Andy Warhol, Marilyn Monroe, The Mighty Boosh, Frida Kahlo: they're just some of the faces that've graced exhibitions around Australia in 2023. The next to join them is Amy Winehouse, in a showcase that's doing what documentary Amy also dedicated some of its frames to: stepping back a couple of decades to the beginning of the 'Back to Black' and 'Rehab' singer's career. When Winehouse was 19, photographer Charles Moriarty was requested by a friend to take some snaps of the then-unknown talent. They're the images that Amy, Before Frank will display. More than 30 will feature — and if you're wondering where the exhibition's name comes from, it references Winehouse's debut album Frank, with the photos covered hailing from before that record dropped. When Winehouse was in front of his lens, Irish photographer Moriarty didn't know what'd follow for the performer — the fame and success, nor her passing in 2011. The session clearly worked out well because Moriarty also shot the cover art for Frank, and became friends with the singer. To check out Amy, Before Frank, fans will need to head to Sydney's M2 Gallery from Wednesday, October 18–Sunday, October 22. That timing couldn't be more perfect, given that Frank — which includes the singles 'Stronger Than Me', 'Take the Box' and 'In My Bed' — released two decades ago in October. Moriarty is also coming to Australia with the exhibition, chatting in Sydney on Saturday, October 21. [caption id="attachment_917853" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The original photograph used for Amy Winehouse's debut album 'Frank', shot on Princelet St, London, 2003[/caption] Images: Charles Moriarty.
In the words of Tyrion Lannister, it's not easy being drunk all the time. Everyone would do it if it were easy. That may be true, but you can certainly give it a go, when Game of Rhones returns for another year. An epic wine tasting event inspired by the grapes of France's Rhone Valley and the works of George R. R. Martin, this year's Game of Rhones will visit Carriageworks on Sunday, June 18. The event will welcome more than 100 wines from winemakers such as Shaw + Smith, Yarra Yering, Ministry of Clouds, Henschke, Yalumba (and many more). There'll also be food from Melbourne's Burn City Smokers and cheese from Yarra Valley Dairy to ensure you don't go hungry. In between goblets, ticketholders will get the chance to chat with sommeliers at the Rhone Bar, where you can purchase full glasses of wine. If you're really keen, you can purchase a Royal Pass, which will get you access to the event an hour earlier, a food voucher and some one-on-one time with a sommelier to help you work out which wines you like best. It should also go without saying that dressing up as your favourite GoT character is highly encouraged. Zombie John Snow, anyone?
If, this January 26, you're looking for a thoughtful way to reflect on the impact of the arrival of the First Fleet and Australia's colonisation on its First Nations people, you should join the folks from Sydney Festival the evening prior. The fest will hold two events on the evening of Saturday, January 25: Procession and The Vigil. Led by Aboriginal Elders at Sydney Town Hall at 6pm, the procession will make its way through the CBD streets until it reaches Barangaroo Reserve at around 8pm. There, after the raising of Jacob Nash's huge flag installation, the overnight vigil will begin. For the second time, Sydneysiders will stake out at Barangaroo from sunset right through to dawn on the morning of January 26 (that is, what's recognised as Australia Day). It's a long night, but there will be performances and talks from First Nations artists happening throughout; as well as a traditional smoking ceremony and Welcome to Country, you'll be able to see Dan Sultan, Muruwari musician Matthew Doyle. the Buudja Buudja Dance Clan and the Meuram Murray Island Dancers perform. You can drop by at any time or stay all night — if you're in it for the long haul, make sure you bring warm clothes and snacks. Feel free to take some mates with you, but the event is also a good opportunity to meet new people and have conversations around the anniversary and what it means for all Australians. Both events are free, but you should register your interest for Procession here.
From November to March each year, the turtle nesting and hatching period kicks into gear along Queensland's coastline. First, the shell-wearing critters lay their eggs. Then, they wait for their young to emerge. If you're a fan of the animals, it's prime turtle-spotting season. Located within the Mon Repos Conservation Park and home to the largest population of nesting marine loggerhead turtles in the South Pacific, the Mon Repos Turtle Centre has long hosted tours during breeding season, letting turtle lovers watch nature in action. When the 2019 period commences, visitors will not only be able to see the sea-dwelling creatures come home to lay their eggs, watch their babies hatch and witness the cute infants make their first journey out to sea — they'll also be able to roam around a revamped facility. Launching in November along with this year's tours, Mon Repos Turtle Centre will unveil its $22 million renovation, with $17 million of that funding provided by the Queensland Government. While it'll get plenty of traffic during peak turtle-viewing season, the aim is to entice visitors all-year-round. To help, the refreshed centre will boast an immersive theatre room that recreates the turtle nesting experience. Attendees will take off their shoes, step onto sand and watch the process, regardless of whether they're heading on a nightly tour or just stopping by in the off-season. Other new additions include a cafe, touch screen TVs and new displays. The revamped facility will also be decked out with new interpretive signage, welcoming visitors to the region by its First Nation tribes — the Gooreng Gooreng, Gurang, Tarebilang and Byellee peoples. Find the Mon Repos Turtle Centre at 141 Mon Repos Road, Mon Repos from Saturday, November 9. For further details or to book tickets, visit the centre's website.
If the only thing stopping you from existing entirely on fried chicken is the threat of skyrocketing cholesterol levels and less-than-healthy arteries, the soon-to-launch Goobne is sure to take your fancy. The legendary Korean chicken chain is known for dishing up a slightly more virtuous spin on crispy chook, and it's launched its first Aussie store. Making its home within the Darling Square food precinct, this Sydney flagship caters to those chicken cravings without undoing too many efforts at the gym. Goobne's signature bird has the kind of crisp skin you dream about, but because it's oven-roasted without any oil, it's also a whole lot healthier than its fried counterparts. There are seven varieties of saucy roast chicken to choose from, including black pepper, a fruity soy and garlic number, and the fiery Volcano. You'll also find dishes like the UFO Fondue Chicken, which sees drumsticks scooped through a pool of rich melted cheese. The menu also stars a swag of fried rice creations, noodle dishes and sides, including the signature Goobne egg rolls that come topped with various house-made sauces. And, potentially most excitingly, everything can be ordered directly to your table using your smartphone. Meanwhile, a lineup of K-razy Cocktails lives up to its name, with concoctions like the vibrant blue Sharknado and the Corona-Rita — a tequila on the rocks crowned with an upside down stubby of Corona. Find Goobne at Darling Square, 35 Tumbalong Boulevard, Haymarket. It's open from 11.30am until late every day. Updated: December 2, 2019.
Sydney's light rail project has come with more than its fair share of problems, not least of all the legal stoush between the NSW Government and the project's subcontractor Acciona, which has blown out the completion date. And now, it seems we could also be waiting months longer than anticipated for more of the barriers surrounding the construction sites to be removed. While initial plans suggested the Sydney Light Rail would be up and running by 2019, the ALTRAC consortium behind the project yesterday confirmed that some barriers will be sticking around well into the new year. ALTRAC Chief Executive Officer Glenn Bentley put a positive spin on this latest progress report, saying local businesses and residents would soon notice civil construction works nearing completion. But while he revealed some barriers around the northern CBD, Surry Hills and Moore Park would be removed by November, he also explained those in Randwick, Kensington and Kingsford — which affect businesses on Anzac Parade — could be staying put until early next year. Some have already been removed on George Street and the Central end of Devonshire Street. Bentley said that "where possible, zones may be opened sooner than these dates", though Sydneysiders would have to deal with localised barriers until cabling and paving work in each area is completed. ALTRAC said project delays were being managed as fast as possible, confirming track has been laid in 29 of the 31 light rail zones. Testing on a stretch of the new 12.7-kilometre route from Circular Quay to Randwick and Kingsford began in February, with the initial aim to have trams running on it 2019. If barriers are to stay up until early next year, that looks very unlikely to happen. Here's hoping that, if trams aren't running, the removal of the construction will at least allow us to navigate and enjoy the city without being blocked at every turn. Image: Sydney Light Rail.
The urge to explore can be a little tricky to satisfy in this day and age, but the desire to find something new, go somewhere different and get an adrenalin hit along the way remains. Silent UK tells the stories of urban explorers, an emerging (and international) subcultural group dedicated to delving into closed, unknown and abandoned city spaces— the derelict buildings and the drainpipes we walk past everyday. In a new short film that takes viewers into London's underground tube network, the explorers talk frankly about what motivates their adventures — the appeal of unknown places, the beauty in what others may deem ugly, and the photographic opportunities. Mostly the explorers just do it because it's fun. That, and the fact that there is also a real risk of danger, something you should give some serious thought to if you find yourself eyeing off your local drainpipe.
