Get ready rock fans, for the Arctic Monkeys are returning to Australia and New Zealand. The British band will embark on their biggest down under tour to date this autumn for their latest album, AM. The album, which was released this past September, is the band's fifth consecutive number 1 in the UK and also debuted at the top spot in the ARIA Albums Chart. So, Aussie and Kiwi fans, get stoked because you'll soon have the chance to hear their awesome collection of new jams, including chart toppers such as 'R U Mine?' and 'Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High?' Original fans needn't worry, because the Monkeys never forget to pay tribute to their old school favourites. You'll probably still get your chance to belt out 'Fluorescent Adolescent's, "Oh the boy's a slag / The best you ever had / The best you ever had." https://youtube.com/watch?v=6366dxFf-Os
You've found it! The perfect gift. You go to hit 'add to cart' and then you see it — a Christmas shipping deadline date that has long since sailed past you, leaving only that sinking feeling of losing something that was never yours. But there's an easy way to avoid that mini tragedy: shop local, and shop good old-fashioned bricks and mortar. The unique gifts right here at home are sure to please even the most difficult, seen-it-all giftees. By the Concrete Playground team.
Whether you're keen on an after-work drink, a bite to eat, an excuse to catch up with your mates or some live tunes, everything goes better with a view. That's one of the main ideas behind The Garden Social, the new summer event hosted in The Domain by the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney — and popping up every Wednesday–Sunday between January 13–February 7. Taking over The Domain's Tarpeian Precinct, the event features a vantage that'll see you peering out at the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge. Yep, that's a classic Sydney backdrop. You can say cheers to it with drinks from the bar — and from a dedicated Fever-Tree Ultimate Gin and Tonic Bar, too. Obviously, G&Ts are on the menu there. Food-wise, food trucks will be serving up an array of dishes, including from Urban Pasta, Agape, Rolling Schnitzel, Burgers G-Dup, JR Korean Chicken and Birdman. Or, you can opt for gelato and churros if you're after something sweet. Also, to set the mood, you can listen to a jazz, classical and contemporary soundtrack provided by musicians from the Conservatorium of Music. Entry is free, with The Garden Social running from 5–9pm Wednesday–Friday, from 11am–9pm every Saturday and from 11am–3pm each Sunday.
To call Enough Said a romantic comedy seems wrongly restrictive. Essentially, it's just that, but really, it's much more. A quirky divorcee starts falling for a slobby, overweight but very loveable dude, then realises it's her friend's despised ex-husband. Antics ensue. The title and the poster are something of an undersell — 'Enough Said' sounds like any other moronically make-believe candyfloss crap in which an unlikely yet star-crossed couple with Hollywood cheekbones and poreless skin battle for 90 minutes and get together — forever, of course — in the final scene. The title is oddly generic; try slipping 'About Time', 'Here's the Thing' or 'Wouldn't You Know?' in its place. Here's the difference: Nicole Holofcener is one of the smartest, wryest female American directors around. Friends with Money established her as a someone who makes real films with real characters for real grown-ups. She then joined the television glory days, directing episodes of HBO's Enlightened — two short seasons of confronting and hilarious viewing. Laura Dern and Mike White's amazing creation, the deluded yet totally empathisable Amy Jellicoe, could make you question if your own deepest-held longings are just impossible and impossibly vivid self-deceptions. With Enough Said, Holofcener makes a pitch for the mainstream, moving in on the edge of the territory staked out by James L. Brooks: rom-coms that are actually, miraculously both romantic and comedic. I can't help but wonder if it's because her last film, Please Give, was a well-intentioned but dour project that somehow missed its mark, as well as the wide audience that this super cluey director deserves. In Enough Said, she's cast Julia Louis-Dreyfus in the usual Catherine Keener role. Where on earth has Louis-Dreyfus been for the last decade and a half? She is a flat-out great leading actress. Here, she perfects what she revealed on Seinfeld in the 1990s: a character's failed attempts at carefree casualness. With wide-eyed, sideways glances and upturned intonation, she relays cluelessness and hopefulness, her yearning earnestness betraying her surface breeziness. (A side note: Claudia Karvan does this best in Australia.) The whole cast is spot-on, and James Gandolfini is especially endearing in his last, quite slight role — though I couldn't help wonder what complexity Louis CK could have brought to the character. There's something extraordinary about seeing quite ordinary women on film. In Gravity, Sandra Bullock's astronaut-taut face barely moved from the effects of what one hoped was zero gravity but was more likely astronomical proportions of filler and muscle relaxant. By contrast, Keener and Louis-Dreyfus aren't great beauties, but they are uncommonly lovely and a delight to watch — animated, bright, baffled and trying and trying and trying their fallible human best to succeed in love. Despite the unambitious nature of this easy Friday night film, Holofcener is a freakishly perceptive observer of our time's obsessions and longings. There aren't nearly enough films about the relationship between your different relationships and love after love. I laughed at the film's sticky, recognisable truths for the whole hour and a half. She's succeeded in making something for the masses without resorting to lowest-common-denominator bullshit. And that's really something. https://youtube.com/watch?v=nEEJaIjF_Lo
Now that spring has sprung, what better time to give your old ceramics collection a spruce up? Especially since you can score some fab pieces on the cheap, at Mud Australia's one-day-only Sydney flash sale. The legendary Aussie label is opening the doors to its Marrickville studio tomorrow, Saturday, September 8, and is slinging a whole assortment of its handmade porcelain and homewares for at least 50 percent off the regular price. Head along from 10am to find some very pocket-friendly deals on designs that are samples, slightly chipped, left over from discontinued lines, imperfectly glazed, or as the team describes, 'outrageously organic'. You've got until 4pm to load up on cute ceramic bargains and sort out your mates' pressies (and Christmas pressies, it's soon) for the rest of the year.
World Cocktail Day rolls around on Friday, May 13 — yes, it's a real thing — and to celebrate, Monkey Shoulder is getting pouring. The scotch brand has created Australia's biggest cocktail mixer truck called Monkey Mixer (which looks a little like a cement mixer truck, but shiny) and is serving free cocktails at a heap of breweries around Sydney. The giant orange and silver truck is hitting the road between Wednesday, May 11–Friday, May 13, giving you three days to nab a complimentary drink. First stops on the Wednesday: Wayward Brewing Co in Camperdown (from 5.30–6.30pm) and Sauce Brewing Co in Marrickville (7–8pm). Then, Thursday's itinerary spans Kirrawee's Sunday Road Brewing (4.30–5.30pm) and North Wollongong's Illawarra Brewing Co (6.30–7.30pm), before heading to North Wollongong Hotel in Wollongong (12–10pm) on Friday. If this all sounds familiar, that's because Monkey Shoulder did something similar back in 2020. If the brand wants to hand out free cocktails every now and then, we're obviously happy to drink them. And if you're wondering why it's pouring cocktails at breweries, the aim is to get beer fiends to switch up their sips.
Though running errands is a necessary part of life, it isn't really an ideal use of your precious leisure time. And, if you've saved up quite a few stops on a single day, it can easily lead to hanger. But you can't always stop for a full refuel in the middle of your personal admin day. Luckily, Sydney is full of quality grab-and-go eats. We've teamed up with American Express to bring you our picks of eateries to hit when you're running errands and need a good feed to keep you going. At these, you can tap your American Express Card, stuff your face with some seriously satisfying (yet incredibly quick) eats and recharge for more errand mania.
It's been a couple of years since Sydney last enjoyed a live performance from Courtney Barnett, but this August, the acclaimed singer-songwriter will return to the harbour city for a show at a little venue called the Sydney Opera House. She'll play her first headline show in the iconic venue's biggest space: the Concert Hall. Off the back of her second album Tell Me How You Really Feel, Barnett's set to tear up the stage with her signature indie-rock energy and a full band in tow. She'll perform all the hits from this forthcoming record, including 'Need A Little Time', 'Nameless, Faceless', and the just-released 'City Looks Pretty'. Lauded as one of this century's most unique Aussie voices, Barnett's set a new tone with her latest work, following collaborations with the likes of Kurt Vile, The Breeders and long-term partner Jen Cloher. The past few years have seen the musician absolutely killing it internationally, nominated for both a Grammy Award and a BRIT Award, and scooping up a bunch of other top honours, including the Australian Music Prize 2016, APRA's Songwriter of the Year, and four ARIA awards. Courtney Barnett will perform in the Sydney Opera House's Concert Hall on Saturday, August 25 as part of the year-round Sydney Opera House Contemporary Music Program. Tickets go on sale at to newsletter subscribers at noon today and to the general public on Monday, April 23 here. Image: Pooneh Ghana.
