Fancy a trip to China, but can't afford the airfare? Well, luck is on your side, because Chatswood is hosting a three-week-long cultural festival to ring in the Year of the Pig. From 29 January to 19 February, the lower north shore suburb will be filled with food, festivities and floats as it celebrates the Chinese New Year. Highlights include a Golden Market in Chatswood Mall (Jan 29–Feb 8) with 35 stallholders serving up everything from dumpling to flowers; Celebration Day (Feb 9), one of Sydney's largest Chinese New Year celebrations; and the Lunar New Year Twilight Parade (February 16) with impressive floats and dragon dancing moving through Chatswood's main streets. Foodies can head on one of the Taste of Asia tours, which travel through Chatswood's many multi-cultural eateries, with guests feasting on everything from Taiwanese bao to Chinese dumplings to authentic Malay and heat-packing tom yum. Kidults (and actual children) can head to a night at the movies with Flicks for Piglets screened every evening, including both Chinese and English family films. And it's all free, no passport required.
Is your aesthetic still stuck in the greys and navy blues of winter? Well, you should hotfoot it to Precinct 75 — its upcoming design market will help you transition into summer. Across one day December, the market is returning to the St Peters creative precinct to celebrate local independent labels. Both Precinct 75 tenants and guest will be there, including homewares designers Saarde Hoem and Upcycle Studio. Or snag yourself a sweet-smelling real Christmas tree (which'll be available from the precinct for the rest of the month, too). Food stalls from Rice Pantry, Sample Roasters and Buttercream Bakery will keep you fed, while Precinct 75's Urban Winery and Willie The Boatman will be doling out the vino and beer, respectively. Sydney Vegan Market will also be popping up no the day, serving up a slew of plant-based eats and drinks. If you need a midway shopping break, there will be plenty of action to keep you occupied with live music and indoor plant advice — and lots of green babies available to buy — available from the Mega Pop-Up Plant Sale. Even better, with free entry for you, your mates and the pooch — yes, pets are welcome — you'll have more money to spend on some new wares. Precinct 75 Summer Design Fair will run from 9am–4pm.
Summer means sunshine, saying goodbye to wearing many layers of clothing at all times and stepping out into the great outdoors as often as possible. It also means the return of market-friendly weather. With that in mind, the folks at Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel and Cambridge Markets are joining forces for a festive fling. There'll be food. There'll be shopping. There'll be rides, fun and hangouts aplenty. Head on down to Robertson Park on Friday, December 7, because that's when Watsons Bay Christmas Twilight Market will be taking over. As well as browsing and buying in scenic surroundings, expect 120 stalls and many gourmet food stations. Those eager to head home with a full basket will find local designer fashion, homewares, ceramics and jewellery on offer from 3pm until 9pm. Those keen to fill their stomachs can eat their way through Vietnamese pho, pork sliders and more. Arrive hungry, leave satisfied — and with a heap of new items.
2015's Creed was the best kind of surprise. What seemed destined to be a sad resurrection of a franchise already long past its prime turned out to be a benchmark moment for sports movies, combining heart-pumping pugilism with the same kind of tender romance that underscored and grounded the original Rocky. As Adonis 'Donnie' Creed, Michael B. Jordan delivered a fearless performance laden with vulnerability and irresistible charisma, while Sylvester Stallone's reserved turn reminded audiences that beneath his tough guy exterior remains a fine and gifted actor possessed of a deep emotional range. Those same qualities and performances are again present in Creed II, although the story itself unfortunately fails to match the power and drive of its predecessor. The setup is certainly juicy enough. Viktor Drago, son of Ivan – the man who killed Creed's father Apollo in the ring during Rocky IV – arrives in Philadelphia with his father and challenges the newly-crowned heavyweight champion of the world to a fight. It's a chance to "rewrite history" as Donnie tells his mother. But Rocky's heart is filled with dread, with his sense of guilt over Apollo's death a constant companion. Refusing to train Donnie, he and his protege part ways until a tragedy of sorts brings them back together and it's time for another classic training montage. Outside of the ring, Tessa Thompson gives Creed II some much-needed personal drama as Donnie's girlfriend Bianca, delivering another passionate performance imbued with a great deal of heart despite being disappointingly relegated to a more secondary role this time around. Directed by Steven Caple Jr. taking over from Black Panther's Ryan Coogler, Creed II is clearly at its strongest in the ring, where its glorious combination of POV camerawork and sumptuous sound design contributes to an almost uncomfortably visceral, bone-crunching experience. Slow-motion is used more sparingly than is usual in boxing films, reserved here for the truly devastating body blows and upper-cuts. You really feel the hits in this movie, especially those delivered to the ribs where the accompanying snap will have you hugging yourself tightly for comfort. The writing, however, is notably weaker, due perhaps to Coogler's absence (save for an executive producer credit). The screenplay, co-written by Stallone, still has its moments, but lacks the nuance and restraint that helped make Creed into something special. There are too many lines that sound like they were ripped straight from fortune cookies ("It may not seem like it now, but this is more than just a fight"), while the periodic narration from the TV and ringside commentators that added so much authenticity to the original is downright abysmal in the sequel. Countering this, thankfully, are the fine repeat performances from Stallone, Jordan and Thompson, whose chemistry and closeness continue to sizzle on screen. The joy of seeing Dolph Lundgren return as Drago, too, is a highlight, but one that's sadly short lived as he's given little more to do than scowl and grizzle from his first scene to his last. Similarly, the most interesting character in Creed II is also its least explored. Viktor Drago is an irresistible combination of brute physical force and deep-seeded emotional turmoil, neatly packaged inside the 6-foot-4 mountain of muscle that is Romanian boxer and fitness model Florian Munteanu. Abandoned by his mother, weaponised by his father and ignored by his country until a string of victories bring him into the light, Viktor's most compelling fight is the one that's unseen. As he and his father are welcomed back into Russian high society, the young Drago finds no satisfaction in his celebrity, acutely aware of the fair-weather nature of the fans and disgusted by his father's seemingly instant compliance with those who rejected him (including Viktor's mother). Yet Munteanu finds himself forced to play a caricature – although he manages to sneak in moments of emotional subtlety where he can. Indeed, why they fight is at the heart of both fighters' story in Creed II. Driven by reasons that at first seem clear, both Viktor and Donnie soon find ambiguity and doubt needling their way into their respective psyches. By the time the big finale arrives, they remind you of soldiers on a battlefield, bloodied and beaten, yet ultimately more like brothers than enemies – men sent to destroy one another at the behest of those safe behind the lines. As much a father/son story as it is a boxing one, Creed II's tale of family and redemption ultimately doesn't match the quality of the original. Even so, it's a compelling sequel, and worthy of your time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-eB1AwpCXI
In 2019, Western Sydney will not only score a brand new zoo, it will also add a new community running event to its calendar: RunWest. Open to runners of all ages and abilities, RunWest will follow a 12-kilometre course, through several major landmarks. Its first incarnation was supposed to see runners race through the new Sydney Zoo, but that won't be opening until later this year now. Instead, you'll begin at Sydney Motorsport Park, before traversing Western Sydney Parklands, heading into Blacktown International Sports Park and winding up at West HQ. If 12 kilometres sounds too far, conquer the more friendly four-kilometre Family Fun Run instead. Either way, there'll be plenty of action to keep you on course. On crossing the finish line, you'll find the Finish Line Festival, an extravaganza of food trucks and live music to make you forget all about the pain of running you've just endured. First up, grab a coffee cone (literally an espresso shot inside a chocolate-filled waffle cone) and then take your pick from the likes of Chur Burger, Satay Brothers, Burnt Ends BBQ and Duo Duo Ice Cream. The main stage will feature some local musos, and the festivities will kick on at Made By The Hill afterwards. If you're a City2Surf regular, this might be a good race to enter in the off-season — although, being March, chances are the weather will be pretty warm. But, like City2Surf, you're encouraged to raise funds for a charity of your choice, so your sweat will be all worth it. If you're ready to commit, sign up right now at super early bird rates, which are $15 per person for the fun run and $30 for the 12-kilometre event. Plus, your ticket includes entry to Sydney Zoo, valid for a year from 1 August, 2019. Updated: March 25, 2019.
