Not content with boasting Nigella Lawson's touch on its culinary program, Vivid Sydney 2025 has enlisted another huge name in the world of food and television: Martha Stewart. The Harbour City's winter festival is bringing the businesswoman and TV personality Down Under for a one-night-only in-conversation session, where she's taking to the stage to chat about her career. On the agenda: discussing everything from her start as a stockbroker, her 101 books and winning Emmys to becoming the first self-made female billionaire — and likely her 2024 Netflix documentary as well. How did Stewart become a globally known name in all things home and hospitality, and in design and TV, too? Expect to take that journey from her first book in 1982, through her Martha Stewart Living days and since with her at the International Convention Centre Sydney on Wednesday, May 28. How has she remained a pop-culture figure for four decades — and relevant as well? That'll also be discussed, so you can probably also expect to hear about her friendship and collaboration with Snoop Dogg, plus her 2023 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue cover at the age of 81. Stewart heads to Vivid Sydney as part of its Global Storyteller series, which has seen Parks and Recreation's Amy Poehler, The White Lotus' Jennifer Coolidge and Mike White, filmmakers Baz Luhrmann (Elvis) and Spike Lee (Da 5 Bloods), and Australia singer Troye Sivan get chatting in previous years. Stewart also joins a 2025 Vivid program that includes Lawson curating the Vivid Sydney Dinners series in Martin Place's lit-up Muru Giligu pedestrian tunnel, Tangerine Dream and Anohni and the Johnsons on the music lineup alongside Sigur Rós performing with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and Portishead's Beth Gibbons , an immersive Stranger Things experience at Luna Park, lighting up Sydney Opera House's sails with work by the late David McDiarmid, Vincent Namatjira taking over the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia's facade and plenty more. [caption id="attachment_998032" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Gage Skidmore via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] Top image: Gage Skidmore via Wikimedia Commons.
You know those Mondays when things just keep getting worse? You're having a hard time suppressing the yawns, can't stop daydreaming about the fading glories of the past weekend and you keep checking your watch — it's barely noon. On days like this, you need a little something-something to get you through to 5pm, and we reckon a lunch hour or post-five feed spent getting intimate with a juicy burger is just the ticket. In collaboration with American Express, we've rounded up ten of the best places in Sydney to get your burger game on — and up your Amex points balance. Whether you're a fan of the basic burg with a side of skinny fries or want something a little more indulgent, we've got the place for you. From the classic beef version to the fish, chicken and vego varieties, the burgers at these spots will kick those back-to-work blues where it hurts. Throw in some sweet treats like a caramel milkshake or a cup of frozen custard, and your Monday just started looking a hell of a lot nicer. Got yourself in another dining situation and need some guidance? Whatever it is, we know a place. Visit The Shortlist and we'll sort you out.
Green living and financial prosperity are often pitted against each other, but a little village in Bavaria, Germany has shown that the two can actually get along quite nicely. Wildpoldsried, a village with a population of just 2,600, has put itself on the map via its concerted efforts to become energy efficient. It currently has four biogas digesters, seven windmills, three small hydro plants, seven public builidngs and 190 private houses fitted with solar panels. Indeed, the village is now so energy efficient that it produces 321% more energy than it requires, which has enabled the village to sell energy back to the national grid thus providing the village with US$5.7 million dollars in annual revenue. As a result, the village has become a bastion for green businesses and green initiatives. It has also become a model for other councils, both nationally and internationally, who are looking to ensure a greener, yet financially viable future. Not content with their current success, the people and council of Wildpoldsried have bigger and greener plans for the future, including another biogas digester, two more windmills, installing LED street lights and to initiate Project Irene (Integration of Renewable Enery and Electric Vehicles). There is also plan to add a hotel to the cafe and community centre to house the politicians and eco-energy tourists that have flocked to the area. Sounds like a good place for our politicians to visit on the next jaunt around Bavaria.
Sometimes, you just wake up on the wrong side of the bed. Inevitable grumpiness ensues. "Where's my coffee," etc. Amelie and Friends, a sweet restaurant in West Sussex, England, has introduced branding to combat those early morning bad moods. "Wakey, wakey!" chirps the label wrapped around the coffee cup. "I'm all yours!" assures the brown paper packet housing your delicious morning muffin. The packaging was conceptualised by design boutique ilovedust and features feel good messages to complement the feel good pastries made fresh daily by this fine establishment. If only it were just a little closer to home. [Via Trend Hunter]
Since 2011, frosty things have been afoot — or so we've been constantly told. We've all lost count of the amount of times that someone has said "winter is coming", both in Game of Thrones or by someone you know quoting it. Watching new prequel series House of the Dragon, the same sentiment shines through again, too. Something chilly is indeed headed Sydney's way on Monday, September 12, however: House of the Dragon-themed gelato in House Vanillaryon and Heir to the Cone flavours. The two new limited-edition varieties are being whipped by up Gelato Messina, and they'll only be available for a single day at the chain's Newtown store. Also, there's 3000 scoops and they'll all be free. If your tastebuds are as eager as a Targaryen about sitting on the Iron Throne, House Vanillaryon combines burnt vanilla gelato, smoked chocolate brownie and burnt honey caramel, while Heir to the Cone will feature red velvet cheesecake gelato with dragonfruit puree. (Something dragon-related was always bound to pop up.) Just for the day from 12–9pm, Messina's King Street spot is also transforming into Westeros, which is set to involve appropriate decor. Given that House of the Dragon is all about the Targaryens, expect to feel like you're stepping into their world. Dragons will likely feature heavily here, we suspect — and if want to wear your best (or worst) blonde wig while you're there, that's up to you. A key caveat: Messina's collaboration with Australian streaming service Binge, which airs House of the Dragon, is a first-come-first-served event. So, while the one-day-only affair will kick off at 12pm and could indeed run till 9pm, those free gelato flavours are just available while stocks last. Also, you do need to go in-store to get your freebies, as it isn't on offer via delivery. Go on, try not to say "winter is coming" while you're there. Check out the trailer for House of the Dragon below: Gelato Messina's one-day-only House of the Dragon makeover, and its free Heir to the Cone and House Vanillaryon giveaway, takes place on Monday, September 12 at 262 King Street, Newtown — from 12–9pm, or until stocks last. House of the Dragon streams via Foxtel and Binge in Australia. Read our full review of season one.
While they're known for their sweeping harbour views, Sydney's Observatory Hill parklands will come alive with a different kind of visual treat this spring, as the rotunda plays host to a world premiere installation by acclaimed French-Albanian artist Anri Sala. Combining sound and sculpture, his dynamic work The Last Resort is part of the latest free presentation by the Kaldor Public Arts Projects, which has been transforming public spaces into groundbreaking, contemporary art projects since 1969. Presented daily from October 13 to November 5, the 33rd Kaldor Arts Project sees Sala explore the connection between sound, time, place and history, carefully tweaking Mozart's W.A. Mozart's Clarinet Concerto in A Major, K. 622 into an evocative, modern soundtrack to his multisensory installation. Visitors will experience the reimagined musical piece while wandering beneath a ceiling of custom-built drums, with a glistening Sydney Harbour as the backdrop. Backing up Sala's piece is a diverse public program of talks, masterclasses, performances, workshops and family-friendly activities, all diving into the artwork's themes of journeys, the communicative power of music and that intersection between time, place and sound. Guest speakers include the likes of award-winning composer Andrew Ford, astronomer Duane Hamacher and Sala himself. Catch The Last Resort for free from October 13 until November 5 at the Observatory Hill Rotunda. It'll run from 10am-6pm daily, and until 7.30pm on Wednesdays for those wanting to team the experience with a majestic sunset.
It's happened again. Last month it was Marrickville's Vic On The Park, before that it was The Colloroy, and in December last year it was The Tennyson on Botany Road. Now Bondi's Royal Hotel has been acquired by Sydney hospo monolith Merivale — which will take its tally of Sydney pubs to 13 when it gets the keys in July 2018. The Bondi Road pub has been owned by the Moulding family for 40 years and went up for sale last month. Unlike the Vic On the Park — which Merivale stated would remain as-is for the time being — the venue looks set to undergo the kind of extensive renovation Merivale is known for. In a statement released today, the group said it would announce future plans for the venue "in due course". How much Merivale paid for the venue is not yet known, but The Daily Telegraph reported just last week that it was expected to sell for around $30 million. The Royal is the group's first Bondi acquisition and further confirm it plans to spread its brand across every inner-city suburb in Sydney.
The sunny shores of Newcastle will play host to the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship as it comes to a climactic boiling point for its grand finale. Held across November 23–25 at the Coates Hire Newcastle 500, one of Australia's most renowned street races, Round 16 represents the ultimate showdown in racing. Even when the engines aren't on, there's plenty happening across the weekend to keep you occupied. You'll have the opportunity to watch the teams prepare for the finale with a pit lane walk and meet the drivers at dedicated autograph sessions, if that's your jam. Meanwhile, the off-track entertainment is some of the most exciting in recent years with pop-up bars, live music and a LEGO play zone for the little ones. Headlining the festivities is Scottish band Simple Minds, who'll take to the stage on Saturday night for an exclusive Australian show with support from much-loved Aussie rockers Birds of Tokyo and The Delta Riggs. And good news: the concert is included in the cost of your Saturday race ticket. As the drivers race from the eastern end of Newcastle CBD, along Nobbys Beach and through Newcastle Harbour, the picturesque surrounds will provide the perfect send off for fan favourite Craig Lowndes, who is taking part in his last race as a full-time driver. Grandstand passes have already sold out but there is still space trackside with tickets starting at $59 for one day or $131 for the full weekend. To purchase tickets, head to Ticketek.
Consider yourself a gin lover? Well, we've got just the thing for your juniper-loving self — a luxe, gin-fuelled trip to Melbourne. After all, don't we all deserve a little getaway? Thanks to our friends at urban gin distillery Patient Wolf Distilling Co., you and a mate could be jetting off to Melbourne for two nights — with flights, accommodation and gin all on the house. Should you win this prize, you'll spend the weekend at the luxury W Melbourne hotel. You'll also learn about distillation and botanicals in a Patient Wolf gin masterclass — a must-do for all gin lovers — at its home in Southbank, just on the edge of Melbourne's CBD. During the masterclass, you'll hear all about the distillery's story; sample its three signature gins; and get to spend $200 at the bar or purchasing a couple of bottles to take home. You'll also score a $200 voucher to spend on a decadent dinner at W Melbourne's on-site restaurant, Lollo, after a hard day of gin sampling. The competition is open to people aged 18 years and over. See further details below to enter. [competition]814639[/competition]
The Vines are a long way from their Rishikesh days. The reformed, Craig Nicholls-run, Sydney staple is back with a new double album Wicked Nature — their sixth studio album — and two new members. Drummer Lachlan West and bassist Tim John have joined Nicholls for the latest reincarnation of The Vines, a band that quite simply refuses to surrender. Wicked Nature has been released independently and was produced in part by Nicholls, indicating an authentic sound uninfluenced by commercial pressures. After a three year hiatus from any touring The Vines will return to the stage for an exclusive one off show to perform their new material — in the carpark of Enmore's Vic on the Park. Creating a bonafide ruckus over the October long weekend, The Vines will play a free show on Sunday, October 5 from 1–6pm. Considering Wicked Nature has been in the holding tank for two years, The Vines are pretty keen for fans to become acquainted with the new sound. We spoke to bass player Tim John about recording Wicked Nature, joining the band with fellow newbie Lachlan West, and what's in store for the future of The Vines. Check out the interview here. Entry to the Vic show will be on a first in, first served basis so get there early. https://youtube.com/watch?v=OPWeDWeedg0
There can't be many tasks more challenging for a performer than making an unlikeable character likeable, yet when done right, that character's humanity and compassion can often burst though — amplified and disarming — with a powerfully cathartic release. Such is the case in John Lee Hancock's tender-hearted tale Saving Mr Banks, which chronicles Walt Disney's 20-year effort to bring Mary Poppins to the big screen. Disney, however, is not the focus of the film. The man was far from saintly, definitely, but — when played by Tom Hanks — his likability was assured. Instead, Saving Mr Banks focuses on the author of that beloved children's story, PL Travers (Emma Thompson), who was every bit the unlikeable character: stubborn, terse and paradoxically impolite in her constant castigations of anyone who failed to observe common etiquette. Common British etiquette, mind you. Beginning in 1961, Travers had found herself in financial trouble when the royalties from Mary Poppins had all but dried up. Faced with the possibility of losing her London home, she finally acquiesced to the pleas of her exasperated agent and travelled to Hollywood to discuss selling the film rights. Her unease, one she'd staunchly maintained for two decades, was that the story and characters would be 'Disneyfied' by way of frivolous cartoons, childish singing and dancing animals. An author seeking creative control was nothing new to Hollywood, but nobody could quite understand why Travers guarded her story with such unyielding ferocity. That mystery is what lies at the heart of Saving Mr Banks. Presented as a dual narrative, the movie flicks back and forth between Travers' present-day obstinacy in the Disney Studios and her difficult childhood in the Australian outback, with the latter periodically informing and recasting our understanding of the former. It's no secret the true subject of Mary Poppins was not the children, but rather their father — Mr Banks — and the quiet crusade by Poppins to reconnect him with his family. Accordingly, Saving Mr Banks's early scenes focus on the relationship between the young Travers (whose real name was Helen Goff) and her alcoholic yet devoted father, played by Colin Farrell. The parallels are all a little too neat, psychologically, but very much contribute to both the story's greater meaning and the audience's eventual appreciation of Travers' hidden benignity. In the lead, Thompson is unsurprisingly sensational. What initially feels like an exaggerated and caricaturesque performance proves remarkably spot-on courtesy of some unmissable credits, and her ability to transform both mood and meaning with the tiniest change of facial expression demonstrates why she remains top of her game. Hanks is reserved in his turn as Disney, though still proves capable of stealing a scene — most notably during an exquisite description of his own father's strict approach to parenting. In supporting roles, Paul Giamatti offers a lovely turn as Travers' driver, while Bradley Whitford, Jason Schwartzman and BJ Novak are excellent as the bewildered creatives charged with appeasing Travers and adapting her book to the screen. There's a good chance you'll cry in this film, both in moments of tragedy and sentimentality — but really, that's always been the Disney formula. Sweet, heartwarming and consistently funny, Saving Mr Banks is every bit the opposite of its main character, but — just like her — ultimately surprises with some unexpected tenderness. https://youtube.com/watch?v=FvKcwNyOnWo
At a time when representation continues to prove an issue in cinema, this year's Sydney Latin American Film Festival is leading by example. Already responsible for showcasing the kinds of South American flicks that wouldn't make it to Australian cinema screens otherwise, the 2017 event — the fest's 12th — also features a lineup that boasts gender parity. When SLAFF rolls into Dendy Opera Quays between September 7 and 11, half of its program will be directed by female filmmakers. That includes opening night's Havana-set On the Roof, Everything Else featuring Oscar-nominated Babel actress Adriana Barraza, and documentary When Guns Go Silent, about Colombian guerrillas trying to make peace with the government. Other highlights range from Bad Influence, about the issues and struggles of the Indigenous Chilean Mapuche people to Dominican sports drama Sambá (a hit at this year's Tribeca Film Festival) to closing night's Bad Lucky Goat, about two siblings on the run after accidentally killing a farmyard animal. In total, SLAFF 2017 will screen eight features, two documentaries and seven shorts across its five-day stint, highlighting the latest movies from Cuba, Argentina, Mexico, Chile, Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia and the Dominican Republic. And if that's not enough excitement, the bookending screenings will feature parties and performances.