When it was announced that Fiji was planning to open its borders to Australian tourists back in November, you could almost hear the collective woosh of laptop lids opening as everyone went straight to travel booking websites. After a long two years without island escapes, it seems like everyone is suddenly posting pics of boarding passes and palm tree-lined pools —and we simply love to see it, as our close island neighbours need our tourism and support more than ever. Airlines have ramped up their offerings in response — when the border opening was announced, Virgin Australia was quick to restart its twice-daily return flights to Nadi from Sydney, daily return flights from Melbourne and thrice-weekly return flights from Brisbane. These days, Jetstar, Fiji Airways, Virgin and Qantas are offering direct return services. So yes, get ready for some beach pics to fill your feed. But it's fair to say we're a little out of practice with international travel, and things have changed a lot since the last time we whisked away. Whether you're heading off for some sunshine or you're considering booking in a much-needed holiday, we chatted to the crew at Tourism Fiji to find out everything you need to know about testing requirements, currency conversion, and what happens if you test positive for COVID while you're away. What are the testing requirements for travelling to and from Fiji? For fully-vaccinated travellers, there is no need to complete a pre-departure test. Instead, Fiji requires all tourists aged 12 and over to confirm they have a pre-booked RAT test to be taken anytime within 72 hours of arrival in Fiji. This can be done at a hotel or nearby testing facility — you can find more information about that here. You'll need to provide proof of your vaccine status when checking in at the airport – digital or paper certification will cover you — and for holidaymakers, medical travel insurance with international coverage that includes COVID-19 cover is required. Before returning home to Australia, you'll need to complete a Digital Passenger Declaration, which can be found here. What happens if I test positive for COVID-19 when I'm in Fiji? So, the nightmare has happened. But don't stress — there are worse places to recover from COVID than a Fijian resort. You'll be placed in isolation, where possible remaining in the room you are already in. Tourism Fiji says that occasionally resorts will put people up in a room with a private pool to wait out their isolation in their own space, while still being able to swim and relax. If travel companions are testing negative, they can choose to join the positive person in isolation or stay in their original accommodation separately — that's a fight waiting to happen if we've ever heard one. If you're still testing positive after the seven-day isolation, a medical certificate will be provided by health officers in Fiji confirming that you are no longer infectious so you can travel home freely. What are the mask-wearing protocols in Fiji? Wearing a mask is optional in Fiji but it's recommended to protect yourself and the locals – especially when in indoor spaces, on public transport, or in taxis. You'll also need to wear your mask in the airports and on the plane, except when eating or drinking. How long is the flight and do I need to prepare for jet lag? Flying from Brisbane is the quickest way to get to Fiji — the flight time is only around two-and-a-half hours. The flight time from Sydney to Nadi is approximately four hours, while Melbourne to Nadi is closer to five — have a snooze on the flight and you'll be sipping a cocktail poolside in no time. Fiji is two hours ahead of Australia (AEST), so there shouldn't be major jetlag issues. Besides, you're on island time now, so turn off those alarms. Where can I stay in Fiji? Across Fiji's 333 islands there is a range of accommodation offerings from bougie to budget. Whether you're choosing a five-star resort on a private island or a family-friendly apartment, the island nation is famous for its hospitality, so you're bound to have a great time. If you're keen to splash out, check out Concrete Playground's guide to luxe Fijian stays to splash out on. For stays a little more off-grid, check out this guide to a "less obvious" Fijian holiday. Do I need cash in local currency? What's the exchange rate? Most retailers and tourism providers take card payments and have paywave, so if you're travelling on a package tour with transfers included it's unlikely you'll need cash. But Tourism Fiji says that if you are planning on travelling by taxi you're best to keep some Fijian cash on you as most don't take a card. ATMs at Nadi airport are the best place to get cash out on arrival — you will be charged a transaction fee, so be aware it's best to get all the cash you'll need at once. And the most important question for any traveller… Do I need to bring an adapter for my wall plugs? Nope! In Fiji, the plugs and sockets are type I – the same as here in Australia. One less thing to think about when heading away. Top images: Sofitel Fiji, Six Senses Fiji
The next level of the global transport economy is fast approaching — even Down Under. First, there was news that Melbourne could be one of the first cities to test Uber's flying cars, then came the announcement of the proposed Hyperloop Transport System, which would get you from Sydney to Melbourne, or Brisbane to Sydney, in just 37 minutes. Sure, these are still a relatively distant dream, but one such technological advance is much closer than you may think — an Uber-like service with driverless electric cars, courtesy of Tesla. At a conference earlier this week, Tesla founder Elon Musk announced that the company is planning to roll out a massive fleet of one million self-driving 'robotaxis' as early as next year. These autonomous vehicles are planned to hit roads in the US by mid-2020 — regulatory approvals pending, of course. If all goes to Musk's plan, here's how it'll work: the app will function much the way all ride-sharing apps do — except the car will drive itself. The existing Tesla app will be fitted with a 'summon' option, where you'll be able to order the closest robotaxi from its stored location, and it'll drive itself over to pick you up. [caption id="attachment_718225" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tesla ride-sharing app[/caption] Plus, some Telsa owners will be able to add their own car to the service, with the options to limit sharing to friends, co-workers or social media contacts. In areas where not enough share vehicles are available, Tesla will release a dedicated fleet to ensure short wait times. But what does this mean for Australia? According to the ABC, Australian transport ministers plan to have a regulation for commercial self-driving vehicles in place by next year — a neatly timed goal with Musk's ambitious roll out. So, depending on which way next month's election swings, we could soon be riding in cars with no-one at the wheel. If you're really interested, a four-hour livestream of the Tesla conference, in which Musk discusses the ride-sharing service, is available to watch here. Tesla is aiming to put one million self-driving 'robotaxis' on US roads by mid-next year, depending on regulatory approvals. In Australia, regulations for commercial autonomous vehicles are set to be in place by next year.
Sydney's newest vending machines are a little different to what you're probably used to. They're not stocked with chocolate bars, chip packets or even soft drinks — rather, they're dispensing a healthy and planet-friendly serve of OJ. The Juice For Good machines are the work of ForPurposeCo, an innovative social enterprise and fundraising offshoot of food rescue charity OzHarvest. At just the press of a button, and $4, they can whip you up a cup (between 320–370mls, depending on the size of the oranges) of 100 percent fruit juice, made from their stock of rescued oranges — you know, the ones that taste delicious, but that might not look absolutely perfect on the outside. The unwanted fruit has been collected from local producers and given a freshly squeezed lease on life, at a time when almost half of our Aussie-grown fruit and vegetables don't even make it off the farm. As well as being a whole lot healthier than your usual cola fix, these drinks are also doing great things for fellow Australians, with all machine profits going straight to support OzHarvest's work. [caption id="attachment_704126" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Chris Chen[/caption] A couple of Juice For Good machines have been operating since September, with ones currently located near Steam Mill Lane, at OzHarvest's Alexandria HQ, near 44 Market Street in the CBD, at The Cannery in Rosebery, Harbourside Shopping Centre in Darling Harbour and at Birkenhead Point in Drummoyne. Keep an eye on the Juice for Good website for new machines. Images: Chris Chen.
Famous for its 55-minute workouts and worldwide following, Barry's Bootcamp has become a fitness heavyweight since first setting up shop in West Hollywood back in 1998 — and now it's bringing its studios to Australia. From tomorrow, September 15, Sydneysiders will be able to put themselves through Barry's high-intensity interval training sessions in Surry Hills. It'll be the company's first Aussie studio, but not its last — Barry's will launch its flagship Martin Place studio this October, and in early 2019 it will launch another yet-to-be-revealed Sydney CBD spot and its first Melbourne location. If you're a gym junkie, celebrity obsessive or just familiar with the term "Barry's body", then you'll have heard of Barry's. Already active in 18 cities around the globe — including Los Angeles, New York, Milan, London and Dubai — it's claimed that the studio's sessions burn over 4000 kilojoules. That's thanks to a regimented program that incorporates 25 minutes of treadmill work, 25 minutes of strength and conditioning with free weights and resistance bands, and then a five-minute cool-down. The focus of each class changes daily across Barry's weekly schedule, with each session targeting a different muscle group. As extra motivation, Barry's classes are held in high-energy red rooms, complete with mood lighting and the kind of music you're more likely to hear in a nightclub. Adding to the vibe, each location features its own bar serving up locally designed shakes and smoothies — and patrons will also be able to buy workout outfits onsite. As expected, the world-renowned bootcamp class comes with hefty price tag — $36 a pop. You could, alternatively, purchase a 50-class pack for $1550, which works out at $31 a class. Find Barry's Bootcamp at 66-72 Reservoir Street, Surry Hills from Saturday, September 15. Open 5am–8pm Mon–Fri, 7am–3pm Sat and 8am–3pm Sun.
Pour yourself a white russian, pop on your favourite bathrobe and prepare to spend two hours with one of the best big-screen creations there is. No one else in the history of celluloid is quite like Jeffrey 'The Dude' Lebowski, played with such relaxed slacker charm by Jeff Bridges that it genuinely seems as if he isn't acting. And no other filmmakers could've brought his zany (and immensely fictional) story to life like the Coen brothers, either. There's a reason that this flick has been a cult classic for more than two decades now. Actually, there are plenty — including a bowling joke that you've probably either quoted or heard multiple times, because it never gets old. If you're a newcomer to the 1998 movie, prepare for a mistaken-identity tale, with The Dude mixed up with a millionaire with the same name. Oh-so-many hijinks ensue, with the Coens firmly in offbeat crime-comedy mode, as aided by a cast that includes everyone from John Goodman and Julianne Moore to John Turturro and Steve Buscemi.
It was the decade that gave us Magic Eye pictures, the Macarena, Pokemon and Tamagotchi, too. We're talking, of course, about the 90s. The decade might've come to an end exactly 20 years ago now, but it's easy to get nostalgic about — especially in a hectic year where we're all thinking about how simple life once was. The easiest way to indulge that nostalgia? You can pop on a flannelette shirt or some Hypercolour if you like, or you can head back in time via your viewing choices. Press play on one of the big hits of the decade, and you'll be transported back to a period when a group of mates sat on an orange coffee shop couch, and when the Dude also abided. To help plan out your ultimate retro watch list, we've teamed up with streaming service Binge to highlight five beloved TV shows and movies that'll take you back to the 90s faster than a DeLorean — including via a 14-day free trial for new customers.
Art Month 2013 returns for a fourth year of art, and this time around it's rocking some alternative credentials. Art performance duo Penelope Benton and Alexandra Clapham — best known for their papery, dinner party concoctions — have gone from side dish to chef, co-artistically directing this year's extravaganza of art, performance, and exploration. It's a long table of artistic talent that they've laid out, running from returning favourites Art at Night and Two-Wheeled Tours to new-addition adventures west and behind-the-scenes at local art schools. Not to mention all the galleries running shows on the side. It's a big, broad, and city-spanning program. Sampling the whole menu could be the business of a month in itself, so to help you out, Concrete Playground has picked out 10 of the tastiest morsels for you to sink your teeth into. 1. Precinct Nights Gallery-hopping is always more exciting in the romantic half-light of evening, wouldn't you agree? Similar to Art at Night last year, Precinct Nights offer you the golden opportunity to enjoy a spate of art venues open late, transforming your art viewing into an after-hours adventure trail. Participating precincts include Paddington/Woollahra, Alexandria/Waterloo, Surry Hills, Chippendale/Redfern, Rozelle, and East/Darlinghurst. Rozelle's night also features some performance events that have caught our eye: for example, dLux MediaArts presents DTV, an outdoor screening of single channel artworks in the Artereal Gallery car park. 2 & 3. MOST and LOST Open Studio Trails In 2011 Marrickville jumped onto the Art Month bandwagon with the Marrickville Open Studio Trail (MOST), and 2012 saw Leichhardt jump in with the Leichhardt Open Studio Trail (LOST). Both got you close to artists in their natural habitat: galleries and studios. This year, both suburbs have opted in, which makes for two weekends of sanctioned, behind-the-scenes art nosiness. MOST will run tours over the weekend on every type of transport you set your foot to: pedal (Saturday and Sunday), bus, foot, or expert, as Match Box Projects return to run their tours of local ARIs. Open spaces include eclectic warehouse space the Red Rattler, MEKanarky descendants Tortuga Studios and Salmagundi, and a new micro space, the Marrickville Garage. There will also be a citizens-meet-street-artists street art forum. LOST, meanwhile, gets in on the Art Cycling and opens the doors to spaces like Art Est, house-size Pseudo Space, the Mosaic Art School, School of Footwear, the Kinema space, and Higher Ground. MOST (map and guide) runs 11am-4pm, March 9 and 10. LOST (map and guide) runs 10am-3.30pm, March 23 and 24. 