It's impossible to watch a movie directed by Wong Kar-Wai and mistake it for the work of another filmmaker. As he has kept proving over his 32-year career to-date, his work is just that distinctive. And while the opposite isn't true, either — no one will ever confuse a movie helmed by someone else for one of Wong's efforts — his influence on cinema and his peers is evident in every neon-hued tale of yearning, every mesmerising and aching love story that says as much through its imagery as it does with dialogue, and plenty of martial arts fare as well. Wong makes films to luxuriate in — to truly feast your eyes upon — and, unsurprisingly, Sydney Film Festival and the Australian Centre for the Moving Image want to celebrate that fact, and his work. Accordingly, they're teaming up to present touring program Love & Neon: The Cinema of Wong Kar-Wai. It showcases 11 of the filmmaker's titles, surveying his entire career, and will screen in Sydney from Saturday, January 16–Sunday, January 31 at the Art Gallery of New South Wales and also from Tuesday, January 19–Thursday, February 18 at Dendy Newtown. In the Mood for Love is on the bill, of course, but it isn't the only movie worth checking out on the silver screen. You can also see his debut feature As Tears Go By; Chungking Express, which is inspired by a Haruki Murakami short story; and the touching Happy Together — plus, the rebellious Days of Being Wild, the gorgeous 2046, and Wong's first English-language film My Blueberry Nights. Or, there's also his two martial arts epics: Ashes of Time: Redux and The Grandmaster. You'll be watching restored versions of most of the above, too, including glorious 4K restorations. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfbLJh7-hQY
When Winghaüs set up shop in Sydney, no one needed to guess what kind of food it focused on. You'd best like chicken pieces, because they're on the menu here in a big way — all day, everyday. How does a chook-loving joint up the poultry ante? Across the entire 2020–21 summer, it hosts an event called Wing Fest. Again, it really doesn't require too much explanation. From Tuesday, December 1–Sunday, February 28, Winghaüs isn't just doing its usual wing lineup, though. As well as its nine always-available types of rubs and sauces, the chicken-centric joint is adding a huge 13 more varieties. So, you can pick from 21 different styles — including salt and vinegar, garlic and parmesan, sweet and sour, mango habanero and vindaloo. Ever wondered what chicken wings with chicken salt taste like? That's on offer as well. Chicken may be the focus — either classic or boneless — but you can also opt for cauliflower wings. You'll get one complimentary sauce or rub for every ten-piece serve of wings ($12), with extra sauces and rubs costing $3 each. There are also 20-piece ($22), $50-piece ($49) and 100-piece ($94) options — and beers and cocktails on tap, plus margaritas served frozen, on the rocks and in shareable one-litre steins.
Sadly, after nine years of packed dance floors and support for Sydney's music and art scene, beloved nightclub Freda's will be closing permanently this month. The Chippendale venue will close its doors to the public on Saturday, November 21. But, Freda's is going out with a bang throwing a six-part final celebration over the next three weekends. The Festival of Freda's will begin on Saturday, November 6 with Disco Bongo: the Last Night of Disco, featuring DJ sets from Andy Webb of Disco Delicious and Honey Point. Sunday, November 7 will see Freda's celebrate tits ninth and final birthday, featuring two rooms of live music and DJ sets. The following weekend will feature a live set from local electro-pop group Gauci with support from Freedom Sounds on Saturday, November 13, and a DJ set from Ben Fester and friends the following night. Kicking off on Friday, November 20, Freda's final weekend will include a farewell party thrown by Sydney party collective Vibe Positive, and one last event titled Freda's: The End featuring the Freda's House Band. Head along to celebrate and commemorate a Sydney institution shutting up shop and enjoy Guaci's latest track to get you in the mood. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2-eM5I7s94 All events are seated and limited to 50 people per session due to social distancing regulations. All info and tickets are available at Freda's website. Top Image: Imogen Grist
As part of the flurry of new streaming services competing for our eyeballs, FanForce TV joined the online viewing fold during the COVID-19 pandemic — with the pay-per-view platform not only screening movies, but pairing them with virtual Q&A sessions as well. Now, between Wednesday, November 11–Sunday, November 15 it's also hosting an online film fest: its second Virtual Indigenous Film Festival. The returning event coincides with NAIDOC Week, and will showcase five films: In My Own Words, The Song Keepers, The Flood, Wik vs Queensland and Westwind: Djalu's Legacy. That means you can watch your way through an array of Aussie movies focused on Indigenous stories, spanning both dramas and documentaries — and exploring race relations in the process. Sessions will also feature guest speakers, such as The Flood's writer/director/producer Victoria Wharfe McIntyre, The Song Keepers' filmmaker Naina Sen and Ben Strunin from Westwind: Djalu's Legacy. Viewers can tune in on a film-by-film basis, or buy an all-access pass to tune into everything. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yY3O5LtMo9Q&feature=emb_logo Top image: Westwind: Djalu's Legacy
Gordi may be based in Sydney these days but, given she's originally from nearby Canowindra, her upcoming performance at the Cowra Civic Centre represents something of a homecoming for the indie pop artist. Her most recent album, Our Two Skins, was recorded at her family's farm and released during the global pandemic. Being involved in Great Southern Nights isn't even the first initiative in which Gordi's been involved in 2020; all profits from her single 'The Cost', released in January, were donated to Australian bushfire relief. Be aware that this jaunt to Cowra may be your last chance to see Gordi in such an intimate venue for quite some time as, next year, she'll be supporting alt-country legends Bon Iver on their Australian stadium tour. So, pack your bags, hit the road and catch this one-off gig you're sure to remember.
Sydney's got its fair share of post-pandemic art and cultural events happening at the moment and, now, it's getting a brand new museum. Located within the University of Sydney's Camperdown campus, the Chau Chak Wing Museum will open to the public on Wednesday, November 18, bringing together the tertiary educator's artistic, scientific, cultural and archaeological collections all in the one spot. To celebrate its launch, the four-level, 2000-square-metre museum will be showing 18 new exhibitions, from an exploration of Ancient Rome and The Mummy Room to an immersive installation by contemporary Aussie artist Daniel Boyd and a major showcase of art from eastern Arnhem Land titled Gululu dhuwala djalkiri: welcome to the Yolŋu foundations, demonstrating 100 years of Yolŋu knowledge sharing through painting and sculpture. In the Natural Selections exhibition, you'll find plenty of bird, mammal, fish and shell specimens, plus a rare giant beetle collected in the 18th century. Or, check out Coastline, an art exhibition of works depicting the oceanic and coastal landscapes by Aussie artists like Grace Cossington Smith, Arthur Streeton and J W Power. The Museum is free to enter and will also host talks, educational programs and guided tours. The Chau Chak Wing Museum opens to the public on November 18 and is open 10am–5pm Monday–Wednesday, 10am–9pm Thursday and 12–4pm Saturday and Sunday. The Museum will be closed from December 23, 2020 and will re-open on January 7, 2021.
There hasn't been much to say cheers to in 2020, or many opportunities to do so out of the house. But between Thursday, November 19–Sunday, November 22, you'll be able to raise a few glasses and wander around Sydney, all as part of the boozy new Whisk(e)y on The Rocks festival. Yes, this fest is taking place in The Rocks, where you'll wander your way between four festival zones across two hours. Just where you start is up to you, with each space offering something different as part of your $25 ticket — with that price including seven tokens for samples. At Campbell's Cove, you'll find the The Fever-Tree High Ball Bar. Obviously, highballs are on offer here. So too is mixing and matching, depending on what whiskeys, whiskys and mixers you feel like. And the Glenfiddich 'Whisky Wanderer' bus will also be stationed onsite, complete with its own bar slinging samples. Next, at 47 George Street and 6–8 Atherdon Street, you'll be sipping Maker's Mark, Dead Rabbit's and Wild Turkey. There'll be multiple spaces, enabling you to pick your preferred tipple and your favourite spot. Then, on Playfair Street, the Monkey Shoulder Mixer Truck will be pumping out blended malt scotch neat, on the rocks or in cocktails poured straight out of said giant mixer. Finally, The Argyle Courtyard will be celebrating 200 years of Johnnie Walker, so you know what's on offer here. As well as the four festival zones, you can mosey through The Rocks Whisk(e)y Trail, which includes The Argyle, The Doss House, Mrs Jones Bar at The Orient Hotel, the Copper Dog Courtyard at The Push, The Mercantile Hotel, Sergeant Lok, Tayim, Fortune of War and Maybe Sammy. And, although they haven't been announced as yet, the fest program will also feature masterclasses — which will be ticketed separately. Whisk(e)y on The Rocks tickets go on sale at 2pm on Wednesday, October 14. You'll need to pick your day and your session, with timeslots at 5.30–7.30pm and 8–10pm each night, plus extras at 3–5pm Friday–Sunday and 12.30–2.30pm Saturday–Sunday.