If you've already started planning which all-white outfit you'll be wearing to Sydney's Diner en Blanc, you may want to consider preparing two ensembles. Diner en Blanc has partnered with Marriott International and is throwing not one but two soirees this year. The inaugural Cocktails et Cuisine en Blanc — which doubles as a launch for Diner en Blanc and a chic cocktail party — will feature exquisite French fare, bespoke all-white cocktails, live music and all the decadence and debauchery you would expect. Held at the Sydney Harbour Marriott, there won't be any guessing game as to how to get to the Cocktails et Cuisine en Blanc event — plus you'll be able to leave your plastic chairs and BYO picnic at home for this one. On the night, you'll be treated to canape and cocktail packages to inspire your menu for the actual event. And to ensure you're served the best of the best, the gourmet food and custom cocktails have been handcrafted by the teams at five participating hotels (Westin, Sheraton, Pier One, Marriott and Four Points by Sheraton). Keep an eye out for the all-white desserts from renowned, Michelin Star-experienced chef Raphael Szurek. And, if you enjoy this night of unfettered opulence, you can relive it as the days get warmer — the Diner en Blanc-themed food and drink will be available from now until January 26, 2019. Marriott International is also offering special accommodation packages at the aforementioned participating hotels so, if you need, you also have somewhere nice and close to the city to stay. Cocktails et Cuisine en Blanc will be held at 6.30pm on Thursday, October 11 at the Sydney Harbour Marriott. Registration via Facebook is essential.
Heading to the cinema is usually an act of escapism, but the Antenna Documentary Film Festival isn't avoiding life's woes. The Sydney-based event dedicates its six-day, 48-movie program to true tales from around the world. Running from Tuesday, October 9 to Sunday, October 14 at the Chauvel Cinema, Palace Verona, Dendy Newtown and the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, the fest casts its eyes far and wide to relay stunning stories that couldn't be more real. You won't find CGI fantasies and simple accounts of good versus evil here, but what you will discover is a plethora of thought-provoking efforts — surveying everything from politics, depression, democracy and cannibalism to soccer, consumerism, art scandals and roller-skating. Many of the festival's highlights are also homegrown, from the emotionally and visually striking Island of Hungry Ghosts, about immigration detention on Christmas Island, to The Eviction, about two friends' battle to save Sydney's Sirius building. Also look out for opening night's Putin's Witnesses, which chronicles the current Russian president's rise to power; Yours in Sisterhood, a powerful reading of unpublished letters sent to America's first mainstream feminist publication in the 1970s; and Aquarela, an aesthetically impressive ode to water in all of its guises. Cinephiles will want to stare into The Eyes of Orson Welles, a cinematic essay about the Citizen Kane filmmaker by The Story of Film's Mark Cousins, while everyone can enjoy closing night's The Gospel of Eureka, the SXSW hit that initiates viewers into the world of gospel drag shows.
Spring is here, flowers are blooming and you just want to fill your house with plants. Head on over to Sydney's latest greenery-filled pop-up and you can do just that. In fact, it's called The Green. Located in Banksmeadow, a 15-minute drive south of the CBD, The Green will be slinging ferns, figs and other foliage from 9am–5pm on Saturday, October 20. Prepare to feast your eyes on a heap indoor and courtyard plants, including succulents, with the majority of the stock on sale for between $10–30. Entry is free, but you will need a ticket to attend — and if you'd like to do more than shop, you have a few options. You can also attend free terrarium and succulent bowl demonstrations, or you can book yourself in for a paid terrarium or kokedama workshop and take your own green creation home with you for $49–59
As the brains behind Ms. G's, and executive chef of Merivale's multi-venue Establishment, Dan Hong is no stranger to innovation. But things are about to get extra crafty when he's joined in the Ms. G's kitchen by some big-name international comrades, for an exclusive series of whisky-inspired food collabs. The first of these kicks off next week, with the help of groundbreaking LA chef Kris Yenbamroong. The mind behind legendary Thai street food restaurants Night + Market and Hong will each deliver an experimental menu of snacks, available across two rollicking weeknight parties on October 10 and 11. We're talking bites like rock oysters with sweet and sour pig's head jam, condensed milk-marinated pork skewers, fried chicken and papaya sandwiches and a whisky coconut sorbet. Guests will enjoy a parade of the pair's game-changing dishes, alongside DJ tunes and a series of Chivas Regal cocktail concoctions crafted exclusively for the events. There'll also be the chance to road-test some special booze blends at whisky stations set up throughout Ms. G's. Your $90 ticket includes all food, four Chivas Regal cocktails, entertainment, a whisky blending experience and your own blended whisky to take home. The Blend series continues next month, when Hong will joins forces with longtime mate Jowett Yu (Hong Kong's Ho Lee Fook) and Louis Tikram from LA hotspot LP & EP. They'll host a couple of similar shindigs on November 12 and 13, this time plating up an adventurous Asian-fusion mash-up. A third and final (and yet-to-be-named) guest will be heading Down Under for two nights in December — we'll update you as soon as they're announced. Images: Dimitri Tricolas, Nikki To and Laure Joliet
Heated outdoor spaces are a hot commodity while the weather's still a bit nippy. They offer a rare occasion to enjoy some fresh air even when the warmth from the sun has vanished. Luckily, The Grounds of Alexandria has you sorted. The venue holds regular after-dark music events held in its fairy light-lit urban garden, and the next instalment is all about blues and mulled wine. Go straight from work and grab a glass from 6.30pm. Music will be going throughout the night — the soulful Frank Sultana will be complemented by the upbeat harmonica tunes from duo Sweet Jelly Rolls. Dancing is encouraged. The $30 ticket price includes entry and the music, with food and drinks available to purchase from the kitchen — think cheese and charcuterie boars, burgers and other dishes from the barbecue. It's a top date idea or, alternatively, one for you fam — kids under 12 get in for free.
If you've long been wanting to impress your cinephile friends with your knowledge of classic horrors, here's your chance to educate yourself. Throughout October, the Ritz Cinema in Randwick is playing cult classic horrors, thrillers, dramas, sci-fi and fantasy movies. Get ready to gasp, gawk and grab the edge of your seat. Start with the all-time scaries The Exorcist and The Shining, or check out 2018 flicks Bad Times at the El Royale, Venom or the remake of Halloween. And if you've ever been to a costume party and wondered who the people in the black and white stripes or the girl with the black bob, white shirt and cigarette have come as, well, after watching Beetlejuice and Pulp Fiction, you'll have your party parlance down pat. And on Halloween Eve there'll be a preview of the much anticipated, Golden Lion-nominated flick Suspiria, which is an homage to the 1977 film of the same name.
