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.
A fast-paced sashimi bar specialising in fresh, reasonably-priced seafood has landed on Campbell Parade from the creators of the seafood delivery service GetFish. The home delivery website has been running since 2018, providing Sydneysiders across the city with access to the plentiful offerings available at the Sydney Fish Market with the click of a button. Now, the owners have turned their attention to a bricks-and-mortar offering with the arrival of GetSashimi in Bondi. Open seven days a week, GetSashimi is providing eastern suburbs residents with the chance to grab a sushi- and sashimi-filled lunch, or pick up high-quality fresh seafood to take home and incorporate into their home cooking. As you enter, you'll be greeted with an eight-metre-long sashimi cabinet filled with tuna, scallops, oysters, abalone, salmon and everything in between. While the quality is top-notch, the price tag is reasonable. Highly in-demand fish like yellowfin tuna will only set you back $12.99 per 100 grams. There are plenty of sushi options including nigiri tuna belly, salmon raspberry gunkan maki, tuna rolls and tempura prawn rolls — plus a selection of poke bowls topped with salmon, tuna, kingfish or mixed sashimi. Order a to-go box of everything you want, or nab a spot at the 18-seat sashimi train-style dine-in setup and take your pick of the chef's selections for the day as they travel past you. Both GetFish and GetSashimi are the handiwork of entrepreneur Antonio Muollo, who founded the delivery company when he was just 19 years old. "I am excited to be offering something completely unique to the Sydney market and bringing the best produce from the Sydney Fish Markets straight to Bondi daily," says Muollo. GetSashimi is open 11am–9pm Monday–Sunday at 180 Campbell Parade, Bondi. For more information and to browse the menu, head to the venue's website.
A major architectural installation landed on Sydney's streets last month when local artist and architect Chris Fox unveiled Interchange Pavilion in South Eveleigh's Village Square. The striking 350-square-metre sculptural landmark acts as a focal point and public pavilion for the new dining precinct. In coming months, it'll also function as an amphitheatre for events. An award-winning artist, Fox is most recently known for his 2017 installation Interloop, which transformed the historic 1930s wooden escalators at Wynyard Station into a 50-metre artwork suspended above the York Street escalators. More generally, he's known for creating large-scale public installations that closely intertwine art and architecture. For Interchange Pavilion, Fox was inspired by the precinct's rail history, and the structure's shape mimics the geometry of a railroad switch. As such, the pavilion is meant to embody a meeting place where paths converge. It boasts built-in seating, a wide pathway and a glowing golden hue by night. The complex archway was building using 250 metres of stainless steel ground rails, 15 tonnes of robotically moulded glass, 1400 pieces of hardwood and over 1650 pieces of digitally fabricated aluminium. Yep, it's an impressive piece of work. The installation fits into a much larger public art program that's been curated by Carriageworks and commissioned by Mirvac for its huge new South Eveleigh project. Expect more sculptural and botanical installations to appear, too, with public works already installed by artist Jonathan Jones (in the Axle Building) and visual artist Nell (as part of Yerrabingin House). Also announced as part the new dining precinct is a mega-venue by The Grounds group and a Cantonese restaurant by Kylie Kwong — both slated for sometime in 2020. [caption id="attachment_782685" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Josh Raymond[/caption] Images: Josh Raymond
If laughter is the best medicine then you'll never find a better time to fall ill. From Monday, April 18, over 200 local and international comedians will descend upon the harbour city for the 12th annual Sydney Comedy Festival, ready to fill your prescription of chuckles, giggles and guffaws. Stretching across more than four weeks at venues all around Sydney from the Opera House to Parramatta, it's just what the doctor ordered. Of course, comedy is a notoriously hit-and-miss form of entertainment, so picking the right shows is key. Fortunately, the organisers at this year's festival have knocked the program out of the park. International stars including David O'Doherty, Ross Noble, Paul Foot and Sarah Callaghan will join local legends like Anne Edmonds, Demi Lardner, Michael Workman and Lawrence Leung. Alternatively, you could go and watch a bunch of people reading erotic fan fiction. The choice is entirely yours.
