Sydney Harbour's about to host some pretty big beats. Kicking off on Friday, September 29, Tinder, Tropicool Events and UNDR Ctrl are bringing back the hugely popular electronic music series to Sydney's floating stage, The Island LIVE. The Island has played host to some seriously big names, from Charli XCX to Royal Blood. Previously, The Island LIVE has hosted the likes of Hayden James, Touch Sensitive, Bag Raiders, and Motez — nights have sold out in under 48 hours. This time around, it's all beats. Kicking off the series, Australian dance legends and triple j Friday Night Shuffle hosts The Aston Shuffle will be cranking out a huge DJ set. They'll be joined by Bag Raiders, Polographia and Annie Bass. That's just the first event in The Island LIVE series — there'll be more events announced down the track. Tickets ($59–69) include a return water taxi from the Man O' War Steps and two complimentary drinks on arrival. Pretty excellent deal.
If you haven't experienced a sweat-inducing, VHS-style aerobics class made popular by the likes of Jane Fonda and Richard Simmons, we recommend you change that ASAP. Luckily, we've got you covered. In partnership with Good Food Month, we're hosting a series of early morning retro aerobics classes. Whip out the hot pink and turquoise lycra, tease up your hair and get ready for fitness queen Shannon Dooley's Retrosweat, Palm Springs edition. Dubbed 'Not Another Manic Monday', these classes will get your heart pumping as you high-kick your way into a new week with beats and moves from one of the most outlandish decades — when bum bags, acid wash and power suits were king. What's more, the Good Food Month version of the '80s workout will bring out the So Cal vibes that'll make you crave a whiz down Venice Beach with your skates, high cut leotard and pastel leg warmers. Why's that? Because this year's Good Food Month will see Hyde Park transform into Hyde Park Palms, a Palm Springs-inspired food, drink and party hub. Feeling a bit intimidated by this much energy exertion on a Monday? Don't worry, after the 50 minutes of high intensity, '80s moves, you'll be given a 'naughty' takeaway brekkie courtesy of Black Star Pastry and cake creative Katherine Sabbath, to keep you buzzing the rest of the day. You can buy your tickets now for one of the aerobics classes, or even better, enter our competition to win a double pass to a Not Another Manic Monday session on October 16 or October 17. Words: Quinn Connors and Jonathan Ford.
Depending on how you feel about dinner parties, Beatriz at Dinner is either an accurate snapshot of getting together for a meal with friends and acquaintances, or a comically discomforting nightmare. And, depending on how you feel about the current state of world politics, it's either a pointed commentary about real-estate moguls with entitled attitudes and their enablers, or a satire of the chasm between those that have it all and everybody else. Actually, in each case, it can be both. Beatriz at Dinner hits close to home while proving darkly amusing, and offers a loaded statement about a specific person as well as a general ribbing of the big gap between the wealthy and the not so. In fact, it feels like the type of film you'd get if you took the 2011-2013 TV series Enlightened, swapped Laura Dern for Salma Hayek, and updated it to reflect just how the world has changed in the last four years. To be honest, that's hardly surprising, given the movie and the show share two key creative forces: writer Mike White and director Miguel Arteta. As the eponymous Beatriz, Hayek is all empathetic eyes and soothing voice, at least to begin with. A Los Angeles masseuse who splits her time between a cancer treatment centre and house calls, Beatriz loves her job healing others as much as she loves her pet dogs and goats — and she's happy to talk about both to anyone who'll listen. At one appointment in a gated community miles from home, she chats away with Kathy (Connie Britton), a regular client with a wheeling-and-dealing husband, Grant (David Warshofsky). When their session is up, Beatriz's car won't start, so Kathy invites her to stay for a meal with Grant's business associates. Predictably, Beatriz stands out with her jeans and earthy attitude. In fact, when eager up-and-comer Alex (Jay Duplass) and his snobbish wife Shannon (Chloë Sevigny) arrive, followed by rich and powerful head honcho Doug (John Lithgow) and his third bride Jeana (Amy Landecker), they think she's the help. The obvious difference between Beatriz and the rest of the guests provides plenty of humour early on, but White and Arteta soon start to subvert expectations. This isn't a take on The Dinner Game, casting the well-off as vacuous and oblivious idiots. Nor is it a sitcom-style comedy where someone lower down the social ladder causes a few laughs and changes a few opinions, like the recent Madame. Rather, the film slowly but surely lets an impassioned and unwavering Beatriz loose on Doug, and watches everyone else squirm. Sharp, smart and funny, the end result is entertaining viewing for a number of reasons – even if its ending doesn't wholly satisfy. Warmly shot but purposefully awkward in tone, the film is unafraid to take chances with its class-conflict concept, but at the same time refuses to make even the most villainous characters mere one-note caricatures. White's astute dialogue helps in this regard, ringing true from both Beatriz and her dinner companions. The same applies to Arteta's framing, particularly his decision to always shoot his protagonist as though she's the shortest one in group. And then there's the cast, including well-judged supporting turns from Britton, Sevigny and company, a decidedly human foe in Lithgow, and the wonderfully textured, quietly commanding Hayek in career-best form. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uI8_8O3uKhY
Every Italian will tell you that no one cooks like their nonna — and to prove that claim true, some of Sydney's best Italian chefs and their grandmothers are teaming up for a five-day festival of Italian deliciousness. Running from October 22–26, the Festival of Nonna will be a celebration of the traditional matriarchs of the Boot, with a series of three-course dinners at Redfern's 107 Projects. Presented by Sandhurst Fine Foods, it will show off the modern interpretation of Italian food coupled with the tried-and-tested traditions that make the cuisine so damn good. Sydney chef and restaurateur Andrew Cibej (of 121BC, Berta and Vini fame) is among the chefs that will be teaming up with their mums, along with Eugenio Maiale of A Tavola and Luca Ciano of Milan's two Michelin-starred Il Luogo di Aimo e Nadia. They'll deliver hands-on demonstrations that show off the tradition and the techniques of crafting the perfect Italian meal. Tickets for the dinners are $65 a pop, which includes three courses with drinks and a sweet party bag.
On September 10, Sydney staged for a huge public rally through the city streets, flying rainbow flags (and dogs) to demand marriage equality and campaign for a 'Yes' vote. Support group Community Action Against Homophobia, who ran the rally, urged Australians to campaign for a 'Yes' postal vote. With the majority of Australians (a whopping two-thirds) supporting marriage equality, the rally was expectedly stacked — in all, organisers have estimated that a massive 30-40,000 people rocked up to show their support for all LGBTI+ Australians. You can see the photos here. And on Saturday, October 21, Sydney is set to do it all over again. It will be one last rally to urge the country to vote affirmative before the ballot closes on November 7. So send off your vote and get marching. Wear rainbow. Be loud. Images: Letícia Almeida.
It was just a matter of time, really. Belvoir's new artistic director has been rummaging through the canon again and come across Henrik Ibsen's Ghosts. Eamon Flack will direct his own adaptation of the work with a cast that includes Pamela Rabe, Colin Moody and Robert Menzies. Captain Alving has kicked the bucket. Mrs. Alving couldn't be happier about this, owing to the Captain being a serial adulterer and inviting quite a bit of scandal round for tea. Fearful that their son Oswald might take after his father, Mrs. Alving sent him away to France, but now she wants him back. When he returns, she'll come to realise how the sins of the father have been preying on Oswald since birth. Even adapted, Ibsen plays are always total shame parties. If you've any moral decadence in your bones, purge yourself of it now. If not, you risk having it guilt-flogged out of you by the 19th century's master of the dirty secret in the Upstairs Theatre this month. Image: Daniel Boud.
