Disney is back in the fairy princess business, and by god it wants you to know it. Except, it doesn’t want young boys to know it, which is why this film is called Frozen instead of The Snow Queen. When Disney finally bought Pixar in 2006, the deal essentially saw Pixar's creative team taking control of Disney’s animated output. Given the strong quality control Pixar has over its products, this was no bad thing. But not all of the experiments worked. Determined to resurrect Disney's tradition of hand-drawn animation, they made The Princess and the Frog in 2009, a tremendously underrated film which moved the classic tale to 1920s New Orleans. The film’s undeserved financial failing made Disney gunshy, and their takeaway was this: stick to computer animation, and no more princesses in the titles. In fairness, this shift didn’t kneecap the quality of the films. 2009’s Rapunzel film Tangled is an outstanding work, with rich characters, beautiful animation and incredibly catchy songs. Tangled really worked, which is why it appears to be the template Disney has used for its newest animated feature, Frozen. Based loosely on Hans Christian Andersen’s The Snow Queen — a story Disney has been trying to adapt since the 1940s — the film follows Anna and her sister Elsa, two princesses who are left alone when their parents die at sea. The relationship between the two is difficult: Elsa has magical powers, which due to an unsatisfactorily explained plot contrivance, have been wiped from Anna’s memory. To keep Anna safe, Else keeps her at arm’s length as they grow up. But on the evening of Elsa’s coronation, she accidentally creates a permanent winter in the kingdom and retreats to a remote ice palace of her own making. It’s up to Anna to save her sister and her kingdom. The parallels with Tangled are striking. Both changed the name of their original story to a more marketable, generic title. Both feature a similar working-class man developing a love-hate relationship with a princess. Both have a crazy, anthropomorphised horse/moose for company. Both even feature a princess whose power is represented by a streak of colour through the hair. The comparisons, though superficial, reveal an attempt at a modern formula. And although Frozen is enjoyable enough, the characters aren’t quite as engaging as they ought to be, the songs not quite memorable enough. The animation, however, is superb. On a technical level, it’s a marvel. Frozen represent the middle of the bell curve in terms of animated features. It’s a far cry from the insufferable toy-selling, pop-culture spewing, catchphrase-ridden films churned out during at the beginning every school holiday period, but nor does it hit the heights of Disney’s best output. It is admirable, enjoyable, but ultimately unmemorable.
Sydney is blessed with more than its fair share of sandy shores — more than 100 in fact. But as the temperature climbs and the sunny season reaches its peak, South Eveleigh is bringing some much-needed beach vibes to inner Sydney. The Saturday Summer Club offers warm-weather fun minus the hassle of salt and sand, every week from December 7–14. This urban beach oasis offers weekend activities perfect for family and friends, with kiosks for summer merch giveaways and rotating sweet treat pop-ups. Make a stop at the Summer Club Kiosk where spending $10 at any retailer lets you redeem special giveaways. While you're at it, satisfy your sweet tooth with classic Aussie lollies free of charge (while supplies last). Face painting for the kids, balloon artists and beach volleyball are also on the menu. Channel your inner surfer on the mechanical wave rider or take a dip in the Sponge Pool. Filled with squishy blocks, this foam zone is the perfect place to set the little ones loose. And be sure to snap a festive family photo at the Sandy Claus photo booth. Keep an eye out for a certain holly, jolly soul in a red suit who will be roaming the area ready to spread Christmas cheer.
The Hollywood Quarter refers to the wedge of Surry Hills that's made up of just a few streets around the intersection of Campbell and Commonwealth, but those few contain some of the liveliest spots in Sydney. Taking its name from the Hollywood Hotel — a long-standing institution of the precinct where you've probably encountered many a schooner, the neighbouring venues include Ace Hotel Sydney, Paramount House, Alberto's Lounge and Tio's. They're all joining forces to take part in a special gig trail on Saturday, 23 March from 4pm. It's a one-night-only event that involves a curated walk through the neighbourhood for a journey of free live music at the various venues, starring Sydney artists like Tasman Kieth, Charlie Villas, Jono Ma and Kirin J Callinan (scroll down for the full gig list). Also on show will be some equally rocking deals from the area's many excellent dining establishments, so start scheming up your perfect dinner and a show lineup now. In-Venue Gigs Ace Hotel Sydney: Charlie Villas and Fried Pork Chop (6pm-12am) Alberto's Lounge: Fritto Disco Speciale starring Kirin J Callinan (lunch) Burdekin Hotel: Kingdom Calm ft Burkina Flats & Bakura (7-10pm) Butter: Cherryrype, Grebel, Izzybops, LXGCY (9pm-12am) Golden Age Cinema & Bar: Tasman Keith (10pm-1am) Harry's: Refuge Recording presents SilverStix (7pm-3am) Hollywood Hotel: The Zoe K Experience (New Orleans Edition) (7pm-1am) Paramount House Hotel: Jono Ma (5-8pm) Soda Factory: Soda's House of Fun ft DJ Nino Brown & Friends (7pm-4am) Food & Drink Specials Alberto's: Lunch special, 2 course and wine $45 from 12-5pm Beau: Happy hour from 4pm to 6pm at the bar or laneway Butter: 3 crispy chicken wings and a Tiger Beer for $20 Gilda's: Open from 5.30pm for a pre-show meal or a drink with snacks Kiln: Late night snack menu plus DJ tunes Nel Restaurant: Join Nelly Robinson for his native Australian degustation Pellegrino 2000: Dine al-fresco, be entertained by the troubadours, and be transported to Italy! Poly: "Apolytivo" delicious drinks and food at happy hour prices from 5-6pm The Rover: Happy Hour from 4-6pm with $2 oysters, $6 beers, $6 G&Ts, $10 wine and a $14 spritz Nomad: Feast al-fresco and be entertained by the troubadours. Book an outside table now. Tio's: Nachos, live tunes and $12 margarita specials (till sold out) Top image: Declan Blackall
There is an exercise you can do try to understand the experience of schizophrenia. You put on headphones (and sometimes goggles) that scream loud abuse in your ears. You try to act like normal. And you fail. I Love Todd Sampson is a gentler version of this sort of thing. The play takes you into the head of Laura (an energetic Gabrielle Quin), who is skating along the edges of a nervous breakdown. Her mind is exploded across Pier 2/3, her grief dissected and pinned to the walls, like the atomised belly of an open frog. Along with her fragmented experience of mind, Laura has become obsessed with Gruen Transfer-ing ad man Todd Sampson, who makes a virtual cameo in her fantasies and in the play itself. The audience is on its feet for most of this striking hour and a half of theatre, though there are some chairs scattered along the way. Laura, responsible for the death of a pedestrian in a traffic accident some years before, suffers a breakdown seemingly triggered by the death of her father. Hallucinations torment her, played by the rest of the cast. You follow her and her visions along the full length of the play’s cavernous venue. They throw themselves from one set to the next as furiously as OK Go rush between Heath Robinson machines. The sets are similarly complex, but in this case they've been assembled by a collection of artists and architects to create a low-key, uncanny evening on the boards. They range from spider-like chandeliers in an improbably sound-making piano bar, unexpected vehicular incursions, and pieces of house at play. The back of each piece of art or architecture shows, which gives a feeling of blurred edges that suit the themes. The sets are stunning, and a full list of the production's many contributors are listed on the site. The narrative flow of the play is spot on, drawing the audience from one set to the next with perfect timing, as Laura descends into suicide and sadness. The audience experience is a little less precise, with unclear practical boundaries, especially when it came to knowing what you can or cannot touch. This doesn’t undermine the fun, though. And there’s something of a drink-free, wander-as-you-like Jurassic Lounge feel to things. There are also innumerable neat minor touches, from a split-screen bedroom to the almost-imperceptible movement of the show's pianist (Alister Spence). So much of this play is made from surprise spectacle and the subtle accumulation of acting and soundscape that I Love Todd Sampson is an easy play to recommend, though a hard one to describe. What does this add up to? An intimate and, despite its heavy themes, delightful experimental theatrical production. Also, wear comfortable shoes. I Love Todd Sampson plays at 7.30pm every night until March 10. It uses strobe lighting.
Sydney's intimate, boutique Golden Age Cinema is teaming up with Four Pillars Gin for a mini booze and film festival (aka one of the best kinds of fests there is). Each Wednesday night from February 2–23, the 56-seat Surry Hills spot is hosting double bills paired with gin cocktails. It's quite the lineup, too, with a little something for everyone on the bill. The festival is called Summer in Cinema, so that's the kind of tone it's going for — so expect pools, beaches, summer holidays, gushing fire hydrants and all-round steamy days to be a big feature. First up on February 2 is a teen dream-themed double of Dazed and Confused and Almost Famous, with 70s coming-of-age tales clearly getting a whirl. Then, come February 9, it's time for the pool-centric The Graduate and Boogie Nights — well, the both do feature memorable moments with, in or by pools — which'll also mark the former's 55th anniversary and the latter's 25th. Next, on February 16, Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window will heat up the screen, accompanied by Spike Lee's iconic Do the Right Thing. And finally, February 23 brings the Miami-set pair that is the Neve Campbell-starring Wild Things and mob standout Scarface. These flicks will all get a beverage to match, made with Four Pillar's juniper spirits. The first screenings each evening kick off at 6pm, then the second starts between 8.10–8.20pm — but we suggest you get there a little earlier for the drinks. Tickets cost $22.50 for each film. Top image: Cassandra Hannagan.
All things good about the country will converge on Dungog for the tiny town's second annual festival, happening 22–25 October. It's a four-day extravaganza where food, drink, flicks, music, dance, theatre and art combine. If feasting is on the agenda, reserve a seat at the Long Table Dinner, which will set up smack-bang in the middle of Dungog's main street for an evening of boutique wines, local produce and live music under the stars. Leading the film element of the program is Projector Bike, which sees a handmade, two-wheeled contraption travel around town, screening films in unexpected places followed by a mobile audience on bikes. Alternatively, in the more conventional setting of James Theatre, catch a range of films and documentaries, including The Cambodian Space Project, Best of Enemies and a horror compilation showing at midnight. Headlining the music segment will be Paul Mac, starring at Saturday's Starry Night Concert, accompanied by special guest Ngaiire. Meanwhile, on the Night Market Stage, there'll be performances from singer-songwriter Steve Smyth and bush band Swamp Dawkins. Or, for a rowdier experience, head to the Settlers Arms to see The Pigs turning pop and rock songs into bluegrass masterpieces. Image courtesy of Destination NSW.