Enjoy a leisurely brunch looking out over Sydney Harbour, at the recently opened Flying Bear in Kirribilli. Attached to the Sydney Flying Squadron sailing club, the cafe is being run by Adam Marshall, who previously operated Bird and Bear Cafe in Elizabeth Bay, and is also helming the club's relaunched restaurant, Foys Kirribilli. "The history and location of this building is truly special," Marshall told Good Food. "Our inspiration was to transform the space into a harbour retreat for locals and professionals from North Sydney, which in turn would secure the ongoing viability of this unique community asset." Morning menu offerings include bircher muesli with tea-soaked figs, grated apple, toasted almonds and yoghurt; rosemary, cheddar and sundried tomato scones; and toast with avocado, tomato, chilli flakes and truffle oil. Lunch options are a little heartier, such as a roast chicken, red cabbage, caramelised onion and aioli sandwich; and a grilled chorizo salad with soft boiled egg, rocket, butter beans, parsley and mint. As for beverages, fresh coconut juice seems like an appropriate match for the waterside locale. Alternatively, they also serve tea, coffee, milkshakes and smoothies, and are looking at hosting champagne brunches down the line. Food at the adjoining Foys Kirribilli is handled by chef Fernando Sanchez, previously of Darlinghurt's Food Society. Standout dishes include Tasmanian salmon cured in tequila, lime and cumin with crème fraiche, sourdough wafer and dill leaf; eggplant stuffed with ricotta, napoletana sauce and basil; and share plates of crispy roast chicken with cauliflower puree and chimichurri. Flying Bear will also be hosting live music sessions on Thursday evenings, complete with taco menu and sangria. The Flying Bear and Foys Kirribilli are located within the Sydney Flying Squadron Sailing Club at 76 McDougall Street, Kirribilli. For more information, check them out on Facebook. Via Good Food.
For the aquatically inclined, this weekend's SurfSho at Bondi's southern banks will provide an opportunity to glimpse some of the world's preeminent surfers ply their craft on and above the water. Taj Burrow, fresh off winning last week's Quiksilver Pro, will be flying high against Kelly Slater, Mick Fanning, Owen Wright and Jordy Smith in the first international surf competition at Bondi in 20 years. Highlights of the three-day event, billed as the world's biggest aerial surf contest, include a performance by coastal rockers the Beautiful Girls on Saturday afternoon and a jet ski-powered "expression session" on Sunday. We're giving away a pair of Arnette sunnies, a Hurley beach towel and a Boost Mobile touch phone from Samsung. Just email your name and ten words on who you think will win SurfSho and why to hello@concreteplayground.com.au to win.
There's no doubt that 2020 has been the year of leisurewear, and Venroy's enduring popularity — even before the days of Zoom meeting attire — make it a must for lovers of style and cosiness alike. Established in Bondi in 2010 as a maker of swim shorts, it's all about quality fabrics, comfort and detail, applying those key principles to a wide range of clothing across three additional Sydney boutiques. When the weather is warm, Venroy's abundance of linen products is certain to be a hit for both seasoned buyers and newcomers to the brand. Other fabrics employed at its own production factory include Japanese denim, cashmere and rich cotton shirting — all centred, of course, around the idea of leisure. Images: Kitti Smallbone
Glass, by director M. Night Shyamalan, concludes a trilogy nobody knew was a trilogy until the final moments of his previous film, Split. What at first seemed a fun and, at times, disturbing thriller about a split-personality kidnapper (played by a terrific James McAvoy) suddenly presaged an entirely new world of superheroes in the vein of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Harking all the way back to Shyamalan's 2000 film Unbreakable, Glass is the film designed to bring together the stories of McAvoy's unhinged killer, Bruce Willis's reluctant hero and Samuel L Jackson's evil genius. It's a two decade project and a gutsy effort to try something new. Unfortunately, the finished product fails to live up to the alluring concept. A quick refresher. Unbreakable brought together two fascinating characters in the form of comic book expert Elijah Price (Jackson) and sports stadium security guard David Dunn (Willis). Dunn is the sole and miraculous survivor of a horrific train crash from which he emerged entirely unscathed. He's a soulful and introverted family man, and it's not until Price contacts him that he realises he's never been sick or injured his entire life. Price, by contrast, is wheelchair bound, a sufferer of a brittle bone disease that makes him, effectively, as fragile as glass. Price's theory is that if he's as weak as humanity permits, it stands to reason someone must be his direct opposite; a man who is, essentially, unbreakable. Then in 2016 came Split and the introduction of The Horde (McAvoy), a collective name for the many personalities embodying the hapless Kevin Wendell Crumb. Chief amongst them is The Beast, an abnormally strong and animalistic entity capable of scaling sheer walls and even ceilings. If Dunn is the superhero, then The Beast is the super villain. Glass ties these characters together by locking all three up in a mental institute under the care of psychiatrist Dr. Ellie Staple (Sarah Paulson). Her speciality is illusions of grandeur manifesting in the belief that its sufferers are superheroes, and the film does an impressive job of sewing doubt in both the characters' and audience's mind that everything we've seen to date might be explained away by simple science. It's an enticing counterpoint to the conventional superhero narrative, which tells us they simply exist and that's that. Here, Shyamalan continues his preoccupation with how one might become a superhero. It's a trilogy-long origin story, grounded in the lore and mythology of comic books. Fascinating as that idea is, however, the movie spends far too long footnoting itself, going to pains to explain again and again how its events track the narrative arc of any comic. It's as if Shyamalan is desperate to ensure you know how clever his idea is, and all you want to do is yell back at the screen: IT'S OKAY! WE GET IT! MOVE ON! Admittedly, it is clever. The idea that superheroes do exist, but are also very human and only marginally more enhanced and capable than everyone else represents an appealing and refreshing take on the genre. And yet the film's theoretical strength is also its practical weakness. The climactic clash between Dunn and The Beast feels entirely lacklustre and unimpressive in a world now accustomed to such scenes frequently involving the levelling of entire cities. Mass destruction can be tiresome as well, of course, but surely there's room for something in between? In Glass, the characters are a far cry from Superman, Thor or The Hulk. Consequently most of their fighting consists of the pair locked arm-in-arm like a dull MMA bout. There are flourishes of brilliance – Beast's inhuman gallop across a field being amongst the best – but they're far too infrequent. Ultimately though, the biggest problem with Glass is that it's far too preoccupied with explaining itself as it goes. And so while the journey is enjoyable enough, the final feeling is that a great opportunity has been missed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95ghQs5AmNk
A new Catalan-inspired wine bar is set to open in Redfern this spring from the team behind Love Tilly Devine, Dear Sainte Eloise and Ragazzi. Popping up inside the newly renovated Norfolk House and Hotel on Cleveland Street, La Salut will serve Spanish wines and a seafood-heavy Spanish fare. At the helm of La Salut is Love Tilly's Matt Swieboda and Nate Hatwell, alongside Executive Chef and co-owner Scott McComas-Williams (Ragazzi, Fabbrica). The wine bar will sit inside the old sports bar of the hotel and will be fit-out with earthy tones and polished concrete. It will have a focus on rare Spanish wines and vermouth, with Hatwell describing it as "wine-focused, but not wine-serious". Some drops you can expect to discover include pestillant-naturel wine from Nuria Renom, oxidative Palomino-based whites from Ramiro Ibáñez and wines aged in underground amphoras. [caption id="attachment_827388" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Scott McComas-Williams, Matt Swieboda and Nate Hatwell by Dexter Kim[/caption] If you're feeling peckish while you're on your journey through these Spanish tipples, you'll be able to snack on manchego and anchovies, spiced fried quail, and a dish pulled from McComas-Williams' favourite Barcelona vermouth bar Morro Fi made with mussels, hot sauce and chips. Just like at Ragazzi, the menu will change regularly, with the seafood dishes being informed by the catch of the day. McComas-Williams waxed lyrical about his passion for the Catalan snacking culture when we asked him about the inspiration behind his latest culinary venture. He said, "The cuisine itself obviously holds a significant space in my heart, but I think it's just as much the culture of drinking and eating that warrants my obsession. The service style is perfectly laidback yet so, so important to life there. Particularly in Barcelona, where vermouth and simple but delicious snacks are a part of life." "This venue excites me because, in true Barcelona style, there isn't really a kitchen," he explains. "Some of the best bar food in Barcelona isn't prepared by chefs but just put together by the same old man that will pour your vermouth or top up your cerveza. We've dedicated a portion of the bar for raw seafood service as well as a slicing section purely for jamon." [caption id="attachment_827390" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Trent van der Jagt[/caption] While the full experience of La Salut will only be available by heading to the wine bar, a lineup of the venue's wines will be available for purchase throughout the Norfolk House and Hotel, and for takeaway to enjoy at home via the Norfolk's bottle shop. The 40-seat venue is a collaboration between the Love Tilly Group and new hospitality and accommodation group The People_ who were behind the transformation of Norfolk House and Hotel. The historic pub underwent a huge renovation and was set to reopen with two bars, an expansive outdoor courtyard, a new barbecue-focused menu and accommodation in July before Sydney's lockdown hit. Now it's set to swing open its doors to the public once the state hits 70-percent double vaccination — with La Salut set to follow it soon after. It will be a fantastic addition to the ever-growing lineup of great eats settling in the inner west, something that Scott McComas-Williams is pretty psyched about too. "I'm very excited about this, too, being an inner west man myself," he told us. "I've always been keen to do something around those traps. The space is a great vibe for a vermouth bar and has a little more natural light than our other venues... Come hang with your mates on a Saturday lunch or bring your date and sit at the bar on a school night. Your parents will love it, too. It really is a place for everyone." We're ready. La Salut is located at 305 Cleveland Street, Redfern and will opening in spring 2021 (but not until after 11 October so watch this space). Top image: Trent van der Jagt
Kevin Un has worked across some of Sydney's best kitchens, including Restaurant Hubert, Lotus Dining Group and Sergeant Lok. Now, he's at the helm of a new Northern Beaches restaurant that's pulling together this experience and paying homage to his Malaysian-Indonesian heritage. Lantern Fish explore's South-East Asian cuisines, drawing from the traditional without being afraid to get creative. You'll find a dumpling menu that leans heavily on prawn, offering up combinations like scallop and prawn or pork and prawn siu mai. Or there are cheeseburger spring rolls, Malaysian kingfish ceviche, red curry prawn toast and tsui wan poached two ways. "I would describe my food as Malaysian, Indonesian and Chinese. It is my heritage combined with my experience," Un says. "I like it to be creative, I don't want my food to be found anywhere else but it won't be over the top; no foams or gels. I want it to be different but I want it to be fun." Alongside these signature dishes, the menu is extensive, providing more of Un's vibrant version of classic dishes. Other highlights include five-spice tofu and zucchini san choy bow, flash-fried cauliflower with Sichuan sauce, twelve-hour Cape Grim beef ribs and XO crab fried rice. If you order ahead, you can also organise to centre your meal around the Lanturn Fish specials — mud crab and lobster feasts. "When I was younger, the Chinese New Year table in Kuching would be a lot, more than 30 people, and we would always have three huge crabs cooked by my grandma. I want people to experience that," says Un. And, drop in for lunch and you can treat yourself to the express feast for $42 for two people. This special daytime set menu features oysters, salt and four-pepper squid, dumplings, smokey fried rice, kung pao chicken and chilli jam greens. Lantern Fish is located at Shop 5/2–8 Darley Road, Manly. It's open midday-3pm and 5–9pm Tuesday–Thursday and midday–3pm and 5–10pm Friday–Sunday. Photos: Kimberley Low
