Brothers, we have something special to show you and no, it's not kitty cat man. US comedy duo Tim and Eric are bringing their bizarre sense of humor to Australia and New Zealand for a national tour. The Tim and Eric – 'Stralia – Zealand Experience will be making stops at Perth, Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Auckland. Since meeting at uni in 1994, the pair have gone on to create an animated series, a hilarious sketch series for Adult Swim, a feature film and even a book. You might not have heard of them, but you've definitely seen their kooky comedic genius before; how about the Vodka movie with Zach Galifianakis for Absolut or their Old Spice commercials with Terry Crews? Grab yourself a ticket and bear witness to the pair's crazy directing style, unique sketches and DJ Douggpound. Celebrate getting tickets by dancing like celery man (you won't be the only ones). Shiny suit and bolo tie optional. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=maAFcEU6atk[/embed]
Kick off 2016 like they do in the Hamptons with an epic New Year's Day shindig at the Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel. This beloved harbourside haven is teaming up with the iconic Hamptons venue The Surf Lodge for a summer pop-up by the water — and it all begins on January 1 with a hectic, hedonistic, private beach party. Located in Montauk on Long Island, The Surf Lodge is best known for its outdoor music concerts featuring the likes of Patti Smith, Solange Knowles, Willie Nelson and the Flaming Lips. This time around The Surf Lodge is flying in Michigan-born, LA-based singer songwriter BØRNS to headline the party. Celebrated for his signature blend of psychedelic indie pop, BØRNS will perform an intimate set of tracks taken from his debut album Dopamine. The supporting lineup will include Australian electronic goalkickers like Set Mo, Deutsch Duke, Oli Benz and Dan Single. There are three ticket types, GA, VIP and VIP Lounges. GA tickets get you access into the Beach Club, kicking off at 12pm. You'll have live DJs, henna tattoos, a photobooth, freebies, prizes and roving entertainment all day until 6pm. VIP tickets will get you exclusive bar and balcony access (with pretty views of Sydney Harbour), plus complimentary drinks and nibbles from 12pm to 2pm. You can enjoy the party in the sun on the balcony during the day, and move into the Sunset Room for an afterparty when the sun goes down. And if you really want to go all out, the VIP Lounges are $3000 each and will get you six VIP tickets, one magnum of champagne, four cocktail carafes, 12 beers and an exclusive lounge in Sunset Room from 12pm to 6pm. Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel's summer pop-up will run from New Year’s Day (launching with The Surf Lodge) through to Australia Day on January 26, and will feature various live music and lifestyle events to be revealed in the coming month.
They've Already Won could be The. Best. Thing. You. See. This. Year. Or #TheWorstThingEver. Either way, it'll have you wondering what hyperbole is doing to your ability to communicate. And whether or not the Millennial Generation is as bad as writers of think pieces like to think. This clever, hilarious one-hour theatre show is a collaboration between the brilliant Harriet Gillies (co-founder of zin, assistant director of STC's Suddenly Last Summer) and bold Pierce Wilcox (associate artist, Sydney Chamber Opera). Acting as the worst versions of their worst selves, they deteriorate through five acts, exploring the potential (or not) for deep communication through memes and social media, while discussing society's entrenched systems of inequality, oppression and destruction. All the while, they're wearing pantsuits and pom poms. They've Already Won hits The Belvoir's downstairs theatre after a smashing premiere at Newcastle's Crack Theatre Festival during the October long weekend.
Part of the Giant Dwarf festival-within-a-festival at Sydney Fringe, Free to a Good Home sees comedians Michael Hing (Triple J, Good Game) and Ben Jenkins (The Checkout, Story Club) bring their hilarious podcast series to the stage, inviting a host of guests along as they delve into the weird and wonderful world of Australia’s classifieds. Watch them scour Gumtree, Craigslist, Etsy et al as they discover and discuss, in detail, what people are shamelessly selling or giving away for cheap via the convenient anonymity of the internet. This event is one of our top ten picks of the Sydney Fringe Festival. See the other nine here.
At a time when journalists in Australia are prohibited from reporting on the goings on at Nauru and the Australian Border Force has threatened to patrol the streets to check Australians' visa paperwork, here is your chance to hear first-hand the stories of five asylum seekers who have reached our shores and made a new life in Western Sydney. If You Come to Australia was created during a residency at Urban Theatre Projects and is performed by a cast of diverse Australians to protect the identities of those whose stories are being told in this verbatim theatre piece over five nights. This event is one of our top ten picks of the Sydney Fringe Festival. See the other nine here.
If you’re bad at dinner table conversation, this event is for you. Honi Ryan is an interdisciplinary artist from the Blue Mountains and has been taking the world by (a very quiet) storm with her Silent Dinner Party performance art project. At this Sydney Fringe incarnation, guests will be treated to a three-course meal prepared by Studio NEON at Marrickville Town Hall. The catch is, you can’t utter a word or sound during the event. You also aren’t allowed to read, write or use your mobile phone. Talking around the table is a global human ritual — this is a social experiment that will shake up social norms for the sake of artistic experience (not to mention delicious food). This event is one of our top ten picks of the Sydney Fringe Festival. See the other nine here. Image: Dollar Photo Club.
Following on from this year’s historical blockbuster, The Photograph and Australia, the Art Gallery of NSW are presenting a comprehensive survey of the work of influential photographer Julia Margaret Cameron. This innovative 19-century photographer has become well known for her emotive sensibility. As an active artist in the 1860s, she attracted controversy for her unconventional techniques. Cameron picked up photography in her late 40s and was among the pioneers of soft-focus portraiture. She developed a unique way of capturing beauty, which resonated beyond her time. Drawn from London’s Victoria and Albert Museum, this exhibition will feature over 100 of Cameron’s works, representing her early attempts through to her mastery of the craft. It will also include a series of letters, sourced from a number of Australian museums.
A lineup of talented local emerging artists is taking over 107 Projects on Friday, August 14 for new art event Cold Weather Hunting Lodge. With mulled wine flowing, gourmet toasties toasting, and soundtrack courtesy of Junkyard Beats and Post Paint (for just $15 on the door), this promises to be a cosy grown-up affair. Art-makers such as Isabel R, Yeliz Yorulmaz, Mie Nakazawa and Sydney Collage Society will be in attendance, selling their labours of love. There’ll also be roaming and interactive performances, and plenty of opportunity to play adult and buy some art to pretty up your spaces. Works on sale will range in price from zines that set you back mere coinage, to labour-intensive works of fine art going for no more than $300. The folk behind the Lodge reckon they’re onto something big with all of the artists on the lineup, so who knows? This could be your chance to get your hands on an early work from a future art world heavyweight — or just a nice night out spent amongst pretty things made by clever people.
The best of Korean cinema will once again be on full display when the Korean Film Festival in Australia returns for its sixth straight year. Kicking off in Sydney on Wednesday, August 12, the program is headlined by a number of gripping crime thrillers — the genre having become synonymous with Korean cinema thanks to films like Oldboy and I Saw the Devil. This year, the mantle passes to the likes of A Hard Day, The Target and Gangnam Blues (and no, we're not talking about Psy). Other highlights among the KOFFIA 2015 program include the powerful coming-of-age film Han Gong-ju and the brilliantly titled opening night feature How To Steal A Dog. We're also pretty intrigued by period drama My Dictator, about a man hired as a body double for North Korean leader Kim Il-sung, only for him to become convinced that he is actually the genuine article. For the full KOFFIA program, visit their website.
Sydney's inner west is about to get in on the openair cinema action. Ben & Jerry's Openair Cinema has just announced they'll be opening their very first inner west cinema this summer, adding another location to their free ice cream-loving lineup of Bondi, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Melbourne, Canberra, Adelaide and Perth this November. Setting up on the lawns of Cadigal Green at the University of Sydney, Ben & Jerry's Openair Cinema will debut with new releases and cult classics including Joseph Gordon Levitt's Oscar tip The Walk, Robert De Niro and Anne Hathaway teaming up in The Intern, Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg's Bridge of Spies, Kate Winslet's The Dressmaker in rural Australia and the Christmas rom-com to rule them all, Love Actually. Plus, there'll be a 25th anniversary screening of Thelma and Louise. The team are keeping their tried and true formula intact — live music and free ice cream nights. Local artists will hit the stage before the film for cruisy sets, including Nic Cassey, Angus Murphy and many more, and local DJs will spin a few for Aperol Sunsets — with free Aperol samples aplenty. There'll also be a fully-licensed bar, gourmet food stands, and lawn games aplenty, with putt putt and something called Giant Cow Jenga. Tickets for the Bondi Openair Cinema tend to sell out, so get in early. Earlybird tickets are just $15 online ($10 concession), until October 21. You can also hire deckchairs, beanbags and blankets, or go all in for a Volkswagen Polo Class ticket with reserved seating, blanket, cushion, beer or wine and a Ben & Jerry's ice cream included. Ben & Jerry's Openair Cinema will take over Cadigal Green, University of Sydney from November 19 to December 12, 2015. For the full program or to buy tickets, head to the website. Check out CP's roundup of Sydney's best openair cinemas over here. Image: Artof2 Designs.
