Whether you have a big birthday coming up, relatives in town or are a longtime Sydneysider who hasn't yet played tourist in your own city, this deal is pretty exciting. BridgeClimb is turning 21 on Tuesday, October 1, and is celebrating by throwing back to its debut 1998 season and offering tickets for just $98 — for one day only. In case you haven't checked the prices lately, the full Harbour Bridge climb is currently set at a whopping $308, with twilight climbs up to $374 and dawn climbs at $388. Even the short sampler climb is $174. But, all climbs booked on October 1 will be priced at $98, whether it's a pre-sunrise, daytime, twilight or nighttime booking. And, for a bit of fun, a 1998 playlist will be looping at the summit throughout the day and night. So expect to listen to Britney Spears, Celine Dion, Fatboy Slim and Five's 90s banger 'When the Lights Go Out' while looking out over the Harbour. Tickets go on sale at 9am this Thursday, September 12 and will absolutely sell out super quick — so make sure you're ready. Image: BridgeClimb Vivid
The Adventures of Alvin Sputnik: Deep Sea Explorer won over Sydney Festival audiences in 2011 with its charming, low-fi futuristic world wrought through live action, animation, puppetry, and song. Now that production's creators return with It's Dark Outside, which uses similar ingredients to tell the tale of an old man suffering from dementia. His Sundown Syndrome, which makes him wander off as evening approaches, here becomes a poetic Wild West landscape where puffs of cloud escape from him and a butterfly-net-wielding tracker is hot on his heels. For anyone who's watched a loved one succumb to Alzheimer's or fretted over the inadequacy of their own memory, it's sure to be a moving 60 minutes. Tim Watts, Arielle Gray, and Chris Isaacs are masterfully delicate puppeteer-performers, and Rachael Dease provides a haunting score. It's Dark Outside is part of Sydney Festival's About an Hour series of shows, each $35. Read our list of the 12 best things to see at the Sydney Festival in 2013 here.
If you've been looking for a New Year's event that won't break the bank, you owe You Am I big time. The Aussie rock outfit are staging a car park takeover at The Vic for a free one-off gig dubbed The Ramblin' Gamblin' RoadStop Revue. Aside from welcoming the New Year, the day is for You Am I and the Addison Road venue to cheers their fans and patrons for their support. And cheers them you shall, because the limited edition Brew Am I pale ale from Young Henrys brewery will be on offer, with a spit roast barbeque to line your stomach. So roll out of bed before noon this NYD and hope that loud music won't make your head more sore; Snowdroppers, Abbe May, Courtney Barnett, Phil Jamieson, Love Junkies and The Mountains will also be taking to the stage. Who says you get what you paid for? Check out what else we rate during New Year's Eve and New Year's Day in Sydney.
Androids may dream of electric sheep, or they may not, but that isn't the only metaphysical question that cinema likes to contemplate. Do souls yearn and strive for — and fret and stress over — their chance to shuffle onto this mortal coil? That's the query that Pixar's Soul pondered so thoughtfully and enchantingly, and it's one that Nine Days, which actually predates its animated counterpart but is only reaching Australian cinemas now, masterfully explores as well. "You are being considered for the amazing opportunity of life," a bespectacled, suspender-wearing, serious-faced Will (Winston Duke, Us) tells the candidates hoping to soon live and breathe. They're far more enthusiastic about the process than he is, although he values their prospective existence much more than they can fathom in their wide-eyed eagerness and excitement. Will has seen what can happen next, because it's his job not only to select the best souls to embark upon this thing called life, but to monitor their progress in all the days, months and years afterwards. He's observed the success stories; however, he's also witnessed the heartbreaks as well. In this stirring and fittingly soulful debut feature from writer/director Edson Oda — a movie that won the dramatic screenwriting award at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival — Will surveys his next troupe of contenders fresh from viewing the unhappy end that met one of his previous favourites. He's already adrift from existence as we know it, and from almost everyone else who resides in the picture's ethereal yet also earthy pre-life realm, but he's now burdened with a renewed sense of solemnity. His colleague Kyo (Benedict Wong, The Personal History of David Copperfield) tries to get him to see the lighter side — the more human side — of the path his next chosen candidate will take. He emphasises the ebbs and flows that Will, who has become more rigid in his thinking and feelings the longer he's in the role, now fervently discounts. But among a roster of new applicants that includes Kane (Bill Skarsgård, IT Chapter Two), Alex (Tony Hale, Veep), Mike (David Rysdahl, Dead Pigs) and Maria (Arianna Ortiz, Rattlesnake), all of which are given nine days to demonstrate why they should be born next, it's actually the calm, passionate and inquisitive Emma (Zazie Beetz, Atlanta) that challenges the way Will perceives his work and what it means to be alive. Nine Days could've been reductive and generic. Perhaps, statistically, it should've turned out that way. Tales of men who learn what's important in their limited period of consciousness via their interactions with spirited women are far too common — and not just on the big screen, but everywhere that tales are told. Many of Nine Days' other elements echo from other films and stories, too, strongly recalling Hirokazu Kore-eda's 1998 film After Life, bringing The Truman Show to mind in Will's voyeurism, clearly sharing thematic threads with Blade Runner and its sequel, and also skirting around similar terrain as Wim Wenders' haunting Wings of Desire. But, thankfully, Oda isn't bogged down by his influences. Just as his protagonist has clear notions of what life should be, at least when Nine Days begins, the first-time filmmaker has a distinct vision for this beautiful and rousing movie. Unlike Will, Oda doesn't waver, reassess or have his ideas probed, however. Instead, he crafts a film that's certain in its message about valuing and seizing life, and just as assured and confident about conveying that concept quietly, patiently, affectingly and with grounded sincerity — and about earning every step in its emotional journey, rather than relying on platitudes. With nuance and layers, that's how Nine Days can celebrate the simple act of appreciating the small things, and yet never comes across as if it's preaching a statement that's stitched onto a throw pillow. It's how Emma can introduce Will to a new perspective, and one he definitely needs, but never play like yet another manic pixie dream girl. It's also how the feature can wade into recognisable territory but avoid falling victim to all of the obvious cliches. That its central character lives and conducts his interviews in an ordinary-looking house that's surrounded by nothing but desert as far as the eye can see aptly reflects how the film itself appears familiar but always stands apart. Another key factor that makes Nine Days the movie it is: its detail. That's a product of Oda's commitment, too. His on-screen realm looks and feels fleshed out and lived in, and so do his characters (yes, even given the premise). Visually, that approach delivers sights that slip onto the screen like favourite possessions, such as walls of old-school TVs, deep stares at both hopeful and pensive faces, and lingering gazes at the sandy expanse surrounding Will's house. Cinematographer Wyatt Garfield's (Beatriz at Dinner) striking shots are also measured, like they're genuinely taking the time to soak in every iota — and the production design he's peering at, including in a room used to give unsuccessful souls one happy memory to hold on to, is a Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, The Science of Sleep, Be Kind Rewind)-like treasure trove. The same care and attention is afforded Will, Emma, Kyo and their fellow pre-life inhabitants as well, as shines through in the movie's fine-tuned performances. Nine Days is yet another movie that's filled with actors with recent comic book franchise credits; most films are these days. But Duke, Beetz and Wong are hardly talents shackled to their respective parts in Black Panther, Deadpool 2, Joker and Doctor Strange, or to any sprawling universes such titles connect to. They're all performers who bring humanity and vulnerability to their roles here, and in different ways. There's a guarded air of woundedness to Duke's phenomenal internalised portrayal — he's basically a traumatised guardian angel — and a lively curiosity and appreciation to Beetz's work, while Wong radiates empathy. Each of these three key players, and their fellow co-stars, also bake ambiguity into their performances. No person is just one thing, or can ever be solved, after all. That's truly what this evocative and memorable film is all about: the texture, experiences, feelings and enigmas that comprise every soul, and every life.
UPDATE, March 26, 2021: Raw is available to stream via Stan, Binge, Shudder, Google Play, YouTube Movies and iTunes. Cinematic explorations of teen sexuality are fairly common. So is finding the horrific side of adolescent desires and urges. Indeed, there are plenty of scary big screen stories about teens battling their feelings as well as a deadly figure or force, with the filmmakers practically yelling "METAPHOR!" at the audience. But pairing such tales with cannibalism? That's something a little more unusual. Here's hoping that your stomach is empty, because Raw offers quite the filling meal. First, the rotting carcass in the room. When Julia Ducournau's debut feature screened at the Toronto International Film Festival last year, an ambulance had to be called to look after fainting movie-goers. Raw isn't actually the wall-to-wall gore-fest you might have been led to believe, but red bodily fluids do flow freely, severed limbs certainly feature, and downing rabbit kidneys with vodka is one of the more tame occurrences to fill the film's frames. Basically, the film isn't recommended viewing for those who easily get queasy. Thanks to its far-from-standard take on the savagery of growing up, however, it's absolutely vital viewing for everyone else. When the quiet and studious Justine (Garance Marillier) is dropped off at veterinary school by her vegan vet parents, she's awash with both excitement about what's to come and reluctance about leaving her old existence behind. Marillier delivers an astonishingly astute and fluid performance, and you can see both emotions swirling behind her expressive doe eyes. The look remains when Justine is dragged out of bed in the middle of the night as part of a hazing ritual, and when she's forced to attend a raucous, rave-like subterranean party. It flickers strongly when she's told, despite her protests, to eat meat, receiving absolutely no assistance from her older sister Alexia (Ella Rumpf) who also attends the same college. And, when Justine breaks out in a rash soon after gulping back her first mouthful, it positively beams from her gaze. With a ravenous appetite for dissecting what it means to chew upon adulthood when you're still just a teenage girl — one that aptly matches her protagonist's new craving for human flesh — Ducournau slices through the typical cliches to create a film that is both thought-provoking and a sensory feast. Saying that the movie is meaty might seem a little bit easy, but as its writer-director cooks up a distinctive platter of body horror musings – taking inspiration from genre king David Cronenberg while carving out her own space – such an adjective really couldn't be more fitting. To put it simply, if you have the constitution for it, you're going to want to consume every last morsel of Ducournau's film. Your eyes will drink in the visceral thrills that come from the bites and the splatter. Your ears will soak in a score that knows when to keep things simple and when to season with pounding pressure. Finally, your brain will hunger for more as it gnaws upon the onslaught of emotional and physical carnage. Bon appétit. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDiVGDmgsFY
UPDATE, December 23, 2021: Don't Look Up released in select Australian cinemas on Thursday, December 9, and will be available to stream via Netflix on Friday, December 24. Timing may be everything in comedy, but it's no longer working for Adam McKay. Back when the ex-Saturday Night Live writer was making Will Ferrell flicks (see: Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy and Step Brothers), his films hinged upon comic timing. Ensuring jokes hit their marks was pivotal to his scripts, crucial during editing, and paramount to Ferrell and his co-stars. Since 2015, McKay has been equally obsessed with timeliness. More so, actually, in his latest film Don't Look Up. As started with The Big Short, which nabbed him a screenwriting Oscar, his current breed of politically focused satires trade not just in laughs but in topicality. Skewering the present or recent state of America has become the filmmaker's main aim — but, as 2018's Vice so firmly illustrated, smugly stating the obvious isn't particularly funny. On paper, Don't Look Up sounds like a dream. Using a comet hurtling towards earth as a stand-in, McKay parodies climate change inaction and the circus that tackling COVID-19 has turned into in the US, and spoofs self-serious disaster blockbusters — 1998's double whammy of Deep Impact and Armageddon among them — too. And, he enlists a fantasy cast, which spans five Oscar-winners, plus almost every other famous person he could seemingly think of. But he's still simply making the most blatant gags, all while assuming viewers wouldn't care about saving the planet, or their own lives, without such star-studded and glossily shot packaging. Although the pandemic has certainly exposed stupidity on a vast scale among politicians, the media and the everyday masses alike, mining that alone is hardly smart, savvy or amusing. Again, it's merely stating what everyone has already observed for the past two years, and delivering it with a shit-eating grin. That smirk is Don't Look Up's go-to expression among its broad caricatures — in the name of comedy, of course. Trump-esque President Orlean (Meryl Streep, The Prom) has one, as does her sycophantic dude-bro son/Chief of Staff Jason (Jonah Hill, The Beach Bum). Flinging trivial banter with fake smiles, "keep it light and fun" morning show hosts Brie Evantee (Cate Blanchett, Where'd You Go, Bernadette) and Jack Bremmer (Tyler Perry, Those Who Wish Me Dead) sport them as well. But PhD student Kate Dibiasky (Jennifer Lawrence, X-Men: Dark Phoenix) and her astronomy professor Dr Randall Mindy (Leonardo DiCaprio, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood) aren't smiling when she discovers a Mount Everest-sized comet, then he realises it's on a collision course with earth and will wipe out everything in six months and 14 days. And they aren't beaming when, with NASA's head of planetary defence Dr Teddy Oglethorpe (Rob Morgan, The Unforgivable), they try to spread the word. The world is literally ending, but no one cares. Conjuring up the premise with journalist/political commentator David Sirota, McKay turns Don't Look Up into a greatest-hits tour of predictable situations bound to occur if a celestial body was rocketing our way — and that've largely happened during the fights against climate change and COVID-19. The President's reactions stem from her clear-cut inspiration, including the decision to "sit tight and assess" until it's politically convenient or just unavoidable, and the later flat-out denial that anything is a problem. The character in general apes the same source, and bluntly, given Orlean is initially busy with a scandal surrounding her next Supreme Court nominee, and that her love life and the porn industry also spark headlines. The insipid media and social media response, favouring a rocky celebrity relationship (which is where Ariana Grande and Kid Cudi come in), is also all too real. The list goes on, including the memes when Dibiasky gets outraged on TV and the worshipping of Mindy as an AILF (Astronomer I'd Like to Fuck). A Steve Jobs/Jeff Bezos/Elon Musk-style tech-company head (The Trial of the Chicago 7's Mark Rylance, putting in the movie's worst performance) also gets involved — poking fun at putting capitalism ahead of the planet's best interests — as does a stoner skater (Timothée Chalamet, The French Dispatch) enamoured with Dibiasky. The list goes on here as well, because Don't Look Up is as overstuffed as it is toothless. Satire is meant to use irony and exaggeration to highlight failings and flaws, but McKay pads out the bulk of his 138-minute film with first draft-style sketches and figures that say the bare minimum, then hops quickly from one to the other in the hope that something lands. Yes, amid its on-screen text explanations, montages of stock clips, a superfluous pop song and overactive editing, Don't Look Up has a comic timing problem, too. And the scenes it does hover on, including the grating White House confrontations, could've easily been cut in half. McKay has zero faith in the world's ability to face existential and apocalyptic threats (understandably), and no hope his audience would notice if he didn't slickly spoon-feed surface-level commentary (insufferably), but he places plenty of responsibility upon DiCaprio, Lawrence and Morgan. The film's key trio aren't given much to work with, but everyone else — aside from the underused Melanie Lynskey (Yellowjackets) as Mindy's wife June — plays a one-note gag. Mindy is sweaty and swayed by attention; Dibiasky is defined by her two nose rings, flame-hued hair and the Wu-Tang Clan lyrics she's introduced singing; and Oglethorpe is the only competent government employee. It's a credit to all three actors that they turn in convincing performances and make their characters the most compelling part of Don't Look Up, although no one is anywhere near their best. The entire planet definitely isn't at its finest in Don't Look Up, which is the whole overstressed point; however, in weakly holding up a mirror to truths everyone's already painfully familiar with, it didn't need to embody the same concept itself. Forget following in Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb's footsteps, or Wag the Dog's, or mustering up an iota of Succession's astuteness (McKay is one of the latter's executive producers) — Anchorman felt shrewder and more incisive. Maybe Don't Look Up might've worked if it had pre-dated the pandemic. It undoubtedly would've been improved by ditching the puffed-up snark, as its closing scenes demonstrate; it's a far better movie when it switches to earnestness and even takes a few cues from Lars von Trier's immensely superior Melancholia, as unearned as the tonal change proves. Perhaps a humanity-is-damned flick that crashes itself is McKay's ultimate joke, though, because that's just the doomed world we find ourselves in. Image: Nico Tavernise/Netflix.
If you've ever sat in the theatre and thought, 'those actors are just too damn far away', then Griffin's Really Intimate Theatre is for you. For one day only, Griffin Theatre Company are taking to the streets around Circular Quay to offer unassuming passers-by a one-on-one theatre experience inside their specially built pop-up venue. The shows are free, go for five minutes and involve one of a rotating cast of Griffin's finest performers. Kind of like a theatre world equivalent to 'Five Minutes in the Closet'. Architect Jon King has stepped into to design the cosy, two-person venue. To experience a Really Intimate Theatre, simply look for Griffin's representative at East Circular Quay on the promenade in front of the Quay Grand Hotel (on the way to Sydney Opera House) between 10am – 2pm on Saturday, May 9.
As the days grow warmer and summer draws closer, it's time to shake off the winter blues and discover somewhere new. To help you out, we've teamed up with Citi to share our favourite dining spots for spring. Whether it's a long lunch in the sunshine or a balmy evening drop-in at one of Sydney's best restaurants, this list will take you on a culinary tour of Australia, Europe and Asia. Through its special dining program, Citi has partnered with more than 400 restaurants — from high-end hatted restaurants to local cafes and trendy wine bars — to offer complimentary wine for all Citi customers this spring. Dine and pay with your Citi card and receive a bottle of wine for free — what better way to welcome the warm weather? KID KYOTO, CBD Pair alternative 90s rock music with Japanese dining, and you get Kid Kyoto, the latest venue from the hospitality group behind Indu and Mejico. Set on Sydney's Bridge Street, the venue offers grungy vibes with a hit of Tokyo izakaya. Neon-lit song lyrics span the exposed brick walls and the moody lighting makes it a spot to be seen, or not, if that's what you prefer. The menu reads like a set list, starting with an intro of gyoza and concluding with an encore of yuzu and miso desserts. If you're feeling adventurous, opt for the Trust Us menu and let the chefs send out anything from smokey edamame with pepperberry salt, to Black Hole Sun Pressed Pork served with apple jam and daikon salad. Use your Citi card to pay, and choose a complimentary bottle of McW Alternis tempranillo or vermentino to pair with the meal. MARTA OSTERIA, RUSHCUTTERS BAY A summer trip to Italy may feel like a distant memory, but if it's the food you're missing make the short commute to Marta Osteria in Rushcutters Bay. Inspired by the streets of Rome, Marta's menu is traditional yet fresh and full of flavour. And, a year on from opening, the venue boasts an impressive crowd of regular patrons. Order an array of antipasto such as the fried zucchini flowers, gnocchi fritti — fried gnocchi, need we say more? — and octopus salad, before committing to the main event of cacio e pepe with pecorino romano or traditional Roman pinza dough. No trip to Marta is complete without indulging in a little Italian dessert and the signature Martamisu with layers of mascarpone cream, coffee soaked hazelnut shortbread and rich chocolate sauce will convince even the fullest of stomachs. Book a seat on the patio and enjoy an ice cold bottle of Chant Du Midi rosé or Mionetto Prosecco DOC as the sun starts to dip into the horizon. [caption id="attachment_662803" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Alana Dimou.[/caption] PAPER BIRD, POTTS POINT Following the closure of Redfern's much-loved Moon Park, the restaurant team returned last year to open up a new venue in Potts Point, Paper Bird. With a focus on East Asian flavours, the menu takes diners on an elaborate journey from Korea to China and Japan in a matter of hours. The signature Korean fried chicken brined in shrimp paste and buttermilk may have left the menu earlier this month, but the rest of the menu certainly holds its own regardless. Whether it's a congee for breakfast, a kimchi and emmental toastie for lunch or an array of share dishes for dinner paired with a bottle of Nobody's Hero pinot gris or pinot noir from the Marlborough region — the versatile menu will have you coming back for every meal. RESTAURANT MOON, DARLINGHURST Upon first glance, Restaurant Moon may appear to be another neighbourhood gallery-bar hybrid, but behind the unassuming exterior lies an experimental collaboration between European and Thai cuisine. Ex-Longrain chef Aum Touchpong Chancaw brings together his love for molecular gastronomy and Thai cuisine with dishes such as duck confit with panang curry and roast pumpkin or fresh betel leaf with smoked salmon, caramelised coconut and chilli. If it's a show stopper you're after, order the Groot After Moon dessert with matcha mousse, strawberry consomme and a chocolate and passionfruit sorbet — but get in quick because they only make four serves a day. To complement the variety of cuisines, Moon stocks a vast array of vino, including Nobody's Hero pinot gris and Partisan by Jove tempranillo, which are free if you're a Citi cardholder. STANTON & CO, ROSEBERRY Located in a renovated warehouse in Sydney's inner south, Stanton & Co draws inspiration from New York's Meatpacking District — think red rusty trusses, mottled brick detailing and dark wooden floors. With a focus on Aussie-Japanese share dishes, you get the most out of this venue by going with a group. Start with soy truffle oysters, miso butter edamame and charred octopus with quinoa before tucking into tender slow-cooked lamb shoulder and artichoke or Moreton Bay bug tempura with ponzu mayo. If you're keen for a meal and a show, grab a seat near the open kitchen or catch some rays on the nearby sun deck while sipping a glass of Coombe Farm Yarra Valley chardonnay or Mount Pleasant Philip shiraz. Finish off the experience with a photogenic liquid lemon meringue for dessert. HO JIAK, HAYMARKET In the midst of Sydney's bustling Haymarket sits a restaurant that may have well been plucked straight out of Malaysia's Penang. With a tell-tale queue that snakes around the corner on a regular basis and wafts of rich mie goreng and spicy char kway teow floating from the premises, there is no doubt this place serves up flavourful fare. Ho Jiak is the brainchild of head chef and owner Junda Khoo, inspired by a childhood of cooking with his grandmother in Penang. Get your hands dirty and order the traditional charcoal-marinated chicken skewers with peanut sauce or a steaming bowl of Hainan chicken laksa, then wash it down with a bottle of Framingham Marlborough sauvignon blanc or McW Alternis petite sirah. Relax, the wine is on Citi. Make your next dinner even better by using your Citi card at one of the participating restaurants to get a complimentary bottle of wine with your meal.
