At beloved Chippendale nightclub Freda's, you might've found yourself dancing with a hoard of shirtless strangers at 3am. At the new Freda's in Taylor Square, patrons are predominantly seated (and fully clothed). Like much of its clientele, Freda's has grown up — but it hasn't forgotten how to have fun. In late 2020, we mourned the loss of Freda's the nightclub, with the venue closing its doors after a nine-year reign. But owner David Abram didn't sit on his proverbial hands for long, opening the doors to the new iteration of Freda's — Cafe Freda's — just a couple of months later, on NYE. As is clear from the name, Cafe Freda's isn't a nightclub. It's not just a cafe, either. It's a restaurant, neighbourhood bar and creative space. And, like its predecessor, it's a haven of expression, art and music. A set of DJ decks sit behind the bar in preparation for upcoming live music nights, ceramics made by artist and Abram's partner Carla Uriarte line the walls and a cultural program of readings and exhibitions, overseen by Uriarte, is set to launch in coming weeks. [caption id="attachment_798926" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Carla Uriarte, Xinyi Lim and David Abram by Cassandra Hannagan[/caption] Unlike the OG Freda's, however, here there's a stronger focus on food and wine. The kitchen is helmed by chef Xinyi Lim, who has worked at New York restaurants Marlow & Sons and Achilles Heel, and runs Megafauna, which combines food, art and social justice. The food is reflective of Xinyi's Chinese Malaysian heritage and driven by seasonal and locally sourced produce. In short: it's unfussy and nourishing. You might dig into a salad of shaved summer vegetables with sorrel and sesame, topped with a soft egg; a rustic galette of dark leafy greens; or a plate of pulled pork served with labneh and a barley salad. If dessert is on offer, we suggest you order it. So far, sweet hits have included the likes of a generous slice of peach, rye and cardamom brunch cake topped with whipped cream and pastel green pandan panna cotta. Like the panna cotta, the space is covered in pastels. Grand yellow windows open onto Oxford Street, pink walls pop behind the bar and a large blue painting hangs on the wall. Other features have been repurposed from the nightclub, including stools and the bar top itself. [caption id="attachment_798921" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cassandra Hannagan[/caption] The wine list, by Restaurant Leo's Darcy Creenaune Ellis, focuses on minimal-intervention drops from smaller producers across Australia and the globe, including fun pét-nats and skin-contact drops from Ari's Natural Wine in the southern highlands and natural numbers from Cantina Giardino in the hills of Campania, Italy. A cocktail list stars the regular suspects: spritzes, margaritas, espresso martinis and negronis — all for under $20. Club Mate, a carbonated, caffeinated tea-based soft drink that has a bit of a cult following in Europe, has also made the journey over from Chippendale. In Taylor Square, you can drink it as is or as part of a Mega Mate cocktail, with vodka and fresh lime. Once a bustling after-dark hub, Oxford Street was hit hard by the lockout laws and is currently a shell of its former self. But, it seems, that's all starting to change. Cafe Freda's will be joined in Taylor Square by a mega-venue that's set to takeover both the Kinsela and Courthouse Hotels, the City of Sydney has announced plans to reignite nightlife on the street and the NSW Government has scrapped several archaic laws surrounding liquor licences and live music. Oxford Street might just be getting its mojo back. Find Cafe Freda's at 191–195 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst from 4pm–12am Wednesday–Thursday and 12pm–12am Friday–Sunday. To make a booking, email info@fredas.com.au. Images: Cassandra Hannagan
Like karaoke? Fond of singing in public in general, whether you're solo or in a group? Then it's time to up your crooning game. Pub Choir is exactly what it sounds like — aka a gathering of folks belting out a tune, together, in a bar. It's basically what happens whenever someone puts 'Wonderwall' or 'Weather With You' on the jukebox, but in a more organised fashion. Specifically, each session features a particular song, which attendees learn in three-part harmonies. Talented professionals are there to show you the ropes and lead the way, and if you're wondering what you'll be singing, it's usually announced 24-hours beforehand. Doing the rounds of Brisbane venues since early 2017, Pub Choir has become mighty popular — and now it's headed to Sydney. Come Wednesday, September 11, the Enmore Theatre will come alive with the sound of plenty of folks singing and sipping, because both go hand-in-hand here. It'll also feature Ben Lee leading away, plus a selection of other special guests. And, if you're not usually the type of person to unleash their inner Beyonce in front of the masses, don't worry. The great thing about choirs is that everyone is singing, so you are literally a voice in the crowd. In fact, you might just find joining in the fun cathartic. If you can't feel free when you're crooning along with hundreds of others, when can you?
Halva yoghurt. Israeli date honey. Smoked labne. Over the past five years, Kepos Street Kitchen has been the mouthwatering gift that keeps on giving — and locals keep on coming back. To celebrate the Redfern stalwart's fifth birthday this month, owners Michael Rantissi and Kristy Frawley are hosting a series of mouthwatering Middle Eastern-style dinners over three Wednesday nights. On November 15 Israeli-born chef Rantissi will tackle sustainable Aussie seafood with a 'loaves and fishes' dinner. On November 22, Rantissi will shift his focus to serving up a whole lamb with local butcher Marcus Papadopoulo. To round it all out on November 29, the event series will end with a vego feast of seasonal veggies (both preserved and cooked over charcoal) and Mediterranean-style cheeses from cheesemaker Kristen Allan. Each dinner costs $65 per person, with drinks coming in as extra. There will be two seatings per event, 6–8pm and 8.15–10pm. If you're a regular, this is a great way to support your local. If you're yet to check it out, well this is a great opportunity to do so.
On November 24-25, the Sydney Opera House forecourt will transform into an outdoor stage for Dance Rites 2018. Now in its fourth year, this epic event is a First Nations dance competition starring more than 300 performers from all over the country. And it's free. Dance Rites was once part of the Opera House's Homeground Festival, but is now a stand-alone event. In addition to watching the heats from 3pm each day, and the finals on Sunday evening, catch an array of established dancers in action. Just some of the acts on the program include 2017 Dance Rites champs Kulgoodah Dancers, 2017 Wildcard Winners ALLKUMO Malpa Paman Dancers, professional troupe Muggera Dancers and, all the way from New Zealand, collective Te Rua Mauri. Check out, too, musical performances from electro poppers Electric Fieldson Saturday night and Canadian singer-songwriter Leonard Sumner on Sunday. The Dance Rites 2018 winner, which is judged on three dances and decided upon by an expert panel of Juanita Duncan, Libby Collins, Matthew Doyle and Waangenga Blanco — will score a whopping $20,000, too. Images: Daniel Boud and Jacqui Cornforth.
Melburnians love to proudly — and loudly — lament the city's ever-changing weather conditions. It's the ultimate water cooler talking point and the 'four seasons in a day' gimmick is thrown around at least once a day. We love to talk about the weather so much we now have a building dedicated to the topic. Melbourne's newest high-rise 888 Collins isn't your standard apartment block — the 15-storey exterior is fitted with 58,000 lights which, from dusk until midnight, perform an hourly light show for the masses. The show isn't just for spectacle, though. The colours indicate the real-time weather conditions outside and so are, like the weather, constantly changing. This feat was accomplished by artist Bruce Ramus, whose experience as a lighting designer includes work for the likes of R.E.M, U2 and David Bowie. It was easy for Ramus to notice the city's obsession with the weather and he felt creating an artwork that "interprets how the weather feels" was the best homage to locals, he told The Age. The building is located on the corner of Collins and Bourke Streets, down the Docklands end of the CBD. In order to predict the weather accurately, the roof is fitted with a weather station and fed data from the Bureau of Meteorology. The building is also solar powered, which provides power both for the lights and the building itself. While the idea of an eco-friendly building that depicts our love/hate relationship with the weather is right up our alley, we're not sure how keen we'd be to live in it. But Ramus has ensured residents that he has considered them in the design; the light output is far below the city's guidelines and the show "is very gentle". If you want to head down to Docklands and check it out for your self, Ramus has put together a handy guide for how to 'read' the building. Though the show ends at midnight, the building's lights will remain on throughout the night, depicting images of the moon straight on to morning. Now isn't that just dreamy. Via The Age. Image: LendLease.
It's one thing to admire the Sydney skyline from afar (or from high up), but it's a whole new experience to be able to pick the brains of the kind of people responsible for it. On Friday, August 11 and Saturday, August 12, some of biggest names from the architecture and design industry come together at Sydney Indesign to celebrate how far this city has come design-wise. Across the city, there will be pop-up showrooms featuring speakers and talks with topics ranging from cohabitation among different generations, to the different design identities of Australia and how city developers cope with growing populations. Connected by design trails and a hop-on-hop-off shuttle system, you'll be racing around the city surrounded by innovated designs and talking to innovative designers. Not only that, the showrooms will be interactive — little pieces of unique design in their own right. To skip the lines on the day-of, preregister here. Participating venues will open on Friday, August 11 from 12pm - 6pm and on Saturday, August 12 from 10am - 6pm.
