Hoyts Cinemas across Sydney are reopening on July 2 and are about to become the most magical places in NSW, as all eight movies in the Harry Potter franchise light up the screen over two spectacular weekends. Split into two parts — so you won't need a time turner to stay awake — the marathon kicks off at 10am on Saturday, July 4 with Harry, Hermione, Ron's first four years at Hogwarts and runs until 7.30pm. These same four films will be screened at the same times on Sunday, July 5, too. The following weekend, the marathon will pick back up again at 10am at Saturday, July 11, when the battle against You Know Who begins in earnest. Similarly to the week before, the last four flicks will also be screened on the Sunday. Tickets to the flicks are going for $10 a pop — so, yes, you will need to buy individual passes to each one — which means you can pick and choose. Love Goblet of Fire? See it twice. Not a big fan of the Half-Blood Prince? Skip it and go out for lunch instead. In fact, tickets to most Hoyts films are currently $10 as part of an opening special. If you're curious about what else is on the program, check out our list of 13 news films hitting the big screen this July. Harry Potter movie marathons are happening at all Hoyts NSW cinemas except Chatswood Westfield.
Open from morning till night, District Brasserie is bringing a much needed all-day venue to the heart of Sydney's CBD. Acting as both a takeaway coffee shop and sit-down restaurant/bar from breakfast straight on through late-night dinner, the 200-seater opened this week to a warm welcome of city dwellers. Designed by Paul Kelly (BLACK by Ezard, Sokyo), the restaurant pays tribute to the classic brasserie style with aged brass highlights, simple timber tables, dark leather booths and an elegant green marble bar — perfect for post-work knock-offs or cheeky lunchtime tipples. Operating as both District Bakery and District Brasserie, the venue opened in two stages, with the bakery side serving patrons since late June. Its French-inspired takeaway menu features three varieties of tartine, a smoked ham and cheese croissant and a spiced rum canelé, along with all the pastries imaginable and locally produced Single O coffees for good measure. The sit-down offering is run by head chefs Mark Knox (ex-Public Dining) and Robert Ackroyd (ex-Arras) who are turning to local farmers for the freshest produce. For those blessed with more time in the morning, the brasserie breakfast menu features an Ora king salmon with green tahini, quinoa and kelp salt, all topped with a poached egg. For lunch or dinner, think charcoaled meats, along with a seafood medley of steamed hapuka, clams and mussels topped with mushrooms, warrigal greens, lemongrass and ginger volute. As with any good brasserie, charcuterie boards and an extensive selection of wine — 120 labels in total — are available for all day snacking. District Brasserie is now open on the Lower Ground of 2 Chifely Square, Sydney. District Bakery is open Monday through Friday from 6.30am to 4pm and District Brasserie is open Monday to Friday from 7am until late.For more info, visit disctrictbrasserie.com.au.
Grab your vomit bag: one of the most notorious and disgusting franchises in the history of horror movies is slithering into cinemas for round number three. From the demented mind of writer-director Tom Six, The Human Centipede 3 is being touted as the most extreme film in the series so far, featuring a centipede more than 500 people in length. It’s also currently sitting at a whopping 7% on Rotten Tomatoes, which is roughly seven percentage points more than we expected. The Human Centipede 3 will have its sole Sydney screening at The Ritz in Randwick on Saturday, July 4, marking the only time you’ll be able to view the film on the big screen in all its repulsive glory. Actor Laurence R. Harvey will be on hand for a post-film Q&A, assuming the entire audience hasn’t already fled the theatre.
Burwood might be a long way from the country, but that isn't going to stop some of the country's finest farmers paying a regular visit. This Thursday, August 31, Real Markets & Co. is landing. If you've not met Real Markets before, let us introduce you. It's a family-run extravaganza that's all about bringing the best things in the country to the big smoke: fresh produce, home cooking and handcrafted objects. Just some of the goodies you'll be getting your hands on (and mouth around) include cherries from Orange, honey from Tamworth and free range eggs from Kendall. If you feel like taking a break, sit down to a coconut coffee, or just-baked tarts from The Portuguese Bakery. And, if you're looking to take a slice of Real Markets home or to a friend, you can grab a bunch of fresh flowers, a jar of pickles or even a soy candle. Every stall is handpicked by the market team — and be sure to keep a look out for special events, including visits from celebrity chefs. Real Markets will be setting up at 27-31 Belmore Street, Burwood from 10am to 6pm on Thursday and Friday every week. For more information visit www.realmarkets.com.au.
Marrickville's annual street festival will take over the inner west suburb once again on Sunday, October 21. Over 120 stalls will flood the streets in a full day celebration of live music, local entertainment and international cuisine that champions Marrickville's multicultural community. A massive lineup of local bands and acts will perform across four stages, with the main stage including the likes of Liz Martin Band, The Protesters and Edens March. The Break music competition will return to showcase the best that the region has to offer, and an international stage will put on flamenco performances and African, Greek and Polynesian dance shows. Of course, stalls will offer up fresh produce and a tonne of different food options from local vendors. Expect fried things, big vats of paella, Vietnamese nosh and heaps more. Image: Fiora Sacco.
Get ready to spring into a sensational series of Sunday afternoons that are all about celebrating the early bloom of the season. For four consecutive Sundays, Saké Restaurant and Bar Manly will be serving a lineup of bespoke Roku Gin cocktails paired with a Japanese menu inspired by the freshness of spring (haru). Picture this: an afternoon hosted in a light-filled bar area decked out with stunning floral displays begging to be photographed. As you enjoy the ocean views, indulge in three courses capturing the different stages of spring. First up, Awakening. Sip a symphony of Roku Gin, tangy rhubarb and ginger cordial, zesty yuzu and prosecco. The tipple is paired with asparagus ohitashi with a kick of citrus karashi miso, yukari snapper with shiso paste and tomato miso, and tenderloin beef tataki with ginger soy. The next course is Bloom. Start with the floral concoction of Roku Gin with Junmai Ginjo Sake, Cointreau, creme de violet, cherry blossom and leatherwood tonic. This is served with salmon yaki with den miso, tempura veggies and king prawns, chirashi sushi with spring veggies topped with cherry blossom flower pickle. Last is Harvest. Roku Gin is blended with green tea umeshu, genmaicha lemongrass cordial and a burst of zesty lemon. To end this culinary journey on a sweet note, it is paired with shiratama zenzai dessert soup, matcha ice cream, mochi, red beans, and crispy sweet potato chips. Mark your calendars because the festivities are from 12–2.30pm on the following Sundays: September 17, September 24, October 1 and October 8. All this goodness can be yours for just $149 per person, drinks included. Reserve your spot on the website now. The exclusive Roku seasonal cocktails will also be available to order from Wednesday, September 6 until Sunday, October 8. Images: Brooke Zotti
More Marvels, less Marvel: that could've, would've, should've been the path to making The Marvels more marvellous as it teams up Carol Danvers aka Captain Marvel (Brie Larson, Fast X), Ms Marvel's Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani in her big-screen debut) and WandaVision's Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris, They Cloned Tyrone). Unsurprisingly for a Marvel Cinematic Universe movie that goes heavy on the first word in the ever-sprawling franchise's moniker, this 33rd cinematic instalment in the series has a glaring Marvel problem. Thankfully, as it proves fun enough, likeable enough and sweet, but also overly saddled with the routine and familiar, it never has any Captain Marvel, Ms Marvel or Monica Rambeau issues. When there's too much Marvel-ness — too much been-there-done-that formula, too hefty a focus on smashing pixels together over spending time with people and too strong a sense that this is merely another chapter in the saga's assembly line, and also dutifully setting up what's next — The Marvels struggles, even as the shortest MCU feature yet. When the main trio get the luxury of being together, just seeing them revel in and react to each other's company is a delight. When there's also singing, dancing, a hearty sense of humour and/or Flerkens involved, the film soars. Perhaps befitting a movie with three lead characters, this is a Goldilocks attempt at a picture that tries as overtly as a fairy-tale figure to get its balance just right. Filmmaker Nia DaCosta (Candyman) and her co-scribes Megan McDonnell (also WandaVision) and Elissa Karasik (Loki) can't quite find and keep their midpoint, however, due to all of the weight and demands that come after 15 years of the MCU, those 32 prior flicks, plus nine seasons of eight Disney+ TV shows since 2021 — and the many nods and references required in those directions. Marvel has cottoned on to how clunky this can be, and how exhausting to watch; the company is marketing streaming series Echo under the banner 'Marvel Spotlight' to signal that viewers can enjoy the story as a standalone experience without needing to have done copious amounts of MCU homework. If only The Marvels had been allowed to spin its tale the same way, even with Carol, Kamala and Monica's established histories across the franchise, and permitted to lean further into what makes it stand out from the rest of the Marvel crowd. One thing that audiences haven't seen elsewhere in the MCU: a wonderfully ridiculous sequence that riffs on herding cats, embraces those felines-with-tentacles that are Flerkens, makes an obvious-but-apt Andrew Lloyd Webber needle drop work and is up there among the most gloriously silly things that Marvel has ever put on-screen. Here's another: a planet where communicating via song, like life is one big Broadway musical, is the native language. And, the most crucial: a trio of female superheroes taking centre stage (2019's Captain Marvel, the 21st MCU flick, was the first to solely put a woman in the spotlight, while 2021's Black Widow is the only one since until now). The Marvels flits between two responses to the latter, though: not caring because it has the typical Marvel wheels to spin, then only caring about Carol, Kamala and Monica's camaraderie. Naturally, the second option is the entertaining and engaging winner. As anyone who has seen Ms Marvel will know going in and everyone else can glean swiftly (at 105 minutes, bloat doesn't blight The Marvels), Jersey City teen Kamala is the world's biggest Captain Marvel superfan. Having her own superhero powers hasn't curbed that Carol-worshipping enthusiasm. She's dreaming about joining forces with her idol when not just their respective light-based powers get entangled, but Monica's as well, causing the three women to switch places suddenly whenever they bust out their supernatural skills simultaneously. The reason for this body-swap comedy-esque occurrence: Kree warrior Dar-Benn (Zawe Ashton, The Handmaid's Tale), who is on a mission to save her home planet and seek revenge by destroying worlds. So, after awkward first meetings (Carol and Kamala) and reunions (Carol and Monica, the daughter of her 80s-era best friend Maria, as seen in Captain Marvel), The Marvels' three protagonists are a team on their own existence-in-peril space quest — with Nick Fury (Samuel L Jackson, Secret Invasion) running point, and Kamala's mother Muneeba (Zenobia Shroff, 7 Days), father Yusef (Mohan Kapur, School of Lies) and brother Aamir (Saagar Shaikh, Liza on Demand) worrying by his side. Regardless of whether Beastie Boys' 'Intergalactic' is on montage soundtrack duties just as the film's trailers teased, there's both spark and pace to Carol, Kamala and Monica's intermingled chaos — including when utter bedlam results, when they're training to work in sync and when they're fighting like a well-oiled machine. There's sincere chemistry, too, as bounces in comedic and dramatic moments equally. The Marvels screams to be a hangout movie, where seeing these characters spending time with each other, and getting everyone investing in their relationships, is more important than whatever the plot throws their way (especially when the storyline is so rote). That'd be Kamala's ultimate fantasy, and the infectiously charismatic Vellani plays it that way to excited perfection. That said, the MCU isn't in the business of making films about friendship, connection and kinship without facing villains and saving the universe. Long fond of layering different genres over its standard template — such as espionage with Black Widow, horror with Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, heist capers with the first two Ant-Man movies, coming-of-age with the Spider-Man entries and martial arts with Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, to name just a few examples — Marvel is currently happy to fashion its output in the mould of other sagas. Where fellow 2023 release Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania wanted to be Star Wars, keeping things in the Disney family, there's more than a sliver of Star Trek to The Marvels as it navigates its planet-hopping, civilisation-rescuing narrative. Accordingly, the generic air that regularly pulses through the movie isn't just limited to cycling through MCU staples. Unconvincing CGI doesn't help, nor does the rushed feeling that seeps into the editing to keep the film to its concise length. The first Black woman to direct a Marvel feature, DaCosta clearly has corporate-enforced boxes to tick. Luckily, she also knows The Marvels' biggest assets: Larson, Vellani and Parris; their on-screen alter egos simply sharing space and time (while sometimes toying with it); and joyous mayhem. It mightn't be present everywhere else, but there's balance in how the feature's leads complement each other — how intimately DaCosta dives into their evolving bonds as well, with help from Sean Bobbitt's (Judas and the Black Messiah) perspective-shifting cinematography — and in what Vellani's abundant eagerness, Parris' warmth and smarts, and Larson's gradual cracking of Carol's hard-forged emotional facade bring out in each other. There's heart, liveliness and something rare in the MCU here, as caught in jump-rope sessions, hugs and reaction shots, but then all of the usual MCU elements come crashing in. The Marvels needs its own place-swapping gadgets to jettison out the overused blueprint. Instead, it makes the most of what it can, but leaves viewers pondering one of Marvel's favourite questions: what if?