Since he was 15 years old, Jarvis headed up Pulp, the Sheffield Brit-poppers that broke all barriers of the non-movement. Pulp changed the musical climate in England and abroad with their music, which was described by biographer Allen Sturdy as “a cross between Abba and The Fallâ€. Pulp released 7 much acclaimed studio albums, none more so than Different Class which included their biggest single Common People. He is a much respected figure in the musical and cultural cosmos, and since Pulp have been on hiatus he has collaborated with many leading figures past (Marianne Faithful and Nancy Sinatra) and present (he contributed three songs to the Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire soundtrack). Amongst a plethora of other diverse and ever changing projects and collaborations he has also hosted his own arts series Journeys into the Outside on UK Channel 4. The multi-tasker released his first solo album Jarvis in 2006 and Further Complications was released in May this year. The Steve Albini produced record sees Jarvis turning up the volume and rocking out more with complete with feedback and distorted guitars- including single Angela which according to a Q Magazine interview is about “thwarted lustâ€. His nice-suited self will grace our The Metro Theatre on 7th December.https://youtube.com/watch?v=AzpxtSmEL9s
Now that we've been isolating for over a month, you may be wondering if those takeaway dumplings and home-baked cookies (as delicious as they are) are doing your body any favours? If you're craving something more nourishing as time goes by in lockdown, there is a healthy food delivery service that simplifies eating well. Macros delivers ready-made, dietitian-designed dishes to your doorstep weekly, so you can save time and money planning meals. They're prepared by chefs and delivered fresh, not frozen, so you can simply pop your meals in the microwave when you're ready to eat and you'll have comforting classics like spaghetti bolognese and shepherd's pie, or Mongolian beef and lemon barramundi, ready in a matter of minutes. How does it work? Just choose from one of six meal plans available that best suit your lifestyle. There are 'Everyday' plans, which can be ordered as single-serve or family-sized, and you can opt for meals that contain less than 350 calories if you're counting. There are 'Fitness' plans that include high-protein and low carb options (Sculpt), protein-packed and moderate carbs (Perform), or high calorie feeds (Gain) if you're bulking for the apocalypse. And, as you only order what you need, there's minimal food waste. You can also tailor your plan to suit your dietary needs, be it plant-based, gluten-free, dairy-free, low-carb, paleo or nut-free. And, to top it off, it's a pretty affordable option in these wild times, with meals starting from $8.70. Select how many meals you'd like — from seven up to 24 a week — and you'll have a fridge full of fresh meals for when you're stuck in back-to-back work calls, or too tired from all those fitness Zoom classes you've been signing up for. Every meal can be frozen, too, which gives you an extra back-up plan when you're finding ways to save money. And, if you need to, you can also pause or skip a week of your subscription at no extra cost. Macros delivers across Australia and meal plans start from $73.50 per week. For more information, and to sign up, head to Macros' website.
Slightly patchier than last year's lineup, Days Like This Festival returns to the Entertainment Quarter (yes, it used to be called Fox Studios, and yes the new name is stupid). Once you get over the fact that you are hanging out in a car park between cement buildings behind the cricket ground, you will probably have some fun. I went last year and it seemed like it catered to people avoiding both the neon and Southern Cross tattoos that are often prevalent at festivals. More than amazing headliners, this year the attractions are some slightly more obscure gems. Micachu & The Shapes pricked my ears a while back with their lo-fi folky electronics and cut and paste sounds, complimented by 21 year old front woman Mica's obscure lyrics and vacuum samples. Another example is Mayer Hawthorne, a hip hop MC and producer who made an old school soul record in his bedroom and is now riding it around the world. Having pointed those out, there are some bigger acts that are worth seeing too. Roots Manuva is somewhat of a legend these days with his dubbed out grimey hip hop, and skip the Cat Empire for the other feline feature Cat Power, who is still sober and still playing soul tunes. It is a lineup for dancing, and with funky cats like The Bamboos and hip hop greats Method Man and Redman, it should be another fun festival to start the year. Check the website for the full lineup because we couldn't squeeze it in here.https://youtube.com/watch?v=8TRkZpFgJcI
Reward yourself for getting through the week with a set of free doughnuts this Saturday. DoorDash is celebrating its second anniversary by giving away 26,000 free doughnuts, delivered to your door. The food delivery service has teamed up with Krispy Kreme to ensure you're giving into your sweet tooth this weekend. In order to claim your free doughnuts, you just need to spend $10 or more at Krispy Kreme through DoorDash and you'll be rewarded with four free doughy treats. Delivery on all orders has been cut to $2 on Saturday, meaning you can nab a pair of coffees and four doughnuts for $12 or eight doughnuts for around $16. Of course, you could also just throw caution to the wind and order yourself a whole heap of Krispy Kreme knowing you'll be treated to a few extra doughnuts in your delivery bag. The deal is available until all 26,000 doughnuts are sold out so make sure you jump on the DoorDash app early on Saturday and get your order in.
The Red Bull Music Academy Weekender is gearing up for a second visit to Aussie shores. The globally acclaimed festival will return to Sydney from August 31 through September 3, and sees a sharp curation of performances, conversations, installations and club nights taking over some of the city's best-loved venues, with a careful selection of internationally recognised artists coming together in a celebration of contemporary music. Sydney was lucky enough to be tapped last year, joining previous host cities including Tokyo, Dubai, Vienna, and Stockholm. Expect everything from a carpark carnival from One Day to a minimalist Japanese electronic concert at North Head. Red Bull Radio will also be broadcasting live across all four days with a program of conversations, special guests, local stories, and live streams to accompany the tunes. The rest of the country is getting a taste of the action, too — this year's festival will kick off with a little help from the Road to Weekender, a series of events and lectures slated for Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane and Melbourne in the lead-up to Sydney from August 26 through 31. The Red Bull Music Academy boasts a long-held legacy of cultural celebration, fostering musical talent and collaboration across the globe. In Australia alone, the Academy has also hosted stages at Splendour in the Grass and Laneway Festival, as well as put on an industrial rave at Dark Mofo.
Not every Sydneysider has the luxury of being able to nab a cheeky beach dip in Tamarama after work. The words "hectic traffic", "epic trek", "generally CBF" start a long list of pretty solid excuses. If you're an inner-city dweller, chances are you've found your nearest community pool for cooling off and doing mad laps in. Luckily, the City of Sydney's built a fair few aquatic centres around town, five in all. And summer's the perfect time to try 'em all — for free. Over a series of Saturdays, the City of Sydney is hosting a series of free open days in their swimming pools, inviting locals to try out everything each 50-metre pool has to offer — from the insanely pretty Andrew (Boy) Charlton Pool located on the edge of the harbour, to the $40 million Harry Seidler and Associates-designed Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre. There'll be a range of activities for all ages on the day, including tours, fitness classes, aquatic inflatables, learn-to-swim information, barbecues and face painting. Plus, you get to swim for free. The idea behind the open days is to give you a chance to test out the facilities associated with the City of Sydney's 360 card — $53.40 a fortnight for access to all five of the City of Sydney's aquatic centres across the city, and their adjoining fitness facilities. CITY OF SYDNEY SWIMMING POOL OPEN DAYS: Andrew (Boy) Charlton Pool: Saturday, January 30, 9am-midday Prince Alfred Park Pool: Saturday, February 6, 9am-midday Victoria Park Pool: Saturday, February 13, 9am-midday Cook + Philip Park Aquatic and Fitness Centre: Saturday, February 20, 8am-1pm Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre: Saturday, February 27, 8am-1pm Image: City of Sydney.
Tsukemen is the signature ramen at this cute World Square restaurant. When you order this ramen, two bowls arrive — one containing the noodles, the other containing the extra-thick broth. To eat it, you dip the noodles in the broth then slurp it down (a technique that can take a mouthful or two to perfect). The broth is a richly flavoured tonkotsu soup — pork broth boiled over 12 hours to create a delicious ramen you'll keep coming back for, with pork belly that melts in your mouth like it should. Spice it up and go for the extra chilli kick by ordering the Tonkatsu Red for a full flavour hit. Alternatively, you can take advantage of the set deal, which lets you order your favourite ramen and add a small donburi on the side, such as a mini karaage don for seven bucks.
Whether you've got a dinner party, picnic or trip to a BYO restaurant lined up, two Sydney venues are offering an unbeatable booze deal right now. Solotel favourites The Erko and The Abercrombie are making the most of their wines on tap by offering one-litre squealers of vino for just $25. Just head into either of the Sydney pubs, or The Abercrombie's attached wine bar Lil Sis, and you can purchase one litre of pinot grigio, rosé or grenache to take away for $25. If you want that deal sweetened, return the jug once you're finished with it, and you can purchase a refill for just $20. The Abercrombie and Lil Sis are even offering a special skin-contact drop in the squealers for all of those natty wine lovers. Both venues use a mix of bottled and kegged wines, with the latter being delivered thanks to a collaboration with local producer Alpha Box & Dice. Using kegged wines means that over 5000 bottles are diverted from landfill and recycling per venue per year. It also helps to keep the wine fresher for longer. [caption id="attachment_887494" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lil Sis[/caption] The takeaway wine deal comes at a busy time for both venues. The Erko has just revitalised its menu with a new hyper-seasonal selection of eats that utilise produce from a local community garden. Ex-Chiswick chef Ethan Robinson is behind the revamp — with the new offerings including zucchini fritti, kingfish ceviche, octopus salad, a standout chicken schnitzel and $2 oysters on Sundays. Over at The Abercrombie, the pub, nightclub and rooftop bar is officially celebrating one year since it reopened under the guidance of Solotel. After sitting vacant for years, the Chippendale stalwart reemerged last summer, quickly returning to its place as a cornerstone of the city's party and music scenes. [caption id="attachment_924567" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Erko, Steven Woodburn[/caption] Head to The Erko, The Abercrombie or Lil Sis to score a takeaway squealer of wine for $25.
If views are what you're after to see out 2019, then The Glenmore is the place to be this New Year's Eve. The Rocks' famed rooftop bar overlooks Sydney Harbour, with uninterrupted views of the Opera House. So, here, you can expect fireworks and good times aplenty. At the pub's NYE Party, you'll be ushering in 2020 while kicking back on the rooftop and around the cocktail lounge. Your ticket will cost $385 and includes four hours worth of drinks, with select wine, beer and spirits, plus a celebratory glass of Mumm at midnight. And you can't put a price on those million-dollar views, really. In between sipping, you'll be feasting on top-quality canapés, plus there'll be a grazing station on arrival should you need to line the stomach early. And, of course, it's New Year's Eve, so there'll be live tunes playing all night long, with Emily of One Stop DJs kicking things off, followed by the dreamy (and dance-worthy) harmonies of Thousand Rivers.
Whatever kind of workout gets your blood pumping and pulse racing, it does your own health and wellness a big favour. Exercise: it's a wonder, and it's always recommended by doctors and health experts for a good reason. Your next stint of getting sweaty could assist others in need, too, however — and you can drop in to bend and stretch all day and night. 24-Hour Pilates for Mental Health makes its case right there in its name. Accordingly, Sydney KX studios at Concord and Mona Vale are hosting pilates classes for 24 hours to raise money for Lifeline's 24/7 support services. The sessions kick off at 7am on Saturday, July 22, and run in 50-minute blocks — with ten-minute breaks between each — all the way through to the next morning. Whether you're keen on the initial class, eager to join in on a Saturday night, wondering about 2am pilates or curious what the last session at 6am on Sunday, July 23 will be like, you've got options. Also, you don't need to be a pilates expert — all sessions are set at the beginner level, and cater to first-timers, casual attendees and seasoned pros alike. You'll pay $39 to head along, 100-percent of which will go to Lifeline. And why that fee? Because that's the average cost to fund one call to the organisation's support lines.