Returning for its seventh year, Sydney Beer Week — which has this year dropped the 'craft' from its name — celebrates beer in all its golden greatness this October. Running from Friday, October 20 till Sunday, October 29, the ten-day celebration is packed full of events and activities that will grasp the interest of beer novices and connoisseurs alike. These will take place in several locations all over Sydney — and there's quite the list to choose from. One notable event is the Hair of the Dog Breakfast, where the Rocks Brewing Company will throw a mighty six-course breakfast paired with eight beers. It promises to be one of the best hangover cures we've heard of. You'll need it if you're heading to any of the other events, like the kick-off party full of brews and food trucks at the Australian Maritime Museum. Or The Grifter Brewing Co.'s dog-friendly event at their Marrickville brewery — there'll be brews from The Grifter and NZ's Parrot Dog brewery, food from LP's Quality Meats, pups and pints, canines and cans, fluffballs and frothies and so on. There's no doubt SBW will leave you better quenched, better fed and better educated in beer related matters than it found you.
One of the most outrageous events on Sydney's cultural calendar is the Sydney Comedy Festival Gala, which returns this April. Selling out for the previous six years, the 14th Gala will surely be no different with another surprise comedic lineup set to feature many of the 2018 festival's headline acts. While those performing at the 2018 Gala remains a tightly held secret, last year's event saw 15 comic talents take to the stage and serve up their best bits in five minutes of rapid-fire laughs. A riotous hit, the night featured some great local talent punctuating a lineup of standout international acts — including Stephen K Amos, Mae Martin and Jason Byrne. This year's event kicks off the 2018 Sydney Comedy Festival in style, with two special nights at the Sydney Opera House. With galas also being held at the Enmore Theatre, the Riverside Theatre and The Concourse, there's really no excuse to miss out. Once the Gala is over, don't forget about the 210-plus comedy shows that are part of the full Sydney Comedy Festival. Being held across Sydney, from April 23 until May 20, the festival will be headlined by Ross Noble (UK), David O'Doherty (IRE) and Australia's own Kitty Flanagan just to name a few. To celebrate the return of the Sydney Comedy Festival Gala, we're giving away two double passes to the Sydney Opera House event on Tuesday, April 24 at 8pm. To enter, see details below. [competition]663265[/competition]
From medieval guilds all the way forward to Wikipedia, sharing knowledge has always been a boon for humanity. We thrive on it. And hospitality symposium Grow is built around the idea that information is better served up than hoardedThe collective's event Grow Assembly has run three times in Melbourne, and now it's bringing its consortium of hospo professionals to Sydney for the first time. new generation of chefs, sommeliers, bakers, cocktail artisans, food journos and FOH firecrackers with the juice squeezed from their collective experience. The event event is a full-day seminar on Sunday, May 6 in Balmain with 13 industry speakers spitting knowledge left, right and centre. The lineup reads like a Wiki entry of Sydney's food community, including Neil Perry (Rockpool and the new Bar Patron), Palisa Anderson (Chat Thai), Mitch Orr (Acme), Harriet Leigh (Archie Rose) and Julia Campbell (Women in Hospitality), among others. Phew. The team that is putting the whole shebang together — Michael Bascetta, Banjo Harris Plane, Meira Harel, Kylie Javier Ashton and Vicky Symington — also has an impressive joint resume; together they count stints at Attica, Momofuku Seiobo and Bar Liberty in their experience. It's a long list, but you get the jist — these are the people you want to be the hospitality Yoda to your Skywalker. If you're looking to bring that novelty hybrid food idea into fruition or give us your spin on fried chicken this event is the perfect way to get a foot in the door. Tickets are $99 until April 9 and $130 after, and include lunch and coffee.
Can't wait to feast your eyes on Wes Anderson's latest flick, the stop-motion animated delight that is Isle of Dogs? It was one of our picks of this year's Berlinale, where it opened the fest and won best director, so we understand. The film doesn't release in Australian theatres until April 12, but Moonlight Cinemas is giving eager fans a sneak peek — and, even better, you can bring your own pupper. The event will celebrate Moonlight's last night of its 2017-18 season, and is bound to turn Sydney's Centennial Park into an isle of dogs — just without the water. And while you can take your pooch to any of this year's sessions at the outdoor cinema, there's no better movie to take them to than this. If your dog is called Spots, then you have to go. The film follows a boy's visit to the titular land mass to find his beloved Spots, after all. The adventure that follows features the voices of a host of Anderson regulars and other ace talent — think Bill Murray, Jeff Goldblum, Bob Balaban, Greta Gerwig, Tilda Swinton, Bryan Cranston, Scarlett Johansson, Edward Norton and Frances McDormand — and proves as gorgeous as you'd expect. You'd be barking mad to miss it.
The Kensington Street precinct is taking the Year of the Dog very literally, celebrating the Lunar New Year this Saturday, February 17 with real live pups running amok through its laneways — plus free wine. First up, they've invited Sydney Dogs and Cats Homes to bring some doggos along, so you can have a cuddle while enjoying a complimentary glass of wine. Donations are encouraged and adoptions welcomed, as long as it isn't just the free booze talking. Patrons are also encouraged to BYO their pup for a slew of activities, including professional family photos, caricaturist drawings and doggo treats like ice cream and even dog beer. If you need a break from your best friend to enjoy the festivities, they're also offering up doggie daycare. Apart from the dog-mania, the precinct will host its annual block party, with Spice Alley, Handpicked Wines and the Old Clare teaming up to put on food and drink specials. Traditional lion dancers, fortune tellers, karaoke, lantern making classes and noodle demonstrations will round out the evening. Image: Kimberley Low
Behold the theatre production everyone in Brisbane has been talking about — and one that ticks plenty of boxes. A new comedy from a talented local writer: check. A timely skewering of race and gender: check again. Written by Michelle Law, Single Asian Female steps into the world of three women from one Chinese family living on the Sunshine Coast. Pearl has runs a restaurant, eldest daughter Zoe is forced to think about the battle between her personal and professional desires, and her younger sister Mei is navigating school. Each contemplates the intersection between their heritage and their western lives, as well as its impact on their identity. Indeed, their troubles and journey are made all the more powerful due to their status as Chinese women in Australia, and the struggles that it brings — as brought to life with humour and insight by Law, director Claire Christian and the talented cast. The play debuted in Brisbane this time last year, and is the first from Law, who co-wrote Sh*t Asian Mothers Say with her brother Benjamin, and is proving one of Australia's rising stars. Image: Dylan Evans.
If you're keen to attack the Chinese New Year with some serious stamina, then get yourself along to Happy D's in Redfern, on Saturday 17 February. From midday, the much-adored neighbourhood dumpling house will be serving up all-you-can-eat dumplings. All you have to do is hand over 30 bucks, settle onto a bar stool and get ready to binge. The entire menu will be available, from prawn gow gee to barbecue pork buns to chicken dim sims. And, as usual, a steady stream of disco beats will be pumping out of the stereo. The feast will be available at lunch, from midday till 3pm, then again at dinner, from 5.30pm till close. Should you miss out on a table this weekend — despair not. Happy D's is offering unlimited dumplings every Saturday for the foreseeable future.
Lotus Dining Group (Madame Shanghai, Lotus Dumpling Bar) is teaming up with Black Star Pastry and Valrhona chocolate for a decadent dessert degustation happening over the Lunar New Year weekend. There'll be four lunchtime sittings running from Saturday, February 17 through to Sunday, February 18. In this six course degustation, Tiffany Jones (Lotus Head Pastry Chef) and Sam Yeo (Black Star Pastry Executive Chef) will create modern Asian desserts using Valrhona chocolate across the menu — including a Manjari chocolate mousse, which is made from rare Madagascan cocoa beans, and a box of Chinese New Year chocolates to take with you. The evening will begin not with dessert, as one would expect, but instead with a basket of mixed savoury dumplings from the Lotus kitchen (six per person). For the dessert courses, diners can expect quite the fancy treat. Think dumplings filled with white chocolate custard, topped with nitro pomelo and sitting in a white peony-infused consume; or the Peanut of Prosperity — a crisp chocolate shell filled with oozing red bean and caramel and served on chocolate soil with peanut flowers. Though the event is specifically in honour of Chinese New Year, it could be a good post-Valentine's date, or just the perfect excuse to treat yourself.
