Tonight, tonight, there's only Steven Spielberg's lavish and dynamic version of West Side Story tonight — not to detract from or forget the 1961 movie of the same name. Six decades ago, an all-singing, all-dancing, New York City-set, gang war-focused spin on Romeo and Juliet leapt from stage to screen, becoming one of cinema's all-time classic musicals; however, remaking that hit is a task that Spielberg dazzlingly proves up to. It's his first sashay into the genre, despite making his initial amateur feature just three years after the original West Side Story debuted. It's also his first film since 2018's obnoxiously awful Ready Player One, which doubled as a how-to guide to crafting one of the worst, flimsiest and most bloated pieces of soulless pop-culture worship possible. But with this swooning, socially aware story of star-crossed lovers, Spielberg pirouettes back from his atrocious last flick by embracing something he clearly adores, and being unafraid to give it rhythmic swirls and thematic twirls. Shakespeare's own tale of tempestuous romance still looms large over West Side Story, as it always has — in fair NYC and its rubble-strewn titular neighbourhood where it lays its 1950s-era scene. The Jets and the Sharks aren't quite two households both alike in dignity, though. Led by the swaggering and dogged Riff (Mike Faist, a Tony-nominee for the Broadway production of Dear Evan Hansen), the Jets are young, scrappy, angry and full of resentment for anyone they fear is encroaching on their terrain (anyone who isn't white especially). Meanwhile, with boxer Bernardo (David Alvarez, a Tony-winner for Billy Elliot) at the helm, the Sharks have tried to establish new lives outside of their native Puerto Rico through study, jobs and their own businesses. Both gangs refuse to coexist peacefully in the only part of New York where either feels at home — even with the threat of gentrification looming large in every torn-down building, signs for shiny new amenities such as Lincoln Centre popping up around the place and, when either local cops Officer Krupke (Brian d'Arcy James, Hawkeye) or Lieutenant Schrank (Corey Stoll, The Many Saints of Newark) interrupt their feuding, after they're overtly warned as well. But it's a night at a dance, and the love-at-first-sight connection that blooms between Riff's best friend Tony (Ansel Elgort, The Goldfinch) and Bernardo's younger sister María (feature debutant Rachel Zegler), that sparks a showdown. This rumble will decide westside supremacy once and for all, the two sides agree. The OG West Side Story was many things: gifted with a glorious cast, including Rita Moreno in her Academy Award-winning role as Bernardo's girlfriend Anita, plus future Twin Peaks co-stars Russ Tamblyn and Richard Beymer as Riff and Tony; unashamedly showy, like it had just snapped its fingers and flung itself off the stage; and punchy with its editing, embracing the move from the boards to the frame. It still often resembled a filmed musical rather than a film more than it should've, however. Spielberg's reimagining, which boasts a script by his Munich and Lincoln scribe Tony Kushner, tweaks plenty while also always remaining West Side Story — and, via his regular cinematographer Janusz Kaminski (The Post) and a whirl of leaping and plunging camerawork, it looks as exuberant as the vibrant choreography that the New York City Ballet's Justin Peck splashes across the screen, nodding to Jerome Robbins' work for the original movie lovingly but never slavishly. From the famous first whistle that's always opened the tale, West Side Story feels like it's dancing through the narrative instead of merely telling it. The savvy realisation that gang struts and brawls suit balletic movements — a notion from when the idea first hit the stage — pairs marvellously with the peppier visuals, too. Spielberg's fluid and kinetic stylistic approach springs from the same source as many of his other touches, with the director aiming not just to finally make a musical, bring the playfulness of his action scenes to the genre, or to give a work he loves his own stamp, but to ground the story in notions that are pressingly relevant today. Viewers here see more of the west side, get a bigger sense of the place, tap into its energy, and glean a more grounded view of the poverty, racism, factionalism and violence that's always sat at West Side Story's core. Switching some of the film's Leonard Bernstein-composed, Stephen Sondheim-penned songs between characters and locations makes this a more thoughtful and textured movie as well. See: the on-the-street version of earworm 'America' led by Hamilton veteran Ariana DeBose as the new Anita, and transforming 'Somewhere' into a community-focused ballad sung by the returning Moreno as a new figure. Both are magnificent. Still, as delightful as almost everything about Spielberg's film is — its inspired changes and passionate tribute to the first feature alike — it has an Ansel Elgort problem. He's a bland island in a sea of spectacle, and the lack of chemistry between him and the radiant Zegler would be a killer if examining the place, time and struggles that give rise to Tony and María's love didn't take precedence over the romance itself. Make it a 1950s NYC R+J, but about why its tragedy unfolds: that's another of Spielberg and Kushner's clever choices. And, while it takes a lifetime of unfortunate moves to strand the Jets and Sharks in their bloody turf war, thankfully one bad casting decision can't taint everything that glimmers about their latest big-screen outing. Indeed, enough praise can't be slung Faist, Zegler, Alvarez or DeBose's way, in what deserves to be a movie star-making effort for all four. Faist's turn as Riff is sinewy, smooth and vulnerable all at once — the film is electric every time he's on-screen — and Zegler's woozy and hopeful performance as a woman in the throes of first love is equally revelatory. Bringing EGOT-recipient and all-round entertainment icon Moreno back is touching, as well as exactly the right kind of nostalgic; looking both backwards and forwards is another of this sublime achievement of a feature's many successes, after all.
Oakberry Açai is giving 100 customers free açai bowls on Thursday, September 15 to celebrate the opening of its brand-new Martin Place outpost. The international açai chain is opening its new store at 5 Martin Place, just down from the new dining precinct that has arrived in the bustling city square. If you want to nab a free bowl, you'll have to be among the first 100 customers to arrive at the new store on opening day, but if you miss out on a freebie, you're not fresh out of luck. As part of the promotion, Oakberry is also offering its classic açai bowl for just $10 across its first two days of operation — Thursday, September 15 and Friday, September 16. Originally out of Brazil, Oakberry opened its first Sydney store in Bondi in 2018. The Martin place outpost will be the Oakberry's 17th outlet, with existing spots across Coogee, Manly and Queensland. For information on the promotion as the big day approaches, follow Oakberry on Instagram.
The Rocks is serving up all your Christmastime needs in its cobblestone streets this holiday season — from bespoke gifts and decorations to joyful holiday feeds. The historic neighbourhood's annual Christmas Markets will run every Friday through Sunday from December 3–19. Not only that, but The Rocks will be decked out to the nines, transforming the precinct into a Christmas wonderland. There'll be ambient lighting at the First Fleet Park stairway as you head into The Rocks, alongside Christmas trees, lamp post decorations and fairy lights along George Street. Plus, a variety of live music will also take over The Rocks, with a mixture of Christmas covers and feel-good tunes. The Rocks' usual shops will be done up in your standard red-and-green, silver-and-gold hues, too. There'll also be plenty of festive treats from street food vendors, so you can refuel on some tasty snacks, then keep working through your gift list. Once you've got all your shopping done, you can head to Broomfields pop-up pie shop, which is opening alongside the market and running all the way until February. Open on Playfair Street, the pie shop is serving up buttery pies with mash, gravy and cold beers Thursday–Sunday. It even has a turkey, pork and sage Christmas Pie. The Christmas Markets will be open from 4–9pm Fridays, 10am–9pm Saturday and 10am–5pm on Sundays. Images: Anna Kucera
By the time Sunday rolls around, you're lucky if you have the energy and willpower to think, let alone cook. So do neither. Instead, grab a friend or three and head for LL Wine and Dine in Potts Point, where, from 11am, you can sink into all-you-can-eat yum cha for 30 bucks a head, accompanied by live music, $25 cocktail jugs, $10 Bloody Marys and good coffee. The menu is big on dumplings of all kinds, from straight-ahead prawn, to more exotic scallop and pork, to animal-friendly vegetable. Also look out for spring rolls, rice paper rolls, barbecue pork buns and pork spare ribs. That's right, you won't be going hungry around here — no matter how worn out or ragged you might be from the night before. You'd be smart to make a booking: this is one of Sydney's more popular Sunday feasts.
