On the lookout for a dope new denim jacket? Or do want to be rid of that weird-looking lamp taking up space in the living room? Then, by golly, you're in luck. The Garage Sale Trail works with local council partners Australia wide to get as many trash-and-treasure troves happening on the same day as possible. Last year, over 7000 garages opened their doors to bargain hunters, and they're doing it for the fourth time on October 26. Aside from the retro goodies up for grabs, the Trail is all about sustainability. Instead of ending up in landfill, unwanted clutter becomes a fantastic find. So get that tight pair of sunnies for peanuts and help the environment at the same time. The Garage Sale Trail began humbly in Bondi in 2010 and is growing bigger every year, so register online to pick up some sweet new threads, make a quick buck from your old junk and hang out with the friendly folks in your hood.
You might be back at work, but summer isn't over just yet. If you're ever in doubt, a visit to Bungalow 8 in King street Wharf should extinguish your fears. Aperol has built a dedicated games area, complete with totem tennis, giant jenga and lifesize chess. Around until the end of February, you can show off your competitive streak with one of these classic backyard games while sipping one of the venue's summery tipples. You can get the classic Aperol spritz or Aperol Elixir — a refreshing concoction of Aperol, Cinzano Rosso, raspberry tea, lemon and ginger ale — for just $12 a glass or $28 a jug. And between 4–7pm, you can pair these tipples with tapas plates for $10 each — think pork scratchings, cured meats and kingfish ceviche — or, if you just can't get enough, you can tuck into an Aperol doughnut by Shortstop. But Bungalow 8 isn't the only place you'll find cheeky Aperol deals in the city. Beach Road Hotel in Bondi has been taken over by popular Surry Hills and Randwick pizza joint Maybe Frank for summer. Alongside its tasty pizzas, it's slinging $12 Aperol spritzes and $15 negronis every day ($10 on Thursdays). See, there's still plenty of summer sippin' to be done yet.
Is Rising Sun Workshop the world's only combination ramen restaurant, motorcycle workshop and neighbourhood cafe? If not, it's surely Australia's — and it's certainly one of Sydney's most unique dining experiences. While any trip to the hidden Whateley Street spot is a delight, the Inner West favourite is turning up the dial on its usual offerings on Wednesday, April 19 with the return of its dinner party series. The idea of the Rising Sun Dinner Party is simple. Bring people together for a night where the chefs get to flex their creativity with some new dishes and showcase some top-notch wines, to boot. The series is kicking back off with a collaborative meal in tandem with Parley wine. The four-course feast will be paired with four standout wines selected by the Parley team, who will be on hand to guide you through what you're drinking. For $100 per person, diners will kick off their night with a scallop crudo served with white peach, sunrise lime, wakame and a 2022 Capitaine Chardonnay. From there, the meal will traverse glazed pork jowl with whipped mentaiko, kasuzuke or pickled duck paired with blood plumboshi and rainbow chard, and koshihikari risotto topped with fried quail. Each of these will be partnered with a wine, including Love Supreme's rosé and Light Breaks Dawn Cabernet Franc. There are two seatings available on the night, but the 8.30pm session is already fully booked up so you better hurry to nab a spot at 6.30pm. You can secure your place by purchasing a ticket online. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rising Sun Workshop (@rising_sun_workshop) Top image: Destination NSW
For 14 years, the Voodoo Festival has possessed New Orleans' Halloween with some of the world's most sought-after live music acts, from Pearl Jam to The Cure to Nine Inch Nails. This year, Sydneysiders will have the chance to experience a little of the magic, with The Bourbon getting their ghoul on in preparation for the city's first ever Voodoo. From 6pm, doors will open to reveal a scarily transformed venue, complete with evil twins. Headline acts are Australian rockabilly band Pat Capocci and the Two-Timing Playboys and urban party outfit Pocketful of Soul. They'll be delivering killer guitar licks and dance tunes until late. Award-winning chef James Metcalfe is conjuring up a Halloween-inspired menu, featuring oysters with Bloody Mary granita and spiced pumpkin pie with maple ice cream. Entry is free, plus all guests will receive a complimentary cocktail, courtesy of sponsors Smirnoff and George Dickel. Costume's not compulsory, but it's definitely anticipated. Why not get into the spirit?
Griffin Theatre Company is the self-proclaimed "theatre of first chances". Championing original new works from Aussie playwrights, the Kings Cross spot makes a mission of providing creative opportunities — and has taken exceptional bodies of work to the stage in the process. To note: it world premiered the now-Aussie darlings Prima Facie and City of Gold. This month, it's bringing us Eloise Snape's one-woman show Pony. This particular one woman is Hazel (Briallen Clarke, pictured) and audiences are joining her as she lives her life before the outrageously obvious imminent arrival of her first born. Expect to split your sides as the reality tv-obsessive navigates baby showers and buckwild nights out, reality-affirming ultrasounds and midwife meetings — plus the almighty weight of the fact there's a life-altering force about to be born into her world. Shortlisted for a handful of prestigious awards (Queensland Premier's Drama Award 2022–23; Griffin Award 2022; Patrick White Playwrights Award 2022), Pony is truly not one to be missed. From an all-female team comes the main attraction for a spectacular night out, delivering a culture trip full to the brim with red-hot wit, crass vaginal innuendos and a truly authentic telling of the whirlwind of anxious anticipation that comes right before parenthood. (The inspiration behind Pony comes from Snape's own experience of becoming a mother.) So, wrangle your mates, book your tickets and plan to grab a pre-Pony bev at the theatre's Penny Cook Bar before settling in to this laugh-a-minute piece of theatre. 'Pony' takes to the stage at Griffin Theatre Company from Friday, May 12 till Saturday, June 17. For more information and to nab your tickets, head to the website. Imagery: Brett Boardman.
Whether you loved it or loathed it, high school definitely left its mark. From the hormones to the house parties, everyone is guaranteed to have a horror story or two, which makes you wonder just how filmmaker Ben C. Lucas fared on the playground, for his striking debut Wasted on the Young sure doesn’t pull any punches. Polished to a high gloss befitting Hollywood, Lucas has further borrowed a few well-trodden tropes from the high school movie catalogue, with an added Australian twist: the jocks all hark from the swim team, and everyone is kitted out in school uniforms (keep an eye out for the school bags with airplane belt buckle straps). But hierarchy and bullying, it seems, are universal, as Lucas navigates these treacherous waters with a coolly detached but discerning eye. The reigning king of the high school is swim team captain Zack (Alex Russell), who has a particularly nasty thug of a 2IC (T.J. Power) as well as a newly minted stepbrother Darren (Oliver Ackland), who proves useful for little more than homework assignments. But when Darren takes a shine to super cute Xandrie (Adelaide Clemens), Zack takes the opportunity to show them both their place in the pecking order. Xandrie is assaulted then essentially excommunicated from school society, and in this social wasteland she and Darren unite to contemplate morality, and revenge. Part romantic tragedy, part ruthless thriller, Wasted on the Young is an impressive but ultimately unsettling cinematic experience. Lucas, his cinematographer Dan Freene and production designer Sam Hobbs have crafted a seriously good looking specimen, while editor Leanne Cole works with Lucas’ script to work up some sharp and confounding temporal elisions. Similarly, the young cast put up impressive performances, with Ackland a fittingly effacing teen pushed to the edge and Power an amped up borderline sadist. With a rather flat affect, Russell is probably the weakest link, but Clemens is a real find, as her sweetness turns steely with scene-stealing results. In a film cleverly devoid of adults, the students of Wasted on the Young wreak enough havoc to start some high school worthy gossip. The problem is, these shenanigans cross some controversial boundaries, namely the massacres of Columbine and Virginia Tech, both of which are directly referenced en route to the revenge scenario. This distinctly muddies the film’s moral waters, which may well poison the viewing for some, or perhaps just seem disquietingly exploitative. Either way, this stylishly provocative film will get you talking, but hopefully not taking a similar trip down memory lane.
