South Eveleigh has seen a real resurgence in recent years, transforming into a hub for innovative companies and boasting an array of exciting eateries by hospo heavyweights. Now, the inner west suburb is getting its own block party this October. There's a jam-packed lineup of cultural, community, art and music events across Locomotive Street, The Eveleigh and Village Square on Thursday, October 5 and Friday, October 6. Art installations will take over Locomotive Street, while outdoor licensed seating and a DJ stage will pop up at the Locomotive Stage. Party-goers can get a drink and listen to sets by DJs such as Adi Toohey, Andras, Noise In My Head and Yemi Sul from 4–10pm. The Eveleigh will become the musical heart of the festival with performances by Donny Benet, Ngaiire, A. Girl, Reyanna Maria, Soju Gang and Eddy Diamond taking place alongside an all-ages pilates class by XTEND and a kids' rave. Family-friendly fun will take over Village Square — families can learn about Indigenous Australian cultures at the Weaving and Cultural Conversation workshop with Nadeena Dixon, watch performances by Deep Sea Astronauts, try their hand at 80s aerobics at Village Square Retrosweat, meet Sydney Swans AFLW player Aliesha Newman or take part in a kids' boxing session hosted by Tribal Warrior. There'll also be a community mural project — conveniently located at Anita Gelato — and Potting Shed sessions at the Rooftop Garden. Culinary offerings include a curated menu by Iceberg's Dining Room and Bar Head Chef Alex Prichard at Re- and a set menu dining experience at Lucky Kwong. The street party will take place from 2–11pm on Thursday, October 5 and Friday, October 6. Entry is free, but certain events are ticketed. Find out more at the South Eveleigh website.
Since we last heard from Jonathan Boulet, he's shaved off his beard, parted ways with Modular Recordings and swapped his electronica-dashed folk for rock. The Sydneysider also spent a year living in Berlin, where he recorded new studio album Gubba, released on July 18. "The new music will be described as post-pop, punk rock, chocolate-chip sludge, crust pop, rock pop, pop cock and cock stop in the rock blot bop," he explains in the promo video, "but it is neither of those things. For our children's sake, we shall henceforth categorise this music as rock." Gubba is Boulet's third release, following 2009's self-titled debut and 2012's We Keep the Beat, Found the Sound, See the Need, Start the Heart. For those familiar with his bass contributions to power violence band Snakeface, the album's driving guitars and distorted vocals might not come as too much of a surprise, but they're certainly a dramatic deviation from previous solo work. "I've always been a fan of trying to surprise people or get a reaction out of them," Boulet told the SMH. "I don't feel that my musical ventures are unpredictable, but there are lots of roads you can take and sometimes it's easier to take one road over another and sometimes you're presented with a new road you haven't had access to, and that's definitely more inviting." In August, he'll be hitting Melbourne's Northcote Social Club on Friday 15, Adelaide's Pirie and Co. on Saturday 16, Sydney's Goodgod Small Club on Thursday 21 and Brisbane's Black Bear Lodge on Thursday 28. https://youtube.com/watch?v=FOcziciUnr0
Focusing a bunch of contemporary Australian and New Zealand artists and designers into one space, Sterling, the Gaffa Gallery retail store, offers unique jewellery pieces and objets d'art as well as giving you a bit of insight into how they were made. Each piece is handcrafted and gives your loved one a chance to wear a little piece of art everyday. Or, if you're more interested in giving experiences rather than objects, why not invest in a seven-week jewellery-making course for that special someone? Pop next door and you'll find Kakawa, the mouth-watering chocolate boutique, for chocolate Christmas decorations. Can't lose.
Frontmen rarely come as charismatic as Henry Wagons. A storytelling character and a half, the Melburnian native has returned from the dark desert highways of the US to reunite with his band and bring Wagons' shiny new album to the townspeople. Seeing music as a joyous occasion rather than a moment to wallow in your sorrows, Wagons' shows are downright shindiggerous in their approach. "'Music is a public activity — the very birth of music was designed to be joined in on,'' Wagons told SMH. ''The first music was played at celebrations. The insular emo songwriter in the bedroom is this recent offshoot of what music is at its core. Music for me is for other people. I write it alone, but with the idea of playing it for other people.'' Wagons have just released their latest single, 'Beer Barrel Bar', taken from brand new, sixth studio album Acid Rain and Sugar Cane and nabbing a four-star rating from Rolling Stone. With Mick Harvey (The Birthday Party/Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds) behind the mixing desk and Wagons himself bringing his US-inspired country stomping style to the plate, Acid Rain and Sugar Cane has quite the Nashville twang to it. Best enjoyed with a whiskey in hand and a soulmate far away, the LP is a natural evolution of Wagons' indie country blues into an Ameristralian tavern hootenanny. WAGONS AUSTRALIAN TOUR DATES: Thurs May 22 – Pirie & Co Social Club, Adelaide Fri May 23 - Fly By Night, Fremantle Sat May 31 - Republic Bar, Hobart Fri June 6 - Barwon Club, Geelong Sat June 7 - The HiFi, Melbourne Sun June 8 - Karova Lounge, Ballarat Thurs June 12 - The Abbey, Canberra Fri June 13 – Rad (Yours & Owls), Wollongong Sat June 14 - Factory Theatre, Sydney Sun June 15 - Lizottes, Newcastle Fri June 20 - The Zoo, Brisbane Sat June 21 - Railway Hotel, Darwin Thanks to Spunk Records, we have three double passes to give away to Wagon's Acid Rain and Sugar Cane tour — one double pass each for the Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane shows. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter (if you haven't already), then email us with your name and address. Sydney: win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.au Melbourne: win.melbourne@concreteplayground.com.au Brisbane: win.brisbane@concreteplayground.com.au https://youtube.com/watch?v=WXoiX2bFPDY
Moore Park's outdoor bed cinema has found a pretty good reason to dance Michael Jackson-'Thriller'-style and screen a horror film: Halloween. Mov'In Bed is holding a giant sunset zombie DJ party before screening the suitably terrifying The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. So dust off your Florsheims and start practising your best monster moves. And we suggest purchasing a ticket fairly soon as they're expected to sell out. After the dance, you'll head back to your bed and cower in fear at the 2003 remake of the horror masterpiece. Luckily the beds are fairly roomy, so you can cling on to one or two friends for comfort. Like other Mov'In Bed screenings, you'll also be able to purchase food and drink — and it'll be delivered straight to the comfort of your bed (meals enjoyed in bed don't need to be restricted to breakfast). So, during the more terrifying scenes, you can hide behind a spicy salami pizza from Fratelli Fresh, a cheese and bacon burger from Burger Project or a schnitzel from Bavarian Bier Cafe. If you're not a movie-in-bed type of person, or you need to save some cash, there is the option to sit on the grass (in the 'graveyard') for free — BYO blanket. But you'll still need to reserve a spot through the website as it's limited to 300 people.