Since the 1980s, Sydney collective Erth has been pushing the boundaries of innovative theatre with its much-loved puppetry performances. Erth's work educates while it entertains and Duba — as well as its sister show Badu at the Maritime Museum — is no exception. Ticketholders will venture into a living underworld to learn about rare, endangered creatures, meet living fungi and encounter the world that lives beneath our feet. Developed in conjunction with international conservation zoos, Duba highlights the vulnerability and fragility of our land-based ecosystems and the creatures that inhabit it. It's set to be a ground-breaking and unforgettable experience at Carriageworks for Sydney Festival. Images: Yaya Stempler
On a couple of occasions this year, McDonald's has spread some lockdown cheer by offering burger-loving customers free delivery. Now, with stores open for in-person dining around the country, it's doing something different — serving up daily specials for the entire month of November. This isn't the first time that the chain has run its 30 Days 30 Deals promotion — but it's kicking it off for 2020 with quite the offer. On Sunday, November 1, burger lovers can pick up 50-cent cheeseburgers. All you need to do is order through the MyMaccas app, select the deal, then mosey on down to your closest McDonald's to pick it up. Throughout the rest of the month, a new special will pop up each day. Think $2 Big Macs, $1 McFlurrys and $1.50 thickshakes, as well as $8 share packs, $5 small McChicken meals with a cheeseburger and $8 for two small Quarter Pounder meals.
Australia's first 100-percent plant-based hotel bar Alibi will be serving up special plant-based menu items throughout November in honour of World Vegan Month. From Sunday, November 1, you'll find unique vegan treats on the Alibi menu each week of November, as well as $10 spritzes and $6 beers throughout the month. Expect $10 plant-based cheeseburgers, $1 mac 'n' cheese balls, $10 cheesy dogs and $5 cauliflower bites. You'll also be able to enjoy Alibi's regular vegan offerings including high tea, an eight-course tasting menu and kitchen classics like tacos and bao. Alibi Bar is open from 4pm each day and you can reserve your spot over at the website. Alibi is located in the Woolloomooloo Ovolo Hotel who recently announced it would be going 100-percent vegetarian in all their hotels across Australia and Hong Kong for a full year. The initiative titled 'year of the veg' began on World Vegetarian Day on October 1. WORLD VEGAN MONTH LINEUP Week 1 (November 1–8) — $10 cheeseburgers Week 2 (November 9–15) — $1 mac 'n' cheese balls Week 3 (November 16–22) — $10 cheesy dogs Week 4 (November 23–30) — $5 cauliflower bites
If 2020 has you thinking about the simple things in life — good food, good booze and nice threads, for example — then block out the weekend of Friday, November 6–Sunday, November 8 in your diary. That's when Sorry Thanks I Love You, P&V Wine + Liquor Merchants' Mike Bennie and Saint Peter's Josh Niland are all joining forces to celebrate all of the above at an event they've dubbed Rack Off. There'll be bites to eat, with Niland and his Fish Butchery team taking care of the menu. They'll be whipping up those famed sea urchin crumpets, too. And to wash all that tastiness down, there'll also be natural and biodynamic wines by the glass and bottle. [caption id="attachment_601490" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Saint Peter, Nikki To[/caption] The main attraction, though, is the fundraising fashion sale. Across two mini warehouse spaces at 17 Oxford Street, Paddington, you'll be able to browse and buy — with items from Comme des Garçons, Issey Miyake, Veja, Rains, Rick Owens, Maison Margiela, Mykita, Hender Scheme, Sulvam, Lucy Folk and Bassike all on offer. Expect to nab a discount, feel like you're in a high-end boutique, but also hang out and drink and eat. A portion of the profits will be donated to integrated cancer hospital Chris O'Brien Lifehouse — and, at the checkout, you can play a game of paper, scissors, rock to either score 10 percent off your purchase or commit to donate 10 percent to the hospital. Rack Off runs daily from 10am–6pm. Top image: Joey Clark.
Every year across ten days, FOOD (Food of Orange District) Week shows off the best fare from 'The Food Basket' of New South Wales, including the best local produce, chefs and restaurants, as well as cool-climate wines. Of course, like many events, the annual affair was cancelled in 2020 — so you can bet it's coming back with a bang this time round. Not to mention, the event will be celebrating its 30th year, making it Australia's longest running regional food festival. Overall, you can expect six signature events, as well as over 90 smaller events hosted at local restaurants and cellar doors. Kick-start your culinary adventure at the FOOD HQ to pick the brains of local farmers, chefs and providores and buy their produce directly from them. Or, picnic in Patina Wines' lush garden or have a boozy Italian feast at Antica Australis, with a menu of locally sourced venison, chicken, artisanal cheese, wild honey, foraged forest mushrooms and, to finish, blue cheese gelato. On Monday, April 12, you can head to the 30th Anniversary Dinner for $150 a head. Here, you'll be treated to dishes created by the region's young-gun chefs, such as Richard Learmonth, Dom Aboud and Lily Hahn-Stevens, as well as paired glasses of top-notch local vino. There are several more gourmet experiences to be had during the week in Orange, including Meet the Producer workshops, running daily from April 12–16, and the Orange Farmers Market on April 10. Plus, fun activities such as Graze in the Maze at Cadogan Country House on April 10; Yoga in the Vines at Stockman's Ridge Wines on April 11; and Ballooning, Breakfast and Bubbles in nearby Canowindra, which is running throughout the festival. Then, on the final day, be sure to hit up the Sunday Producer Market at Cook Park, where you can pick up a stack of gourmet goodies before venturing home, as well as enjoy a leisurely al fresco brunch. To check out the full program — and buy tickets — head to the Orange FOOD Week website.
Thought bingo was for your nan? Think again. It's also for you — or perhaps, if she's a groovy gran, for the both of you. Hijacking the traditional format of bingo with raves, conga lines and lip sync battles, Bingo Loco is 50-percent one of those strange dreams you get after eating too much cheese and 50-percent just a walloping good time. This isn't Bingo Loco's first time in Sydney; however, when it returns on Saturday, February 27, it'll do so as part of a new Bingo Loco Rainbow Rave event. Time to coincide with Mardi Gras, this one-off will let Sydneysiders dance and celebrate in a COVID-19-safe way, all at the Enmore Theatre. Sabrina Babyslut will be playing host, while confetti showers will go off throughout the night (perhaps wear your glasses). Bingo ravers will compete for ultimate glory (and prizes) over the course of multiple rounds. In between the traditional bingo games, you'll be expected to groove to classic 90s rave bangers, partake in dance-offs, and battle others for lip sync queen titles. Basically, be prepared for many high-octane, energetic activities — gone are the days of simply raising your hand when you've got a full sheet of numbers. Doing your stretches and vocal warm-ups first are advised. You'll vie for prizes, which in the past have included Coachella tickets, boats and cars, among other goldmines. Bingo Loco has been running across the globe for a few years and now will trumpet its way around Australia once more, with proceeds going to the Make-A-Wish Foundation Australia. Tickets are on sale now — by the table, starting at $296.60 for four people and going up to $724.80 for ten people.