"It's vaudeville" said Groucho Marx when he saw Alice Cooper live on stage. Old-style stage variety — a bit like cabaret in a theatre — vaudeville began to wane as big acts like Marx made their transition from the music hall to the screen. This year's Sydney Festival offers the return of one of last years' stars. A show which pulls together stage variety like vaudeville of old — Smoke and Mirrors. Lacking the pure sex and swearing of understated previous festival acts like Spankrock, Smoke and Mirrors matches the lithe singing style of iOTA together with buff acrobatics, rough voices and a tough house band. Tiny though the Spiegeltent is, you'll be amazed how much Smoke and Mirrors can wedge of itself into its confined circular spaces. Queenie van de Zandt, magician Timothy Woon and former Flying Fruit Fly Kali Retallack are the other main players. The This Side Up acrobats also appear, distancing their acrobatics from the serious circus, bringing it instead back to original vaudevillian irreverent sideshow, back to the Spiegeltent, and back to free Festival First Night extravaganza. Smoke & Mirrors runs Tuesday — Sunday until February 11.
Time-travelling DeLoreans and phone booths may be pure fiction, sadly, but jumping back to the past is still possible right now at Powerhouse Museum. If you're a fan of 80s and 90s rock, the Ultimo venue has two events whisking you off to that very era — an exhibition and a corresponding film program. At Unpopular, attendees can peruse behind-the-scenes images, footage and items from the 90s alternative scene, which means revelling in bands like Sonic Youth, Beastie Boys, Mudhoney, Nirvana, Bikini Kill, Fugazi, Pavement and The Lemonheads. That's on display until June 2023; however, movie lineup Uncensored is here for a good time, not a long time, from Friday, December 2–Sunday, December 4. Across three nights, the Powerhouse is screening six films as part of a ticketed lineup — and peering into the 80s as well as the 90s. Kicking things off at 6pm on the Friday is Freakscene: The Story of Dinosaur Jr, about the east coast American band, with The Man From Mo'Wax, which focuses on James Lavelle and his pioneering record label, also playing at 8pm. If Saturday suits your diary better, 2013's Cosmic Psychos: Blokes You Can Trust is a must-see at 6pm, no matter how much you already know about the Aussie group. It's paired at 8pm with Instrument, the product of filmmaker Jem Cohen collaborating with Fugazi from 1987–1996. Then, on Sunday, Montage of Heck leads the bill at 2pm. Before Brett Morgen made this year's stunning David Bowie doco Moonage Daydream, this Kurt Cobain-focused film wowed music fans as well. And, on a grunge-filled afternoon, 90s lovers can then watch I'm Now: The Story of Mudhoney at 5pm. Tickets cost $20 per movie, with discounts on offer for booking sessions to multiple movies — and your purchase includes a late-night session at the exhibition. Knowing what you'll be listening to afterwards, or even now after reading this, is free. Top image: Cobain: Montage of Heck (2015). Dir. Brett Morgen.
The discovery of the ancient cities of Ercolano and Pompeii continues to hold a great deal of fascination, particularly for photographer, Paul Ferman. In his latest offering, he captures the unique architectural designs of these formerly forgotten cities, ravaged by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79AD. His series, Excavare, is an artistic project of excavation and conservation. That said, there is also a curious coagulation of ancient and modern in this exhibition. Ferman's use of multiple exposures generates a temporal fluidity and historical instability that queries notions of how memory is preserved and manipulated over time. Almost immediately it also becomes apparent that the glassy surfaces of Ferman's photographs reflect the relentless stream of William Street traffic. This notion of bringing the outside world into the gallery space can be perceived as an additional photographic layer that is in constant flux. In various works, the cracked facades of Italian ruins are overlaid by the day-to-day bustle of tourists and the modern streetscape. The less-than-magnificent architecture of contemporary Northern Italy, such as towering apartment complexes, is juxtaposed with the grand mosaics and facades of the old world. This has the effect of dislodging them from their timelessness. In this way, Ferman draws an architectural trajectory of Italian urbanism. There is an arresting beauty that stems from the multitude of perspectives. For example, Excavare #247 reveals a softly lit, sombre interior. However, Ferman's layering creates an impression of structural instability. With columns sloping inward, it is as if the entire shadowy space has been pivoted on its axis. This fluidity of stone planes creates a dreamy depth. Ferman then invites the viewer to wade through the fog of potential memories and architectures and imaginatively reconstruct the place. In Excavare #245, Ferman captures an infamous section of the Pompeii forum. Stretching the entire length of the photograph, its impending columns pierce the bright sky. The faint, overlapping mosaic has the effect of fleshing out the ancient skeletal structure, conveying a feeling of reminiscence. It is as though Ferman is attempting to restore the forum's former glory by projecting the preserved interior of one structure onto another. The natural environment is also brought forward, infusing the lifeless ruins with an ecological richness and vitality. This is most apparent in Ferman's largest photograph, Excavare #242, in which the structure is framed by shimmering, fast-flowing water and lush ferns. There is also a mesmeric quality to the aqua blue that recurs throughout the series, its infectious intensity seems to really lift the photographs. Throughout Excavare, there is a cumulative sense of reviving and re-making memories. It is important to remember that the archaeological investigation of these enigmatic cities and their unfortunate inhabitants is an ongoing operation. Paul Ferman's photography reminds us of how much remains unclear, communicating the idea that history is unfixed.
The Grounds of Alexandria's Christmas markets are back for 2017 with a week of artisan stalls and holiday-themed treats sure to get you in the festive spirit. Knock out your Christmas shopping at the crafty stalls, which will be set up from 10am till 7pm December 18–20, and 9am will 3.30pm December 21–24. With everything from jewellery, to natural skincare and leather monogramming, you're sure to find the perfect gift for your loved ones. There will be charity gift wrapping stations dotted throughout the market too. Plus, there'll be a plethora of festive foods on offer throughout the whole month of December at The Grounds, and you can pre-order your favourite dishes for pick up on Christmas Eve. Or you can make your own holiday treat by booking your place at a festive cake decorating masterclass on December 13 or 14. And while you're there, don't forget to grab a photo with Santa any day from December 14-24. The Grounds is somewhat magical all year-round, but this is surely its most wonderful time of the year.
A monster vintage sale is set to kick off today. Tonight, a novel pop-up store opens its doors for two short weeks. With prices $20 and under, Love Your Face believe they can occupy the a similar gap in the market to that previously held by the (now price-agnostic) Oxford Street Design Store. The new-look space, decked out with vintage wears that draw their "inspiration from London fashion over the years", has something extra special to entice punters in on opening night as well. "Why are we doing it? To bring affordable vintage fashion to Darlinghurst," explains co-founder Careen Redman. "It's somewhere you can pop into in your lunch hour and get something really quirky, for $20." Love Your Face launches tonight, and is open for two weeks ('til November 15). Bears with Guns — the Parkes band whose anthemic hit, Taken for a Fool, has been praised by audiences and critics alike (this one included) — will perform an intimate live set from 6pm, to help get the party started. https://youtube.com/watch?v=KcEAlHPr5Pg
Remember the heavily pregnant, naked woman in Prêt-à-Porter? No? You should rewatch it; it's better than you remembered. Said heavily pregnant, naked woman is also a chanteuse with a longer discography than the Sinatra family combined. Famous for her renditions of the songs of Kurt Weill, Ute Lemper has had an illustrious career of a modern renaissance nature. She paints (neoclassical), she acts (from Marie Antoinette to The Little Mermaid's Ariel), and she can make the rare claim of having Elvis Costello, Nick Cave, Tom Waits and Scott Walker pen songs just for her voice (2000's Punishing Kiss). A frequent treader of the boards, Lemper has won numerous prizes for her role in musical theatre, particularly in London and New York as Velma Kelly in Chicago and in Paris as Sally Bowles in Cabaret. It's more her time spent as Lola in The Blue Angel (first made famous by Marlene Dietrich) that springs to mind with her current tour, Angels Over Berlin. Exploring the past and present through story and song, Lemper dips into to the work of Weill, Brecht, Brel, Piaf and Piazzoilla — from Weimar to French chansons to Argentinian tango — in a contemporary cabaret style. https://youtube.com/watch?v=Zk6itNYV8i0
There's something alluring about the deep South of the United States. It seems a land trapped in the past, a land of swamps and evangelicals, of heat and history. Emerging from these factors is rock-revivalist band Mona. Three quarters of the band earned their musical strips in the pentecostal congregations, learning to work a crowd into a frenzy using their instruments. Although their origin story may confuse them with Kings of Leon, their music sets them firmly apart. It's a lot more raw and passionate, and far less anthemic and populist. Their music injects a heavy dose of guitar and sweat, ramping up their secular tunes with a near religious fervour. Their debut and self-titled album was recorded and mixed in a basement in Nashville, Tennessee with producer Rich Costey (who has previously worked with the Foo Fighters, the Arctic Monkeys and Muse). Heading to Australia for the first time for Splendour in the Grass, the boys are making the trip down the coast to play for Sydney audiences, and are a perfect example of the distinction between southern rock and rock from the south. https://youtube.com/watch?v=_YVY3JYgWHs
Potts Point is no stranger to Italian eateries, but its latest addition, House Bar & Bistrot, has a specific focus on ethical and sustainable produce. Opened in late 2017 and set in an old Victorian house, this corner restaurant boasts a ever-changing menu using some seriously fresh ingredients. At the helm is Mauro Forgillo (ex-Fratelli Fresh), who spent the last decade cooking for Australia hospitality giants Rockpool Dining Group and Merivale, as well as around Europe. The 27-year-old chef is now setting off on his own, bringing a seasonal Italian menu using all ethical produce, including grass-fed meat, organic veggies and freshly caught seafood. Forgillo has carefully researched the producers and farmers he buys from, most of which are located in NSW. The young chef is also turning out homemade sourdough and freshly made pasta on the daily — using organic and unrefined flours to boot — as well as making his own marinades and cured meats. On the current menu sits grass fed lamb backstrap with eggplant and chickpeas, tagliatelle with fresh clams and pesto burrata on fried bread, along with pizzas assembled atop a pumpkin dough base. Those with a sweet tooth will be glad to hear that the gelato is also homemade, using fresh organic fruits. On the drinks side, Forgillo is keeping with the Italian theme, offering Birra Menabrea on tap, along with a wine list which focuses on Italian grape varietals and hard-to-find drops from both Australian and Italian winemakers. The rotating list of cocktails are split between before, during and after meal categories. At the moment, patrons can start with a barrel-aged negroni, followed by a Venetian Sgroppino — a lemon sorbet drink topped with vodka and Prosecco. Finish off with an affogato martini, which uses that homemade gelato, no doubt. The menu can cater to vegos too, with the chef offering up an entire vegetarian menu to those who ask. Finally, for music lovers, the venue will host acoustic and DJ sets every Friday and Saturday. This newcomer is certainly setting its bar high, but it is still to be seen if the restaurant lives up to its self-appointed reputation. House Bar & Bistrot is now open at 62-64 Kellett St, Potts Point. Open Tuesday through Thursday and Saturday from 11.30am to 3pm and 5pm to 10pm; Friday from noon to 10pm; and Sunday from 10am to 4pm.
