He's the creative mind behind Uluru's spectacular Field of Light installation, which pulled more than 200,000 visitors in its first eighteen months and has been extended twice to keep up with demand. And now, renowned British artist Bruce Munro has lent his talents to yet another landmark Aussie exhibition. This time, he is illuminating the tree-lined Avenue of Honour in Albany, Western Australia. Field of Light: Avenue of Honour kicks off today and will run until April 25, 2019, in honour of the ANZACs who departed for the Great War from this southernmost point of the state 100 years ago. It's an immersive work, aglow each night with 16,000 flower-like glass spheres, 'planted' by local volunteers to form a glowing carpet through the avenue's memorial trees. Arriving at peak wildflower season, the glowing orbs also nod to this corner of the country's unique plant life, referencing the whites, yellows and greens of the wattle and New Zealand's kowhai. Munro's Field of Light: Avenue of Honour installation will be free to wander during its stint Down Under, which coincides with the ANZAC Centenary commemorations. If you'd like to visit, you'll have to plan a bit of a trip. Albany is located a five-hour drive (or one-hour flight) from Perth. Field of Light: Avenue of Honour runs from October 4, 2018 until April 25, 2019. Images: Mark Pickthall, courtesy of the Bruce Munro Studio
We're happy to announce that, in the name of gender equality, chef Teague Ezard is finally opening the female equivalent to his popular Melbourne Asian fusion eatery Gingerboy in Sydney: Gingergirl. Okay, so it's not really in the name of gender equality, it's more in the name of excellent Thai food — but for whatever reason, the acclaimed restaurant is popping up at The Star from today, Friday, December 6 until the end of March 2017. Ezard is behind the food at the complex's BLACK Bar and Grill, and Gingergirl will be making her appearance right around the corner. You can expect an earthier twist on Gingerboy's menu, at far earthier prices. Think cold noodle salad with all the trimmings — squid, drunken chicken, sesame, paw paw and bandit dressing — for $16, a yellow curry of blue eye and wagyu brisket with peanut tamarind caramel and hot and sour coconut salad for $22 a piece. They're also doing Vietnamese coffees and bubble tea, and a thom kha creme brûlée for dessert. The dining atmosphere will also err on the side of casual, so it's a good way to taste some damn fine food without the fine dining vibes (or price tag). The Gingergirl Pop-Up will be open until the end of March 2017 on the ground floor of The Star at 80 Pyrmont Street, Pyrmont. For more info, visit their website.
Staying back after school has never been more stocked with good art and a cheeky tipple. The National Art School is launching Sydney's newest after-hours art party: Twilight Sessions. A free series of mid-week soirees featuring art, live music, workshops, talks and film, Twillight Sessions has all the art party trimmings, with one marked difference: it's all going down in the old Darlinghurst gaol. Created to coincide with the International Year of Light (which it is, apparently), Twilight Sessions is launching on Wednesday, February 25 — the first of four dotted throughout the year. So what's in store for this Wednesday hootenanny? Sticking around after Sydney Festival, celebrated, light-based installation artist Bill Culbert will be showcasing his largest solo work in Australia to date — after he blitzed the 55th Venice Biennale. You can partake in free twilight drawing sessions in the gallery, inspired by Culpert's exhibition and led by artists and NAS faculty Lynne Eastaway, Margaret Roberts and Tania Rollond, or a photography workshop with respected Australian photographer Peter Solness (places limited, bookings essential, $25 per person). Once you're all arted out, you'll find Astral People's Mike Who spinning a few tunes at the pop-up bar. Mike Who has warmed up stages for the likes of Action Bronson, Oneman and Peanut Butter Wolf, so it's a pretty big pull for NAS. For the nibblers and noshers, there'll be tasty treats and wine and beer available on the night. Now you're nice and wine-fuelled, wander through NAS's Chapel for an an exhibition from Margaret Olley Drawing Week, and upstairs, Sydney artist Gary Warner invites you to make music on the social 'lamellaphone', an interactive musical instrument made from discarded street sweeper bristles, designed to be played by several people in tandem in a manner similar to an African thumb piano. Twilight Sessions will launch on Wednesday, February 25 and run from 6-9pm. It'll be back four times in the year to coincide with NAS Gallery’s 2015 exhibition program, including the Redlands Konica Minolta Art Prize, New Disciples: 50 Years of Ceramics and Rosemary Laing. For more info, head to nas.edu.au.
The Vic on the Park is channelling its inner Camden Town by throwing a London-style party that's all about gin. With some help from beefeater gin and StrangeLove tonic, the Marrickville pub is hosting two days of gin-filled shenanigans including live music, activities and a special gin menu. Popping up across April 2 and 3, the party will feature sets from the likes of Inner West Reggae Disco Crew, Dibby Dibby Sound System, the Free It Up Dance crew and a heap more local artists. Alongside the music, there will be an on-site screen printing station across the weekend, a dog show and a whole heap of food and drink specials. Accompanying The Vic's usual enhanced pub fare (its lobster rolls are a real winner) will be a pop-up jerk chicken vendor, a special gin menu and a gin slushy bar. $1 from every gin and tonic will also be donated to the Addison Road Community Centre, so you can feel good as you sip.
