Enough of the Dan Brown franchise. It was fun while the going was good, but, please…no more. The original film, The Da Vinci Code, ended up being surprisingly watchable, with director Ron Howard combining rollicking pace and genuine intrigue to keep audiences' hearts pumping from go to woe. Even the sequel, Angels and Demons, proved solid enough, albeit a film distinguishable from its predecessor more by scale than originality. By Inferno, however, it's more than clear that the well has truly run dry. Again we find our hero Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) in Italy, accompanied by a much younger female companion (Felicity Jones). Together they solve riddles and anagrams as they scramble from monument to monument, whilst dodging assassins from a mysterious organisation and passing implausibly through both heavy security and lines of queueing tourists. It's Dante this time, not Da Vinci, but the rest feels far, far too familiar. Even the film's ticking time bomb is again an actual time bomb, with only its contents (a world-destroying virus instead of anti-matter) being the point of differentiation. Hanks, fresh off his fantastic work in Sully, oscillates between looking bored, tired and confused – and not just because the script calls for it. The rest of the cast, meanwhile, seems far too blasé for a group possessed of the knowledge that the end of the world may be just a few short hours away. So are there any redeeming features? No, not really, although the film does raise one interesting idea: international audio guides for tourists narrated by Academy Award winner Tom Hanks. The only moments of note in the movie are those where, once again, Hanks's character offers clumsily inserted pieces of historical trivia into the narrative. They're crow-barred in, but remain undeniably interesting, and when coupled with Hanks' avuncular tone you can't help but indulge in the ad hoc history lessons. If Ron Howard needs a new project, we'd suggest just strapping a go-pro to his favourite leading man and letting him roam wild in the galleries and gardens of the world's grandest estates, pointing out tidbits and factoids as they arise. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RH2BD49sEZI
The annual Beerlympics at the Lord Raglan may not be the most hoity toity Sydney Craft Beer Week event, but it is one of the most fun beer events you'll get into all year. Beer games will include coaster toss, corn hole and handball, with heaps of amazing craft beer on hand, of course. Go ahead and channel your inner American college kid for the day.
Consider yourself a bit of a wine expert? Can you swish with the best of them? Can you hold long conversations about tasting notes and ageing barrels? Or are you more in the Leslie Knope school of thought when it comes to wine sampling — couldn't tell you the difference between a Cab Sav and a Merlot, but it's tasty and I'll go with it? Wherever you sit on this spectrum, Mental Notes promises to have something for everybody on the wine enthusiast scale. Returning for their second event on October 25, Paddington Town Hall will be hosting winemakers from all over Australia and beyond, giving keen wine-drinkers the opportunity to taste a cheeky wine, or three. With over a hundred wines available for the tasting, you can drink your way through the country's vineyards, and learn a trick or two from the winemakers themselves. If this wasn't already a pretty sweet deal, there will also be a smattering of food stalls on the day to complement (read: soak up) some of that sweet wine goodness thanks to Mary's. Hosted by Joel Amos (DRNKS) as well Kenneth Graham and Jake Smyth of Mary's and The Unicorn fame, there will also be a casual bar operating during the wine tasting — with a wine list that will be changing every hour — because, can you ever really have enough booze at a wine event?
If you haven't yet had a gander at Harold Park's just-opened Tramsheds, here's your excuse. Every Thursday in October for Good Food Month, various eateries at the new foodie hotspot will be hosting their take on Food Tales. In other words, they'll be telling you all the stories — old and new — about the dishes they serve up. Ever wondered where pasta comes from or what eating it means to the Italians? Curious about how sustainable fishing works and why it's important? Not sure how Gelato Messina started and when it got so damn big? Get yourself along and find out. While you're there, check out the Shoot The Chef photography exhibition. Image: Steven Woodburn.
It should've been so easy. Everybody loves Christmas films that revel in the raucous side of the season, as the likes of Bad Santa (forget the sequel) and The Night Before demonstrated. Everyone loves Office Space-style workplace comedies as well. Combine the two, throw in a host of funny folks, and the jokes should write themselves… shouldn't they? Perhaps that's the problem with Office Christmas Party — maybe directors Josh Gordon and Will Speck (The Switch, Blades of Glory), as well as the six different writers involved with conjuring up the story and screenplay, just assumed that's what would happen. They certainly thought that sticking to a formula as bland and straightforward as the film's title would work, and that mentioning beloved pop culture brands and figures such as Fast and Furious, Mad Men, David Bowie and Prince would rustle up some added affection. Alas, the last time office-based festive antics proved such a mess, it was in Die Hard. We all know how that turned out: fantastic as far as action flicks are concerned, but not so well for the people trapped inside Nakatomi Plaza. Here, a Chicago building inhabited by the local branch of a computing firm provides the site of the chaos. Head honcho Clay Vanstone (T.J. Miller) wants to throw the kind of annual party his dad, the former company head, would've been proud of — not the non-denominational holiday mixer with a gouda-stacked cheese platter that HR rep Mary (Kate McKinnon) is putting together. When his sister and interim CEO Carol (Jennifer Aniston) not only cancels the shindig, but threatens to lay off almost half of his staff, Clay and his chief technical officer Josh (Jason Bateman) spring into action. They plan to woo a possible big-shot client (Courtney B. Vance) by throwing an epic rager, with an inappropriate eggnog delivery system, a basketball star and all-round debauchery included. Great party movies, like the recent Tina Fey/Amy Poehler vehicle Sisters, make you wish you were there. Bad party movies usually make you cringe — and no, that's not what Office Christmas Party actually wants to do. Frankly, it's attempting too much already. With X-Men: Apocalypse's Olivia Munn, Workaholics' Jillian Bell, Saturday Night Live's Vanessa Bayer and The Neon Demon's Abbey Lee also among the cast, the film isn't short on subplots involving professional and romantic troubles. As if that weren't enough, a revolutionary new way to access the internet also plays a significant part in proceedings. Mixing an over-stuffed story, predictably bad behaviour, and Santa suits and Christmas lights aplenty, Office Christmas Party proves the type of supposedly outrageous comedy that feels like it was designed by committee. To be fair, that is how most real-life workplace gatherings of the sort come together, and they don't have the scene-stealing McKinnon to liven things up. Still, a party that's only enjoyable when one specific person pops up will always remain a drag, be it off-screen or on.
Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel is the hero of old-world seaside charm. Its stripy umbrellas, schoolyard benches and Breton-striped wait staff make it the perfect place to while away a summer afternoon with a drink. The Beach Club has sprawling outdoor seating, a fresh-not-fancy menu and a view so palm-tree perfect it could be a postcard. Every Sunday from February 5 to March 26, Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel has a summer-perfect Aperol Spritz pop-up bar and drink special. Finish off what has been an amazing summer season by heading down to Watsons Bay on the weekend and grabbing a $10 Aperol Spritz in the sunshine. The drink special runs all day, there will be summer DJs to set the mood and a pop-up lifeguard tower to get the perfect photo. We can't think of a more perfect lazy Sunday. On Sunday March 5, Messina are teaming up with Aperol and Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel to create an Aperol-flavoured gelato. You can sample it from 2pm-5pm in the sunshine.