Dead Ringer has earned its place as one of Surry Hills' most legit cocktail bars, which is no surprise as it comes from the team behind one of our other favourite bars, Bulletin Place. Now, the restaurant and bar is taking their crown to the next level with a New York City-style bottomless weekend brunch. In a knowing nod to the New York brunch tradition, they're offering bottomless (yep, bottomless) mimosas for the full duration of your two-hour seating at $20 per person. As to be expected, they're not offering up a cheap mixture of orange juice and sparkling — instead, they'll be serving up cold-pressed orange juice with King Valley Prosecco and dashes of the bartender's special 'seasoning'. Apart from these classed-up mimosas, the brunch drinks menu will also include some of the best hangover-curing cocktails known to man; the requisite bloody mary is taken up a notch with a secret umami mix and their coffee cocktail, called the Mandatory, combines cold drip, bourbon, vanilla and cardamom. The a la carte brunch menu itself isn't very brunchy, in the usual sense of the word — but, then again, it doesn't necessarily have to be. The decision to steer away from usual brunch fare was evidently a conscious one, as the Dead Ringer team feels that avo smash and other typical Aussie breakfast items are already well covered by the neighbourhood's countless cafes. Instead, the brunch menu is broken into entrees, mains, sides and desserts. The kitchen hasn't gone light-on just because it's midday, with dishes like duck rillettes ($18), roasted lamb ribs ($22) and king prawns ($25) on offer. If you're looking to stay true to your breakfast sensibilities, go for the ricotta and tomato tart ($20) or the omelette with a generous serving of morcilla ($19). They have cold drip on-hand if you're in need of caffeine, or you can order an espresso to be delivered from one of the nearby cafes. Brunch will be offered every Saturday and Sunday from 11am to 3pm, with both reservations and walk-ins welcome. If you're still looking for an Easter brunch that will make the family bearable, they'll be open on Sunday, April 16 as well. Dead Ringer is the latest late-night establishment to open for brunch — Acme launched a Saturday brunch in February — and is set to become your new go-to for a boozy Sunday morning. Dead Ringer will be open for brunch on Saturdays and Sundays from 11am–3pm starting from this Saturday, April 1. For more info, visit deadringer.com.
As part of this years Sydney Design festival, see and hear "a panel of self-confessed tactility-freaks" talk about their taste for small-press publishing and creating books with the best design and production values and materials. The session emphasises the value of using all the senses in reading books as well as making them, and there will be a little library of examples to play with. The enthusiasts and the reading material are from Monster Children, Blood and Thunder publishing, Rainoff Books, The Red Room and Boccalatte, and to complete the evening, a glass of wine and a tasting plate will be provided by Berta. Aren't we clever for sniffing this one out?
The northern New South Wales culinary showcase that is Tastings on Hastings returns to Port Macquarie this year for its 15th year, from October 27 through October 29. With a new event precinct in the works, the foodie festival showcases regional farmers, artisans, food producers, wine growers, brewers, restaurants and cafes across Woolgoolga, Armidale, Nelsons Bay and, of course, the festival's own backyard. Last year's event hosted 115 exhibitors and over 20,000 visitors, with regional producers showing goods like avocados, strawberries and macadamia nuts, as well as meats including free-range eggs, chicken, duck and pork. The area's vineyards and breweries also play a role, with North Coast Wine Growers joining craft brew teams from Wicked Elf Beer and Moorebeer Brewing Co. to bring some bevvos to the day.
This post is sponsored by our partners, the Aroma Festival. For the 17th year in a row, the Aroma Festival will take over The Rocks on Sunday, July 27. Yep, it’s the one day on the Sydney calendar when you can give in to your caffeine addiction without feeling one bean of guilt. In fact, you can think of it as your responsibility to sample as many single origins, blends and house specials as you possibly can. Between 10am and 5pm, the area will become one enormous coffee-fuelled playground, alive with grinding, whirring, frothing, pouring, filling and sipping. More than 60 stallholders with an emphasis on organic, handmade and Fairtrade goods will converge on First Fleet Park, while at Campbell Cove there’ll be a gathering of Sydney’s favourite food trucks, including Agape Organic, Tsuru and Cantina Mobil. Plus, there’ll be an array of pop-up bars and cafes, artworks and competitions. Highlights include an epic coffee cup sculpture to which you’ll be able to contribute, a bean-to-cup exhibition showing you exactly what your coffee goes through to make it as far as your mouth, and a latte art smackdown judged by pros from the Australasian Specialty Coffee Association (ASCA). Meanwhile, a seriously impressive live soundtrack will keep your buzzing brain stimulated from the outside, featuring oud virtuoso Joseph Tawadros, powerful bluesman Frank Sultana, hot young songwriter Laura Zarb, Cope Street Parade, Damian Wright, Caitlin Park, Marlin Williams, Leah Flanagan, The Slowdowns, Ollie Brown and All Our Exes Live in Texas. Even better, this one day of coffee immersion is but the crema on top of a rich month of activities. Check out workshops in cupping and latte art, grab an indulgent 'high coffee' at Baroque Bistro or vote for your most adored brew in the Aroma Cup competition and go in the draw to win $3,000 worth of prizes. For the full schedule, see the Aroma website.
I first visited the AIDS Trust Sydney Food & Wine Fair in 1993, and not even the embarrassment of running into my English teacher and her girlfriend (at that age, the thought of teachers having personal lives was incomprehensible) could dampen the hungry spirits of my mother and I. Having endured the parent/teacher worlds colliding, we sampled our way up and down the city street, wearing both our red ribbons and appetites on our sleeves. Now in its nineteenth year, the food & wine fair is held in the more fitting locale of Hyde Park, where one can roam free and eat as far as the eye can see. Sample the delicacies of local favourites such as Cafe Sydney, Longrain, Icebergs and Sailors Thai or the local produce and baked goods of Batlow Apples and Bourke Street Bakery. Retire with your spoils over at the the main stage where performers will be treading the boards for your stomach's pleasure.Not only is it the very final event of this year's Sydney International Food Festival, but it's all in aid of the AIDS Trust of Australia. Entry to the park is free, but proceeds from all sales made go to the Trust and their work in HIV prevention, support, care and research. So no need to feel guilty about your fourth helping. Or your fifth.