A huge milestone birthday, a homecoming, and a stacked lineup filled with top talent from the creativity, design and technology fields: that's what's on Semi Permanent's agenda this year. A go-to event for all things design-related, the festival will return to Sydney's Carriageworks for three days between Wednesday, May 25–Friday, May 27 — and while impressive lineups always go with the territory here, this year's bill stands out in plenty of ways. Firstly, it's the event's biggest program ever. The theme for Semi Permanent's 2022 fest, which also marks its 20th anniversary, is 'perspective'. As founder and executive creative director Murray Bell explains, "2022 is a demarcation in the evolution of both our purpose and our organisation." To help sort through the theme, more than 25 speakers have been announced — spanning everything from journalism and film through to art and typography. Attendees will be able to hear from the folks behind The Betoota Advocate; learn more female-driven on-screen storytelling from Dollhouse Pictures co-founders Gracie Otto, Krew Boylan and Jessica Carrera; and glean insights from boundary-pushing creative director, journalist and strategist Royce Akers. The hefty lineup of talent will anchor Semi Permanent's talks program, of course, but the fest is keen to expand its format even further in its big birthday year. That includes the launch of the Permanent Art and Design Book Fair, which'll bring together more than 30 leading publishers, artists and designers — and, for your reading pile, will showcase hundreds of books, magazines, zines, posters and digital editions, spanning both new and previously unseen works. [caption id="attachment_843322" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Toby Peet[/caption]
Because you're reading this, we know you're not someone who received a pet for Christmas, only to decide it wasn't for you. We know you're one of the good folks. You're probably wishing that you did receive a loveable animal as a gift, even if you already have one — or several — that you adore. And now more than ever. We understand your yearning, and so does the RSPCA. And, to find permanent homes for pups, cats, bunnies and guinea pigs surrendered into its care, it's calling out to the community to help look after its many animal during this tough time. While more of us are working from home and practising social-distancing (and increasingly wanting a four-legged friend as a comforting companion), the RSPCA is encouraging Australians to foster or adopt. So, if you've been thinking about adding a pet to your fam (and have considered it thoroughly), now might just be the time. Last year, the RSPCA found new homes for 2654 pets Australia-wide. Right now, RSPCA NSW has 2577 animals in its care, ready for new homes full of love and pats — temporarily or forever. In a statement, RSPCA NSW CEO Steve Coleman said, "As this pandemic escalates, we are asking for your help to find forever homes for the animals in our care." The Victorian and Queensland branches echo this sentiment, with one website saying, "our foster program is now more important than ever". If you're keen to foster a furry friend, you can register in NSW, Victoria and Queensland as usual; however, for adoption, the process has changed a bit in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. As of today, Friday, March 27, you must make an appointment before visiting one of the RSPCA NSW's locations, which can be done by filling out this form. Once that's done, they'll arrange a time for a meet-and-greet with your potential new family member. A similar process is in place at RSPCA Queensland's locations — you'll need to fill out this pre-adoption form before heading in — and in Victoria, you must submit an application before you can set up a time. According to the RSPCA, at present there is no evidence that you can contract COVID-19 from a companion animal or that they can become sick if exposed to the virus. If you're thinking about adopting, you can check out all the good boys, kittens, bunnies and birds looking for new homes in NSW, Victoria and Queensland. For details about adopting and fostering animals, head to the RSPCA NSW, Victoria and Queensland websites. If you are going out to meet a potential new family member, have a look at the latest COVID-19 advice and social-distancing guidelines from the Department of Health.
Despite taking its name from a raucous, rundown pub in the Patrick Swayze-starring 80s flick Road House, Double Deuce Lounge won't be a dive bar. Instead, the newest CBD drinking hole from the Ramblin' Rascal team will be a refined cocktail lounge with a touch of '70s porn chic'. "What is 70s porn chic?", we hear you say. Well, don't expect to find Ron Jeremy lounging in a booth — but do expect lots of curved wood, a furry standing booth and flamingo pink cocktails. Yep, Charlie Lehmann, Sebastian Soto and Dardan Shervashidze want to revive the cosmopolitan. The three bartending co-owners of Ramblin' have taken over the 60-seat underground bar on the bottom floor of the short-lived Bouche on Bridge, and are hoping to open the DD — as it's expected to affectionately be known — there this autumn. [caption id="attachment_708247" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The underground bar at the now-closed Bouche on Bridge.[/caption] Unlike the trio's other bar — an award-winning cognac bar with an assortment of dildos, trophies and bras hanging from the ceiling — the DD won't have a bias towards one particular spirit and it'll have "less shit". "It'll be a lot smaller [than Ramblin']," says Lehmann. "With lower ceilings, all bums on seats and a reduced back bar." And the booze situation will be a bit of a "free-for-all". As well as 'shit tinnies' — cheap tins of beer that are also served at Ramblin' — and a lengthy cocktail list, the team will be collaborating with other Sydney brewers and sommeliers, such as co-owner of Newtown's P&V Wine and Liquor Mike Bennie, to create an extended beer and wine list. While there's no plan for food at the bar, the lease on the two-storey Bridge Street venue has been split, leaving space for a full restaurant upstairs. No one's locked in yet and Lehmann is hoping a certain Adelaide restaurateur will make the trip up north. "We're hoping Duncan [Welgemoed] from Africola takes over the space," says Lehmann. If you're lucky enough to have visited the fiery African restaurant, you'll be hoping he does, too. The DD's fictional namesake, the one that has Swayze as its bouncer, has a very real live band in-house: The Jeff Healey Band. The IRL Sydney bar isn't big enough to house a band, but, instead, it'll be pumping out a lineup of smooth 60s and 70s soul and funk. "There'll be a lot Curtis Mayfield and some of the Stones' funkier tracks," says Lehmann. The boys are looking to create a slightly more mature, more refined version of Ramblin', but DD will still have plenty of personality — and a bit of cheek. And it's opening date? "Probably April Fool's Day," says Lehmann. Case in point. Double Deuce Lounge is slated to open 6 Bridge Street, Sydney in early April 2019. Top image: Charlie Lehmann at Ramblin' Rascal.
Woolloomooloo Wharf is set to sizzle with Mediterranean vibes as the executive chef of Europe's renowned Bungalow 7, Ntinos Fotinakis, brings a taste of Greek summer to Manta Restaurant. From March 21 to April 6, indulge in an immersive culinary experience that'll transport you to a seaside taverna – all the while soaking up stunning harbour views. Blending the freshest ingredients from Sydney's land and sea with authentic Greek flavours, Fotinakis – who's worked with Heston Blumenthal and trained under Michelin-starred chef Jacques Le Divellec – is inspired by home and heart. He'll personally welcome you, surprise you with unique dishes, and deliver tableside finishes that embody Greece's legendary hospitality. Start with mezze delights like moussaka croquettes, taramasalata with smoked yuzu, and spanakorizo (Greek spinach and rice) gyoza. Heftier plates feature succulent lamb shoulder, short rib pasta, snapper with potato skordalia, and the signature astakomakaronada – a luxurious dish of live eastern rock lobster with linguine, tomato and extra-virgin olive oil. And making the drinks shortlist? Only Greece's best, including ouzo and mastiha cocktails, and standout wines like Assyrtiko and Moschofilero. A Taste of Greece is available for lunch and dinner throughout the two-week celebration. Opt for an à la carte experience or select from set menus priced at $85 or $105 per person. With limited spots available, bookings are recommended.