Walk any street of Bondi and you're sure to be met by adorable puppies, always pamper-fresh and ready for a pat. As dogs are somewhat of a beach-lifestyle must-have, so too is a trusted groomer. Head to the busier Oxford Street in Bondi Junction to find Dogue — a distinctly luxe puppy pampering palace. It offers gold tasting plates of New Zealand mussels, doggy-friendly shepherd's pie and the full scope of celebrity chef Pete Evans' dog food line, so they know how to treat pets like royalty. The store also offers puppy training and daycare facilities, plus an array of pet-related accessories — think collars, bedding and more toys than your puppy pal could ever need.
Western Sydney's getting a grand $100 million performing arts centre — and it's set to be funded by the profits from Rooty Hill RSL's pokies. Slated to be the largest of its kind in the area, the Western Sydney Performing Arts Centre (WSPAC) has commenced construction across the road from the RSL, which will use part of the huge revenue pulled in from its gaming room floor to cover the entire cost of the theatre project. Which is...conflicting, to say the least. And Rooty Hill RSL chief executive Richard Errington has some lofty plans for the venue, which will feature a state-of-the-art 2000-seat proscenium arch theatre and a pedestrian air bridge linking the existing club. "Our objective was to provide something equal to the Sydney Opera House or the Lyric Theatre or the Capitol Theatre, so we can attract the same kind of shows they do," he told The Sydney Morning Herald. "Anything the major theatres can provide, we can now also accommodate in this amenity." Sounds ambitious, right? But Rooty Hill RSL should have no trouble footing the bill for this one, last year reporting an uncomfortable annual revenue of $89.1 million, two-thirds of which came from pokies profits. The club boasts 726 gaming machines, which is the largest collection of any of its NSW counterparts. This isn't the first time questionable cash has been used to fund arts projects — remember when the Biennale came under scrutiny for its relationship with Transfield? — and the centre will undeniably be a significant addition to Sydney's arts scene. We just can't help but feel icky about it. It's expected to open its doors late 2019, with plans for a five-star hotel next door also on the agenda. Via The Sydney Morning Herald.
Paddington is famed for its collection of independent art galleries — and it will soon add a vibrant new space to its collection. Set in an 1899 heritage building on Oxford Street, The Concetta Antico Gallery will display the work of one of the world's most colourful artists, kicking off with her latest exhibition Visions of the Muse. Concetta Antico is world-renowned for her unique hyper-coloured oil paintings. Gifted with tetrachromacy — the scientifically endorsed condition which allows her to perceive around 100 million colours (your average Joe sees about one million) — Antico is venerated as the 'colour queen', which she channels into her paintings of flora and fauna. Over her career, Antico has sold over 1000 original works, which are held in both public and private collections worldwide. To celebrate her new Sydney gallery, Antico is throwing a free grand opening party on Saturday, July 13, from 6–10pm. Drop by and see Antico painting live for an audience. There'll be music, food and libations to enjoy, too. The grand opening party, Visions of the Muse, will take place on Saturday, July 13, from 6–10pm. It's free to attend but registration is recommended. Visions of the Muse will be open from Thursday, July 11–Wednesday, August 7. The gallery will operate from 11am–6pm, Thursday through Saturday, and from 2–5pm on Sundays (and by appointment, too).
To all intents and purposes, it was just another ordinary morning in Newtown: bottle-necked traffic, bleary-eyed uni students clinging to coffee cups, wandering musicians who’d been heading home since late Friday night. And then, a couple of hours ago, two water buffaloes started running down King Street. Not just any old beasts taking a casual stroll looking for a spot of grass, but steaming angry ones. Online speculation is rife. Was it a piece of Biennale performance art? A premature April Fool’s prank? A visit to Enmore’s Cow and Moon Cafe? Clive, an eyewitness in Sydney Park, told ABC Radio’s Linda Mottram that the beasts were fresh escapees from a film crew. “They were at a Samsung film shoot,” he said. “Everybody’s out with mobiles, trying to find them. I saw them heading towards King Street and they vanished ... they’re pretty angry apparently.” Onlooker Abril Felman described the scene in Newtown to ABC Radio. “Everyone was on the street, just shocked, looking at these bulls running. It was crazy ... There was this jeep with filming equipment running behind them.” Mystified and terrified spectators started calling the police, but not before the buffaloes managed to cover about 2 kilometres in a city-bound direction. On the corner of Carillon Avenue and Missenden Road, a NSW Fire and Rescue truck confronted them, unintentionally. “One of our crews from Newtown was returning from an automatic fire alarm call,” spokesman Ian Krimmer explained to ABC Radio. “They were driving down Missenden road, turning into Carillon, when they were confronted with two water buffaloes ... They’ve taken the ladders off the fire trucks and used them as movable gates to corral the buffaloes into the front yard of a house ... I’ve been advised that the film crew in charge of the beasts is now taking care of them.” Image by Abril Felman.