Stories from one of the most volatile regions on earth will be in the spotlight at Australia's Palestinian Film Festival. Hosted at Palace Norton Street in Leichhardt, this year's program includes seven full length features and five shorts that showcase the experiences of Palestinians, from Gaza to the West Bank and beyond. The festival begins with animated documentary The Wanted 18, a tragicomic true tale about how a herd of Palestinian cows became the centrepiece of a protest against Israeli occupation. Degrade, meanwhile, takes place almost entirely within a Gaza beauty salon, where employees attempt to maintain some semblance of normalcy while violence rages just outside their door. But the most intriguing film in the program would have to be The Idol. Directed by two-time Oscar nominee Hany Abu-Assad, the movie tells the true story of a wedding singer from a Gaza refugee camp who became the second ever winner of Arab Idol. For the full festival program, visit palestinianfilmfestival.com.au
So many beers to sample, so little time. If you don't know too much about craft beers, this is where you'll want to be. Brewers like Doctors Orders and Pirate Life will be in store offering tastings of their best beers and you can have a chat to them about the amber liquid of the gods. This event is one of our top ten picks of Sydney Craft Beer Week. Check out the other nine.
Trust Young Henrys to come up with an afternoon of beer, music and brewery-related sports. Come along and watch some of your favourite brewers try to best each other at the Brewers Olympics. There's a bonus – all the competing breweries will have a tap pouring as well. Clear out your Saturday, grab a pint of your favourite beer and watch the shenanigans. This event is one of our top ten picks of Sydney Craft Beer Week. Check out the other nine. Image: Young Henrys.
We're not saying you should drink in the morning, but doesn't beers with breakfast sound like a fun idea? It's brunch with a twist – eight breweries are bringing their beers to Rocks Brewing for you to sample along with a six-course breakfast. Yes, you heard right. Bring us all the beers, all the bacon and all the eggs. (We hope) our bodies are ready. This event is one of our top ten picks of Sydney Craft Beer Week. Check out the other nine. Image: Dollar Photo Club.
If you think a Craft Beerlympics sounds lame, you're very wrong. Picture events like a tableless ping pong rally, a paper plane distance competition and an egg and spoon and beer race. Now picture it again except all the competitors have to be holding a schooner at all times. It just got a lot funnier, didn't it? If viewing isn't your thing, join in a game of Beer Wheel of Death and reminisce on your uni days. This event is one of our top ten picks of Sydney Craft Beer Week. Check out the other nine.
The strengths and weaknesses of Legend can be summed up via two of its key scenes. The first comes about halfway through the film, when infamous London gangster Reggie Kray (played by Tom Hardy) does a flawless impersonation of his twin brother Ron. The thing is, Ron is also played by Tom Hardy in one of those Social Network Winklevae situations. It's just that Hardy's performance is so strong and each character is so defined, you genuinely think of the Krays as two entirely distinct humans played by two very different actors. It's a powerhouse performance showcasing Hardy's imposing abilities, both physically and dramatically. The second scene comes a little earlier. The Krays are lured to a neutral pub under the auspices of negotiating a truce with their gangland rivals, only to discover themselves surrounded and grossly outnumbered. Where most would cower, the Krays respond with a mix of nonchalance and outrage: Reggie pulls himself a beer while Ron storms out, complaining of a half-arsed gunfight without any guns. Seconds later, of course, he returns unseen and together with his brother lays waste to the entire group of thugs. The problem with this second scene (and, in turn, much of the film), is that it’s terrifically entertaining. The music, dialogue, performance and direction all play it light and whimsical — even flippant — despite its confronting savagery (the Krays employ a brutal combination of hammers and brass knuckles). Under certain circumstances, the juxtaposition of violence and comedy in film is defensible, even appropriate, so long as the genre fits (think Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, or Pulp Fiction). Here, though, it’s wildly misplaced. Yes, it successfully conveys the Krays’ character and composure, but this isn’t fiction. The Krays brutalised and murdered their way to the top in real life, and the duty of a biopic is to tell a story as it was, not to glorify it as some might have wanted it to be. And that, in short, is Legend: a film defined by its spectacular performances and misfiring direction. Alongside Hardy, the supporting cast of Emily Browning, David Thewlis and Christopher Eccleston does a decent job despite the middling script, but the overall feeling is one of dullness and disappointment.
Michael Ware, the lawyer turned Courier-Mail, Time and CNN journalist turned filmmaker, calls Only the Dead a film that wasn't meant to be made. His documentary is cobbled together from hundreds of hours of footage he shot while in Iraq as a reporter, with a movie never part of his plans. Perhaps that's why the trembling handicam images feel immediate and urgent, even in a time where alarming visuals of combat have become commonplace. Only the Dead charts Ware's obsession with Abu Musab al-Zarqawi following the U.S. invasion and occupation of Iraq. Al-Zarqawi wasn't a point of focus for many at the time, but his brutal methods — starting with suicide bombings, then escalating to filmed beheadings of foreign hostages and worse — certainly earned him increasing attention. The faction he founded would become the Islamic State. There's more to Ware and al-Zarqawi's story, just as there's more behind the documentary's existence. Many of the remarkable sights contained within only became possible after Ware forged a connection with the insurgents, who began to feed him discs of their own videos, wanting him to disseminate them to the western media. Becoming an unofficial intermediary, he was placed in a tenuous and tricky position. While Only the Dead doesn't delve into the ethical side of Ware's interactions, it does chart the clear influence the situation had upon his viewpoint. A picture really does speak a thousand words in that regard, although the film isn't short on the latter — filling in the history of the Iraq war, as well as conveying Ware's reflections. Context is helpful, but verbal explanation almost seems unnecessary given how striking the shaky footage proves. And yet, there's something about the combination of distressing visuals and voiceover insights that hits the mark. Ware is the key, starting out "young and dumb enough for war to have its false sense of adventure", but slowly changing as a result of his time chronicling the Iraqi conflict. As his narration makes plain, even as the film depicts violent and bloody events gone by and horrors occurring in a nation far from his own, this strory is overwhelmingly personal. Entertainment, this is not. Cast Homeland, American Sniper or any other screen effort that claim to dissect the war on terror far from your thoughts. Ware's offering — as co-directed with veteran filmmaker Bill Guttentag — walks in the shoes and offers the mindset of someone who's there, and is then lucky enough to be able to look back at what he lived through. It's worth remembering that his account, though released within a world now brimming with YouTube videos and social media posts from those on the ground, predates this now unavoidable phenomenon. You might have seen the likes of Ware's offering before; however prior to this, you've never been brought not just beyond the front lines, but into the complications of his harrowing journey. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWdi8JJG-7U
Twice a finalist in the Archibald Prize and this year’s winner of the 2015 Sir John Sulman prize, you might forgive Jason Phu for dabbling in a little high art bragging. But, with his latest solo show at the Ray Hughes Gallery titled Everything is Google translated or taken from Chinese newspapers I can’t read, this doesn’t seem likely. Born in Australia to Chinese and Vietnamese parents, Phu’s work cheekily plays with juxtapositions of traditional Chinese art and Australian suburban culture. Delicately scrawled on traditionally mounted rice paper Phu delivers deadpan observations about his encounters with household insects in Chinese script. A characteristically Aussie flare for understatement and self-deprecation comes fairly naturally to Phu and most certainly doesn’t escape his work. It's cheerful and inviting as he pokes fun of himself as much as the cultures that inform him. Phu has recently opened his own studio in Chongqing, China, where he is undertaking formal training in Chinese painting and calligraphy. His current exhibition consist both of works created in China and here in Australia and is made up of four mini series: Really Annoying Animals, Little Fish and Some Crabs, a ceramic bowl series, and six paintings done in his Chongqing studio. While Phu is characteristically offhand when discussing his practice — “My work is about things I see, like a bird pooping on a man’s head,” — the delicate composition of his pieces make for works that mix humour with poignancy. this bee is floating around aimlessly because it's a nice day or maybe it's dying
Slip into a world of gangsters and glamour at a shindig inspired by one of Sydney's most notorious nightclubs. For two nights in October, The Festivalists will transform Sydney's Justice & Police Museum into a hive of shady activity, complete with go-go dancers, paparazzi and a backroom roulette table. Throw on your best '60s garb and leave your inhibitions at the door – they're not calling it Mayhem for nothing. Taking their cues from Chequers circa 1969, when the club famously hosted a party with Chicago mobster Joseph Testa in attendance, The Festivalists have teamed up with Sydney Living Museums on what promises to be the most scandalous ticket in town. On Thursday, October 8, and Friday, October 9, guests dressed to the nines will breeze past the photographers into a pop-up cabaret and bar, where Memphis Mae will take the stage for a '60s-style burlesque show. Maeve Marsden will emcee regular cabaret performances, while retired showgirl Elizabeth Burton spills her guts about life during Sydney's seedy heyday. Venture a little deeper into the shadows and you'll find plenty more to get up to, including liquid light painting with Zender Bender, immersive theatre by The Jetback Collective, and pole dancing 101 with Cody Cabana. There'll be prizes for best dressed — and if you're really feeling lucky, try your hand at the roulette wheel, or have a go at cracking open the club safe. Image by Brent Lederitz.