The time-honoured Italian tradition of aperitivo has been embraced by Australians. Across the country, heaps of bars and restaurants offer aperitivo specials — but have you ever tried throwing your own aperitivo hour at home with family and friends? Classic Italian apéritif brand Aperol is here to help you do just that. It has launched a series of Aperol Spritz @ 6pm experiences, which are hosted by some of the country's top chefs, musicians and artists. With these, you can try out new recipes, partake in virtual art classes and learn how to create the perfect playlist for your (socially distant and responsibly sized) get together. Keen to pair your spritz with some snacks? Saké Restaurant & Bar has shared three of its signature recipes that'll seriously impress your mates during your aperitivo hang. Learn how to whip up kingfish sashimi, karaage chicken with yuzu mayo and salmon hand rolls via an easy to follow video. Or, you can log on for a cooking class with Fratelli Fresh's culinary director Gabor Denes, who'll demonstrate how to make the restaurant's famous lasagna, as well as pappardelle, linguini and farfalle from scratch. There's also a music mixing session with DJ Niki Dé Saint — a musician who's played at Fashion Week Sydney and Paris, Melbourne's F1 Grand Prix and Vivid — who'll also share her top playlists to set the mood for your aperitivo, and a sunset-inspired painting class with artist and photographer Danielle Cross. There are a heap of prizes up for grabs, too, including $150 vouchers for Saké Restaurant & Bar in NSW, Queensland and Victoria, and an Aperol Spritz cocktail pack — with Aperol, prosecco, Fever Tree soda water, Aperol Spritz glasses and a jigger — delivered straight to your door. The cocktail pack competition is running weekly until July 12, and to enter you need to post a pic of you and your mates having a spritz on Instagram or Facebook and tag @aperolspritzau and #SpritzAt6. You can check out all the details over here. To check out all of the Aperol Spritz @ 6pm experiences and enter the competition, head on over to the Aperol website. Remember to Drinkwise. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
The party never stops for Alison Wonderland. After hosting a slew of warehouse parties earlier this year, as well as playing just about every Australian music festival you can poke a stick at, Wonderland has dropped her Calm Down EP featuring all new original songs. Wonderland's DJ sets are known for their ability to ignite any dance floor, with her special mix of old school hip hop and modern indie dance. We were lucky enough to get Wonderland to sit still just long enough to tell us what we should look forward to with her new EP and her 'Rural Juror Touror' tour. The Calm Down EP Wonderland has previously released a compilation mix called Welcome to Wonderland, but the Calm Down EP is her first release to feature all original material. A more personal side of Wonderland will be coming through this EP, which her vast fan base has been eagerly awaiting. "This EP will be more songs rather than club jams," says Wonderland. "I'm excited and nervous to hear what people think about them." So far two singles from the EP have been released, 'Lies' and 'I Want U', the latter of which has a killer video clip, directed by local Melbourne maverick Prad Senanayake. Wonderland says the concept for the clip, which casually features possessed nuns and an old man being coddled by a younger temptress, was a collaborative effort between her and Senanayake. "It was super nice to work with Prad," says Wonderland. "He gets it, he's super smart." While Wonderland may be most well known for her work as a DJ, spinning tunes is not her first foray into music. Wonderland is a classically trained musician; she was a principal cellist with the Sydney Youth Orchestra and played bass in an indie band for a spell. "I think that the classical education that I received definitely helps me write music," says Wonderland. "I don't try and keep it at the forefront of my mind when I'm writing — I try to do that with feel — but I definitely think in the back of my mind somewhere it's a big reason why I make the music that I do." The Love Of Vinyl Wonderland is clearly excited for the release of her EP, but what's more, it's coming out on vinyl — a medium she has favoured since childhood. "When I was eight my Dad gave me his vinyl collection from when he was a teenager," explains Wonderland. So then, what was her last vinyl purchase? We don't want to be presumptuous, but it might not be what you'd first expect. "My latest vinyl purchase is actually kind of embarrassing!" admits Wonderland. "My favourite film ever is The Princess Bride, which is a 1980s fantasy film. I have the first ever release of the soundtrack on vinyl, played by Mark Knopfler." The Party Starter Before embarking on her Rural Juror Touror, earlier this year Wonderland hosted a series of warehouse parties across Australia. All the shows, held in secret locations, sold out almost immediately and in some cities venues had to be upgraded to keep up with the demand. The Wonderland Warehouse Projects were a huge success, and as per usual with Wonderland's gigs, the crowds were lively, sweaty, and brimming with riotous enthusiasm. "Getting up on stage and seeing the crowd, that was a pretty crazy feeling," explains Wonderland. "There was 2,000 people at each show." Despite being thrilled with the turn out to these events, there was one audience member in particular that Wonderland was especially thrilled about. "My Mum came to one of my shows, which was exciting!" says Wonderland. "She's only seen me play twice before, it was cool for her to see what I did." The Rural Juror Touror Wonderland has already performed the first few shows of her 'Rural Juror Touror', which will send her to all corners of Australia. The desire to take on a national rural tour was sparked after performing at Groovin the Moo last year. "I enjoyed it so much that it was kind of the inspiration for this tour," explains Wonderland. For Wonderland, there is no difference between playing to a crowd in a major city or a smaller rural venue. "I think they draw a certain type of crowd when I play," explains Wonderland. "They're usually quite educated in the type of music I DJ wherever I am." ALISON WONDERLAND'S RURAL JUROR TOUROR: Fri 27 June — Discovery, Darwin NT Sat 28 June — Argyle House, Newcastle NSW Sun 29 June — Flinders Social, Townsville QLD Thurs 3 July — Southern Cross Uni, Lismore NSW Fri 4 July — Fitzgeralds, Bunbury WA Sat 5 July — Toucan, Mandurah WA Fri 1 Aug — Star Bar, Bendigo VIC Sat 2 Aug — Amaroo Hotel, Dubbo NSW Thurs 7 Aug — World Bar, Queenstown NZ Sat 9 Aug — Movitas, Mackay QLD Sat 16 Aug — Karova, Ballarat VIC Fri 22 Aug — Secret Show, Taiwan Sat 23 Aug — Warehouse 82, Bali Fri 29 Aug — Observatory, Hobart TAS Fri 5 Sept — Plantation, Coffs Harbour NSW Sat 13 Sept — Smirnoff Snowdome, Thredbo NSW AW's Calm Down EP is out now. https://youtube.com/watch?v=YLCm9lP-3Uk
When mid-March rolls around next year, Sydney's Clark Island will play host to a weekend of vino, vino and more vino, all thanks to returning festival Wine Island. But that's just one boozy way that you can spend time on the Sydney Harbour spot come autumn. The second: a three-day celebration of Greek cuisine and culture from the same crew. Meet Greek Island, a weekend-long festival taking place between Friday, March 25–Sunday, March 27 — the very next weekend after Wine Island. The aim is to make this new fest feel like a Mediterranean holiday, something that's clearly been in short supply during the pandemic. In a case of faking it till you make it — to the real Greek islands, that is — the event will line Clark Island with Greek-style tavernas, as well as cocktail bars, a seaside stage and a spa. So, you'll be eating fried calamari, grilled octopus, spanakopita, souvlaki, gyros and loukoumades, then washing it all down with Greek beverages — including frouzo, aka frozen ouzo. And, you'll be dancing to DJs, and getting a hilltop massage. Alpha's Peter Conistis will be on food duty, alongside Kazzi Beach Greek, East 33 (yes, that means oysters), Lambda and Lookoomania — and live cooking demonstrations will also be on the menu. Drinks-wise, Drink Greek is curating the beverage list, which'll include Greek wines and sparkling from Attica, Arcadia and Macedonia; beers from Chios Island and Atalanti; and Greek-themed cocktails such as Santorini Sunsets and Mykonos Mules. DJs Tigerlily and Jolyon Petch will hit the decks, as will Daft Punk tribute act Discovery — the latter of which mightn't fit the Greek theme, but will still set a mood. Skewing far more traditional, live Greek music and dancing will also be on the bill. Parts of the island will be decked out to emulate the country in the spotlight, too, with the promise of Mount Olympus-themed stage area and a Santorini-themed spa. Trips to Greek Island will start with a cocktail on the boat ride over — and, if you're now keen for the kind of Mediterranean getaway you take when you're not really taking a Mediterranean getaway, the event is hosting two sessions per day. So, you can choose between 10am and 4pm tipples. There are three Wine Island ticket packages available, starting with the $99 'premium economy experience', which includes ferry transfers, a drink on your way over, and a branded beach tote and tumbler. Then there's the $199 'business class experience', which adds a Greek Island towel, access to the Corfu-style beach club, a meal voucher, and complimentary ouzo and wine tastings. Or, you can go all out with $3300 private waterfront cabanas for up to ten people. Greek Island hits Clark Island in Sydney Harbour from Friday, March 25–Sunday, March 27, 2022. Tickets go on sale at 12pm AEDT on Wednesday, November 24, with pre-sale from the same time on Monday, November 22. Images: Onecut Studios.