To celebrate the release of the second season of the medieval fantasy saga Game of Thrones to Blu-Ray, DVD, and digital download, head chef and owner of Gastro Park Grant King is again offering Sydneysiders a chance to acquire their own firsthand experience of the Seven Kingdoms and beyond through a specially designed five-course feast. The Potts Point restaurant is renowned for its gastronomic playfulness in technique and plating, so you can expect more than a leg of boar and goblet of wine. Last year's first-season equivalent featured 'fallen eyeballs and bleeding stag', 'a soup of crushed skills and raven's feet', and a dessert of 'dragon's egg and liquid gold'. The Game of Thrones series, based on the book Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin, has developed somewhat of a cult following since its release in April 2012, and viewers simply can't get enough of the mystical land filled with dragons, swords, bloodshed, romance, and deceit. If you'd do anything to get a taste of the majestic settings of Westeros, Essos, or Qarth or have always wanted to join the throes of our beloved Starks, Lannisters, and various other fantastical characters, then Gastro Park is your place to be. Indulge your tastebuds and your imagination in this entirely Game of Thrones-inspired five-course meal, on for a limited time only. Last year King's banquet sold out almost instantly and proved to be a raging success, meaning you should hurry and book your seats before you miss out (specify you're booking in for the feast when you call them on 02 8068 1017). Explore the second season of the medieval world with all your senses with his brand-new menu, this time in honour of the dramatic Battle of the Blackwater, sure to be as or even more delightful than the last. The culinary experience is available from 14 March to 25 April at the cost of $100 per person. 8 March 2013: Photos of the new feast have just come in. Check them out here.
The Museum of Contemporary Art Australia's super-popular art workshop program is back. Inspired by the gallery's popular Sundown Sketch Club, these two-hour Wednesday evening sketching workshops are led by Sydney-based artist Will French and will take place throughout August. The classes focus on still life drawing, with participants using a range of fine art materials and getting a few tips from French along the way. The ever-changing installation is inspired by the 17th-century champagne-making houses and cellars in France, which are UNESCO World Heritage listed. And the evening is capped off with nibbles, cheese, Ruinart blanc de blanc and a backdrop of Sydney Harbour. There'll also be an olfactory challenge each night, too, with the winner taking home a bottle of Ruinart. The first workshop will take place on Wednesday, August 7, with sessions following on August 14, 21 and 28, all running from 6.30–8.30pm. Tickets are $75 and beginners are welcome. Just make sure to book ahead as these events have sold out (quickly) in the past. Image: Anna Kucera
The National Art School is Australia's most important art institutions. From its home in the old Darlinghurst Gaol, the independent fine art school fosters local and international artistic talents through its short courses, residency and scholarship initiatives and jam-packed roster of exhibitions. In 2006, the school refurbished the historical A-Wing of the former gaol, which was built in 1841, and unveiled the National Art School Gallery. It is here that graduate and post-graduate student exhibitions are held, plus up to four major exhibitions each year.
Every gig should be its own distinctive experience, even if a band is hitting city after city on a massive national or international tour. But there's unique concerts and then there's Sigur Rós' latest run of shows. While there's nothing quite like seeing the Icelandic band live in general, they'll be doing something different on their next trip to Australia: taking to the stage with live orchestras. Jónsi Birgisson, Georg Hólm and Kjartan Sveinsson will play with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Brisbane Philharmonic Orchestra, Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and more when Sigur Rós' current orchestral tour makes its way Down Under. Across the rest of 2024, fans across the US and Nordic countries can catch the group joining forces with a 41-piece orchestra. Then, come May 2025, it's Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane's turn to witness quite a few new members temporarily join the band. Sigur Rós have a one-night date locked in in Adelaide to kick off their Australian visit, and then will play Melbourne for two nights, Sydney for three and Brisbane for one. ÁTTA, their 2023 album, will be in the spotlight, as the last time they toured Down Under was in 2022, before it was released — and it was was recorded with arrangements featuring a 32-piece orchestra. Fans can expect tracks from their 1997 debut Von onwards, however, spanning tunes from fellow records Ágætis byrjun, ( ), Takk..., Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust, Valtari and Kveikur. [caption id="attachment_974235" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Alive87 via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] That last — and soldout — trip this way was part of the group's first tour in five years, but clearly they haven't left the same gap go by between then and their next tour. Sigur Rós first started doing the rounds with an orchestra in 2023, playing a limited number of gigs, before expanding the experience further. Next stop: Australia. [caption id="attachment_974239" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Goatling via Flickr.[/caption] Sigur Rós Australian Orchestral Tour 2025 Saturday, May 17 — AEC Theatre, Adelaide Monday, May 19–Tuesday, May 20 — Hamer Hall, Melbourne Friday, May 23–Sunday, May 25 — venue to be announced, Sydney Tuesday, May 27 — QPAC Concert Hall, Brisbane Sigur Rós is touring Australia in May 2025, with presale tickets available from 10am local time on Wednesday, October 2, 2024 and general sales from 10am local time on Friday, October 4. Head to the band's website for further details. Top image: Kathryn Parson Photography via Flickr.
Inner West favourite Public House Petersham is putting its sun-soaked carpark to good use on Saturday, March 9 with an afternoon of top-notch wines. The Solotel stalwart is celebrating International Women's Day with four hours of festivities dedicated to women in the wine industry. Saunter down Stanmore Road and nab a seat out in the pop-up wine garden before tasting your way through the vino on offer for the day. There will be drops from MEREDITH, Franc About Wine, Joval and Little Frances Wines on offer — all of which have a different trailblazing woman behind them. You can purchase a $15 ticket to Public House's Women in Wine Festival, which includes two 75-millilitre tastings from the variety of vendors — or, if you want to give yourself the best chance of discovering your new favourite white, red or skin-contact, there's a $35 ticket available which includes five 75-millilitre tastings. Over in PHP's adjoining neighbour Batch Brewery, there will be a panel discussion featuring special guest appearances from Famelia owner Amelia Birch, Solotel Head of Beverage Annette Lacey and Lil Sis Sommelier Zoe Brunton. DJ Simeen Valjee will be on deck to provide the soundtrack for the afternoon, and there will be pizza by the slice to make sure you can snack between tastings. Plus, the whole day is raising money for a good cause, with donation buckets for Mudgin-Gal Women's Place being placed around the venue. As always, dogs are more than welcome at PHP, so feel free to include your four-legged friends in the invite.
For a whole night of musical mischief in aid of raising money for homeless youths, from 6pm ‘til midnight, the Winter Warmers Festival will take over the upstairs floor of the Beach Road Hotel, with live music from Belles Will Ring, the Walking Who, Iluka, Major Tom and the Atoms, the Dusty Duets and Manchoir, along with DJ sets from Frenzie, Rob Goodburn, Sara DJ and Graham M. Long. Before the music begins raffles, markets and clothes drop offs will be on from 9am, endeavouring to raise as much money as possible for Open Family Australia, which reaches out to the 32,000 plus twelve to eighteen year olds that sleep on the streets every night. $5 from each ticket will be donated to Open Family Australia.
It's no secret that Melbourne is home to some seriously good pizza. But, it's always nice to score some validation on an international stage. Michele Circhirillo and Fabio Biscaldi of 48h Pizza e Gnocchi Bar have come through with the crusty goods, taking out the title of Best Pizzeria In Oceania in the 2021 edition of the 50 Top Pizza awards last week. The esteemed online guide awards the world's best pizzerias each year, with a team of expert 'inspectors' judging venues based on their pizza quality, service, ambiance, interiors, waiting time and drinks list. Pizzerias across Italy and the rest of the world were anonymously visited and ranked, with our own 48h reigning victorious against all others in the Oceania region. It's not the first time this particular crown has been claimed by a Melbourne pizzeria, with 400 Gradi taking out the regional title three years in a row, in 2018, 2019 and 2020. Of course, 48h is no stranger to scooping awards itself, with its Di Parma pizza famously named Australia's Best Pizza at the Campionato Mondiale Della Pizza (World Pizza Championships) in 2019. [caption id="attachment_827048" align="alignnone" width="1920"] By Hi Sylvia[/caption] The top 10 list for the Oceania region also included fellow Melbourne venues SPQR Pizzeria in the CBD and Seddon's Mozzarella Bar. Sydney had two contenders in the lineup — Verace Pizzeria and Queen Margherita of Savoy — while Brisbane's Tartufo represented Queensland's sole top 10 ranking. With five 48h Pizza e Gnocchi Bar outposts located around Melbourne, local pizza fiends won't face too much of a challenge seeking out some award-winning slices. The South Yarra and Elsternwick pizzerias are currently open for takeaway, with other pop-up locations at Grazeland, Rocco's Deli in Yarraville, and Werribee's Wheelers Food Trucks and Bar. To find your nearest 48h Pizza e Gnocchi Bar location or to learn more about the award, see the website. Images: 48h Pizza e Gnocchi Bar and Hi Sylvia.
There’s death, leaping and sword-brandishing aplenty, but it takes more than that to coax a reluctant king back onstage. Edward II is not a monarch particularly revered by history. Sandwiched between Edwards I and III, both admired in their own right, Edward II was a man undeniably born to greatness. Upon his ascension to the throne, however, he ruled as one who had had it thrust upon him and, moreover, did not particularly warm to the task. Unfortunately, something similar might be said of Sport for Jove’s latest offering, directed by Terry Karabelas. This ensemble definitely mean business but are unable at crucial moments to wring the gravitas or complexity from their characters that the play demands. When Edward ascends the throne, England is at a precarious point in its history. Wales is recently conquered, the Scots continue to resist conquest and the French, though dormant of late, are always a decent chance of popping in for a skirmish. Nevertheless, Edward makes clear, much to the dismay of his advisors, that his royal priorities lie much closer to home, more specifically in the region of his pants. Edward’s first order of business is returning his exiled lover, Piers Gaveston, to court. From there, Edward eschews his office in order to engage in a thoroughly adolescent affair while England goes to pot and his scandalised coterie gossip and scheme. Virtually everyone meets a sticky end. Christopher Marlowe — with a script as full of historical omissions, conflations and embellishments as any of Hollywood’s dalliances with history — gives Edward a proper flogging over the two-hour duration. This Edward is a lacklustre shirker, unable to govern his own desire, let alone a fledgling empire at war. Julian Garner captures this quality but has difficulty managing Edward’s descent into abject despair. James Lugton’s Mortimer and Georgia Adamson’s Isabella are a solid duo throughout — the former gravely hopping over a few corpses on his way to the top, the latter a spurned queen who turns to Mortimer for love but ends up clinging to him for power. A moody lighting design by Ross Graham and sound by David Stalley frequently get the wobblier scenes over the line. Cold and warm lighting are used very effectively in establishing significant location changes, from a chilly morning at the docks to a candlelit convent. Strains of choral music that drift from the medieval murk imbue the work with a sense of sadness and portent, while the soundscapes of battle and cannon attacks evoke an urgency and fear that seem to be largely lacking in the performances. Karabelas’s direction produces some great moments; Isabella’s refusal to accept the candle that Edward offers her at his coronation nicely foreshadows their marital problems, while Gaveston chancing a kiss with Isabella in the corridors feels quite spontaneous and real. Ultimately, though, Edward II feels like it needs more room to breathe. There is epic tragedy to be had here, but death and mourning, love and treachery all whizz past in what I suspect is an effort to keep the duration to two hours.