Sydney Dance Company’s Triptych is, appropriately, organised into three parts. It involves three dance sequences set to three contrasting works from prolific 20th-century composer Benjamin Britten. Yet the triptychs extend far beyond the obvious. At every turn, a sublime trinity of elements can be seen: costume, orchestra, dancers. Katie Noonan, French poetry, sexual tension. Gutsy double bass, passion, conflict. These trios emerge, surge and intertwine, making an exciting work in which our senses are always engaged and almost always saturated. It's a dance work that’s not afraid to expose all the elements that make dance work. Triptych permits a cross-sectional view of the 17-strong string ensemble ACO2, alongside Katie Noonan's vocals, SDC artistic director Rafael Bonachela's choreography and fashion designer Toni Maticevski's costumes. In Triptych, the dancers are a mere part of the whole. Of course, the dancers performing Bonachela’s choreography are dynamic and enchanting. Part one, Simple Symphony, begins with innocence and play; the dancers absorbing the upward energy from ACO2, which comprises the string section of the Australian Chamber Orchestra. It is quirky and quaint like children's play; a homage to fawns and forests and the Provençal. It ends with a hint of the sensuousness to come — extensions, then sculptural stillness, in which the women dancers counterbalance and lift as readily as the men. Here, Fiona Jopp exemplifies the modern female dance body – straddling litheness and strength like an Amazon or demigod. Part two, Les Illuminations, is the cornerstone of the project. Katie Noonan arrives on stage with a voice seeming too pure at times to be human, and the dancers echo this otherworldliness with androgynous, knotted-seaweed costumes and cyborg-esque gestures. Les Illuminations is undoubtedly the highlight of Triptych, the music, voice and bodies moody and sexy. The performers are riffing on the unhuman aspects of dance: too nuanced and perfect to be earthly, with a mastery of anti-gravity. Within this, there is a male-and-male duet. Of romance? Or fraternity? It’s beautifully muscular and sensuous, and with Maticevski’s costumes, it’s a trick for the eyes across assumed gender zones, and so satisfyingly sensuous, I thought I might be pregnant just from watching it. With part three, Variation 10, the whole company converge on stage, and the brilliance of Maticevski's costumes is finally fully evident. Variation 10 is a never-before-seen work of Bonachela's, who describes this theme of Britten's "almost as if it were made to be danced". The dancers move quickly from grounded bodies to precarious suspensions. The repeated motifs performed by small groups are mesmerising. Triptych may seem like three 'old' art forms gathered on stage — dance, opera, orchestra — but it will surprise you with how these elements are reimagined and made sexy.
When you've spent close to a metric fucktonne of time writing, developing and recording the individual songs of an album, sometimes you'd like people to stop and appreciate each morsel. Ahead of the release of their highly anticipated debut album For the Company, Sydney folk trio Little May invited 11 of their favourite local artists to do just that, to create an artwork of any medium, inspired by the 11 tracks of the album. It's a highly unique way to launch an album, culminating in an exhibition dubbed #ArtForTheCompany and set to coincide with the release of the album on October 9. Running Friday, October 2, to Sunday, October 4, the exhibition will take over the newly opened Goodspace, upstairs at the Lord Gladstone Hotel in Chippendale. Music-wise, you'll be able to settle into little listening pods to hear Little May's album in full ahead of its official release date, while checking out each track's inspired artwork. Little May (or Liz Drummond, Hannah Field and Annie Hamilton) have seen visual art as integral to their band — all the artwork for the album and the band's promo material has been designed by Hamilton herself. So with aesthetics aplenty planned for the exhibition, this is a pretty perfect way for the three Sydneysiders to launch their debut effort into public ears, with all senses covered. So who are Little May's chosen artists? The exhibition will feature work from acclaimed photographers Mclean Stephenson and Prue Stent, Sydney-based muralist Mulga, fashion label Serpent & The Swan, illustrator Georgia Hill, Ears, Honey Long, Antwerpen, Emily Ellis, Furry Little Peach and Luschia Porter. Check out Luschia Porter's Little May-inspired creation is this pretty, pretty video: We’re so lucky to have the incredibly talented Luschia Porter - Illustration + Object Design amongst a bunch of our favourite local artists contributing to our #artfothecompany exhibition. Lusch visually interpreted our song ‘Cicadas’ and we can’t wait to see the finished product at Goodspace from next Friday <3 Posted by Little May on Wednesday, September 23, 2015
Lay down your smartphone. Send your laptop to sleep. Shift yourself off the couch. Forget about work. General Assembly, in collaboration with Work-Shop, is throwing an ‘Unplug and Play’ warehouse party. It’s your chance to champion spring’s arrival, make a sweet segue into the long weekend and get back to real-life eye contact. To make the transition as smooth as possible, the organisers are inviting some good friends along. There will be a three-hour DJ set from Seekae, who have just returned home after a monster European tour. And there’ll be boutique drinks aplenty, courtesy of Vale Ale, Sofi Spritz, Poor Toms Gin and Alpha Box & Dice. The action will be happening at Work-Shop’s warehouse (175 Cleveland Street, Redfern) on Thursday, October 1, between 6pm and 9pm. Needless to say, you’re highly likely to want to kick on afterwards, so the Lord Gladstone (115 Regent Street, Chippendale) will be taking care of the afterparty. Tickets are gloriously free. But they’re not unlimited. So make sure you book yourself a spot online asap.
Working out the difference between a good song and a hit single can be a mystery, even for experienced songwriters. A talk series at Giant Dwarf, dubbed Anthem! and hosted by triple j's The Doctor (Lindsay McDougall), is attempting to unravel it. Once a month, he's joining an Australian hit-maker for a 90-minute chat about his/her most enduring songs. Together, they delve into what has made the tunes so powerful — from how and why they were written to what they evoke, in terms of memories, emotions and experiences. The next Anthem! will take place on Wednesday, November 4, with The Doctor hosting Jebediah's frontman, Kevin Mitchell. Since 1995, the alternative rock band has released five studio albums, including four ARIA chart top tenners. Mitchell also writes, records and performs solo under the moniker Bob Evans. He won a 2006 ARIA for his second studio release, Suburban Songbook, and Best Male Artist in Rolling Stone Australia's 2007 annual reader poll.
American comedian Joel McHale is coming to Australia. The star of Community, The Soup and that one recurring daydream we have where he asks us to be his best friend (shut up, it could happen) has announced a one night only standup show in Sydney next fortnight. Tickets go on sale this Friday. Please remain calm. McHale is best known for his role as Jeff Winger in Community, a sitcom that people apparently feel quite strongly about (#sixseasonsandamovie). He's also hosted pop culture current affairs program The Soup on E! since 2004 and last year headlined the White House Correspondents Dinner. Admittedly, he also had a role in Spy Kids 4D — but then again, nobody's perfect. At this stage there's no indication that McHale will perform any additional dates or locations. Image: Frank Ockenfels.
Manchester Warehouse is home to much more than linen — it's more than equipped to give your home a complete makeover. Specialising in soft furnishings, Manchester Warehouse offers a range of textiles influenced by cultures all over the world, so you can liven up your home with a bit of Moroccan red or Irish green. The Warehouse is family-owned and operated, and the friendly staff are more than equipped to help you find what you're looking for — sometimes before you even know what you're actually looking for. Images: Trent van der Jagt.