UPDATE March 14, 2017: We'll admit when we're duped. We done got duped. The Frango's Delivery Service Facebook page has revealed their true colours as an unofficial, fake page. Frango's is tragically not offering delivery. Unleash the hounds, we can take it. Have you crossed the city for Frango's? You've crossed the city for Frango's. This Sydney institution's celebrated charcoal Portuguese chicken is the juiciest around and their ever-bustling, no-nonsense stores have one of the biggest cult followings in the city. Their secret sauce haunts our food dreams, and a mere mention of a Frango's chicken burger can trigger unstoppable, ranting praise. Now, to further fuel the mad ravings of Frango's fanatics, they're starting their own delivery service. Seriously. Frango's. Delivered. The first post to the Frango's Delivery Service Facebook page was only two days ago and yet the page already has over 1200 likes. Sydneysiders are losing their collective shit over this news, sharing on social by the handful, and we're right there with them. Delivery will gloriously run seven days a week, but only out of their Petersham shop for the time being. Before you rush to the phone, though, you'll have to wait a little longer to dig in at your desk — delivery services won't start until the beginning of April, so watch this space for the green light. Top image: Emmy Smith. Featured image: @ajsastulanovic via Instagram.
Asian food is everywhere in Australian culture, and it's about to experience another twist in the form of Sens-Asian, a showcase conjured by Luke Mangan. Think of it as a warehouse party with an Asian street market vibe, cocktails and great food. Katherine Sabbath, Black Star Pastry and N2 Gelato. You've seen their creations on Instagram; you've probably double-tapped those creations. They'll be there producing delicious Asian-inspired desserts. Mangan and MOJO head chef Wayne Lee will be holding down the savoury fort and dishing up things like Taiwanese fried chicken and soft shell crab po'boys. We wish we had a third hand to hold a Singapore Sling. Food starts at $15. A live DJ will be providing tunes, and to top it all off, Sydney street artist JUMBO will be there completing a large-scale piece on the warehouse roller doors.
The Hindu festival Kumbh Mela is one of the largest religious gatherings on earth, held every three years on the banks of sacred Indian rivers. The festival welcomes pilgrims and visitors alike — visitors including Sydney photographer and documentary-maker Stephen Dupont. Dupont's resulting series of photographs, The White Sheet Series No. 1, will be exhibited at the Black Eye Gallery this month. It features black-and-white portraits taken in the midst of Kumbh Mela, displayed in frames of hand-printed textile stamps collected by the artist during his time on the subcontinent. The series is a natural step for Dupont, whose opus consists of photography and film that features fragile cultures and marginalised people. He has been exhibited in London, Paris, New York and Shanghai and this return to his hometown is an opportunity for Sydneysiders to see his newest work, which is, more than anything, a celebration of people and place.
Been scheming about taking Vivid Sydney to the next level this year? If you've got some cash stashed away for the festival, swap out the crowds at Circular Quay for front-row views of the illuminated Harbour Bridge, a water taxi and dinner literally in the middle of Sydney Harbour. Yep, we're talking Fort Denison. This year, the island outpost is inviting you to join its Vivid celebrations. Dubbed Dinner De-Lights, the evening starts with you wandering around Circular Quay, before jumping in a specially chartered water taxi for a giddy, wind-in-your-hair-lights-in-your-eyes ride to the island. Along the way, check out Vivid's famous boat parade up close. Once you're there, you'll take a mini tour of the Martello Tower before settling into your seat for dinner, which will afford epic views of the lighting of the Opera House's sails (which will this year feature work by artist Ash Bollard) as well as the Harbour Bridge. Dinner De-Lights is happening every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday night throughout the festival. Bookings cost $118 per person, which includes a two-course dinner, the tour and the water taxi ride there and back.