When it comes to fashion, the key to achieving an effortlessly cool aesthetic is nailing your basics. Having a few quality cuts of denim in your selection that transition between seasons and transcend trends makes choosing what to wear each day a whole lot easier. And denim doesn't really get much better than that available from Aussie label Ksubi. The brand has been producing its edgy designs for close to two decades and has built up quite the reputation both at home and abroad. This weekend, Ksubi is transforming its Oxford Street store into a massive warehouse sale with some pretty epic discounts to boot. From Friday, May 4 to Sunday, May 6, the brand will be hawking its premium denim, tees and dresses for as little as $30. The pop-up sale will be open on Friday from 7am–5pm, Saturday from 9am–5pm and Sunday from 10am–5pm. Nothing will be over $80, so find those gaps in your wardrobe and move quickly.
If learning to scuba dive has been on your bucket list for a while, consider this your sign to finally tick it off. Pristine diving locations and marine reserves are dotted all along the NSW coast, but the far south coast is our pick for its vibrant sea life. Venture beneath the big blue of the Sapphire Coast to check out weedy seadragons, octopuses and maybe even a few seals with Dive Eden. The local company has all experience levels covered, whether you are a complete novice, need a refresher or are a veteran diver wanting to learn how to free dive. Gear is also available for hire if you need it. Image: Max Gillespie
In February 2012, on the eve of the release of Polica's debut album Give You the Ghost, Justin Vernon (Bon Iver's frontman) told Rolling Stone, 'They're the best band I've ever heard'. A month later an appearance at SXSW inspired The Huffington Post prediction: 'This band is going to be huge'. Now Polica, originally from Minneapolis and formed out of soft rock group Gayngs, are bringing their dreamily melodic and percussively exhilarating live show to the Antipodes. While so many indie beats-based acts fall prey to monotony, a refreshingly creative energy drives Polica's sound. Vocalist Channy Leaneagh glides over undulating synths, deft bass lines and compelling polyrhythms, delivered through a combination of R&B-influenced electronica and two drum kits. The product is a constantly shifting and exquisitely melancholic, yet uplifting, soundscape that certainly has Bon Iver addicted. https://youtube.com/watch?v=h6WgWCIkH9U
Time Stands Still does not stop. It does not rest, it does not halt, nor does it falter. It is an animal of its own kind with no respite. It writhes, winks, slinks and blinks in your mind's eye, well beyond the night you saw it. To bear witness is a difficult anomaly: to help the individual suffering in that moment or tell the world and perhaps change something? When injured photojournalist Sarah Goodwin (Rebecca Rocheford Davies) returns to Brooklyn from the Iraq war to her home shared with de facto James (Richard Sydenham), her clipped sentences and heavy sighs and his pandering readiness reveal an all-too-apparent tension. The couple skirt around "the accident" while Sarah grimaces in pain, her face ripped with grazes like 'Diamond Face' in the Bond film, Die Another Day (props to the make-up team). The visit of an old friend and photo editor, Richard Elrich (Noel Hodda) — not to mention the unannounced accompaniment of a sugar-coated twenty-something doll face, Mandy Bloom (Harriet Dyer) — has Sarah panicking. Mandy's hyper-conflated deliberations over why she bought both the 'Get Well Soon' and the Welcome Home' balloons because she couldn't decide between them leave Sarah's eyes simply burning. The meeting of their two worlds is like putting a chihuahua in front of a lion; it throws open the vast divide between the fluffy and trivial west and the pain and grit of the war-torn Middle East. However, time rolls on and people change. How can we help the child dying in the street or the baby elephant cut lost from his mother? If we care too much about fixing the world, can we ever find joy? We don't know the answers, but everyone devises their own truths. American actor Rebecca Rocheford Davies is also the producer who shared discussions of the Pulitzer Prize winner Donald Margulies' scripts with a meet-up group of engaged actors and writers. Once she came across Time Stands Still, she knew it had to be staged. Her rather apt cast choices were informed through watching actors perform, rather than audition, in a more natural sense rather than under pressure. Time Stands Still is downright frank and complete. It resembles a film more than a play and has a way of engrossing you so that reducing it down to a 400-word abstraction proves problematic. The concerns raised are real, manifold and sprouting with questions upon questions. They don't stop.
October is made for weird, wild and wonderful movies filled with shocks and scares. 'Tis Halloween season, after all. So, the world obliges, including on screens big and small — and, in 2023, via the return of Australia's genre film festival Monster Fest, which is dedicated to flicks of the spooky, dark, twisted, offbeat and out-there variety. Monster Fest doesn't always pop up in the month when everyone is worshipping pumpkins and thinking about costumes; however, the timing obviously couldn't be more perfect. As it always does, it'll run long in Melbourne, where the fest was born back in 2011, then head to Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide for a shorter season in each city all on the same weekend. Melburnians, mark Thursday, October 12–Sunday, October 22 in your calendar for this showcase of strange, surreal, thrilling and chilling pictures at Cinema Nova. Everyone else, you'll want to make a date with Event Cinemas George Street in Sydney, Event Cinemas Uptown in Brisbane, Event Cinemas Marion in Adelaide and Event Cinemas Innaloo in Perth between Friday, October 27–Sunday, October 29. On the lineup: the latest and greatest in genre filmmaking, spanning horror, sci-fi, comedies with elements of either and all-round unnerving movies. Standouts titles on the 2023 program include Suitable Flesh, which stars Heather Graham (Extrapolations) as a doctor going mad, takes its inspiration from HP Lovecraft and boasts Joe Lynch (Creepshow) behind the lens; The Last Video Store, a horror-comedy set, yes, in one of the last video stores; and Norwegian flick There's Something in the Barn, about a gnome uprising that plagues an American family (including Party Down's Martin Starr) who've relocated to Scandinavia. Or, there's also sci-fi comedy Time Addicts, Australian slasher Bloodmoon getting a 4K restoration 33 years after its OG release and Trim Season's nightmarish trip to a weed farm. All of the above titles are doing the rounds nationally; however, with its extra days, Melbourne scores a few more highlights. When Evil Lurks and its demonic infection will launch the Victorian capital's leg of the fest. From there, that's also where Red Rooms, which recently won Best Feature at the 2023 Fantasia Film Festival in Montreal, joins the program. And, so does the kung fu-filled The Invisible Fright, a 4K restoration of Jim Jarmusch's (The Dead Don't Die) Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai and a 30th-anniversary session of ninth Friday the 13th entry Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday (screening on the appropriate date, of course). On the doco front, erotic thrillers are thrust into the spotlight in We Kill for Love, Satan Wants You looks back at 80s-era satanic panic and Enter the Clones of Bruce surveys the talents that endeavoured to replicate Bruce Lee after his death. Going all in on Bruceploitation, Monster Fest is also putting on a double of The Dragon Lives Again and Challenge of the Tiger, where Dracula and James Bond are among Bruce's foes. MONSTER FEST 2023 DATES: Thursday, October 12–Sunday, October 22 — Cinema Nova, Melbourne Friday, October 27–Sunday, October 29 — Event Cinemas George Street, Sydney Friday, October 27–Sunday, October 29 — Event Cinemas Uptown, Brisbane Friday, October 27–Sunday, October 29 — Event Cinemas Marion, Adelaide Friday, October 27–Sunday, October 29 — Event Cinemas Innaloo, Perth Monster Fest 2023 runs throughout October around Australia. Head to the festival's website for further details.
Chef Darren Robertson's reputation precedes him — those who do not already know him from his time at the tremendously luxe Tetsuya's or as one of the main minds, and palates, behind Australian restaurant group Three Blue Ducks, will surely recognise him as the newly appointed judge on My Kitchen Rules. Now, the famed chef is poised to open his new 100-seater in Bondi — Rocker will open this Friday, June 9 in the former site of The Hill Eatery. The name refers to the nose-to-tail of a surfboard, which ties in with both the style of cooking Robertson is known for and with the surf-crazed Bondi community. This local vibe is echoed in the fitout, which includes timber floorboards alongside concrete panelling and navy blue tiling and table surfaces that give the space a nautical feel. "We utilised a lot of existing materials to create an industrial yet warm vibe that combines coastal elements with hanging greenery," says Robertson. With Rocker, Robertson is again collaborating with Bondi local Cam Northway (Sweet & Chilli) and the project has moved fast since we first chatted about the restaurant back in March. Running the kitchen day-to-day is Stuart Toon, who has a decade of experience as a butcher working with Jamie Oliver. The precise, seasonal menu will be distinguished by regular specials and fresh ingredients. The coffee bar is currently open seven days a week, offering up single origin brews with takeaway toasties, pastries and cakes. For more substantial breakfast options, think locally grown pomelo and rhubarb bircher and brekkie bowls, along with a white bread sandwich of maple-cured bacon topped with brown sauce — which happens to be Robertson's favourite item on the menu. "I know it sounds quite simple but the bacon sandwich is truly, truly amazing," says Robertson. "It's not glamorous, but we're really excited about it." The all-day lunch and dinner service will start from noon, with 'smalls' including parfaits, oysters and salads, as well as Welsh rarebit croquettes. For 'bigs', think pasta dishes like clams with sea lettuce and a wintry beef cheeks and tendon ragu with orange and thyme. Diners can also expect a fresh fish of the day and a rotating steak cut on offer. Desserts included a cheese platter with roasted fig jam and pumpernickel crisps and a parsnip ice cream with white chocolate ganache and roasted chestnuts. On the drinks side, sommelier Chris Morrison (ex-Bistro Guillaume) is at the helm, creating a wine list that is a mix of old school and new school wines from young and exciting winemakers. The short cocktail list will included a house Negroni on tap and a Dark and Stormy made with kombucha, ginger and in-season finger limes. Local craft brewers 4 Pines and Young Henrys and Byron favourite Stone & Wood will appear on tap. It all sounds almost too good to be true, but, from Robertson, the proof is in the pudding. Rocker is located at 5/39-53 Campbell Parade, Bondi. The coffee bar is now open seven days a week from 7am until noon and the restaurant will open on Friday, June 9. Open Wednesday through Friday from noon until late and open for brunch Saturday and Sunday from 10am until late.