An old garage down a service laneway doesn't sound like a spot for a bar, but that's exactly where Sydney's new 20-person mezcal bar has taken up residence. Cantina OK! is located down the non-street that is Council Place, and it's rocking bright pink and purple walls, Mexican vibes and no seating whatsoever. You may not be surprised to hear that this mini mezcal mecca is run by Sydney's favourite tequila joint, Tio's Cerveceria — the men behind it are venue owners Alex Dowd and Jeremy Blackmore and its manager Alex (Happy) Gilmour. The trio took one helluva road trip around Mexico last year, hitting three states and picking up heaps of mezcal along the way. "We wanted to take what we saw in Mexico and really showcase it in this space," says Gilmour. "It's our way of documenting what these amazing mezcal producers can do." The team took their research very seriously, returning to Sydney with a whopping 140 bottles that now sit behind the minuscule bar. There are mezcals from regions all across Oaxaca, Michoacán and Jalisco, as well as drops of tequila, raicilla (an agave distilled spirit from Jalisco) and sotol (non-agave distilled spirit from northern Mexico). "You won't find another mezcaleria in the southern hemisphere that has the particular collection that we have," says Gilmour. Some of his favourite labels include the experimental Michoacán producer Jorge Perez — who distills his mezcal with likes of rattlesnake and a whole coyote — a single distillation arroqueño mezcal from Oaxaca and even a few bottles that have been aged for 29 years — those, of course, are on the expensive side. [caption id="attachment_714466" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kimberley Low.[/caption] If all that sounds a bit intimating, turn to the well-trained staff, who are eager to get into the "nitty gritty" of mezcal drinking with you. But you don't have to go high brow — the place still has the casual, laid-back Tio's vibe where you can just pop-in for a damn good margarita, too. And that'd be the house margarita, which combines both mezcal and tequila with lime and cane sugar syrup, all served over shaved ice. Otherwise, chose from an old fashioned with five spice and chilli bitters; a tequila fizz with horchata rice milk and egg white; and a chamomile and pineapple sour. There's also one produce-driven cocktail on the menu each week, which there'll write down for you on one of the hand-stamped coasters. Recent specials have included an espresso martini, a tommy's margarita with watermelon and rosé and the kalamansi paloma (with the Filipino lime, kaffir lime, mezcal and soda). You'll find that more than a few of the cocktails include shaved ice — which comes courtesy of the hand-powered yellow Nepalese ice shaver sitting at the centre of the bar. "Everything has a story in the venue and a connection to Mexican style, history and colours" says Gilmour. When you head in, expect a bright combination of tyrian purple, watermelon pink and safety yellow — Gilmore 's words, not ours — plus plenty of timber. Just not a lot of space. So, find yourself a spot at the bar or in the corner and grab a drink — or stay for a few. Cantina OK! is now open at Council Place (off Clarence Street, between Market and King Streets), Sydney. Opening hours are 4pm–2am seven days.
You think origami, you think folding paper. But this April, put your assumptions to one side and think about what else could possibly be folded. At the Gosford Regional Gallery and Edogawa Commemorative Garden, an incredible visual spectacle is taking place on Saturday, April 13 with a host of musical acts, including DJ duo Stereogamous, pop artist Tessa Thames, and circus performer Ray Matthews. Attendees of Origami – Folding Light and Sound are advised to come dressed for a garden party (flowers in your hair, plant-themed accessories and the like), albeit a garden party that features a traditional Japanese teahouse, delicious Sichuan dumplings, and aerial cabaret. It's all the brainchild of the not-for-profit Naughty Noodle Fun Haus collective, which, since 2018, has been organising community entertainment events with a strong focus on inclusion, diversity and acceptance. In the collective's own words, they "proudly embrace renegade artists and thought-leaders who are courageous, outrageous and mind-blowing". All you have to do is bring a picnic blanket, lawn furniture and an open mind, and you'll be treated to a sunset experience where you can dance to your heart's content, find quiet contemplation in nature, and everything in between. Origami promises to turn Gosford into a tactile, audio/visual wonderland, giving you an evening that you'll never want to forget. Origami — Folding Light and Sound is coming to Gosford Regional Gallery and Edogawa Commemorative Garden, 36 Webb St, on Saturday, April 13, from 5—11pm. Tickets will set you back $45 or get a group of mates together for a concession. For more information or to grab tickets, visit the website.
One of Sydney's best coast walks is this 6km trail, which gives tourists and locals alike a true sense of Sydney's coastal beauty. The trek's steep gradients are well spaced between the city's most loved beaches, making this trip part workout, part beach bum afternoon. While the walk could be completed in as little as a two hours, it is best enjoyed with long breaks by the ocean — or you can bail as early as Tamarama or Bronte. From late October, parts of the trail become extra majestic (and extra crowded) for iconic art event Sculpture by the Sea. Image: Dollar Photo Club.
Maybe your suitcase is still looking a tad dusty, following a few years that saw travel plans put on hold. Perhaps you've given it the best workout you possibly could ever since local, interstate and international trips became a thing we could all do again. Whichever fits, scoring flights as cheap as $55 should tempt you to give that trusty bag another spin. Your destinations? Everywhere from The Whitsundays to Japan, all as part of Virgin's latest flight sale. If you're after discounted fares to a heap of places — including around Australia and the globe — Virgin is slashing prices again. This batch of special flights has been badged the Bring on 2023 sale, and can be booked now. You've got until midnight on Monday, February 6 to lock in your plans, unless the cheap fares sell out earlier. As usual, there's a sizeable number of discounted flights on offer: more than 500,000 in this run. They cover local spots such Byron Bay, Cairns, the Gold Coast and Hobart, plus overseas destinations including Bali, Vanuatu, Samoa and Fiji. Offering up to 30-percent off, one-way domestic fares start at $55, which'll get you from Sydney to Byron Bay. As proves the case in every sale like this, that's cheapest route. Other discounted flights include Sydney to the Sunshine Coast from $75, Adelaide to Launceston from $85, Brisbane to Proserpine for the same price, Melbourne to the Gold Coast from $99 and Brisbane to Hamilton Island from $119. Internationally, return deals include Sydney to Fiji from $459, the Gold Coast to Bali from $489, Melbourne to Vanuatu from $539 and Cairns to Tokyo from $699. If you're wondering when you'll need to travel, the fares cover between Wednesday, March 1–Thursday, December 7, all varying per route. As usual when it comes to flight sales, you'll need to get in quick. Sure, the chaos of Black Friday and Boxing Day is behind us for another year, but everyone loves a holiday — and, even better, a bargain holiday. Virgin's Bring on 2023 sale runs until midnight on Monday, February 6 — unless sold out earlier. Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world.
If Brisbane has a centrepiece other than the river snaking through the city, it's the most-famous bridge that sits atop the waterway. The Story Bridge is one of the Queensland capital's best-known landmarks. Its steel expanse is frequently the image used to depict Brissie. Now, whether you're a local or a tourist, it's also the perfect place to explore the city from a great height and from a First Nations viewpoint in tandem. Scaling the Story Bridge thanks to Story Bridge Adventure Climb has been a quintessential Brisbane activity since 2005. Taking in the stunning vista is only part of the new Indigenous Story Bridge Adventure Climb experience, however. You'll still reach the structure's heights, but you'll do so led by either Birrunga Wiradyuri and Jessica Skeen, with the two artists sharing stories about history, Country and culture in Meanjin along the way. Set to open in August 2024 — and already taking bookings from Tuesday, August 6 onwards — this is a two-hour, first-of-its-kind climb that's all about sharing the First Nations perspective on the city and honouring the storytelling that goes with it. Story Bridge Adventure Climb, Howard Smith Wharves and Birrunga Gallery, Wiradyuri's gallery, are behind the new experience. And while the new climb itself promises a must-do addition to Brissie, you can also expand it with native herb- and spice-seasoned crocodile and kangaroo as part of an Indigenous food platter, plus Skeen's boomerang-painting workshop. Via the Birrunga Gallery Cultural Creative Development Program, artist talks will also be on offer, and so will workshops about the importance of place. "Storytelling is an important part of Indigenous culture across Australia. Creating this experience with my friends and colleagues has been an incredibly rewarding and exciting process," said Wiradyuri. "Our goal is simple: it's to provide a safe, inclusive and creative space to immerse yourself in the history, tradition and practices of First Nations Australians. The bridge climb represents the upward journey we are on together and like all journeys, it starts with one foot in front of the other." "We hope that visitors take away a fresh perspective on Brisbane, art and their life. It's more than just a bucket-list experience, it's an opportunity to see life from another point of view." Brisbane's Indigenous Story Bridge Adventure Climb starts operating from Tuesday, August 6, 2024 — head to the Story Bridge Adventure Climb website for further details and bookings.
There's a newcomer among the sprawling, tourist-trodden bars and bistros on Darling Harbour. Breathing life into the former King Street Brewhouse, the new pub boasts a beer garden, a broad food and drink menu, views of Darling Harbour and an onsite microbrewery. All Hands Brewing House is Red Rock Leisure's next opening in Sydney. The hospitality group are also proprietors of a plethora of large-scale establishments around Australia, including PJ O'Brien and Melbourne's Eureka Skydeck. Like All Hands' neighbours, there's no shortage of space, making this an ideal contender for a Christmas party, a family gathering or after-work office drinks. The site boasts a number of different features, including a beer tasting room overlooking the brewery, and a beer garden right next to King Street Wharf – not to mention the brewery room itself, with a standing capacity of 350 people. Sam Clayton is head of brewing operations — there are eight house beers available including cream pale ale, bitter ale, saison and an award-winning stout. If beer's not your thing, there's a pretty impressive wine list too. The menu, meanwhile, has a Southern, soul food flavour, offering buffalo wings, pulled chicken, pork skin tacos and fried chicken burgers. Being a pub, there's also seafood and steak options. Find All Hands Brewing House at 22 The Promenade, Sydney.
