Does Judy at Carnegie Hall, his take on Judy Garland's 1961 concert, a song-for-song show in 2006, has become something of an iconic moment in pop performance. After his cancelled shows earlier in the year, this is one event not to miss. Tickets go on sale on Friday, June 4, at 9am. https://youtube.com/watch?v=J_TxPQKcG7w
Andy Warhol is one of those paradoxical figures. While providing a wealth of worthwhile material to consider he simultaneously fertilized followers to produce an array of boring and derivative art. In this way Warhol is both a king and a curse for art history. And yet there is something appropriate about staging a concert around Warhol's infamous Screen Tests (filmed between 1964-1966), if only to admit the entertainment value of this artist's legacy. Warhol's Screen Tests, which were originally silent four-minute films of celebrities and socialites (e.g. Lou Read, Denis Hopper, Edie Sedgwick), were a way of accessing the character of the subject through the image they presented to the camera. In this live performances Dean & Britta (originally from emotively-slow bands like Galaxie 500 and Luna) have written musical scores to accompany these moving portraits. It's difficult to predict if this addition avoids easy nostalgia and actually moves Warhol's films to a new space, but that of course is the risk of any return to the past. Interested ears should go here. To win a double pass to see 13 Most Beautiful Songs...just subscribe to Concrete Playground on our homepage then email your details through to hello@concreteplayground.com.au https://youtube.com/watch?v=EzOtZg_Zrow
Bleached perms. Feathered earrings and feathered hair. Acid-wash. Ra-ra skirts. Rayban Wayfarers. Swatch watch envy. Eyeliner for all. Crop tops over leotards. Bangles, tons of bangles. They may be 80s cultural cliches (or a list of what's actually in stores right now), but they're cliches for a reason: fun. The Powerhouse Museum is turning back the clock for it's new 80s exhibition, just like how Cameron turned back the mileage on his dad's Ferrari in Ferris Beuller. Kinda. Breaking up that greedy post-disco decade into themes, the curators have examined what really did define the 1980s, and whether anything more serious than Scott and Charlene's wedding had any major impact, especially in Australia. The categories they look at are: screen, subcultures, partying, the AIDS crisis (the bowling grim reaper still gives me the heebie jeebies), fashion, music, fads & toys, design, neo-80s, video games and the big events. The exhibition is bigger than Cyndi Lauper's fringe. Of course, the 80s weren't all about material girls in culture clubs, there were bands like ESG and the Pixies making waves back then too, and it's nice to know they've not been forgotten in the music section. Before you dress up like Duckie in Pretty in Pink (you know you always wanted to) and head down to the Powerhouse, be sure to have a look at the exhibtion's own exhaustive website, which changes weekly. https://youtube.com/watch?v=E-2BLRg9dCU
The words, "The Beatles" are never uttered in Sam Taylor-Wood's debut feature film Nowhere Boy, and, for the most part, neither are the screaming girls that the phrasing conjures. That's because the film focusses intensely on John Lennon's life aged fifteen-eighteen, an intimate portrait of a specific time period rather than the usual longwinded biopic. Aside from a few little wink-wink sight gags scattered throughout, Nowhere Boy could be the late adolescence of any boy growing up in Liverpool in the mid 1950s. Except of course, Taylor-Wood knows that we know he isn't.Confronted with the death of the uncle that raised him alongside the starched Aunt Mimi (Kristin Scott Thomas, perfectly buttoned up), fifteen year old Lennon (Aaron Johnson) is further thrown into confusion when his biological mother steps into the frame, at the cemetery no less. Anne-Marie Duff as Julia is more like an ebullient older sister, eager to welcome back Lennon into her rebuilt life, having abandoned him as a small child. She gently shoos her two daughters out of the way as she coos over John, fussing and â€" just a little â€" flirting. 'Rock'n'roll means sex', she teaches him, knocking him for six, as he begins to measure out his approach to life, and, more to the point, his music. There's an excellent scene showing them hearing and reacting to Screamin' Jay Hawkins I Put a Spell on You for the first time in Julia's lounge room, capturing the shock of the new and how something like a song at the right age can change everything.The film is less about John Lennon and his budding musical talent, perhaps because Johnson feels a little out of place with his cheeky, quick banter, but moreso that it's the story of the two women who raised him, from within the interior of a family melodrama. The stark contrasts between Mimi and Julia, with their own clashing notions of both parenting and living, form the spine of the film. Both show up to see his new skiffle band play at a local fair, but though their intent of support is the same, they are unable to do so together. The reason for his abandonment as a small, crying child (shown occasionally in unnecessary flashbacks) is revealed at one point, sadly the least triumphant moment of the film.Taylor-Wood, known predominantly as a photographer and video artist, in collaboration with screenwriter Matt Greenhalgh (he penned the Joy Division biopic, Control) has made a loving, intimate rendering of a snippet of a life. Beautifully shot, and with period perfect costuming ("it's my Buddy Holly look", says John to Paul McCartney, at one point), Nowhere Boy looks the part and feels genuine but not enough to linger, even if by the end of the film we understand that the boy is actually going somewhere. https://youtube.com/watch?v=Y6Km9L1Sqd0
When Sydney was in lockdown earlier this year, having a drink at any bar around town fell into the realm of fantasy. Come December, however, the city's residents will be able to book in for a gin beverage at a very unusual and unique watering hole — at a floating hot air balloon bar. We hope you like hovering more than 30 metres above Tumbalong Park in Darling Harbour (110 feet, to be exact) and drinking Hendrick's gin, because that's the exact combination on offer. The hot air balloon bar has been dubbed 'Hendrick's Gin Most Unusual Balloon Bar', after all, and it's designed to promote the spirits brand. Still, it looks set to serve up a bucket list-level experience. Block out a window of time between 3–9pm on Saturday, December 5 in your diary, because that's when you'll be able to take to the sky — if you can nab a ticket, that is. To score yourself a spot, you'll need to head online from 9am on Monday, November 30. It's first come, first served, obviously. Tickets are free — which'll get you quite the lofty view, as well as some gin to sip. There'll also be hampers of Hendrick's-themed goodies onboard, which will pay homage to the cucumbers that the brand loves and constantly recommends pairing with your beverage. Hendrick's Gin Most Unusual Balloon Bar will hit the skies above Tumbalong Park in Darling Harbour from 3–9pm on Saturday, December 5. To book a ticket, you'll need to head online from 9am on Monday, November 30.