We can't think of a much better way to launch into the sunny season than a day spent on an island, gorging on delicious food and wine. With that we say bring on Wine Island 2019, which will take over Sydney's Clark Island for an indulgent weekend of wine tasting from November 1–3. As always, the well-loved food and wine festival promises a packed lineup, starting with the spritz you'll enjoy on the boatride over. The island itself is set up as the ultimate boozy adult playground, you'll be able to choose between the Rosé Imports' selection of pink drops from southern France, Jetty Road Brewery's cold beers, Brix Distillers' rum bar and Manly Spirits' many gin drinks. There'll also be a swag of masterclasses curated by the team at Wine Selectors, covering everything from the blind tastings to tongue twisters, and an espresso martini making session, too. Swing by the Napoleon Perdis Beauty Bar for a massage and a makeover or cruise the various wine stalls sampling a huge array of local and international drops — and enjoy some top-notch vino with even better views. And, to keep you fuelled for that big day of wine appreciation, expect food options galore, from oysters and cheese platters, to buns from your mates at Chur Burger. There are three Wine Island ticket packages available, starting with the $109 'five-star experience', which includes ferry transfers, five tastings, a souvenir tumbler and a spritz. Then there's the $209 'seven-star experience' — with more tastings, more food and a free massage — or, if you're feel extremely opulent, you can pay $299 and experience the whole thing from your own floating island, dubbed The Hamptons. Tickets go on sale at midday on Friday, August 9, with pre-sale from Wednesday, August 7 and group bookings from Thursday, August 1. Image two: Jack Toohey
That feeling when you walk into a florist — and your nose leaves the street and meets the fragrances of flowers — is a special one. And it's one you'll have at Buds & Bowers. You'll probably see it right near the corner of Crown and Foveaux streets as its flowers spill onto the sidewalk; inside, your eyes wander over the colours, shapes and scents of that day's market haul. Just tell the in-house florists how much you want to spend and they'll put together a bunch of natives for your workmate or a special arrangement for your mum — whatever you need. Images: Caitlin Morahan.
Every major exhibition gives art lovers two gifts: the joy of discovering what'll display on its walls and halls when that first announcement hits, and the thrill of actually seeing the end results IRL while wandering, peering and contemplating. With Boston Dynamics robot dogs, work by Yoko Ono, a collaboration with Paris haute couture house Schiaparelli, and Tokyo-based artist Azuma Makoto's room-sized tribute to plants all on the just-revealed NGV Triennial 2023 bill, that initial round of delights starts now. Since 2017, the Melbourne-based National Gallery of Victoria has hosted the art showcase every three years, with this upcoming summer's iteration from Sunday, December 3, 2023–Sunday, April 7, 2024 the third. Designed to provide a portrait of the world each time it is staged — if art trends and breakthroughs; the artists making them; and the themes, ideas and events they're responding to — each NGV Triennial delivers a hefty program. This time, there'll be 75 works from 100-plus artists, complete with more than 25 world-premiere projects, all tying into the themes of magic, matter and memory. [caption id="attachment_896126" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Azuma Makoto, Block Flowers 2020 ©️ Azuma Makoto Courtesy the artist.[/caption] A big highlight: those mechanical pooches, who will also show off their very good painting skills. This clearly isn't Black Mirror, with Polish-born Agnieszka Pilat training the robot dogs to make art, which NGV Triennial attendees can then watch happen. They'll create a monolithic durational work, with Pilat exploring technology's power in modern life in the process. While attending NGV Triennial is free, you won't have to go inside the NGV International on St Kilda Road to see Yoko Ono's contribution. Drawing upon six decades making art, including her famed Instruction Pieces and major public art commissions, she's providing a large-scale text-based piece that'll display on the building's façade. [caption id="attachment_896130" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Installation view of Sheila Hicks's Nowhere to go 2022 at Off Grid, The Hepworth Wakefield, United Kingdom. Proposed acquisition, NGVWA.Courtesy the artist and Alison Jacques.