If you haven't yet had a chance to check out Gelato Messina's Creative Department — its Darlinghurst restaurant serving up gelato-led degustations — then this November is the perfect time to do so. The gelato fiends are adding caviar to all their dishes for a series of special, seasonal dinners. Under the guidance of head chef Remi Talbot, Messina's Creative Department is crafting a special eight-course gelato-meets-salt-cured degustation running for just three days between Friday, November 2 and Sunday, November 4. So what kind of caviar-gelato goodness have the masterminds come up with this time around? Expect Thai basil and lime granita with lime caviar, picked strawberry and red shiso sorbet with strawberry gum cream and caviar, and roasted almond gelato with potato and brown butter foam. Scampi tarts, lemon myrtle sherbet, soy-cured egg yolk and white garlic gelato are among the other ingredients. Tickets are $150 per person and, based off how quick these things sell out around the country, you'll want to grab your tickets ASAP.
Clear your weekend schedules Sydneysiders — a bottomless margaritas and tacos weekend brunch is here. Carbòn, Bondi haunt Taqiza's new wood-fired Mexican joint, has decided to indulge in a brunch experience that brings all the good vibes of a summery vacation in Tulum to a standard Sydney weekend. Every Saturday and Sunday from 12–5pm, you can feast away on all the tequila, lime and salsa goodness your belly can fit for $75 per person. For the tacos, imagine the likes of confit beef brisket, fried barramundi, barbecue octopus and even vegan chorizo. The high-quality ingredients don't stop at the food either, with Carbòn using some of the best tequilas and mezcals for those margs you'll be downing — including the aromatic vintage Tequila Ocho. So, for a non-stop flavour feast, reserve a table online, put on your snazziest pair of stretchy pants and hop on down to Bondi for all the margaritas you can drink and tacos you can eat.
If you're keen to see the winner of the Best Performance Award at last year's Melbourne Fringe, you'd better be prepared to don a bathrobe. This summer, Wiradjuri dancer and choreographer Joel Bray will be holed up in a luxe hotel room at QT Sydney with a small group of strangers he met in the bar downstairs — including you. What starts as a casual conversation begins to gather speed in the form of physical expression. Bray ranges through the intimate space and the room loses its drabness and uniformity. Using the Dreamtime story of the biladurang (platypus) to loosely frame his own unique tale, Bray has been packing out single suites across the country. Funny, dark and steeped in the vulnerability of the personal, by all accounts the surcharges on this room are purely emotional. Biladurang is part of Sydney Festival's dramatic and diverse 2019 program. Check out the full lineup here.
For much of the 19th century and a good deal of the 20th, the Pigalle district in Paris — where the infamous Moulin Rouge lives — was alight with ideas. Its cafes and boarding houses were bursting with would-be artists, philosophers and wits creating and debating in equal measure. Then in the 1940s, with war ripping the country apart, Pigalle drop-kicked its academic hangers-on and became one of the most risqué red-light districts in Europe. Equal parts burlesque, circus and discotheque, Pigalle transports audiences to a time of anarchic abandon and Parisian pizzazz. With an international cast of cabaret heavyweights headed up by Marcia Hines, this is a saucy and occasionally scandalous tour through Paris that other time that it sizzled. Pigalle is part of Sydney Festival's dramatic and diverse 2019 program. Check out the full lineup here. Image: Daniel Linnett
It can be assumed that whoever started the old wives' tale warning against pairing whisky and oysters just wanted to keep the secret to themselves. The Wild Rover — and those who have ventured through the bar's green door — know better. The Surry Hills bar is so into oysters it's rolling out an entire week of celebrations dedicated to them. Its famous lamb sausage roll will be forgotten for the week with a special menu that gives oysters the limelight — and from Monday, October 29 through to Saturday, November 3, you'll be able to slurp down some freshly shucked oysters for just $1 each. Get adventurous with po' boys and oyster chowder alongside a variety of paired drinks. For the week, the bar will be serving up a special list of whisky-heavy cocktails all featuring Talisker. The exact drinks have no yet been released, but are expected to be posted on the event page imminently. Concerned about the extensive oyster shell carnage from the week of celebrations? All shells will be donated to Ocean Watch to sustain Sydney Harbour marine life.
Everyone loves digging into a bowl of hearty, cheesy, carby pasta — whether it's the middle of a drizzly winter today or the peak of summer. But sometimes, depending how fancy you go, they can set you back nigh $30. For World Pasta Day (a thing, it seems) Fratelli Fresh is shunning exxy bowls and instead celebrating with a day of $10 pastas. All eight Fratelli Fresh stores — Alexandria, Bridge Street, Crows Nest, Darling Harbour, Entertainment Quarter, Macquarie Street, Walsh Bay and Westfield CBD — will be offering all pasta dishes on their menus for only a tenner. All day. Choose from crab spaghettini, classic spag bol, linguine with chilli and garlic, ricotta ravioli with burnt butter and a next-level fettuccini with duck ragù (among others). Pretty lovely considering some of these dishes are usually priced at up to $35 price tag. Book your spot for lunch or dinner via the website.
Not all street festivals are held in the inner west. Sure, it's got Marrickville Festival and Leichhardt's Italian Festa, but the lower north shore has Crown Nest Fest. And it's no small affair — each year, the one-day festival brings in over 50,000 punters. This year — its 28th — will see Willoughby Road lined with over 200 stallholders hawking food, drinks and other goodies. Bands will play throughout the day across four stages, and you can expect local haunts like The Hayberry, Johnny Bird and Double Cross to get involved, too.
When Best F(r)iends: Volume One hit screens earlier this year, it was the film that had to happen. Tommy Wiseau and Greg Sestero couldn't just give the world the so-bad-it's-amazing gift that is The Room and leave it at that, after all. And thanks to the surprisingly watchable flick's name, we all knew what would be coming next: Best F(r)iends: Volume Two. Yep, the duo's first disasterpiece became the basis for Sestero's ace behind-the-scenes book The Disaster Artist, and then the oh-so spot-on movie adaptation of the same name — and now their second effort is wrapping up with its second part. Prepare to throw plastic gold teeth rather than plastic spoons at the screen, or just show up wearing a bloody shirt. If you want to say "oh hi" to someone, that's obviously allowed. For those that missed the return of Wiseau's long, greasy locks in Best F(r)iends: Volume One, it sees the world's most distinctive actor play a mortician, with Sestero also starring as a drifter who starts selling off gold teeth extracted from dead bodies. It's somewhat inspired by a true story, with Sestero writing the script based on a road trip he really took with Wiseau. The man forever known as The Room's Mark also says that Best F(r)iends: Volume Two his favourite thing he's ever doneis . If you're so filled with excitement that you feel like storming onto a rooftop and throwing a bottle, don't stress — just like the first part, the second film is coming to Sydney. It'll screen at the Hayden Orpheum at 7pm on Thursday, December 6. Even better, Sestero will be in attendance to answer all of your questions. Just don't ask him how his sex life is, obviously. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTu9N40E_MI
Whiskey, beer, tasty eats and live music will get together for one mighty afternoon on 1 December when JJ's Place takes over Commune Waterloo. The occasion for this shindig is the launch of Jameson's latest creation: Caskmates IPA, a whiskey aged in IPA beer barrels. It's also the first day of summer. Get down there from 3–10pm to sample this new drop, as well as a limited edition Irish Pale Ale from Young Henrys, made especially for the event. Frankie's will be bringing its pinball machines, fresh apple cocktails and (most importantly) pizza from the CBD, while Newtown's Continental Deli will be serving up Mate's Plates, loaded with charcuterie, cheese and double sandwiches, alongside whiskey cocktails. Providing the soundtrack will be a bunch of live acts, including The Delta Riggs, The Gooch Palms, Sloan Peterson, Display Homes and DJs from FBi Radio. You'll get a free drink on arrival, but you'll have to pay for everything else. And here's the catch: you have to enter a ballot. If you're lucky, you'll score two tix. Image: Frankie's by Katje Ford.
