What's the best job title in the world? That's hard to say, but Puppy Raiser surely ranks highly. 'Nice work if you can get it', you may well cry, but such a gig does exist — and it exists for a very good cause. Guide Dogs NSW is searching for its new intake of volunteer puppy foster parents who will care for the winter litter of labrador pups destined to be the next generation of working service animals. Volunteers typically foster a guide dog puppy for a year, providing a safe and loving environment as well as basic training, ensuring their fur baby grows up socialised and ready to begin their formal guide dog training just after their first birthday. At the Puppy Raiser Open Day, set to be held at the Liverpool Golf Club on Saturday, June 22, prospective fosterers can learn about what it takes to nurture a guide dog in waiting. There will also be training demonstrations that will reveal firsthand the kind of vital basics successful foster parents will need to teach their pup, including sitting while being groomed, behaving inside the home and walking confidently on a leash. These may sound like fairly standard skills (and they are), but without them, the golden-coated youngsters won't be able to add the extraordinary repertoire of abilities that will one day make them a life-changing assistant for someone with a visual impairment. "We are looking for people that are home most of the time and who are interested in putting effort into training and socialising the dog," said Guide Dogs NSW's Puppy Development Advisor My Lindqvist. "What you get in return is a life-changing experience and knowing that you've positively contributed to your community." Guide Dogs NSW takes care of the usual expenses of pet ownership, including providing food, veterinary access, and flea and tick prevention. A dedicated Puppy Development Adviser is also assigned to every Puppy Raiser to offer guidance and answer any questions. So, if you reckon you have what it takes to bring up a four-legged, wet-nosed superhero, make sure you book a session at Guide Dog NSW's Puppy Raiser Open Day.
Some people get over hump day by going to the gym. Others are more partial to a touch of yoga. We, however, love nothing more than an eighties dance aerobics class — complete with extremely colourful, costume-worthy aerobics gear and eighties-inspired leg warmers. And Shannon Dooley's Retrosweat classes fit that exact niche. The party goes down every Wednesday night at 7.15pm at The Yoga Bar in Bondi Beach with a whole hour of sweating to moves inspired by the eighties workout videos from your early memories (and from a thousand memes). The playlist features nothing but the best bangers of the day, and you're encouraged to dig through your mum's old Spandex and costume up.
If you only have time for a quick night away from the city and don't want to waste any of it driving to your destination, why not head seaside? Taylor Made Escapes has you covered with a luxury overnight experience on your own private yacht. Picture gorgeous Palm Beach scenery, crystal clear waters, deluxe cabins and champagne in the sunshine for some premium glamour. During the day, you can enjoy a secluded ocean swim or take a rowboat to shore. At night, watch the sunset over the horizon and relax on the calm sea while getting stuck into a decadent seafood platter. Rates start at $499 for two people, with additional guests charged at $100 per person (maximum six overnight guests). It's time to start planning the ultimate Sydney sleepover.
Bear Witness is the artistic output of Ehren Thomas, a multimedia artist, DJ and filmmaker from Ottawa Canada. He remixes appropriated images and sound to create video assemblages that speak of his interest in the portrayal of aboriginal people in mainstream media. A member of the Cayuga Six Nations that comprise the Iroquois Confederacy, Bear Witness examines not only his own history but the way in which popular culture and art history leave their mark on a broader indigenous identity, without any notions of finger-pointing. As part of the free arts program of this year's Sydney Festival, Bear Witness will collaborate with community members of the local Darug Nation to create a new video based piece as part of an art exhibition titled The Only Good NDN. The works will be shown in the recently founded Parramatta Artists Studios.
Newly opened Kensington cafe Bar Lucio is celebrating World Coffee Day on Friday, October 1 by giving away free cups of authentic Italian coffee. Bar Lucio is a sister venue to longstanding Darlinghurst and Zetland restaurant Lucio Pizzeria, with owner Lucio De Falco opening the new coffee bar in mid-September. The coffee bar specialises in Italian coffee made with beans from Caffé DM, Australia's experts in authentic Italian-blend coffee, as well as Caffe del Nonno, a creamy chilled coffee that looks closer to a mouse than your daily flat white. There will be free cups of coffee on offer from 7–11am at Bar Lucio. Each patron can head to Lenthall Street and claim one regular coffee to kick-start their Friday. While you're there, Bar Lucio has a range of fresh-baked bread, made on-site in the cafe's woodfire oven, plus an assortment of Italian treats including Nutella or custard-filled bomboloni, sfogliatella napoletana, and coda d'aragosta.
For this year's Vivid Sydney Dinner on Saturday, June 3, the Ivy Ballroom will transform into nature's playhouse, with each of the evening's experiences revolving around the central theme of 'rewilding'. Food, art, light installations and live music will celebrate nature in all its glory with a focus on all things Australiana. Food will be the centre piece of this Vivid Sydney event — led by Merivale Executive Chef Ben Greeno and renowned chef and author Danielle Alvarez (formerly of Fred's). They've joined forces to create a one-off menu that champions NSW's local and seasonal produce, pairing each course with a fantastic local wine. And as this is Vivid Sydney, expect immersive light installations interacting throughout the space all night long, creating a proper feast for the senses. [caption id="attachment_897981" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Food and drink at the Vivid Sydney 2022 Dinner hosted at ivy Precinct, Sydney CBD.[/caption] Then comes the star-studded musical numbers. Eddie Perfect will play host (and perform a few tunes) throughout the Vivid Sydney Dinner, and be joined on stage by a series of performers. You'll see alt-pop singer Montaigne, African fusion artist Julian Belbachir and beloved vocal powerhouse Christine Anu belt out some of their most popular hits to a room of your fellow lovers of music, food and art. To keep the party going, Australia's 'First Lady of House' Kate Monroe will jump on the decks for a bespoke Vivid Sydney set. It's going to be a big night. And if last year's Vivid Sydney Dinner is anything to go by, it will likely sell out well in advance. To book an entire 10-person table or a just few seats on the shared tables, head to the Vivid Sydney website.
It has extremely rare Japanese whisky, a $30 wagyu katsu sando and gold-flecked cocktails. We think Gorgeous George, the platinum-haired, flamboyant 1950s wrestler, would approve of his new namesake bar in Sydney. Run by the team behind fellow Darlinghurst bar The Long Goodbye — Flynn McLennan, Kirsten Snitzer and Dennis Jen — Gorgeous George is a far cry from its speakeasy-style sister. McLennan says the bar, like them (and like George), is "not very serious". Instead, it's "a little bit flamboyant, a little cheeky and a bit fancy". [caption id="attachment_733471" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kimberley Low[/caption] The space, formerly home to Mister Pocket, is certainly fancy, decked out with gold, burgundy and lush leather banquettes, and with antique bottles lining the exposed brick walls. It's a bit cheeky, too — you'll find a drawing poking fun at the US president on the back wall. The flamboyant third of the equation is reflected in the drinks. As well as the aforementioned gold-flecked Tiger Mask (made with green tea gin, champagne and yuzu), there's a red velvet twist on a rob roy with cacao vermouth, beetroot and peated scotch; a hot poached pear drink made with glühwein reduction and armagnac; and the Fight Milk, which blends smoked porter, vanilla-bean infused rum and brandy custard. Then, there's the drink we think George would most certainly choose: the Chanel No 10. As well as draping himself in furs and lace, one of George's more extravagant habits was to spray down the wrestling ring with 'Chanel No 10' perfume before each match. This drinkable ode to the perfume is made with saffron and rose-infused lillet blanc, vodka, gin and is served with a spray of osmanthus fragrans (sweet olive) mist. According to McLennan, it's like a "really intense, very dry martini". [caption id="attachment_733469" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kimberley Low[/caption] As well as all the cocktails, the bar is pouring some very rare whiskies, koji spirit and gins that the team picked up on a recent trip to Japan. You can try drops from now-closed distilleries, including the final vintage of Hanyu, a special bottle of Gingko and a 21-year-old Hibiki. Despite some of these bottles costing as much as $4000, McLennan is selling everything for under $100 a shot (a relative bargain). Like the spirits, the ten-item food menu (with one rotating sweet option) has a distinct Japanese lean. It's overseen by chef Jack New (Icebergs, Sokyo) and features gochujang chicken wings (which you may've tried during his stint at Darlinghurst's now-closed Edition), crispy salt and sancho pepper enoki and sweet and salty kombu almonds. [caption id="attachment_733465" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kimberley Low[/caption] Bigger items include the 'sushi tacos' — where tortillas are replaced by sticky rice and served with nori sheets and salmon — and one very luxe wagyu katsu sando. Coming in at $30 ($4 more expensive than this $26 french dip we wrote extensively about), it's made from Cornflake-crusted highly marbled wagyu, crustless white bread and shiitake mustard. In the near future, Gorgeous George is looking to start up weekend brunches and invite-only omakase dinners for regulars. We'll let you know when any of those launch. Gorgeous George is now open at 13 Burton Street, Darlinghurst. It's open from Sunday–Wednesday 4pm–midnight and Thursday–Saturday 4pm–1am. Images: Kimberley Low.