UPDATE, Friday, June 21, 2024: May December is available to stream via Binge, Prime Video, YouTube Movies and iTunes. A line about not having enough hot dogs might be one of its first, but May December is a movie of mirrors and butterflies. In the literal sense, director Todd Haynes wastes few chances to put either in his frames. The Velvet Goldmine, Carol and Dark Waters filmmaker doesn't shy away from symbolism, knowing two truths that stare back at his audience from his latest masterpiece: that what we see when we peer at ourselves in a looking glass isn't what the rest of the world observes, and that life's journey is always one of transformation. Inspired by the real-life Mary Kay Letourneau scandal, May December probes both of these facts as intently as anyone scrutinising their own reflection. Haynes asks viewers to do the same. Unpacking appearance and perception, and also their construction and performance, gazes from this potently thorny — and downright potent — film. That not all metamorphoses end with a beautiful flutter flickers through just as strongly. May December's basis springs from events that received ample press attention in the 90s: schoolteacher Letourneau's sexual relationship with her sixth-grade student Vili Fualaau. She was 34, he was 12. First-time screenwriter Samy Burch changes names and details in her Oscar-nominated script — for Best Original Screenplay, which is somehow the film's only nod by the Academy — but there's no doubting that it takes its cues from this case of grooming, which saw Letourneau arrested, give birth to the couple's two daughters in prison, then the pair eventually marry. 2000 TV movie All-American Girl: The Mary Kay Letourneau Story used the recreation route; however, that was never going to be a Haynes-helmed feature's approach. The comic mention of hot dogs isn't indicative of May December's overall vibe, either: this a savvily piercing film that sees the agonising impact upon the situation's victim, the story its perpetrator has spun around herself, and the relentless, ravenous way that people's lives and tragedies are consumed by the media and public. While Oscar nods mightn't have come of it, May December is also an acting masterclass by two thespians who already have one such shiny trophy on their mantles each, plus a performer who turns in a stunner of a portrayal that's his best yet. With Haynes behind the camera, this is no surprise: watching the talent before his lens, even when they're Barbie dolls in Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story (the genuinely plastic rather than Margot Robbie kind), means bathing in pure emotion. In her fifth film for the director after Safe, Far From Heaven, I'm Not There and Wonderstruck, Julianne Moore (Sharper) perfects the clash of control and insecurity within Gracie Atherton-Yoo, the movie's Letourneau substitute. It's a magnificent effort from someone who is never anything less than that — and Natalie Portman (Thor: Love and Thunder), who plays a part so sharp that it cuts as Elizabeth Berry, an actor preparing to play Gracie in a new picture, is every bit her equal. With Charles Melton (Riverdale) as Gracie's husband Joe Yoo, there's a case of art imitating life, in a way. His character spends Elizabeth's visit and his entire time with Gracie coming second, and he's behind his co-stars in terms of fame, but it's Joe's plight that's the core of May December and also Melton's performance that hauntingly lingers. This film begins with faeces as well, which isn't emblematic of what's to come, either, but still an important inclusion. A package of it sits on the Yoo family's doorstep when Elizabeth arrives to meet them for the first time — and Gracie makes it clear that this has happened before. May December sets its narrative 23 years after Gracie and Joe were initially caught together. They were colleagues at a pet store aged 36 and 13, respectively. They now have three kids, one (Piper Curda, The Flash) at college and twins (debutant Gabriel Chung and Somewhere in Queens' Elizabeth Yu) graduating high school, and have built a life after Gracie's prison sentence. Still residing in Savannah, Georgia, as they always have, she baked cakes and he's most passionate about raising monarch butterflies. There's a wariness over Elizabeth's project among the Yoos, but reassurance that this will be a sensitive take is also part of her time with her latest subject and her spouse. Make no mistake, because Haynes and Burch don't: for the role that she's hoping will elevate her beyond the TV series that she's best-known for, Elizabeth sees Gracie and Joe as mere source material. She interviews others, such as Gracie's first husband (DW Moffett, Monarch) and her eldest son from that marriage (Cory Michael Smith, Incomplete), each conversation saying as much about the actor as the woman she's set to bring to the screen. As rigorously rendered by Portman, she also becomes enamoured with the scenario that she's unfurling. A moment where Elizabeth loses herself explaining sex scenes to school kids — and the conflict between portraying pleasure and pretending not to actually feel pleasure — is savagely revealing. As Killers of the Flower Moon also does, this deeply astute movie has much to say about how circumstances like Joe's become sensationalised news and entertainment fodder, what that betrays about society and why people lap it up; add reflecting on its own existence and purpose to May December's many profoundly intelligent layers. When mirrors appear, they're frequently used around Gracie and Elizabeth. Of course, the latter is being a mirror herself. Cinematographer Christopher Blauvelt — Kelly Reichardt's regular collaborator; see: Showing Up, First Cow, Certain Women, Night Moves and Meek's Cutoff — visually recalls Ingmar Bergman's 1966 psychological drama Persona, as the movie in general does, as the lines between its two women start to blur. May December is partly a movie about what Gracie and Elizabeth spy when they're studying what's in front of them, and how divorced from reality both are. Gracie embraces a carefully erected fantasy where there's nothing more than love to her relationship with Joe, regardless of her domination over their household and repeated dissolving into tears in their bedroom. Elizabeth only takes in how she can become Gracie to her own advantage. Although Haynes and Blauvelt ensure that Moore and Portman are everywhere, neither of their characters will or can confront themselves or their manipulations. Finally challenging everything that's been his daily existence since he was a child, and the role that he's been inhabiting whether he truly wanted to or not — or was capable of making that decision at such a young age — is the shy Joe. The only word that fits: devastation. May December knows this before Joe accepts it, which campy lines about frankfurters on bread accompanied by dramatic music — the film adapts and reorchestrates the score from 1971 Palme d'Or-winner The Go-Between, in fact — oh-so-cannily play into. With its rich and meticulous visuals, tonal seesawing that can court laughs and welcome melodrama, and evocatively grand music, Haynes' feature isn't being erratic. It's crafted with shrewd understanding that discomfort is the only way to respond to what it's depicting, and that there's no one mood that suits. So, Haynes plunges May December and its audience into the full emotional spectrum. Consider the film a cocoon where transformation takes place, to soaring results.
Forget ballet, hip-hop, contemporary and swing – there are only two real types of dancing: professional and amateur. Think back to all of those times in the club, pub or, on occasion, the work place when someone whips out their best, idiot savant moves. Whether or not it's stylistically good or in time is irrelevant; you're either too drunk anyway, or about to puke from giggling so much. Australian dance company, Lucy Guerin Inc, taps that primal urge to groove in their new piece, Untrained, which pits two highly skilled dancers against two blokes who are anything but Mr Astaire. All four performers carry out the same movements, from the abstract through to the mundane, and do their best to show that sometimes a sloppy box step can be as entertaining as an angelic pirouette.
Prolific interviewer, storyteller and possibly the most curious man in the world Brandon Stanton will make his first-ever appearance in Sydney in February. Stanton is the creator of the Humans of New York phenomenon and he'll appear at Sydney Opera House to reveal behind-the-scenes stories of his work. You'll hear about how he started out with virtually no journalistic or camera expertise, how he produces compelling stories by talking to strangers and he'll share a number of enlightening and unusual moments in his career. Humans of New York began after Stanton lost his job and decided to dedicate time to sharing the stories of others. Since these humble beginnings in 2010, he's released a book, travelled the world, raised millions for people in need and even found time to interview Barack Obama. To date, the project has gained over 20 million followers on social media. Stanton will enter the city with a bang, with just one session planned at the Opera House. But who knows, maybe you'll run into him on the streets of Sydney?
Tucked away in a picturesque and seemingly peaceful corner of Woolloomooloo is an experimental energy waiting to be unleashed at Artspace, with two equally brilliant but new exhibitions.TRACE Collective hail from Cardiff, and are as self-reflexive as they come. They approach art as a performative process, reusing and re-examining the records and detrius of the creative process, which is then regurgitated in a new form. This particular exhibition explores departure, arrival and colonialism in Old and New South Wales.Deborah Petrovich also approaches art as performance and in this video installation, the audience is the focus of the work. Petrovich walks in the footsteps of Artaud, and shares his determination to shatter illusions, but transposes this from theatre into new media. Be ready to leave all expectations and assumptions at the door.Image: Debra Petrovitch, Solace in Black Sun, 2009, video still
Known for an avant-garde aesthetic and tailored, yet feminine silhouettes, local label Ellery has rocketed to the forefront of the Australian fashion scene. Seen on the likes of Madonna, Dita Von Teese, Nicole Ritchie, Jodhi Meares and Jennifer Hawkins, you can expect a price tag to match the brand's long-held celebrity status. Lucky for us mere mortals, Ellery is launching a sample sale this weekend. Don't blow a week's pay on that favourite piece — pick it up for a fraction of the price, and then browse the other previous season and limited edition offerings, all available at not-to-be-missed prices. Find the Ellery sale at District 01, 7 Randle Lane Surry Hills, Friday 19 8am-8pm, Saturday 20 10am-6pm, Sunday 21 10am-4pm.