As the great writer Mark Twain said: "Too much of anything is bad, but too much good whiskey is barely enough." Here's your chance to put his wisdom to the test. Much-loved restaurant nel. is gearing up to host a degustation inspired by Bushmills Irish Whiskey. Over the course of one evening, you'll try six decadent dishes, created by award-winning chef Nelly Robinson, each matched to a whiskey drink. On arrival, expect to be greeted with a Bushmills Smash cocktail, before moving on to Black Bush, an intense yet smooth drop aged in former Oloroso sherry casks, served with beetroot crème brulée and vinegar popcorn. As the evening deepens, so will your whiskey. Course number three is a ten-year-old single malt aged in bourbon season casks — whose honey, vanilla and milk chocolate notes are a perfect fit for the burnt hay snapper with lemongrass, grape and charcoal. After that, look out for a 16-year-old single malt — matched with whiskey and coffee-cured beef, macadamia, onion and cabbage. Then, finally, the pièce de résistance: a majestic 21-year-old single malt in the company of banoffee pie. Before heading home, linger over a cheese platter and an old fashioned. Robinson will be joined by whisky expert and bartender Rachael Hand (Mjolner Melbourne) to talk through the pairings. Bushmills Irish Whiskey is handcrafted in small batches at the world's oldest licensed whiskey distillery in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Of the collaboration, Robinson said "Bushmills works really well with my style of cooking. Each expression has so much warmth and personality which is something I strive to bring out in all my dishes." The Bushmills Whiskey Degustation will take place on Wednesday, November 21 between 6.30–9.30pm. Tickets can be purchased here.
After the Sydney Opera House replaced its Festival of Dangerous Ideas with Antidote last year, we didn't think we'd see it again. But the festival is about to rear its head for its ninth iteration, this time trading in its Bennelong Point digs for a space at Cockatoo Island. Co-founded by The Ethics Centre (TEC) and the Sydney Opera House back in 2009, FODI 2018 won't just have a new venue, but a new partner as well — teaming up with the UNSW Centre for Ideas for the first time. But the concept will remain the same, again bringing together thought leaders and creative thinkers for a weekend of critical discussion around the most important global issues of today. This year's festival, curated by Festival Director Danielle Harvey and UNSW Centre for Ideas Director Ann Mossop, will examine the theme of Trust and Truth, and will aim to incite debate, push boundaries and inspire intellectual freedom. And it has some big names on its bill. Stephen Fry — the Englishman with many hats: writer, comedian, actor, activist — will be holding a talk on the art of furious oration at Sydney Town Hall, entitled The Hitch after the festival's inaugural speaker: the controversial author and critic Christopher Hitchens. On the topic of controversy, activist Megan Phelps-Roper will be taking the stage to discuss her time at the Westboro Baptist Church. The festival's international lineup also includes Israeli-American writer Ayelet Waldman discussing the benefits of microdosing LSD, and Angela Nagle, author of Kill All Normies, exploring the culture clash between the alt-right and the left. Locally, feminist and author Germaine Greer, who's latest novel On Rape just hit the stands, will chat about outrage, while activist Mick Dodson argues the existence of modern-day European colonialism. A heap of thought-provoking panels are also on the program, including discussions on sex robots, the Australian media, nationalism and whether or not inequality is always bad. Those wanting to experience something a bit different can head to a part monologue, part striptease with artist Betty Grumble — called Sex Clowns Save the World — philosophy workshops and a Counterstrike LAN party (basically, a gaming party), where an electronic sculpture shoots "blood" at gamers. As this year's festival is located on an island, you'll need to catch a ferry across to the insightful talks. Thankfully, festival passes include ferry transport to Cockatoo Island — and start at $89. Images: Yaya Stempler.
If you're keen to experience space-like gravity-defying action here on earth, get set for Heliosphere at Sydney Festival 2019. The ethereal performance will see an illuminated helium-filled sphere taking an aerialist 20 metres into the air. From a height that would ensure a sticky end if sudden re-entry were initiated, the airborne artist will perform a series of spins and twists in the moon-shaped contraption. In 1965, astronaut Ed White concluded the first American spacewalk by saying, "I'm coming back in...and it's the saddest moment of my life". Space is vast and dangerous, but Heliosphere is a reminder of the tremendous beauty that can result when risk is embraced. Heliosphere is part of Sydney Festival's dramatic and diverse 2019 program and will appear at Prince Alfred Square in Parramatta for Circus Comes to Town from January 11–13. Check out the full lineup here. UDPATE: DECEMBER 5, 2018 — This event was initially also meant to run at Barangaroo between January 16–27, but these performances have been cancelled. The Parramatta shows will still run as scheduled.
UPDATE: JANUARY 22, 2019 — Due to a disagreement with the Moulin Rouge in Paris, Beyond Cinema has cancelled its Moulin Rouge-themed immersive theatre night. Those who have already bought tickets should have received an email notifying them of this, and are entitled to either a full refund or a credit for the company's next Sydney event. Beyond Cinema — the good folks who brought an extravagant Great Gatsby party to a mansion in northern Sydney, the Mad Hatter's tea party to the Botanic Gardens and recreated Titanic on Sydney Harbour — are at it again. Now, Moulin Rouge is getting the immersive theatre treatment in March 2019. This time around, guests will be carried away to a cabaret club in 1899 Paris (in actual fact, an event space in Bankstown). At Harold Zidler's world-famous house of risque entertainment, fancy dress will once again be a must. If you're keen to book similar tickets right now, another Beyond Cinema is already set to transport you to 19th century France with an immersive singalong screening of Les Miserables this December.
Next month is set to kick off in a haze of smoky meats, crafty beers and live tunes, all for a great cause, at the inaugural BBQ Baleout. Descending on Moore Park's Entertainment Quarter on November 3 and 4, the event sees BlackBear BBQ, BBQ Garage and the Australasian Barbecue Alliance team up to rally funds and support for Aussie farmers doing it tough. Entry is free, but there'll be Buy a Bale charity buckets dotted throughout the venue, for those who fancy donating. Head along for a taste of country life, as the former show grounds play host to a program of reptile displays, cattle dog performances, whip shows and cow milking demonstrations. Meanwhile, danceable live tunes will come courtesy of acts like Volky, Taya Chani Trio and the Sweet Jelly Rolls, plus there'll be a swag of barbecue vendors — including Parrilla Argenchino, Bovine and Swine and Whole Hogs by Hill Billy — and beers from Six Strings to keep you properly fuelled throughout the day. But the real showdown happens when Australia's richest BBQ championship, the 2018 Kingsford Invitational BBQ Competition, takes centre stage. Forty of the country's top barbecue teams will attempt to grill, roast and smoke their way to glory, for a share in $40,000 cash and prizes.