When it comes to prime summer drinking turf, Chiswick's sprawling green lawn is up there with the best. And you can bet it's set to get a solid workout this season, as the Woollahra restaurant plays host to a series of weekly Wednesday evening pop-up bars, running now until the end of February. Join in the al fresco fun from 5.30–7.30pm each week and make the most of those balmy pre-sunset temperatures with some hard-earned hump day knock-offs. The bar will be slinging a selection of summer-perfect gin cocktails and, to cap it off, there'll be live acoustic tunes setting the mood, plus some free canapés making the rounds. Gin will be served on the lawn every Wednesday evening until February 7. Updated: January 22, 2018.
Prolific interviewer, storyteller and possibly the most curious man in the world Brandon Stanton will make his first-ever appearance in Sydney in February. Stanton is the creator of the Humans of New York phenomenon and he'll appear at Sydney Opera House to reveal behind-the-scenes stories of his work. You'll hear about how he started out with virtually no journalistic or camera expertise, how he produces compelling stories by talking to strangers and he'll share a number of enlightening and unusual moments in his career. Humans of New York began after Stanton lost his job and decided to dedicate time to sharing the stories of others. Since these humble beginnings in 2010, he's released a book, travelled the world, raised millions for people in need and even found time to interview Barack Obama. To date, the project has gained over 20 million followers on social media. Stanton will enter the city with a bang, with just one session planned at the Opera House. But who knows, maybe you'll run into him on the streets of Sydney?
Victoria-based artist/curator Trevor Smith's new show The Cocktail Hour opens at Michael Reid this month. Showcasing over 40 of his unique, soft sculptural textile works, the quirky exhibition will be his largest to date. A fan of craft and textiles since childhood, Smith learnt to crochet in primary school (his mum taught him), received his first sewing machine at 15 and in Year 10 proudly won Naracoorte High School's Outstanding Achievement Award for Home Economics (in which subject he was the sole male student). Later focusing on soft sculpture and traditional patchwork, crochet was put aside for several decades, until 2009, when he took part in Regional Arts Victoria project The Big Hole Yarn and his passion was reignited. The Cocktail Hour brings together an impressive collection of humorous creations with a nostalgic domestic vibe – think kitchen appliances, retro foods, tea-cosies – with Smith drawing particular inspiration from Women's Weekly dinner party cookbooks from the 1970's. The works will make you laugh but also potentially blow your mind at the technique involved (particularly if you've ever thrown down a crochet hook in despair). And if you've never seen a crocheted pavlova... now's your chance. Image: Trophy Fish, Trevor Smith, courtesy the artist and Michael Reid Sydney
Sydney-based writer, psychotherapist and multidisciplinary artist Noula Diamantopoulos has a new show and it's all about L-O-V-E. In a series of poetic neon artworks, Agape asks what it means to fall in love, whether we can accurately define love, and why love can hurt so much sometimes — ultimately arguing that it shouldn't. An artist known for exploring universal emotion and human feeling, Diamantopoulos recently completed a public art commission as part of the 'Love Shouldn't Hurt' domestic violence campaign. You might have seen the massive mural depicting domestic violence survivor Felicity Cook at 182 George Street, crafted from 20,000 jar lids? That was her. In this latest exhibition, each work features a Greek word or poetic phrase — in Diamantopoulos's own handwriting — that refer to various facets of love, plus a single abstract drawing piece full of symbolic imagery. Look closely and you might see the double helix of the DNA sequence, or maybe even the muscles and arteries of the human heart. Image: Noula Diamantopoulos, Agapo mou, 2017, neon, acrylic sheet, unique edition, 45cm x 80cm.
If ever there was anything Huckleberry Finn and Jim wished they sailed past as they made their way down the Mississippi River, surely it was a music festival. The Riverboats Music Festival is that dream come to life — and about 14,500 kilometres from Old Man River. Set in the twin-towns of Echuca-Moama, the festival takes place under towering river red gums in a natural amphitheatre next to the mighty Murray River. Sip local wine as you dance the night away to incredible music acts — this year will see Neil and Liam Finn headlining, as well as performances by Josh Pyke, Kasey Chambers and a whole stack of others. Mouthwatering regional food will also be on offer, as historic paddle steamers meander past on the Murray and the chorus of corellas welcome the sunset. Perhaps one of the prettiest and most laid-back music festivals in Australia.
Why drink at one watering hole, when you can head to two, three, six or more? That's always been the motivation behind everyone's favourite boozy journey, aka a pub crawl. And, it's the exact same type of thinking behind the Urban Wine Walk. Taking its first wander around Sydney after previously strolling through Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth during 2017, it's the bar-hopping excuse every vino lover has been waiting for. Think Grapest, but without convincing yourself that you're going to run five kilometres. Or, what you might do on a weekend afternoon, but in a more organised fashion From midday until 5pm on February 10, you'll saunter between the likes of The Winery, The Dolphin Hotel, This Must Be The Place, The Wild Rover, Golden Age Bar, Maybe Frank and more, sampling wines and having a mighty fine time. As for the tipples, they'll be taken care of by South Australia's Delinquene Wine Co andHither & Yon, and New South Wales' Printhie Wines, Freeman Vineyards and Hart & Hunter among others. Early bird tickets are currently on sale for $45, with full tickets costing $55 once the initial allocation has run out. Places are limited, but this moving cellar door will not only serve up wine tastings, but also your own tasting glass — plus a voucher for another beverage, and a guide to help you plan your mosey between bars.
Take your Christmas shopping to the next level this December — that is, to level four of The Strand Arcade. That's where a large collection of artisan producers will be selling home products, ceramics, accessories and more. And it's all in the name of supporting independent, sustainable Australian art, fashion and design. Kicking off on Thursday, December 7, it'll all take place at Courtesy of the Artist's 200-square-metre multipurpose space at the top of the arcade. Look out for products from a long list of Australian makers including Alison Jackson Tableware, watches from Aãrk Collective, Isobel Sippel Studio, Gewürzhaus Herb and Spice Merchants, Lauren Webster, Loom Towels, Carrol Russell, Fink, Tracy Dickason, Pass A Ball, Avi Amesbury, Ainslie Walker and Pendolino Olive Oils. Keep in mind that there will also be beautiful gift boxes for your Christmas gifting, and you'll also be able to create your own expensive hamper from the broad choice of products available at the market. The Loft Christmas Market will run every day between December 7 and January 31, except between December 23 and January 4, when it will be closed for Christmas. It'll be open Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 10am to 5.30pm, Thursday and Friday from 10am to 7pm, Saturday from 10am to 5pm and Sunday from 11am to 4pm.