How do you know that a new year is officially in full swing? If you're a movie lover, it's when Australia's film festivals start dropping their lineups. The Mardi Gras Film Festival jumped in first for 2023, and next to unveil its program is Sydney and Melbourne's Europa! Europa — aka the cinema celebration that's all about new and classic flicks from across the entire European continent, and will screen titles from 24 different countries in February and March. 2023 marks Europa! Europa's second year, after debuting in 2022 with an impressive lineup — a feat it aims to match in its sophomore run. This time around, there's 29 movies on the bill, showing at Sydney's Ritz Cinemas in Randwick, and Melbourne's Classic Cinemas in Elsternwick and Lido Cinemas in Hawthorn between Thursday, February 16–Tuesday, March 7, and covering everything from awards contenders to beloved masterpieces. Hailing from France, eco-thriller The Blaze will kick things off, while Europa! Europa 2023 will come to a close with the Judi Dench- and Jennifer Saunders-starring British drama Allelujah. In-between, the range of flicks includes fare from Italy, Estonia, Ukraine and Croatia, plus Georgia, Spain, Germany and Romania. The list goes on, with France particularly well-represented. Gallic cinema buffs, consider this your warm up for the upcoming Alliance Française French Film Festival. An absolute must-see, especially if you've never had the pleasure before on a big screen, is Krzysztof Kieślowski's Three Colours Trilogy. With Three Colours: Blue starring Juliette Binoche (The Staircase), Three Colours: Red led by Irène Jacob (The OA) and Three Colours: White focusing on Julie Delpy (the Before trilogy), this trio of masterpieces are among the most influential international films of the past three decades. Each one will show as a 4K restoration, too. Among the new titles, eight movies on Europa! Europa's bill were submitted as their country's entries for this year's Best International Feature Film Oscar. Highlights include Armenian documentary Aurora's Sunrise, which tells a 14-year-old genocide survivor's story; Safe Place from Croatia, which unfurls its story over 24 hours; and Moldova's dark comedy Carbon, about the effects of war. Or, there's Il Boemo from Czech Republic, which steps through opera composer Josef 'Il Boemo' Myslivecek's tale — and road-trip effort Orchestra from Slovenia. Elsewhere, illness drama More Than Ever stars Vicky Krieps (Bergman Island), alongside Gaspard Ulliel (Moon Knight) in his last role; La Vie En Rose director Olivier Dahan is still in biopic mode, with Simone: Woman of the Century telling French feminist icon Simone Veil's tale; Wunderschön, about five women in Germany, was the country's highest-grossing local film of the 2022 box office; and the Charlotte Gainsbourg (Sundown)-starring The Accusation heads Down Under after premiering at the Venice Film Festival. Europa! Europa will screen in Sydney and Melbourne between Thursday, February 16–Tuesday, March 7. For more information or to buy tickets, head to the festival's website.
Following a tumultuous couple of years for the team behind the beloved Wollongong music festival Yours and Owls, the live music crew is bringing the party to Berry over 2023's Easter long weekend with brand-new festival Lazy Mountain. The one-day all-ages affair will be popping up at the Berry Showground on Saturday, April 8 with a stacked lineup of Australian favourites. Topping the list of acts is acclaimed Sydney band Gang of Youths, fresh off their run of arena shows and self-curated festivals. The rockstars will bring their catalogue of hits and new album Angel in Realtime to the showgrounds alongside an indie rock-heavy program. Joining Gang of Youths will be Tash Sultana, Middle Kids, Bad//Dreems, Slowly Slowly, Tyne-James Organ, Merci, Mercy and Aodhan. Living up to its lazy name, the music festival is designed for those sick of running around expansive festival grounds trying to catch their favourite acts between frustrating set time clashes. All acts will appear back-to-back on the one stage, meaning that you won't miss your favourite Middle Kids song because you're at Tash Sultana's set. Another enticing element of the new addition to New South Wales' collection of festivals is the location, set in the stunning surrounds of Berry on the NSW South Coast. Located two hours south of Sydney, the festival is a perfect excuse for a regional getaway across the long weekend. [caption id="attachment_886069" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ellen Virgona[/caption] The drawcards don't stop there, though. You can expect top-notch tipples and moreish snacks to enjoy between sets as well, with the team behind the South Coast Food and Wine Festival in charge of Lazy Mountain's food and drink lineup. Black Iron Smokers and BBQ, Samara's, Mama Kim's Kitchen and OysterLife are among the highlights of the food market, alongside Pip Duck who will be pulling together picnic hampers featuring local produce. Drinks will be on-hand from Hawke's Brewing Co, Truly, Aperol, Kraken Rum, Archie Rose Distilling Co and Henry Clive Caravan Bar, who will be in charge of showcasing some top-notch wines from the region. That's right, you can pair oysters and a picnic hamper with a local vino or craft beer at this festival. While the event is all ages, anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Bringing the kids is encouraged, though, with a Lazy Mountain kids club being set up with crafts and face painting keeping the little ones occupied throughout the day. Camping and glamping are available to book through the festival at the Riverside Campgrounds, or you can book a local hotel or Airbnb — including the Palm Springs-inspired Berry View Hotel.
Every October and November, Tokyo hosts its annual film festival, celebrating the latest and greatest in Japanese cinema. We can't all take a ten-ish hour flight to Asia to enjoy the best and brightest flicks that Japan has to offer — and everything else that its thriving, sprawling capital boasts, too — but, if you're a movie-loving Sydneysider or Melburnian with a hankering for the country's big-screen gems, you can let a whole heap of these flicks come to you. Thankfully, around the same time of each year Australia's own Japanese Film Festival starts doing the rounds, screening a heap of movies around the country. Old classics, new hits, colourful animation, sweet rom-coms, brooding gangster films, cult favourites — they're all part of the event's busy lineup. And, so are our five must-see picks. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7HtNsJdMDw RIDE YOUR WAVE Calling all Your Name and Weathering with You fans — while Ride Your Wave hails from a different director, aka Masaaki Yuasa, it falls in the same heartfelt, gorgeously animated, emotionally sweeping realm. It also has an element of the supernatural to it, too, and focuses on a star-cross'd romance. Hinako (voiced by former Japanese pop idol Rina Kawaei) is a surfer who has just moved to the seaside. Minato (fellow local pop star Ryota Katayose) is a kindly and charming firefighter who isn't as skilled on the waves, but saves Hinako from a blaze. Love blossoms, as does tragedy and a few twists, with Hinako weathering more than just watery waves. The result is a sweet, charming and sensitive film that's especially thoughtful when it ruminates on loss. A word of warning: a song by Katayose's pop group Generations from Exile Tribe features heavily, and it's quite the melodic and persistent earworm. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXc_JlCqQE4&feature=emb_logo JUST ONLY LOVE Based on Mitsuyo Kakuta's novel, Just Only Love reaches the screen as a live-action romantic drama, but there's an anime-style flood of emotion bubbling within Rikiya Imaizumi's film. Perhaps its because, like a raft of Japanese animated movies of late (including Ride Your Wave and the others mentioned above), love, its impossibilities and their impact on life are all pushed to the fore. Here, romance of the unrequited kind takes centre stage. Teruko (Yukino Kishii) is fond of colleague Mamoru (Ryo Narita), but he's keen on keeping things casual. Her pal Yoko (Mai Fukagawa) has a friend, Nakahara (Ryuya Wakaba), who's smitten with her in the same way. Then Mamoru starts seeing Sumire (Noriko Eguchi), who isn't one for a traditional romance. As things get messier, Just Only Love dives deeper with endearing and insightful results. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tH3viviJJlE MELANCHOLIC It's a thoroughly modern set-up: Kazuhiko (Yoji Minagawa) graduates from Japan's prestigious University of Tokyo, can't get a job in his field and still finds himself living with his parents. As a way of earning cash, he takes a gig at a bathhouse — and that's when, despite seeming very familiar otherwise, Melancholic confidently takes its own turn. By accident, Kazuhiko discovers that his new place of employment is a front for yakuza executions. Soon, he's immersed in that bloody, gruesome world. An award-winner on home soil, this is an engrossing crime film that's also an adult coming-of-age drama, as well as a moving character study. The debut feature from writer/director Seiji Tanaka, with star Minagawa also acting as the movie's producer, Melancholic is a supremely well-made indie flick from a country that makes plenty of them. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVc4YevwX2A THE LEGEND OF THE STARDUST BROTHERS If there's one piece of trivia that you need to know about The Legend of the Stardust Brothers, it's this: writer/director Makoto Tezuka is the son of Osamu Tezuka, who happened to create Astro Boy. So, it's only fitting that the younger Tezuka's 1985 cult classic also references space in its title — although the movie's story is very much grounded on earth. Actually, another detail is vitally important. Makoto's movie came about when, as a 22-year-old film student, he decided to make a feature to accompany a soundtrack that already existed, sans-film. The result is this rock musical set in the 80s Japanese music scene, following wannabe stars the Stardust Brothers, and inspired in part by The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Cast-wise, it's filled with musicians from the time, manga figures and even director Kiyoshi Kurosawa (Daguerrotype). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbTig5Aclpw&feature=emb_logo NOISE Wander through Tokyo's Akihabara district today — in search of anime, manga, gaming, electronic gadgets or Japan's idol pop music scene — and you wouldn't know that, in 2008, it was the site of a devastating massacre. Noise heads to the popular area to follow the lives of three people who are still impacted by the incident eight years afterwards. While the film's three stories are fictional, the movie is inspired by first-time writer/director Yusaku Matsumoto's own profound response to the tragedy, which occurred when he was in high school, as well as the ripples such an event inevitably leaves on a city and society. Playing an underground idol (aka an aspiring pop star who performs at underground venues, rather than big stadiums) and teenage masseuse, watch out for real-life Japanese idol Kokoro Shinozaki, who also draws on her own similar background. The Japanese Film Festival screens at Sydney's Event Cinemas George Street from Thursday, November 14 to Sunday, November 24, and at Melbourne's Capitol and Treasury theatres from Thursday, November 21 to Sunday, December 1. For more information, visit the festival website.
On most weekends, somewhere in Sydney is hosting a beer festival. They might not happen every single weekend, but they definitely pop up with frequency. Only one is called the Great Australasian Beer Spectapular, however, and dedicates itself to weird, wild, wonderful and inventive varieties that are made exclusively for the booze-fuelled party. And that very fest has locked in its dates for 2023. If you're a newcomer to GABS, as the festival is known, it started off as a Melbourne-only celebration of ales, lagers, ciders and more. Then, it started spreading along Australia's east coast capitals, as well as to New Zealand. Now, its 2023 plans will see it return for its Sydney event from Friday, June 2–Saturday, June 3 at ICC Darling Harbour. While only dates and venues have been confirmed so far, and not brewers heading along or the beers they'll be whipping up, attendees can look forward to an event that's considered to be one of the best craft beer and cider festivals in the Asia Pacific region. And, you can grab tickets from the GABS website from 3pm on Friday, March 3. One big reason: it'll pour at least 1200 kegs — which in past years have been inspired by breakfast foods, savoury snacks, desserts, cocktails and more — from 240 taps. In 2022, peanut butter, coffee, earl grey tea, chicken salt, pizza, fairy floss, bubblegum and sour gummy bears all got a whirl. The event surveys both Australian and New Zealand breweries, plus folks from the US and UK, with more than 120 set to be pouring their wares this year. Also on the bill: other types of tipples, including non-alcoholic beers, seltzers, whiskey, gin, cocktails and wines. In fact, Archie Rose, Monkey Shoulder Whisky and Yellow Tail Wines will all be making their GABS debuts. GABS is known for dishing up a hefty lineup of activities to accompanying all that sipping, too, which'll span a silent disco, roaming bands, circus and sideshow performers, games and panels with industry leaders in 2023, as well as local food trucks and vendors to line your stomach. Yes, that includes the Mountain Goat air guitar championship, the Balter tins of glory, the Atomic wheel of pourtune and the Black Flag skate ramp. Updated March 3.