Hyderabad House reflects the region's Arabic take on Indian food — a result of having been ruled by the Turkish for 1000 years. This western Sydney institution is lauded by those in the know for its biryani. And, to prove its expertise, it has seven different flavour options all available in single serves, family serves (for between 4–5 people) and jumbo serves (for 10–12 people). Take your pick of meat — prawn, fish, egg, goat are available, but we recommend the chicken 65 (battered, spice-laden fried chicken) — and it'll be mixed through and fried off with the surprisingly complex and aromatic rice. You'll find rich curries, Chinese-style noodle dishes, kebabs and over a dozen bread options on the menu to round out your feast. And the best part? Plates rarely creep above $15 each. When it comes to spiciness, there are three levels available for each dish. As it's all made to order, you can simply choose the level you'd like. When we speak to owner Rehan Ali, we ask how he likes his spice level: "Being Indian, I can't even eat level three. If you're ordering for the first time, go with medium. Once you have it spicy, you can't turn it down". So, proceed with caution. Images: Cassandra Hannagn
What happens when you take the Australian teen series of the 90s and update it to the 2020s, all while riding a huge wave of nostalgia for all things stemming from three decades back? Even thanks to just the first part of that equation, every fan of beloved 1994–99 hit Heartbreak High could've told you that the end result would be a smash. And, streaming on Netflix since September, that's exactly how the ace new Heartbreak High revival has turned out — so much so that there's going to be a second season. No one has been saying "rack off" to the Sydney-set show's latest run, or its new batch of Hartley High teens, or their fresh dose of teen chaos. Not Aussie audiences, with the series sitting in Netflix's top ten TV shows in the country for the five weeks since its release. Not global viewers either, with Heartbreak High 2.0 also reaching the top ten in more than 43 countries, including in the US and across Europe, Africa and Asia — and spending three weeks in the global top ten, too. The streaming platform also advises that its subscribers clocked up 42.6 million hours watching Heartbreak High in three weeks. That's not bad for the latest high school-focused revival, doing what Beverly Hills, 90210 did, plus Saved by the Bell and Gossip Girl as well, but with a firmly Aussie spin. Unsurprisingly, Netflix has greenlit Heartbreak High for a second season, although exactly when it'll drop hasn't been revealed. Still, if you're keen to spend more time with Amerie (Ayesha Madon, The Moth Effect), Harper (Asher Yasbincek, How to Please a Woman), Darren (screen first-timer James Majoos), Quinni (Chloe Hayden, Jeremy the Dud), Dusty (Josh Heuston, Thor: Love and Thunder), Ca$h (Will McDonald, Home and Away), Malakai (Thomas, Troppo), Spider (Bryn Chapman Parish, Mr Inbetween), Ant (debutant Brodie Townsend), Sasha (Gemma Chua-Tran, Mustangs FC) and Missy (fellow newcomer Sherry-Lee Watson), start getting excited now. Season one started with Amerie becoming a pariah at Hartley after a big revelation — an "incest map" plotting out who's hooked up with who throughout the school — and also struggling with a sudden rift in her friendship with bestie Harper. Attempting to repair her reputation, she calls on help from her new pals Quinni and Darren, all while working through her crush on Dusty and developing feelings for Malakai. And that's just the start of Heartbreak High's 2022-set story so far. It was back in 2020 that Netflix initially announced that it was bringing the series back — and yes, it sure is a 2020s-era take on the Aussie classic. Adolescent chaos is still the main focus, including everything from friendship fights, yelling about vaginas from the top of a building and throwing dildos at walls through to consent, crime, drugs and police brutality. The original Heartbreak High was a massive deal, and was filled with now-familiar faces, including Alex Dimitriades, a pre-Home and Away Ada Nicodemou, and Avengers: Endgame and Mystery Road's Callan Mulvey as Drazic. It painted a multicultural picture of Australia that was unlike anything else on TV at the time. And, for its six-year run across two Aussie networks, the Sydney-shot show was must-see television — not bad for a series that started as a spinoff to the Claudia Karvan and Alex Dimitriades-starring 1993 movie The Heartbreak Kid, too. Check out the trailer for the new Heartbreak High below: Heartbreak High season two doesn't yet have a release date — we'll update you when one is announced. The show's first season is available to stream now via Netflix. Read our full review.
Air out that mouldy tent, start rounding up the GoPros, Falls Festival have announced their 2014 lineup. With Byron now extended to a four-day program, Falls Festival is returning to its three sites (Lorne, Marion Bay and North Byron Parklands) for its annual New Year's Eve hootenanny. So who's on the bill? Returning with a Mercury Prize and a million debut album copies sold under their belt, Leeds foursome Alt-J are sure to be one of the packed sets this year. Scandinavian super besties Röyksopp and Robyn are locked in for an epic two hour set of combined releases. There'll be ass everywhere with the presence of the unmissable Big Freedia. The sublimely talented SBTRKT is set to play a huge live set (one of Laneway Festival's best sets to memory), while the formidable Jamie XX will keep the basslines well up in grill. Fresh from Glastonbury, George Ezra is set to be one of the festival highlights, with the debut set from the legendary Todd Terje, house monarchs Tensnake, Sydney trio Movement and San Francisco's Tycho sure to send everyone on a synthy, beats-fuelled odyssey. Altanta's favourite 'flower punk' band The Black Lips are in. Confirmed after a leak in Cleo, UK's Glass Animals are confirmed to get sultry. Festival favourites Cold War Kids return with their latest album's material (and a few oldies), while Australia's own ARIA-winners The Temper Trap return to the live circuit with material from their upcoming third record. Rap fans have some gleeful squealing to get to, with Brooklyn's Pro Era whiz Joey Bada$$, Killer Mike and El-P's Fool's Gold super-collab Run the Jewels, Melbourne's own Remi locked in. 'Stolen Dance' fans will have plenty to jig about with the first Australian tour of Milky Chance, Sydney's Bluejuice are playing their last round, London's Wolf Alice are sure to generate some buzz, and Canberran trio SAFIA are also buzzworthy inclusions. There's a few Splendour returns: Britpop-loving Sydney dudes DMAs, newbie hip hop firecracker Tkay Maidza, Sydney dance legends The Presets, electronic whiz kid The Kite String Tangle, returning rock heavyweights Spiderbait, singalong starters Sticky Fingers and Riptider Vance Joy. Falls will also see a kickass 'Boogie Nights' program featuring none other than the ever-kickass hip hop legends Salt n Pepa, Melbourne's best-dressed duo Client Liaison, Sydney partystarter Alison Wonderland and Canada's Badbadnotgood. THE FALLS MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL 2014 LINEUP (IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER): ALT-J BIG FREEDIA THE BLACK LIPS BLUEJUICE COLD WAR KIDS DMAs GLASS ANIMALS GEORGE EZRA JAGWAR MA JAMIE XX JOEY BADA$$ JOHN BUTLER TRIO KIM CHURCHILL THE KITE STRING TANGLE MILKY CHANCE MOVEMENT THE PRESETS REMI RÖYKSOPP & ROBYN RUN THE JEWELS SAFIA SBTRKT (LIVE) >SPIDERBAIT STICKY FINGERS THE TEMPER TRAP TENSNAKE TKAY MAIDZA TODD TERJE (LIVE) TYCHO VANCE JOY WOLF ALICE + MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED. BOOGIE NIGHTS LINEUP (DEC 28 LORNE, DEC 29 MARION BAY, DEC 31 BYRON): ALISON WONDERLAND BADBADNOTGOOD CLIENT LIAISON SALT N PEPA + MORE. EVENTS: Dec 28, 2014 to Jan 1, 2015 in Lorne, VIC (est. 1993) 18+ event Dec 29, 2014 to Jan 1, 2015 in Marion Bay, TAS (est. 2003) All ages Dec 30, 2014 to Jan 3, 2015 in Byron Bay, NSW (est. 2013) 18+ event The ticket ballot is now open via the festival’s website and will be closing on Monday August 25. Enter the ballot here. Most of the event tickets are allocated to sales through the ballot process, starting at 9am on Thursday August 28; however, for those who miss out, there will also be a small allocation of tickets set aside for general public sales starting at 9am on Wednesday September 03. Image: Paul Smith
Two days before kicking off for 2024, the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras has announced that one of its beloved annual events has been cancelled, with Fair Day no longer happening this year. Usually attracting over 70,000 attendees, the free celebration was set to take over Victoria Park on Sunday, February 18, but has been scrapped after asbestos was found in the venue's mulch. "On Monday, February 12, following advice from the Environment Protection Authority about possible asbestos contamination in mulch, test results found bonded asbestos at Victoria Park," said The City of Sydney and Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras in a combined statement released on Wednesday, February 14. "The City and Sydney Mardi Gras have been working together closely over the past two days to coordinate cleanup of the affected areas while bumping in Fair Day infrastructure in time to hold the event," the announcement continues. "Following a more detailed investigation into the safety concerns at Victoria Park, it has become clear to the City and Sydney Mardi Gras that an event of the scale of Fair Day is unable to proceed this Sunday." A massive drawcard at the 17-day festival, Fair Day was due to see Melissa Tkautz break out 'Read My Lips'; talents from & Juliet perform; and LION, Paul Capsis, Royston Noell and DJ Nate also take to the stage. The doggywood pageant, karaoke cave, drag king games and First Nations circle were all also on the agenda. "This is an incredibly disappointing decision, as Fair Day is a pivotal part of the Mardi Gras calendar. But we have to put the safety of our community first," said Lord Mayor of Sydney Clover Moore AO. "We will continue to work with Mardi Gras once the asbestos issue is resolved. Today's decision underscores how serious this is. The NSW Government and the EPA must make sure this never happens again." "Fair Day is one of our most loved events, and is attended by over 70,000 people each year. It breaks our heart to see this Sunday not go ahead, but given the safety concerns we must put our communities' wellbeing first," added Mardi Gras CEO Gil Beckwith. "This cancellation is a setback, however it presents us with an opportunity to unite and support one another more strongly. The rest of our festival continues unchanged, offering many chances over the 17 days for our communities to come together in celebration and solidarity." On Tuesday, February 13, The City of Sydney advised that asbestos had been found in mulch at not only Victoria Park, but also Belmore Park and Surry Hills' Harmony Park. Testing is being undertaken in another 32 parks in the local government area. Sydneysiders are urged to avoid the mulched garden beds at the affected parks, as well as mulched areas beneath trees. If asbestos is found, the mulched areas will be fenced off and signs erected. The below parks are currently undergoing testing: Arcadia Park, Forest Lodge AV Henry Reserve, Forest Lodge Bicentennial Park 1, Glebe Bicentennial Park 2, Glebe Blackwattle Bay Park, Glebe Chippendale Green, Chippendale Clyne Reserve, Millers Point Cook & Phillip Park, Sydney Creek Street Reserve, Forest Lodge Dr H J Foley Rest Park, Glebe Frog Hollow Reserve, Surry Hills Giba Park, Pyrmont Harold Park, Forest Lodge James Watkinson Reserve, Pyrmont John Street Reserve, Glebe Jubilee Park, Glebe Larkin Street Park, Camperdown Minogue Reserve, Glebe Munn Reserve, Millers Point Observatory Hill Park, Millers Point Orphan School Creek, Forest Lodge Paradise Reserve, Pyrmont Pirrama Park, Pyrmont Pottinger Park West, Dawes Point Quarry St Streetscape and Steps, Ultimo Robyn Kemmis Reserve, Glebe Seamer Street Reserve, Glebe St James Park, Glebe Stewart Street Glebe Reserve, Glebe Toxteth Park, Glebe Wentworth Park, Ultimo Wood Street Playground, Forest Lodge Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras 2024 runs from Friday, February 16–Sunday, March 3, 2024. For more information, or for tickets, head to the event's website. Fair Day will no longer take place on Sunday, February 18 at Victoria Park. Head to the event's website for more details. Images: Ann-Marie Calilhanna / Jeffrey Feng.