For more than a decade, the Melbourne-based Human Rights Arts and Film Festival has been exploring human-rights issues through cinema. Exactly how this annual fest covers its subject matter and where it screens has varied over the years, however. Past iterations have included stints around the country, and some fests have solely remained in the Victorian capital. Across Thursday, May 4–Tuesday, May 9, 2023's lineup is only hitting cinemas in-person in Melbourne, but has a date with viewers elsewhere thanks to its online component. In its physical form, HRAFF opens with Kash Kash — Without Feathers We Can't Live, a documentary from first-time filmmaker Lea Najjar about her hometown of Beirut. For folks elsewhere, or for those who can't make it along on the night, it's one of the movies on the event's digital bill as well. From a lineup that includes work from Iran, Brazil, Ireland, Lebanon, Venezuela, South Sudan, Mexico, the US, Canada and more, Melburnians can also look forward to North Circular, which highlights the importance of music in culture in Ireland; Dark Days, telling the tale of a community living in New York City's underground train tunnels in the 90s; and Uýra: The Rising Forest, about trans non-binary Indigenous artist Uýra. From Venice 2022, Alice Diop's Saint Omer is an absolute must-see, with the documentarian drawing from true events to craft a drama about a young Parisian journalist and novelist attending murder trial, then wading through the complexities it surfaces within her own family history. In The Last Daughter, Wiradjuri woman Brenda Matthews charts her experience being taken from her family as a toddler, growing up with a white foster family, then being returned to her parents. And in closing night's Fashion Reimagined, designer Amy Powney's efforts to create a sustainable collection are in the spotlight. Viewers watching on from home can also enjoy The Endangered Generation?, which boasts narration by Laura Dern (Jurassic World Dominion) as it explores the fight against climate change — plus the world-premiere of We Eatin' Good, which sees Matisse Laida and Nisha Hunter get recipes for food and life alike from members of Melbourne's queer community. To take care of the 'arts' part of its name, HRAFF is hosting two exhibitions as well: Real Job, which ponders how the labour of visual artists is so often neglected; and A Wholesome Gang, a storytelling photo series by South Sudanese Dinka woman Awak Rech Kongor (and shot and edited by artist Joshua Sims).
'Listening': A rare and admirable quality, but not one that carries connotations of being uproariously fun. Things that do sound fun are 'Tom Ballard', 'Party', 'The Standard', 'comedy', 'live music', and 'Max Lavergne', who does constant funnies here and here. All of these things will be colliding on Halloween Wednesday as the professionally hilarious Tom Ballard hosts his inaugural Listening Party. Each week will feature him interviewing three different interesting guests about their lives, their careers, and a song of their choice that they think is worth listening to. Then, if all goes according to plan, everyone who has paid the $15 ticket price shuts up and listens. Simple! Each week will also feature the aforementioned Max Lavergne and live music from Shed Muzak, who do acoustic covers of popular songs that are approximately a million times more awesome than you would probably think from reading that sentence. The first session features the lives and tunes of Scott Dooley and Nina Las Vegas. https://youtube.com/watch?v=PTJ9Q67mvHQ
Usually, Australia's various film festivals only pop up once every 12 months; however, there's little that's been usual about the past few years. So in these chaotic times, the fact that the Jewish International Film Festival is returning for a second stint in 2022 doesn't seem all that out of the ordinary. Already enjoyed the fest during its March and April run? Get ready to do so all over again. JIFF will screen 50 features and documentaries at this iteration, alongside episodes from two TV shows and three short films — covering titles from 21 countries as it tours Australia between October–December. Leading the highlights, filling JIFF's biggest-ever lineup from Tuesday, October 25– Monday, November 28 at Ritz Cinemas and Roseville Cinemas in Sydney: opening night's Armageddon Time, which arrives after premiering at this year's Cannes Film Festival and will have its Aussie debut at the fest. Starring Anthony Hopkins (The Father), Anne Hathaway (Locked Down) and Jeremy Strong (Succession), and written and directed by Ad Astra and The Lost City of Z's James Gray, it tells a coming-of-age story in 80s-era Queens. Also among the standouts, Charlotte Gainsbourg (Sundown)-led French drama The Accusation tackles sex and consent; Jeff Goldblum (Jurassic World Dominion) narrates Fiddler's Journey to the Big Screen, about bringing Fiddler on the Roof to the big screen; and Israel's Karaoke arrives after being nominated for 13 Ophir Awards. Or, there's doco The Art of Silence about mime Marcel Marceau — plus 60s-set comedy My Neighbour Adolf, featuring Udo Kier (Swan Song) as a Holocaust survivor in Colombia who thinks the German man who just moved in next door is Hitler. The full lineup includes closing night's As They Made Us, the directorial debut of directorial The Big Bang Theory's Mayim Bialik; Reckonings, about the negotiations between Jewish and German leaders that led to the 1952 Luxembourg Agreement; and three episodes of Bloody Murray, which follows the titular film lecturer, who specialises in romantic comedies.
The Full Circle community ain't exactly your normal catering company. This offbeat collection of foodies has spent the last three years sourcing and cooking hearty, home-grown meals and bringing it to the local community through a host of pop-up restaurants, public 'soupies', and surprise food events in abandoned factories and warehouses across Sydney. Now they've found themselves a slightly more permanent venue at an uber-trendy Chippendale warehouse and transformed the Full Circle vision of fresh produce and community-building into a three-night-a-week restaurant: The Eat In. The ovens have been fired up, the tables have been thrown together, a mishmash of shelves have been assembled, and the Full Circle Community are collecting all their favourite ingredients and recipes to create one of Sydney's most unique dining experiences. With a 4-5 course set menu at the dirt cheap price of $40 and a brand spanking new menu announced everyday on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, the Eat In looks set to be the trendiest all-you-can-eat feast the city has to offer. To reserve a spot, text the Eat In on 0406 525 123 or just wander past from 6pm on a Thursday, Friday, or Saturday. Get in quick though, as the warehouse is set to be knocked down in the not-too-distant future, so have yourself a night out before it becomes nothing more than a pile of rubble.
Celebrating Japan by actually heading to the country is back on the agenda, with the Asian nation's strict border rules finally relaxing. Can't make the trip ASAP? Fancy getting your Japanese thrills in a cinema instead — or until you can hop on a plane? Then Australia's annual touring Japanese Film Festival has timed its return well. As it does every year, this year's JFF has compiled a selection of must-see recent and retro Japanese movies, and will bring its lineup Sydney in December. There's two parts: a rundown the latest and greatest flicks the country has to offer, screening from Wednesday, December 7–Sunday, December 11 at Palace Central, Palace Norton Street and Palace Verona; and a classics series, showing iconic films on 35mm from Monday, December 12–Wednesday, December 14 at The Chauvel. The 2022 fest will open with historical drama Dreaming of the Meridian Arc, which hops between present-day Japan and the Edo period to tell the tale behind the man who completed the first-ever map of Japan. Also a huge highlight: the retro season's focus on filmmaker Mikio Naruse, with 1954's Sound of the Mountain, 1960's When a Woman Ascends the Stairs and 1964's Yearning on the bill — and showing for free. Back to the recent titles (and the paid part of the program), standouts include psychological thriller Lesson in Murder, which starts when a college student gets a letter from a serial killer on death row; drama In the Wake, about the victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011; and the animated Blue Thermal, with the world of competitive gliding soaring onto the screen. Anime Supremacy! is unsurprisingly focused on characters who live and breath anime production; Baby Assassins gives battling the yakuza (and being hitmen) a kawaii spin, and culinary documentary The Pursuit of Perfection follows top Tokyo chefs Takemasa Shinohara (Ginza Shinohara), Natsuko Shōji (Été), Yōsuke Suga (Sugalabo) and Takaaki Sugita (Sushi Sugita). Top image: Baby Assassins Film Partners.
It's no surprise that many of us are looking to upgrade our home comfort level at the moment. Aussie furniture brand Koala is keen to help you do just that with its cyber sale where you can nab up to 20 percent off mattresses, sheets, sofas, desks and armchairs to help you upgrade your pad or improve your night's sleep. A heap of products from across the brand's range are on sale from Monday, November 23 to Monday, November 30, including the popular Koala mattress, which you can score for up to $250 less than the usual price. Plus, if you order a bed today, you will be sleeping pretty tonight as Koala offers a free four-hour delivery service. Also on offer in the sale is the WFH desk, which is made in Ballarat from hand-sanded timber, easy to assemble and designed with home office use in mind. If you've found yourself working from home a lot more this year, you can pick up the desk for a sweet 15 percent off. Comfy Koala sofa beds, TV units, pillows, bed bases and more are going with a 20 percent discount, too, so you can give your whole house a makeover. And everything comes with a 120-night trial — though, it might be hard to give any of these up after four-months of comfort. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
Neon Trees is the thinking person's pop rock outfit. Bassist Branden Campbell can quote Henry David Thoreau, lead vocalist Tyler Glenn considers himself a ‘loser loner’, and none of them is willing to sacrifice the band's songs for any old corporate scheme. "We're not just a pop act that's floozy with their music," Glenn explained to diffuser.fm last year. When the Neon Trees last visited the Antipodes two years ago, their song 'Animal' had the crowds on their feet and the critics at their keyboards. It became 2011's most played song on Australian radio. Now they’re on their way back with a single, 'Everybody Talks', which has gone platinum here and multiplatinum in the US, and a sophomore studio album, Picture Show, which Billboard has described as starting with a "half-dozen hook bombs right in a row". They've maintained their infectious, catchy sound but have taken things into slightly darker territory. According to Glenn, this is just the beginning: "We know that we have a sound that's going to continue to expand ... We have more tricks up our sleeves."
If you thought Sydney's Tramsheds had squeezed in all the foodie goodness it could possibly fit, then you'd better think again. The folks behind the huge new Harold Park development have big plans for Artisan Lane, a new flexi-space at the heart of the recently-opened foodie precinct, that's playing host to a mix of markets, workshops, master classes, and innovative food pop-ups — including a new European-inspired market. Boasting two fully functional kitchens, and room for 76 people, Artisan Lane will be serving up knowledge feasts, as well as the edible kind, with a lineup of classes set to cover everything from butchery and fish filleting, to brewing beer. But if you're more of the market-minded foodie type, Artisan Lane is also the setting for a new European-inspired Sunday market, showcasing seven local traders each weekend from 8.30am till 4pm. Discerning foodies will be able to get their hot little hands on a grand array of nosh, like Pepe Saya's handmade butter, Sri Lankan dishes from Hopper Sadé, and stunning floral works by Thorny Roses Florists. While you're there, make use of our handy guide to Tramsheds' culinary offerings. Image: Steven Woodburn.
Madonna diehards, Britney fans and Spice Girls devotees, you can now spend six weekends in a row giving in entirely to your passion for pop music. DJ Sean Rowling is bringing his epic party, Guilty Pleasures, to Sydney all the way from the UK. You'll find him at Merivale's Palings every Friday night, between February 19 and March 18. On top of unashamed dancing to Rowling's beats and huge collection of tunes, you'll be able to spill your secrets in confessional booths, belt out your fave songs in the safety of numbers with crowd-aoke, feast your eyes on magnificent dancers and check out the Chandon Unplanned house band. Come fabulous and prepare to leave your inhibitions at the door.
Stay tuned. More info on its way. Image: @wellingtonstprojects.
No doubt about it, there's something about Mary's. Due to popular demand, owners and all-round legends Jake Smyth and Kenny Graham opened up their second Mary's, slap bang in the middle of the CBD. And it's not just a your standard Mary's burgers either — the second joint has a thick shakes and breakfast burgers to help ward off those pesky hangovers, too. Located on Castlereagh Street, Mary's CBD has two floors, with the upper level functioning as a production space, while downstairs is the kitchen and takeaway counter. Similar in style to the original, the space is dimly lit with graphic murals and graffiti. There's also a heavy metal soundtrack playing at this otherwise conservative street address. The menu features the same burgers we know and love from Newtown. There's the mighty fine Mary's burger ($10), renowned for its mouth-wateringly tender med-rare beef patty slathered in liquefied cheese, as well as the cheeseburger ($10), which adds mustard and pickles, and the veg burger ($10) which has salad and one giant shroom. Add to that the new chicken burger ($12) — one hunk of southern-style crispy fried chicken served with Mary's special sauce and salad. It's everything you've dreamed of and more. If you come between 10am and midday, you'll also have access to the highly coveted breakfast burger ($12) made with a sausage patty, bacon, hash brown, HP sauce, maple syrup, cheese and an egg (+ $1). As for sides, there are the super crispy French fries ($3), or you can opt for a meal deal, which includes fries and soda ($15) or a thick shake ($17). The soda comes with unlimited refills, while the thick shake ($6) comes in strawberry, chocolate and vanilla, with the addition of a house-made seasonal flavour. Did someone say smoked maple? With nowhere to sit and barely anywhere to stand, take your burgers to the nearby Hyde Park for the best impromptu picnic of your life. Thanks for answering our prayers this Christmas, Mary.