In the past couple of weeks, Sydney has seen fluctuating restrictions in response to the northern beaches COVID-19 outbreak. While the NSW Government allowed for relaxed gathering limits for three days over Christmas, Premier Gladys Berejiklian reinstated pre-Christmas restrictions across both the northern beaches and Greater Sydney. Then, changes to the city's New Year's Eve celebrations were announced on Monday, December 28. Now, the day before New Year's Eve, Berejiklian has announced even stricter gathering limits in response to increasing concerns about transmission of COVID-19 in other parts of Greater Sydney — with these new limits to be in place on New Year's Eve and "until further notice". Come midnight tonight, Wednesday, December 30, households across the Greater Sydney area — which, currently, includes the Blue Mountains, the Central Coast and Wollongong — will be limited to five visitors (including children). For outdoor gatherings outside of the northern beaches, the new limit is 30 people. Stay-at-home orders remain in place for northern beaches residents until, at the earliest, January 2 for the southern zone and January 9 for the northern zone. For New Year's Eve, residents of the northern zone are still allowed to have indoor and outdoor gatherings of up to five visitors — provided they are also from the northern zone. Meanwhile, for those in the southern zone, the new restrictions will replace the previously announced ten-person gathering limit, with now only five visitors allowed from within their zone. For the rest of Greater Sydney, the new restrictions replace the ten-person indoor gathering limit and the 50-person cap for outdoor public gatherings announced just days ago. Restrictions on gatherings in regional NSW remain unchanged, with 50 allowed at indoor gatherings and 100 at outdoor. For venues in the Greater Sydney area — which include hospitality venues — the one person per four-square-metre rule is still in effect. And, a cap of 300 people remains for big venues, even if a large space can hold more than that and still abide by the density requirement. For venues in regional NSW, the limit is one per two square metres. https://twitter.com/NSWHealth/status/1344072885627863040 The announcement comes as NSW records 18 additional cases of locally acquired COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm on Tuesday, December 29. Nine of those are directly linked to the Avalon cluster, while six — all from the same family — are linked to a new cluster in the inner west, known as the 'Croydon cluster'. Three further locally acquired cases are under investigation, with two from members of the same household in Wollongong and one from northern Sydney. Yesterday saw around 17,267 tests — a significant drop from the high testing numbers between December 24–27 — with the Premier stating she wants the testing rates to "go higher" and for people "to come forward and get tested if you have the mildest of symptoms". Sydneysiders are also asked to continue to frequently check NSW Health's long list of locations and venues that positive coronavirus cases have visited over the past week — and, if you've been to anywhere listed on the specific dates and times, get tested immediately and self-isolate. You can also have a look at the venue alerts over at this new interactive map. For more information about the status of COVID-19 in NSW, head to the NSW Health website.
Brookvale in the Northern Beaches was once best known as an industrial hub, with more warehouses and workshops than hospitality venues. In recent years, however, the suburb has attracted an influx of creatives and makers — and, in particular, it has emerged as a dynamic Sydney destination for craft beer and indie distilleries. Celebrating this bounty of beverages: the first-ever Taste of Brookie Festival. This weekend-long party is packed with savoury bites, craft brews and speciality spirits, showcasing the area's ascent as one of the Harbour City's most up-and-coming hospo spots. From Friday, May 24–Sunday, May 26, local cellar doors are swinging wide open — including at Freshwater Brewing Co, 4 Pines, Bucketty's, Dad & Dave's, 7th Day Brewery, Nomad Brewing Co and Broken Bay Brewing, as well as at Manly Spirits Co, Seadrift Distillery and Goodradigbee Distillers. Taste of Brookie isn't just about great drinks — it's also about community. Expect live music sets and DJs spinning back to back bangers, as well as special menus, street eats, and a range of fun activities from cocktail masterclasses and petting zoos to car boot sales and even a chicken nugget festival. Other highlights include a roller rink and bobbing for apples at Manly Spirits Co, a bottomless brunch at Freshwater Brewing to celebrate the launch of its new craft ale Send It, lobster rolls with no-to-low alcohol cocktails at Seadrift, and chocolate and whiskey pairings alongside cheese and wine tastings at Goodradigbee Distillers. With events and pop-ups taking over the entire footprint of Brookvale's former industrial estate, there's something for everyone, including the kids and your four-legged friends. Entry to all venues is free (although many events and activities have a charge), and visitors can access an interactive digital passport to guide their journey and make the most of the weekend's stacked lineup.
Do you fantasise about taking a pup to the pub with you but rent a place that doesn't allow pets? Are you always looking at cute guide dogs in training and wishing you had the means to take one home? Well, even if you can't commit to training and looking after a pup for 14 months, you can still help. Guide Dogs NSW/ACT are currently looking for people to sponsor its little balls of fluffs as they work their way up to become big boy guide dogs. The cuties currently up for sponsorship (pictured above) are siblings Luna, Star and Rocket. Instead of offering your services for daily walks, toilet training and giving endless tummy rubs, your support will come in the form of cash. The minimum monthly donation is $30, which will go towards training, equipment, maintenance of our kennel facilities, vet costs for the guide dogs in training. Each guide dog costs $35,000 to raise and train. Every day, 28 people in Australia get diagnosed with vision impairment, nine of whom can expect to go blind. Keen? You can sign up here — after you do, you'll receive a welcome pack and regular updates on how your pup is doing. Send pics please.
A pulsing, undeniable groove bursts forth from this South African sextet led by London-based saxophonist Shabaka Hutchings, an acolyte of the legendary Sun Ra Arkestra. Their album Wisdom of Elders was recorded in a single day, which tells you everything you need to know about this ensemble's connectedness and singular vision. Exploring the vagaries and intricacies of modern jazz and boldly going towards an Afrofuturist future, this is music that will challenge, surprise and entrance you – and will make you get up and dance. Image: Leeroy Jason
Want to have your blood curdled, feast like it's your last night on earth or just get scarily sweaty on the d-floor? Lure out your inner ghoul with our top Halloween picks. Hijinks Halloween Hijinks has already seen the Festivalists take over the Sea Life Sydney Aquarium once and now they're responsible for Sydney's only underwater Halloween party. In between the search for a sunken treasure, guests can expect voodoo magic tricks, vampire selfie opportunities, Thriller dance-offs and Frankenstein makeover workshops. Matched with interactive art and theatre experiences, appearances from a host of Sydney's favourite entertainers and more surprises along the way, this day-early Halloween event is selling fast. Thursday, October 30, from 6.30pm at Sea Life Sydney Aquarium. Tickets $25. Ouija Beats at Luna Park Free rides, demented circus performers, spooky light shows and a killer program of Australia's best beatmakers including Cosmo's Midnight, Basenji, Panama and more will take over Luna Park this Halloween. The Big Top's first ever Ouija Beats party is the product of FBi Radio, The Music and LPS, who have put their heads together for a contemplation of the paranormal. The Halloween action kicks off at 6pm. Tickets are on sale here. Friday, October 31, from 6pm at Luna Park Big Top. Tickets $59. Beetlejuice Halloween Party at Golden Age Cinemas Practice your most angsty Winona Ryder and slap on some white face paint because Golden Age Cinema and Bar are ignoring their afterlife caseworker this Halloween and turning to Beetlejuice. The party starts with two screenings of Tim Burton's cult classic, after which you could win cocktails and prizes for the best dressed ghost. With music courtesy of Pelvis DJs, you'll be dancing well into the afterlife. Friday, October 31, from 6.30pm at Golden Age Cinema and Bar. Tickets $20/15. Nightmare on Stanley Street with Rupert & Ruby Uniting a handful of the Darlinghurst street's vendors, Nightmare on Stanley Street is the pre-Halloween party for the foodie. Nightmarees can explore both tricks and treats at a haunted mental institution (Kubrick's), the Addams Family mansion (Rupert & Ruby) and a scene from 'Return of the Titanic' (Hazy Rose), with live music from 9.30pm. Tickets include your choice of a Halloween-themed drink or dish at each of the venues. Thursday, October 30, from 7.30pm at Stanley Street, Darlinghurst. Tickets $60. Jurassic Lounge: Day of the Dead Extinction isn't permanent, apparently. Sydney's Night at the Museum-like party, Jurassic Lounge, is being resurrected for a one-off event to celebrate Dia de los Muertos — the Mexican holiday Day of the Dead. Returning to the Australian Museum and tying in with the new Aztecs exhibition, The Festivalists' beloved after-hours event will once again take over the entire museum. Saturday, November 1, from 6.30pm at the Australian Museum. Tickets are now sold out. Newtown Hotel's Second Birthday Halloween Party To celebrate their second year delivering great entertainment night after night, the Newtown Hotel is throwing what can now be called their Annual Halloween Party. So get freaky, get creepy and don your best Day of the Dead attire for a wild night of terror, tunes and treats. Local songwriting talent Andy Golledge will be crooning in rootsy hues, followed by Melbourne rockers Kingswood, who will be dropping hits from their latest album Microscopic Wars. Free drinks start flowing at 6pm. Thursday, October 30, from 6pm at Newtown Hotel. Entry is free. Jesse Willesee's The Slenderman Experience Sydney artist Jesse Willesee is transforming the Kings Cross Hotel again this Halloween, this time into a forest haunted by creepy internet meme Slenderman. The walk-through, four-level experience promises 3D ghost projections, a blood room and live actors doing their very best to freak everybody out. Persist through the four levels to the rooftop, where you can shake off the spooks and sip on some Halloween-themed drinks. Entry is $10 and the haunted forest starts rustling from 8pm. Friday, October 31, from 8pm at the Kings Cross Hotel. Tickets $10 on the door. This Thing x The Finer Things Halloween at Goodgod Hosted by record labels The Finer Things and This Thing, Goodgod Small Club's Halloween shindig is one of the last times Sydneysiders will be able to catch local producer Guerre live. Playing some spine-tingling tunes alongside the spoken word enigma are Wooshie and Silent Jay's new project N.B.L Players (Nothing But Love), Jace XL and Ry 4. Friday, October 31, from 11pm at Goodgod Danceteria. Tickets $10 or $5 for early birds. Morning Gloryville Sydney Presents: Fluroween Halloween doesn't have to be all ghoulish spook and gross fake blood. Morning Gloryville thinks Halloween should include an early morning rave for a good cause where fluro clothes and even brighter dance moves won't be frowned upon. Featuring all the usual healthy goodies as well as Retrosweat's Shannon Dooley and Sydney-based artist Morphingaz, Fluroween is raising money for the Mental Health Association and the Black Dog Institute. The party starts pumping nice and early at 6.30am. Wednesday, October 29, from 6.30am at UTS Underground (15 Broadway). Tickets $20/$25 on the door. By the Concrete Playground team.