Attention foodies: Sydney Living Museums and Real Food Projects are teaming up this December for the first ever Christmas Artisan Food Gift Market. This culinary celebration will feature the very best of local Sydney products. Treats include locally blended olive oils, coffee roasted in Annandale, shortbread from Bondi, pickles from Marrickville, honey from Surry Hills, beer brewed in Newtown and many more seasonal food gifts. The festival will also feature a series of up-and-coming artisan producers such as Pud Inc, Griffin Jerky and The Vegan Teahouse. The festive market atmosphere will also include food trucks, live music and a wrapping station to set you straight for Christmas. So if you're looking for something special to bring to Christmas dinner or just want to load up your pantry, check out this one-off event held at the Hyde Park Barracks Museum on December 18 from 4-9pm.
They're taking to hobbits to Isengard at the Ritz Cinema this September, with one movie marathon to rule them all. Round up the Fellowship, stock up on lembas bread for sustenance and hide your finest pipe-weed from the Southfarthing for one sitting of all three of Peter Jackson's beloved OG Tolkien film adaptations — in their extended forms. Kicking off with The Fellowship of the Ring and ending with The Return of the King, this cave troll of a marathon clocks in at 686 minutes plus breaks, starting the journey at 11.15am and including two 30-minute meal breaks (breakfast and second breakfast, if you will). If you make it to the final handful of endings, you can pat yourself on the back and smash a ringwraith screech at the nearest Randwick resident on your way home (note: do not actually screech at the residents). Tickets are the precious and come in at $25 for the whole ordeal.
Hotel Steyne's very own bootleg bar, Moonshine, is the ideal shanty for you and your rum-running buddies on a Thursday night this spring. There's raucous live music, a huge range of cider and rum (over 100 bottles to choose from) and a good serve of hearty meals. There's also $8 Sailor Jerry until late. Head in early for a feed from Moonshine's Seaside Grub menu offering nine types of pizza, barbecue and hot wings, beef and veg nachos, as well as 'moondogs', with your choice of a smoked frankfurter, Sailor Jerry-infused barbecue pulled pork or smoked sauerkraut and Piparras peppers. Opt for the kitchen special, and get a moondog and Young Henrys tinnie for $10, available until the kitchen closes at 9pm. Then from 9pm, the live music kicks off, with sets by the likes of local artists Ruby Fields, The Hard Arches, Drunk Mums, The Ruminaters, Maddy Jane, Hollow Coves and The Pinheads. Head to the Steyne's Moonshine Thursdays each week to catch a different act and eat your way through each of their moondogs and pizzas; check out the weekly lineup here.
Walsh Bay's luxe precinct, Pier One, will soon be home to a perspex pop-up kitchen thanks to the duo behind travelling Jerusalem street food container, Knafeh. The Bearded Bakers have temporarily retired their mobile, shipping container-chic bakery and upgraded to a futuristic, plastic prism. Inside, they'll continue whipping up their unique baked goods and cocktails, and also put their own spin on neighbouring food shack The Kerrigan's dishes. During the October pop-up, expect delicacies such as the flavoursome fattoush salad, The Kerrigan's chicken wings with added spice and dukkah, and a cocktail inspired by Moroccan tea (which will complement their famous Knafeh dessert). And, due to the transparent walls of the pop-up, you'll be able to appreciate the harbour while you demolish all this great food. If you've had the Knafeh experience before, you'll probably remember the singing and dancing that comes with the magnificently bearded service. Fortunately, all of this is expected to remain. Knafeh on the Pier will be open for Good Food Month, every Thursday to Sunday between October 5 and 28. Drop by Thursday to Saturday from 5pm–10pm, and Sundays from 3pm–10pm.
Spring is looking to be an incredibly classy culinary adventure in Pyrmont. Boasting several of Sydney's most acclaimed restaurants, the dining precinct at The Star has planned some pretty big chef collaborations, customised cocktails, wine pairings and gourmet cuisine crossovers, alongside live jazz and — magic performances. Here are a few of the must-eat food experiences. WHISKY, JAZZ AND JAPANESE APERITIVO AT SOKYO Sit back with a whisky sour, an old-fashioned or a highball made from legendary Japanese whisky distillers Suntory — Sokyo brings in live music for one very laid-back Wednesday night on October 11. Complete with whisky cocktails, Japanese snacks and canapés, you'll indulge in one of Sydney's highest-awarded, contemporary Japanese restaurant with a backdrop of live jazz and a DJ set. There will be four snack stations offering the best in Japanese bar snacks, including pork katsu sandwiches. chicken yakitori don, tuna nigiri sushi and mini goma with mochi. Whisky, Jazz and Japanese Aperitivo will be held on Wednesday, October 11. $89-95 for tickets. DINNER WITH MATT PRESTON AT BLACK BAR & GRILL Award-winning food journalist, TV personality and cravat connoisseur Matt Preston will be your host for the ultimate whisky-paired dinner. With chef Dany Karam of BLACK, Preston will discuss the delicate flavours in the relationship between food and whisky. Each dish will be served with an exclusive Johnnie Walker blend, all of which have been dished up to perfectly complement the whisky's subtle and diverse tones. Dinner with Matt Preston will be held on Wednesday, October 18. $250 per person. TENDER STORIES AT BLACK BAR & GRILL Karam collaborates once again with some culinary talent from Melbourne, as one of Australia's most innovative chefs, Scott Pickett of Estelle, heads north to collaborate with the BLACK chef. The menu puts a contemporary spin on Australian, Italian and French cuisine and comes paired with Australian and French wines. You can expect smoked wallaby, whipped cod's roe, Flinder's Island lamb and smoked pork, along with other fascinating dishes, paired with rosé, riesling and Loire Valley Sancerre. Tender Stories will be held on Wednesday, October 25. $187-193 per person. AN ITALIAN AFFAIR WITH LUMI BAR & DINING AT BALLA Two of Sydney's foremost Italian chefs are joining forces to bring what might be one of the most Italian feasts in Sydney. Head chef of Pyrmont's LuMi Bar & Dining Federico Zanellato is crossing the road to collaborate with Balla's Gabriele Taddeucci for a four-course meal paired with Italian wines. In this elaborate meal you can expect slightly obscure Italian delicacies such as milk-braised salted cod, zucchini-flower stuffed rabbit, squid ink risotto and layered custard chocolate cake. An Italian Affair will be held on Tuesday, October 31. $175 per person. Head to The Star this spring for some stellar food and drink events. BLACK Bar & Grill has unveiled its Black Magic Menu, with specially-designed cocktails and performances by an in-house magician every night until November 12, and Balla celebrates seafood with a gourmet, three-course lunch menu featuring seasonal produce over a vista of the harbour, every weekday from 12–2:30pm until November 10.