3D imaging has come a long way since the first experiments in the early 1900s. Take James Cameron's Avatar, which used multiple cameras to produce a three-dimensional visual masterpiece. Plus a blue alien race and the beautiful world they inhabit. 3D doesn't just make for larger-than-life films. This innovation in 3D imaging could enhance scientific research. Researchers from Ohio State University have created the first single, stationery lens to create microscopic 3D images by itself. Usually multiple lenses are required to produce a 3D image, making the invention quite incredible. The prototype lens is around the size of a fingernail and was cut by a computer-programmed ultraprecision milling device. The lens will allow more accurate viewing of microscopic objects, Associate Professor of Integrated Systems Engineering at Ohio State University Allen Yi said. "For us, the most attractive part of this project is that we will be able to see the real shape of micro-samples instead of just a 2D projection." [Via Fast Company]
Well, not really. But aggregated search data can be used to track some economic trends, and can do so better than official economics surveys. The logic behind it is pretty simple: what does the average person do when confronted by something new in their life? Google it, of course. By using Google Insights to measure search terms like 'real estate agent' or 'unemployment' it's possible to get an idea of how much activity there will be in the property market, or how many people might be signing up for benefits soon. The Bank of England is doing exactly that to supplement their official figures to gain a better picture of the UK economy. The search engine figures aren't 100% accurate, but they are available much faster than government reports. It's not the first time individual search activity has been aggregated and used to measure large-scale trends. Google Flu Trends uses the same idea: by measuring the frequency of searches for flu symptoms, they can measure levels of flu activity and report it much faster than hospital reported cases. In fact, Google could have spotted the 2009 swine flu outbreak... if they had been monitoring Mexico at the time. [via Guardian UK]
Last September, John Malkovich took time off from being John Malkovich to be Everyone Else for a change. Shot by Sandro Miller in Los Angeles, the highly publicised series of photographs dubbed Malkovich, Malkovich, Malkovich recreated some of the most iconic portraits in recent history — from John and Yoko to Che Guevara, Dorothea Lange's Migrant Woman to Andres Serrano's Piss Christ. And now the series is coming to Sydney as part of this year's Head On Photo Festival (running May 1 - 31), showing at Darlinghurst's Black Eye Gallery from April 28 - May 5. Malkovich, Malkovich, Malkovich is just the tip of the iceberg for Head On. The photography festival will showcase works from local and international photographers in over 50 featured exhibitions across Sydney, running from May 1–31. There's some pretty diverse exhibitions at the new Head On Festival Hub at Sydney Lower Town Hall. There's Georges Pacheco’s exhibition, Amalthée, which takes cues from Italian and Dutch renaissance painting to look at the universal and timeless act of breastfeeding. There's also Sydney-based photographer Nic Bezzina's show Cam Girls, which consists of screen grabs from 'Cam Girl' websites — where women enact instructed sexual fantasies via webcam. There are retrospectives aplenty this year too. Internationally acclaimed photographer Emmanuel Angelicas has a retrospective detailing his 45 years of documenting Marrickville's often overlooked residents, and portrait photographer to the stars George Fetting will also delve into years of shooting the likes of Buzz Aldrin, Cate Blanchett, Baz Luhrmann, Spike Milligan, Lee Lin Chin, Marcel Marceau, Barry Humphries, Ralph Fiennes, Billy Idol and many more.
We've seen plenty of services which will print your phone photos, but just when you thought iPhoneography couldn't get any more nifty, designer Mac Funamizu has conceptualised instant iPhone printouts for photos on the go. His iPhone case would allow your pretty iPhone pics to be printed Polaroid-style. The concept includes other functional features. For example, if you upload the photo to a website, you can add an QR code for the URL on the back. For a geo-tagged photo, you can also include the map to show where the photo was taken. Says Funamizu, "Yes, I’m one of those people who still relish the feel (and smell) of photos." [Via Lost at E-Minor]
When it comes to hotel bars, the vast majority of them fall into two categories — they're either martinis-on-black-marble swanky or they boast a great view and not much else. Somehow, Hilton Sydney's Glass Brasserie manages to be neither of these. Don't get us wrong, it's quite grand — the huge glass windows stretch right up to the high ceiling an impressive walled wine collection is just as tall — and you can certainly order a martini, but the place isn't unapproachable, stuffy or exclusive. Even if you're not a hotel guest, a post-work or pre-dinner glass of wine up at the bar is a great option. If you're looking for a peaceful place to perch amidst the Vivid madness, you'll not only be able to get a Midori margarita (yes, really — it has a chilli salt rim), but you'll have a great view of the lights on the QVB too. And if you want to sit down for dinner, Luke Mangan looks after the kitchen — so you're in good hands.
The Sydney Architecture Festival is taking on a new, long weekend format this year. Where it used to sprawl over a leisurely week-and-a-half, it’ll now be packed into an intense, exciting four-day program. And there’s also a new boss in charge, in the form of Archrival, a Sydney-based collective of young creatives, working alongside JOC Consulting. Headlining the festival is an all-day public extravaganza, dubbed #TheGoods and happening on Saturday, October 3. It's the first major event to activate the new Goods Line and will feature architecture-related talks, symposiums and installations as well as more tangential yoga, tai chai, a zine fair and a short film festival. Before that, on Friday, October 2, the Festival will launch with three major events: the announcement of the winners of George Street 2020; a panel discussion about the future of Sydney homes featuring architects Guy Luscombe and Bradley Swartz, as well as Greens Senator Scott Ludlam; and an evening Q&A at Customs House with Joe Snell (House Rules), Peter Maddison (Grand Designs Australia) and Tony Been (Houzz). Meanwhile, Sunday, October 4, will be tour day, with three guided journeys planned, covering the future of the Sydney skyline, the regeneration of the city’s inner suburbs and a behind-the-scenes look at some innovative architects’ homes. Finally, Monday, October 5, will be dedicated to the theme of Go Global and will see an industry summit, as well as TED-style talks, exhibitions, discussions and videos. Image: Dr Chau Chak Wing Building, designed by Frank Gehry. Photo by Andrew Worssam.