The pastry masterminds at Black Star have long proven their talents when it comes to working to a theme. Last year, they gave us the intricate sushi platter-inspired Ari-Gâteaux for International Sushi Day, and then there was the snow-dusted, multi-layered Christmas cake that popped up for the festive season. Now, for its latest trick, the cult-fave dessert brand behind the famed Strawberry Watermelon Cake is getting into the Lunar New Year spirit. Black Star Pastry has dreamed up a limited edition range of shortbread cookies to honour the Year of the Rabbit. The selection of hand-crafted shortbread spells out the letters 'BLKSTR', with one cookie shaped like a rabbit holding a chocolate coin flavoured with strawberry and raspberry. Each cookie is coated with a layer of white chocolate then finished with a coconut crumb to mimic a fluffy bunny exterior. You can buy the rabbit-shaped cookies individually for $6 or grab a seven-pack for $35 from all Black Star stores in Sydney and Melbourne between Friday, January 13–Sunday, January 22. Or you can pre-order online from January 11. The sweet treats are ideal if you're hunting for a Lunar New Year gift to bestow good fortune on friends or family, especially since food is a traditional gifting option for the holiday. Find the Lunar New Year cookies at all of Black Star's Aussie stores (Newtown, Sydney CBD, Rosebery, Moore Park, Chadstone and St Kilda) from January 13–22, with pre-orders open from January 11.
There's been a slew of pop-up bars in Sydney lately — but none that deliver a message quite as blatant as Trash Tiki. It's operating waste-free and travelling the world showing customers and bar owners how to do it too. In the hopes of drawing attention to over-consumption and single-use ingredients in the craft cocktail industry today, UK bartenders Kelsey Ramage and Iain Griffiths have designed the pop-up to be a launchpad for a conversation on waste. Trash Tiki will set up at Ramblin' Rascal Tavern on Sunday, December 3. The drinks selection will be themed around junk and the night's signature sip will be the Sailor's Grave, made from Martell VSOP, Armagnac, Brookie's Slow Gin, watermelon rind cordial, cinnamon and Peychaud's Bitters. You'll also be able to get your hands on a Young Henrys Junk Ale — it's a brown ale made from spent and surplus malt, mash and hops from other brews that are usually put straight in the bin. Sydney is the 25th stop for the globe-trotting pop-up. It's travelled Europe, Asia, South America and the US, with plans to head to Brisbane and Melbourne in the next few months.
The Taste of Coogee Food and Wine Festival has quickly become a prominent weekend on Sydney's culinary calendar. Last year, over 40,000 attendees gathered at Coogee Oval to enjoy a glass of wine and a bite to eat by the ocean. This year's festival will coincide with the Father's Day weekend, running over two days on September 2 and 3. Across the weekend attendees will savour nosh from a growing list of contributors, including Mr Bao, Batch Brewing Co., The Shuck Truck, Peterson House Winery and Parrilla Argenchino South American BBQ. Wine tasting will also be conducted by WineSelectors, along with beer and cider. All proceeds from this year's festival will go to the Running for Premature Babies charity.
This year hasn't involved wearing as much smart casual and business attire as we imagined — come on, we all wore PJs out of frame in at least one Zoom meeting. Right? But with society starting to open back up at different rates across the country, our neglected wardrobes are going to be back in rotation very soon. And, if you've realised that you didn't really miss your 'nice' clothes during lockdown, it may be a sign you need to do a little outfit rejig. Big fan of signs? Here's another one: menswear label M.J. Bale is hosting a huge two-week sale. The Australian fashion house focuses on producing timeless pieces that'll last beyond the seasonal trends, and this month you can get your hands on some high-quality, suave styles for an absolute steal. We're talking suits for just $399 (for one week only, between September 14–20), plus casual attire like jackets for under $199, trousers for under $99 and shirts for under $69 — it's all up to a whopping 50 percent off. The sale is running from Monday, September 14 to Sunday, September 27. You can jump online here to check out what's on offer. If you live in NSW or Queensland, you can also go to your closest M.J. Bale store. The M.J. Bale Spring Bale Sale is running between September 14–27, both online and at its stores (besides Victoria).
Future Classic are on the ball, often touring producers before they are too well-known, which means you can see them in smaller more intimate venues instead of at mega-summer-fluro-festival-stadiums. The latest guest Future Classic are bringing to our shores is UK born, Californian based producer Simon James. He turns out softly rolling gems of spaced out disco with sprinklings of baleric and sleazy house under the pseudonym Woolfy, and will be selecting songs at the latest of Future Classic’s monthly label parties at the Civic Underground this Saturday night. Presale tickets are available from Resident Advisor now. Plus, Future Classic are also hosting a DJ mix from Woolfy through their website so you can prepare your best moves and murder the dance-floor Saturday night!
Making council-owned spaces available as rehearsal and performance space, modifying the liquor laws to make it easier to open licensed entertainment venues, dealing with noise complaints through mediation and creating a live music and performance liaison officer — these are some of the ideas to come out of the City of Sydney Council Live Music Matters Action Plan, released to the public on Monday. The report comes after six months of research into Sydney's live music scene, which has been steadily in decline since the '90s. What was once a thriving pub rock scene where bands like AC/DC, INXS and Midnight Oil made their names has gradually given way to quieter, more food-and-drink-based venues, such as El Loco and Newtown Social Club (as much as we love them) in former live music hubs The Excelsior and The Sandringham. The report was commissioned by the City of Sydney Live Music and Live Performance Taskforce, headed by musician, teacher and activist John Wardle. As well as noise complaints from locals, the report identifies regulatory barriers, the popularity of poker machines as income for venues, lack of performance and rehearsal space and "changes in leisure culture" (sports screens in pubs, more digitally available music) as reasons for the decline. But one thing that's definitely not lacking is demand from the public. A recent study by Ernst and Young revealed that in 2009 10 venue-based live music injected over $1.2 billion into the Australian economy, supported almost 15,000 full-time jobs and drew crowds of nearly 42 million patrons at various events across Australia. In a press conference at Goodgod Small Club, Lord Mayor Clover Moore said that live music was an important part of Sydney's night-time economy, and that the more options young people had, the less likely they would be to rely on alcohol for entertainment. "One of my major objectives for pushing for small bars ... was a renaissance of our live music scene," she said. “The industry has been hit hard in recent years by regulatory and legislative changes that have led to fewer venues for live music. “Over the past decade, there has been a dramatic increase in residential living in parts of the city that were traditionally home to live entertainment ... As a council, we need to balance everyone’s needs, and to do that we need to understand the issues.” The report is available online, and the council is inviting Sydneysiders to share their thoughts at sydneyyoursay.com.au. The consultation period will end on January 18, 2014. Image: Gue?rgui via photopin cc.
Twins. Freaky deaky twins. The Mangano Sisters are identical twins who draw. They make videos and performances about the nature of drawing and their relationship to each other. It would be cliched and lazy to suggest that because they are twins they seem to be symbiotically, almost telepathically, linked. But they do. Their artworks usually involve them being gently supportive of each other while performing simple tasks and rituals. It kind of reminds you of those scenes in Jane Campion films where two bosom friends braid each others hair in a field of lilacs while Harvey Keitel wanders around offscreen with no pants on. Gently comforting but also slightly sinister.Their new body of work In The Stillness Of Shadows opens at Anna Schwartz Gallery on October 2.