[/caption] One of the joys of an exhibition like this is the sheer variety of works — although Schiaparelli's involvement would be a standout anyway. Artistic Director Daniel Roseberry is picking items from recent collections to display, plus a range of gilded surrealist accessories and body adornment. And, as well as showing his penchant for pushing boundaries and pairing art and fashion, there's set to be a celestial theme. Also immersive: Makoto's homage to nature, specifically plants and their magic, beauty and life force. The artist is freezing Australian flowers and botanicals into acrylic blocks, then combining them with a multi-screen film about the life and death of blooms. Yes, you'll be thinking about nature while you take it in. [caption id="attachment_896127" align="alignnone" width="1920"] David Shrigley, Really Good, 2016, bronze, 680 x 380 x 160 cm. Courtesy of the artist and Stephen Friedman Gallery, London © David Shrigley. All Rights Reserved, DACS 2023.[/caption] Tracey Emin is also contributing a series of works, including five-metre-high text-based neon light installation based on the British artist's own handwriting. From Paris-based and American-born sculptor Sheila Hicks, Nowhere to Go will stack her blue-hued bulbous sculptures against a wall. Or, there's David Shrigley's Really Good — a seven-metre-high thumbs-up. Elsewhere, the massive one-hundred-metre-long woven fish fence, Mun-dirra, was made over two years by ten artists and their apprentices from the Burarra language group Maningrida, Arnhem Land — while large-scale commission Megacities is tasking ten street photographers to snap Cairo, Dhaka, Jakarta, Delhi, Sao Paulo, Shanghai, Seoul, Lagos, Tokyo and Mexico City in all their urban glory. Don't miss Hugh Hayden's The end installation, which recreates a primary-school classroom but gets apocalyptic with branches and dodo skeletons. The full list of featured artists also spans Petrit Halilaj, Betty Muffler, Hoda Afshar and Fernando Laposse, plus Flora Yukhnovich, Yee I-Lann, Joyce Ho, Shakuntala Kulkarni and SMACK — and more, obviously. [caption id="attachment_896128" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Courtesy of the NGV.[/caption] "In the three years since the last NGV Triennial, the world has experienced a great many structural shifts, including a global pandemic. Through the work of more than 100 artists, designers, architects and collectives from Australia and around the world, the NGV Triennial offers a powerful insight into the ideas and concerns empowering creative practice in 2023," said NGV Director Tony Ellwood, announcing the program. "The artists, designers and architects of our time play an important role in helping us to understand, navigate and relate to the world around us. The 2023 NGV Triennial offers audiences a valuable opportunity to experience new and surprising forms of creative expression from around the globe, which, together, present a compelling snapshot of the world as it is, while also asking how we would like it to be." [caption id="attachment_896129" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Installation view of Hugh Hayden's The End 2022. Courtesy of the artist.[/caption] NGV Triennial 2023 will display from Sunday, December 3, 2023–Sunday, April 7, 2024 at NGV International, St Kilda Road, Melbourne. Head to the gallery's website for further details. Top image: Aaron Richter.
If Parasite and Burning introduced you to the spectacular world of Korean cinema, we have great news: there's much, much more where they came from. As well as delivering two of the very best movies of 2019, Korea's film industry is filled with other gems. And, each year, the Korean Film Festival in Australia (KOFFIA) brings the latest and greatest to local screens. In 2020, KOFFIA in streaming its lineup to everyone's screens, actually. Adapting to the pandemic, the fest has curated a program of 18 features that'll be available to watch digitally nationwide from Thursday, October 29–Thursday, November 5. Plus, if you need some extra motivation to spend more time staring at your TV or phone, the event is entirely free. On the bill: crime caper By Quantum Physics: A Nightlife Venture, sporting comedy My Punch-Drunk Boxer and sibling drama Family Affair, the latter of which stars Parasite's Jang Hye-jin. Or you can check out the multiple stories in Fukuoka, page-to-screen adaptation Kim Ji-young: born 1982 and assassination thriller The Man Standing Next. The list goes on — but you will need to note the exact date and time that each film is available, with every title only on offer to start viewing within 30 minutes of its scheduled timeslot. Also, courtesy of SBS On Demand's free Korean Film Festival Selects, seven more flicks from past KOFFIAs will be available to stream — at your leisure — from Sunday, November 1–Sunday, November 8. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PT5w9y7OVy8
Located in Paddington, Fleur de Lys Medispa offers an array of luxe packages for singles, couples and even groups, ranging from standard spa treatments to the more indulgent pampering and beauty services. Above all else, Fleur de Lys staff are experts in skin, leading the way in revitalising and rejuvenating one's complexion through the latest skin scanning technology to tailor the experience specifically to your needs.