Those seeking free WiFi will no longer need to spend hours lurking in their local McDonald's thanks to the development of 4sqwifi, an application that uses Foursquare to locate WiFi spots and give you their passwords. Apostolos Papadopoulos and Giannis Poulakas are the pair behind the app, and state that their vision is be "everywhere and always connected." They also stress that the product is still in its development stage, although a version is currently avaliable for free from the iTunes store. Features in the first version include "venue check-in, Twitter/Facebook sharing, in-app tip section for each venue so people can add WiFi passwords within 4sqwifi, map view and hell knows what more." The app works worldwide, and will be perfect for those who seek some urgent urban bandwidth. [Via TechCrunch]
Don't you hate it? You finish carving it up on the black run, having linked together some pretty sweet tricks, only for your buddy to claim his jumps were airier and his landings smoother. If only you had some way of objectively measuring just who was the more extreme… Perhaps you can. Nokia have teamed up with leading snowboard company Burton to develop Push Snowboarding, adding sensors to the board and rider that track your every action. Motion data and biometrics such as heart-rate and skin conductivity are collected wirelessly by the phone sitting in your pocket, allowing you to back up your bragging, or just monitor your progress. The development of 'connected' products can sometimes be an unnecessary gimmick, but in the sports world performance data is priceless for elite athletes. Innovatively, rather than keep the tech in-house and hush-hush, the platform is open to the boarding world, allowing the end-users to hack their own uses for the technology. It's a clever strategy from Nokia, effectively crowd-sourcing their customers to help develop ideas for the product. It could lead to purely entertaining uses, such as loading real runs up to video games, or improved safety features that aid in search and rescue. Whether it ends up as the next must-have accessory for the slopes, or is consigned to the tech junk heap along with the internet fridge, now rests in the hands of the boarders themselves. [via PSFK] https://youtube.com/watch?v=1y8nMUAUeKM
UPDATE: APRIL 30, 2018 — In news that is really not that surprising, Kendrick's Melbourne and Sydney shows sold out in less than an hour this morning. To meet demand, two more shows have been added — one in Melbourne on July 14 and one in Sydney on July 25. Tickets go on sale at 2pm today, and will no doubt sell out as quickly as the first batch. We had a feeling this might happen. Off the back of an appearance at an already sold-out Splendour in the Grass, Kendrick Lamar will also headline four Australian shows in support of his fourth album DAMN.. Lamar is one of the most critically acclaimed and successful hip hop artists of our generation. The Compton rapper most recently became the first ever artist to take out the prestigious Pulitzer Prize for contemporary music. He's also the beholder of 12 Grammys, has clocked up more than six million album sales worldwide, and was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by TIME Magazine. Lamar will return to our shores for Splendour on the weekend of July 20–22 and four headline shows: one in Perth on July 10, one in Melbourne on July 13, one in Adelaide on July 15 and one in Sydney on July 24. Having recently taken the DAMN. tour across the UK and Europe, set lists included his extensive catalogue, including good kid, m.A.A.d city (2012), To Pimp A Butterfly (2015) and his most recent effort DAMN.. DAMN. AUSTRALIAN TOUR DATES 2018 Tuesday, July 10 — Perth Arena, Perth Friday, July 13 and Saturday, July 14 — Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Sunday, July 15 — Entertainment Centre, Adelaide Tuesday, July 24 and Wednesday, July 25 — Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Kendrick Lamar will visit Australia in July. Tickets will go on sale at local times on Monday, April 30 here.
Alpine, mountainous, snow-capped — these aren't words you would normally associate with our sun-kissed country. But Australia is a land of extreme seasons and surprises. The High Country is right on our doorstep, only a few hours' drive from Melbourne, but it's almost a different world, especially in autumn. The transitional season between the sun-drenched summers and snowy winters is one of the most fascinating times to visit the High Country. Before the mountains go into full alpine retreat mode, they come alive with apple trees, autumnal colours, and the emotive, alluring scent of deciduous environments that we only get to experience once a year. Not to mention the bountiful gastronomic opportunities that the harvest season presents to the High Country's many wineries, pubs, cafes and farm doors. Because we know that no mountainous hike is the same without something delicious to sustain and motivate you, we've paired the region's best hearty bites with its most invigorating treks. BRIGHT AND TIKI COCKTAILS Start in Bright, a historic village that acts as the gateway to some of the region's best treks. Bright itself is worth the trip in autumn for both its glorious autumn foliage and its inspired culinary scene. To fuel up (and you're going to need it), head to Tomahawks — a cool, cosy bar and restaurant in the middle of town. Try the chargrilled broccoli served with smoked butter and almonds and the dukkah lamb ribs for a hearty snack, or go one of their brioche buns if you want more energy. Make sure to try their Tiki cocktails while you're there — they pack a flavoursome punch. Afterwards, drive about an hour north of Bright to Diamantina Hut and trek up Mount Feathertop. From there, it's an 11-kilometre hike up the mountain — about seven hours return. It's a steep climb but will take you into another world in autumn: a misty, mossy, fantasy land with spectacular views. If you end up back in Bright, reward yourself with a drink at distillery Reed & Co, whose signature Remedy dry gin is made with native pine needles and eucalyptus. The venue also boasts a custom-made fuel grill so you can count on a nourishing meal to fill you up. WANDILIGONG AND MUSHROOM FORAGING If a seven-hour hike is a little intimidating, try this alternative. Start, once again, in the beautiful town of Bright with a mushroom foraging class. They run throughout May (prime mushroom foraging season) at a local cooking school. You'll hunt for local mushies before learning five Italian recipes to make the most of your haul. Then put your new skills to the test on a six-kilometre trek to Wandiligong, a tiny gold-mining town to the south of Bright. In April, the town hosts a seasonal nut festival where the growers of the region harvest and show off their produce, both nut and otherwise. Get on down there for the chestnuts-roasting-on-an-open-fire smell alone. Make the most of your time in Wandiligong by stopping at some of its other foodie haunts: Wandiful Produce, where you can gather your own freshly fallen chestnuts at this time of year and take a tour of the farm, and Nightingale Brothers orchards, the spot to imbibe fresh apple cider and stock up on edible gifts. MOUNT HOTHAM AND VIENNA SCHNITZEL Go properly Sound of Music with an Alps-inspired mountain adventure. Start the proceedings at Zirky's, the Mount Hotham resort founded by Austrian Peter Zirknitzer, who came out here in the 1950s to teach skiing. His family still runs this operation, and their European roots shine through in the dining room, where Austrian-style schnitzel is served on Wednesday nights. Then, in stark contrast to such luxury, head on down to Mount Hotham and brave the three-day alpine camping trek. It's a 37-kilometre trek from Mouth Hotham to Falls Creek, and autumn is the perfect time to go. It's cold enough to use all that shiny, high-tech camping gear you love, but not so cold that you'll need cross-country skis. The manageable track winds through snow-gum woodlands and snow grass plains, with a few summits and historical sites along the way. This trek requires a bit of pre-planning because of the camping element, but it's well worth it. Consider overnighting at Cope Hut or Dibbins Hut, where there are new camping platforms. MOUNT BULLER AND A CELLAR DOOR If you lean more towards the food and wine side of the trek and treat adventure, opt for an easier hike between the twin peaks of Mount Buller and Mount Stirling. The moderate 7-kilometre trail takes about 2.5 hours through pretty snow gum forest. Those seeking truly iconic scenery can take a detour to a nearby cabin, used in the movie The Man From Snowy River. You'll want to make a stop on your way down Mount Buller at Delatite Wines. Their cellar door serves simple antipasto platters made with local ingredients — a fine accompaniment to the European-style wine and rolling hillside views. MOUNT BUFFALO AND AN OLIVE GROVE If you want to get your hands on some local produce, stop by the local olive grove and farm gate at Mount Buffalo Olives. Extra virgin olive oil is, as we all know, the nectar of the Gods, and it doesn't get much better than this. The Mount Buffalo olive vineyard has incredible views of the region. As well as olives and olive oil, they produce lots of tasty treats to fill out a picnic basket. Once you have your picnic ingredients sorted, head to Lake Catani campground. It's a great picnic destination to gorge yourself on all that freshness, and it's the starting point for plenty of 2-3 hour hikes up Mount Buffalo itself. Mount Buffalo is one of the easier hiking destinations in the High Country, so think of it as more of a digestive stroll than a high-adrenaline slog. For the athletes, there's the Horn Trail 30 minutes away — it's a punishing uphill trek that rewards you with the best views. BEECHWORTH AND BEER If you're interested in the history of the region, head to Beechworth and check out the Gorge Scenic walking tour. This one is a moderate walk (not a hike, so leave the hydration backpack at home for this one) and give yourself a few hours to enjoy it. The trail takes you out of town, through rugged Victorian country and the richest goldfields in Australia then loops back around to finish at the Beechworth Visitor Centre. You'll travel past waterfalls, rugged landscapes, historical sites, goldfields, quarries and bridges. The town of Beechworth also has a rich architectural history that'll leave you feeling like you're in an episode of Aussie-style Westworld. Grab some educational material from the visitor centre to get the most out of the walk. And when you're all wandered out, head over to Bridge Road Brewers to recover with a chestnut pilsner and roast duck pizza. They make all their small-batch beers on site, while the kitchen specialises in some of the world's other best sources of carbs — pizza and pretzels. Plan your High Country getaway by visiting the Wander Victoria website and discover more of the autumnal delights across regional Victoria before the season is out.
Sometimes, you can read a book and imagine exactly what a TV adaptation would look like. Anyone who thumbed their way through The Southern Vampire Mysteries before it was turned into HBO's True Blood can't make that claim, however. Created by Six Feet Under's Alan Ball, this undead-focused horror series drips with mystery, lust and gothic excess. And blood, obviously. It's a show set in a world where vampires aren't just a fantasy — and at a time when a synthetic product that shares the show's name has allowed them to live side-by-side with humans, in theory. At the centre of this vamp-fuelled intrigue sits small-town Louisiana waitress Sookie Stackhouse (Anna Paquin), who happens to be telepathic. She also happens to fall in love with 173-year-old vampire Bill Compton (Stephen Moyer). When their romance attracts the attention of the area's vampire sheriff (Alexander Skarsgård), that's when the drama begins.