If there's one thing that the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles taught everyone as a kid — other than the names of famous artists, of course — it's that pizza can't be beaten. That said, there is actually one thing that's better than a regular slice. It's a free slice, obviously. Between 5–9pm from Sunday, January 31–Tuesday, February 2, Made in Italy's new Five Dock eatery will be slinging just that to celebrate its launch. Freebies will be handed out for pick-up orders, and you'll need to register in advance. Fill out the online form, and you'll then receive instructions as well as a code to redeem the offer. And as for the doughy delights themselves, just how Made in Italy makes its pizzas is all there in the name. Its Five Dock store joins the chain's other eateries in the CBD, Alexandria, Annandale, Pyrmont and Rose Bay.
Sydney's intimate, boutique Golden Age Cinema is teaming up with Four Pillars Gin for a mini booze and film festival. Each Wednesday night from February 3–March 3, the 56-seat Surry Hills spot is hosting double bills paired with gin cocktails. It's quite the lineup, too, with a little something for everyone on the bill. The festival is called Summer is Cinema, so that's the kind of tone it's going for — whether road movies, hazy escapades or out-there journeys are hitting the screen. First up on February 3 is Wes Anderson's The Darjeeling Limited — because the venue has also been running a season dedicated to the director — followed by seminal 90s classic Thelma and Louise. Or, if you're in the mood for a different kind of cinematic trip, perhaps February 10's pair of The Beach Bum and Inherent Vice will appeal. The next week, on February 17, Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window will heat up the screen, accompanied by Spike Lee's iconic Do the Right Thing. Then, on February 24 comes Studio Ghibli's Spirited Away and Alexandro Jodorowsky's The Holy Mountain, both classics in their own distinctive ways. Finally, Badlands and Wild at Heart will wrap things up on March 3 with a lovers-on-the-run duo. These flicks will all get a beverage to match, made with Four Pillar's juniper spirits. The first screenings each evening kick off between 6–6.10pm, then the second start between 8.15–8.40pm — but we suggest you get there a little earlier for the drinks. Tickets cost $22.50 for each film.
Gerardo López of Kensington Mexican restaurant La Tortilleria is hosting online cooking classes to bring the art of Mexican cuisine into your home. For $80 you'll be sent a box of ingredients and a list of things you'll need to source yourself. You'll then be able to log on from 6pm on a Friday to join Lopez for a cooking masterclass. Lopez is running the class the first three Fridays of October, and spots are limited. If you can't make it, Lopez expects there to be more classes in November so keep your eyes out and follow the chef on Instagram. You'll start the night by creating margaritas, guided by special guest bartenders from Sonder. Once you have your drink in hand, you'll then make a traditional guacamole, your choice of fish or cauliflower ceviche and tinga tacos. Another bartender from On Top Bar will guide you through a second mezcal cocktail during the night to ensure you don't run dry, and the meal will be capped off by a dessert by Dulce Beso's Shai. Non-drinkers can purchase a version of the ingredients without the goods needed for the cocktails for $60 and join the class with water or a non-alcoholic beer in hand. All the profits from the cooking class are being donated to Friends for Good, a volunteer-driven not-for-profit that strives to help people connect with others and improve Australians wellbeing.
International travel could possibly be back on the cards for Australians by Christmas, but you'll be able to get a 26-film glimpse of Italy first. The reason: the 2021 Italian Film Festival. As it does every year, it's showcasing a stacked lineup of new and classic cinema from its chosen part of the globe, as part of its touring program. For Sydneysiders, this year's fest will arrive in late October, in line with New South Wales' roadmap out of lockdowns. From Wednesday, October 27–Sunday, November 21, movie buffs will want to head to Palace Norton, Palace Verona, Palace Central and Chauvel Cinema to get their Italian film fix. The fest opens with The Ties — and with a marriage in crisis. Starring Alba Rohrwacher (Happy as Lazzaro) and Luigi Lo Cascio (Human Capital), and helmed by Daniele Luchetti (La Nostra Vita, My Brother is an Only Child), this moving film follows a couple's tumultuous romance over the course of decades. It comes to the Italian Film Festival after opening last year's Venice Film Festival, and becoming the first Italian movie in more than a decade to do the latter. At the other end of the 2021 Italian Film Festival, the event will close with a classic: Roberto Rosselini's Rome, Open City. It's part of a four-film retrospective of the director's work, and also falls within the fest's look back at iconic Italian leading ladies. This event always comes with a big appreciation for Italy's filmmaking past, which is where documentary Fellini Forward: From the Creative Genius of Federico Fellini, about the acclaimed director, also fits in. Elsewhere, festival highlights include Cannes Film Festival Director's Fortnight winner To Chiara, about a 15-year-old who discovers her father might have criminal ties; Nanni Moretti's Three Floors, which is set across a Rome apartment block; Hidden Away, a biopic about artist Antonio Ligabue; and You Came Back, a thriller that makes ample use of Venice's lagoons. Or, there's also comedy Three Perfect Daughters; drama Tigers, about footballer Martin Bengtsson; and Sirley, which sees director Elisa Amoruso draw upon her adolescence for her first fictional film.
Where would we be without movies over the past 18 months? Even when cinemas have been closed for hefty portions of 2020 and 2021 in different parts of the country, we've all still sought out the joy and escapism of watching a flick — because when you're in lockdown, quarantining or isolating at home, or just spending more time indoors in general, it's particularly cathartic. Still keen to queue up a big heap of movies, and a hefty dose of couch time? Enter Movie Frenzy, the returning week-long online film rental sale. From Friday, October 1–Thursday, October 7, it's serving up a sizeable lineup of popular flicks from the past year, all for under $3 per movie. On the lineup: page-to-screen Aussie drama The Dry, long-awaited horror sequel A Quiet Place Part II, Bob Odenkirk aping John Wick in Nobody, and Jason Statham and Guy Ritchie teaming up again with Wrath of Man. The monster melee that is Godzilla vs Kong, the Chris Rock-starring Spiral: From the Book of Saw and Denzel Washington-led thriller The Little Things are also on the list, as is everything from Monster Hunter, Penguin Bloom, June Again and War with Grandpa to Tom and Jerry, The Croods: A New Age and Peter Rabbit 2. And while some are more worth your attention than others, we'll let you do the choosing. You can nab the cheap flicks via your digital rental platform of choice, including Apple TV, Fetch, Google Play, the Microsoft Store, Amazon Prime Video, Telstra TV Box Office and YouTube Movies — although just what's available, and the price, will vary depending on the service. Also, you won't need a subscription, unless you decide to join in the fun via the Foxtel Store.
What better way is there to end your week than a cleansing boogie on the dance floor. Reset yourself for the coming week with a Sunday session presented by Sydney party people Picnic. After a successful stint at Opera Bar, Picnic Social has moved to a new home at the Kings Cross Hotel rooftop. Gather the gang, farewell your weekend and psych yourself up for the week ahead with a few drinks, an openair rooftop, something to eat and a soundtrack of live tunes. That's all on offer as part of this weekly event's lineup, which takes over the venue each Sunday from 3pm–midnight. The bill changes weekly, but you can look forward to a heap of local talent. The first iteration of Picnic Social saw the likes of Setwun & Soulstranauts, Marco Vella and Lazywax grace the stage, plus DJ sets from Simon Caldwell, Kali and Lauren Hansom. The inaugural lineup for Picnic Social 2.0 in Kings Cross will feature a live set from Kiri, plus local DJs Bocconcini, Simon Caldwell and Clutch 4 Love. Images: Carlos Walters Updated Friday, December 10
Sweet-toothed Sydneysiders, rejoice — Sugar Republic, Australia's dessert-themed installation experience, is back for another serving this November. And if you think you've seen it all before, here's some extra-great news for all you candy lovers: the 2021 season will be bigger, and will also mix familiar attractions with new rooms and installations. Sugar Republic's previous Aussie iterations included a giant gumball machine that you can climb inside, and that's returning this time. But you'll also be able to jump out of a life-sized birthday cake, check out a huge lolly jar and see a rather big jelly — if super-sized sweets are your thing, that is. Still on that topic, the new Sydney setup will include a game of giant doughnut Connect Four, too, when it heads to The Rocks from Sunday, November 6. Also on the lineup: a prize claw machine you can crawl into, a pool of marshmallows that you can swim through, a sprinkles ball pit, chocolate and popcorn swings, and a wild west saloon dedicated to Bubble-O Bills. Yes, it sounds like the kind of place that Willy Wonka might own, complete with a scratch 'n' sniff wall where you'll guess the lollies, a living room dedicated to iconic Australian biscuits, art devoted to milk bars by Frida Las Vegas and a party zone to celebrate the 130th birthday of sweets brand Allen's. Each time that Sugar Republic pops up, it's always OTT. Basically, if you missed out on visiting New York's Museum of Ice Cream back in 2016, this is Australia's equivalent. Typically these kind of places are designed to be as photogenic and Instagram-friendly as possible, so expect plenty of pics to clog your Instagram feed. Exactly how long Sugar Republic will hit up Sydney this time hasn't been revealed; however, tickets are currently on sale until Thursday, December 23. And yes, free lollies and ice cream are part of the $38 admission price. Also, you can use Dine and Discover vouchers at the door.