Fans of Muji's minimalist homewares and consumer goods will be glad to know that the Japanese megastore isn't done with Sydney yet. With recent news of the newly opened Muji hotels in Japan and China, we were starting to feel a bit like their neglected middle child. But, according to a blog post, the north shore will get its very own MUJI outpost in March. A sister store to The Galeries on George Street, the newbie will be Australia's first multi-level Muji, and the place will be big, covering a whopping 884 square metres at Westfield Chatswood. You can expect it to be stocking all the usual homeware goods, along with men's, women's and children's apparel and accessories, skincare products, stationery, back-to-school/work necessities and travel goods. Their simple designs are also eco‐friendly with minimal packaging, so you really can't go wrong here. The store will open on Wednesday, March 21 with a range of special offers and even a Muji exhibition. We're personally down on bended knees, wishing and hoping that this store will be selling those flat-pack homes and tiny pre-fab huts that we've been waiting so very long for. Muji Chatswood will open on March 21, 2018. Keep an eye on Muji's Facebook and Instagram for updates. Updated: February 27, 2018. Image: Muji/Facebook.
Over seven years in the making, Bondi Pavilion's massive transformation is finally set to be complete this spring. First announced way back in 2015, the pavilion's multimillion-dollar revamp has been a long-running project of the Waverley Council, which has revealed that the historic building will finally reopen later this year with a host of new food, drink and cultural tenants. "There is such growing excitement in the community about the reopening as more and more of the building and our world-class restoration works are revealed," Mayor of Waverley Paula Masselos said. The rejuvenated space will feature an art gallery, cultural spaces, a new area called the Bondi Story Room, a pottery studio, new amenities and an expansive public courtyard, plus the previously announced food and drink tenants. Late last year, it was revealed the team behind Circular Quay's new multi-level venue Hinchcliff House would be at the helm of an all-day cafe, bakery and bistro called Bondi Promenade at the pavilion. The cultural spaces will be available for a multitude of uses by the community including art exhibitions, theatre, workshops and classes, while the Bondi Story Room will offer visitors the chance to look back on Bondi's history via an interactive digital exhibition. The council is taking submissions for the exhibition via the Bondi Pavilion website. During the renovations, the council has also been working with the Gujaga Foundation to ensure that Indigenous cultural heritage is reflected in the Bondi Pavilion, including naming new spaces in the building in the local Dharawal language. The nearly century-old building was first built in the 1920s, replacing the Bondi Surf Sheds with the Turkish and Hot Sea Water Baths in 1929. The current renovations have uncovered the bathhouse's original signage, which has been restored ready for the pavilion opening. While an exact date in spring hasn't been provided for the reopening, expressions of interest to hire the pavilion's Community and Cultural Centre are now open for the dates Monday, October 10 through until the end of the year. Bondi Pavilion is located at Queen Elizabeth Drive, Bondi Beach and is set to reopen in spring. You can stay up to date with the building's refurbishment at the Waverley Council's website. Images: Tonkin Zulaikha Greer.
As we all know, no Christmas season is complete without a solid few hours spent devouring a stack of classic festive flicks. And this year, you can upgrade from that living room couch to a comfy outdoor cinema, thanks to QVB's new festive Cine-mas series. Transforming the centre's secret terrace into an intimate theatre from December 5 to 7, this mini movie fest will screen three of the best-loved Christmas films of all time. Making the cut are Will Ferrell-starring comedy Elf, animated adventure flick The Polar Express and that timeless Macaulay Culkin number, Home Alone. Each night, there'll be a family-friendly session at 6.30pm, followed by a screening for adults at 9pm. Tickets start from $35 for adults, but if you fancy making a night of it, you can splash out an extra $25 to add on dessert from La Belle Miette and your choice of bubbly, wine or beer from the Reign Champagne Parlour & Bar. Drop an extra $75, and you'll get a two-course pre- or post-movie feed at QVB's Esquire Drink + Dine on top of all that.
This small space — which has capacity for around 30 people — does classic cocktails very well, but it's the killer craft beer selection that locals love. The offering is constantly changing but Sydney breweries Yulli's Brews and The Grifter feature heavily, and the team here has a knack for getting its hands on limited releases. Images: Jasmine Low
This could be love: a classic 80s film that's been adored for decades, a new date with the big screen, and a live band and singers bringing its soundtrack to life as you watch. Dirty Dancing in Concert isn't new to Australia, but it keeps returning to tour the country because the movie at its centre is one that audiences can't get enough of. If you're a fan, you'll know which phrase fits: ideally, you'll have the time of your film-watching life. On Saturday, September 6, 2025, Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey will dance up a storm in the 1987 romantic drama at the Darling Harbour Theatre, ICC Sydney. While this event is clearly hoping that you've never felt like this before, that'll only apply if you didn't go to 2022's or 2023's shows. Whether you're a Dirty Dancing in Concert first-timer or returning after seeing it before, you'll not only see the movie — you'll also hit up the party afterwards. Accordingly, as you celebrate one of Swayze's biggest and most-charming film roles, you'll be immersed in the world of the picture from the moment that you take your seat. Although no one will be carrying watermelons or checking into Kellerman's Mountain House in the Catskills, the digitally remastered feature will grace the big screen, its iconic songs will get a workout live, then the musicians will stick around afterwards to headline a party that'll naturally have you singing and dancing. If you're feeling adventurous and inspired by the movie, you might even want to try to recreate the famous lift. Here, nobody will put you or Francis 'Baby' Houseman in a corner — and you'd be just a fool to believe otherwise. Your hungry eyes will soak in Baby's first taste of dirty dancing, her eager rehearsals and her growing infatuation with Johnny Castle, as well as her parents' bitter unhappiness about the entire situation. Dirty Dancing in Concert images: Zdenko Hanout.
Bars and restaurants across the world are coming up with creative ways to implement social distancing. Some are trying out giant teddy bears, some mannequins and some plastic shields, but right here in Australia, one beer company has come up with a novel solution: robots. Dutch beer brand Heineken together with engineering students from Sydney University have opened a pop-up bar in Darlinghurst that's staffed by two robot arms named Heidi and Ken. The arms will crack you a cold one and send it over via a conveyor belt. Only one person is allowed in the bar at a time, so it's a completely human contact-free experience. The beer it's serving is free, too, but it's also alcohol-free — which is great if you're doing Dry July, not so much if you were hoping to get boozed without spending a dime. If you are doing Dry July, we've rounded up some of our favourite booze-free beverages over here. Running from Wednesday, July 15 to Saturday, July 18, the Heineken Zer0.0 Contact Bar coincides with the (relatively recent) launch of the beer brand's alcohol-free beer: Heineken 0.0. It's said to have a fruity flavour with malty notes, but to find out for yourself, head over to the robot bar. Heineken Zer0.0 Contact Bar is open from 11am–6pm daily.
Sports fans, Christmas has arrived — the athletic version that comes around every four years (or, in this case five), that is. Events have begun at this year's delayed Tokyo Olympic Games, the opening ceremony officially kicks things off on Friday, July 23, and two-plus weeks of competition awaits. If you're fond of all of the above, there's really not much that could improve the next fortnight. Actually, one thing could make your Olympics-watching couch sessions even better. We have two words for you: free pizza. They're two of the best words that exist, especially when used together — and they describe exactly what Pizza Hut is offering Aussies during this year's games. In total, the fast food chain will be handing out up to 285,000 freebies. Exactly how many it'll dole out depends on one big thing: how many medals Australian athletes win this year. Pizza Hut will give away a heap of pizzas to celebrate the Olympics' opening and closing ceremonies, as well as a set amount each day during the games as well; however, it's also breaking some additional slices whenever an Aussie stands on the podium. That means you'll have multiple chances to grab a freebie. First up, there'll be 5000 up for grabs from 4pm on Friday, July 23 to celebrate the opening ceremony. Between Saturday, July 24–Saturday, August 7, another 1000 will be given away daily at 4pm as well. On Sunday, August 8, for the closing ceremony, Pizza Hut will bust out another 5000 at 4pm, too. And, whenever an Aussie wins a medal, it'll add 1000 more free pizzas to its giveaway at 4pm the next day for each gold we take home, another 500 for each silver and another 200 for every bronze. To score your 'za without spending a cent, you'll need to head to Pizza Hut's 'pizzas for podiums' website at 4pm each day. Unsurprisingly, you'll want to get in quick as it's a first in, first served affair. You can only enter twice per day — and, if you win, you'll be sent a voucher code for a large pizza with a pan base. You'll be able to choose from super supreme, barbecue meatlovers, pepperoni lovers, Hawaiian and cheese lovers, and you'll need to redeem before Tuesday, August 31 via a pick-up order. One entrant will also win a year's worth of free pizza — well, Pizza Hut's idea of a year's worth, with one free pizza on offer for 52 weeks — if you need any extra motivation to enter. Pizza Hut will be giving away free pizzas from Friday, July 23–Sunday, August 8 during the Tokyo Olympic Games. For further information, head to the chain's website.