JANIS, just like its namesake Janis Joplin, promises to be big, loud, here, change, make and take, and talk to the past and the future. What’s it all about? Discussing the gender inequality in the arts. And who's the woman behind it? Kelly Doley. She started it up to look at female art practice, including curating, writing and art projects. So female voices in the art world to be “heard a little louder and to take up more space in the artworld, and subsequently, in the annals of art histroy.” The first JANIS, titled JANIS#1 showing at Alaska Projects will exhibit the works of cross-disciplinary artists, including Kelly Doley’s own works. The other female artists involved are Sarah Contos who looks at themes of disillusionment and unfulfilled desire — with a cheeky twist, Hannah Furmage, Zoe Robertson, Marian Tubbs and Justene Williams. And alongside this exhibition, a published work will include writing from Brown Councillor Diana Smith and Amanda Rowell. Oh yeah, and did we mention there will be a special beer served on the night inspired by Janis Joplin called Crude Oil? Doesn't sound like a light beer. Opening night: Wednesday, February 6, from 6-8pm. The exhibition is open Saturdays and Sundays 1-6pm.
A Sydney institution, White Rabbit Gallery has been running free exhibitions showcasing contemporary Chinese art for over a decade. But visitors to the Chippendale space between now and Sunday, August 1 can expect a particularly luminous experience, with its latest eye-catching multimedia exhibition centred around the wonders of light. Showcasing works from 30 artists, Lumen's lineup stretches from interactive light pieces and frozen copper sculptures to video projections and rooms full of LEDs. As well as grabbing attention, each work on display uses light in a thought-provoking, awe-inspiring or fully immersive fashion. The boundary-pushing Zhang Peili, dubbed the father of video art in China, is displaying 2012 Portraits, a series of 14 portraits in which the both the subject and the viewer are blinded by light. Or, there's Yao Chung-Han's DzDz, which invites the audience to stand under movement-sensitive beams of light and create music by using their bodies. And, thanks to Wu Daxin's Ashley's Heart, you'll see copper tubes suspended in the shape of a heart and gradually frozen over the course of the day, creating a unique ice sculpture. Art collective Luxury Logico is presenting two works as part of the exhibition. The first is Solar, a twinkling representation of the sun created using donated desk lamps — while the second, Miniature, is one of the exhibition's showstoppers. The display of LED lights draws upon images from a video reel, with each LED corresponding to a pixel. Both vivid and architectural in its appearance, the work is designed to remind viewers of celestial bodies in the sky, all while cycling through everything from reality TV and ads to soap operas and Adam Sandler movies. Lumen is running over all four levels of the White Rabbit Gallery. As usual with the site's exhibitions, entry is free and there are no bookings, so folks can just rock up and enjoy the art. And, free guided tours are available at 11am, 1pm and 3pm Wednesday–Sunday. Top image: Miniature by Luxury Logico.
The MCA has been really hitting it out of the park lately, and their newest exhibition, string theory: Focus on contemporary Australian art, is no exception. The exhibition celebrates the work of over 30 Indigenous artists and artist collectives including Tony Albert, Jean Baptiste Apuatimi , Boolarng Nangamai Aboriginal Art & Culture Studio, Frances Djulibing, Robyn Djunginy, Lola Greeno, Dale Harding, Evelyn McGreen, Lipaki Marlyapa, Dhundhunga 2 Munungurr, Noongar Doll Makers, Laurie Nilsen, Alison Page, Regina Pilawuk Wilson, Jimmy Pike, Yarrenyty Arltere Artists, Tasmanian Shell Necklace Makers, Tjanpi Desert Weavers, Vicki West, and the Yirrkala Printmakers. The exhibition’s curator, Glenn Barkley, explains: "string theory is a scientific principle that posits a theory of everything. In the exhibition it implies expansion and connection across time and space, porous and open-ended embracing diverse approaches to the idea of ‘fibre’ or craft-based disciplines." Yirrkala artist Lipaki Marlaypa’s traditional handmade woven string works act as a sort of conceptual jumping off point for the exhibition. Many of the featured pieces are united by a focus on texture. Regina Pilawuk Wilson’s marvellous painted canvases look like stitched tapestries. Jimmy Pike’s colourful felt-tip pen on paper works pulse with such energy you’ll half-expect them to hop off the wall. One of the larger galleries inside the exhibition space has been taken over by the Tjanpi Desert Weavers. The collective has installed large-scale installations of otherworldly figures and trees made of fabulously disparate media such as emu feathers, native grasses, raffia, fabric and sheep’s wool. The innovation present in many of the works is remarkable, as artists knit together millennia-old cultural traditions with Western media and artistic approaches. Tony Albert offers a series of photographs showing a young man in various situations, both bush and urban, carrying a traditional straw bag on his back. In some photographs, the bag is used to carry ceremonial objects, in others, his mail, his groceries and sports paraphernalia. The photographs perfectly sum up the relationship between old and new, traditional and contemporary. The most memorable works in the exhibition are the minimalist, abstract pieces by Dale Harding. His small-scale installations explore the traumas visited upon Aboriginal women and children in the first half of the 20th Century. bright eyed little dormitory girls (2013), white collared (2013) and of one’s own country (2011) are executed with a staggering pathos and eloquence. string theory is a wonderful articulation of how incredibly rich and vibrant Australia’s cultural heritage is. The lucky country, indeed. Image: Little Dingi (still) DVD photograph, Yarrenyty Arltere Artists. Courtesy MCA.
Sometimes, the world handily delivers answers to questions you didn't even know you ever had. You might not have actively wondered to yourself "what'd happen if New Zealand treasures Taika Waititi and Rhys Darby played pirates?", for instance, but we're betting you're now keener than a buccaneer searching for a bottle of rum to discover how it turns out. Best add Our Flag Means Death to your 2022 must-watch list, then. Arriving sometime in March on Binge in Australia — with release details in NZ yet to be confirmed — the HBO Max sitcom sees Darby lead the show as Stede Bonnet, who was a real-life pirate who took to the seas in the early 18th century. The reason that his story is getting the streaming treatment? Bonnet was a 'gentleman pirate', as the just-dropped first teaser trailer for Our Flag Means Death dubs him. He left his life of privilege to rove the oceans, which this comedy is set to have plenty of fun with. As the initial sneak peek shows, Bonnet has some bold ideas about how life onboard should run — bold compared to the usual pirate stereotypes, that is. And, that's set to see him clash with a very famous name from pirate history: Blackbeard, which is who Waititi will be playing. The two immensely funny NZ talents are joined by a long list of co-stars that includes Ewen Bremner (First Cow), David Fane (Paper Champions), Nathan Foad (Bloods), Joel Fry (Cruella), Samson Kayo (Truth Seekers), Rory Kinnear (No Time to Die) and Leslie Jones (Death to 2020). And, while Our Flag Means Death is the brainchild of writer, showrunner and executive producer David Jenkins (People of Earth), Waititi directs the pilot — and executive produces, lending his name and support to another up-and-coming comedy after doing the same with Reservation Dogs last year. And yes, that means he's directing Darby yet again, as he's already done in everything from Flight of the Conchords and What We Do in the Shadows to Hunt for the Wilderpeople. Check out the trailer for Our Flag Means Death below: Our Flag Means Death will start streaming in Australia via Binge in March — we'll update you when an exact date is revealed. We'll also update you when release details in New Zealand are announced. Top images: Aaron Epstein/HBO Max.
You're at the bar. You get stuck in with a beverage, and a few minutes later your song comes on. Is there any better feeling? Newtown newcomers DeepGroove are turning that elation into a regular occurrence at their newly opened vinyl record bar where the patrons choose the tunes. The bar occupies prime real estate along King Street, taking over the space of the short lived Nordic B. As of this week's final paint job and signage turn over, DeepGroove is officially open for business. The joint venture between hospitality veterans Steven Sparshott and Mai Polic follows a simple, yet genius concept: come in, grab a drink at the bar and thumb through the extensive selection of vinyl. Pop your favourite on the turntable and let your song or full record play out. Their collection has something for everyone and spans everything from Beyoncé to The Beatles and Justin Bieber to Guns N' Roses. For the vinyl illiterate, they also have an iPad full of over 15,000 songs to scroll through — but, honestly, where's the fun in that? The small bar is set up casually with high tables and stools, along with the requisite rock posters and vinyl sleeves on the wall. To give patrons an even bigger reason to smile, they're running a $10 cocktail happy hour everyday from 5pm to 7pm. Their signature, the Deep Groove Yuzu, sounds especially tasty, with the Japanese inspired concoction combining sake, gin and yuzu. For bar snacks, think traditional finger food like sweet potato fries and antipasto platters. Of course, DeepGroove isn't the first bar in Sydney to focus on vinyl; the city also boasts The Record Crate just over in Glebe and the ever popular Mojo Record Bar in the CBD. It is, however, the first of its kind in Newtown and seems to be the only one of the three that's focused on in-bar enjoyment rather than records for purchase. Any bar that brings more tunes to the neighbourhood is alright by us. DeepGroove is located at 191 King Street, Newtown and is open daily from 4pm until late. For more information, check out their Facebook page. Images: Bodhi Liggett.