Something delightful has been happening in cinemas across the country. After months spent empty, with projectors silent, theatres bare and the smell of popcorn fading, Australian picture palaces are back in business — spanning both big chains and smaller independent sites in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. During COVID-19 lockdowns, no one was short on things to watch, of course. In fact, you probably feel like you've streamed every movie ever made, including new releases, comedies, music documentaries, Studio Ghibli's animated fare and Nicolas Cage-starring flicks. But, even if you've spent all your time of late glued to your small screen, we're betting you just can't wait to sit in a darkened room and soak up the splendour of the bigger version. Thankfully, plenty of new films are hitting cinemas so that you can do just that — and we've rounded up, watched and reviewed everything on offer this week. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5kkZAKjkiw COLLECTIVE We can only hope that one day, likely in a far distant future, documentaries will stop doubling as horror films. That time hasn't arrived yet — and as Collective demonstrates, cinema's factual genre can chill viewers to the bone more effectively than most jump- and bump-based fare. Nominated for Best Documentary Feature and Best International Feature at the 2021 Academy Awards (only the second time that's ever happened, after last year's Honeyland), this gripping and gut-wrenching Romanian doco starts with a terrible tragedy. On October 30, 2015, a fire broke out at a metal gig in Bucharest, at a club called Colectiv. Twenty-seven people died in the blaze, and 180 people were injured as they tried to escape via the site's lone exit; however, that's just the beginning of the movie's tale. In the four months afterwards, as burn victims were treated in the country's public hospitals, 37 more passed away. When journalist Cătălin Tolontan and his team at The Sports Gazette started investigating the fire's aftermath and the mounting casualty list, they uncovered not only widespread failures throughout Romania's health system, but also engrained corruption as well. This truly is nightmare fuel; if people can't trust hospitals to act in their patients' best interest after such a sizeable disaster, one of the fundamental tenets of modern society completely collapses. Early in Collective, director, writer, cinematographer and editor Alexander Nanau (Toto and His Sisters) shows the flames, as seen from inside the club. When the blaze sparks from the show's pyrotechnics, hardcore band Goodbye to Gravity has just finished singing about corruption. "Fuck all your wicked corruption! It's been there since our inception but we couldn't see," the group's singer growls — and no, you can't make this up. It's a difficult moment to watch, but this is a film filled with unflinching sights, and with a viscerally unsettling story that demands attention. Nanau occasionally spends time with the bereaved and angry parents of victims of the fire, even bookending the documentary with one man's distress over the "communication error" that contributed to his son's death. The filmmaker charts a photo shoot with Tedy Ursuleanu, a survivor visibly scarred by her ordeal, too. And yet, taking an observational approach free from narration and interviews, and with only the scantest use of text on-screen, Collective's filmmaker lets much of what's said rustle up the majority of the movie's ghastliest inclusions. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zadWJ8tPmnU VOYAGERS He's an Australian treasure, he's one of Hollywood's recent villainous go-tos and he definitely isn't in Voyagers. That'd be Ben Mendelsohn, who comes to mind anyway while watching this sci-fi thriller. In a softer mode, the Rogue One and Ready Player One star could've played Colin Farrell's part here. That's not why Voyagers makes him pop into viewers' heads, though. Rather, it's because his brand of slippery menace still slinks through this space-set flick, all thanks to its most vivid performance. Should an upcoming movie ever need a fresher-faced version of Mendelsohn's latest bad guy or next morally complicated figure, Dunkirk, The Children Act and Black Mirror: Bandersnatch's Fionn Whitehead needs to be on speed dial. He channels Mendo perfectly as Zac, one of 30 test tube-bred teenagers who are rocketed into the heavens as humanity's last hope for survival. In the latter half of the 21st century, Earth is near-uninhabitable, so he's on an 86-year mission to a newly located planet. The young Humanitas crew's main purpose is to beget the next generations who'll colonise their new home — but, after learning that he's being drugged into obedience, Zac decides not to play nice. Ten years in, when the quieter Christopher (Tye Sheridan, X-Men: Dark Phoenix) realises that the drink they all call 'blue' contains an unidentified compound, the decision is easy. First Christopher, then Zac, then the rest of their shipmates all stop sipping it and start letting their hormones pump unfettered for the first time in their intricately designed and highly controlled lives. Richard (Farrell, The Gentlemen), the lone adult and the closest thing any of the crew have ever had to a father, is suddenly treated with suspicion. Christopher and Zac begin testing boundaries, indulging desires and flouting rules, too — and realising that they're both attracted to dutiful Chief Medical Officer Sela (Lily-Rose Depp, Crisis). Then an accident changes the dynamic, with the two pals challenging each other while fighting to lead. Factions are formed, chaos ensues and the very folks entrusted with saving the species are now simply trying to outlast each other. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DE5-hkHIZF4 WILLY'S WONDERLAND If you've ever wondered how Nicolas Cage might've fared during cinema's silent era, Willy's Wonderland has the answer. A horror film about killer animatronic restaurant mascots, it's firmly a 2021 feature. It wasn't made a century ago, before synchronised sound forever changed the movie business, so it's definitely a talkie as well. Cage doesn't do any chattering, however. He groans and growls, and often, but doesn't utter a single word. The actor's many devotees already know that he's a talent with presence; whether he's cavorting in the streets under the delusion that he's a bloodsucker in Vampire's Kiss, grinning with his locks flowing in the wind in Con Air, dousing himself with vodka and grunting in Mandy or staring at a vibrant light in Color Out of Space, he repeatedly makes an imprint without dialogue. So, the inimitable star needn't speak to command attention — which is exactly the notion that Willy's Wonderland filmmaker Kevin Lewis (The Third Nail) put to the test. First, the great and obvious news: Cage doesn't seem to put in much effort, but he's a joy to watch. Playing a man simply known as The Janitor, he glowers like he couldn't care less that furry robots are trying to kill him. He swaggers around while cleaning the titular long-abandoned Chuck E Cheese-esque establishment, dances while hitting the pinball machine on his breaks, swigs soft drink as if it's the only beverage in the world and proves mighty handy with a mop handle when it comes to dispensing with his supernaturally demonic foes. Somehow, though, he's never as OTT as he could be. Cage plays a character who doesn't deem it necessary to convey his emotions, and that results in more restraint on his part than the film demonstrates with its undeniably silly premise. Accordingly, cue the bad news: as entertaining as Cage's wordless performance is — even without completely going for broke as only he can — Willy's Wonderland is often a ridiculous yet routine slog. Read our full review. Willy's Wonderland opens in Sydney and Brisbane on April 8, and hits home entertainment on April 21. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZmgl4TkFBc ANTOINETTE IN THE CÉVENNES In some other parts of the world, Antoinette in the Cévennes is known as My Donkey, My Lover & I. Both titles summarise the French comedy in a literal sense, but only one taps into the unexpected survivalist thread weaved through its woman-and-animal antics. Parisian primary school teacher Antoinette (Laure Calamy, Only the Animals) does indeed travel to the Cévennes, the mountain range in France's south. The lovestruck fortysomething makes the trip to follow her married lover Vladimir (C'est la vie!), who has cancelled their plans for the school holidays to hike with his wife Eléonore (Olivia Côte, No Filter) and daughter Alice (first-timer Louise Vidal), the latter of which is one of Antoinette's students. And, setting off on a six-day trek, she walks with a donkey, just like Treasure Island and Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde author Robert Louis Stevenson did in the 1870s — as he chronicled in his book Travels with a Donkey in the Cévennes. Chaos and convenient plotting ensues, with the film's eponymous figure unprepared for her journey, inexperienced at both hiking and walking with a donkey, quickly becoming the talk of the trail and greeted with awkward horror by Vladimir when they eventually cross paths. But as a tale of a woman finding herself — and finding out how to truly survive and thrive in her own skin — Antoinette in the Cévennes is both thoughtful and charming. Luminous star Calamy is so essential to Antoinette in the Cévennes, it's hard to see the feature working without her. She plays her titular part with the commitment rather than recklessness or naive confidence; Antoinette knows that her decisions are guided by her heart rather than by any amount of consideration, but she's determined to see them through. In the movie's opening sequence, when Antoinette dons a sparkly dress and overshadows her class during a performance, Calamy conveys both yearning and spirit. In the many moments that her character finds herself alone on the trail unburdening her romantic woes to Patrick, the stubborn donkey who becomes her unlikely confidante and much-needed animal companion, she's unguarded and without a drop of self-consciousness. Just as crucially, writer/director Caroline Vignal (Girlfriends) has penned a character who smacks of typical rom-com traits at first glance, yet continually proves anything but. Her script gives its central figure time and space not just to grow, but to realise who she really is. That time can pass more patiently than the film's 97-minute running time should, and that gorgeously lensed space — by Knife + Heart cinematographer Simon Beaufils — is as much the star of Antoinette in the Cévennes as Calamy and her four-legged co-star; however, the end result is never anything less than a winsome and perceptive jaunt. Antoinette in the Cévennes opens in Sydney and Melbourne on April 8, and in Brisbane on April 15. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6vOhD_fI2I&feature=emb_logo ASCENDANT More than halfway into Australian sci-fi thriller Ascendant, Aria Wolf (Charlotte Best, Tidelands) finds herself facing one of the modern world's worst nightmares: a dying phone battery. She's trapped in a 120-storey Shanghai building, and in an elevator that plunges downward and jerks back up seemingly at random. She awoke bound, gagged and blindfolded, and with no recollection of how she came to be in such a predicament. She's at the mercy of sinister Russians (led by The Mule's Alex Menglet), who are holding her father (Jonny Pasvolsky, The Front Runner) hostage and live-streaming his torture into her suspended cage. But if her phone was to stop working, it'd be the movie's most monumental development. She'd no longer be drip-fed Ascendant's exposition, and first-time feature writer/director Antaine Furlong (co-scripting with fellow debutant Kieron Holland) would also lose his main way to relay those details to his audience. The low battery hardly comes as a surprise, given that Aria has spent the bulk of the film to that point using the device. Because logic is absent here, Aria's mobile keeps working long after she starts stressing about its demise, too. But the importance placed on her phone — both in relaying much of the feature's story, Buried- and Locke-style, and in providing an easy source of drama — speaks volumes about this muddled struggle of a film. The Russians want information, but Aria doesn't know what they're talking about. Enter flashes of memories from her childhood, which help fill in the gaps. Throw in flimsy supernatural elements as well, and that's the crux of Furlong and Holland's screenplay, which primarily feels like a series of one-upping "what if?" questions — "what if she isn't merely stuck, but she's being tormented?", "what if one wall of the elevator is a big TV screen?", "what if her name makes everyone think of Game of Thrones?", "what if it's all taking place in China?", "what if the CIA is involved?" and "what if there's an ecological aspect?", for instance. Living up to her surname as the feature's standout actor, Best turns in a convincing and layered performance as the perplexed Aria. Stunt double Marlee Barber (The Invisible Man) deserves ample credit given the amount of time that the film's protagonist spends being thrown around, and production designer Fiona Donovan (Back to the Rafters) makes the movie's eerie setting look both unsettling and striking. Their efforts can't lift a picture that's big on ideas but light on cohesion, though. Furlong has a keen eye and doesn't lack in ambition — but Ascendant sinks rather than rises. If you're wondering what else is currently screening in cinemas — or has been lately — check out our rundown of new films released in Australia on January 1, January 7, January 14, January 21 and January 28; February 4, February 11, February 18 and February 25; and March 4, March 11, March 18 and March 25; and April 1. You can also read our full reviews of a heap of recent movies, such as Nomadland, Pieces of a Woman, The Dry, Promising Young Woman, Summerland, Ammonite, The Dig, The White Tiger, Only the Animals, Malcolm & Marie, News of the World, High Ground, Earwig and the Witch, The Nest, Assassins, Synchronic, Another Round, Minari, Firestarter — The Story of Bangarra, The Truffle Hunters, The Little Things, Chaos Walking, Raya and the Last Dragon, Max Richter's Sleep, Judas and the Black Messiah, Girls Can't Surf, French Exit, Saint Maud, Godzilla vs Kong, The Painter and the Thief, Nobody and The Father.