It's been a hot minute since Surry Hills' Bartolo welcomed customers through its glass doors. Closing with the rest of Sydney's hospitality venues back in late March, the Crown Street restaurant has remained shuttered through winter and spring. But, it hasn't been empty. The team has been busy giving the venue a makeover, complete with a seafood-heavy menu, frozen cocktails and a new look. And it has swung open its doors just in time for summer. Now home to Bartolo Wine Room, the space has had a refresh. The coffee machine has been pulled out and replaced by a slushie machine, churning alcoholic drinks you can order takeaway, and space for a DJ to spin Italo disco tunes on weekends. Family photos on the walls have been swapped for pics of the Italian coast by Sydney-based photographer Jude Cohen and new high tables primed for sundowner drinks have arrived streetside. Instead of spanning separate menus for breakfast, lunch and menu, food is now confined to one menu created by new Head Chef Sam Bennett (One Ford Street). Like the art, it's reminiscent of an Italian summer, with entrees of grilled whole sardines with peperonata, baccalà mantecato (a Venetian salt cod dish) and ox heart tomatoes with burrata. Larger dishes include mafaldine with fermented chilli, clam and sausage spaghetti, and fish with garlic butter and cabbage. Dessert, as you'd expect around Christmas in the European country, stars a panettone with stone fruit and zabaglione [caption id="attachment_792739" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Spaghetti with clams and sausage by Jared Merlino[/caption] The wine list has had a rejig, too, and now features more than 180 bottles from across Australia, Italy, France and Georgia. It's particularly heavy on the orange and natural numbers, including the likes of a standout rkatsiteli from Do Re Mi in Georgia and the skinsy Delirium from Continental Platter in SA's Riverland. The aforementioned slushie machine is pumping out a 'nuclear' piña colada, which is made with Wray & Nephew's overproof rum, and the drinks list is rounded out by cocktails — including the summery Spritzy Boy and a riberry-spiked negroni — and tinnies from the likes of Grifter, Batch and Modus Operandi. While Bartolo has now reopened, alongside sibling Sydney venues Big Poppa's and Lobo, another one of Owner Jared Merlino's venues remains closed: Kittyhawk. Merlino says the team is aiming to open early in the new year, after the 350-person venue has had it's own redo, with the upper level set to be transformed into a live entertainment venue. Find Bartolo Wine Room at 359 Crown Street, Surry Hills from 5pm–12am Thursday, 12pm–12am Friday–Saturday and 12–11pm Sunday. Images: Jared Merlino
Planning a date isn't always easy. Sure, big romantic dinners are nice, but they can start to feel a bit humdrum if that's all you and your boo do. This week, swap your same-old date night for an action-packed day instead. We've teamed up with the adventure expert, Adrenaline, to bring you this date itinerary where you can travel to another dimension with a VR experience, take your date to daring heights on a Blue Mountains hike or try your hand at bouldering — and taste some out-of-the-ordinary eats along the way. Whether you're newly dating or lifers, this list has you covered, and takes all of the stress out of the planning too. [caption id="attachment_789763" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW[/caption] ENJOY A HEARTY BREKKIE AT PERCY PLUNKETT As fuel for your action-packed day ahead, start your date with a hearty breakfast. Instead of stopping at your local, change it up and head to Penrith's Percy Plunkett. Set in a historic brick house on Station Street, the cafe's old-timey vibes are part of the appeal. On a nice day, grab a seat on the porch and enjoy your brekkie in the sunshine. The all-day menu offers something a little different from your average Aussie cafe — think lamb eggs benedict, Korean fried rice, with kimchi, pickled slaw, avocado and a fried egg, and a deep dish pancake, served with butterscotch sauce, white chocolate mousse, caramelised banana and berries. TRAVEL TO ANOTHER DIMENSION WITH A VIRTUAL REALITY EXPERIENCE If you and your date are missing overseas travel, why not travel to a different world instead? Adrenaline's multi-player VR experience will transport you to a post-apocalyptic world where zombies reign. You don't need to be into video games to enjoy this immersive experience — it's just an absolute blast. FREAK VR Penrith has exclusive rights to this game, which is a step above your average virtual reality experience. Its world-class 4D effects means you'll really feel like you're inside the game, even when it carries you up and down 'elevators'. It's suitable for up to four players ($189), so you can even turn the day into a double date if you fancy — you can either work as a team or in competition. Bookings start at 9.45am and regularly book out, so be sure to secure your spots in advance. EAT YOUR WAY AROUND THE WORLD IN KATOOMBA After FREAK VR, you'll need to calm your nerves from all that immersive zombie killing. Take a break from the physical adventure and enjoy a food-filled one instead. At Katoomba eatery 8Things, you can eat your way around the world from a succinct menu of eight street food-style dishes. The menu changes regularly and spans dishes from a range of regions, including Southeast Asia, Africa, North America and the Mediterranean. At the moment, there's South Indian-style dosas, Korean-style pork belly bao, NYC-style cheeseburgers and Balinese-style nasi goreng on offer. [caption id="attachment_789764" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW[/caption] TAKE YOUR DATE TO DARING HEIGHTS ON THE WENTWORTH FALLS HIKING TRAIL Now you've braved a virtual world, it's time to take your date on a daring adventure of a different kind. Katoomba is surrounded by heaps of gorgeous Blue Mountains hikes, but one of the most adventurous is the Wentworth Falls track. This trek may be quick (only 1.4-kilometre return), but it is no cakewalk. The steep hike will take you 100 metres up to Jamison and Wentworth lookouts before descending 200 steps to the cliff's edge of Fletchers lookout. It offers sweeping valley views far below, with sharp drops hidden at every turn — so you'll have to tread carefully. TRY YOUR HAND AT BOULDERING IN PARRAMATTA When you've finished scaling the Blue Mountains, head off to try another type of climbing experience. On your way back into the city, stop in Parramatta to go bouldering at 9 Degrees. The gym is split into nine levels of difficulty, each of which is colour-coded. If you're new to bouldering, you can start with yellow (the easiest); more experienced climbers can go for white (the hardest). The gym also has a training wall (dubbed the kilter board) to help you level up. 9 Degrees also boasts locations in Lane Cove, Alexandria, and a brand new outpost in Waterloo, so you can choose the one that's most convenient for you, and a day pass costs just $20 (with an extra $7 for optional shoe hire). [caption id="attachment_786073" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Robert Walsh[/caption] END THE DAY WITH COCKTAILS AT SYDNEY'S NEW SKY-HIGH BAR 83 After a full day of adventure, end the day with cocktails at a brand new, sky-high Sydney venue. Bar 83 sits, as you'd expect, 83 floors above the city in Sydney Tower — claiming the title of the city's tallest bar — and offers glittering 360-degree views. While your focus may be on the panoramas, the bar's fit-out is impressive in its own right. A mix of retro and futuristic vibes, the bar has circular red and white lounges, gold lights and striking mirrors. Now, for the drinks. The cocktail list was created by award-winning bartender Jenna Hemsworth (Restaurant Hubert, The Baxter Inn) and offers signature drops like the Pain Pleasure Principle (cognac, cacao and lemon myrtle) and the Ignore All Rules (tequila, sherry, tomato and basil). Sit back, relax, and enjoy a well-deserved tipple after your jam-packed date day. To explore all of the Adrenaline experiences available in Sydney and beyond, head over here. Top image: Wentworth Falls Track, Destination NSW
One of the best things about living in Sydney is the good weather, particularly in summer. So, why not make the most of our fair city by drinking and dining al fresco? Round up your date or your mates and have a picnic in the sun. Lucky for you, we're giving away lush hampers filled with tasty snacks and top-notch Wolf Blass drops to three Sydneysiders, so you can take your picnic game to the next level — without spending a dime. The hampers will come with six bottles of Wolf Blass Makers' Project wine, including its popular pink pinot grigio, rosé and pinot noir, and a heap of gourmet goodies, including eggplant and chilli chutney, artisanal crackers, handmade chocolates, gingerbread bickies, nuts and mini meringues. So, should you win this prize, you'll be feasting away this summer, whether you choose to do so by the beach, in a park or in your own leafy backyard. To enter, see details below. [competition]791139[/competition] Remember to Drinkwise.
Rugby fans all across Sydney are primed for this weekend. The HSBC Sydney 7s returns for two jam-packed days of rugby matches with 28 of the world's best international men's and women's Rugby Sevens teams going head-to-head to be crowned tournament champions. While all that action-packed rugby will keep you busy over Saturday, February 1 and Sunday, February 2, there's a lot happening off the field, too. The annual event will also feature a mini music festival, the chance to meet some of the players and much more. Basically, it's an all-out party no matter which way you look, so here are all the other things you must check out while you're there. [caption id="attachment_758988" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Rugby AU Media[/caption] DANCE AT SATURDAY'S FESTIVAL For the second year running, the Sydney 7s weekend will have its very own music festival so, when you're not watching the footy, you can dance into the night. The festival will host live acts across the two days, starting with some of our city's best homegrown DJ talent on Saturday. Kicking off on the decks is Bondi's own Yolanda Be Cool from 4.30–5.30pm, followed by DJ Tigerlily from 6.30–7.30pm. Closing out the night is ARIA Award-nominated artist L D R U, who'll perform from 7.30–8.30pm. Heaps of supporting acts are on the docket, too. Head here for more details. [caption id="attachment_758963" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Rugby AU Media[/caption] ENJOY SUNDAY'S MULTICULTURAL PERFORMANCES On Sunday, you can expect the festival area to feature an impressive lineup of acts from across the globe. Headlining the day is Polynesian recording artist Fiji (George Veikoso). He's a leading force in the contemporary island reggae music scene, so expect epic beats paired with his smooth vocals. Alongside Fiji, other acts to take the stage include a Caledonian pipe band, a live brass band, an African drum group and cultural dance groups aplenty. Apart from performing at the festival stage, some of these groups — which also include crews from South Africa, Scotland, New Zealand and the Cook Islands — will also roam around the stadium and perform pop-up gigs throughout the weekend. For full details, head to the website. GRAB A FEED While you're welcome to bring food and non-alcoholic bevvies into the stadium with you, part of the fun of the day is exploring the many food options that Bankwest Stadium has to offer. Here, the food offering is inspired by western Sydney's diverse communities and promotes local merchants