Sure, you’ve seen plenty of films before — but have you smelled one? Well, here’s your chance. The inimitable Odorama experience sends all kinds of scents towards willing nostrils, and it’s coming to Sydney's Golden Age Cinema. The film to smell above all others? Why, it’s John Waters’ Polyester, of course! The cult film to end all cult films, and one intended to be as picturesque as it is pungent, Polyester is the ultimate scratch 'n' sniff movie. When it was released in cinemas in 1981, audiences were famously given numbered Odorama cards to scratch at specific moments, unleashing a wave of odours — some pleasant, some not so. The full bouquet of Polyester features smells ranging from dirty shoes to pizza to new car. Starring the one and only Divine, the film offers a frenzied tale to match its fun gimmick, delving into the anarchic lives of the Fishpaw family. Francine’s world is falling apart, and trouble just keeps on coming. Her husband, Elmer (David Samson), is a polyester-clad pornographer having an affair with his secretary (Mink Stole). Her daughter, Lu-Lu (Mary Garlington), is pregnant by her delinquent boyfriend, Bo-Bo (Stiv Bators). Her glue-sniffing son, Dexter (Ken King), could possibly be the sought-after ‘Baltimore foot stomper’. Francine’s sole ray of sunshine comes in the form a Corvette-driving suitor, the dashing Todd Tomorrow (Tab Hunter). Since 1981's screenings of Polyster, Odorama has had few outings, so this is an very rare treat. Seeing and smelling Polyester takes cinema to another level. Steel your senses for a trip to the movies like no other. Warning: this may not suit those with weak stomachs. Polyster screens at the Golden Age Cinema on Friday, November 7, at 9pm. For more information, visit the Golden Age website.
You hear the bass. You hear the drums. You hear the drone of the guitar. Same old, same old. Then the voice comes in, and you're in the Wembley Stadium carpark and the frost is settling on your windscreen. The Vaccines paint a picture. It might not be a very happy picture but you can't help but nod your head. You relate to the lyrics because they're human and this is why they're making such a mark on the London music scene. Too long have we been hearing carbon copy Franz Ferdinands spitting lip curling cleverness with no real authenticity. Creating a vibe closer to The Smiths, they are a must see. Lucky for you they're coming to Sydney as part of the Splendour in the Grass Sideshows series. See them and you will love them. https://youtube.com/watch?v=uQKjI6395iU
Splendour in the Grass ain't all about dancing like a proper noob to That Song You've Been Waiting For and Only You Understand. There's plenty of brain food afoot, with a big ol' program announced for this year's colossal Splendour Forum. Opinionated tweeters, keep your pants on as the Silver Fox comes to Splendour for some hardcore hashtagged debate. Q&A's Tony Jones brings his hard-hitting swagger to the Forum for a special Splendour version of Australia's favourite "NO THEY DIII-IN'T" show on the Saturday. With an all-new Forum Twilight Film Festival, Tropfest live Q and A talks and the very first Splendour Late Night Comedy Club geared up to shake up the sets this year, you might even miss Interpol and Outkast this year. Dusk hours will see A Taste of Tropfest take over the Forum, a dandy little showcase of the film festival's most memorable awww and oooh moments. Comedy enthusiasts and those who enjoy a hearty, ugly-faced chuckle should stick around after dark, as Australia's top comedians (we're talking triple j favourites Matt Okine, Tom Ballard and Mel Buttle, Good News Week’s Claire Hooper, Spicks & Specks host Josh Earl, Greg Fleet and so many, many more) make y'all laugh until a little bit of wee comes out. Writers Marieke Hardy and Michaela McGuire bring their beloved literary salon 'Women of Letters' to Splendour with Lauren Mayberry (Chvrches), Courtney Barnett, Gossling, Jennifer Boyce (Ball Park Music), Nkechi Anele (Saskwatch), Liz Drummond (Little May) and musical comedians Alice Fraser and Genevieve Fricker — all narrating their "Letter to the Song They Wish They’d Written". Love a good keynote? You love a good keynote. Lindsay "The Doctor" McDougall chats to TED Talker Paul Gilding about our super messed up planet (or is it?) in 'Life on Earth in 2030 - Fun, Frazzled or F%*ked?'. There's a bunch more to squeal about at the Splendour website. The Forum is open 10am ‘til late daily at Splendour. If you haven't got tickets yet, the re-sale facility is open until 9am Monday 16 June through moshtix.com.au or phone 1300 GET TIX (438 849). Worth a shot.
Harry Potter is dead. He has ceased to be. He has expired, gone to meet his maker, 100 percent Avada Kedavra'd and this time love 'aint gonna bring him back. Be it known that his murderer was one Daniel 'never gonna pigeonhole me' Radcliffe, who killed off the boy wizard with a lethal dose of convincing American accent and a heady trinity of straight sex, gay sex and self-sex. But Kill Your Darlings is not a murder mystery. The title actually refers to some sage literary advice that writers ought delete their most beloved passages since they're inevitably the most self-indulgent. The film does open with a murder and revisits it in the climax, yet at its heart it is a coming-of-age tale for its protagonist — famed US poet Allen Ginsberg (Radcliffe). It's set in Manhattan during the early 1940s, when Ginsberg was just a college freshman at Colombia University, studying the classics but experiencing a growing disdain for the established order. Inspired by the free verse of Walt Whitman and the free spirit of his dormitory buddy Lucien Carr (Dane DeHaan), Ginsberg quickly fell down the sex-drugs-and-alcohol-fuelled rabbit hole of the underground literary sect, befriending future luminaries like Jack Kerouac (Jack Huston) and William Burroughs (Ben Foster). This was the beat generation finding its rhythm, and in that sense Kill Your Darlings tells something of an origin story for some of America's great storytellers. In the lead, Radcliffe's Ginsberg is a performance of transformation, not just of the character but for the actor, too. Both begin the film as timid young men in an alluring yet perilous world, burdened with complicated pasts and uncertain of how their contemporaries will judge them. By its end, they emerge as commanders of their art; fearless poets and performers. The wide-eyed wonderment with which Radcliffe's Potter viewed his magical world appears again here, though the temptations and possibilities are of an entirely different nature. Most notable is his infatuation with the manipulative Carr, played to perfection by DeHaan (The Place Beyond The Pines). Though never fully demonised, Carr's very much the villain in Kill Your Darlings — a blue-eyed, blonde-haired paramour whose hapless devotees (including Michael C. Hall) will do anything to please him, including writing assignments on his behalf. There's more than a bit of DiCaprio in the young actor, who's quickly ratcheting up an impressive backlog of performances, and his on-screen chemistry with Radcliffe is entirely engaging. There's a lot to like about this movie, and compared to other recent beat-era films (On The Road, Howl) it is easily the best. Filmed over just 24 days, it suffers from the occasional rough edges — both cinematically and textually — however, its fine performances and fascinating subject matter make it more than worth your while. https://youtube.com/watch?v=WRY2ogQpbvg
If staying at home more often than usual has you hankering for decadent desserts, you're not alone. We've seen many Australians turn to baking while in iso, plus restaurants and cafes across the country offer up ready-to-bake cookie dough. Not to mention cult ice creamery Gelato Messina selling red velvet cookie pies. Now, Burwood cafe The Picnic is grabbing a piece of the pie, too, collaborating with OTT delivery dessert company Cake Mail and Chef Jack New (Icebergs, Teramoto by Kuro) to create the mother of all pie-sized biscuits. What's a cookie pie? It's pretty much as it sounds — a pie, but a pie made of cookie dough. You bake it yourself, too, so you get to enjoy that oh-so-amazing smell of freshly baked cookies wafting through your kitchen. The OTT dessert in question is a white choc chip and salted caramel cookie pie ($39), which comes loaded with Nutella, Oreos, marshmallows, Kinder chocolate and white Kinder Bueno. Once it arrives at your house, you just need to throw it in the oven for ten minutes at 150°C. The result: a messy, gooey delight that's sure to satisfy any hardcore chocolate fiend. Since indoor venues across the country were forced to shut up shop back in March, The Picnic at Burwood, run by restaurateur Jad Nehme, has been whipping up a bunch of dishes for home delivery — from 'Zoom night' packs to DIY burger kits, produce boxes and Lotus Biscoff caramel pancakes. Deliver is available for all orders over $60 within 15 kilometres of Burwood from 2–6pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Contactless pick up is also available from the cafe between 11.30am–2pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday The Picnic at Home take-home menu and cookie pie is available to order via thepicnicathome.com.au.
Step into an immersive world of light, sound and delicious smells when Chippendale's Kensington Street transforms into a Babylon-inspired party precinct for one night only, as part of Sydney Fringe Festival. More than 30 of Sydney's most talented independent artists will create light sculptures and installations, performance art, live music, dancing, soundscapes and projections, while food hawkers and local venues provide festival eats. The free after-dark event will also feature fortune tellers, shisha, gin cocktails and a 'marriage market' — where you just might meet someone new the old fashioned way. If you dine at one of the laneway's venues, including Gin Lane, Handpicked Cellar Door or Eastside Kitchen, the first round of drinks will be on the house, too. As the sky darkens, wander down Spice Alley for a feed before making your way through an artistic world presented by Tortuga Studios. Keep an eye out for sculptural steel curiosities by Mekazoic (robotics engineer Dillon MacEwan), live art and music from collective Cult of EVERYTHING, and Dollar Bin Darlings spinning deep jungle jams. Once you've gotten a taste for the vibrant world of Babylon, there is so much more to explore as part of Sydney Fringe Festival's tenth anniversary program, including a bunch of immersive art hubs. Head to the festival's website to see what else is on.
You've heard the tales. Those mystical, weird-as-blazes stories of entire restaurants manned by robots in Japan, surrounded by glow sticks, frantic lasers, bejewelled dancers and robot battles. The rumours are straight-up true. But don't even think about breaking that piggy bank open for an airfare, the world-renowed Japanese Robot Restaurant from Shinjuku, Tokyo is coming to Sydney for two nights only. This is not a drill. As part of the launch of Contiki’s new 'Japan Unrivalled' itinerary kicking off in March 2015, the travel-lovin' team are bringing one of Japan's major kitschy attractions to you — battling robots included. Set to pop up at 41 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst, the Japanese Robot Restaurant is the sum of your wildest, weirdest and wackiest Japanese-inspired dreams — big ol' J-pop beats, choreographed dancers, fluorescent fitout and tasty Japanese food and bevs — and LASERS. So very many lasers. The kicker? The pop-up will see giant futuristic robots doing battle while you nosh. That's right, bigass robots battling. Just, just look at this: Classic weird, wonderful Japan. This is going to be nuts. Robots Unrivalled will perform February 23 and 24 at 41 Oxford St, Darlinghurst. Tickets are $40 +BF per person (max. two tickets per transaction) and your Bento box is included in the ticket price. There are three sessions: 5.30pm, 7.30pm and 9.30pm. Tickets go on sale at 9am on Wednesday, January 28. For more information or to register for tickets head to www.contiki.com/robotsunrivalled. Image: Lindsay Clark, THINK Global School.
