The first of Federico Garcia Lorca’s folk trilogy of Spanish plays, Blood Wedding, begins with a woman dressed in black staring out from a bare stage. Beside her, a guitarist plays a fiery Flamenco-style rhythm. There is a sense of foreboding that one wouldn’t usually associate with a celebratory occasion – but this is not a festive wedding, it is a blood wedding. The audience is swiftly transported from contemporary Sydney to rural Spain in the 1930s where an Andalusian bride is forced to choose between duty and desire; her head and her heart. The grooms' domineering mother – still grieving the loss of her husband and her other son – rightly suspects that the bride’s shadowy past will interfere with her pledge to submissively love, honour and obey her bridegroom. She sees that her secret all-consuming passion for another (or "el duende," as Lorca himself called it) may precipitate social catastrophe and eradicate everyone else's chance for romantic fulfillment. The conventional world of the village collapses when the bride elopes with her first lover and the first act finishes. The realistic set is transformed into a surreal forest where two mythic figures - the Moon and Death - preside over a hunt to the death for the fugitives. The dry leaves covering the stage are reminders of the brittleness and brevity of life, and the creatively used spools of red thread symbolise how people's destinies become twisted and re-threaded. Blood Moon is not a feel-good play, but it unveils the power that society has to stifle individuality. It is worth going just to see the menacing Moon, covered in blood, command centre stage.
Another world of possibilities is unfolding as the Canadian Film Festival once again takes up residence at Sydney's Dendy cinemas. Now in its fifth year, this plucky event is the only annual celebration of Canadian films outside Canada — and what a celebration! The genius of this festival is a program that eagerly mixes premiere screenings with parties, talks and welcome drinks. That's Canadian hospitality for you. It remains to be seen if the festival can top last year's poll dancing romp, although the militant-ish Fight the Power party that kicks off after Saturday's screening of The Trotsky (fabulously described as Rushmore meets Ferris Bueller's Day Off) might just do the trick. Or there's the aptly named Vampire Ball — a night of djs and debauchery to coincide with the rock'n'roll vamp spoof Suck. There was also the chance to chat with beloved novelist Margaret Atwood about environmental documentary In the Wake of the Flood, but those tickets have already sold out. So the best bet is to get in quick for the rest of the festival's wonderful line up. The event will open with the Australian premiere of Chloe, the sexy tale from one of Canada's premier auteurs Atom Egoyan (Ararat, The Sweet Hereafter), starring Liam Neeson, Julianne Moore and Amanda Seyfried as the titular escort hired to test a husband's fidelity. There's also the world premiere of Arctic Blast, an Australian-Canadian co-production from one of our Ozploitation legends Brian Trenchard-Smith (Turkey Shoot). Prepare for solar flares and disastrous thrills. If documentaries are more your scene, then the programme includes the critically acclaimed Genius Within: The Inner Life of Glenn Gould and another musical number, The Mighty Uke. Last Train Home is a captivating look at the largest human migration of workers returning to their families for Chinese New Year, while Invisible City takes to the streets of a Toronto's housing commission in an engrossing look at the lives of its young male residents. Closing night honours go to Xavier Dolan's provocative debut, I Killed My Mother, a gay coming-of-age story fueled by the feisty enthusiasm of its then 19-year-old director. Tickets for this, Chloe and family friendly doco Finding Farley are already selling fast, so don't miss out on this year's window into the various worlds of Canada. https://youtube.com/watch?v=HtU7ERJ3cTw
Sydneysiders, your daily commute is getting a serious shake-up, with the NSW Government rolling out the biggest-ever statewide public transport timetable changes. Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Andrew Constance announced the overhaul on the weekend, promising a massive 8,600 new bus, train and ferry services weekly, as the government looks to beef up its public transport offering. As part of the $1.5 billion More Trains, More Service program, Sydney's rail system will score over 1,500 extra weekly services, with around half of those on weekends. Plus, improvements to service frequency will reduce wait times to less than 15 minutes between trains — for most of the day, at 71% of NSW stations. Bus networks have also been redesigned, with extra services improving accessibility across the inner west, eastern suburbs, Macarthur and Hills districts, lower north shore and northern suburbs. Of course, such hefty changes don't usually come without at least a few minor teething problems, so the NSW Government is asking punters to be patient. "We'll be watching the roll out closely, both in control centres and on the ground, monitoring each service on the public transport network," Constance said. "Our priority now is to keep everyone moving safely while helping customers to get used to the new timetable." Around 400 staff in pink shirts will be placed at major network locations to give commuters a hand. Find your updated train, bus and ferry timetables here.
Some of Sydney's film festivals, such as the Sydney Film Festival and the Sydney Underground Film Festival, have run virtually this year. Others, like the Italian Film Festival and the upcoming Monster Fest, have stuck with in-person events. For movie buffs, that means you haven't been lacking in things to watch — and now a brand new film fest is about to hit town to treat you to a feast of sci-fi. The Sydney Science Fiction Film Festival will run across three days, from Thursday, November 19–Saturday, November 21, screening ten features and 41 shorts from 20 countries. To get transported to another world — something we could all use this year — you'll need to head to the Actors Centre Australia in Leichhardt. And you can pick and choose the movies that interest you, or opt for a festival pass and watch your way through every session. Topping the bill are the world premieres of new Australian films Monsters of Man and Strangeville, if you like pictures about military androids and alien abductions in an outback town. Or, you can check out weird and wonderful movies from around the globe, including Italian apocalyptic thriller Darkness, and French titles Fish Love and Anonymous Animals. The list goes on, and The Queen of the Lizards from Spain is on it — because, yes, there seems to be an animal theme in the fest's movie monikers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_d2ovybWRw
Every music festival has its own distinctive traits and drawcards, no matter who happens to be hitting the stage in any given year. Held on the banks of the Murray River, Strawberry Fields is no different. Fancy escaping into nature to listen to live and electronic acts, wander through art installations and hit up a bush spa? That's all on this fest's bill. Taking place across the weekend of Friday, October 28–Sunday, October 30 in Tocumwal, New South Wales, this year's Strawberry Fields has just unveiled its lineup, and it's full of impressive names. The Pharcyde, Massive Attack founder and DJ Daddy G, Acid Pauli, Moodymann, Barkaa and Jesswar are just some of the talents on the list — and yes, it goes on. Also exciting: being able to soak away your stresses, not that you should have any at a music fest, at the bush spa; the Moroccan Bedouin lounges and tea ceremonies in the festival's Mirage Motel space; and the glamping options, given that you'll want to make a weekend of it. For the fourth event now, Strawberry Fields is also implementing a low-income ticket program, which helps open up the festival to more punters — regardless of income. Applicants are assessed on a case-by-case basis, after providing supporting documentation, and receive 50-percent off the standard entry ticket rate. Also, if you happen to be born on this year's festival dates, you can also register to score a free ticket. Happy birthday to you indeed. Strawberry Fields 2022 will also add two new stages — and if you're wondering what's on the arts, workshops and performances lineup, or what food, drink and market stall options will be available, the fest is taking applications for those now, with details to be announced closer to the fest. STRAWBERRY FIELDS 2022 LINEUP: Acid Pauli Ash Lauryn Barkaa Bumpy CINTA Claire Morgan Daddy G (Massive Attack) DJ set DAVI DJ PGZ DJ Python EFFY Egyptian Lover FLEWNT Gioli & Assia Glass Beams Henry Wu Horse Meat Disco IN2STELLAR Janus Rasmussen Jesswar Julian Belbachir Kamaal Williams Kiasmos (DJ set) La La Mella Dee Merve Millú Mindy Meng Wang Moodymann Moontide Ensemble NO ZU Omar S Paramida Pjenné Roy Blues Roy Rosenfeld Roza Terenzi Sassy J Sebastien Leger Soju Gang SQL & Child Tamikrest The Pharcyde Tijuana Cartel Wayne Snow Strawberry Fields takes place at Tocumwal, New South Wales, from Friday, October 28–Sunday, October 30. Tickets go on sale at 9am on Friday, July 28 — head to the festival website for further details. Images: Duncographic.