The Chippo Film Festival was started in the summer of 2012 as a way of shaking up Sydney's filmmaking community and showcasing local films in a local setting. Now into its fourth year, the festival has almost outgrown the two backyards that host it, with organisers expecting over 700 people to turn out for the event and submissions received from all around the world. Referred to by its organisers as "urban cinema's premier backyard show", the festival literally takes place across a couple of backyards in a Chippendale laneway, with all the tech stuff and presentations for the night running from a treehouse (it's legit) that sits above the audience. That's one fancy treehouse. This is the movies, so it's glamorous enough to have a 'red carpet' you're encouraged to dress up for. But it's also in a backyard, so it's BYO. This year, the very loose theme of the festival is 'satisfaction', or "the same feeling Winona Ryder has at the end of Edward Scissorhands". Get your own slice of it by going along to support local filmmakers and checking out that treehouse.
Following eight mighty culinary pop-ups in locations like Newtown, Marrickville and Melbourne, acclaimed hospitality duo BABS has taken over a beloved space on Enmore Road for their first longer-term venue. Led by Head Chef Ellie Hayes O'Brien and Restaurant Manager Bec Shave, BABS has built a cult following over the last 18 months through a series of long lunches and dinners, all celebrating women in the hospo industry. The name BABS is double-pronged — standing for Bad Ass Bitches, and paying homage to the patron saint of said badasses, Barbra Streisand. This is the energy that O'Brien and Shave have brought to their new short-term home on Enmore Road, opening a BABS neighbourhood bar and restaurant for three months in Saga's former digs. The short and sweet stay has brought the usual female-led vision of BABS previous pop-ups to 178 Enmore Road. The layout of Andy Bowdy's popular cafe has been maintained, but the lights are now a little moodier — and the duo have traded Saga's sandwiches and pastries for sardines and pét-nats. The Euro-focused menu features chicken liver gougeres and handmade pasta, plus playful sweets like champagne jelly and sticky flans. [caption id="attachment_916528" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lily Austin[/caption] Drinks-wise, expect two-sip martinis, amaro and negronis, plus a robust wine list with special attention paid to female vino-makers. If you're lucky, you might wander in as a magnum of natty wine has just been cracked. Tying the whole operation together is vintage pink crockery reminiscent of your grandma's house and handprinted linocut menus made by the head of design at BABS, Eva Balog. Both O'Brien and Shave are hospo lifers and Inner West locals, with the pair deciding to channel their love for food, booze and good times into something special following the lockdowns — and after nearly two years of experimentation, they've arrived at BABS' first standalone venue and one that they describe as "a love letter to the Inner West". The limited-time bar and restaurant is open from 5pm Thursday–Saturday and for lunch on Sundays throughout spring. It will be a walk-in-only affair, meaning you'll be able to saunter down to Enmore Road for a glass of wine and a few memorable snacks whenever the inspiration hits. Images: Lily Austin.
Heading to the The East Sydney Hotel is like going on a day trip to the country. Not because of its distance from the CBD, but because of its self-proclaimed title as Sydney's 'last country pub'. The Woolloomooloo venue is filled with timeless memorabilia and mismatched timber furniture, and has a classic pub menu with some decent craft brews on-tap (along with all the classics). It's also the perfect atmosphere for the upcoming winter months, and for a spot of afternoon jazz. Sundays bring live jazz and a great opportunity to chill out and get away from the chaos of inner city living. Cool cats Geoff Bull and his band The Finer Cuts (veterans of the Sydney jazz scene) play from 5pm until 8pm, creating a fluid set of smooth tunes and frenetic beats.
Sydney Dance Company is celebrating its 50th anniversary in style — with a 2019 season premiere that sees three of the country's best choreographers on the bill. This trio of performances will share the stage at Walsh Bay's Roslyn Packer Theatre for a limited time from Tuesday, March 26 to Saturday, April 13. The show begins with artistic director Rafael Bonachela's world premiere, Cinco. The performance combines the talents of award-winning lighting designer Damien Cooper, fashion designer Bianca Spender and Argentinian composer Alberto Ginastera. Five of the city's best dancers will take the stage for the performance, which is set to Alberto Ginastera's 'String Quartet No.2'. To follow is a premiere of Gabrielle Nankivell's Neon Aether. The immersive experience transports the audience to a celestial world 'beyond the clouds'. Completing the trio is Melanie Lane's WOOF, which first premiered for New Breed 2017 (a Sydney Dance Company and Carriageworks annual initiative showcasing emerging choreographers). It's an eerie performance that combines romantic, classical and pop dance styles with a score composed by renowned British electronic artist Clark. The Sydney Dance Company Triple Bill will run Tuesday–Saturday between March 26–April 13, before going on tour nationally. Tickets start at $25 and can be purchased here. We also have double passes to the preview night to give away. Enter your details below for a chance to win. [competition]710532[/competition]
Sydney certainly has no shortage of bottomless brunches, lunches and dinners, but here's a novel addition: all-you-can-eat oven-roasted chicken. Darling Square's Goobne has launched a new bottomless chook offering — and it's on offer every single day. Available all day from Monday–Thursday and between 3–5pm from Friday–Sunday, the 90-minute offering will see you knocking back plates of Goobne's oven-roasted chook in five different flavours. You could start with original, try the slightly sweeter galbi, get a little more adventurous with fruity soy and cheese or go hard with Volcano, a fiery Korean chilli paste. To help with the burn, Goobne will also be pouring red or white wine and beer during the 90 minutes. All of that will set you back $69. You can also purchase cocktails — quite OTT cocktails — for extra, with the likes of a blue tequila-spiked Sharknado, a Lager-Rita (a tequila on the rocks topped with a Heineken) and a Corona-Rita (tequila on the rocks topped with a Corona) on offer. With limited capacities, bookings are essential and can be made over here.