Usually, Australia's various film festivals only pop up once every 12 months; however, there's little that's been usual about the past few years. So in these chaotic times, the fact that the Jewish International Film Festival is returning for a second stint in 2022 doesn't seem all that out of the ordinary. Already enjoyed the fest during its March and April run? Get ready to do so all over again. JIFF will screen 50 features and documentaries at this iteration, alongside episodes from two TV shows and three short films — covering titles from 21 countries as it tours Australia between October–December. Leading the highlights, filling JIFF's biggest-ever lineup: opening night's Armageddon Time, which arrives after premiering at this year's Cannes Film Festival and will have its Aussie debut at the fest. Starring Anthony Hopkins (The Father), Anne Hathaway (Locked Down) and Jeremy Strong (Succession), and written and directed by Ad Astra and The Lost City of Z's James Gray, it tells a coming-of-age story in 80s-era Queens. Also among the standouts, Charlotte Gainsbourg (Sundown)-led French drama The Accusation tackles sex and consent; Jeff Goldblum (Jurassic World Dominion) narrates Fiddler's Journey to the Big Screen, about bringing Fiddler on the Roof to the big screen; and Israel's Karaoke arrives after being nominated for 13 Ophir Awards. Or, there's doco The Art of Silence about mime Marcel Marceau — plus 60s-set comedy My Neighbour Adolf, featuring Udo Kier (Swan Song) as a Holocaust survivor in Colombia who thinks the German man who just moved in next door is Hitler. The full lineup includes closing night's As They Made Us, the directorial debut of directorial The Big Bang Theory's Mayim Bialik; Reckonings, about the negotiations between Jewish and German leaders that led to the 1952 Luxembourg Agreement; and three episodes of Bloody Murray, which follows the titular film lecturer, who specialises in romantic comedies. The list goes on, spanning — as always — a sizeable contingent of movies that examine World War II, the Holocaust and their lingering impact. JEWISH INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2022 DATES — OCTOBER–DECEMBER SEASON Monday, October 24–Sunday, November 27 — Classic Cinemas and Lido Cinemas, Melbourne Tuesday, October 25– Monday, November 28 — Ritz Cinemas and Roseville Cinemas, Sydney Thursday, October 27— Sunday, November 6 — Dendy Cinemas, Canberra Thursday, October 27— Sunday, November 6 — State Cinema, Hobart Thursday, November 10–Sunday, November 20 — New Farm Cinemas, Brisbane Thursday, November 17–Sunday, November 27 — Dendy Southport, Gold Coast Thursday, November 24—Wednesday, December 7 — Luna Palace Leederville, Perth The Jewish International Film Festival's second 2022 season runs from October–December. For more information, or to buy tickets, head to the festival's website.
It's hard to get a true snapshot of a place you're holidaying in when you don't know a resident who can show you around. Sydney can be a particularly hard nut to crack — how do you balance seeing its famously show-offy coastal and harbour landmarks, with getting a peek at its less well-lit and polished contemporary underbelly? To help you explore more of the city, we've gathered up a few of the very best, and some lesser known, experiences around town. And to do it, we've enlisted the help of Pullman Hotels and Resorts bar manager Jason Song and executive chef Daniel Simpson, because nobody knows a good secret like someone who works in hospitality. Over at the Hacienda, the bar at the Pullman Quay Grand Sydney Harbour, Song slings drinks with the best of them, having developed an interest in mixology after years of working in a bank. Simpson, meanwhile, has traversed the world, making a living from cooking, and climbing the ladder all the way to the Pullman Sydney Airport. With our combined mental capacity, we've pulled together some of Sydney's best experiences to be had in the realms of food and drink, leisure and wellbeing, and contemporary art and design. So get your Dora on and start exploring. Check out the rest of our Explore More content series to hone your itinerary for some of Australia's best holiday destinations. FOOD & DRINK ARCHIE ROSE While Sydney has a booming beer brewing history, Archie Rose was the first dedicated spirit distillery to operate in Sydney for a very long time. Far too long, some might say. In addition to the creation of unique Australian spirits, a fine cocktail bar is attached to the distillery, and they offer a number of masterclasses on distilling and blending beverages. And while it's a favourite for after-work drinks, the cozy nooks in the bar are also perfect for a date, a solo mission or a get-together with old buddies. Very worth the trip to the industrial area of Rosebery. Don't miss: The Archie Rose signature dry gin and fresh pear and ginger juice ($9) 678 SYDNEY With Sydney's cultural identity being as multifaceted as it is, it's no surprise that some of the best food to be had made its way to our plates from far-off shores. Located in Haymarket in the centre of Sydney, 678 Sydney prepares some of the most delectable Korean barbecue that you'll ever have the pleasure of supping on, and they'll overload you with all the traditional sides that you can handle. If you're a believer in the maxim that if you want something done right then you have to do it yourself, you're in luck, because the responsibility of manning the barbecue rests entirely on the customer. Don't miss: For the more adventurous, have the sliced beef tongue. For everyone else, the soy marinated pork ribs are pretty incredible. COFFEE ALCHEMY From time immemorial, a deep battle has waged between Australia's two largest cities, all about who can combine water, milk and ground coffee beans the best. Cafe and roastery Coffee Alchemy is one of Sydney's coffee heroes, with the product coming out of their Marrickville digs slaking the lust of many a coffee connoisseur with exceptional regularity. While there are more cafes in Sydney than one could poke a stick at, Coffee Alchemy is one of the few that illuminates just how seriously residents of the Emerald City take their coffee. Can't make it to Marrickville? Coffee Alchemy have a number of side projects, including Gumption in the CBD's Strand Arcade. Don't miss: On a hot day, order a Sparkler — carbonated brewed coffee poured from the tap and served in a beer glass. BODEGA As incredible as they are, there's more to the cuisine of South and Central America than tacos and nachos, and Bodega gives you the opportunity to have a crack at a whole lot of it. The menu is a contemporary take on Latin cuisine based around tapas and share plates, with the addition of a booze list that's got something awesome for everyone. The venue itself is an experience, with its '50s-inspired fittings and a playlist of music you'll actually want to listen to. Great for groups, dates and everything in between, Bodega's the perfect place to explore more of Latin America, in Sydney. Don't miss: The Porky Occy Gnocchi is a guiso (stew) of pork shoulder, chorizo and octopus, and is destined to blow your mind. WELLBEING & LEISURE WENDY'S SECRET GARDEN Despite the heaving metropolis that's at the heart of Sydney, it's not hard to find oneself pleasantly lost among a splash of greenery without venturing to the hinterlands. One of the finest examples of this is the stunning and, as the name suggests, secluded Wendy's Secret Garden. The garden was built under the design and direction of Wendy Whiteley, who has said that she knew nothing about horticulture when she started work on the grounds — located in front of the home she shared with her husband, artist Brett Whiteley — and instead built the garden with an emphasis on aesthetic appeal. The never-ending artwork creates a retreat from the urban jungle. Wendy Whiteley was awarded Australia's highest honour, the Order of Australia Medal, for her construction of the garden, and they don't just give those to anybody. Don't miss: Paths wind, diverge and converge within the garden, creating many quiet corners for picnics. SPIT BRIDGE TO MANLY COASTAL WALK Australia has a simply shocking abundance of stunning coastline — a perk of living on what is essentially a gigantic tropical island. One of the best ways to see this coastline is to hike alongside it — there are dozens of such walks in Sydney, each with their own unique character. The Spit Bridge to Manly walk is a great choice, as it not only lets you appreciate some of the most picturesque harbour scenery in the north, it also means you can take the Manly Ferry back to Circular Quay. Start out at the Spit Bridge, about 10 kilometres north of the CBD and trace the headlands all the way to Manly, wandering through bushland, along cliffs, and onto beaches. Don't miss: Take your swimming gear, because the you'll traipse through a number of hidden beaches that are perfect for cooling off from the walk. LA PEROUSE Although perhaps not as well known as some of Sydney famous beach suburbs, La Perouse offers a perfect snapshot of the city's coastal splendours. Snorkelling, scuba diving and stand-up paddleboarding all have their place along this stretch of coastline, which features sheltered, calm beaches like Frenchmans Bay, Congwong and Little Congwong (the latter sometimes trends nudist). La Perouse is located on the northern headland of Botany Bay, so there are also some landmarks of Australia's European colonial history, which you can see on the walk from the beaches to Bare Island. Don't miss: The tower at Bare Island, still functional and intact today, started life as a customs tower to guard against smugglers, then became a home for veterans of the First World War, and has even been a set in Mission: Impossible 2. ART & DESIGN WHITE RABBIT GALLERY Opened in 2009, Judith Neilson's White Rabbit Gallery is home to one of the world's biggest collections of contemporary Chinese art. Focusing solely on artworks created after 2000, the gallery constantly rotates the works on display, and its collection is constantly growing. Works come from some of the most important figures in the Chinese art world (including Ai Weiwei), and entry is free of charge. It'd be nice to leave a donation, though — White Rabbit is a registered charity. Don't miss: If all that culture has made you a touch peckish, the Teahouse in the gallery serves excellent dumplings and snacks, as well as a huge range of Chinese and Taiwanese teas. WE ARE HERE MURAL, FOLEY STREET Far from a raggedy bunch of graffiti, the We Are Here mural that runs for 75 metres parallel to Oxford Street on Foley Street is a coherent story of the vibrant history of the area. From its beginnings as humble track through the dense scrub to the thriving arts and entertainment precinct it is today, the work (a collaboration between artists Sarah Howell, Dylan Demarchi, byrd, The Dirt and Gui Andrade) describes the many and varied parades that have traipsed up Oxford Street over the millennia. Since the land's traditional owners trekked along the route from Botany Bay to Sydney Harbour, Oxford Street has remained an important symbol of Sydney's identity, no more so than every March when thousands march for Mardi Gras, and We Are Here paints this picture perfectly. Don't miss: A recurring motif runs through the mural, portraying the hands that built the area as we know it today, from the artist to the final V for Victory at the conclusion of the piece. CARRIAGEWORKS Converted from a decommissioned train workshop, this arts centre gathers together a little bit of everything that Australia and the world has to offer to the aesthetic appetite. As well as art exhibitions, Carriageworks also hosts regular performances, including some pretty big names in music and theatre. Be sure to grab a coffee or a cocktail and a bite to eat at the in-house bar and cafe, Cornerstone. Don't miss: Carriageworks is open every day, but every Saturday it holds a top-notch farmers' market with fresh produce and some killer breakfasts in the covered outdoor area. Explore more with Pullman. Book your next hotel stay with Pullman and enjoy a great breakfast for just $1.