and producers. From the stalls, expect the likes of beef brisket, ribs and pulled pork rolls from Barbecue Pit, poke bowls and rice paper rolls from Nourish and salt and pepper squid and tempura prawns from Catch. There are also pizzas, burgers and specialty coffees on offer, plus footy staples like beef pies, sausage rolls, hot dogs and hot chips. You can check out the full details of the food and drink offerings here. And if you're headed in with a group, weekend hospitality packages are also on offer. [caption id="attachment_759236" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Rugby AU Media[/caption] PUT YOUR FOOTY SKILLS TO THE TEST While rugby is raging on the field, spectators can get in on their own sports action with games and activities set up all around the stadium. If you fancy yourself as good as the pros, grab a mate and start off with the kicking challenge, a virtual simulation game which tests your skills. Each player gets a chance to kick and will be scored on speed, difficulty, power, height and goal scoring. The duo with the highest daily team score will even win two signed jerseys. [caption id="attachment_758991" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Rugby AU Media[/caption] WIN HEAPS OF PRIZES Apart from signed jerseys, there are heaps of prizes and giveaways on offer throughout the weekend. On-field challenges, dance cam competitions and free merchandise are all on the docket, plus games like horizontal bungee, obstacle courses and inflatable passing challenges all come with potential prizes. And you'll find branded giveaways everywhere you look, including clapper banners to help you cheer on your team during the match. You can win tickets to the best seats in the house and bag gifts like Budgy Smugglers. Basically, you're almost guaranteed to leave with a few freebies. There's more information on games and activities available across the stadium here. [caption id="attachment_758994" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Rugby AU Media[/caption] MEET THE PLAYERS Sydney's instalment of the Rugby Sevens tournament doesn't just give fans the chance to watch their favourite players in action — spectators also have the rare opportunity to meet players from all over the world as they take a lap around the pitch post-game to take selfies and sign autographs. There are a few key players you should keep an eye out for including Australian women's players Ellia Green and Emma Tonegato and men's players Maurice Longbottom and Lewis Holland. Plus New Zealand's Michaela Blyde and Ngarohi Mcgarvey-Black are two to hope for — so far in the 2019-20 season, New Zealand is ranked first in both men's and women's standings. And the winning team of the men's 2018-19 Sevens series was Fiji, so watch out for that team, too. [caption id="attachment_759009" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Rugby AU Media[/caption] SPARE A THOUGHT (OR DOLLAR) FOR THOSE IN NEED Of course, this year's event couldn't pass without an acknowledgement of the raging bushfires that have devastated our country. Sydney 7s is doing its part toward bushfire relief — it's donated over 2000 complimentary tickets to the NSW Royal Fire Service alongside $5 from every ticket sold over the just-passed long weekend. Plus, World Rugby, Rugby Australia and Asics have joined forces to pledge a total $1500 Red Cross donation for each try scored by the men's and women's Australian teams across the tournament. Spectators are encouraged to join in the fundraising and do their part, too. Why not pledge $1 for every try your favourite team scores throughout the weekend? To purchase tickets to HSBC Sydney 7s, visit Ticketek, and for event updates follow @Aussie7s on Instagram. Then, find more ways to make the most of your weekend below. Top image: Rugby AU Media
One of the best parts about heading off on a well-deserved holiday is getting excited about all the incredible food you're about to eat, right? But look — travel is expensive and our annual leave never quite extends as far as we want it to. Luckily, Sydney is a fantastically global city, which means your tastebuds can travel the world without you ever having to shell out for a pricey plane ticket. And the best news is if you're a Citi customer you can nab a free bottle of wine thanks to the Citibank Dining Program. Just visit any one of these venues (and many more) and pay for dinner using your Citi card. We've even listed some tasty wine pairings to save you from poring over these eateries' extensive wine lists — just have a gander at the Citibank Dining Program website to see what free bottles of vino you can get with your next international feast.
The south side of Newtown's King Street is now home to a brand new beer hall, with South King Recreation Club channelling RSL vibes, spinning tunes on vinyl and throwing it back to 'pre-lockout Sydney'. The venue plays up its old school atmosphere with daggy furniture and carpets, along with little touches like an administration merit board circa 2001 and mounted photos of the 'board of directors'. They've swapped the pokies for retro arcade games, but kept the meat tray raffles and cheap pub grub deals — including $12 schnittys on Wednesdays and $12 burgers on Thursdays. Parmas and beer-flavoured lamingtons also make the menu. Grab a seat in the leafy outdoor beer garden for locally brewed beers by the likes of Young Henrys and Hawke's Brewing Company. Craft tinnies and draught brews are just $5 during the bar's weekday happy hour, which runs from 5–7pm and also features a rotating list of $10 specialty cocktails — think mezcal palomas, plus bourbon-spiked peanut butter and jelly milkshakes. The bar will also pour minimal intervention wines from small producers like New Zealand's Don + Kindeli and Adelaide Hills' Ochota Barrels. Every Wednesday features your chance to win some meat, as well as badge draws, and every Thursday offers Wheel of Fortune prizes — plus DJs hitting the decks all night long. Entertainment Director Rick Hunter (who runs the monthly South King Record Fair) has lined up guest DJ appearances from some notable local acts, and has sourced one helluva collection of vintage vinyl for the venue, too. South King Recreation Club is now open at Level 1, 597 King Street, Newtown. Opening hours are Monday through Friday from 5pm–late and Saturday through Sunday from noon–late.
If you’re Newcastle-based or maybe planning a little trip up for the long weekend, check out Crack Theatre Festival. Part of the yearly independent arts festival This Is Not Art (TINA), Crack is now into its sixth year and is once again treating Newy to an eclectic smattering of theatre, art, dance, circus, stand-up, installations, masterclasses and panels, including the thought-provoking live-action documentary Kids Killing Kids. This year’s co-artistic director Nick Atkins says, "Crack scans the country for quality contemporary performance and helps it to land on its feet in Newcastle." Over 70 artists will present over 50 works in what sounds like a stimulating (and free!) weekend embracing creative discovery and the outlandish. So maybe head along to support young performers testing out original material, touring collaborative works and experimenting with new ideas. If you don't know what to see, just pick the shows with the most intriguing names — Nicole Henriksen's comedy piece Naked Unicorn Vomit would be my personal preference. You can check out the full festival program at the Crack Theatre Festival website.
If you thought The Soda Factory's Tuesday Dollar Dogs was generous, that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Having just surpassed the 10,000 like mark on Facebook, they’re hosting an event titled 10,000 Leagues Under the Sea to show their gratitude. This nautical bash will feature a complimentary seafood smorgasbord of gourmet fish and chips, salt and pepper squid and lobster sliders. There’ll also be complimentary cocktails for the early birds who arrive between 5-7pm. Rockabilly party-starters, The Two Timin' Playboys will be taking the stage from 7pm, followed by DJs spinning tunes into the wee hours of Thursday morning. Relatively new on the scene, The Soda Factory has quickly crept up the ranks of Sydney’s hottest bars. This dimly lit industrial space slathered with 1950s charm is the brainchild of Graham Cordery of Experience Entertainment and Michael Chase. In gutting out what was formerly Tone Nightclub to make way for this hip retro hangout, Corderoy told us before opening that whilst he enjoys a quirky decor and customised cocktail, what he doesn't enjoy is having to walk out at midnight. This is evidently a criticism that has struck a chord with many Sydneysiders — at least 10,000, in fact.
Bands? Check. Booze? Check. Helping out a worthy cause? You’d better believe it. So get pumped to get it on, Vegas style, at Club 77 on September 29. Hosted by notorious Vegas starlet Gigi Fontaine, Low Rollers looks like nothing short of a night you’d love to never forget — she’ll be telling stories about all the glitz and all the glamour (or the lack thereof) in Las Vegas, whilst local bands The First Husbands, Brother Speed and Polographia shred up a storm on stage. The event is the brainchild of the Young Centenary Foundation, and every nickel, penny and dime raised goes towards funding medical research. Which is good for the feels. There’s also an open bar, card tables and all manner of Vegas-oriented trashiness (shotgun wedding, anyone?), all promising to be worth the road trip in the Great Red Shark to a faux-Nevada nirvana. Vegas, baby.
Every Wednesday during Art & About 2013, the bohemians at East Sydney Creative will be providing working folk with a good excuse to knock off early. Their 'Escape Early on Wednesdays' extravanganza promises to transform Darlinghurst, Paddington, East Sydney and Surry Hills into a hive of activity, where art is Queen Bee. Over 20 organisations will play host to exhibitions, installations, yarn bombing, live music and talks. At the heart of it all will be the Metro Screen Pop-Up Cinema & Bar. Designer Gui Andrade is transforming the Metro Screen Studios at Paddo Town Hall into not just a movie house but a visual and kinaesthetic experience. "The idea that I had for the pop-up cinema was 'the glitch'," Andrade told us. "It can be hard to pick up on when you're watching a film. I want to play with people's perspectives as soon as they walk into the theatre. I want to make them wonder if what they're seeing is real or illusory — if it's what they're supposed to be experiencing." Each week, a different program of short films will screen, each arranged by a different curator. On September 25, Rich Warren (former coordinator of the UK's Encounters Festival) will deliver 'Subliminal Psychosis and Paranoid Perspectives', "a trip into the twisted minds of filmmakers and the inhabitants that lurk there." October 2 will see 'The Lena Dunham Love In', a journey through "the origins of Lena's world, where characters were born, grew up and took shape on the big(gish) screen". October 9, titled 'Feed Me Weird Things', is promising "an evening of pretty things, twisted pixels and classic retro psychedelia". The final session, 'Prototype', to happen on October 16, will be curated by Craig Boreham, who's currently working on feature film Teenage Kicks. The Metro Screen Pop-Up Cinema & Bar will open between 5pm and 8pm every Wednesday during Art & About 2013 (25 September and 2, 9 and 16 October) at Paddington Town Hall, Cnr Oatley Road and Oxford Street (Oatley Road entrance, under the Chauvel Cinema). Entry is free but RSVP is essential, as numbers are strictly limited. Image: Tiny Furniture.