Get your skates on, Sydneysiders — and you'd best don your brightest, most retro threads, too. It isn't every day that Darling Harbour becomes home to a pop-up roller rink that's hosting a month-long rollerskating festival, so you'll definitely want to dress to fit the part (and to live out your Whip It and Xanadu dreams, obviously). Meet Darling Harbour Rollerama, aka the place to be from Friday, March 25–Sunday, April 24 for anyone with rollerskates or blades strapped to their feet. Open daily across its five-weekend, four-week run, it's bringing all of the essentials. Disco ball? Tick. DJs spinning tunes? Tick again. Roller derby demonstration sessions and Rollerfit classes? Just keep on ticking. Different events will happen on different days, although you'll be gliding around to DJs on most nights. On Saturdays, Rollerfit takes over, serving up rollerskating-based exercise classes that are both fun and great for your fitness. On Thursday evenings, you'll be dressing to a theme other than just retro — with 70s, 80s and 90s-focused nights happening across the program. And, on Tuesdays, skating will cost you less across all sessions. Also, because Darling Square is currently home to Hello Kitty Town, that's being worked into Rollerama as well. So, Monday nights will be Hello Kitty nights — with dressing accordingly encouraged. As well as setting up the rink, which'll be located at the Pier Street Underpass near Darling Square, Rollerama is teaming up with Pumphouse Sydney Forecourt to house three separate bars. One will be a roll-up spot serving barbecue wings, smoked gouda cheeseburger, waffle stacks, and peanut butter and jelly thickshakes — and, on Friday and Saturday nights, as well as Sunday afternoons, you won't even need to undo your skates to order as staff will be zipping around to do just that. As for the others, there'll be a shipping container bar with a Rollerama-themed menu, and a Mr Black bar as well. The latter will be located in a vintage airstream trainer, and will pour espresso martinis, but only from Friday, March 25–Tuesday, March 29 and Thursday, April 21–Sunday, April 24. Eateries around Darling Harbour will also be doing specials, so you'll have other food and drink options. Rollerama tickets start from $20 most days, and $15 on Tuesdays — or $25 / $18.75 including skate hire. You can also pay extra for a coaching session if you're a roller newbie.
Artist run initiative Peloton has been on the scene since back in 2004, putting on free exhibitions of over 350 emerging artists (both local and international). The Surry Hills art gallery has done over 180 shows, but funding didn’t come through from Arts NSW to cover 2013, and without it they’ve been forced close their doors. The artists that were scheduled to exhibit in 2013 (and others involved with the gallery) will instead have their artworks exhibited as a part of their last show, aptly titled Goodnight. This final hurrah is about thanking everyone who has been a part of the Peloton family and wants to get everyone together for one last hug goodbye. If you’re going to close, you might as well do it in style. The four directors will be hanging around the gallery to have a chat to (on Saturday and Sunday from 1-5pm during the exhibition). Make sure you drop on by to say thanks and farewell. Opening night is Friday the 8th at 6pm. Peloton is open 1-5 Saturday and Sunday, one last time.
Get ready to feel insecure about your age. That dynamo 17-year-old with the Grammys and the dance moves and the best friend named David Bowie is set to finally hit our shores in July. Lorde will play eight massive shows across the country including Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Sydney, Newcastle and Brisbane. After a heartbreaking cancellation and an illness postponement earlier in the year, this will be Lorde's first Australian stadium tour after playing smaller clubs and the Laneway circuit. Ever the social media savvy teenager, Lorde announced the rescheduled tour dates with a Twitter pic, sprinkled with crystal ball and lightning bolt Emojis. While we're sure to get the full Royal(s) treatment from her 2013 breakthrough album Pure Heroine, the highly-anticipated tour is said to have some big surprises in store. It's been announced there will be a large-scale light show component, but we're keeping our fingers crossed for a cameo from Ziggy Stardust. In good news for wunderkinds nationwide, every show on the tour will also be all ages. Stands to reason, really — if the main act is underage why should you have to flash ID? https://youtube.com/watch?v=f2JuxM-snGc
Is your wardrobe overflowing with clothes that you don't wear? We've all been there, and we've all been too busy to do anything about it. Through its op shops, Australian Red Cross finds a new home for your pre-loved outfits, shoes and accessories, with proceeds going towards its charity efforts — but we all know that wanting to donate your old threads is one thing and finding the time to do it is another. That's why Australian Red Cross has once again partnered with Uber for its annual Uber x Red Cross Clothing Drive. When it launched in 2018, it collected over 43,500 kilograms of clothing in that first year alone, which saw clothing items worth an estimated $800,000 donated. And you'd best take the drive part literally, as the ride-sharing service will actually drive to your house, pick up your unwanted clothes and accessories, and deliver them to Red Cross Shops. Even better: it's not only super easy to take part, but it's free as well. Sydneysiders just make sure you're ready between 10am–4pm on Saturday, November 19. Once you've bagged up all of your old bits and pieces (items you'd happily give your best friend, and no toys, books, furniture or electrical objects) into a bundle that weighs no more than 20 kilograms, it's all incredibly simple. Open the Uber app during that six-hour window, then find the 'package' option. After that, you need to click 'send a package', enter "Red Cross Clothing Drive" as the destination, and select one of the Red Cross Clothing Drive locations displayed An Uber driver will then stop outside your house, meaning that you just need to take your preloved goods out to their car. Voila, you've cleared out your closet and you've helped folks in need, all with the tap of a button.
Spend a day in the country without leaving the city when Rouse Hill House and Farm celebrates the autumn harvest. For five refreshing hours on Sunday, May 31, you’ll be able to wander around the 19th-century property, trying tasty fare from an array of producers and checking out free demos and talks. The planned stallholders reflect the produce and recipes of the time. They include Cornersmith, the Marrickville cafe and picklery where the focus is on local, seasonal produce and small batches; Bilpin Bush Honey, where the honey is sourced from flora growing in the mountains around Bilpin and the Kurrajong Valley; Feather and Bone, who’ll be roasting a sustainable pig on a spit and firing up a barbecue; Sweetness Patisserie from Epping, famous for its gourmet marshmallows in 36 flavours; Pepe Saya, fermenter and churner of Australian cultured butter; T Totaler, who’ll have its innovative tea blends on the brew; and stacks more. Admission is free and no bookings are required. You're encouraged to pull together your own picnic from the goods on offer. Alternatively, tick off your shopping list and have a cook up worthy of the lord of the manor later.
"Friends! Outcasts. Leeches. Undesirables. A blessing on you, and upon this beggars' banquet," announces Johnny 'Rooster' Byron (Nicholas Eadie), Jerusalem's comic, charismatic, trailer-dwelling, tall-tale telling protagonist. "This day we draw a line in the chalk, and push back hard against the bastard pitiless busybody council, and drive them from this place forever." Jez Butterworth's play transforms a contemporary 'citizen against the authorities' conflict into a drama of Shakespearean proportions. Rooster, once the most fearless stuntsman in Wiltshire County, Southwest England, and purported meeter of giants, now inhabits a woodland outlaw's existence. His mobile home embraces all that modern housing development doesn't: eccentricity, spontaneity, nature's vagaries, the possibility of fairies, elves and supernatural forces. However, it's not some kind of pastoral, Sound of Music wonderland. There's drug taking and a dysfunctional relationship with a nine-year-old-son. And, when Jerusalem begins, Rooster has just 24 hours to save his home, and way of life, from the Kennet and Avon Council. The day's action is packed into three acts which are over before you know it. Never laboured, Butterworth's script skips, sings and surprises with an irresistible musicality, and his characters are three-dimensional and unpredictable, commenting on all manner of topics, from the homogenising of local news outlets to how a giant might (realistically) be expected to behave. They're at once quintessentially English and undeniably individual. Under Helen Tonkin's direction, Eadie embraces Rooster's complexity with a convincing dynamism. He's no role model, but he's certainly a last bastion against the dreary homogenisation threatened by endless housing estates, lamented by Philip Larkin in 'Going, Going'. An impressive cast takes on Rooster's band of merry (and not-so-merry followers), who flock in search of pleasure, or refuge, or both, with a standout performance from Jeremy Waters in the role of Ginger, a lost soul who dreams of becoming the local pub's DJ. Tom Bannerman's beaten-up set is very much the world of the eternal morning after, with its empty beer bottles, half-empty spirits bottles (consulted frequently throughout), destroyed television and backdrop built of corrugated plastic. Blake Garner effectively traces the 24-hour arc of action with well-controlled lighting, executed particularly effectively in the closing scene. The New Theatre's production of Jerusalem is the play's Australian premiere. First performed at London's Royal Court Theatre in 2009, it moved to the West End, where audiences queued from 3am to buy tickets and gave standing ovations every night. 2011 saw a shift across the Atlantic to Broadway, with the play receiving a Tony Award nomination and lead actor Mark Rylance winning a Tony Award.