Every movie lover knows that there's never a bad time to catch a flick. Your couch might have a groove in it to prove it, too, and your favourite seat at your local cinema as well. Usually, however, you can't mosey out to see a film on the big screen at midnight, or 2am, or 6am — but for one night in Sydney, you can. For 24 hours from 6pm on Saturday, February 4, Macquarie Street East is set to score a new — and free — all-night art, music, food and creativity festival: Mopoke. Taking place from Shakespeare Place through to Hyde Park Barracks, it promises an impressive feast of pop-ups, activations and cultural offerings, and it is indeed running all throughout the evening. If you're a cinephile, though, it's the just-announced free 24-hour cinema that'll have you most excited. Across Mopoke's duration, the fest is teaming up with the crew behind Mov'in Cinemas — aka the team that's given Sydney and Australia in-bed cinemas, and also a rooftop drive-in and a floating cinema with boats in the Harbour City — to set up a non-stop outdoor cinema. It all kicks off at 6pm, like Mopoke itself, and has movies playing in specific slots for the evening and day afterwards. The last will start screening at 3.30pm on Sunday, February 5. Even better: Mov'in's powers-that-be clearly know that everyone loves Studio Ghibli flicks because there's two on the lineup. Greet the dawn with a 6am session of Spirited Away, or enjoy an 11.30am Sunday morning date with My Neighbour Totoro. Still with filmmaking favourites, Sofia Coppola's Lost in Translation is the midnight movie — if you want to do karaoke before or afterwards, you'll need to head elsewhere, though — and Wes Anderson's The French Dispatch has the 8.30am slot. Also on the bill: ABC documentary Secrets of the Australian Museum at 6pm, The Mopoke Short Film Festival from 7pm, Aussie art doco Whitely at 10pm and 1928's Show People at 2am. Or, there's Oscar-winner The Artist at 4am, Midnight in Paris at 1.30pm (in what seems like a missed opportunity, time-wise) and the Willem Dafoe-starring Vincent van Gogh biopic At Eternity's Gate in the last slot. While entry is free, bookings are required in advance — and expect to have plenty of company. As for the rest of Mopoke, it includes theatre performances and gigs, as well as live art and magic shows — plus ten multicultural rotation of food trucks to keep you well-fuelled — as connected by black-lit paths. Mopoke Sydney will run from 6pm on February 4–6pm on February 5, along Macquarie Street East, Sydney CBD. For more information — and to book free cinema tickets — head to the event's website.
When spring hits, hospitality giant Merivale is celebrating by running a month-long happy hour offering nearly half-priced beverages at venues across Sydney. Throughout most of September, a heap of Merivale pubs and bars will be taking 49-percent off the price of all drinks for any groups of eight or more who book. This means that you can enjoy a few discounted beers, wines or cocktails with your closest mates in the Vic on the Park's beer garden or on the deck at The Newport. [caption id="attachment_848714" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Vic on the Park[/caption] To activate the deal, just round up seven of your friends and family, and make a booking for the full eight of you between Friday, September 1–Thursday, September 28. You'll then be offered 49-percent off all of any drinks you order in the first hour of your booking. The deal includes all beverages below $350 per item — so everything from Reschs to margaritas is on the table. Other Merivale venues that will be taking part in the promotion include bustling beer garden The Alex, Coogee Pavilion's ground floor bar area, The Royal George, The Royal Bondi, Charlie Parker's, Little Felix, The Dog, Norton's, The Paddington and The Beresford, just to name a few. Check out the full list at the Merivale website.
A brand new arts and culture centre dedicated to hands-on experiences has opened at the Sydney Opera House. The centre is a former office space that has been converted to facilitate immersive creative experiences including performances, workshops and installation. One of the highlights of the launch program is multi-disciplinary artist Rosie Deacon's interactive exhibition House Warming. The activation features a forest of her joyous and colourful recycled sculptures and artworks. Attendees are also encouraged to contribute to the forest as part of its two-week run. The free, family-friendly exhibition is running from Tuesday, January 4–Sunday, January 16 at the Opera House's Centre for Creativity. Sessions run 10am–3pm daily, alongside a selection of night sessions that will run on Friday, January 7 and Saturday, January 8, and again on Friday, January 14 and Saturday, January 15. Other exhibitions and workshops on offer during the centre's opening program include a workshop from western Sydney hip hop crew CanYouAfro?; a workshop lead by Barkindtji, Yorta Yorta and Dhudaroah artist Tegan Mursock that teaches participants the fundamentals of Aboriginal weaving and making wall hangings; and a vogueing class lead by Sydney's Street University. "The Centre for Creativity offers programs inspired by the Opera House and all that it does – spanning design, dance, First Nations cultures, engineering, song and storytelling – so that people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds can set their creativity free," said Sydney Opera House Director of Programming Fiona Winning. [caption id="attachment_834018" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Daniel Boud[/caption] Top image: Cassandra Hannagan
There's something nostalgically romantic about the sound and story of Warpaint. It might be the fact that they formed on Valentines Day, or perhaps the level of reverb they use on their harmonised vocals, but there's no denying the happy place Emily Kokal and Theresa Wayman take you to when they start singing. Their sweet harmonies are weighted by Jenny Lee Lindberg's lethargically bounding bass lines and the heavy tom’s of Stella Mozgawa's kit, in what seems like an effortless ensemble — even for a post-punk band. Of their live performances, it has been said that they can disarm a room and transform a crowd into a transfixed, star-gazing shuffle-ufagus. They’re coming to the Oxford Art Factory but really, these are stylish divas who should be performing in prairie fields of golden (non-GE) canola in the dusky haze of an autumn afternoon. Can someone maybe find one of those for them?
Twilight at Taronga — the after-hours live music series that boasts arguably the best view of Sydney Harbour as well as lots of adorable animals — has proven it's got some real cred when it comes to hosting outdoor gigs. Past lineups have featured the likes of The Jezabels, Courtney Barnett and Kurt Vile, and, from the looks of things, its 25th anniversary series will be just as epic. Held in Taronga Zoo's natural amphitheatre, the concert series will run from Friday, January 31 to Saturday, March 7, 2020. And we've got some real humdingers to look forward to including Aussie rockers Wolfmother, US gospel queen Mavis Staples, NZ synth-pop duo Broods and the Gravy King himself Paul Kelly (who'll be performing with composer James Ledger, singer Alice Keith and the Seraphim Trio). Band member from You Am I, Powderfinger, Jet and Spiderbait will also come together as the Australian Rock Collective to perform hits off The Beatles' Abbey Road album with Linda Bull. And, as always, the ABBA tribute act Bjorn Again will be back by popular demand. You can BYO a picnic, but there'll also be gourmet hampers available onsite alongside a handful of food trucks. Tickets include discounted same-day entry into the zoo (so you can sneak in a visit to your favourite mammal, bird or reptile beforehand) and, if you want to make a weekend of it, you can add on a night at Taronga's luxe new eco-retreat. As always, all proceeds will go back into Taronga's ongoing conservation work, including its campaign to protect our marine life. So, you can see a gig and feel good about helping the zoo. Get excited and check out the full lineup: [caption id="attachment_745448" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Taronga Zoo Wildlife Retreat[/caption] TWILIGHT AT TARONGA 2020 SUMMER CONCERT SERIES LINEUP Friday, January 31: Broods Saturday, February 1: Wolfmother Friday, February 7: Pete Murray Saturday, February 8: ARC perform 'Abbey Road' Live Friday, February 14: Bernard Fanning Saturday, February 15: Sunnyboys Friday, February 21: Kasey Chambers Saturday, February 22: James Morrison Big Band Friday, February 28: Paul Kelly in 'Thirteen Ways to Look at Birds' with James Ledger, Alice Keith and Seraphim Trio Saturday, February 29: Bjorn Again Thursday, March 5: Mavis Staples Friday, March 6: Meg Mac Saturday, March 7: Comedy Gala Tickets for Twilight at Taronga 2020 Summer Concert Series go on sale at midday on Thursday, October 31 via twilightattaronga.org.au.
Love, Tilly Devine is one of Sydney's best bars. It's a haven for minimal-intervention wines, and also the venue that kicked off the amazing run of openings that the Love Tilly Group has been on since 2010 (see: Ragazzi, La Salut, Dear Saint Eloise). Now, it's just had a revamp featuring a flash new sign, a new food menu, and a killer happy hour with $10 wines and cocktails. Head down the laneway and through the door now marked by a colourful new lightbox sporting the bar's new logo to find the same Love, Tilly Devine you adore, but with some new additions. There are new green tiles, brown leather banquettes and a romantic candlelit balcony, all accompanying the revamped menu. The fresh selection of bar snacks is more playful than the predecessors, with highlights including next-level hot dogs, fried sardine sandwiches, potato cakes topped with crab salad and tri-tip tartare. If you're after something small and moreish, opt for the fried olives. You won't be able to stop popping them after the first bite. The bar has also introduced a group sharing menu perfect for small-group celebrations among friends who love wine. Hit up the Darlinghurst haunt between 5–6pm Monday–Saturday, and you can score $10 mini martinis and negronis, $10 mystery wines, $8 sardine sambos and a snack-sized version of the signature hot dog for $11. Images: Josh Bentley.
At Golden Plains this year, Dick Diver played a slightly sheepish but totally heartfelt cover of Dragon's 'Are You Old Enough'. Sprawled on a North Sydney Bears blanket in the hot sun, with a cider hangover and a cider in hand and barely enough energy to roll over, I scrambled to wrench off one battered boot and earnestly thrust it to the sky (which, if you've never been to GP, is the festival's sacred shorthand for THIS IS OBVIOUSLY THE BEST THING THAT WILL HAPPEN ALL WEEKEND YOU GUYS). You don't need to expose your holey socks to show your appreciation for Dick Diver this weekend — just shell out a measly $15 (including those pesky booking fees!) for the Sydney launch of their sprawling, laconic-as-hell second album, Calendar Days. Recorded on Phillip Island with key co-conspirator Mikey Young (ECSR, Total Control, producer of just about every recent Australian record with a couple of guitars and no fucks to give), it's more sophisticated than their debut, while also sometimes being about toast. So scoot down to the newly saved Red Rattler on Saturday to enjoy laidback, comfortable music in a laidback, comfortable room. https://youtube.com/watch?v=q4ZXaj8P-UA
In Sydney's southwest, night markets with aromatic foods, lively crowds and a general hubbub of activity until 2am are held throughout Ramadan — the Islamic holy month. With fasting occurring from dawn till dusk throughout the month, Lakemba's Haldon Street turns into a festive feast as soon as the sun sets. It's melting pot of Lebanese, Palestinian, Syrian, Burmese, Malaysian, Bangladeshi, Pakistani and Indonesian cuisines offered for iftar — the evening meal ending the daily Ramadan fast. Walk through and you'll find everything from camel burgers, shawarma and kaak (a Pakistani street bread) to Syrian ice cream, knafeh (a sweet cheese pastry) and Lebanese coffee. Running from Sunday, May 5 through Wednesday, June 5, the Lakemba Ramadan Night Markets are a community-wide celebration open to all, fasting or not, with festivities running well into the evening and ending with suhoor — the pre-dawn meal before daily fasting resumes. Lakemba's night markets run from around 5.00pm till 2am. You'll find them at the station end of Haldon Street.