The Biennale kicks off with a special ARTBAR night at the Museum of Contemporary Art on Friday June 29. This is a new range of events for the MCA, and it’s exciting to see more Sydney institutions dip into the realm of late night programming with a focus on culture and community rather than clubbing and drunkenness. This second ARTBAR instalment, curated by former Concrete Playgrounder, Eddie Sharp, is all about the mechanics and bipolar excellence/strangeness of cinema. There’ll be pianos with pinballs, inflatable delusions, 1960s 3D cinema and the opportunity to view the Biennale exhibition spaces on levels 1 and 3. ARTBAR in June is part of the 18th Sydney Biennale.
There's perhaps an unintentional double-meaning in the title of Pixar's new film Brave. Thematically, bravery naturally forms the substance of the lead character's development, but the name's also an interesting take on the company's creative direction. Not only is this Pixar's first film to centre around a female protagonist, it's also the first with a female director (Brenda Chapman). At least... it was until Chapman was replaced by Mark Andrews halfway through. So, 'Brave-ish' perhaps? But then you recall Andrews co-wrote and worked as second unit director on John Carter, which takes us back to plain old Brave (or possibly insane). Of course replacing directors is almost a tradition at Pixar, with this now the fifth time it's happened, and usually the contradictory approach somehow works. On this occasion, however, it's not quite as effective since the competing visions fail to marry quite so seamlessly. The story follows Merida (voiced by Kelly Macdonald of Trainspotting and Boardwalk Empire fame) as a princess in training, though her attention and discipline run as wild as her Rebekah Brooks locks. She favours riding over reading, archery over tapestry and mischief over miss congeniality - all to the amusement of her father King Fergus (Billy Connolly) and the chagrin of her Queen mother Elinor (Emma Thompson). Tensions come to a head when it's announced three eligible clansmen will be competing for her hand in marriage, and in defiance of her mother she shuns tradition and sends the kingdom into turmoil. It's no surprise the 'animatography' in Brave is exquisite. Pixar's ability to imbue its characters with rich emotions, even when they're inanimate, is as impressive as it is now assumed, and the opening shots of the highland vistas are so photorealistic they could easily be mistaken for the opening shots of Prometheus. Ultimately Brave is probably Pixar's worst film to date. However, anything by Pixar will still be better than most of the other films that have (or will) come out this year. That's because the teams at its San Francisco-based headquarters know their story structure, character arcs and emotional triggers better than most, as well as how to make an audience laugh. And laugh you most certainly will. https://youtube.com/watch?v=TEHWDA_6e3M
Fightclub's Tyler Durden put it best: "You are not a beautiful and unique snowflake". We spend our lives at work - our careers are an enormous and contradictory part of how we value ourselves, how we're judged and how we relate to others. Through sculpture, installation and photography, the curators of Mostly Agree investigate the part corporate culture plays in forming our sense of individuality: how work at once directs us by injecting us with purpose, and throws us into despair and paralysis by narrowing that feeling of boundless possibilities we feel at points in our youth. There is a rich and familiar history of the conflict between the individual and contemporary corporate capitalism in popular culture. And some of the works in Mostly Agree fall back on stock ideas: the suited everyman, the ironically modified office suite. Sometimes it risks mimicking the greyscale culture it seeks to subvert. But the show is solid, and worth a visit just for the excellent stop-motion video work Reproduction by Emma White. In an endless 13second loop, a polymer clay photocopier methodically pumps out blank pages, then sucks them back in. There is no beginning, middle or end, only the slow time of nine to five. The attention to detail is exceptional, from the way the paper bends as it is ejected, to the flash of awful, cold light that periodically bleeps out from the side of the copier lid. Watching this video is as addictive and pointless as repeatedly pressing the refresh button of your Gmail account or Facebook news feed. It wonderfully expresses not just the inanity of many workplace tasks, but the joylessness of the silent bus stop queue, the dread of the monthly phone bill's arrival, the non-choice between forty near-identical tubes of toothpaste under fluorescent supermarket light, and all the other tiny, predictable habits that capitalism shoves us into. Reproduction is a precisely executed, brilliantly simple and infallibly wholistic piece of conceptual art. Jaki Middleton and David Lawrey's sculptural installation Consolidated Life aims for the same balance of dreadful beauty. A three metre high office block looks like a vogon spacecraft from Douglas Adams' Hitchhikers' Guide to the Galaxy, but is in fact a Tardis of sorts. Circle the building and you will find a window to a miniature interior. Using mirrors and optical trickery, the artists have created a deadly still and infinite grid of desks, conspicuously empty of workers and interrupted only by a single, eerily spinning office chair. Image: "Consolidated Life", 2010, kinetic sculpture (internal view) by Jaki Middleton and David Lawrey.
For some living is easy. Some people have all the luck, and all the charm, but for those of us that struggle help is at hand; for the very first time An Introduction to the School of Life is coming to Sydney. Drawing on her experience as an author, filmmaker, comic, voice artist and journalist Gretel Killeen will share her knowledge in How to Communicate Authentically. Speaking on a topic of increasing importance, co-founder of the Australian Youth Climate Coalition Anna Rose will share her motto of “those who say it can’t be done should get out of the way of those already doing it” with How to Make a Difference to Climate Change. Author, philosopher and civilisation conceptualist John Armstrong will clear confused heads with How to Worry Less About Money, while the UK's Tom Chatfield will give a bit of advice on How to Thrive In the Digital Age. In total the talks will span about 90 minutes, which is about the length of an average film. So, why not leave the popcorn at home and give your brain a workout instead? Image: Union House - the school room by Evelyn Simak.
When Ross Perot ran as an independent candidate for president back in the 1990s he famously quipped: "War has rules, mud-wrestling has rules — politics has no rules." It's that same quote that opens director Jay Roach's new film The Campaign, both neatly establishing it as tale of dirty politics and drawing an analogy to Perot's own experience as a Southern outsider within the relentlessly intrusive and cutthroat US electoral process. In The Campaign that outsider is the simple but well-intentioned family man named Marty Huggins (Zach Galifianakis). Sporting a heavy lisp and gaudy cardigans only the most ardent hipster could love, the unversed Huggins is thrust into a Congressional race by a pair of unscrupulous billionaire businessmen (Dan Aykroyd and John Lithgow) after they decide the scandal-plagued four-term incumbent Cam Brady (Will Ferrell) no longer serves their best interests. Ferrell's portrayal borrows heavily from his popular impression of George W Bush, while Galifianakis's Huggins will be instantly recognisable to fans of the comedian's work as a version of his fictional twin brother 'Seth'. To avoid immediately offending or ostracising half its audience, The Campaign cleverly dodges partisan politics by pitting these two Republican candidates against each other in the small Congressional race of North Carolina. It's a refreshing take on the staid and diametric 'Republican versus Democrat' story, and with its focus on attack ads, political spin, and the corrupting influence of corporate contributions, The Campaign is more about the 'getting into' of politics rather than politics itself. In terms of satire it's certainly no match for the sharp wit or penetrating commentary of something like 1999's Election or 1997's Wag the Dog; however, it does stand comfortably alongside both when it comes to the comedy. Happily the laughs come thick and fast in this one, helped along by a solid supporting cast that boasts Jason Sudeikis and Dylan McDermott as the duo's duelling campaign managers and a constant string of cameos by actual political pundits including Wolf Blitzer, Piers Morgan, Bill Maher, Dennis Miller and Ed Schultz. It's also Ferrell’s strongest performance in a while, and seeing him alongside Galifianakis feels like a pairing that was long overdue.