Hey boy, hey girl — we've got some news. Pioneering electronic music duo The Chemical Brothers is heading Down Under — for its first Aussie tour in six years. Off the back of dropping its ninth studio album No Geography just last month, the pair has announced it'll be taking a new live show (also called No Geography) around the world this year. Stops include the UK, US and Mexico — and, luckily, also Australia. If you've been lucky enough to catch The Chemical Brothers live before, you'll know its shows aren't your average stand-behind-the-decks-and-play performances. They feature strobe lights, lasers and mind-bending images projected onto huge screens. It's sort of like a trip, without the LSD. If you haven't seen one before, take a peek at one of the psychedelic shows below. As well as new hits off the new No Geography album, including 'Free Yourself' and 'MAH', we're hoping the duo will add some throwbacks to its live performances — the late-90s and early-2000s hits 'Hey Boy, Hey Girl' and 'Galvanize' would be particularly welcome. As an added bonus, the duo will be touring the country with a big-name local: The Avalanches. The Melbourne-born electro group will be playing a live DJ set at all The Chemical Brothers' shows. If you don't know them, you'll definitely know their song 'Since I Left You'. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tri7gjlmfdk
Swap your swimmers for a scarf, and head down to Bondi this July. From Tuesday, July 9, Bondi Pavilion will be transformed into a carnival playground for the seventh annual Bondi Feast festival. Across ten nights, a lineup of over 200 artists, comedians and actors will grace Bondi's shores, with over 40 shows across six theatre spaces, the Festival Garden and even on the streets of Bondi. Kicking things off is Bondi Feast Gala Night, hosted by DJ and comedian Juan Vesuvius. Expect comedy from Nina Omaya, magic by Adam Axford and cabaret from the likes of cabaret queen and Adelaide Fringe Award winner Anya Anastasia as well as Green Room Award winner Jude Perl. Go beyond the Bondi Pavilion walls and join in on Guru Dudu's Silent Disco Walking Tour or see Eurowision — the festival's homage to the iconic song contest. Enjoy a glass of hot mulled cider in the Festival Garden, full of experimental and roving theatre performances, food trucks and drinks. Or, for some genre-defying circus, head to the decadent Parlour Tent. Plus, in a Bondi Feast first, a New Zealand act will feature, with sketch comedy Laser Kiwi. Tickets for each show range from free to $35. Packed full of vibrant, eclectic and eccentric acts, Bondi Feast is sure to get you venturing into the brisk winter air. Bondi Feast is part of Bondi Winter Magic and will run every day except Sundays, from Tuesday, July 9 through Saturday, July 20. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the website.
When the weather is this chilly, you have to search a little harder to find things to look forward to. But the injection of cash into your bank account that (hopefully) happens after June 30 is certainly a cause for celebration. And, if you want to treat yourself a little early, Bar M is bringing an extra special Italian feast to Rushcutters Bay. The restaurant has teamed up with Ruinart — the world's oldest established Champagne house — to bring Sydneysiders a lavish five-course degustation, paired with matching Champagne. Owner and head chef Paola Toppi will whip up a decadent menu, starting with freshly shucked oysters with caviar and horseradish kingfish tartare — both served with a glass of R de Ruinart Brut. This will be followed by house-made ink ravioli stuffed with blue swimmer crab and king prawn paired with Ruinart Rosé. The main course is a citrus-poached toothfish with a herb medley, served with Ruinart Blanc de Blanc. Finish off with a raspberry and ricotta shortbread for dessert and an extra special glass of Dom Ruinart — made entirely of Chardonnay grand cru. Ruinart ambassador Dean O'Reilly will also be in the house to talk guests through each signature drop. The dinner will take over the Bar M warehouse space on Thursday, June 27 from 7pm and cost $275 per person. To make a booking, head this way.
Don your best and most vibrant frocks — a powerhouse duo is coming to the Powerhouse Museum with a huge display of Australian fashion. Spanning four decades of fabulous outfits, the immersive exhibition will offer an in-depth showcase of the works of creative partnership Jenny Kee and Linda Jackson. Encapsulating their dynamic energy, Jenny Kee and Linda Jackson: Step Into Paradise will examine the influences and inspirations, as well as the compelling stories behind their creations. The pair's work is famous for transforming the Australian fashion world, all thanks to their bold designs that blend Australian nature and culture with global influence. For their efforts, they were honoured as Officers in the Order of Australia. Opening on Thursday, October 17, the exhibition will particularly highlight the pair's formative years. That's when Jenny worked in London with Vern Lambert at the Chelsea Antique Market in 1960, while Linda globe trotted through the Pacific, Asia and Europe, studying fashion in cultures from the streets of Papua New Guinea to the runways of Paris. The opening of the Flamingo Park Frock Salon at Sydney's Strand Arcade in the 1970s marked the beginning of their creative partnership, with Powerhouse's showcases named after the sign on their shop door — which welcomed customers to "step into paradise". "It was an invitation to visitors, to step into a fantastical and romantic world, full of beautiful things celebrating our environment. It was something Sydney had never seen before and we want to replicate this feeling with the exhibition," explains Kee. More than 150 garments, textiles, photographs and artworks from the Museum's own extensive collection, many of which haven't been seen before, will be on display — alongside pieces from the designers' personal archives. Iconic pieces in the exhibition include Linda Jackson's Waratah dress and Jenny Kee's black opal Chanel suit from Karl Lagerfeld's initial collection in 1983. Exhibition images: Zan Wimberley. Profile image: Hugh Stewart.
There's never a bad time to dress up — and not just don your sleekest threads, but put on a costume. Perhaps you really want to spread some festive cheer mid-year. Maybe you need something spooky for Halloween. Or, you could just need something wizard-related for one of Sydney's regular Harry Potter-themed events. Snog the Frog knows all about throwing on a different outfit for a special occasion. And for one day, it's hosting a huge sale at its Surry Hills store to help Sydneysiders do just that. Head by the shop's carpark between 10m–5pm on Sunday, July 2 to add a few costumes, vintage dresses, tutus, wigs, shoes, hats, animal outfits and more to your own rack. It's a cash-only affair, so arrive prepared. Bringing your own bags is recommended as well. The range will spread across all styles and decades, and it'll all come cheap — with everything costing between $5–10.
Sydney winters mightn't be known for their ice and snow; however, that doesn't mean you can't slide across a frozen surface in the centre of the city. From June 28 to July 21, St Mary's Cathedral forecourt will become a winter wonderland thanks to the return of the Skating At Sydney Festival. With the event back for another year, all of the frosty fabulousness Sydneysiders know and love will return to the CBD. It's the next best thing to heading to Europe when it's oh-so-cool, just without the bone-chilling, teeth-chattering cold. The lineup of events includes not only regular ice skating, but a 'date and skate' night each Tuesday, plus a 90s and 00s-themed evening every Thursday from 5pm, which will see you skating to disco and R&B bangers. Both nights will feature $10 espresso martinis. Entry to the area is free, but you'll have to pay for all of the fun stuff, with the fest open from 10am–9pm Monday to Wednesday, 10am–10pm on Thursday to Sundays.