We've all seen the packs of brightly coloured, hi-tech bicycles stationed on the footpaths of the city. And just when we thought that the shared bike situation had reached peak bike-pocalypse, Beijing-based company Ofo has begun rolling out a fleet of yellow bikes in Sydney. Billed as the world's first and largest dockless bike sharing platform, Ofo has ten million bikes available in 180 countries across the globe, processing 32 million rides per day. The smartphone-enabled service was trialled in Adelaide earlier this month, receiving mixed responses from city councillors and the public. However, Ofo's staggered rollout of 400 bikes in Sydney has been endorsed by the state's leading cycling body, Bikes Australia. Ofo reckons it's ironed out the kinks in this whole share bike game, saying it improves on Sydney's existing services. How? Well, firstly, the Ofo app indicates 'preferred parking' zones, to discourage riders from dumping their bikes on any old bit of footpath. Then there's the company's monitoring system, which uses thermodynamic diagrams to monitor the distribution of the bikes. This is obviously difficult to manage, but the company's got a local team on the ground, checking the bikes twice a day, shifting wayward bikes back to the proper zones and fixing any damages. As with Uber, Ofo also implements a credit rating system — well-behaved riders will earn points, while those who park outside the preferred zones and neglect to move them back will have points deducted. The launch comes at a time when Australia's dockless bike sharing services are under fire. In Melbourne, three councils have signed a formal Memorandum of Understanding with Singapore's oBike to ensure the bikes are parked upright, don't block footpaths and will be removed from any dangerous locations within two hours. Ofo launches 200 bikes in Sydney today, with an extra 200 in coming weeks. New users will score their first Ofo ride for free, with subsequent trips paid via debit or credit card priced at $1 for every half hour. For more info, visit ofo.com. By Libby Curran and Jonathan Ford.
Vanfest is a solid reason to road trip into the outback for the first weekend of summer. The outback festival is only in its fourth year, but it's quickly become one of NSW's best regional music events. Set against a backdrop of cows and countryside, the lineup will rival that of a city festival; Amy Shark, Tash Sultana, Dune Rats, Thundamentals, San Cisco and Cosmo's Midnight are just several of the 13 huge names performing this year. There will also be rides, pop-up bars, market stalls and VIP areas. There will also be a Van City at the festival offering a good variety of accommodation, ranging from the affordable, six-man, 'lights off'-style tent to a luxurious, double-bed-and-doona glamping option — and pretty much everything in between. There's 'freestyle camping' where you bring your own tent, or you can save yourself the potential embarrassment of looking like a tent-pitching fool and book pre-pitched tents for a little extra.
"I didn't want to simply be a socialite," Jep Gambardella (Toni Servillo) tells us. "I wanted to become the king of socialites." He has succeeded grandly in this most empty of ambitions; his life seems an endless parade of high-society gatherings, fashionable soirees and art gallery openings. A louche writer resting on the laurels of his lone novel and the occasional magazine piece, Jep has turned recently turned 65 and is shaken from his decadent torpor when he learns that his first love has died. The news acts as a reminder of his own looming mortality and is a chance to reflect on the gradual decline of Rome, the city he came to as a young man, at once drawn to its vibrancy and seemingly determined to be unimpressed with it. The film begins with an elaborately staged, gloriously shot party and doesn't reveal its immaculately dressed, glamorously jaded protagonist for several minutes, an approach in keeping with its interest in the colourful characters who inhabit his world. It is peopled with eccentric characters like Jep's combative editor, a spirited stripper who becomes involved with Jep, a centurion nun who eats only roots and a cluster of society wives, conmen and vacuous social climbers. Dispensing acidic observations a la Truman Capote, Jep surveys scenes of debauchery and hedonism with an air of slightly tired amusement. At times he seems the ultimate cynic — when he responds to a friend's taunt about his work and she calls him a misogynist, he corrects her: he is actually a misanthrope. Yet there is something melancholy about the character and the milieu he inhabits, something increasingly desperate about their pretensions and endless search for novelty, a sense that they live in the shadow of the city's great history. Writer-director Paolo Sorrentino's last film was the somewhat divisive little gem This Must Be The Place; this is a much more elaborate affair, stuffing dozens of vignettes of city life into its 142-minute running length. It evokes comparison with his great countrymen Federico Fellini and feels like a belated companion piece to La Dolce Vita, in its ambition, sweep and affectionate but pointedly warts-and-all portrait of a decaying, decadent metropolis. Filmgoers who like a sturdy narrative will likely be frustrated by The Great Beauty's structural looseness and epic sprawl, but those who can tap into its kaleidoscopic approach will find a dazzling, intoxicating feast of colour and life. https://youtube.com/watch?v=Dyt430YkQn0
A coming-of-age story of three orphans and their lives over 18 years in one apartment, Alexei Arbuzov's The Promise has been rarely performed outside of Russia since it premiered in 1967. This new version by Nick Dear (based on Ariadne Nicolaeff's translation) is brought to life by 24-year-old director Simon Stone and a fine cast of young actors. Lika (Alison Bell), Marat (Ewen Leslie) and Leonidik (Chris Ryan) are survivors of the devastatingly brutal Siege of Leningrad where a million or more were killed by starvation, cold or bombing. While the play has moments concerning notions of political ideology and the individual's responsibility to society, the focus remains very much on the personal inter-relationships in their complicated lifelong love triangle. The years go by and they remember the months they spent together as teenagers during the horrific siege increasingly favourably, as they face the realisation that their past mutual dreams have been betrayed. But it's not as bleak as it sounds; the witty dialogue and various character eccentricities ensure a lightness runs through even the darkest moments of this emotionally contained tale.
Are you and your crew due for a karaoke night? If, like us, you don't need much of an excuse to belt out Mariah Carey or a bit of Bon Jovi on a school night, make tracks to Hornsby's Sing Bar. Every Monday to Thursday, the karaoke bar is offering up complimentary booths with any alcoholic bevvy purchase — you'll just have to make sure your mates all have a cold one in hand. On the menu, expect the new seasonal cocktail jugs to give you liquid courage as you sing your heart out. The venue's ten themed rooms are all equipped with high-quality sound systems and technicolour lights, plus they can accommodate a range of group sizes, from an intimate group of four to a whopping 25 people. You can order drinks and snacks from the bar directly to your booth. Better yet, the music list is updated daily — so, if you want to get in on this deal on the regular, you won't have to listen to your mate attempt 'Ice Ice Baby' again. If you come by at happy hour (which is from Monday–Friday, 2–6pm and Saturday–Sunday, 12–6pm), it's just $6 each per hour to rent a room. Bargain. Images: Renato Soares and Anandio Asmaliudin.
A new Sicilian restaurant headed by internationally acclaimed chef Lino Sauro is the latest venue announced for the still-blooming Kensington Street precinct. Opening on the second floor of the newly restored Old Rum Store, it will join first-level French restaurant Bistrot Gavroche and a soon-to-open pop-up private kitchen on level three. The best part? It'll have its own rooftop terrace. Sauro has spent the past ten years in Singapore where he headed Sicilian restaurant Gattopardo. His new Sydney venture will be called Olio, which is the Italian word for olive oil — a very appropriate name given that olive oil, which will make up the base of the Sauro's dishes, will be sourced from his family farm in Sicily. As for the rest of the ingredients, you can expect seafood, wild fennel, raisins, saffron and couscous to play a big part in the menu. Sicily's natural environment — like the ocean and its abundance of olive trees — and historic relations with North Africa and Mediterranean Europe are major influences on Sicilian cuisine. Sauro's own farming heritage has also inspired a passion for cooking with fresh, local produce. For Olio, he's prioritised international award winners in his choice of architects too. LAVA, who are also responsible for designing Abu Dhabi's Masdar eco city centre and Sydney's Martian Embassy, have designed both the indoor dining room and the rooftop terrace to reflect the menu. They'll incorporate the industrial history of the space — like its exposed brick and loft-style windows — into a modern revamp, which will include hints of Mediterranean blue and olive green in the colour scheme and Sicilian tiles. Those dining on the terrace will be treated to views of Central Park's vertical garden and Kensington Street's Spice Alley while surrounded by olive trees. Olio is expected to open in the first quarter of 2017. For a hard opening date, keep checking their website. Images: Lauren Commens.
HelloFresh is a unique and modern cooking alternative, dedicated to taking the hassle out of grocery shopping and inspiring you to cook healthy, home meals — and love it. And for a limited time only, this service has a pop-up store in Paddington, and they want you to pop in. The store is on Oxford Street for a limited time only, and they would love for you to go and visit any time between 10am-7pm. With daily cooking demonstrations, education sessions, and ingredients tasting, they've got plenty of activities for everyone to enjoy and to encourage locals to revitalise their love for cooking. HelloFresh is so committed to reigniting your passion for cooking that for a small weekly fee they plan new delicious and creative meals each week, do your grocery shopping for you, and even deliver it to your door. You are able to choose which food box suits you or your family — whether it be for two, four, or six people —and each kit comes complete with all the ingredients, herbs, and spice you need to create their healthy and tasty meals. They even come with idiot-proof recipes to ensure your dishes taste just as good as their photos look. This food service is a good way for time-poor cooks to indulge themselves with 30-minute recipes whilst avoiding hassle or poor, takeaway-filled diets. Visit them on Oxford Street today to see what they're about and to learn a more about fresh ingredients and how to use them. Visit their website or Facebook Page for more information.