Pocket City Farms have joined forces with Crop Swap Sydney as part of its ever-growing commitment to Sydney's urban farming scene. Patrons are encouraged to bring along their homegrown fruit, veggies and herbs, along with any homemade preserves, honey or other treats to be shared or swapped with other attendees. Eggs, seeds, edible plants and gardening goods are also welcome. If you're unsure of what to bring, check out these past events photos for inspiration. Even those who are not currently farming or gardening are encouraged to come along, learn a little something about urban gardens and see how easy it is to start your own. Crop Swap runs at Pocket City Farms every third Saturday from 9.30am through 11am. Guests can also join the Crop Swap Facebook group to swap anytime.
Just when you thought you'd tasted every type of margarita there is — every type that El Camino Cantina can pop on its menu, too — the Tex-Mex chain has gone and released a new line of cocktails just in time for summer. Like margs? Have a sweet tooth? Then this Take Me to The Candy Shop range is for you, given that the boozy lineup is filled with bright-hued, candy-flavoured concoctions. These margs even come with edible candy garnishes, so your sweet tooth really will be satisfied. There's seven varieties on offer, including the trusty favourite that is the grape Nerd variety. From Tuesday, November 30–Sunday, January 2, it's being joined musk, marshmallow, gummy bear, Hubba Bubba and Skittles tipples, as well Squirm and Red Ripperz as well. The kind of drinks you'd be able to see in the dark — again, the colour really does stand out — these beverages are served frozen and Cadillac-style, aka with a float of Grand Marnier. In Sydney, you'll find them livening up your next summer drinks at El Camino in The Rocks, Entertainment Quarter, Manly and Miranda.
Anyone in Sydney who considers themselves a Sider knows the The Sun-Herald City2Surf presented by Westpac. What with it being the largest event of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, attracting over 85,000 participants from elite athletes to fun-run-loving locals last year alone, this charity fundraiser/epic test of stamina and virtue is hard to miss even on the laziest of radars. Wholly owned and organised by The Sun-Herald since its humble beginnings 43 years ago, this ain't a casual saunter through the park. As the name suggests, this is 14km of walking, jogging and hardcore PB-busting running as partakers make their way from the CBD to the sands of Bondi via the winding roads and hills of the eastern suburbs. In 2012, $4,173,915 was raised for charities across Australia and the day saw six marriage proposals, 17 Spidermen and one naked dude's bits flap about to name just a few memorable moments. Followed, of course, by plenty of forgettable ones, after heaps of well-earned boozing by the beach.
If there's one thing better than eating, it's eating while talking/reading/writing/hearing about eating. That's why the Sydney Food and Words Festival is an act of sensory genius. For one delicious day at The Mint, chefs, critics, poets, bloggers, gastronomers and gourmands get together for six hours of gustatory and literary indulgence. Now in its fourth incarnation, the event is happening on Saturday, September 19. For your one-day ticket, you'll score lunch created by Michael Rantissi, Kepos Street Kitchen and Kepos & Co in collaboration with Bistro Mint; fine wine; Ovvio Organic tea; Little Marionette coffee; morning and afternoon tea; a surprise-packed gift bag; and numerous sessions tackling fun and imaginative foodie topics. Included on this year's program are a Q&A featuring Sepia's Martin Benn and Vicki Wild, along with the Australian food correspondent Anthony Huckstep; a session with colonial gastronomer Jacqui Newling, a chat with native ingredients expert and chef Jean-Paul Bruneteau, and a discussion about thistles and North Korea with poet and performer Noëlle Janaczewska. Image: Kepos Street Kitchen.
The distance between Spooky Action and you is about to get a little smaller. Concrete Playground’s editor Amelia Groom has curated an exhibition of video works from Japanese artists to coincide with the first event for the Ksubi/Kirin Big in Japan initiative.Artists include Daito Manabe, who seems to be inching ever closer to cyborgism, and Kiiiiiii, who seem to be inching ever closer to exploding in a cloud of cute. Manabe uses his face to give and receive musical electrical impulses, and designs large-scale interactive sound and light installations. In his spare time, he is also a programmer, composer, hacker and DJ. Kiiiiiii perform songs with names like Hot But Milky Like Hot Milk and Aussie O's Bomb, with the help of hand-clap rhythms, screams and children's instruments. As Amelia found out when they cooked her dinner in Tokyo, they are infatuated with Australia because they're completely obsessed with the Hooley Dooleys, Bananas in Pajamas and the Wiggles.For something more restrained there’s Yukihiro Taguchi, who works with household objects and everyday materials to create complex performative installations and time-lapse video art. He contrasts the pleasingly familiar with strategic configuration and non-linear time, and the effect is both humorous and dramatic. Also look out for Ine wo Ueru hito's vacuuming lady, the vomit, rat, garbage, and explosion antics of the Chimâ†'Pom collective and video works from the anonymous dance ensemble KATHY, who perform to classical music with stockings covering their faces, in a coordinated and creepily doll-like manner. Spooky? Maybe, but distant they ain't.Dorkbot will be hosting a presentation with Daito Manabe live in the gallery from 5.30pm on Friday December 4. The exhibition opening then goes from 6.30-8pm.Image:「One day, I meet…ã€by Ine wo Ueru hito (2007)https://youtube.com/watch?v=YxdlYFCp5Ic
Surry Hills has scored itself a new specialty coffee destination, with Melbourne-born coffee roaster Veneziano launching its first Sydney operation. With cafes in Adelaide and Brisbane, and a roastery and headquarters in Melbourne's Richmond, Veneziano's latest project comes backed by almost two decades of experience and a reputation for some pretty top-notch coffee. The sleek Surry Hills espresso bar serves a rotation of the brand's favourite creations, from house blends to featured microlots sourced from one small area of a plot. They're available to take away or enjoy in, perhaps teamed with a sweet treat from Shortstop Donuts. In even more exciting for local caffeine fiends, the cafe also includes a state-of-the-art training studio, which'll play host to a range of specialty coffee events and training courses, catering to everyone from novices to professionals. "We want to bring our love of specialty coffee to Surry Hills, and share our story and the stories of our growers and roasters with a community who appreciates coffee as much as we do," explains Veneziano managing director Craig Dickson. Find Veneziano's new Surry Hills espresso bar at 352 Bourke Street, Surry Hills.
At some point in my childhood I was given, by some weirdly joyless relative, a tome of “fairytales” by Hans Christian Andersen. As anyone who’s read these will know, they’re not the kind of happily-ever-after stories that we know, but grim, anti-Disney nightmares where protagonists pay the ultimate price for amoral behaviour. Elena is a Hans Christian Andersen fairytale for adults, relocated to Russia in 2012. Elena spends most of her time caring for the men in her life who could only be described as miserable wretches. Her wealthy husband treats her like a nurse. She wakes him up every morning, makes his bed. They kiss each other on the cheek, numbly ask about each others’ plans for the day, but share little intimacy. Meanwhile, her deadbeat son from another partner treats her like an ATM. When her husband suffers a health scare and decides to rewrite his will, allocating almost everything to his own distant and uncaring daughter, Elena makes a decision that is at once completely understandable and utterly morally repugnant. There is never any question of criminal apprehension: the heart of this beautifully shot film lies in the weight of Elena’s decision on her own conscience. The films’ settings are wonderfully bleak. A huge power reactor looms like a warning over Elena’s son’s apartment block. Russia’s overcast sky - sunless and shadeless, in eternal twilight - becomes, in turn, a kind of awful judgment on her action. Director Andrei Zvyagintsev is best known for his 2003 film, The Return, and his segment in 2009’s New York, I Love You. His assured and slowly edited emphasis on the daily minutiae of Elena’s life serves to build an awful sense of suspense and oncoming calamity, as does Philip Glass’ glowering score. At three devastating points following Elena’s choice, the film breaks away from the plotline to deliver purely symbolic and quite creepy omens. To reveal these moments would be wrong, but they leave little doubt as to the director’s intentions for Elena’s atonement — after all, the tagline is “Thy will be done”. Nadezhda Markina, as Elena, never moralises, and her layered performance has won her a bounty of best actress awards. Many people can’t abide slow-building subtitled films about relentlessly unhappy people. But closet pessimists like myself and the Cannes judges (the film won the Special Jury Prize last year) will find Elena’s sense of impending doom oddly satisfying.