There's one surefire way to keep those autumn shivers at bay, and that's a hefty dose of chilli. Or, in this case, a whole month of it thanks to two Sydney bars — Cronulla institution Northies and Mona Vale's Park House — which are teaming up with local brewery Young Henrys and spiced whisky brand Fireball to celebrate the spicy peppers in all their glory. First up, Northies will see its third iteration of the fiery fest, complete with spicy eats and tongue-tingling drinks. The kitchen is fuelling the burn with a chilli-charged special menu, featuring dishes like jalapeño poppers, TNT pizza and Fireball-glazed chicken wings. There'll also be a 'death wagon' rolling around the bar stocked with 50 hot sauces, which you can add to any dish. Meanwhile, the bar is coming to the party with some spicy treats of its own. Get cosy with a chilli-choc espresso martini or a heavily Tabasco-loaded bloody mary. Or, cool things down a little with a Young Henrys chelada of lime and habanero chillis topped with Young Henrys Natural Lager. To signify the fest's two sponsors, it's also letting you add a shot of Fireball for just $5 when you order any Young Henrys beer. Naturally, Northies will play host to chilli eating competitions, which will go down every Sunday arvo throughout the month. Expect to start off on the milder side as you work your way up to a carolina reaper. Sign up to compete in the competition here. Or, you can watch from a safe distance with tastebuds still intact. Over at Park House's chilli celebrations, there'll just be the one chilli chewing comp, taking place from 2pm on March 27 (sign up here). But, you can still expect a heap of chilli-loaded food and drink specials over the month — think chipotle cheeseburgers and chilli wings paired with burny bevvies like the spicy twist on a classic margarita, the Death by Marg. Head to Northies and Park House's respective websites for the full rundown.
Combining tequila, orange liqueur and lime juice, a classic margarita isn't all that complicated. But, this beloved cocktail can also be rather versatile. If you've grabbed a meal and a drink at El Camino Cantina, you've probably tasted one or several non-traditional varieties. And if you head by the lively Tex-Mex chain's Sydney venues in The Rocks, Manly Wharf, Entertainment Quarter and Westfield Miranda between Tuesday, March 2–Sunday, May 30, you'll be able to sip a few beloved types. After running a Hottest 100 Rita poll — and receiving more than 3000 votes — El Camino has announced exactly which varieties Aussies love. Prepare to drink your way through mango, watermelon, passionfruit and grape Nerds flavours over the next three months. All four are available cadillac-style, which means they come with a float of Grand Marnier. You'll pay $20 for a 15-ounce drink and $24. Prefer El Camino's signature strawberry margarita? It also remains on the menu. At The Rocks only, an extra four flavours are on offer as well. So, we hope you like lychee and fruit tingle ritas, and sour apple and calypso crush versions, too. Images: Michael Gribbin.
Sometimes, when a movie hits cinemas, it doesn't always play out exactly as the person behind it had hoped. The flick you're watching mightn't match the filmmaker's vision for a hefty number of reasons — but that's where director's cuts come in. We live in an age where a filmmaker can be replaced, have someone else take over, fans can complain about the finished product and the original director can then step back in and make a new four-hour version — see: the upcoming new version of Justice League — so of course we also live in a world where film festivals can celebrate these kinds of revised flicks. That's what The Directors' Cuts is all about, with Dendy Newtown showing a heap of familiar titles, but in iterations you mightn't have seen before. Blade Runner's director's cut is one of the most famous, and it's on the bill. 2o19's Apocalypse Now: Final Cut falls into both categories, too. You can also check out 2020's The Godfather Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone, longer versions of the vastly dissimilar Midsommar and Lion, plus The Exorcist, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Blood Simple, The Wicker Man, and both Alien and Aliens. The Directors' Cuts runs from Friday, February 26–Wednesday, March 17, with different films screening at different dates and times — so check out the full rundown for session details. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9l-ViOOFH-s
There's something oh-so-relaxing about staring at the sea, even if you're feasting your eyes on the water via the big screen. That's the concept behind the Ocean Film Festival Australia. You can't always spend all your time at the beach, by the river or in a pool — but you can spend an evening peering at the next best thing in a cinema. On select dates in March, screening at 7pm, the festival will unleash a cinematic feast of water-focused wonders onto the silver screen at various venues around Sydney. Head to the Randwick Ritz Cinemas from Tuesday, March 2–Wednesday, March 3, to the Hayden Orpheum in Cremorne from Wednesday, March 3–Friday, March 5 and the Seymour Centre in Chippendale from Wednesday, March 10–Thursday, March 11. Film-wise, viewers will spend time both above and below the ocean's surface thanks to a compilation of shorts from around the world. Expect to chase big waves, explore a range of sea life and get a hefty ocean rush, plus a heap of other sea adventures. The program is united by a love of the ocean, an appreciation of the creatures who dwell in its waters and a curiosity to explore the substance that comprises more than two-thirds of the earth. It's the next best thing to diving in, all without getting wet. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wo-qXf5sXAw&feature=emb_logo Image: Travis Burke.
Sydney's cinema scene started off the year with a deep dive into the wondrous cinematic worlds of Wes Anderson. But, when this filmmaker is involved, you can never have too much of a good thing. So, from Thursday, February 4–Wednesday, February 24, Dendy Newtown is falling head over heels for the acclaimed director's work, too — via a film series called Fantastic Mr Wes: A Wes Anderson Retrospective. Film buffs can enjoy Anderson's distinctive visual stylings, compelling soundtracks and all-star casts, with the inner west venue playing different flicks multiple times across the three-week period. First up, catch 1996 crime-comedy Bottle Rocket, followed by the Jason Schwartzman-led hit Rushmore, the family dramas of The Royal Tenenbaums and the stop-motion animation delight that is Fantastic Mr Fox. Also on the bill: The Darjeeling Limited (which'll help you vicariously indulge your wanderlust), The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou (if you feeling like wearing matching tracksuits with your movie date) and Isle of Dogs (because no one does animated canines like Anderson) — plus Moonrise Kingdom's tale of young love and the exceptionally cast The Grand Budapest Hotel as well. Fingers crossed that 2021 is the year we all finally get to see Anderson's latest, the pandemic-delayed The French Dispatch, too. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rs7mIoG8ffI
Looking to wind down after silly season in search of a wholesome way to spend a summer's day? Well, The Rocks is here to the rescue thanks to its string of pop-up events set to take over the harbourside precinct till the end of summer. First up is The Rocks Art Trail (December 28–February 28), which is an artist, maker and designer trail championing local retailers throughout The Rocks' cobblestone streets. Then, hit up The Rocks' Gin and Toning event, happening every Wednesday from January 20–February 24. The event kicks off at 5.30pm with a free pilates class in First Fleet Park, then, after attending, you'll score a free gin cocktail voucher to use at Sergeant Lok that evening. Or, you can kick back at The Argyle's openair cinema on a Wednesday instead, which is screening the likes of Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues, Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Wedding Crashers over summer. And, for a pre- or post-movie tipple, sip Iced VoVo and Fruit Tingle-inspired margaritas at El Camino Cantina. You can also head to the year-round The Rocks Markets, which is once again running on Fridays from 10am–3pm, as well as on Saturdays and Sundays from 10am–5pm. Here, you can pick up an array of goodies and even get bendy with its free outdoor yoga sessions. The precinct is also set to be a hive of activity come January 26, with a specialty high tea by way of Tea Cosy — think fairy bread, Vegemite sangas and lamington iced tea galore. Plus, there'll be roving performers and entertainment and a kids' corner at First Fleet Park. [caption id="attachment_795905" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Anna Kucera[/caption] The Rocks Goes Pop runs from December 27, 2020 through February 28, 2021. For more details, head to therocks.com.au.
