Sync, Rone, Reka, Wonderlust, Phibs, Meggs, Prizm, Makatron, The Tooth: somebody call Marvel and call for a mass retrenchment. Part street artists, part heroes of graffito, the underground collective known as Everfresh keep the streets of Melbourne colourful and free of aesthetic crimes, saving lacklustre walls one tag at a time. With an original approach to colour, detail and iconography, the elusive crew are bringing their indefinable brand of street art to a more portable medium, with the launch of the Blackbook as a sneaky peer into the works of these 'urban decoration specialists'. With candid photography of their hush-hush Collingwood hub and an inspired attention to detail that translates from their intricate streetwork, this little anthology from beginnings in 2004 is a creative keepsake of those stickin' it to the man and colouring the cityscape. In a launch more rare, exclusive and grand than a perfect shade of Crayola magenta, the gang are bringing their goods to aMBUSH Gallery this Friday in a celebration of the six years the ‘freshers have been adding their spark to the streets, with an installation, photographic prints by Josh Robenstone and bangin' tunes from DJ buds. With Melbourne already giving their beloved urban embellishers a send-off to boot, it’s time Sydney fronted a similarly welcoming embrace for these radical wallflowers.
You might recall Londoners basking under a giant artificial sun in the turbine hall of the Tate Modern, or an installation at the Hayward Gallery comprising strobe lights and fountains, arresting streams of water in mid-air like glittering beads of solid glass. The unique magnetism of Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson is in his harnessing of light, space and temporality. He is engaged with the fabrication of natural phenomena, the optical mechanics of the human eye and questions of how we occupy and experience space. Eliasson's upcoming Cubic Structural Evolution Project will incite a more 'hands on' approach. Presented with thousands of blocks of Lego, the viewer will assume the role of architect. Whether you lay the foundations of your own miniature skyscraper or elaborate on a pre-existing one, a small metropolis is expected to blossom over the exhibition period. The finished (or unfinished) product may suggest the cityscape of the modern world is just as much an organism as we are.
Normally when the middle of the year hits — when Australia's weather is at its frostiest, aptly — the annual Scandinavian Film Festival rolls into cinemas around the country. In Sydney and Melbourne in 2021, that timing coincided with lengthy lockdowns, so the fest is bringing back its Nordic noir-heavy lineup for another spin before the year is out. Actually, the Scandinavian Film Festival Sydney run didn't even get to go ahead back in July, while Melbourne's was interrupted by stay-at-home stints. In both cities, the event will now help see out spring and welcome summer with a heap of films from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Sweden and Norway. Sure, the warm weather won't make you think of cold Nordic climes, but the on-screen lineup is still impressive. Kicking off on Tuesday, November 23 in Sydney and Friday, November 26 on Melbourne, the returning 2021 fest launches with a must-see new entry in the Scandi-noir genre. Hailing from Denmark, opening night's Wildland stars Sidse Babette Knudsen (Borgen, Westworld) as the head of a family crime syndicate. She's charged with looking after her teenage niece and, in a movie that instantly brings Australia's own Animal Kingdom to mind, the latter soon learns more about the family business. Also on this year's Scandinavian Film Festival lineup: Knudsen again in Copenhagen-set psychological thriller The Exception; masterful and engaging Norwegian film Disco, about an evangelical dance champion who finds her faith tested; and surreal mother-daughter drama Psychosis in Stockholm. Or, for fans of Nordic cinema's big names, relationship drama Hope co-stars Stellan Skarsgård (Chernobyl), musical comedy A Piece of My Heart sees Swedish-born actor Malin Akerman (Rampage) back on home turf, and The County hails from Icelandic filmmaker Grímur Hákonarson — who directed Rams, which was remade in Australia last year. Other highlights include Icelandic box office hits Agnes Joy and The Last Fishing Trip, the latter of which has been compared to The Hangover; Finnish biopics Helene and Tove, about painter Helene Schjerfbeck and visual artist and author Tove Jansson, respectively; and Tigers, which tells the true tale of former Inter Milan player Martin Bengtsson. Or, there's also Diana's Wedding, which isn't actually about that Diana — plus closing night's 50th anniversary-screening of The Emigrants starring Max von Sydow and Liv Ullmann. The Scandinavian Film Festival will screen at Sydney's Palace Norton, Palace Central and Chauvel Cinemas from November 23–December 15 and at Melbourne's Palace Balwyn, Palace Brighton Bay, Palace Cinema Como, Palace Westgarth, The Kino and Pentridge Cinema from November 26–December 15. For the full program, visit the festival website.
We normally associate Boxing Day releases with feelgoodery, dogoodery, comedy and special effects. Which is why it seems sort of hilarious when a film like Short Term 12 pops up at that time of the holiday season, determined to make its quiet realism heard. The SXSW Film Festival winner was number one on Buzzfeed's list of 'movies you probably missed in 2013 but definitely need to see', so if you get in quick, you can make it the no.1 movie you outsmarted Buzzfeed on instead. Short Term 12 is the kind of film that feels like a well-edited version of real life — though probably not a life that is familiar to you, if you grew up in safe, loving circumstances. Compulsively watchable and super emotional, it revolves around the kids and their barely adult supervisors at a temporary foster care facility. The plot is nebulous, but the anchor is social worker Grace, played by Brie Larson, who you probably remember from United States of Tara and who puts in an incredible, name-making performance here. Excellent at her job and in an adorable, supportive relationship with fellow supervisor Mason (John Gallagher Jr), Grace has her own childhood trauma that she's overcome (or at least repressed). But when a new girl, Jayden (Kaitlyn Dever), arrives at Short Term 12, she poses fresh challenges — particularly for Grace, who sees something of herself in the girl. Whether she'll be able to help Jayden, and herself, when the fog of emotion catches up to her is not a given. Short Term 12 is deeply funny, heartbreaking and brave, exploring some taboo topics sensitively without once being sensationalist. Perhaps most impressive is the way writer and director Destin Cretton is able to leap tall towers of everyday humour and humanity and then suddenly drop you into a pit of total, gut-wrenching sadness in a single bound. It's never overwrought; his execution is swift and precise, and he lifts you right out again. Often, it's through the kids' artistic expressions that their pain is most clear; a rap that guarded Marcus (Keith Stanfield) practices with Mason is wholly shattering, and Jayden, an avid drawer, has created a picture book that is not easy reading. The supervisors' calm, understanding reactions to all the crazy things that happen at the centre every day are a fascinating lesson in themselves. Short Term 12 is ultimately hopeful and bittersweet. It's not all hobbits and light, but to watch Short Term 12 is to be exposed to repeated acts of compassion. And practice, they say, makes perfect. Perhaps that's why Short Term 12 is on the Boxing Day release list: it might help guide you into a kinder New Year. https://youtube.com/watch?v=rETaWDZ57v0
Foragers of the North Shore, take a breather and let a Michelin-trained chef do the hard work for you. Tomorrow Thursday, April 7, the good folk behind Bondi's The Corner House and Panama House will officially open a bar and eatery named Hunter Gatherer on the rooftop of North Sydney's Greenwood Plaza. And along with their cracking hospitality skills, they've got a top-notch chef on board as well. Said chef is one Paul "Mick" Micklewright, who's put together a menu based on all things good: freshness, locality, sustainability and ethics. Headlining dishes include Bannockburn free-range chicken braised with Sicilian olives, lemon, confit garlic, thyme and verjus, and a hearty farmer's market steak platter. Meanwhile, herbivores are taken care of with a spiced eggplant, haloumi and tomato salad, tossed with parsley and chickpeas. Living up to these tasty, tasty creations is a similarly spirited drinks list, featuring cocktails, craft beers and a handpicked selection of organic, biodynamic wines. The venue also does breakfast and lunch each weekday as well as dinner Wednesday to Friday, but isn't open on weekends (aside from private events). Regardless, it looks like a coup for North Sydneysiders looking for a new lunch spot or somewhere for a casual dinner. In keeping with the environmentally friendly ethos, the interior, which feels a bit like a welcoming country farmhouse, is dotted with lush plants. But it's not all rustic — an Italian-designed feature wall blends natural imagery with a psychedelic aesthetic. On sunny days though, you'll want to nab a seat outside on the vast terrace. Hunter Gatherer will open on Thursday, April 7 on the Greenwood Plaza Rooftop at 36 Blue Street, North Sydney. Opening hours are 8.30am to 4pm Mondays and Tuesdays and 8.30am to late on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.