With all of its crushing, heartbreaking weight, grief is rarely far from cinema screens. Still, even in the most thoughtful and personal film, it's an emotion that can be difficult to convey. There's such an immense difference between watching characters going through the process of mourning and actually coping with intense sorrow yourself that, when a movie gets it wrong, it's noticeable. When a movie gets it right, however, it hits with the force of a sledgehammer. Foxtrot is one of those elusive pictures: inventive, immersive and absorbing from start to finish, and so accurate in its portrayal of loss that the story feels as though it has been ripped from reality. Although inspired by writer-director Samuel Maoz's own experience in a tangential way and confronting the very real situation in Israel, it's in fact a work of fiction. It's also an astonishing piece of cinema. When a knock at their Tel Aviv door interrupts an otherwise ordinary day, Michael (Lior Ashkenazi) and Dafna Feldmann (Sarah Adler) automatically expect the worst. With their son Jonathan (Yonaton Shiray) currently completing his compulsory military service, they've been dreading this moment — and when officials deliver the news that no parent ever wants to hear, their world falls apart. The Feldmanns' shock is only the beginning of Foxtrot's story, with Maoz exploring the situation across three separate parts. After first riding the wave of grief, the film jumps backwards to spend time with Jonathan as he conducts border patrols at a remote desert outpost, before returning to the family's apartment some time latter. True of this movie perhaps more than most, where Foxtrot heads is best discovered by watching. The film's title refers to a dance as well as a military codeword, and as appropriate as the latter obviously is, it's the former that proves an apt description of this fluid foray into devastating territory. Like the fleetest of footsteps, every move Maoz makes shapes the movie's overall rhythm and keeps viewers enthralled, with actual dance sequences, surreal interludes, and eye-catching animation all part of the show. They mightn't sound like standard ways to explore bureaucracy, mourning and the many difficulties of living in a state of perpetual conflict — or to make plain the film's clear anger about life in modern-day Israel — but, in an extraordinary feat of cinematic choreography, absolutely nothing is wasted or unnecessary. The same description applies to Foxtrot's trio of central performances, for what's a dance without skilled performers moving to a beat? When Michael is riddled with deep-seeded fury, Israeli veteran Ashkenazi makes every glare in the character's eyes as explosive as his actual outbursts. When Dafna is so overcome with sadness that she can barely even speak, French talent Adler expresses a world of hurt in even the slightest of gestures. And, while newcomer Shiray could've just played Jonathan as a regular youth in a tricky situation, his portrayal is every bit as affecting and textured as the work of his older co-stars. Painting a portrait of a young man grappling with forces beyond his control and troubles of his own, Shiray serves up a disarmingly naturalistic turn that's crucial to the movie's shattering impact. Indeed, Foxtrot asks the audience to stare at its main cast harder than most films; to feel their aching hearts, to dive into their despairing minds, and to experience their unshakeable sorrow. Maoz doesn't just call upon his actors to attract attention, though, but ensures that every meticulous shot reflects the characters' internal states. Through camera placement, composition, colouring and every other visual tool in the filmmaker's arsenal, the movie's images sear themselves into viewers' brains as well. While this is only Maoz's second picture, that's his modus operandi — intimacy, intricacy, heightened emotions, awe-inspiring images and topical issues, all intertwined. It has been nearly a decade since he drove a tank through the international cinema scene with his gripping debut Lebanon, which was set during the country's 1982 war and confined its view of the conflict to the inside of a tank. But this exceptional follow-up was well worth the wait. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6o5WPcCgT0
How do two filmmaking siblings follow up one of the biggest Australian comedies of the 21st century? With a much bleaker slice of comic action. In the 12 years between Kenny and Brothers' Nest, Shane Jacobson hasn't been far from screens. In fact, he's graced local cinemas in the awful trio of Guardians of the Tomb, The BBQ and That's Not My Dog! just this year alone. But making another film with his brother, actor-director Clayton Jacobson, has taken much, much longer than it'd take Kenny to plumb most of the country's toilets. While Brothers' Nest is as far removed from the Jacobsons' toilet-fixing mockumentary as you can get, it's mostly worth the wait — an attempt to meld grimy psychological thrills with black comedy that doesn't break the mould, but delivers exactly what it promises. Shane and Clayton co-star as a luckless and unhappy duo intent on securing what's rightfully theirs and willing to do whatever it takes to get it, even resorting to planning the perfect murder. Their cancer-stricken mum (Lynette Curran) is dying and, to their dismay, she's just changed her will to leave everything to their stepfather Rodger (Kim Gyngell). With the family home in country Victoria on the line, no-nonsense elder sibling Jeff (Clayton Jacobson) quickly convinces his kindlier younger brother Terry (Shane Jacobson) that homicide is the only option to reclaim their inheritance. It's with a wry smile that Brothers' Nest begins with its titular pair cycling up to their childhood abode, donning orange jumpsuits and hospital booties, and starting to enact Jeff's meticulous plan. Visually, the picture is soaked in fog and grey, befitting a sombre mood — but the moment Jeff and Terry start preparing for their grisly task, humour cracks the grim facade. Indeed, Clayton Jacobson and writers Jaime Browne (The Mule) and Chris Pahlow manage a delicate balancing act for the first two-thirds of the film, milking the business of knocking off a family member, and dealing with deep-seeded woes, for both drama and laughs. Still, there comes a point where brothers' banter can't bring cheer to this tale, with their bickering — often sparked by Jeff's pedantic determination to stick to his detailed to-do list — only going so far as the movie veers into more tragic territory. That said, much of the film's success stems from the Jacobsons' performances, with the pair pretending to be other, more desperate siblings. Fleshing out a fraught picture of brotherly love in the process, it's clearly not a case of art imitating life, but the authentic connection between their characters runs deeper than if the actors weren't related. For Shane, as the unsurprisingly more affable of the two, it's a more interesting and challenging big-screen role than he's had in some time, although his 'loveable larrikin' public persona softens Terry's quiet sadness. For Clayton, taking the sterner, more brittle part — and eventually, the more unhinged as well — it's a welcome reminder that his talents don't just reside behind the camera. Wielding that lens, Clayton's efforts are effective. Viewers never forget that this is a low-budget affair, particularly given that it's confined to one setting, but many rousing thrillers have been. A hefty smattering of inventive shots catch the eye, while the short but definitely not sweet film is well-paced, with Clayton also co-editing. Sadly the supporting cast are all noticeably underused, although Curran, Gyngell and Sarah Snook each make their marks. Of course, you don't go to a dark, murderous comedy called Brothers' Nest for something other than siblings getting kill-happy, and this taut, claustrophobic account of blood, money and double-crossing does what it needs to. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vdo5oiBQOgs
Mindfulness practice — achieving the mental state of focusing on the present moment — is gaining popularity as people attempt to regulate their stressful lives. People have turned to everything from meditation to colouring books to achieve mindfulness, but perhaps few people would think of doing a triathlon to achieve inner peace. Take three activities that promote mindfulness — specifically running, yoga and meditation — and you've got yourself a 'mindful triathlon'. Wanderlust 108 has been running these triathlon festivals since 2014, and the standard day has a few main components. First, there's the five kilometre run, although the site reassures you that you can walk instead of running — or even "prance, skip, stroll or strut" — as long as you reach the finish line. After that, theres 75 minutes of yoga accompanied by a DJ set, and finally 30 minutes of meditation to round out the whole-group activities. Once the structured section of the day has wrapped up, participants can also head to activities such as aerial yoga, acroyoga and hooping, or to lunch. It's part exercise, part dance party, part fest — and 100% focused on helping attendees feel great inside and out. Also on the agenda: walking meditation, essential oil classes and the Mindful Marketplace, which will help you take your new blissed-out state home with you.
It's not too early to think about your next season's swimwear, we promise — summer is in sight (or spring at the very least). Boho label Tigerlily Swimwear is offering something very relevant to your interests: a big old four-day warehouse sale to get you some much-welcome bikini bargains. The Aussie brand is almost 20 years old and still creating timeless prints and unique swimwear, so getting your mitts on some of the goods for up to 70 percent off doesn't seem like the worst idea. This is the brand's biggest ever warehouse sale with prices starting from $30. Past-season Tigerlily collections will be on offer for you and your sun-craving bodies — and it isn't just swimwear. Dresses, shorts, kaftans and other clothing will also be reduced to help you begin your summer haul. The Tigerlily warehouse sale will take place at Paddington Town Hall from August 23–26, running from 8am–7pm on Thursday and 8am–5pm Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
If pastel wasn't already part of your gig-going wardrobe, it will be at Client Liaison's Expo Liaison, which will be touring the country in August. Announced back in May, the seven-hour event will hit Sydney's Luna Park on across August 25, and the headlining duo will have quite the company. Alongside a roster of eight other acts, the duo's own set will also feature The Voice himself, John Farnham. Alice Ivy, Ken Davis, Kon, Luke Million featuring KLP, No Zu, Rainbow Chan and Total Giovanni are all on the bill, plus John Howard doing a DJ set. Whether that's John Howard the former prime minister, John Howard the Aussie actor or just some other guy called John Howard, well, your guess is as good as ours — but Triple J is entertaining the fact that it could be the former. As for the kind of vibe that's in store, the curated event has fest badged "a multimedia, multi-city, multiversal experience" in its promotional material, as well as a "once-in-a-lifetime event". They're the kind of descriptions that plenty of gigs and fests throw around, but, even though the band's being overly hyperbolic, Client Liaison has a track record of delivering more than just the usual shows — or fashion lines or music videos, for that matter.