This planet we all call home is constantly in flux. After the year everyone has just been through, that shouldn't be news. And, it isn't a new topic to Australia's annual Transitions Film Festival either. Based in Melbourne — and touring its program around the country on occasion over the past decade — it routinely programs films on the topic. In 2021, it's continuing that mission, too. There is something different about this year's Transitions Film Festival lineup, however. For the first time, the festival is jumping online. In collaboration with MPavilion, it is still hosting a physical screening of documentary Beyond the Burning in Melbourne on February 23 — but from February 26–March 15, it's streaming its selection of films digitally. Available on an on-demand basis (so you can view whatever you like whenever you like), the program includes plenty of factual flicks on topics as broad as walking barefoot across America (as seen in Barefoot), youth activism (the subject of NOW), a lawsuit against an animal rights advocate (The Walrus and The Whistleblower) and the benefits of adopting a universal basic income (Inherent Good). Or, you can dive into the sea with An Ocean Story, watch the fight against plastic pollution via Microplastic Madness, see the threats to Canada's Boreal forests in Borealis and tackle blazes in Megafires. Elsewhere, The Hidden Life of Trees takes its name from Peter Wohlleben's best-selling book, and continues its focus on forest. And, Invisible Hand dives into the battle between capitalism and nature — and it's produced by Mark Ruffalo. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzDFF0y-O9w Top image: The Hidden Life of Trees, 2019, Constantin Film Verleih GmbH, nautilusfilm.
Already known for its bottomless vegan pizza and pasta feasts, Italian restaurant chain Salt Meats Cheese has been upping its cruelty-free food game at a monthly special event. Called Soul Meets Cheers, it serves up an entirely plant-based menu, featuring vegan versions of Italian classics. For the feast's February outing — taking place at all Sydney venues from 5pm on Tuesday, February 2 — it'll be focusing on bites to eat inspired the northern region of Lombardy in Italy. Think polenta fries with napoletana sauce, three-pumpkin pizza and Milanese-style risotto. And yes, that's just a few of the dishes on offer. Your $49 ticket also includes a glass of vegan wine or or Young Henrys beer or cider upon arrival.
Sydney Festival has always been synonymous with live music, and after a year of very few opportunities to dance and sing along to live tunes, the festival is teaming up with the city's live music venues to bring us a suite of intimate gigs. Waywards, Club Parramatta, The Marly, The Lansdowne and the Old 505 are all hosting local musicians, record label owners and DJs from January 16–23. You can see Triple J favourites E^ST and Jaguar Jonze at the Seymour Centre, Alice Ivy and futurist R&B project KYVA at Waywards, Emily Wurramara at Eternity Playhouse and Haiku Hands at The Albion Hotel. Tickets range from $15 up to $95 for a night of cabaret, and as spaces are limited some gigs are already running a waitlist. Okenyo image: Kate Williams
Get lost in an immersive and inflatable installation called Harbour Garden this winter. Located by the water at the Australian National Maritime Museum, the pop-up artwork is inspired by what lingers under the sea. Expect to encounter ocean creatures big and small as you explore the artwork. It's been designed by Studio A, an organisation that supports artists living with intellectual disability, and Goldberg Aberline Studio, which has created large-scale sculptures for the likes of Sculpture by the Sea and Mardi Gras. In a big win for those with light pockets, you can explore Harbour Garden without spending a cent, too.
After humble beginnings at its hole-in-the-wall Wynyard digs in 2014, Black and White Espresso Bar has found a new home in The Rocks. And, to celebrate its new harbourside address (and liquor licence), the coffee shop and bar is giving away some irresistible treats. On Friday, June 4, check out the brand new store — you'll find it perched right next to the MCA at 140 George Street — at the official launch party, featuring giveaways, games and more. The first 100 coffee orders placed from 7am will nab a flaky Portuguese tart from Clovelly institution Tuga Pastries for zero dollars. Single O parachute coffee units will be floating out for free, too. And if guessing games are your specialty, have a crack at the cookie jar comp to win a $25 voucher to spend in store. If you stop by after work on the launch day, you can grab a free Mr Black espresso martini between 5–6pm to usher in the store's new bar offering. Although, there are only 100 caffeinated cocktails up for grabs, so best get in quick. [caption id="attachment_762031" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kitti Gould[/caption] Black & White Espresso Bar's official launch party will be held on Friday, June 4. The free Mr Black espresso martinis are only available for people aged 18 and over, and are limited to one per customer. For more information, visit the website. Black and White Espresso encourages the responsible service of alcohol.
Throughout autumn, Golden Age Cinema and Bar flirted with darkness. It contemplated fate, twisty rendezvous and chance meetings, in fact, all through its season-long film program. Now, with winter upon us, it's still exploring the shadows — this time via a lineup that it has fitting called Shadow Play. Expect to see a few shady characters grace the Surry Hills venue's big screen each weekend between Saturday, June 5–Sunday, April 15. Expect noir thrillers, twisty crime sagas, all-night adventures and quests for eternal youth, too. Private detectives will make more than a few appearances, as will femme fatales. And more than one acclaimed actor will play famed fictional PI Philip Marlowe. Among the highlights: The Big Lebowski, which kicks off the season with a big dose of The Dude; Blade Runner, because this Ridley Scott-directed dystopian tale never gets old; After Hours, Martin Scorsese's Manhattan-set after-dark caper; and Inherent Vice, which sees Paul Thomas Anderson spin a shaggy dog tale in 70s Los Angeles. Everything from The Maltese Falcon, The Big Sleep and Le cercle rouge to The Long Goodbye, To Die For and Death Becomes Her also features — screening at various times on Saturdays and Sundays. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQRawYZl-ls
Earlier this autumn, Sydney's CBD got a new precinct. Dubbed YCK Laneways, it encompasses 15 bars located across York, Clarence and Kent streets — and it's turning up the heat this winter. Across the 13-night program, the bars and their surrounding outdoor areas will come alive with live music, tarot readings, crime stories, DJs, drag queen bingo and 90s-themed music nights. You'll be able to boogie to Caribbean tunes at The Lobo, Latin American melodies at Esteban, live jazz at Stitch Bar and deep house in Since I Left You's courtyard, too. Or, you can wander over to Barrack Street's outdoor stage, where different musicians are performing each night. You can browse the full program and stay up to date on everything happening in the YCK precinct via the YCK Laneways website. [caption id="attachment_805684" align="alignnone" width="1024"] The Lobo[/caption] Top images: Since I Left You
A new night market has been added to the Sydney event calendar. Following the success of other after-dark food festivities like the Night Noodle Market and the Lunar Lane Night Markets, Vegan NSW has announced they will be taking over Sydney Olympic Park with a market full of vegan and plant-based eats. After a successful iteration of the Sydney Vegan Market in Sydney Olympic Park back in January, as well as pop-ups in Newcastle and Gosford, the Vegan Night Market will debut from 2–9pm on Saturday, June 5. Stores will range from vegan Greek eats to ethically sourced artisan good from the likes of I Should Be Souvlaki, Treat Dreams and The 3 Amigos. Entry to the markets is free and you can bring your pooch as it will be a dog-friendly affair. Vegan musicians will be setting the mood with performances throughout the night, and it's encouraged you bring your own picnic rug to set up in the Cathy Freeman Park, as well as your own cup, container and cutlery in line with the market's environmentally sustainable ethos.