These days, a free tertiary education is something of a myth — your parents might have got it, you know some other countries offer it, but you've certainly given up all hope of getting any sort of affordable qualifications. But if Labor is elected at the upcoming NSW election, you'll be able to complete a selected TAFE course without spending a cent on fees. Announced this morning by Opposition Leader Michael Daley and NSW Shadow Minister for Skills Prue Car, the program would see a Labor State Government cover 600,000 TAFE places across a ten-year period. The program would see free courses for all certificate levels in skill shortage areas, including childcare, aged care, disability care, construction, plumbing and electrical trades. Coming into effect from January 2020, it would replace Liberal's Smart and Skilled program, which sees fees covered for up to 100,0000 TAFE apprenticeships over a four-year period. The Labor-led program covers a wider scope of courses, with the lineup of free certificates and apprenticeships modified each year to cater for changing skill shortages, according to SBS. The first four years of free courses is estimated to cost the government $64.5million, with potential students eligible for one free course each. Mr Daley said the free courses would be beneficial to both school-leavers and older NSW residents considering a career change (or changing career out of necessity). "Free TAFE will help those starting out or those retraining to find jobs in industries that are crying out for more workers," Mr Daley said in a statement. The offer comes six weeks out from the state election, as both candidates ramp up their campaigns — hitting us with election promises left, right and centre. Expect many more in the lead-up to March 23. https://twitter.com/michaeldaleyMP/status/1094463160180826112
As the winter chill takes over Sydney's lower north shore, you have two choices: you can achieve hermit status by staying at home, or you can make the most of a cold situation and head down to Luna Park Sydney's Winterfest. Running from Friday, July 6 to Monday, July 23 the amusement park will be offering a bevvy of food and wintry activities to suit all visitors, with an ice-skating rink as the star of the show. On Friday and Saturday nights, Luna Park will stay open until 10pm making it a top date night destination. Surprise your partner with some laps around the rink before dinner at carousel-inspired diner The Hungry Horse or upmarket restaurant The Deck. Follow up with a romantic Ferris wheel ride, then get cosy at a pop-up stall serving Baileys hot chocolate, caramel pretzels and gooey s'mores. A Twilight Saver ticket ($35 per person) will sort you out, giving you access to everything — including unlimited rides and ice-skating — after 6pm. If you've got a few little ones in tow, Luna Park Sydney will also be open every day of the July school holidays. Grab an Unlimited Rides Pass (price based on height), which gives you access to the whole park and unlimited rides and ice-skating. Plus, there'll be some helpful penguin skating aids available to help anyone navigating the rink for the first time. On-site retro food outlet Helter Skelter will keep the family well-fed with carnival favourites including hot dogs, burgers and dagwood dogs. Secure your spot on the ice, and purchase tickets here.
Sacrifice, of the kind where ideals clash with safety and responsibility, is at the heart of A Thousand Times Good Night. The film starts with a potent example, as photojournalist Rebecca (Juliette Binoche) snaps away in Afghanistan. Secreted to a secluded spot, she starts capturing a funeral; however, it is soon revealed that her subject isn’t dead. Instead, the prone pose is part of a ritual preparing a suicide-bomber for a mission that goes awry, injuring Rebecca in the process. Juxtaposing the struggle of a woman driven to chronicle the horrors of humanity with the plights of those whose daily lives exist on the precipice between life and death, this introduction makes a strong statement. The former clearly seems trivial in comparison to the latter, but both have costs and consequences. Rebecca has a husband (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) and two daughters (Lauryn Canny and Adrianna Cramer Curtis) restless with worry when she is out in the field. Giving up her passion for her loved ones’ peace of mind doesn’t come easily, as she is troubled in her attempts to reconcile the need to make a difference with the comforts of home and the calling of family. Alas, following on from such a striking and tense opening was always going to be difficult. The focus swiftly shifts to an account of disturbed domesticity, and so does the A Thousand Times Good Night’s effectiveness and interest. Contemplating the professional versus personal divide is admirable, and touching upon the ethics of observing versus intervening sparks questions, although both areas have been traversed more thoughtfully in other films. Here, they’re just mechanisms to incite conflict in a marriage melodrama. In such rendering of the circumstances, much is left to rest on Binoche’s talented shoulders. Thankfully, it is never tiresome to see the actress on screen, even when a furrowed brow seems her standard expression. Coster-Waldau is sadly given little to do, other than rally against the protagonist’s choices. Instead, it is young newcomer Canny that offers the best depiction of the traumatic repercussions of living with and loving someone constantly drawn to perilous situations. A Thousand Times Good Night is inspired by the early photographer years of director Erik Poppe’s own career, as conveyed in a script co-written with his long-term collaborator Harald Rosenløw-Eeg, but it is easy to dismiss its content as fiction. Only the war-torn visuals seem taken from Poppe’s experiences; indeed, some of his own stills are used, and the handsome imagery certainly eclipses the strived-for emotion. That’s the issue: the story and performances are just too concerned with heavy-handed sentiments to ring true. It seems that the key sacrifice the film makes is in its approach, preferring the appearance of resonance to taking any thematic risks.
It's the iconic charity footy match that sees local musos and radio names battle it out on-field in an effort to raise much-needed funds and awareness for disadvantaged Aussies via Reclink Australia. This year, 19 years after it was born down in Melbourne, the much-adored Reclink Community Cup will return for a huge 2022 instalment. On Sunday, September 11, this year's cup will transform Marrickville's Henson Park into a community celebration of epic proportions, as crowds flock to catch the Sydney Sailors (media personalities) and the Western Walers (musicians) go head to head. This year's festivities have been given the theme of 'Let Love Rule', in honour of the late Gunditjmara/Bundjalung singer-songwriter Archie Roach AM, borrowing the name of the theme from his seventh studio album. As always, the off-field antics will be plentiful, with a stellar lineup of line tunes. Former Wiggle Murray Cook's 70s-style rock band The Soul Movers will do the honours at halftime, while legendary Australian hip-hop collective The Herd will reform to perform their first gig together since 2018 at the conclusion of the game. "I love playing the Community Cup alongside a spirited bunch of full-hearted dabblers who kick, handball and most importantly sing together in the name of supporting Reclink at the glorious Henson Park," The Herd's Tim Levinson (also known as Urthboy) said. "There's nothing like spilling a simple chest mark and getting sledged by some unslept revellers on the hill and some kids from Marrickville Primary school while the sun sets in the west. Incredible scenes." There will also be pop-up bars and food trucks on-hand so you can enjoy a beer and a bite to eat while you watch the game. Proceeds from the event will go towards Reclink which runs programs that help combat mental illness, family violence, homelessness, unemployment and issues surrounding gambling, alcohol and drugs. [caption id="attachment_864759" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Soul Movers[/caption]
Online fashion and lifestyle store Public Figure has taken its collection of effortlessly stylish and consciously made clothes and lifestyle essentials from its online store into the real world with a breezy European-inspired pop-up in Paddington. The pop-up has taken over a former cake store on Oxford Street, refurbishing it with recycled material and furnished with pieces from sustainable furniture-makers Totem Road. Public Figure strives to work with brands and designers making their clothes in both an environmentally and socially ethical way. The majority of designers the store works with are also locally owned and made. Inside you'll find pieces from designers like Anna Quan, Peony Swim, Wynn Hamlyn alongside new additions to the Public Figure collection including Auor, Hyde & Stone and Zulu & Zephyr. Alongside the clothes, shoppers will find accessories like St. Rosé fragrances, Flash Jewellery and Public Figures always popular zodiac towels and sarongs. The pop-up is located at 96 Oxford Street, Paddington and is open as of Thursday, October 14.
If you're hyperventilating just thinking about Christmas shopping Westfield-style, here's a way to calm your nerves. Online gift shop hardtofind.com.au, which specialises in all things independent, creative and beautifully-designed, is going to take a brief sojourn in the bricks-and-mortar world with a Christmas pop-up shop at The Rocks. Co-founders Eri Stewart and Trudi Jenkins will be presenting an eclectic, handpicked selection of presents, covering everyone in your social circle, from your annoying little brother to your mad auntie to your hard-to-please mother-in-law. The pop-up will be found in the foyer of 5 Hickson Road — on the George Street side. Doors will first open between Friday, November 28 and Sunday, November 30, and then from Thursdays to Sundays until December 14. Your visit will be rewarded with free cupcakes, and while you're there, take a quick Instagram and post with the hashtag #hardtofindpopup to go in the draw to win every item on display. Stewart and Jenkins met while working on delicious. magazine and have since become experts in gift-giving. The 28,000 items on their site, sourced from 800 Australian and international small businesses, are the product of countless hours of research. Their aim is to save you the time, hassle and frustration of trawling through shopping centres and online stores.