Thank you, Germany, for giving us yet another reason to splurge on our favourite fermented beverage. Oktoberfest is getting an Aussie do-over again this year, as Oktoberwest takes over Sydney's inner west, the craft beer capital of Australia. You'll find Young Henrys, Willie The Boatman, Wayward Brewing Co., The Grifter Brewing Co., Batch Brewing Co, Sauce Brewing Co, Philter Brewing and Malt Shovel Brewery providing the beer. Aside from the opportunity to sample limited edition brews, there'll also be food trucks — including slow-cooked meats from Newtown's Bovine & Swine — a pop-up arcade bar, beer bingo and an absolutely killer party. Oh, and of course there'll be tunes. Adelaide rock trio Bad//Dreems, indie punk band Philadelphia Grand Jury and Sydney's 'dumpster diving' Operation Ibis will blast the beats while you sit back with your pint, while Dave Eastgate and Boner Contention (of Frankie's fame) will be leading rock 'n' roll karaoke. Keep an ear out also for The Chats, local band Bloods, with more to be announced.
When Bob Dylan last toured Australia, it was billed as a 'once in a lifetime' experience. And, for all those who went, it was. It's just that now fans will be get the opportunity to have another such experience, because the legendary tambourine man will return to Australia for a national tour this August. This tour will be less exhaustive than his 2014 effort, with Dylan set to do eight shows — one in Sydney on August 18, as well as one in Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Newcastle and Wollongong, and two back-to-back shows in Melbourne. He will draw on his incredible 60-year career — which spans 36 studio albums and countless hits — for the shows, so you better start praying to the music gods that your favourite makes it onto the setlist. Dylan may be 76 years old, but he has certainly showed no signs of slowing down as he approaches 80. In 2016 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for Literature and, just this year, he oddly released his own whisky. But still, it could be the last chance you get to see this living legend perform live. His last tour sold out, so don't wait too long to get your hands on tickets.
Sydney's luxury lifestyle and homewares label In Bed is hosting its annual warehouse sale this June. After launching its first bricks-and-mortar store in Paddington earlier this year, In Bed is now taking over an Alexandria warehouse with discounted linen and cotton bedding, bath towels, kitchen textiles and homewares. As well as discounts of up to 80 percent on the above, there'll also be a slew of samples, seconds and surplus stock to get your mitts on. If you've been lusting after the label's all-natural linens for a while now, here's your chance to finally take them home. But, a word of warning: it's going to make getting out of your cosy bed this winter even harder. In Bed Sydney Warehouse sale is open Friday, June 29, 12pm–7pm; Saturday, June 30, 9am–4pm; and Sunday, July 1, 9am–4pm.
Over the past few years, Keep Sydney Open has been the loudest voice for Sydney nightlife, and, as of this month, it's officially registered as a political party with plans to run at next year's NSW state election. And it's celebrating with a big ol' bash. From 9pm on Saturday, June 30, KSO is taking over Kings Cross Hotel in support of all things that have kept Sydney alive. The appropriately dubbed Party Party, which will be held across all six levels of the venue until 3.30am, will feature DJ sets from big names Roland Tings and Basenji, as well as Triple J presenter Luen Jacobs and music collective Body Type DJs. Now, the nightlife lobby group is solidifying its legitimacy and taking its battle to state parliament — it's now officially registered as a political party, and will be running at next year's NSW state election, which will be held on Saturday, March 23, 2019. KSO announced its new status via a Facebook video earlier this month, and released a statement on its website saying, "what started as a movement to protect Sydney's nightlife has morphed into something bigger — the lockouts were just one symptom of a broader sickness in NSW politics". While we can assume its stance on nightlife, the party's opinions on other state matters are yet to be revealed. These will be just as important to take into consideration in the lead-up to the election. Tickets to the party cost $32.70, with all proceeds going to support Keep Sydney Open's political campaign, and can be purchased here.
If you missed out on the huge Marrickville warehouse plant sale, be sure to clear Saturday, March 3 immediately. Because there's another one on its way. The Jungle Collective is a Melbourne nursery that stocks all kinds of weird and wonderful species. After holding its first wildly successful Sydney market earlier this month, it's gathering the leftover plants, tracking down new ones and throwing a one-day indoor plant party. While we don't know what plants will be available this time, previous sales have had everything from hanging pot plants to palms for the garden to a giant Bird of Paradise. Have a reputation for killing your cacti? Overwatering your ferns? Don't worry — there'll be horticulturalists on site on the night to give you advice and chat through any questions you might have. This one will be held in a different location, which hasn't been announced yet. Due to expected demand, the sale will be held in four sessions over the day (8–10am, 10am–12pm, 12–2pm and 2–4pm), and attendees will need to register for free tickets . Best get in quick for an early session though — the last Sydney market was incredibly popular.
Just like that, Beck has announced he'll be playing a surprise show in Sydney this Friday, February 23. It'll be happening at the Factory Theatre and tickets will be strictly limited to just 500. So, as you can imagine, fans are ready to pull teeth to lay their hands on one. In order to stop these rowdy masses from losing all control, promoters Secret Sounds and Live Nation are making tickets available by ballot only. And you have until midday today — Wednesday, February 21 — to register. You'll be told via email whether or not you scored a ticket by 5pm. Beck is making just three other appearances in Australia, one at the inaugural Sydney City Limits festival taking place at Centennial Park this Saturday, as well as two headline shows in Sydney and Canberra. Image: Lauren Dukoff.
Backhands, beats and artisan eats will converge on Rose Bay's Lyne Park Tennis Centre on Saturday, March 17. That's when social tennis event Social Serve returns to raise money for The Primary Club, an Aussie charity that helps people with disabilities to play sport. If your activewear hasn't had more of a workout than a stroll to the cafe at the end of your street, then here's your chance to put it to work. The good news is you'll only have to work as hard as you like. The sporty part of proceedings will take the form of friendly mixed doubles match from 3.30pm, with champs who kill it on the court heading into the finals. The whole thing will be capped off with a preso and rink from 7–9pm. Not so keen on joining the game? That's more than fine. Instead, relax on the sidelines, listen to local DJs, eat some snacks and drink some cocktails by Poor Toms.
Break out the pink and don't even dream of wearing sweatpants: it's Mean Girls brunch time. Come Sunday, April 22, themed mid-morning meals dedicated to the 2004 teen classic will be popping up in yet-to-be-disclosed locations in Sydney and Melbourne. Yes, like Gretchen's devotion to the word "fetch", someone is trying to make this happen. Tickets are $57 and include brunch and an hour of bottomless prosecco, and for an extra $6.60 you can catch a screening of the film too. It's the latest in what's proving a growing trend, given the enormous popularity of the already sold-out Harry Potter-themed Wizard's Brunch. If the Plastics were to give their opinion on it, however, we're not certain it'd get the Regina George stamp of approval. Other than the pink-hued outfits and just generally gossiping about the Tina Fey-written, Lindsay Lohan- and Rachel McAdams-starring movie, there's not that much else to really throw into the mix. Will attendees eat in a school cafeteria-like setting? Will it feature an all-carb menu to go with Regina's all-carb diet? Will tables be split into cliques like "actual human beings" and "desperate wannabes"? Will Kalteen bars feature? Perhaps a Spring Fling King and Queen will be crowned, which is what's happening at London's version of the event.