Pineapple on pizza is something you either love or abhor. Sorry, there's no in-between. Some folks won't eat a slice without it, which clearly means they're big fans of Hawaiian pizzas. Others won't touch a piece that's been anywhere near pineapple, and can't stand the variety dedicated to it. Yes, it's a polarising topping. 2022 happens to mark 60 years since the first Hawaiian pizza was apparently served up in Canada, and since that sweet-and-savoury combination had tastebuds either rejoicing or hankering for absolutely anything else. And, to celebrate that milestone, Pizza Hut is giving out freebies — just free pizzas in general, though. If you love pizza — as we all do — but don't like pineapple on top of it, you can still take advantage of this giveaway. It's running all month, from Monday, August 1–Wednesday, August 31, with a huge 35,000 free pizzas up for grabs. Here's how it works: every day this month, the fast food chain is running the promotion via its website — and it's a first in, first served affair. If you're one of the first 1000 people to hop online before 4pm AEST each day, you'll be able to claim a free pizza voucher. That's dinner sorted then, clearly. You can use the vouchers for Hawaiian pizzas, unsurprisingly, but also for super supreme, barbecue meatlovers, pepperoni lovers and cheese lovers varieties. And if you've noticed that there's 31 days in August, and 1000 pizzas a day doesn't equal 35,000, an extra 4000 free pizzas will be on offer on International Hawaiian Pizza Day — which, yes, is a thing. That falls on Saturday, August 20, in case you wanted to mark your diary. If you don't manage to nab a free pizza on any given day, there's an online Hawaiian pizza-slicing game that you can play on the Pizza Hut website after you try, too — and if you rank in the top ten on any day, there are Pizza Hut Hawaiian shirts to be won. Also, just hitting the daily game target puts you in the draw to win a family trip to Hawaii, as does ordering a Hawaiian pizza throughout August. Pizza Hut is giving away 1000 free pizzas daily from Monday, August 1–Wednesday, August 31. For further information, or to nab a pizza, head to the chain's website.
With December hard upon us, Parramatta's Riverside Theatre has let a calendar year's worth of cats out of the bag. Their 2017 program kicks off on January 11 and doesn't pause for breath until early November. In other words, now's the time to familiarise yourself with the lineup because once the art starts flying, it'll be too late. What Rhymes with Cars and Girls will see You Am I frontman Tim Rogers personally taking care of the soundtrack for a play loosely based on his album of the same name. Apparently it's about pizza and love. Erth's Prehistoric Aquarium will see masters of the visual spectacle, Erth, rustle up another gang of prehistoric lizard-giants to terrify and amaze anyone who's ever had a serious crack at pronouncing epidexipteryx's name. Bram Stoker's gothic blood party Dracula has been revisited and adapted by Queensland theatre company shake and stir, ready to open eyes and veins. They're fresh from adapting Wuthering Heights and Roald Dahl's George's Marvellous Medicine. Queensland Theatre and Grin and Tonic Theatre Group will present Australian Indigenous theatre masterwork, The Seven Stages of Grieving. Playwright Tommy Murphy of Holding the Man acclaim, turns his focus on the friendship (and internal organs) of Mary-Ellen Field, an Australian businesswoman and Mark Colvin, one of the ABC's most dogged radio journos, in Mark Colvin's Kidney (also showing at Belvoir in 2017). And Shaun Tan's gently bizarre book, The Red Tree, following a young girl tumbling through surrealistic landscapes, is given the theatre treatment. Expect divers on tricycles and dice that won't stop rolling. That's just a taste of the Riverside 2017 program. Head to the website for the whole thing. Image: Dylan Evans.
The names of 32 painters, sculptors and architects sit bronzed on the exterior walls of the Art Gallery of NSW — all of them male. Nice. Fortunately, the nearby S.H. Ervin Gallery in Millers Point knows better and each year plays host to the annual Portia Geach Memorial Award. Since it began in 1961, the initiative stands to celebrate contemporary female artists in all their glory. The most prestigious of its kind, the Portia Geach Memorial Award exhibits the portraits of distinguished arts, letters or science players. This year saw 267 entries narrowed down to a mere 58 by judges Jane Watters (Director of S.H. Ervin Gallery), Dr Lindy Lee (Sydney College of the Arts) and artist Ben Quilty. The works — each in the running for $30,000 — will hang on the S.H. Ervin Gallery walls from Friday, October 4, until Sunday, November 17. Pop in to cast a vote for the People’s Choice Award. Image: Lovesick 3 by Celeste Chandler.
With Australia's international borders unlikely to reopen until mid-2022 at the earliest, that next big overseas vacation you've been dreaming about is currently on hold. But that doesn't mean you need to spend all your time until then just looking at your own four walls. That's Airbnb's new idea, at least — and the house-share platform isn't merely talking about getting you out of the house for a weekend here and there. Fancy spending a year hopping between different places — and whichever places you like, too? Do three of your mates feel the same way? If so, you'll want to check out the just-launched Live Anywhere on Airbnb program, which is funding 12 people and their pals to hop between Airbnb properties for 12 months. Basically, at a time when holiday bookings are down for obvious reasons, Airbnb is endeavouring to change the way people use the platform — by encouraging everyone to use its rentals as places to live for longer-term stays, rather than just for vacations. So, the 12 selected folks will get to do just that, and on Airbnb's dime. In a number of countries — including Australia and New Zealand — Airbnb is looking for people who work remotely, creatives, staycationers and digital nomads, as well as people with young families and empty nesters. If that's you, and you can do your job from wherever you like, you can apply to spend the period between July 2021–June 2022 living in different Airbnb listings. As well as scoring enough credits to cover all of your rental fees (between US$24,000–48,000 for the year), you'll also get a one-time payment (between US$5–12,000) to cover transport and travel expenses. This does mean that you will still need to earn an income or have enough savings to get by — but you'll still be living in Airbnb properties without spending a cent. And, although border rules might be tricky to navigate, travelling internationally during the program is an option. The caveat: Airbnb will ask you to share your experiences with the company, including about the platform's features and services, and about living the nomad life. So, you'll essentially be product-testing its longer-term stays, then providing your feedback. "This program aims to give 12 lucky people (and their companions) ultimate flexibility when it comes to blurring the lines between living, working and travelling," says Airbnb's Country Manager for Australia and New Zealand Susan Wheeldon. If you're wondering where you could go — and what you could do while you're there — some of the suggestions include farmstays in rural Australia to living the beach life for a year. To apply, you'll need to head to the Live Anywhere on Airbnb website before Wednesday, June 30, 2021. Twenty finalists will then be selected and asked to submit a two-minute video about the program. After that, there'll be finalist interviews before the 12 winners are told to start packing their suitcases. For more information about the Live Anywhere on Airbnb program — and to apply — head to the Airbnb website. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
As one of Sydney's most loved venues, the SBW Stables Theatre has seen its fair share of exciting productions grace its stage over the past four decades. And this latest performance won't be any different, as the interdisciplinary collective Black Birds returns with its newest show Exhale. Coming off the back of a hugely successful 2018 production, Brown Skin Girl, this performance will feature powerful spoken word, movement, song and dance that comes together to create an immersive storytelling experience. Presented by the Griffin Theatre Company, and led by artists Ayeesha Ash and Emele Ugavule, Exhale considers indigeneity, accountability and trauma by delving into the relationships produced between indigenous cultures on foreign lands. Taking place across five special nights, Exhale will challenge norms and generate important conversations as Black Birds presents the female black and brown diasporic experience with intelligence, strength and warmth. Exhale will run from Tuesday, April 9 to Friday, April 13 at the SBW Stables Theatre. Tickets cost $35 per person and can be purchased here.
If you've been looking for an excuse to experience Sydney's new four-storey mega venue Hinchcliff House, its second-level Italian diner Lana is offering up just that with a set of two and three-course set menus for lunch every Thursday and Friday. Located inside a heritage wool store, Lana usually offers its seafood-heavy set menu for $79 per person, but if that's a little out of your budget, you can now cut down the dining experience and opt for 'Lana lite'. The lunch options start from $59 for the two-course option, or you can opt for three courses for $69. No matter which option you decide takes your fancy that day, you'll be presented with three choices for your main: Grimaud duck breast with fermented plum, Murray cod with verjus butter and caviar, or charred miso pumpkin topped with a pepita salsa. You can view the full menu here, which also features Hinchcliff House's sourdough made in-house, kingfish crudo and a caramelised pineapple cream dessert.