In the realm of cinema, there's rarely such a thing as a simple love story. The latest film from Belle director Amma Asante proves that point more than most. As far as rousing romances based on real-life stories go, A United Kingdom hits the jackpot. A relationship struggling to flourish in the face of race-related divides and widespread international attention, and with the British government wilfully interfering, sits at the heart of this engaging feature, as drawn from a chapter of history many audiences mightn't know. The year is 1948, the place is London, and while the times might be a-changing after World War II, there are still battles to be fought. When typist Ruth Williams (Rosamund Pike) meets and falls in love with Prince Seretse Khama (David Oyelowo) of Bechuanaland, they can ignore the racist taunts directed towards them in the streets, and even her parents' strong disapproval. Alas, when they wed and later settle in the country now known as Botswana, avoiding the diplomatic conflict that follows becomes impossible. Guided by his uncle (Vusi Kunene), most of Seretse's tribe is against their union, as is the government in neighbouring Apartheid South Africa. English officials (including the Harry Potter franchise's Tom Felton) are also far from happy, doing whatever they can to stifle Ruth and Seretse's union in the name of global politics, economics and the Commonwealth. It's a situation teeming with injustice — and while the fact that it has been turned into a handsome drama might give an indication of the outcome, A United Kingdom provides an example of solid emotional storytelling from start to finish. Even as outside forces pull the film's star-crossed lovers in opposite directions, they never lose sight of what's important. Nor, for her part, does Asante. Indeed, while much of A United Kingdom might seem politely generic — filled as it is with honey-coloured sights and unravelling as it does at a measured, straightforward pace — there is far more at play here than just a love story. Demonstrating their ability to not only tell an important tale, but tell it well, Assante and writer Guy Hibbert (Eye in the Sky) are at their best when they're swapping easy sentiment for quiet fortitude — the kind a woman might need to persevere when she's stranded in a foreign country without her beloved, and bullied by those around her, for example. With that in mind, keep your eyes firmly on Pike. She's worlds away from her steely, unsettling performance in 2014's Gone Girl, but her work here proves no less compelling. Thanks to her efforts, audiences will gain an even better idea of the tensions and struggles of marrying someone that most don't approve of, as well as the tenacity required to soldier on in the face of public scorn. Hers is a quiet performance but a physically expressive one, transitioning between confident and tentative, yet never dampening Ruth's sense of resolve. Oyelowo, meanwhile, brings his usual combination of charm and gravitas, adding to an impressive resume that also includes Selma and Queen of Katwe of late. But it's his costar who really stands out in this stirring true story.
The Royal Botanic Garden has scored a new world-class horticultural experience — and you're invited to the opening. Called The Calyx, this architectural masterpiece will bring you several beautiful, light-filled spaces to hang out in, as well as extraordinary exhibitions that make botany look sexier than Beyoncé at the Super Bowl. The first of these, called Sweet Addiction, is now open, and it's a glorious, indulgent exploration of chocolate. To begin, you'll be taken through the history of chocolate; prepare to be transported deep into a tropical rainforest (where the story of the cocoa bean began) before travelling to chocolate plantations, a Lindt mill and, finally, a chocolatier room. Every one of your senses will be coming along for the ride. You'll be seeing, touching, smelling — and yes, you'll get to do some tasting as well. What's more, 18,000 plants have been transformed into living sculptures to make the Southern Hemisphere's largest continuous green wall. Expect to see representations of both the Mayan Goddess of Chocolate as well as the chocolate modern deity: the chocolate box. "The Calyx is a fusion of art, theatre and flora with themed exhibitions that address conservation and environmental issues in an imaginative, accessible way yet to be seen in Australia," said Jimmy Turner, Director of Horticulture Management at the Royal Botanic Garden. "It's Broadway for plants, and Sweet Addiction is our first show — complete with lights, sounds and a few surprises along the way." Sweet Addiction will be open 10am until 4pm daily, and will run until April 2017. Our tip? Grab your tickets online over here before you go — it's cheaper than buying them on the door.
Sydney sweet spot KOI Dessert Bar is going whimsical this month with a one-day pop-up restaurant inspired by Disney's upcoming blockbuster, The BFG. The restaurant, aptly named Rotsome, will open for one day only on Monday, July 4, just a few days prior to the film's Australia-wide release on June 30. The menu is the brainchild of Masterchef 2015 favourite, Reynold Poernomo, and the immersive dining experience is meant to stimulate your tastebuds and imagination alike. The details of the "deliciously disgusting" three-course degustation is still under lock and key, but will include a "snozzcumber" and some form of steaming green goo drink. Rotsome follows Sydney conventions with a strict no reservations policy; the restaurant will run on a first-come first-served basis from 1-6pm. All you grown-up BFG fans out there will have to hold your horses, though. As part of the deal, all "giants" (aka adults) will need to be accompanied by at least one "childler" (a small child over six years old) to get a table. Now's the time to suggest your siblings/nephews/nieces/cousins really need a day off school — you best get calling now before your brother beats you to it.
So, you've binged on The Jinx and Making a Murderer, and now you need another outlet for your factual film and television fix. Announced back in February, the brand new Australian offshoot of Hot Docs promises to take care of your need to consume compelling real-life stories. Packing quite the punch in their first year, Hot Docs at Palace Cinemas will bring 24 films from 15 countries to Paddington's Palace Verona in June and July. If exploring the story of James Foley, the journalist murdered by ISIS in 2014, piques your interest, or if finding out how the humble VHS helped defeat Romanian communism takes your fancy, then the likes of Jim: The James Foley Story and Chuck Norris Versus Communism well and truly have you covered. Elsewhere on the lineup, League of Exotic Dancers pays tribute to burlesque, What Tomorrow Brings explores the fight to educate young girls in Afghanistan, and Raving Iran looks at a couple of DJs working the country's underground techno music scene. Plus, two Aussie-made films will receive their world premieres: Charlie Hill Smith's Motorkite Dreaming, which focuses on a microlight aircraft adventure, and Helen Kapalos' A Life Of Its Own, which delves into the topic of medical marijuana. If that doesn't get you excited, perhaps a bit of background info about the original Hot Docs will. Also known as the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival, it isn't just a small-scale event. Screening more than 200 films, it's actually North America's largest doco-focused showcase, and has been running for 23 years. Until now, it had limited its factual film smorgasbord to the nation in its name; however, with this Australian leg, that's no longer be the case. Hosted by Palace Cinemas and curated by Aussie artistic director Richard Moore, the local run really is everything documentary fans have dreamed of (as long as they dream about spending a week or so holed up in a cinema, that is).
If you'd lived in Sydney 100 years ago, the Queen Victoria Building would've been your go-to farmers' market. Local growers and makers would pour in, peddling fresh produce, groceries and textiles. To celebrate this delicious history, the QVB has decided to host a pop-up foodie market this August. For five tasty, tasty days between Wednesday, August 3 and Sunday, August 7, a crowd of Sydney's favourite providores will take over the building's first floor. You'll be able to wander from stall to stall, browsing, sampling and deciding which morsels to take home. If dairy is your weakness, get into Pepe Saya's perfectly creamy, cultured butter, which will be sold alongside a stack of artisanal breads. Also delivering on the freshly-baked front will be Sonoma, with their 36-hour-made sourdough. Meanwhile, Salt Meats Cheese will be serving up three-cheese truffle mushroom toasties. Once that's done and dusted, move onto Vanto's Naples-style wood-fired pizza. Next up is dessert. There'll be no shortage of choice for sweet tooths, with Nutorious selling caramelised nuts and popcorn prepared in an old-school copper barrel, Spoon and Fork offering a selection of too-good-looking-to-eat cakes and biscuits, Koko Black taking care of chocoholics and Doughnut Time presenting a new, QVB-inspired creation. Wash it all down with a coffee from Kikko Cafe and pick up a bunch of Mr Cook flowers on the way out. The QVB Marketplace will open 10am-4pm, from Wednesday, August 3 to Sunday, August 7. On the Thursday, opening hours will extend to 7pm. Image: Pepe Saya.
As far as Australian love goes, 2016 has been an epic year for English alt rockers The 1975. They kicked off with an Australian tour in January, which sold out within minutes, while their second LP, I Like It When You Sleep For You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware Of It, smashed the charts, debuting at #1 on the ARIA and iTunes charts. Combining '80s sounds with a contemporary aesthetic, the album spawned hits 'Girls', 'The Sound' and 'Love Me'. Next up came sets at Coachella and Glastonbury, and a stack of other festivals are now lined up — from Chicago's Lollapalooza to Japan's Summer Sonic. There's more Splendour sideshow action where this came from. Check out our list of sideshows with tickets still available.