Community station Eastside Radio 89.7FM has been providing Eastern Sydney ears with the best of specialist music, community and arts programs over the airwaves since 1983. On Saturday 26 May they’re having their bi-annual record fair, Black Gold, at Darlinghurst’s The Local Taphouse. With thousands of “Black Gold” vinyls for sale, your record collection is about to get a bulk injection. Amongst the plethora of audio joys available are jazz, soul, funk, disco, hip-hop and electronic records. Be amongst it, grow your library and get spinning.
Proud owners of what may very well be the greatest band name in existence, five-piece Snakadaktal are back on stage once again, fresh from supporting The Jezabels on their Australian tour. Winners of the Triple J Unearthed High competition in 2011, Snakadaktal released their stellar self-titled debut EP that same year and reached 26 in the digital ARIA chart. Wowing critics in the process, they went on to sell out shows across Australia. Earlier this year the band headed into the studio with producer Malcolm Besley and came out with 'Dance Bear', a track that sees them showcase the delicate sounds of their twin vocalists and their outstanding musicianship, a quality well beyond their years that lifts them far above their peers. Snakadatal will be joined at the Metro Theatre next Saturday by Sydney pop quartet Sures, who have recently signed a deal with Ivy League records and played shows with Wavves, Real Estate and Bleeding Knees Club. https://youtube.com/watch?v=0BOMlK_0rIM
We all like to make our own music in the loo, but now we can go see how the experts do it at the Old Fitzroy from May 17-19. Little Creatures Brewing Company and the Tamarama Rock Surfers present the third Home Brew Festival, which will see the the Old Fitz hosting a kaleidoscope of live music, micro-performances and a pop-up kitchen from Bistro Bistro. Fanny Lumsden and her rockabilly folktastic band and indie artist Caitlin Park will be stomping out some contagious tunes so get your hoedown on. There'll be micro-performances in the toilet cubicles, dilapidated bathtubs and on Woolloomooloo's character-filled balcony bar. Upstairs will become a magical forest where you'll find a Skype session with Jimmy Dalton, some creative moves by the You Move Dance Company (Kay Armstrong, Carl Sciberras), Tin Shed, The Deep Sea Astronauts and oh yes, The Gentleman Magician, Bruce Glen.
I want to ride my bicycle, I want to ride my bike, I want to ride my bicycle, I want to ride it where I like… Yeah, it was Queen’s mantra back in the day, and will definitely be ours come next Sunday. All potential song thievery/plagiarism issues aside, Teneriffe will come alive on the weekend as bike riders flock to attend We Like Bikes. Whether you’re a toddler on a tricycle, a hipster on a fixie, or a fitness fanatic on a high-speed five-gear bike, you will fit right in. Hell, you could turn up on a penny-farthing and not be judged. In fact, you would probably be applauded. Organised by Brisbane City Council in conjunction with Bicycle Queensland, We Like Bikes is part celebration and part learning experience for those with an affinity for transportation that comes adorned with a bell. Activities on the day are as eclectic as a show by the Vulcana Women’s Circus (infamous for their five person bike), lessons on maintaining your bike by Turnstyle, and of course the Hot Rod bike competition where Brisbane’s flashiest fight it out. Plus it’s a given that there will be live music and delicious fresh food – served from a bicycle cart obviously. So cancel all plans, pedal your way to Teneriffe, and have a fun day out in the sun.
The chill in the autumn air brings with it a buzz. The bite against your skin hints that the new season of fashion is upon us. With Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week gone for another year, it’s time to get real about our winter fashion purchases. IDENTITY is an exciting fashion event held at the Treasury Casino & Hotel and is the perfect way for those who couldn’t make it down to Sydney for the big MBFWA, or for those who simply can’t get enough fashion in their lives to get the seasons fix. Back for it’s fourth year, IDENTITY has lined up a fantastic experience for Brisbanites. This year sees one of Australia’s most treasured designers, Akira Isogawa, share his secrets during an exclusive interview with stylist Di Cant. You will also be treated to the designs of Mother & Daughter designer duo Carla Zampatti and Bianca Spender. Your dollars will get you a 2.5 hour beverage package, gourmet canapés, runway shows, entertainment and an exclusive goodie bag. This year’s event has been themed around race day fashions and accessories in light of the looming Winter Racing Carnival. Contact the Treasury Casino & Hotel to secure your place at Brisbane’s ‘must do experience’ on the fashion calendar.
It's a big year for TEDxSydney this year. But, then again, it's always a big year for our local offshoot from the the global ideas-fest TED (Technology, Entertainment and Design). TEDxSydney is in its third year of bringing thinkers and listeners together on and near the Carriageworks' knee-toughening floors. It comes, as usual, in three parts: a cavalcade of awesome, expert and/or entertaining speakers, an audience of interesting, rich and/or powerful people paying to sit in the the main auditorium and the public at large outside, looking in. To facilitate that last role the Carriageworks' cavernous foyer is offering a simulcast of events live from inside the auditorium, giant bean bags and a character-building environment for your knees. This years'speakers include corpus-animating linguist Kate Burridge, shipping container roboticist Hugh Durrant-Whyte and World Herbivorist Angela Moles, not to mention music from the likes of part-time Whitlam Tim Freedman, the Stiff Gins and Katie Noonan. If you can't make on the day, check out our coverage on Twitter and follow along on the live stream on YouTube. Image by Daniel Boud.
To celebrate Bastille Day, the 223rd anniversary of Parisian insurgents storming the seat of royal power in France, the Argyle are letting loose an evening of wine, dancing, costume and music. On the morning of July 14, 1789, around 1000 rebels attacked the medieval fortress and prison the Bastille and paved the way for a new era in French history, one of human rights away from the tyrannous monarchy. One of the main events at the beginning of the French revolution, the battle is a symbol of pride for the European nation, and thus is celebrated all over the world. With a program of events including free wine, table tennis, cycling competitions, make-up stalls, French food, and can-can shows, the celebrations will run long into the night.
Forget about the traditional boy-meets-girl formula. Boy and girl already know each other; in fact, they're best friends who are living together. And while you're at it, forget about the happy-ever-after ending, because in this story, there's more reality than fantastical taglines. This story, Not Suitable For Children, is a modern take on the rules of love and family. Jonah Reid (Ryan Kwanten) is a carefree guy in the prime of his life, squeezing out all the fun these years have to offer. With his two best mates, Gus (Ryan Corr) and Stevie (Sarah Snook), he hosts weekly parties in his crumbling, inner-city share-house — massive, anarchic house parties that start to rake in some considerable profits. On one such night, Jonah's, ah, lady friend, points out that he has "a lump sorta thing" on his left testicle. Cut to the main thrust of the film. With a diagnosis of testicular cancer, a four-week deadline until his manhood gets the chop, and unfreezable sperm, Jonah has only one option left: to impregnate someone before he's rendered infertile. Shifting his priorities from being a party maestro to becoming a father, Jonah embarks on a 30-day mission to find the One, or anyone, who wants to cook his bun. As he runs through ex-girlfriends and acquaintances, lesbians and older women, the mission starts to look dire. That's until the perfect candidate reveals herself, having been under his nose the whole time. Written by Michael Lucas and directed by Academy Award-nominated Peter Templeman (The Saviour), the narrative trajectory is wonderfully composed and projected. It's tightly composed, keeping you guessing without prediction or cliche. Performances by Ryan Kwanten, Sarah Snook, Ryan Corr and Bojana Novakovic were consistently strong and wonderfully showcase Australian talent. Shot in Sydney over seven weeks during the winter of 2011, the film shows off Sydney's inner west, with shots of Oxford and King Streets with its offerings of sweet small bars and cafes. Overall the musical palette swings from the raw blues-rock of The Black Keys to '70s funk with Funkedelic and The Bamboos. Other highlights included Mammals' 'Carried' and the sweet tune 'Teething' by Megastick Fanfare. They complete what is a great film. https://youtube.com/watch?v=qwHmZ-ARVg4
To rock the boat is a popular idiom, but to Bastoy Island's newcomer Erling (Benjamin Helstad), it is a way of life. Battered and bruised, Erling proves to be the whale in the figurative introduction, whose struggle for survival challenges the ship's crew. Marius Holst's stunningly fierce film King of Devil's Island plunges audiences into a remote, ice-bound living hell. Based on an extraordinary true story, it is a powerful tale of friendship, determination, injustice and revolt. Set in 1915 in Bastoy Prison in Norway, King of Devil's Island depicts the light and shade of the 'maladjusted' boys' story. After committing crimes, these young boys were sent to Bastoy instead of prison, in order to discipline them and "find the honourable, humble and useful Christian boy inside". If they don't find that boy, then they stay on the island. With no past or future, the only time on the island is the present. The film's narrative commences on the island with the arrival of the enigmatic and headstrong 17-year-old newcomer, Erling. Erling's arrival and rebellious behaviour at Bastoy inspires the other boys while rattling the authority of the stern governor (Stellan Skarsgard). Consumed by an unrelenting thirst for freedom which he seems unable to ignore, Erling (C19) quickly determines that the only means of survival is escape. After a failed solo escape attempt, Erling finds himself transformed from a fugitive into a leader of a rebellion, provoking an astonishing series of events unparalleled in Norwegian history. Testament to the strength of the human spirit, King of Devil's Island has your heart in your throat and your backside at the edge of your chair. Cinematographer John Andreas Andersen brilliantly captures the harshness of the landscape, painting the film's portrait with a palette of greys, browns and stark whites, culminating in stunning visuals. With stellar performances by Stellan Skarsgard, Kristoffer Joner, Angel's Benjamin Helstad and feature film debut Trond Nilssen, King of Devil's Island powerfully tells this slice of Norwegian history with strength, heart and potency. https://youtube.com/watch?v=SqWxM9q56bg
It's been a few years now since Head On first reared its head on the Sydney art scene. For a third year, it's covering Sydney in exhibitions, photos in parks and railway stations, and even a two day marathon seminar that covers a weekend with workshops enough to leave you full of photographic knowhow (assuming you're quick enough to book). In the art, Adam Sebire shows buried desert roads, Sun Studios examine the face of roller derby and indigenous themes hail from Manuwangku (our review of its previous showing), Tennant Creek and West Australia's Conversations with the Mob. Kids get let loose on cameras in a trio of shows spread around the suburbs with Penrith's Kingswood, the Japan Foundation's Messages For Our Children and MLC's Vintography at Chatswood's Concourse. Teacher Leslie Oliver, meanwhile, turns the camera onto her students and their own returning Love Stories. The Nikon-Walkley Photographer’s Slide Night returns for a third year (6pm May 9, RSVP) while in Leichhart Library, a trio of shows focus on Vietnamese Market Gardeners, the iconography of teenage bedrooms and the ubiquitous sky. MiCK Gallery explores other urban wastelands, Maunsell Wickes takes in some William Yang and Rowena Hall combines pregnancy with some freaky cool imagery at Pine Street. Not enough? Get some rock, immobile homes and aliens at Gaffa, a night in Rio in Paddington and a slice of Queensland's best at Depot's North by Northeast. Image from Manuwangku: Under the Nuclear Cloud by Jagath Dheerasekara.