With October signalling the end to many of the COVID-19 restrictions we've all been living with, it's the perfect time for Sydneysiders to explore our fair city. Whether you're a southwest native or live further afield, there's a raft of pleasures to discover in the region that are well worth your time. Below you'll find a schedule for a packed day of fun in southwest Sydney that satisfies at every turn. From first-class food to adrenaline-inducing thrill rides to gorgeous scenery, the southwest really does have it all. You're sure to have a day that flies by in the blink of an eye no matter who you're sharing it with. START THE DAY WITH BREKKIE AT FOUR LITTLE FOXES IN MILPERRA They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so start your day well with a visit to Milperra favourite, Four Little Foxes. Currently open for takeaway only, this welcoming cafe has something for everyone on its exciting and varied menu — from classics like a bacon and egg roll to sweet options like french toast with passionfruit curd and maple mascarpone. And we can't go without mentioning the mouth-watering crowd-pleaser: eggs benedict with fried chicken and jalapeño hollandaise. Add the fact that the baristas are serving up coffee roasted by Deluca, and Four Little Foxes is a real treat to kick off the day's activities. TAKE A WALK THROUGH GEORGES RIVER NATIONAL PARK After loading up on brekkie, you'll want to walk it off. Luckily, Georges River National Park is less than ten kilometres away, so you can get your body moving with a view. Despite being inland, the park's location on the river means the picturesque Burrawang Reach will have you feeling like you're on the coast. And from there you can tackle the Ridge Walk — a trail that affords scenic lookouts along the water. It may be relatively short but it'll certainly get the blood pumping. Once you finish at Cattle Duffers Flat picnic area, either turn round and retrace your steps or follow the river's edge to work your way back to the start. GRAB A QUICK LUNCH IN BANKSTOWN Lunch means a trip to Bankstown and your choice of some of the finest Asian cuisine Sydney has to offer. Banh Mi Bay Ngo, located in Bankstown City Plaza, has been delighting southwest Sydney with its range of classic Vietnamese sandwiches for over three decades. The secret to their success? Everything is made in house. If Vietnamese isn't your jam, head on down to the Little Saigon Plaza. The ever-popular Papparich has all your Malaysian favourites, including laksa, nasi lemak and chicken rice. Alternatively, Soju Social offers a taste of South Korea if you need your fried chicken fix. [caption id="attachment_829707" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Christopher Woe[/caption] VISIT BANKSTOWN ARTS CENTRE For culture vultures in the southwest, you can't go wrong with Bankstown Arts Centre. Since its opening in early 2011, it has showcased thought-provoking exhibitions, provided classes and workshops for the community and worked toward breaking down barriers for people experiencing social exclusion — both artists and audience. During lockdown, the Arts Centre moved online, sharing artworks centred on the local area. Soon, patrons will be able to visit in-person again and experience the kinds of exhibitions the company is famous for, including a series of events to mark its tenth anniversary. SNACK ON LEBANESE SWEETS FROM AL AFRAH OR RABIEH SWEETS Nothing delivers that sugary hit quite like Lebanese confectionary. And, the suburb of Punchbowl has two top-quality emporiums dedicated to those mouth-watering delights. Al Afrah is the oldest Lebanese sweet shop in Australia and has a selection of baklava, pastries, petit fours and chocolates that taste as good as they look. And that's without mentioning the homemade gelato. Rabieh Sweets may be newer, but it's no less impressive. Its menu is packed with Middle Eastern treats that are sure to please the palate — whether they're a reminder of childhood or a first-time experience. [caption id="attachment_693299" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Stephanie Cook[/caption] GO TO SYDNEY INDOOR CLIMBING GYM Following its debut at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, the sport of climbing is sure to explode in popularity — even more so than it already has. Sydney Indoor Climbing Gym in Villawood offers both bouldering (low height, no ropes) and climbing (higher walls, safety ropes), and is the largest climbing gym in western Sydney. The numbers speak for themselves: 250 routes, 50 boulder problems and climbing walls up to 16 metres tall. Prices start at $20 for adult entry, but multi-visit passes and memberships are available, too. It's a worthwhile investment — once you get the climbing bug, you won't stop 'til you reach the top. [caption id="attachment_780383" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cassandra Hannagan[/caption] DINNER AT AN RESTAURANT OR AL ASEEL After such a busy day, you deserve a cracking feed. Head back to Bankstown for the final meal of the day to pay a visit to An Restaurant, whose slogan — "So Pho So Good" — tells you nearly everything you need to know. Noodles and meat are the order of the day, with a range of cuts to suit every appetite. Or, if you're craving Lebanese food, head to Al Aseel in Bankstown Sports. The extensive menu features both cold and hot sharing items alongside grilled staples such as shawarma and meat skewers — and that's before you even get to its famous fattoush. DRINKS AT LADY BANKS A cocktail or three is the perfect way to round off a day experiencing the best this corner of Sydney has to offer. And, the recently opened Lady Banks at the top of the Flinders Centre in Bankstown is the ideal location to do just that. Sydneysiders love a rooftop bar — especially when the weather is warmer — and post-lockdown we're keen to spend as much time al fresco as possible. Surely one of the only places with panoramic views of both the CBD and the Blue Mountains, Lady Banks has an impressive selection of beverages. Try its signature cocktail (the Lady Banks, naturally) mixed with gin, elderflower liqueur and a spritz of lemon. To learn more about Lady Banks rooftop bar, visit the website.
For 31 years, the Woodford Folk Festival has been a staple of south-east Queensland's event calendar, gifting the region with an annual array of music, arts, culture, creativity, camping and mud. As other festivals have come and gone around the country, it has remained an end-of-year mainstay, as well as a must-attend event for fest lovers; however that might not always be the case. Just days after the 2016/17 event wrapped up, Festival Director Bill Hauritz has announced that Woodford faces an uncertain future as a result of the strain being placed on the fest's infrastructure. This year saw audiences grow by more than five percent to reach 132,000 patrons over six days, with patrons flocking to see more than 2000 acts, performers and speakers across 438 events, including Paul Kelly, Gang Of Youths, Adalita, Amanda Palmer and Methyl Ethel. "It has been a most beautiful festival in almost every way but our future is unclear," said Hauritz in a statement. "This festival is becoming a hub for creativity attracting some great minds. It's been an inspiration for many of us," he continued. However, with growing crowds comes growing problems, as he also explained. "Raw water storage, and dusty and broken roads took the edge off what was a truly wonderful event. Dust was a big problem we have to fix, and the roads – they're just not up to required standards. That's just the beginning of our infrastructure issues." What happens next is yet to be determined, though given the massive amount of love and support Woodford Folk Festival receives — including from interstate attendees, with a third of festival visitors hailing from outside of Queensland — it's certain that everyone involved will be working to ensure the fest continues. The festival certainly has the backing of Moreton Bay Regional Council Mayor Allan Sutherland, who has called for more government funding. "With such a successful year of festival attendance and camping numbers – it has never been more important for all levels of Government to provide funding support and certainty to Woodfordia Inc. to turn Woodfordia into a destination worthy of ongoing national and international acclaim," he said. "Funding will be vital to ensure this site receives much needed infrastructure upgrades including permanent staging, toilets and amenities, dust control, roads, and camping space for this iconic Australian festival and Woodfordia itself to grow and flourish." Image: Woodford Folk Festival.
Let's not start off on the wrong foot here. It's not that I want to label any food as 'bad' ... just different. But 'cuisine' is generally not the first word that comes to mind when I think 'American diner'. Levdawg is changing all that, and turning bad food good. Real good. What's more, the newly added daily specials create excellent excuses to visit every night of the week. On Wing Wednesday, swing by for Red Hot Buffalo Wings with Celery Sticks and Ranch sauce. Thursdays host the Hot Dog Happy Hour, with half priced Lev's Dawgs between 5 and 7 - a bargain at $6. Be tempted out of GoodGod's Small Club on Fridays, and snap up a box of Fried Chicken, Chips and Chipotle Mayo for a mere $15 after 10. Saturdays are the highlight of the week, with new Hot Dog experiments every week a la Pub Life. Click here for full review and details. Image: courtesy of The Dip
Italian director Nanni Moretti's We Have a Pope takes its name from a latin declaration on the balcony of St Peter's, telling the expectant world that a new pope is elected. Here, that moment stretches into infinity, as pope-elect Melville (Michel Piccoli) decides whether this holy office is really what he wants with the remainder of his days. The world outside, and the Vatican within, wait. Moretti drops himself into this expectant limbo, playing a psychologist who tries to draw out this reluctant pontiff. As the pope-to-be explores his regrets at the acting life he never led, Moretti's atheist psychologist finds his own dogmas rubbing up against catholic dogma, its ritual and grace. To kill time, he organises a volleyball tournament among the cardinals, drawing on a level of organisational complexity that rivals the papal election which begins the film. Despite Moretti's light touch, this film takes its papacy seriously. Even as Meville watches his own bingo-like election at the hands of his elderly peers, once elected he feels the weight of god descend. And it's this weight that he negotiates across the course of the movie. Will this aspiring actor find it within himself to give his one, crucial speech? The tone of the film is gentle, full of sympathy for its characters and rife with absurdities, as atheism and the modern world mix in the Vatican. Cardinals sway without irony to the music of Argentian activist Mercedes Sosa during a moment that is nothing but irony, Moretti's psychologist schools the waiting cardinals on the bible and the oceania volleyball team plays out a deep, deep understanding of Australian soccer. We Have a Pope draws on the idea that melodrama is essential to political movements, painting the pope-to-be as an actor with his cardinals as (in the end, literally) his audience, waiting for that one decisive moment where he finds those unexpected words within. The ending is abrupt, but the words come.
Founded in 2013 by French mother and designer Virgine Batterson, Mamapapa brings earthy, natural clothing to Avalon that all started with a cute children's line. The little boutique in the beachy suburb has now grown to offer a curated collection of womenswear, children's clothing, toys and accessories, and unique homewares inspired by Batterson's northern France-inspired style. Mamapapa is a special find in this chilled-out suburb, and the style reflects this lifestyle; it's a treasure cove of simple, aesthetically pleasant goodies. You can pick up delights from around the world — including everything natural, woven and linen — and the exclusive Mamapapa clothing range.