If you're looking for a fusion of Spanish and Portuguese in a city wine-bar setting, The Union is where you'll find it. At the upstairs restaurant, a considered focus on the freshest local produce awaits. The small plates are prepared simply, to be shared generously with family and friends. It's an unassuming spot, with a hand-scrawled chalkboard menu, bare bulbs and an easy, convivial atmosphere. Your meal could see you dive into tapas classics like patatas bravas, "cheeky" spicy chorizo alongside mint and aioli, and the smoky bite of paprika-doused fried squid. Deliciously, it's not just small plates here. There are plentiful serves of paella — with a choice between a veg-heavy, seafood-forward or classic dubbed The Union Paella — and a set menu complete with carne de porco à alentejana (the happy marriage of pork and clams), green beans swimming in a zesty feta and sherry dressing and all the sides. On Fridays and Saturdays, you'll find "Penrith's smallest bar" in the street-level spot. The team welcomes guests after a casual drink (and maybe a snack via stuffed zucchini flowers or Spanish meatballs) to the intimate space, with live music on Fridays from 6pm. The drinks list heroes Australian and Spanish wines, sherries and house riffs as well as beers — so much to keep you fed, watered and entertained in one teeny-tiny spot.
Think there's no reason to go to the beach now the chill of winter's slithered across Sydney? You'll find it's even better in the off-season when the Tamarama Rock Surfers, programmers of the Bondi Pavilion and Old Fitz theatres, invite you into their Bondi Feast, where you can snuggle up with a mulled wine and a deeply warming program of comedy, music, theatre, and storytelling. Each night serves up entree, mains, and dessert, with sustenance coming from some of Sydney's freshest writers and theatre-makers — including Caleb Lewis, Suzie Miller, Toby Schmitz, Sam Atwell, Duncan Graham, Vanessa Bates, Jono Burns, Tim Spencer, Jessica Tuckwell, Jessica Bellamy, Cait Harris, John Kachoyan, Kate Gaul, Scarlet McGlynn, and Paige Rattray — who have produced bite-sized pieces just for the festival. The sweet finish is in the form of music and comedy from the likes of Benny Davis (Axis of Awesome), DJ Evan Lock's Beach Boys mash-up, and Swimwear (featuring Tim Derricourt of Dappled Cities). Alternatively, take a more degustation-like approach during Story Club, Erotic Fanfiction, the Comedy Banquet and the Cut 'n' Paste Beach Special. Bondi Feast is an eclectic fortnight of fun and wonder. Tuck into the dramatic treats in store, and when your appetites turn from the cerebral to the physical, grab that mulled wine and a gourmet toastie from the Jafe Jaffles food truck, and thumb your nose at winter from the beautiful Bondi Pavilion Theatre balcony. See the full program at the festival website. https://youtube.com/watch?v=5pidokakU4I
Held in conjunction with the Sydney Writers' Festival 2012, the MCA's 5th annual Zine Fair has something for everyone, from the zine newbies to the old-hat experts. Buy, make, and talk about zines as you peruse the spread of these handmade, quirky, theme-specific magazines. Zines are generally self-published, with a limited number of issues, so be sure to arrive on time and snatch them up quick. The fair will also incorporate expert discussions and drop-in zine workshops.
After the year that's been, we could all use a few little wins right now. And the next edition of Click Frenzy's online shopping bonanza is happy to provide. Kicking off from 7pm (AEDT) this Tuesday, November 10, Click Frenzy's Main Event is chock full of bargains to help ease the pain that 2020 has supplied so far. Running for 53 hours, the sale is set to feature over 4000 deals and specials from more than 800 local and international brands. Those looking to indulge in some much-needed retail therapy can do so snapping up eye-popping bargains on products from favourites like Big W, Dyson, Myer, Target and stacks more. A suite of 'Go Wild' deals could see you scooping up Apple Airpods Pro for a measly $4, a nifty new airfryer for the low price of just $1, a GHD straightener for $4 or a $9 Samsung TV. Elsewhere, nab new activewear with 65 percent off 2XU, refresh your summer wardrobe with 70 percent off Gorman, fill up your cellar with 70 percent off wine, score 60 percent off bedding from Sheridan and find more bargains courtesy of Bose, Priceline, T2 and Spotlight. What's more, you could even hook up with some new wheels, with the sale event featuring hard-to-beat deals from your mates at Volkswagen and Subaru.
The oyster offers a unique taste and texture, and until you embrace this tender and aphrodisiacal snot of the sea, you're just not the refined cosmopolitan you might claim to be. Who could forget the first time they took a fortifying gulp of champers and then allowed the silky grey flesh to slide down their throat, fresh and lemony? And what about those ladies and gentlemen who know how to shuck oysters without severing their own fingers? This is the very height of urban sophistication. You now have the opportunity to join their shining ranks with some help from The Morrison's Vio Pramano at August's Shuck Me Silly: Oyster Shucking Classes. As part of the Oyster Festival 2013, Pramano will show you how to extract the suckers without drawing blood. The best part? You can eat the spoils of your labour directly after, enjoying a dozen oysters paired up with their ideal liquid partners: cocktail, champagne, oyster stout and wine. Tuesday 6 and 20 August, 6.30-8.30pm. 12 oysters and matched drinks for $69 per person. Thanks to The Morrison, we have a double pass to the Shuck Me Silly Oyster Shucking Classes to give away to one lucky winner. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter (if you haven't already), then email hello@concreteplayground.com.au with your name and address.
Chris Town has traveled the world and collected, well, bits and pieces. Posters, bandages, ticket stubs, cigarette packets and bodily fluids are all assembled in collages that remind one of the horror vacui of some Grateful Dead posters. I liken Chris Town’s work to the 'Poubelles' of Arman, a Nouveau Realist artist from 1960s Paris. Arman and his friends worked to promote what Camille Bryen called the “adventure of the object”. Arman, and Town in turn, are indebted simultaneously to the Cubists who championed the use of shallow space, and the Dadaists who constantly suggested the absurd. Perhaps Town’s work has not really conceptually furthered the ideas of Arman, but there is something to be curious about here. The use of collage allows Town to suggest the disorientation that capitalist subjects experience as they rely more and more on objects to construct their sense of identity and place. Town’s works are dense, colourful accumulations. Go down to China Heights on Friday, enjoy an early evening beer, and let Town lead you through his accumulated history.
When Shaun Christie-David launched Colombo Social — a contemporary Sri Lankan diner and social enterprise that supports asylum seekers, refugees and people facing food insecurity — his parents' experiences migrating to Australia in the 1980s were a major inspiration. Memories of his mother's cooking and the way her food bridged cultural divides in her adopted home continue to resonate in every aspect of Colombo Social and Plate It Forward, Christie-David's meal donation charity. Given their close relationship, it might not seem all that surprising that the restaurateur is now joining forces with his amma, Shiranie, for a new series of special menus. What's less expected, however, is that Christie-David is also inviting some of Australia's top chefs to team up with their mothers in the Enmore Road kitchen as well. Colombo Social's Mum Cha events will be delivering multi-course set menus on the last Saturday of every month. In June, Christie-David tapped Merivale's Executive Chef and TV personality Dan Hong (Mr. Wong, MuMu), who was joined on the pots by his mother, Angie Hong. The second event in the series, which takes place on Saturday, July 27, will showcase the talents of Melbourne's Atlas Dining founder Charlie Carrington, who will be cooking alongside his mother Jacqueline. Carrington's impressive CV includes stints at the Michelin-starred Restaurant Gordan Ramsay in London and pyro-powered Surry Hills diner Firedoor. The eight-course menu will be inspired by Charlie and Jacquie's trips around the world, featuring elevated interpretations of international dishes including a garlic butter-infused smoked drumstick paying homage to the chicken Kiev, a curious fusion of Italian and Asian flavours via a bolognaise vermicelli san choy bao, and a beef taco with European inclinations, dressed with cabbage, peas, mint and ricotta. There are just 40 seats available for the eight-course meal every month, so you'll have to book quickly if you don't want to miss out. Each $150 ticket includes a welcome cocktail on arrival, plus unlimited premium red and white wines for the duration of the 90-minute sitting.