Come on, admit it. You’ve always fancied yourself as a bottle-juggling stud of a cocktail maker, à la Tom Cruise in Cocktail, haven’t you? Well if you really want to impress at your next dinner party, or home rave, read on for a complete cocktail-making masterclass from The Roosevelt’s award-winning bartender Philip Gandevia. As part of Concrete Playground’s series of DIY cocktail recipes, suggested by mixologist and Perrier brand innovator Tomas Vikario, Phil shows us how to recreate an ever-so-slightly simpler version of the bartender’s own creation, ‘The Roosevelt Fizz’. Thanks to the long-lasting bubbles in Perrier sparkling mineral water, the popular drink is a perfect light and refreshing cocktail for summer. Once the location of infamous club the Roosevelt in the ‘40s, run by Abe Saffron – aka “the boss of the Cross” or “Mr Sin” – the Potts Point speakeasy is renowned for its theatrical cocktail-making. “It’s one of my favourite bars,” Tomas tells us, “It’s one of the only places in this part of the world with a Liquid Nitrogen trolley. It’s where I’d come if I want to showcase the cocktail culture and Sydney’s vibrant bar scene.” Formerly a bartender at Eau de Vie, Phil has over 10 years experience of playing around with the art and science behind the world’s best drinks. And earlier this year, Phil won Best Gentleman’s Cocktail in the World Class Bartender of the Year 2012 semi-finals. Our expert is used to showcasing fancy tricks and finesse, but he assures us the Roosevelt Fizz (also available on the bar menu) is pretty simple to make at home. But don’t worry, there’s still enough pizzazz to make you look as good as Cruise. Scratch that - better than Cruise. TO MAKE THE ROOSEVELT FIZZ, YOU’LL NEED: 50ml of gin15ml of freshly squeezed lemon juice15ml of freshly squeezed lime juice25ml of sugar syrup mix (one part sugar, one part water)1 eggA spoon of pastisChunky ice330ml bottle of Perrier sparkling mineral water1 marshmallowA sprig of rosemary STEP 1 Pour 50ml of good quality gin into a cocktail shaker. If you don’t have a cocktail shaker at home, Phil suggests using a sealable jar – like a jam jar with a sturdy lid (you’ll see why in a moment). STEP 2 Add the freshly squeezed lemon juice, then the lime juice and sugar syrup mixture. “Sugar syrup is very easy to make at home,” says Phil, “just equal proportions of sugar and water, stirred. The important thing, for bar use, is one part sugar to one part water. Measuring everything is key, as is using fresh ingredients.” STEP 3 Crack an egg into a glass or cup. Pour just half of the egg white into the shaker. Though it’s a bit tricky to pour, the egg white is an essential ingredient. “It’s a common ingredient in cocktails as it serves as an emulsifier. This drink is a fizz, so what we’re trying to create is a really soft, fluffy ‘cloud’ – light and refreshing.” STEP 4 “The next stage is important, it’s the dry shake [without ice].” Hold or fasten the lid of the shaker (remember, without ice). Give it a little shake. Look: fluffy! STEP 5 Now it’s time for ice. Add big chunks of ice and shake vigorously. “I’m using big chunks of ice because it will allow me to whip this cocktail up better than small cubes of ice,” explains Phil. “If I use small cubes they’re going to break up and melt into my drink.” The bigger the ice, the longer you can shake – aerating without diluting it. STEP 6 Prepare a drinking glass by spraying the inside of the glass with pastis (like Pernod). Phil uses an atomiser bottle, but the cocktail will be just as tasty if you add a teaspoon of pastis into the glass, swirl it around and discard the excess liquid. STEP 7 Pour the mixture into the glass; a beautiful foam should start to rise. Then add ice and top with Perrier sparkling mineral water, until the foam rises a little above the top of the glass. “Perrier is used as opposed to soda water because of the much finer bead,” says Phil, “a bit like choosing champagne over a sparkling wine.” STEP 8 Top with a marshmallow, skewered on a cocktail stick, and a sprig of rosemary. Now the really fun part: toast with a blowtorch. “People at home can use a match,” suggests Phil. “Chargrilling the marshmallow evokes a lot of innocent, childhood camping memories – people smell it and everybody wants a taste.” Phil’s caveat: “This drink should never be drunk with a straw. You want to get that egg white fluff on your lips when you taste it. It’s all part of the experience... And that creamy, smoke-infused marshmallow just cleanses the palate before you taste.” Delicious!
So your local music store is basically out of business, the chain stores are full of crappy pop on overpriced CDs, and op shops are clueing to the fact they can charge a lot more than $1 for that quality Ziggy Stardust LP — where are we supposed to snag our vinyl these days? The answer will surprise and sadden you (of course we don't yet have this store in Australia). Buzzfeed has today named Urban Outfitters as the biggest seller of vinyl in the world. A hip stockist of quirky homewares, ironic t-shirts and boyfriend jeans, Urban Outfitters is like a more affordable version of every designer concept store you window shop in. But music definitely doesn't seem like its beat. This is because, instead of stocking shelves with dusty records and turning into a modern-day Championshop Vinyl, they offer most of their catalogue online. For around US$20 you can order any of the latest indie releases and old classics, and delivery is free for orders over $50 (because who just buys one album at a time?). Unlike CDs and iTunes downloads — may they rest in peace — vinyl is experiencing a huge resurgence at the moment. Sales have increased by more than 40 per cent in the last year alone and are hitting the highest numbers seen since the early '90s. As online streaming options increase in the same way, our new listening practices are becoming more and more apparent. We want to listen to everything for free on Spotify and Pandora then treasure the albums we really like on vinyl. And why wouldn't we? With the rest of our kit from Urban Outfitters, these records make our lives just that little bit closer to a Wes Anderson film. Via Buzzfeed and Stereogum.
You may think $26 sounds like a kinda random amount to budget, but it's exactly how much you'll need to spend to eat Sydney's hottest new sandwich. It rolled through the door at Continental CBD late last year, and it's been the star of many Instagram posts ever since. And it got us thinking: what else can you eat in the city for $26? Well, it turns out, quite a lot. Cough up a lobster and some coins, and you'll find you can snag yourself 21 hot dogs, or a dozen oysters, or even 78 custard-filled puffs. So, here are eleven ways to get the biggest bang from you 26 bucks in Sydney. Choose wisely. [caption id="attachment_709616" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ulrich Lenffer[/caption] FRENCH DIP, CONTINENTAL DELI BAR BISTRO CBD Twenty-six dollars. That's the price of Sydney's new favourite sandwich, the French Dip at Continental. The Los Angeles-inspired sanga is made from a toasted Brickfields baguette loaded with Ranger Valley roast beef and melty washed rind cheese, served with a bowl of beef jus for dipping. Ok, so it's a little pricey, but we guarantee you won't stay mad at it for long. And you'll probably schedule in a return visit ASAP. How much? $26 for one. [caption id="attachment_709580" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nikki To[/caption] SUCKLING PIG SAUSAGE ROLL WITH BLACK GARLIC, BENNELONG Not all sausage rolls are created equal. On one end of the scale, you've got your classic Mrs Mac's plastic-wrapped variety, a perfectly acceptable snack when there are no other options available. On the other end, you've got Peter Gilmore's posh pastry pocket. Available on Bennelong's Cured and Cultured menu, the suckling pig sausage roll is made from braised suckling pig wrapped in a blanket of buttery puff pastry. It's then pre-sliced and served with smoky kisses of black garlic sauce. Don't expect to be satisfied with the servo kind ever again. How much? $24 for one. FLOURLESS BELGIAN CHOCOLATE CAKE, BOURKE STREET BAKERY While other flourless cakes have seen their popularity rise and fall, Bourke Street Bakery's flourless Belgian chocolate cake remains the city's go-to gateaux for birthdays and break-ups. Whatever your relationship with gluten, it's hard to resist a slice of this irresistibly fudgy chocolate cake, made from both dark chocolate and cocoa, with a soft acid kick thanks to the natural yoghurt. While a slice may be enough for some, $25 will buy you your very own cake. Order online and you can even compose yourself a thoughtful chocolate plaque. How much? $25 for one small cake. [caption id="attachment_686701" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Parker Blain.[/caption] PIPIS WITH XO SAUCE, GOLDEN CENTURY This year marks 30 years since live seafood restaurant Golden Century first prised open its doors. After all this time, the speciality remains the pipis in XO, an intensely flavoured dish of live pipis wok fried in a pungent XO sauce, served over crunchy vermicelli noodle cakes which soak up the sauce. Whether you come at 2pm or 2am, you'll always leave happy as a clam. While the market price can fluctuate, $26 will typically buy you just over 300 grams. How much? $26 for around 300 grams of pipis. TWO MARY'S BURGERS, MARY'S CBD The snaking lines down Castlereagh Street in the city are not there for a closing down sale. In fact, Calvin Klein, Hugo Boss and Marcs have nothing on Mary's. A budget of $26 will buy you a pretty enviable feed, including two Mary's burger ($13 each), made from a smashed patty of O'Connor grass-fed beef or a fried chicken burger (we won't argue with you) with extra bacon and a serving of fries. If the sun's out, take your special package over to Hyde Park, for an impromptu picnic alongside the ibises. How much? $26 for two $13 Mary's burgers. [caption id="attachment_637652" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Katje Ford[/caption] FOUR SLICES OF PIZZA, FRANKIE'S This 90s-themed dive bar and pizza parlour by Shady Pines brothers Anton and Stefan Forte, serves up a pretty mean slice. Just don't expect a traditional experience. In fact, it appears they've taken the Neapolitan rulebook, spun it around their finger, and tossed it out the window. The super tasty, Americanised range come with toppings like ham and pineapple, prawn and pesto, and a volcanically hot, chorizo, 'nduja and jalapeño creation called the Titty Twister (don't get any ideas now). Whole pizzas range from $19–25, or if you want some variety, four different slices for $6 each. How much? $24 for four $6 slices. FIVE DOUGHNUTS, SHORTSTOP COFFEE & DONUTS You're now able to get your sticky fingers on Shortstop's famous small batch doughnuts, which have their own glass-walled emporium in Barangaroo. The springy rings are made from premium ingredients, such as Pepe Saya butter, Laucke flour and Hailala vanilla, and come in three different varieties, if it wasn't already hard enough to choose. There are the dense and crumbly cake doughnuts ($5), the fluffy-yeast raised variety ($4–5), and the twisted French crueller ($4.5). Flavours range from a simple dusting of cinnamon and cardamom sugar to the more elaborate earl grey and rose or pandan-glazed with coconut cream centre. How much? $25 for five $5 doughnuts. A DOZEN OYSTERS AND A GLASS OF SPARKLING, THE MORRISON BAR & OYSTER ROOM Put your love of oysters to the test on Wednesday nights at The Morrison, when each briny bivalve takes a dive in price from $4.50 to $1.50. With a sexy fit-out by Alexander and Co, the blackened steel and walnut leather bistro makes the perfect setting for slurping, whether that's with a date or on your own. $26 will easily buy you a dozen oysters, which come with fresh lemon or chardonnay vinegar, it's just enough to leave you satisfied, but not so many that you start feeling seasick. With your leftover coinage, treat yourself to the happy hour drinks at the bar, with beers and wine priced at just $6. How much? $18 for 12 $1.5 oysters (on Wednesdays from 6–7pm) and $6 for a beer or wine. SIXTEEN XIAO LONG BAO, DIN TAI FUNG Din Tai Fung is filling, folding and steaming soup dumpling, otherwise known as xiao long bao, far and wide across Sydney. Each bundle of dumpling joy is made with scientific precision, from careful weighing to meticulous folding, with each little sack bearing no less than a total of 18 pleats. The dumplings are famous for their thin, silky skins, which are filled with a sweet gelatinous pork juice that bursts in the mouth. Since first launching at World Square in 2008, the Hong Kong chain has grown to nine outlets across the city, which means you're never too far away from their bamboo baskets. How much? $24 for 16 xiao long bao ($6 for four). TWENTY-ONE HOT DOGS AND A TINNIE, SODA FACTORY If you thought the hotdogs at IKEA were good value, the dollar dogs at Soda Factory will see you get a lot more for your dough. There are five gourmet varieties to choose from, from a Carolina pulled pork stuffed with slaw and citrus mayo to an oozy Nacho cheese with maple bacon and jalapeños. How exactly they make a profit on these is not exactly clear. To unlock the special price you'll need to come on a Tuesday night and order a drink, too, with Millers tinnies priced at just $5. How much? $26 for 21 $1 hot dogs and a $5 Millers tinnie (every Tuesday night). SEVENTY-EIGHT EMPEROR'S PUFFS, EMPEROR'S GARDEN Okay, we're not suggesting you go and eat 78 of these golden balls of deliciousness — but, just that, you could if you had $26 to spare. And, maybe, you could buy them all and share them round with friends, fam and other Chinatown revellers. To find them, head to the corner of Hay and Dixon streets, and join the queue waiting for a taste of the venue's famous Puffs. These hot little custard balls are sold straight from the oven and are well worth the wait. A single dollar buys you three of these babies (or you can nab them for 35 cents each). How much? $26 for 78 Emperor's Puffs (three for $1).
Finding the perfect spot for every beer drinking occasion isn't easy. So, that's where we come in — at Concrete Playground, we want to pass our expertise onto you. Together with Heineken, we've created two crafty tools to help you plan your next day or night out: the Heineken Bar Finder, a complete guide to the top-notch beer gardens, rooftop bars and other hotspots where you can enjoy an ice cold brew, and the Heineken Insider chatbot, your trusty brew companion. We're just a simple 'hey insider' away, making it even easier for you to find that perfect spot for your next outing — all thanks to the power of AI. While you can browse our expert guides over at the Heineken Bar Finder, we encourage you to have a chat with the Heineken Insider. Here's how it works: head to our Facebook page and send us a message saying 'Hey Insider 'to get in touch. You'll be asked what you're looking to do, and we'll respond instantly with specialised recommendations for the occasion — either at your current location or anywhere in the city if you don't have a preference. Looking for a hump day lunch spot for you and your office mates? We got you. How about the perfect spot for late-night kick ons? We got you there, too. And what about the best pub in your area where you can catch the match? You get the idea. The Heineken Insider has your back with recommendations from day to night. Also, we should mention that there'll be chances to win freebies and VIP experiences at some key bars. It's time to make your friends think you're the expert in this city. Take the work out of the play and chat with the Heineken Insider now.