Life gets pretty hectic sometimes. Trying to juggle your job, exercise, housework, your social life and still get at least a few hours sleep in can be an ongoing battle. So unless you're extremely organised or have figured out how to squeeze a few extra hours in the day, something usually falls by the wayside. Sometimes, even if you love cooking, the weekly grocery shop is what gets dropped. Rather than dropping all of your hard earned cash on takeaway dinners, Ooooby may be the answer. Launched in 2013 in Newtown, Ooooby delivers boxes packed with fresh, certified organic produce to Sydney doorsteps every week. You start by selecting one of three fruit and veg boxes, then add in any extras you may want, like eggs or bread. Then, on the same day every week (or fortnight, if you'd prefer), the box will get delivered right to your door. Delivery is free for orders over $44, too. The company works with local farmers and artisanal producers to source goods from across the country, including produce from Pocket City Farms and Kurrawong Organics, bread from The Bread & Butter Project and dairy from Country Valley. You can head here to see what is available in each box this week. Images: Alice Mahran
Spotting top-notch vintage wares takes a particular eye, whether you're interested in retro threads, hats and bags to pair with them, or costume jewellery to layer over the top. And sure, if you regularly deck out your wardrobe with secondhand finds, you're probably quite astute at picking great pieces. But Lou Murray of Lou Murray's Vintage has been in the game for more than 30 years. Inside this Potts Point go-to, you'll find personally selected clothes, linen, collectables and more, all hailing from last century. Murray is particularly interested in 20th-century fashion — so you might as well capitalise upon the store's expertise. Images: Cassandra Hannagan
Both a store and a gallery space, Somedays brings together an array of talented designers and artists. With a serious nod to the Nordic, the second storey retail space stocks a wide mix of labels such as Handsom, Dr Denim, The Horse and Carly Hunter. No matter how many times you've been there, we guarantee you will be startled by the entrance frog that croaks on your arrival.
Within an hour of walking around Bondi: you'll notice that residents (and wannabe residents) have a few things in common. First, they're uncannily fit. Second, they're clothed like they just stepped off a catwalk. Third, their hair screams I-just-got-out-of-bed-took-a-quick-dip-in-the-surf-oh-and-what-do-you-know-my-locks-are-now-perfectly-tousled. What you might be missing is that these effortlessly elegant beach-haired peeps probably stopped by Hair Cartel. As one of Bondi's hippest hair salons, this place has the Bondi blow-wave mastered. By that we mean, they know how to make your hair look like you've just stepped out of the surf — even if you arrived on the morning train from Dubbo. Along with this mystical ability, they also take a good deal of care with treating each and every client like an individual. Expect to meet smart, friendly stylists who'll put you at ease while turning you into a model. Brand new clients score a 20% discount and there's a bunch of products in stock from L’Oreal Professionnel and Mr Smith.
Aquabumps is the brick-and-mortar incarnation of cult photographer Eugene Tan. By the late '90s, he had become obsessed with photographing Bondi Beach — as well as any other beach he happened to be near. And he decided it was time to share his shots with the world. So, in 1999 — well before blogs were such a common thing — he started posting his images online. He'd email them to his fans and, when Facebook, came along, he set up a page. Today, Tan has tens of thousands of followers. Every day, they open his emails or jump on his social media accounts and spend a few minutes imagining they're at the beach, rather than at an office or in some inner city traffic jam. Tan's images look incredible online. But they're even more jaw-dropping in his one and only gallery. You can see them in all their giant-sized glory and maybe even take one home. In addition to wall-sized works, there are cards and medium-sized prints, too.
Mother and daughter duo Lindi Katz and Jenna Isaacman have been curating casual yet elegant outfits for Sydney's best dressed at their Bondi store since 2008. While Lindi had spent 15 years running boutiques in South Africa, Jenna had been working as a designer for various fashion companies. One night, the two stayed up late getting excited about the idea of co-owning a business — and six months later, Me and Moo was born. At any one time, you'll find 30+ brands in stock. The work of homegrown designers, like Lee Matthews, Zimmerman, Ace of Something and Me and Moo's eponymous own label, hang alongside international pieces from the likes of Velvet by Graham & Spencer, D-ID and Adriano Goldschmied. In keeping with the store's vision, the fit-out is earthy and welcoming, yet refined. A dark timber island forms the centrepiece, with displays dotted around it. 'Just ins' and sales are advertised via Me and Moo's Facebook page.
Given how difficult it is for independent shops to survive, Dot's Flower Shoppe has been an impressive exception. Locals have been coming here for 30 years — whether looking for the perfect bouquet to cheer up a mate or with plans to organise a Pinterest-worthy party. The bouquets, all created by Dot's devoted team range from brilliant bunches of classic red roses to designer arrangements of Australian natives. And, if you have something in mind that you can't find in the store, all you have to do is ask. You'll find Dot's on busy Church Street, along Parramatta's busiest strip.
After a hectic week at work, we've all contemplated ditching our nine-to-five for something more creative. And for Ally Bell, deciding to leave her corporate gig to follow her floral passions has been one she hasn't looked back on. The store feels more boutique than flower shop, brimming with unexpected blooms and living colour at every turn. Pre-dawn market visits ensure every stem is handpicked to showcase the best seasonal flowers from local growers. Aside from creating bespoke bouquets, Ally also runs floral workshops year-round to share her love for floral design with aspiring florists across Sydney. Image: Arvin Prem Kumar
In a world of giant supermarket chains, Galluzzo's Fruiterers is a long-standing breath of fresh air, and fresh produce. A stalwart of Glebe Point Road since 1934, the business has remained in the hands of the Galluzzo family for three generations and continues to serve the people of Glebe today. Boasting fresh, organic fruit and vegetables in a traditional market-style atmosphere, Galluzzo's is indicative of the simple pleasures in life, with family, community and good food at the forefront. Saturdays can get a little crowded here, but that's just testament to the quality and service that Galluzzo's is known for.
Paddington's El Primo Sanchez is switching things up with its food offering, replacing its sit-down format with a brand-new taqueria-style menu. Guided by newly appointed Head Chef Diego Sotelo (Rico's Tacos), he's bringing his Guadalajaran roots to Primo's Taco Corner — a build-your-own fiesta where guests get to shape their perfect bite. To celebrate the occasion, El Primo Sanchez is slinging $5 tacos all week from Wednesday, May 7, to Saturday, May 10. However, don't stress if you miss out, the place is hosting a weekly Wednesday special from here on out, with $6 tacos served from 5pm. Sounds good, but how does the new direction work? Just choose your favourite style — taco, quesadilla, burrito and more — then add a protein and load it with fresh trimmings. One of your options includes the low and slow-cooked al pastor pork belly, marinated in a spicy citrus blend and flame-finished to pack in even more flavour. There's also beer-battered Baja fish with jalapeño mayo, and beef barbacoa with zesty salsa roja. Primo's Taco Corner hasn't forgotten plant-based amigos, with the vegan barbacoa offering a deep, smokey mix of tomato, spice and dried chillies. Of course, you've also got a stellar drinks lineup, with the ¡No Mames! cocktail menu drawing from Mexico and beyond for cocktails like the Viva la Vida, a mango riff on a Tommy's Margarita, and the Flama Blanca, a refreshing blend of lychee, vanilla and Calpis.
Interpersonal relationships are all about compromise. I'll cook, you clean. I'll be designated driver this weekend, you can do it next weekend. Still, quite possibly the biggest source of compromise – or conflict – is choosing where to go for dinner. Fortunately for residents of and visitors to south Sydney, this could all be about to change. Highfield Caringbah will be the Sutherland Shire's first "vertical pub", offering up a bevy of themes and dining options under one roof. With their newest offering, the Feros Group are quite literally building on the success of Ugly Pizza and Huxley's Sports Bar. Both existing venues will remain on the ground floor at the MacKay street site, with new venues The Public House and The Botanical due to open up top. No-fuss joint Ugly pumps out its New York-style pizzas for dine in or takeaway. Huxley's, meanwhile, serves as a shrine to the USA, offering up diner staples – burgers, hot dogs, mac'n'cheese – to an overlapping soundtrack of American sports playing on dozens of TVs. On the middle floor, The Public House will stick to standard Aussie pub traditions: a TAB, domestic and craft beers on tap, and a menu featuring good old schnitties and steaks. And if you're looking to add a touch of elegance to the evening, rooftop hangout The Botanical will offer a dedicated cocktail bar, a living green wall and food prepared on a Japenese-style Robata grill – not to mention spectacular views of the city skyline. Highfield Caringbah is set to open on December 8 at 22-24 MacKay Street, Caringbah. For more information visit their website.