George RR Martin is joining forces with art collective Meow Wolf to produce the most insanely magic art complex imaginable. Attempting to raise $100,000 on Kickstarter, the installation artists and the Game of Thrones mastermind want to build one epic art space: The Meow Wolf Art Complex in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Built within the site of an old bowling alley Martin bought specifically for the project, the complex will house 19 affordable artist studios, two rotating gallery spaces, and The David Loughridge Learning Center with arts education programming by local non-profit ARTsmart. But the real jaw-dropper here is Meow Wolf's plan for unprecedented 20,000 sq. ft. complex to be constructed by over 75 artists — dubbed The House of Eternal Return. Celebrated for their large-scale, immersive installation experiences, the Sante Fe-based collective Meow Wolf have just the ideas Martin was looking for when he bought the bowling alley. Following Meow Wolf's wildly successful interdimensional ship installation The Due Return in 2011, the team will likely be using most of the Kickstarter funds toward Meow Wolf's first permanent exhibition, The House of Eternal Return. Visitors will be able to crawl, climb and be immersed within the 'rooms' of the house, from trailer parks to crazy tree houses to spaceship-like condos. "The House of Eternal Return will be a radical new form of storytelling, where audiences are immersed within a multimedia art experience that unfolds through an interactive and magical narrative," says the team on their Kickstarter page. Here's their artist renditions of what's planned for the House: 'Crazy Tree Houses' 'Cactus Trailer Dream' 'Portals Bermuda' Martin and Meow Wolf have so far raised $45,654 of their $100,000 goal with 13 days to go. Martin intends to fully renovate the space ahead of Meow Wolf's 10-year lease on the property. Whattaguy. Check out the Kickstarter campaign here.
It feels like performance art is everywhere lately. 13 Rooms was the talk of the town last month and the Museum of Contemporary Art has recently finished Workout, its fantastic, week-long performance extravaganza. These days, you can't even walk into the MoMA without finding Tilda Swinton taking a disco nap in a glass case. The Space Between Us, on show at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, is part of the biennial Anne Landa Award and features the work of Lauren Brincat, Alicia Frankovich, Laresa Kosloff, Angelica Mesiti, Kate Mitchell, James Newitt and Christian Thompson, seven artists exploring the relationship between performance and video art. Devoted to supporting artists who work with the moving image and new technologies, it's an acquisitive award of $25,000 (which means the winning work enters the gallery’s collection). The prize was established in 2004 in honour of Anne Landa, a former trustee of the gallery. It's a terrifically interesting exhibit and I loved all the works on display. The selection of artists is great, and their pieces complement each other wonderfully. Nearly all of the works also use their video screens in innovative and exciting ways. Sydney-based Kate Mitchell's piece is made up of several screens slotted together to make a large, geometric shape. The content of the video (the artist repeatedly throws herself through a series of coloured glass panes) and the large scale in which it’s presented creates a slightly unsettling effect, but there’s something quite comical about the slapstick way she throws herself through the pane. It was my favourite work in the show. The exhibition also includes once-daily performances, promising a somewhat circus-like, two-month long program of ‘tambourine players, women on horseback, groups of people testing their physical endurance and other unexpected encounters’. While it is a wonderful exhibition, coming on the heels of the uber experience that was 13 Rooms, it can be a little underwhelming. It's an unfair comparison, as The Space Between Us is primarily devoted to examining the intersection between video art and performance art, as opposed to 13 Rooms' pure performance focus. However, you can’t help but draw a parallel between the two. It lacks the punch and the vigour of 13 Rooms, but nonetheless it remains well worth a visit. Image from Lucky break by Kate Mitchell.
New year, new in-person film festival from Static Vision. Obviously, 2022 isn't new at all now — it's September — but Metamorphoses follows 2020's Hyperlinks and 2021's Dreamscapes in enticing Sydney movie lovers with the kind of program that you won't see elsewhere. The theme this time: transformation, as well as evolution, adaptation, shifting and changing. We'd hazard a guess that whittling down the possible movie picks into a four-day program must've been a tricky (but rewarding) process. Once again, the film collective is unfurling its curated pictures at the Pink Flamingo Cinema in Marrickville — this time, from Thursday, September 29–Sunday, October 2. Seventeen features and ten shorts will get a-flickering, including ten Australian premieres, kicking off with a 40th-anniversary screening of Paul Schrader's 1982 gem Cat People. From there, standouts include Lux Aeterna, which hails from Climax and Enter the Void's Gaspar Noé, and was funded by Yves Saint Laurent. The provocative filmmaker never holds back — see: the aforementioned titles, and the controversial Irreversible — but this time he's emulating a real-time witch-burning. Or, you can catch a fan-edited and remastered version of Interstella 5555: The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem, which was designed to go along with Daft Punk's 2001 album Discovery; fame-chasing satire Sick of Myself, which played at both Cannes and Fantastic Fest; The Sacred Spirit, about a Valencian ufology cult; and Slamdance fellowship-winner Therapy Dogs, which sees 17-year old filmmaker Ethan Eng make a high-school diary film. The list goes on; however, with Tales from the Gimli Hospital Redux, Static Vision will show Canadian filmmaker Guy Maddin's (The Green Fog) 1988 feature film debut — while improvised road movie-slash-romance Magnetic Fields was Greece's entry for the 2022 Best International Feature Film Academy Award, and won five Greek Oscars.