Camel racing in Oman. Whale diving in the Revillagigedo Islands, Mexico. A sauna at 2800 meters high in the heart of Dolomites. Chances are, without the world's top tier traveling shutterbugs, we'd never get to see these weird and wonderful parts of our eclectic, beautiful world. Luckily, globally-acknowledged cornerstone of publicising places-you've-never-been National Geographic brings the world's best travel photographers together, all vying for the prestigious blue ribbon in the annual National Geographic Traveller Photo Contest. This year, Nat Geo's Photo Contest judges reviewed nearly 18,000 photographs — and these ten are the top of the crop. Photographers entered their works into four categories: Travel Portraits, Outdoor Scenes, Sense of Place, and Spontaneous Moments. Have a flick through, we're pretty sure you'll be making at least one of these your desktop wallpaper immediately. Images: National Geographic.
As it turns out, Luke Powell of LP's Quality Meats had a long-held dream of opening his own pizzeria. Mates Joseph Valore and Elvis Abrahanowicz over at Porteño had similar fancies. It just took a recent trip to the USA to seal the deal, and now Sydney's set to welcome the group's first joint venture, Bella Brutta, in September. Taking over a King Street shopfront that's been home to many a former pizza joint, the crew's finally bringing its ideas to life — it'll be a laidback 50-seater, with a sunny courtyard and a pizza oven that's just arrived from Italy. With this aspiring bunch of pizzaiolos at the helm, the menu ideas are already coming thick and fast, and while nothing's been set in stone, it promises to be far from traditional. "Everyone's bringing their idea to the table," muses Powell. "It's going to be a bit of a mash-up. Until we get in there, we can't really say what it'll be." The same goes for the booze offering, which continues to morph as yet more ideas are thrown around. That said, with these hospitality stalwarts in charge, it's probably safe to expect an expert curation that doesn't take itself too seriously. "I think it's going to be a huge amount of fun, and that's the main thing," says Powell. Bella Brutta is set to open at 135 King Street, Newtown this September. We'll keep you updated on an exact opening date — but, until then, you can keep up to date via its Instagram.
Getting engaged isn't meant to be bloody, but that's how Fair Play starts: with joy, love, passion and bodily fluids. What is and isn't supposed to happen is a frequent theme in writer/director Chloe Domont's feature debut, an erotic thriller set both within the heady relationship between Emily (Phoebe Dynevor, Bridgerton) and Luke (Alden Ehrenreich, Oppenheimer), and also in the slick, fast-paced, high-stakes world of New York finance — familiar territory for its Billions alum filmmaker, who also has Suits and Ballers on her resume. The blood arrives via a bathroom tryst at Luke's brother's (Buck Braithwaite, Flowers in the Attic: The Origin) wedding. He pops under her dress, she has her period, he drops the ring that he was going to propose with, she says yes, and next they're betrothed and fleeing out the window to go home. Staged to feel woozily, authentically romantic, the occasion seems perfect to this head-over-heels pair anyway, even if it leaves their clothes stained. Yes, Domont is playing with symbolism from the outset. Lust isn't a problem for Emily and Luke, clearly, but they've become experts at keeping everything about being together away from work out of necessity. The duo each chases big dreams at the same hedge fund, which has a firm no-dating policy for its employees. So, when they wake up, dress and step out the door the next day, they go their separate ways to end up at the one place — and Emily's finger is glaringly bare. Then something that they've both been hoping would happen does: a portfolio manager sitting above their analyst positions is fired. Next comes a development that they've each felt was meant to occur, too, with the word spreading around the office that's led by the icy Campbell (Eddie Marsan, Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre) and his yes-man flunkey Paul (Rich Sommer, Minx) that Luke is in line for a promotion to fill the new vacancy. Domont and cinematographer Menno Mans (Forever Rich) want viewers to watch Dynevor and Ehrenreich closely within Fair Play's glossy, steely frames, with the film taking on the cold and corporate hues of its main office setting, and also peering at its leads slowly and carefully. This isn't a strict two-hander, but frequently plays that way — and observing Emily and Luke's every reaction is crucial. One case in point: when Emily receives a 2am phone call from her higher-up Rory (Sebastian De Souza, Pixie), has no choice but to agree to his command that she meet him at a bar, but finds a life-changing conversation with Campbell over a whisky awaiting instead. Here's another: Luke's reaction when she returns home with stunning news for her, but a revelation that he visibly thinks wasn't meant to happen. That climb up that ladder is hers, not his, and he'll be working beneath her. Dynevor and Ehrenreich each possess a savvy talent for cycling through a storm of clashing emotions in mere seconds — and making the swift change feel not just understandable but believable — as Fair Play captures unblinkingly in its pivotal moments. She can go from dutiful to determined, caring to calculating, and cautious to confident; him from loving to withdrawn, supportive to passive-aggressive, and charming to menacing. Emily and Luke's relationship changes just as swiftly, its steamy days fading into sexless territory all thanks to that coveted job. Resentment seeps from Ehrenreich's pores, and exasperation from Dynevor's. Fair Play doesn't neatly box either Emily or Luke into easy categories, however. When everything shifts in an instant, the film's excellently cast stars ensure that viewers see every iota of complexity. At each point from popping the question onwards, the same proves true, and not just frame to frame and scene to scene. Domont's Sundance-premiering feature — Sundance bidding war-sparking picture, too, selling to Netflix for $20 million after getting the film festival buzzing — soon becomes an erotic thriller without that much physical slipping between the sheets. While the look is pure now and Donna Summer's 70s classic 'Love to Love You Baby' gets the soundtrack started, there's an 80s and 90s air to the movie, recalling the genre's heyday. That said, this isn't Fatal Attraction (which was just remade as a TV series, and reframed) or Disclosure meets Wall Street. Rather, the entire flick thrums with the heat and charge between its two protagonists, knowing that its psychological duel is all the more knotty because sex, intimacy and love are involved, while also pulsating with the pressure and stress of its high-rolling realm. The tension is palpable and unrelenting, as aided by Brian McOmber's (Hail Satan?) nervy score. Fair Play doesn't pretend that gender power imbalances don't exist in workplaces otherwise, beyond couples mixing the professional and personal in a cut-throat world and keeping it clandestine. Indeed, it shows that fact, too, and in grim detail. It's there in the salacious whispering by the other male analysts about how Emily got the job from, the strip club drinks and flat-out calling her a "dumb fucking bitch". This isn't a film that's afraid of getting uncomfortable. Fair Play also effortlessly carves into this wealth-chasing field's general soullessness, including with golf clubs being swung around in anger, public dressing-downs and humiliating begging. Still, it never escapes notice that square at the picture's centre sits the type of guy that's doting, encouraging and a dream until he doesn't think that he's on top. There's no one that's perfect in Fair Play's gaze, as its main performances superbly portray — the ever-reliable Marsan is also chillingly effective — but how men react to women doing well earns extra attention. Seeking power, losing it, trying to retain or reclaim it, forcing it back in the absolute worst way possible: this all bubbles up as well, and viciously. As the gripping film unpacks sexual politics in the workplace, it lays bare insecurities, jealousies and infuriatingly age-old rumours. Domont's movie is sharp, even when it's obvious. It's assured from its libidinous start to its increasingly lurid end, and riveting — even if it's never as gleefully OTT as its genre was famously known for back when Michael Douglas (and only Michael Douglas) would've been playing Ehrenreich's part. Fair Play screens in select cinemas from Thursday, September 28, and streams via Netflix from Friday, October 6.
A few years ago, it would've been hard to imagine millions of people getting excited about watching someone sleeping in a box. But two weeks ago, we all did just that, as that most sculptural of humans, Tilda Swinton, set up in New York's Museum of Modern Art for some shut-eye under glass. The performative art work, titled The Maybe, had been exhibited previously in 1995, but this time it generated a huge level of interest — and Swinton's heightened celebrity wasn't the only driver. Performance art — these days often called live art, time-based art or just plain performance — is having a bit of a moment. Right now, thousands of Sydneysiders are queuing to experience 13 Rooms, an installation of, yes, 13 rooms, each containing a flight of performative fancy from one of 13 internationally renowned artists. Once in, they're swapping their personal belongings for those of others, negotiating a revolving door made of people and comprehending a live person floating on air. The art form is easy to make fun of (sometimes brilliantly, as in this Portlandia clip), but that's partly because it's fun and easy to engage with. So why have we entered the time of performance art? Here are a few of the factors behind the rise. 1. Art parties The last time performance art was at its heights was in the 1960s, when Andy Warhol's 'happenings' were a major way of doing cultural business. These were events at his famous Factory studio and one of history's main moments in which artists from all different disciplines were invited to mingle — along with people who just liked to party. There might be paintings on one wall, video projections on another, the Velvet Underground everywhere. "What's happening now is happenings — where music, dancing, movies, everything happens at once and assaults all the senses," wrote Newsweek in its Pop issue in 1966. Sound familiar? Minus some orgies and taboo breaking, it's not unlike the current mode for art parties like Jurassic Lounge, ARTBAR or Next Wave events. Performance art — based, as it usually is, on a strong central concept that can be communicated within minutes, if not seconds — is the sort of thing that can thrive in a hullabaloo. Even if it's a durational performance whose real meaning will only become known over days, you can still just engage for 30 seconds and move on to the next thing. It also helps that much like then, we're into interdisciplinarity at the moment — the Australia Council even has a separate funding body for it, the Inter-Arts office. More on that in point two. 2. A response to digital The internet is big, you guys. Photorealistic blending of oil paint is great, but how much can it tell us about our technologically precipitous times? Let's throw everything we have at that moral puzzle, is the thinking: film, video games, live art, big ideas. A blend of sculpture and theatre, performance is one of the quintessential interdisciplinary arts. There are two particular aspects of it that suit our ubiquitously digital times: interactivity and the idea of 'absolute presence'. Interacting with stuff is our modus operandi now, and we don't want to stop when we put down our devices. Although it doesn't usually put you on the spot in the dreaded 'public participation' way, performance art is essentially interactive. A performer and an observer (performer #2?) in one space cannot help but have an effect on each other. And then there's almost the converse quality: sometimes we just want to cut the digital tether and just be in one place, without distraction (like mindfulness. But arty). Seeing performance art is a way of having an experience that you know is personal, private, fleeting, immediate and real. It's kind of nice. 3. Marina Abramovic Marina Abramovic has been a presence in popular culture for a while now — she was on Sex and the City back in 2003, when Carrie dated an artist. But her 2010 MoMA show, The Artist Is Present, captured public attention as few art world things have. With the still-entertaining Tumblr Marina Abramovic Made Me Cry, she basically reached meme status through the act of sitting. Since then a documentary about the exhibition and her weird mutual obsession with that other interdisciplinary something, James Franco (she's apparently making a movie about him) have continued to endear and fascinate. (In the above clip, she has a surprise reunion with her ex-partner Ulay at The Artist Is Present — gah!) 4. Art gallery infiltration Sydney's MCA is about to launch a second season dedicated to performance art, this year dubbed Workout. Previously, the Dachshund UN held there was something of a live art coup. And the MCA is not alone; traditional galleries are increasingly finding space for the oft-puzzling art form that can't be hung on the wall or put behind glass (unless it's Tilda). Melbourne's ACCA will soon host Mikala Dwyer's performance project, and last year London's Tate Modern opened the Tanks, a cavern underground that plays host to a roster of performance as well as film, sound and, of course, happenings. As Laura Cumming wrote in her Guardian review, "For the moment, the Tanks are the coolest part of the whole Tate enterprise. They have an air of freedom about them, as if anything might happen, and that comes from the ever-changing relationship between the raw building, the art and its audience." With institutional support, this era of performance art could be a long one. Settle in.