4. Tours: East Sydney Street Art Tour We love street artworks, because they enliven the built environment for jaded city dwellers. And we love cocktails, because they too enliven the built environment for jaded city dwellers. The guided tour East Sydney: Contextualising Art in the Streets cleverly marries the two, as artist, curator and publisher Joseph Allen Shea of Izrock Mixed Business helps you bespoke-drink your way through the small bars of Darlinghurst, Surry Hills, and Chinatown, discovering local commissioned street artworks and mingling with the creative minds who executed them. Works to be viewed include Reko Rennie’s Always Was, Always Will Be in Taylor Square, Jason Wing’s In Between Two Worlds in Chinatown, and more. 4-7pm, March 16. Places are limited (book) and drinks are $10 each. 5. Debate: Is Contemporary Art a Joke? There are few topics more polarising than contemporary art, and so the fiery debate rages on. For the Love of God: Is Contemporary Art a Joke? provides the perfect forum for experts to sound off about competing scales of value when it comes to judging the creative work of our peers and contemporaries. The relevance of the ready-made, Damien Hirst, and the fundamental question of whether any of it has any meaning are all fair game, and even hecklers will be indulged. This illuminating ideas throwdown will be adjudicated by artist Frances Barrett, and the well-appointed debaters include arts writer and curator Chrisoula Lionis, writer and performer Eddie Sharp, art critic Andrew Frost, artist and Firstdraft Depot co-founder Connie Anthes, COFA lecturer Dr David McNeill, and performance artist Matte Rochford. 6-8pm, March 16, at Alaska Projects (book). It's free. 6. Tours West As well as leading you around the inner city's art highlights, Art Month takes you on two easy jaunts outside the city centre. Go West hits most of the major Western Sydney cultural institutions on a single free bus trip led by artist Tom Polo. From Create to Space — A Parramatta Tour is a guided look at Pop Up Parramatta, Parramatta's answer to the Renew Newcastle model. The tour is led by Sydney cultural nexus Jess Scully, a recent SMAC of the Year, the curatorial powerhouse behind Vivid Ideas and probably the single person with the broadest overview of Sydney's creative second life. Go West runs on March 10 (book) and From Create to Space runs March 16, (book via studios@parracity.nsw.gov.au or 9687 6090). Both are free. 7. Celebrating Women in the Arts Several Art Month events focus in particular on the mark made by notable women in the arts. First up, the discussion Make a Mark: Celebrating Women in the Arts, hosted by Radio National's Janne Ryan, profiles the brilliant, bold strokes made by art world heavyweights including Carriageworks director Lisa Havilah, artist Deborah Kelly, gallerist Roslyn Oxley, writer Tess Allas, and architect Penelope Seidler. If Not, Why Not? Feminisim in Contemporary Art, meanwhile, gathers an intergenerational group of artists and academics who will share their views on issues surrounding the relevance of feminism in contemporary art. Finally, the Women in Sport Forum offers two days of discussion panels complementing Casula Powerhouse's intriguing group exhibition Onside. Make A Mark takes place 3-5pm on 9 March at Carriageworks (book). If Not, Why Not? is 2-5pm on 23 March, at Artspace 23 (book). Women in Sport Forum runs 15-16 March at Casula Powerhouse (call 9824 1121 for reservations). All are free. 8. Drawing with Scissors: A collage masterclass for adults Collaging is a unique art form — something that we all did without inhibition as kids but have probably neglected to develop further as adults, despite the undeniable fun of hacking into visual materials and reconfiguring them to suit our own bizarre and beautiful visions. Enter the hands-on workshop Drawing with Scissors: A collage masterclass for adults, piloted by conceptual artist Oli Watts. The workshop will commence by reviewing historical collaging methods pioneered by the greats, including Matisse and Picasso, then progress into a fully interactive opportunity to click your own shears. Let the inner child out to play, and see what emerges — chances are, there's no way to predict the end product, as your subconscious dabbles in creative free association. 2-5pm, 3 March at Chalk Horse. Free (book); materials provided. 9. Exhibition: Speculative Spaces What is the psychological draw of the miniature? Smallness has its own ineffable appeal, and the artists in this exhibition curated by David Eastwood explore their own attraction to miniature models, with petite dioramas and maquettes, and with other expressions across varied media, from oil paint to clay to perspex to video to plywood. Featured artists include Kylie Banyard (Galerie pompom), Anna Carey (Artereal Gallery), David Eastwood (Robin Gibson Gallery), Eugenia Ivanissevich (Robin Gibson Gallery), Col Jordan (Mossenson Galleries & Peter Pinson Gallery), Mark Kimber (Stills Gallery), Amanda Marburg (Olsen Irwin Gallery), Rob McHaffie (Darren Knight Gallery) and Peter Nelson. The show is also open late on March 22 as part of the Precinct Nights schedule. Runs March 2 to March 26 at Robin Gibson Gallery. 10. Exhibition: SCREAM Multiple media collide in SCREAM, the latest high-octane offering from European hyper-creative collective Chicks on Speed. Fresh from their residency at ZKM Center for Art and Media in Karlsruhe, Germany, for this exhibition the Chicks have hatched an interactive app that lets spectators participate in the artwork. A combo of live performance and technological mayhem, SCREAM centres on a huge sculpture that plays canvas to the iPad-controlled whims of the viewer, who can pick and mix the audiovisual elements that are projected into the space. The work is a logical progression from the Chicks' Objekt Instruments, which landed here during Mardi Gras. Colliding art, fashion and music, you can see them firsthand at the Red Rattler on March 8. SCREAM runs March 13 to April 21 at ArtSpace. By Shirin Borthwick and Zacha Rosen.
Are you tending to your herb gardens, upcycling or actual cycling? That's some good hood. The Good Hood website, which is part of the the City of Sydney's Green Villages program, is about celebrating the little things Sydneysiders are doing to make the city more green. It's pretty simple: just snap a photo of your 'good' and upload it to the website — or if you're on Instagram, just turn on Photo Map and use the hashtag #goodhood. There's some pretty cool rewards, too, including vouchers for Megan Morton's The School and Clarence Street Cyclery and dinner for eight at Urban Food Market's pop-up restaurant in Chippendale. Kylie Boyd, the sustainability marketing campaign officer for the City, says she's really happy with the way people are engaging with the site. "We've got people making birdhouses and people completely decking out their backyards with boxes that they're planning on growing vegies in," she says. "Someone rescued a chair off the street and upholstered it with some really cute fabric." "We're loving seeing them come in but we're going to reserve judgement until the very end!" The prizes are on offer until September 25 for users who upload pictures of cycling, upcycling and sustainable food, with winners being picked by the City and the prize partners for each category. Tim Elwin, the managing director of Urban Food Market, is helping choose the winners in the food category. Tim says he's looking for entries that make an effort to grow and source local produce as much as possible. "What we’re after is for people to experiment and go out and see how they can eat on a sustainable level, things like, what can people grow at home to add into a meal that they’re doing?" he says. "Even going out and making sure that they source locally and source products that haven’t been treated in a bad way." Urban Food Market are mainly wholesalers of ethical, sustainable produce, but they also run cooking classes and a pop-up restaurant in Cafe Giulia on Friday and Saturday nights. "What we’re trying to teach people is that you might be buying a product that yes, is more expensive, but [you] eat less of it," says Tim. "There’s no need for a big massive steak. Add some vegetables so you get a well-balanced meal. It’s about reducing the demand for growing so much produce when so much gets thrown away. "We’re very excited to be helping promote the Good Hood. It’s a wonderful thing to see [the City] getting behind such a great initiative, to ultimately get people to wake up and review how they’re living their lives, and what effects their eating and living can have on the environment." Want to win one of three $100 vouchers to Urban Food Market's online store? Just share the best picture of a sustainable meal — it can be a meal with organic, homegrown, locally grown or ethically farmed ingredients, served at your own home or at your favourite cafe. Share the image on the Good Hood website or via Instagram by hashtagging #thegoodhood and #concreteplayground. Entries close on September 11. Urban Food Market's online store is a treasure trove of classes, free range meat, sustainable seafood, cooking equipment and dry goods such as Farmer Jo's muesli.
After headlining Splendour in the Grass earlier this year, The National are bringing their moody, Nick Cave-esque brand of indie rock back to Australia in February 2014. The tour kicks off in Adelaide before heading to Sydney (where they'll be performing on the Opera House forecourt), Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth. Given we're an island on the other side of the world, it took the New York-based band a while to make their way Down Under, but better late than never right? We've loved them doubly ever since. The National first came to Australia in 2008 to promote their fourth album, Boxer, before coming back in 2010 and 2011 for the Falls Festival and Harvest. They took a break for a few years before returning with their sixth album, Trouble Will Find Me, which is being hailed as their best to date. After appearances at several major festivals like Reading and Leeds and Lollapalooza, The National are fast building a reputation as a must-see live act. Fans can expect to hear some of their older songs, like 'Demons', 'Bloodbuzz Ohio' and 'Fake Empire' (which was controversially used in a Mitt Romney election video without their knowledge) as well as newer stuff from Trouble Will Find Me. Update 4 September: The National will perform a second and final show on the Forecourt, on Friday, 7 February, after selling out their first performance in under an hour. Tickets will go on sale at midday tomorrow, Thursday 5 September. The 2014 tour dates are: Thursday 6 February – Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide Handsome Tours pre-sale from Thursday 29th August. General public tickets on sale Tuesday 3rd September, 9am AEST. Saturday 8 February– Sydney Opera House Forecourt, Sydney. Opera House pre-sale from Tuesday 29th August. General public tickets on sale Friday 30th August, 9am AEST. Sunday 9 February - Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne. Handsome Tours pre-sale from Thursday 29th August. General public tickets on sale Tuesday 3rd September, 9am AEST. Tuesday 11 February - Riverstage, Brisbane. Handsome Tours pre-sale from Thursday 29th August. General public tickets on sale Tuesday 3rd September, 9am AEST. Friday 14 February - Belvoir Amphitheatre, Perth. Perth Festival pre sale from Thursday 7 November. General public tickets on sale Tuesday 12 November, 9am WST. For more information see the Handsome Tours website.
If the inside of a yoga studio is your kind of calm, then you'll be all sorts of pleased to know that one of Melbourne's primo yoga studios has made the move up north. One Hot Yoga & Pilates will open its doors at 34 Kellett Street, Potts Point this Saturday — and to mark the occasion, they're holding a whole weekend of free classes. Yes, we said free yoga, so get your mat out and start stretching. The classes will run all day on both Saturday, February 27 and Sunday, February 28, and will cover off most of the different classes that will be available once the timetable starts up proper. Choose from reformer Pilates, a power flow at 27 degrees or a slow hot flow at a slightly steamier 37 degrees, amongst others. Just be sure to book online in advance. One Hot Yoga was first opened in Melbourne back in 2012 by husband and wife team, architect Rob Mills and yogi Lucinda Mills. The Sydney studio is housed in a 1930s art deco building and, as you would expect from an architect, the space is set to look pretty sweet. So even if you just want to have a bit of a stickybeak — this is the time to do it.
Three years ago, Perth rockers Little Birdy decided to take a break. They'd been in the business since 2002 and, emphasising that their collaborative journey was on hiatus rather than at an end, explained that some solo exploration was nigh. While the boys embarked on various songwriting and production projects, Katy Steele jumped on a plane bound for New York City, drawn to "the largeness, the intensity, the struggle". 2010 saw two returns home — firstly for a massive, sold-out solo tour and secondly to support Richard Ashcroft of The Verve. Since then, Katy's been busy with a new album, and we're hoping to have it in our hands by the end of the year. March 13 marked the dropping of the single 'Fire Me Up', which you can download gratis via Bandcamp or hear on Triple J's Home and Hosed. Mind you, there's no substitute for the indie rock goddess doing her thing live. She'll be touring nationally in April, making her Sydney appearance at Goodgod Small Club. https://youtube.com/watch?v=sGrkPbXnCVA
Tavi Gevinson, the precocious pixie editrix, is finally manifesting her person on our shores. As a hugely successful teen blogger and founder of Rookie magazine, her entrepreneurial chutzpah is something of a phenomenon. Sydney Opera House Concert Hall will host Tavi's Big Big World, part of Ideas at the House, a program which presents conversations with influential personalities. She'll also be at the Melbourne Writers Festival. She's an old hand at public speaking, too, having already given a TED talk. Awash as the internet is with kids promoting their #personalbrands, it's cool to see someone so young found a publication like Rookie, a surprisingly down-to-earth and intellectual voice in the teen zine scene. Launched in 2011, it's festooned with the Tavi aesthetic, which, since her solo blogging days as a 13-year-old, has channelled '90s pop-goth and pretty pastels, movies like Ghost World and all the quirkiest developments of the fashion world. But it's Tavi's self-awareness and feminism that make her a compelling fashion commentator: never glossing over the fact that this is an industry which fetishises youth, she's all for female empowerment. We're looking forward to hearing her speak on a local stage. Book here (from July 12) to see Tavi speak at the Opera House on August 18, and here for her August 23 appearance in Melbourne.