In 2022, beloved social enterprise Two Good Co opened a cafe and convenience store in Darlinghurst's Yirranma Place. The venue provides Sydneysiders with tasty breakfast and lunch options, as well as products from local ethically minded businesses such as The Bread & Butter Project, Kua Coffee and Gelato Messina — all while raising funds to help Two Good's goal of supporting vulnerable women by providing pathways out of crisis living. Each month at the cafe, the crew brings in a well-known and well-loved chef or culinary team to create special one-off menu items. Kylie Kwong, Maggie Beer, Peter Gilmore and Matt Moran have all been on curating duties in the past, and the month of September 2023 sees the pleasure fall on food writer, restaurateur and Creative Director of the Carriageworks Farmers Markets Mike McEnearney. McEnearney is known for his ever-popular cookbooks Real Food and Kitchen by Mike. A purveyor of all things fresh, sustainable and down-to-earth, McEnearney brings a low-effort and high-flavour approach to Two Good Co's monthly menu. Available throughout September, the menu features two no-fuss lunch items and a little sweet treat. Item number one is the mushroom, lentil ragu and cheese toastie, which boasts a rich, herb-forward sauce and melted cheese sandwiched between two slices of thick white toast. Also available: a hearty Middle-Eastern inspired lentil soup coating tenderly spiced meat, topped with a dash of coriander and paired with a toasted slice of dipping bread to sop up the remains of aromatic soup. Rounding out the offerings is a little lunchtime dessert in a bite-sized form — light and crisp round jammie dodgers with a fruity marmalade and creamy hazelnut centre, topped with a generous sprinkle of icing sugar. If you want to sample the menu, just head over to 262 Liverpool Street at some point this month.
From the party-powered cities of Miami and Ibiza comes Future Art, the massive art-meets-music biz that's taking a global approach to throwing events. And because the annual light, music and ideas festival the Harbour City's now known for is happening this month, the Future Art community is bringing Future Art Is Vivid to Darling Harbour. On Saturday, June 16, Home The Venue will be lighting up to host an immersive night celebrating talented digital artists and DJs. After a successful debut outing at Vivid Sydney in 2022, the team's bringing stacks more to the dance floor this year. The one-off night will feature tunes courtesy of Black Angus (Sneaky Sound System), Dave Goode (of The Potbelleez, and co-founder of Future Art) and Sarah Main (fresh from Pacha Ibiza) promising a heaving dance floor till 3am. Then, on the visual art side of things, you'll experience works from an international collection of digital-art talents — like Jon Noorlander, Neurocolor and Rebecca Rose — as well as home grown artists including Stuart Sale and Joe Pease. Multidisciplinary Sydney artist Serwah Attafuah will display her brightly-hued dreamscape NFTs, which have been commissioned for clients as wide-reaching as Paris Hilton and Mercedes Benz. And there's Sophie Tea too, a Brit in the digital art space who brings vibrancy, references to the natural world and human-like figures to her collections. Marrickville-based Stuart Sale — who garnered attention in 2022 after his mural of Queen Elizabeth II was vandalised — will have his latest collection on show; as will fellow Sydneysider Brad Robson, whose contemporary painting style (and the staggering size of his work) has taken him the world over. If you're looking to experience a late-night fusion of art and music, mark June 16 in your diary and secure a ticket, stat. 'Future Art Is Vivid' takes over Home the Venue on Saturday, June 16 from 8pm till 3am. For more information and to nab your tickets, head to the website.
Find out what a late night party looks like when Elizabeth Rose is in charge. The beats-cranking Sydneysider is curating a trio of discotheques, the first of which is locked in for the Civic Hotel on March 27, with the final two hitting Melbourne and Brisbane over the Easter Weekend. For each party, she's inviting her favourite local DJ talent to commandeer the decks, kicking off shenanigans before Rose delivers her own midnight set. It's high time Rose celebrated. Over the past twelve months, this young producer's been racking up one impressive achievement after another. First, FBi Radio named her 'Next Big Thing', then QANTAS gave her its 'Spirit of Youth' prize, and then her second EP reached #1 — on both the iTunes AU Electronic chart and triple j. In the meantime, she was singing on tracks for Flight Facilities and The Aston Shuffle. All of that led to Universal Publishing snapping the young DJ up with a publishing deal. So she's throwing you a party. What a legend.
Legendary vocal-happy label 4AD (Bon Iver, Grimes, The National) has picked up its fourth ever Australian artist. Castlemaine's D.D Dumbo has just signed a big ol' deal to become one of the 4AD family. Celebrated for his minimalist style, mesmerising vocals and ridiculous ability with a 12-string guitar, D.D Dumbo has pricked the ears of the likes of Warpaint, St Vincent and Iron & Wine — picking up invitations for support slots along the way. The Victorian native has landed more support gigs for Daughter and Tame Impala in the UK, along with a debut headline show in London and a highly coveted slot at Latitude Festival. The Castlemaine local will return home in July to support the ever eclectic and straight-up magical Tune-Yards for her Splendour sideshows, working his way from Melbourne's Howler to North Byron Parklands and back to Oxford Art Factory. Jump wholeheartedly on the bandwagon this time around, this kid's going to get expensive. D.D DUMBO AUSTRALIAN DATES: 24 July - Howler, Melbourne (supporting Tune-Yards) SOLD OUT 25 July - Howler, Melbourne (supporting Tune-Yards) 27 July - Splendour in The Grass SOLD OUT 28 July - Oxford Art Factory (supporting Tune-Yards) https://youtube.com/watch?v=qG4DLc9Kotg
Summer is here and, with it, our desire to take a holiday from the constant hustle of work (and life) and treat ourselves to a relaxing evening out with our mates, dates or ourselves. This summer, we want to slow down, unwind and savour the moment — preferably with a good beverage in hand. Together with Diplomático Rum, we've compiled this list of luxe locations throughout Sydney where you can chill and savour summertime with a luscious drop of premium dark rum. After all, Diplomático Rum is refined, balanced and smooth dark rum — perfect for those moments worth savouring.
Off the back of two super fast-selling seasons in Parramatta, Sydney's most ambitious outdoor cinema is bringing its 150-bed (yes, bed) theatre back for the warmer weather. This time around, it will be held closer to the CBD, at Moore Park's Entertainment Quarter. Grab a buddy you're comfortable to share a blankie with (or make a bold first date move) and book a bed between October 27 and December 10. There will be new movies (American Assassin, The Foreigner), horror (It, The Shining), foreign films (Goodbye Lenin, City of God), Disney classics (Cinderella, Peter Pan), Japanese anime (Naruto, My Neighbour Totoro) and some of the best releases of 2017 (Wonder Woman, Dunkirk). Mov'In Bed has planned themed and party nights too, such as the Halloween night with a horror selection, 'Love is Love' with Brokeback Mountain and Moonlight and a Scorcese night with Goodfellas and Wolf of Wall Street. There'll also be Burger Project and Fratelli Fresh bringing food directly to your bed. If you don't want to shell out for a bed, you can bring a picnic blanket and chill out on the grass. Just remember to book your spot before you rock up.
The London masters of gin, Hayman's Gin, is offering gin-paired dinners every night this month, in the incredibly British surrounds of the Lord Dudley Hotel. The Woollahra pub's recent English garden-inspired refurb provides an idyllic setting to indulge in the spirit made by the distiller entrenched in London history. Established during the gin craze in the 19th century, Hayman's Gin has been run by an unbroken five-generation lineage of gin producers. Until October 31, you'll be able to sample a number of classic gin cocktails with Hayman's such as their Sloe and Tonic, best paired with the lamb rump; the French 75 paired with cured salmon or a negroni paired with pork and veal terrine. As you taste your way through the distiller's dry, sloe and 'Old Tom' gins with different tinctures and tonics, you'll also be prompted to make some tasting notes to remember the botanical and food pairings you enjoyed the most. What's more, prices are great value — grab an entrée and a cocktail for $25, a main and cocktail for $40 or opt for the Supper Club Special featuring an entrée, main and two cocktails for $60. Image: Jiwon Kin.