Picking your favourite Coen brothers-directed movie is like choosing which of your pets you love most. It's tricky, bordering on impossible, and it's a task that no one should willingly take up. Also difficult: selecting which of the filmmaking siblings' flicks to go see on the big screen at Sydney's aptly titled Dude, It's a Coen Brothers Retrospective screening series. All cinephiles should abide with this lengthy season, which is taking place at the Ritz Cinema in Randwick from Thursday, January 14–Friday, June 4. After kicking off with Fargo across January 14–17, a different movie will play each week from Friday, February 5 — and, as far as picking what to watch goes, you're spoiled for choice. On the bill is everything from Raising Arizona and The Big Lebowski to No Country for Old Men and Inside Llewyn Davis. That means you can laugh at Nicolas Cage, crave white russians, watch multiple Oscar-winning flicks, and listen to Oscar Isaac croon folk tunes while taking care of a cat — and work your way through the likes of Blood Simple, Barton Fink, Burn After Reading and Hail, Caesar!, too. And if you haven't ever seen the glorious O Brother, Where Art Thou? on a big screen, that's something we definitely recommend fixing during the 18-title retro season. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VuQ8pz-5WLY
It's the most weird and wonderful time of the year — if you're a cinephile, that is. The annual Sydney Underground Film Festival is back for another round of showing audiences just what seeing movies in a darkened room is all about. Because when you're staring at a screen sans light, you may as well be watching something dark, odd or unusual to match the mood, really. From September 15 to 18, that's exactly what festival directors Katherine Berger and Stefan Popescu will serve up for their tenth edition. You don't reach that milestone without putting together a standout program — so if you're feeling understandably spoiled for choice, we've picked our top ten standouts from the very impressive 2016 lineup. WIENER-DOG Talk about kicking off SUFF 2016 in style. This year's festival all starts with the film Todd Solondz fans have been waiting 21 years to see: a follow-on from his 1995 favourite Welcome to the Dollhouse. None other than Greta Gerwig takes on the role of Dawn Wiener — and yes, a sausage-shaped canine also helps give the feature its name. Expect to also spot Julie Delpy, Danny DeVito and Zosia Mamet across the collection of four stories, and to enjoy Solondz's brand of black comedy while you're doing so. RICHARD LINKLATER — DREAM IS DESTINY You can be excused for hoping that Richard Linklater — Dream is Destiny features Matthew McConaughey, Julie Delpy, Ethan Hawke, Patricia Arquette and Jack Black walking and talking in a European city, driving around small-town America looking for parties, or captured every year for 12 years. It doesn't. However all three would prove fitting ways for this informative insider documentary to explore the films and impact of the director behind Dazed and Confused, the Before trilogy, Boyhood and Everybody Wants Some!!. DE PALMA If Richard Linklater's films aren't quite your style, then maybe Brian De Palma's vastly dissimilar output is. With a digitally remastered version of his pig's blood-soaked high school horror Carrie also screening at SUFF to celebrate its 40th anniversary, De Palma lets the iconic filmmaker chat through a career that also includes Scarface, The Untouchables, Carlito's Way, Mission:Impossible and Snake Eyes. And if that's not enough, it's also co-directed by Frances Ha and Mistress America's Noah Baumbach. THE LOVE WITCH The Love Witch has been popping up at film festivals around the country for months now, and for good reason, as folks in Brisbane and Melbourne already know. Writing, directing, editing and producing — and taking care of both the production and costume design as well — the multitalented Anna Biller not only pays homage to and subverts '70s sexploitation films (though she definitely does that as well). In addition, she crafts a film that merges and moulds her many influences into a brightly coloured tale of romance and sorcery that's completely her own. I AM NOT A SERIAL KILLER If the combination of Where the Wild Things Are's Max Records and Back to the Future's "Great Scott!"-exclaiming Christopher Lloyd doesn't pique your interest in the moody and mysterious I Am Not A Serial Killer, then the film's storyline definitely will. Playing a high school outcast who lives in a mortuary, the former starts trailing his seemingly frail neighbour after a spate of murders rock their small town. Favouring an '80s aesthetic like all the best horror throwbacks at the moment only increases the feature's appeal. ROOM FULL OF SPOONS No prizes for guessing what Room Full of Spoons is all about — or what type of plastic cutlery you should take with you to throw at the screen while you're watching it. After all, it was only a matter of time before someone made a doco about the so-bad-it's-still-actually-terrible cult hit that is The Room. Here, Rick Harper chats to the cast and crew that made the movie the uniquely awful (yet inexplicably enjoyable) piece of cinema that it is, complete with an appearance by the man who started it all, Tommy Wiseau. AAAAAAAAH! When we say that Aaaaaaaah! is mostly dialogue-free, we don't actually mean that it's a silent film. A cast that includes writer-director Steve Oram and The Mighty Boosh's Noel Fielding and Julian Barratt make plenty of noise, though don't expect to hear them utter any discernible words. The fact that their characters behave and communicate like primates — while still appearing human — is part of the feature's satirical comedy. This flick makes an absurdist statement alright, and it'll have you laughing in the process. THE VIRGIN PSYCHICS No one makes films like Sion Sono, the Japanese auteur behind previous SUFF hit Why Don't You Play in Hell? And few people make films as often as Sono, with the filmmaker's output as prolific as it is distinctive. With The Virgin Psychics — which is one of five films he made in 2015 — he really does tell the tale the title suggests, and in his expected out-there style. Yep, teen virgins wake up with special powers, put them to erotic use, and then strange things happen. Just try to resist this film with that description. ANTIBIRTH There's unexpected pregnancies, and then there's the seemingly immaculate conception at the centre of Antibirth. In Danny Perez's anti-family-friendly effort, Orange is the New Black's Natasha Lyonne plays a drug-addled party-lover who not only discovers that she's expecting, but comes to realise that her condition keeps doubling in size each and every day. Thankfully, Chloë Sevigny is on hand as her best buddy — though when alien conspiracy theories start coming up, expect things to get even weirder. THE BLACKOUT EXPERIMENTS If documentaries can explore subjects that some of us can't face in reality — or simply don't really want to — then underground film fests can give the darkest and strangest such efforts a big-screen home. Just don't head along to see The Blackout Experiments if the idea of attending an immersive theatre show in a secret location, and then having your deepest fears — such as being restrained, stripped naked, and physically and verbally abused, just for starters — inflicted upon you falls outside of your comfort zone. The Sydney Underground Film Festival runs from September 15 to 18. To view the full SUFF 2016 program, or to buy tickets, visit suff.com.au.
Pecha Kucha (ペãƒãƒ£ã‚¯ãƒãƒ£) is one of those great onomatopoeic phrases that pepper the Japanese language. It means chit-chat, and is the perfect way to describe a night based around just that. Pecha Kucha sprang from the minds of architects Astrid Klein and Mark Dytham in 2003 and works on the simple equation that presentations equalling 20 images x 20 seconds means less chance of getting unzari (fed up). Mainly the domain of designers — US-based Architect Magazine declared that nothing has been embraced so wholeheartedly by them since Apple and Moleskines — it has also been used by comedians (Joanna Lumley), Finnish philosophers and basically anyone wanting to avoid death by PowerPoint. Its Sydney branch is gearing up for a pow-wow of hubris and hub-bub this Thursday November 26th at the Red Rattler in Marrickville, with the likes of Damian Hadley (Simpson Design), the soupy suits from Food for Thought, Renew Newcastle’s Maddy Phelan, Thorsten Kulp (Sopp Collective), Keren Moran from design agency Spring in Alaska, jeweller Melinda Young and Penelope Benton who won’t have far to travel from the Red Rattler offices. So go along and paku paku (stuff) yourself on some fast ideas.