The Night Noodle Markets are nearly upon us and Gelato Messina is preparing to wow Sydneysiders once again with its newest creations. Perhaps it was the recent collaboration with Hoy Pinoy (another Night Noodle Market favourite) that did it, because this year's menu is full on Filipino. Messina's Filipino Jeepney food truck dishes will be available exclusively at the Sydney markets from October 4–21. Expect the Southeast Asian country's most popular desserts to get the good ol' Messina treatment, starting with the 'Allo 'Allo! — a take on the shaved-iced hallo hallo, which combines leche flan with caramel-flavoured shaved ice, syrup and sauce, all topped with toasted milk crumb and dulce de leche gelato. The truck is is also bringing back a favourite from the 2016 markets under the guise of a different name — Thrilla from Manila is a take on turron, which in this case is filo-pastry wrapped and deep-fried brown sugar and banana gelato, mixed with bits of banana bread and topped with custard and chocolate peanut butter crumb. If you're more into fruity desserts, The Jolli P (a nod to fast-food chain Jollibee) is a mango and peach jelly-filled concoction with whipped cream and graham cracker crumb toppings. Handheld dessert lovers are covered too with the Brazo de Messina, an ice cream sandwich of pandan gelato, baked meringue and condensed milk custard, all layered with a graham cracker crust. The Night Noodle Markets run from October 4–21 at Hyde Park as part of Good Food Month.
In the early '60s, while Australian and American authorities were still clinging to '50s notions of decorum, Jewish-American comedian Lenny Bruce was asking why 'titties' were considered dirty when words like 'dago' and 'Abo' were part of common parlance. A champion of free speech, Bruce agitated the authorities with his fearless, expletive-rich exposure of racism and hypocrisy. Sydney was hardly ready for the outspoken stand-up genius when he arrived in 1962. Brought out by big-time promoter Lee Gordon (Frank Sinatra, Johnny Cash, Johnny O'Keefe), Bruce was scheduled to perform a two-week stint of one-man shows. However, a hostile opening-night crowd followed by front-cover press depicting him as "sick", saw the rest of the tour cancelled. For the next 13 days, Bruce kept a low profile in Kings Cross, hanging out with folk singer Tina Date and sustaining his drug habit, while Gordon tried to negotiate alternative venues. Bruce did not mention the visit in his autobiography, How to talk dirty and influence people, but author Damian Kringas researched enough material to write a book about it, Lenny Bruce: 13 Days in Sydney, which Benito Di Fonzo has adapted into a play. Fonzo’s script, with its unconventional structure and beat rhythms, is something akin to a Lenny Bruce performance. The comedian's Sydney story is the eye of the cyclone, with varying faces, places and scenes (both past and present) revolving around him at a stormy speed. We meet the lovers, journalists and law enforcers who swept through Bruce's world, extending either support or scorn. The lead role presents a challenging task. Sam Haft seemed hesitant at first, tending to lack projection, but his grip on the role strengthened in the second half, as did his expression of Bruce's blend of rebellious candour and fragility. Despite displaying the effrontery to tell a heckler to fuck off, Bruce crumbles when confronted with public rejection. A cast of just three takes on the spectrum of satellite characters: Dorje Swallow, Lenore Munro and Damien Strouthos. In a swirling, surreal amalgam of dream, myth and reality, we witness imaginative representations of Gordon’s exchanges with Elvis, the airport scene that prevented Frank Sinatra's second Australian tour and a rather exotic ukulele duo, amongst other scenes. Complete with upright piano, fading rugs, and low-key lamp lighting, Andrea Espinoza’s set successfully transports us into the 1960s club scene. Live jazz improvisations and folk songs, performed by the actors, punctuate the narrative. Unfortunately, occasional oversights reduce the play's ability to punch — some comic moments are lost due to poor timing and/or execution and, without prior knowledge, our understanding of Bruce’s political relevance takes perhaps too much time. That said, Lenny Bruce: 13 Daze Un-Dug in Sydney 1962 is a brave attempt to capture an important story. According to Richard Neville, Bruce's main legacy "was to alert young people to the fact that a lot of dickheads running the country wanted to keep the '50s going forever". Di Fonzo's drama certainly sends that message home.
Back in 2018, KFC wanted us all to relax to the sound of sizzling chicken. Over the past few years, IKEA has tried to put everyone to sleep by listening to its catalogue read aloud — and to get folks to bliss out while watching its products take a 14-day journey to Australia, too. Now, it's Lego's turn to help relieve our stresses, with the toy brand releasing a new relaxation playlist that has been created using its interlocking bricks. If that familiar clicking sound makes you feel zen, you'll be keen to give Lego's 'White Noise' tracks a whirl. If you instantly feel calmer whenever you hear a heap of bricks jumbled together, then you'll be in your element as well. The playlist runs for three and a half hours, and has just hit the company's website, as well as 15 different streaming services including Spotify and iTunes. It only uses Lego bricks, too, so everything you'll hear was made with the famed blocks. More than 10,000 pieces were used to create tracks with names like 'It All Clicks', 'The Waterfall' and 'Searching for the One (Brick)', with the full playlist spanning seven tunes that all clock in at around 30 minutes each. And yes, they do indeed sound like they've been created using Lego. Yes, if you've ever played with the bricks yourself, you already have all those sounds committed to memory. Lego has been touting its wellness credentials of late, including via its new Botanical Collection — which is designed to help adults destress, unwind and get mindful. So, it should come as little surprise that the company suggests you listen to its new playlist while you're building its latest kits. To listen to Lego's White Noise playlist, head to the company's website — or check out your streaming service of choice, such as Spotify and iTunes.
If you're a fan of the Apple iPad be sure to pencil March 7, 2012 into your diaries. According to tech site iMore.com, this is the day that Apple will unveil the iPad 3 — or iPad HD. These predictions are in sync with AllThingsD's earlier report that the iPad 3 will be announced in the first week of March. In addition, Apple insider, Jim Dalrymple of The Loop, has indirectly accepted this rumoured announcement date with a solid "Yep." Citing "sources who have been reliable in the past", iMore suggests that features of the next-gen iPad are to include 4G LTE networking, a 2048 x 1536 Retina Display and a quad-core A6 processor. These are considerable upgrades when considering the current iPad 2's specs. Other circulating rumours anticipate an improved camera (either 5 or 8-megapixels), a HD front camera and the possibility of a mini 7" iPad. Considering Apple's world domination in the business of technology, one thing that's for certain is that you'll have to fight off a hoard of iPad-loving vultures before you can get your hands on Apple's newest edition to the iPad family.
What do you get the Gelato Messina fan who has everything, including a freezer filled with ice cream, plus gelato-inspired candles, lip balm, lube and body wash, too? The perfect kicks to don while eating gelato, thinking about gelato, going out to get gelato and wishing they had more gelato, of course. While Messina already has its own clothing line, now the sweet-treat brand is launching its first-ever range of sneakers. And, like chain's wild and wonderful gelato flavours, these shoes are a limited-edition special. After fellow Sydney-born dessert chain Tokyo Lamington teamed up with the artists at Customs Den on its own footwear earlier in 2023, Messina has now gone and done the same. This time, pairs of Nike Dunk Highs have been given a handpainted makeover, which is never a small feat. With these gelato-hued shoes, each set took between eight and ten hours' work. Gelato is obviously a wide-ranging theme — as Messina fans know, the variety of flavours that the chain scoops up is limited only by its team's imaginations — so these sneakers hone in on one of its favourites. If you adore the brand's dulce de leche gelato, as everyone who tastes it does, then you'll spot why these new shoes feature caramel and cream tones. Yes, Messina's Argentinean caramelised milk, which it makes in-house, is the colour inspiration for these multi-tone kicks. Also featured on the shoes: Messina cartoons and the company's name, so everyone will know why you're sporting some truly rare footwear. Only 100 pairs are available, all numbered from one to 100, and they unsurprisingly don't come cheap. You'll pay $700 to show your love for Messina, gelato and dulce de leche on your feet — and every one will be made bespoke for each customer. Custom Den is taking pre-sale orders now until Wednesday, May 31, unless they sell out earlier. Once you've nabbed yourself a pair, you can expect them to be delivered within six-to-eight weeks. For more information about Gelato Messina's sneakers, or to buy a pair, hit up the brand's website.
Discounted airfares have been quite the topic of conversation over the past year or so, as Australian airlines have endeavoured to encourage us all to explore this scenic country of ours. If we can't holiday overseas while the international border is closed, we should all make the most of our own backyards — or so the very sensible thinking goes. That said, with lockdowns and border restrictions still a regular part of pandemic-era life Down Under, holidaying within Australia isn't straightforward. But, if and when that becomes a bit easier in the coming months — with both New South Wales and Victoria set to start easing stay-at-home conditions when the two states each reach certain vaccination thresholds — enjoying an Aussie getaway will hopefully be back on the cards nationwide. And, in preparation for that becoming a reality, Virgin is hosting a five-day sale that's serving up cheap flights. Called 'Anywhere But Here', this sale has more than a million discounted fares up for grabs — but you'll need to get in quick. They went on sale today, Monday, September 6; however, they're only available until Friday, September 10 or sold out, whichever comes first. All one-way fares, the discounted economy flights cover 70 different routes. Some of the specials on offer include Sydney to Byron Bay for $49, Sydney to the Sunshine Coast for $69, Melbourne to Launceston from $49, Melbourne to the Whitsunday Coast from $139, Brisbane to Hamilton Island from $105, Brisbane to Darwin from $149, Adelaide to Melbourne from $79 and Perth to Broome from $179 (and vice versa in all cases, naturally). And, if you're wondering when you can travel — depending on lockdowns and border restrictions, of course — you can book flights for trips between October 6, 2021–June 23, 2022. Only some fares cover seat selection and checked baggage, however, with the airline announcing back in August that it is now splitting its economy flights into three types. Economy Lite doesn't include checking any baggage or picking your seat, but Economy Choice does — and Economy Flex gives you extra flexibility (hence the name) if you have to change your plans later. As we are still in the middle of a pandemic, flying is little different to normal. Virgin has introduced a range of safety measures, including hand sanitisation stations, contactless check-in and face masks provided to all passengers. Wearing masks on flights also became mandatory in Australia in January. Virgin's 'Anywhere But Here' sale runs from today, Monday, September 6–Friday, September 10 — or until sold out. Find out more about current interstate border restrictions via the Australian Government's Health Direct website.