If you are looking to "wave you hands in the air like you just don't care" then forget this show. Dead Prez care big time. They have been churning out agitated political hip hop for nigh on 15 years, with lyrics that cover everything from veganism to socialism, always attempting to unify and educate African Americans first and foremost. They have occasionally drifted into the periphery of the main stream; first in 2000 with the single Hip Hop which had the snarling, booty crunching bass line with a chanting chorus of "it's bigger than hip hop, hip hop". This tune was used for the opening of Chappelle's Show and the comedian also championed the Dead Prez cause again when he featured the crew in Dave Chappelle's Block Party, even rapping a few verses of the the tune in his unmistakable twang. The duo are on our shores for The Big Day Out. I'm not sure if the masses will digest their message, but if all else fails you can all nod your heads to their rhymes at The Gaelic this week.
We're not sure then it started, but Sydney's south has slowly become (dare we say it?) cool. Art galleries, cafes and restaurants are popping up in what was previously an industrial area near the airport where nothing really happened. The latest chef to set up there is Luke Mangan, whose open-plan, New York-inspired Luke Mangan Headquarters opened earlier this month. Headquarters is a mix of head office, test kitchen, sit-down function area and wine and tapas bar, all inside one large warehouse on Danks Street. This will be Mangan's second Sydney venue (the first is Glass, located in the Hilton), but he has restaurants in Surfers Paradise, Singapore, Tokyo, Bali and Jakarta as well. Headquarters is made up of three main areas. The first is the aptly titled 'Engine Room', the office part of the venue where all the planning for the Luke Mangan brand (restaurants, books, catering and Luke's range of snacks, spices, cakes and condiments sold via his website) will take place. There's also a photo wall outside where you can see some of the celebrities he's cooked for over the years. In the Test Kitchen, a large function area at the far end of the building, Luke and his crew will be testing and developing new recipes for his various local and international restaurants. The area's also available to book for functions and private dinner parties. Last of all, but probably the most exciting, is Mojo Wine Bar, a casual wine and tapas bar where diners can enjoy wine and cocktails along with a range of small snacks, including pork belly tacos, cheese plates and oysters. While most of Luke's restaurants are a bit on the pricey side, Mojo sounds like a perfect opportunity to try some of Luke's award-winning food in a more casual, relaxed setting.
On June 24, 1978, a few hundred people gathered on Oxford Street to voice their opinions against anti-homosexual discrimination. Late in the evening, when the numbers rose to 2000, the police put an end to the march and arrested 53 of the protestors, many of whom lost their jobs as a result. Thirty-five years on, the Mardi Gras is the largest gay celebration on the planet, with about 10,000 participants and hundreds of thousands of spectators. It's a glamorous, glitzy, outrageous, fun expression of every individual's right to love freely. Get there early if you want a view. Read the rest of our ten best things to do at Sydney Mardi Gras.
Backyard cricket, barbecues and water sports are all Aussie summer clichés for a reason: they're good, wholesome fun. Another one? Outdoor cinemas. And we're here to tell you the very good news that North Sydney's version of this al fresco activity is returning for another season. Sunset Cinema is once again taking over North Sydney Oval from January 15–March 20. Whether you're planning a cosy date night or easy family outing under the stars, this year's extensive program has something for everyone. The nostalgic lineup ranges from 80s cult films like Dirty Dancing to Studio Ghibli favourite Spirited Away and a whole heap of Oscar nominees, including Knives Out, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and 1917. There are also sing-along screenings of Bohemian Rhapsody and Greatest Showman, and a Valentine's Day 10 Things I Hate About You special. BYO picnics are encouraged, but if you want to enjoy a sparkling or brew throughout the film, the on-site bar will be serving a range of wines, beer and cider. Didn't pack enough snacks? There'll be food trucks and plenty of the requisite movie treats like chips, chocolates, lollies and bottomless popcorn. Yep, buy a box and you can get free (endless) refills. Tickets start at $20 for adults, with a premium $45 lawn lounge package on offer, too — it includes entry, a prime-viewing bean bag reserved on the lawn, a beverage of your choice and a box of popcorn.
David Griggs is a contemporary artist from Sydney who documents the seamy underbelly of the third world, Australian style. Which means his works are bold, garish and larger than life. For his latest exhibition, opening this Thursday at MOP Gallery, he just got back from spending four months in a Manilla Jail working with the inmates on typically massive canvases representing their gang emblems. The work promises to be politically charged, very beautiful and, well, big ... you get it. If that's still not enough of a Griggs fix, in the next room there's a group show he also curated. The man's unstoppable.
If you've been dreaming about a new set of wheels to help you gracefully glide into the sunny season, the legends at Amsterdam-born bike label Lekker can help you out. This weekend, the company's Sydney store will host another edition of its ever-popular 'garage sale' filled with bikes, bargains, eats and beats. The party starts pedalling at 10am on Saturday, October 6 at Lekker's cheery Surry Hills store (conveniently located on the Bourke Street bike path). Those in the market for new wheels will be able to test ride a few different designs, and, if all goes well, buy one — all bikes, accessories and parts will be discounted, some by up to 50 percent. Backing up the fun and embracing those sweet spring vibes, there'll be a soundtrack of groovy tunes, plus free food and drinks. Don't risk a sleep-in, though — Lekker's past sales have seen pretty hefty lines of punters keen for those bicycle bargains and you don't want to miss out.
On Delphi, long ago, the Oracle sucked the vapours of secret herbs and split the wall of time so as to forewarn mortals of what the Gods decreed. Since those Hellenic days, the seer has remained as the ultimate purveyor of mystic reference. Always of its era, the Oracle takes many forms, speaking every language and hopefully, though not often, heeded just in time.Meryl Tankard, one of the finest choreographers in the world, now summons her Oracle, award-winning dancer Paul White, to the Sydney stage. Forming visions inspired by the works of Odd Nerdrum - a painter gifted with the greatest name ever known - The Oracle delivers a cloaked message to those who seek it. And for those who don't, there are the urgent melodies of the Kronos Quartet and Nijinsky's The Rite of Spring to crack the shell of your everyday.There will be a pre-performance talk given by Meryl Tankard on September 20th at 4pm.
When I was in high school I associated Luna Park with the wild-mouse, the gravitron, dodgems and the ferris wheel... not dance parties. Times have changed! The crew of Skoolapalooza have decided that the best way to shake off the HSC exams stress is with loud music, lights shows and cool market stalls. While some finish final exams earlier than others, this is an awesome way to get together with fellow HSC survivors and cheers each other into the next stage of early adulthood while dancing to Cut Copy DJ’s, The Potbelleez, The Bang Gang Deejays (Ajax + Doom + Hoodrat), Bag Raiders, The Stafford Bros, and more. Register online here for competitions and updates.
Sixteen brewers, sixty-plus beers, a slew of gourmet chefs, live musicians and a petting zoo will converge on Willoughby on Saturday, September 13, for the fourth annual Willoughby Craft Beer Fair. Entry to the shindig is free. But, if you're keen to taste, you'd be wise to invest in some tasting tix before the date. For $23.50 online or $27 at the door, you get ten delicious samples. Australian brewers who'll be peddling their creations include Balmain Brewing Company, Gang of Four from Sydney's Northern Beaches, Mountain Goat from Richmond, Victoria, Yulli's Brews from Surry Hills and Murray's from Port Stephens. In addition to these local flavours, you'll be offered a stack of drops from around the world. The Fair is hosted by The Willoughby Hotel and is organised in conjunction with Willoughby Council's EMERGE Spring Fair. The action will go on all day, kicking off at 11am and winding up at 5pm.
LAND — the creative Texan duo behind some of Patagonia, Levis and Deus's most dynamic campaigns — are set to exhibit in Australia for the first time. To be held in Camperdown's MC06 and titled One Hand on the Bull, the show promises a selection of LAND's latest works, exploring their timeless approach to the art of communication. Those familiar with the artists (aka Caleb Owen Everitt and Ryan Rhodes) will know of their unwillingness to limit themselves when it comes to materials or techniques. Expect to see the old, the new, the unique, the found, the recycled and the upcycled, across drawings, paintings, typography, iconography, graphic design, digital design, metal work and sculpture. One Hand on the Bull will open on Thursday, December 10 from 6pm and show for just two days — Friday, December 11 between 10am and 4pm, and Saturday, December 12 between 10am and 5pm. The show is presented by Monster Children, the magazine that, since 2003, has been redefining surf and skate publications by delving into art, photography, design and music.