Last year, when New South Wales went into lockdown, plenty of folks wanted a furry, four-legged friend by their sides. The RSPCA understood that yearning for a new adorable pet and, to find permanent homes for pups, cats, bunnies and guinea pigs surrendered into its care, it launched a completely online adoption process. Kicking off in April 2020, it helped 2655 animals get adopted across the state. Now that the Greater Sydney, Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour regions have been in lockdown again for three weeks so far, and will remain under stay-at-home conditions for at least another fortnight, RSPCA NSW is bringing back its online adoptions. It's also calling out to the community again to help look after its many animals during this tough period. So, if you've been thinking about adding a pet to your fam (and have considered it thoroughly), now might just be the time. At the Sydney, Blue Mountains and Illawarra shelters and care centres, the RSPCA's 'Adopt from Home' system is now back up and running. The entire adoption process is conducted over the phone or video call and, once approved, your new pet is transported to your house for a (socially distanced) meet-and-greet. Rest assured, too, that the usual procedures and standards still apply, so every animal will end up in a happy new forever home. To welcome in a new family member, you must fill out the online form, and then the RSPCA NSW will be in touch to arrange a time for the process to take place via phone or video call. You will need to live within a 45-minute drive of the shelter that you're adopting from, too, and you'll have to pay an extra $55 for the at-home adoption, on top of the usual fee. If you're thinking about adopting, you can check out all the good boys, kittens, bunnies and birds looking for new homes in NSW. For details about adopting animals, head to the RSPCA NSW website. For more information about the status of COVID-19 in NSW, head to the NSW Health website.
Festival season is well and truly upon us, with the Woodford Folk Festival the latest event to announce its program. If you fancy seeing out 2019 and welcoming in 2020 while catching a heap of bands, wandering between arts performances and getting a little muddy across a grassy patch of southeast Queensland, the fest has you covered for its whopping 34th year. Taking place at Woodfordia about 90 minutes north of Brisbane, this year's event will be held for six days between Friday, December 27, 2019 and Wednesday, January 1, 2020 — with Amanda Palmer, Lior, Horrorshow, The Herd, Kate Miller-Heidke, Electric Fields, Emma Louise, Archie Roach with Paul Grabrowsky, and Kasey Chambers among its high-profile talent. In total, over 2,000 artists will put on more than 1600 shows across the festival's 25 stages, all in venues that range from a 25,000-seat amphitheatre to chilled-out hangout spots. With the lineup featuring everything from music, art, circus and cabaret to yoga, dance and comedy, there's plenty of other highlights — including a spoken word, comedy and performance program that tasks American Gods and Stardust author Neil Gaiman with reading from his work as the sun sets on the first day of the new year. Elsewhere, Woodford's 2019–20 bill spans arts, dance and meditation workshops, plus a heap of circus and cabaret shows. And, if you're bringing littlies, the event's Children's Festival within the broader fest is also returning. Or, you can explore Woodfordia's rainforest plants on a guided tour, eat a feast of bush foods, play a real-life fantasy game and soak in the flames at the fest's annual closing fire ceremony. Fancy celebrating New Year's Eve with an Elton John sing-along? Woodford won't go breaking your heart, because that's on the agenda also. While the annual Queensland festival has weathered an uncertain future in recent years, it remains a staple of the state's end-of-year calendar — and visit will also boast a whole heap of stalls around the grounds (195 in 2018–19), turning the site into a mini-village for its duration. That includes everything from bars, cafes and restaurants, to an on-site doctor's surgery and two general stores. As always, camping is available at one of the fest's multiple campgrounds, or you can nab a ticket just for the day. Either way, expect to have company, as around 132,000 people attend each year. The 2019–20 Woodford Folk Festival runs from Friday, December 27, 2018 and Wednesday, January 1, 2019 at Woodfordia on the Sunshine Coast. To view the program and buy tickets, head to woodfordfolkfestival.com Images: Woodford Folk Festival via Flickr.
It may be a summer blockbuster but the weighty themes come thick and fast in JJ Abrams' second Star Trek film Into Darkness. Just minutes into the opening scene, almost before we've even seen our first lens flare, Spock (Zachary Quinto) reminds the crew of the Enterprise with Leninesque fidelity that "the interests of the many outweigh the interests of the few". Soon after, we're asked to consider the true meaning of friendship, to weigh the expediency of vengeance against the necessity of justice and even to opine on the militarisation of a traditionally scientific vessel. In short: it's a terrifically fun film that aspires (and mostly achieves) to be something much more. In many ways, Spock's eloquent reminder is just as relevant to the big studios, compelling them as it were to balance the expectations of dedicated fans with the need to make the movie widely marketable. That's why Abrams is such an excellent choice of director, not only for these Star Trek films but now also the Star Wars ones, since both possess loyal and passionately defensive fans who consistently reject change as often as they reject each other. Arguably the greatest accomplishment of his first Star Trek film in 2009 was that it satisfied the Trekkies whilst opening up the franchise to an entirely new audience. Now again, in Into Darkness, Abrams carefully traverses that balance between old and new, as well as between the pop and the pensive. For every furrowed brow or teary eye moment come multiple laughs, usually courtesy of Quinto's logic-driven Spock or Simon Pegg's Scottish-driven Scotty. And as for the action, it's predictably topnotch, both in its intergalactic sequences and small-scale, hand-to-hand pieces. The Star Trek universe has always been defined by the relationship of its two leads — Kirk (Chris Pine) and Spock — however, it's also true that heroes are defined by their villains, and thankfully in Into Darkness they have a fantastic one in the shape of Benedict Cumberbatch. With that now famous Alan Rickman-like baritone growl, he throws himself into the character of John Harrison, a British spy turned rogue terrorist whose devastating attack on London sees Kirk pursue him to the far reaches of the galaxy in order to bring him to justice one way or another (given those orders come from Robocop's Peter Weller as Starfleet's admiral, it was a small shame he didn't actually say "Harrison, dead or alive, you're coming with me"). Into Darkness also sees all the familiar characters return (Bones, Chekov, Uhura and Sulu) along with the introduction of a sadly underused Alice Eve; however, it's Cumberbatch who really drives it forward. Even the Kirk/Spock dynamic takes a back seat (subject to one or two key moments), and if anything, it's that shift away from what made the first Star Trek film soar that's probably Into Darkness's only significant failing. Overall, this is a wonderful movie, large in scale but also capable of delivering impressively intimate moments throughout.
Bringing together ten Australian artists who are in touch with their own shortcomings, this exhibition re-examines notions of success and failure through a bit of image, a bit of text and a lot of irony. Anastasia Klose channels The Nanny in her Film for my Nanna, while Emma White cleverly tracks a Saturday night and the nocturnal descent of reason in Decision Time, while Joan Ross ridicules the power of one of the ugliest states of emotion - jealousy - in a ludicrous, fluorescent soft-sculpture. I’m worse at what I do best features video, sculpture and painting and the opening night will see the launch of an accompanying publication including 25 short stories penned by arts journo, Andrew Frost.Image: Anastasia Klose, production still, Film for my Nanna, 2006. Courtesy of the Artist and Tolarno Galleries.
The lower north shore's Mexican eatery SoCal is reopening to the public on Monday, June 22, and celebrating with a three-day money-can't-buy taco feast. Money can't buy? Yes, it's free — well, mostly. From June 22–24, SoCal will be serving up a bottomless feast of baja fish, pork, smoked brisket and tofu tacos, as well as black corn tortilla chips and churros with dulce de leche sauce — for free. If you want any drinks — tequila shots or margaritas, for example — you'll have to pay for those. As well as paying for drinks, guests are encouraged to contribute a 'taco tip', which will be pooled and split equally between Applejack Hospitality employees as part of the company-wide 'food sales for staff' initiative. Similar pay-what-you feel offers will be happening at the groups's seven other venues — including June Shoppe, The Butler, The Botanist, Endeavour Tap Rooms and Bopp & Tonne — as they gradually reopen between now and mid-August. While there's no limit on how much your 'taco tip' should be, you're encouraged to dig as deep as you can to help out employees, many of whom were not able to work during the lockdown and were also not eligible for the government's JobKeeper payments. SoCal is suggesting you pay $35–55 per person, which is in line with how much it usually charges for bottomless tacos. This deal will obviously be popular, so book your spot ASAP over at the website. Bookings are open from 5pm each night with a maximum of ten people a booking.