Pumphouse Sydney has come a long way since its early days. Back in 1891, the only beverage being poured was drinking water for the young colonial city of Sydney. It was the first hydraulic pumping station in NSW until it was decommissioned, and the Heritage Council made it the Pumphouse Tavern. Now it's Pumphouse Bar and Restaurant, and it's opening its latest addition: a garden terrace. On Saturday, November 18, the Terrace is partnering with First Creek Wines and Chandon to welcome guests to a launch party for three hours of libations and celebrations in this leafy new location. There'll be live music, canapés and free-flowing drinks on offer from 1–4pm. The common theme? The Terrace focuses on native plants, flavours and ingredients from its decoration down to the menu. Speaking of the menu, it stars the likes of pecorino croquettes with soubise, onion molasses, and candied macadamia; Greek saganaki with kefalograviera, spiced honey, and lavender; whole spatchcock with miso butter, charred radicchio, candied macadamia, and confit shallots and slow cooked beef cheeks with confit garlic mash, porcini butter, and salsa verde. A quick tip: if you book your tickets online for a reservation at the Terrace between Sunday, November 19 and Christmas Eve (six people max) — quote the code TERRACE to get a complimentary glass of Chandon Garden Spritz on arrival. Thank us later. The Terrace Garden Launch Party will take place on Saturday, November 18 from 1–4pm. Tickets are $99 pp. For information or to book your tickets, visit the website.
At the 2024 British Film Festival, when you're not watching movies starring Saoirse Ronan, Andrew Garfield, Florence Pugh and Barry Keoghan, you'll be catching the latest performances from Ralph Fiennes, Jude Law, Pierce Brosnan and Helena Bonham Carter. There's never any lack of big-name talents gracing the screen at Australia's annual celebration of the UK's latest and greatest contributions to cinema, but this year's is particularly jam-packed — so much so that there's not just one feature boasting Ronan among its cast, but two. Blitz, which sees the Foe, Little Women and Ammonite actor team up with 12 Years a Slave, Widows and Small Axe filmmaker Steve McQueen, is the British Film Festival's 2024 opening-night film. Playing Down Under fresh from also launching the London Film Festival, the period drama heads back to World War II, and starts the fest's month-long run at Sydney's Palace Norton Street, Palace Moore Park, Chauvel Cinema and Palace Central from Thursday, November 7–Sunday, December 8 with one of the year's must-see movies. At the other end of the festival, the also highly anticipated We Live in Time will close out the event. Pugh (Dune: Part Two) and Garfield (Under the Banner of Heaven) lead the romance from Brooklyn filmmaker John Crowley, which follows a couple's relationship across a decade. The second Ronan-led flick on the full 2024 British Film Festival comes courtesy of page-to-screen adaptation The Outrun, where the four-time Oscar-nominee plays a recovering addict — and there's plenty more highlights on the program from there. Hard Truths sits in the fest's centrepiece slot, reuniting iconic director Mike Leigh (Peterloo) with his Academy Award-nominated Secrets & Lies star Marianne Jean-Baptiste (Surface). Also boasting the coveted pairing of an impressive helmer and an exceptional on-screen talent: Bird from Andrea Arnold (American Honey), which is where Keoghan (Saltburn) pops up. As for Fiennes (The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar), he stars with Juliette Binoche (The New Look) in The Return, a British spin on Homer's Odyssey — and also in papal thriller Conclave with Citadel's Stanley Tucci, Killers of the Flower Moon's John Lithgow and Spaceman's Isabella Rossellini. Law (Peter Pan & Wendy) plays King Henry VIII opposite Alicia Vikander (Irma Vep) as Katherine Parr in Firebrand, while Brosnan (The Last Rifleman) and Bonham Carter (One Life) feature in romance Four Letters of Love. Other standouts include the century-hopping dark comedy Timestalker from Garth Marenghi's Darkplace alum Alice Lowe, the Gillian Anderson (Scoop)- and Jason Isaacs (Archie)-led The Salt Path, Julia Louis-Dreyfus (You Hurt My Feelings) facing death in Tuesday, and Kelly Macdonald (Operation Mincemeat) and Damian Lewis (Billions) in vampire comedy The Radleys. For music fans, there's a dedicated themed sidebar featuring both Blur: To the End and Blur: Live at Wembley Stadium — one about the band's most-recent chapter, the other a two-hour concert film — as well as the Led Zeppelin-focused The Song Remains the Same and The Rolling Stones-centric The Stones and Brian Jones. This year's British Film Festival is also peering backwards via retrospective sessions of Ratcatcher, the debut feature from You Were Never Really Here's Lynne Ramsay; the Bonham Carter- and Dame Maggie Smith (The Miracle Club)-starring A Room with a View; and classic British historical dramas such as A Man for All Seasons, Heat and Dust, The Lion in Winter and Kenneth Branagh's (A Haunting in Venice) Henry V.