Bondi's The Royal was a stalwart on Sydney's live music scene for years. And now that new owners Merivale have settled in, it's continuing the tradition. Throughout summer, in partnership with Furphy beer, it's running a free live music series across three of its venues: the Royal, plus Coogee Pavilion and Marrickville's Vic on the Park. If you're heading to Bondi on a Saturday afternoon, drop into the Royal, grab a Furphy and settle in for a free gig. Each Saturday from 5pm will see a different artist (or artists) take to the stage — the roster includes a heavy dose of local DJ talent and a couple of live music gigs, too. On January 5, Groove City will travel up from Melbourne to perform its unapologetic funk, and, come February 2, prepare yourself for Perth rockers the Psychedelic Porn Crumpets. After appearing at the Royal, they'll be setting off on a mammoth UK tour. The rest of the See Sound program is over here. Updates will take place throughout summer, so be sure to check in regularly.
You'd never guess from the popularity of its fried chicken that Johnny Bird was once a lobster roll joint. Luckily, it ditched the crustacean earlier this year in favour of free-range fried chicken, and it has been serving it up in droves every since. And, on the last Saturday of every month, its fryers are extra busy, when it hosts an all-you-can-eat fried chicken party. For $30, you'll get unlimited brined and fried chook with one of nine different sauces — Nashville hot, sticky Szechuan, chipotle mayo, blue cheese, Johnny sauce, gravy, house-made tomato sauce, Detroit smoky barbecue or ranch — and a side of fries, mash and gravy. Downing all that fried fare is thirsty work, so the lower north shore eatery is also cracking open tins of beer for just $6. To make a booking, head to the Johnny Bird website. Johnny Bird's all-you-can-eat fried chicken fest runs from 5pm.
If you're here, it's safe to say you're a bona fide movie buff. You've seen the latest blockbusters, you're in attendance at the festivals (in person or via live stream) and you're always on the lookout for the indie gems to set your gaze upon. So, this year's 70th anniversary of Melbourne International Film Festival is sure to be on your radar (and its sponsor Dropbox is gifting you something special to celebrate). The far-reaching 2022 program offers a bevy of applauded flicks from home turf and afar, and has a knock-out lineup of deep-dives with esteemed guests, premiere events and discussion panels. So, if you can't squeeze a sneaky trip to Melbourne into your August agenda, we've got just the ticket to get you a front-row seat to the action from afar — 25 of them, to be precise, because we've teamed up with Dropbox to give 25 lucky film lovers at-home double passes to attend an online MIFF Play screening of their choosing. That's right, skip the queues — and skip the shoes if you want — and microwave those kernels, because there are thrillers, dramas, rom-coms and biographies aplenty just waiting for you to watch from the comfort of your own home. Will you tune in to Lucky Peach, a deeply personal exploration of suburban tensions and the sacrifices made by first-generation immigrant families; charmingly quirky comedy The Lonely Spirits Variety Hour; or Citizen Ashe, the story of tennis champ Arthur Ashe, the first Black athlete to win a singles Grand Slam singles title? The choice is entirely yours. Celebrating these filmmakers isn't only done by audiences — they're also supported by advances in technology. Smooth-moving collaborations between producers, screenwriters, animators and actors? Real-time sharing of heavy files? Avoidance of glitchy email chains and lost-to-the-void sparks of genius? Dropbox looks after it — and that's why it's an official supporting partner of the Festival. It's that crossroads of creativity and technology that empowers these artists to continue doing what they love — and what delivers the 25 double tickets that we're giving away right here. Keen to shake up your watch list? Enter the competition below. Melbourne International Film Festival runs from Thursday, August 4 till Sunday, August 21. Select films will be available to stream online from Thursday, August 11 till Sunday, August 28. [competition]863917[/competition]
The end of Game of Thrones is coming, with the show's eighth and final season kicking off this month. Not ready to say goodbye? Try claiming the Iron Throne for yourself instead. Joining the huge list of GoT-themed bits and pieces — including spinoff series, official tours, boozy banquets and ice hotels — is Game of Thrones Winter Is Coming, a new multiplayer browser game that puts players in the thick of the action. It might have the most obvious title possible, but Game of Thrones Winter Is Coming gives fans an important role and a huge task: becoming either a lord or lady in Westeros, scheming against and slaying your enemies, and seizing the Seven Kingdoms' coveted metal chair. So, basically, stepping into the standard GoT world and doing what all of your favourite characters have been doing for years. Unlike Jon Snow, you'll know that much at least. Now available to play, it all kicks off after the death of Eddard Stark, aka the moment that had every TV fan hooked. Your character will take his place among Westeros' upper echelons, train an army, recruit followers and endeavour to remain victorious (and keep your head, obviously). And, because the game is a collaboration with Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment under license from HBO, expect plenty of other iconic GoT figures to pop up. Expect to virtually roam around the Seven Kingdoms as well, which has been recreated complete with major landmarks and castles from the show. You'll also be able to relive some of the series' iconic moments, just in computer game form. Played online in your browser, it's really your latest excuse to never leave the world created by George RR Martin, even if the hugely successful TV show based on his books is about to leave our lives. Or, think of it another way — it's a way to pass the time until Martin finally finishes the sixth instalment in the printed franchise, the long-awaited The Winds of Winter. Check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gon69yQTx9M Game of Thrones Winter Is Coming is available to play online now. Image: Game of Thrones season 8. Helen Sloan/HBO.
To celebrate its new Fresh Yuzu Gin, award-winning and beloved Australian gin distillery Four Pillars is hosting two special nights of Japanese snacks at its Sydney outpost. The gin experts over at the Laboratory have enlisted the help of the equally beloved RaRa Ramen team to create a menu of Japanese favourites to pair with the new gin. On the menu: cheesy karaage, spicy pork or vegan mazemen and seasonal Japanese pickles. The snacks are on offer to anyone who books a table or nabs a spot at Four Pillars Laboratory in Surry Hills on Friday, April 8 or Saturday, April 9. While you're there, you can finish off your night by trying a new yuzu gin lamington that Four Pillars have created with dessert wizzes Tokyo Lamington. Available throughout April, the citrusy cake combines yuzu jellies, vanilla cream and a lamington sponge infused with Four Pillars yuzu gin and tonic. The whole thing is dipped in white chocolate, covered in candied yuzu skin and available as the perfect sweet treat after your chicken kaarage and mazemen. Images: Steven Woodburn
Our weekends never feel quite long enough. Between lazy mornings, brunch dates and endless hours binging Netflix, getting our life admin done can seem an insurmountable challenge. Who wants to spend their Sunday afternoon wandering the aisles of a grocery store? For Western Suburbs locals, Parramatta Farmers Market is here to help. Every Friday, between 7.30 am and 2.30 pm, stallholders peddling fresh produce and artisanal wares descend on Centenary Square. Stop by on your way into the office to pick up all your fresh fruit and veggies, baked goods, cheeses and spices. There are also plenty of food trucks slinging gozleme, dumplings and bratwurst if you visit during your lunch break.
There's one surefire way to keep those winter shivers at bay, and that's a hefty dose of chilli. Or, in the case of Cronulla haunt Northies, a whole month of it. The beachside bar is spicing up August with its second month-long Northies Chilli Fest, complete with fiery eats, super-spicy drinks and a few chilli-eating competitions along the way. The kitchen is fuelling the burn with a chilli-charged specials menu, featuring dishes like 'death' wings, jalapeño poppers, chilli chicken burgers and a 'chilli roulette pizza', for friends who dare to share. There'll also be a 'death wagon' rolling around the bar stocked with 30 hot sauces — which you can add to any dish. Meanwhile, the bar is coming to the party with some spicy treats of its own — cosy up to a chilli-choc espresso martini, choose the Scoville (spiciness) rating of your bloody mary, or cool things down a little with a limited-edition Young Henrys Rockefella gose with coriander seed. And from 2pm each Sunday, brave contestants will battle it out for chilli eating glory. Sign up to compete in the competition, or watch from a safe distance, enjoying the weekly lineup of live acts, DJs and hot sauce vendors, with tastebuds still in tact. Heats for the chilli-eating competition will be held on August 4, 11, 18 and 25 — which you can sign up for here.