Usually, cancer movies aren't just terrible and generic — they're insulting. Too often focusing on pretty young things succumbing slowly to the insidious disease while trying to relish their remaining time, they frequently tug at the heartstrings with shameless abandon, treating their protagonists and their plights as a mechanism to wring weepy sobs out of the audience. The Fault in Our Stars did it. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl did too, even winning awards at Sundance for dressing up its efforts with an overtly quirky, cinema-worshipping vibe. So when a film hones in on a cancer-afflicted teenager yet refuses to trot out the same old tropes and cliches in the same old ways — when it instead appreciates its protagonist as the sum of everything that makes her who she is, instead of the mere cause of everyone else's sense of loss, including viewers' — it firmly, welcomely stands out. Babyteeth is that movie, and it could never be mistaken for a standard sickness drama. As directed by Australian theatre and TV veteran-turned-feature first-timer Shannon Murphy, this lively, insightful and moving film truly sees its central figure, Milla (Little Women's Eliza Scanlen), as a person first and foremost. She isn't simply a storytelling tool used to evoke easy emotion and inspire tear-streaked faces. Nor is she a secondary figure primarily deployed to stress the extent of someone else's troubles, as many a movie that endeavours to explain away the grating behaviour of a healthy but struggling character has been known to do. Milla's flaws and difficulties aren't buffed down to a soft, saintly sheen, as has become a hallmark of illness on-screen, and her coming-of-age journey isn't presented as a bittersweet reminder that life is far too short. Rather, Babyteeth follows the passionate Sydney high schooler as she falls for 23-year-old small-time drug dealer Moses (Acute Misfortune's Toby Wallace) while her already distressed and labouring parents watch on. Milla tumbles literally at first, during the pair's meet-cute on a Sydney train platform as the instantly recognisable station announcement tone echoes through the speakers above her. While the just-evicted Moses asks for money, he's also tender and caring, even though the two have just crossed paths. And so, immediately intrigued by and smitten with this stranger who gives her more attention for just being herself than she's become accustomed to receiving, she proposes a deal: she'll give Moses $50 if he takes to her sandy, cascading hair with clippers in a pre-treatment strike, then comes back to her sprawling suburban home to have dinner with her parents. Initially introduced in a stilted psychiatry office sex scene — one that speaks to their flailing, failing quest to retain any normality they can during their daughter's illness — Milla's mother Anna (Essie Davis) and father Henry (Ben Mendelsohn) aren't thrilled with their dinner guest. He'll still become the fourth figure in their dysfunctional family as the months pass, though, as Milla relapses and undergoes chemotherapy, ex-classical pianist Anna relies upon Henry's prescription pad to help her cope, and Henry himself begins an unexpected friendship with their pregnant neighbour Toby (Emily Barclay). As adapted from Rita Kalnejais' play by the writer herself, Babyteeth strings its tale together from moments, as the film's key quartet take each minute, second and development in their lives as it comes. Some days, Moses pilfers the household's pills. On others, Milla wrestles with the supposed be-all and end-all that is her school formal. Whether sneaking out to parties and empty karaoke bars or having animated debates, they both keep butting heads with Anna and Henry, too, who both keep attempting to tread the waters of Milla's hard-earned but always-tentative grasp on happiness. From neon-hued exchanges that glow with yearning affection, to frank declarations that Milla and Moses' relationship "is complicated", Babyteeth is unmistakably built from familiar pieces — but it's how the film uses them that matters. When the pithy script has an antidepressant-addled Anna exclaim "what have you done with my daughter?!" to Milla, it also tasks the teen with giving the type of honest answer that only someone with cancer can: "I killed her". At every turn, this pattern continues, not that it ever plays as systematic, repetitive or predictable for an instant. Kalnejais' perceptive and writing combines with Murphy's keen eye for complicated emotions — and the roving, bouncing, ever-expressive visuals that enliven the film's parade of vibrant vignettes as well — to ensure that Babyteeth continually twists even the most well-worn of narrative details in their own direction. In her second role as an unwell adolescent in a row, following Little Women, Scanlen gives a vivid, assured performance beneath Milla's revolving array of naturalistic, ice-blonde and turquoise wigs — another factor that lifts Babyteeth well beyond its thematic peers. She's a ball of energy when Milla is excited, anxious, angry and rebellious, plays peaceful and resigned with the same inner force, and stomachs the ignorance and condescension of the less sympathetic with quiet pain and fortitude. Unsurprisingly given the cast, she isn't the only actor in stellar form. The wiry Wallace deservedly won the Best Young Actor award at 2019's Venice Film Festival for his thoughtful work, and Davis and Mendelsohn — the latter in straight rather than menacing mode for a change (see: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Ready Player One and Robin Hood) — convey the storm of conflicted feelings whirling inside Anna and Henry. In words rarely, if ever, directed at a film about a teenager with cancer, the feature's core performers all prove raw, sensitive, astute and arresting. So does this dynamic, melancholy and memorable drama itself, and it's one of the best Aussie movies that'll hit cinemas in 2020. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLNXHJB5Mto
What begins with a look behind the glossy facade of Italy's superstar footballers, ends with a wide-ranging homage to one of its biggest-ever stars, and also features everything from sordid political tales to striking crime dramas? This year's Lavazza Italian Film Festival, which tours Palace Cinemas' sites around the country from September 17. For over a month, it'll showcase Italy's latest and greatest flicks — and a few old favourites — to Australian cinephiles. In the fest's 20th anniversary event, 26 new hits and classic gems will light up the big screen. Whether you're keen for a hearty laugh at a comedic delight, or can't wait to pay tribute to an Italian filmmaker like no other, they're on this year's festival bill. For all that and more, here are our top six picks. THE VICE OF HOPE Whenever a film peers at everyday existence, exploring the reality of life among average, working-class and/or struggling folks, it owes a debt to Italy. As the Second World War came to an end almost eight decades ago, the country's filmmakers turned their attention to the plight of ordinary people, sparking the birth of Italian neorealism. Set in Caserta, north of Naples, and using dialogue largely in the dialect of the region, Edoardo De Angelis' crime drama The Vice of Hope carries on social realist traditions as it tells the tale of a woman (Pina Turco) caught up in the child trafficking trade. And, after De Angelis' 2017 Lavazza Italian Film Festival hit Indivisible, it continues the writer and director's spate of sensitive but powerful features. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXLo5bUvw18 I'M NOT A KILLER Across his two-decade career, Ricardo Scamarcio hasn't just become one of Italy's biggest cinema stars. He has also popped up in Netflix's Master of None — in its Italy-set scenes, naturally — and dallied with none other than John Wick in Rome-set sequel John Wick: Chapter 2. Now, he dabbles with a murder mystery, all thanks to the Lavazza Italian Film Festival's I'm Not a Killer. Scamarcio plays Deputy Police Superintendent Francesco Prencipe, whose best friend (Alessio Boni) is found dead the morning after the pair reunite for the first time in nearly two years. There's no prizes for guessing just where fingers start pointing. However, ranging beyond the obvious and questioning clues that seem to point in a clear-cut direction is what a good thriller is all about. I'm Not a Killer also marks the second stint behind the camera for Andrea Zaccariello, who switches genres after his 2013 comedy Ci vediamo domani. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STdwYovczVg DON'T STOP ME NOW Mid-life malaise meets the spy game in Don't Stop Me Now, an Italian comedy that promises something different within two well-worn genres. Films about folks wondering if this is all there is to life are as common as big-screen espionage escapades — that is, very — but director Riccardo Milani and actor Paola Cortellesi offer a new twist as the real-life couple bring the two together for their latest collaboration. Cortellesi plays Giovanna, an accountant and mother who seems stuck in a rut. At their reunion, her high-school best friends all seem caught in similar situations as well. But, despite her mild-mannered appearance, Giovanna is actually a secret agent, which means she knows how to bring a little spice (and disguises, country-hopping and all kinds of anarchic antics) to her pals' routine existence. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6zPO_jpIJI THE CONFORMIST Catching a classic film on the big screen is hardly a rare treat these days, but it's not every day that you get the chance to see Bernado Bertolucci's The Conformist in a cinema. First released in 1971, set in the 1930s and based on Alberto Moravia's 1950 neo-realist novel, the political drama follows the cowardly Marcello Clerici (Jean-Louis Trintignant) as he navigates life in Italy under the spread of fascism. When Clerici is tasked by the government with killing a political refugee, he agrees to the deadly deed, even though the target is his former college professor. In a movie that's equally smart, unsettling and expressive — and rightfully called a masterpiece — Bertolucci ponders just what kind of person blindly conforms to such a cruel regime, with ample assistance from his superb star Trintignant, as well as from acclaimed cinematographer Vittorio Storaro. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s69O1G1ZRAM BANGLA When Bangla premiered at this year's Rotterdam International Film Festival, it earned comparisons to huge 2017 crowd-pleaser The Big Sick, and it's easy to see why. Phaim Bhuiyan, a 23-year-old first-time feature filmmaker, not only writes, directs and stars in this cross-cultural rom-com, but has drawn its honest and perceptive story from his own experiences as an Italian-born Muslim from a Bangladeshi family. When his on-screen character, who is also called Phaim, meets Asia (Carlotta Antonelli), their attraction is both instant and mutual. But his background — and, specifically, Islam's strict decree against sex before marriage — throws more than a few obstacles in the path of romance. The result is a keenly observed tale of multi-cultural life in Italy today, as told by someone who hasn't just been there and done that, but is still living through it. The Lavazza Italian Film Festival tours Australia from September 17, screening at Sydney's Palace Norton Street, Palace Verona, Palace Central and Chauvel Cinema from September 17–October 16; Melbourne's Palace Cinema Como, Palace Westgarth, Palace Brighton Bay, Palace Balwyn, Kino Cinemas and The Astor Theatre from September 19–October 16; Brisbane's Palace Barracks and Palace James Street from September 25–October 16; and Perth's Palace Cinema Paradiso and Luna on SX from October 2–23. For more information, visit the festival website.
The Southern Hemisphere's first-ever Ace Hotel opened in Sydney back in May. As expected, it's offering super-sleek accommodation in the heart of the city, but the Ace also boasts a range of dining options including a top-notch lobby bar and Mitch Orr's stunning new restaurant, plus fun pop-ups and residencies from the likes of Summer Camp and FBi Radio. The latest limited-time takeover of the hotel is a holiday market coming to its Foy Lane cafe and wine bar Good Chemistry. This end-of-year market arrives at the laneway venue for three days from Thursday, December 8–Saturday, December 10. The stallholders have been curated by local artisans Elke Studios and Muck Floral who will both be on-site selling their signature jewellery and ceramics, and one-of-a-kind bouquets respectively. Muck Floral will also be getting into the festive spirit with native Wooly Bush Christmas trees available. [caption id="attachment_881327" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Gohar World Candles[/caption] Joining them will be Rare Books Paris offering rare design books out of Japan and out-of-print magazines, summer-ready t-shirts and accessories from NK Essentials, and Gohar World's hyper-realistic food candles. Pick up a pink Life Well Lived t-shirt for your cousin, impress your design-loving uncle with a rare magazine or fill the Christmas table with a pineapple upside-down cake candle. The market will be live from 4–8pm on the Thursday and 10am–5pm on the Friday and Saturday. [caption id="attachment_881323" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Studio Elke[/caption] Top image: Nikki To
When you're going through the motions of your morning skincare routine — likely a little bleary-eyed as you've only just woken up and haven't had a coffee yet — it can be easy to forget how much work, passion and science have gone into that substance you're smearing all over your money-maker. Clarins is setting out to change that. The plant-based French beauty brand has designed an interactive openair laboratory, which will be popping up in the middle of Pitt Street Mall from Wednesday, May 4 to Saturday, May 7. Swing by the Clarins Herbarium to learn all about the history and research that goes into making its skincare products, including the pioneering Double Serum, with a whopping 21 plant extracts. You'll have the chance to try Double Serum and receive samples to take home. There'll also be a bunch of prize packs to snag, too, including a VIP Fashion Week experience, a year's worth of Clarins skincare, spa services and makeup application services. In keeping with Clarins' sustainability commitment, the pop-up laboratory has been designed with recyclable materials, with elements to be donated, recycled or reused long after the pop-up has finished. The Clarins Herbarium is free to visit and will be open from 5–8pm on Wednesday, May 4; 8am–8pm on Thursday, May 5; and 8am–5pm on Friday, May 6 and Saturday, May 7. Can't visit in person? There'll also be a virtual pop-up, packed with education and prizes, which you can check out here.