"For some reason, everything has become a metaphor," newly widowed investment banker Davis Mitchell (Jake Gyllenhaal) writes in a letter to a vending machine company. Uttered in voiceover partway into Demolition, it's not just a cringe-worthy piece of dialogue designed to provide an insight into his grieving mindset. It's also a dangerous sentiment for a character in a film to express — particularly in a feature that dedicates the bulk of its running time to becoming the movie equivalent of this statement. Davis' life has been torn apart by a car accident that claimed his wife (Heather Lind), though he managed to escape without a scratch. Barely shaken by the tragic turn of events — and clearly not visibly upset enough to satisfy his father-in-law and boss, Phil (Chris Cooper) — Davis begins to see everything around him as a reflection of his predicament. When he's not pouring his thoughts onto the page, initially trying to obtain compensation for a packet of undispensed peanut M&Ms but really just looking to share his lack of pain, he takes to dismantling the physical objects around him. A phone call from pot-smoking customer service representative Karen (Naomi Watts) proves similarly disruptive. Director Jean-Marc Vallée might be known more for his style than his subtlety, but the aptly titled Demolition takes blatant expressions of emotional states to a new level. Gone is the evocative earnestness and thematic texture that made the Quebecois filmmaker's French-language fare such as C.R.A.Z.Y. and Café de Flore work so well, even when they veered into heavy-handed territory. Instead, it's the contemplative simplicity of his most recent English-language efforts — AIDS drama Dallas Buyers Club and soul-searcher Wild — that's on display, coupled with a fondness for obviousness. Accordingly, Demolition proves an elegantly shot and deftly edited but ultimately empty series of scenes depicting its titular process in various forms: the initial crash, the destructive manner in which Davis behaves in the aftermath, and more than a few instances of both items and relationships being smashed to pieces, often in slow motion. While there's truth behind the broader observations Vallée is keen to stress, there are few new insights on offer. That screenwriter Bryan Sipe also penned the script for this year's Nicholas Sparks' adaptation The Choice gives an indication of the level of depth — or absence thereof. Alas, Demolition isn't a film that can be saved by its cast either. Gyllenhaal is solid and convincingly imparts some much-needed levity, but demonstrates exactly the amount of nuance he's asked to. While it shouldn't be surprising that yet another movie about a man's attempt to find himself wastes its female talent, Watts' nothing part is still disappointing. Playing Karen's teenage son, it's actually relative newcomer Judah Lewis (TV's Game of Silence) that fares best. His story arc might be designed to increase drama, but he conveys his character's journey without resorting to the movie's favourite tool, on-screen and off: a sledgehammer.
With winter finally digging its claws in, there's nothing like a quality, spiced spirit to get you through those long, cold nights. Luckily, Baron Samedi — not only an Haitian voodoo spirit, but a spirit of the liquid kind too — is coming to your rescue. Having popped up at Taylor's Rooftop in June, the good ghost is back and, this time, he'll be hitting the North Shore. You'll find him in residence at Lane Cove's Longueville Hotel, serving up cockle-warming cocktails featuring Baron Samedi Spiced, ginger beer, lime and bitters, as well as cups of Voodoo Punch. Yet to be acquainted with Baron Samedi Spiced? Well, it's a Caribbean spirit laced with an exotic mix of spices, including vanilla, cacao, cinnamon and Haitian native, vetiver. Its namesake, Baron Samedi, is a master of all trades, from voodoo to guédé to gatekeeper of the afterlife. We're afraid we'd be ruining the fun, were we to let you in on too many more specific details.But we will say that there will be drink specials and a few surprises along the way. So get on down the Longueville this winter and experience Baron Samedi Spiced for yourself.
It's been almost twenty years since the aliens of Independence Day came down and made a global nuisance of themselves. Fair to say a lot's happened since then, mostly to do with iPhones and TV shows about 'real housewives'. But in the world of Roland Emmerich's movie, things have advanced even further. We're talking flying cars, moon bases and even above ground monorails! Hybrid alien/earth technology has led to giant leaps forward in almost every facet of life, not to mention ushering in an unprecedented era of global peace. But then, wouldn't you know it, the aliens return, and – surprise surprise – they are pissed. Independence Day: Resurgence reunites pretty much the entire cast of the original film save for Will Smith – who has been unceremoniously killed off – while also introducing some newer, younger and more marketable faces in the form of Liam Hemsworth, Maika Monroe, Jessie Usher and Chinese superstar Angelababy. Then it does EXACTLY THE SAME THING AS LAST TIME. First, aliens invade and park a giant ship where there was clearly a no parking sign, ruining several perfectly lovely cities like London and Hong Kong in the process. Next, Earth launches a counter-attack with an impressive aerial armada, only to be completely scuttled and sent packing with our tails between our legs. Then the aliens reveal their true purpose (literally to do again what they came to do last time, exactly the same way), before Bill Pullman gets into a fighter plane and brings down the invaders with not a second to spare because – and we can't stress this point enough – 'that's what worked last time'. The result is an altogether dull blockbuster, assuming that's not an oxymoron. There's zero chemistry between any two members of the cast, while the battle scenes feel disappointingly familiar. It's also one of those frustrating films where giant plot holes are constantly pulling you out of the story, as you find yourself wanting to yell questions at the screen. These may include: "Why are we still baffled by the alien shields if we knew they had them twenty years ago?" or: "Why are we surprised by the speed of the alien ships when they've not changed since the last time?" and of course: "Why do we have countdowns on our earth-defending weapons, when all they do is give the aliens more time to blow them up?" Big, dumb and fun is an established genre in Hollywood these days, and one that's not entirely without its merits. Silly blockbusters are great for whiling away a rainy afternoon or getting you to the end of a long-haul flight. But when the 'dumb' is so overbearing that it drowns out the 'fun', and the 'big' being made 'bigger' represents the only substantive change, then you're left with a massively expensive yet spectacularly hollow sequel that quite simply fails to entertain. Rest in peace, Will Smith's character. Yours is the only one whose memory hasn't been soiled. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbduDRH2m2M
Ever been at an outdoor cinema, and wished you could just jump into bed? Well, of course you have — bed is the one thing we can rely on to always be there for us, and we all wish it could follow us around for intermittent lie-downs. That's presumably why the geniuses at Sydney's new PicNic Cinema have decided to implement beds into their outdoor setup. Well, that, and they're probably aware of the struggles of keeping your head propped up on a packet of chips while lying on a picnic rug trying to drink wine. PicNic Cinema will take over Parramatta's Prince Alfred Square for 16 nights this April. Instead of just the usual picnic rug and bean bag sitcho, the cinema will bring in enough inflatable double mattresses for 100 people to literally lie back and relax on. You'll even get a blankie in case it gets chilly. The film program is surprisingly varied and international, with everything from Muriel's Wedding to Studio Ghibli's Castle in the Sky to Iranian Oscar winner, A Separation. The food lineup is similarly diverse, with Cuban, African, Brazilian and Lebanese dishes set to be on rotation. Let's just hope it doesn't rain. UPDATE: April 8, 2016 The entire PicNic Cinema program is sold out online, but organisers will keep two double beds free every night and a handful of tickets will be available at the door.