The White Rabbit Gallery has gotten us well acquainted with the vibrant powerhouse that is 21st-century Chinese art — so bright, witty, and full of winking commentary on politics and pop culture. Now we have the chance to see the stage version of that with Fight the Landlord (Do Di Zhu), on at Carriageworks in 2013. Its set-up is a card game evocatively known in China as Fight the Landlord. Here it is played by three panda-costumed women of unspecified relation, which shifts dramatically with every round. But it's their wry chatter that will keep you rivetted, as they discuss their love lives, gossip mags, the role of work, and the housing crisis, among all else, as the game escalates around them. The cross-cultural co-production between Ireland's fun and subversive Pan Pan theatre (last here with Oedipus Loves You in 2010) and Beijing's Square Moon Culture has been recognised as representing the heights of contemporary Chinese absurdism in reviews from China and Melbourne. You can get a particularly close perspective on it if you pull up your chair to the big, round game table, as the audience sits on stage with the actors (although for the apprehensive, more distant seats are also available).
Read three articles about Nicolas Jaar’s debut album Space Is Only Noise and you can probably expect two of them to make some mention to The Guardian dubbing him “The renaissance man of electronic music.” It’s a tag that isn’t at all unjustified. Jaar’s music is not only quick-witted (in the sense that it’s both highly intelligent and sprinkled with humour) and it is spearheading (though not on its own) what could be called an electronic revolution. But the heaping praise can make one wary of his music. What if listening to it is like talking to a really smart person who keeps making jokes you don’t really get? Well, yeah, Jaar’s music is subtle, but it’s also incredibly easy to listen to. If you follow dance music closely you could get high of the way it morphs deep house and techno into something soulful and ambient, and if you don’t its beautiful melancholy is no less addictive. Another great thing about Jaar is his ability to command a room with the barely audible in the same way others command a room with thumping bass. FBi are bringing him over for the Sydney Festival this January, so be at the Town Hall on the 23rd for proof. Read our list of the 12 best things to see at the Sydney Festival in 2013.
Belles Hot Chicken has flirted with all sorts of chook-centric creations over the years, but, this time round, it's teaming up with a famed American chip for an extra-spicy limited-edition menu. Head Chef and Co-Founder Morgan McGlone has just gone and dropped the group's first-ever collab with Cheetos — and not just any ordinary Cheetos either, Flamin' Hot Cheetos. The red-hot menu is available for three weeks from Wednesday, August 28 and features three dishes all made with Flamin' Hot Cheetos: a Flamin' Hot chicken sanga ($13) with Cheetos-crusted chicken thigh, jalapeño and slaw on a toasted milk bun; the Hillbilly Taco ($12), made from white bread topped with Cheetos-coated Cloudy Bay clams, Alabama white sauce and pickled chilli; and Flamin' Hot mac 'n' cheese bites ($9) served with chipotle sauce. To drink, there are $10 Pabst Blue Tall Boys (473 millilitres), $10 glasses of BK Wines pét-nat and $10 alcoholic lemonades, too. While the menu will end after three weeks, Flamin' Hot fans will be happy to know that the spicy Cheetos are now available to purchase at Woolworths, Coles and some petrol stations and convenience stores. The Flamin' Hot menu is available at Belles Hot Chicken Barangaroo, Darling Square and Tramsheds, with the mac 'n' cheese bites exclusively at Darling Square.
Portside at the Sydney Opera House welcomes a new addition this summer, with The Blanc Bar popping up until Monday, February 4. Take in those iconic harbour views while sipping on the bar's champagne or gin cocktail offerings — or both. For eats, a French-inspired menu features limited nibbles that pair with the bar's beverages. Think ocean trout with cucumber jelly, native lime and elderflower dressing, or Sydney rock oysters with verjus vinaigrette. Plus, there'll be DJs on the decks all night long, adding to the opulent party atmosphere. It's all part of the world premiere of Blanc de Blanc Encore, which is taking over the Opera House's Studio until March 9. The extravagant circus-cabaret comes from the original Blanc team and promises to immerse the audience in a night of old-world Parisian glamour and risqué performance. Images: Daniel Boud.
The art of flower making has been around for at least 2000 years. When the Chinese invented paper back in 100 BC, they started creating blooms, lanterns and fans pretty much immediately. And even now, thousands of years late, stunning paper flower arrangements are the stuff of many a maker's Instagram feed. Now, it's your chance to find out how it's done. Flowersmith and Papetal founder Jennifer Tran — whose works have appeared in the National Sculpture Magazine of China, Martha Stewart Living (US) and The Design Files (Australia) — is dedicating a wintry Sunday to sharing her secrets. On June 17 at Kinokuniya Books, she'll be hosting two workshops, one on peonies at 11.30am and the other on apple blossoms at 2pm. Whichever one you attend, you'll spend 90 minutes learning how to make your own flowers, before leaving with a Jen-created sample, plus a bunch of instruction sheets, so you can continue your new-found obsession at home.
One-off art exhibitions, hedonistic New Year's Eve events, limited-time cellar doors and frosé pop-ups: these are just some of the wild and woolly parties that the Baba's Place and DOOM JUICE teams have each thrown over the past 12 months. So it's only natural that the pair would combine forces for a food-, booze- and music-filled Marrickville block party. DOOM'S PLACE will take over the Sloane Street warehouse where the renowned restaurant usually resides for a four-hour get-together between 6–10pm on Sunday, April 2. On offer at the party: $6.66 glasses of DOOM JUICE's natural wine and $7.77 cans of the Baba's Place and DNA Distillery rakija and tonic RTD cans. Making a return for the night will also be the cherry kofta, a fan-favourite dish at the pop-up restaurants that Baba's Place used to run before it took over its Inner West warehouse. The much-hyped Mapo Gelato will be on site with a limited-edition rosé sorbet that owner Matteo Pochintesta has created in collaboration with the DOOM JUICE crew. Plus, there will be tunes to carry you through the night. DJ Ziyad Nori will kick things off before local punk rockers DOWNGIRL will bring their anthemic tracks to a performance in the centre of the Baba's Place dining room. There will also be a range of limited-edition merchandise available on the day. You can see a sneak-peak of the t-shirts and hats over on Instagram. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Baba's Place (@babasplace__)
It's been an explosive year for beer and brewing in Australia. Some old hands at the craft game sold to major international corporations, while new independent brewers continued to develop and expand. From fruit-infused sours to bold, hoppy IPAs, the discerning beer drinker has never enjoyed so much choice from both local and international markets. While there will always be a time and a place for a cold tinnie of VB, the following ten brews offer a range of flavours and unique styles to help you beat the heat this summer. The best places to find these beers, aside from the locations below, are specialist bottle shops. We've rounded up our favourites in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. XPA, PHILTER BREWING The XPA style is still somewhat unclear, though the acronym stands for Xtra Pale Ale, but in the case of Philter's flagship brew — a pale yellow, slightly hazy session ale — the 'Xtra' refers to both the light colour and the depth of flavour. Head brewer Sam Fuss has put the myth to rest that brewing is a man's game with her brewing prowess. Packaged in retro blue and white cans, Philter XPA opens with a delicate bouquet of floral and summer fruit aromatics, notes of rockmelon, passionfruit and mango. On the palate expect little to no bitterness with some citrus and notes of freshly cut grass, balanced out by a subtle wheat and honey flavour from its malt base. Philter XPA won Best Pale Ale at the 2017 Craft Beer Awards, after only being on the market for four months. Available in cans at Liquor Emporium, St Peters, and as Beer of the Month at The Botany View Hotel, Newtown. EARL PEAR, MERCHANT BREWING COMPANY In the height of the Australian summer, a 6.9% ABV Belgian-style blonde ale seems like a strange choice. But the boys over at Merchant have taken some bold steps to create one ripper of a beer. Blending the toffee apple malt flavour with extracts of pear and earl grey tea, this beer is inventive and exciting without being gimmicky. The beer pours slightly cloudy, is dark orange in colour and has a strong aroma of pears, apricots and a touch of citrus. The immediate flavour is pear with a hint of tart funkiness, then the sweet malt flavour gives way to a light kiss of floral citrus rounded out by the herbaceous bitterness from the tea. Incredibly well-balanced and surprisingly delicate, this beer would make a fine match for seafood or a fruit-based summer salad. Just like the monocle-sporting sloth on the label, this is a sophisticated and fun slow sipper for those looking for something a little different this summer. Earl Pear is currently available on tap at Quarrymans Hotel, Pyrmont. PASSION OF THE PUSS, WAYWARD BREWING CO Between Parramatta Road and the backstreets of leafy Annandale, Wayward Brewing Co's tap room is the perfect place for those seeking shelter from the hot days. Housed in a converted wine cellar, the brewery boasts an impressive selection of vintage 70s-style couches, a wall-mounted Royal Enfield motorcycle and a labyrinth of rooms and spaces catering to crowds of all sizes. Passion of the Puss is a new spin on Wayward's incredibly popular Sour Puss Raspberry Berliner Weisse, but this time it favours passionfruit and yuzu. The result is a a bright, aromatic brew with plenty of passionfruit notes giving way to the acidity of the yuzu to round it out. This is a great beer for those looking to get into sours as it has enough complexity and balance to remain refreshing all the way through the pint. Sitting at only 3.8% ABV, it's great for session, and a reliable hangover cure. Passion of the Puss is currently available in 640ml bombers from Wayward Brewery Co, Camperdown. WEST COAST IPA, BATCH BREWING COMPANY Pioneers of the Sydney craft beer scene, Batch Brewing Company has maintained a steady rise to prominence in inner west Sydney, the cradle of brewing culture in Sydney. While the current trend among brewers seems to be about who can brew the biggest, hoppiest and strongest IPAs, this little gem from Batch's core range is a reliable and refreshing take on the classic American style. Over the years, Batch have made many IPAs, yet this is the only permanent fixture and with one sip you'll quickly see why. The blend of three hop varieties with three base malts achieves a beer that is supremely well balanced. Pale gold and ever so slightly cloudy, this beer is dominated by tropical fruit aromas of mango and pineapple, followed by fresh citrus notes. A subtle but firm bitterness rounds out the finish and leaves you wanting more, and as it sits at an approachable 5.8%, why not have another? Batch West Coast is currently available in cans, bombers, growlers and on tap at Batch Brewery Company, Marrickville. DIPA, HOPE BREWHOUSE When getting into the boozier side of brewing, some beers tend to almost drift into wine territory. With this in mind, it's incredibly comforting to know that Hope's head brewer, Matt Hogan, is indeed a former winemaker. This training in nuance and delicacy translates in the surprising form of a double India pale ale — a style famous for its in-your-face flavour. Hope's offering, however, is a joyously well-balanced beer; it has a pale straw colour with a beautiful floral nose, citrus aromas, big tropical fruit notes and a piney, resiny mid-palate. The light malts offer some sweeter notes of honey and biscuit, while a substantial bitter finish makes this big bold beer a truly dynamic flavour experience. Sitting at 9% ABV this DIPA would be suited to fans of Pirate Life Brewing's Double IPA. Hope DIPA is currently available in cans at Liquor Emporium, St Peters, and on tap at the The Local Taphouse, Darlinghurst. SAUCY SAISON, SAUCE BREWING COMPANY Starting a microbrewery in a warehouse in Marrickville is a tried and tested idea. With