When you're old, will you look lovingly back on all those post-work evenings you spent downing ciders at your local or laying in bed alone watching Netflix? (If we're honest, probably yes). But why not mix things up a little and give your post work nightlife a hot injection of art and culture over the summer months. Being 'cultured' and visiting art galleries feels like one of those things your fancy adult friends do, but in reality, accessing art doesn't have to be difficult or expensive. Make the most of the long warm nights by soaking up all the Sydney art scene has to offer — and this summer that's heaps thanks to the Sydney International Art Series. Grab a chilled glass of prosecco, a cheese plate (or five) and learn a thing or two about some of the incredible artists that are being exhibited this summer, and start creating some cute memories for your future self. GUIDED TOUR: REMBRANDT AND THE DUTCH GOLDEN AGE Spend an evening moseying around the gallery and step back to a simpler, more golden time of Dutch history. This era was characterised by prosperity, science and a rising middle class who had stacks on stacks of cash money to spend on art and sumptuous delights, on account of #cleaneating not yet existing. Rembrandt and the Dutch Golden Age features works by 17th-century art's very own MVPs like Rembrandt, Vermeer and Judith Leyster. These artists were characterised by an obsession with capturing the world around them with exquisite accuracy, unleashing their talented little art fingers on subject matter ranging from brooding portraits and sublime seascapes to intimate scenes of domestic life and, of course, vivid renditions of the foods they dined on, because an artist's gotta eat. The guided tour is free with exhibition entry every Wednesday at 7.15pm for the duration of the exhibition. Daily at 11.30am and 2pm, plus Wednesdays at 7.15pm, until February 14, 2018 at the Art Gallery of NSW. Check the website for date changes over Christmas. SOUNDS ON THE TERRACE Thank you, MCA, for sharing your breathtaking, rooftop views with the people. On Wednesday, December 6, the Museum of Contemporary Art is hosting a live music evening with full views of Sydney Harbour, the Opera House and the Bridge. It's the second event in their summer series, Sounds on the Terrace, which looks like it'll be the perfect addendum to a day checking out Pipilotti Rist: Sip my Ocean. Kicking off the night's sounds is Romisounds, an indie/folk musician who threw away his career to focus on his acoustic passions. After you'll be entertained by live jazz and hip hop fusion group, Five Coffees, who bring together an ensemble of vocals, horns and a rhythm section that will most probably get you up on your feet. Run in partnership with Young Henry's, the event will leave you well-hydrated thanks to the good beer flowing. Wednesday, December 6 at the MCA. A DUTCH CHRISTMAS Christmas in Europe is something truly special, and with the Art Gallery of NSW channelling the Dutch Golden Age with their current Rembrandt exhibition right now, there isn't a better excuse to visit Sinterklaas (that's Dutch Santa) when he pays a visit to the art gallery. People in The Netherlands have celebrated the Feast of Saint Nicholas on December 6 for centuries, honouring the patron saint of children. It's a holiday where gifts are given and delicacies are had. Besides meeting the red robe-clad man himself (he'll only be in on December 6), you'll be able to try Dutch treats to a backdrop of angelic voices from the St James' King Street choir, who'll be singing traditional Dutch and Flemish compositions. On both December 6 and 13 there will also be wintery arts and crafts, a Christmas gift store and other festive food and craft delights. Wednesday, December 6 and Wednesday, December 13 from 4.30pm at the Art Gallery of NSW. [caption id="attachment_644168" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Pipilotti Rist, Pixelwald Motherboard (Pixelforest Mutterplatte), 2016, installation view, MCA, 2017 © the artist, photo: Ken Leanfore.[/caption] LAUGHTER SESSIONS They say laughter is the best medicine — we're not entirely sure who 'they' are, but there are certainly worse things you could be using to self-medicate. There are some lucky individuals in this world who spend their working week in stitches, whilst the rest of us chumps are just counting down the minutes until we can return to our beds. Why not take a break from the humdrum work week, and drop in at the MCA for a laughter session. Inspired by the Pipilotti Rist exhibition, Sip My Ocean, the workshops endeavour to bring the joy, colour and frivolity of the powerful works to life through the power of laughter. During the sessions, you'll take part in laughter exercises and learn about the benefits of a good chuckle. It's great for the abs, fends off those pesky facial wrinkles and does wonders for mental health — perhaps it really is the best medicine after all. Saturday, December 16 at 2pm at the MCA. LECTURE SERIES: MASTERS OF SIMPLICITY If you've ever walked around a gallery eavesdropping on people discussing art, and felt that pang of intimidation, you'll know that talking about art is actually kind of hard. Rather than awkwardly lurking behind a tour group and trying to figure out what all the art is really about, why not attend a weekly art historian lecture at Art Gallery of NSW on the Dutch Masters? In the series of lectures, three art historians divulge what it was about these artists that has seen them stand the test of time, the characteristics of their style and what was in the water in the Netherlands at that time which saw the birth of so many painting powerhouses. Talks include The Art of Everyday: Introducing the Golden Age with Dr Georgina Cole, Vermeer the God of Small Things with Dr Josephine Touma and Rembrandt: Painter of the Human Spirit with Dr Stephanie Dickey. Single tickets are $35, or you can give your brain a little treat and get all three for $85. Wednesdays at 6pm until December 13 at the Art Gallery of NSW. [caption id="attachment_648219" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Adam Hedgecoe[/caption] THE BEAR PACK: DUTCH MASTERS Masters of improv, The Bear Pack, are heading to the Art Gallery of NSW, presumably to spin tales of Rembrandt and the Dutch master painters into their famous yarns. Comedians Steen Raskopoulos and Carlo Ritchie use their powers of quick wit and on-the-spot decision-making to create a 'yarn'. Through suggestions of objects and places from viewers, the duo improvises characters and situations to create a cohesive, laugh-out-loud tale — they've captivated audiences by taking them on spontaneous adventures to the Pyramids, down fire escapes, around Aztec temples, into maternity wards and even to Subway. Here's hoping they land inside a Dutch masterpiece of sumptuous eats this time. And as usual, cellist Ange Lavoipierre will accompany the performance with deep, reverberating strings. Wednesdays from January 10 to January 31 from 6.30pm at the Art Gallery of NSW. SUNDAY SETS BY FUTURE CLASSIC DJs + FRIENDS What better way to celebrate the yes vote and impending legislative change than by sipping a cocktail bathed in rainbow light and looking over the picturesque Sydney Harbour at the MCA pop-up bar, Colour Fields. The temporary summer bar was inspired by the Sydney International Art Series exhibition at the MCA, Sip My Ocean by Pipilotti Rist, and curated by Scoundrel Projects. Every Sunday from 4pm, Future Classic DJs and their pals will be spinning tunes for you to sip your fruity cocktails to. Names include Andy Garvey, Ariane, Jack Shit, Vibe Positive DJs, Boogie Fingers & Bad Ezzy and Le Fruit. Entry is free but get in early because sipping summer drinks against one of the best backdrops Sydney has to offer makes for a pretty unbeatable evening and places are limited. And if getting loose on a Sunday isn't your vibe, the friendly folk at Future Classic have curated mixtapes that will be playing every other night of the week. Every Sunday* from 4pm until February 18 at the MCA. (*Excluding Sunday, December 31, 2017.) Colour Fields is open from 4pm till late, Wednesday through Friday and from noon till late on the weekend. REMBRANDT LIVE There is no doubt that if Rembrandt had the financial means, his time spent painting in the studio would have been accompanied by a full classical orchestra — he was only human after all. So, why not enjoy Rembrandt's works as he would have intended (probably) by visiting the Art Gallery of NSW's Rembrandt and the Dutch Golden Age exhibition to catch the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra during the Sydney Festival. Their performance will be dramatic, evocative, as well as light-hearted and will serve to enhance the incredible works in a truly unique way — bringing the uncanny still lifes, expansive landscapes and arresting portraits to life through the power of sound. And if your aim is for Rembrandt to fully assail all of your senses (and you're feeling particularly baller), Chiswick will be offering up a baroque banquet menu for two nights only with a menu designed by food lord Matt Moran. Select dates throughout January 2018 from 6–7pm and 7.30–8.30pm at the Art Gallery of NSW. The baroque banquet will be held at Chiswick on Thursday, January 18 and Friday, January 19 from 6–10pm. WEDNESDAY LATE NIGHTS AT THE MCA Spending a weekend cruising around an art gallery is high on the list of cultural things we wish we were doing with our lives, but once you've had your late breakfast (if you eat it at 1pm, does it still count as breakfast?), done a few loads of washing and cleaned the house, it's easy for those sunny weekend hours to slip away from you. This is why every Wednesday night the MCA keeps its arty lights on until 9pm. This summer, drop in after work for a glass of wine (or two) to enjoy sunset over the harbour on the rooftop terrace or grab a seat at the vibrant pop-up Colour Fields bar downstairs, before spending a cultural evening surrounded by incredible Pipilotti Rist works. If you're feeling particularly energetic, there are a number of workshops on offer, or if you're into sitting back and listening to smart people have it out, there are a number of talks featuring local creatives discussing the curious and controversial. Every Wednesday until 9pm at the MCA. ART AFTER HOURS AT THE ART GALLERY OF NSW If you're like us, finding time to hit the gallery is a struggle. Sure, having a busy day-to-day life probably means you're either very hardworking or very social, but you're also probably missing out on your recommended daily dose of culture. So, here's the remedy: the Art Gallery of New South Wales' Art After Hours nights, where you can visit the gallery until 10pm every Wednesday. This way you can fit some fine art into your busy schedule and continue being the social butterfly that you are (with a bit of added sophistication). After hours nights see all sorts of experiences filling the halls of the gallery, with live performances, film screenings, pop-up bars, food, meet-the-artist events, workshops and guided tours that'll take you through the masterpieces from the Dutch Golden Age until February 18. What's more, admission to the gallery is free (however, special exhibitions may charge an entry fee). Every Wednesday until 10pm at the Art Gallery of NSW. Pipilotti Rist: Sip My Ocean will run until February 18, 2018 and Rembrandt and the Dutch Golden Age will run until February 18, 2018. See the full program of Sydney International Art Series events here.