Have you ever fallen asleep while reading a classic text, and dreamt of something much more lively? One assumes Seth Grahame-Smith has, given that his main claim to fame is taking iconic characters and mashing them up with the undead. Having already seen an Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter adaptation, a big screen take on his 2009 novel Pride and Prejudice and Zombies seemed like only a matter of time. Unfortunately, the film follows in the footsteps of its presidential predecessor, failing to provide either laughs or gory thrills. To be fair, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies makes a much more convincing attempt than Grahame-Smith's take on honest Abe. You can see how writer-director Burr Steers (Charlie St. Cloud) is trying to splice together his seemingly conflicting components. Sadly, you can see the gaps as well. It's not the concept that the film struggles with, but the tone and the requisite balance, never managing to be as funny or as ridiculous as its director so desperately desires. The film concerns the Bennet sisters, trained zombie killers on the lookout for suitable husbands. Second sibling Lizzie (Lily James) is less than enthused about matrimony, despite the pleading of her father (Charles Dance) that she think about her future, and the machinations of her mother (Sally Phillips) to see her daughters married off to wealthy men. As her sister Jane (Bella Heathcote) courts wealthy new neighbour Mr Bingley (Douglas Booth), Lizzie can't help noticing the stern but somewhat mysterious Colonel Darcy (Sam Riley). He's not the only potential suitor in her midst however, with her pompous cousin Parson Collins (Matt Smith) and debonair soldier Mr Wickham (Jack Huston) also making their interest clear. If the above description emphasises the romantic aspects of the story, it's simply taking its cues from the film. Think of it as Pride and Prejudice with a few zombies thrown in as a gimmick; a way to differentiate the movie from the numerous other big screen versions of the tale. Those familiar with Austen's prose might raise a smile as Lizzie's headstrong ways find a perfect outlet in combat, and will likely enjoy scenes of banter paired with physical duels. As a matter of fact, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies offers a surprisingly serviceable interpretation of its original source material. Those after literal brains, however, will find very little in the blood and gore department. What Steers fails to realise is that there's more to a zombie flick than talking about them, training montages, and throwing in a few shots of decaying faces now and then. Given the charm James shows as a feisty heroine fending off flesh-eating foes, it's disappointing she's not given more opportunities for action. Along with the rest of the cast, she does her best to act like she's in the kind of movie Pride and Prejudice and Zombies should be, rather than the one it actually is.
British photographer Adrian Boot has seen a lot more than your Average Joe. Starting his incredible career photographing for some of Britain's most popular publications (NME, The Times and The Guardian to name a few), he's made a name for himself as one of the UK's best-known music photographers. His work has varied from working with Nelson Mandela and Bob Marley, to documenting the efforts of Greenpeace in the Soviet Union. He also taught physics in Jamaica for a period in the 1970's, because you know, why the hell not? Come April, 62 of his photographs documenting the notorious punk music revolution are gracing the walls of SunStudios, Alexandria. Taking a behind-the-scenes look at punk music, the exhibition lays bare the culture and attitudes that incited the punk music revolution in Britain and all over the world. Boot's camera lens has focused on some of the greats that stormed into the '70s music scene and left an imprint on music to come, from The Sex Pistols to Ramones to Blondie — all held together with safety pins, pointy mohawks and stovepipes.
Get your fill of the best vegan food in town at the fourth annual Vegan Day Out. This weekend in Sydney and Melbourne, The Cruelty Free Shop is putting together a walking tour of vegan cafes, restaurants and retailers, many of which will be offering discounts, deals and free samples to anyone who stops by. On March 5 and 6, socially conscious eaters can stop by The Cruelty Free Shop on Glebe Point Road in Sydney or Brunswick Street in Melbourne and grab a map outlining their route. Whether you're a dyed in the wool vegan or just giving it a go, you'll find a whole world of retailers catering to animal-free eating, offering meal deals, two-for-ones, complimentary coffee, wine tastings and savings on vegan groceries. The Cruelty Free Shop will also be running its own tastings throughout the day, as well as offering discounts on more than 400 different products.
Sometimes, a film's premise is all there in its name. In 2008's Kung Fu Panda, a cuddly animal tried to master a skill he didn't appear all that suited for. His exploits blended an underdog story with physical comedy, wrapped up in vibrant animation and leaning on the voice talents of Jack Black. Of course, the movie that resulted hit all the anticipated beats: the training montages, the heart-warming journey from uncertainty to self-confidence, and the repeated sight-gag silliness of a panda showing off his martial arts prowess. Two films later, and not much has changed. Just as you can expect a movie called Kung Fu Panda 3 to feature 'Kung Fu Fighting' on its soundtrack, you can also expect it to stick to the established formula. That's how franchises are made, after all — if it ain't broke, don't fix it, as the old saying goes. When a series is built on little more than a one-joke concept boosted by its cuteness and saddled with a feel-good message, however, it's hardly surprising when it wears thin a few installments in. Po (Black) might have accepted his unlikely status as the Dragon Warrior — the sole kung fu master capable of harnessing limitless power — yet he's still not that comfortable in the role. In fact, he's daunted when he's told by his teacher, Master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman), that he'll now be training his pals (voiced by Jackie Chan, Lucy Liu, Seth Rogen, Angelina Jolie and David Cross), and is thus happily distracted when his long-lost biological father, Li Shan (Bryan Cranston), arrives to whisk him back to a secret panda village. But when the menacing Kai (J. K. Simmons) breaks free from the spirit world with a mission to capture other kung fu warriors' chi, Po has to find a way to believe in himself, unleash his full potential and save his friends. With Po's adopted (James Hong) and birth dads jostling for attention, and a pretty panda (Kate Hudson) vying for his affection, there's plenty going on in the Alessandro Carloni and Jennifer Yuh Nelson-directed effort — though the fact that the duo have worked on the series before, as have writer-producers Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger, is telling. The stakes might be raised, and many more pandas thrown into the mix, but even younger viewers will be able to see where it's all going, and how they're supposed to feel about it. As too often proves the case with all-ages animated fare, it's left to the film's images to brighten things up with colour and movement, and to add some personality in the process. Kung Fu Panda 3 may not offer up a new narrative, but it tries — and almost manages — to compensate with lively 3D visuals. The voice acting attempts to inject the same kind of energy, although a little bit of Black goes a long way. That said, if another round of laughing at pandas busting kung fu moves and listening to a message about being yourself is your idea of easy, undemanding entertainment, then the film's been-there, done-that approach won't worry you.
The Persian New Year is a 3000 year old holiday, happening in March, and the Iranian Art and Craft Exhibition will be celebrating in an Australian-first. This huge exhibition has been organised with the support of the Iranian Women Visual Artists Collective-Australia (IWVAC-Australia), who are in residence at Cre8tiv Studios. A diverse range of works will be on display, covering both traditional and contemporary art practice. Whether you're an expert in Iranian art or utterly new to the subject, this is an excellent chance to acquaint yourself with major approaches, developments and themes — historically and in the now.
Catering to our fierce love of seafood over the Easter period, Sydney Fish Market is extending its Good Friday trading hours so you can get your hands on the freshest ocean treats for your long weekend meals. Each year, the Fish Market — which will be relocated to a $250 million new site come 2023 — capably serves over 50,000 buyers looking to snag a deal, with a whopping 650 tonnes of seafood expected to be sold throughout the day. Between 5am and 5pm on Friday, April 19, the market is yours to scout out the most sumptuous fish, king prawns, oysters and calamari. The best news is that it's all Australian-sourced, with half of it from New South Wales. It's not only fish here, though. You can also peruse cold meats and cheeses at the deli for a grand charcuterie platter, pick up wine from the bottle shop or stop by the on-site bakery for hot cross buns. Or, if you're a a bit of an Easter Sunday traditionalist, you can even pick up lamb from the butcher. They sell basically everything here. If you miss out on Friday, the Fish Market will also be open for its regular hours — 7am–4pm — for the remainder of the long weekend. The Sydney Fish Market is open from 5am–5pm on Good Friday and 7am–4pm on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
Looking for new threads? Sure, you can head to plenty of markets around town and trawl through food, homeware and other objects, or you can mosey along to Sydney's dedicated ladies fashion get-together. Round She Goes does one thing, and it does it well. If it's clothing, accessories and jewellery you're after, you'll find it here. Filled with preloved designer and vintage fare, the one-day happening will take over Marrickville Town Hall on a number of Saturdays from 10am — on June 1, August 31 and October 26. These editions will boast 60 stalls, all specially curated by organisers to deliver reasonably priced, high-quality bits and pieces, and ranging from beloved brands to handmade items to fashion clear-outs. Entry costs $2, and when you're finding that shiny gold coin to get you in the door, make sure you did up some other cash as well. Cold, hard currency is preferred here, and parting with it will be worth it. Your wardrobe will thank you for it.