As always, Falls Festival has gifted us with one helluva lineup. Helping to ring in the art and music festival's 27th year is a pretty exciting gang of musical mates headlined by America pop singer and star Halsey, who'll be performing songs off her Platinum albums Badlands and Hopeless Fountain Kingdom. She's joined by Ezra Koenig-fronted rock band Vampire Weekend, who've just dropped their latest album Father of the Bride, British electro duo Disclosure and Icelandic indie pop band Of Monsters and Men. True to form, the Falls 2019 local lineup is equally exciting, and every bit as broad. Homegrown acts hitting the stage include The Voice himself John Farnham, who'll be belting out hits from some of his nineteen albums, including, we're sure, 'You're the Voice'. Aussie dance trio Pnau, dance floor regulars Peking Duk, folk singer Vera Blue and rapper Baker Boy will all be making appearances, too. As always, the tunes are backed by a colourful curation of art events, performances, pop-ups, markets, wellness sessions and gourmet eats. It's all happening over New Years at the usual spots in Tassie's Marion Bay, the North Byron Parklands and the Fremantle Oval Precinct, WA. But, the Lorne festival in Victoria, as of Sunday, December 29, has had to cancel one day into the event because of extreme and hazardous weather. You can read more about the cancellation here. FALLS FESTIVAL 2019 LINEUP Halsey (no sideshows) Vampire Weekend Disclosure Peking Duk Of Monsters and Men Pnau Lewis Capaldi Milky Chance John Farnham Banks (no sideshows) Dope Lemon Vera Blue Yungblud G Flip Crooked Colours Parcels Thelma Plum #1 Dads Waax Baker Boy Psychedelic Porn Crumpets Amyl & The Sniffers The Japanese House Pink Sweat$ Good Doogs Cxloe Totty Tash Sultana (Byron Bay only) What So Not (Lorne only) Wolfmother (Marion Bay only) Matt Corby (Fremantle only) Updated December 29
Since 2011, DJ Tom Loud's travelling dance party Hot Dub Time Machine has ripped up stages the world over, offering a rolling crossfade of the last six decades of pop-music. But seeing as you can't go out and party at a club or even a vineyard at the moment due to the Government's ban on mass gatherings, Hot Dub is bringing the good times to your living room instead. Expect everything from 50s rock 'n' roll tunes to disco hits like ABBA's 'Gimme Gimme Gimme' and Donna Summer's sultry 'I Feel Love'; ballads and some glam rock from the 80s; Alex Dyson cutting aerobics-style moves to 90s hit 'Steal My Sunshine'; Darude's epic 'Sandstorm'; and Britney's 'Toxic' — you get the idea. Sure enough, this online dance party will have you pushing your furniture aside and heating up a makeshift at-home dance floor in no time. To add to the vibe, there'll be disco lights and a live chat going so you can socialise with other partygoers, plus Loud's family dancing in the background, keeping things wholesome. Hot Dub at Home occurs every second Saturday, kicking off a 6pm, and can be viewed on Twitch. Hot Dub has also launched podcast Decades by Hot Dub Time Machine which will keep you grooving till the next online boogie fest rolls around. Top image: Pat Stevenson
If you've ever wondered what the chefs behind some of Australia's top restaurants are really like, that lust for knowledge can now be slaked with the launch of new Australian food podcast, The Pass. Having launched this week, each weekly episode will take listeners behind the scenes with restaurant icons including chefs, food critics and other food-related personalities. The podcast's guests — which will this season include Kylie Kwong, Matt Moran, 4fourteen's Colin Fassnidge, blogger and author Sarah Wilson, wine hero Mike Bennie, Dave Pynt of Singapore's Burnt Ends and Josh Niland of Saint Peter — delve into their own personal favourite dishes, ingredients, and restaurants, as well as dishing out answers to burning questions like what they would choose as a death row meal. Broadcaster and meteorologist Magdelena Roze hosts the podcast, which goes all over the country, from quickfire interviews on the streets to in-depth discussions inside secret locations that the guests have chosen themselves. Each episode will also include a bite-sized interview with another food personality at the end, where they endure a barrage of questions about their most (and least) favourite things. It's produced by Roze alongside the podcast's creative director Sam Kennedy and founder Jeanine Bribosia. The podcast itself is perfect to wolf down on the way to work, at the gym or, fittingly, while eating lunch — each episode clocks in at 20 minutes. Episode one of The Pass launched this week, with an episode to be released each Tuesday for the next eight weeks. You can listen to it here.
Skip the gym tonight and get your endorphin rush with one of the incredible dance classes at Sydney Dance Company. Whether your skills end at a little two-step or you can channel your inner Beyoncé with ease, you'll be sure to find a class that suits. Choose from over 70 options — including contemporary, tap, and hip-hop — and get ready to shake that bod for a good hour. Even better? The SDC studios overlook the Sydney Harbour so you can soak in the sunset while you shimmy across the floor. While classes ($22) are run on a drop-in basis, they're understandably pretty popular, so make sure to book your space online beforehand.
Hospitality is one of many Australian industries hit hard during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a number of restaurants, bars and cafes closing their doors permanently over the past few months. Joining that, sadly, growing list is Chippendale's A1 Canteen. Opening in mid-2018, A1 Canteen is the casual sister venue to neighbouring Kensington Street fine-diner Automata. It quickly grew a legion of fans — and Instagram followers — for its take on a New Orleans muffaletta (a layered sandwich packed with cured meats and cheeses) and curried eggs served with LP's sausage. If the sound of those dishes is making your stomach rumble, you do still have time to visit. The canteen will remain open for just under a month, before shutting up shop for good on Friday, October 9. [caption id="attachment_692341" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Muffaletta[/caption] The impending closure was announced on Instagram by chef Clayton Wells, who oversees both A1 and Automata, who said that this year has been "challenging for everyone" in hospitality. Wells said the venue's lease was up for renewal, but the team was unable to justify extending it during "such a volatile climate for cafes and restaurants". "The closure of A1 Canteen has been an extremely difficult decision to make, however we feel it will create space for new iterations and exciting projects when the climate is right," Wells said in the statement. "Part of running a restaurant is adapting to change, and we'll be using this time to really focus on our diners at Automata and new experiences to come." https://www.instagram.com/p/CE8AVOID7Xs/ While A1 Canteen will close its doors in just a few weeks, Wells says Automata "continues to thrive" and will be celebrating its fifth birthday next week. Find A1 Canteen at 10 Kensington Street, Chippendale until Friday, October 9.
From casual after-work meetups to private events surrounded by fairy lights and garden scenery, the Shelbourne is one of the CBD's favourite spots for unwinding with good company. With different settings to explore — like a garden bar with forest-like foliage — and an interesting fusion menu, the Shelbourne is a great place to add some flair to your weekdays and enter the weekend on a high. It even has a rooftop bar with stunning views over Darling Harbour. When it comes to eating, you can be adventurous with a peking duck pizza ($19) or stick with the classics, like fish and chips ($20) or chicken schnittys ($19.50). Wine offerings include a plethora of regional options with fresh flavours to treat your taste buds. During the week, you can expect specials like $10 espresso martinis, yes, please. On the weekend, join in the dance parties hosted by Sydney's finest DJs.
"You'll flip over our burgers" is the catch cry of this American diner which serves up indulgent food and good ol' fashion fun. There's rock 'n' roll tunes, mirrors galore, stools that spin and themed outfits for the waitstaff. Oh, and they have some American fizzy drinks — grape Fanta anyone? It's a dentist's nightmare in a can. Batch Burger delivers everything you'd expect from an American-style diner menu. For breakfast try the American stack with fried egg, American bacon and maple syrup ($15). It's bound to make any home sick American weep with joy over the sweet and savoury combo. If you're starving (read: hungover), try the good value big breakfast ($16) and wash it down with a cold drip coffee which changes weekly ($4). Or be a bit more adventurous with a root beer float ($6). The cheeseburger grande ($12.50) can't be ignored. It's full of bacon, cheese and tomato, with American mustard (of course) and fruit relish on a seeded brioche bun. And the tell-tale sign of a good burger place? When they ask how you want your beef burger cooked (and when they cook it to perfection). The fries (side $2.50) were indeed fries. Nothing special. And the corn ($4) was a bit sad and dried out — with faux grill marks and lacking the juicy corn crunch you'd expect. It wasn't quite the paprika and lime mayo experience that the menu spoke of. There are also salad options. But no-one's really there for the salad. To finish, there's the option of a soft serve cone ($3) and for an extra 50 cents scatter on some chocolate and nuts. The food is far from fancy, but that's not what this place is trying to do. It's the full on diner experience, but just down the road from the Prime Minister's Lodge. Much cheaper than an airfare to the US of A, and perfect for the expat friend catch-up. The burgers are juicy and delicious, and full of those all American condiments and relishes that make people drool. It's also got the novelty factor working for it. While some dishes aren't amazing, some are just meant to be simple. Image credit: Andrew Worssam Photography
Update Monday, March 7: Sparkling Sydney has been postponed after unprecedented rainfall has meant Pirrama Park Pyrmont is expected to be unaccessible. The event will now be held on Saturday, April 30. This article has been updated to reflect this. Sipping sparkling might be a pivotal part of your pandemic routine, but nothing has felt particularly bubbly over the past few years. Here's one easy way to change that in 2022: spending a day drinking the fizziest wines possible in a harbourside park. After being forced to postpone its 2020 and 2021 events multiple times due to COVID-19, plus postponing its 2022 event due to severe weather, Sparkling Sydney will finally return from 11am–6pm on Saturday, April 30 with more than 60 sparkling wines from 20 local regional wineries. If you're all about the bubbly things in life, prepare to be swept away by the city's most effervescent booze fest, which'll descend upon Pirrama Park in Pyrmont. Once again, the 2022 edition of Sparkling Sydney is set to deliver a jam-packed day of gourmet food and fizzy fun — although this time around it'll be ticketed, starting at $29 for pre-sales and hitting $39 for general sales. Varieties on offer will include blanc de blanc, petit verdot and moscato, sparkling malbec, pinot noir, pinot meunier, sparkling rosé, verscato, prosecco, sparkling zibbibo, and zinfandel shiraz. No, you won't be short on options. Of course, there'll be plenty of top-notch eats to match — and other tipples, if you'd like to knock back Six String Brewing Co beers, Brix Distillery spiced rum cocktails, sparkling spritzes and non-alcoholic sparkling vinos, too. The Sparkling Sydney lineup also spans wine and oyster matching sessions, sparkling wine bath soaks, and a lineup of live music and DJs, including the Crawfish Po'Boys, Electro Alley, Spyglass, and DJs Kate Monroe and Charlie Villas. Sparkling Sydney runs from 11am–5pm.