This Sunday, November 12, one of Melbourne's most celebrated artisan bakeries is heading to Sydney's eastern suburbs. Betwen 11am and 2pm, South Yarra's Tivoli Road Bakery will take over the kitchen of Woolloomooloo's Flour and Stone. Along with giving Sydneysiders the chance to try some impeccable Melbourne goods without having to take time off work and fly interstate, husband-and-wife team Pippa and Michael James will be launching their new book, The Tivoli Road Baker: Recipes and Notes from a Chef Who Chose Baking. Potts Point Bookshop will be on-hand to sell signed copies. In terms of food, expect sumptuous lemon curd, salted caramel and lamington doughnuts, pork and apple sausage rolls, rye brownies, and pickled carrot, walnut and chicken sandwiches on Tivoli Road's sourdough made using the bakery's long fermentation process.
Surry Hills is getting a ramen pop-up with limited-edition streetwear on the side. Each Saturday in November between 11am and 4pm, Toko will embrace an izakaya-style menu featuring two types of ramen: one truffle-based and one for vegetarians. It won't just be noodles either — there will be braised wagyu cheek tacos, poke bowls and the obligatory fried chicken with caviar and sour cream. Drinks-wise, Asahi and Belvedere Vodka are bringing the goods, including a collaboration with Toko bartenders to prepare specially mixed Ramen Club cocktails for the pop-up. N2 Extreme Gelato is joining in too, unveiling their vanilla, yuzu and orange blossom dessert, garnished with freeze-dried pineapple. In the midst of all this, labels Song For The Mute and Nothing will re-release products from their recent streetwear crossover, which was first released back in August and quickly sold out worldwide.
North Sydney is welcoming the start of spring atop its multi-award winning rooftop oasis. Waverton's Coal Loader Centre for Sustainability is offering up sky-high live music and cocktails on Saturday, September 1 from 1–8pm. The waterfront digs — Sydney's largest public rooftop garden — will be taken over by a heap of acoustic acts and performances, with multiple stages spread across the lush rooftop and its many tunnels and chambers. There'll also be a pop-up bar selling gin, local beer and organic wines. And, as an added bonus, the event is also dog friendly. While drinks will be available throughout the day, BYO picnics, keep cups and reusable water bottles (with refill stations on site) are all highly encouraged — this is the centre for sustainability, after all. Sunset Sessions runs from 1–8pm.
One minute Johnny Took, Matt Mason and Tommy O'Dell were writing nostalgic garage pop in a Newtown bedroom. The next, they were on high rotation on triple j and basking in Channel V praise along the lines of "terminally infectious" and "the next big thing". The trio's sweet acoustic sound first hit the ears of influential label I OH YOU (Violent Soho, DZ Deathrays) in September 2013. "A good friend (who I guess I owe a beer to now) called me up and began barking down my phone about an amazing young band from Newtown," explains I OH YOU director Johann Ponniah. After signing up, the lads released their self-titled debut EP on March 28, swanning into the iTunes Australian Charts at #7. Their single 'Delete' was heard on airwaves around the nation and spent some time hanging about the upper reaches of the ARIA Australian Artists Singles Chart. So this month, DMA's are embarking on their very first East Coast tour. https://youtube.com/watch?v=vKSWC5r1tYg
The CBD's leafy oasis Taylor's Rooftop now has your Thursdays sorted with its new Tacos, Tequila & Throwbacks night. So, if you were looking for your next fun date spot or searching for a new after-work watering hole, head on up the stairs to bust a move at this margarita-fuelled party. Kicking off on Thursday, March 5, this party will be celebrating with free tacos and margaritas — the venue is giving away 100 of each from 6pm, with the party raging on till late. If you want in, be sure to RSVP for free here. The sky-high fiesta will happen every Thursday, with $5 tacos, $10 margs and $25 Corona buckets available all night long. It'll all be backed with 90s and early 2000s bangers. Think the likes of Britney Spears, Kylie Minogue and Armand Van Helden — and, yes, singing along at the top of your lungs is encouraged. And, thanks to the rooftop's retractable roof, this party will happen come rain or shine every week. Tacos, Tequila & Throwbacks kicks off with a launch party on Thursday, March 5 and will occur every Thursday from 6pm–late.
Bowl-A-Rama. Sounds like a Fred Flinstone bowling festival, but unfortunately for devotees of the prehistoric inhabitant of Bedrock (and fortunately for the rest of us) it's not. We're talking bowl as in skateboarding bowl. And Bowl-A-Rama as in bonafide skateboarding festival. As in the best skaters in Australia, competing on one of the finest bowls in the world for the biggest prize money in the history of the event, all with the backdrop of the iconic Bondi Beach. Last year, the Vans Bowl-A-Rama attracted more than 60 of the world's top skaters and more than 6,000 spectators. This year, the event kicks off with a free launch party at the Beach Road Hotel, with loads of music and giveaways. The week-long festival also includes the Love & Guts Art Show, featuring the work of some of the world's most creative skaters past and present, like Lance Mountain, Steve Cavallero, Christian Hosoi, Pat Hgoho, and the Vans Wrap Party and awards night. https://youtube.com/watch?v=oinHX-LqqgY
Sydney's Powerhouse Museum is currently playing host to the largest menswear exhibition ever assembled — and, to celebrate, the museum is holding a new edition of its MAASive Lates after-hours events. A free evening of fashion talks, tours and parades, the night is for adults only and will expand upon what the Reigning Men exhibition offers. The Reign Supreme event will bring together Giuseppe Santamaria (founder of fashion blog Men in This Town) and writer Ali Asghar Shah as they discuss the intersection of fashion, art, history and identity, as well as put on a fashion parade by Sydney sapeurs. You can also do a curator-led tour of the exhibition for only $5 (instead of the regular $20), and you can bring your pre-loved outfits along to one of the drop-in mending or charity stations. Add to that demonstrations that explore sustainable textile use, a screening of documentary Men of the Cloth, and the fact that there's a best dressed prize up for grabs, and you'll be having a very fashionable time indeed. The event is free, but you'll need to register for tickets.
There are markets, and then there are markets. And The Market Tales, a brand new two-day event at Precinct 75 in St Peters, is taking the word market to a whole new galaxy of potential. Hitting the precinct — which houses various food outlets, design showrooms and even its own micro-brewery — on Saturday, May 20 and Sunday, May 21, the new market is set to bring you a cornucopia of deliciousness and design for your mouth, eyes and ears. The food offering is particularly impressive. Taking care of the food will be some of the inner west's finest eateries: Continental Deli, Cornersmith, Black Star Pastry, and Cairo Takeaway. Meanwhile, in an alleyway dedicated to alcohol, you'll find new Darlinghurst bar Johnny Fishbone, Young Henry's, Archie Rose and Precinct 75's own Urban Winery. In between sipping and sampling, check out an array of creations from over 60 makers and merchants, including Atolyia, the Design Twins and Society Inc. Expect homewares, furniture, fashion, jewellery, art and more. All these pleasures will be soundtracked with live music, provided by acoustic acts. And, if you want to get in on the action, you can take part in a workshop or two, from candle making to bread baking. The market will run from 10.30am till 4.30pm each day, it's cash-only and entry is $2.
The iconic Grounds of Alexandria is turning five years old and they're doing so in fairy-lit style — this year offering up a night of free live music on Friday, April 21. Their gardens will be taken over by DJs, bands and, of course, some quality food. The evening will begin with Soul of Sydney DJs spinning their funk collective tunes. The stage will then be taken over by enchantress Thandi Phoenix, whose raw vocals make her one of Australia's top new female electronic artists. While Phoenix and her band rock the stage, The Pizza Silo will be slinging their much-loved wood-fired pizzas and The Soda Barn will serve up beer, wine and cocktails all night. The event is free to enter but you'll have to purchase your food and drink, and seating will be limited so be sure arrive early to get a prime posi. This event will be first in a series of monthly music nights, with each month curated with a different vibe.