Gelato Messina is ditching its waffle cones and paper cups in favour of beautiful, handmade ceramic bowls at an inner west event this Sunday, April 14. And it's doing so to help raise money for All Together Now — a non-profit dedicated to reducing racial discrimination and abuse around Australia. The Potters in Protest fundraiser event will be held at Marrickville's Join the Dots Artists Studio and Workshop. Purchase a handmade ceramic bowl for $30 and it'll be filled — for free — with Messina (vegan options available). It's a fairly simple idea but noble nonetheless, with 100 percent of the profits going towards the cause. Over 150 bowls will be available, donated by some of Australia's most talented potters, including Milly Dent, Alana Wilson, Bridget Bodenham, Public Holiday, Mud Australia, Nicolette Johnson and Vicki Grima, plus more. Potters in Protest will run from noon to 4pm, unless sold out prior. We suggest you go early and scoop it out. Images: Saskia Wilson.
Three Australian choreographers have joined forces on the Australian Ballet's newest Sydney show, Verve. Powered by explosive movement and intense emotion, it's a journey from light to darkness — from sublime calm to unbridled anger — accompanied by a soundtrack that swings from Tchaikovsky to German electronica. The first act is Constant Variants, the creation of fellow resident choreographer Stephen Baynes. This strikingly contrasting piece travels into a world of beauty and tranquility. Expect to be carried away by a neoclassical dance of extraordinary grace and poise, set to Tchaikovsky's Variations on a Rococo Theme, which features a breathtaking solo cello section. Next up is Aurum, a new work by Alice Topp, who debuted on the mainstage in 2016 with Little Atlas, and has choreographed for Megan Washington and Ben Folds. Aurum takes its inspiration from the Japanese art of kintsugi — repairing cracked pottery with precious metals — and encourages audiences to understand the beauty of imperfection. Filigree and Shadow, the work of resident choreographer Tim Harbour, rounds out the performance. Harbour carries the audience into a dark, uncertain world, driven by animal aggression. Think sudden moves, shadowy lighting, an architect-designed set and a score by German collective 48nord, who mix experimental and new music with post-pop and neo-rock. An all-Australian team is behind every aspect of Verve's set design and lighting. It includes resident lighting designer Jon Buswell (Constant Variants) and legendary lighting designer Benjamin Cisterne (Filigree and Shadow), as well as multi-award winning set and costume designer Michael Pearce (Constant Variants) and renowned architect Kelvin Ho (Filigree and Shadow). Verve will run from Friday, April 5 to Thursday, April 25 at the Sydney Opera House. To purchase tickets, head this way. The Australian Ballet is also hosting a one-time lunchtime performance of Alice Topp's Aurum on Wednesday, April 17 at 12.30pm. Images: Jeff Busby and David Kelly.
Crown Street's all-day Italian diner Caffe Bartolo is giving Sydneysiders even more to love with the launch of Bartolo Sundays — a monthly long lunch that will see the restaurant collaborate with a different producer each time. To kick things off, Bartolo is teaming up with South Australia's award-winning Never Never Distilling Co, which just took home the 2019 award for the world's best classic gin at the World Gin Awards. The collab lunch will take place on Sunday, April 7, from 1–3pm. Expect a four-course food and cocktail pairing by Bartolo's head chef Teofilo Nobrega (Fratelli Paradiso) and creative director of drinks Grazia di Franco. The Never Never founder will also be in the house and running a mini gin tasting alongside the degustation. On the menu, there'll be the Snap(per) Chat (Triple Juniper gin with tomato and carrot juice) paired with a citrus-cured snapper and pickled celery heart in a bloody mary sauce; the Bartolo's Martini (Southern Strength Gin, vermouth and Sicilian wine) paired with peperoncino-stuffed swordfish involtini; and, for dessert, the Bitter Freak (Juniper Freak Gin, vermouth, coffee and amaro) paired with an amaro and juniper berry-infused fried custard topped with fior di latte gelato and burnt oranges. Tickets are priced at very reasonable $49 a pop and are also very limited, so head here to nab one while you still can. Going forward, Bartolo Sundays will take place once a month — keep an eye on the venue's Facebook for future event details. Image: Kitti Gould.
If you (smartly) took regular advantage of Merivale's 49 percent off deal in June, you'll be glad to hear that another Sydney hospo vet is bringing back that same deal for July. Jared Merlino (co-owner of Big Poppa's, Kittyhawk and Lobo Plantation) has revamped his first solo venture Bartolo (FKA Caffe Bartolo) and is celebrating the relaunch with a massive drinks promotion. Called 'Book the Bar', it's pretty much what it says on the packet: book a spot at the dedicated bar area any day in July and you'll get a whopping 49 percent off your drinks bill. Bartolo's new 13-seat bar space is part of the all-day eatery's revamp, which has just launched alongside the approval of the bar's PSA licence — allowing punters to drink without having to order any food. When you visit, expect a sleek fit-out with walnut floorboards and high tables, along with a cocktail menu that spans spritzes ($15), classics ($14–20) and signatures ($22). So, with the 49-percent-off deal, that's just $7.65 spritzes, $7–10.2 classics and $11.22 signatures. The cocktail menu changes with the season, but at the moment, there's a Vermuttino spritz (vermouth, lemon myrtle and soda), the Rain cocktail (tequila, two types of vermouth, verjus and golden beetroot), the Merino Wool (sherry, cognac and vermouth with apple, almond milk and egg whites) and the Fireplace (Rinomato Aperitivo and Americano Bianco with plum, cacao and earl grey) which is served hot. And you can sip each and every one of these cocktails for almost half price. The Book the Bar Promotion is available from noon–10pm daily, with a 1.5 hour time limit. Bookings are essential, and you must include 'BOOKTHEBAR' in your booking notes to get the deal.
Is there anything New Zealand humour can't turn to gold? As Laser Kiwi, brothers Degge and Zane Jarvie, alongside Imogen Stone, bring NZ's signature low-key dorkiness into a circus arena. Laser Kiwi has described its performance as circus sketch. Between the ten-minute pieces that the trio has rehearsed for weeks comes a flurry of miniature gags — a few of which shine among a barrage of deliberate (and very funny) failures. From a stilt-walk sabotaged by excessive props to a stunt cruelly hampered by an outsized M&M, Laser Kiwi simultaneously reinvigorates its art form while poking gentle fun at it. That said, there's no question of the skill on display here, as its liberal deployment of charm amplifies some seriously intense and beautiful feats. Laser Kiwi's show will run from Tuesday, July 16 to Saturday, July 20 as part of Bondi Feast 2019. For more information and to purchase tickets, head this way. Image: Michelle Ranson.