As if uncrowded beaches and fresh air weren't enough to get you down to the south coast, the spring series of talks by the Institute of Interesting Ideas is also a reason to visit. Taking place by the sea at The Pavilion Kiama, this conversation series features healthy-living celebrities, such as celebrated food writer and TV personality Matt Preston. Preston's had his fingers in many pies over the years, appearing on TV as well as regularly writing for publications around the country. So, if you're a fan of the man, you can catch him talking food, glorious food while promoting his new book, More. From 5pm on Thursday, November 21, you can pick up a copy of the new book and enjoy a drink and some canapes (all samples from the cookbook) before sitting down to hear the former Masterchef Australia judge discuss all things food with journalist and director of Institute of Interesting Ideas Naima Brown. The talk proper starts at 6pm and Preston will be talking about the importance of veggies — More is a vegetarian and vegan cookbook. While Preston is neither vegetarian or vegan, he heroes vegetables and their incredible flavour, texture and vibrancy. So, if you're a fan of veg-heavy dishes, Preston's new book could be your new weeknight go-to. After the talk, you can ask Preston some questions in the Q&A, plus he'll be signing copies of More. The event has limited availability so we suggest you get in quick — and you can do so here.
Dig out those once-a-year novelty gumboots, Groovin the Moo has unveiled their 2017 lineup. Taking the large-scale music festival out of the city and into regional centres for another year, GTM will kick things off on Friday, April 28 in South Australia and travel through Maitland, Townsville, Bendigo and Canberra before finishing up in Bunbury on May 13. This year's lineup sees local talent front and centre with triple j Hottest 100 list-toppers Tash Sultana and Amy Shark (#3 and #2, respectively) taking the stage, along with The Smith Street Band, Montaigne, Hayden James and Methyl Ethel. Most of the international talent comes from the UK this year, with The Darkness, 21-year-old Loyle Carner and The Wombats making their way to the Moo, along with Germans Milky Chance. Here's the full lineup. GROOVIN THE MOO 2017 LINEUP Against Me! (USA) Allday Amy Shark Architects (UK) The Darkness (UK) Dillon Francis (USA) George Maple Hayden James The Jungle Giants K-Flay (USA) L-FRESH The LION Loyle Carner (UK) Methyl Ethel Milky Chance (GER) Montaigne Northeast Party House Slumberjack The Smith Street Band Snakehips (UK) Tash Sultana Thundamentals Violent Soho The Wombats (UK) GROOVIN THE MOO 2017 DATES & VENUES Friday, April 28 — Wayville (SA) Saturday, April 29 – Maitland (NSW) Sunday, April 30 — Townsville (QLD) Saturday, May 6 — Bendigo (VIC) Sunday, May 7 – Canberra (ACT) Saturday, May 13 — Bunbury (WA) Pre-sale tickets for GTM will go on sale at 9am local time on Wednesday, February 1. All other tickets for Wayville, Maitland and Townsville will go on sale at 9am on Tuesday, February 7, and Bendigo, Bunbury and Canberra will be released the day after at 9am on Wednesday, February 8. For more info, go to gtm.net.au. Image: Tao Jones.
If you’ve been missing the Festivalists’ best-known night about town, Jurassic Lounge, it’s been a long time between drinks. Their pioneering play-plus-edification mainstay at the Australian Museum slipped into indefinite hiatus with its extinction events late last year, leaving Festivalist fans to explore the film festivals, festival hub and Mayhem that make up part of their wider repertoire. This September, though, they’re adding more museum to their CV with a Lounge-like excursion to Darling Harbour: Hijinks. Hijinks sees the Festivalists take over the Sea Life Sydney Aquarium for three separate nights across September, October and November. And this time they’re going with the nautical theme. On arrival, attendees will be handed a treasure map which will help them to find a treasure chest over the course of the night. But to get to it you’ll need to complete a series of challenges. Says Festivalist director Matt Ravier, “The challenges take the form of riddles and photo challenges that you might complete by taking a photo with your phone, for example.” Helping you work out what to do will be a series of actors, performers and actual scientists scattered around the building. These challenges are optional. There’ll still be plenty of scope in the evening for just a drink and a bit of hanging out. But the treasure map is all about making good with this new space, after switching from a space like the Australian Museum’s interlocking rooms to the Aquarium’s path-like layout. The Festivalists try to look at each new venue with fresh eyes. When you first scope one out, Ravier says, you try to “leave all preconceived ideas and expectations at the door, and you’ll re-experience the venue almost as a child.” So, for Hijinks guests, “rather than just have a party, which we can do pretty much anywhere, they’ll be interacting with improv comedians, performers, artists, but also marine biologists throughout their journey through the Aquarium and getting clues from them that will lead them to the treasure chest, with a chance, of course, to win its contents.” This time, says Ravier, “the whole experience is designed as a journey, rather than a free-for-all invitation to disperse and be at a certain place at a certain time.” Which also means it’s laid out a bit like one-way system. “Although people who come regularly will start discovering short cuts and secret passages that allow them to move more freely than they thought they could.” And it won’t just be the people; the point of getting to explore at the Aquarium is to get a better look at that marine life on show. “I guess, with Hijinks, we’re bringing the party to the wildlife," says Ravier. "So, it’ll be an interesting kind of meeting, audiences and marine biology.” Is it hard to plan around fish? They’ve planned around the animals, but Ravier’s not too concerned about the prospect of mixing people with fish tanks. “It’s actually quite easy, because the space has already been designed with that in mind. The tanks etcetera have been built in such a way as to protect the animals from external noise and stimuli. It simply means that we won’t have loud music in certain spaces, that we have to be careful about bass and vibrations from the bass if we have a DJ playing.” Opening night, Thursday, September 11, sees a pirate theme. Highlights will include Tom Christophersen's radio-transmitted storytelling, puppet cabaret from Defy and tattoo-drawing lessons from tattooist Jimmy Memento. Not to mention the chance to hear divers at the Aquarium talk about rescuing grey nurse sharks in the wild, a little underwater art and maybe some extra underwater activities. “I think what underpins pretty much everything that we do is access," says Ravier. "So the idea of providing access to culture, or to collections, or to artistically or culturally valuable experiences.” And like most people he asked, Ravier says that for him, before Hijinks, the Sea Life Sydney Aquarium had been a place he mainly just took overseas visitors. But now he thinks Hijinks “could be a chance to almost reappropriate the aquarium for Sydney locals as a fantastic space that’s right on our doorstep.” Hijinks will make the Sydney Sea Life Aquarium its own for three Thursdays, on September 11, October 30 and November 13. In the meantime, if you can’t wait to check out their signature mix of high culture and low play, their Possible Worlds Canadian and US film festival launches tonight.
It's been a rocky few years for Jamie's Italian in Australia, having relaunched with full ownership in 2017 only to lose ownership again just one year later. Luckily, the Brisbane-based Hallmark Group took over the management of the Australian restaurants, but not without some casualties — the Canberra and Parramatta outposts (the latter of which has become a steakhouse) quickly closed. But, luckily, the Pitt Street venue has continued to pump out pasta to heaving lunch and dinner crowds. And, this April, Jamie's Italian in the CBD will run a series of bottomless prosecco lunches for a very reasonable $50 per person. The one-month deal will run on the four Saturdays in April as well as Easter Sunday — and it includes a lot more than just an endless supply of sparkling wine. Each table will be served small bites to share (including those crispy polenta chips), and everyone will get a big bowl of pasta. You'll be be able to choose which one you want, too — think classics like prawn linguine and bucatini carbonara, and signatures including the truffle tagliatelle and lamb ravioli. Plus, it'll all be topped off with panna cotta for dessert. If we know anything, it's that people really love Jamie's Italian. As such, these lunches are sure book out fast — so front a pineapple and book it already.
Aussie chef Clayton Wells has no problem manning the kitchen at his Chippendale restaurants Automata and A1 Canteen. But, even so, he's inviting a few (highly lauded) mates over for a stream of joint dinner parties at A1. Next up in the A1 & Friends series, Wells is bringing chef Victor Liong in — he's behind Melbourne's Lee Ho Fook and has just opened Chuuka with Sokyo's Chase Kojima. The duo will bring back Liong's now-closed Melbourne institution Lawyers, Guns and Money for a five-course feast on Wednesday, July 24. Diners can expect Chinese breakfast classics, served for dinner. The meal will begin with braised pig's ears with pickled veggies and peanuts. Course two is salt and pepper prawns with fish fragrant eggplant (a Sichuan banquet staple) and steamed prawns stuffed baby snapper, ginger and white soy. Then there's Liong's chicken and ginger congee, served with heaps of condiments like century egg, wonton skins and Chinese doughnuts, plus pickled ginger, spring onion relish and fried garlic. Mains include cumin and chilli lamb noodles, chicken wings in a caramelised red vinegar sauce and garlicky cucumbers. For dessert, tuck into Hong Kong-inspired French toast topped with peanut butter, dulce de leche and maple syrup. And it all comes in for a tidy $55 per person. While only the food is included in the ticket price, there will be plenty of specialty cocktails and other drinks to purchase — all of which will be on the menu just for the night. Then, coming up on August 21, the series will finish off with Morgan McGlone (of Belle's Hot Chicken) throwing a New Zealand-style clambake, complete with Cloudy Bay clams and beers by Garage Project.