With over 85 percent of textiles bought in Australia ending up in landfill each year, the environmental impact of this wastefulness cannot be underestimated. Join in on this free workshop at the Museum of Contemporary Art and you can learn how to turn your tatty t-shirts into an awesome tote bag or plant hanger as this drop-in class provides you with all the required know-how. Led by an expert team of artist-educators, bring your own t-shirt or use one that's been saved from landfill. There's no finicky gluing or sewing involved, either. Free yourself from consumer habits and learn about the impact of the textile industry at this fun and creative workshop. You can drop-in at this workshop between 11am–4pm on Saturday, June 1 and Sunday, June 2. No pre-booking is required. This event forms part of the Museum of Contemporary Art's Conversation Starters 2019: Temperature Rising program. To see the full program, head this way. Image: Sandra via Flickr.
If you've ever wanted to care less about all the things that really don't matter — and, honestly, don't we all — then you've probably read Mark Manson's The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck. If you're really devoted to the idea, you're probably keen to get stuck into the author's latest book as well, aka Everything is F*cked: A Book About Hope. When the first book hit, it was everywhere. Approachable, brutally honest, not-quite self-help advice will have that effect. It's not about not giving any f*cks. It's about giving the right number of f*cks about the right things. After all, there are only so many one has time to give. You should obviously give a f*ck about Manson's upcoming Australian tour, of course, with the author coming to Sydney on Sunday, July 21. See the blogger-turned-bestselling writer share his thoughts and insights at the City Recital Hall — and leave giving the number of f*cks that you need to. Tickets go on sale at 12pm, Tuesday, May 21, with pre-sales from 10am on Monday, May 20.
If a fresh bread roll, an expertly grilled patty and a slice of melted cheese is your idea of a perfect meal, then you probably have May 28 permanently marked in your diary. Each and every year, that's when the world's most dedicated burger lovers celebrate their favourite food. We're not saying that burgs will taste better on that date — or that it's really a legitimate day of celebration — but if you just can't get enough of the them, it's definitely worth your attention. Especially if there are free burgers involved. Which, this year, there are. Burger Project will be slinging free cheeseburgers at all six of its Sydney stores from 11am–12pm on Tuesday, May 28. There will only be 50 up for grabs at each joint, so you'll have to make sure you're one of the first through the doors at World Square, Gateway Circular Quay, Bondi junction, Broadway, MLC Centre or Grosvenor Place. For those new to Burger Project's take on an old fave, Neil Perry's eatery whips up a hand-pressed slab of Cape Grim beef, layers it with pickles, onion, mustard and cheese, then squirts on some secret sauce. Next, it's all placed between a soft milk bun. And it tastes even better when it's free. Given that this free-for-all is a first in, best dressed affair, we recommend scheduling an early lunch break that day.
After being purchased by its OG bar team last month, The Lord Gladstone's relaunch is in full swing. Today, the stalwart Chippendale pub is unveiling an all-new lineup of southern American-inspired eats. And to celebrate, the entire menu will be on offer for $10. Yep, every single dish will cost you just a tenner. You'll be able to choose from loaded fries (with pulled beef, cheese and barbecue sauce), Sriracha maple wings with pickles and baked mac and cheese, all for just $10 each. Also on the affordable lineup are giant chicken parmas and schnitzels, plus a 350-gram sirloin steak, all served with chips, salad and your choice of sauce — including bone marrow gravy, port and peppercorn and mushroom. Rounding out the new grub is a five-strong menu of burgers, including a buttermilk fried chicken number, a beef burger with onion rings and a vegan option with a 'beef' patty, vegan cheese, aioli and pickles on a plant-based bun. The special $10 menu will only be available for lunch (midday–3pm) and dinner (6–9pm) today, so don't wait on it. Once today is over, though, you'll still find all of the aforementioned eats at the pub, just for slightly more. You can read more about the Lord Gladstone's overhaul over here.
Newly opened Haymarket hole-in-the-wall Mr Chen Beef Noodle is celebrating its launch by giving out steaming hot bowls of its hand-stretched noodles — for free. Head into the Prince Centre digs on Thursday, July 11 and tuck into a Lanzhou-style beef noodle soup, or one of five other signature noodle bowls, without spending a dime. Head Chef Gary Yuen boasts 40 years of experience cooking traditional Chinese fare, having started working in kitchens at the age of just eight — so you can rest assured that you'll be getting some quality eats here. For the free bowls of warming noodles, which will be available from 5pm, you can choose from the signature beef noodle, one topped with pickled cabbage, another filled with wontons and one served with chicken. They arrive with your choice of five freshly made noodle types, too, ranging from extra thin to super thick. The giveaway is limited to one bowl per person and only available until sold out — so get in quick. And, if you miss out this round, you can still grab 50-cent dumplings every day from 8–10pm. Those include pan-fried classics, barbecued pork buns and xiao long bao. And it's always free BYO at Mr Chen, too. Mr Chen will be giving away free bowls of noodles (eat-in or takeaway) from 5–9pm or until sold out.
For three weeks this winter, Sydney's Palace Cinemas Verona, Palace Norton Street and Palace Central will turn extra frosty — on their big screens, that is. Running from Tuesday, July 9 to Wednesday, July 31, and marking the event's sixth year, the Volvo Scandinavian Film Festival returns with a suitably wintery showcase of cinema from Europe's coldest climes, featuring 21 films from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Iceland and Finland. Whether you're keen on irreverent comedies, dark dramas or Nordic noir, they're all on the lineup. If you're a fan of Denmark's most popular film series or one of Sweden's hugely successful crime authors, they're on the program too. Sci-fi, rom-coms, character studies, award-winners, festival hits — the list goes on, because Scandinavian cinema is a diverse realm. The 2019 festival kicks off with laughs, as all good things should, thanks to Danish comedy Happy Ending. Next, it heads to Iceland with direct-from-Cannes drama A White, White Day — the latest film from Hlynur Palmason, the director of SFF 2018's Winter Brothers. Also on the bill: the Stellan Skarsgård-starring, Norwegian-made, Berlinale Silver Bear winner Out Stealing Horses; the spaceship-set futuristic Swedish flick Aniara; and, from Finland, the SXSW hit Aurora, about a party girl who befriends an Iranian refugee. Definite highlights also hail from the thriller domain, as Scandi-loving cinephiles would expect. If you saw the first three page-to-screen Department Q instalments at previous festivals, you can see how the series ends with The Purity of Vengeance, which is now the highest-grossing Danish film ever. For those who've read, re-read and watched everything Girl with the Dragon Tattoo-related, make a date with documentary Steig Larsson: The Man Who Played with Fire, which delves into the late author and journalist's archives. As an added bonus, it's screening alongside a retrospective of the original Swedish Millennium Trilogy films, starring Noomi Rapace. Images: Department Q; A White, White Day; Happy Ending; Out Stealing Horses; Sonja.