Theatre fans, prepare to get spend much of 2018 in the city's live performance venues. Sydney Theatre Company has revealed their lineup for the year ahead, and it's jam-packed with highlights, ranging from a diverse range of world premiere productions to new stagings of beloved classics to return seasons of recent favourites. STC's first season under new artistic director Kip Williams features sixteen shows across five spaces, with a particular focus on Australian works. "I've aimed to put together works that reflect our city and our community," says Williams about a lineup that boasts high-profile names on- and off-stage, such as actors Hugo Weaving, Jane Turner and Yael Stone; director Neil Armfield; playwright Nakkiah Lui; and a Kate Mulvaney-written two-part adaptation of Ruth Park's iconic classic Australian trilogy, The Harp in the South novels. Standouts include the debut of Michelle Lee's quarter-life-crisis effort Going Down, which explores the experiences of twenty-something woman in millennial Australia; and Still Point Turning: The Catherine McGregor Story, the true tale of the real-life titular figure's struggle to be herself. Weaving pops up in an all-too-timely piece about a demagogue threatening democracy, aka Bertolt Brecht's 1941 classic The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, while Stone takes on Joan of Arc in George Bernard Shaw's Saint Joan. As well as helming Black Blackie Brown: The Traditional Owner of Death, about an archaeologist's discovery of a mass grave in the Australian bush, Lui's Black is the New White is back for another run. The list goes on, with Holding the Man and The Secret River's Armfield also delving into the country's past — and telling an indigenous tale linked to an archaeologist — in The Long Forgotten Dream, which stars actor and The Sapphires' director Wayne Blair. Elsewhere, Mad as Hell's Francis Greenslade joins forces with writer/director Sarah Giles for a new adaptation of absurdist political classic Accidental Death of an Anarchist, with their version partly inspired by Melissa McCarthy's recent satirical efforts on Saturday Night Live; The Children becomes STC's second Lucy Kirkwood-scripted effort in two seasons after this year's Chimerica; and Lethal Indifference turns playwright Anna Barnes' own experiences into a one-woman effort starring Please Like Me's Emily Barclay. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntD0xw81C0Y For the full 2017 program and to buy tickets, head to sydneytheatre.com.au. Image: Rene Vaile.
After a long, hot day, what better way to cool down than by sipping a chilled drink with the sound of waves crashing in the background. And if you find yourself in Bondi, you can do just that at The Pacific Club. The sleek all-day eatery opened in August 2018, and its chic design, featuring handcrafted Indian tiles and marble finishes, and views overlooking the promenade make it the perfect spot to enjoy a tipple or two. Giving you an extra reason to visit this spring is the arrival of an outdoor pop-up bar devoted to the mighty Chandon S. Get there between 4–6pm and settle in to the designated seating to try Chandon S at happy hour prices — just $8 a glass. This summery drop is a blend of sparkling wine and orange bitters — an aromatic combination of blood and navel oranges, fresh ginger, gentian root, vanilla pods, cinnamon quills and cardamom. Whether you spend your afternoon lazing about on the sand or strolling all the way to Bronte and back, be sure to leave yourself enough time for a cheeky sundowner. The Chandon Spritz Bar will be running every day between 4–6pm at The Pacific Club until Monday, December 3. No booking required.
Next time you are having dinner at your partner’s parents place, I dare you to clear your throat and start a conversation about the merits of polygamy. Or perhaps you might inform your friends that their kids’ brains are rotten due to them soaking up social networking fodder like a dumbifying sponge. And then of course, there’s the mild subject of religious propaganda that is a sure-fire way to win friends and influence people. Genteel conversations like this and our tendency to avoid them like the plague is the impetus behind the brilliantly provocative Festival of Dangerous Ideas. Running over two days across multiple venues within the Sydney Opera House, the Festival will provide a platform for confronting, politically non-plussed voices to lay their opinions on the table and embark on intellectual warfare. The circus begins with Soapbox, a Public Speaking competition on the steps of the Opera House where members of the public are invited to deliver their controversial best under the watchful eye of judges David Marr and Annabel Crabb. Following this hearty debate, thought leaders from across the globe will present a variety of topics that will see the Opera House transformed into a riotous cacophony of human confabulation. This includes Christopher Hithens and Tony Jones analysing why Religion Poisons Everything and Jeff Sparrow explaining Why We Enjoy Killing. Not known for being meek, Germaine Greer will present Freedom: the most dangerous idea of all in the grandiose surrounds of the Concert Hall, while Gary Foley will inform his audience that By 2075 The Aboriginal Genocide Will Be Complete. St James Ethics Centre and the Sydney Opera House jointly present the dynamic program of events too extensive to divulge in detail here. While the core activity of the Festival will be talks, forums and debates, the program also includes theatre performances by Team Loko and a comedy gala MC’d by Judith Lucy.Image by Marc Johns
Next up at Gaffa Gallery is Chindia, a group exhibition exploring the multiplicity of migrant identities in Australia. Showcasing six artists with Chinese and Indian heritage working across various disciplines, the show explores a complex array of themes including politics, displacement, performance, folklore, colonial legacy, violence, diaspora histories and issues of cultural and national identity. Featuring work from Anindita Banerjee, Anurendra Jegadeva, Guo Jian, Lilian Lai, Lucy Wang and Texta Queen alongside short films, Chindia invites its audience to share in the inspirations, motivations and family stories of the artists and performers involved, whilst asking what the lessons learnt mean for the future. Gallery manager and show curator Kimberley Peel explains the exhibition "aims to increase community engagement and participation to create an inclusive, culturally rich, diverse and vibrant society" by both increasing the visibility of migrant artist communities and providing a forum for them to engage with one another creatively. A short run from February 15–26 — don't miss out. Image: Anurendra Jegadeva, Migrant Altar, 2012, Oil on canvas with mounted painted objects, 132 cm x 122 cm with 122 cm x 46 cm. Collection of Singapore Art Museum.
Very rarely do you attend an STC show with no clue what’s waiting for you. Yet Sisters Grimm’s Calpurnia Descending allures, ensnares then disorients, till you’re not sure you’re even in the theatre/on Planet Earth/in this dimension any longer. The Sisters Grimm (Declan Greene and Ash Flanders) are a spicy item on the Australian theatre menu, with their "gay DIY drag-theatre". Their newest creation, Calpurnia Descending, is a cynical farce, co-written by the Sisters and directed by Greene. Its witty, fast-paced dialogue and hilarious one-liners demonstrate why the company has burst beyond the confines of queer cabaret to stir up the Australian main stage. Despite its covetable spot at the Wharf 2 Theatre, Calpurnia refuses to behave politely. It pisses on the sanctity of theatre and is sometimes downright silly. It begins with abrupt fanfare, leaving no time for us to get our bearings and continues full-pelt until every sense has been saturated. The plot loosely follows the return to fame of washed-up New York actress Beverly Dumont, played superbly by Paul Capsis. Pack your asthma puffer for the stitches you’ll be in as Capsis performs the ageing diva, combining irreverence, melodrama and fragility in equal measure. His foil is Ash Flanders as Violet St Clair, the ever-recognisable ingenue who proves the age-old adage: anything too sweet will eventually kill you/make you fat. It's Sandy Gore who delivers the most laughs, though, as she channels the crafts(wo)manship of 1980s New York drag king scene. The voice work and choreography is astonishing, almost too good. At times you have to pinch yourself to remember it's all live. The show transports us to the silver screen of the '30s, which (thanks to the design team) is a surreal world of excess. Jed Palmer’s sound design playfully nudges us at key points of action, and Matthew Gingold and Matt Greenwood’s AV and animation overload us with colour, movement and product placement. Calpurnia never misses a cheap gag either. I found the mix of high-budget tech-experimentation with moments of daggy melodrama delightful. Calpurnia constantly undermines the drama it has set up, making us sprint to catch-up. The flouncing, pouting behaviour of Beverly Dumont is mimicked by the whole production: it asks, “Look at me! Look at me!” then leaves us embarrassed when the zoom-in results in overexposure. It’s as if Sisters Grimm received a healthy budget and so decided to Use. Every. Trick. I for one loved the splurge that afforded such vibrant, vacillating drag and disrobing. Calpurnia Descending has sold out, but try ringing up for a Suncorp Twenties ticket.