In 2018, great Australian choreographer Graeme Murphy celebrates 50 years in the business. And, to mark the occasion, the Australian Ballet is opening the season with a tribute. Titled Murphy, the show is a dazzling compilation of the choreographer's boldest and most poetic moments. A major highlight is the return of Firebird. The ballet is based on a Russian folktale about a prince who captures a bird, but, in exchange for a magical feather, sets her free. Next, he finds himself in an enchanted garden, where he falls in love with the daughter of an evil magician called Koschei, whose soul is trapped inside an egg. Together, the prince and Firebird attempt to release it. The story first appeared as a ballet in 1910 in an interpretation by choreographer Michel Fokine, set to music by composer Igor Stravinsky for the Ballet Russe. Murphy's recreation in 2009, which sticks to the original, is set in a dystopian Garden of Eden, designed by Leon Krasenstein. Along with performing the whole masterpiece, dancers will revisit excerpts from The Silver Rose, Ellipse, Grand and Air and Other Invisible Forces, as well as the entirety of Sheherazade. "What better way to start the year than by honouring an Australian dancemaker of unparalleled talent whose virtuosic career began right here with the Australian Ballet 50 years ago," said David McAllister, artistic director of the Australian Ballet. Murphy created his very first work for the Ballet's Choreographic Workshop in 1971, before going on to become artistic director for Sydney Dance Company, a position he held for 31 years. Murphy runs April 6–23 at the Sydney Opera House. You can book tickets here. Images: Jeff Busby and Alex Makeyev
The 2018 Alliance Française French Film Festival might be one year short of a major milestone, but the Gallic cinema showcase is still celebrating its 29th iteration in style. As always, that means a feast of films is on the agenda at the crowd-drawing and -pleasing annual event — 47 features, two documentaries and one televisions series, in fact. Touring the country from February 27, starting in Sydney before heading to Melbourne, Canberra, Brisbane, Perth, Hobart, Adelaide, Parramatta and Casula, this year's AFFFF will bookend its program with amusement. The festival kicks off with comedy C'est la vie! from The Intouchables duo Éric Toledano and Olivier Nakache, before coming to a close with rom-com 50 Is the New 30. In-between, everything from acclaimed efforts to star-studded dramas to the latest work from master directors will grace cinema screens around Australia, celebrating the best in French film from the past 12 months. Sitting high amongst the highlights are the AIDS activism-focused BPM and the Juliette Binoche-starring Let the Sunshine In, which will both receive a nation-wide run after screening at last year's Melbourne International Film Festival. In the high-profile camp, they're joined by a Marion Cotillard double, with the acclaimed actress featuring in last year's Cannes opening night pick Ismael's Ghosts and comedy Rock'n Roll; romantic drama The Return of the Hero with Mélanie Laurent and The Artist Oscar-winner Jean Dujardin; Isabelle Huppert in coming-of-age effort Reinventing Marvin; and Gael Garcia Bernal in If You Saw His Heart. Or fans of prominent French filmmakers can get their fix courtesy of François Ozon's Double Lover and Xavier Beauvois' The Guardians, marking the latest flicks from the respective directors of Frantz and Of Gods and Men. The Artist's Michel Hazanavicius tackles an icon, turning the life of Jean-Luc Godard into Redoubtable, while Laurent Cantet jumps from 2008 Palme d'Or-winner The Class to thriller The Workshop. Elsewhere, actor-director Mathieu Amalric helms and features in Barbara, about an actress starring in a biopic about a famed chanteuse. AFFFF 2018 will also shine a spotlight on queer cinema for the first time, to celebrate marriage equality, and also include its usual selection of family-friendly fare for younger cinephiles. And, for those keen on catching some TV on the big screen, three episodes of Paris, Etc will whisk you away to the French capital, following the lives and loves of Parisian women.
For a taste of the Hunter Valley's finest food and wine without the long drive, take a day trip to the beachside suburb of Avalon, where you can experience all the delights of Australia's premium wine-growing region at Uncorked Avalon. Returning for its second year, the one-day festival features 23 Hunter Valley wineries and a host of gourmet food suppliers coming together to provide a taste of what's to come at this year's Hunter Valley Food and Wine Festival. As well as sampling your way through the goods on offer, you'll be able to brush up on your knowledge at wine masterclasses. Held at the festival's new semillon and oyster pop-up bar, the sessions will be hosted by four of the region's top semillon producers —Mount Pleasant Wines, McLeish Estate Wines, Tamburlaine Organic Wines and Tulloch Wines — and will see the variety paired with fresh Sydney Rock oysters. The sessions will set you back $45 a pop, but for the cost of the ticket you'll get a Riedel glass, a flight of wine and half-a-dozen oysters. If wine's not your thing, there'll also be craft beers from the region and a host of local bites, including pastries, seafood, Italian street food and heaps of gooey and smelly cheeses. Tasting vouchers are $4 each on the day, or you can skip the line and pre-purchase a Riedel wine glass with four tasting tickets online for $26. Prepare your palate — it's set to be a big day of wining and dining. Uncorked Avalon will run from 10.30am to 5pm at The Village Green at Dunbar Park.
Though the festive season may be over five months away, the cold weather and cosiness of winter has inspired Christmas in July celebrations across Sydney. And this year, Ultimate Silent Disco and Silent Sounds are bringing the (second) most wonderful time of the year to new heights. On Friday, July 27, you can treat yourself to 360-degree views of Sydney as you boogie to Christmas-themed bops (and, normal music, too). While you can only hope to hear some of Mariah Carey's holly jolly hits as you party 250 metres above the CBD, you'll be sure to sleigh the dance floor to sets from three different DJs. You can party from 9.30pm to midnight, the music switching between hip hop, throwback, and house party channels. Don't forget to show off your Christmas (in July) spirit and wear the tackiest, most festive jumper — if you're best dressed, you could even win a prize. Drinks will be available to purchase on the night, too.
He has been the body, voice and spirit behind some of Australian musical theatre and cabaret's most memorable and vibrant characters. But there is one role that Trevor Ashley doesn't take on stage very often: himself. On Saturday, September 22, he plans to do just that, taking to the stage at City Recital Hall for an intimate look back at his time in show business — with a few impersonations thrown in for good measure. It's difficult to find a performative pie that Ashley hasn't had his finger in over the course of his 20-year career. Writer, director, actor and cabaret all-rounder, he's probably best known for his performances as Monsieur Thénardier in Les Misérables, Edna Turnblad in Hairspray and Miss Understanding in Priscilla Queen of the Desert: The Musical. But he's also found no end of acclaim with his independent works: a series of arch and saucy adult pantomimes titled Fat Swan, Little Orphan TrAshley and, most recently, The Bodybag. Having never performed at Sydney's City Recital Hall, Ashley's leaving nothing to chance. Armed with an array of anecdotes, an eight-piece band and an arsenal of songs, he promises that Double Ds: Two Decades of Divadom will be a tornado of spangles, sass and soaring high notes. And while this is technically a one-man act, you can expect to meet a number of different characters throughout the night, namely Liza Minnelli, Cher and Shirley Bassey. Sure, this is a retrospective. But it's also Australia's cabaret matriarch showing with brio and glamour why the throne has been his for the last two decades. Tickets for Trevor Ashley Double Ds start from $50 for under 30s. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the City Recital Hall website.
Cast your mind back to the Winter Olympics earlier this year. Aside from all of the mind-boggling feats that you'd never dare to try, you may also remember watching in envy as the pros celebrated victory with loads of Champagne. And soon you too can get a taste of this feeling after a day on the slopes — no placing necessary. The master of après festivities is back for its fifth poolside party to make you feel as golden as the experts do. On August 10 and 11, Mumm Champagne will transform the Thredbo Poolside Terrace into a confetti-clad party place for Red Sash Sets. You'll be grooving the afternoon away with the finest entertainment, as multi-faceted Sweet Mix Kids kicks off festivities at 4.30pm on Friday and 2pm on Saturday. After the DJ duo's Saturday set, Adelaidean producer Motez will take the stage at 5pm, followed by electro-dance act Hayden James at 6pm. If you do want to watch the masters of the trails do their thing, start your day at Thredbo's Top 2 Bottom downhill ski competition (with Champagne, of course) before heading to the Saturday session. Bus rides to and from Jindabyne will be provided for party-goers for $5 — we recommend pre-booking.