Amongst the many large-scale events that've cancelled or postponed in the wake of COVID-19, is perhaps the one we could all use the most right now — the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. With the government banning non-essential mass gatherings of over 500 people, and, today, indoor gatherings over 100, the huge annual laugh-fest was one of the first to be axed from the 2020 calendar. But if it's some chuckles you're after, fear not, because some of Australia's best-loved comedians, many of which were slated to perform at MICF, are coming soon to a streaming device near you. And even those bunkering down at home in a state of enforced self-isolation, or voluntary social-distancing, get to enjoy this little lineup as well. Hitting screens from next month is Amazon Prime's new special series of stand-up shows from ten big-name Aussie comics. Two specials will be released each week from Friday, April 10, including Tom Gleeson's sell-out show Joy, Zoë Coombs Marr with Bossy Bottom, Judith Lucy, Anne Edmonds and Tommy Little. Lano & Woodley, Celia Pacquola, Tom Walker, Dilruk Jayasinha and Alice Fraser are also on the bill, promising to inject a bit of sunshine into your socially distanced life. The comedy specials were all filmed last year at Melbourne's Malthouse Theatre and are set to stream worldwide. You can watch the trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dz3dmDUeydw The ten new comedy specials hit Amazon Prime Video from Friday, April 10.
The technological advancement of the moment continues to creep closer and closer to reality. Perth followed the self-driving path of the US last year with its trial of Australia's first driverless bus and Adelaide began trials of its own electric airport shuttles earlier this year. Not to mention ride share companies Lyft and Uber duelling it out to be the first to launch self-driving cabs on the road. Now, Sydney is getting on board, with the NSW Government green lighting legislation for a two-year trial of driverless shuttles at Sydney Olympic Park — and it's happening imminently, with the trial expected to begin later this month. As in Perth and Adelaide, the vehicle will look like a small shuttle. During the trial period, it will only travel 10km/hour, though the shuttle is capable of hitting a (still cruisy) 50km/hour. The first phase will take place on a closed-off road, so it won't be until later phases that you'll actually get to take it for a spin. Once the shuttle is moved to a public section of the park, it will carry workers along the main streets, taking them to and from the carpark. A product of HMI technologies, the vehicle has an external GPS system which assists with coordination and accuracy. The track will be pre-programmed, but, in the case of something going wrong, the shuttle also has an emergency break. This trial will also allow for the development of infrastructure systems, including the shuttle's connection to traffic lights and even to customers' personal devices. If this all sounds a bit like the start to every movie where the machines take over, we hear you. So many sci-fi movies are closer to truth than we ever imagined possible. A simultaneous cool and creepy thought. On a brighter note, according to ABC, it is estimated that up to 94 percent of crashes on roads are caused by human error. Since humans suck at driving so much, there's a good chance driverless cars will actually improve road safety in Australia — until the artificial intelligence decides otherwise, of course. Via ABC.
What was once a wartime torpedo factory and submarine base is now Sydney's newest playground and public space. Located on the harbour between Kirribilli and Kurraba Point in North Sydney, HMAS Platypus is a former submarine base that hasn't been open to the public in over 150 years. Now, the space has been transformed into Sub Base Platypus, a massive new foreshore walkway and parkland — and it's now open to the masses. The historic north shore site sits on Cammeraygal land and was once a gasworks facility for the region. As part of the war effort, the site became a torpedo factory in 1942 and later commissioned as the navy's submarine base in 1967 — named HMAS Platypus — which then closed back in 1998. What was once the submarine wharf has been rebuilt into an elevated water walkway that links the site to Kesterton Park (via Kiara Close) and theNorth Sydney Ferry Wharf. Alongside the water walkway is a recreation and barbecue area, plus a new submarine-themed playground. As a tribute to the site's history, the playground includes a model Oberon Submarine and periscopes, built by the Harbour Trust's Volunteer Restoration Team, which consists of over 50 volunteers with expertise in engineering, carpentry and electrical work. Stage one opened in May 2018, with further redevelopment and long-term upgrades planned for the site over the next three years. It is eventually planned to become a large-scale waterfront park, with the government having already invested nearly $70 million in the project. The second stage of Sub Base Platypus will include a mix of open areas and parkland, with the addition of plazas, courtyards and flexible re-use spaces. The former submarine workshop structures will soon be leased out as well, with tenants expected onsite throughout 2019. Updated: June 24, 2018.
Plenty changes over the course of ten years. If you're living in a post-apocalyptic world populated by zombies, however, that mightn't necessarily be the case. Arriving a decade after the first film, Zombieland: Double Tap returns to the decimated America inhabited by Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson), Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg), Wichita (Emma Stone) and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin), with the quartet still trying to survive among the ravenous undead — and getting comfortable in a desolated White House in the process. It's a case of same main cast, same director (Ruben Fleischer, who also helmed last year's Venom) and same basic premise for the long-awaited sequel. In the just-released first trailer for the film, the gang have also picked up a few new skills, and then cross paths with a few new survivors. But, story-wise, the follow-up is saving the bulk of its surprises for the full flick, which hits cinemas this October. Among the newcomers, Rosario Dawson plays Nevada, Zoey Deutch (Set It Up) pops up as Madison and Avan Jogia (Now Apocalypse) joins as Berkeley, while Luke Wilson and Thomas Middleditch (Silicon Valley) show up as virtual doppelgangers for Tallahassee and Columbus. If you're after more excitement, both monster trucks and combine harvesters feature as weapons, Harrelson dons an Elvis costume and a Santa suit, and fireworks prove a great way to distract zombies. Watch the first trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlW9yhUKlkQ Zombieland: Double Tap releases in Australian cinemas on October 17.
Built to Spill wine was started by Tai Tate (ex-Porteno, Mary's, P&V) in 2020, combining his love of natural wines and music. The local wine curator has since built a cult following, collaborating with the likes of Freddie Gibbs, The Chats and Cosmic Psychos. If you haven't had the opportunity to try Built to Spill's wines, Tate is bringing them to you with a series of pop-ups to close out 2022. The wines are making five stop-overs across Sydney and its surrounds, each time bringing DJ sets, free tastings, vinyl and merch with them. The first two will be at Inner West favourites, starting at The Lansdowne's recently reopened rooftop bar on Saturday, November 26, followed by The Duke of Enmore on Saturday, December 3. The following Saturday, December 10, these minimal intervention drops will be travelling to Laguna for a takeover of the Great Northern Trading Post. The Leichhardt Bowling Club will be the next stop on the tour on Saturday, December 17, before it all concludes at a yet-to-be-disclosed location in the Blue Mountains just before Christmas. You can follow along with the pop-up tour at the winemaker's Instagram. Just to top off the end-of-year festivities, Built to Spill has announced a new collaboration with eccentric Australian sketch comedy trio Aunty Donna. The collab is a $30 Bottle of Wine in both concept and name. If you're looking for an appropriate bottle of wine to bring to a dinner party or social occasion, this limited-time wine tells everyone in the room just how much you spent on it — the perfect middle point for a bottle of wine, $30. Plus, in the new year, Tate and co. have a range of events and collaborations lineup up for the new year, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled for more announcements to come.
Before it was a restaurant, the heritage-listed structure that houses Ripples was used for secret military operations to defend Sydney Harbour. It's not difficult to understand why. From any table on the breezy waterside deck, spectacular views extend as far as the eye can see; Watsons Bay and Nielsen Park decorate one horizon, while the Northern headlands cradle the harbour on the other. Within closer range lies the pretty greenery of Clifton Gardens, bordered by white sand and the boats that bob merrily on the harbour. As an appetiser for the senses, the magnificent view is a hard act to follow. Ripples accepts the challenge gracefully, offering a well-priced feast that matches the vista in uniqueness and allure. A round of tomato and mozzarella arancini with a pickled tomato chutney ($10) and a glass of Antonini Cereso Prosecco ($12) will tide you over while you choose from the comprehensively scrumptious menu and wine list. The decadent truffle has been embraced throughout the menu. It is infused into the oil that dresses the wild mushroom bruschetta with sous vide egg ($18), adds deep flavour to the cream that is served alongside perfectly cooked beef tenderloins with marrow butter and cherry tomatoes ($32), and makes luscious cameos in the seasonal specials. Chestnuts, toasted Sardinian pasta, Packham pears and mustard fruits are among the other quality ingredients used to make the tasty, traditional dishes sing. Dessert continues the theme of traditional with a twist. Our pick is a rich, flourless chocolate cake drenched with salted caramel sauce and lifted with a generous scoop of apple pie gelato ($15). Closure is brought by a Frogmore Creek Iced Riesling and a round, fruity espresso. Ripples is the kind of place where time stands still; it's easy to while away a day here without noticing. Hearty Italian-style food, good wine, and a view that reminds us why we are just so lucky to live in this city are an unbeatable combination that we'll be back for time and time again.