It's time to experience one of Sydney's most popular museums on a new level. The Museum of Contemporary Art's late-night takeover Artbar is returning on Friday, May 17, with a program of artworks, performances and activations. This time, the event is curated by Western Sydney local, 24th Biennale of Sydney artist and punk metal musician Serwah Attafuah. She's planning to transform the museum into "a cyber dreamscape of technological nostalgia" and invites guests into a world that is just outside of our grasp. [caption id="attachment_953763" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Serwah Attafuah, Between this World & the Next, 2023–24, installation view, 24th Biennale of Sydney: Ten Thousand Suns, Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, 2024, digital 3D render, e-waste, wood, enamel, image courtesy and © the artist, photograph: Hamish McIntosh[/caption] Knowing past editions of MCA Artbar, the possibilities of what could unfold under that notion are bordering on limitless. It's not just one mind behind the evening, as Attafuah will be joined by a lineup of local and international talent, including London-based futurist rapper Llainwire, Australian music/visual artist group DeepFaith and First Nations metal band Dispossessed. MCA Artbar: Tomorrow is an 18+ event, taking place on Friday, May 17 from 7–11pm. For more information or to get tickets, visit the website.
This June, Sydney's Taylor Square will be transformed with an explosion of colour, as it plays host to a vibrant inflatable art installation celebrating four decades of Mardi Gras. Titled 40 Years Of Love, the work was today announced by Lord Mayor Clover Moore as the winner of the City of Sydney-supported Taylor Square Public Art Project. The eye-catching piece is the work of local artists Matthew Aberline and Maurice Goldberg, who've described it as a "big, bold and sassy artwork based on concepts of public protest, joyous celebration, community activation and engagement". The pair's colourful installation will be draped around a big aluminium truss, creating a light-filled pavilion for the public to enjoy. Mardi Gras CEO Terese Casu said the artwork would celebrate an important part of Sydney's ongoing story. "With the work's vibrant energy and complexity, we share that Mardi Gras isn't a singular thing but a cacophony of diverse ideas, people, histories, politics and expressions," she said. 40 Years Of Love will grace the square for three months, after it's unveiled on the anniversary of the first Mardi Gras, on Sunday, June 24.
It's not every week that starts with a mini food truck festival for your Monday lunch. Get out of the office and nab some delicious food truck fare in Martin Place, thanks to the bighearted team behind A Taste of Harmony. A not-for-profit organisation celebrating the rich cultural diversity of Australian workplaces, A Taste of Harmony are keen to celebrate you and your coworkers through tasty, tasty food. They're gearing up for a huge initiative in March, and have launched this mini food truck festival in the lead-up. Grab some Monday eats from the culturally diverse likes of Urban Pasta Food Truck, Eat Art Truck, Cantina Movil, Jafe Jaffles and Thai in a Box between 12 and 2pm in Martin Place — maybe share some with those coworkers of yours. If you're taken by the idea of celebrating cultural diversity in your workplace through noms, you can get amongst A Taste of Harmony's big event running March 17-23. Workplaces around Australia — big to small, culture websites to major banks — are being encouraged to register and hold a work lunch made up of different cultural cuisines. No better way to bond with your workmates and high five your roots than over a feast of bánh mì, shakshouka and rookworst. Get amongst it.
If you still think you could've done a better job at the How I Met Your Mother ending, been practising your Oscar acceptance speech for years or think Australian radio airwaves are in desperate need of some new voices, we have some welcome news. The Australian Film, Television and Radio School is gearing up for its biggest summer season with AFTRS Summer Intensives — a series of short courses running from November 2018 to February 2019. Whether you're brand new to the industry or just want to step-up your existing skill set, the suite of AFTRS courses will have you covered. All courses are taught by expert practitioners and provide students, ranging from beginners to those already in the biz, with the practical skills they need to succeed in their chosen field. On the technical side of things, there's prop and scenic art making, digital production and filmmaking courses, where you'll get hands-on experience in operating cameras and shooting, editing and publishing a short film. You can also learn to use your voice for radio and TV presenting (with an advanced course tutored by renowned journalist Tracey Spicer) or in written form with television and comedy screenwriting. Each intensive course spans five days. If you book 28 days or more in advance, you'll also receive a ten percent discount. Not sure which course to go for? Head to the website to check out the full range of courses on offer.
The freshly prettified Prince Alfred Park will welcome the Surry Hills Festival home this year, along with a killer program of musicians, art installations, pop-up bars, the ever-integral Surry Hills Dog Show and a cool new Sustainability Hub showcasing fresh ways to live green. With the festival set to draw culture-hungry folks from far beyond the 2010 postcode to the sprawling grounds there really is something for everyone. Food, drink and dog-related details are still being drip-fed as October 27 draws closer, but for now you can get excited about the always inventive arts installations and just-updated musical line-up. Those who like their art interactive will find plenty to submerge themselves in, including a Tent City brimming with Frida Kahlo lookalikes out to change the world (or at least Surry Hills), a Derivan paint-by-numbers art tunnel and a big ol' rib cage to cosy up in. Or just take a step back and watch street art take shape then trip out over this buzzy tree. See the full arts lineup here. Regarding the day's soundtrack, 2012 will see artists playing across two separate stages and a cozy Chai Temple to provide a satisfying progression of sonic accompaniments for everything from single-origin lattes to craft amber ales. On the main stage headliners Tijuana Cartel will be joined by Fire! Santa Rosa, Fire!, True Vibenation, The Liberators and Nantes, with the Purple Sneakers, Softwar and Slow Blow DJs keeping you on your feet after the sun goes down. Then after the show, it's the afterparty.
Wearable art meets wearable music with this trendy idea from New York company Parte LLC. Playbutton is an mp3 player embedded in a badge, each one storing pre-recorded content like an album or mix-tape. Album artwork is printed on the badge, making your music taste an integral part of your fashion statement. Sure, you can't change the sequence of the music or download new content, but that's pretty much the entire idea. It's only fitting to hark back to older forms of music consumption (like listening to an entire album, rather than buying individual songs) when teaming it up with a retro-style fashion accessory. Each Playbutton weighs just 0.8 grams, making it 175 times smaller than a traditional iPod; and bands like Mount Eerie, Bubbles and Opening Ceremony are already on board. In fact all proceeds from the sales of Open Ceremony's Playbutton go to Musicians on Call, a non-profit in New York that brings live and recorded music to hospital patients who are unable to leave their beds. [Via NOTCOT]
Putting together a string garden might look as easy as tying a few knots, but there's definitely an art to getting it right — aesthetically, botanically and (if you're planning on dining in on it) agriculturally. Passionate plant expert Georgina Reid will be showing Sydney folk how to create their own mini hanging jungles at her D.I.Y. String Gardens Workshop, part of the Work-Shop series of original and community-based short courses. It's all about picking the best plants, selecting the right strings and knowing when to seed, weed and water. Reid, who's worked with the likes of Jamie Durie and Garden Life, is now based at her studio Reid and Friends, where she collaborates with "a dog and a few other creative tree-hugger types". They take on projects small and large, from tiny urban courtyards to expansive rural properties. In her spare time, she contributes to publications such as Belle, House & Garden and Home Beautiful and creates one-off artworks, combining plants with old objects.
Puppies underwater. That's all you really need to know. But if you're looking for some more context, photographer Seth Casteel is actually one of the world's biggest catches — the man teaches puppies to swim. Teaches. Puppies. To swim. According to Mashable, Casteel has taught over 1500 dogs to paddle their way to glorious swimming success, building up their doggy confidence so they can impress the canine babes in their teen years. Shooting the lessons for his just-released and made-for-everyone-ever's coffee table book Underwater Puppies. Casteel has been doing this for a while; his first book Underwater Dogs followed the same vein. Not since these outrageously excellent photographs of dogs captured mid-shakedown have we squealed with such unfettered delight. Just look at this dude: https://youtube.com/watch?v=4ZZNVrU9w34 So here you go, the ultimate scrollworthy medicine for an average Thursday. ACK. Ruger Corey Rolley Pringles and Pick Me Reason Popsicle Monty Ava Ginger Iggy Via Mashable. Images: Seth Casteel.