In late March, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the national cabinet had agreed to a six-month moratorium on evictions for both residential and commercial tenancies financially impacted by COVID-19. Like many coronavirus regulations, though, the moratorium then had to be implemented by individual states and territories. And on Wednesday, April 15, the NSW Government did just that. As part of a $440 million rental rescue package, the government has amended its Residential Tenancies Act 2010 and introduced a 60-day ban, as well as a further six months of restrictions, on evicting people financially impacted by COVID-19. Some of that money — $2.5 million of it, in fact — is also going to bolster Fair Trading and the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT), two services that can offer advice to tenants and landlords and help them reach rental agreements during the crisis. The government hopes this pause on evictions will allow time for financial support (such as Centrelink and the new Jobkeeper payments) to reach tenants and "limit social movement in order to minimise public health risks", as stated on the Fair Trading website, during COVID-19. As always, there's some fine print. Not everyone is protected from evictions and even those impacted financially can be evicted under some circumstances, so we've broken it down. First up, what is a moratorium? Simply, it's a temporary ban or suspension of an activity. And an evictions moratorium? A temporary ban on evictions. In NSW, the evictions moratorium is for 60 days, from Wednesday, April 15, and applies only to renters who have been financially disadvantaged by COVID-19. More on that below. During this period, landlords are not able to issue any termination notices and all termination orders via NCAT are on hold. For all evictions, now and in the past, landlords must issue a notice and, in more serious circumstances, an order, which must first be approved by NCAT. Then, only with a warrant of possession, can a sheriff's officer physically remove you from the premises. What happens when these 60 days are up? You can be evicted for not paying rent, but only if you and your landlord have "participated, in good faith, in a formal rent negotiation process about the rent or charges payable" and a termination is "fair and reasonable in the circumstances of the case". Yes, it's a little vague. And, yes, the government is asking you to effectively 'sit down' with your landlord and ask for a rent reduction, which may be daunting for someone who doesn't have a particularly great relationship with their landlord. Fair Trading will be on hand to assist with these negotiations, though, and NCAT still has the final say on approving an eviction order and whether or not the circumstance is "fair and reasonable". So, does that mean I don't have to pay rent? If you have been finally impacted by COVID–19, you do not have to pay rent during the 60 days. During this time, you cannot be evicted due to rental arrears (missed rent payments), but you are encouraged to start negotiations with your landlord for a longer-term rent reduction if needed. What's important to note is that you're only protected from evictions if one or more rent-paying members of your household has: lost employment or income as a result of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, or had a reduction in work hours or income as a result of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, or had to stop working, or materially reduce work hours, due to illness with COVID-19 or due to COVID-19 carer responsibilities for household or family members, and the above factors result in a household income (inclusive of any government assistance) that is reduced by 25 percent or more. According to the NSW Government, household income is inclusive of any government assistance, such as the Jobkeeper payments. If you do not meet the above eligibility, you're expected to honour your agreement and pay all rent and charges in full. What about if I've lost my job? Or had my shifts cut? Yes, as outlined above, you can pause paying rent during the 60 days if your household income has been reduced by 25 percent or more due to lost work during COVID-19. Do I have to pay it later? Any unpaid rent will accrue as arrears during this period. Whether or not you'll have to pay this rent after the 60 days needs to be negotiated with your landlord. This negotiation can be facilitated by Fair Trading, if needed. And if I can't, I won't be evicted — right? During the 60-day moratorium, no — you cannot be evicted for not paying rent if you or your household has been financially impacted by COVID-19, as clarified above. After that, though, you can be evicted, but a landlord must first partake in negotiations on rent reduction "in good faith" and NCAT has the final say on approving an eviction order. The NSW Government has also introduced a new 90-day minimum notice for evictions, after the moratorium, too. To clarify, this moratorium only protects you from evictions for not paying rent. If you breach the rental agreement or you reach the end of your lease, the landlord can still evict you (with at least 90 days' notice). If you've caused damage to property or other residents' property, used the residence for illegal purposes, have been threatening or abusive to other residents or have not payed rent and are not impacted by COVID-19, you can still be evicted with just 14 days' notice. [caption id="attachment_767720" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Click on the image for an enlarged version[/caption] If I receive a phone call or email from my landlord about being evicted what should I do? If your landlord is unaware of the moratorium, you can direct them to Fair Trading NSW website. Here, you'll also find template and example letters to use when approaching your landlord about rent reduction. The Tenants' of NSW Union also recommends getting legal advice from your local Tenants' Advice and Advocacy Service before entering into an agreement with your landlord. You can also get free financial advice from professionals by calling the National Debt Hotline on 1800 007 007. Am I allowed to break my lease and move out early if I need? You can, but you will need to give your landlord notice and may have to pay a break fee. If you're in a period agreement (say month-by-month), you need to give 21 days' notice. If you're in a fixed-term agreement, you might need to pay a break free if the agreement has not yet expired. But, Tenants' Union NSW says it is worth contacting your landlord and seeing if you can negotiate a shorter notice period or if they'll waive the fee. Have more questions? There's a heap of FAQs on the Fair Trading and Tenants' Union of NSW website, and if you're still unsure you can get free legal advice by contacting your local Tenants' Advice and Advocacy Service.
When you walk into Booty Shoes, you'll obviously already be wearing the type of item that gives this Potts Point boutique its name. But when you walk out, you might find yourself donning a completely different pair. Showcasing both new and classic styles — and casual and high-end types as well — the store certainly has plenty of footwear to choose from. That includes boots, mules, slides, sandals, espadrilles and sneakers, and shoes from French, Italian and Spanish. Clearly, the family-owned joint is run by folks with a penchant for great women's footwear, and for giving its customers a variety of options. Images: Cassandra Hannagan
You've slogged your way through another Monday. Congratulations. Resist the temptation to head home to sit comatose on the couch and, instead, get a heady endorphin rush by finally trying out an F45 class. The exercise trend that's all over your social media feeds, this is high-intensity circuit training at it's most brutal — and invigorating. Sweat your way through the 45-minute class, trying your best not to pass out. Afterwards, reward yourself for surviving with a delicious bowl of Monday-only ramen from Chaco Bar in Darlinghurst. Hurry over, though, because this ramen is first-come first-serve and it disappears quick fast.
The Grounds of Alexandria may have just turned five years old and opened its first permanent spinoff The Grounds of the City, but the team behind the almost iconic Sydney venue are not one to sit on their hands. Instead, they've launched a new series of after-dark music events in their fairy-lit Alexandria garden. On Thursday, September 14, the space will be taken over by live gigs, and, of course, some quality food. The third edition of Sounds from The Grounds will see the garden filled with the pop-soul tunes of Sydney-based singer-songwriter Emma Joy. While the music kicks off from 8pm, The Pizza Silo will be slinging their much-loved wood-fired pizzas and The Soda Barn will serve up beer, wine and cocktails from 7pm. While the last event was $15, this one will set you back $25. You'll have to purchase your food and drink, and seating will be limited so be sure arrive early to get a prime posi.
The first thing the lizard brain wants is shelter and food. Though our mental chassis have been polished up, we can’t hide the fact that there’s a primitive engine powering our motives. It’s the most basic tool in any storyteller’s box, and British playwright Martin Crimp has put it to fiendish use in Dealing with Clair.Connecting Britain’s 80s property boom to the current mood in Sydney, Cristabel Sved’s slick production tempts and teases her audience with the tale of a young real estate agent’s doomed seduction. The tragedy of this not-moral tale is that the greed and ambition we see on stage is the result of natural, uncontrollable factors – the grim reality of economics.Led by Laura Brent as the eponymous Clair, Sved’s cast deftly use Crimp’s poetry to draw a stark and gripping image of Sydney’s aspirant culture. Though sometimes the energy drops, there is enough of a foreshadowing atmosphere to draw you on to the dark climax.We are giving away 2 double passes, courtesy of Griffin Theatre. Email you name, phone number and address to hello@concreteplayground.com.au with 'Dealing With Claire Giveaway' in the subect line.