How do we see each other? Can we find any real meaning in the idea of a global family anymore? And is the idea even relevant in a world in which societies are battling both a pandemic and deep-seated social injustice? These questions form the launching point for Family: Visions of a Shared Humanity, a major exhibition now showing at the Art Gallery of NSW until February 13. Created in partnership with AGNSW and Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM), this free exhibition showcases a suite of powerful works by some of the most renowned artists practicing right now. The exhibition of mostly video works showcases artists including Arthur Jafa, whose work 'Love Is the Message, the Message Is Death' was named by The New York Times as one of 'The 25 Works of Art That Define the Contemporary Age'; Carrie Mae Weems, who in 2014 became the first female Black American artist to have a retrospective at the Guggenheim; and acclaimed filmmakers Steve McQueen (12 Years A Slave, Shame) and Isaac Julien. The showcase has been guest curated by Franklin Sirmans, director of PAMM. [caption id="attachment_838245" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Theaster Gates, 'Breathing' 2010 (video still). Image: Chris Strong courtesy Theaster Gates.[/caption] The works, many of which have never been shown in Australia, explore issues of togetherness and family through a lens of inequality and injustice. And while they comment on the international context of these themes, a local perspective is also explored through The Family Album. This digital music extension of the exhibition sees four First Nations musicians — namely, amby downs, BARKAA, Emily Wurramara and Divide and Dissolve — responding to the exhibition, and to our current times of unsettlement, by sharing their global contemporary musical influences. For the full experience, take a walk through the exhibition while listening to one of the curated playlists, which can be accessed here. Family: Visions of a Shared Humanity, is exhibiting until Sunday, February 13. For more information head to the AGNSW website. Top images: Isaac Julien, 'Western Union: small boats (The leopard)' 2007 (video still), image courtesy the artist and Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery; Garrett Bradley, 'America' 2019 (video still), image courtesy the artist and Lisson Gallery.
Picture this: it's the middle of the work week, you're already exhausted and feel like you're crawling to the Friday finish line. Sound familiar? If you're considering taking the night off doing the dishes or you want to treat yourself to a midweek lunch out of the office but don't want to blow your budget, then listen up because EatClub's Feast Week will be right up your alley. EatClub is an app for people who love to eat and be fiscally responsible at once. It helps connect hungry humans with vacant restaurant tables to ensure you can enjoy the best food in the city more often and business owners can feed as many mouths as possible. And, from Monday, May 24 to Sunday, June 6, you can score $5 takeaway dishes from some of Sydney's top dining destinations for breakfast, lunch and dinner for Feast Week. But, don't let the name fool you, this is actually a fortnight worth of tasty treats for the average price of a coffee. To get involved, all you have to do is order and pay through the app then pick up your food from the venue to tuck in to a delectable and affordable dinner. Grab $5 eats from places like Bondi Relish, Stage 27 and Mr Bao Buns during Feast Week and then thank us later. Feast Week is running from Monday, May 24–Sunday, June 6. For more information and to see all the participating restaurants, visit the website here.
Pier One's harbourfront igloos are back. And, this year, they're offering a particularly dazzling place to enjoy Sydney's winter. Those hankering after waterside drinks will be able to get sipping in a lit-up space, with one igloo surrounded by with cherry blossom trees adorned with light globes. In case you're wondering, the igloos aren't made of snow and ice. They're transparent dome-shaped structures that you can hire for yourself and up to nine mates (socially distanced, of course). You will need to be willing to indulge in a few cocktails, glasses of champagne and snacks — choosing between canapes, grazing boards or a barbecue. To hire out the cherry blossom igloo, you have to spend $400–700 on food and drinks for your 2.5-hour session, and pay a $200–300 hire fee. The minimum spend and hire price changes depending on the day and time. You can hire out the igloos daily, from 12–2.30pm, 3.30–6pm or 7–9.30pm, until Sunday, August 29. And if you opt for the latter time slot from Friday–Sunday, you'll need to add on a compulsory night's stay in the suite for an extra $350 — which includes overnight accomodation for two, plus breakfast and parking. Images: Anna Kucera.
Between Thursday, May 20–Wednesday, May 26, Palace Cinemas is giving movie buffs in Sydney an extra present. It's not just the gift of great flicks — that is, their daily bread and butter — but the gift of cheap great flicks. Head to one of the chain's four Sydney locations — Paddington's Palace Verona or Chauvel Cinema, Chippendale's Palace Central and Leichhardt's Palace Norton St — across the week in question, and any film at any time will only cost you a fiver. Want to see A Quiet Place Part II with your friends a week before it comes out? It'll cost you $5. Keen to check out Minari, Those Who Wish Me Dead, Antoinette in the Cevennes and The Courier? Also $5. We'd keep naming movies, but you get the picture. Booking in advance is highly recommended, given how much everyone loves going to the flicks for little more than the price of a cup of coffee. If you do nab your tickets online, you will have to add a transaction fee to the cost. And if you're wondering what $5 Movie Week is all about, Palace is simply endeavouring to encourage folks to catch a flick on the big screen. That's still the best way to watch a movie, after all. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZmgl4TkFBc&feature=emb_logo Top image: Palace Central
Whether you're wearied by the past 14 months or so, or you're just an avid movie buff all-year-round, everyone could use a dose of big-screen escapism every now and then. That's on offer every day of the week at the Ritz Cinema, of course, but between Thursday, May 20–Wednesday, May 26 it'll only cost you $5. Yes, that's a mighty cheap price for a trip to the movies, and it means that you can even treat your bestie, date or mum to a flick and pay just ten dollars for both of you. Some of the films you'll be able to catch during the week include Best Picture Oscar-winner Nomadland, Chris Rock-starring horror sequel Spiral: From the Book of Saw, and Angelina Jolie's return to the silver screen in Those Who Wish Me Dead. Or, you can check out Carey Mulligan's fierce performance in Promising Young Woman, enjoy the intimate family tale that Minari so engagingly plants, and see Anthony Hopkins deal with dementia in The Father — then watch Stanley Tucci do the same in Supernova. And, although A Quiet Place Part II doesn't officially release until Thursday, May 27, the cinema is hosting sneak peeks over the coming weekend — and they are actually included in the $5 deal. Otherwise, the $5 tickets are available at all regular sessions across the seven days — other than previews, special events and retro films. To book your $5 tickets, just head to the Ritz Cinema website. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Id00Eq1j8M4
A relic of Sydney's old public transport network is being transformed this month as part of a new art exhibition from creative collective Osmosis. Chinatown's former monorail station is set to become the city's latest gallery space as Osmosis takes over for an 11-day exhibition of sound and light. Opening in the 1980s, Sydney's monorail delivered people to the Powerhouse Museum and Sydney Aquarium up until its deinstallation in 2013. While it's since been replaced by the much-maligned Light Rail, the monorail is a source of nostalgia for many Sydneysiders, especially those that link it to their first memories of the Sydney CBD. Osmosis is looking to play on this nostalgia — transforming the unused space through an immersive light and sound display. Within the space, attendees will be met with an ambient soundtrack of field recordings, sound samples and melodies taken from recognisable songs from the past two decades. The soundscape, created by composer Mara Schwerdtfeger, is designed to conjure nostalgia and provide comfort following the tumultuous past 12 months. Accompanying the sound will be a dynamic lighting display created by multimedia artist George Webeck. Webeck's light show will move across the building's angled windows and architecture throughout the looping 30-minute experience. Located at Level 5, Number One Dixon Shopping Centre, entry will be free with no bookings required. Drinks will be on hand courtesy of event sponsors Never Never, Konpira, Maru, Yulli's and Fever Tree. If you're looking to take a peak behind the exhibition's curtain, Schwerdtfeger, Webeck and Creative Director Marco Rinaldi will be giving an artist talk, discussing the activation on Wednesday, May 26.