It's a decades-old inner west tradition: watching the Newtown Jets' home footy game, from up on the hill at Henson Park, on a Saturday afternoon each July. But things have been dialled up a few notches over the years and it now coincides with the annual Beer, Footy & Food Festival, which celebrates its fourth outing on Saturday, July 27. A winter ritual for footy-lovers, foodies and everyone in between, the event is set to dish up a huge afternoon of family-friendly fun. As well as that famed game of rugby league, expect a celebration of another inner west triumph — craft beer. Keep that thirst in check with drops from over 20 different brewers, including Grifter, Wayward, Batch, Yulli's Brews, Young Henrys, Frenchies, Willie The Boatman and a heap more. Organisers have roped in a good number of food vendors, too. Get ready to enjoy snacks form the likes of Mary's, Arepa, The Oxford Tavern, Rosa Cienfuegos and Salt Beef Beigel, among others. And kidults and littlies alike are sure to be kept busy with a petting zoo, obstacle course and even a couple of jumping castles. As an added bonus, dogs are welcome, too.
Hitting the ski slopes this season? If you're quick, you can be among the first to book a stay in the just-opened Numbananga Lodge — a self-contained, ski-in ski-out snow lodge in Smiggin Holes, with easy access to all the fun of Perisher. With room to sleep six, this cosy, newly renovated pad could be an ideal base for that group snow trip you've been planning. Just keep in mind that you'll need a cool $1500 per night (during peak season) to book it — which works out to $250 each, if you can find five friends. The lodge is perched only a five-minute drive from Perisher Valley, though many will be tempted to take the scenic route: travelling by skis right from the front door, or on the nearby Link T-Bar. The lodge is available to hire out year round, and summertime at Numbananga has plenty of drawcards of its own, boasting primo views and endless opportunities for fishing, bike riding and bush walking in the nearby Kosciuszko National Park. It also costs significantly less to hire out in the off-season, dropping to as little as $350 a night. Owned and operated by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, the nature-based accomodation is a pretty rare gem, as the only publicly available, free-standing, self-contained lodge in the area. Book your Numbananga Lodge stay via the National Parks NSW website.
Printhie Wines, run by brothers Ed and Dave Swift, has also taken its cellar door experience into the online realm, cracking the top off a new weekly virtual wine tasting series. The Molong-based winemakers are hitting screens from 4pm AEST every Friday, to help you wind down and kick-start the weekend in style. Or at least, in some good, wine-loving company. Via Facebook, the guys will guide viewers through a double tasting each week, showcasing a range of drops from their own label and answering plenty of audience questions along the way. To get you in the zone, Printhie is currently slinging a virtual tasting pack via its online store, starring six of the wines featured across the next few weeks' live streams. Get one delivered to your door so you can taste along with the guys and discuss your favourites as the camera rolls.
Even the most adventurous of foodies have their limits, don't they? New documentary Bugs aims to put that idea to the test — and to make audiences squirm in the process. You don't make a film about two researchers from René Redzepi's experimental Nordic Food Lab exploring the culinary value and environmental benefits of eating insects without causing a reaction, after all. The eye-opening doco is one of 12 titles set to screen at the Antenna Documentary Film Festival from October 11 to 16 in Sydney . Regardless of how experimental your eating habits are, the flicks unveiled should whet the appetite of factual cinema fans thanks to a wealth of thought-provoking content. When the fest isn't trying to get viewers pondering their next meal, it'll be inspiring discussions about everything from a ladies man living with HIV to the impact of nuclear waste in a small Russian town. The former comes courtesy of moving opening night film The Charro of Toluquilla, while the latter informs documentary City 40, which examines the people trying to survive in one of the most contaminated places on earth. And for a change of pace, anyone keen on an Italian holiday without the cost of an airfare should put Rome-set road movie A Present from the Past on their must-see list. Aussie effort A Mother and A Gun, which has its world premiere at the festival, is also certain to get attendees talking as it explores the life of Shelly Rubin, the woman who fell in love with the leader of the Jewish Defense League. Elsewhere, environmental effort The Islands and the Whales, a tribute screening of Abbas Kiarostami's Close Up, and the latest chronicle of Bobby Sands and his famous hunger strike — as previously brought to the screen in Steve McQueen-Michael Fassbender collaboration Hunger — also feature among Antenna's list of films. The fest's 2016 lineup looks as varied as it is interesting. Images: Lloyd Dirks, Tom Truong.
Live music and big festivals might be back after a pandemic-enforced hiatus, and in a huge way, but that doesn't mean that the days of cancellations are over. After already hosting fests in Newcastle and Brisbane earlier this year, This That has scrapped its plans to return for a second round of 2022 events in spring. The festival announced its October and November lineup back in June, with Earl Sweatshirt and Flight Facilities leading the bill — and What So Not joining them in Brissie only, The Presets in NSW, plus Vera Blue, Winston Surfshirt, DMA's, Chillinit, Skeggs, Hockey Dad, Jesswar and more on the full roster across both locations. But now none of the above will take to the stage, with This That focusing on coming back in October and November 2023 instead. As posted to the event's website and social media channels, organisers said that "it's with huge disappointment that we must announce This That's October and November 2022 festivals won't be going ahead at Sandstone Point (QLD) and Newcastle (NSW)". "This is due to a combination of issues, including the current level of market saturation resulting in supply chain issues and labour shortages, difficult economic conditions including ballooning insurance premiums and infrastructure costs, and the forecast of ongoing extreme weather patterns — so many factors that have the potential to lessen the experience we want to always deliver," the statement continued. "We were really looking forward to backing up our two huge events from earlier this year where it was so great to party with everyone back in February and March. For now, the team feels the smartest thing is to take a rest and be fresh and ready for This That again in November 2023." View this post on Instagram A post shared by THIS THAT (@thisxxthat) This That was scheduled to return to the Sandstone Point Hotel in Queensland on Saturday, October 29, then make its way to Newcastle on Saturday, November 5. Instead, you can lock new 2023 dates in your diary: Saturday, October 28 in the Sunshine State and Saturday, November 4 in NSW. There's no word yet who'll lead the bill next year, obviously, but watch this space. And if you had tickets for this spring's now-shuttered events, you'll be hearing from Oztix, and will receive your refund automatically within seven to 15 business days. THIS THAT OCTOBER–NOVEMBER 2023 DATES: Saturday, October 28: Sandstone Point Hotel, Sandstone Point, Queensland Saturday, November 4: Newcastle, New South Wales This That will no longer take place in October and November 2022, and will instead return to Sandstone Point and Newcastle at the same time in 2023. Tickets for the 2022 events will be refunded automatically — for more information, head to the festival's website. Images: Mitch Lowe / Jordan Munns.
Five years after they were first introduced to curb alcohol-fuelled violence, Sydney's lockout laws are set to be lifted in the CBD. They will, however, remain in place in the Kings Cross area. Premier Gladys Berejiklian has today announced plans to repeal the lockouts, telling The Daily Telegraph: "It's time to enhance Sydney's night-life. Sydney is Australia's only global city and we need our night-life to reflect that." The current lockout area stretches from Darling Harbour to Kings Cross and from The Rocks to Campbell Street in Surry Hills. According to The Daily Telegraph, the laws will be repealed in the CBD, but not in Kings Cross. It's not yet clear exactly where the new boundaries will be. Since the lockout laws were introduced in 2014, a reported 176 venues have closed, and a report by Deloitte Access Economics showed that the laws have contributed to NSW missing out on $16 billion in potential profits. A year-long parliamentary inquiry into the state of the Sydney's music and nightlife economy in 2018 also found that the industry was in "peril" due to the NSW Government's history of neglect, and lack of funding. [caption id="attachment_737655" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The CBD's new nightclub Pamela's will be able to extend its opening hours. Image by Kimberley Low.[/caption] In the past few years, there has been some relaxing of the laws. More than 20 venues have been granted half-hour live entertainment extensions, and Oxford Street has gone lockout-free for Mardi Gras the past two years. Earlier this year, Ms Berejiklian announced a review of the city's night-time economy by a ten-person parliamentary committee. The committee has considered close to 800 submissions from business owners and industry members and is set to release its findings on September 30 this year. Despite this being only 22 days away, Ms Berejiklian has already begun to make moves to to repeal the lockouts. There's not an exact date set for the changing of legislation, but The Daily Telegraph has reported that it's expected to occur later this year. While the CBD's nightlife and live music scene has struggled under the stifling legislation — and has seen institutions like The Basement close — the lifting of the lockout laws together with the City of Sydney's plans to introduce 24-hour trading to the CBD could mean big changes for the area. The repeal of the lockout laws would allow Sydneysiders to head into CBD bars, pubs and nightclubs after 1.30am — and those same venues to remain open after 3am — while the City of Sydney is hoping to encourage the 24 hour trading of unlicensed CBD businesses. That's all we know for now. We'll update you as more specific details — and the findings from the parliamentary committee — are released later this month. Top image: Kimberley Low
You probably recognise the above image of Daniel Kaluuya's terrified face, it's been floating around the internet in meme form over the past couple of weeks. It's also a still from Get Out—the highly anticipated new film from Universal Pictures released in cinemas on May 4. Watch the truly terrifying trailer if you haven't yet. The film has accrued a rare 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and critics around the world are biding time until they get the chance to see this gripping thriller, also a timely, provocative commentary on the world's current state of race relations. The story follows a young, African-American man (Daniel Kaluuya) as he meets his white girlfriend's (Allison Williams) parents at their family estate. At first, Chris believes that the family's welcoming behaviour is a nervous attempt to deal with their daughter's interracial relationship, but as the weekend progresses he discovers a number of disturbing things to make him think otherwise and becomes suspicious of the real reason behind his visit. Somewhat surprisingly, the gripping film is written and directed by Jordan Peele (one half of Key and Peele, the comedy duo known for classic skits such as Text Confusion and Continental Breakfast). We're hosting three advanced screenings of Get Out exclusive to Concrete Playground readers. The Sydney screening will be at Event Cinemas George St, at 6.30pm on April 26. Fill in your details below to go into the draw to win one of 100 double passes. [competition]614570[/competition]
If you can't make it to London's dine-in-the-dark naked restaurant — or you got in at the tail-end of the 28,000-strong waitlist — you might be interested in an after-dark dinner of a different kind. For Vivid Sydney, Sydney Tower (aka the ever-present Westfield spire that looms over the city) will be dimming the lights for dinner with a ripper of a view. On Saturday, June 4, Sydney's tallest structure will be switching the overheads for candles for a one-off dinner in their STUDIO event space. With the lights down low, you'll be able to cop an eyeful of the all the ridiculously beautiful Vivid lights down below. But your sight won't be the only sense in total overload. 360 Bar and Dining's head chef Elton Inglis has designed a special five-course menu with matching wines to stimulate your taste, touch, smell and hearing. Not sure how that last one will be integrated, but we're pretty into the taste side of things. Dinner in the Dark is a one-night-only deal, and it will kick off after-dark at 7pm on Saturday, June 4. Tickets cost $199 and include five course with matched wines, a glass of sparkling and potentially the best (and least crowded) view of Vivid in Sydney.