In 1950 a small town in New Mexico changed their name from Hot Springs to the title of a popular radio quiz show, Truth or Consequences. It was an attempt by the people of the town to put their name on the map (so to speak) and win the honour of becoming the town in which the show is broadcast. It’s an incredible story just begging for someone to write a play about it and thankfully someone did. Melbourne playwright Louris van de Geer has produced a script that, despite having no real plot, delivers fascinating and flawed characters. While there's a lack of clear message behind the play, it works brilliantly as a study of human existence and the extent to which people will go in order to be noticed. Hello There is exciting and engaging the whole way through due to flawless performances by all actors as well as a production design that complements the script perfectly. The set features pieces that are self consciously artificial — the houses, the dressing rooms, and the studio are all flexible and visibly fake. Combined with the presence of screens, projections, cameras and studio lighting there's a general sense of being watched in a location that eludes definition. Performances by all four actors (Don Bridges, Susie Dee, Genevieve Giuffre and Aaron Orzech) are impressive. Bridges and Dee bring moments of intensity, endearing honesty and dazzling artificiality whilst Giuffre and Orzech offer a refreshingly honest and high energy partnership. The performers carry the work and their understanding of the humour, as well as the darkness in the script, are a testament to the solid direction by Samara Hersch. The only failure of the play was the slightly underwhelming ending which unfortunately let the show fall a bit flat, despite being otherwise brilliant. Perhaps this is the downfall of a script with no recognisable storyline; there can be no grand eruption, no catharsis, and ultimately no consequence. However, in a work which focuses on the lives of those living for no real purpose other than fame, fortune or at the very least recognition, there can be no consequence — only truth. This show is appearing as part of Next Wave 2014. Check out our top picks of the festival here.
Conventional wisdom is that Fringe is your chance to see something truly, deeply weird that would never get a sniff of the main stage but might remind you of the brilliant range of human endeavour. The show to see, in that case, is Jude the Obscure, in which writer/performer Alice Williams plays Australian comedian Judith Lucy (see uncanny resemblance above), in space, in the the future, doing a catalogue of "little known material" from her oeuvre. Because Judith has been accepted into Mars One, of course. Jude the Obscure is on at PACT, which has curated its own lineup of seven Fringe shows, and, as usual, you can be guaranteed that any show you see there is compelling in its own, offbeat way. Among the picks are Animorphed by Applespiel's Simon Binns, in which he reflects on beloved childhood series Animorphs and whether his favourite character was a racist stereotype, and The Defence, a cerebral-fun look at August Strindberg and misogyny within the rehearsal room. Read the rest of our top ten picks of the Sydney Fringe Festival 2013.
Unrequited love isn't the nicest of feelings, so luckily Alt-J are as crazy about us as we are about them. Or maybe they're just waging bets on how many venues they can sell out in the space of 12 months. Whatever – they're coming back at around the same time as a certain mammoth festival taking place at Belongil Fields, meaning die-hard fans might have a chance to see them twice. The great thing about these guys is that they're incredibly easy to listen to while simultaneously sounding like nothing else you've ever heard before. "Indie rock" is an almost horrifically inadequate tag to attach to the quartet, whose jams are closer to subverted art rock blended up with folk, pop and brains. They're also perfectionists and put on a killer live show. Tickets for Alt-J go on sale Wednesday, 13 March at 9am via Ticketek. https://youtube.com/watch?v=rVeMiVU77wo
After critical accolades at the Next Wave festival in 2014 and an appearance at Brisbane's MELT festival, James Welsby's evocative dance production Hex is making its way to Sydney. Partly inspired by this controversial HIV/AIDS awareness ad from 1987, Welsby's show uses movement, music and allegorical imagery to chronicle the gay community's relationship with the devastating disease. To the tunes of Queen, Liberace and Michael Jackson, three dancers move fluidly through the gay scene of the early '80s, the onset of the AIDs crisis, all the way up to present day. In doing so, the hour-long show pays tribute to the countless lives lost to illness, while exploring its impact on young gay men today.
The luxury ocean liner the Empress of Australia has docked at the Bondi Pavillion as Tamarama Rock Surfers ushers in its most ambitious production of 2013. Following up on the award-winning success of last year’s I Want to Sleep with Tom Stoppard, Toby Schmitz brings us Empire: Terror on the High Seas, a nautical murder mystery featuring a 20-strong cast. Directed by Schmitz’s long-time collaborator Leland Kean, the production oozes 1920s swagger and jazzy interludes. As the play steadily ploughs through the Atlantic, an enticing narrative is woven as the characters attempt to uncover the identity of the macabre serial killer stalking the shadowy depths of the ship. Tackling the challenge of creating a post-colonial Australian story external to the great southern land, Schmitz and Kean combine forces to present an epic and gothic tale overflowing with frights, gags, flashy frocks and dinner suits. Don't miss what is sure to be an entertaining and tumultuous voyage.
Ever wanted to run away to the circus? You sure will after a night with these gymnasts. Sydney Festival has roped in the sell-out acrobatic ensemble Gravity & Other Myths for two weeks of truly breath-taking tricks in the Aurora Spiegeltent. They'll be doing stripped-back circus for A Simple Space — a show so primally daring that props and theming would just get in the way. Tumbling and twisting terrifyingly close to audiences, the acrobats will be teamed with a set of live musicians to top off this raw display of human strength and agility. Dangerous or daring, we can't decide. This is one performance to truly get the adrenaline pumping.
Tortuga Studios lies at the beginning of the non-trendy edge of the Inner West, at the very end of King St, where the restaurants and homeware boutiques give way to an industrial zone pocketed with little explosions of culture every block or so. It may look like every other anonymous building on the Prince Highway, but behind Tortuga’s facade is a multi-level maze of studios which a very active, very committed collection of artists call their workplace. Ever wondered where those glorious wheely bin sound systems you see at street parties come from? Yep, Tortuga. And there are dozens more industrious artists and designers whose work you’ll be able to see next time Tortuga opens its doors to the public for its group show Analog. The show will explore the divide between the uniform perfection of digitalisation against the timeless appeal of the clicking clock hands, passing frames of celluloid film and the handmade painted portrait Just as vinyl- and book-lovers are resisting digitalisation, Tortuga is an artist’s community holding on to its own grassroots. This night of art and live music from over thirty local artists is our chance to be part of it. The exhibition continues until July 22. Image by por chamelo.
This month, Three Blue Ducks is expanding on its passion for sustainability, kicking off a welcome initiative that's a win for both the planet and for your wallet. On the last Friday of each month, the group's Bronte outpost is shouting free coffee to anyone who brings in their own reusable cup. This will start tomorrow — Friday, May 25 — and the deal's on offer all day too, from 6.30am until 3pm. If you haven't yet jumped onto the reusable cups train, this is the perfect opportunity. During each of these free coffee Fridays, Three Blue Ducks will be selling its own KeepCups at a discounted rate of $15 a pop, instead of the usual $25. Score yourself a free cuppa and reduce your plastic footprint? There is seriously no losing there.