Whether you like a semillon from the Hunter Valley, a pinot noir from the Yarra Valley, or a robust shiraz from the Barossa, you can get it all at the inaugural Lakeside Long Lunch. For one glorious day in September (Saturday 28), representatives from some of Australia's best wine regions will gather in Sydney's west. Hosted on the idyllic banks of Sydney International Regatta Centre's lakes in Penrith, Lakeside Long Lunch is all about spending several boozy hours sampling vinos. You'll get to taste fine drops from Margaret River's Robert Oatley Vineyards, Bimbadgen Wines from the Hunter Valley, and Yarra Valley's Oakridge Estate. Plus, there'll be drops from the Barossa Valley, Mudgee, Orange and further afield. In between tastings, you'll want to tuck into lunch, too. You can choose from an opulent lobster gnocchi with pomodoro sauce and vanilla oil; braised lamb soft tacos topped with pomegranate; and charred Middle Eastern chicken with couscous and garlic yoghurt. Meanwhile, vegans and vegetarians can feast on a chickpea and tofu coconut curry served with jasmine rice and coriander sambal. There'll also be food trucks on site — think food from Agape Organic, Busfood and Arlecchino. There'll also be music soundtracking the event, with tunes from Suite Az, Voli K, The Lovefools, Hype Band and Will D Music. You can expect a lot more entertainment and activities on the day, too. Your $99 ticket covers everything, so you can kick back, relax and focus on the important things in life: eating and drinking. Got cash to splash? You can upgrade to the VIP package for $349. Lakeside Long Lunch at Penrith's Sydney International Regatta Centre is taking place on Saturday, September 28, from 10am. To purchase tickets, head here.
It's time for another food-focused celebratory day, with fried chicken in the spotlight. At its Macquarie store in Sydney, NeNe Chicken is naturally celebrating its main culinary attraction. Not only is it giving away freebies, however — it's also giving away gold-dusted poultry pieces. Head on down from midday on Saturday, July 6, and a free serving of Korean-style original-flavoured wingettes and drumettes will be waiting if you're one of the first 100 people through the door. If you like fried chook and free lunches, you'll want to be one of them. And honestly, who doesn't love both? By nabbing a serving, you'll also go in the draw to receive a free dish of pieces coasted in edible 23-karat gold. Yes, really. That said, you will need to hang around until 12.30pm to see if you're one of the five winners — and if your National Fried Chicken Day will be extra shiny.
If your pup's been trying to sad-eye his or her way into your Easter celebrations, but without much chocolatey success, here's a solution for you both. From midday on Saturday, April 13, Mad Paws, an Aussie pet-sitting network, is bringing its annual Dog Easter Egg Hunt back to Sydney. For two furry hours, your drooling, slobbering one will be the focus of all attention. More than that — it'll get to scour Glebe Foreshore Parks for dog-friendly Easter treats. The pupper who finds the most will also win prizes, so your cute pooch could enjoy a very indulgent day indeed. While the main attraction is part of a country-wide push to hold the world's biggest dog easter egg hunt (with simultaneous events happening in Brisbane, Melbourne, Canberra and Darwin), there'll also be games, dog trainers offering advice and plenty of four-legged cuties everywhere you look. Last year's festivities featured agility courses, best-dressed comps, pupcakes and massages — here's hoping they all make it back this year.
Pints of freshly brewed beer and some of Sydney's best Mexican fare will join forces this weekend in Marrickville. Rosa Cienfuegos, a tamaleria and Mexican deli in Dulwich hill, is packing up its tasty tacos and tamales and bringing them over to Sauce Brewing Co for four days. And the best part? It's open every damn day. Peckish after you knock off work (early, maybe) on Thursday? Head on over to Mitchell Street. Need an icy cold pint of IPA on Good Friday afternoon? Sauce has got you. Wake up with a hangover only tacos and a hair of the dog can fix on Sunday? Rosa's food will be thy saviour. You get the idea. Every. Day. While it's not yet been announced what exactly will be on the menu, you can expect Rosa's Oaxaca-style hot tamales — packed with mole and pineapple pork, perhaps — and tacos topped with the likes of slow-cooked brisket, lamb barbacoa and spicy cactus salad. To drink, Sauce will be serving up its usual fresh brews, which include the Pazy Hale (a hazy pale ale) and a tart and refreshing passionfruit berliner weisse. If you're looking for more beers and tacos this long weekend, Rosa will also be popping up at Young Henrys and Grifter. You can check out all the details here. Rosa Cienfuegos at Sauce will be open from 4–10pm on Thursday, 12–10pm on Friday and Saturday, and 12–8pm on Sunday and Monday. Images: Rosa Cienfuegos by Trent van der Jagt.
Keen to escape the festivities in a cinema over the Easter long weekend, but your wallet doesn't want to play ball? Call Dendy Cinemas' latest special a case of great timing, then. For the five days between Thursday, April 18 to Monday, April 22, the chain offering up discount tickets that'll solve your problem — whether you purchase online or at the box office, you'll only pay $10 for your movie of choice at Newtown and Opera Quays. Or movies. With everything from Shazam! and Captain Marvel to Us and The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part currently screening, too — plus The Aftermath, The Man Who Killed Don Quixote, Hellboy, The Curse of the Weeping Woman and more — there's plenty to watch if you're keen to spend as much time in a darkened room as possible. The special isn't available for special events, Dendy Arts sessions or preview screenings, but you're certain to find something to watch regardless. And if you're buying online, there's a $1.50 booking fee, too.
A long lunch is the sweet spot of social events. It suits both your early-rising mates and late-night party animals. It can be the main event or the start of a whole day of festivities. And, if you pick the right venue, the drinks are of equal importance to the food. Enter Bar Patron's new weekend lunch menu, which takes that 'sweet spot' long lunch and serves it with a healthy dash of salt and squeeze of lime. According to the website, this lunch set menu is for 'the ladies', but let's be real — anyone who loves Mexican food (all of you, we know) is going to want to get in on the action. The share-style menu starts with hand-pounded guacamole and salsas for true authenticity points, followed by a selection of tacos. The main meal is your choice, so consider it a good opportunity to fill your hankering for refried beans, enfrijoladas and braised meats. To finish, you'll get to tuck into the bar's two most popular desserts — the tres leches sponge cake, served with fresh mango, and polvorones, which is an authentic Mexican cookie-like dessert served with almond and caramel. The set menu costs $65 and includes one of the venue's expert Patrón Silver margaritas on arrival. Alternatively, you can upgrade to the $99 package, which also includes two hours of bubbles. The Weekend Lunch menu is available every Saturday and Sunday between 12–3pm. To make a booking, visit the website.
Entering its 19th year, Yabun Festival is held annually on January 26 at Victoria Park in Camperdown, on Gadigal Land. Yabun, which means "music to a beat" in the Gadigal language, features a wide range of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander talent. This year, the lineup includes award-winning Gamilaraay singer Thelma Plum, Eurovision contestant and Gunditjmara pop singer Isaiah and Roger Knox, one of Australia's best-known country and western singers, among many others. If you're looking for more, the ticketed Yabun after-party kicks off across the road at the Lansdowne Hotel from 8pm. It features a heap of Koori Radio DJs who'll play through till 3am. The day will start with a Welcome To Country and smoke ceremony, and will also include performances from Indigenous dance groups from across the country and panel discussions featuring members of Sydney's Indigenous community. There will also be market stalls, storytelling and arts and crafts workshops. Yabun Festival will run from 10am–7pm. The after-party at the Lansdowne will run from 8pm–3am.
When January 10 hits in 2019, it'll mark three years since David Bowie shuffled off this mortal coil. In celebration of his life and music, Lyons Gallery — a brand new addition to Paddington's art world — will host an evening dedicated to the singer-songwriter. From 6pm till late, the gallery will transform into a time machine, filled with images of Bowie, memorabilia and film screenings. Look out for works by Brian Duffy, the photographer behind Aladdin Sane; Masayoshi Sukita, who collaborated with Bowie for four decades; Helmut Newtown, who famously shot Bowie in Monte Carlo in 1983; and Terry O'Neill, who took more than 180 photos of Bowie over 30 years. A handpicked selection of limited-edition photos will be on sale. Founded by media personality and former Geelong Mayor Darryn Lyons in November last year, Lyons Gallery specialises in iconic images of celebrities, rock stars and royals — from Princess Diana and Queen Elizabeth II to Marilyn Monroe and Brigitte Bardot. Let's Dance: The Life of David Bowie is free to attend, although RSVPs are required by emailing the gallery on info@thelyonsgallery.com.