Over the past few years, Gelatissimo has whipped up a number of creative flavours, including frosé sorbet, gelato for dogs, and ginger beer, Weet-Bix. fairy bread, hot cross bun, cinnamon scroll and chocolate fudge gelato. Most recently, it made a bubble tea variety, and a gelato featuring Belgium's Lotus Biscoff cookie butter spread, too. For its latest offering, the Australian dessert chain is taking inspiration from other well-known sweet treats hailing from overseas — in case you've always wanted some Reese's Peanut Butter Cups or Hershey's Kisses in your ice cream. Yes, those very combinations are now on the menu, all as part of Gelatissimo's new American-inspired Flavours of the USA gelato range. Just launching this week, the lineup includes three new flavours — so if you needed an excuse to treat yourself to multiple scoops, you just might've found one. First up, it's pretty easy to guess how Gelatissimo's Peanut Butter Cup Made With Reese's flavour will taste. It uses peanut butter gelato, plus some Hershey's cocoa powder, then adds a ripple of chocolate that features roasted peanuts and big chunks of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. Not feeling quite so nutty? Chocolate Kisses Made With Hershey's is basically an excuse to eat chocolate, some more chocolate, and then even more chocolate. It's made with chocolate gelato — and the gelato itself is made with Hershey's kisses and Hersey's cocoa powder — which is then drizzled with more melted Hersey's Kisses. Lastly, Gelatissimo is pairing crushed candied pecans with bourbon caramel swirls in a flavour called, unsurprisingly, Bourbon Caramel and Pecans. While this is a US-inspired range, the boozy flavour comes via a collaboration with West Australian distillery Whipper Snapper, infusing its Upshot Whiskey into the gelato. Gelatissimo's new range just hit stores on Friday, October 9, with the three new flavours currently available nationwide. That said, they're only on offer for a limited time, although the chain hasn't specified an exact period — but you can nab them either by going into a shop or via delivery. Gelatissimo's Flavours of the USA range is available from all stores nationwide for a limited time.
While it's nice to admire the custom decorative pieces in our homes, it's sometimes easy to forget that a lot of hard work went into creating them. If you've ever obtained items from Workshopped or followed the careers of designers from previous Workshopped exhibitions, now is your chance to find out the entire process behind their award-winning creations. Resolved: Journeys in Australian Design is on now at Object, Australia's centre for contemporary design. Twelve designers are coming together to share the story behind creating their projects, from conception to finished product. The question of what success means to each designer will also be explored, as all of their designs have been considered successful. Resolved features designers ranging from watchmaker Ben McCarthy to Zoe MacDonell, an artist who uses fabric and furniture as her canvases. If you're worried you might not make it to the exhibition, catch the online mini-documentary series that gives a peek into what you'll see at the exhibition.
Hip-hop fans listen up, an intimate show from Briggs and his Bad Apple Music label is coming to The Lair inside the CBD's Metro Theatre on Thursday, April 7. Billed as Briggs, Nooky and Friends as part of the Great Southern Nights program, expect memorable sets from the two trailblazing MCs as well as a bunch of surprise guests. Through his career, Briggs has been a vocal voice in the fight of First Nations people in Australia through his music — both solo and with A.B. Original — his writing and his comedy. He's toured with the likes of KRS-ONE and 50 Cent as well as written for programs like Black Comedy and Charlie Pickering's The Weekly. A newer voice in the hip hop community, Nooky's list of achievements is already long and impressive. Alongside his hard-hitting EP Lyrebird Par released at the end of last year, he's also the host of Triple J's Blak Out and the founder of Indigenous social enterprise We Are Warriors. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7XevQAVoBI Great Southern Nights is facilitating a heap of gigs across Sydney and regional NSW, ranging from icons like Jimmy Barnes in western Sydney or Archie Roach performing in Wagga Wagga, through to smaller acts like hyped young R&B singer Liyah Knight headlining a night of local music and DJs at Zetland's 107 Projects. You can find the full program at the Great Southern Nights website.
We love a bit of alliteration, especially when tacos are involved. Thankfully, so does Mexican restaurant Chica Bonita. Kicking off on September 10, Head Chef Alejandro Huerta will be welcoming some of his chef mates into his CBD kitchen to serve up some next-level taco creations each Tuesday. What kind of next-level creations, you ask? Chef Jack New (Icebergs, Gorgeous George) will be creating golden salmon sushi taco with gochugang, a wagyu tartare variety with anchovy and chilli, and two vegetarian options: koji-roasted celeriac and edamame, pecorino and black garlic. New is also whipping out a sweet option — a cheesecake tostado for $7. Every week, you'll be able to eat four limited-edition tacos for just $30, with the most popular taco making it onto the restaurant's specials menu for the rest of the week. Other chefs stepping up to the grill include Jason Staudt (Barangaroo House), Toby Wilson (Bad Hombres, The George) and Pablo Vargas (Carbón Bondi), with more names set to be announced in the coming weeks. Walk ins are welcome, but if you're determined not to miss out, you can book here. Taco Tuesdays will run weekly from September 10. Chica Bonita image: Kitti Gould.
Not one, but three, designers have put their two-wheeling brains together to come up with tokyobike's latest offering: the company's first ever Designer Series. It's a trio of bikes that will make you seriously want to shell out (and at this price, you'd be skipping more than a few meals). The first, a schmick golden number, is the work of Everything Elevated, who are based in New York and Oslo. It's a single speed with dropped handle bars that gets its inspiration from early minimalist track racing bikes. The second you'll want with you next time you're in Paris. Calico Wallpaper, a Brooklyn-based company run by couple Nick and Rachel Cope, based their concept on the bikes you see in 1930s French films. It's so comfy you can ride all day. The dreamy blue, white and burnt orange paint job reflects the transition from dawn to dusk. Not good at making decisions? The third in the series is your pick. It's white on one side and grey on the other. Joe Doucet, award-winning Brooklyn-based designer, is behind this third bike, with half-canvas, half-rubber handles, which are handmade in Italy. This kind of design doesn't come cheap. Each limited edition bike will set you back $2,500 a pop. Orders are available online. Images: Tokyobike.
Newtown's much-loved Young Henrys has its fingers in a lot of proverbial pies, but its next collab features some literal ones. The brewers have joined forces with Harry's Cafe de Wheels to create a limited-edition beef and beer pie for the masses — and they're giving a heap of them away for free. Head along to the Young Henrys' brewery from noon on Sunday, July 21 and you can grab a complimentary brew and pie combo. The bar will be slinging free pies and tinnies (out of a classic Harry's trailer) to the first 100 punters through the door. The pie will be made using Aussie topside beef that's been braised in Motorcycle Oil — Young Henrys' seasonal hoppy porter that has made its comeback for the third year in a row. If you miss out on the freebie, the pies will be also be available for purchase at all Harry's stores from July 22–September 30, priced at $7.50 each.
The spirit of cabaret is alive and well in Sydney, with one of the world's most-celebrated chanteuses lighting up Sydney Spiegeltent for two months. Her particular mix of debauchery, dark humour and biting social commentary make this one of 2024's must-see shows. German kabarett superstar Bernie Dieter — described as "an electrifying cross between Lady Gaga, Marlene Dietrich and Frank-N-Furter in sequins" — is bringing her infamous gin-soaked haus band and her troupe of bombastic bohemians to the Harbour City from Wednesday, May 29–Sunday, July 28. Gather your fellow deviants for this one. [caption id="attachment_841679" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Johannes Reinhart[/caption] The show encapsulates the spirit of the notorious kabarett clubs of Weimar Germany, and features a vibrant lineup of international talent. The billing includes the dangerous art of hair hanging (we're getting split ends just from the mere mention of this one), flame breathers, gender bending aerial performances and plenty of strip teasing and pole dancing. The colourful show celebrates freedom and diversity in all its forms — Dieter herself describes it as "the ultimate party at the end of the world".
The Autark Home redefines waterfront living. Passivhaus, an independent research institute, has built an eco-friendly floating houseboat. The houseboat is highly energy-efficient, runs completely on solar power and is ten times more energy efficient than the average house. The Autark Home is currently flaoting in Maastricht, Netherlands. Designed by Pieter Kromwijk, the prototype has gained popularity because of its ultra-low energy consumption. There are plans to produce more Autark Homes to meet the demand of willing buyers.