Dinner and a movie: it's a classic for a reason. Take the magic of a good film on the big screen, add the deliciousness of a tasty meal and you've got a time-honoured, tried-and-tested date night on your hands. Throw in DJs, your doggo, dessert as your main dish and more, and you have more than just an ace dinner and a movie date for you and your significant other — you have a night at American Express Openair Cinemas. Until Wednesday, December 20 at Cadigal Green at Sydney Uni, movie-loving couples can enjoy the kind of outdoor cinema experience you don't get every day, even in a city that loves watching films under the stars. Whether you're both in the festive mood, want to bond over cerebral sci-fi or can't pass up one of the most romantic movies of the last year, there's something on the lineup for every couple. What's more, we've got ten double passes to give away, so you can see a film for free (free frosé in hand) and use that extra cash on some of the tasty eats available at the outdoor cinema. Below, we've selected five of our favourite date night combos from the hefty program. Who says that dinner and a movie is boring? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pdqf4P9MB8 CHASE STARRY DREAMS WITH YOUR DATE AND YOUR DOG It famously didn't win best picture at this year's Oscars, despite Warren Beatty first announcing otherwise. That's okay, though; as well as a few other trophies, La La Land also won plenty of hearts. Starring Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone as two dream-chasing lovers trying to make it big in Los Angeles, the visually stunning, emotionally engrossing musical fast became a romantic favourite. And, under the vibrant direction of Whiplash's Damien Chazelle, it also proved perfect date night material. If that's not enough to get you swooning (and, pairing Sydney's starry sky with its Californian counterpart really should be), then add some more love by bringing your pet pupper along. Three isn't a crowd when you're at an outdoor cinema with your favourite person in the world and your number one doggo. And even if you find yourself dateless, your pooch can sub in — because there's no greater love than the unconditional feels you have for your fur baby. Your cute canine can also grab their own pawfect picnic platter and couch, plus some dog doughnuts from Darby's Dog Bakery and Deli. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ue80QwXMRHg PAIR SUPERHERO FUN WITH SOME THUMPING BEATS The Thor films have long been the goofy but cool sibling in the now 17-strong Marvel Cinematic Universe. You know the type: offbeat, amusing and always marching to the beat of their own drum. Throw What We Do in the Shadows and Hunt for the Wilderpeople's Taika Waititi into the director's chair for the third flick, and Thor: Ragnarok was always going to be a blast. Gloriously entertaining in 80s-esque space opera-style — not to mention sidesplittingly funny — the return of the hammer-throwing god really doesn't disappoint. Indeed, it's the type of movie that makes you want to celebrate — and how better than at Openair's Friday night sessions? When the working week is done, live DJs will provide a pre-movie soundtrack (expect Led Zeppelin's Immigrant Song to feature), and you can also win the best seats in the house. You know, where they'd seat Chris Hemsworth if he went along. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mq4m3yAoW8E EAT DESSERT FOR DINNER WHILE SOLVING A MYSTERY Something a little unusual is going on at American Express Openair Cinemas, and only two people can get to the bottom of it. Hercule Poirot is one of them. The monocle-wearing Belgian detective is back for a new big screen adventure in the Kenneth Branagh-directed and -starring Murder on the Orient Express, and he has quite the case to investigate. And while Agatha Christie's famous character pieces together clues on a stranded locomotive in snowy climes — with the likes of Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz, Willem Dafoe and Judi Dench along for the ride — you can solve another mystery. If your sweet treat-loving self would rather skip the whole dinner part of a meal and go straight to dessert, American Express Openair Cinemas and Salt Meats Cheese have the answer. The latter will be serving up cheesecake on a stick in Nutella, sprinkle-covered, vanilla and violet, and fruit-topped New York-style varieties. Which one will you pick? That's yet another puzzle. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZOaI_Fn5o4 SEND YOUR TASTE BUDS TO ITALY AND YOUR MIND TO THE FUTURE For the past 35 years, two questions have troubled sci-fi fans: do androids dream of electric sheep? And could a Blade Runner sequel ever live up to the original? With Blade Runner 2049 releasing this year courtesy of Sicario and Arrival director Denis Villeneuve, we can finally answer the latter. Yes, yes it can — with Ryan Gosling joining the replicant-tracking fold, Harrison Ford back doing what he does best and a mind-bending onslaught of astonishing visuals as well. It's a cerebral trip of a film in the best possible way, and while it's sending your brain to futuristic places, your taste buds can head in another direction. That'd be Italy, courtesy of Salt Meats Cheese's signature truffle pecorino pasta. Actually, as you're feasting on cheesy truffle pasta tossed through a wheel of truffle pecorino and finished with a grating of extra truffle pecorino — and after catching a pre-film pizza acrobatics class too — you'll probably feel like you're in heaven. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gW9wRNqQ_P8 FEEL GOOD WITH A CHRISTMAS CLASSIC (AND HELP OTHERS AT THE SAME TIME) It's the most wonderful time of the year, which means spreading cheer by singing loudly for all to hear and watching Elf are at the top of everyone's Christmas to-do lists. Whether you've seen the Will Ferrell and Zooey Deschanel-starring feel-good film a thousand times, or haven't watched it for years, a repeat viewing under the Sydney sky is certain to get you in the seasonal mood. Admit it: there's something kind of hilarious about seeing a grown man galavanting around NYC in an elf costume. And if the scene where Ferrell's character DIY's the whole Christmas corner in the department store leaves you inspired, American Express Openair Cinemas has you set up to have your own crafty session. Head to the crafty corner with your date to get hands-on at a macrame, knitting or other creative masterclasses. Grab some frosés from the bar, and you've got a great kidult date to very kidult film. [competition]650006[/competition] American Express Openair Cinemas runs until Wednesday, December 20 at Sydney Uni's Cadigal Green.
Simple, short and often filthy. The Sexes Festival’s accompanying exhibition, created by Performance Space, is an absorbing series of meditations along the sidelines of sex, with occasional excursions into the priapic. The most obviously theoretical piece is a five track sound installation in the foyer, Like a Prayer (Justify my Love) by Jess Olivieri and Parachutes for Ladies, which sings simultaneously in operatic swoon, bassy refrain and solemn thinking, reflecting on gay marriage and gender. Paul Knight’s (NSFW) Falling Sideways from the Chamber Music series (NSFW) makes a similar point less directly. It’s the most explicit piece in the show and also the most casually intimate. Falling Sideways a slide show of random moments from a relationship (in fact, it is Paul Knight’s own.) There are slides of plated food, scrabble games and intimate sex between two naked blokes. The piece would be essentially pornographic, but the inclusion of fish and chips, scrabble boards and random embraces mean it feel like rifling through a couple’s intimate snaps. Moments of sex, moments of relaxation. Each are given equal weight. Each reflects equally the love in the relationship. A soundtrack pulses in the room, like a heartbeat. Luke Parker and Sangeeta Sandrasegar’s Exquisite Corpse uses the classic dada art game to make body collages whose appealing frankenart arrives at mismatched, serpentine forms which snap together into Beardsley-curve shapes. Around the corner, Tracey Moffatt and Gary Hillberg collect big screen films with couples from different ethnicities getting it on in Other. The videos cut between films like Mutiny on the Bounty, Interview with the Vampire and the King and I. Dance, travel and passion are all nearly interweaved with a rising bass soundtrack suggesting looming drama or disaster. Which, most likely, rests in the viewer’s opinion of colonialism, orientalism and/or sincere shagging. In the foyer Cigdem Aydemir’s artistic series of progressively more absurd objects draped in niquabs reaches its z-axis apogee as an entire belt drive system (aka a Carriageworks corridor) gets cocooned in black for Site Occupied 2. A pair of eyes peek out from above the corridor mouth, luring you to wander down its enveloping walls. Hook around the loos at the end, and look out for Philip Brophy’s video triptych Stadium on the way back. Afternoon live art performances will take place in situ throughout the season. Check the program for details. The show is open 10-6, 10-8 on evenings of performances. Image shows Glitterface by Liam Benson.
A Paddington pub has today joined a long list of venues, shops, gyms and public transport routes across Sydney that have been linked to positive COVID-19 cases in recent weeks. At a press conference today, Wednesday, September 2, Dr Kerry Chant said that Sydneysiders who visited the downstairs area of the Four in Hand Pub on Sutherland Street for more that two hours between 6.30–10pm on Wednesday, August 26, should immediately get tested and self-isolate for 14 days. If you visited the pub between those times, but dined only in the upstairs area or for less than two hours, you should monitor for symptoms and get tested if you develop even a sniffle. The announcement comes as the state records 17 new cases in the 24 hours up to 8pm on Tuesday, September 1, with eight of those linked to the CBD cluster, which now includes a total of 49 cases. https://www.facebook.com/NewSouthWalesHealth/photos/a.232420926957256/1386868234845847/?type=3&theater Dr Chant also announced that Sydneysiders who visited Metro Fuel Greystanes, Big Bun in Merrylands, Carslaw Building University of Sydney Camperdown toilets and Stockland Merrylands at various times across Thursday, August 27 and Friday, August 28 should also monitor for symptoms. The NSW Health continues to update its long list of venues and public transport routes associated with positive COVID-19 cases over at its website. With cases confirmed across a number of suburbs, NSW Health is asking anyone who lives in or has visited the following areas in the past 14 days to get tested if they have any symptoms: Bankstown, Cumberland, Fairfield, Ku-ring-gai, Liverpool, Mt Druitt, Parramatta, Randwick, Sutherland, Sydney, Waverley, Willoughby and Woollahra. As has been the advice for months now, those with symptoms — coughs, fever, sore or scratchy throat, shortness of breath or loss of smell or taste — are encouraged to get tested and self-isolate while awaiting results. You can find out closest testing clinic over here. For more information about the status of COVID-19 in NSW, head to the NSW Health website.