A century or so ago, back when cinema was still in its infancy and synchronised sound hadn't yet revolutionised the movie-going experience, seeing a film also meant listening to a live show. Those days are long gone, of course. Next time you head to your local theatre, someone won't be playing the movie's music in front of you while you watch. But a heap of recent screenings have been harking back to those times — and the next one has an action-adventure classic in its sights. Sydneysiders, it's time to grab your fedora and get cracking towards the Aware Super Theatre, because that's where you'll be celebrating Raiders of the Lost Ark's 40th anniversary rom 8pm on Saturday, August 21. The movie will screen, obviously, and The Metropolitan Orchestra will play John Williams' rousing score. Even if you haven't seen the film before — or watched it for years — everyone knows its famous theme tune. For those in need of a refresher, plot-wise, Raiders of the Lost Ark kickstarted the Indiana Jones franchise by following its eponymous figure (as played by Harrison Ford) on his quest to find the Ark of the Covenant before the Nazis. It's the movie that sparked three sequels to-date, and a fourth one supposedly still to come. Bringing a whip probably isn't recommended, but you know Indy will have one.
Sydney's boutique Golden Age Cinema is teaming up with Four Pillars Gin for a mini booze and film festival. Each Wednesday night in June, the intimate 56-seat Surry Hills spot is hosting double bills paired with Bloody Shiraz gin cocktails. It's quite the lineup, too, with a little something for everyone on the program. The festival is called Wild Winter Nights, however, so that's the kind of tone it's going for — whether horror flicks, comedies, dramas or romance movies are hitting the screen. First up on July 7 is early 00s favourite Donnie Darko, followed by Jordan Peele's Get Out. Then, the next week, comes The Wicker Man and Midsommar — because, yes, Golden Age's curators are having fun with their nightly lineups. Heading along with your significant other? Perhaps July 21's pair of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and The Lobster will appeal. Lastly, wrapping it all up on July 28 is eerie sci-fi feature Under the Skin and Gaspar Noe's intoxicating Climax. These dark cult flicks will all get a beverage to match, made with Four Pillar's highly coveted Bloody Shiraz gin. The first screenings each not kick off at either 6.10pm or 6.20pm, with the second movies starting at 8.30pm each evening — but we suggest you get there a little earlier for the drinks. Tickets are $22.50 for each film.
Crumpets are truly an underrated breakfast food. Crumpets are often overshadowed by their sweeter, more lavish counterparts, but they're exactly the type of warm buttery treats we all need right now to brighten up a morning at home during lockdown. Kepos Street Kitchen is looking to take your morning up a notch this Saturday and Sunday with these fluffy breakfast staples accompanied with all the trimmings. The Redfern mainstay is collaborating with local crumpet favourites Crumpets by Merna for a two-day pop-up across Saturday, July 31 and Sunday, August 1. The limited-time takeaway menu will feature six packs of Merna's crumpets for $15 as well as a fridge stocked with a whole heap of extras. Think Pepe Saya's butter, lemon curd, smoked labneh with za'atar, and tahini and date molasses. There will also be two special tea blends from Tea Craft on hand including a new blend created especially for Sydney's lockdown. The crumpets will be available from 8am–3pm or until sold out and it's important you wear a mask, socially distance and send along one person to collect all the goods for your household. And don't worry, if you can't make it to Redfern, you can still treat yourself to crumpets with Pepe Saya and Crumpets by Merna's luxe at-home breakfast boxes.
It isn't the first movie about the Tham Luang Nang Non cave incident to reach screens, thanks to the underwhelming The Cave. It won't be the last project to focus on the 12 Thai schoolboys and their soccer coach who were trapped in the Chiang Rai Province spot for 18 days back in 2018, either. Ron Howard (Hillbilly Elegy)-directed dramatisation Thirteen Lives hits cinemas next year, a Netflix limited series executive produced by In the Heights filmmaker John M Chu is also set to debut in 2022 and, to the surprise of no one, more are bound to follow. Still, The Rescue earns another worthy honour. The documentary isn't just an inspirational recounting of a miraculous effort that thwarted a potential tragedy, as told by the brave people who pulled off the feat, although it's certainly that. In addition, this gripping film falls into a genre that always needs more entries: celebrations of skilled people doing difficult things with precision, passion, persistence and prowess. If documentarians Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin have a niche, it's this. As co-directors, the married couple has now made three films, all valuing hard work, expertise and when the former leads not only to the latter, but to extraordinary achievements. With 2015 Sundance award-winner Meru, they documented Chin's efforts with two other climbers to scale Meru Peak in the Indian Himalayas. Then came Oscar-winner Free Solo, the exceptional doco about Alex Honnold's quest to free-climb Yosemite National Park's El Capitan. The Rescue swaps clambering up for diving deep, and hones in on an event that captured international headlines as it happened, but still belongs in the same company as the duo's past two releases. Here, viewers start the film with an understanding of what happened thanks to all that non-stop news coverage, but finish it in profound awe of the talent, smarts, dedication and unflinching competence involved. Vasarhelyi and Chin spotlight the divers who extricated Tham Luang's 13 unwilling inhabitants, aka the Wild Boars soccer team — and did so as the world watched, as hours became days and then weeks, and as monsoonal waters flooded the cave despite a desperate pumping initiative. Thai Navy SEALs initially attempted the task, yet struggled in the ten kilometres of sprawling and narrow tunnels. In fact, due to the murky water and the constant deluge from the fast-falling rain, they weren't able to get far. To assist, civilian hobbyists including Brits Rick Stanton and John Volanthen were brought in — experts in their field, and volunteers for the biggest diving quest of their lives. When their crew found the boys and their coach almost four kilometres from the mouth of the cave, they then faced another dilemma: how to get them back out alive. With its ending already well-known, The Rescue starts at the beginning, letting those who were there talk through each step, and also weaving in footage from the rescue mission itself. No re-enactments — not the small amount The Rescue uses, as noted in its credits; not The Cave's awful docodrama approach; and not all the future dramatisations set to flow from Hollywood — can ever be as nerve-wracking as seeing this remarkable feat actually happen. That said, the film's interviews are also significant. While the on-the-ground and in-the-water clips show the immense level of skill at work and the enormous dangers faced, the accompanying discussions offer keen insights into the thought processes involved. And, they draw out Stanton, Volanthen and their team's distinctive personalities, ensuring that these heroes are always flesh and blood. In all that chatter, much of the tension springs from one point: not just the logistics of extracting the kids and their coach from the cave, but the possibility of sedating them during the dive. The Rescue's most chilling moment comes from Australian anaesthetist and cave diver Richard Harris, who likens that option to euthanasia in his frank initial assessment — a goosebump-inducing comment, even though everyone watching knows that the boys were all rescued safely. Vasarhelyi and Chin make films about survival and endurance, too, and those notions thump away in The Rescue like a heartbeat. Still, as much as it pays tribute to the individual and collective efforts behind something astonishing, and its success, the film never forgets the stakes or cost, including the death of ex-Thai Navy SEAL Saman Kunan during an early attempt. Enthralling, suspenseful and vivid — and with more time for the moral and ethical implications of the rescue than is ever likely to be committed to the screen elsewhere — this documentary has been made to emulate its subjects. Indeed, that precision, passion, persistence and prowess shines through again and again both on- and off-screen. The Rescue's meticulous splicing is particularly finessed, for instance, with editor Bob Eisenhardt (another Free Solo alum) maintaining the movie's pulsating sense of intensity while stitching together an array of talking-head interviews, plus that wealth of archival materials. The heartstring-tugging score by Daniel Pemberton (The Trial of the Chicago 7) isn't quite as convincing, however, but it's one of the film's rare weak links. There is a gaping cavern at the heart of The Rescue, though, and one that's far wider than the rock shelf where the Wild Boars sheltered for almost three weeks. Those boys and their coach aren't among the movie's interviewees, and noticeably so. National Geographic, who produced the film, was only able to secure the rights to the divers' stories — with Netflix snapping them up for the soccer team. It leaves The Rescue absent key perspectives, but Vasarhelyi and Chin have filled that chasm savvily. Indeed, the documentary's edge-of-your-seat, ticking-clock, heart-in-your-throat tribute to skill, hard work and the global team of thousands that spanned Thais, Americans and Australians, too, mightn't have sported the same focus otherwise. Once more, the movie mimics the incident at its centre, turning sheer necessity into something stunning.