When Australia started to get excited about Brisbane potentially hosting the 2032 Olympic Games — with the Queensland capital named as the preferred host last month — one important detail stood out. Planning for an event 11 years away is all well and good (and necessary, of course), but the 2020 Tokyo Olympics hasn't yet been held, with the Games postponed to 2021 due to the pandemic. With COVID-19 case numbers still high around the world, there has been much speculation about whether the Tokyo Olympics will go ahead this year, too; however, Japan is currently forging ahead with its plans. Much will likely be different about the event, which is slated to run from Friday, July 23–Sunday, August 8 — and a lack of overseas spectators looks set to be one of the big changes. The Kyodo News Agency is reporting that the Japanese government has decided to exclude international fans from attending both the Olympics and the Paralympics, in a bid to stop the coronavirus spreading at the event. The move is sparked by fears of more contagious variants of the coronavirus that are in circulation outside of Japan. At present, restrictions on international travellers entering the country are in place in general. Japanese officials are due to meet with the International Olympic Committee and the International Paralympic Committee by the end of March to make a final decision on overseas spectators, and then to decide capacity levels — including whether Japanese spectators will be permitted to attend at all, too — for the Games in April. If international spectators are banned from attending, current ticket holders that fall into that category would receive refunds. Spectators would also be banned from the opening ceremony for the torch relay, which is due to kick off on Thursday, March 25 in Fukushima. [caption id="attachment_801246" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] The Department for Culture, Media and Sport via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] Of course, even if Japan does allow folks from overseas to travel to Tokyo to attend the Games, both Australia and New Zealand presently have international travel restrictions in effect. In Australia, a travel ban is still in place until at least mid-June, with Aussies unable to depart the nation unless they seek an exemption from Home Affairs. And in New Zealand, the government still currently advises that all New Zealanders do not travel overseas at present. For more information about the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, which are due to be held from Friday, July 23–Sunday, August 8, 2021, head to the event's website. Via Kyodo News Agency. Top image: IOC Media.
Gone are the days when mobile phones didn't fit in anyone's pocket and Snake was the only game available; however the process of charging your trusty device hasn't changed much over the years. Cable ports might look a little different and smartphones have definitely gotten smaller, but juicing up your handset still takes the one thing we all don't have enough of: time. Well, it does at the moment — even if you have your own portable charger always sitting at the bottom of your bag, and even if you've scoped out every free charging station and spare powerpoint around town. Enter an Australian researcher who wants to make this timely chore not only quicker but instantaneous, all through the use of quantum batteries. In fact, the University of Adelaide's Dr James Quach is planning to build the world's first quantum battery, which will harness the unique properties of quantum mechanics. He's just been appointed the institution's newest Ramsay Fellow — a scheme that aims to keep local bright minds working to advance scientific research — and will now spend the next four years trying to create quantum batteries to replace the ones in everyday electronic devices. If you're wondering how it all works — and how your phone, Kindle, computer or other gadget will go from one to 100-percent charge faster than you can click your fingers — it's based on a feature of quantum mechanics called entanglement, which sees two objects sharing their individual properties. Accordingly, the more batteries that are placed together, the more powerful their charging capacity. "If one quantum battery takes one hour to charge, then two would take 30 minutes, three would take 20 minutes, and so on," Dr Quach explains. "If you had ten thousand batteries, they would all charge in less than a second." While the concept has been discussed in papers since 2013, the academic plans to "take the theory from the blackboard to the lab." More than that, the ultimate goal is to build larger quantum batteries for use beyond simply making sure your iPhone keeps buzzing. "The long-term aim is to scale up, to build bigger batteries which will support renewable energy technologies by making it possible for continuous energy supply no matter the weather conditions – rain, hail or shine," says Dr Quach.
Since it opened in late 2021, Odd Culture's ferment-forward wine bar and diner on King Street has established itself as a cornerstone of Newtown's hospitality scene. Then came Spon, in mid-2023 — a hybrid bar and bottle shop specialising in craft brews, boutique drops and pours by the glass. In February this year, the Odd Culture team — who also operate beloved Sydney pubs The Old Fitz and The Duke of Enmore — added kooky late-night cocktail den Pleasure Club to their Newtown empire. Now, a fourth venture is Newtown-bound, transforming the mezzanine of the King Street flagship into an elevated bistro — and not just another cookie-cutter steak frites joint. Bistro Grenier will be a refined spot for an intimate soirée, where diners can experience classic French fare at its best. To realise this new venue, Odd Culture has tapped the skills of Executive Chef James MacDonald — formerly of Sydney's Restaurant Hubert and London's pioneering nose-to-tail eatery St John. MacDonald has developed a menu that celebrates traditional recipes while adding modern flourishes, leaning on heartier, rustic dishes showcasing low-waste butchering. For example, the côtelette de porc will feature a juicy Berkshire pork chop served alongside braised boneless trotters, dressed with prunes and served with a side of sugar loaf cabbage, while the house-made boudin noir uses yet more of the beast, pairing smoked pork jowl and pigs blood with caramelised apples and a lightly whipped pomme puree. Other dishes will offer more playful riffs on tricolore favourites, like the pudding chômeur — a self-saucing maple syrup dessert finished with buttermilk ice cream inspired by Head Chef Jesse Warkentin's Canadian heritage. Vino-philes have plenty to get excited about. A list of French drops including vintage gems and rare allocation bottles from Odd Culture's extensive cellar will be available exclusively in the bistro. There will also be a range of Gallic digestives and apéritifs behind the bar, including ricard pastis, picon bière aperitif, vin jaune and chartreuse. "Our restaurant is now three years old, and with almost our full opening kitchen team still on the pans, we decided it was time to shake things up a bit," says James Thorpe, Odd Culture Group's CEO and director. "We decided to break free of the yoke of "modern Australian" and try something a bit more familiar for a while. We want to make it really approachable, cosy and warm — but at the same time use the knowledge and library we've built of flavour building ferments to put something really special on the plate." The fitout of what was formerly an underutilised loft storage space will channel a luxurious yet bohemian vibe, with deep burgundy peaked ceilings and walls, dark timber panelling, and a soft lighting design summons the spirit of Parisian salon. Meanwhile, fans of the King Street OG have nothing to fear. The existing downstairs wine bar will remain the pillar of Newtown's drinking scene Sydneysiders know and love. Bistro Grenier is set to open in late August at 266 King Street, Newtown.
Meeting mates for Vivid this year and not sure where to begin? The Rook is inviting you to Vivid Liftoff. On Monday–Saturday evenings, the hidden rooftop bar in the CBD is peddling Vivid-themed cocktails and share plates. And they're all backdropped by pretty views of the Sydney skyline. Start with a Firefly Glow (gin, mango purée, passionfruit, lime) while snacking on crispy fried bread with whipped ricotta and house hot honey. Then move onto a Lunar Lagoon (vodka, blue curaçao, coconut syrup) alongside zucchini tempura with parmesan and hot honey drizzle. Or, if you're in the mood for bubbles, go for the Starlight Spritz (prosecco, elderflower liqueur, grapefruit) alongside squid fritti with paprika salt and tom yum mayo, or Southern-Style buffalo chicken with blue cheese mayo. Whatever you eat and drink, The Rook is a handily central spot to start your night. It's just a stone's throw from Darling Harbour, Town Hall and Martin Place.
The much anticipated Graphic Festival at the Sydney Opera House is nearly upon us. A whole weekend dedicated to anime and animation, live performances, innovative visuals, inspiring talks and, no doubt a substantial dose of fun. And Silent Comics, a mini festival within the festival, is set to be one of its highlights. Silent Comics aims to celebrate the illustrated works in their purest form, where the narrative of the comic is entirely visually driven — no captions, no text, no words. And to add to your sensory pleasure, they have asked some seriously talented local and international musicians to come to the party too. Comics by artists such as Robert Crumb (Fritz the Cat), Jim Woodring (Frank), Peter Kuper (Spy vs Spy) and Nathan Jurevisius (Scarygirl), will be accompanied by ten minute sets of brand new music by Gotye, Plaid, Seekae, FourPlay, Captain Matchbox and Darth Vegas, in what is sure to be Sunday afternoon of visual and auditory goodness. For a chance to win one of five double passes to Silent Comic, just make sure you're subscribed to Concrete Playground then email us at hello@concreteplayground.com.au with your name and address.
The planned construction of anything 'bold, provocative and edgy' seems innately destined for failure — the aforementioned buzzwords, particularly when used in quick succession, conjure up images of middle-aged, fat-cat executives chain smoking cigars around a boardroom table or, worse still, mid-life crisis Mum trying with thinly veiled desperation to shake it with her 20-something-year-old daughters. In short, not an uplifting portrait. It could be argued that SBS2's recent youth-targeted makeover, which saw the digital channel relaunch on April 1 in a bid to ensnare a specific 16-to-39-year-old demographic, is destined to go the way of other 'cool, hip' initiatives that sadly end up being neither of the two. What Even Is Emerging Culture? By attempting to reach 'young people' as an isolated bracket, SBS2 have been criticised for assuming that age is an effective means by which to categorise and target the behaviours of viewers. Admittedly, if shows like Network Ten's Being Lara Bingle and The Shire are indicative of what Gen-Y supposedly wants, it would appear that young people people are in fact the dullest, worst kind of viewer and, more widely, human. What's different about SBS2's approach is the diversity of their programming — already popular offerings like US comedy series Community and gritty drama Skins feature alongside A-League football coverage, Japanese game shows and documentaries on everything from the truth about smoking marijuana to a history of controversial sex in cinema. The breadth of subject matter covered suggests that SBS2 is not targeted at some imagined, specific breed of young person with a narrow, mundane sphere of interest; it's an attempt to engage a younger but no less intelligent consumer in a meaningful way. Facilitating Your Binge A particularly interesting component of the new SBS2 is the Back 2 Back feature, where after the first episode of a series has screened on free to air, viewers can watch the entire season of some shows via SBS On Demand. A response to what Tony Iffland, SBS's director of TV and online content , calls 'binge watching' the feature allows viewers the kind of total control over their viewing habits that most of us have been enjoying since we learnt how to illegally download content (everybody does it but nobody talks about it). While the idea of huddling around the box once a week for a single episode of one's personal brand of entertainment crack might provide great fodder for water-cooler banter the next day at the office, in today's fast-paced media landscape the notion seems as quaint and outmoded as listening to the wireless, yet most traditional TV networks still privilege this lost model, for lack of another way. News for the Attention-Challenged Another of SBS2's responses to changing media consumption habits is the addition of a 15-minute news bulletin with 30-second headlines, which offers a time-poor alternative to the increasingly archaic traditional news bulletin. Although this opens up a contentious debate about the dangers of pandering to rapidly shrinking attention spans, it seems that regardless of such protestations, behavioural and attitudinal changes are inevitable. If this is the case, fast news is still better than none at all, right? SBS Is Your Friend Where, as a 'young person' your natural reaction might be to boldly and feverishly reject any initiative that attempts to examine, categorise and subsequently cater to your complex needs and desires in a collective way, it's important to remember who the one doing the talking is. SBS isn't he dreaded man — they're an independent, underfunded TV channel, committed to providing high-quality, culturally relevant media to all Australians regardless of geography, background, language skills and, indeed, age. Seven billion stories and counting, only now some of those are digital, on demand and ready for your binging pleasure, 'bold, provocative and edgy', or otherwise.