This article is sponsored by our partner, Toshiba. Forget sushi trains, pizza motorbikes, roller-skates and any other sub-par form of transportation for a delicious meal. If you’re using any method of food service that’s not a roller-coaster, then you’re doing it wrong. Set to take over the multifunctional space at District01 (7 Randle Lane, Surry Hills) is Toshiba’s latest display of being ‘seriously Japanese’. And it’s just how you’d imagine a sushi train redone by a computing and technology company: upgraded and revved up. Over three nights at the end of this month, Toshiba are teaming up with a handful of sushi professors from Zushi to create a different sort of Japanese pop-up. Entrants will be greeted by geisha girls, taken care of by suited-up professionals and then order sushi with the help of Toshiba tablets. Specially created sushi roller-coasters will then deliver your chosen Japanese delights. Although there’s no currently available record of what this invention will look like, we have no doubt the Zushi roller-coaster will be travelling a little faster than your local sushi train. The sushi roller-coaster is on from 6-9pm daily. It’s a free, first-come-first-served experience, so get there earlier to make sure you don’t miss out on any of the fast-paced sushi good times.
The restrictions on our social lives during the pandemic gave us some real clarity on just how important it is to gather with others, enjoy our freedom and, yes, party. And that is exactly what's on offer at this otherworldly experience taking place under haloes of light. For those looking to pair beats and a dance floor with the stunning light shows of Vivid, this event is for you. Gear up for a night of congregating with strangers, mingling and dancing under giant floating rings, an installation conceived and created by British design studio Lucid Creates in the midst of COVID. Head to Tumbalong Park, where huge rings of light will be suspended above attendees, with alternating messages spread across through the inner bands and an accompanying soundscape to capture your senses. A 360° light show will also follow to top off the night. Ready to embark on your journey? Look out for the three huge floating rings from Friday, May 26 onwards — they will guide you to your destination. Check out the Dance Together event page to stay up to date with the latest event details.
Conversation Piece directed and choreographed by Lucy Guerin, begins with an improvised conversation between three dancers, Alisdair Macindoe, Harriet Ritchie, and Rennie McDougall. The quotidian chat is recorded on iPhones and used as base material for the performance that follows. The exchange is different each night. Joining the dancers on stage are three actors: Alison Bell, Megan Holloway, and Matthew Whittet. The show is something of an experiment. Guerin devised the work in collaboration with the performers, and the result isn't so much a blend between dance and theatre as a meeting. The contrast between the dancers and actors is clear and at times hilarious. Bell and Holloway try to follow a choreographed routine at one point with comic results, and Whittet's attempt to resist the lyrical advances of Macindoe is wickedly funny. Conversation Piece is a bit empty as a play and indeed makes more sense as a dance piece or even perhaps anti-theatre. The language used in this show is abstracted and words are almost treated as found objects. The show has much in common with Peter Handke's 'Sprechstücke' or 'speak-ins', which use words to form language criticism rather than well-made plays. As with Handke’s works, Conversation Piece uses words as toys to be played with rather than vessels of expression or description. In fact, there couldn't be a better example to support the argument that words do not hold meaning; rather, it is their use that is meaningful. Bell rendering some of Ritchie's banal comments into vicious condemnations is a prime example. The music created by the performers with their iPhones is hugely enjoyable, and Robin Fox's sound design mostly supports the action on stage. A few of her choices seem an odd fit though, such as Johnny Cash's version of The Mercy Seat playing during a choreographed sequence. The song is extremely lovely, but stands out as a grand emotional wash against the otherwise very detailed production. Other than this moment, the piece never hands us grand narratives or sentimentality. Instead, we're treated to a joyful string of conversations between technology, language, and movement.
On the first weekend in November, more than 150 music acts are set to take over Bendigo, pouring into town for the annual Blues & Roots Music Festival. Whether your thing is getting amongst it at a huge, outdoor concert or kicking back to mellow tunes in a small bar, there'll be something on the program to make your ears prick up. At the festival's heart is a free, all-day, all-ages shindig in Rosalind Park featuring more than a dozen acts. Outside of that, you'll have more than 50 venues to choose from — including a moving one, the Bendigo Blues Tram. This engaging experience sees some of the festival's cracking blues artists take over a historic city tram, filling it with music as it rolls through the city from the Central Deborah Goldmine to the Joss House and back. Look out, too, for laneway parties, workshops, pop-ups, buskers and loads more. The majority of the festival is free, but you can also pick up an Easy Rider Pass for $99 that'll guarantee you stellar seats at some of the more popular events.
We're in the thick of summer festival announcements, and today organisers of Splendour in the Grass and Falls Festival have launched a brand newie: Sydney City Limits. A sister festival for Texan mega-fest Austin City Limits, Sydney's version will be a one-day all-ages event full of music, food, art and market stalls aplenty. Gracing four stages in Sydney's Centennial Park will be a serious lineup of Australian and international artists. Over 30 huge names — including international acts Justice, Beck, Phoenix and Grace Jones, and local artists Gang of Youths, Tash Sultana, Vance Joy, Dune Rats and Allday — will converge on the inner-city park for the festival. Not a bad debut lineup. You'll also be nourished by a handful of Sydney's top chefs, restaurants and food trucks, all curated by the team behind Mary's and The Unicorn. And just like the festival's American counterpart, the creative arts will get a strong representation here, too. You'll be able to explore an openair art space that showcases snapshots of the city through painting, street art, photography, video and performance art by Sydney artists. There will also be artisan markets, with the opportunity to bring home fashion, jewellery, art and merchandise. Sydney City Limits will take place at Centennial Parklands on Saturday, February 24. Tickets go on sale on November 1. Tickets will range from $179.90 and $199.90. For more info and to buy tickets, visit sydneycitylimits.com.
Finally, the lobster pop-up our bank accounts have been waiting for. Y'know... relatively speaking, anyway. Down N' Out, famous for their American-style burger pop-ups, are bringing Westfield Sydney's food court clientele their classiest lunch run yet. It's all happening at Lobster Shack, taking over Cod & Co's kitchen on level 5, and there's even proper Champagne to go with it. For $35, you can experience Maine lobster confit in a freshly baked roll with buttermilk and fennel slaw. The lobster tails are slow-poached in butter before being placed inside a milk bun. You'll also receive parmesan-dusted truffle fries on the side. If you still don't feel like a baller, you can step up the fancy factor with a glass of Veuve Clicquot on the side for an extra $15. They'll be serving from midday until 6pm each day, and until 9pm on Thursdays.
Imagine a huge spread of the finest French delicacies: cheese, charcuterie, pastries, tarts and cakes, with goblets of craft beer on the side. It could be a dream. Well, every Sunday between 11am and 3pm, this dream could be realised. Frenchies Bistro and Brewery, the new kid on the Saporium block in Rosebery (right near Archie Rose and Black Star), is replacing its usual bistro menu for a bottomless boozy brunch. So what does it entail? First: unlimited replenishments from the grazing table, which might include French cheese, cured meats, terrines and cake. Second: pastries. And third: free rolling refills of beer brewed in-house and beer spritzes. After a slight price increase, the brunch will now set you back $70. If you want to stay dry (or you've been conned into driving), it's $45 without booze. While you're at it, check out our other bottomless boozy brunch picks in Sydney. Updated: November 20, 2017.