Crown Street staple The Winery has transformed its expansive wine garden into a cosy hideout for these winter months — then added in raclette stations and bottomless mulled wine for good measure. The venue's wintry oasis is running from July 14 through August 31 and we reckon you should book in a night out here right away. Walk through the macramé archway to one of two private teepees, which fit up to 11 of your best mates. They're decked out with floor cushions, ottomans and Persian-style rugs — the ideal setting for sipping on endless pours of mulled wine or sangria (in red, white or rosé). A two-hour bottomless booze deal in a private teepee is on offer for $79 per person, with the package also including your own private raclette station, plus additional honey-roasted camembert and a tiramisu-flavoured bombe alaska for dessert. Or opt for the $59 package, which, apart from all that raclette, includes a four-wine tasting paddle, onion and gruyere toastie and hot chocolate cannoli for all. The aforementioned raclette station includes a heap of that hot gooey cheese, along with crudité skewers, cured meats and roasted mushrooms for dipping. If you don't want to sit in a teepee, you can can book the raclette station separately for $20 per person (minimum two people), and order all other food and booze items a la carte, while hanging out in the rest of the Winery courtyard. The Winery Glamping packages can be booked Thursday–Friday, 5–7pm and 7.30–9.30pm; and Saturday–Sunday from noon–2pm, 2.30–4.30pm, 5–7pm and 7.30–9.30pm. Images: Jasper Avenue Photography.
As fans of a certain fictional cat-like Japanese character should already know, Hello Kitty Land is a real place that exists in Tokyo, and it's probably a bucket-list destination for your next Japan trip. But Sydneysiders don't need to hop on a plane to celebrate the bow-wearing, feline-resembling animated favourite for the next three months, with Darling Square hosting a huge Hello Kitty-themed street festival. Running now until Friday, April 29, this Hello Kitty fest is actually a Hello Kitty Town — so expect the precinct to be positively purring with all things Hello Kitty. Created in partnership with Sanrio, the Japanese company behind the super-popular character, the set up includes exhibitions, inflatable installations and Hello Kitty-themed food and drinks. Who doesn't want to eat a sandwich shaped like the perpetual third-grade student, or drink Hello Kitty rose mocktails? On the art side of the setup, Hello Kitty Town is home to Australia's largest Sanrio art exhibitions, spanning pieces from top graphic designers, illustrators and street artists such as UK cartoonist, writer and illustrator Gemma Correll, Berlin-based artist and illustrator DXTR, Melbourne large-scale mural painter Justine McAllister, and Aussie artist Travis Price, who is the featured artist for the festival — with their wares all displayed in an outdoor gallery. And, there's also a five-metre Hello Kitty inflatable that, yes, is as adorable as it sounds. Food- and drink-wise, the menu currently includes Kurtosh's apple pie (Hello Kitty's favourite meal) covered in pink coconut sprinkles, and themed ramen from IIKO Mazesoba. The two brothless ramen bowls on offer are a spicy tuna option with Hello Kitty nori; or a chicken karaage bowl packed with togarashi, sriracha mayo, homemade sesame chilli oil, onsen egg and the same themed nori. You can also feed your four-legged pals with a pup-friendly menu and activities on offer. Take your furry friend to the Hachi Dog Boutique and Spa or order them a Hello Kitty-shaped dog cake and a bento box filled with natural Australian-made dog treats. There'll be more additions to the program — and to the menu — announced over the event's three-month run, tempting you to indulge your Hello Kitty love multiple times. Obviously, Hello Kitty merchandise is on sale, because a festival like this wouldn't be complete without it. And, also to the surprise of no-one, this is firmly a family-friendly affair. No one ever really outgrows Hello Kitty, though, do they? Updated: Wednesday, April 6
Crystal Castles know how to keep listeners on their toes. Even after listening to their second eponymously titled album for the something-hundredth time it's still disconcerting how tracks can jump so abruptly from cascading waves of exquisite harmonies to jagged synths chaotically punctuated by Alice Glass' unearthly banshee screams. Even more surprising still that it actually sounds very good. Not knowing what to expect is the allure of Crystal Castles, whether you're listening to an MP3, watching a video or obsessively googling the duo behind the music because aren't they just so seductively elusive that you simply must find a picture of Ethan Kath when his face isn't obscured by a hoodie? It all comes to an often-hazardous culmination during Crystal Castles' live sets. You'll dance, you'll cover your ears, you'll sway with hallucinogenic elation and, if precedent is anything to go by, you might see Alice leap from a piece of scaffolding. Crystal Castles play Big Day Out before heading to the HiFi on January 17th, where they'll be supported by Ballarat's Gold Fields. https://youtube.com/watch?v=FefT7hagLZA
Sinclair's — the only hatted restaurant in Penrith — is turning three. And to celebrate, it's putting on a limited-edition set menu throughout June. For $120, you'll be treated to three courses. They're all the creations of Head Chef Scott Mills, who sources his ingredients from within a 50-kilometre radius, working with producers from the Greater Nepean, Hawkesbury and Blue Mountains regions — including Grima Brothers, Pepe's Ducks, Game Farm and Glossodia Gourmet Herbs. Start with a selection of bites, including house-made crumpets with sweet corn and fennel jam, zucchini flowers with buffalo mozzarella and honey, and baked scallops with parsley and garlic butter. Then move on to small plates, such as charcuterie featuring Montecatini salami, and slow-cooked lamb shoulder with herbs and jus. Mains include an MB4+ scotch fillet from Little Joe's served with your pick of house condiments. And come dessert, you'll be tucking into Sinclair's signature take on the wagon wheel with Zokoko chocolate and house-made strawberry jam. Bookings are essential.
This article is sponsored by our partners, Vino Paradiso. Every day, it seems, Sydneysiders discover another beverage-inspired escapade. Pop-ups, boutique tastings, underground bars and regionally inspired gatherings have become part of the city’s ever-changing landscape. And now, a brand new festival is set to bring them all under one roof for three delicious days of drinking, eating and general frivolity. Meet Vino Paradiso. From Friday, October 31, to Sunday, November 2, Australian Technology Park will transmogrify into a kind of immersive adventure-park for food and drink aficionados. There’ll be stalls serving up gustatory sensations from all over the world — and giving you the chance to meet the passionate producers behind them. But the affair is far from your average expo. You can also expect secret alleyways, surprise happenings, live music, art-in-motion and loads of opportunities for interaction. You might well find yourself crushing grapes the traditional way (i.e. via bare-footed, toe-tingling stomping power); relaxing in the bespoke, AstroTurfed, aptly named Paradise Park; testing out your olfactory potential; taking part in a humungous treasure hunt; and/or carrying home part of an artist designed wine wall, complete with over 100 bottles of wine. To help you sharpen up your DIY culinary skills, there’ll be a bunch of special guests leading masterclasses and hosting demonstrations. These include legendary chef Darren Robertson from Three Blue Ducks, rock star tastemaker Oscar McMahon from Young Henrys, biodynamic winemaker Peter Windrim from Krinklewood Vineyard, international winemaker Tom Egan from Porteno and obsessive mixologist Grant Collins. Tickets, which start at $25, are available online. Thanks to Vino Paradiso, we have ten double passes to give away to Vino Paradiso's masterclasses. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter (if you haven't already), then email win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.au with your name, address and masterclass preference out of 'Demystifying Sake' on November 1 at 11am or 'I Love the Smell of Nebbiolo in the Morning' on November 2 at 12.30pm.