Along with opera on a lightship, Courtney Barnett, a giant octopus and plenty more, Sydney Festival announced a brand-new music festival as part of its 2024 program. But that event, called Summerground, will no longer go ahead, with organisers advising that the fest within the broader fest has been cancelled. "Changing consumer behaviours, cost of living pressures and mounting operational expenses are having an impact on many large music festivals nationwide and unfortunately, Summerground was not immune from these factors," said the Sydney Festival team in a statement. [caption id="attachment_884407" align="alignnone" width="1920"] King Stingray[/caption] "We remain fully committed to the spirit of live music and are proud to present a wide range of other music offerings in the 2024 program that showcase the diverse talent our music scene offers," organisers continued. "The rest of Sydney Festival's program has not been affected with more than 130 events locked in for the January celebration." [caption id="attachment_862591" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Electric Fields, by Morgan Sette[/caption] Summerground ticketholders will receive a full refund, with Sydney Festival also thanking "Summerground artists for their understanding". Announced as one of Sydney Festival 2024's headline events, Summerground was set to run for three days from Friday, January 5–Sunday, January 7 at Tumbalong Park, boasting a lineup that included King Stingray, Electric Fields, Cimafunk, Queen Omega, The Brand New Heavies, Dem Mob, Beckah Amani, The Teskey Brothers, Full Flower Moon Band and more. Hopping between genres was promoted as a big feature, spanning everything from alt pop and R&B to soul and reggae, all across the first weekend of the overall festival. [caption id="attachment_864727" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Teskey Brothers, by Nick Mckinlay[/caption] Summerground will no longer take place from Friday, January 5–Sunday, January 7 at Tumbalong Park. Sydney Festival 2024 runs from Friday, January 5–Sunday, January 28 at venues across the city. For further details and to buy tickets, visit the Sydney Festival website. Top image: Darren Chan.
Quirky giftware store Octopus Design is the younger sibling of Paddington's Opus. While the Newtown venue is smaller, it makes up for it in heart (and cheekiness). Octopus Design is an absolute goldmine for those last-minute gift shopping moments — from books and games to eclectic homewares and gadgets, you'll be able to find something for absolutely everyone. The store is always changing and the ever-revolving stock means that Octopus is a totally different shop every time you visit. Plus it's pet-friendly, so you can stop in when you're walking your darling pooch around the streets of Newtown. Images: Arvin Prem Kumar
It's taken a heck of a long time — ten years, to be exact — but having become a permanent fixture on the summer events calendar for Fremantle, Launceston and Melbourne, BeerFest is finally hitting Sydney. The festival is set to descend on Centennial Parklands on Saturday, December 1, in a heady blaze of music, comedy, food and, of course, beer. For its frothy Sydney debut, BeerFest will round up over 40 artisan breweries, delivering huge lineup of 300 craft drops, alongside a stack of great ciders, cocktails and wines. You'll kick off summer with a day of tastings, food and beer matchings, and free, brewer-led masterclasses showcasing one-off creations. Some of the breweries you'll find on the day include Sydney's Young Henrys and Sauce Brewing Co, ACT's BentSpoke, Melbourne's Edge Brewing Project and WA's Colonial Brewing. What's more, this little shindig is also packing a serious punch in the entertainment department, with an impressive musical lineup featuring dance icons Sneaky Sound System, along with Kid Kenobi, Grinspoon's Phil Jamieson and Triple J presenter Gen Fricker. There'll be plenty of laughs to be had, too, as the BeerFest Sydney comedy stage plays host to hilarious favourites like Luke Heggie, Matt Okine and Demi Lardner. Entry to the festival is $35, which gets you access to the day's full swag of live entertainment.
Just because winter is (almost) over, doesn't mean the hearty cook-ups and slow-cooked stews have to end. And some fresh kitchen gear to motivate you to cook a little more wouldn't go astray, right? Well, local cooking whizzes are in luck, because famed French cookware label Le Creuset is hosting a huge Sydney warehouse sale this September. Taking over a warehouse at Sydney Olympic Park on Saturday, September 7, it'll feature a whole heap of bargains, with up to 70 percent off across a sprawling range of high-quality stoneware, stainless steel pots, toughened non-stick pans, cast iron cookware and wine accessories. Le Creuset's colourful pieces don't usually come cheap — but they do last a lifetime — so this is an opportunity not to miss. The sale only lasts for one day, and you must book into one of the 45 minute sessions to head along. It's also a cash-free event, so be sure to bring your plastic. While the first round of tickets has sold out, another round will be released at 10am on Monday, August 19. We suggest you get in quick. Le Creuset Sydney Warehouse Sale runs from 9am–5.45pm. More tickets will be available from 10am on Monday, August 19.
A round of drinks is the best way to kick off your night. Even better? Not paying for it. That's why the team behind coffee liqueur Kahlúa is taking its espresso martini game to the next level — with an espresso martini cocktail van slinging a round of complimentary drinks for you and all your mates. The Espresso Martini Express will be popping up around Sydney at surprise locations throughout November. Behind the wheel will be Kahlúa brand ambassador Ben Parton, who'll be posting clues to his whereabouts throughout the night on Instagram. If you're the first to figure out where Ben (and his truckload of caffeinated cocktails) is, you'll win a free round of drinks for you and your whole crew. Once the truck finishes its rounds, you can still find Kahlúa espresso martinis on tap across the country — meaning no more standing around while the bartender painstakingly shakes. To find out where you can get a caffeinated martini (quickly), head here. In the meantime, get ready to decipher those clues, grab your mates and prepare for a night out on the town, with a free espresso martini in hand.
Ragu Pasta & Wine Bar has officially been serving Sydneysiders top-notch Italian fare for a whole nine years. And it's celebrating that milestone by dishing up an entire month of food and drink specials. Yep, it might be the pasta and wine bar's birthday, but the diners are the ones scoring the presents. The weekday dine-in specials will be flying hard and fast all through November, with a different wallet-friendly deal each week. It all kicks off on Monday, November 4, with Ragu offering a cheeky complimentary glass of prosecco with any purchase of a main meal until November 8. From November 11 to 15, it's all about the $9 pastas, while the following week, from November 18 to 22, you'll pay just $9 for any Aperol spritz or espresso martini. The birthday bonanza wraps up from November 25 to 29, when any main dish can come teamed with a glass of wine for just an extra $1. If ever there was a time to rekindle your love for Italian eats, it's now. RAGU NINTH BIRTHDAY SPECIALS November 4–8: Free glass of prosecco with any main November 11–15: $9 pasta November 18–22: $9 Aperol spritz and espresso martini November 25–29: $1 glass of wine with any main
THE Rodriguez is coming back to Australia. Touring nationally this October and November, the 72-year-old enigmatic legend was last here in 1981 playing with Midnight Oil, after touring in the late '70s to small success. Now he's riding a wave of newfound support back to our biggest venues, thanks in part to two South African fans. Most people had no idea who Sixto Rodriguez was until the Oscar-winning documentary Searching for Sugar Man dropped in 2012, prompting longtime fans to shake a fist and spin a bitter "I told you so." A self-taught guitarist, Rodriguez played around the traps in Detroit during the '60s but saw no real success in the States with his two albums Cold Fact (1969) and Coming from Reality (1971). Different story in South Africa, where he was pretty much bigger than Elvis — inspiring South African anti-Apartheid activists and musicians alike (unbeknownst to Rodriguez himself). One of music's most mysterious heroes, Rodriguez was even thought to have died until two Cape Town fans in the late 1990s, Stephen 'Sugar' Segerman and Craig Bartholomew Strydom went to find out if the rumours were true (cue Oscar-winning doco). The man also has a cheeky bachelor's degree in philosophy from Wayne State University, he ran for political office and he's had to work construction jobs to support his family. Undeniable and relatively unknown legend. Rodriguez will play Brisbane Convention Centre, Sydney Opera House, Melbourne's Palais Theatre, Adelaide's AEC Theatre and Perth's Kings Park and Botanic Garden. Tickets on sale on Thursday August 28 at 12pm local time. Members of the Niche mailing list and ticket agent mailing lists can purchase pre-sale tickets on Tuesday 26 August at 12pm until Wednesday 27 August at 5pm. For further details or to sign up to the mailing list please visitwww.nicheproductions.com.au. Rodriguez Australian Tour Dates: Sunday October 19 — Convention Centre, Brisbane. Tickets via Ticketek or 132 849. Tuesday October 21 and Thursday October 23 — Sydney Opera House. Tickets via Opera House Box Office or 02 9270 7111. Saturday October 25 — Palais Theatre, Melbourne. Tickets via Ticketmaster or 136 100. Wednesday October 29 — AEC Theatre, Adelaide. Tickets via Ticketek or 132 849. Friday November 7 — Kings Park & Botanic Garden, Perth. Tickets via Ticketmaster or 136 100. https://youtube.com/watch?v=qyE9vFGKogs
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.
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.
Love the vibe of après ski but can't afford a whole trip to the snow this ski season? Thankfully, you can get your post-ski party fix without trekking to the slopes this year courtesy of the team at Golden Sheaf. From Wednesday, July 6 till Wednesday, August 10, the Double Bay mainstay will transform into a European-inspired alpine lodge, complete with après ski-themed snacks, cocktails and more. There'll be cheese and chocolate fondue, next-level Grey Goose cocktails (hello Toasted Marshmallow Espresso Martini) and loads of soft blankets to cosy up to with your crew. Plus, a snow machine will be in action on Friday and Saturday nights for added impact. You can even win a trip to Thredbo valued at $3000 at the event. To be in the running, simply get your ski pass punched each time you order a Grey Goose cocktail. Once you've got four punches on your card, you can enter the draw to win. Keen to check it out? Chalet Sheaf will take place till Wednesday, August 10 and entry is free. For more information, visit the website.