Experience the breathtaking beauty of the Dharawal National Park on a new kind of nature tour that invites you to make use of more than just your eyes. Held on Saturday, January 19, the Summer Series Sensory Walk will be led by a qualified park ranger — and will call on each of the five human senses. Over the course of the 2.8-kilometre, 90-minute stroll along the O'Hare's Creek Lookout track, guests will take in the sounds of nature, smell and touch the vegetation, and chow down on a number of tasty bush treats. In addition to the Sensory Walks, the little-known nature park — which is located roughly 90 minutes outside of central Sydney — also offers indigenous walking tours on the second Saturday of every month between February and November.
Why drink at one watering hole, when you can head to two, three, six or more? That's always been the motivation behind everyone's favourite boozy journey, aka a pub crawl. And, it's the exact same type of thinking behind the Urban Wine Walk. Taking another wander around Sydney, it's the bar-hopping excuse every vino lover needs — if you need an excuse, that is. From midday until 4.30pm on Saturday, February 9, you'll saunter around Surry Hills and Darlinghurst — and between the likes of This Must Be The Place, The Dolphin Hotel, Black Bottle, Mister Pocket, Della Hyde and more — sampling wines and having a mighty fine time. As for the tipples, they'll be taken care of by New South Wales' Slow Wine Co, South Australia's La Prova, Western Australia's Mr Barval and others. Tickets cost $64 and places are limited. This moving cellar door will not only serve up wine tastings, but also your own tasting glass — plus a voucher for another beverage, and a guide to help you plan your mosey between bars.
In 1997, Christmas changed. With a single episode of Seinfeld, the world became privy to a new form of holiday celebration that eschewed other traditions and denominations. Instead of a tree, an unadorned pole gets pride of place. Rather than share happy stories, everyone gathered airs their grievances. And, instead of settling down on the couch after a hearty meal, attendees compete in feats of strength. Okay, so maybe you still enjoy tinsel, turkey and street cricket with your family on December 25. Even so, The Glenmore is making sure you can have some Festivus fun as well. The pub's shindig takes place on the official Festivus date of December 23. The Glenmore's rooms will be 'themed' like Jerry's apartment and the rooftop will have live music going from 3pm. In keeping with tradition, there'll be a grievances wall, so you can air yours and be infuriated by everyone else's. Not so Seinfeld are the $12 Aperol spritzes. Don't forget to dress up, too — there will be Festivus prizes.
The year of the pig is almost here and, to celebrate, the Sydney Fish Market is staying up late once again to host its second Chinese New Year night market on Friday, February 8. Done up with red hanging lanterns, the boardwalk will become a bustling hub of activity after-dark. Traditional red envelopes and special fortune cookies will be passed around — the former of which are meant to bring happiness and prosperity, and latter of which will include "fishy puns" for the new year. This will all go on from 4–10pm amidst the madness of the fish market, which will include a parade of lion dance performers and a laser light show. The licensed restaurants will also have the requisite yum cha and other traditional Chinese dishes to feast on. The market's expecting over 100,000 visitors throughout the week, so it's sure to be one helluva celebration of 2019.
Whether you're a big nature nerd or err on the indifferent side to the science of it all, chances are you've seen at least some of Sir David Attenborough's Blue Planet. The BBC nature documentary series — narrated by the man himself and accompanied by an epic score from Hans Zimmer — first aired back in 2001, and its follow-up second season, Blue Planet II, was released just last year. But the bits you've seen on TV or YouTube are sure to be belittled when the BBC brings the live show to Australia this April. Like the performances of Harry Potter and Star Wars we've seen in recent months, Blue Planet II Live in Concert will see the documentary screened in all its glory accompanied by a live orchestra. And it's a big score. The music for Blue Earth II was composed by none other than Hans Zimmer (responsible for epics like The Lion King, Gladiator, The Dark Knight Rises and Inception) alongside Jacob Shea and David Fleming. In Australia, the score will be performed by three of the country's leading orchestras and, in lieu of Attenborough, Ab Fab's Joanna Lumley will be narrating in real time. The show will travel around Australia in March 2019, visiting Sydney on Friday, March 8. In the meantime, you can watch ehe first season of Blue Planet on Netflix. Image: Hugh Miller, copyright BBC NHU (2016).
Godhood's a hard thing to come by in any profession. But over the course of roughly half a century, Stephen Sondheim, the composer and lyricist responsible for penning all of the songs your musical theatre friends refuse to stop singing in public places (including those from Into the Woods, West Side Story and Sweeney Todd), has toddled on up the road to full-blown deity status. With a pool room that contains virtually every award, Sondheim is most revered for managing to bottle the unique sound and style of New York in the late-20th century. In February, however, City Recital Hall is looking to focus on his stratospheric achievements as a gay artist. Originally presented as part of Brisbane Powerhouse's Melt 2017: Festival of Queer Arts and Culture, Boys of Sondheim is a five-man cabaret that takes some of Sondheim's greatest hits and explores them in the context of same-sex relationships. Featuring a herd of showstoppers from Assassins, Follies, Gypsy and Company, Boys of Sondheim is a celebration of both the work and the gentleman who produced it. Godhood may be difficult to improve upon, but be sure to book if you want to see what the master looks like from a slightly different angle. Boys of Sondheim is a 2019 Mardi Gras Festival Premier Event and will be presented on Friday, February 22 at City Recital Hall. Tickets start from $40 for under 30s and can be purchased here.
If you want to learn something this Sydney Festival, head to the Sydney Observatory and soak in some stars while expanding your vocabulary. During the one-hour Bayala language class, Durag woman Aunty Jacinta Tobin and Gadigal man Joel Davison will be teaching participants one of Sydney's native Indigenous languages. Attendees will learn Indigenous names for locations around Sydney, a few anatomical terms, basic phrases and a short song. This is the third year the classes have run, and each time the convenors have been blown away by the response. In fact, there are a few additional three-day sessions for those who are returning and want to take things up a notch. The classes will run over two weekends — the first at Prince Alfred Square in Parramatta and the second at the Observatory. They're free, but if you're interested, book early — registration opens at 9am on November 30. You'd be surprised how many linguists will pose as amateur astronomers just to steal your seat.
Mexican holiday Dia de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead, is a celebration of long-standing tradition that is, first and foremost, a way for communities to honour family and friends who have passed on. But the holiday has also come to represent the very best of Mexican culture — from the tasty food to the elaborate costumes, motifs and music. So Carbòn, from the people behind Bondi's Taqiza, is jumping on board and celebrating in true Mexican style by throwing an extravagant three-day fiesta. Across October 31–November 2, you'll be knee-deep in festive cheer with traditional rituals, an abundance of mouthwatering Mexican food and ice-cold cocktails. Day one of the fiesta is the 'Day of the Dead Tamales Feast', where there'll be a special tamales menu paired with themed agave cocktails. Things ramp up on day two with a special ticketed event ($100 per person) featuring live music, costumes, face painting and a five-course menu paired with mezcal cocktails. The menu is based on authentic dishes originally created by Mexican nuns from the 17th century, who are now considered the architects of upscale Mexican cuisine. On the final day, Carbòn will host a 'Moles and Woodfire Festival', where traditional moles (those tasty thick sauces) will be served up with platters of wood-fired meat skewers, tortillas and toppings. Along with its three-day celebration, the restaurant is giving a nod to this year's NAIDOC theme, 'because of her, we can', and dedicating the altar or oftrenda to trailblazing women throughout history — think Frida Kahlo, Chavela Vargas and adelitas (rebel women who fought during the Mexican revolution). Designed by Mexican artist Raquel Duron, this shrine will include floral arrangements, candles and crosses, plus, guests are invited to add photos of important women that they wish to honour. To get involved in the Carbòn's day of the dead festivities, reserve a table online.