Few films feel as tailor-made for their audience as Josh Boone's adaptation of The Fault in Our Stars. Based on the enormously popular young adult novel by John Green, about two teen cancer patients who fall hopelessly in love, it's a story designed to play the heartstrings like a fiddle, extracting sighs and sobs from willing viewers with surgical precision. It's melodramatic, sure, but you'd be hard-pressed to deny its effectiveness. And thanks to a fantastic lead performance from Shailene Woodley, the sentiment never feels insincere. Woodley plays Hazel Lancaster, a sarcastic 16-year-old with terminal tumours in her lungs. Hazel has more or less come to terms with the nature of her illness, but at the behest of her worried parents (Laura Dern and Sam Trammell) agrees to attend a patient's support group. It's there that she meets Augustus Waters (Ansel Elgort), an impossibly charming cancer survivor himself, who soon sets about sweeping her off her feet. Despite Hazel's assertion that hers is not your typical cancer narrative, The Fault in Our Stars very much follows a formula. Viewers are promised tragedy, and then lulled into hoping that that tragedy might be averted. Peaks of joy are followed by valleys of strategically excavated sorrow, timed to cause maximum devastation. Thankfully, Hazel is an endearing enough character that you don't really mind the film manipulating you. Pithy voiceover helps us get to know her as a funny, strong-willed young woman who makes the best of an awful situation. Woodley's performance is impeccable, capturing both the giddy excitement of young love and the sobering adult reality of death. Her co-star falters with some of the heavier material but is still immensely likeable as Augustus. Admittedly, the young man isn't the most plausible of characters — no teenager is this articulate, no matter how much they'd like to believe otherwise. A lot of his dialogue is meant to sound wonderfully deep and inspiring but is just as likely to cause cringes in anyone over the age of about 17. Nuggets of teen philosophy notwithstanding, the interactions between the characters generally feel authentic, with plenty of humorous banter to put the romance — and the heartache — into relief. It's thanks to Boone and company's balancing of the three that The Fault in Our Stars is a success. https://youtube.com/watch?v=9ItBvH5J6ss
Living in the shadow of a famous father has never been Eliza-Jane Barnes' problem. E.J. has carved a niche independent of her rocker father, Jimmy, having written, recorded and toured the world with New Zealanders Liam Finn (son of Crowded Houses' Neil Finn) and Laurence Arabia. Her new project sees her team up with Sydneysider and long-time friend, Ceci Herbert (formerly of Guineafowl). Together they form Evil J and Saint Cecilia, an adorably analogue psychadelic folk duo. Their debut offering, Strange Beasts, was recorded in E.J.'s home studio and mixed by Rick Will (producer of Boy & Bear and Grinspoon's latest albums). Fresh from a sold out tour of Australia with Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder, Evil J and Saint Cecilia are ready to unleash on Sydney their brand of head down, hip swaying songs of love, family and home. The duo will play Goodgod at 8pm on Tuesday night and the Oxford Art Factory at 11pm on Thursday. Both shows are free. https://youtube.com/watch?v=ahQIhWlB64I
When the Bondi Short Film Festival started in 2001, creator Francis Coady thought it was pretty insane that his young filmmaker friends had missed out on entering other film festivals in Sydney because the films had already screened in other Australian states. He was right! Indie film watchers don’t care if what they’re seeing has already screened in Perth or Melbourne, they just want to experience something thought provoking, poignant, hilarious and beautiful, or that has Ryan Gosling in it. Eleven years on the Bondi Short Film Festival continues to screen cinematic Australian gems that fulfill almost all of these criteria and, while the power of the collective continues to endorse babeliciously quirky actors as the marker of a feature-length film’s watchability, the quality of a BSFF one is determined only by captivating storylines and cinematography, brilliant music and set design and some of the best young acting talent in this country. The only restrictions the festival places on filmmakers is that entries must be less than 15 minutes long, making it a 2-hour melting pot of powerful drama, quirky comedy, thought-provoking documentaries and stunning animation. All of these things will take place under the waterfront Bondi Pavilion, making the festival one of the finest ways to see in the summer.
UPDATE Thursday, August 5: Josh Niland's Take One Fish Butchery Masterclass has been postponed until Monday, October 25. Saint Peter and Fish Butchery's Josh Niland has spent the past half-decade spreading his love for sustainable seafood around Australia. The neighbouring Sydney spots have grown a cult following since opening and built Niland a reputation that landed him on the list of the world's top 50 next-generation hospitality leaders. With a new charcoal fish restaurant set to open next month, Niland is going on tour to preach the benefits of cooking with sustainable seafood. The masterclass will cover the how-tos of preparing, storing and cooking with fish, in support of his new book, Take One Fish. It's the follow-up to his The Whole Fish Cookbook, which snagged the James Beard Book of the Year award. Niland was the first Australian author to win the converted award last year. "I am looking forward to the evening and offering complete transparency around our work and to unpack all that we have learnt to date. I hope that people will leave having enjoyed a great night out, and take away practical solutions for how we can approach fish differently, not just at home but when ordering fish on a menu or in a market," Niland said. Hosting the evening is author and ABC Culinary Correspondent Alice Zaslavsky who is kicking off her new series of 'in conversation' events with acclaimed culinary professionals, dubbed Here's One I Prepared Earlier. The tour is beginning at the Sydney City Recital Hall on Monday, October 25, before moving on to Melbourne's Hammer Hall on Monday, November 15 with each evening running two 45-minute sessions and a short intermission. Pre-sale tickets are on sale now. [caption id="attachment_739656" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Fish Butchery[/caption]
A night of song is coming to the City Recital Hall on Thursday, February 21 for 2019's Mardi Gras. Requiem Mass: A Queer Divine Rite is an original choral work written by American singer and composer Holcombe Waller in collaboration with local LGBTQI+ communities. The piece, performed by Sam Allchurch and the Sydney Chamber Choir, reflects on the persecution faced by LGBTQI+ people and gay history from the 1980s to the present day. Remaining tickets are still available for $39, but get in quick before the event fully sells out.
The Sydney Lyric Theatre has played host to some of the biggest stage productions to come to Sydney in the past two decades, including Book of Mormon and the upcoming Pippin the Musical. As it is based inside The Star, you also have plenty of pre- and post-show dining options at your fingertips, including Flying Fish, Sokyo and Momofuku Seiōbo.
Margaret and David, our favourite and most cantankerous movie-reviewing duo, are bidding us farewell after 28 years of flawless onscreen banter. If you don't know what you're going to do without your weekly serving of Margaret's exasperated 'Oh David' sighs and choking laughs, or David's folded hands and shaking head, then you are going to want to get down to Golden Age Cinema to mark the occasion as it deserves. Golden Age, the Surry Hills king of cult cinema screenings, is opening its doors to all Margaret&David-ophiles (first in best dressed) for a free live airing of the final episode ever of At the Movies. On offer will be cameo cocktails 'The Margaret' and 'The David'. So to ease the grieving process, come along and raise a glass of your favourite to the pair, or two glasses if you truly can't choose, and say goodbye to Australia's incomparable platonic power couple. Photo credit: ABC
Australia's favourite fuddy duddy film critic is back in town. Returning to the Orpheum for the second year in a row, the Great Britain Retro Film Festival will feature a selection of classic British films, each of which has been specifically chosen by the great David Stratton. So yeah, don't expect to see any handheld camerawork in these. Running from May 12 to June 1, this year's festival features 15 iconic films with not a single dud in sight. Highlights include David Lean's A Passage to India and Stanley Kubrick's Dr. Strangelove, as well two films by acclaimed directing duo Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger: A Matter of Life and Death and The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp. Tick a few unseen titles of your watch list, or catch them for the umpteenth time. Even if you were normally on Team Margaret, you'll find plenty on the program to enjoy.