The festival retreat of 2013 continues, with the Big Day Out announcing that their second Sydney event on Monday, January 27, will be cancelled and merged with the show on January 26. "Perhaps we were a bit ambitious expanding to two dates in Sydney for this year’s Big Day Out," promotor Ken West said in a statement. The Big Day Out has held two Sydney shows in three previous years, depending on the pulling power of its headliners. Ticketholders for the Monday event are automatically able to use their ticket on Sunday. Alternatively, they can get a refund until October 30, 2013, or exchange it for a Big Day Out in any other city. It all comes just a week and a half after the cancellation of Harvest. At the time, promoter AJ Maddah put poor Harvest ticket sales down to the lure of the 2014 Big Day Out lineup, but in light of this new information, it seems the competing festival can't have pinched that many of Harvest's followers. The 2014 Big Day Out lineup sort of lived up to the hype. Organisers spoke of their excitement at landing three "white whales", and the top of the ticket is pretty monumental. Pearl Jam is a classic choice for BDO headliner, Arcade Fire a welcome return visitor to the main stage, Blur a seriously impressive 'get' — and Snoop's good-natured, laaiiiiidbaaack style a nice counterpoint to the snarling grunge and indie-rock mania. For more information or to exchange your ticket, visit the Big Day Out website. By the Concrete Playground team.
For the second year in a row, one of Australia's filmmaking icons has joined the Sydney Film Festival's program: George Miller, the director responsible for all things Mad Max and Furiosa. In 2024, he hit the Harbour City festival to chat about his work, including the dystopian saga that he has gifted Aussie cinema, but his 2025 discussion will span further. Not only is Miller taking to the stage, but he'll be joined by Hideo Kojima. One is the man responsible not just for a big Australian movie franchise, but for the big Australian movie franchise. He's also followed a pig in the city, made penguins dance, gotten witchy and granted wishes, too. The other is the creator of both the DEATH STRANDING and Metal Gear Solid video-game series, and heads to Sydney just before DEATH STRANDING 2: ON THE BEACH releases at the end of June. This is a world-exclusive in-conversation session, taking place on Saturday, June 14 at Sydney Town Hall's Centennial Hall — so consider it one of the ace ways to help see out this year's cinema celebration, which runs from Wednesday, June 4–Sunday, June 15. Miller and Kojima will not only dig into how they each approach their fields, plus their respective visionary approaches, but also explore how movies and video games overlap, alongside cinematic storytelling in gaming. Greats in their own rights, the duo are also recent collaborators — Miller portrays himself in the Australia-set DEATH STRANDING 2: ON THE BEACH. "This is a rare and exciting meeting of two creative minds who have reshaped their respective industries. Kojima and Miller's shared love of cinema and storytelling will make for an unforgettable conversation at this year's festival," said SFF Festival Director Nashen Moodley, announcing the fest's latest addition. On the fest's guest list, Miller and Kojima are joined by Free Solo filmmaker Jimmy Chin, Together director Michael Shanks, music icon Warren Ellis and plenty more — so along with putting 201 movies on your must-watch list, it's adding a heap of must-see talents to your June as well. The George Miller and Hideo Kojima in-conversation session is happening on Saturday, June 14 at Sydney Town Hall. Sydney Film Festival 2025 takes place from Wednesday, June 4–Sunday, June 15 at various cinemas and venues around Sydney. For more information and tickets, head to the festival's website. Read our interview with George Miller, Anya Taylor-Joy and Chris Hemsworth about Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga,.
Discover the therapeutic qualities of Sydney's saltwater coastline at Wylie's Baths. The ocean pool was established in 1907 when the health benefits of sea bathing were the height of fashion. Casual visits are currently on hold under the Bath's COVID Safety Plan, but you can get multi-visit or annual passes, which give you access to the historic building and its unparalleled sea therapy — think soothing ocean waves, invigorating waters and stunning views of Wedding Cake Island and the blue Pacific. These baths are perfect for lap swimmers and casual pool-goers alike. Replenish your energy with kiosk snacks, or enjoy an outdoor massage on the decks at Massage by the Sea for an extra fee. Treat it like a spa day for body and soul — recharge, refresh and restore balance, naturally. Images: Destination NSW
The good folks at Assembly are expanding. Soon, you'll stepping straight from their cocktail-conjuring treehouse into an Italian restaurant. As faithful Assembly-goers know, the crew likes to do things just right. So, they're bringing in an iguanadon-sized, handmade woodfire oven, all the way from Italy. Plus, they've invited none other than former Da Orazio Pizza & Porchetta chef Nick Pulcher to create the menu. Just some of the yummy, yummy dishes he's come up with are: fresh burrata cradled by heirloom tomatoes, Spanish onion, roasted capsicum, olives and basil ($19); tagliolini al nero di sepia – housemade, black-ink tagliolini sautéed with crab meat and prawns ($26.50); costolette di agnello — lamb cutlet raised on New South Wales's rolling pastures and served up with green pea puree, baby carrots and caramelised Spanish onion ($33.50); and that delizioso classic, panna cotta ($12). Chef Antonio Buonomo will be staying warm next to the oven, where he'll whipping up an immoveable Napoli-style feast. You can get stuck into his pizzas in the restaurant or in the bar, or take them home. Among the deliciousness on the list you'll find margherita — San Marzano tomato, mozzarella fior di latte, parmesan, basil, olive oil ($18); quattro formaggi – buffalo mozzarella, mozzarella fior di latte, gorgonzola, smoked provola cheese, fresh basil, olive oil ($24); and salumi – San Marzano tomato, mozzarella fior di latte, ham, mild salami, hot salami, Italian sausage, basil, olive oil ($25). Some might find Assembly's Regent Place location strange for a small bar, but we reckon it's a great escape from the CBD's madness and fast food chains, when you don't have time to travel further afield. The interior is a bit of a paean to the many forces shaping international design. If you use a knife and fork to eat pizza (you heathen!), you'll be wrapping your hands around Italian cutlery. Some of the crockery, all the concrete lights and the marble table come from there, too. Meanwhile, other bits of crockery were made in France and Denmark and the tiles are Espanol. Digging the timber that the tables and chairs are made of? It's all recycled, eco-friendly stuff from Tassie. Find Assembly restaurant at 488 Kent Street, Sydney from Wednesday, February 17. Head down for lunch and dinner seven days a week. The bar opens from midday daily.
There's always a good reason to put off that big trip. But if those cringe quotes and sappy videos that make the rounds on social media have taught us anything, it's that we should make every moment count. Don't save that annual leave and that holiday fund for 'one day'. Take advantage of your wanderlust now and treat yourself to an entirely unexpected, over-the-top adventure to somewhere brand new now. We bet you deserve it. From a romantic helicopter flight that wouldn't be out of place on an episode of a certain reality dating show or fine dining under desert skies, a trip to Central Australia is just what the doctor ordered. We've teamed up with Tourism Central Australia to give you the most outrageously decadent itinerary Central Australia has to offer. Because why not? You only live once, so live once. Want to plan your very own adventure to the Red Centre? Take a look at our handy trip builder to start building your custom itinerary now.
The Canadian electro-pop group Austra caused a sensation at the 2012 Laneway Festival, with their exhilarating fusion of riveting vocals and electronic synth. That performance was just from their debut album, and since then they've added two new members and dropped a fantastic follow-up album. 2013's Olympia is the perfect combination of indie rock and new wave. Katie Stelmanis, the main songwriter, rings a bell of Florence Welch and London Grammar's Hannah Reid with her operatic voice. Her songwriting talents have shone as well in this second album, which is a beautiful collection of lyrically personal tracks. But perhaps its been her ability to expand the band's range of sounds — which encompasses many dimensions of trance, electro and pop — yet stay true to feeling of their first album that have made Austra so successful. They've recently had a crazy touring schedule, sharing the stage with big-timers such as The xx, Grimes and The Gossip. This summer, Austra will be returning to The Standard alongside their Perth Festival appearance.