If you want to really rock mum's world this Mother's Day — and treat yourself to some very cute photo ops in the process — there's one family brunch you need to pop on your radar. On Saturday, May 8, and Sunday, May 9, Wild Life Sydney Zoo is hosting an indulgent high tea right in the heart of the animal action. Yes, you'll be eating up on its Koala Rooftop. As a guest, you'll get to tuck into a feast of sweet and savoury bites — think: chicken waldorf finger sandwiches and house-baked scones — along with one hour of bottomless mimosas. And, you'll enjoy views of the zoo's cuddly koalas munching on their own brunch of eucalyptus leaves in the adjacent enclosure. Obviously, that means you'll have plenty of opportunities to take koala selfies. Tickets to the unique feast are $95, which includes the opportunity for a self-guided zoo tour before brunch (so you can scope out some of the other adorable fauna). You've got three sessions to choose from each day, starting at 11am, 12.30pm and 2pm. And we know what you're thinking — no one said it was just for mums, right?
Being a film and television fan in 2018 means two things. Firstly, your viewing choices are seemingly endless, as anyone with a hefty streaming queue knows. Secondly, many of those viewing choices involve remakes of, sequels or prequels to, or other continuations of already existing hits. Just this year, we've learned that Veronica Mars and Daria are coming back to the small screen, The Lord of the Rings is being turned into a TV show and Game of Thrones is definitely getting a spin-off once the original series ends. Now, we can add Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead and Deadwood films to the ever-growing list of properties that just keep on keepin' on. This week, news hit about all three popular series and their new feature-length additions. All three are being turned into movies in some shape or form, but it's a safe bet that those films are all still headed to a TV screen. Prepare to exclaim "yeah, science!" like Jesse Pinkman thanks to the return of Breaking Bad — which, as Better Call Saul diehards are well aware, has never completely gone away since the OG show wrapped up in 2013. As reported by Variety, creator Vince Gilligan is working on a two-hour film with the working title of Greenbriar, which will begin shooting this month. Bryan Cranston has confirmed the news, but just whether he's in it or what it's about is still the subject of rumour. Slashfilm advises that the movie will focus on Jesse, showing what came next for Walter White's former student and protege after Breaking Bad's finale. As for The Walking Dead, the long-running (and still-running) show is set to release a number of films about Andrew Lincoln's Rick Grimes, who led the series from its 2010 debut through to the fifth episode of the show's ninth season. Deadline reports that the movies will form part of The Walking Dead Universe, alongside other films, specials and series, plus digital content and more. The Walking Dead already has its own small-screen spin-off, Fear The Walking Dead — and the first Rick Grimes flick is expected to go into production in 2019. Finally, in news that'll make lovers of Deadwood want to down a celebratory shot of whisky, the three-season western series is coming back as a movie. Ever since the show was cancelled back in 2006, a film has been rumoured, but The Hollywood Reporter notes that it started filming this week. It'll be set ten years after the final season, with the story exploring a reunion of the show's characters. Original stars Ian McShane, Timothy Olyphant, Molly Parker, Paula Malcomson, John Hawkes, Anna Gunn, W. Earl Brown, Dayton Callie, Brad Dourif, Robin Weigert, William Sanderson, Kim Dickens and Gerald McRaney are all reuniting for the series. Via Variety /Deadline / The Hollywood Reporter.
The Opera House is smack bang in the middle of a $200 million renovation right now, but the action has ground to a halt because of the detection of asbestos. The Electrical Trades Union (ETU) has enforced a ban on work on starting Monday, July 31, after discovering the carcinogenic stuff in a duct. "The ETU was notified on Friday, and has since discovered that almost all of [the] electricians working on the Opera House renovation have not been trained in asbestos awareness and working with asbestos procedures," reads an official statement by Stewart Edwards and Antony Stegic, ETU organisers. The electricians were employed by Downer, a contractor working with Laing O'Rourke, an international engineering company. According to the ETU, both businesses received results on Wednesday confirming the presence of asbestos, but "did not report this safety incident to SafeWork NSW as a notifiable incident". The organisation has advised employees to refuse to work on all troffers, risers and penetrations, and called for new risk assessments, as well as training and supply of "full personal protective equipment". We contacted a spokesperson for the Opera House, who told Concrete Playground, "The Opera House is committed to providing a safe environment for our staff, patrons and visitors. We are working closely with Laing O'Rourke as the principal contractor to investigate the matter and to ensure their work site is safe and compliant with the Asbestos Management Plan." It's clearly a big, public blow to the reno plans, which at this stage will be on hold for an unforeseen duration of time. However, the Opera House spokesperson seems confident they can address the issue. "Like thousands of buildings around the country built around this time, the Opera House has strict processes in place to monitor and manage the presence of asbestos-containing materials," they said. Given that the Opera House was built between 1959 and 1973, the presence of asbestos is actually not surprising — as unsettling as that sounds. That said, it clearly needs to be removed and better managed. No one wants to be inhaling carcinogens when they head to their next fancy gig under the sails.
Pick your poison, action-franchise edition circa 2023: balletically choreographed carnage; cars, kin and Coronas; or Tom Cruise constantly one-upping himself in the megastar stunts stakes. Hollywood loves them all. Cinemas keep welcoming them all. So, after John Wick: Chapter 4 and Fast X comes Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One to deliver the kind of movie spectacle that always looks best on the biggest and brightest of silver screens. And, as its lead actor's gleaming teeth do, the seventh instalment in the TV-to-film spy series shines. Like Cruise himself, it's committed to giving audiences what they want to see, but never merely exactly what they've already seen. This saga hasn't always chosen to accept that mission, but it's been having a better time of it since 2011's Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, including when writer/director Christopher McQuarrie jumped behind the lens with 2015's Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation. McQuarrie and Cruise have history; McQuarrie first helmed Cruise in 2012's Jack Reacher, and also penned or co-penned the screenplays for the Cruise-starring Valkyrie, Edge of Tomorrow, The Mummy and Top Gun: Maverick before and during their Mission: Impossible collaboration. Prior to that, however — the year before Mission: Impossible was reborn as a movie, in fact — the filmmaker won an Oscar for writing The Usual Suspects. Take the puzzle-like trickery of that mid-90s big-reveal mystery, combine it with Cruise's determination to score the first Academy Award for Best Stunts if and when it's ever introduced (or die trying), and it's plain to see why they make an ace Mission: Impossible pair. With both 2018's Mission: Impossible – Fallout and now Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One in particular, they ensure that a franchise based on a half-century-old formula courtesy of Mission: Impossible's television days still feels fresh and thrilling. Rubber masks so realistic that anyone on-screen could rip off their face to reveal Cruise's Ethan Hunt? Of course they're present and accounted for. Espionage antics that involve saving the world while traversing much of it? Tick that off ASAP. The saga's main Impossible Missions Force operative doing whatever it takes, including sprinting everywhere and relentlessly exasperating his higher-ups? Check. A trusty crew faithfully aiding the always-maverick Hunt, plus slippery adversaries to endeavour to outsmart? Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One gives them a hefty thumbs up as well. Shady forces with globe-destroying aims, being able to trust oh-so-few folks, wreaking slickly staged havoc, those jaw-dropping stunts, top-notch actors: Cruise and McQuarrie, the latter co-writing with Erik Jendresen (Ithaca), feel the need to feed it all into the flick, too. They're also rather fond of nodding to and reworking the franchise's greatest hits. Happily playing with recognisable pieces while eagerly, cleverly and satisfyingly building upon them isn't the easiest of skills, but it's firmly in this team's arsenal. When Mission: Impossible — Rogue Nation labelled Hunt "the living manifestation of destiny", it wasn't the series' finest piece of dialogue. There's a sense of humour about hearing him called "a mind-reading, shape-shifting incarnation of chaos" in Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One, though. That description could also be directed at Hunt, Luther Stickell (Ving Rhames, Legacy) and Benji Dunn's (Simon Pegg, The Boys) latest timely enemy: The Entity, an artificial intelligence that's literally killer. Unlike in The Terminator flicks, this AI is content without mechanical bodies to control. Whether in Russian submarines, Abu Dhabi's airport or on careening trains, it does a commanding job of bending both computer programs and people to its will. The aim: to secure that power, a quest that Hunt is on a mission to thwart. Returning from the OG 1996 movie, IMF head Eugene Kittridge (Henry Czerny, Scream VI) initially gives Hunt and company their orders — and once this troupe has been set in motion, little can stop it. So, when the crew punches its "get disavowed by the government again" card, they still stick to the task of tracking down the two-part key that The Entity wants. Terrorist Gabriel (Esai Morales, How to Get Away with Murder) and assassin Paris (Pom Klementieff, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3) are on the AI's side. Jasper Briggs (Shea Whigham, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse) is among the US operatives trying to bring in Hunt. Back from the last instalment, arms dealer White Widow (Vanessa Kirby, The Son) has her own plan, while ex-MI6 agent Ilsa Faust (Rebecca Ferguson, Silo) appears in her third flick in a row to again link in with the usual team. Then there's pickpocket Grace (Hayley Atwell, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness), a newcomer who is accustomed to flying solo. Atwell and Klementieff are scene-stealing additions to the cast, and the always-great Ferguson has been a standout since Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation. Still, as has been teased, talked about and splashed across Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One's poster, Cruise is the one actually physically soaring. What would a Mission: Impossible movie be without flaunting its riskiest stunt, as performed by its stratospheric name himself, as audience bait? Not a McQuarrie-era chapter, that's for sure. When the scene arrives, getting Cruise riding a motorcycle off a towering cliff in an effort to land aboard the hurtling Orient Express, it is indeed breathtaking — and a gripping, nerve-shredding sight to behold. It isn't alone, though, thanks to a tense underwater opening, cat-and-mouse airport antics, Arabian desert horse chases, Fiat-driving Italian Job-style Rome romps and the high-stakes hijinks on Agatha Christie's favourite locomotive itself. Cinematographer Fraser Taggart (Robot Overlords) and editor Eddie Hamilton (back from the last two movies), plus the entire stunt team, help shoot, splice and execute these setpieces rivetingly. Repeatedly besting past Mission: Impossible action triumphs? Mission: accomplished. Twenty-seven years, notching up three pictures now with McQuarrie at the helm, and with Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part Two obviously on the way (arrival: June 2024), there's a well-oiled air to Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One. That said, to run so smoothly requires care, aka someone doing the oiling, which is why there's rarely a well-worn moment or element be seen. Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One covers some ground that John Wick: Chapter 4 and Fast X already have in 2023 (and Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny as well). It eagerly nods to its own past. And it knows that Cruise could just cruise-control his way through, as could his co-stars, if they wanted. Its biggest feat? Lifting everything that it does, and that a Mission: Impossible flick must, again and again so that seeming routine proves, yes, impossible. There's no self-destruction here — just devotion to an intense and entertaining action extravaganza.
It has proven to be a massive year for Big Scary, who have released their highly anticipated follow-up record to 2011's debut, Vacation, and now have a freshly announced national tour that will see the Melbourne duo popping into every corner of Australia. Not Art, the band's second record, saw Tom Iansek and Jo Syme shift into a new direction in terms of sound and production. Though they're primarily known for their alt-rock aesthetic, Iansek has this time sought out new influences from the likes of Kanye West and has thus produced a record that dips into hip hop whilst still maintaining elements of their signature pop sensibilities. On tour, the duo will expand into a four-piece live band — something they've never tried before — in order to fulfil the complex and lush textures heard throughout their record, most prominent in lead singles 'Luck Now' and 'Phil Collins'. Kicking off the proceedings will be Melbourne singer/songwriter Courtney Barnett, whose latest musical adventure and stellar songwriting can be heard in the form of her new single, 'Avant Gardener'. https://youtube.com/watch?v=K_EjSuYWzxA
It's time to say farewell to one of Sydney's most beloved outfits, The Paper Scissors. On August 29 the trio wrote a teary and thankful "au revoir" letter on their official website to announce their indefinite disbanding. Reflecting on the highs and lows of their career as musicians, they wrote: "We'd like to thank everyone who's been with us for the last 7 years. You helped us make music that we are immensely proud of, you let us indulge and you came and got your ears blasted and danced and made our musical lives so much fun." The indie outfit first surfaced in 2005, their unique brand of garage-punk rock glazed over with soul-tinged vocals quickly amassing fans via two albums (Less Talk More Paper Scissors and In Loving Memory), a handful of EPs and their notoriously frenetic live shows. Join them on Saturday night for the last hurrah at The Standard. https://youtube.com/watch?v=H5EqYCBq0E4
The chef behind two top Sydney restaurants is changing tact. He's swapping fine dining and natural wine in sleek surrounds for something cheap, cheerful and ready to cure your hangover: shawarmas. Mat Lindsay, of Chippendale's Ester and Surry Hills' Poly, is teaming up with Russell Beard, Mark Dundon and Jin Ng of Paramount Coffee Project and Paramount House Hotel (in which Poly is located) to open a tiny ten-seat shawarma shop, which is set to launch on Commonwealth Street in early September. As well as opening its doors for those necessary late-night, drunken snacks, the new takeaway spot — dubbed Shwarmama — will also be open for breakfast and lunch. In fact, it'll be open all day. On the menu, it'll have just four options: an Israeli-style breakfast kebab called sabich, with fried eggplant and boiled eggs; a spicy lamb shawarma in laffa flatbread; fried-to-order falafel stuffed in fresh pita with garlic sauce and mango pickle; and a NHSP (not halal snack pack). It'll also be fully licensed, with a red and white wine on tap, as well as beer and a craft soda. https://www.instagram.com/p/BRUwrAAjq2p/ The focus will, of course, be the lamb, which Lindsay will prepare using local NSW meat covered in a spice-heavy marinade, which will then be sliced and slow-cooked on the signature rotisserie. The team will also make all its own sauces, pickles and condiments and there'll be a focus on sustainable packaging. Those whose hangovers often render them bedridden will be happy to know the shop will also offer delivery. So, how did the fine dining chef and three hotel owners decide to open shawarma shop? "We were going through a phase at Ester of making shawarma-style things for Sunday lunches, and got really excited about it," says Lindsay in a statement. "I half-jokingly threw the idea out there to Russell, and here we are." While it does seem like a bit of a curveball move, Lindsay is not the first fine dining chef to throw his hat in the shawarma ring. Late last year, famed chef, cookbook author and owner of the global Momofuku chain David Chang opened Bang Bar, a takeaway spot in New York serving up a Korean take on shawarmas. Shwarmama is slated to open at Shop 2, 106–112 Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills in early September. Top image: Ester.
Spring means plenty of fresh produce at outdoor markets and hours spent lounging by the water. What's better than a day that combines both? Cambridge Markets is popping up in Watsons Bay with the return of the beloved market in 2024. Head to Robertson Park from 10am–4pm on Sunday, October 20, to browse over 150 stalls against the backdrop of the picturesque harbour scene. From boutique homewares and independent fashion labels to speciality crafts and local purveyors, you can shop for a mix of essentials, gifts and items for the home, and feel good knowing you're investing in small independent businesses and local vendors. And don't forget about the food. Between purchases, fill up on market favourites such as paella, bagels, pastries and gozleme, and enjoy a picnic with those sweeping water views. The Cambridge Markets team is behind huge markets across Sydney, from Pittwater to Cronulla, Ryde Wharf and the Entertainment Quarter, so to call the group experienced would be an understatement. The Watsons Bay iteration is for one day only, so prepare a crew and find your deepest tote bag — you'll need it. Head to the website to find out more.