Hankering after a dose of wellness, but lacking the time and money to escape to a fancy country retreat? Despair not. Across the weekend of June 16 and 16, a bunch of free winter wellness sessions — including yoga and meditation classes — will be taking place right here in Sydney, at the stunning Wylie's Baths in Coogee. Led by instructors from Yogarama, the event gives you a chance to quieten your mind, relax your body, breathe in fresh salty air and soak up epic ocean views, all without travelling more than a few kilometres and without spending a cent. On Saturday, there'll be morning yoga flow and mindfulness at 7:30am, followed by hatha flow yoga at 9am and meditation and hatha yoga at 10:30am. The next day, arrive at 7:30am for mat pilates, then hatha flow yoga and meditation at 9am. Online registration is essential.
It’s a universal truth that ‘big things’ are generally better than small things. Consider oversized board games, for example, the main attraction at Games Central, the newest reason to visit The Rocks in your downtime. Arena Calcetto helped Sydneysiders recover from Australia’s World Cup defeat and the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority know a good thing when they see one. For five weeks, expect bigger crowds than usual at The Rocks Square as a program firmly planted in fun takes over the tourist hub with giant-sized versions of classic games like Snakes and Ladders, ping-pong, Jenga and fail-proof people-pleaser foosball. Games Central is on from noon – 3pm on Tues - Thu from September 2-18 and on Mon - Fri from September 22-26 (school holidays).
It's cherry blossom season and Ultimo's Oh Matcha is getting into the swing of things with $1 sakura soft serves for three hours on Thursday, August 11. From 5–8pm on the day, patrons will be able to pick up a bright-pink mini soft serve made with sakura cherry blossom powder and topped with match powder and edible flowers. While this promotion is only available for three hours, the limited-time flavour will be available from Oh Matcha throughout August in both soft serve and sundae form. The first 100 customers to visit Oh Matcha on Thursday, August 11 will also be given a free dessert voucher, with the store slinging over $1000 worth of vouchers over the course of the day. While you're there, you can also pick yourself up a black sesame or matcha float, a hot matcha latte or choose from a range of cakes. To stay up to date with all of the cherry blossom celebrations, follow Oh Matcha on Instagram.
Throwing axes: yay or nay? Unsurprisingly, hurling hatches is the type of activity that probably has you leaning one way or another. Curious about giving it a go, but haven't gotten around to hitting up Sydney's Maniax in Marrickville? Let Winterfest tempt you in. This one-afternoon-only event is all about coming along and trying — and it'll let you get chucking weapons for cheap. From 12–5pm on Sunday, August 6, Maniax is doing 15-minute sessions for just $15 per person. Already sent a few Maniax blades flying in the past? You can still head on over to score some cheap entertainment for the afternoon. For the uninitiated, Maniax gives you the chance to very safely throw a hunk of sharpened steel attached to a handle, and compete with your partner and/or friends to see who has the most Viking blood coursing through them. Sling those axes, sink a bullseye, then calm down after all the hatchet-lobbing excitement with a drink. To assist with the latter, Winterfest is doing pizza-and-beer deals for two for $30, too.
While the extended sunny days and warm temperatures may seem like a gift, in truth the region is also experiencing one of the most severe droughts on record. Two years on and the drought in rural New South Wales and Greater Sydney shows no sign of slowing — so the NSW Government is taking action and placing the city on enforced water restrictions for the first time in almost decade. They'll come into effect this Saturday, June 1, with the level one restrictions affecting both residents and businesses in Sydney, the Blue Mountains and the Illawarra. Last month recorded one of the lowest April rainfalls in 16 years and Sydney is currently seeing some of the lowest inflows into dams since the 1940s. The immediate future isn't looking too promising, either, with the BOM predicting below-average rainfall and higher temperatures throughout winter. Greater Sydney's dam levels, at time of publication, were sitting at 53.4 percent. While water restrictions are usually automatically triggered when levels dip below 50 percent, the NSW Government has introduced them early to help protect Sydney's water supply from drought conditions. So what does this mean for Sydneysiders day-to-day? At the current restriction level, you can still water your garden and lawn with a watering can — or you can use a trigger nozzle hose, but only before 10am or after 4pm. Use of standard sprinkler systems are a big no-no, though. You can also wash your car and garbage bins, but only with a bucket or trigger nozzle hose. You also can't clean pathways, driveways or other paved areas with a hose. Here's the full list of what you can and can't do at this stage. While fines for not following restrictions range from $220–550, there is a three-month grace period. Fines will commence on September 1. The last time water restrictions were enforced in Sydney was in 2003 (lasting till 2009) during the Millennium Drought. At one point, Sydney's total water supply dropped to a historic low of 33.9%. Level one water restrictions for Sydney, the Blue Mountains and the Illawarra kick off on Saturday, June 1. To find out more about what you can and can't do, head to the Sydney Water website. To stay up-to-date with the state's dam levels and the ongoing drought, keep an eye on WaterNSW website and Twitter.
Singer-songwriter Gregory Alan Isakov is a bit of an anomaly in the music world. Despite his success in music (he has clocked over 300 million streams on Spotify), Isakov still spends as much time as possible on his land, sewing seeds, growing crops and recording in his home studio. It's a testament to Colorado's beauty — the US state is famous for its vast prairies, rugged mountains and tumbling waterfalls. It's also a musical paradise, with 360 festivals held every year. And we want you to experience all that this state has to offer. So, to celebrate Isakov's upcoming Australian tour, we're giving away a trip to his homeland. For five days, you and a mate will get to explore some incredible scenery, plus see Isakov live in concert at the legendary Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Denver. This epic prize, worth a cool $5596, includes return flights to Denver, Colorado, three nights in a loft-style room in lower-downtown hotel The Maven, tickets to Isakov's show and a bunch of other local adventures — all thanks to Visit Denver. Next up, thanks to Colorado Tourism Office, you'll have two days of free exploration around Colorado with a rental car and accommodation in a town of your choice (within two hours' drive of Denver). And if you don't land the main prize, we also have tickets to give away to his concert here in Sydney on Saturday, March 16. Enter with your details below for a chance to win. [competition]708847[/competition] Image: Colorado Josh.
In what might just be one of the hottest collabs to hit Sydney this season, Cafe Kitsuné has taken up residency in Surry Hills, joining forces with a slew of local talent to deliver one very tasty, super stylish pop-up. With previous instalments in Tokyo, Paris and Seoul, the cafe concept from cult French fashion label Maison Kitsuné has finally hit Australia, making its home at Surry Hills cafe Artificer from November 28 to December 21. Australian fashion retailer Incu is co-helming this local iteration: a part cafe, part retail space showcasing the Café Kitsuné collection of tableware, ready-to-wear threads and accessories in Australia for the first time. The drinks list will feature a range of Café Kitsuné classics, including coffee made on the label's own beans, iced yuzu and the signature iced matcha latte. To match, you'll find sweet treats from some Sydney favourites — think, Mango Yuzu Cheese by Black Star Pastry a limited-edition Gelato Messina Green Tea-ramisu and assorted delights from Brickfields Bakery. Cafe Kitsuné x Incu is open from 7am–3pm Tuesday–Friday and 8am–1pm Saturday and Sunday.