Melbourne-born artist Buff Diss has been filling the streets with his geometric artworks for the past 14 years. Eschewing paint, he works primarily through the medium of tape to create dextrous designs that are not only striking in and of themselves but also create a "relationship" with the spaces on which they're displayed and present a "conversation with the architecture". Using a street art-like style, Buff Diss occupies a unique space in the art world, swapping the permanence and illegality of spray paint for a more novel approach. And it's with this style that he'll take over the Miller Design Lab — an innovative event series we're hosting with Miller Genuine Draft at Melbourne's SoHigh Gallery, featuring some of the most exciting contemporary artists and musicians Australia has to offer. Here, we talk creative inspirations and aspirations with the artist and about his latest taped-up work to be revealed at the Miller Design Lab on Friday, March 22. A typical work day for Diss starts to the waking call of his infant son. And then it's on to an early surf or skate, coffee, emails, sketching and brainstorming for new projects. "I try to spend as much time with my son as I can, sharing the workload with my wife by balancing projects — [it's] easier said than done," says Diss. "Then [it's a] nice dinner with a good strong red, [and I] put the little fella to bed then catch up on my Feedly." A former computer science student, Buff Diss has turned back to his roots. He's found an interest in the possibilities allowed by augmented reality for two-dimensional artforms and how he can work these into his art. "I'm keen as to set up a Donkey Kong emulation on a mural, where different sections of the painted mural transform to platforms and are populated with playable sprites," muses Diss. "I'm really keen to get back into coding so I can add AR functionality to my future work." But at present, the artist will keep things analog as he takes over every tapeable surface of the Miller Design Lab space on Friday, March 22. Buff Diss' large-scale, bespoke piece will take shape in realtime, as he works and contours tape and linear mesh into bold, graphic murals that represent a map of Milwaukee and the Milwaukee River — the home of Miller Genuine Draft. "I'm mapping out historical aspects of Miller Beer in modern medium," says Diss, distilling his mammoth project into a single line. Each geometric shaping will appear four times alluding to the "four times cold filtered" brewing process of the beer. And at the event, you can watch as he works in response to music and builds to a 'big reveal' moment. With such an interest in architectural terrain, it comes as no surprise that Diss's favourite country is Taiwan, where he completed a project in New Taipei City back in 2015. "It's such a special place, [with] incredibly varied landscapes from mountains, forests and islands," says Diss. "But [it's] the people and the free approach to art there [that's] addictive." Along with his admiration for Taiwan, as well as New York-based streetwear designer Jeff Staples (the global curator of the Miller Design Lab), Diss notes that there's a lot of inspiring stuff coming out of Australia's contemporary and street art scene. He particularly follows the likes of Adelaide street artist Order (aka Seb Humphreys), installation artist Georgia Hill and painters Matthew Fortrose and Laith McGregor. Whenever interstate, Diss makes sure he hits his favourite spots, including Sydney's China Heights Gallery and dining institution Tetsuya's; Hobart's MONA "for the wine" and The Source "for the art"; and Adelaide's Apothecary 1878. At home in Melbourne, it's gnocchi at Lover and ever-changing art at Collingwood's Blackwoods Gallery. Currently reading Musashu by Japanese writer Eiji Yoshikawa, watching Tawainese film The Assassin and listening to British punk-rock band Idles, Diss's interests are seemingly far-spread, both geographically and topically. But a good red wine, he insists, is a constant in his ever-expanding curiosities. As for his future plans? Buff Diss is going more traditional. "Having worked outdoors for so long I'm going to start painting canvas this year. Wish me luck." Images: Kate Shanasy.
Structured as a raw open counter, the specialty meat market resides in the popular Sydney Fish Market. Vic's Meat Market is separated into sections, from organic and grass fed (Lean and Green) to the specialty wild meat section (a seasonal selection of game from kangaroo to wild boar and venison). You can stroll into the custom-built cool room if you're rugged up, or, if you're feeling peckish, make beeline for the grill. There's a chef on hand to cook your choice of steak right there and then. Plus, you can pair it with one of the many wines available by the glass. Alternatively, tuck into a cheeky $14 smoked pulled pork roll with zesty coleslaw and house-made barbecue sauce — the pork is slow cooked over ten hours in in the purpose-built Yoder smoker affectionately dubbed 'Kong'. The wagyu cheeseburger, one of the many burgers available on-site, is one of the best burgers in Sydney. If you'd prefer to take something cured home, look to one of the six varieties of biltong or 25 different salami and sliced meats. Popcorn? Consider yourself replaced as a salty, salty movie snack.
Whether you can't get enough of split atoms and quantum physics or wish to undo all the damage done by some excruciatingly dull high school science teacher, here's the remedy. Sydney Science Festival is back for 2017 and it's all about making science relevant, interesting and fun. The two-week-long program is absolutely massive, packed with talks, tours, performances, exhibitions, parties, food and drink, so we thought we'd make your life easier by picking out a few tip-top events. We've narrowed it down to five, covering off everything from a night celebrating ridiculous theories, to an exploration of the science involved in turning plants into booze. So go forth and prosper knowing you've got 13 days of exploration, experimentation and enlightenment ahead of you. LIFE ON MARS: THE 2020 ROVER MISSION For decades now, sci fi novelists, David Bowie fans and certain misanthropes have been dreaming about an alternative existence on Mars. And now, what was just a fantastical idea is now looming as an incredibly possible reality. In 2020, NASA will send robots to the Red Planet to have a good, proper look for signs of life. Their mission is two-fold: on one hand, they'll be checking out the likelihood of humans ever being able to live there, and on the other, they'll be seeking evidence of previous creatures. In fact, there's even a theory developing that life on Earth might have actually started on Mars. To find out all about the mission, head to the Opera House for this panel discussion led by Dr Graham Phillips (ex-Catalyst) and featuring four geniuses of outer space, including Aussie geologist Dr Abigail Allwood from NASA's jet propulsion lab, physics professor Paul Davies from Arizona State University, Dr Mitch Schulte, who's working on the NASA Mars 2020 rover mission program, and Professor Martin Van Kranendonk from UNSW. Sydney Opera House, Thursday, August 17, 8pm. BOTANY DISTILLED There's never been a better excuse for a cocktail. This event calls on you to have a wee tipple in the name of science education. In between sampling wines from Tyrrell's and handcrafted spirits from the Central Coast's Distillery Botanica, you'll learn all about the vital role plants play in the production of alcohol — from the grapes that make up our favourite wines to the importance of well-mixed botanicals for a perfect gin. You'll be in good hands with Tyrrell's, which has been making wine in the Hunter Valley since 1858 and has taken home some 5,000 trophies since 1971, as well as with Distillery Botanica, whose international award-winning distiller, Philip Moore, uses a 1,000-year-old technique to get the purest possible perfume out of his botanicals. Immersed in the idyllic surrounds of the Royal Botanic Gardens Restaurant, as you sip your way around the science of a good drop, you'll wish science class had been more like this. Royal Botanic Gardens Restaurant, Thursday, August 17, 6.30pm. BAHFEST BAHFest was a quick sell out last year, so it's back for another run. For the uninitiated, BAH stands for Bad Ad Hoc Hypotheses. Created by Zach Weinersmith from webcomic Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal, the event is based on a pretty simple formula: individuals with crazy, creative, funny, yet plain wrong scientific theories present their somehow logically defensible ideas to a properly qualified panel. At the end of the night, this panel and the audience decide together who'll take home the coveted BAHFest trophy. Hosting the shenanigans this year will be Rae Johnston of Gizmodo and triple j fame, while Ruben Meerman, aka The Surfing Scientist, will deliver a keynote speech. Meanwhile, on the judging panel, you'll find Tilly Boleyn, curator at MAAS, astrophysicist Dr Lisa Harvey, James Colley of The Weekly, and Leigh Nicholson, the mighty winner of BAHFest 2016. Powerhouse Museum, Friday, August 18, 7pm. MAAS DIY DAY Creators, makers and breakers, this one's for you. Sydney's creators and innovators will converge at the Powerhouse for one epic day of DIY and science. These makers will also be showcasing the latest innovations in digital fabrication, technology, food design and craft. There'll be stalls, talks, tours, workshops and demos, among which you're free to choose your own adventure. See how new technologies are being used alongside traditional craft techniques. Have a few broken electronics collecting dust? Take them to The Bower's Repair Cafe, and watch and learn as the experts fix and repair. Wondering how modern-day woodworkers combine brand new technologies with old-fashioned techniques? Catch them in action. You can also book into one of the workshops like the Change Makers: Sydney's social and sustainable creatives talk. Hear from Sydney's makers, creatives and entrepreneurs who are working to solve some prominent issues, from social inequality to environmental sustainability. Then, join their efforts and expand your knowledge even more at one of the festival's many events dedicated to sustainability, health and the future. Powerhouse Museum, Saturday, August 19, 10am. LATEST FINDINGS IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM This short course in all things astronomical at Sydney Observatory launches in the best way imaginable: with a trip, in 3D, through the solar system. If you haven't been keeping up with science news lately, prepare to be gobsmacked by how much we've discovered — and how many more mysteries we've yet to wrap our heads around. Your travels will be in the excellent hands of Paul Payne, who's been inspiring Observatory visitors since 1984 with his high-tech presentations. Along the way, expect to catch up with Cassini, a people-free space craft that NASA sent from Earth in 1997 that's been hanging around Saturn since 2004, exploring the planet's rings and satellites. Plus, you'll catch a good look at Saturn and Jupiter through a mega-powerful telescope. Sydney Observatory, Sunday, August 20, 3pm. Sydney Science Festival is part of National Science Week, which runs from August 8 to August 20. The festival is led by the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences (MAAS) and the Australian Museum, in partnership with Inspiring Australia. See the full program of events here.
Following its win at the 2021 Wineslinger Awards, P&V Paddington is throwing a an all-day party on Sunday, December 12 to launch the latest edition of Richie Harkham and Harkham Wine's Shibuya Meltdown semillon. Shibuya Meltdown was created to commemorate a 2018 trip to Japan that Harkham went on with a group of friends, and the vino has since become a fan-favourite of the small-batch winemaker. It's now in its third year, so P&V is throwing celebrating the wine at its Oxford Street outpost. Alongside pours of the 2021 tipple from Mike Bennie and co, there'll also be rare wines from the P&V cellar and a special food menu for the day. The eats will be handled by Morgan McGlone, who'll be cooking up a selection of tasty treats that pay homage to Japanese convenience store snacks such as egg sandos, corn dogs and chicken karaage. The event will kick off at midday and will run until close. If you want to ensure you nab yourself a spot, book a seat at the P&V Paddington website. Images: Maclay Heriot.
Award-winning wine bar Monopole's eight-year stint in Potts Point will come to an end this September. But it's not the last we'll be seeing of this Sydney favourite — instead, The Bentley Group's Brent Savage and Nick Hildebrandt are simply moving Monopole to the CBD. They've already secured a Hunter Street location, adjacent to Australia Square, and will reopen the restaurant in these new digs come October. Though it may seem sudden to patrons, the duo has been planning this CBD relocation for a while now. The new space will seat 80 all up and serve a bistro menu by day and, as expected, its signature wine bar offering by night. "We've been wanting to move Monopole to the CBD for a while and were offered a great site that is ideally suited to the evolution of Monopole," Hildebrandt said in a statement. "When we first opened, we loved that locals would drop in regularly for a glass of wine and snacks. This is a big part of Monopole's identity, which we look forward to introducing to the CBD." As far as the new menu goes, Savage plans to put the"Monopole twist" on classic bistro dishes — think steak frites and salad niçoise — and dish up snacks like Moreton Bay bug rolls. [caption id="attachment_637770" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Leticia Almeída[/caption] Monopole's existing wine list has over 500 labels, and you can expect the new venue's offering to be equally expansive. It'll again feature emerging local winemakers, little-known international grape varieties and classic, big-name drops from around the world. The Potts Point original also boasts a whopping 30 wines by the glass, which punters will see transferred over to the CBD, too. The fit-out by Pascale Gomes-McNabb — who has overseen the design of the duo's other venues: Cirrus Dining, Bentley and Yellow — will aim to bring the outdoors in, with floor-to-ceiling bi-fold glass doors. Expect, also, a 20-seat marble bar, a 25-seat private dining room and blonde timber tables and chairs. For those who want to say their farewells to the original Monopole, the venue will remain open until September. Once the restaurant moves to the CBD, a new concept will open in the old Potts Point space — so keep an eye out for announcements on what's to come. Monopole will remain at its current location at 71A Macleay Street, Potts Point until September and is slated to reopen on Hunter Street in October. Images: Leticia Almeída
You've seen the TV series, following an incredibly relatable tale of trying to balance work, life, love and the like. Now, see the play that inspired the show. Before Fleabag was winning TV awards all over the UK, including a BAFTA for best female performance in a comedy for writer/creator/star Phoebe Waller-Bridge, it was a similarly applauded one-woman stage piece. And it's heading to small screens across the country. From Friday, April 10 till Sunday, May 31, you can watch Phoebe Waller-Bridge stepping through the story of Fleabag's titular character online via Soho Theatre's on-demand streaming site. Recorded at London's Wyndham's Theatre and broadcast as part of National Theatre Live in 2019, the show will cost £4 (about $8 AUD and $8.30 NZD) to stream, with all proceeds going to charities supporting those affected by COVID-19. Funds will be split across the National Emergency Trust, NHS Charities Together, Acting for Others and the Fleabag Support Fund, which provides grants to out-of-work freelancers in the theatre industry, If you're unfamiliar with the theatre or TV show, Fleabag's existence is perhaps best described as chaotic. Friends, family, job interviews, keeping a guinea pig-themed café afloat...they're just the beginning. The idea behind it came at one of Waller-Bridge's pal's storytelling nights, as a challenge to create a character for a ten-minute slot. If you're a fan, you'll want to see where it all began. If you've just heard everyone talking about Fleabag, and haven't watched it yet, here's your chance to jump on board. Top image: Fleabag at National Theatre Live by Matt Humphrey Updated May 11.