Overseas travel is at the top of many Australian bucket lists right now. And if you're the kind of traveller who prefers fewer stopovers, there's some exciting news on the horizon from Qantas. Dubbed Project Sunrise, the Australian airline has unveiled plans to introduce a fleet of twelve Airbus A350s, which are all capable of flying direct from Australia to London and New York. Direct flights are currently available from Darwin to London, however, for those on the east coast of Australia, this still means factoring in a layover to your journey. Qantas has announced that with these new aircrafts, direct flights will be available from the east coast as well, starting with Sydney-to-London and Sydney-to-New York flights in late 2025. Qantas first toyed with the idea of direct flights from Australia's east coast to New York and London back in 2017, however after two trial flights in 2019 decided to delay the decision. "The A350 and Project Sunrise will make any city just one flight away from Australia," said Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce. "It's the last frontier and the final fix for the tyranny of distance." With time in the air set to exceed the current 18-hour flight time of the Darwin-to-London route, the new aircrafts are also being designed with comfort in mind. The A350-1000s will carry 239 passengers compared to other airlines' average of 300 passengers, and will feature a designated comfort zone in the middle of the cabin where people can stretch their legs. [caption id="attachment_852120" align="alignnone" width="1920"] A350 wellness zone render[/caption] Alongside this announcement, Qantas has also revealed it will add 40 new A321XLRs and A220 aircrafts to its domestic fleet late next year. These new planes will gradually replace the Boeing 737s and 717s as they are retired. "The A320s and A220s will become the backbone of our domestic fleet for the next 20 years, helping to keep this country moving," continued Joyce. According to Qantas, this new fleet of aircrafts will create over 1000 jobs and Joyce says the aircrafts will help reduce emissions "by at least 15 per cent if running on fossil fuels, and significantly better when run on Sustainable Aviation Fuel". This will play a role in Qantas' commitment that it made in 2019 to reach net-zero by 2050. If you fly Qantas regularly and you're committed to sustainability, you can also sign up for its Green Tier rewards program which unlocks rewards and benefits to customers who complete at least five sustainable activities across six areas in their lives. Qantas' direct flights from Sydney to London and Sydney to New York are set to take to the air in late 2025. For more information, head to the Qantas website. Images: Qantas
If you didn't manage to snag tickets to one of The Cure's four Sydney shows this May, we have some good news: the legendary band has announced a fifth show. On Thursday, May 30, the post-punk luminaries, headed by the Robert Smith (with his teased hair, eyeliner and lipstick), will take to the Sydney Opera House stage for another Vivid Live headline performance. The catch? You had to have signed up for the original The Cure ticket ballot back in February to be eligible. If you didn't? There is a pretty decent consolation prize. The Opera House has announced that it'll be streaming the fifth performance live on Facebook and YouTube (below). So, we suggest you start planning your The Cure watching party stat — and stocking up on hairspray. The Cure will be performing their 1989 album Disintegration in its entirety in a world-premiere, and Australian-exclusive, performance celebrating the 30th anniversary of the landmark album. The gothic rock-style record contains hits such as 'Lovesong' and 'Pictures of You', and, according to Smith, is meant to be played at max volume. "This album was mixed to be played loud... so turn it up!", Smith said in a statement about the live stream. Maybe this a good excuse to invest in a new set of speakers. The British band is just one of the big-name performances heading to Sydney for the 2019 Vivid festival. Others include FKA Twigs, Rüfüs Du Soul, folk rock singer Sharon Van Etten and Perth up-and-comer Stella Donnelly. You can check out the full lineup and snag tickets to more shows over here. Check back here to watch the livestream — and Robert Smith in all his eyelinered glory — from 8pm on Thursday, May 30. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9uSPf9WDbw The Cure will perform its fifth show in the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall on Thursday, May 30. The concert will be live streamed from 8pm via the SOH's Facebook page and YouTube channel (above). For more information about The Cure ballot and live stream, head here. Images: Andy Vella. Updated: May 30, 2019.
Renowned chef Nobu Matsuhisa, best known for his beloved Nobu restaurants worldwide, will visit his venues in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth as part of a highly anticipated Australian tour this May. Fans will have a chance to interact with the culinary maestro in person and sample his signature Japanese dishes at a special lunch event on Saturday, May 4, at Crown Sydney. Priced at $120 per person, the Gochiso Lunch banquet with Chef Matsuhisa runs from 12–3pm and includes an array of iconic Nobu dishes, along with a glass of Oatley wine. If you're keen to spend even more time with the acclaimed chef, there's also a pool party with live entertainment, a Don Julio station and food from 6.30–9.30pm on Thursday, May 2, which will set you back $475 per person. "I can't wait to return to Australia. It is a place very close to my heart, and I love visiting my team and local suppliers. The Australian dining scene and hospitality industry is one of the best in the world; brimming with creative culinary talent, incredible produce, and a passionate community of diners," said Matsuhisa.
Nobody knows how to put on a gay old time better than Heaps Gay. The collective of Sydney LGBTIQ+ party starters hits the nail on the head every time, and now it's teamed up with Thredbo for a whole five days of back-to-back fiestas. Running from August 29 till September 2, Rainbow Mountain: A Heaps Gay Snow Week promised to be a glittery, colourful all-out fun affair. Grab your 80s bunny suits and your rainbow flags and strap yourselves in for a long, long weekend of silly snow times, including après pool parties, a queer movie nights and Champagne lunches. Can you believe? Well, you better, because that lineup is topped only by drag bingo with added karaoke. In short, it's going to be a heaps gay ski week of heaps epic proportions. To find out more about Thredbo's exciting winter program, head to thredbo.com.au.
You often hear that screen time and social networks characterise this generation. Does this mean that today's youth lack a sense of purpose in their lives and engagement IRL? Why are they considered to be so passive? That's where Apathetic comes in. It's a new biannual zine aimed at dispelling the idea that apathy is embedded in this generation. The first issue, 'Awake', is launching at the China Heights Gallery with an accompanying exhibition. The loose curatorial theme of 'awake' lets young creatives approach it from many angles and use their chosen medium to subvert notions of an apathetic youth. China Heights Gallery is an artist run initiative showcasing Sydney's up-and-coming designers and artists. The exhibitions are constantly changing and this should be a good one.
Every autumn, the Eta Aquarid meteor shower sets the sky ablaze. It might not be as famous as Halley's Comet, but the Eta Aquarids are actually a distant relation — the bits and pieces you see flying around were on Halley's path a really, really long time ago. And, rather than only being visible every 75 years (the next Halley's Comet sighting is in 2061), you can catch the Eta Aquarids annually. This year, the shower will be at its most spectacular early Tuesday, May 7 (very early) — here's how to catch a glimpse. WHEN TO SEE IT The shower will reach a peak in the early morning of Tuesday, May 7, but will still be able to be seen for a day or two on either side. The best time to catch an eyeful is just before dawn after the moon has set, so around 4am. At that time, you'll be in the running to see as many as 30 meteors every 60 minutes. Each will be moving at about 225,000 kilometres per hour, shining extraordinarily brightly and leaving a long wake. The shower's cause is, essentially, the Earth getting in the comet's way, causing stardust to fry up in the atmosphere. WHERE TO SEE IT Being in the southern hemisphere, we get some of the best views in the world. So, if you're living in the city, it could be time for a last minute trip to a clear-skied camping spot. The trick is to get as far away from light pollution as possible. For Sydneysiders who don't mind a long drive, this could mean a trip to the far south coast. We reckon Picnic Point campsite in Mimosa Rocks National Park might be a winner. Or, if that sounds too far away, Booderee National Park in Jervis Bay is pretty light-free. Alternatively, head west — after all, you'd be hard pressed to find better views than at The Dish, just outside of Parkes or at Australia's only Dark Sky Park at Warrumbungle National Park near Coonabarabran. Melburnians might consider a journey to Wilsons Promontory or along the Great Ocean Road, as far as Killarney Beach. For somewhere closer, there's Heathcote, which is just a 90-minute drive from the city, but is an excellent vantage point. For a real escape, head to Snake Valley in the central west, where there's hardly a light in sight. For a quick trip out of Brisbane, try Lake Moogerah, Lake Wivenhoe or Lake Somerset, which are all rather dark, considering their proximity to the city. If you have a bit more time, head two-and-a-half hours' west to Leyburn, which has some of the busiest skies in Queensland, or eight hours' west to the tiny town of Charleville in the outback. HOW TO SEE IT The shower's name comes from the star from which they appear to come Eta Aquarii, which is part of the Aquarius constellation. So, that's what you'll be looking for in the sky. To locate Eta Aquarii, we recommend downloading the Sky Map app — it's the easiest way to navigate the night sky (and is a lot of fun to use even on a non-meteor shower night). If you're more into specifics, Time and Date also have a table that shows the direction and altitude of the Eta Aquarids. They've been updating this daily. If you struggle to get out of bed, NASA Apart from that, wear warm clothes, take snacks and be patient. Happy stargazing.
Passion Pit are returning to Australia. Those six words should instil excitement in all who have seen the band perform previously, likely on their previous Splendour in the Grass tour back in 2010 where their performance lit up the Woodford Amphitheatre and various venues across the country. For those who have not yet experienced Passion Pit live, this is your chance to understand why those of us who have are so excited. Their explosive pop is transmitted from band to audience from the moment the opening chord is struck, sending your body into dancing raptures that will only abate once the band has left the stage — and even then it will probably take a few hours. Since their spectacular 2010 visit, the band has grown into one of the premier pop groups on the planet, last year claiming third spot on Rolling Stone's best songs of 2012 with 'Take a Walk', the hit single from their sophomore release, Gossamer. They have also recently played New York City's Governors Ball, Coachella and a sold-out Madison Square Garden and they are now ready to bring their buzzing brilliance all the way to the Enmore Theatre for one night only. https://youtube.com/watch?v=dZX6Q-Bj_xg
Self-sufficiency is not simply an environmental goal but an all-consuming way of life for Spanish design company, Elii Studio. With their brilliant new invention — the Jane Fonda Kit House — these Mediterranean innovators have created an experimental home powered almost entirely through that most futuristic of technologies: human movement. The concept itself is startlingly simple. The house, which resembles something between a DIY greenhouse and an M.C. Escher design, is fitted with a number of low-tech exercise devices hooked up to some pretty high-tech generators. Every time you punch out some sit-ups, jump on the exercise bike or even water the plants, these generators convert your kinetic energy into energy that can be used to power your household appliances. Thus, the fitter you get get yourself, the more episodes of Game of Thrones you can watch. While JF-Kit may certainly isn't for everyone, if you're the kind of person who likes to put their fitness first and likes to keep energy expenses to a minimum, then this might just be future-you's perfect home. Via Inhabitat
It's Groundhog Day The Musical — and it's finally making its way to the Australian stages ten years after it was first announced. Back in 2014, Australian comedian, musician, actor and writer Tim Minchin (Upright) revealed that he was making a song-filled onstage version of the Bill Murray-starring classic comedy. Then, the end result premiered in London in 2016. Next came Broadway in 2017, with 2024 marking Australia's turn. Prepare for plenty of déjà vu in Melbourne from January. Feeling like you've been there and seen this comes with the territory with this production, of course, given that that's what the story is all about. Obviously, you've probably seen the film. In fact, you've likely done so more than once. Still, when Groundhog Day The Musical hits Princess Theatre from Wednesday, January 24–Sunday, April 21, 2024, this'll be Aussie theatregoers' first chance to catch the stage show on home soil. The tale remains the same, with Pittsburgh TV weatherman Phil Connors tasked with travelling to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania to cover the annual Groundhog Day event — and none too happy about it, oozing cynicism as everyone else around him embraces the occasion. After a cantankerous day, he wakes up the next morning to find that everything is repeating again. And, that's how every day continues, no matter what he does or how he tries to tinker with the cycling routine. On the big screen (and on VHS and streaming queues since), the result proved hilarious, and also one of Murray's best-ever roles. For the stage iteration, Minchin teamed up with screenwriter Danny Rubin — who originally co-wrote Groundhog Day's movie script and won a BAFTA in the process — plus Minchin's Matilda The Musical director Matthew Warchus. Their theatre efforts earned Groundhog Day The Musical Tony Award nominations, as well Olivier Award wins for Best New Musical and Best Actor. Yes, Groundhog Day The Musical's Australian-premiere season runs across Groundhog Day itself, aka February 2. Yes, you can listen to Sonny and Cher's 'I Got You Babe' on repeat now to celebrate. And yes, like the musical version of Matilda, this'll likely return to the big screen at some point — but after the Melbourne season. Groundhog Day The Musical comes Down Under exclusive to the Victorian capital — and if you're wondering who'll step into Murray's (Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania) shoes, and Andie MacDowell's (Maid) as Phil's producer Rita Hanson, too, the cast for the show's Australian run hasn't yet been announced. "I have waited seven years for this moment! Groundhog Day The Musical, like Matilda The Musical, has a unique mixture of darkness and light, of head and heart, and of complexity and joy, and I've been convinced since its first iteration that Australians will love it!" said Minchin, announcing the Aussie premiere. "I'm so excited that the run is going to be in Melbourne, the city I lived in when I wrote my breakout comedy shows, and the place where — when things weren't going so well — I learned how important it is to find the beauty and hope in the day to day." "Following its celebrated run at London's Old Vic Theatre, where it broke all box office records, I couldn't be happier to be bringing Tim Minchin and Danny Rubin's musical masterpiece to the Princess Theatre in Melbourne (coincidentally, the very venue which was home to Matilda back in 2016)," added Warchus. "Groundhog Day The Musical, I know, will surprise many people. Perhaps the most joy-filled show I have ever directed, this magical tale of redemption somehow manages to be both a truly hilarious romantic comedy and a profoundly moving and inspiring message of hope. I love the original movie and I love this adaptation. It inspires us to be the best possible versions of ourselves, to break free of our repetitive gloom and to learn how to love life. All that plus a rodent who predicts the weather... what more could you ask for?" Check out the trailer for Groundhog Day The Musical below: Groundhog Day The Musical will premiere at Princess Theatre, 163 Spring Street, Melbourne from Wednesday, January 24–Sunday, April 21, 2024, with tickets on sale from 9am on Friday, October 6 — head to the production's website for further details and to join the ticket waitlist.