Slurp your way through hump day at The Morrison, with the George Street bar turning every Wednesday into a cheap oyster feast. And while the texture of this seafood morsel isn't to everyone's liking, the feeling it evokes should be — who doesn't want to slide into the latter half of the week the way that an oyster slides across your tastebuds? If you are a fan, then your wallet will be as well. As part of its $1.50 Oyster Hour, The Morrison is slinging oysters for, well, $1.50 each. They're on offer from 5–7pm weekly, with the venue extending its usual hour-long special to two hours post-COVID-19 lockdowns. And, they're available for both walk-ins and for bookings — although if you want to reserve a table, you'll also need to order a main meal. Pair them with a glass of sparkling, because it's well-accepted advice that oysters and something boozy go hand-in-hand. All that's left is to mosey on down to the CBD spot come Wednesday and settle in for your fair share of saltwater bivalve molluscs. After-work drinks? Dinner before you head out? This special caters for both options. The Morrison Bar & Oyster Room's weekly Oyster Hour takes place on Wednesdays from 5–7pm.
How do you like your roast? If size matters, book in at Forrester's any day of the week for The Big Yorkie. If you can't go without ocean views, try the Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel. If you like a twist on tradition, head to Casa Esquina for a taco roast you can hold in your hands. Or, for a more refined take, head to The Botanist in Kirribilli. This year, it's peddling a signature take on the classic beef wellington. You'll be served a juicy fillet of grass-fed beef with mixed mushrooms, spinach, prosciutto and jus, encased in delicate pastry. On the side – creamy mashed potatoes and a leaf salad dressed in shallot vinaigrette. To make it even more posh, add your pick of starters and sides — from yellowfin tuna crudo with whipped tahini and kombu salsa to grilled half-shell scallop with garlic butter, or broccolini with roasted sesame and chilli crunch. Bookings are available every Sunday in June, but you'll need to make them by 6pm on the Friday before. Bottom image: Yasmin Mind
Back in the '20s, you'd always be caught dead on Kellett Street. Once the battleground of vicious razor gangs — headed by the brothel-owning ‘Queen of Woolloomooloo’ Tilly Devine and fencer of prohibited goodies ‘Queen of Surry Hills’ Kate Leigh — Kellett Street saw a good portion of the epic and bloody Razor Gang Wars between 1927-31. Now, the shady backstreet is a Sydney night strip home to clubs, nightspots and eateries — including brand new, just-opened bar/restaurant Parsons. Opened by brothers Joe and Nick van der Heide, Parsons is housed in the site formerly home to French bistro Cafe Boheme. It's a gutsy move, as Good Food points out, with the street gaining a bit of a reputation for cut-short restaurant residencies — although fellow Kellet Street newcomer The Powder Keg is diving in too. But perhaps it's simply a matter of daylight. "A lot of the places [that didn't make it] tried to focus on day trade," Joe van der Heide told GF. "It's still a night strip." Parsons is decked out in classic '30s speakeasy detail, with low hanging exposed light bulbs, an openair back room and Chesterfield couches. Drinks-wise, the cocktail menu is full of '30-style gems like The Parsons' Mistress (Belvedere, elderflower, gin, egg white, fresh mint), Blood and Sand (scotch whisky, sweet vermouth, cherry, blood orange) or the Black Cherry Banger (Gentleman Jack, lime juice, simple syrup, grapefruit bitters and cherry soda). You'll find the local likes of Rocks Brewing Co.'s Hangman Pale Ale and The Governor Golden Ale on tap, with a vintage wine ledger on request. Happy hour ($7 pints, $5 house wine and $12 cocktails) runs until 7pm. Nosh-wise, you’ll find bar snacks like pork crackling (served herbed or fiery), olives and house-seasoned nuts. For something shareable, there’s crumbed pork strips with house made ketchup and lemon aioli, pulled beef brisket sliders with mustard slaw, cheese boards and charcuterie. For a heftier eat, Parsons is offering up vegetable galette ($15), prawn and shitake ravioli ($17), chicken mini roasts stuffed with parsley, spinach, walnuts and currants ($18) — all topped off with housemade ice-cream from head chef Sciara. Find Parsons at 3 Kellett Street, Kings Cross. Open Tuesday through Saturday from 5pm until midnight. Via Good Food.
UPDATE: Thursday May 6, 2021 — New COVID-19 restrictions have been announced. We'll keep you updated on this event as the situation changes. For the latest information, visit NSW Health. Turn up the treat-factor this Mother's Day and take your mum, or a mother figure in your life, to a luxe long lunch at Watson's Bay Hotel. Settle in for a three-course share-style menu paired with a two hours of free-flowing bubbles. A spot is a neat $110 per person and $25 for any children under 10. You'll start with the likes of pizzetta, bruschetta and burrata caprese. To follow there'll be milk braised pork penne, wagyu rump la tagliata, mushroom duxelles and crispy-skinned ocean trout. Make sure you save room for dessert — tiramisu with whipped mascarpone cream with coffee-infused biscuits. You'll also receive a Chandon Floral Spritz on arrival and cascades of Chandon Brut and Chandon Rosé throughout the afternoon. Booking is essential as spots are limited. So, secure your spot for Sunday, May 9 here. Then, get ready to spoil the matriarch in your life with bubbles and bites while overlooking Sydney Harbour. Images: supplied
Vivid Sydney is here for 2022, brightening up as many places around the city as it can manage — and turning almost every walk around town into a glowing experience. Here's another way to soak up the luminous sights while making the most of the citywide fest: hitting up Carriageworks for free installation Contact. The work of light artist Sam Whiteside, this immersive piece includes a monolithic lightwork, complete with thick haze and an intense white and red beam of brightness. If it sounds a tad trippy and also a bit eerie, that's by design. Using algorithmically generated simulations, those shafts of light pulse through the space — distorting your sense of reality. On display from 5–11.30pm on Thursday, June 2–Friday, June 3 and Thursday, June 9–Saturday, June 11 — plus from 5–9.30pm on Sunday, June 5 — Contact also comes with a drone soundscape composed and produced by Patrick Liney. So, it finds another way to steep you in its confines. Another key factor: Carriageworks' architecture, and the shadows that Contact casts among its walls. Images: Jacquie Manning.
When The Many Saints of Newark ends, will it cut suddenly to black? Will Journey's 'Don't Stop Believing' somehow get a spin, even though the film is set in the 60s and 70s? How much ziti will be served throughout the course of the feature? And, how many overt and obvious links to The Sopranos will pop up? These are some of the questions you might have if you're a fan of one of the best TV shows ever made, you're excited about big-screen prequel The Many Saints of Newark, and if you woke up this morning and got yourself a hankering for a sneak peek at the latter. Fourteen years after HBO's hit mobster drama wrapped up its TV run, creator David Chase has penned this jump back to Tony Soprano's formative years. Yes, it's obviously one of the most-anticipated flicks of the year. The Many Saints of Newark hops into Soprano's story when he's a teen in the titular New Jersey city — a place under the sway of the DiMeo crime family, struggling with race relations and about to be caught up in the race riots of 1967. Young Anthony plans to go to college, but he also has a strong relationship with his uncle Dickie Moltisanti (Alessandro Nivola, The Art of Self-Defense). And, to answer the question that's just sprang into your head, Dickie is indeed the father of series regular Christopher Moltisanti. Anthony's connection to his uncle Dickie will have a huge impact on his life, and sway his path to becoming the panic attack-suffering, hot-tempered mob boss that The Sopranos followed for six seasons between 1999–2007. Family is a huge part of the film, as it was in the influential drama before it — and as as both the initial glimpse and just-dropped second trailer for The Many Saints of Newark both show. That's true not just in the narrative, however, but also in the casting. If young Anthony Soprano looks familiar, that's because he's played by Michael Gandolfini (The Deuce, Cherry) — son of the late, great James Gandolfini. Enlisting the younger Gandolfini leaves a significant imprint, even just from the trailers. Watching these clips, it's impossible to imagine this movie being made without him stepping into his dad's shoes. The Sopranos aficionados can also look forward to spending time with a few familiar characters other than Young Anthony — including Corey Stoll (The Report) as Uncle Junior, Vera Farmiga (The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It) as Anthony's mother Livia, and Billy Magnussen (Made for Love) and John Magaro (First Cow) as his future righthand men Paulie Walnuts and Silvio Dante. And, Leslie Odom Jr (One Night in Miami) and Jon Bernthal (Those Who Wish Me Dead) also co-star, while seeing Ray Liotta (Marriage Story) jump back into the gangster genre immediately conjures up memories of Goodfellas, the Martin Scorsese classic that also charted the rise of a young man within the mob. Check out the latest trailer for The Many Saints of Newark below: The Many Saints of Newark releases in Australian cinemas on November 4.