After an epic ticketing hack spoiled everything for hyperventilating punters on release day, Splendour in the Grass has rectified the situation with a fresh batch of tickets. Initially released in early May, Splendour tickets found themselves both the target of more festival-seekers than ever in Splendour history and hackers who charged said ticket buyers thousands in sneaky fees. Attempting to put smiles back on the dials of festivalgoers and shareholders alike, Splendour and North Byron Parklands applied for a capacity increase of 2500 tickets. Prompting high fives Australia-wide, the Department of Planning and Environment have approved the increase. The new load of tickets will go on sale at 9am AEST on Thursday, June 12 via Moshtix. Splendour are releasing a mixture of three-day, single-day and camping tickets. If you miss out on this predictably chaotic bid for tickets, Splendour's Re-sale facility allows ticketholders who bail on Byron plans to offload their ticket to anyone who missed out. The Re-sale will be open through Moshtix from 9am AEST Monday, June 16. Splendour is pleading with punters to avoid buying through online auction sites or dodgy-looking creeps outside the front gate. Your name and DOB will be printed on your ticket. The Splendour in the Grass lineup and more details are over here.
Flicked through all of your various streaming queues, watched everything that takes your fancy and wondering what to feast your eyes on next? On Friday, March 27, let the folks at Static Vision and Prototype do the choosing for you. One usually specialises in weird, wonderful and cult cinema screenings around Sydney, while the other is an e-newsletter dedicated to new experimental art and short films — and they're joining forces to put on Lockdown: An Interactive Livestream. Beamed to viewers online from 6pm AEDT (5pm AEST), Lockdown will screen six hours of movies — including three features and three shorts programs, plus e-chats, Q&As and interviews. As for exactly what you'll be watching, the program is top secret until the night, with being surprised by the lineup choices all part of the fun. Lockdown will be setting up an online screen room for the event; however you can decide just how interactive you'd like your experience to be. Natter along with other viewers in the live-text chat, or hit full-screen mode simply sit back and watch — it's up to you. To register your participation — and to receive updates — head to the event's Eventbrite page.
The Australian Museum is staying up past its bedtime to present a series of fascinating night-time events. Each Wednesday from January 24 until March 14, experts, guests and staff will provide an interactive, adult-only experience for the super curious. This first Wednesday, named We Stand Strong, hones in on important questions about Australian identity, protest and resilience. The session will be commandeered by the museum's First Nation staff, and will include deadly-designed jewellery workshops, a live DJ playing 'decolonisation beats' and a 'Change the Date' virtual reality rap video. Each Wednesday has a provocative theme, such as Anti-Valentine's Day which includes 'speed-hating', Voodoo doll-making workshops and animal heart dissections; and Another View (held in conjunction with Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras), with cabaret performances, tours of the museum from an LGBTQI perspective and live art. For the environmentally minded, there's also Turning the Tide, which introduces experts on marine life and a virtual reality guide to coral bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef.
In the dying days of 2019, Camp Cope's valiant leader Georgia Maq released the raw and vulnerable solo album Pleaser. The album continues the deeply personal lyrics of many of Camp Cope's best songs, but trades shredding guitars and plucky bass lines for more synthesisers. Since its release, Maq has been booked to perform the album at Vivid for its past two iterations, before the festival was ultimately cancelled both times. Finally, at Vivid's grand return in 2022, she'll be taking to the Sydney Opera House's Utzon Room to perform tracks from Pleaser as well as her biting new single 'Joe Rogan' about a toxic guy she dated. The show will mark Georgia Maq's return to the Sydney Opera House for the first time since Camp Cope's headline show in 2019 and their back-to-back sold-out shows as part of Vivid 2017. Top image: Jo Duck
Everyone loves digging into a bowl of hearty, cheesy, carby pasta — whether it's the middle of a drizzly winter or the peak of summer. But sometimes, depending how fancy you go, they can set you back nigh $30. Fratelli Fresh has decided to shun exxy bowls and is now serving up $10 pastas every weekday. Available between 12–3pm at all seven stores, they're your new excuse to get out of the office for lunch. The lineup of affordable pastas features six classic dishes, including fusilli with ragu, linguine with chilli, penne with gorgonzola and (for when it's really hot) an olive, feta and cucumber number served cold. Those wanting more than just a bowl of (very tasty) carbs can also add on selected sides, desserts and drinks for only $5 a pop, which range from cheese-stuffed zucchini flowers to tomato bruschetta, shoestring fries, banoffee torta and, yes, $5 glasses of wine and beers. So, save that salad for tomorrow and chuck your sandwich in the fridge — it's time to level-up your lunch. You'll find the $10 pasta deal (and $5 sides) at Fratelli Fresh stores in Alexandria, Bridge Street, Crows Nest, Darling Harbour, the Entertainment Quarter, Walsh Bay and Westfield Sydney. It's only running for a limited time, so we suggest booking in a long lunch sooner rather than later. Book your spot for via the website, and check out the full discounted menu here. Fratelli Fresh's $10 classic pastas are available at all seven stores from 12–3pm on weekdays.
Hip hop goes kid friendly at Graphic Festival this year when Elefant Traks pays tribute to the whimsical spirit and imagery of Dr. Seuss. The innovative Sydney collective and label will be maintaining their motto to make “challenging yet adventurous music”, rounding up 25 artists to turn 60 years of children’s classics into a 90-minute performance of enormous enormance drenching the Opera House Theatre in a surrealist fusion of modern sound and visual whimsy. Among the acts are The Herd, Hermitude, Urthboy, Horrorshow, Jimblah and Unkle Ho, who will be spitting fresh new rhymes to trippy Seuss visuals projected onto a Hortonesque screen. But since this is, at its heart, a meeting, you can expect there to be a few familiar jams thrown in too. Dr. Seuss Meets Elefant Traks is a specially commissioned show for Graphic 2012. To commemorate it Graphic will be giving away a framed limited edition artwork by Dr. Seuss, so buy two or tickets for a chance at winning.
Sydneysiders love a bottomless brunch. But, let's face it, there are only so many smashed avos and poached eggs one can eat before fatigue sets in. But bottomless pizza? Well, that's a whole different story. And, if you head down to King Street Wharf around lunchtime on a weekend, that's exactly what you'll find. Every Saturday and Sunday from midday, Beer DeLuxe is offering its own version of the popular bottomless food and booze package. For $60 per person, you and your mates can enjoy all the pizza you can manage in two hours, with bottomless craft beer to wash it down. You'll have your pick of five different pizzas, from the classic pepperoni to the controversial (but still delicious) ham and pineapple. And, there are vegetarian options available, too. Meanwhile, for drinks, the venue boasts a mammoth 150 different craft beers. We won't list 'em all here, but some of the brews that have been on tap recently include Stone & Wood Pacific Ale, Bent Shovel Red Ale and Feral Brewing Biggie Juice IPA. Whether you're winding up for a big night out or recovering from one (hair of the dog-style), round up the crew, throw on some stretchy pants and go your hardest. Beer DeLuxe's You Wanna Pizza Me? offer is available across two sessions — 12–2pm and 2–4pm — every Saturday and Sunday. To make a booking, visit the website.