The reinvigorated Sydney Festival has completely transformed our city in summer (note the flagpoles which every year proclaim just that) and it’s made Sydney a truly amazing place to be in January. The whole city is turned into a summer wonderland, there's something amazing to do every single night, and people flood the Domain to see sophisticated performances while merrily sipping beer, cider, goon or all three. But mostly what the Sydney Festival does is bring us some truly spectacular performers — Sufjan Stevens, Grizzly Bear, Emmylou Harris, Camera Obscura and this year's headliner, PJ Harvey — whose artistic merit is second only to their ability to entertain. The Sydney Festival now has a total audience of about 1 million, making it the most attended cultural event in Australia. Every year the festival grows and improves, and with the state government recently giving the festival a heap of cash to extend their program, it makes the prospects for this summer's partying very exciting indeed. Take a closer look at what makes our shortlist of must-sees and -dos in the musical, theatrical and artistic sides of Sydney Festival 2012.
C'mere little one, come join Papa in this little dark corner and let him play some smokey tunes for you. You like it, don't you, darling, there's a base note of romance here – that's right – but surely an innocent face like yours shouldn't smile at the hint of all those dirty, grinding gypsy highlights...Oh, but it does?Well, if you want more my poppet, come follow all the other children into the dark as we make our way to that old church of sin and joy, The Red Rattler. Swing or sway, my love, just move to the dreamy melodies of my dear brethren, The Barons of Tang, and bid farewell to all those dull mornings forever from now.AND THEN ROCK, sweetheart, because the Barons have dragon blood too, don't forget, and its fire will turn your heart to toast. So let's eat toast together, dear one: you, me, the Barons, the Crooked Fiddle Band, Captain Kickarse and the Awesomes. I promise there'll be a delicious spread.Don't worry kids - if you miss this gig, the Barons of Tang are also playing as part of the Verge Arts Festival!The Dogs of Rotterdam from Verb Studios on Vimeo.
It's safe to say Gami Chicken and Beer has secured its status as one of Melbourne's go-to fried chicken joints, slinging its signature, Korean-style chook from 12 locations across the city. Now, it's taking on Sydney, having opened the doors to its first NSW store, within Central Park Mall. And to celebrate its arrival, Gami is giving Sydneysiders a few very good reasons to jump on board, handing out a whopping 1600 pieces of its boneless fried chicken — for free. These fried chicken morsels — RSPCA-approved and rocking Gami's signature blend of 17 herbs and spices — will be up for grabs from noon–12.30pm and again from 5.30–6pm, on both Monday, June 11 and Tuesday, June 12 at the new location. The chain has yet to mention any restrictions, such as one piece per person, so we suggest heading in with an empty stomach. Once you're hooked, you're probably going to want to schedule a return visit pretty quick, to try other Gami favourites like the chicken spare ribs, the vegetarian chicken and the aptly named Potato Heaven, featuring three layers of cheesy potato goodness. Gami's fried chicken giveaway will run from noon–12.30pm and again from 5.30–6pm on both Monday, June 11, and Tuesday, June 12, at its new Central Park Mall location.
Laurie Anderson's vibrant career has seen her successfully transform the troubadour from that of a medieval minstrel into a captivating, artistic mastery. Weaving stories and unearthly music, Anderson is able to transplant powerful emotions into the hearts of her audience, without falling into the trap of sentimentalism. Driven by her peculiar wit, fascinating life experiences and collection of invented instruments, Anderson's work can hardly be contained in a single, retrospective performance. Newcomers to her work can best use this night as an index card and follow its promises back into the rich productions of Anderson's past. Long-term fans will enjoy this event as a milestone — a point of reference for what is to come. If you don't have the opportunity to see many events during the Vivid Festival, Transitory Life should definitely be the one you make. Image by Kevin Kennefick. https://youtube.com/watch?v=rY7uTO_GuDg
O Week used to be about getting bullied into signing up for societies you never wanted to join. But UTS' O'Fest wants to do things just a little differently. For starters, it's a music festival rather than just a dull sounding week. But more importantly, they've managed to score some of the best Aussie acts of the moment. This isn't your usual first week of uni. And for all of those under 18's looking for an all ages gig — this is for you. Now for the name dropping — Midnight Juggernauts, Hermitude, Parachute Youth, New Navy, Ajax, Zoe Badwi, Elizabeth Rose, Grey Ghost, Panama, Purple Sneakers DJs, Luke Million, Pluto Jonze, Tokyo Denmark Sweden, Tyler Touche, Willow Beats, DJ Knife, Elliot The Bull, Canecutter, Rabz, and Ben Talbot-Wright. Phew. This is Back to the Future Festival. Bring your best '80s getup (not required, but what the hey) because "yeah, well, history is gonna change." https://youtube.com/watch?v=hkCbTNQ4yQg
By this stage, you're probably looking for some post-winter fun to set your sights on and see you through the worst of the chilly season. Well, the New South Wales town of Berry is dishing up just the thing, all thanks to the inaugural South Coast Food and Wine Festival this September. The culinary fiesta runs from Friday, September 13 till Sunday, September 15, showcasing some of the best eats, drinks and produce the region has to offer — all across a jam-packed program of masterclasses, tastings, feasts and parties. Meet the producers and sample their wares at a special edition of the Berry Markets, or embark on one of the guided food and wine tours. There'll be cooking demonstrations running throughout both Saturday and Sunday, as well as live tunes and DJ sets to enjoy as you graze your way through the Festival Village, with its array of food pop-ups and tasting stalls. Looking for a tasty sit-down experience? On Saturday, September 14, you can do just that. Settle into the festival's signature Long Lunch — a six-course feast by Wild Ginger Head Chef Kierrin McKnight, featuring local produce matched to local beers and wine.
Bondi institution Icebergs Dining Room and Bar is finally set to reopen its doors this August, and owner Maurice Terzini is celebrating in true style with a week-long, music-filled extravaganza. Icebergs' Dinner + Show offering will take over the dining room for five nights between Saturday, August 1 and Saturday, August 8. Expect a menu of the restaurant's greatest hit dishes alongside a top-notch music lineup — and some of the best views in Sydney. Entertainment highlights include an unplugged rock set by Delta Riggs' Elliott Hammond and Michael 'Monte' Tramonte, a dance blowout by Sneaky Sound System and a night of blues and soul with Mahalia Barnes. Also taking the stage through the week is operatic duo Anna Dowsley and Jonathan Abernethy. Icebergs' resident DJs Kali, Charlie Chux, Pink Lloyd, Dreamcatcher and Michelle Owen will also play each lunch sitting from 1pm. On the food side of things, Head Chef Alex Prichard will be serving up a seven-course menu, starting with a beef tartare mixed tableside and a blue swimmer crab risotto. Then, there's a choice of mains: a pan-roasted blue eye trevalla or the restaurant's signature salt-crusted boneless rib eye. The meal will finish with two courses of sweets, including a honey and mandarin pavlova and a selection of petit fours to finish up. If that isn't enough, the kitchen will also offer additional 'greatest hits' menu items, which can be purchased separately on the day. Think freshly shucked oysters, a caviar selection served with Pepe Saya crème fraîche, whole lobster spaghetti and optional black truffle shavings. Additional drinks can also be added to the bill, with a special wine menu on the docket from August 1 through September 30 that's dedicated to showcasing NSW's 14 wine regions. The Dinner + Show set will cost $240 each, with a special gift included. Both lunch and dinner sittings must be pre-purchased here.
One of the most beautiful things about photography is its ability to capture the emotion present in magical meetings and moments time, and to allow us, the audience, to share in those experiences in an intimate way despite being neither personally involved nor present at that moment. A series of such powerful images were captured by Turkish-born Australian photographer/photojournalist Vedat Acikalin on the 75th Anniversary of the battle at Gallipoli in World War 1. We are all aware to some degree of the moving story of the brave ANZACS and Turkish soldiers fighting on the Gallipoli Peninsula, but these photographs convey a more personal story of the men who fought there and the incomprehensible bond that they formed, no matter which side they were on all those years ago, through their shared experiences of war. The images tell the story of these men meeting, remembering and mourning, and most interestingly finding solace and friendship in yesterday’s enemies. Vedat grew up in Turkey and later moved to Australia and the duality of perspective this has afforded him is perfectly conveyed in the images he has produced. This is loving stuff.