The Jewish Film Festival is turning 21. Cue the tuxedos, heartfelt, wine-soaked speeches and atmosphere of soon-to-be-oppressive expectancy. You're all grown up now, ya hear? Or you could just cue the cinema: 25 films representing the most exciting crop of contemporary Jewish filmmaking, kicking off with a crowd pleaser from Cannes The Names of Love. This bubbly satire sees an Algerian beauty seduce a Jewish-French scientist, only to have all manner of Arab-Jewish, politically incorrect hilarity ensue. Another cross-cultural comedy comes by way of Denmark with Ulrick Gutkin's autographical documentary Me and That Jewish Thing. The film follows Gutkin and his non-Jewish girlfriend as they negotiate the tricky, religious ramifications of their first-born child. An intriguing array of modern tales, historical dramas and keen documentaries round out the programme, coming from as far a field as the US and the Netherlands. Or both, in the case of Holy Rollers, which premiered at Sundance and follows a young Hasid Sam (played by The Social Network's Jesse Eisenberg) seeking to earn an extra buck by transporting medicine from Amsterdam to Brooklyn. Alongside this raft of Australian premieres, cinephiles who may have missed seeing the black comedy Nora's Will at the Spanish Film Festival, or the historical sporting film Berlin '36 at the German Film Festival, can happily catch up on both here, plus a whole lot more besides. https://youtube.com/watch?v=9OrjeUDYIc4
MasterChef Australia may have finished for another season, but culinary inspiration can hit at any moment. When you get the urge to throw an apron and make a mess in the kitchen, the first thing to do is stock up on ingredients. Unfortunately, not all food shops are created equal — a truth that becomes increasingly apparent when you're wandering the aisles of a major supermarket searching in vain for some obscure spice or cut of meat. Fortunately for you, Sydney has a collection of boutique food stores that will have you cooking up a storm in no time. In celebration of Shop Small, we've teamed up with American Express to track down the neighbourhood stores that'll help you impress at your next dinner party or casual picnic. These seven shops stock everything you'll need: artisanal French cheeses, smoked Spanish deli ham, Italian olives, sourdough and fruit and veg fresh from Australian farms. Even better, they all accept American Express Cards so, on top of supporting local businesses, you'll also reap the rewards of being a Card Member.
At a speed that’d give Usain Bolt a run for his money, traditional forms of information dissemination — and knowledge storage — are slipping through our fingers. Album cover art has been all but resigned to museum relic status. Kindle has more or less stolen the fire from the print press. Newspapers are dropping off like flies. Don’t get me wrong. There are zillions of things to love about the internet. Like downloading every single one of Hitchcock’s films, being able to Google Shakespeare’s entire oeuvre and writing this in my pyjamas. But, should cinema ever be cast into the digitally dictated funeral pyre, I’ll cry a Pacific Ocean of cyber tears. So, thank god that the film creatives of this world keep on keeping up ways to keep it relevant. Exotic festivals, underground shenanigans and immersive experiences have been inspiring us to unplug and jump off the couch in droves. And thankfully, World Movies Secret Cinema is back. In fact, it’s triple back. Given that previous sessions have sold out in 15 minutes, 2014 will see five screenings over three days (April 11-13) — in a venue that’s never been used before for anything. Needless to say, the event’s classified nature means that there’s not much else we can tell you. But we do remember last October. In response to a last-minute clue sent by text, guests gathered at King Street Wharf. After boarding a boat — destination unknown — they were handed backpacks containing maps, water and weapons, which, they were told, might be necessary to survival. No wild beasts were encountered on Goat Island, but filmgoers did get to watch performances from TaikOz and burlesque artists, show off their Bruce Lee-esque moves in a martial arts lesson, eat and drink harbourside and, finally, watch the director’s cut of Battle Royale at their very own private island cinema. Oh, and witness a real-life, blood-soaked, dramatic death scene. Unfortunately, ticket prices have nearly doubled since last time to $63.15 (including booking fee), but that should mean the production values are equally increased. Tickets go on sale on Wednesday, March 12, at 9am via Oztix. They include a complimentary beverage and snack from Salt Meats Cheese. Session times are Friday, April 11, at 7pm; Saturday, April 12, at 12.30pm and 7pm; and Sunday, April 13, at 12:30pm and 7pm.
Online retailer My Chameleon is set to host its biggest IRL sale yet over three days this weekend. The sale will take over a warehouse space along Rosebery's Mentmore Avenue — just down the block from The Cannery foodie precinct — and offer up refined designs from some of the world's biggest names at dangerously discounted prices. How discounted? Well, we're talking up to 80 percent off an array of designer threads from both homegrown and international brands. New additions from the likes of Mansur Gavriel, Toteme and Jacquemus will sit alongside designs from Dion Lee, Commes des Garcons, Christopher Esber, Ellery, MM6 by Maison Margiela, Hope Stockholm, R13 Denim and Adidas by Stella McCartney — to name just a few. The shop will sell not only threads but also shoes, bags and accessories, with one-off samples up for grabs, too. Plus, if you show up from 10am–1pm on Saturday, you'll get a free coffee to boot. The sale will be open on Thursday, August 23 from 12–7pm, Friday, August 24 from 10am–6pm and Saturday, August 25 from 10am–4pm.
Although summer may have come and gone, mark our words, the tropical vibes are showing no signs of slowing down at Taqiza — especially when half-priced margaritas are involved. The intimate, buzzing Mexican restaurant in Bondi is joining forces with Tequila Ocho to keep the summer dream alive for one month this winter by halving the cost of its margaritas. With boutique Tequila Ocho as the boozy base, you can take your pick between a classic drop or a jalapeño version — and it won't cost you more than a tenner. This cheeky deal is available on weekdays through July, between 5–7pm. Stop by on the after-work wind-down for a hard-earned tipple and we suggest you pair these affordable beverages with some of Taqiza's traditional Mexican fare — from corn esquites, ceviche and crab tostadas to guacamole, quesadillas and some of the best tacos in town. To get in on this margarita-fuelled madness, grab your mates and reserve a table online here.
If a day spent hanging out with furry friends sounds like your ultimate Saturday session, you're going to love this new beachside festival, Bondi Dog Day. Taking over dog-friendly bar The Bucket List on Saturday, May 18, this pup-filled fiesta promises a big day of fun for furbabies and humans alike. On the day, you'll catch 20 market stalls, slinging products and information to help your pet live their best life. Sign them up for a massage or order them a puppi-cino, stock up on healthy dog treats, or maybe even make a new forever friend at one of the animal adoption stalls. The bar will also be serving up its usual spritzes and snacks — including burrata, caramelised brussels sprouts and fish tacos — for humans. But the day's main events are the Best Bondi Hipster Costume (for dogs and their humans), Best Dog Trick and Bondi Doggie Lifeguard Challenge competitions. There'll also be a Rescue Dog Adoption parade, where a heap of dogs that need forever homes will be strutting their stuff. Held in conjunction with Aussie charity Pound Paws, the event will help raise awareness about the importance of adoption and responsible pet ownership.