Can you think of a better way to start the new year than sipping cocktails at a seaside tropical oasis? How about following that up by soaring across Sydney Harbour in a seaplane? Luckily, Rose Bay's Empire Lounge will be transforming into a tropical oasis that'll be offering you both of those luxe experiences for the ultimate summer Sunday session. From Sunday, February 6, The Empire Lounge will present Casa Aperol — a summery Sunday series loaded with incredible drinks, delicious food and live tunes. The waterfront venue has teamed up with Aperol and Australia's number one cocktail bar, Maybe Sammy to bring you an exclusive cocktail menu designed to be sipped between tasty eats by chef Faheem Noor. But the fun doesn't stop there. You can finish on a high note — literally — by taking flight in the Casa Aperol x Maybe Sammy seaplane for an incredible tour of Sydney Harbour. Flights will be available for a discounted price at $180, or you can try your luck at winning a sky-high trip with the weekly door prize. Ready to stretch out your weekend at this Sunday session? Casa Aperol will be running from midday until 9pm every Sunday from February 6 till April 24 at Empire Lounge, Rose Bay. No bookings are required. Simply walk in and enjoy the fun. For more information, visit the website.
iPad max volume just not loud enough? Nonlinear Studio's Amplifiear promises that you'll never struggle to hear movies and music on your iPad again. Surprisingly simple and low-tech in its design, Amplifiear simply clips on to the side of the iPad - no wires or batteries required. The device works to increase volume by reflecting and redirecting the sound from the iPad's back-facing speaker forward. Relying on the basics of physical acoustics, Nonlinear Studio's head designer Evan Clabots designed the Amplifiear out of lightweight, recyclable plastic. It's extremely transportable, and features a tension clip to accommodate all three iPad models. Currently on Kickstarter, the Amplifiear project awaits sufficient funding in order to begin production. It will remain open to donations through May 12.
Find yourself constantly daydreaming of corsets and spotted dick? Then don your top hat, grab your favourite Edgar Allan Poe novel and take a stroll back into yesteryear with Sydney Living Museums' (who were, until recently, the Historic Houses Trust) Gothic Sunday. Following the rollicking success of Regency Sunday, the newest instalment in the Vintage Sundays series has opted for a decidedly darker and more macabre historical trip: the twisted world of mid-1800 Victorian mourning customs. The rules remain the same as last time - period dress is encouraged, and faux Mr Darcy accents are compulsory - but the game is quite different this time round. Tours through a fully decked-out Vaucluse House by the undertaker of William Wentworth's mausoleum will have you immersed in the Victorian era's dark and decadent mourning process, and the sombre tones of an all-male choir will have you feeling like you have stumbled into a time machine. If you prefer a more hands-on approach to history you can try your hand at jet jewellery making or baking funeral biscuits. And if the doom and gloom of all this becomes too much to bear, then hop into your dancing shoes for your very own Victorian polka lesson.
A new three-week celebration and showcase of cutting-edge, genre-bending theatre and performance is coming to Sydney's Stables Theatre this April. Griffin Theatre Company's inaugural Batch Festival fuses spoken word, comedy, visual arts and music with immersive theatre and cabaret to create a veritable feast of powerful, provocative performance. The festival celebrates an incredible crew of talents, from poets and lyrical storytellers like Omar Musa to comedians and cabaret artists like Mama Alto and Betty Grumble. Expect to see out-of-the-box performances with the world premiere of Cassie Workman, Giantess, which combines music, comedy, storytelling and illustration, as well as at Brown Skin Girl, which brings together visual art, music, spoken word and movement. Festival curator Phil Spencer explains this decision to feature a multitude of arts and performance genres, "this next wave of artists doesn't necessarily write plays, they make hip hop, perform stand-up, write songs, improvise stories, invite audiences to help them make the work and experiment with the theatrical form in vital and important ways." During the festival, guests can also book into special late-night performances, showcasing the funny, the awkward and the fabulous. For those who seek something a bit more interactive, head outside with the Exclusion Zone: Walking Tour on an hour-long 'tour' of Kings Cross. You'll set out to investigate 'recent unaccountable crypto-cartographic activity', but under the guise of a walking tour. Pre- or post-show, visit Glimpse, an ethereal hidden garden where theatregoers can kick off their shoes and explore this otherworldly land in the heart of the city. And there to support your nights of innovative and immersive theatre, Batch Brewing Co. will be slinging craft beers in the foyer of the Stables. The inaugural Batch Festival runs from April 11–28. Discover the full program and purchase tickets here.
An old-school oyster, cocktail and piano bar is on its way to Bayswater Road from the mind behind two of Kings Cross's most beloved small bars — Piccolo Bar and Vermuteria. David Spanton, a passionate advocate for the area and Sydney's nightlife will open The Hook in May this year. His most ambitious bar to date, the venue is taking over impressive space previously occupied by the Potts Point outpost of Harajuku Gyoza before briefly being run as Izgara before its CBD move. The new spot will form what Spanton describes as a "Bermuda Triangle of bars", with The Hook, Vermuteria and Piccolo Bar all just a few hundred metres from each other. Together they make up a core part of Kings Cross and Potts Point's small bar revival, with other exciting newcomers like Snack Kitchen and Caravin arriving in the area alongside local mainstays Dear Sainte Eloise, Jangling Jacks and Chester White. [caption id="attachment_831936" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Piccolo Bar[/caption] Sporting 250 metres of space, this is by far the biggest of the three venues. The centrepiece will be the oyster bar, taking over the curved bar used for Izgara's open kitchen. Here you can take a seat and watch your oysters be shucked before ordering them natural, kilpatrick, mornay or rockefeller. "I fell in love with this Horseshoe shape," Spanton told Concrete Playground. "I just don't know of any kind of horseshoe bars in Sydney that aren't pubs." [caption id="attachment_860684" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The exterior of 15 Bayswater Road when it was Izgara, Scott Ehler[/caption] Accompanying the briny delights of the oyster bar will be some heartier eats like cheeseburgers, classic cocktails, a retro New Orleans-inspired fit-out and a piano by the window where performers will provide the soundtrack for the night. A flood of reds, greens and browns will be found throughout the venue, with vintage photographs on the wall and antique beer lights illuminating guests The aforementioned cocktails will find a balance between the tried and true menu of Piccolo and Vermuteria's focus on aromatised wine. At the end of the day, the most important thing is that the drinks pair well with the oysters, with ice-cold martinis, red snappers (a gin take on a bloody mary) and black velvets (a mix of Guinness and champagne) just some of the standards and throwbacks you can expect. The Hook is expected to open at 13-15 Baywater Road, Kings Cross in early May. Follow along with its progress at the bar's Instagram.