This year's Irish Film Festival doesn't just showcase the country's cinematic output, although it certainly does that. Intertwined with the fest's movie lineup, attendees will also receive a crash course in recent Irish history. With 2018 marking the 20th anniversary of the Northern Ireland peace process, the five-day event is focusing on films about the troubled period. In fact, four flicks in its nine-title program contemplate the subject. They include opening night's Maze, which dramatises a 1983 prison break, and The Journey, featuring Timothy Spall and Colm Meaney as figures on either side of the conflict. Or, there's also No Stone Unturned, the latest doco from director Alex Gibney (We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks, Going Clear: Scientology & the Prison of Belief), exploring the murder of six Catholics in a tiny pub in County Down in 1994. For viewers after a change of topic, the fest also features Song of Granite, a music biopic about traditional Irish folk singer Joe Heaney, as well as The Lodgers, which unfolds its haunted house tale in 1920s rural Ireland. Plus, the Irish Film Festival does something that other fests don't: it holds two opening nights. The main run kicks off on April 19 and plays until April 22, taking place at the Chauvel in Paddington. However, if you'd like to get things started early, it actually launches on April 18 with a one-night-only session at Penrith Gaels.
Nearly four decades ago, the nephew of a famous film director took his first big screen acting gig playing a character so minor, he didn't even get a name. Six years later, the star in question nabbed a Golden Globe nomination. Before the century was out, he won an Oscar. These days, he also has eight Razzie nominations, but if ever an actor has straddled the vast chasm between the ridiculous and sublime, it's Nicolas Cage. He has crooned Elvis songs for David Lynch, married Elvis's daughter in real life, acted opposite himself in Adaptation, taken to the skies with criminals in Con Air, named one of his sons after Superman, and starred into two of the worst Marvel-affiliated movies ever thanks to Ghost Rider and its sequel. The list goes on — and over his 37 years in the business, Nicolas Cage has amassed a whopping 95 screen credits. We could continue, but everyone knows that talking about Nicolas Cage isn't anywhere near as great as watching Nicolas Cage. Also, for some reason, it just feels better to use his entire name. Don't just take our word for it about any of the above, however — take the Ritz Cinema's. This year, as part of a six-week effort between September 2 and October 9, the Randwick venue is dedicating two days each week to Nicolas Cage mania. The cinema is calling it the We Love Nic Cage film series, and it has amassed quite the showcase of Nicolas Cage's work across six films – but let's be honest, they really could've picked any of his flicks and it'd be amazing. Attendees will get into the mood with the long-locked glory of Con Air, then watch Cage switch faces with John Travolta in Face/Off, before seeing him live life in the fast lane in Gone in 60 Seconds. Next comes jailbreak drama The Rock, his latest and maybe greatest in the form of unhinged thriller Mandy,before coming to a close with the Coen brothers' madcap comedy Raising Arizona. Tickets cost $15 per session (and $12 for members), but the memories you'll have seared into your brain forever will be priceless. A word of warning: spending this long staring at Nicolas Cage's various crazy grins won't be easy to shake, especially with four of the films screening on 35mm. If you're keen — and of course you are — here's the full rundown of films, dates and times: Con Air: Sunday, September 2 at 4.45pm and Tuesday, September 4 at 8.30pm. Face/Off: Sunday, September 9 at 5pm and Tuesday, September 11 at 8.30pm. Gone in 60 Seconds: Sunday, September 16 at 5.30pm and Tuesday, September 18 at 8.30pm. The Rock: Sunday, September 23 at 5pm and Tuesday, September 25 at 8.30pm. Mandy: Saturday, September 29 at 8.30pm and Monday, October 1 at 5pm. Raising Arizona: Sunday, October 7 at 5.30pm and Tuesday, October 9 at 8.30pm.
When The Incredibles first leapt onto cinema screens 14 years ago, it earned its title several times over. Exploring the exploits of a super-enhanced family trying to live a normal life, the movie served up an all-ages superhero story with smarts and heart. Moreover, the savvy Pixar flick successfully predicted two things. Back in 2004, when no one had even heard of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Spider-Man was played by Tobey Maguire and Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy hadn't yet made its mark, The Incredibles pre-empted society's current love of caped crusaders. Indeed, that film began at a time where spandex-clad folks like Mr. Incredible (Craig T. Nelson), Elastigirl (Holly Hunter) and Frozone (Samuel L. Jackson) are constantly seen, heard and talked about. But it also foresaw the flipside to this obsession, recognising that the public's love of costumed crime-fighters has its limits. In the world of the movie, everyone listing 'saving the world' as their occupation was banned when the world had had enough. If you've been caught up in superhero fever over the past decade, only to catch a case of superhero fatigue as more and more comic book heroes soar across our screens, you can surely recognise all of the above. In fact, blending fantastical elements with relatable components was one of The Incredibles' greatest super powers. Caped crusaders are just like us, the picture made clear – attempting to juggle their personal and professional lives, battling to achieve their dreams, and fighting for their place. And while long-awaited sequel Incredibles 2 repeats the same basic premise, the franchise's canny ability to combine cartoon antics with cutting societal commentary ensures this is no mere rehash. Picking up where the first film left off, Incredibles 2 sees its central family — Mr. Incredible aka Bob Parr, Elastigirl aka Helen, and kids Violet (Sarah Vowell), Dash (Huck Milner) and Jack-Jack (Eli Fucile) — trying to fend off burrowing, bank-robbing villain The Underminer, then coping with the aftermath. No one is happy about their efforts, and the fact that people with enhanced abilities are still illegal means a life without crime-fighting awaits. Enter telecommunications company head Winston Deavor (Bob Odenkirk) and his sister Evelyn (Catherine Keener), with a plan to restore the heroes to their former glory. With Elastigirl leading the charge, the siblings have masterminded a rebranding campaign designed to make super folk popular again. And, thanks to body cameras and media appearances, this revolution will be televised. Drama comes in the form of an incredibly apt nemesis: Screenslaver, who interrupts Elastigirl's broadcasts with mind-controlling signals and raves about humanity's reliance on screens. Accordingly, Incredibles 2 slings statements about today's social media saturation, the valuing of appearances, and the fact that we live in a society where someone is always watching — for better or worse. It's a movie about the power of perception, one that rallies against making, filming or viewing something simply because you can. They're all observations that apply to the picture's specific story, to the broader superhero realm, and just to life in general. Plus, thanks to a subplot following Bob's attempts to hold the fort at home while Helen is off championing the caped crusader cause, the film also has plenty to say about gender equality and the role of women. Still, none of this would mean anything if returning writer-director Brad Bird didn't pair his story with engaging action, a playful tone and genuine emotion. Although not for people who are sensitive to flashing lights, an early strobe-lit confrontation ranks among the most inventive scenes in a superhero flick — animated or live-action — while an altercation between Jack-Jack and a racoon is just as memorable. Filled with both zippy battles and quiet character moments, Incredibles 2 mostly gets the balance right, even if it does feel a little padded towards the end. Interestingly, Bird (whose CV also includes The Iron Giant, Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol and Tomorrowland) is the only person in Pixar history to assume total control for scripting and helming any of the company's features without any co-writers or co-directors. The result is not only one of Pixar's original standout movies, but its best sequel in nearly a decade. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5qOzqD9Rms
Legendary Talking Heads frontman David Byrne is returning to Aussie shores this November. While down under, Byrne will hit up Melbourne, Sydney, the Gold Coast and Adelaide to promote his newly released — and already acclaimed — album American Utopia. Byrne's first solo album in 14 years, American Utopia features songs co-written by Brian Eno and contributions from Sampha and electro producer Daniel Lopatin. As well as songs off the new album, Byrne will perform classics from his solo career and hits from his Talking Heads days — expect 'Psycho Killer', 'This Must Be the Place' and, of course, 'Burning Down the House' to make an appearance. The show is one of Byrne's most ambitious yet, too, with a 12-piece band joining him on stage and choreography by Annie-B Parson, who choreographed the St Vincent and David Byrne collaboration back in 2013. It's expected to be an eclectic and moving performance, with early shows reviewed as "at once novel and oddly comforting" and "a thought provoking example of the power of live music". Byrne performed the show at Coachella earlier this year, where it was a standout. Tickets to the American Utopia tour will go on sale at midday on Monday, June 18.