Even the most hardcore, band-lovin' Sydneysiders can’t afford tickets to every single gig. Until now, that is. Meet GiggedIn: the brand new service that, for one neat, monthly price, gives you access to unlimited shows in the city. Yep, it’s kind of like Spotify or Pandora, but for live music. You pay a single subscription for as many acts as your ears, eyes and dancing shoes can handle. Here’s how it works. Every day at 12pm, GiggedIn drops all new gigs on its website — two days before they’re set to happen. If you’re keen to go, you just hit the RSVP button. Voila! You’re automatically on the guest list. Show up on the day, with your ID in hand and you’ll be straight in the door. And we’re not talking just any old gigs, either. GiggedIn members get access to a slew of genuine talent — from triple j’s latest loved ones to international legends. Plus, every now and then, you’ll score entrance to festivals that have sold out already, as well as high-profile arena concerts. So far, GiggedIn has taken punters to Oxford Art Factory, Goodgod Small Club, Brighton Up Bar, The Vanguard, Newtown Social Club, The Metro and several other kicking venues about town. Still not convinced that it’s your cup of tea? Well, find out without outlaying a cent, by signing up for seven glorious days for free. Your trial will only start after your first RSVP so that way, you’ll get to find out exactly what a GiggedIn membership feels like, while your wallet stays perfectly intact. If your trial goes swimmingly, you can then sign up for as little as $35 a month. Concrete Playground readers get an even sweeter deal — if you enter the code FRIENDSOFCP you’ll actually get 30 percent off your first month (expires at the end of Jan 2016). And, should you not dig it, you can cancel anytime or even get a refund within 30 days. What’s the catch? There is none. You need never stay home with live YouTube shows again. Image: Dollar Photo Club.
Paris has its creepy catacombs. London is contemplating turning its subterranean tunnels into a network of cycle paths. But Sydney’s underground hasn’t been so easy to visit. Not until now, that is. If you’ve been curious about what lurks beneath, you’ll get a chance to find out when Sydney Open 2015 hits town on Sunday, November 1. Among the 50+ architectural secrets opening for exploration are the city’s Second World War tunnels, which twist and turn their way among the hidden depths of Hyde Park from St James Station. Meanwhile, at Central, you’ll be able to explore the spooky platforms 26 and 27, which were built in the 1970s, but have never seen a train. The ghostly stationmaster’s office and bathrooms are still intact. The only catch is that these, along with St Mary’s Cathedral Belltower, Sydney Town Hall Clock Tower, Central Station Clock Tower and the Opera House’s behind-the-scenes, are of limited capacity. So they’ll be exclusively accessible to those with one of 112 Golden Tickets. And to nab one of those, you’ll need to enter a draw by booking a standard OPEN ticket (aka City Pass) by October 16. If you can’t manage that — or you don’t happen to win — there’s no need to sulk. Sydney OPEN will be bringing you stacks more to see. For those who love their sandstone, there’ll be tours of James Barnet’s ornate Mortuary Railway Station in Chippendale, Francis Greenway’s St James Church (consecrated in 1824) and the City of Sydney Fire Station (built in 1887). And you'll also score an inside look at a couple of recent conversions. There’s Kensington Street, where a series of workers’ cottages built in the 1840s have been turned into an arty strip, featuring galleries, markets, small bars and eateries, as well as the Old Clare Hotel, housed within the former Carlton and United Breweries admin building as well as the original Clare. A slew of contemporary architectural feats are on the program, too. Sneak inside Harry Seidler’s creations at Australia Square, Grosvenor Place and 9 Castlereagh Street. Find out what the brutalists were on about inside the Sydney Masonic Centre’s 24-storey Civic Tower and UTS’s 33-storey Building 1. And check out Frank Gehry’s first Australian work — UTS’s Dr Chau Chak Wing Building, which features a curvy brick façade made of 320,000 custom-made bricks and a glass ‘curtain wall’. Then there are another 40 or so places to keep you busy. Book your ticket at the Sydney Living Museums website, and hope it turns golden.
Some days, don't you just want to run off and join a cult? That's the done thing in the movies, at least. From The Wicker Man to Kill List and Martha Marcy May Marlene to Sound of My Voice, creepy collectives led by charismatic figures continue to entice lost souls. One Eyed Girl is the latest effort to fall under the subgenre's sway, and to attempt to seduce its own followers. On screen, psychiatrist Travis (Mark Leonard Winter) is the troubled figure finding solace in a group, and a man, who contend to have all the answers. He's certainly ripe for the picking, his thoughts haunted by the one that got away — aka the girl he couldn't save (Katy Cheel) — and his self-medicating proving little assistance. When he spots teenager Grace (Tilda Cobham-Hervey from 52 Tuesdays) handing out flyers on the train, he initially dismisses her street preaching, but soon he's intrigued by the saviour (Steve Le Marquand) she champions. A pill-popping cry for help later, and Travis is out on the commune's farmland compound; however, their idea of salvation doesn't match his own. Off screen, first-time feature filmmaker Nick Matthews is also headed in the direction of wise heads and helping hands. The ghosts of cult films past linger over his moody debut, from the stereotypical characters to the just as typical power struggles. The sceptical newcomer, the adoring devotee and the commanding leader — we've seen all these before. We've also seen the fallout when questions are raised, and when someone refuses to comply with the status quo. Eyes are opened, and all that peace and love and believing in yourself goes out the door. And yet, while the writer/director clearly traverses familiar territory with a psychoanalysis versus natural therapy twist, he does so with confidence. After establishing his skills as a cinematographer on 2:37, as well as other various technical talents on projects such as Beautiful Kate and Wolf Creek 2, he's not so green that he's a mere disciple of similarly themed movies gone by; rather, he's heavily influenced by them. In fact, Matthews' ambitions see him taking on a couple of strands of cult stories, one an introspective journey about overcoming trauma, and the other a gung-ho thriller. Together, the two make a motivated but awkward combination, the movie never quite convincingly shifting from simmering anguish to all-out aggression. Sluggish pacing doesn't help, dragging through the first half and then rushing through the second. What does work is the film's unrelenting intensity. It clicks into gear with the opening shot and shows no signs of fading. One Eyed Girl always looks the moody part, whether roaming over icily shot city buildings or relishing the warmth of the countryside in contrast. It also simmers with tension even with its predictable plot, with the determined cast deserving much of the credit. They know what kind of movie they're in, and they play their parts perfectly. Their efforts — and Matthews' assurance — might only result in an okay addition to the fold, but it is one sure to be accepted by worshippers of cult films.
Though only in its second year, Corroboree Sydney has already established itself as a stand out of the city's festival calendar. Featuring more than 100 events over 11 days, Corroboree is a unique celebration of our national Indigenous heritage, showcasing both the traditional and the contemporary sides of Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander culture. While the weekend of live music and dance that makes up Homeground may be Corroboree's most well-known event, don't miss out on the variety of other escapades on offer. Our picks include Klub Koori, a nightly entertainment program at The Rocks Boatshed featuring DJs, soul singers and performance poetry, as well as the daily live shows on at the Art Gallery Café, made over with a new bush-food menu. Bangarra Dance Theatre's one-off outdoor showcase also promises to be a highlight, with the internationally-renowned company presenting a traditional Yolngu dance from North East Arnhem Land, as well as some of its most iconic contemporary works. For art lovers, Corroboree has you covered with a host of festival talks and tours. Visit the Australian Museum after dark for a private viewing of new show Garrigarrang: Sea Country. Sample bush-food inspired nibbles and get amongst the 300 artefacts on display, before learning about traditional Aboriginal marine knowledge from indigenous ecology expert Chels Marshall. Meanwhile, at the AGNSW, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art curator Cara Pinchbeck will take you on a tour of the gallery's most significant indigenous artworks. Afterwards, stick around for one of the Corroboree Talks, a special series featuring Indigenous artists and elders as guest speakers. Don't miss the festival's equally compelling film program, with a series of shorts and feature length indigenous films screening at the MCA. Plus, the Sundance Institute of Indigenous Film, along with Australia's Blackfella Films, will present a retrospective of international indigenous works including homegrown Samson and Delilhah among others. Choose a screening followed by a Q&A and you'll get to hear from the filmmakers themselves. Corroboree Sydney runs from November 20 to 30. Check out the website for specific dates and program details.