Your Christmas dessert game is already looking super strong this year, whether you like the sound of Piccolina's decadent gelato cake, Messina's OTT trifle or perhaps a liquid sugar rush courtesy of Four Pillars' cult Christmas pudding gin. But wait — there's more. The good folk at Black Star Pastry have entered the ring with their own festive creation — a limited-edition layered number dubbed First Snow. It's the brand's first foray into Christmas treats in a few years and it's hitting all the right notes. Inspired by the idea of a snow-capped white Christmas, the cake boasts layers of milk sponge, white chocolate and elderflower cream, spliced with a Griottine (boozy macerated cherries) compote and set atop a base of roasted wafer. A snowfall of white chocolate tops it all off, along with a forest scene featuring hand-carved chocolate 'pine cones', fresh cherries, fondant snowflakes and white chocolate ice shards. If you're craving a white Christmas, this should certainly hit the spot. They're whipping up First Snow in two different sizes, depending on how big (and hungry) your Christmas crew is — the four-portion serve clocks in at $48, while the ten-portion is $92. And given how Black Star's creations usually land, you'll probably want to be quick to secure one. Pre-orders open on Monday, December 5, with pick-ups available from all Melbourne and Sydney stores between Thursday, December 22–Saturday, December 24. [caption id="attachment_872534" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Black Star St Kilda[/caption] You can pre-order Black Star's First Snow cake online from December 5. Collection is available from all of the brand's Aussie stores — Newtown, Sydney CBD, Rosebery, Moore Park, Chadstone and St Kilda.
Josh Niland's list of accomplishments is too long to rattle off — from radically changing Sydney's perception of seafood through to best-selling books, and acclaimed restaurants including being named in the world's top 100 best chefs in 2022. Josh and his partner in crime Julie Niland have blazed a singular trail — and the wins just keep rolling in with more new restaurants opening and on their way. Up until 2023, you would have had to travel over to Sydney's east to taste the Nilands' boundary-pushing no-waste seafood at spots like Saint Peter (our pick for the best restaurant in Sydney) and Charcoal Fish. But now, you'll find it across the bridge in St Leonards. Petermen brings the typical Niland passion and inventiveness to the North Shore in the form of a 60-seat restaurant and bar. The name is a nod to the Saint Peter ecosystem. The original Niland restaurant gets its moniker from the patron saint and former fisherman Saint Peter. This holy seafood enthusiast was the inspiration behind fellow fishers being called Petermen in the 1400s. [caption id="attachment_878784" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Rob Palmer[/caption] As expected, the ever-changing menu leans heavily on the fruits of the sea. Start your night by ordering from the shared dishes heroing raw fish — such as South West Rocks line-caught bonito, Corner Inlet snapper with stag seaweed and Mooloolaba yellowfin tuna with capers. And, from the preserved lineup, highlights include Port Lincoln berrima octopus and Espelette pepper, Flinders Island scallops and Jervis Bay mussels. For bigger bites, options span Manjimup marron with curry butter, Coorong pipis with garlic and chilli, Flinders Island southern calamari, and sweet and sour Ulladulla blue mackerel — all from the charcoal grill. There's also plenty of hearty veggie dishes and some well-loved Niland favourites to discover on the menu. The St. Helens long-spine sea urchin crumpet is one of the chef's classics and an absolute must-try. Petermen brings the Saint Peter experience to a wider audience, bringing this one-of-a-kind seafood dining further northwest. With more seats than the tiny Paddington original and longer opening hours (including lunch on weekends), there are more opportunities for you to nab a spot and experience the wild sustainable seafood creations emerging from Josh Niland's mind.
With just days to go until the new Sydney Metro City and Southwest Line's planned opening, Transport for NSW has announced that the super-fast train line will no longer welcome its first passengers on Sunday, August 4. In recent months, thousands of hours of tests have been carried out on the new line's systems to prepare them for commuters. However, the Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator has yet to certify the line as passenger-ready, forcing Transport for NSW to postpone the opening. A new opening date is yet to be announced. It has taken seven years of construction to prepare the new line connecting Sydenham in Sydney's southwest to Chatswood, north of the harbour, and tantalising images of the new stations, including the vast "superhub" at Martin Place, have offered a glimpse at the exciting upgrades commuters can look forward to. Improved infrastructure around new Metro stations has also been revealed in recent days, including a sprawling public spaces at the waterfront Barangaroo precinct, where hundreds of plants, seating areas and a monument of a unique piece of Sydney history have been installed. At a media address at Martin Place on Tuesday, July 30, Transport Minister Jo Haylen said of the delayed opening: "We do need a little more time for the safety regulator to give us the final tick of approval. I've always said that safety and reliability comes first and I'm not in the business of putting additional pressure on the national safety regulator." More than 11,000 hours of tests have been carried out on the line already, however, four additional exercises, in collaboration with Fire and Rescue NSW, will need to be completed before final approval to open can be issued. For more information about the City and Southwest Metro line, visit the Sydney Metro website. Images: Transport for NSW
Promising some of NSW's best wines paired with views across the Opera House and Harbour Bridge, the Aria After Dark event series pretty much sells itself. As part of Sydney Solstice, the award-winning bar is showcasing four of the state's greatest winemakers across four evenings. You'll get to know Will Gilbert and his Mudgee wines on Wednesday, June 9; swirl Brokenwood's stellar vino, courtesy of winemaker Kate Sturgess, on Thursday, June 10; try Angus Vinden's vinous Hunter Valley drops on Wednesday, June 16; and, finally, get familiar with Nick Spencer Wines on Thursday, June 17. To help line the stomach, you'll tuck in to some top local produce, too. Tickets for the events will set you back $85 a pop, which'll get you two glasses of wine, three snacks and plenty of tastings. [caption id="attachment_814238" align="alignnone" width="1591"] Steven Woodburn[/caption] Top image: Cole Bennetts
Once you've self-proclaimed your next album as the "album of the life" (see tweet), the next logical step is to create an epic, worldwide premiere party for its release. Well, it is if you're Kanye West (and, really, Kanye is the only person who could pull this off). So for the release of his upcoming album Waves — which was, up until a few hours ago named Swish — he'll be debuting it with a show at Madison Square Garden in NYC on February 11. And he'll be broadcasting the performance live in cinemas around the world. Yep, Kanye is literally going cinematic — and if you're in Melbourne or Sydney, you can get in on the action. Hoyts Broadway are screening Kanye West / Season 3 / Waves which, according Hoyts' synopsis, will feature the "world premiere of the album Waves in its entirety, live from Madison Square Garden". He's also expected to present his new fashion line, Yeezy Season 3 at the show. The screening will take place at 8am on Friday, February 12. On Monday, Kanye tweeted a handwritten page detailing the tracklist for the then-Swish, now-Waves album. It's set to be broken into three acts and include collaborations with Kendrick Lamar, Sia, Ty Dolla $ign, Vic Mensa and Post Malone. Amazingly, there are still a few tickets left to the screenings, so head over to the Hoyts website to snap some up. This is the greatest album of your whole life, after all.
It was only a matter of time before Australia's penchant for themed brunches spawned an all-out, fairytale-inspired breakfast feast. And you'll have the chance to partake — and channel your inner Ariel, Mulan or, even, Simba — when a huge (unofficial) Disney-themed bottomless brunch and sing-along party rocks into town for the first time ever. There's no word yet on where or when this shindig‚ dubbed The Magical Brunch, is going down, but we do know that it's heading to Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane — and costumes are definitely encouraged, so you'd best start hunting for your best Elsa gown or Cruella de Vil two-tone wig. Prince, princesses and singing candelabras will sit down to an afternoon brunch feast "served fairytale-style" — we're hoping for something similar to Belle's 'Be Our Guest' feast in Beauty and the Beast — along with two hours of unlimited Champagne, beer or mimosas. Word is there'll be themed entertainment and a Cinderella-worthy dance floor for post-brunch twirling, too. Best dust off the DVD collection and start singing, and dancing, to those classic tunes. Tickets are apparently limited, so head over to the Magical Brunch website and sign up now for the chance to be involved.
Though the sun is still shining high, we're sorry to say that cooler nights are just around the corner. But now is not the time to wallow. Instead, you've got to give these last licks of summer all you've got. This is especially true on the date front. We've put together a list of outdoor adventures for you and your date to enjoy before the hot days and balmy nights disappear. Go for a picnic by the water, a sunset cliff walk or a film under the stars. These aren't your usual go-to date destinations, and each and every single one is primed for BYO. Just don't wait on it — the autumn chill will be here before you know it.