Broke fans of the Rockpool wagyu burger, things are about to get accessible. Neil Perry and the Rockpool Group are bringing a burger joint to the Sydney CBD. Snuggled into a top spot within World Square, Perry's brand new burgtastic venture will count dumpling heavyweights Din Tai Fung as neighbours. Fully licensed for 100 hungry punters with takeaway options on offer, Burger Project will open from lunchtime on Friday, October 31 — with the hope to expand to Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Dubai in the future. Perry's new endeavour follows in the footsteps of Justin North's Charlie & Co. chain launched four years ago, as well as two-hatter Warren Turnbull's closure of Assiette to open Surry Hills' Chur Burger. Hinged around the success of Perry's celebrated $24 wagyu beef burger, Burger Project will apparently see a similar design to Rockpool without the hefty price tag (Perry apparently hopes to keep things as close to $10 as he can with housemade next-best-thing patties). Architect Grant Cheyne is on board to bring Perry's new centrally-located open kitchen layout to fruition. Predictably, Perry's won't be any ol' dry-pattied 'wiches, these are Perry-style burgs. Perry told Good Food he wanted to make a "people’s burger... high quality, accessible and affordable,". Patties will be made onsite from 36-month old Gape Grim beef, feature Schulz bacon from the Barossa Valley and the ever-indulgent gruyere chese. Importantly, the famous Rockpool Zuni pickle won't be featuring on the burgers, but Perry has promised a shiny new pickle for the newbie. Burger Project will also give the Perry treatment to American classics like housemade chorizo dogs, chicken wings, milkshakes and sodas. They'll also be serving those unfalteringly genius side legends: shaker fries. Yep, they'll come with All The Seasonings including Szechuan pepper and a spot of chilli. "We’ve designed it so you’ll be able to dine in and relax, with music and a drink, or simply grab a burger and eat it on the go," Perry says. CBD burgers never looked so fancy and possibly affordable. Burger Project is at Shop 11.06, World Square, 644 George Street, Sydney. It's open daily, 11am – 10pm, from Friday, October 31. Via Good Food and Business Insider. Images by Rockpool Group and Andy Drewitt.
Cristiano, Neymar and Messi have been rendered as the futurist Incredibles in a new series of illustrations by up-and-coming artist Rafael Mayani. Bringing together twelve of the finest players in the FIFA 2014 World Cup, Mayani brought his playful style — often reserved for stunning, Disney and Nintendo characters — to slick renditions of Marco Reus, Andrea Pirlo, Didier Drogba and more WC favourites. Relatively unknown on the international circuit, Mexico City-based Mayani's talent for sketching footballers is evident in his sfumato charcoal Pele posted on his Facebook page: All twelve of the players feature on a limited edition poster available at Society 6. Devoid of sweat patches, day-old Cheezels and beer-stained couch groove, your World Cup addiction never looked so elegant. Marco Reus Didier Drogba Cristiano Ronaldo Iker Casillas Andrea Pirlo Leo Messi Via Fubiz.
Erskineville is unusual. Sandwiched in its golden triangle between three train stations, strange things happen there. The strangest thing of all is probably the PACT theatre: unprepossessing supporter of emerging arts and artists, it's been getting away with its Tiny Stadiums festival of performance and art for full on four years now. Previous years have seen the debut of cool new art like the Experts Project, which graduated from inner-west to harbourside after its run in this Erko sideshow. This years' is the first under the guidance of the Groundwork Collective, with an expansive line-up including some theatrical love from Next Wave and a more parental production. But the heart of the festival remains the weekend of live art on Erskineville's streets (June 2-3), with some sober dance in the Rose of Erskineville, pop-up Vietnamese street stalls, endurance meditation and a cardboard arena in the PACT courtyard. With toasties.
Relish a stellar garden party this month, as beloved Australian cook and author Julia Busuttil Nishimura hosts a one-night-only dinner in the lush surrounds of Chiswick Woollahra on Wednesday, July 23. Bringing her trademark warmth and generosity to the table, Julia will showcase the best of her slow-food philosophy under the stars. Drawing from recipes captured in her cookbook, Good Cooking Every Day, expect a seasonal, Italian-inspired set menu influenced by Julia's Maltese heritage, Tuscan adventures and admiration for fresh produce. Joined by Chiswick's recently appointed Head Chef, Samuel Rozsnyoi, the evening will also feature a selection of in-house favourites, where produce-driven cooking and refined but approachable dishes are the main event. For an extra cost, you can even indulge in a wine pairing designed specially to elevate the experience. Ready to book? This event is open exclusively to Mastercard cardholders, with up to six guests permitted per booking. If that's all squared away, secure your place in Chiswick's verdant garden, brimming with fresh ingredients and Julia Busuttil Nishimura's refreshing perspective on the simple pleasures of cooking and life.
There's only one thing in life that's almost as ace as a holiday: looking forward to a holiday. The planning, counting down the days, just having something to get excited about — they all help liven up the daily grind. So when a flight sale drops, like Virgin's latest round of discounted fares, it's an instant way to brighten up your mood. Start looking forward to trips around Australia and overseas, and for cheap. This new sale spans over 500,000 fares for both domestic and international legs. Prices start low, at the usual $49, which once again gets you from Sydney to Byron Bay — the normal cheapest fare in any flight sale — and vice versa. From there, the domestic side of the sale covers everywhere from Hamilton Island and Hobart to Darwin and Mt Isa. Virgin's Flight Frenzy sale runs until 11.59pm AEST on Friday, August 25 — unless sold out earlier, with fares to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide also covered. That means paying $69 one-way from Sydney to the Sunshine Coast, $79 from Melbourne to Hobart, and $99 for a trip from Brisbane to Cairns or Canberra to the Gold Coast. Or, still on local deals, the specials also cover $59 from Melbourne to Launceston, $119 from Adelaide to Sydney, $179 from Brisbane to Darwin and $209 from Melbourne to Perth. Internationally, Tokyo visits are included, from Cairns only from $699 return. Among the other global return options: Bali (from $469 from Adelaide, $489 from the Gold Coast, $599 from Brisbane, and $629 from Melbourne or Sydney), Fiji ($499 from Brisbane or Sydney, and $539 from Melbourne), Vanuatu ($469 from Brisbane) and Samoa ($569 from Sydney and $579 from Brisbane). And, Queenstown is also on the agenda, with both one-way and return legs. One-way from Melbourne and Sydney starts at $265, and return from $425. From Brisbane, those prices are $309 and $539. If you're wondering when you'll need to travel, the fares cover select periods between Wednesday, October 11, 2023–Thursday, June 20, 2024, with all dates varying per route. Inclusions also differ depending on your ticket and, as usual when it comes to flight sales, you'll need to get in quick if you're keen to stack the rest of 2023 and the first half of 2024 with a getaway (or several). Virgin's Flight Frenzy sale runs until 11.59pm AEST on Friday, August 25 — 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.
When coming up with his visionary paintings, Brett Whiteley drew inspiration from all over the place. First, there were other artists, which included the likes of Francis Bacon, Henri Matisse and Vincent van Gogh. But equally important were Whiteley's revered legends of music and literature, like French poet Arthur Rimbaud and, of course, Bob Dylan. His many intimate portraits of these influences are now on show at the Brett Whiteley Studio in Surry Hills, in an exhibition titled Brett Whiteley: Tributes. The collection includes Whiteley's Portrait of Joel Elenberg (1980), painted in the very year that the well-known sculptor died at just 32. There are also several impressions of writer Patrick White, including Patrick White Flaws in the Glass (1981), and a portrait of Lloyd Rees. Meanwhile, Rimbaud's poetry and life are explored in The Rimbaud pages, a series of manipulated photographs, viewed through drawing, text, collage and screenprinting. And van Gogh's impact is demonstrated in the immense The starry night (1982), which is a deconstruction of the Dutch artist's famous swirling patterns. You can check out these works, among others, for free until August 28. The Brett Whiteley Studio is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday, from 10am until 4pm. Image: Brett Whiteley Getting quite close, 1982. Brett Whiteley Studio Collection © Wendy Whiteley.
Canberra's light rail, the swish new(ish) north-to-south route that delivers passengers into the heart of the city, is more than a commuter line. It's an easy — and cheap — way for visitors to get around town between 6am and 11.30pm (or 1am on Saturday nights). Yep: no designated driver, no ridesharing, just you and the open rails. Well, 12 kilometres of them, anyway. Make your Canberra weekend away as simple as possible, and leave yourself with more money to spend on food and fun, by touring the capital via the light rail. Some of Canberra's best eats, well-stocked bars and intriguing curiosity shops (plus a surprising nighttime sports hub) are waiting to be explored along the light rail line. Here, we've got the ultimate hop-on-hop-off adventure for a day out in Canberra. Please stay up to date with the latest ACT Government health advice regarding COVID-19.