Fresh from curating Laneway's gourmet food menu, acclaimed Longsong chef David Moyle will join Flinders Island residents for the inaugural Food and Crayfish Festival. Taking place across April 14 and 15, the weekend festivities will focus on a special long lunch, celebrating the wealth of fresh produce and ingredients available on the island. To cook up a storm, Moyle has invited fellow chefs James Viles from Biota, Mark LaBrooy from Three Blue Ducks, and Matt Stone and Jo Barrett from Oakridge Wines to join him in creating the April 14 beachside feast. In line with the festival's first theme —Mother Nature + Human Nature — the quintet will spend a week on the island visiting local producers, foraging and diving to create the perfect menu. "It is such a great treat as a chef to be able to cook dishes directly from the location and connected to the land you are standing on" Moyle noted. Because all great meals need a nice drop to go with them, sommelier Alice Chugg from Hobart bar and bottleshop Ettie's will join the chefs, matching their culinary delights with a selection of Tasmanian wines and beverages. Fish for the festival will come from the island's only crayfish fisherman, 74-year-old Jack Wheatly, who captures the ocean's bounty like his father and grandfather before him. Other celebrated ingredients to be incorporated into the festival include saltgrass lamb, wallaby and mutton bird. The exact beach location of the lunch will be revealed 48 hours before the event, taking into account the microclimate. Islanders will lend chairs from their own dining tables for the event, and the local 'Men's Shed' is crafting the long tables for the lunch. Open to only 100 'off-islanders', tickets for the lunch — which has a dress code of barefoot cocktail — are currently available for the grand price of $240. Flinders Island Food and Crayfish Festival takes place across April 14 and 15 on Flinders Island. Visit www.visitflindersisland.com.au for tickets and further details. Image: Kara Hynes.
Every good pub needs a great bistro — and when it came to adding one to their Randwick venue, The DOG Hotel took the task seriously. Of course, you have to when you're opening up a new American-French-themed kitchen. Duke's Bistro is the end result. Located upstairs at the St Marks Road pub, Duke's Bistro knows that hungry diners can't get enough of US-style food. The 170-seat space, that's been renovated to heed a lodge-like look, also knows how to make the most of its art deco origins. That's why Executive Chef Dwayne Baber's menu is filled with modern twists on classic dishes that offer a bit of both, such as French escargot beurre parsillé vol au vent and smoked pumpkin tartine, as well as hanger steak and beer-brined chicken. In fact, slow-cooked, roasted, rotated meats are quite the feature at Duke's, as are two specially designed rotisseries that diners can easily spy in the open-plan kitchen. Those keen on pairing their meal with a beverage will find 12 taps pouring craft brews, plus a hefty wine list, and cocktails ranging from French favourite Soixante Quinze (with cognac, lemon, syrup and Crémant sparkling) to New Orleans tipple Sazerac (with absinthe, rye whiskey, sugar and peychaud bitters). Find Duke's Bistro at The DOG Hotel, 2 St Marks Road, Randwick. Check out their website for more information.
Two hours' journey west from Bathurst lands you in the 12,000-strong town of Parkes, another gold rush settlement. Before you ask, yes, the place is named after Federation's daddy, Henry Parkes. Apart from hosting the annual Elvis Festival, it's home to the CSIRO Parkes Radio Telescope, as seen in Rob Sitch's 2000 flick, The Dish. Drive 20 kilometres north through farmlands to see the 64-metre telescope that helped broadcast man's first moonwalk and has since found more than half of the known 2000 pulsars (spinning neutron stars). Entry is free for the telescope viewing area and the astronomy and space science exhibition. But, you'll have to pay $7.50 to access the 3D Theatre, where you'll catch a variety of three-dimensional short animated flicks. The CSIRO Parkes Radio Telescope is open seven days a week, from 8.30am–4.15pm and has an onsite cafe with glass walls, so you can keep looking for signs of alien life while you're eating. Image: Destination NSW
Art galleries never fail to draw a crowd in Sydney, especially since the Harbour City is home to some of the biggest galleries in the country. But it's not often that you get a dose of good karma after splashing out on a ticket; that's a benefit typically reserved for charity events. The Unbound Art Show, the annual fundraising show for Barnardos Australia, does both. This year, the event will be themed 'Horizons of Hope' and will take place in the Cell Block Theatre of Darlinghurst's National Art School on Thursday, March 20. Kicking off at 6pm, your $75 ticket includes access, beverages and rights to any canapé you desire, plus a $50 voucher to put towards any artwork you would like to purchase on the evening. You read it right: these works (sculptures, photos, paintings, prints and more) are on sale, donated by artists to Barnardos for the occasion. If you're unable to attend the event in person, all pieces will be available in an online auction from Thursday, March 6. Of course, all proceeds from the one-night-only event will go towards Barnardos youth homelessness services, as they work towards a future where every young person is safe and secure in a home of their own. The Unbound Art Show: Horizons of Hope will take place from 6pm on Thursday, March 20. For more information or to buy a ticket, visit the website.
Locals will soon score their first taste of Sydney Tower's multimillion-dollar food and drink makeover, with the first of three impressive new venues set to open its doors in a matter of weeks. First announced back in February, the Trippas White Group's $12-million redevelopment will see the creation of a new three-level bar and restaurant precinct for the famous CBD building. And we now know what's in store, with the company today revealing more about its plans for the three new offerings. Launching first, on Friday, September 25, is Infinity at Sydney Tower: an upscale restaurant replacing the former 360 Bar and Dining on Level 1. Under new Head Chef Mike Dierlinger (The Bridge Room), it's set to plate up a modern Australian menu fusing local produce with international flavours and technique. Dierlinger will draw on his experience working at Michelin-starred restaurants across the globe, to deliver a menu of elegant fare "crafted with an international twist". And you can expect a pretty flash setting to match, as the venue serves up those stunning revolving views across the city and its surrounds. [caption id="attachment_782344" align="alignnone" width="1920"] An artist's impression of Infinity[/caption] Dierlinger is also helping to guide the culinary offering of fellow Sydney Tower newcomer, Bar 83, which is also opening on September 25. Housed up on Level 3, a soaring 83 floors above street level, this one is set to be the city's highest drinking destination. It'll take the form of a luxury cocktail lounge and bar, also rocking some pretty spectacular views — till 2am on Friday and Saturday. The lounge will have a retro vibe with white and red circular seats, gold banquettes, metallic lights and art deco mirrors. Plus, it'll have some big-name talent on the floor (and behind the bar) with award-winning bartender Jenna Hemsworth (Restaurant Hubert, The Baxter Inn) stepping in as venue manager. [caption id="attachment_782937" align="alignnone" width="1920"] An artist's impression of Bar 83[/caption] Rounding out the trio will be Level 2's casual dining offering, known as SkyFeast at Sydney Tower. This one's gearing up to be a modern update on the touristy buffet of old, featuring unlimited dining options celebrating cuisines from around the world. Infinity at Sydney Tower and Bar 83 are set to open on Friday, September 25. SkyFeast will launch later this year. All three can be found at Sydney Tower, between Pitt and Castlereagh streets, Sydney CBD. Top image: Sander Dalhuisen Updated September 10, 2020.
Salty, sour, just sweet enough and refreshing; the classic margarita ticks multiple flavour boxes and it's synonymous with fun bars, holidays and sunshine. And now is the perfect time to head to your favourite tequila watering hole to order a salty-rim marg in celebration of National Margarita Month, running throughout February. The key to a moreish margarita is to use high-quality ingredients, like 100-percent agave tequila. We've partnered with Herradura, one of the longest running tequila makers in Mexico, to dive into the detailed history of the humble drink, to bring you fun facts to impress your mates with, and to give you an easy recipe for a Horseshoe Margarita to make at home. A BRIEF HISTORY OF MARGARITAS Though simple and short on its ingredients, the margarita's origin story is not so simple or short. There are many varying stories of its conception, such as the tale that it was invented especially for a showgirl in Tijuana, who was allergic to all alcohol except tequila. She didn't like the agave-based spirit straight, so restaurant owner Carlos 'Dann' Herrera whipped her up a lime and tequila-based cocktail and the rest is history. Or perhaps not. Some say the cocktail could have evolved from a now-forgotten 1930s gin or bourbon and citrus cocktail dubbed the Daisy, which eventually morphed into the margarita as we know it (the word 'margarita' is Spanish for 'daisy' so it's convincing). There are also tales of a Texas socialite Margaret 'Margarita' Sames popularising the drink (though recipes for the cocktail were around before she was), and in the 1937 book Café Royal Cocktail Book there's a tequila, Cointreau and lime juice concoction called a Picador, which is also cited as an early margarita. Origins aside, the drink has continued to develop through the decades, from slushie versions, mango, coconut or passionfruit takes, and hundreds of other permutations. We like it traditional — no matter where that original recipe came from. [caption id="attachment_761450" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Abel S García[/caption] FUN FACTS TO IMPRESS YOUR MATES WITH Ever heard of a jimador? They're Mexican farmers who harvest agave plants and are skilled at identifying ripe agave. Agave plants (the core of which is the base for tequila) are a type of succulent. Frozen margaritas were popularised after the creation of a custom machine invented by Mariano Martinez in the 70s. The drink became so in-demand that staff (especially the blenders) couldn't keep up with demand, and so Martinez took an old soft serve machine and tinkered with the frozen recipe until it was the perfect consistency for the machine. The original machine is now part of the collection at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, in Washington. Casa Herradura (where Herradura tequila is made) is the last tequila-producing Hacienda on the planet. RECIPE: HORSESHOE MARGARITA This classic margarita recipe showcases the smooth, distinctly sweet taste of agave and the subtle oak notes of Herradura tequila. Produced in the small town of Amatitàn in the heart of Mexico's tequila region, Herradura grows millions of blue agave — and has done for 150 years. These are harvested by jimadors, and the piñas (the plant's heart) are cut out and then slowly steamed to convert the starch into sugars. This is then milled in order to extract the sweet agave nectar, before being distilled to make the final premium tequila. But leave this complex and traditional process to the professionals and get ready to enjoy the fruits of Herradura's labour of love with this simple and elegant Horseshoe Margarita recipe. INGREDIENTS 60ml Herradura 30ml fresh lime juice 15ml agave syrup Sea salt Lime slice to garnish METHOD Pour Herradura tequila, lime juice and agave syrup into ice-filled cocktail shaker. Shake vigorously. Run a lime wedge around the rim of a glass, and dip the glass in sea salt (optional). Pour your mix into an ice-filled tumbler. Easy! Celebrate Margarita Month in Sydney at Assembly, Barrio Cellar, Bella Vista, Bondi Beach Hardware, Cherry Bar, Chin Chin, Chula, Fonda Mexican, Frank & Blanco, Jade Rabbit, JB & Sons, Mejico, New Brighton Hotel, Parkhouse, Steyne Hotel, Taylor's Rooftop, The Unicorn Hotel, Tio's Cerbeceria, Two Wolves, Websters Bar.