Master sommelier Madeline Triffon describes Pinot Noir as 'sex in a glass', while winemaker Randy Ullom calls it 'the ultimate nirvana'. One of the most challenging grapes in the world of vinification, it's also one of the most surprising and rewarding. No wonder Bottle Shop Concepts — the good folk who bring Game of Rhones our way — are coming back to town with Pinot Palooza, an epic travelling wine festival celebrating all things Pinot Noir. For just one day, Sydney wine connoisseurs will have the chance to sample more than 100 drops, direct from the Southern Hemisphere's best producers. Think Ata Rangi, Curly Flat, Marlborough's Greywacke, Yabby Lake, Shaw + Smith, Mount Difficulty — and that's just the first few leaves on the vine. Whether you're a newbie who wants to start with something light and inviting, or a Pinot pro ready for the biggest, most complex mouthful on the menu, there'll be an abundance of selections at either end — and plenty along the spectrum, too. You'll even be able to vote for your favourite. If, at any point, you need to take a pause in your tasting adventures, you'll be catered for. There'll be food from Belles Hot Chicken and Bodega, beer from Young Henrys, and the epic Burgundy Bar – a kind of Pinot Noir mecca where you'll be able to sample some seriously good (and spenny) bottles at cost price. Expert sommeliers will also be on hand to help you make selections. What's more, those keen to fuel their brains (as well as their tastebuds) can spot $95 for a VIP pass. For that you'll get pre-event access (two hours before those pesky crowds), a food voucher, a tasting at the Burg Bar and a one-on-one with one of the event's sommeliers, who will personally curate your Pinot experience for you. Pinot Palooza will hit Carriageworks on Sunday, October 9. Tickets are $60, which includes tastings and a take-home Plumm Vintage glass.
It is usual not to smile when seeing a family torn apart by the death of a child. There are too many reasons to cry or become angry. And yet, even amidst the most shocking of revelations, The Only Child has the power to also draw sympathetic, mirthful laughter from its audience.Developed by Melbourne company The Hayloft Project, The Only Child is a gift especially developed for Belvoir Downstairs. Writer/director Simon Stone and co-writer Thomas Henning (of the Black Lung) have led an exceptionally talented creative team in their reconstruction of Henrik Ibsen's Little Eyolf. The result is a resounding success, an example of theatre that taps into the most ancient qualities of the art: balancing tragedy and comedy and presenting narratives that can drive a stake into anyone's soul, regardless of their place in life. The Hayloft Project is creating theatre in the same spirit as that undertaken by the likes of Shakespeare; by using existing stories to develop new work for a specific ensemble of actors, in a specific space, the company has produced a piece of tremendous poetry, truth and effect for today's audience.Photo by Patrick Boland
The evocative lyrics of Oh Mercy's new album Great Barrier Grief has had listeners hooked from the get-go. The band is currently touring Australia to promote the new release, exciting existing fans and attracting plenty of new ones as they go. The band relates the experience of listening to the album to "sailing on a beautiful boat on a calm blue sea in a cloudless sky." Sounds peaceful right? Except there is a shadow lurking beneath the water, a dark twist to each song that presents a challenge to accept and overcome. This one's an emotional rollercoaster. The acoustic pop sound of the album was inspired by the Australian way of life and makes for an energetic live show. Singles 'Keith St' and 'Stay, Please Stay', already familiar favourites from the album, will be brought to life with a new sound throughout the tour to keep fans guessing. https://youtube.com/watch?v=oYMSJFwtmcM