When things supposedly go bump and jump in the night, Professor Philip Goodman (Andy Nyman) calls bullshit. But then his childhood hero (Leonard Byrne) comes calling, asking the professional paranormal debunker to investigate three cases — and warning that they just might challenge his long-held scepticism. That's the crux of British horror film Ghost Stories, which understands two important truths. Firstly, there's a little bit of wonder buried in every cynic, even if they won't or can't admit it. Secondly, the only thing that's more thrilling than a spooky tale told well is a number of them strung together. Goodman's trio of supernatural incidents all involve strange and downright disturbing sightings, which he works through one by one. Employed in a deserted former asylum for women, nightwatchman Tony (Paul Whitehouse) just thinks that the power is flickering one evening, but that's soon the least of his worries. Driving through woodland in the thick of night with no one else in sight, the jumpy Simon (Alex Lawther) is involved in a hit and run with an unusual victim. As for wealthy banker Mike (Martin Freeman), who takes Goodman walking around his countryside property, he spins an account of personal woe and potential ghosts — all set in his sprawling mansion as his wife is about to give birth to their first child. At first, these three vignettes all seem quite slight and standard, of the type that you might share around a crackling fire with marshmallows and a happy suspension of disbelief. That's by design, with the horror genre frequently drawing its power from appearing simplistic when the reality proves otherwise. Adapting their 2010 stage production of the same name for the screen, writing and directing duo Nyman and Jeremy Dyson keep the superficial details purposefully straightforward, while having fun playing with tropes and littering clues within each narrative within the narrative. This is an unnerving anthology that perfects the nuts and bolts of haunted storytelling, and yet also subverts expectations, offers enjoyable nods to horror greats gone by, and builds towards a big finale. Where it eventually lands is a little silly and obvious, but each individual segment — and its bookending framework — is staged in an impeccable and stirring manner. The idea that Ghost Stories is 'staged' has multiple meanings, some that are best discovered by watching. Even if you're unfamiliar with the production in its original form — that is, literally on the stage — it's easy to see how it would work in the theatre. Crucially, however, this isn't a talky work that feels out-of-place on the screen. Rather, it's a broodingly gothic affair that's just as disquieting when it's toying with darkness, shadows and startling sounds as when it's giving its supernatural forces more concrete shape and form. Moving the tale to the cinema gives Nyman and Dyson plenty of room to revel in the movie's mood and imagery, creating a gloriously rich spookhouse — think bleak Yorkshire exteriors and thoroughly creepy interiors. Ghost Stories is also a well-acted scarefest, with Nyman and Freeman the clear standouts. One plays a devout rationalist with conviction, the other rattles chains (albeit verbally, not physically) — and if you notice that the film is dominated by men with secrets, that's on purpose also. Being assaulted by the inexplicable is unsettling, as is being expected to just grin and bear life's ills, a trait that the movie's characters all share. The notion of hiding from pain provides thematic texture, deepens this entertaining take on the familiar, and helps Ghost Stories achieve what all anthology efforts strive for: leaving the audience wanting more. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uh9KCVdx33I
With a trio of skyscrapers already erected and a casino on the way, it's hard not to wonder what Barangaroo's namesake would have made of Sydney's new financial district. Barangaroo was a fisherwoman for the Cammeraygal people who apparently deplored the excesses of the British settlers, so it's a stretch to imagine her embracing the economic opportunities of the rejuvenated docklands. For 2019's Sydney Festival, Bangarra's Helpmann Award-winning head of design Jacob Nash will be out at Barangaroo crafting a large-scale public sculpture spelling ALWAYS. Using the phrase 'Always was, always will be' as an impetus, the work will serve as a reminder that Sydney's newest development is taking place on Aboriginal land. On January 26, an overnight vigil will be held on the eve of Australia Day at Barangaroo near the sculpture. Running from sunset right through to the morning — around 8pm to 6am — it's a reflection on the impact of the arrival of the First Fleet and Australia's colonisation on First Nations people, with musical performances and stories told by community Elders throughout the night. Always is part of Sydney Festival's dramatic and diverse 2019 program. Check out the full lineup here. Images: Victor Frankowski
Harry and Penelope Seidler were architectural juggernauts of the 1960s. Trailing Bauhaus and plaudits wherever they deigned to tread, it was this husband and wife duo who convinced Sydneysiders to embrace modernist architecture. Next year, Sydney Festival will celebrate their most stunning structures – by filling them with sound. At the Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre, submersion is strongly encouraged as Los Angeles harpist Mary Lattimore plucks hypnotic melodies through underwater speakers. Meanwhile, at Seidler Penthouse, Harry and Penelope Seidler House, Julian Rose House and Rose Seidler House, a range of musicians take up temporary residence, allowing the architecture to inspire their improvisations. Before you add another pillow arrangement to your own modernist utopia, pop along to the Seidler Salon series and see how the design greats did it while some musical greats serenade you. Beats another trip to Ikea. The Seidler Salon Series is part of Sydney Festival's dramatic and diverse 2019 program. Check out the full lineup here.
Off the back of three fast-selling seasons, Sydney's most ambitious outdoor cinema is bringing its 150-bed (yes, bed) theatre back to Moore Park's Entertainment Quarter for the warmer weather. Grab a buddy you're comfortable to share a blankie with (or make a bold first date move) and book a bed between November 30 and February 17 next year. There will be new movies (Aquaman, Bohemian Rhapsody, Mary Poppins Returns), old movies (Pulp Fiction, Pretty Woman, The Lion King), Japanese anime (Spirited Away, Akira) and some of the best feel-good releases of 2018 (The Breaker Upperers, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, Crazy Rich Asians). La La Land, Ocean's 8 and Black Panther are all on the bill, too — and so is a sing-along session of The Greatest Showman. There'll also be Burger Project and Fratelli Fresh bringing food directly to your bed. Plus, the bar will be serving up cold beers and wines, and some screenings even include bottomless popcorn. Tickets are $40 per person or $74 for a couple. If you don't want to shell out for a bed, you can grab a grass ticket for $12 — just remember to bring a picnic blanket and book your spot before you rock up. Updated December 29.
Let's get right to it, if the idea of audience participation tickles your fancy — hello, extraverts — One Infinity is the show for you at Sydney Festival 2019. Together with musicians Genevieve Lacey and Wang Peng and composer Max de Wardener, Gideon Obarzanek, director, choreographer and founder of Chunky Move will create a singular work every night of the show's run as he explores Chinese music and contemporary movement in One Infinity. The guqin, which is kind of like a guitar-violin hybrid and the recorder — you remember that from school, right? — will form the musical basis for the piece, then audience members will be invited to join in. Whether it's for the sheer delight of losing yourself to dance or a sneaky attempt to pad out your resume as a SydFest performer, One Infinity is your chance to see a new work come together from where you kinda always wished to be — the stage. One Infinity is part of Sydney Festival's dramatic and diverse 2019 program. Check out the full lineup here.
It's not every day you get to sit down to a lavish vegan high tea, designed by internationally renowned chef Matthew Kenney. But that foodie dream could soon be part of your weekly routine, as Kenney hits Australia to launch a new series of high tea feasts, fusing local ingredients with some pretty clever techniques. It all kicks off this October, at Kenney's plant-based restaurant Alibi Bar + Kitchen, within Ovolo Woolloomooloo. The new offering will see vegans completely spoiled for choice, with five different two-hour packages available throughout the week — depending on how boozy you want your feast to be. Spend just $65 to match your high tea nibbles with a glass of sparkling rosé, plus bottomless tea and coffee, or go large and pay $140 for bottomless Perrier-Jouet grand brut. As for the food, expect an array of sweet and savoury delights, like baby quiches with vegan cream cheese, forest mushrooms matched with wasabi cream, and a mixed berry 'cheesecake' with strawberry compote. A range of signature plant-based cocktails will also be on offer, including a Kaffir lime mule crafted on house-made ginger beer. Vegan High Tea is available from 12–4pm, Wednesday–Sunday.