If, over the weekend, you noticed yellow bikes popping up all over your neighbourhood and happily unchained to poles or bike racks, you weren't hallucinating. Last Thursday, oBike, a dockless bike sharing service started in Singapore, arrived in Sydney. The harbour city is the second in Australia to score oBike — the company hit Melbourne in June. What's more, it's now Sydney's second dockless bike sharing service, following hot on the heels of Reddy Go, which landed in mid-July. To encourage you to get in the saddle, oBike is offering unlimited, free rides throughout August. Get started by downloading the oBike app, signing up and paying a refundable deposit of $49. Use the app to find an oBike near you, scan its QR to unlock it and ride away. Once you're done, park in an appropriate spot (hint: not up a tree or in the water or atop a portaloo or around a lamp post) and lock up manually. Sadly, Melbourne's continued access to oBike was threatened last week, with Lord Mayor Robert Doyle putting the company on notice. Way too many people have been leaving the bikes in all the wrong places, creating clutter and making a general nuisance of themselves. Let's see how Sydney fares.
Merivale is getting into the flower business just in time for spring. The functions and hospitality behemoth behind the likes of The Chicken Shop, Queen Chow, Coogee Pavilion and The Beresford – not to mention the annual madness that is the March Into Merivale food festival – have just announced they will open their first ever flower shop at the ivy in the Sydney CBD. Located next door to Lorraine's Patisserie, Palings Flowers will open its doors on Monday, September 4, and will be curated by florist Hannah Coomber. Previously of Grandiflora, Coomber joined Merivale as their in-house florist back in 2015, and has been creating arrangements for the groups various venues and events ever since. "I'm often stopped in venue and asked about our floral displays," said Coomber in a statement announcing the news. "I thought the Palings Lane boutique was the perfect space to not only display some of the florals we use across the group, but to also allow our guests to purchase the stunning varieties we source from the flower market." Coomber will design each bunch herself, ensuring that no two are exactly alike. The space itself will be designed by Merivale's in-house team, with a vibe described by the group as being akin to a "floral apothecary". Look for Palings Flowers at 3 Palings Lane, Sydney
For fans of beautifully made things, there can never be too many design markets. Now, the women behind Authentic Design Alliance and Factory Design District have just announced another. DESIGN-MADE will span over three days from October 27–29 and focus on genuinely original, accessible and sustainable design pieces. For co-founders Kobe Johns and Anne-Maree Sargeant, the market has been some time in the making. They have each been in the sustainable design scene for years, both in various capacities. Johns is the one-woman show behind Factory Design District, a three-day exhibition of new and established Aussie designers which has formed the basis of DESIGN-MADE. Sargeant, a designer herself, has been attending and curating design markets since 1987. In her position as director of the Authentic Design Alliance, she's a strong advocate for originality in design and the ADA is also attempting to outlaw the grossly prevalent counterfeit trade that is hamstringing the Aussie furniture design scene. The event will be held across two venues — SUNSTUDIOS and the Fisher and Paykel Experience Centre — and is more than just a market. While the phrase 'a celebration of Australian design' is a little cheesy, it's probably more accurate. You can expect educational talks, book signings, workshops, installations and 'meet the maker' forums. Of course, there will also be craft beer, organic wine, yum cha and food trucks to fuel your browsing. Exhibitors include: CULT, Designer Rugs, Dinosaur Designs, Hava Studio, MUD Australia, Spence & Lyda, Archer Objects, Fresh Prince, Ilanel, Jonathan West, Tom Fereday and Tom Skeehan, along with installations from LOCAL DESIGN and Interpretations V, a design collective created by Andrew Simpson featuring eight leading Australian designers. DESIGN-MADE will run between October 27-29 at Sunstudios, 42 Maddox Street, Alexandria. For more info, visit design-made.org. Image: Fiona Susanto.
World-famous vegan chef Matthew Kenney is about to open his very first eatery in Australia. In late March, he'll be popping across the Pacific from California to launch Alibi, which will be taking over the ground floor of Ovolo Woolloomooloo. Given that plant-based offerings are thin on the ground on the Finger Wharf, vegans should be high-fiving. Moreover, Kenney isn't just any old animal-free chef — he's an international legend. His TEDx talks have attracted masses of views and Food and Wine Magazine has listed him as one of America's Best New Chefs. Although the exact menu hasn't been revealed quite yet, we can tell you that it'll be big on creative combinations of fresh, local, seasonal ingredients. Kenney has a reputation for experimentation and innovation. He'll be working with Kasper Christensen, who'll also be rejigging the Ovolo's brekkie and room service menus. "I've had a long relationship with Australia and the timing was simply right," Kenney said. "The food scene is so vibrant here – great produce, chefs, sunshine... Ovolo came to me with the opportunity at the right time." To match Alibi's plant-based delights, there'll be a new drinks list, focused on Australian drops – both classic and boutique – as well as signature cocktails. Alibi will open in late March, on the ground floor of Ovolo Woolloomooloo, 6 Cowper Wharf Roadway.
We all like gelato, but sometimes the occasion calls for something other than everyone's favourite creamy dessert. Maybe it's too cold? Maybe you already have an ice cream headache? Maybe Gelato Messina is closed, or just not in the immediate vicinity? Enter the food mashup that had to happen, really — and a concoction straight out of every gelato and biscuit lover's dreams. In 2017, Gelato Messina Tim Tams became the Aussie sweet treat hybrid everyone wanted to taste. Now, in inevitable news, a second batch is on its way from February. Due in stores around the country from February 5, the new Gelato Messina Tim Tam range will come in three styles: choc cherry coconut, iced coffee and Turkish delight. "We've delved deep into our gelato flavour bank," said Gelato Messina co-founder Declan Lee, with the company coming up with the new selection after the popularity of last year's lineup. Making this tastebud-tempting news even better is the fact that, like all Tim Tams, they'll be sold in supermarkets everywhere. Yes, that means more Messina goodness more often. The biscuits are expected to set hungry shoppers back $3.65 per packet. Come on, you know you're going to buy more than one.
Fancy flinging yourself down a bowling lane? Ever even pondered the concept before now? Whatever your answer to the first question, we're betting your response to the second query was a resounding "no". As it should be, but someone, somewhere dreamed up human bowling and now it's coming to Sydney — because we all love turning something fun into something painful, we guess? Strike King Street Wharf is the place to be on March 15 if you're keen on sliding along the hard floors you normally throw equally hard balls down. After putting the notion into action in Melbourne in 2015, the bowling alley chain is bringing it to The Promenade, with free pizza, free vodka Red Bulls, free bruises (we're predicting) and the chance to win $5000. If you're keen to take part, you'll have to sign up for the chance to win one of ten spots, so don't go hurtling yourself down the nearest flat surface you can find as practice just yet. When human bowling rolled into Melbourne, participants suited up in padded yellow jumpsuits, oiled themselves up, then slid down lanes coated in plastic and doused in more oil. In other words: it's really more like an indoor slip 'n' slide in a bowling alley than really rolling down towards the pins, but it still sounds ridiculous. Strike's Human Bowling Night takes place on March 15 at Strike King Street Wharf. For more information, head to the venue website.