When Jetstar launched a big domestic flight sale in mid-June, it sold 70,000 seats in just five hours. Today, Wednesday, September 23, the airline has just kicked off another one — so get your clickers ready. They sale has already kicked off and runs until 11.59pm on Thursday, September 24 — if it doesn't sell out prior, of course. The two routes on sale are Sydney to Adelaide, and Adelaide to Sydney, in celebration of SA officially opening its borders to NSW residents (from 11.59pm tonight). [caption id="attachment_680418" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Maxwell Wines by SATC[/caption] Tickets in the sale are one-way and don't include checked baggage, and are for trips between Tuesday, October 13 and Thursday, December 1o, 2020. If you miss out on these flights, fret not. Virgin Australia has announced it'll start running daily return flights between the two cities from Friday, October 2 — so fingers crossed there'll be more sales in the near future, too Need some help on the planning front? We've got you. You can eat and drink our way around 23 of the best spots in Adelaide, visit an architecturally impressive rubik's cube on one of Australia's wineries in the Fleurieu Peninsula, head on a 32-kilometre bike track that takes you past the best riesling vineyards in the Clare Valley and dive into an impossibly blue lake (then glamp under the stars) on the Limestone Coast. Jetstar's $59 sale runs until 11.59pm on Thursday, September 24 (or until sold out). Top image: Bellwether Glamping on the Limestone Coast.
Get ready Sydney, the overwhelmingly grand-titled Dinner of the Decade is about to happen — literally. Talented chefs, sommeliers and waiters from around the country are coming together to celebrate ten years of Appetite for Excellence at Mojo by Luke Mangan. So who's cookin'? The culinary talents taking care of you on the night come from well-established Australian establishments you may already know. Think Melbourne's Supernormal, Sydney's Est., Flying Fish and Ananas and more. You're even encouraged to grill the chefs and waiters for DIY ideas and insider knowledge to impress your foodie friends afterwards. It's a bit of a pricey night out with tickets sitting at $130pp, but if you're due for a 'treat yourself' moment, this is a pretty decadently delicious option. Each table gets their own chef and waiter who will put their own personal spin on your menu. You'll be able to relive their career through each plate and of course, beverage matching. Appetite for Excellence has put the spotlight on many talents in the hospitality industry over the years and this dinner is like a big high school reunion — without a party pie or sausage roll in sight. To book, call (02) 9002 5346 or email mojo@lukemangan.com.
Across its five seasons to date, Black Mirror has dedicated 22 episodes to imagining dystopian futures — and while it makes for compelling viewing, none of the sci-fi anthology series' predictions are particularly pretty. But, for all of its prognosticating, the Charlie Brooker-created show didn't foresee 2020's chaos. And now we've all endured this hectic year and are about to see it come to an end, the team behind Black Mirror has something to say about it. At some point soon — presumably before 2020 is out — Netflix will drop a new comedy special called Death to 2020, which is made by the Black Mirror crew. Exactly what's in store is being kept a surprise for now, but the show will obviously look back on the year. And, it'll have high-profile help in the form of Samuel L Jackson, Hugh Grant, Lisa Kudrow, Kumail Nanjiani, Tracey Ullman, Samson Kayo, Leslie Jones, Diane Morgan, Cristin Milioti and Joe Keery. Netflix has just revealed a teaser trailer for Death to 2020, although that doesn't provide any further info — other than confirming that the Black Mirror team couldn't have made up a year as bleak as this, and that they'll be satirising and savaging the year's developments. That said, Brooker has a history of looking back at events that have just passed, as Newswipe with Charlie Brooker and his end-of-year Wipe specials between 2010–16 have all demonstrated. Brooker and Netflix also love releasing new material over the holiday period with little pre-warning, with interactive Black Mirror special Bandersnatch dropping between Christmas and New Year's Eve back in 2018. So, you might be receiving an extra festive — and grimly funny — present this year. Check out the teaser trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxR9Zo36rbo&feature=emb_logo Death to 2020 looks set to hit Netflix sometime before 2020 is out — we'll update you with an exact release date when one is announced. Top image: Black Mirror.
It has been three months since Queensland closed its borders to Greater Sydney, making the Sunshine State off limits to residents of specific local government areas in the New South Wales capital. Over that period, the status of Queensland's borders has changed multiple times — as it has throughout much of 2020 — including shutting out all of NSW, then reopening to all of NSW except Greater Sydney. But, finally, Sydneysiders will be able to make the journey north from Tuesday, December 1. Today, Tuesday, November 24, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced that Queensland will reopen its border to all of NSW, including Sydney, from the first of next month — which is just seven days away. The Premier said Queensland's Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young was now "satisfied" that NSW was safe as it had reached more than 28 days of no unlinked community transmission. The state is also set to open its border to Victoria from December 1, as long as the southern state does not record a new case tomorrow. Victoria has had 25 consecutive days with zero new cases and has today hit the milestone of zero active COVID-19 cases for the first time since February. "I hope this is welcome news," the Queensland Premier said at the announcement. "I think it's great news in the lead-up to Christmas, but, once again, that timely reminder for everybody — we need to make sure that we continue to keep up our social distancing." https://twitter.com/AnnastaciaMP/status/1331015192155541507 This is also good news if you're a Queenslander now keen on a southern getaway, as you'll be able to head to Sydney or Melbourne (if all goes well in the next 24 hours) and not have to worry about quarantining on return. The Sunshine State will continue to keep its borders closed to 20 South Australian LGAs for the foreseeable future. Whichever way you're heading, though, you will still need a border pass. It isn't required to leave the state, but you'll need one to enter, regardless of whether you're a tourist or returning resident. To obtain a pass, you'll need to apply online, with each one valid for seven days. For more information about Queensland's border policies, head to the Queensland Government website.
Come Wednesday, it can feel like time is moving in slow motion and you're running through jelly towards the golden moment that is 5.01pm on Friday. Why is the jelly so dense and your limbs so heavy? Probably because you spend so many hours serving customers or calming down angry clients. And let's not forget the time spent sending emails or in meetings that could've been an email. The working week is a necessity unfortunately, but there are some tricks of the trade for making it a little easier so you can cut down on the brainwork (and sometimes the legwork). Deputy, a software that does a bunch of those manual tasks for you, plays right into this. It knows your true heart's desire is not rostering alone in an office on a computer but rather just having a nice time bonding with your team. And other ways to get through the week, you ask? Well, here's a couple of ideas. [caption id="attachment_731201" align="alignnone" width="1920"] No Lights No Lycra[/caption] BOOK IN FOR A FUN EXERCISE CLASS AFTER WORK Leaving on time is certainly a basic human right — but we know it's much easier said than done. Sometimes you need a little incentive to push you into pressing save on your excel doc and blowing the joint. A tip? Book into an exercise class after work that will have you looking forward to your knock-off time all day, and changing into your runners at 4.57pm. Try judgement-free dance class No Lights No Lycra or a burlesque class at Sky Sirens to get the blood pumping. They'll make you remember that movement is nice, endorphins are your little buddies and sweat is just your body crying out all the toxic "as per my last emails" of the past week. TURN THE OFFICE INTO A MINI MOVIE THEATRE Generally speaking, if there's one thing a lot of offices are good for, it's expanses of white walls. Move aside the whiteboards and mindmaps, and clear space to make an impromptu screen. If you and your colleagues all chip in a few bucks to buy a cheap pocket projector (or convince your boss to do so), it'll soon be paying for itself — and you'll be doing movie nights the right way. Roll your desk chairs in, microwave some popcorn, flick off the lights and BAM, you're basically at a boutique cinema. Don't have a spare wall? Cop some cheap bean bags and get yourself flat on the floor to use the ceiling as a screen. After a long, hard week, you deserve a little lie down. [caption id="attachment_654556" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Golden Barley Hotel[/caption] FIND A NEW PUB TRIVIA EVERY WEEK If there's one way in which Sydney proves its mettle, it's in having a plethora of pub trivias themed for all occasions. Ru Paul's Drag Race trivia? Check. Broad City trivia? Yup. Murder Mystery pub trivia? Yeah, you'll find it somewhere. Work your way around town by picking a new trivia night every week. Some of our favourites include Golden Barley Hotel's themed trivia nights, Golden Age Cinema's fortnightly film trivia events and The Wild Rover weekly general knowledge quizzes. Start thinking of punny team names now — you can do better than 'You're a Quizzard, Harry'. Get a pub meal, flex your brain muscles, appoint a scribe and get thinking — you might even win the meat tray for Friday's lunch cook-up. [caption id="attachment_622126" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kimberley Low[/caption] GO TO A DOG PARK FOR MAXIMUM PATS DURING LUNCH Sure, you may work nowhere near a beach or a park — and, if you do, we're jealous. Take a longer lunch to schlep you and your sandwich across to the nearest dog-friendly spot, and max out on those endorphins that come with hanging out with furry friends. Fact: dogs cuddles are good for mental health. Fact number two: dog cuddles are great for helping the week fly by. DO A LUNCH SWAP WITH YOUR COLLEAGUE Your chicken salad may be grand, but it may also be as done to death as your perennial Tuesday lunch. Routine is all well and good but so is stepping outside your culinary boundaries, so try a lunch swap with a colleague once a week. It'll be like roulette (with considerably lower stakes), and you'll get to offload that chicken salad on Angela. Surprises are the spice of life, and maybe you'll get lucky and score something like a fun curry. You may even find you enjoy cooking more when it's for someone else. INTRODUCE DEPUTY Manual tasks and paperwork are the bane of any business owner's life. Things like rostering or payroll could make even the most patient person think seriously about throwing their computer into the sea and calling it a day. Deputy takes the reins on this one by helping you with the boring, fiddly manual stuff. Used by Aussie companies like Gelato Messina, Ume Burger and San Churro, Deputy simplifies scheduling, timesheets and communication thereby leaving you, the newly relaxed and calm person, with no urge to throw computers — and able to join your team for the fun activities listed above. If work-life balance is the goal (which it should be), Deputy might be the answer. To learn more about Deputy and how it could help your workplace, visit the website.