Throughout his career spanning twenty plus years, Queensland based artist Ray Cook has consistently returned to discussions of queer theory and the changing role of the gay community. Threaded throughout his body of work is the visual language of the circus or carnival (stars, stripes and red noses abound), and the suggestion that being part of a community so long considered to be a freakish and perverse 'sideshow' to mainstream society, is more of a blessing than some might think. Having opened in the weeks following Mardi Gras, the world's most visible display of queer culture, Cook's most recent body of work, Money Up Front and No Kissing, throws out a number of complex, nigh unanswerable questions: is assimilation really that desirable? What stands to be lost by throwing your lot in with the moral majority? Is political correctness really all it's cracked up to be? What happens to those who aren't so willing to give up the sharper edges of a lifestyle lived previously on the fringe? While the carnival or sideshow motifs remain, this series has a far more sensual and sombre mood than Cook's earlier work, which is aesthetically more direct and contains a thinly veiled lasciviousness and a wicked sense of humour. Money Up Front and No Kissing's combination of Cook's signature symbolism with a darker, more pictorial visual style hints at the complex nature of the ideas behind his work. While this particular reviewer may feel totally unqualified to make a determination on any of the questions put forward, the encroaching darkness that shrouds the subjects seems to suggests that, while it's all good and well to talk of equality, Cook himself isn't totally convinced. Image: Pauly, Ray Cook 2009
It's rare that a performer dressed in 160 pounds of false eyelashes and ostentatiously frothy tulle will be remembered primarily for mesmerising human stories rendered in an exquisite baritone voice, but Le Gateau Chocolat isn't your average larger-than-life operatic diva with a penchant for glittery lycra. This Fringe Festival Sydney will be treated to a generous slice of Gateau when the operatic star of La Soiree returns to Sydney for his solo debut. Delivering moving renditions of songs branching everything from pop-rock and jazz to classical opera and fusing them with his own story, Le Gateau Chocolat manages to make the fact that he is a big Nigerian dude (one with a law degree, no less) dressed as a woman seem almost beside the point. That isn't to say that the show will be without its share of unadulterated hilarity and kaleidoscopic visuals. With his incredible voice encased within a protean candy-coloured shell, Le Gateau Chocolat is as exquisitely beautiful on the outside as it is in spirit. https://youtube.com/watch?v=-7cXUka8ap4
Last year, Single O brought the Australian Aeropress Championship to Sydney. This time around, the roasters will host the mecca of all coffee competitions — the 2018 World AeroPress Championships. The event will take place on November 17, when 60 coffee brewers from around the globe will compete to win the title of best AeroPresser out there. Top-notch coffee isn't the only draw card, either — Single O has again collaborated with leading Sydney chefs on the event's food offering. and this year's theme is something of a world-wide sausage sizzle. First off, Moon Dog will be slinging free tinnies and Cow & the Moon will be scooping pavlova gelato for free, too. For main eats, there's shoyu-glazed hot dogs with wasabi slaw and vegan smoked chilli dogs from Rising Sun Workshop; nahm jim jaew-inspired grilled eggplants and pork sausages from Boon Cafe; and maple and spent coffee from Rocker and LP's Quality Meats. ForeignDub's DJ Blackhawk will provide the tunes while the brewers go head-to-head. After the competition — and your epic feast — head to the Competitor Brew Bar where you can nab a taste of some seriously good cuppas, prepared by the best in the business. General admission tickets will cost you $25, or the $65 VIP ticket gets you access to the pre-party on November 16 — which includes a meet and greet with the competitors at Single O's Surry Hills digs, followed by barefoot bowls at Clovelly Lawn Bowls Club. Images: Carlos Zavala / Alana Dimou.
Eye roll-inducingly terrible bumper stickers be damned; no one honks if they're horny in Titane. Revving when aroused is more this petrol-doused body-horror film's style, spanning characters both flesh and chrome. When she's seen writhing in fishnets atop a flame-adorned vintage Cadillac, the stony-gazed Alexia (debutant Agathe Rousselle) is working. She's titillating a Fast and Furious-style car crowd with her sexed-up display, but the car model still seems to hum with every gyration. After wrapping up, murdering a grab-happy fan with the metal chopstick keeping her hair up and then showering off the gooey, gory evidence, she's soon purring rhythmically inside that gleaming vehicle. Yes, in a plot detail that spilled the instant Titane premiered at this year's Cannes Film Festival, where it won the prestigious Palme d'Or, this is the French car sex flick. How does someone fornicate with an automobile? Not inside or on the waxed hood, but copulating with the vehicle itself? That's one of this pumping piston of a movie's least interesting questions, although Titane does go there. In her sophomore effort after the also-phenomenal teen cannibal film Raw, writer/director Julia Ducournau isn't too interested in those specifics. She splashes the bouncy sex scene across the screen with lights flashing, human and motor pulsating as one, and pleasure seeping like exhaust fumes, but it's hardly the picture's only point of interest. Titane isn't the first feature to flirt with carnality and cars — Ridley Scott's The Counsellor had a gas-fuelled rendezvous less than a decade ago; Crash, from body-horror godfather David Cronenberg, is also steeped in automotive eroticism. But Ducournau's addition to the parking lot shrewdly links mechanophilia with agency and control, particularly over one's feelings and body. First, before cylinders start lustily thrusting, Titane finds the initial growls of Alexia's four-wheeled fascination via a quick race through her childhood. As a seven-year-old (fellow first-timer Adèle Guigue), she enjoys audibly rumbling along with the engine. She also likes kicking the chair in front of her, exasperating her dad (French filmmaker Bertrand Bonello, director of Nocturama and Zombi Child) into an accident. For her troubles, she gets a plate of the titular element inserted in her cracked skull. That steely stare matches the alloy in her head even then. From the outset, Ducournau pairs blood and metal, reshaping her central figure while laying bare her vulnerabilities. She kicks her film into a gear it'll keep shifting into again and again, too, because this is a movie about modifications: physically, emotionally and while trying to claim one's own sense of self. Titane isn't just the French car sex film, clearly. It isn't merely a car sex movie about a woman partly forged from titanium, and with a penchant for piercing her way through those who block her road. Nor is it simply the French car pregnancy flick, with Alexia and the Caddy's tryst bearing fruit — a condition she tries to conceal, especially after more deaths lead her to Vincent (Vincent Lindon, At War), a fire chief who takes her in as his long-missing son. If Ducournau had made her script out of metal, she'd be moulding it in its molten form. She'd be letting it bubble; key to Titane's blistering appeal is its eagerness to let things boil, then brim over, because the feelings and ideas it works with are that scorching. If her feature was a car instead, it'd be that libidinous, fire-emblazoned Cadillac, which arrives with a bang, lures Alexia in and then lets loose. Actually, perhaps Titane would be the oily belly of the hulking vehicle that gets its biggest fan in the family way. Watching here resembles peeking under the bonnet with the engine running, seeing pulleys and belts in action, and feeling heat and energy radiate. That doesn't solely stem from the mechanical imagery, or the savage first half — where fluidly executed killing sprees, broken bodies and a watch-behind-your-hands incident of self-mutilation take on a mechanised air, too. And, it doesn't just emanate from Alexia's swelling stomach, the motor oil oozing from her breasts or, after binding down all signs of femininity in her new life, her scars. As set to both an eerie score and pitch-perfect needle drops, Titane evokes a sensation of witnessing moving parts grind, whirr, interlock and spark. The movie thrums, and it's intoxicating. It isn't always pretty, even with a neon-drenched look that'd do Drive director Nicolas Winding Refn proud, but popping the hood rarely is. As all filmmakers aim to, that's what Ducournau does with her car porn/serial killer/secret identity/gender-bending blend. She opens up her characters, exposes what makes them run and spies what lubricates their gears. Thanks to Rousselle's stunningly physical, near-silent performance, Titane lays bare the workings of a woman who has confronted the hyper-sexualised expectations of her gender by leaning in, and by stabbing. Alexia then grasps comfort by eschewing boundaries, and gaining a surrogate dad who's similarly trapped in his own way. As lensed with an exacting yet empathetic eye by Raw's Ruben Impens — even with its lurid blue and purple hues — Titane sees Vincent's battle to meet the macho standard, too. Shots of him injecting steroids to keep up with the younger firefighters are just as brutal as glimpses of Alexia's distended, strapped-down midsection, if not her bursts of violence. Titane is a ferocious and unflinching thriller, and also beautiful, tender and compassionate. Amid its visceral shocks, it gleans possibilities — in embracing connections, accepting change, breaking free of everything that the world throws at you and, crucially, in seeking power in transformation. Lindon's impact, and that of his soulful, sorrowful eyes, can't be underestimated; if Rousselle is the movie's fuel, he's its oxygen. Ducournau is always in the driver's seat, though. The second woman to ever win Cannes' highly coveted top prize, she packs the film's absurdities into the boot, straps her Raw-established fascination with bodies and identity into the passenger side, puts her pedal to the metal and speeds towards her own cinematic horizon. She veers, swerves and spins along the way, but never crashes — and takes her audience on one helluva ride.
If you're in need of a few chuckles after the year that was 2020, then you're in the right place this month. The Sydney Comedy Festival has a bumper edition on offer in 2021, delivering non-stop laughs from a roll-call of local and international comedic talent. From Monday, April 19, to Sunday, May 16, venues across the city will play host to a program of side-splitting stand-up, improv, theatre, magic and more. Returning favourites include the always huge Sydney Comedy Festival Gala, which hits the State Theatre, The Concourse and the Enmore Theatre to kick things off on April 19, 20 and 21. Whichever date and venue you choose, expect an outrageous night of on-stage antics from a star-studded cast of festival greats and emerging stars. Across the month-long gest, you'll also be able to catch solo shows from legends like Ross Noble, Tom Gleeson, Alice Tovey, Joel Creasey, Tom Ballard, Geraldine Hickey, Tommy Little, Akmal, Arj Barker and stacks more. Or, you can sink your teeth into a full comedic feast, with festival showcase sessions at the likes of The Comedy Store and The Grounds of Alexandria. Elsewhere, Unplanned Melodies delivers a hilarious improv cabaret show, award-winning act Tahir fuses stand-up with some amateur magic to amusing effect, and you'll even find a satirical musical production based on the life of Schapelle Corby.