As fans across the globe gear up for the Arctic Monkeys' sixth album to drop later this week, the acclaimed English rockers have pushed the excitement levels even further, announcing a series of international pop-ups and film screenings to coincide with the launch. And even Australia's getting a look-in, with the local edition of the store — named after the forthcoming album Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino — is popping up at Sydney's Golden Age Cinema and Bar, this Friday, May 11, and Saturday, May 12. According to the Arctic Monkeys' website, the TBHC pop-ups will offer a range of "unique and limited album and merchandise items", alongside screenings of the band's favourite 70s flicks. Titles include Le Cercle Rouge, Inherent Vice, The Last Waltz and Michelangelo Antonioni's L'Eclisse. The event's running at the Surry Hills theatre from 11am until 8.30pm each day, though as you can imagine, tickets to the screenings are already selling fast. Only a handful of other lucky cities will also host these Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino pop-ups: Berlin, Tokyo, Paris, New York and the band's own hometown of Sheffield.
York Street's Bavarian beer hall Beerhaüs is getting a major dose of Americana this week as it launches a new barbecue menu. To celebrate, the venue is giving away 500 brisket sliders on Wednesday, July 17 from 11am. The sliders are made with wood-smoked, slow-cooked beef, fresh off the barbecue. It's then loaded onto a potato bun and topped with cabbage slaw and onion jus. Be sure to get in bang on 11am, because these tasty morsels won't last long. If you miss out on the freebie, the new menu of American-style barbecue is now available, too. Expect pulled pork, kielbasa, brisket and chicken — all served with pretzel rolls and house pickles — as well as buffalo chicken and habanero shrimp po' boys, a five-strong schnitty menu and a heap more sides. Lucky for you, this new menu is expected to stick around for a good long while. Free brisket sliders are available from 11am until sold out.
Sydney Festival has dropped their program for the 2017 festival — and it's nothing short of sublime. From January 7-29, the city's creative spaces will be taken over with every type of art and entertainment imaginable. The upcoming festival encompasses circus craft, insane architecture, music, art, theatre — the whole shebang, really — and in 2017 the venues will stretch from Campbelltown to Carriageworks to a carpark in Blacktown. All up, 46 spaces will be used by more than 1000 artists over the 23 days of the festival. To say there's a lot on is an understatement. While we'll try to hit up as many of the 150 events as we can, we've had a good, long look at the program and come up with ten Syd Fest events you simply cannot miss. These should help you decide how, where and when to whet your cultural whistle.
Dinner and a show: it's a date night classic for a reason. But, sometimes, if it's last-minute or your wallet is feeling a little light, the 'and show' part of the equation can be a bit tricky to arrange. Thankfully, living in Sydney means you have around-the-clock access to one of the best free shows on earth: the beach. Whether it's a warm and sunny day or blisteringly cold, Sydney's beaches make for a great spot to get cosy with your special someone and watch the waves, surfers and sea life as the sun rises or sets. And, if you choose the latter time, you have the bonus of being able to include some takeaway food in the equation, too. So, we've ploughed through DoorDash's extensive list of restaurants, cafes and bars to determine the ideal eats for a cheeky beachside sesh with your date — or best mates.
If you're a fan of chicken wings, then you might already have July 29 marked in your calendar. It's your annual excuse to tuck into plenty of chook, because that's what National Chicken Wing Day is all about. At Pacific Concept's various German-themed venues — aka Munich Brauhaus and The Bavarian, and at all stores around New South Wales — you won't just find a whole heap of chicken, however. Wings will also be on special from 4–6pm for ten cents each. Yes, you read that price correctly. All wings come with buffalo sauce, and you can nab up to 20 at a time for just $2 — although you will also need to buy a full-priced drink. If you fancy more than 20, that's fine — you'll just need to get more beverages, which we're sure no one will be complaining about. And yes, given that July 29 falls on a Friday this year, this is a special worth knocking off early for.
Spring means different things to different people. Flowers, cleaning, spending more time outdoors, being pleased that winter is over for another year — they're all on the list. At The Bavarian for three months from Wednesday, September 2, however, the season also means tucking into a German-style meal and washing it all down with bottomless beverages. That's what's on offer at the The Bavarian Spring Fest, which is available every day throughout the aforementioned period. It'll cost you $69 per person, which includes a range of dishes — think pretzels, chicken schnitzel with mushroom sauce and fries, and apple strudel — plus two hours of beer, cider and cocktails. You'll be able to choose what you'd like to sip, including from an Aussie range of brews, plus cocktails such as The Bavarian's new strawberry margarita, apple-tini and lychee paradise. Bookings are recommended — and Spring Fest is happening at The Bavarian venues in Charlestown, Rouse Hill, Castle Hill, Shellharbour, Tuggerah, Manly, Miranda and Penrith. The Bavarian Spring Fest runs from September 2–November 30 at the chain's venues in Charlestown, Rouse Hill, Castle Hill, Shellharbour, Tuggerah, Manly, Miranda and Penrith.
If you've ever whiled away your evening hours watching MasterChef while enviously eating a two-ingredient pesto pasta for dinner, we have some good news for you: Jacob's Creek is setting up a pop-up kitchen, and it's aimed precisely at those who want to refine their chef skills a little — i.e., you. For the Kitchen Collective, Huxtaburger chef (and past guest judge on MasterChef) Daniel Wilson will guide attendees through a two-course cooking demonstration of one entree and one dessert. Diners will learn from Wilson and then take part in a little friendly competition as they recreate the two courses. While there will be prizes up for grabs, there won't be any eliminations (and hopefully no tears, either). To take a little of the pressure away, caterers Studio Neon will take care of your main course and Jacob's Creek Barossa Signature wines will be matched to each course. Wine expert Ambar Maddox will be present to chat through each free-flowing drop and share the secret to food and wine pairing. As well as helping you hone your top chef skills, the pop-up will also contribute to an even greater good: 100 percent of profits are being donated to SecondBite, a charity that provides food and support for the needy. Jacob's Creek Kitchen Collective will take place between Friday, July 27 and Sunday, August 12. Daytime sessions will run from 12pm–4pm on Saturdays and Sundays, and the nighttime experience will run from 6pm–10pm every Friday to Sunday. Only 16 seats are available for each session, so move quickly and nab your spot here.
Need yet another utterly worthy excuse to take a break from your daily grind and go on a sneaky getaway to the dreamy waters and magnificent sunsets of Mollymook? Well, we've got one — two nights at one of the towns most luxe hotels, Bannisters Pavilion Mollymook. A scenic three hour drive south of Sydney, this stretch of coast boasts stunning beaches, numerous bush walks and plenty of dining options — it's the perfect escape from the bustling city. So, if you're in need of a jaunt down the south coast, you're in luck. Should you get your mitts on this glorious prize, you and a lover (or a buddy) will be spending two lazy nights in one of the penthouse suites at Bannisters Pavilion Mollymook. With daily breakfast, dinner at The Rooftop Bar & Grill and also at Rick Stein at Bannisters Mollymook and a private surfing lesson with ex-world champion Pam Burridge, this treat is worth a cool 1800 bucks. Bannisters Pavilion Mollymook is perched just 80 metres from one of the south coast's most beautiful beaches — Mollymook Beach — and has a coastal-chic aesthetic, with incredibly luxe rooms. In one of the two penthouse rooms, you can expect tranquil forest views while in the other you'll find a double-sided fireplace — so you can plan your trip whatever season. Both have large outdoor terraces and have an open plan design over 149 square metres, too. You can claim your prize at any point until August 2020 (between Sundays and Thursdays, excluding peak periods, school and public holidays), giving you ample opportunity to carve out a little pocket of me-time. Whether you want to use it as a base for exploring the region or stay put for an ultra-relaxed vacation, this is one prize that's sure to make your mates jealous — unless you can convince them to join you. To enter, see details below. [competition]729825[/competition]