While the Mardi Gras Film Festival is returning with 166 LGBTQIA+-focused flicks for its blockbuster 30th edition, there's another film fest coming to Sydney as part of WorldPride. SWARM is a one-day fest showcasing queer filmmakers inspired by radical Black cinema. Pulling together a lineup of independent films to be shown under the stars, SWARM is taking over the Skyline Drive-In in Blacktown on Thursday, February 23. Head to Cricketers Arms Road from 7pm to catch what the festival describes as "a once-in-a-lifetime-immaculate-corpse-of-throat-grabbing-films". Among the filmmakers featured at the festival are trailblazing American director Cheryl Dunye (The Watermelon Woman), the Karrabing Film Collective, Tracey Moffatt (BeDevil) and local electronic musician e fishpool. The night at the drive-in will be accompanied by a screening and panel discussion at the Art Gallery of NSW (AGNSW). The free follow-up event will be popping up at the gallery on Sunday, February 26 and will feature three screenings as well as a discussion moderated by Jen and André of FBi Radio's Movies, Movies, Movies. You can book free tickets to the AGNSW event via the gallery's website. As for SWARM, tickets are $35 per car, $20 per car for anyone part of the queer community, free admission for First Nations attendees and $15 per person if you want to head along without a car and pull up a seat outside.
Shopping local has become much more than a passing trend — it's a way of life for many Sydneysiders. Having a go-to bakery, produce shop, deli, cafe and boutique in your neighbourhood is a must nowadays. And in the busy north shore neighbourhood of Chatswood, it's easier than you think to navigate its many small businesses. You can grab your fresh fruit from one spot, pastries from another and stop at a local cafe in between. To make navigating the area's thriving shopping scene, we've put together this list of the best boutique stores in Chatswood. Whether it's for locally made threads, washed-rind cheeses or freshly baked artisan bread, you can shop at any of these Sydney shops. Recommended reads: Where to Shop Like a Local In and Around Darlinghurst Five Things to Do in Chatswood When You Want to Try Something New Where to Shop like a Local In and Around Sydney CBD
If being lifted to a height 10m higher than the sails of the Sydney Opera House and plummeting to earth face-first at 120km/h sounds like your thing, you should both be seeing a psychiatrist and excited for the Sydney Wet'n'Wild opening. The Parramatta theme park opens on December 12 and will boast more than 40 attractions, including some of the tallest and fastest water rides in the world. You'll also be able to skip the rips of Aussie beaches at the park, which boasts the country's largest man-made beach. Basically, there are a whole lot of rides and such that are the biggest ever. Including prices, according to some pissed-off people. A one-day entry into the park will set you back $69.99 or $54.99 for those under 110cm. Gold season passes are also available for $124.99 that last until April. Unlimited access to the Gold Coast's Movie World, Sea World and Wet'n'Wild, however, is priced at only $100. But with the new venue to stay open until 11pm and include nightly light shows from renowned light designer Bruce Ramus, it may just be worth it. And with free shuttle buses operating between Parramatta train station and the water park, surely it's worth a couple sun-soaked visits.
You may think you've had enough politics after just following the state elections, let alone the last federal one, but for the political cartoonists with work in Behind the Lines at Parramatta's Riverside Theatre, the work is just getting started. Cartoonists were doomed to follow the last terrible government in intricate detail, and are fated to follow the terrible successor day by dusty day as well. Although in some respects today's caricatures are actually much more tame than their historical predecessors, political cartoons have come a long way since the days of Hogarth. There are other programs that promise to take you behind the scenes in the cartoonist's studio, but none of them bring together the pure breadth, diversity and quality in the collection at Behind the Lines. And while good political cartoons aren't always funny, Behind the Lines' collection of contemporary satire keeps up a pretty good standard of chuckles if not as many out-and-out LOLs. Pyramid-nosed Gillards, long-suffering Abbotts and dour-faced — and faceless — numbers operators plaster the Parramatta walls. This suburb was the heart of last weekend's political victory, and no doubt tomorrow's political scandal. So get in its local spirit, and don't be the last in the conga-line of suckholes to check it out. Behind the Lines is open 9-5 Monday to Friday, 9.30 - 1 on Saturdays and before performances at the Riverside.
52 Artists 52 Actions is the culmination of a year-long series commissioned by Artspace. Over 52 weeks from January 2018 to January 2019, the gallery engaged 52 artists and collectives to pose political, cultural and social actions and share them through Instagram and digital platforms. Bringing together all these works in one space, through themes of censorship, activism, migration, labour, gender and economies of power, the exhibition forces us to consider our role within the systems that surround us — if we have one at all. Expect to see pieces by Aussie artists like Richard Bell, Vernon Ah Kee, and Mike Parr. The exhibition will be on display at Artspace in Woolloomooloo until August 4, and a symposium will be hosted at the gallery on the weekend of July 20–21 to discuss the far-reaching span of the art and artists who connect with the immediate world around them. Within this, the audience will be invited to consider Australia's position within the broader region of the Asia-Pacific.
Bored within the confines of your 4-wall bedroom? Embrace your bohemian desires by trading in your modern accommodations for a whimsical gypsy wagon. England's Gypsy Caravan Company creates wagons fit with a double bed, seating, a pull-out table, storage lockers, wardrobe, a secret den, and bookshelves. These miniature homes are also furnished with all the romantic decor appropriate for such a home design: birdcages, crocheted curtains and wood stoves. The company asserts a myriad of uses for such a structure, ranging from a child's playhouse to and artist's studio. These caravans are the perfect hideaway for those who want to unleash their inner romantic or who lead a gypsy-esque nomadic lifestyle--each wagon is equipped with a set of wheels. [via Flavorwire]
In 2023, IKEA celebrated 80 years of operation. To mark the occasion, it unveiled the Nytillverkad collection, which scours the company's design archives to bring back pieces that've proven a hit in the past, and also riff on its prior highlights in general. Like anyone commemorating a big birthday, the Swedish giant isn't done with the festivities yet. Just because it's now 2024, that doesn't mean that it can't keep dropping retro products. With the brand's lengthy history, there's a reason that almost everyone can't remember a time the chain was a homewares go-to. Started by Ingvar Kamprad, aka the IK in IKEA's moniker, it began in 1943 and moved into furniture in 1948. The company then opened its first store in Sweden a decade later — and came to Australia in the 70s. It's the decade of IKEA's Aussie arrival — and the 60s as well — that gets a massive nod in the Nytillverkad collection's latest drop, which hit stores and online on Wednesday, January 10. Think: shaggy rugs, bold patterns and swivel armchairs. Think bright pops of colour as well. Among the side tables, cushion covers and more, 12 of the newly available pieces are re-introductions, with IKEA's Karin Mobring and Gillis Lundgren reviving them from the brand's history. "Vintage furniture has made a big comeback lately, and there's been a growing demand for certain IKEA products that have become collector's favourites," said IKEA Sweden Global Design Manager Johan Eidemo. "That is why we decided to bring back a selection of our design icons, and we are excited to see interest coming from customers of all ages, especially young people who are discovering our design legacy and using these vibrant solutions to express themselves at home. To us, these products are the essence of democratic design, they are timeless, as they combine a beautiful form, a great function, sustainability, an affordable price, and quality that lasts long." Does your lounge room need a white and chrome two-tier side table that first graced IKEA's catalogue in 1971? A yellow-hued armchair from 1969? A black armchair that's designed to reduce stress from 1967? A pendant lampshade that debuted in 1979? They're part of the Nytillverkad range's current vintage focus. Prices vary from $5.50 for a cushion cover to $299 for an armchair — and like with all IKEA limited-edition drops, including its recent first-ever workout collection, you'll want to get in quick before everything sells out. IKEA's Nytillverkad collection is on sale now in Australia, in store and online, until stocks last. Head to the IKEA website for further details.
It's time to start building your Sydney WorldPride 2023 itinerary — and here's the perfect way to break up back-to-back nights of partying. Co-presented by Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, this huge exhibition is taking over the Art Gallery of NSW and its new extension with a jam-packed lineup of art, performances, film, and more. Queer Art After Hours will take place on Wednesday, February 22 from 5pm-10pm, with a focus on celebrating the queer artistic practice in all forms. Wander through the gallery and experience gorgeous creations from the likes of Bhenji Ra, Dennis Golding, Sione Tuivailaia Monū and Sidney McMahon. The stellar program also features live performances from artists-in-residence Blu Jay, Brian Fuata and Leo Teao. Tunes will be pumping with DJ sets from Baschoe, DJ Gemma and VJ Vaxxx — to name a few — alongside pop-up bars and a considerable amount of dining options. Some of the artists, performers and creatives taking part in the programming for Sydney WorldPride 2023 at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. From left to right: Garden Reflexxx (Jennie Atherton and Andj Shannon), Al Joel, Leo Tsao, Sidney McMahon, Brian Fuata, Blu Jay, Sione Tuívailala Monū, Xuela, Kilimi Aketi Foketi, Joy Ng, Dennis Golding / © Art Gallery of NSW/ Photograph: Lexi Laphor. Looking for a touch of mystique? You're in the correct place. Mini tarot readings from Imbi will also be on the cards (no pun intended). Or you can pick between a Venus or Persephone reading by Angela Dix. Alternatively, if you're after an experience more physical than metaphysical, indulge your creative streak with a DIY nail salon, then make friendship bracelets in the jewellery workshop and have your portrait taken by Dorcas Tang 邓佳颖. You can also do a gallery tour led by a curator and immerse yourself fully within highlights of the exhibition and opt to check out the LGBTQIA+ Youth Space, which returns in full swing thanks to the Art Gallery's Youth Collective. And to top it all off, this event is free and requires no bookings. It'll be a night you won't want to miss.