In March 2022, the annual Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade will return to the Sydney Cricket Ground, bringing its pageant of costumes, puppetry and props to the venue for the second year in a row. But it isn't the only beloved part of Mardi Gras that's making a comeback next year — with everything from the annual flag raising, Fair Day and the Paradiso Pool Party to the Sissy Ball and Laugh Out Proud also back on the program. The Mardi Gras festival has revealed a stack of returning favourites that you can pop in your diary right now. First up: the Progress Pride flag-raising at Sydney Town Hall, which'll kick off the event on Friday, February 18. The flag will then fly all throughout the fest. Fair Day returns to its home at Victoria Park on Sunday, February 20; the Kaftana Pool Party at The Ivy pool on Wednesday, February 23; and Laugh Out Proud at the Enmore Theatre on Friday, February 25. Also returning: the Sissy Ball on Saturday, February 26, this time bringing its glam ballroom shindig, house battles, DJs and live tunes to Sydney Town Hall; the Paradiso Pool Party on Monday, February 28, giving The Ivy pool a Mediterranean feel to farewell summer; and the Laneway recovery party the next day, on Sunday, March 6, at The Beresford and Hill Street. And, both the Queer Screen Mardi Gras Film Festival and Queer Art After Hours are back, too — the former from Thursday, February 17–Thursday, March 3, and the latter at the Art Gallery of New South Wales on Wednesday, March 2. There are still more guests and events to be revealed so watch this space. But we already know one thing for sure: 2022 is going to kick into gear in Sydney with quite the dazzling showcase of queer art and culture, all celebrating the theme 'United We Shine'.
Normally when the middle of the year hits — when Australia's weather is at its frostiest, aptly — the annual Scandinavian Film Festival rolls into cinemas around the country. In Sydney, that timing coincided with lengthy lockdowns, so the fest is bringing back its Nordic noir-heavy lineup for another spin before the year is out. Kicking off on Tuesday, November 23 and running through until Wednesday, December 16, the returning showcase of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Sweden and Norway cinema launches with a must-see new entry in the Scandi-noir genre. Hailing from Denmark, opening night's Wildland stars Sidse Babette Knudsen (Borgen, Westworld) as the head of a family crime syndicate. She's charged with looking after her teenage niece and, in a movie that instantly brings Australia's own Animal Kingdom to mind, the latter soon learns more about the family business. Also on this year's Scandinavian Film Festival lineup: Knudsen again in Copenhagen-set psychological thriller The Exception; masterful and engaging Norwegian film Disco, about an evangelical dance champion who finds her faith tested; and surreal mother-daughter drama Psychosis in Stockholm. Or, for fans of Nordic cinema's big names, relationship drama Hope co-stars Stellan Skarsgård (Chernobyl), musical comedy A Piece of My Heart sees Swedish-born actor Malin Akerman (Rampage) back on home turf, and The County hails from Icelandic filmmaker Grímur Hákonarson — who directed Rams, which was remade in Australia last year. Other highlights include Icelandic box office hits Agnes Joy and The Last Fishing Trip, the latter of which has been compared to The Hangover; Finnish biopics Helene and Tove, about painter Helene Schjerfbeck and visual artist and author Tove Jansson, respectively; and Tigers, which tells the true tale of former Inter Milan player Martin Bengtsson. Or, there's also Diana's Wedding, which isn't actually about that Diana — plus closing night's 50th anniversary-screening of The Emigrants starring Max von Sydow and Liv Ullmann.
After almost eight weeks of staring at your own four walls, it's likely you're craving a disruption of your current orbit between bed and couch. Luckily, the Powerhouse Museum have created something that'll transport your mind to places far beyond your living room: Sydney Science Festival. From Saturday, August 14–Sunday, August 22, you can get involved in Sydney Science Festival by joining one of its live-stream events. This year, the festival is completely online — and free — meaning you'll get to hear from science experts working across various disciplines without even leaving the house. Catch the keynote address from the 2021 Sydney Science Festival ambassador and Deadly Science founder Corey Tutt; join Gomeroi astronomer Karlie Noon on a journey across the cosmos in Southern Sky Livestream; tune into panel discussion Pandemics — Past, Present and Future moderated by Dr. Norman Swan; hang out with tech pioneer Jaron Lanier in Gadgets, Dreams and Dilemmas; or book yourself into Great Moments in Science to discover some of today's biggest science ideas with Australia's much-loved, Dr. Karl. [caption id="attachment_822352" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Dan Boud[/caption] Sydney Science Festival 2021 is a completely free and online event. To read the full program — and to register for access to these brain-tingling live-streams — visit the website. Top image: Ken Leanfore.
If you've been making plans to revamp your style, but haven't been able to rustle up the coin or are sick of online shopping, here's your chance. Hugo Boss is hosting a mega sale at its outlet stores. You'll be able to score a further 30 percent off menswear, womenswear, footwear and accessories. Whether you're after a suit for a special occasion later in the year or looking to level up your work wardrobe stat, Hugo Boss's mid-season outlet sale will have you sorted for a fraction of the fashion label's usual prices. You'll have to get in quick to score though, with the sale running from Saturday, April 3 until Sunday, April 18 (or until stocks last). In Sydney, you can head to Birkenhead Point Outlet Centre and DFO Homebush to get these quality threads for such a steal. Current opening hours are 10am–5pm daily at Birkenhead Point Outlet Centre and 10am–6pm at Homebush. Hugo Boss mid-season outlet sale will run from Saturday, April 3 till Sunday, April 18, or until stocks last (excludes new season stock). To find your closest outlet, visit the website.
It's the time of the year when the days begin to shorten, the evenings get cooler and your stomach starts grumbling for comfort food. But, while that'll remain true for the next few months, only one particular day will bring free tacos. Tex-Mex giant Taco Bell has been steadily opening stores around the country since 2017, with a new Sydney store in Green Square launching on Tuesday, May 4 — and it's doing a big giveaway at all of its locations on the same day. If you haven't tried the chain's Crunchy Taco Supreme, this is your chance. If you have and you just like freebies, count yourself in as well. There is a catch, though. This free taco day is themed around the moon — because the chain has decided to name the half-moon the 'taco moon'. So, to get a taco without paying a cent, you need to mention 'taco moon' or say 'I saw the taco moon' when you get to the counter. Also, there's a limit of one free taco per person, so you won't be able to stuff your stomach full of them. What's a Crunchy Taco Supreme? A crunchy taco, as the name suggests, as filled with seasoned beef, sour cream, fresh lettuce, tomato and cheese — or black beans for vegetarians. If you happen to be one of the first 20 people through the door at each store — in Albion Park, Ballina, Blacktown and Jesmond in New South Wales, plus the about-to-launch Green Square — you'll also score a taco moon party kit, which includes merchandise.
Before the pandemic, food and drink event Taste of Manly encouraged Sydneysiders to eat, sip and be merry by the beach each and every year. None of the above happened in 2020, of course, but the festival is making a comeback in 2021 — as a new, bigger and broader event called Taste of the Beaches. For the whole month of May — so from Saturday, May 1–Monday, May 31 — the entire northern beaches region is getting in on the action, spanning more than 30 restaurants, cafes and food outlets in the area. The lineup includes pop-ups on the sand, food truck parties and craft brews, as well as a whole heap of different dining experiences, which means that Sydneysiders can choose their own path through the multi-suburb event. Kicking things off on Saturday, May 1–Sunday, May 2, Hotel Steyne is taking over Manly beach each afternoon, and serving up a seafood-heavy menu and plenty of drinks. Or, from Wednesday–Sunday throughout the month, Market Lane will play host to live tunes — giving your meals and beverages at the laneway's businesses a soundtrack. Also on the agenda: a food truck party in Mona Vale on Saturday, May 15, a wine garden in Palm Beach on Saturday, May 29–Sunday, May 30, and a big craft beer fest in Freshwater on Saturday, May 29 as well. And, from the list of special dining options, you can head to a Tokyo-style street food market at Daniel San, and taste your way through flights of spirits at Manly Spirits Co Distillery — or pair wings and tins, learn how to make your own pizza, attend a pork knuckle party, celebrate Eurovision over dinner and eat a tapas-style curry spread. Top image: Karen Watson for Northern Beaches Council.