Thredbo's jam-packed, four-month winter program kicks off with the Winter 2018 Opening Weekend. It'll take place from 9–11 June, which is a long weekend for New South Welshmen (and Welsh-ladies) so there's plenty of time to take advantage of all the activities. There'll be parties galore, with epic music lineups on both Saturday and Sunday nights — featuring tunes from the likes of Young Franco and Hot Dub Time Machine — after-parties, fireworks, ice sculptures and even magic (if that's your thing). For those whose heads aren't too sore, there'll be yoga classes on the riverbank every day at 10am — so you can breathe in the fresh mountain air while aligning your chakras. While these are all very exciting events in their own rights, they're really all sideshows to the main event: the slopes will be open for business. So dust off your thermals and get ready to rip up the slopes (or to spend a lot of time on your behind, if it's your first time). Thredbo is celebrating the winter season's opening weekend by slinging a three-nights-for-two accommodation deal, which you can book here. Practice does make perfect, after all (or, at least, result in more time on your feet). To find out more about Thredbo's exciting winter program, head to thredbo.com.au.
An underground sensation has been stirring in Australia since 1999. That's when the country's first truffles were harvested, following years of careful preparation, and as a nation we've embraced this black gold of haute cuisine ever since. To see how the prized fungi are farmed firsthand, there's nothing better than to join a truffle hunt and tasting at Black Cat Truffles. This truffiere on the edge of Victoria's Creswick State Forest, just outside of Ballarat, boasts more than 1000 French and English oak trees with truffles slowly, moodily growing on their roots. To help you sniff them out, you'll have a little animal assistance from Black Cat's resident dogs, Ella, Harry and Narla (pigs are famously naturally drawn to truffles, but you don't want to fight one for the rights to its find). Farmers Andres and Lynette Haas will be there too, sharing their truffle-related knowledge, tales and tasting notes. You'll also get to try a selection of truffle-infused dishes, ranging from oozy d'Affinois cheese to potato stacks and ice cream. This is a quintessentially winter activity — truffles aren't in season for long — so prepare to rug up, pull on your wellies and get enveloped in the highland mists. Black Cat's Truffle Hunts and Tastings run from June to August. If you're really enamoured with the catch of the day, it's yours to take home for $2.50 per gram. To find more winter adventures in Ballarat, Daylesford and the surrounds, visit the Wander Victoria website.
Bendigo is a city that loves its craft. You can see that in its busy pottery centre or its tram completely covered in yarn. But most of all, you can see it in the profusion of craft breweries here, collectively making some of the best cold ones in the country. To celebrate this thriving indie beer scene, Bendigo on the Hop returns to the city on Saturday, August 25. The annual winter festival transforms Bendigo's historic town centre into the site of one epic craft beer crawl. The event organisers, local non-profit Bendigo Beer, describe it as a "festival for beer drinkers with an open mind". It works like this: you buy your ticket and select your starting venue. This is where you pick up your tasting tokens and souvenir glass on the day. After that, it's a choose-your-own-adventure as you make your way to whichever pub, bar, beer garden or pop-up kiosk calls you most. This year's event has grown from last year, now featuring 44 beers from 22 truly independent breweries across 10 venues — including sophisticated restaurant Rocks on Rosalind, leafy Handle Bar and heritage boozer The Rifle Brigade Hotel. Turn over your tasting tokens as you go, and be adventurous — that tzatziki beer might turn out to be your tastebuds' true love. Trains travel every hour from Melbourne to Bendigo, making this an easy day trip. If you've got the time to spare, though, take the opportunity to stay the night, enjoy a lazy Sunday and spend some time at Bendigo's four breweries. To plan your time in Bendigo and the surrounding countryside, visit the Wander Victoria website.
If you're fond of a bit of activewear, you better work some shopping time into your schedule over the next three days. The Upside is hosting a huge warehouse sale this week, taking over Paddington Town Hall from April 5–7. The Sydney-based activeware brand is offering up to 75 percent off for both men's and women's apparel, with samples starting at just 25 bucks. Clothing from the January through September 2017 seasons will be up for grabs — think colourfully patterned sports bra and legging sets, singlets, workout jumpers and tennis shorts. The pop-up shop will be open Thursday from 12–9pm, Friday from 8am–6pm and Saturday from 9am–5pm. We expect there will be a queue — move around some yoga classes to get there early.
South Australia is coming for you in a big way, Sydney. A whopping 30 Adelaide Hills wineries are headed to Surry Hills next month for a three-hour session of wine, food and tunes. Hills Heist will take over the Ford Sherrington House's new Winebar One on Tuesday, May 8 from 6–9pm. Expect a massive 70 wines on offer, giving punters a seriously wide ranging taste of the region's best drops. The wine region spans 70 kilometres and is known for its diversity, from sparkling to shiraz to pinot noir, along with gruner veltliner — an Austrian variety that the Adelaide Hills have become known for. Among the standout winemakers in attendance is Murdoch Hill's Michael Downer, who recently won Best Emerging Talent at the 2017 Young Gun of Wine awards. He's accompanied by Petaluma's Andrew Hardy, Shaw + Smith's Adam Wadewitz and Riposte's Tim Knappstein, to name a few. Modern European-style snacks will be served alongside the wine and Sydney local DJ Levins will be on the beats. Considering how much wine is on offer, tickets are priced at a pretty reasonable $65. The full list of wineries represented at the Hills Heist event include: Anderson Hill, ArtWine, Barristers Block, Bird in Hand, Chain of Ponds, Deviation Road, Elderslie, Elysian Springs, Fox Gordon, Golding, Hanhdorf Hill, Henschke, Howard Vineyard, Lobethal Road, Longview, Mike Press Wines, Mt Lofty Ranges, Murdoch Hill, Nepenthe, Paracombe, Penfolds, Petaluma, Red Heads, Riposte, Sew & Sew, Shaw + Smith, Somerled, The Lane Vineyard, The Pawn Wine Co, Tomich and Wicks Estate. Images: John Kruger.
Powerhouse Youth Theatre (PYT) Fairfield once again heads out into the local community to do what they do best — that is, highlighting and celebrating cultural pockets of Sydney that are vibrant but often little-known. This time the focus is on the thriving Iraqi culture in Sydney's western suburbs. Little Baghdad is a culinary theatre experience, but it's also an effort to gain public recognition and support for one of the most successful refugee services in the world. Audiences are invited to attend a traditional dinner party in the Parents' Garden Café in Fairfield High School, a commercial kitchen-cum-refugee support centre that has been praised by the UN as a model for welcoming and integrating refugees into a community. The night will consist of food, drink, dance and song as newly arrived Australians share dishes and memories from the country of their birth. Artists and musicians will be showcasing their works, with performances and live music throughout the night. After dinner, though, everyone dances. It's tradition. This is an excellent opportunity to support one of the few positive measures Australians have implemented when it comes to refugees. It's also a great chance to immerse yourself in the culture of a country that's been a tad difficult to explore as a tourist of late. If you need extra incentive, supporting this event is an incredibly creative way of telling Peter Dutton where he can shove it. Although, if you'd rather not spoil your dinner with politics, the first two reasons are perfectly adequate.