What's better than one Sydney Moonlight Cinema? Two, obviously. In addition to the CBD's stint of openair movie-viewing, Western Sydney also plays host to the outdoor cinema — so get ready to watch flicks under the stars at Western Sydney Parklands between Thursday, November 16–Sunday, January 30. Like its sibling venue, Moonlight Cinema Western Sydney is screening new movies, recent must-sees and festive flicks, starting with Free Guy on opening night. From there, you can head along to see Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Venom: Let There Be Carnage, Disney newbie Encanto and the family-friendly The Boss Baby: Family Business. And, for your merry outdoor movie-watching pleasure, the Christmas selection includes Love Actually, Elf, The Grinch, Die Hard and Home Alone. It's also worth remembering that Moonlight Cinema is BYO — and there'll be food, snacks, a bar and (if you'd like to pay for them) bean bags as well. And, in great news for movie-loving pooches, you can bring them along, too.
If you've committed yourself to extending the holiday indulgence and enjoying a January stuffed with good food, the legends at Nomad are here to help you reach your goals. This weekend, Executive Chef Jacqui Challinor is bringing back a much-loved lockdown project — her next-level bomboloni, aka Italian doughnuts. After achieving cult status as a lockdown special served up by the Surry Hills restaurant last year, the bomboloni are back for a one-weekend-only appearance. On offer from 10am this Saturday, January 15, and Sunday, January 16, you'll find two dreamy varieties of the treat: a savoury version comes loaded with sujuk, haloumi and a fried egg, and a fairy bread-inspired creation, starring burnt butter cream, strawberry glaze and a coating of 100's & 1000's, that sweet-toothed bombolone fans will be all about. Both are available for takeaway only, with the sweet bombolone going for $10 a pop and the savoury one priced at $16. If last year's are anything to go by, however, they won't be hanging around for long — you'd better get in as early as you can.
Two things that nearly all humans like are clothes and getting really awesome ones at heavily reduced prices. If you're someone who likes both these things then you've probably already heard about the Big Fashion Sale, which is your best chance to get amazingly fantastic threads from some of Australia's top cult designers at prices you'd be hard-pressed to find on eBay. Now in its fourth year, the sale has amassed the most designers in its short history and will be packing them all into the Old Paramount Building. These designers include Karla Spetic, Romance Was Born, Magdalena Velevska, Bec & Bridge, Ruby Smallbone, Christopher Esber, Nathan Smith, Gary Bigeni, Rittenhouse, and Elke Kramer. But be warned — insane prices do not peaceful environments make. This sartorial wonderland is probably going to be one that's crazier than Zara circa May 2011, so arrive prepared to fight for your right to own beautiful things.
A trip to The Corner Shop has never been so glamorous. Instead of a carton of milk and some red frogs, expect to come back with a treat from their exquisite collection of Australian and international designer labels including Isabel Marant, Kenzo, Helmut Lang and Sarah and Sebastian. There are two of these chic boutiques and we love them both, although we may prefer the William St boutique just because it's actually on a corner. Stocking other fancy frills like Frame Denim, Chloe Shoes and Celine Eyewear, the Corner Shop will leave wallets lighter while enlightening the sartorial soul.
Phil Spencer is a 29-year-old man who has never thrown a punch. While that's news that probably shouldn't be story-worthy (come on dudes, nobody should be throwing punches), Spencer's stand-up/storytelling show You and Whose Army? takes this idea and runs with it. He uses his own stories of growing up in the 'slums' of rural South Oxfordshire and moonlighting as a drug dealer in Glasgow to craft a darkly comedic meditation on our relationship with violence. Spencer has teamed up with Sydney singer-songwriter Richard Cuthbert, who provides musical accompaniment to Spencer's autobiographical adventure. The pair sold out a bunch of intimate shows at The Newsagency in January this year. If you missed out then, you can catch them again (in their last Australian hurrah before heading off on a UK tour) next Wednesday night at Giant Dwarf — Sydney's newest venue for the particular mash-up of stand-up and storytelling that's become so popular around the city over the past few years.
You've already celebrated one new year but, mere weeks later, it's time to celebrate another. At the Georges River Council's Lunar New Year Festival, Hurstville's Forest Road will come alive to mark the Year of the Rat — with food, acrobatics, origami, traditional lion and dragon dances, and more. The annual event attracts around 50,000 people each year and, based on the culinary lineup alone, it's easy to see why. On the menu: rice dumplings, pork buns, dragon beard candy and fluffy crunch fairy floss, as well as Japanese barbecue crepes and dumplings, Singapore noodles, mi goreng fries and Japanese pizza. You'll also be able to tuck into cups of loose leaf tea, plus milk rolls, milk pudding and snow cones. Taking place from 10am on Saturday, January 18, you can also expect a parade of floats, including inflatable zodiac animals — and finalists from Sing! China Australia, aka The Voice of China Australia, belting out tunes. Jugglers and stilt-walkers will be moseying around, Chris Yee will paint a live mural, and workshops on origami, face-painting, umbrella art and Waikato drumming will be held. There'll also be a Wishing Tree Forest, where you can write down your wish for the new year, add it to the trees and cross your fingers that it'll come true.