From dazzling water-and-light performances to internationally renowned portraiture, this winter, Sydney has it all. As the weather gets colder, those looking to spend the season exploring Sydney's expansive art scene have a wide variety of exhibitions to choose from. Kicking off the season with a bang, Vivid's larger-than-life outdoor light shows and live performances come to town. On chillier winter days, you can head indoors to check out the winners of the international Wildlife Photographer of the Year photo contest at the Australian National Maritime Museum or head to the Art Gallery of NSW for an exhibit of this year's Archibald Prize finalists. No matter what you're looking for, this winter, you can find it. These are our picks for this season's must-see art exhibitions in Sydney.
Rapid Prototype 3 plans to bring to Legs on the Wall's Lilyfield headquarters some of three-dimensional printing's make-sure-things-get-made-right attitude of print out, check out and recycle. Each instalment is a 'scratch' night with benefits all round: fun for you, feedback for the artist. They're each working at the junction of live art, interaction and tech, so testing is necessary to get all the kinks ironed out and all the robots suitably compliant. The night is part of Legs on the Wall's Open Source program. The follow-up to last year's ventures at 107 Projects and Alaska Projects, this one will feature Michaela Davies, who uses fine electric muscle stimulation to cause fine movements — such as those required to play an instrument. The Macquarie University Performance Innovation Team reveal a technology that might make you forget what a bad dancer you really are, while Applespiel and zin collective test out some of the interactive features of their upcoming Underbelly Arts projects.
Intrepid travellers have been getting down to fishy business in a submerged hotel room off Tanzania’s East Coast since November. But now, you can turn the occasional subaquatic sally into a permanent thing. That’s right, 144 years after Jules Verne wrote 20,000 Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, underwater homes are officially up for sale. Meet the H20ME, the brand new undersea residential creation from US Submarine Structures. The structure is comprised of two floors that provide 340 square metres of sunken living space between them. On the top level, you'll find two bedrooms, two bathrooms, an open lounge and expansive skylight-type structures. On the bottom floor, there's a master bedroom, kitchen, dining area, lounge, library and bar for mixing copious Sea Breezes and Salty Dogs. Every ocean-facing wall is made of transparent acrylic panels, kept clean by automatic water jets; you're pretty much backdropped on every side by a live, 24/7 version of Finding Nemo. What's more, the view is kept well-illuminated and busy via an elaborate array of external lights and fish feeders. You can literally populate your view with bait. You can even opt for a seascaping service, through which you can order colourful coral gardens according to your taste. Yep, that's tailormade ocean views, designed by your lucky, lucky self. Where exactly in the world you take up residence in your H20ME is up to you — and most likely the government who owns your chosen seabed. The only specification is that it must be built between ten metres and eighteen metres below sea level. Access is attained through a private pier connected to either an elevator or a spiral staircase and the dwelling is fixed to the sea floor with bolts and struts. Air pressure is maintained at the same level as that found on land — so there's no need for decompressing every time you pop out to the shops to replenish your dwindling caviar supply. The only catch (zing) is the H20ME will set you back a cool $10 million. Start saving those dubloons. Via Gizmag. Images: US Submarine Structures.
As if Wes Anderson's The Grand Budapest Hotel could get any more adorably twee, Argentine designers Sabrina Giselle Acevedo and Jazmin Granada (both graphic design students at the University of Buenos Aires) have recreated Anderson's latest film's opening credits using paper. Making a pop-up book-like representation of Gustave's reception keys and Agatha's perfect Mendl's cake, Acevedo and Granada have created a squealworthy sequence of stop animation to make your day that little bit more grand. Via Fubiz. Want more Grand Budapest Hotel-ery? Check out our attempts to recreate Mendl's Courtesan au Chocolat with Gelato Messina over here.
Dyson has long been known for its innovative products. It's one of those brands that makes genuinely impressive products — chances are, if a friend purchases one of its appliances and wanted to it show off, you would watch it with genuine interest (and just a hint of jealousy). Your days of quashing that green-eyed monster are no more, because you can go and see all of Dyson's category-leading products in action at its new demo store on George Street in Sydney's CBD. The first of its kind in Australia, this slick space has a bunch of interactive elements for a true hands-on experience. You can see how Dyson's Hair Care technologies, including the Corrale straightener and Supersonic hair dryer, work on your locks with a complimentary consultation and styling session. There are three styling stations, plus a hair wash station. Just speak to someone in-store to request a styling appointment, or book online here. There are also vacuum and air quality demonstrations, if you're considering finally investing in one of those appliances, too.
In our own ways, we all fill our homes with interesting items. That's what galleries and museums obviously do, too. Imagine what must sit in their collections — the things they can't always display, and often don't, but are worth holding onto for an array of reasons. Actually, hit up Sydney's Powerhouse Museum in the second half of 2023 and you'll no longer simply have to wonder. The Ultimo venue has just announced its next huge exhibition: 1001 Remarkable Objects. That title is indeed descriptive, with the site's curators, led by curatorium chair Leo Schofield AM, diving into its vast store of pieces. Showcasing 1001 items might sound hefty, but there's a whopping 500,000 in the full collection, making those selections tricky work. [caption id="attachment_895796" align="alignnone" width="1920"] 'Supreme' mouse-trap making machine by AW Standfield and Co, Mascot, NSW, 1925-2000. Image: Anthony Potter.[/caption] Opening on Saturday, July 22, free to attend, and worth a look whether you're a Sydney local or making a trip to the Harbour City, this exhibition will span a wide variety of objects — celebrity-worn outfits, mousetrap-making machines, ceramic peacock and more. "Our vision for 1001 Remarkable Objects was a seemingly simple one: to create an exhibition celebrating the sheer scale, breadth and relevance of the Powerhouse collection. But how to choose?" said Schofield. "We rejected the nomenclature of 'treasures' or 'masterpieces' and instead determined all choices must be in some way 'remarkable' — whether by virtue of rarity, visual appeal, social history or an ability to invoke wonder. The result is a cornucopia of eras, styles, form, function, size and colour, to stoke memories that so many have of this iconic institution and signal the beginning of a new phase in its marvellous existence." [caption id="attachment_895790" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Performance costumes, 'Fruity Mambo', designed by Catherine Martin, made by Catherine Martin and Rosie Boylan, for Strictly Ballroom The Musical, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 2014. Image: Laura Moore.[/caption] Four certain highlights all were once donned by someone, well-known names and samurais alike. Kylie Minogue's Sydney 2000 Olympics 'showgirl' costume will be on display, as will Nicole Kidman's 'pink diamonds' Moulin Rouge! dress and, still on Baz Luhrmann, the 'fruity mambo' costumes from Strictly Ballroom the Musical. Or, you can peer at an Edo-period samurai warrior's armour. Featuring pieces that've never been shown before, and filling 25 rooms, Schofield's selections also cover the only surviving fragment of the Lockheed Altair aircraft Lady Southern Cross that Sir Charles Kingsford Smith flew in 1935 on his final flight, that 1.5-metre-tall peacock from 1870s, a Detroit Electric car made in 1917 and part of the original transatlantic cable from 1858. And, there's more than 100 pieces of jewellery, including mourning pieces crafted from human hair — and a focus on glass, as gleaming through French and Venetian examples from the 1800 and 1900s, plus Australian and international glass artworks. [caption id="attachment_895791" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Diamond brooch in the form of a bee with sapphires on his head and in stripes across his body and with ruby eyes, gold settings. English c.1870. Image: Marinco Kojdanovski.[/caption] 1001 Remarkable Objects displays at Powerhouse Ultimo, 500 Harris Street, Ultimo, Sydney from Saturday, July 22 through to December 2023. Top image: Detail of suit of armour, possibly of samurai officer Koma Kaemon of Bizen clan, Japan, Edo period, possibly 1775. Image: Ryan Hernandez.
Summer is nearly upon us, but, sadly, international travel is not on the cards this year. Hospitality group Aus Venue Co. feels your pain, which is why it's transporting you around the globe by turning six of its Sydney venues into epic staycation destinations. At Bungalow 8, there'll be Bali beach club vibes, where you can book a private deck for you and your mates ($79 per person), complete with an esky full of Bintang beer and prosecco. Or, opt for the $69 bottomless brunch — think fish tacos, nasi noodle salads and satay — with a prosecco fountain to boot. And, on Sundays, expect live tunes and pork on the spit. Manly Wine is transforming into a cherry blossom garden with its Sakura Summer. The menu will be full of Japanese-inspired bevvies and bites, including yuzu-spiked cocktails and bottomless dumplings on Wednesdays for $30. If you're missing music festivals, head over to Darling Harbour's Cargo, which has been decked out as a Coachella-inspired joint. You'll enter via a giant tent and step into a Palm Springs haven of cacti, lush greenery and plenty of pink hues. Of course, there'll be live music, which you can check out every Friday until the end of February. In Surry Hills, The Winery has been transformed into the Tuscan countryside, with a terrace slinging a daily aperitivo hour with free scoops of Mapo Newtown prosecco gelato from 5–6pm. Or, head there for a long Italian lunch for $59 each, with olives, tuna crudo, smoked salmon and caviar finger sandwiches, porchetta and rosé apple sauce on sourdough. [caption id="attachment_791319" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Winery, Jasper Ave[/caption] The Rook has also turned to Italy, but it's channelling the Amalfi Coast. It'll host an aperitivo hour from 4.30–5.30pm with bar snacks and cocktails like summery mint negronis and Sicilian-style iced teas. Or, head down on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday for a boozy brunch. For Aussie rooftop vibes with a slight nod to Provence, head to Untied for its Frosé Your Way activation. You'll find seven frosé varieties to choose from, including white peach, tropical, blue hibiscus and mango lime. You can opt for bottomless frosé for $39 per person, too. Haven't decided where you'd like to 'travel' to this summer? Check out Aus Venue Co.'s Summer Staycations here. Images: Jasper Ave