What better way to welcome the cooler months than ditching the spritz and cosying up to some whisky? Between Thursday, April 28 and Sunday, May 1, you'll be able to do just that at the Whisk(e)y on The Rocks festival. As you may have guessed, this fest is taking place in The Rocks, where you'll wander your way between three festival zones across approximately 2.5 hours. Where you start is up to you, with each space offering something different as part of your $35 ticket — that price also includes nine tokens for drinks. Plus, you can use your NSW Discover vouchers. At Whisky Park, located at First Fleet Park, you'll find the Glenfiddich 'Whisky Wanderer' bus — once a 1972 doubledecker bus, now a luxury whisky lounge. Then make your way to the Fever-Tree Highball Garden and learn how to best harness a mixer to complement your whisky and Monkey Shoulder's pop-up bar for free samples. And, if you are feeling a bit more on the experimental side, try Sheep Dog's peanut butter whisky. Next, Campbell's Cove will be transformed into Whisky Cove with a Johnnie Walker Highball Food Truck and Talisker Boat House. Enjoy a blood orange and lemon highball with paired snacks and the salted smoke taste of Talisker's Single Malt Scotch Whisky, served with freshly shucked oysters. Then, wander down to Sip Street on Playfair Street. Mr Black will be hosting a Coffee Cocktail Carnival where you can sample delicious coffee and whisky cocktails. Once you've sipped your way through each zone, you can mosey through The Rocks Whisk(e)y Trail and explore the whisky pop-ups at a collection of top restaurants and bars — the new Hickson House Distilling Co is hosting a bunch of Aussie craft distilleries, while The Doss House is running a series masterclasses with Head Distiller of Westward Whiskey, Miles Munroe, from Oregon, USA. Get your crew organised and be sure to get tickets to Whisk(e)y on The Rocks before they sell out. You'll need to pick your day and your session, with time slots at 5–7.30pm and 7.45–10.15pm most nights, plus extra daytime sessions on Saturday and Sunday.
A lot of Sydney's festivals push the boundaries of expansiveness, but few manage to cover a month wall-to-wall the way that Art Month lays claim to March. It's a solid thirty one days of hooking-up contemporary art, artist initiatives and Sydney galleries with an appreciative general public. Returning for a third year, the festival offers you the chance to wend your way into the Sydney art world as it briefly claims some space for you in art locations from the rambunctious to the serene. Fitting schedule to ambition, this year's selection is voluminous, filled with exhibtions, talks, workshops, tours and forays into the night. Diego Bonetto takes your on an edible tour by the Casula Powerhouse, new media artists dLux celebrate 30 years with digital sculpture spotting tours and art shoehorned into a pair of theatres. ARI gurus Matchbox Projects will help you see Sydney's ARI gems while the LOST Studio Trail picks out, part by part, the hidden creative side of Leichhardt's art. And if those options seems a bit slow-moving, Art Cycle brings four art tours by bike to add colour between the lines left by the other tour contenders. Exhibited highlights include Berlin-curated cultural exchange Migration, popping-up in the shadow of the MCA, a one-off show of Pat Corrigan's Indigenous Collection in SBS Sydney's angular confines and an uncommon peek into the massed cultural holdings of national art-loan service ArtBank. Stand out talks feature public art patron John Kaldor in conversation with ABC art maven Fenella Kernebone, words from Magnum rep Fiona Rogers and a some spirited defence of deliberately being an uncollectable artist. Art Month events are usually free, but often require advance bookings. Check individual events for details. Image from Julian Rosefeldt's 'asylum' video installation in Migration, courtesy of the artist.
Barney Cashman (Jamie Oxenbould) is a formerly monogamous 47 year-old restauranteur who has lived, until now, a pretty responsible and morally upright existence. After 29 years of marriage to his wife Thelma, our leading man has decided to stage his very own sexual revolution in a bid to reclaim his sense of passion and intimate connectedness from his longstanding staple fare of, well, Thelma I guess. In the witty and delightfully amusing Last of the Red Hot Lovers by Neil Simon, we watch our 47 year-old protagonist in his hilarious attempts to seduce three women who have captured his affections despite their various, shall we say, idiosyncrasies. Elaine, Bobbi and Jeanette (all played by the talented Sharon Millerchip) are variously riddled with neuroses, addictions and complications of all kinds (one of them is his wife best friend). Barney's shenanigans with these three colourful women take place across three afternoons, all in the unlikely setting of his mother's apartment. This somewhat taboo topic of extra-marital activity is examined in a way that highlights the great humour inherent in our attempts to ignite the fires of passion where idealised romance crashes head-on into the gritty realism often contained in the real-life versions of these kinds of encounters. Described by the New York Post as "delightfully hilarious and witty, as well as filled with wisdom about human nature", Director Mark Kilmurray is sure to deliver his version of this cheeky and highly amusing piece with great style and aplomb.
The Lord Gladstone is set for its next name change. After renaming itself The Lord Gallen, The Lord Jabstone, The Gladsong Hotel and Dark Gladfo for various events and causes, the hotel's next form will celebrate Sydney favourites Gang of Youths as it dons the name The Forbearance Hotel. The name change lines up with a pop-up shop the band will be hosting at the pub to coincide with their Australian tour and new EP. Kicking off in Perth on Saturday, July 30, the angel in realtime tour will arrive in Sydney's Qudos Bank Arena the next week on Saturday, August 6. From August 6–8 the band will also be hosting a pop-up at the beloved Chippendale pub The Lord Gladstone. Taking place in the Good Space Gallery inside the venue, the pop-up will feature an exclusive range of merch that won't be available on the tour as well as beer and wine that the band has created with Golden Child and Atomic Beer Project. The merch will range from clothing (all made with 100-percent recycled materials) and accessories to drink bottles and beer glasses to enjoy Gang of Youths' new US-style pale ale from Atomic. And the wine made with the help of Golden Child is a light red similar to a Beaujolais. The pop-up will be open midday–7pm on Saturday, August 6, midday–8pm on Sunday, August 7 and midday–5pm on Monday, August 9. Images: Ed Cook
Storytelling is a lost art. Point in case: the last story that you were told by your creepy uncle at that family barbeque, and that ended in you giving your least convincing laugh and excusing yourself to quietly throw up. That’s where Penguin Plays Rough comes in. Headed by Pip Smith, Penguin Plays Rough is a revival of storytelling (formerly) in a St Peters warehouse, of listeners leaning in to hear what comes next, of writers in a red velvet armchair unleashing the raw, untamed energy of a great story read out loud. This is Not a Lecture sees the gathering of Sydney’s sharpest young minds, featuring zinester Vanessa Berry, The Lifted Brow editor Sam Cooney, Westside Publications editor Michael Mohammed Ahmed, poet and sound designer Scott Sandwich, and typography fanatic Gemma O'Brien. Each PPR night is bursting with spontaneity, so it’s hard to know exactly what’s going to happen, whether you laugh, cry, or rethink your life thus far. Regardless, you should know that it’s going to be the greatest lecture of your life - but it’s not a lecture. Don't miss it.
They're taking to hobbits to Isengard at the Orpheum this winter, with one movie marathon to rule them all. Round up the Fellowship, stock up on lembas bread for sustenance and hide your finest pipe-weed from the Southfarthing for one sitting of all three of Peter Jackson's beloved OG Tolkien film adaptations at the Hayden Orpheum. Kicking off with The Fellowship of the Ring and ending with The Return of the King, this cave troll of a marathon clocks in at 558 minutes, starting the journey at 11am and including two 30-minute meal breaks (breakfast and second breakfast, if you will). If you make it to the final handful of endings, you can pat yourself on the back and smash a ringwraith screech at the nearest Cremorne resident on your way home (note: do not actually screech at the residents). Without a ticket, expect at least one overenthusiastic Orpheum staff member to make an example of you, thundering "You shall not pass!" to raucous applause. So buy a ticket, precious.