Most of us have a semi-complicated relationship with the police. You curse them if their red-and-blue lights appear in your rearview mirror, but you're thankful for their services if anything fishy arises. All in all, we agree that they're a necessity. The NSW Police is the largest police force in Australia. Officially formed in 1862, it is celebrating 150 years of law enforcement. Commemorate this monumental anniversary by visiting the Historic Houses Trust's exhibition, The Force. Peruse the extensive collection of photos, objects, and video footage which illustrate the evolution of the force from its earliest days, changes in the NSW public attitudes and the transformation of police technology.
School Of Seven Bells have toured with the likes of Interpol, Blonde Redhead and Active Child. Later this month they'll return to Australia for the third time, for a three date tour with stops in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. Friday, their Sydney stop takes their dreamy sound to the Hi Fi. Formed nearly six years ago in New York, School Of Seven Bells made quite the impression when they released their debut album Alphinism. A collection of eclectic songs with a highly varied range of scope and style the record was followed in 2010 by Disconnect From Desire which saw the band gain even more recognition, and a place in the Billboard top 200. Despite the departure of founding member Claudia Deheza, School Of Seven Bells' sound has continued to evolve. Friday night, hear for yourself if you like where they've end up.
First came the Art Gallery of New South Wales' Art After Hours series. Then the City of Sydney's Late Night Library evenings, and the cavalcade of gourmet all-hours food trucks. Now it seems Sydney has a new witching hour institution. The MCA's response to the city's craving for grown-up late nights is ARTBAR, a slate of talks, installations, screenings and one-off performances programmed by guest curators on the last Friday of the month. The all-you-can-eat combo of drinks, DJs, live art and harbour views has proved a winning one: the nights continue to sell out. All these civilised small bars and intelligently curated nights are worlds away from the smokey, brawling pubs and tepid 7-Eleven meat pies of the old city's nightlife. Perhaps Sydney really is growing up. ARTBAR's house guest this month is Jess Olivieri, who featured in the MCA's Primavera 2011 show of young contemporary artists and this year's Contemporary Australia: Women at Brisbane's Gallery of Modern Art. Expect a riff on the Biennale's theme 'all our relations', with Olivieri enlisting her own family (biological and artistic), including Wrong Solo and Karaoke Massage. And her mum. Get your tickets early — this'll sell out. To go in the running to win a double pass to ARTBAR, just subscribe to Concrete Playground (if you haven't already) then email your name and postal address to us at hello@concreteplayground.com.au
From the Museum of Sydney comes a creative way to spend an afternoon that will peak the interests of photographers and local history buffs alike. Originally launched by ABC Open in 2012, the Now and Then project celebrates the past with the present by encouraging budding photographers to blend the old with the new to tell stories of Australia’s history and show just how times have changed. A collection of the arresting re-framed photographs is now on display at the Museum of Sydney. Here in Sydney Historic Houses Trust of New South Wales curator Holly Schulte invites you to tour the city with her and re-photograph historic images in their contemporary streetscapes. Wonder as buildings dull, collapse, and expand; fashions change; and people age. Participants must bring along their own camera and should wear comfortable walking shoes.
Sydney's international dance festival is back at the Sydney Opera House from August 20 to September 2. This year's Spring Dance programme, a two-week line-up of the world's best dancers and choreographers, has been curated by Rafael Bonachela, artistic director at Sydney Dance Company. Leading the bill is Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui's haunting follow-up to Babel, Dunas, created with flamenco artist Maria Pages. Other highlights include a high-energy mix of street dance in Correria Agwa (Running Water), new works from four gifted female choreographers in Sydney Dance Company's Contemporary Women, critically acclaimed performances from Chinese choreographer Tao Ye, the melding of dance with art installation and soundscape that makes Clouds Above Berlin, and homegrown talents representing the brightest and most diverse dance-makers in Australia. The festival will also feature a series of masterclasses from the choreographers behind the shows for $30 a class (bookings must be made by August 8), plus free masterclasses including ballet with David McAllister, artistic director of the Australian Ballet and a jazz class with the Sydney Dance Company's Ramon Doringo. There will also be film screenings, a festival bar and Q&A sessions, all at Sydney Opera House. https://youtube.com/watch?v=a6NmzoOwe7E
Sydney Good Food Month, the city's always jam-packed month filled with one-off and limited-time food and drink events, is returning for a special summer edition in January. Usually held in October, the annual culinary festival puts Sydney's world-class food scene front and centre, taking over restaurants around town, hosting food pop-ups and serving up dinners from some of the world's best chefs. While lockdowns prevented Sydney Good Food Month from running in its usual October slot in 2021, the festival will return for its 23rd year throughout January. Top of the bill for the 2022 edition includes a First Nations takeover of Rockpool Bar & Grill; a pastry-heavy vegan brunch at Alibi Bar & Kitchen; a pop-up from Brisbane chef Alanna Sapwell at Ezra; and a night of regional Italian cuisine at a'Mare from Guy Grossi, Alessandro Paconi (Ormeggio at The Spit), Giovanni Pilu (Pilu at Freshwater) and Jacqui Challinor (Nomad). Those looking for something less on the fine-dining side of things can head to Butter and Rising Sun Workshop's 'Ain't nuthin but a Chicken' party — or there's also An Evening in Morocco, which will see Nomad and Golden Age Cinema come together to present a feast of Moroccan dishes and a screening of Casablanca; and a falafel masterclass and Middle Eastern dinner at Above Par. [caption id="attachment_789145" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nomad, Nikki To[/caption] Loyal fans of The Good Weekend Quiz can rejoice, as the live iteration of the weekend ritual is returning. The quiz will be hosted at Rockpool and will, of course, be food and drink-themed. Round up your smartest mates for this, folks. Across the month, close to 50 events, deals and classes will pop up across Sydney, and also in regional New South Wales. Outside of the capital, you'll find wine tastings, long lunches and farm-to-table feats. Head to Pipit on the north NSW coast for a duck salumi masterclass, too, or to Newcastle's Subo for a celebration of the area's local producers. The Night Noodle Markets, which generally run as part of Good Food Month, aren't returning during 2022's festival; however, they will be back as a standalone event sometime later in the year. Suddenly and unsurprisingly hungry? You can find the full 2022 program at the Good Food Month website. [caption id="attachment_689482" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Rockpool Bar & Grill in Sydney[/caption] Good Food Month will run from Saturday, January 1–Monday, January 31. Tickets are on sale from 9am on Tuesday, November 30.