Ugly ducklings, scapegoats, white crows, black sheep — farmyards sure know how to single out the atypical. Thank goodness the humans of the Inner West know how to celebrate furry oddballs. As a project of the Newtown Entertainment Precinct Association, the inaugural Sydney Fringe Festival is fresh from the salon and ready for some showponying style, as this "multidiscipline cultural showcase" launches a three-week programme of Sydney’s best underground arts throughout September. Festival director Kris Williams is fresh and filled with ideas from the Big Apple, as the Fringe brings the Adelaidean local back to Oz after five years as founding director of the New York Musical Theatre Festival. Reborn from the ashes of the Bondi Fringe, this year's programme is set to wow and wow well, with a diverse line-up from the banterous musical comedy of A Czar is Born to the theatrics of failure in a tiny chorus, the hybrid performative works of Applespiel's newest project Appleloft, far into the reaches of improvised mind-bending musical funktrust Fuji Collective and the collaborative wonderment of idea idea (if only to unfairly single out a few highlights from the plethora). One may even be so bold as to harness up a guinea pig and ferry said quivering rodent to "pet-friendly outdoor events" such as the Your Big Backyard programme of Sydney Park, or perhaps question the sociability of eating and entertaining in a series of awkward-as-a-puffin Silent Dinner Parties. Holy sheep, this haircut is just too darn attractive. With 'curators' poring over the realms of cabaret, comedy, circus, dance, digital arts, literature, music, musical theatre, theatre and visual arts, the newly reborn Fringe is as handcrafted as collections come, with each of the 200+ events lovingly selected by some of Sydney's wiliest artistic minds. With ticket prices hardly breaching the $30 threshold, this in-demand series of events can only be described with satisfaction: baaadly overdue. Image: Fuji Collective.
It's hard to believe it's been 25 years since the turn of the millennium. And whether you were there for it or not, if you find yourself hankering for the days when low-rise jeans, velour trakkies and platform shoes ruled the Earth, then do we have the party for you. Every Sunday in April, Barangaroo rooftop venue Untied is hosting Gimme More Sundays, a late arvo shindig in honour of Y2K — Von Dutch trucker hat optional. [caption id="attachment_998727" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jasper Avenue[/caption] The action kicks off at 4pm, when the DJs start spinning throwback tunes from the likes of Britney, Ricky Martin, Destiny's Child and plenty more. Plus, Untied will be serving bottomless frosé at just $49 per person for 90 minutes — you'll have your pick of a variety of fruity flavours, alongside a bunch of treats from the lolly wall where gummy bears, rainbow straps and sour worms are waiting for you. For special treatment, sign up to the guest list here. That'll get you a complimentary cocktail on arrival — just the start you need to get jumpin' jumpin'. [caption id="attachment_997406" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jasper Avenue[/caption]
Sydney Common is anything but. The newly launched restaurant is located an easy stroll up the curving lobby stairs on the second level of the Sheraton Grand Hyde Park where tall windows welcome in a unique leafy aspect of the park without the inconvenience of Elizabeth Street's pedestrian and vehicular traffic obscuring the view. A pleasant start. The restaurant space is sleek, spacious and elegant, perhaps unremarkably so. But it's when the food hits the table that things start getting exciting. The menu has been created by Head Chef Jamie Robertson under the mentorship of culinary legend Martin Benn (formerly of Tetsuya's and Sepia), and that pedigree comes through at every stage of the dining experience. The hero ingredients of each dish are neither overworked nor underplayed. A side dish of charred monterosa tomatoes served with goats curd, smoked oil and togarashi is eyebrow-raisingly delicious, for example. Also excellent is the impressive opener of tuna crudo, precisely cubed and accompanied with tomato jelly and buffalo yoghurt — a technical marvel and highly photogenic dish that doesn't underdeliver in the flavour department. Woodfired cooking is the centrepiece of the kitchen and menu, where the grill is applied to everything from a dry aged Hereford grass fed rib eye cut, vegetables (including the aforementioned tomatoes), and a seasonal seafood lineup that could include Aquna Murray cod, John Dory, Yamba prawns and grilled scallops with nduja. Sydney Common's core team comprises Director of Food & Beverage Adam Leonardi, Restaurant General Manager James Curtis (ex-Aria), and Head Sommelier Sebastian Brogren (ex-Bentley