Wanderlust: getting itchy dust in your travel knickers. Kissing your mum goodbye and bikies, Euro-gays, gypsies, dreadlocked backpackers, earnest eco-warriors, conservatives, Mongolian goat herds and endless strange and wonderful vistas hello. If wanderlust is the desire to travel, what is wonderlust? The desire to ponder why? Spray can artist Xenz, or Graeme Brusby, has been described as the Monet of graffiti, and his first solo exhibition outside of London, Wonderlust, similarly shows a love for flowers, nature, water, all that jazz. But you can’t really imagine the portly French Impressionist skulking about the darkened streets of Bristol, his pants splattered with paint, surveillance cams swivelling like mad. Brusby enjoys the tension — while still loyal to his spray can, his work is more often seen these days on shiny gallery walls, replete with cutesy, Disney-esque bower birds, wisps of golden light, butterflies, fairy wrens and feathers. So just like a surf 'n' turf — double the flavours in one mouthful — you get to be street and serene at the same time. Wonderlust also references another bewhiskered elder, botanical illustrator John Gould, who, like Brusby, was a Brit obsessed with Aussie ornithology, resulting in the now seminal 19th century book, Birds of Australia. The gallery is quick to point out that this is only Gould if you spiked his tea with 700 spoonfuls of magic mushroom. Chubby, lollipop-hued parakeets sit against an achingly blue Australian sky, blue lagoons fade into the misty horizon, and in the back of the gallery, a mirror adorned with fronds and flowers puts you in amongst it all. But you do wonder, would it be a little too sickly sweet if Xenz hadn’t done the hard yards in graffiti first? Maybe Monet would know.
After a year of postponements, cancellations and online events, IRL live music is returning to Parramatta. From Thursday, March 25 until Sunday, April 18, outdoor events will take place across Parramatta, including performances from Australian musicians, an openair cinema and a roller skating rink. The program is split across four unique venues. Parramatta Square will host free jazz nights every Thursday to Sunday between March 25–April 11, with the likes of Cass Greaves, Esme, The Pocket Trio and Foshe performing. And, you don't even need to book. Alfred Square will be transformed into an openair cinema, showing much-loved flicks like La La Land and 10 Things I Hate About You as well as Bollywood hits Tanhaji and Street Dancer. At the al fresco cinema, you'll also be treated to some roaming entertainment, plus you can pick up movie snacks from the on-site food stalls. Tickets to catch a flick will cost $10, which is cheaper than heading to your local movie theatre. Also at Alfred Square will be the Roller Rink, where you can glide around to DJ tunes. It'll be open for a spin from 11am–5.30pm Monday–Wednesday and from 11am–10pm Thursday–Sunday, and will cost $5 for 30 minutes of skate time. If you want even greater thrills — or to keep the kids entertained — there'll be a few amusement rides dotted around, too. Then, the Eat Street car park will be decked out with arcade games and tunes — and of course, fried chicken haven Butter will be dishing up some tasty eats. Dubbed The Rooftop Hangout, the space will also feature performances from a slew of local talent including Briggs, Ruby Fields, Triple One and The Chats. Of course, you can pick up some snacks and drinks there, too. It'll be running every night form March 25–28 — and cost just a tenner to get in. Check out the full program over at Discover Parramatta. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7XevQAVoBI
Triple 9 is the film equivalent of a song that catches your attention with a recognisable beat, yet still manages to get stuck in your head. You know you've seen this brand of testosterone-fuelled, tightly written crime effort before, but you can't help getting immersed in it anyway. There's plenty that's familiar in this blood-soaked tale of cops, robbers and ruthless Russian gangster, including the ways in which it uses its high-profile cast. But just because you know what to expect doesn't mean that the end result isn't effective or powerful. Starting with a chat between two shady figures, then barrelling into a bank heist, John Hillcoat's latest film explores the intersection of law and order in Atlanta. As it happens, most of the men behind the theft are current police officers or ex-military operatives. Corrupt detectives Marcus (Anthony Mackie) and Franco (Clifton Collins Jr.) work both sides of the line; shifty siblings Russell (Norman Reedus) and Gabe (Aaron Paul) lurk in the shadows; and former special forces contractor Michael (Chiwetel Ejiofor) oversees their operations. He's a pawn for mob boss Irina (Kate Winslet), who keeps threatening to take his son (and her nephew) away from him. Irina uses that leverage and her penchant for violence to not only strong-arm the crew into doing the first job, but to blackmail them into making a follow-up smash-and-grab on Homeland Security. Enter their nasty solution to the seemingly impossible task: distract the bulk of the city's police force by killing a cop. Marcus' new, straight-down-the-line partner Chris (Casey Affleck) is their target. Though newcomer Matt Cook is responsible for the screenplay, Triple 9 is a Hillcoat film through and through. The movie doesn't just follow in the footsteps of other gritty, murky crime fare — think Heat, Killing Them Softly and Sicario — but of the Australian filmmaker's own back catalogue, including The Proposition, The Road and Lawless. In his hands the film seethes with intensity, delivering menacing, mesmerising thrills. With Woody Harrelson, Gal Gadot, Theresa Palmer and Michael K. Williams joining the other well-known names, Hillcoat's stellar cast is on form. The film is an ensemble effort filled with fine actors doing what they do best — Paul playing drugged up and down-and-out; Winslet mastering yet another accent; Ejiofor navigating morally complex territory; and Affleck once again proving that he's more nuanced and compelling than his famous sibling. When the actors aren't snarling their lines at each other with distrust, they're stalking through hallways and shooting up freeways, in the film's most distinctive segments: its set pieces. Shot with energy and anxiety, and accompanied by an insidiously unsettling score, they're the feature's hooks. No matter how familiar everything else might seem, these sequences are sure to buzz through your brain, and ensure that you can't stop watching. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zU817AmOOk
If winter has left you unimpressed by the current state of your wardrobe — or if, y'know, you just like some fancy new clothes now and then — you'll be pretty pleased to know that the Big Fashion Sale is back. Usually, it's a physical affair that takes place in Sydney and Melbourne; however like plenty of other events at the moment, the shopping extravaganza has hopped online — and gone national — for its current outing. The name pretty much says it all. Happening from Monday, August 31, this thing is big. You'll find a hefty array of lush items from past collections, samples and one-offs from a huge lineup of cult Australian and international designers, both well-known and emerging — including Romance Was Born, Alexander McQueen, Isabel Marant, Max Mara, Kenzo, Ellery and more. With discounts of up to 80 percent off, and more than 700 items on offer, this is one way to up your count of designer threads while leaving your bank balance sitting pretty, too — whether you're keen on clothes, shoes, swimwear or accessories. The Big Fashion Sale's latest online sale kicks off on Monday, August 31 on the event's website.
It can be assumed that whoever started the old wives' tale warning against pairing whisky and oysters just wanted to keep the secret to themselves. The Wild Rover — and those who have ventured through the bar's green door — know better. The Surry Hills bar is so into oysters it's rolling out an entire week of celebrations dedicated to them. Its famous lamb sausage roll will be forgotten for the week with a special menu that gives oysters the limelight — and from Monday, October 29 through to Saturday, November 3, you'll be able to slurp down some freshly shucked oysters for just $1 each. Get adventurous with po' boys and oyster chowder alongside a variety of paired drinks. For the week, the bar will be serving up a special list of whisky-heavy cocktails all featuring Talisker. The exact drinks have no yet been released, but are expected to be posted on the event page imminently. Concerned about the extensive oyster shell carnage from the week of celebrations? All shells will be donated to Ocean Watch to sustain Sydney Harbour marine life.
Much like its seemingly ageless leading man Keanu Reeves, the tale of The 47 Ronin is both several centuries old and beloved in Japan. Combining some of the most startling exemplars of courage, loyalty and honour, it's a sort of Kelly Gang meets Custer story in which a group of disavowed and banished Samurai (known as Ronin) stoically vow to avenge their master despite its absolute promise of death. From a production standpoint, 47 Ronin unexpectedly delights, with the costumes in particular showcasing the very best union of imagination and authenticity. Alongside some extraordinary set design, the extravagant armour of the Samurai, ornate dresses of the concubines and opulence of the Shogun all inject dazzling colour into an otherwise entirely dark affair. Even the cinematography feels more dramatic and dour than might be assumed for an action movie, which largely represents both 47 Ronin's strength and failing. That's because this is an entirely joyless film, and while no one should expect a story about retribution and mass suicide to be a laugh riot, there's almost always a little wriggle room for fun in an epic tale of witchcraft and warriors such as this. Truly, there is perhaps only one moment of levity in the entire movie and it comes at the expense of a fat man's 'moobs'. As a result, there's a certain lifelessness to 47 Ronin which saps it of the potential to be a tremendously enjoyable movie. It is, instead, a bleak and brooding affair that plods from scene to scene instead of gallopping. Much is made up for in the final battle which, to be fair, is excellent and one of the better set pieces seen in recent times; however, it leaves you wishing the rest of the film had been delivered in a similarly spectacular manner. https://youtube.com/watch?v=47_-pqoPDVQ