When the weather's putting on a show and summer's just around the corner, few things trump a party by the beach. And, here at Concrete Playground, we thrive on bringing you the very best of Sydney's cultural happenings. So much so, we decided to get in on the action and partnered up with BATI Fijian Rum by RUM Co. of Fiji, to throw an afternoon of rum cocktails, dance-worthy tunes and stunning water views. On Saturday, November 16, we took over a luxe location at one of Sydney's most picturesque beaches to celebrate the start of summer. It all went down at Manly Yacht Club, with many opting to cop some sun and cool sea breeze out on the open deck. BATI Fijian Rum brought a touch of Fijian paradise to our Sydney shores, too, decking out the space with lots of leafy palms and, of course, plenty of rum. Punters drank white rum fijian daiquiris in coconuts while other boozy options included spiced rum nitro espresso martinis and dark and stormys — all made with BATI Rum, naturally. Shared Affair supplied all the food, which included spit-roasted meats, charred fish curry, Fijian bean stew, roti, banana leaves, grilled pineapple and fried cassava chips. DJs spun bangers all afternoon, with everyone partying as the sun went down.
Anything can be gelato, at least the way that Gelato Messina makes it. Well, any other dessert can get the the ice cream treatment, it seems. The chain has whipped up a lot of of tasty specials in its time, with plenty taking cues from other sweet treats: think red velvet cookie pies, caramel scrolls with cheesecake gelato, Golden Gaytime-inspired Viennetta and even Iced VoVo gelato. The next beloved dish getting the Messina treatment: lemon meringue pies. You can taste the tang just thinking about this gelato version, can't you? The limited-edition dessert is being dished up for the brand's Mother's Day special, but that doesn't mean that it's just for mum. If you can't spend the day with her eating this dessert, she'd want you to treat yo'self. Wondering what exactly a lemon meringue pie gelato hot tub entails? Served in an octagonal tub, this dish comes with burnt vanilla gelato, pie crust and lemon curd mousse, all topped with an intricately piped and torched Italian meringue. Obviously, it sounds delicious. If you're keen to get yourself a piece — which'll cost you $40 — they're available to preorder online on Tuesday, April 26. And, because Messina's specials always prove popular, the brand is now staggering the on-sale times. Accordingly, folks in Queensland and the ACT are able to purchase at 9am, Victorians at 9.30am, and New South Wales customers split across three times depending on the store (with pies from Circular Quay, Surry Hills, Bondi, Randwick and Miranda on sale at 10am; Brighton Le Sands, Tramsheds, Parramatta and Darlinghurst at 10.30am; and Darling Square, Newtown, Rosebery and Penrith at 11am). Gelato Messina's lemon meringue pie gelato hot tubs will be available to order on Tuesday, April 26 for pick up between Friday, May 6–Sunday, May 8. Head to the Messina website for further details.
Hunting for a few spots to wine and dine in Sydney across the long weekend? Luckily Sydney's got no shortage of cafes, restaurants and bars that are dishing up the goods in celebration of the Queen's birthday. Here are a few spots that are open and ready to whet your whistle and fill your belly. From waterfront upscale seafood to cocktails at retro bars, there's something on this list for everyone to enjoy. [caption id="attachment_833249" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Barangaroo House[/caption] RESTAURANTS Aalia, Saturday: 5pm- close, Monday: 12pm- close Barangaroo House, Saturday, Sunday: 12pm–midnight, Monday: 12pm–midnight The Botanist, Saturday: 12pm–midnight, Sunday: 12pm-10pm The Butcher's Block, Saturday, Sunday: 7am-10pm, Monday: 7am-3pm Coogee Pavilion, Saturday, Sunday: 7.30am - late, Monday: 11.30am-10pm Chiswick, Saturday: 5:30pm–8:45pm, Sunday: 12pm–3pm, 5:30pm–7:45pm, Monday: 12pm-3pm, 5.30pm–7.45pm Cucina Porto, Saturday: 12pm - 3pm, 5pm - 10pm, Sunday: 11am - 3pm, 5pm - 10pm, Monday: 12pm - 3pm, 5pm - 10pm Fat Noodle, Saturday, Sunday: 12pm - late, Monday: 12pm - 10pm Forrester's, Saturday, Sunday: 11.30am–late The Gardens by Lotus, Saturday, Sunday: 11am–3pm Henrietta, Saturday: 12pm-9:30pm, Sunday: 12pm-9pm, Monday:12pm-3pm, 5pm-9pm Kingsleys Wooloomooloo, Saturday: 12pm - 3pm, 5pm - 9.30pm, Sunday: 12pm - 3pm, 5pm - 9.30pm, Monday: 12pm - 3pm, 5pm - 9.30pm Lilymu, Saturday: 5.30pm–9.30pm Little Pearl Manly, Saturday: 12pm - 12am, Sunday: 12pm - 10pm Monday: 12pm - 10pm Lotus Barangaroo, Saturday–Monday: 12pm–3pm, 5:30pm–9pm Nomad, Saturday: 12pm–late, Sunday: 12pm–8pm, Monday: 5.30pm–late North Bondi Fish, Saturday–Monday, 12pm–10pm Nour, Saturday:12pm - 2.30pm, 5.30pm -10pm, Sunday - 12pm - 8.30pm, Monday - 5.30pm - 10pm Queen Chow Enmore, Saturday: 12pm–10pm, Sunday: 12pm–9pm Reign, Saturday: 10am-4pm, Sunday: 11am-5pm, Monday: 12pm-5pm Sokyo, Saturday: 7am - 10am, 12pm - 3pm, 5pm - 11pm, Sunday: 7am - 10am, 12pm - 3pm, 5pm - 10pm, Monday: 7am - 10am, 5pm - 10pm Sunday, Sunday: 12pm-9pm, Monday: 4pm–9pm The Strand Bistro, Saturday: 10am - 3am, Sunday: 10am - 12am Monday: 10am - 12am Untied, Friday 12pm–midnight, Saturday: 11am–midnight, Sunday: 11am–10pm, Monday: 12pm–10pm [caption id="attachment_848714" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Vic on the Park[/caption] BARS The Beresford, Satuday-Sunday: 12pm–1am Bondi Beach Public Bar, Friday–Monday: 12pm–1pm Bungalow 8, Saturday: 12pm-2am, Sunday: 12pm-10pm, Monday: 12pm-10pm Cargo Bar, Saturday: 11.30am - 2am, Sunday: 11.30am - 2am, Monday: 11.30am - 2am Coogee Pavilion Ground Floor, Saturday, Sunday: 7.30am–late, Monday: 11.30am–10pm Coogee Pavilion Rooftop, Saturday: 12 pm–midnight, Sunday: 12pm-10pm, Monday: 12pm—10pm. The Dolphin, Saturday, Sunday: 11.30am–midnight, Monday: 12pm–10pm The Duke of Enmore, Saturday: 12pm–2am, Sunday: 12pm–10pm, Monday: 4pm-midnight El Loco Excelsior, Saturday: 11am–3am, Sunday: 12pm–3am, Monday 11am - late Harry's, Saturday–Monday: 11.30am–midnight The Newport, Saturday: 10am–midnight, Sunday: 10am–10pm, Monday: 10am–10pm Shady Pines Saloon, Saturday–Monday: 4pm–midnight The Taphouse, Saturday: 12pm–1am, Sunday: 12pm–11pm, Monday: 12pm–10pm Untied, Saturday: 12pm-12am, Sunday: 12pm-7pm, Monday: 12pm-10pm Universal, Saturday, Sunday: 10pm–7am Vic on the Park, Saturday: 10am–3am, Sunday: 11am–10pm, Monday: 12pm–8pm The Winery, Friday, Saturday: 11.30am–midnight, Sunday: 11.30am–9pm, Monday: 12pm–11pm Top image: Nour
It'll take more than a quick day trip to immerse yourself in this otherworldly temperate rainforest, but it's worth multiple return visits to experience every side of the ancient landscape that's part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area. Take the six-kilometre Aeroplane Hill walking track to breathe the high country air among the subalpine woodlands and enjoy sightlines to the faraway coast, before settling in at the secluded Wombat Creek campground for a night under the stars. Take a dip in the reviving waters of the Allyn River at Ladies Well in the foothills of Barrington Tops, surrounded by mossy sun-warmed boulders, or spend a day paddling through white water and calm pools on the Barrington River. Image: Destination NSW
When you're not quite in the mood for a complicated cocktail, but are after something with a little more pizzazz than your go-to mixed drink, the humble highball proves a perfect sip. The simple combination of a spirit, a soda and a twist has long been popular on the Japanese bar scene, and now it's the star of the show at Sydney's newest pop-up drinking destination, The Highball Bar. Tucked away on the first floor of the City Tattersalls Club, it's a cosy, elegant haunt, with moody lighting and soft jazz setting the tone for simple sophistication. Open until at least March next year, the bar's offering a menu that aims to bridge that gap between cocktail and mixed drink, filled with fuss-free, sessionable sips that were made to be enjoyed. It's the brainchild of Flynn McLennan — also behind Japanese restaurant Kagura and film noir-inspired cocktail bar The Long Goodbye — with Strangelove's artisanal sodas and tonics pushing the drinks list's local focus, and a rotation of grazing platters and interesting cheeses sure to tempt discerning snackers. Ranging from $12 to $18 and showcasing almost every spirit imaginable, the highball lineup has all tastes covered — see concoctions like the Armagnac and triple sec with mandarin mineral water, or the zesty blend of Jensen's Old Tom Gin, house-made pineapple cordial and yuzu soda. You can shake up your standard vodka and soda or gin and tonic game, too, with drinks like the Santamania vodka with burnt lemon and soda, or a Poor Tom's Gin with 'dirty tonic'. Alongside the hero drinks, sits a tidy wine list championing biodynamic and organic drops, an Aussie-led craft beer selection and a range of classic cocktails, heroing precision over the elaborate bells and whistles you'll find elsewhere. While it is located inside the City Tattersalls Club building, it's not part of the club, and you don't need a membership get it. Find The Highball Bar within the City Tattersalls Club, 194/204 Pitt St, Sydney until March, 2019. You'll find it on the first floor, if you hit the foyer and catch the second elevator on the left.