To all intents and purposes, it was just another ordinary morning in Newtown: bottle-necked traffic, bleary-eyed uni students clinging to coffee cups, wandering musicians who’d been heading home since late Friday night. And then, a couple of hours ago, two water buffaloes started running down King Street. Not just any old beasts taking a casual stroll looking for a spot of grass, but steaming angry ones. Online speculation is rife. Was it a piece of Biennale performance art? A premature April Fool’s prank? A visit to Enmore’s Cow and Moon Cafe? Clive, an eyewitness in Sydney Park, told ABC Radio’s Linda Mottram that the beasts were fresh escapees from a film crew. “They were at a Samsung film shoot,” he said. “Everybody’s out with mobiles, trying to find them. I saw them heading towards King Street and they vanished ... they’re pretty angry apparently.” Onlooker Abril Felman described the scene in Newtown to ABC Radio. “Everyone was on the street, just shocked, looking at these bulls running. It was crazy ... There was this jeep with filming equipment running behind them.” Mystified and terrified spectators started calling the police, but not before the buffaloes managed to cover about 2 kilometres in a city-bound direction. On the corner of Carillon Avenue and Missenden Road, a NSW Fire and Rescue truck confronted them, unintentionally. “One of our crews from Newtown was returning from an automatic fire alarm call,” spokesman Ian Krimmer explained to ABC Radio. “They were driving down Missenden road, turning into Carillon, when they were confronted with two water buffaloes ... They’ve taken the ladders off the fire trucks and used them as movable gates to corral the buffaloes into the front yard of a house ... I’ve been advised that the film crew in charge of the beasts is now taking care of them.” Image by Abril Felman.
Slurpees served from a treehouse? A grass-covered Hobbit-like rooftop? Things have gotten fantastical on the Bondi to Coogee walk. After keeping art lovers fuelled and feasted last year, The Grounds of Alexandria have popping up again at Sculpture by the Sea in 2015. This time, their temporary cafe has taken its inspiration from the literary endeavours of English authors J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis. So be careful about slipping any rings onto your fingers or stepping inside wardrobes. The Grounds have been dreaming and scheming about this pop-up for ages. In fact, for the past six months, they’ve been growing grass specifically for the rooftop. And like any respectable Hobbit home, the pop-up is designed to blend in with its natural surroundings. Food-wise, you can enjoy healthy, hearty breakfasts and lunches, including legendary The Grounds burgers, slow-cooked lamb shoulder wraps and sausage sandwiches. To match all this deliciousness, they're serving top-notch drinks like The Grounds’ slurpees, dispensed from a purpose-built treehouse.
Have you made plans to dial up the romance with your partner on Valentine's and shower your friends with love on Galentine's? But what about your four-legged bestie? Enter the Lonely Barks Club — a free pop-up event hosted by Kip to reduce your pets' loneliness and separation anxiety this V-Day. From Monday, February 12 to Friday, February 16, you can drop off your pooch at Kip's doggy daycare in Alexandria, where they'll be treated to activities ranging from a cuddle corner and dog-themed movies to romantic storytime and a Yappy Hour speed-dating event on Thursday, February 15 from 6.30—7.30pm. Kip is on a mission to transform dog daycare with pick-up and drop-off services, daily activities and state-of-the-art facilities so you can trust that your loved ones are in good hands. Attendance to the Yappy Hour is free with registration, but in order to ensure a safe and fun experience for other dogs, all pups will need to pass a temperament test and complete a profile before entry. If you can't make it to the event but still want to check out Kip's doggy daycare, Kip has a limited-time offering for first-time customers: a deal of three visits for $78. The Lonely Barks Club runs from Monday, February 12 to Friday, February 16 at Kip's Alexandria Dog Daycare. Register your spot and find out more at Kip's website. Images: Ruthless Photos
Longrain and Spice I Am, you'd better look out. Chef and Thai food expert David Thompson is making a return to Sydney, opening a new branch of his Long Chim restaurant (which already operates in Perth and Singapore) in the CBD. After announcing that the restaurant would be opening in Angel Place back in May (and since announcing he'll be taking Long Chim to Melbourne too), we now have an official opening date: Monday, August 29. And boy are we excited. First of all, the restaurant's going to be pretty huge. Spread across two levels in old storerooms underneath Martin Place, it will have a large open-plan kitchen, a cocktail bar and room for 190 diners. Developed in collaboration with FJM Property and designer Kelly Ross from The Gentry, you'll have a choice of seating, from communal tables to counter stools to out-of-the-way alcoves, and there'll be original artworks from both Thai and Australian artists. Its atmosphere is set to be a bit of recreation of Bangkok's streets, with all manner of delicious smells, sounds of crashing woks and clattering utensils, and service at lightning speed. The menu will focus on street food (ah, that old chestnut), including crunchy prawn cakes, beef skewers, massaman curry and deep-fried squid. We're also happy to hear that cocktails will be a focus and banana roti will make it onto the dessert menu. "At Long Chim we want to capture all the excitement and tastes of the streets of Bangkok," said Thompson, who returns to the Sydney hospo scene after 15 years. "Long Chim is intended to be fun — 'sanuk', as the Thais say — with food and drinks that everyone loves. Our menu will have the dishes that many Thais miss the most when away from home." Long Chim Sydney will open for dinner on Monday, August 29. It will be located in a basement beneath 14 Martin Place, accessible through Angel Place. For more info, visit longchimsydney.com. By Jasmine Crittenden and Lauren Vadnjal.
Every January the New South Wales town of Parkes more than doubles its population for a very special birthday celebration — Elvis Presley's. The King may be long gone, but the regional town keeps his spirit very much alive when 27,000 loyal fans flock to five-day festival from January 8–12, proving that he was always on their mind. Elvis tribute artists from all over the world come to Parkes to battle it out to be named the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist. There's a Miss Priscilla competition, rock 'n' roll dancing, daily markets, trivia, bingo, movie screenings of films like Frankie and Johnny (this year's theme) and Love Me Tender. And there's never been a better time to kick off your blue suede shoes for Elvis karaoke. Cue up 'Jailhouse Rock' and bring the house down. The huge celebration of the hip shaking hound dog started life in the early 90s and it has grown in popularity with more than 200 events on the bill, many of which are free to attend. If you're a diehard regular, make sure you get into theme, which is the name of 1966 movie where Presley plays a riverboat gambler. It's now or never.
Gelato Messina is about to become a place both wonderful and strange. With Twin Peaks finally happening again in the form of an eagerly anticipated third season, the gelato kings are getting in on the action by turning two of their stores — one in Sydney and one in Melbourne — into the show's iconic Double R Diner for one day. Naturally, there'll be themed frozen goodness aplenty, as well as free scoops. It's going to be damn fine indeed. In what will be Messina's first ever store transformations, the Double R Diner is set to take over the Newtown store on May 22 and Richmond on May 25. There mightn't be staff called Norma and Shelly on-hand, but there will be custom-made cherry gelato 'pie'. If that's your idea of dessert heaven, then here, the ice cream is what it seems. This must be where pies go when they die. In addition to the limited edition pie — there will only be 50 slices available per store — Messina has created three custom Twin Peaks flavours. They'll be served up for free (yes, free) between the hours of 12pm and 4pm, and then again from 5pm to 10pm. Just what those varieties will be, if they'll be wrapped in plastic, and whether there'll be a jukebox on-site playing tunes you just want to click your fingers to — well, you'll have to head along to find out. You can probably expect good, hot, black coffee too. Let's just hope there isn't a fish in the percolator. Unless you've been trapped in the Black Lodge for the past 25 years, you'll know that the whole thing is timed to coincide with the start of new Twin Peaks season, which will drop on Stan in Australia at 2pm on Monday, May 22. All 18 episodes have been directed by David Lynch, so we're in for quite the treat. Celebrating with pie and gelato is something Special Agent Dale Cooper would approve of — remember his wise words of advice: "every day, once a day, give yourself a present". The Double R Diner will pop up at Gelato Messina Newtown on Monday, May 22 and at the Richmond store on Thursday, May 25 from 12–4pm and 5–10pm. For more information, visit the Sydney and Melbourne Facebook event pages.
There's no doubting the difference a cool $8 million can make. Should you be wondering, get along to The Buena in Mosman, which has been revamped by The Public House Management Group. Teaming up with SJB Interiors and Tess Regan Designs, the group has added some serious grandeur to the pub's entrance, courtesy of a massive brass sign. Heading inside, you'll notice marble-covered bench tops, pressed-leather booths and stunning wooden panelling. In keeping with its new look, The Buena has made a return to the gastropub scene. Guillaume Brahimi has worked closely with the group's executive chef, Ben Varela, to come up with a bunch of classic dishes with contemporary twists, including wood-fired pizzas and share plates. Dining takes place in the pub's upstairs Vista Bar. Meanwhile, the group's mixologist, Kurtis Bosley, has been turning his powers to the cocktail list, so you can expect some summery creations coming up. Live entertainment, featuring local musos and DJs, happens from Thursday through til Sunday. "Public House Management Group recognises the historically broad appeal of The Buena," said Mitchell Waugh, Founder and Managing Director of Public House Management Group. "And like to think that, in this renovation, they have catered for everyone, from families and sport fanatics to groups looking for afternoons and evenings of entertainment." Find The Buena at at 76 Middle Head Road, Mosman, is open Monday to Saturday, 11am-midnight, and Sundays, 11am-10pm. Visit their website for further information.
On another one of these hot sticky days that keep exhausting us Sydney-siders, we traipse down to the dimly-lit people-packed Brown Sugar. A café-by-day, a bistro-by-night, our 7.30pm table will be for the latter fare. Sitting on Bondi's Curlewis Street it is a perfect spot for a post-dip bite. However, the chances of one stumbling across a free table are slim. We are thankful Brown Sugar takes bookings. In an attempt to relieve myself from the stifling heat I order the special of beetroot cured ocean trout with green tahini, baby radish and fresh herbs. The beetroot curing makes the ocean trout taste more earth than ocean, yet it is sweet and refreshing. For the main I go down the other path, for with all the rich exotic possibilities on the menu, how can one simply graze on the light things. The duck confit is served atop an orzo pilaf with dates and fresh figs. There are bitter bites of preserved lemon and crunches of almonds sprinkled throughout the rice shaped grains of pasta. Huge bunches of green rest upon it, leaving me to not-so-elegantly fight my way through the coriander stalks. During the meal we have befriended our neighbours - an inevitability considering our close proximity. When it comes time to leave I politely ask them to reshuffle their wine glasses – it is the only way I can leave my seat. I have an inkling that the entry was not so challenging, but, even if the succulent duck was the cause of the increased difficulty, there is no doubt that it was worth every mouthful.