Restaurant and Bar) curating the drinks program with a 260-bin wine list that celebrates classic Australian producers and showcases both new and old world wine. The offering of hotel dining in Sydney is no longer catering purely for in-house guests in need of convenience. Restaurants like the Capella's fabulous Brasserie 1930, Mitch Orr's dynamo menu at Kiln on top of The Ace, the near-impossible-to-get-a-table-at Encore by Clare Smyth at The Crown Barangaroo, and now Sydney Common are making hotels a legitimate destination for locals seeking out great food and service - no staycation necessary. Sydney Common is now open for lunch Fridays and Saturdays and dinner seven days at the Sheraton Grand Hyde Park, Level 1, 161 Elizabeth Street. Bookings are available now via Seven Rooms. Image credit: Steven Woodburn
Frances Rings' Terrain is the newest addition to Bangarra Dance Theatre's repertoire, offering a beautiful production where physicality and spirituality meet. Gracing the stage at the Opera House's Drama Theatre, Terrain explores Kati Thanda (Lake Eyre) — the place of Australia's inland sea and one of the few untouched natural waterways in the world, where "time is measured by the dramatic events of nature," says Rings in her choreography notes. In this bodily "hymn to country", Terrain traverses Lake Eyre's seasonal changes, moving from drought to deluge, witnessing nature's ephemeral transformation of place. Depicted in vignettes which dissolve into each other seamlessly, the 14 Aboriginal and Torres Strait dancers explore and illustrate the connection Indigenous people have with the land. In preparation, music composer David Page and Rings flew over Lake Eyre and met elder Reg Dodd, who shared his stories and myths. Page recorded Dodd speaking in the native tongue of the Arabunna people, which he included in the music for Terrain. Symbolically representing natural and thematic concerns, costume designer Jennifer Irwin decks the dancers' bodies in costumes that dazzle the eye and intrigue the sensation of touch. In 'Salt' there features a spiky yet soft white top, moving with the body and resisting it at the same time. Inspired by Lake Eyre's surrealism and vastness, Irwin took a sculptural approach to the costumes, "representing the stark contrasts of beauty and destruction of the terrain." The piece comes together beautifully, thanks to the Page brothers, artistic director Stephen and composer David; simple yet striking set design by Jacob Nash, illuminated by lighting designer Karen Norris; and of course to Reg Dodd, cultural advisor, who shared his people's stories and mythological beauty.
While 'Thrift Shop' swaggers to the clumsy mash of spiky melodic contours and full Ab minor chords, triple j's other Hottest 100 collaborative effort rambles confidently through soulful grooves and grazing vocals. The grooves come at the hands of 9-piece funk/soul/psych/mod Melbourne outfit The Bamboos and the vocals from You Am I frontman Tim Rogers, and the result is one big track that's even bigger live. This month the temporarily ten-piece lineup will take 'I Got Burned' across the country along with some unheard originals and a whole heap of new covers. With Rogers voice and Lance Ferguson's guitar punctuated by the spectacular larynxes of resident Bamboos Kylie Auldist and Ella Thompson plus a handful of brass things and a Hammond organ, the Soul and Rock 'n Roll show should give you plenty of material with which to argue that maybe genre is kinda redundant anyway. Read our interview with Lance Ferguson of The Bamboos here. https://youtube.com/watch?v=hZEN_l4j6mY
Warm weather means heading outside and not only soaking up the sun, but enjoying summer's sultry evenings. It also means finding as many ways to do just that as possible, so how better than heading west and enjoying a free film? Every year for the past 18 years, Sydney Olympic Park has played host to Movies by the Boulevard, a free summer film fest that's all about the open-air experience. It's back for 2019, and, as held on a selection of evenings between January 12 and 27, it's serving up a feast of 2018 flicks for your outdoor viewing pleasure. Missed Crazy Rich Asians the first time? Love Black Panther and want to watch it on the big screen again? Eager for a dose of The Greatest Showman on Australia Day? They're all on the agenda, and more. The rest of the lineup spans from the heist hijinks of Ocean's 8 to the superhero onslaught of Avengers: Infinity War, plus the ABBA frenzy that is Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again and the intergalactic antics of Solo: A Star Wars Story. There'll also be a night devoted to puppers thanks to the Top Dog Film Festival. Gates open at 6pm each night in Cathy Freeman Park, with films kicking off at 8.30pm. BYO picnic, or grab some food or drink onsite.