This year's Sydney Film Festival is well and truly underway — and while it technically finishes in a week, this cinema showcase knows how to hang around. In what's now become a yearly tradition, SFF is keeping its movie onslaught going past the stated end date of June 16, hosting three days of encores across June 17–19 at Dendy Newtown and Dendy Opera Quays. Twelve titles comprise the fest's By Popular Demand and, as the name suggests, they're all films that have been filling theatres and/or selling out sessions so far. Missed out on tickets to Jim Jarmusch's The Dead Don't Die, which has already sold out three screenings? Eager to see Adam Goodes-focused documentary The Final Quarter? Fancy following Robert Pattinson into space in the weird and wonderful High Life? Keen to know why Antonio Banderas picked up this year's Cannes Best Actor prize for the sumptuous, intimate and intensely moving Pain and Glory? Additional showings of each are all on the agenda. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQaycqyjLFw Other films getting another run include sensational Aretha Franklin concert film Amazing Grace, which took decades to reach screens; animal-focused crowd-pleaser The Big Little Farm; and Celine Sciamma's Cannes Best Screenplay-winner Portrait of a Lady on Fire. Or, you can catch Hugo Weaving-starring Aussie drama Hearts and Bones, Leonard Cohen documentary Marianne & Leonard: Words of Love, South Pacific portmanteau Vai and frenetic Sundance highlight Midnight Family. The final film on the By Popular Demand lineup hasn't been announced as yet, so you could be in for a surprise as well. No matter what it is, it'll still give you another excuse to extend your SFF experience — because no cinephile ever wants it to end. Sydney Film Festival's By Popular Demand bonus screenings hit Dendy Newtown and Dendy Opera Quays between June 17 and 19. The 2019 Sydney Film Festival runs until June 16 at various cinemas around the city. To view the complete program and book tickets, visit the festival website.
Whether you were too short to go on the scariest rides or your folks always put the brakes on your junk food binge, there's a Sydney Royal Easter Show dream you didn't get to live out as a kid. So, here's your chance. The 97th Show is about to roll into town, bringing with it more than 100 rides, 358 showbags, lots and lots and lots of cute baby animals and... dagwood dogs. In between classic adventures, wander through the Woolworths Fresh Food Dome packed with local produce, find out who's the best young farmer in Australia and meet some of the world's finest alpacas, frogs, dogs and pigs. The Show kicks off on Friday, April 12 for 12 bucolic days and you can even save yourself some dough by booking an early bird ticket online. Get ready for all the fairy floss, dog shows and the biggest and bestest showbag on offer — no mum or dad to tell you otherwise. Here are five reasons to head to the Sydney Royal Easter Show this April so you can live out those childhood dreams of yours. [caption id="attachment_710783" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Riley Durkin.[/caption] YOU'RE BIG ENOUGH TO RIDE ALL THE RIDES One of the most devastating of all childhood memories is of not making the height line and having to watch from the sidelines. While your older siblings continued gleefully onto the big dipper or pirate ship, you'd be left holding Ma or Pa's hand, fighting back the tears (or throwing a full-on tantrum). Well, now that you're a grown-up, you're big enough. And, this year, there are more than 100 rides to try, with some of the scariest action found at the Coca-Cola Carnival. Look out for the return of rides like the Crazy Spinning Coaster, which is like a regular roller coaster, but with spinning cars; Extreme, which sends you twisting and turning through the air upside-down (and inside-out); and Sky Flyer, an epic 35-metre-high version of the swing ride. EAT JUNK FOOD TO YOUR HEART'S CONTENT Now that you're over 18, you don't have your parents around putting limitations on your junk food frenzy (hopefully). Fair warning: as a kidult, it's virtually impossible to leave the Show with any kind of space in your stomach whatsoever. Not only do you get all the carnival classics — from dagwood dogs and chips on a stick to fairy floss and deep-fried sweets — you also get a whole bunch of them reinvented. This year, you'll come across deep-fried cheesecake (yes, really); a cheeseburger pie; fried chicken served in a waffle cone; the Fluffy Crunch Flurrito (see above); and the Waffleland Eruption — a waffle mountain of ice cream, fairy floss, wafers, salted caramel, Violet Crumble, Oreos, marshmallows and Nutella. And that's only the tip of a gigantic, over-the-top iceberg. Check out what else is on the menu over here. VISIT ALL THE CUTE BABY ANIMALS IN THE NURSERIES Besides the extreme rides and eats, the Show is also home to extreme cuteness, of the baby animal kind. It doesn't matter what kind of creatures you're into — from chickens and ducks to sheep, goats and even doggos — you'll find them in baby versions here. If you're keen to get up close, and maybe even have a cuddle, then make tracks to the Farmyard Nursery. This indoor paddock is home to more than 800 animals, ranging freely — and best of all, you're welcome to give them a pat. Keep an eye out for ducklings (playing on a waterslide), chicks, goslings, lambs, fawns and piglets. Should anyone look hungry, buy a cup of feed, hand it over and make a friend; should anyone appear dishevelled, ask the onsite farmers for a brush, so you can provide some grooming. And if you're still looking to fill your cuteness quota, make tracks to the Baby Puppy Competition. Every day at 3pm between April 12–21, three- to six-month-old puppies will 'compete' to win ultimate baby puppy — AKA will romp around a ring making your heart completely melt. The Farmyard Nursery is located along the Animal Walk (enter via the Woolworths Food Farm) and the Baby Puppy Competition is held on the Advance Dog Judging Lawn CHECK OUT THE PRIZE-WINNING ANIMALS When baby animals fit for the Sydney Royal Easter Show come of age, they often become prize-winning animals. Done in the Farmyard Nursery? Go see the future. There are prizes for all creatures great and small. One of the most popular sections is undoubtedly the Pig followed closely by the Dog — in which all kinds of canines vie for honours, from chihuahuas to dobermans. You'll also meet alpacas, aviary birds, cats, cattle, frogs, horses, chooks, geese, pigeons, rabbits, rats, mice and so on and so forth. If animals aren't your thing, check out a stack of other award winners and nominees, with everything from beer and wine to chocolate and cheese. GET THE MOST EXTREME SHOWBAG ALL TO YOURSELF Did you spend your childhood restricting your showbag picks according to the limited budget allowed by your pocket money? Or maybe sharing with your siblings? At last, you can unleash. At this year's Show, you'll find no fewer than 358 showbags to choose from. If you have cash to splash, you can buy whichever you like, as many as you like, as extra as you like. Where to start? Here are but a few to consider: the Cadbury Big Bite with all your favourite chocolate bars, the Gudetama bag dedicated to that cute lazy egg cartoon and the Athletica Ultimate Health and Fitness Pack. Or, if you're on a budget, but still want to go home with your arms full, choose from a bucketload of five-buck specials, such as this Cadbury Caramello Koalas bag or this one dedicated to Milky Bars. Find hundreds of other options on this page.