If you're feeling especially expensive and swanky this New Year's Eve, then Guillaume may have a suitable option for you and that special someone. This restaurant is run by the esteemed Guillaume Brahimi, who offers Australian cuisine with a twist from our friends in France. On New Year's Eve, canapes and drinks are only the beginning, as guests will then be treated to a seven course degustation menu with wines. Furthermore, located at the Opera House, this restaurant experience will be coupled with an equally memorable view of the fireworks. Make sure you have your finest tuxedo on for this luxurious menu from a real-life masterchef.
Thursday 3 March is a day I won’t easily forget. Rarely labeled a sentimental soul, I am not one for remembering somewhat arbitrary or trivial dates. And while I don’t think that this is about to change, Marc Hundley’s opening at Darren Knight Gallery won’t quickly be filtered out like all the other detritus. Canadian born, but Brooklyn based, Hundley has created a niche aesthetic that is all his own. Though perhaps not as conceptually minded as On Kawara, Hundley has developed a means by which to add permanency to otherwise ephemeral events. His collaboration with Sinisa Mackovic and Robert Milne from the wonderful Rainoff seems furtive and destined. All seem endeavoured to act as saviours of materiality. While Hundley’s works appropriate the aesthetics and mediums of protest paraphernalia, it is worth noting that perhaps the protest is not against a tangible foe, but in an attempt to sustain the utilisation of these methods, in the face of the ubiquitous digital revolution. As always, Rainoff have curated a stylised exhibition, which looks and feels great. Mackovic’s text perfectly contextualises and complements Hundley’s works. And if none of this sounds up your alley, but you love The Smiths, then head along to see new life breathed into the eternal lyrics of Morrisey, Marr and the gang. Image: Installation View, Marc Hundley
Enjoying a glass of wine might come with plenty of medical benefits, but having a tipple isn't typically an exercise-heavy pastime. You sit. You drink. You get up, top up your beverage and repeat. You usually don't walk particularly far, let alone run. Then came the Grapest 5K run, a series of wine-tasting fun runs that kicked off around Australia in 2017. Asking participants to put in the hard yards before getting some boozy rewards, it was such a hit that it's coming back for yet another round in 2019. How does it work? Grapest consists of two sections. First, you sprint, jog or set forth at whatever pace suits you best, making your way through scenic vineyard surroundings. Then, you walk another kilometre — yes, in addition to the first five, or ten if you're feeling extra energetic — while stopping at tasting stations along the way and sampling the good stuff. The latter part, they're calling a "wine waddle". Don't worry, if you're not up to the active stuff and you're simply keen on wandering and sipping, that's an option (although it does defeat the idea of combining fitness with throwing back drinks). The next event at Lake George Winery on Saturday, September at Lake George Winery, which is halfway between Canberra and Goulburn. Updated: September 19, 2019.
There hasn't been much that's great about the past couple of years, but a big shift in the film festival scene is worth celebrating. Every cinephile would like to spend all their time watching movies — and, not only seeing them on their favourite big screens, but hitting up every film fest possible. Alas, sometimes non-cinema reality gets in the way. Thankfully, after hopping online during the pandemic, plenty of film festivals are keeping their digital programs — so if you can't go in-person because you're busy, unwell, live in another part of the country of whatever other reason applies, you can still join in the fun. In 2022, Sydney Underground Film Festival is one such event, with its virtual festival running from Monday, September 12–Sunday, September 25. Sydneysiders can attend the physical fest on the weekend prior first, and everyone can stream along for the virtual fest's two-week run. For those watching at home, SUFF's online program includes queer Canadian drama Compulsus, horror/sci-fi film LandLocked, and an impressive range of documentaries — such as F@k This Job, about Russian TV channel Dozhd and its founder Natasha Sindeeva; Girl Gang, which follows a 14-year-old London influencer; the self-explanatory Nightclubbing: The Birth of Punk Rock in NYC; Mike Mignola: Drawing Monsters, about the Hellboy creator; and Circus of the Scars, about sideshow performers. And, SUFF's dedication to the most out-there shorts the fest can compile will also hit screens via the virtual lineup.
Usually, if you'd like to tuck into Butter's fried chicken-heavy menu, you need to wait until the day has really started to kick into gear. First thing in the morning isn't normally the time to indulge your chook, sneakers and champagne urges — or ramen, when that's on the eatery chain's list. That's changing for a brief period, however, all thanks to Butter's new limited-time breakfast menu. It's only available on weekends, and only until Sunday, August 1. If you'd like to try the chain's version of an egg muffin, though, you'll want to make a date with its brekkie lineup ASAP. The Butter breakfast range is available from 9.30am–12pm Saturdays and Sundays, although it's a get-in-quick affair — because only a limited number of dishes will be made at each store each weekend. Well, we say dishes, but there's really just one star of the show: the Egg Thot Muffin. It comes with scrambled egg, kombu-glazed caramelised onions, salted chilli mayo, Japanese barbecue sauce, fried egg, cheese and fine herbs, as stacked between two halves of a sourdough English muffin. You can add to your muffin, and to your order, too. So, make some room for hash browns, bacon, fried chicken thigh, a fried field mushroom and fried halloumi as well. Butter's stores in Surry Hills, Parramatta and Chatswood are all serving up the new brekkie additions, and they'll be doing the brand's regular menu from 11am on weekends also. While Sydney is in lockdown, obviously all orders are takeaway and delivery only. In fact, if you order via Butter's own delivery platform and use the code BUTTERLOVE, you'll get 15 percent off all orders over $40. Butter's weekend breakfast menu is available from 9.30am–12pm each Saturday and Sunday until Sunday, August 1 at Butter Surry Hills, Parramatta and Chatswood. For further details, head to the Butter website.
#FOMO is a group art show that seeks to answer the age-old question: why can’t we just stay at home on a Saturday night watching reruns of Friends with our simple, earthly possessions and without the pangs of social unease? Artereal Gallery have taken it upon themselves to appropriate the social ill and, in #FOMO, have extended the phenomenon past the fear of missing out on social events, to missing out on owning and consuming artwork. It’s good timing for Artereal Gallery too: ‘FOMO’ has been bandied around for a few years now, but everyone’s favourite acronym really reached internet slang stardom when it was officially included in the Oxford Dictionary alongside words like michelada, omnishambles and selfie (no link needed). #FOMO curator Rhianna Walcott has chosen four emerging and established artists from Sydney to exhibit their FOMO-related art, including performance artist Liam Benson, Criena Court, Tully Arnot and Louise Zhang. Not to be missed. Seriously.
No longer just the realms of Monica Trapaga residencies and kiddie-aimed pantomimes, Twilight at Taronga — the after-hours live music series that boasts perhaps the best view of Sydney Harbour as well as lots of adorable animals — has proven they've got some real cred when it comes to hosting outdoor gigs in the past few years. After all, they got Courtney Barnett to open the series last year — and this summer, they're back with a brand new lineup playing spesh live sets every weekend from Friday, January 27 through Saturday, March 11. Considering it includes the likes of Kurt Vile and Tegan and Sara and then Killing Heidi and george, it's probably their most diverse yet. Yep, this year there's a definite throwback to late '90s/early '00s Australian music, with both Killing Heidi and george playing reunion shows, Jet making an appearance, and The Living End playing a 'stripped back' show with a string quartet. Random. In a complete 180, Kurt Vile will casually grace the stage on March 3, and Canada's Tegan and Sara are sure to draw some hardcore fans. Also taking over the lawns of Taronga Zoo's fully-licensed natural amphitheatre will be the likes of The Rubens, Martha Wainwright, Ball Park Music, The Jungle Giants and Teenage Fanclub. Plus, you can dag it up with ABBA tribute act Bjorn Again, who will be once again returning for two nights due to popular demand after the last two years. The feathered, furred and finned have plenty to choose from this summer. Plus, all proceeds from Twilight at Taronga go back into the zoo's ongoing conservation work with Wildlife Witness to help fight against illegal wildlife trade. Picnic-bringing is encouraged, but there'll also be incredibly delicious hampers available onsite — we tasted them, they're extremely generous and genuinely great. There's a bar on-site, and general nosh available from the canteen. Either way, it's actually the one of the best dates in Sydney — lock those tickets down. TWILIGHT AT TARONGA 2017 LINEUP Friday 27 January – PETER GARRETT & THE ALTER EGOS and KEV CARMODY Saturday 28 January – JO JO ZEP & THE FALCONS and THE SPORTS Friday 3 February – THE RUBENS supported by Bec Sandridge Saturday 4 February – KILLING HEIDI supported by Abbe May Friday 10 February – KASEY CHAMBERS supported by Thelma Plum Saturday 11 February – BALL PARK MUSIC and THE JUNGLE GIANTS Thursday 16 February – JET with special guests Friday 17 February – george supported by Felix Riebl (Cat Empire) and Jack Carty Saturday 18 February – JAMES MORRISON BIG BAND Friday 24 February – BJÖRN AGAIN Saturday 25 February – BJÖRN AGAIN Friday 3 March – KURT VILE (US) supported by Mick Turner Saturday 4 March – THE LIVING END 'TWANGIN' AT TWILIGHT' featuring special guests, supported by Gabriella Cohen Thursday 9 March – TEGAN AND SARA (CAN) with special guests Friday 10 March – TEENAGE FANCLUB (UK) supported by The Goon Sax Saturday 11 March – MARTHA WAINWRIGHT (CAN) supported by Oh Pep! Twilight at Taronga will return to Taronga Zoo from January 27 until March 11. Tickets go on sale at 9am on Tuesday, October 25 at twilightattaronga.org.au. By Lauren Vadnjal and Shannon Connellan. Image: Maclay Heriot.