What has chess, immensely clever LOLs and a spectacular primal yet graceful consummation of the, er, physical passions? The affairs my fifteen year old self imagined having with Jarvis Cocker and/or Alex James is one correct answer, but the rather more culturally significant one is British Liaisons of an entirely different kind, although both do refer back to youth. The Australian Ballet is revisiting its cultural beginnings this April, paying tribute in a triple bill of classical works from both the 20th and current centuries. First up is Checkmate, a balletic battle of pieces on a chequerboard stage choreographed by Ninette de Valois in 1937, followed by Sir Kenneth MacMillan's virtuosic rigour-and-wit Concerto of 1966, and finally Christopher Wheeldon's 2005 After The Rain, a super-hot romance. It's an historical survey and also a stylistic and thematic one that'll show off the company as well as the material.
Glebe Point Road's Sri Lankan Street Food is known for some of the area's best Sri Lankan curries and and hoppers. From March 8, the restaurant will do away with its regular a la carte menus for weekly Sunday all-you-can-eat buffet lunches — for just $35. The dishes on offer on the Sundays will come from all a few of Sri Lanka's regions. Expect fish and jackfruit curries from the south; egg hoppers and dosa from the north; herby coconut sambol and turmeric veggies from Hill Country; and the biriyani and black pork curry that you can find in Colombo and the surrounding area. There'll be plenty of meat and vegan options and, if you're not too full, the lunch includes dessert, too. And you can BYO. There will be two sittings each week: one at 11am and one at 1.30pm. Bookings are a must and, at only $35 a pop for a bottomless feast, you can bet these lunches will book up quickly each week.
This summer, Flickerfest returns for its 27th season of short films screened under the stars, with the internationally acclaimed festival taking over Bondi Pavilion from January 12–21. The jam-packed 2018 program pulls together a dazzling lineup of 55 short films for its Australian competition, and another 33 films as part of its international program, with a whole swag of world premieres on the bill. Highlights from the homegrown lineup include Martha The Monster — which sees Rose Byrne star alongside husband Bobby Cannavale as they navigate an upside-down world where humans and monsters coexist — and the world premiere of writer-director Alyssa McClelland's dark comedy Second Best, which explores the powerful bond between identical twin sisters. In the international competition are hot-ticket titles like the Palme d'Or-nominated Across My Land, produced by Joaquin Phoenix; Irish film Wave from the director behind last year's Academy Award-winning Stutterer; and the world premiere of the UK's Five By Five, starring Idris Elba. Films will be battling it out for recognition across all areas of filmmaking, vying for Academy Accredited awards like the Flickerfest Award For Best International Film, the Virgin Australia Award For Best Australian Film and the Yoram Gross Award For Best Animation. Once the festival wraps up on January 21, its greatest hits will take a road trip around the country, touring over 50 Aussie locations until May 2018. To see the full Flickerfest 2018 program and grab tickets, head to the website.
If you're one of those people who's always meaning to give blood, now might be the perfect time to roll up your sleeve. The Australian Red Cross Blood Service needs 99,000 new donors, so it's hosting Australia's first 24-hour donate-a-thon — with some bloody great incentives to get you through the door. A CBD donor centre in Sydney's Town Hall will be open for 24 hours from 7pm on Thursday, June 13 through to 7pm on Friday, June 14 (aka World Blood Donor Day). To encourage you to donate, there'll be live music, live magic and free food. Oh, and you'll be helping to save up to three lives. We all know it's important to have a bite to eat after giving blood, and for once it'll be more than just a cookie and a party pie. Chef Nelly Robinson (of the CBD's lauded Nel.) will be serving salmon pies, gourmet sausage rolls and an especially fancy spiced carrot cake with mandarin sorbet and yoghurt foam. And Gelato Messina has whipped up a new flavour just for the occasion — blood orange cheesecake gelato with red velvet cake and raspberry puree. How very fitting.
Strolls around the city have been much brighter in recent weeks, all thanks to the addition of some unexpected blooms. The CBD's grey, concrete streets have had a makeover as a part of the City of Sydney's twice-yearly 'Living Colour' floral display project, taking over Martin Place, Castlereagh Street, Alfred Street, Queens Square, Cathedral Square, Springfield Gardens, Taylor Square, Sydney Town Hall and QVB, Green Square, Union Square, the forecourt outside St Mary's cathedral and more. But as the nearly 100,000 plants have been blooming since September, these flowers need a new home. Want some more snapdragons, celosia, golden marjoram and bromeliads in your life? On Sunday, November 13 from 8am, St Mary's Cathedral will be the spot to snag some cut-price botanical beauties. For just a gold coin donation, you'll be able to take home everything from petunias to curly parsley. Plus, with the spring displays created in collaboration with the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney as a celebration of its 200th birthday, all funds raised will be heading to the Foundation and Friends of the Botanic Gardens. Add some colour to your own space and feel good about it too. Who could resist adopting these little blooms that've seen it all?
Remember the name Rasmus King. Based on 2022's slate of Australian films and television shows, that shouldn't be hard. The Byron Bay-born newcomer hadn't graced a screen, large or small, before this year — and now he has no fewer than four projects pushing him into the spotlight before 2023 arrives. Most, including surfing TV drama Barons, capitalise upon the fact that he's a pro on the waves IRL. Two, 6 Festivals and the upcoming sci-fi featurette What If The Future Never Happened?, get his long blonde locks whipping through the Australian music scene. The latter is based on Daniel Johns' teenage years, actually, and has King playing that pivotal part. If he's half as impressive in the role as he is in father-son drama Bosch & Rockit, Silverchair fans will have plenty to look to forward to. When writer/director Tyler Atkins opens his debut feature, it's in the late 90s, along Australia's east coast, and with King as eager surfer Rockit — son to weed farmer Bosch (Luke Hemsworth, Westworld). Sometimes, the titular pair hit the surf together, which sees Rockit's eyes light up; however, Bosch is usually happy tending to his illicit business, making questionable decisions, and coping with splitting from his son's mother Elizabeth (Leeanna Walsman, Eden) with the help of other women. Then a couple of unfortunate twists of fate upend Rockit's existence, all stemming from his father. Begrudgingly, Bosch is pushed into stepping outside his drug-growing comfort zone by an old friend-turned-cop (Michael Sheasby, The Nightingale) and his corrupt partner (Martin Sacks, Buckley's Chance). When a bushfire sweeps through the region shortly afterwards, he's forced to go on the run to stay alive. Bosch & Rockit approaches Bosch's absconding from Rockit's perspective, adopting the line that the former gives his boy: that they're going to Byron for an extended holiday. Atkins doesn't feed the same idea to its audience, but ensures that viewers understand why a bright-eyed teenager would take his dad at his word — not just because he doesn't know what Bosch does for a living, which he doesn't; or he's naïve, which he is; but also because he's eager to hang onto his biggest dream. There's sorrow in King's spirited performance, with Rockit more affected by his parents' split, bullying at school and the isolation that comes with finding solace in the sea, usually alone, than Bosch has the shrewdness to spot. There's earnestness as well, because what struggling kid who's desperate for the kind of love that genuine attention signifies, as Rockit visibly is, won't blindly believe whatever fantasy their dad or mum sells them for as long as possible? King does a magnetic job of conveying Rockit's inner turmoil, and expressing his uncertainty, too. There's an effortlessness to his portrayal, whether Rockit is lapping up Bosch's presence like a plant swaying towards the sunlight, listlessly left to his own devices when his dad decides he'd rather chase Byron local Deb (Isabel Lucas, That's Not Me), or finding a kindred spirit in Ash (Savannah La Rain, Surviving Summer), another restless and yearning teen vacationing under less-than-ideal circumstances and feeling like she's alone in the world. Avoiding formulaic plotting isn't Bosch & Rockit's strong suit, however, as the film makes plain at every turn. That's evident in both of its namesakes' trajectories, for starters — with Bosch a small-time crim falling afoul of the wrong people, with help from bad luck, then trying to start anew; and Rockit an innocent kid stuck with subpar parents, forced to grow up faster than he should, but hanging onto whatever he can. When a wave tumbles over a surfer's head, crashing towards the shore, it's both a new revelation and a routine occurrence every single time — and, as well as showing that sight whenever Rockit takes to the ocean, aka frequently, that's also how Bosch & Rockit feels. The depths in its two central performances, Hemsworth's included, can't completely sweep aside the film's well-worn storyline, but the feature's sincerity goes a long way. A movie can be sentimental and still ring true, too, which this repeatedly does. Knowing that you're having your heartstrings pulled isn't just blatant, but almost instantaneous, and yet this tender tale is still easy to drift along with. While King proves Bosch & Rockit's biggest asset, Hemsworth's impact can't be underestimated — and shows why he has never just been "the other Hemsworth". Like his brothers, his early career weaved through local soaps (Neighbours in his case, which Chris and Liam also popped up on), plus other Aussie TV series (including Blue Heelers, All Saints and Tangle). As his siblings are, he's now best-known for his overseas success, with Westworld forever altering his resume as the Thor franchise has for Chris and The Hunger Games did for Liam. Here, there's a weight and texture to Luke's empathetic work as the well-meaning, perennially hapless Bosch that ranks it among his best, and is crucial to the film. Atkins also ensures that his audience understands why Rockit wants to be with his charismatic yet careening dad, even when he does know better. Indeed, scenes where Hemsworth and King banter, whether slinging the most Aussie curse-filled exchanges each other's way or bickering in public, are among Bosch & Rockit's standouts. It's lucky that its key duo bring so much to their portrayals; elsewhere, Bosch & Rockit is undeniably scenic, but never surprising. Often, Ben Nott's (How to Please a Woman) cinematography looks like a postcard — especially when the picture lingers on the obvious shots, such as the famous Cape Byron Lighthouse, or loiters on dolphins and whales while its characters frolic along the coast. Of course, those pieces of card sent from holiday spots usually come bearing heartfelt statements behind the eye-catching gloss, a trait that Bosch & Rockit also shares. Little about growing up is simple, nothing about parenting is, and love and hope can't help anyone escape either reality — all notions that resonate from this straightforward, always-familiar but also evocative film.