Now settled into Wunderlich Lane, Island Radio has gone about impressing those from Surry Hills and beyond with its hawker-inspired cuisine paired with a dazzling tropical fit-out. Yet this vibey spot is turning up the volume dial even further, hosting the Unico Zelo Wine Rave from 5pm on Thursday, October 23. Bringing together natty wine, bold flavours and high-energy chaos, this one-night-only experience features an eight-dish set menu riffing on Southeast Asian–inspired cuisine, with dishes including raw salmon with red curry dressing, and charred turmeric-brined chicken with coconut sambal. Meanwhile, a suitably tasty Unico Zelo wine pairs with each dish. Born in the Adelaide Hills back in 2012, Unico Zelo is renowned for its playful, sustainable wines crafted from drought-resistant grapes. On the night, diehard wine-nerd and brand ambassador Noah Ward will be in the house, leading this multi-course dinner and playing a pivotal role in the chaotic accoutrements on the agenda. That includes DJs spinning tunes from behind the decks, wine-fuelled jelly shots on arrival and even spin the bottle. Don't worry, there's only prizes up for grabs, like bottles of Unico Zelo, exclusive merch and food and drink vouches. Conceived as a dinner party meets dance floor fun, this rave-like wine night is set to defy all expectations.
UPDATE: JULY 31, 2018 — You can stop bulk-buying chocolate bars, 50,000 more golden tickets to Charlie And the Chocolate Factory have just been released. And you can buy them right here. Two show dates have been added in January and the season has been extended to May 31, 2019. If you'd like to catch Willy Wonka and his orange-hued friends on the stage, we suggest moving quickly. Everyone's favourite 'candy man' is hitting Aussie shores next January, with the announcement that Sydney's Capitol Theatre will play host to the smash-hit musical production of Charlie And the Chocolate Factory. Roald Dahl's classic sugar-dusted tale is being brought to life in its Australian debut by a collaboration between theatre producers John Frost, Craig Donnell, Langley Park Productions, Neal Street Productions and Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures. Following the worldwide popularity of both the original book and the 1971 Gene Wilder film of the same name, the musical has been confirmed a sweet success internationally, scoring rave reviews during its stint on Broadway last year. With original songs like The Candy Man and I've Got a Golden Ticket featured alongside new tunes from the songwriters of Hairspray, this confection of a show promises to lure audiences of all ages into, shall we say, a land of pure imagination. It's directed by three-time Tony Award winner Jack O'Brien, with music by Tony, Grammy and Emmy Award winner Marc Shaiman, lyrics courtesy of Grammy and Tony Award winners Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman, and choreography by Tony Award nominee and Emmy Award winner Joshua Bergasse. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory's Sydney season will kick off on January 8, 2019, with performances running on Tuesday to Sunday. Tickets for the first month of shows are now on sale at charliethemusical.com.au. Top image: Joan Marcus, the original Broadway cast 2017.
What happens when you take a huge name in Australia's music scene, add 40 more musical talents, then combine them all for two big gigs? In 2023, you get Red Bull Symphonic with Genesis Owusu and the Sydney and Brisbane Symphony Orchestras. The popular series pairs impressive local talents with an orchestral backing, after first debuting in 2022 in the Sunshine State with Goodna rapper Lisi and the Queensland Symphony Orchestra. In 2023, it's expanding its shows to New South Wales, too — and making Ghanaian Australian artist Owusu the star. "If you've seen me perform live, you know I love the drama. Bringing out the grandeur in every element," said Owusu, announcing the gigs. "What's grander and more theatrical than a punk-funk-rap enigma backed by a 40-piece orchestra? We getting real thespian out here." The 2023 Red Bull Symphonic tour will kick off in Brisbane, at the River City's Fortitude Music Hall on Friday, March 3, with the Brisbane Symphony Orchestra in support. Sydneysiders get their turn on Thursday, March 23 at the Sydney Opera House's Concert Hall, with — naturally — the Sydney Symphony Orchestra on hand to assist. Owusu will also be collaborating with Australian composer and arranger Alex Turley (Sydney and Melbourne Symphony Orchestras, Omega Ensemble, Electric Fields, NGAIIRE), in two shows that promise to combine two different arts worlds — and give his own punk-electronic tracks a new interpretation that even his most ardent fans haven't experienced. The multi award-winning performer gets orchestral after a massive couple of years that've seen him win triple j's Album of the Year in 2021 for his debut record Smiling with No Teeth; nab four ARIAs including Album of the Year, Best Hip Hop Release, Best Independent Release and Best Cover Art for the same release; and score 2022 ARIA noms for Best Music Video and Best Independent Release for single 'GTFO'. And yes, it's an excellent time to enjoy classical orchestras in new ways, courtesy of other events like Ministry of Sound Classical and Synthony, plus film-and-music screenings for flicks as diverse as Black Panther, Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope, Frozen, The Princess Bride, Home Alone, Toy Story and more. Wondering what's in store at Red Bull Symphonic? Check out footage from 2022's event below: RED BULL SYMPHONIC WITH GENESIS OWUSU: Friday, March 3: Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane, with the Brisbane Symphony Orchestra Thursday, March 23: Sydney Opera House, Sydney, with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra Red Bull Symphonic with Genesis Owusu takes place in March 2023, with tickets onsale now via the Sydney Opera House for Sydney and Ticketmaster for Brisbane. Top image: Bart Celestino.
The third of a series of civil disobedience projects aimed at changing the perception of expected public behavior has landed in Madrid in the form of a takeover of street ads throughout populated areas of the city. The Madrid Street Advertising Takeover (MaSAT) was launched by the Public Ad Campaign, an organisation that strives to change how humans interact with their environment. At 5:30 am on March 30, four teams of 16 volunteers traversed the city of Madrid to the Cemusa bus shelters to replace over 106 advertisements with posters of sentimental messages, sent in from individuals from all over the world, in order to protest the rise of the advertising monopoly that has consumed city life. Each text-based ad cover-up was meant to show city-dwellers what positive things could be done with public space. Inspirational messages like "In love we trust" and "Cash has ruined everything around me" were plastered on bus stops over street ads. It took about an hour for the project to be completed, but only around five hours for the posters to be taken down. This rebellious act, however short-lived, showed the world the possibilities for a better public environment. Our world doesn't have to be cluttered with billboards for BMWs or flyers for fancy restaurants, the advertising world has only become a monopoly because we've let it. [via Wooster Collective]
Next time you're looking for a healthy lunchtime meal near Circular Quay, you'll be able to head to the MCA. Its in-house cafe, which has a lovely outdoor terrace overlooking the harbour, has just launched a new vegetarian menu in collaboration with Sydney cafe and picklery Cornersmith. In great news for CBD pickle lovers, it means that you'll be able to get your daily dose of the cafe's salty and briny vegetables (in toasties, salads and bibimbaps) without heading out to Annandale or Marrickville. The Cornersmith menu, which launched on Friday, March 1, is available from 10am–4pm every day — and till 9pm on Wednesdays (when the gallery stays open late). Its launch corresponds with the gallery's new exhibition, Janet Laurence: After Nature, which explores the environmental challenges facing the world today — from coral bleaching to deforestation — through living sculpture, photography and video. It's only fitting, then, that Cornersmith's ethos is also focused on the environment. The cafe and cooking school advocates low-waste and uses minimal meat and produce that is sourced locally and sustainably. And it's making damn tasty fare — and it's super affordable, too. Everything on the new MCA Cafe is under $20 — from the kimchi and cheddar toastie with coriander slaw ($12) to the a brown rice bibimbap with kimchi ($16) and poached egg roll with red cabbage, chilli and pickles ($10). Meat-eaters will be happy to know that they can add leg ham ($2) to the latter if they please, while vegans will find solace in the Vegan Surprise Plate ($16), which comes complete with vegan cheese. Like the MCA's new exhibition, the Cornersmith menu is around for a good time, not a long time. So if you'd like to get your city dose of Cornersmith eats, you'll need to head along before Monday, June 10, 2019. The regular MCA Cafe menu will also be available during this time.