Castle Hill's newly opened Fire and Brimstone wants to teach you the tricks of the trade — the 'low and slow' barbecue trade — when it hosts its one-off masterclass this week. The class will be run by the venue's pro-pitmaster Brad Shorten, who will team up with Sydney's award-winning competition team Badass BBQ, and will include how to prepare, cook and taste competition-worthy meats. The one-night smoked meats lesson will take place this Wednesday, October 31 from 6.30pm. For $99 per person, patrons will learn how to create champion slow-cooked beef brisket and pork ribs, then will get to eat them. And, since the venue also doubles as a bourbon bar, the masterclass eats will be paired with fine whiskies and craft beer, all included in the ticket price.
Who says art and science don’t mix? Kinetic Machines & Gadgets is for lovers of arty gadgets to come and play with (or just look at) works-in-progress. It’s being held at Articulate Project Space, which coordinates the Project Space Project, a space that focuses on the conceptual processes that go into art making. It’s not all about the finished product for these guys. The creators of these gadgets and machines for this exhibition include artists Samuel Bruce, Jon Drummond, Kath Fries, Richard Kean and Margaret Roberts. Oh and yourself, if you’ve got some technical know-how. And if the technical is less your thing, come along on Sunday to see what the finished products look like. In-progess sessions will be open Friday to Sunday 11-5, with the finished products are on display Sunday from 3-5. Image: First try by Christine Olsen, Margaret Roberts, James Nguyen and Andrew Burrell.
It's easy to see how companies try and get down with the kids. They sponsor music festivals, hand out free stuff at O-Weeks, and try every form of legitimate mind control and bribery to get us to get out our wallets. None have been more successful at that than Apple. I won't mention that I'm writing this on an Apple laptop. Or that I've just made a move in scrabble on my iPhone. This has got nothing to do with me being a bit of an Apple fan. More that, they're just cool. In the midst of the city is the towering glass church created for those to worship at the feet of Steve Jobs. This is the location of one day of fun- Live at the Apple Store Sydney. Get up early and get in at 8:30am for the first Garageband workshop, taking you through all the budding musician needs to know about the software. Follow that with a lesson in Logic Studio and you'll be ready to rock it with the best of them. Starting from 6pm, the best in local talent is showcased for your pleasure: WIM, Moon Holiday, The Preachers and Jonathan Boulet will crack out their tunes and get George St bouncing. And it's free. So take your apple this day to keep the blues away. https://youtube.com/watch?v=CqvHnGv8004
In addition to making films, Taxi Driver, Goodfellas and The Wolf of Wall Street director Martin Scorsese loves films — and, like most folks who adore movies, he's not afraid to tell people. A few years back, the acclaimed American filmmaker named his scariest flicks of all time, which makes for quite the viewing list. The folks at the Hayden Orpheum obviously agree, because they've turned it into a film festival. From June 27, the Sydney venue is hosting the Martin Scorsese's Scariest Ever Films Festival. It's presented by David Stratton, and also features a retrospective of movies from producer Val Lewton as well. Most weeks until August 25, screening twice on Thursdays (at around 1pm and 7pm) and again on Sundays (with times varying), the beloved cinema will spook you out with a double of retro horror classics. Leading the charge are well-known titles such as The Shining (timed nicely, given sequel Doctor Sleep drops later this year), The Exorcist, and an Alfred Hitchcock double of Psycho and Rear Window. You can also get scared by Scorsese's top frightening flick, aka Robert Wise's 1963 version of The Haunting; Jacques Tourneur's satanic cult effort Night of the Demon, from 1957; and Jack Clayton's 1961 masterpiece The Innocents. Including the Lewton-produced Cat People, The Leopard Man and Isle of the Dead as well, there's 14 films on the full lineup, with full-price tickets costing $19 per double feature.
It's been 12 months since Melbourne institution Chin Chin crashed onto the Sydney scene, opening its sister restaurant in the heart of Surry Hills. And of course, the bold, lively eatery known for its big flavours and fun-loving attitude isn't about to let that milestone pass by without some serious festivities. So, Chin Chin is celebrating its first birthday with a rollicking Bangkok-style party in Chii Town (its underground level) on Thursday, October 25, featuring spicy eats and live entertainment running long into the night. Tickets are selling fast at $88 per person, which includes all food, entertainment and a few late-night surprises. You're in for dishes like crunchy school prawns with house-fermented chilli sauce and burnt lemon, Sydney Pacific oysters matched with a green nahm jim granita, Vietnamese rice paper rolls stuffed with poached chicken and slaw, and a spicy Thai take on 'pigs in blankets'. What's more, you'll be able to lubricate your evening in style, with Chin Chin's full lineup of signature sips available from the bar.
Apple juice is nice. Delicious, in fact. But sometimes, it tastes better with an edge. Yes, that's what cider is all about — and at Cedar Creek Cider in the foothills of New South Wales' southern highlands, both non-alcoholic drinks and the hard stuff are on the menu. Making cider is actually a relatively new development for this fourth-generation orchard; however owner Nathan Silm is able to draw upon his family's decades of experience making juice. The result: a combination of fresh crushed apples and yeast, with no added water, flavours or colours, and each batch boasting its own specific traits. Cedar Creek Cider sells its eponymous product in four, six and 24 packs via its online store — and you can also pick up some Cedar Creek Orchard Apple Juice while you're there.
On a personal note, I wrote my thesis on the value of objects, a rigorous discussion about the traces of a human hand, of essence, of aura. Should a reproduction be cast aside as worthless? I know, right? Yawn. Well, it's something curator Aaron Rose must have been tossing around because he's put together a show called Simulacrum, a collection of artists' editions, posters and prints. Not just any old prints, natch; Rose ran the iconic Alleged Gallery in New York in the 90s and is now involved across a series of creative ventures, and thus his roster is rad. Many of the artists represented in Simulacrum featured both on the walls of Alleged and recently in Rose's documentary Beautiful Losers. The list runs as follows: Chris Johanson, Faile, Alexis Ross, Geoff McFetridge, Jo Jackson, Keith Scharwath, Jesse Spears, Thomas Campbell, Ingrid Allen, Teenage Teardrops, Alia Penner, Steven Harrington, Ed Templeton, Andrew Jeffrey Wright, Sister Corita, Terry Richardson, Susan Cianciolo, Raymond Pettibon, Tobin Yelland, Elisa Saether and more. Many of these artists have appeared in some form or another at Monster Children; value, essence and aura aside, they're all visually powerful, and that's the heart of their art.