The Grounds of Alexandria may have just turned five years old and opened its first permanent spinoff The Grounds of the City, but the team behind the almost iconic Sydney venue are not one to sit on their hands. Instead, they've launched a new series of after-dark live music events in their fairy-lit Alexandria garden. On Friday, July 7, the space will be taken over by soul and blues bands and, of course, some quality food. The July edition of Sounds From The Grounds will see the garden go all bluesy with live music from local artists Cat Vasilakis, Michael Duchesne and Alice Terry. While the music kicks off from 7pm, The Pizza Silo will be slinging their much-loved wood-fired pizzas and The Soda Barn will serve up beer, wine and cocktails all night. And if you're worried about the chill, rest assured The Grounds will turn on the heaters and have a big batch of mulled wine ready to go. While the first event was free, this one is ticketed at $15. Although, if youre having dinner at The Potting Shed, you can head on in for free after dessert. You'll have to purchase your food and drink, and seating will be limited so be sure arrive early to get a prime posi.
You'll never have to fret over your iPhone dying again, thanks to this genius new phone case designed by Jesse Pliner and Lloyd Gladstone. Dubbed the 'JuiceTank', this sleek case effectively conceals the electrical outlet plug within. Press the button on the back of the case, and the outlet prongs pop out. Not only can you rely on JuiceTank to come to the rescue in battery emergencies, but its high-grade polycarbonate cover provides solid phone protection, minus excessive bulk. The case is currently fit for any North American plug and awaiting production funding on kickstarter.com.
Eating on a budget doesn’t mean that you have to shuffle out to the nearest transnational fast food chain for a greasy burger that, if not bland, tastes terrible, and will make you feel like a shameful ball of clogged arteries afterwards. For less than fifteen dollars, you can still go out and experience a wide range of Sydney cuisine, from delicious culinary experiments to time-tested dishes perfected by masters. And the best news? Concrete Playground has you covered for every day, so being broke and hungry will be a thing of the past. El Loco Where: 64 Foveaux Street, Surry Hills Located next to the Excelsior Hotel in Surry Hills, El Loco is the brainchild of chef extraordinaire Dan Hong. Its tacos, with a subtle Asian influence, are recognisable anywhere, and for five dollars a pop, you’d be hard-pressed to say no. The rest of the menu stays under the fifteen dollar mark, with hotdogs and salads delivered in giant servings. Tip: The frozen margaritas are delicious, but pricey at $13.50. Signing up to Club Loco, however – a quick and free process – you can get a dandy keyring which gets you half price frozen margaritas on Mondays, from 7-8pm. Stinginess win! Zushi Where: Shop 2A, 285A Crown Street, Surry Hills Judging by the queues that spill out onto the street and the arms-full of accolades that it’s swept up, Zushi is not much of a well-kept secret. And for good reason; it offers a full Japanese dining experience at an affordable price. Of the two restaurants in Darlinghurst and Surry Hills, the Crown Street joint is larger in capacity, with a more extensive menu, and – this is what you’ve been waiting for – daily dinner specials. Tip: Hit up Zushi Darlinghurst, and expect to pay no more than ten dollars for eight pieces of sushi between 6 and 7pm. This isn’t that dried-out, pitiful stuff that you get on campus, either; this is sushi from Australia’s Favourite Restaurant, as awarded by Lifestyle Food Channel in 2009. Pub Life Kitchen Where: 42 Wentworth Ave, Surry Hills With weekly experiments in burger-building, Pub Life give you something to look forward to every hump day. Checking out their gallery of burgers past, you’ll find yourself wondering if this is real life or some post-modern movement in which impossibly tasty burgers are dreamed up. Eight cheese sauce? Pork and cider patties? Purple mayo? The Pub Life kitchen is the Willy Wonka Chocolate Factory of burgers, and they’re yours for only $14, although you’ll want to line up – they’re made in strictly limited quantities of 15 servings per week. Miss out on the crazy burgers? Don’t fret. Most items on the menu are under $15, some are vegetarian-friendly, and all are served in more-than-generous portions. And, as to be expected from Jovan Curic, whose father has been the chef at the original Bill and Toni’s since 1985, the food is delicious. Tip: Catch happy hour at the bar downstairs between 5 and 7pm, and expect to leave the Macquarie Hotel with bellies content and wallets still full. Gumshara Where: Eating World, 205/25-29 Dixon Street, Haymarket Uttering ‘Gumshara’ strikes fear into the hearts of even competitive eaters. That’s because the portions are huge in this ramen eatery tucked away in Chinatown’s Eating World. Add to that the fact that the collagen-rich pork broth is produced by boiling over 100kg of pork bones on a daily basis, and you have yourself a bowl of ramen quite unlike any you’ve had before, with a thick and salty broth that goes down surprisingly well. The menu is simple, with two of the dishes being rice-based and the rest being soup-based. The ingredients mingle well with each other and result in a flavour which is unique yet classic; combined with the low prices and generous portions, there’s more than enough reasons for Gumshara to be a staple in the diets of many a penny-pincher. Tip: Try the Special Rice ($9) for a combination of spicy cabbage, soft-boiled eggs, and specially marinated pork mixed throughout the half-basketball-sized bowl of rice, or the tonkotsu ramen ($13.50), served with slices of pork and seaweed in the aforementioned broth, which is so thick, it’s practically gravy. Laurie’s Vegetarian Where: 236 Bondi Road, Bondi Beach We all have a vegan friend who needs cheering up when you go out – vegan cuisine is rarely delicious if it is not expensive. Laurie’s, then, is the perfect solution. There’s a choice of six hot dishes which cost, at most, eight dollars. For simple, delicious, and homely food, you can’t look past Laurie’s. Tip: The highlight is the tempeh burger which starts at six dollars, and can have cheese, sour cream, and guacamole added. Nothing can compare to it in price or taste. The Dip Where: 55 Liverpool Street, Sydney With a love of food inspired by a trip to Memphis, head chef Andrew Levis brings you all the best that the United States has to offer, with a rotating menu of creative and delicious varieties of hot dogs, burgers, and desserts. Items on the menu sound like a Masterchef judge’s dream induced by a food coma: the Big Windy ($12) is a hot dog that pays tribute to Chicago, being topped with sliced tomatoes, sports peppers, pickle relish, white onion, mustard, celery salt, and a dill pickle spear; the pulled pork nachos ($15) are topped with pinto beans, tomato salsa, cheese, jalapeno cream, The Dip’s famous sweet’n’strong barbeque sauce, and 12 hour smoked pork; and, for dessert, the Ice Cold Guac ($10) is two scoops of sweet avocado ice cream with strawberry salsa and waffle chips. Tip: Nothing on the menu is over fifteen dollars. Make sure you get in on Saturday to taste-test experiments in hot dog design and deliciousness. Mamak Where: 15 Goulburn Street, Haymarket You can’t ignore the line that stretches down the street: Mamak is the best place to get Malaysian hawker food at authentic prices. Try the Maggi Goreng, which is Mee Goreng made with Maggi noodles, or the Nasi Lemak for the best balance of taste and value. Tip: Visit outside of main meal times to avoid the queues.
If you're in Western Sydney, you can head to Circa Espresso for one day only on Saturday, August 28 to get a taste of Tokyo Lamington. The cafe tucked away on Wentworth Street will have an array of some of the inner west bakery's most popular flavours, as well as a special one-off collaboration with Circa. The 'Love Cake' Lamington is a recreation of Circa Espresso's beloved Persian love cake in lamington form that sees vanilla sponge cake dipped in rose white chocolate and topped with coconut, rose petals, almond and pistachio. Tokyo Lamington's Min Chai and Eddie Stewart have been on a mission to make the humble lamington world famous. After selling lamingtons in Singapore and Tokyo, they brought the brand to its home country, launching a store in Newtown last year. While this meant inner west locals were suddenly flocking to try Tokyo Lamington's inventive takes on the Aussie dessert, these next-level treats have still been hard-to-reach for many Sydneysiders. Now with the city in lockdown and residents confined to their five-kilometre radius, Tokyo Lamington is taking steps to ensure a few more Sydney dessert fans can indulge their sweet tooth. While you're there you can pick up a coffee made with Circa's house coffee beans, or a selection from the cafe's lockdown takeaway menu. Lamingtons will be available from 8am.