Next time you are having dinner at your partner’s parents place, I dare you to clear your throat and start a conversation about the merits of polygamy. Or perhaps you might inform your friends that their kids’ brains are rotten due to them soaking up social networking fodder like a dumbifying sponge. And then of course, there’s the mild subject of religious propaganda that is a sure-fire way to win friends and influence people. Genteel conversations like this and our tendency to avoid them like the plague is the impetus behind the brilliantly provocative Festival of Dangerous Ideas. Running over two days across multiple venues within the Sydney Opera House, the Festival will provide a platform for confronting, politically non-plussed voices to lay their opinions on the table and embark on intellectual warfare. The circus begins with Soapbox, a Public Speaking competition on the steps of the Opera House where members of the public are invited to deliver their controversial best under the watchful eye of judges David Marr and Annabel Crabb. Following this hearty debate, thought leaders from across the globe will present a variety of topics that will see the Opera House transformed into a riotous cacophony of human confabulation. This includes Christopher Hithens and Tony Jones analysing why Religion Poisons Everything and Jeff Sparrow explaining Why We Enjoy Killing. Not known for being meek, Germaine Greer will present Freedom: the most dangerous idea of all in the grandiose surrounds of the Concert Hall, while Gary Foley will inform his audience that By 2075 The Aboriginal Genocide Will Be Complete. St James Ethics Centre and the Sydney Opera House jointly present the dynamic program of events too extensive to divulge in detail here. While the core activity of the Festival will be talks, forums and debates, the program also includes theatre performances by Team Loko and a comedy gala MC’d by Judith Lucy.Image by Marc Johns
The Slew is a project started by the quirky turntablist Kid Koala and Dynomite D. It started as a collaboration to make music for an upcoming film; the film went bust but the two producers had become attached and loved the music they had made — psychedelic rock mixed with turntable cuts and bits of hip hop. Dynomite D has remixed the Beasties, among others, but Kid Koala's the one who's always got my attention; he makes consistently interesting music, musical and experimental, and existing way outside the spectrum of traditional hip hop (check out his tune 'Drunk Trumpet' for an example). When American Dynomite D and Quebecer Kid Koala decided to take the Slew on the road, they enlisted none other than the former Wolfmother rhythm section of Chris Ross and Myles Heskett, who obviously knew a thing or two about psychedelic rock. You've probably heard It's All Over on the radio, with it's scratched up distorted blues guitars and heavy beat, narrated over by some guy talking about evolution and democracy. After peeping some YouTube footage, I think this will be a fun show, with the ex-Wolfmother boys bringing some serious muscle to the sound and enjoying emancipation from the big-haired shackles while the two DJs shred it out on the six turntables. https://youtube.com/watch?v=a_RFtRmRP7E
Last November Jim Finn, of Art vs Science fame, launched his solo project Vydamo with the single 'Gonna Make It', a user-friendly, catchy little anthem of a hit that almost fooled me into thinking the New Radicals had finally followed up their '90s one-hit wonder 'Get What You Give'. But this is real music that is real fun or, as Richard Kingsmill of triple j puts it, this guy (and this music) is "extremely likeable". Vydamo will kick off his first tour this Friday, April 19, when he plays to Sydneysiders at OAF before heading south for a Saturday at the Toff in Melbourne. Next weekend Brisbane will get their taste of Jim Finn solo and live at Alhambra on April 27. Art vs. Science first got our attention in 2008 with the call-and-response dance number 'Flippers'. The dynamic little three-piece have been on the up ever since, and with their most comprehensive tour of the States coming up in June, it could well be worth your while to catch their frontman doing his thing before it starts costing you $200 a pop. We have three double passes to Vydamo gigs in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane to give away. To be in the running, subscribe to Concrete Playground (if you haven't already) then email us with your name and postal address at hello@concreteplayground.com.au. https://youtube.com/watch?v=weZwxAv9j4I
The World Rice Festival is headed to Sydney from December 1–2 to celebrate the diversity of this global food staple. Rice-heavy dishes are found all over the world, from the Philippines and Thailand to India and Spain — and you'll get to taste it all under one roof here, alongside cooking demonstrations, live music and cultural performances. Expect around 20 vendors in all — think Japanese taco bowls (with umami mince, renkon crisps and rice crackers) from the Ume brand, fried ice cream (including a sticky rice ice cream sandwich) by Duo Duo and Filipino rice burgers by Mate Burger, plus pop-up stalls by Crows Nest's HaNa Ju-Rin, The Rocks' Shiki Japanese and Redfern's Donut Papi. Each stall will serve a special rice dish for the occasion, along with other signature menu items. The cherry on top is a rice dessert cooking demo by MasterChef's Hoda Kobeissi. To drink, Sydney Sake Society will be serving up three different types of sake (and free tastings) as well as ice-cold Orion draft beer. If you're looking to learn a bit more about the Japanese rice wine — and learn the difference between junmai-shu and ginjo-shu — head to a sake masterclass. The festival is set outdoors in the Entertainment Quarter's Showring and entry is free. Word Rice Festival is open from 12–5pm on both days.
Sydney’s oldest community festival, held over a kilometre of Glebe Point Road (between Parramatta and Bridge Roads), is back on Sunday, November 18, with more than 200 food, fashion, books, and antique stalls, plus music stages and family entertainment. In its 29th year, the bohemian street festival attracts more than 100,000 people every November, filling the car-free road with produce from all over Australia. Amid a long day of stalls and gigs, Triple J Unearthed band Belle and the Bone People (pictured), from Sydney’s inner west, will be performing on the Parramatta Road Stage.
The acclaimed culinary trio behind Potts Point French eatery Bistrot 916 is gearing up to open their second restaurant. Dan Pepperell (Alberto Lounge, 10 William Street and Frankie's), sommelier Andy Tyson (Alberto Lounge) and longtime Rockpool Dining Group chef Michael Clift are set to open Pellegrino 2000, a new neighbourhood Italian restaurant focusing on the flavours from Rome and Florence in Surry Hills. Clift says the restaurant will be inspired by the trio's most-loved Italian trattorias. Located on the corner of Campbell and Foster Street in Surry Hills, the eatery will house the main dining room and a candle-lit wine cellar in the basement. The three Sydney hospo mainstays at the helm of the venue have stripped back the former residence of Bar H to reveal a historic corner terrace built in 1905. Bringing the building to life will be a double-sided espresso bar and shelves of canned tomatoes and anchovies lining the walls. Bistrot 916's success was built around presenting French classics and more inventive takes on Parisian cuisine in a way that was new for Sydney. Diners at Pellegrino 2000 can expect a similar approach to Italian food. "The menu will consist of the Italian staples we love, handmade tortellini, pappardelle bolognese, fritto misto and tripe in all shapes and sizes," says Pepperell. [caption id="attachment_801367" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bistrot 916, Cassandra Hannagan[/caption] As with all good Italian restaurants, good wine will also be on hand. "The wine list will be a grand selection of the Italian classics, mostly old Barolo, old Chianti, and a few prized bottles of the greats like Soldera and Valentini," according to Tyson. Playing a support role will be the cocktails. Expect a selection of amari, negronis, caffe shakerato and Bellini's reminiscent of Harry's Bar in Venice. An official open date hasn't been announced for Pellegrino 2000, with the restaurant's Instagram promising its "coming soon". Pellegrino 2000 will open at 80 Campbell Street, Surry Hills.
Exploring some of the darkest corners of society, the MCA's Taboo film series is a must for any cinephiles seeking a challenging respite from the usual summer blockbusters. Part of Brook Andrew's broader exhibition which includes artworks and talks on taboo themes, the film programming kicks off with Pier Paolo Pasolini's notorious Salo (120 Days of Sodom). A harrowing tale of teens kidnapped and sexually tortured, it was originally banned in Australia. Based on the writings of the Marquis de Sade, it has been rated amongst the most controversial films ever made. Later screenings take in some chapters of Australia's past many would rather not face, like writer/director Darlene Johnson's documentary Stolen Generations. There's also Scarlet Road, which, like the excellent 2012 film The Sessions, looks at the sexual lives of those with disabilities, following a sex worker who is passionate about her work catering to this overlooked clientele. A clear-eyed look at a subject which makes many uncomfortable, it's proof that sometimes these taboo subjects are worth tackling.
Marking its 14th year of celebrating a plethora of the world's best photographers, Australia's Head On Photo Festival is back and ready to showcase new stunning images at Sydney's Bondi Beach and across the Harbour city. Due to an influx of submissions, the 2023 festival will showcase an increased amount of works compared to its first 13 iterations. Head On 2023 has gathered the works of over 700 photographers which will be displayed across 100-plus exhibitions. Best of all, it's free for all to attend and enjoy. [caption id="attachment_923461" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Juli Balla[/caption] The festival celebrates photography across four different categories: portrait, landscape and environmental, plus a specific category dedicated to school students. Overall, there's a total prize pool of $70,000 up for grabs across the categories. To commemorate the upcoming event, the opening night is going down on Friday, November 10 at Bondi Pavilion, where the Head On Photo Awards winners will be announced. While the exhibitions are free, entry to the opening night is $10. If you want to head along to the launch party, secure your spot in advance. [caption id="attachment_923464" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Chloe Sharrock[/caption] Top images: Michelle Aboud, Matthew Newton and Toma Gerzha, courtesy of Head On Photo Festival.
Jim's Cellars never disappoints in the alcohol department — whether you're after a classic bottle of red for your next dinner party or a magnum of bubbly to celebrate a win at work. The staff are trained in what they sell, so it's always worth asking for wine tastings or what's on offer. Jim's Cellars is a family run, independent store and curates a diverse collection of bottles. It's known in the neighbourhood for stocking locally produced spirits from the likes of Archie Rose, Poor Toms and Manly Spirits, alongside speciaity spirits like aquavit. You'll also find local and international vinos, and an exciting selection of craft beers by Balter, Pirate Life and more. Sneaky local tip: keep an eye on the website for deals so you know when to stock up on your favourites. Images: Trent Van der jagt.