It could be just a matter of time before Sydney follows in Amsterdam's footsteps and introduces its own 'night mayor', if a new report by the Commission for a Nighttime Economy is properly taken into consideration. Set up by the Committee for Sydney, the commission's been hard at work finding potential solutions to Sydney's nightlife issues, gathering input from over 40 organisations as it looks at ways of boosting the city's nighttime economy in areas that aren't simply booze-related. And this week it released its findings from 12 months of research, all of which have been compiled into Sydney as a 24-Hour City. The report delivers 22 recommendations for improving Sydney's nightlife scene, one of which calls for the "introduction of a coordinating figure to bring together different agencies and actors in the night-time economy" — perhaps to address the fact that only 46 percent of Sydneysiders that are satisfied with the current nightlife. This concept of a special night mayor has already proved a huge success in Amsterdam over the past few years. Sydney's report also calls for extra public transport options in and around late-night entertainment areas, the introduction of dedicated nighttime precincts and the implementation of a 24-hour economy strategy, driven by the NSW Government. It also emphasises the importance of adding more options to Sydney's after-dark activities, and encourages cultural institutions to extend their opening hours and push back start times, citing London's First Thursdays gallery open nights and The Globe's midnight performances as examples. "It is about creating the amenity of a genuine 24-hour city, where normal day-to-day activities such as shopping, visiting a museum, going to the gym or a public library become as normal at 10pm as they would at 10am," said the commission's co-chair, the Hon. Peter Collins AM QC. "We believe that there are substantial potential benefits to Sydneysiders having access to 24-hour services and amenities". You can see the full report here. Image: Andy Vermeulen/Destination NSW.
Guillaume Brahimi may well be Australia's busiest man. Only months after taking over the dining room at Paddington's Four In Hand, Brahimi is back at it again, announcing he'll be opening Bistro Guillaume in Sydney's CBD next month. As well as The Four in Hand, Brahimi currently runs his namesake restaurant Guillaume, also in Paddington. But this new CBD resto — which was announced towards the end of last year — steps away from fine dining, and will be a new iteration of his flagship French bistro enterprise, Bistro Guillaume. This will be his third bistro (the other two are located in Melbourne and Perth), and will see him serve up a classic, protein-heavy French menu with a dessert offering that will bring a happiness tear to your eye. Located in the Suncorp Building on George Street, the new Bistro G will continue the trend established by it's predecessors. The restaurants are known for their use of playful textures and pops of vibrant green to offset the old-world luxury oozing from every sconce, and this one will follow suit along with some unique touches from Sydney interior designer Blainey North. At the moment the only clue pointing to the restaurant's look is an image of the signage in silver instead of the iconic green. The venue is set to open in August, so for now we can only speculate wildly about colour schemes. Bistro Guillaume Sydney is set to open in August in the Suncorp Building at 259 George Street, Sydney. Keep checking back for updates closer to the launch.
If you've been pining for Cafe Paci since the Darlinghurst restaurant closed in 2015, then here's some good news. Chef Pasi Petänen will again team up with Dennis Roman, Zoltan Magyar for a second pop-up at Mecca's Alexandria roastery and cafe, where they'll be hosting 12 feasts involving wine and collaborations. Taking place over four weeks, the dinners find their inspiration in the colours of the season. Each week's menu is dedicated to a particular shade. So, in week one, look out for red ingredients, from red prawns, radicchio and red cabbage to duck, beef and paprika. In week two, yellow will take over, bringing with it saffron, ginger, honey, yellow-tail kingfish and yellow wine, among other sun-coloured delights. Then, in week three, it's white's turn, which means crab meat and calamari in savoury dishes and popcorn and white chocolate for sweet teeth. Finally, green, with its endless possibilities, will be wrapping up proceedings in week four. Think green-lipped abalone, seaweed, avocado, coriander and honeydew melon. Some specific dishes have been rumoured, including white salad, strawberries with smoked capsicum, corn with butter and cabbage with parsley and anchovies. For each offering, there'll be a matching wine available by the glass or bottle. Dennis and Zoltan put together the drinks list from a handpicked selection of local and international producers. The feasts will take place on Thursday, Friday and Saturday each week, kicking off on Friday, October 12 and finishing on Sunday, November 4. Tickets are $85 for a five-course, set menu. Match the entire banquet with glasses of wine for $65 or buy drinks individually. Cafe Paci's Cooking by Colours pop-up will be at Mecca, 26 Bourke Road, Alexandria from October 12 until November 4. To book, email info@cafepaci.com.au or go over here.
Pairing wine with food has been done near to death. Sure, grilled snapper does taste that bit nicer with a glass of Chardonnay, but more and more Australian kitchens have been offering up beer pairings with fine food — and we're all for the alternative. Good Food Month is right onto this and, in collaboration with Beer The Beautiful Truth, has enlisted Bar Ume executive chef Kerby Craig — the guy serving up prawn katsu burgers in Surry Hills — and Lion craft beer sommelier Paul Daley to curate a decadent four-course lunch as part of this year's festivities. Each dish will be expertly paired with a different beer, with mouthfeel, aroma and, of course, flavour in mind. The catch? It's a blind tasting. Each dish will be served with a beer in a non-descript glass to let your senses guide you through the courses. The bottle will only be revealed at the end of each course. Craig's menu for the day will be inspired by contemporary Japanese cuisine but journeys across a vast spectrum of flavours. "I've created food the way I'd want to eat if I was a customer in that setting," he says. This is not just another excuse for a brew. Craig and Daley highlight that beer is not only for enjoying with pub grub, and that beers fall into brand bias. "We'll often dismiss a brand of beer because it's what our father would drink — but when paired with food, you can see a different side of it," says Daley. We all know lager tastes great with a schnitty, but New Zealand salmon sashimi paired with an Asian dry lager might just be one of the best marriages you'll experience. Here's a look at the menu Craig and Daley will be serving up on Friday, October 13 at Good Food Month's 2017 hub Hyde Park Palms. FIRST COURSE: KING SALMON SASHIMI WITH NORI PUREE, CUCUMBER, WASABI AND TAMARI SOY SAUCE Craig's first meal is a sashimi dish with fresh-from-NZ king salmon. "This type of salmon is only 2 percent similar to other salmon species around the world," says Craig. "It's delicious, oily and fatty. Not the greasy kind, but that tasty, refreshing fat." Building on the concept of salmon sushi, there will also be a seaweed puree underneath the sashimi, with the refreshing addition of cucumber, wasabi, lime and tamari. Tamari is a by-product of the miso fermentation process and results in a darker, thicker sauce to the soy sauce we're familiar with. Due to the fermentation process of miso, it takes a minimum of 18 months to produce. It's known as the most traditional of soy sauces in Japan — traditionally the 'correct' sauce for sashimi. Beer pairing: Because sashimi is a light and fresh dish, Daley has paired it with a crisp, dry Asian lager. "It plays on the simplicity of the dish, and it's the perfect way to set the tone for the rest of the of the meal," he says. This beer has less body and is reminiscent of sake, both of which are produced in very similar methods. It's also Daley's favourite pairing; it challenges the perception of beer only being suitable for pub food. SECOND COURSE: CHARCOAL-GRILLED EGGPLANT AND SMOKED LAMB NECK WITH KATSUOBUSHI "For me, combining beer and umami is a good thing," says Craig. On his many travels to Japan he's developed a strong appreciation for the savoury, which is highlighted in this course. Eggplant is a summer food (keeping in mind that Japanese summer is more like Australian spring), so now is the best time of the year to bring out these flavours. It's charcoal-grilled but aided in flavour by cured Hokkaido lamb shoulder. Lamb is not huge in Japan and it's produced solely in Hokkaido. Cured lamb is similar to a ham, so there's a smoky, saltier taste and the flavour may throw you off slightly. On top, katsuobushi is sprinkled, a commonly eaten seasoning of shaved, dried bonito. Beer pairing: A golden ale has been chosen to underline this dish. It'll be a bit on the sweet side with caramel malts. "You get a lovely, sweet, toffee flavour, which is complemented by fruity, apricot character from the Amarillo hops," says Daley. The lamb will be saltier than generally expected, due to the curing process, and this will be emphasised by the beer's bold, caramel hops. There will also be a pilsner introduced halfway through this dish, to show a stark contrast between the two beers. THIRD COURSE: ANGUS FLANK WITH SHISO VERDE, WAGYU-FAT POTATOES, SHIO KOMBU AND A SIDE OF TOMATO SALAD WITH SHISO OIL You'll indulge in a juicy, roast Angus flank covered in shiso verde, a green sauce taking inspiration from Argentina's chimichurri, or salsa verde. "Our take on the salsa verde is going to make it a really floral-tasting steak," says Craig. "And on the side there will be a tomato salad with lots of nice umami notes in there." There'll also be sprinklings of shio kombu — kelp dried in soy sauce — to provide that extra flavour hit. Beer pairing: There's an American pale ale involved here. "This beer's hoppy character will bring out interesting herbaceous notes in the steak, and that extra bitterness will cut through the fat in this meal," Daley says. The slight caramel notes in the APA will go well with the Angus. FOURTH COURSE: DESSERT Craig hasn't revealed the dessert, however, it will be paired with a dark ale. "I couldn't go past the dark beer with the dessert. It's probably the most inspiring part of the meal for me." Bar Ume's Love Beer, Have Taste event will take place at Good Food Month's Hyde Park Palms hub at noon on Friday, October 13. Ticket are $70 for four courses paired with brews. For more info or to book tickets, go here.