the craft cradle booming, however, offering something new and exciting can be a challenge. Enter Sauce Brewing Company, a strong team of brewers covering a broad range of styles with charm and reliability. Oh, and did we mention their converted warehouse space features a large, family-friendly beer garden? This beer is a modern take on the classic French/Belgian style where the yeast is the dominant flavour. A special Belgian ale yeast gives smooth notes of banana and clove with some light fruity esters, followed by a twist of citrusy hop flavour, all wrapped up in a smooth honey malt. For those seeking a less hop-driven beer, that still has a bit of a kick to it this summer, treat yourself to something a little different, after all, 'tis the 'saison'! Saucy Saison is available from Sauce Brewing Company, Marrickville in cans and growlers, and in cans at Red Bottle, Sussex Street. SERPENT'S KISS, GRIFTER BREWING CO Pilsner is a style that many beer nerds will scoff at, as it's often thought of as a bland boring lager. In the current game, however, the ability to produce an interesting lager-style beer is one hell of a trump card to play. This is exactly what the team at Grifter has done. With five-plus years in the Sydney brewing scene, their approach to this widely loved style of beer is sure to appeal to a wide range of drinkers. This light-bodied, easy-drinking brew is the perfect, refreshing drop for a sunny afternoon, it has a low level of bitterness complemented by a delicate fruitiness from the inclusion of real watermelon. The watermelon flavour is light, natural and not overly sweet, resulting in a beautifully sessionable beer with a fruity twist. Available in cans from the Grifter Brewing Co, and currently on tap at the White Cockatoo Petersham. OXYMORON, BRUNY ISLAND Traditionally, darker beers are reserved for drinking in the cooler months, but tradition goes straight out the window with this beer made by a cheese company from Tasmania. The aptly titled Oxymoron is a sort of Swiss-Army-knife beer, in that it's perfect for a multitude of occasions all year round. The style is billed as a 'dark pale ale' so expect some robust roasty notes of smooth cocoa and a touch of spice from the use of malted rye. This is wonderfully countered by a superb blend of four Tasmanian-grown hop varieties offering floral, citrus and light peach notes, rounded out by a firm bitterness. This is a beer that will serve as a refreshing, yet smooth and rich, alternative to the plethora of American-style pales dominating the market at present. A relative newcomer to the scene, even moreso the mainland, Bruny Island's beers are most reliably sourced through its online store, but keep an eye out for them in your local craft pub, bar or bottle-o. NORMAN AUSTRALIAN ALE, YULLI'S BREWS About halfway down Crown Street in Surry Hills there's a small, unassuming restaurant with a well-deserved reputation for serving some of the finest vegetarian food in town. To make it even better, they're also responsible for one of the finest local drops on the market. Created by bar staff seeking an approachable and casual beer that could also stand alongside fine dining, Norman is a light, refreshing summer ale with notes of apple and pear, followed by a gentle, clean, bitter finish. The green and gold cans adorned with a charmingly idiosyncratic cartoon character make for a staple in any Aussie fridge this summer. Perfect for a barbecue or beachside evening picnic, Norman is a friend you want to have around again and again. Available from Yulli's restaurant, Surry Hills, on tap and in cans at The Clock Hotel bottle shop. [caption id="attachment_648241" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA[/caption] TONIC, DOCTOR'S ORDERS The Sydney brewing scene's equivalent of the eccentric cartoon mad scientist Rick Sanchez (from Rick and Morty), 'Dr' Darren Robinson has been brewing weird, wacky and wonderful styles of beer since 2009. The latest seasonal prescription from the Doc is a sessionable witbier with an impressive array of botanicals including orange peel, juniper berries, lemon myrtle and cinchona bark. This inventive blend of flavours is enough to make for a beautiful summer drop all by itself, however, it is also a brilliant mixer with your favourite gin. This is the second seasonal release of the Tonic, which was a massive success last year and sure to become a summer favourite of both gin and beer enthusiasts. Available from the The Wine Cellar, Newtown, in cans.
As if Kendrick Lamar shows weren't already hard enough to nab tickets to, it's just been announced that the West Coast king will play an uber-exclusive/downright splurge-worthy show in the Bermuda Triangle. Performing this Halloween alongside Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding, Kendrick will take the stage in the spookiest place on earth as part of a three-day festival sponsored by Bacardi. Here's hoping he makes it back alive. Unless you're an heiress, Bruce Wayne or Tony Stark, The Bacardi Triangle festival is pretty completely unlike any festival you've ever been to. From October 30–November 2, 1862 guests will descend on the Caribbean via private chartered jet from London, New York and Los Angeles. And it's safe to say they won't be roughing it with a broken tent and goon bag. Festival patrons will be put up at the five-star Waldorf Astoria El Conquistador, treated to intimate poolside performances and then taken to a private island via boat for the main show. Usually we wouldn't even tell you about this kind of stuff. It just makes people feel bad. Who wants to hear about luxurious world-class performances on a private island while they're bunkered over a pint of draught watching young screamo kids at the local bandroom? It's cruel. But this time around, Bacardi Triangle are offering up free tickets. Bacardi are giving away all-expense paid trips and plane tickets to 12 Australian island-less peasants. The price of everything adds up to over $20,000 and the value of the stories you'll have is absolutely priceless. Just head along to their website, tell them in 25 words or less what the weirdest place you've ever partied is and you'll be in the running. Sure, the possibility of winning is sure to be smaller than the actual lottery, but you have nothing to lose and a literal boatload of free Bacardi and epic Kendrick times to gain. The full lineup is yet to be released, but rumour has that it will feature an Aussie electronic act. We'd tell you to keep your eyes peeled for further details, but if you're still reading this you've missed the point entirely. Kendrick Lamar. Bermuda Triangle. Private jets. Actual swimming pools full of liquor. Enter here. https://youtube.com/watch?v=B5YNiCfWC3A
"Once upon a time there was a little girl who was trapped. This is the story of her great escape." So begins the trailer for the latest version of a Roald Dahl classic, the book-to-stage-to-screen Matilda the Musical — and it's bringing its imaginative story about an extraordinary child, her impressive abilities and her horrible school to Netflix on Christmas Day. For the past few years, the streaming platform has been obsessed with one very particular golden ticket that Matilda the Musical springs from: the beloved works of British author Dahl. Back in 2018, Netflix announced that it was bringing 16 of the writer's classic novels to the service in animated form. And, it revealed that there'd be two new series from Taika Waititi based on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, too. In 2021, it also advised that it had snapped up the Roald Dahl Story Company (RDSC) itself. So, plenty of Dahl-penned tales are now getting the Netflix treatment, with the service's library set to expand in a big way. That spans everything from Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator, Matilda and The Twits, all as animated television shows, plus The BFG, Esio Trot, George's Marvellous Medicine, The Enormous Crocodile, The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me, Henry Sugar, Billy and the Minpins, The Magic Finger, Dirty Beasts and Rhyme Stew. Yes, it's a long list — and yes, Matilda the Musical is obviously on it. [caption id="attachment_873641" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical. Alisha Weir as Matilda Wormwood in Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical. Cr. Dan Smith/Netflix © 2022[/caption] If you've seen the Tony and Olivier award-winning show in theatres since 2010 — complete with original music and lyrics by Tim Minchin — you'll know what's in store. If you read the novel before that, you'll also already have plenty of fondness everyone's favourite book-loving schoolgirl with telekinetic abilities. In the movie as onstage, the narrative remains the same as Dahl's original 1988 text, but with songs and tunes that are all supremely on its wavelength. Once again, Matilda Wormwood (Alisha Weir, Darklands) is a curious, bright, quiet, observant and imaginative girl — and tiny — but has terrible parents (Venom: Let There Be Carnage's Stephen Graham and Amsterdam's Andrea Riseborough). So, she escapes into novels as they feast on TV and try to stump up cash via dodgy schemes. But that isn't welcomed by her mum and dad, in her first lesson in being bullied — something that, at school, Matilda will no longer stand for. [caption id="attachment_873640" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical. Alisha Weir as Matilda Wormwood in Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical. Cr. Dan Smith/Netflix © 2022[/caption] At Crunchem Hall, Matilda finds a source of support and inspiration in Miss Honey (Lashana Lynch, No Time to Die), but it's also where the star student meets another foe. That'd be the villainous Miss Trunchbull (Emma Thompson, Good Luck to You, Leo Grande), who is as mean as can be — and needs Matilda to teach her a lesson. Minchin's songs and lyrics make the jump to the movie version, of course, while Tony Award-winning director Matthew Warchus — who did the honours with Matilda the Musical on the stage — helms. And yes, this is the second movie based on Dahl's Matilda, after a 1996 version initially adapted the book for cinema (not as a musical, though), and featured Mara Wilson as the titular character. Check out the full trailer for Matilda the Musical below: Matilda the Musical will be available to stream via Netflix on December 25. Images: Dan Smith/Netflix © 2022.
Construction on Sydney's much discussed underground train line, set to make trips between Parramatta and the CBD a whole lot quicker, will finally get underway in 2020. And the NSW Government has just confirmed the location of the 24-kilometre railway line's seven metro stations. Exactly where the Metro West will depart from the CBD is still to come, but the high-speed underground train will journey through new, fully accessible, metro stations at The Bays Precinct, Five Dock, Burwood North, North Strathfield and Sydney Olympic Park on its way to Parramatta, and then on to Westmead. Extra stations are also being considered in Pyrmont and Rydalmere. When it's all complete — 2030, by current estimations — getting around the western suburbs should be far quicker and less congested. The government is promising the new project will double the capacity of public transport in the area, and take just 20 minutes to get from the city to Parramatta. As you can imagine, this is a pretty big endeavour, and there's a long way to go before we can reap the benefits of faster and easier travel to the cultural and sporting hub of Sydney Olympic Park, and the new Powerhouse Museum in Parramatta. According to The SMH, close to 120 properties will be forcibly acquired to make room for the Metro West line, including 23 residential properties, the Sydney Speedway (a dirt racing track in Granville) and dozens of small businesses. Those wanting to check out what it's like in the fancy new driverless trains, can jump on the Metro North West railway line that launched back in May — another part of the government's overall Sydney Metro project. Once complete, Metro West and Metro North West, together with Metro City and Metro South West, will see a new railway linking Rouse Hill to Chatswood, travelling under the Sydney Harbour to the city, then down to Bankstown. Sydney Metro West will link the city to Parramatta. The next steps for the Metro West leg will see the NSW Government release a detailed planning and environmental assessment for public feedback next year — so keep an eye out for that if you've got some strong feelings about the project. Construction on the Metro West is set to commence in 2020. To read more about the project, head to the Sydney Metro website. Top image: A render of Westmead Station