This is the start of White Rabbit gallery's fourth year. Its directive is Chinese art produced since 2000. It's a private collection — stuff that Kerr and Judith Neilson literally can't fit in their house. The tectonic cultural, political, and economic shifts in China have prompted a new renaissance of contemporary art. Hundreds of new museums open there every year, and cash-rich Beijing and Hong Kong dominate the global art market in volume of sales. White Rabbit's latest show is called Double Take. A double take is a second glance, a delayed response to something that initially seems within easy comprehension. The works start with simple, singular premises that turn an assumed convention on its head. The show partly consists of a re-hang of previously exhibited works, taking the Double Take theme to another level. Despite the limited opening up, China remains repressive, and a gulf of inequality between the new generation of capitalists and the masses of poor is widening. As such, the themes of brutality and quiet violence hidden within many of the Double Take's works provide a counter-melody to their surface beauty. To walk into Tu Wei-Cheng's room-sized installation Happy Valentine's Day (2011) — a replica chocolate shop — is to be greeted with the overwhelming aroma of cocoa butter and strawberry liquor. To look deeper is to realise that you are in a kind of saccharine war room: the confections are actually miniature tanks and militia men, posed to attack each other. The work is a comment on the increasingly militarised relations between China and Taiwan, and the artist installed it with a team of 14 assistants, something that gives you a sense of the scale that many Chinese artists are working on. Shen Liang's This is a Book (2007) hijacks Cultural Revolution-era propaganda comics aimed at illiterate and semiliterate peasants, by reinterpreting them in a rough, painterly style, with almost imperceptible graffiti and visual subversions. It's accompanied by the original comics, so you can spot the difference between the vandalised and the authentic images. Dai Hua's I Love Beijing's Tiananmen (2006) is an alternative history of the city, a pixel-art digital print in the style of ancient scroll. It contains an incredibly detailed, self-made language of rebellious symbols, the kind of language the Chinese government would otherwise censor. Look closely and you'll see a Microsoft pop-up dialogue box that asks, "Would you like to delete this file? Yes/No." White Rabbit is the art world's equivalent of wide-eyed, out-and-out pop music. The kind of grown-up pop that Prince makes, that Madonna used to make. Their latest show has that holy grail of synchronous clarity and complexity that all contemporary artists search for — it's broad and accessible without ever sacrificing intelligence and depth. Double Take is smart and political, inspiring and unsettling, all at once. We recommend taking a guided tour — they're educational but not in a high school-ish way, because the White Rabbit staff are engaging, informed professionals who really know their stuff. And our last tip: There's a tiny library on the top floor where art geeks can spend a few hours pouring over beautiful, shiny art books, or join in on their Sunday book club. Image: Artist Tu Wei-Cheng as proprietor of his chocolate shop in Happy Valentine's Day, 2011, mixed media.
Now you're spending a little more time in your home, you may as well pick up a new skill. Always wanted to know how to shake a martini that would impress James Bond? What about learning some handy tricks in the kitchen for the dinner party you're planning when this is all over? Well, Sydney bar and vegetarian diner Golden Gully is letting you level-up from the comfort of your living room. If you're keen to take your boozy drinks from the humble G&T to a whiskey sour or manhattan, join bartenders Rachael and Danny over video chat for a one-hour class, which will show you how to mix up whatever you've got lying in your liquor cabinet. So, you can put that shot of Midori down now. Prefer to learn how to be a whiz in the kitchen? Golden Gully's chef Emma Evans (ex-Alibi) will help you turn water into wine — well more like mi goreng into pad see ew, which is still a mean feat. You'll join her for an hour via video chat to go through a recipe and cook up something tasty, even using the most mundane ingredients in your panty. Each class costs $60 and will not only see you through self-isolation, but also are life skills you should probably have under your belt anyway. To purchase a class, head here. And once that's done, message Golden Gully on Instagram to arrange a time and date. Images: Trent van der Jagt
Stay tuned. More info coming soon. Image: Mitch Fong / Lift Performance.
When the Sydney Fringe Festival rolls around, you know you're in for experiences that are both weird and wonderful, with an abundance of extravagance found all across town. A wonderful experience is exactly what you can expect from History of House, an electrifying event that will be held inside Sydney Spiegeltent in the Entertainment Quarter from Friday, August 30 to Sunday, September 29 as part of Sydney Fringe Festival's Spiegeltent Festival Garden program. History of House is a collaborative exploration of the history of dance music led by ARIA-nominated DJ Groove Terminator and the three-time Grammy-winning Soweto Gospel Choir, a world-famous South African choir that has performed with the likes of Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder. Throughout the course of the evening, they'll take you on a trip through the best tunes of the 70s right up to the 00s, from CHIC's 'Le Freak' to Eurythmics' 'Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)' and Whitney Houston's 'I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)'. Staying still in your seat will be a challenge. Shows will run every Thursday through to Sunday. On Tuesdays and Wednesdays, Soweto Gospel Choir will perform Hope, an all-new concert featuring music penned during Nelson Mandela's South African freedom movement and Martin Luther King's 1950s American Civil Rights Movement. It includes the works of James Brown, Sam Cooke, Stevie Wonder and Aretha Franklin. History of House will run Thursday through Sunday at Sydney Spiegeltent from August 30–September 29. Visit the website for more information or to book tickets.
Adult life involves too much responsibility — groceries, rent, inter-personal relationships, democracy. I often wish I could return to those carefree primary school days of Zooper Dooper ice blocks (I preferred bubble gum flavour), canteen lunch orders in brown paper bags, and poring over Hanson interviews in Smash Hits (yeah, I know, piss off). The days when my greatest anxieties were whether or not the librarian's son wanted to marry me, and, of course, whether I'd retain my handball crown next lunchtime. The folks behind Ghetto Handball understand this. The "rising star of the outdoor scum scene in Sydney", Ghetto Handball will be hosting a special Election Day Edition this Saturday at 12pm. Vote, buy yourself some beers, and get on into a chalk square to play some ball. Remember guys — a flicked wrist and a strong arm will never fail you, and get down low before you slog. The official after party will take place at The Shannon Hotel, 87 Abercrombie St, Chippendale, where you can either celebrate or commiserate the election with the likes of Kitty Munroe, Nickels & Dimes, and Gadgets on the decks. The official Ghetto Handball rules are as follows: The Hierarchy: King, Queen, Jack, Dunce. If it is a four-square game, all players apart from King are immediately out if they mess up. If it goes to six-squares, King and Queen stay in and go to Dunce if they get out. New King must serve it to Old King. If you forget to follow this rule as New King you are immediately out. Not to Dunce — GONE. Back of the line, fool. If you would like the ball first at a point of service, you are encouraged to call "Service". If at that point you would also like to state you want the ball played to you in a favourable manner, you are encouraged to further call “Service Decent”. Please note King then decides if you are to receive the "Service", and if it will indeed be "Decent". Lines is a replay. Rolls is a replay. Deal with it. If the players on court can’t decide on a decision, it goes to the bench. The bench's decision is final. You must be physically lining up next to the court to be included on the bench. If there is interference to play (e.g. a car, dog, streaker) "INNO'S" must be called. As soon as "INNO'S" is called, any further shots are not counted. Alliances, teams, dress-ups, heckling are all welcomed.
Lynne Ramsay's We Need To Talk About Kevin is a stunning and unnerving adaptation of Lionel Shriver's acclaimed 2003 novel of the same name. It tells the story of Eva (Tilda Swinton), a free-spirited travel writer whose life undergoes a radical (and, in her mind, unfavourable) disruption following the birth of her son Kevin. Tormented by his incessant screaming and frustrated by the unfamiliar role of 'stay-at-home mum', Eva quickly develops an extreme case of post-natal depression typified by unqualified resentment of her child. Tragically as Kevin matures their relationship simply grows colder, with Eva's indifference matched only by Kevin's calculated disobedience. He is as defiant with her as he is affectionate towards his father, which in turn merely exacerbates Eva's already bitter jealousy. Later, when Kevin suddenly embarks upon a devastating high school killing spree reminiscent of the Columbine massacre, Eva becomes both the focus of an outraged community's scorn and victim of her own conscience as she grapples with the possibility that her parenting (or lack thereof) was ultimately to blame. Swinton is simply mesmerising in the role of Eva, with her transformation from carefree Bohemian to haunted loner incredibly confronting both physically and psychologically. John C. Reilly is also excellent as her earnest but sceptical husband, though he's unfairly burdened by the 'comedian-turned-serious-actor' problem that curiously fails to operate inversely when serious actors pop up in comedies. Lastly there's Ezra Miller in the role of Kevin, whose eerie calm and recalcitrant manipulation affords the audience a small level of sympathy towards Eva as she tries and fails to love him like a parent should. Visually, We Need To Talk About Kevin is a joy to watch thanks to the sublime cinematography of Seamus McGarvey and polished direction by Ramsay. Psychologically, it is perhaps the most unsettling film of 2011, filled with moments of such suspense and disquiet that you'll emerge from the cinema utterly rattled by the experience and suddenly terrified of parenthood. To win a double pass to see the film, just make sure you're subscribed to Concrete Playground then email your name and address to hello@concreteplayground.com.au https://youtube.com/watch?v=YVvRHzTEzeQ