Seven First Nations artists have been celebrated at the Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards on Friday, August 7. Held for the first time in a special live-streamed virtual ceremony, this year's Telstra NATSIAA was presented by journalist and Gamilaroi woman Brooke Boney, who announced the winners across several categories, each with a cash prize. The artists were chosen from a suite of 65 finalists by this year's judging panel: Director of Injalak Arts Donna Nadjamerrek, Darwin-based visual artist Karen Mills, and Curator of Araluen Arts Centre Stephen Williamson. Each artist represents a different community, and they've shared stories of their land, the sea, their history, creation and healing through a variety of styles and mediums, highlighting the enormous and diverse talent of Indigenous artists from across the nation. You can see all the finalists' works in this year's Telstra NATSIAA via the virtual exhibition, and you can also sling a vote for your favourite artwork online in the Telstra People's Choice Award. Check out the seven winners from this year's awards, below. NGARRALJA TOMMY MAY Winner of the Telstra Art Award 2020 — prize $50,000 Wangkajunga/Walmajarri man Ngarralja Tommy May has been awarded this year's major prize in the Telstra NATSIAA. The piece, titled 'Wirrkanja' (2020), depicts flood time on the artist's country in the Great Sandy Desert. The now Fitzroy Crossing-based artist has been pioneering his unique style in a career spanning three decades; this year's judging panel noted 'Wirrkanja' shows May at his peak with a work that displays "exquisite beauty and power". May says his work shows a place significant to him; "It's the country where I lost my brother, it's jilji (sand dune) and flat country. There's a jila (living spring waterhole). It's not far from Kurtal, over two sand dunes. In flood time, the water runs down the jilji (sand dunes). This is my country and my family's country. This is my job, it's a good job." JENNA LEE Winner of the Wandjuk Marika 3D Memorial Award (sponsored by Telstra) — prize $5,000 Larrakia/Wardaman/Karajarri artist Jenna Lee lives in Brisbane. Her entry artwork was created in response to the 250-year anniversary of Lieutenant James Cook's arrival at Botany Bay, marked this year. 'HIStory Vessels' is a reconstruction of the cover of a Ladybird History Book, The Adventures of Captain Cook. The interdisciplinary artist was inspired to create the artwork during an artist residency in the UK, to reclaim the omnipresent, white, patriarchal narrative of Cook and its impact on First Nations stories. She says, "I aim to take this narrative and reconstruct it as a story of personal and cultural resilience, beauty and strength." CECILIA UMBAGAI Winner of the Telstra Emerging Artist Award — prize $5,000 Painting on bark that was harvested from her country in the West Kimberley region, young Worrorra woman Cecilia Umbagai says she likes to use traditional materials to create her contemporary depictions of Wandjina Wunggund law, the dreaming stories of her people. The artist usually works across several mediums including acrylic on canvas and photography, and she only started working with bark in 2019. The artist says she loves the texture of the bark with its "curves and irregularities". Using earth pigments on stringybark, Umbagai's winning entry 'Yoogu' is based on traditional cave drawings of the Wandjina spirit of the boab tree, a story she remembers being told as a child. SIENA MAYUTU WURMARRI STUBBS Winner of the Telstra Multimedia Award — prize $5,000 The youngest finalist in this year's Telstra NATSIAA is 18-year-old artist Siena Mayutu Wurmarri Stubbs. The winning artwork is a poem and film inspired by a school trip in 2019. Shinkansen was made on the Shinkansen (bullet train) from Nagoya to Kyoto in Japan. The Yolŋu Matha woman has grown up surrounded by her culture, family and Yolŋu lore, which she explores in all of her artistic endeavours. In such a short career the artist and filmmaker has already won multiple awards for her non-fiction, and curators remark that her work conveys a maturity beyond her years. ADRIAN JANGALA ROBERTSON Winner of the Telstra General Painting Award — prize $5,000 In his artworks, Alice Springs-based Warlpiri artist Adrian Jangala Robertson often refers to his mother's country, Yalpirakinu. Revering the ridges, trees and desert mountains that make up the landscape, Robertson's painting style is described as being loaded with energy and drama. Born in Papunya in 1962, Robertson witnessed the emergence of the Western Desert painting movement, which informs his style to this day. Typically using a minimal range of colour, the widely respected landscape artist injects character and movement into his work with brushstrokes that he says are his connection to his country and "loaded with memories". His winning artwork is a synthetic polymer paint on canvas titled 'Yalpirakinu' (2020). MARRNYULA MUNUŊGURR Winner of the Telstra Bark Painting Award — prize $5,000 Coming from a lineage of prolific and award-winning bark painters, Yirrkala-based Munuŋgurr, of Djapu and Balamumu clans, has carried on the tradition of her family in her creation of ground-breaking bark installations. The artist grew up assisting both of her parents with their own bark work, and in particular her father Djutjadjutja with his sacred Djapu paintings that also won him the Bark Painting Award in the 1997 NATSIAA. For this year's award, Marrnyula created a cross hatching grid pattern — a sacred design for the freshwaters of the Djapu clan at the clan's homeland of Waṉḏawuy. Unlike her other well known artworks in which the artist creates large-scale installations using hundreds of small pieces of bark, this time the artist has chosen to create the same effect on just one piece of bark. The winning stringybark is titled 'Muṉguymirri' (2020), which means 'in small pieces'. ILUWANTI KEN Winner of the Telstra Works on Paper Award — prize $5,000 Pitjantjatjara artist Iluwanti Ken, who is from Watarru and now based in Rocket Bore community in the NT, says birds have lessons for Anangu women about how to hunt and how to care for one's children. A highly respected ngangkari (traditional healer) and a skilled tjanpi (grass sculpture) weaver, Ken is mostly known for depictions of hunting eagles. Ken's winning ink on paper entry, 'Walawulu ngunytju kukaku ananyi (Mother eagles going hunting)', tells the story of female adult eagles hunting for food and bringing it back to feed their babies. The artist says birds are like Anangu mothers in that they protect their babies from outside dangers. Take a look at the virtual gallery and vote for your favourite artwork in the 2020 Telstra NATSIAA People's Choice Award. Top image: Njarralja Tommy May by Damian Kelly.
Elizabeth Bay House is reviving the excitement and 1940s glamour of World War II's Victory in Europe (VE) Day with the Historic Houses Trust's GI Dance. On May 8, 1945 WWII finally came to an end; 67 years later, that victorious moment comes alive again at the harbourside estate of Elizabeth Bay House. Join the party dressed in your best retro attire, and ladies, stop by the in-house salon for festive 'victory curls' and pin-up-perfect makeup. Then hit the dance-floor to the tunes of the era, all while sipping vintage cocktails and mingling with dashing American GIs. Stop by the kitchen for a 1940s cooking tutorial with colonial gastronomer Jacqui Newling or sneak a peek at burlesque pin-up Foxtrot India, posing for a bedroom portrait. Tickets tend to sell out well before the night itself, so if you're thinking of going, book soon.
This event has reached capacity and is unable to accept any further RSVPs. If action-packed yet artful heist films are your thing — and why wouldn't they be? — Julius Avery's debut feature, Son of a Gun, is bound to tickle your armchair thrill-seeking side. Newcomer Brenton Thwaites is JR, a 19-year-old locked up for a minor offence. While inside, he is taken under the calculating wing of crime boss Brendan Lynch (Ewan McGregor). In an inevitably no-don't-you've-got-so-much-going-for-you! move, JR helps Lynch's crew orchestrate a daring prison escape — and is then invited to join in on the high-stakes heist they're planning next. Things, of course, turn progressively more dangerous. The film is all Aussie — written and directed by Avery (whose short film Jerrycan was a Jury Prize winner at Cannes), and shot in the disparate and desolate landscapes of Melbourne, Perth and Kalgoorlie. It's a nail-biting, chill-inducing thriller you'll need to psychologically prepare for. We warned you. We're offering competition winners the chance to see Son of a Gun with a friend at an exclusive preview screening on Monday, October 13, 6.30pm at Palace Verona (17 Oxford Street, Paddington). To enter, click here. Son of a Gun officially releases in cinemas from October 16. See the film in style at Palace Cinemas. https://youtube.com/watch?v=eTOBcelRo9M
It's Keanu Reeves' world and we're all just living in it. When he played Neo in The Matrix back in 1999, that was basically the narrative (because yes, Keanu is and always will be the one). But what would happen if his famous sci-fi franchise character was 20 years older, sported Keanu's John Wick-era look, and couldn't remember anything about blue and red pills, bending spoons, bullet time and living in a simulated reality in a dystopian future where artificially intelligent machines harvest human bodies for power? The answer to that question is coming to the big screen, and soon, all thanks to The Matrix Resurrections. The fourth live-action film in the series that started 22 years ago, already spawned sequels The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions in 2003, and also includes excellent animated anthology The Animatrix, this 18-years-later follow-up dives back down the rabbit hole as Neo once again grapples with the Matrix and everything it means for humanity. And, as seen in the long-awaited, just-dropped first trailer for the new movie — which comes after a teaser site, www.whatisthematrix.com, popped up earlier in the week — he needs to show off some martial arts moves in a familiar-looking dojo again first. In the years since audiences have last seen The Matrix saga's trenchcoat-loving protagonist, it seems that Neo has been living his life as Thomas Anderson once more — and he's forgotten all about his time with Morpheus and co, so much so that he doesn't even recognise Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss, Jessica Jones) when they cross paths. He does chat to his therapist (Neil Patrick Harris, It's a Sin), however. And, he gets to hear a very telling line from another advice-spouting character (played by Mindhunter's Jonathan Groff): "after all these years, to be going back to where it all started... back to the Matrix." As newcomers to the franchise, Harris and Groff are joined by a lengthy list of other recognisable faces making their Matrix debuts, including Jessica Henwick (On the Rocks), Priyanka Chopra Jonas (The White Tiger), Christina Ricci (Percy vs Goliath) and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (Candyman). And, while Jada Pinkett Smith (Girls Trip) sits alongside Reeves and Moss in the returning camp, one big name from the original flicks is noticeably missing — but the trailer does indeed have an answer to that. Crucially, filmmaker Lana Wachowski also returns as The Matrix Resurrections' director and co-screenwriter, albeit without sibling Lilly — who co-helmed the first three live-action films. Just as importantly, the first sneak peek at the new flick looks as moody and brooding — and as filled with spectacular action scenes — as its predecessors. It comes jam-packed with nods to the other movies, too. So, knock knock, The Matrix fans, because it's time to jump back in (well, it will be on January 1, 2022, when the film is scheduled to hit Australian cinemas). (And, because it really is Keanu's world, we're getting John Wick: Chapter 4 in 2022 as well — so that's double the chances to see Keanu return to his best franchises in one year.) Check out the trailer for The Matrix Resurrections below: The Matrix Resurrections opens in Australian cinemas on January 1, 2022.