Thanks to a wave of passionate Sydneysiders, Keep Sydney Open's offline petition received well-over 10,000 signatures and is being debated in the NSW lower house today. The debate is open to the public which means you can show your support of the cause directly to Parliament — an event worthy of an afternoon sickie. From massive rallies to a crowdfunded documentary, a large portion of Sydney's community has really defended the nightlife of the city we know and love. Clearly, the uproar hasn't been heard on deaf ears, with a review under way by the Independent Review board and now a full-on political debate. For those truly dedicated to the cause, this is a rare chance to not only show your support but also find out if politicians have really been listening. You'll have to take it down a notch though, as campaign t-shirts and banners are not allowed in Parliament. Immediately following the debate, Keep Sydney Open is organising a meeting in Martin Place for a group photo-op and discussion around the campaign's progress. The schedule: 4:00pm: Arrive at Parliament and go through security at public entrance.* 4:15pm: People to be seated in chamber. 4:30pm: Debate starts. 5:00pm: Gather for a post-debate photo at the top of Martin Place *Note that campaign t-shirts and banners are not allowed in the Parliament. Looks like the government will finally be forced to openly consider the closures of music venues and the major hit on Sydney's night-time economy and vibrant nightlife. Keep Sydney Open believes there are many alternative means to keep the city safe at night without shutting it down — and they clearly have a lot of local support behind them. RSVP here to attend today's debate. The debate will happen today, May 12 from 4pm to 6pm at NSW Parliament House, 6 Macquarie Street, Sydney. Image: Kimberley Low.
These days, a free tertiary education is something of a myth — your parents might have got it, you know some other countries offer it, but you've certainly given up all hope of getting any sort of affordable qualifications (particularly with the prospect of fee deregulation). But when the NSW Government released its 2018 budget back in June, it included some surprisingly good news: it is now free to complete selected apprenticeships in NSW. As announced by Premier Gladys Berejiklian and outlined in the NSW Budget 18/19 papers, the State Government will put $285.2 million towards covering course fees for up to 100,000 TAFE courses and apprenticeships. All 121 apprenticeships currently funded under the government's Smart and Skilled program will be covered, and they're pretty varied, running from a Certificate IV in Commercial Cookery to a Certificate IV in Engineering. Most cost around $2000 to complete, so this will make a huge difference to prospective students who can't afford to foot the bill usually associated with studying. To be eligible for the free courses, you have to be over 15 years old and either an Australian or New Zealand citizen, a permanent resident or hold a humanitarian visa. The decision to make these courses free comes off the back of a similar promise from the Victorian Government to make 30 new courses fee-free from next year. The free courses in Victoria are a little broader in scope, though, and include qualifications in nursing, accounting and mental health.
It's been a tough year for music festivals down under. With plummeting ticket sales, cancellations and postponements, a growing number of festival favourites have bitten the dust. Peats Ridge, Harvest, Homebake and Pyramid Rock have all collapsed under economic strain. Not to mention, the mother of Australian festivals, the Big Day Out, is in hot water after Blur's cancellation. We might ask, is this just a slump, or the start of a steady decline in the demand for large-scale festivals? Are we seeing a necessary weeding out of the gimmicky blockbusters that have passed their use by date? Some 'boutique festivals' are still on the rise. Event organisers are innovating and reshaping the festival experience, rather than falling back on the well-worn formula of hooking ever-bigger 'white whales'. A trend towards restricting crowd numbers and progressive culture-making has illuminated a handful of remaining festivals, the unassuming gems with a loyal following. FALLS FESTIVAL One festival that certainly hasn't taken a hit in the popularity stakes is Falls Festival. This year the Falls team is also bringing the party closer to home, with Falls debuting in Byron Bay. One of the longest running, boutique music events in Australia, the three-day festival boasts camping, music and arts acts from all over the globe. This year's headliners include (the greatest house band in the world) The Roots, festival favourites The Wombats and the always-interesting Grizzly Bear, as well as some killer local acts such as Hermitude, Big Scary, Chet Faker and Horrorshow. December 28 to January 3; Byron Bay, Lorne and Marion Bay. SECRET GARDEN FESTIVAL Secret Garden Festival might be the most enigmatic festival to grace the summer scene, but we know enough to know that it is rad. This is a festival for the gambler, with brave ticket-buyers knowing only that they are committing themselves to a three-day bender of booze, bands and bad behaviour. And yet it seems that for many this is enough, with tickets to Secret Garden 2014 selling out within the space of a day. Secret Garden is also for the big kid at heart, with the first day always “theme day”. February 28 to March 1; secret location. LANEWAY FESTIVAL As we watch many other festivals fall by the wayside, St Jerome’s Laneway Festival just keeps on keeping on. In fact Laneway is going from strength to strength, with dates now being added in New Zealand and Singapore, as well as all the usual places. Organisers have also been said to have been adding in an impressive bunch of tweaks to individual venues, so that you can get from the mosh to a gozleme in record time, or grab a cider on the way back from the toilets without missing half the festival. Laneway 2014 will feature the likes of Chvrches, Cloud Control, Danny Brown, Jagwar Ma, The Jezabels, Haim and the Girl of the Moment, Lorde. February 2; College of the Arts, Rozelle WOODFORD FOLK FESTIVAL Woodford Folk Festival is a six-day cultural festival, held in Woodfordia, Queensland. Sure, this isn’t a festival for the faint-hearted: six days and nights of camping and partying is an epic venture. But, oh boy, is the trip up from Sydney and pricey ticketing worth it. This truly is the summer festival to end all summer festivals, with over 2000 performers, 35 venues and 438 national and international acts to feature this year — including the likes of the beautiful Clare Bowditch, uber-talented Sydney boy Brendan Maclean, the timeless Tim Finn and dreamboat Matt Corby. This is the festival for the free spirit. December 27 to January 1; Woodfordia, Queensland. SYDNEY FESTIVAL It's never quite 'our city in summer' until the Sydney Festival starts up. Kicking off this year on January 9, Sydney Festival always brings with it a tidal wave of performance, music, art and other festivities. And the 2014 program is no exception. Look out for a much bigger festival garden this year (so big, in fact, it's now the Festival Village) in Hyde Park and the return of music venue Paradiso at Town Hall. Whether you like the city-wide atmosphere or perhaps just enjoy novelty-sized, inflatable animals, Sydney Festival is by far the biggest and most popular event in Sydney's summer calendar. See the festival program for more details. January 9-26; Various Sydney venues MARDI GRAS FESTIVAL There's the parade, yes. But before that, nearly a month of cultural and celebratory events of all stripes makes up the festival of Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. And there's something for everybody, even Straighty McStraight-Straight - 'coz who relates absolutely and 100 percent to the social expectations of their gender and sexuality? Nobody, probably. And that's something to love, savour, and take away from this, the most fun and flamboyant of Sydney events. Plans for the 2014 season are well under way, with dates already in place for Fair Day on Sunday, February 9; a Harbour Party on February 22; and, of course, the iconic parade to be held on Saturday, March 1. With gay marriage rights so firmly on the agenda at the moment, 2014's Mardi Gras is sure to be one for the books. February 7 to March 2; Sydney TROPFEST Not only is Tropfest an establishment in the Sydney arts and culture scene, it’s just a bloody good way to spend a warm summer evening. This year there will be a new flavour, with the traditional location of the Domain changing to the Brazilian Fields in Sydney’s iconic Centennial Park and the date changing with it, from February to December 8. The day kicks off at 11am, with the Tropfest Junior program and red carpet arrivals filling up the day, before the famous night of screening commences. Tropfest is totally free and an event that begs for a picnic basket, wine and friends. December 8; Centennial Park SUBSONIC Not familiar with the ever-growing craze of the 'bush doof'? Do not fear. Before you fall completely behind in the times, let us explain. A bush doof is a festival/dance party/rave held in a remote location. Yes, essentially: doofing in the bush. And Subsonic is one particular festival gaining momentum, fast. Dedicated to all things beat and bass, Subsonic is set against the picturesque surrounds of Riverwood Downs Mountain Valley Resort, only three hours north of Sydney. Three days of music and camping, this is a lifestyle festival, bringing together a stellar lineup of local and international artists in a uniquely unconventional environment. Oh and although the Festival grounds are licensed, BYO is permitted at campsites — a perk lacking at other major festivals. December 6-8; Riverwood Downs Mountain Valley Resort By the Concrete Playground team. Top image: Secret Garden festival.