There's an unappealing Bonds campaign on at the moment. It adds one very slightly rude word to an underwear campaign that feels almost exactly the same as every crass underwear ad campaign that's gone before it. Very barely suggestive, and very much the same as before. Two time Archibald winner Del Kathryn Barton's pressure to the need, by contrast, is full of explicit penises, vaginas and quite a lot of thorn-like boobs. But there is absolutely nothing same-y about her work. Every image she makes of the body seems to look at it obliquely. But her focus is on the strangeness, not the alienness of the human form. This is most obvious in the opening ink and watercolour images. Each combines strange spaces with a mindscape of objects, or very naked human figure studies. Barton's work is often compared to Egon Schiele, and when she's drawing in delicate lines that similarity is pretty obvious. But here, her figure workseems much closer to Aubrey Beardsley's Lysistrata, with wonderful glimpses of Chrissie Abbott as parts become windows into another space. In the next room her colour work is simply magic. In the smaller portraits the colours balance from afar, like Chagall or Kandinsky. But these combinations are every bit her own, her paints making her cascades of colours hues shimmer like the sheen of beetles' wings. to hold 4 makes its serious face out of the translucent colours of rhubarb, painted china and Smarties. Her bigger canvases are even more spectacular, their figures' eyes bird-like and perceptive, or glazed over like untenably thin stained glass. but my dreams seems to feature an enormous and literal beehive of black feathery hair. Pulsing arteries sprout out the top, combining with a three quarter profile for a pursed stare that gives it the feel of a Frida Kahlo self portrait. the human dress sits underneath the weight of her feathery hair as though this brain is unpleasant, dominant and powerful, while of pollen makes a ruff from colourful leaves, sprouting at the collar like a much the more interesting cousin of Jack in the Green. Even with a modern phone Roslyn Oxley9 can be a little complicated to find, the gallery almost hidden by tiny Soudan Lane's sheer rock face. But Barton's stunning colours make this mini adventure in urban orienteering well worth the effort. Roslyn Oxley 9 is open 10-6 Tuesday to Friday, 11-6 on Saturdays. Image: Del Kathryn Barton, pressure to the need, 2013, Installation view at Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery, Sydney. Image courtesy the artist and Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery, Sydney. Photo: Jessica Maurer.
Turning 40 is a big deal for anybody, and no less so for one of Sydney's most iconic buildings — the Sydney Opera House. And there's no better way to celebrate than with a huge concert under the shade of the famous sails in the newly renovated Forecourt. The 40th Anniversary Concert comes as part of a month-long celebration of all things Bennelong, and kicks off with a slew of notable Australian musicians, such as alt-queen Sarah Blasko, piano pop princess Megan Washington and roots rock guru John Butler. The concert will close with a homage to the illustrious beginnings of the Opera House, with a performance of Beethoven's 9th Symphony — 'Ode to Joy', for the less classically educated of us — the piece that opened the Opera House in 1973. The performance combines the collective talents of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Opera Australia and the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs. In order to celebrate Danish architect Jørn Utzon's infamous design, Australia's own Crown Princess Mary of Denmark will return home with her husband, Crown Prince Frederik, to bear witness to the festivities. The Sydney Opera House is a brilliantly unique construction that has become synonymous with our Emerald City around the whole, wide world, and the 40th Anniversary Concert promises to be a fitting celebration of four decades of Bennelong Point's most famed resident. In order to celebrate Danish architect Jørn Utzon's infamous design. Australia's own Crown Princess Mary of Denmark will return home with her husband, Crown Prince Federik, to bear witness to the festivities. https://youtube.com/watch?v=IyzF4dRpqow
If you’re of Swedish heritage, love to fika or just keen on great design, then keep your eyes peeled for the second issue of Mr. Wolf. Put together by a few Nordic nuts, Mr. Wolf is a journal that profiles the personalities behind the great art, design, music and style of Scandinavia. It was rated one of the five magazines you must have on your coffee table by Société Perrier after only one issue, and readers have been waiting to see what they’ll bring next. Mr. Wolf will celebrate the launch of its second edition with two parties in Brisbane and Sydney this month. On November 21, everyone is invited to take a mini-holiday through Scandinavia. Flip through your pre-released copy, sip on complimentary Rekorderlig Cider and chill out to some live Swedish tunes. It’s guaranteed to be a pretty chill night. Update 21 Nov: The Mr. Wolf launch has had a last-minute change of venue to Funkis, 202 Oxford Street, Paddington. Photo from Edition One launch party in March, by SIRAP.
If the idea of breathtaking coastal views, unique wildlife and outdoor adventures sounds good to you, it might be time to add Phillip Island to the top of your list. Considering the array of seaside adventures, scenic hikes and world-renowned wildlife encounters the island is home to, it's hard to believe it's less than a two-hour drive from the bright lights of Melbourne. Yet this outdoorsy wonderland is ready and waiting to help you reconnect with nature — especially now that the warmer months have arrived. Set aside a weekend — or tell the boss you're not feeling so great — to take a trip to Phillip Island with your best pals. Experiencing these awe-inspiring outdoor adventures will ensure you feel fully rejuvenated when you get home. Because we could all do with a system reboot after spending a long winter hiding indoors. Read on for a collection of unbeatable activities that you and your mates have to try out. GO KAYAKING AROUND CAPE WOOLAMI Make the most of Cape Woolamai's incredible coastal scenery by linking up with Pioneer Kayaking for an offshore adventure. Across a three-hour guided journey, you'll paddle beneath rugged cliffs to get an up-close glimpse of the sheer pink granite rock that hugs the coastline. Plus, you'll uncover mind-blowing caves hidden within the crag. This fascinating voyage also includes stops at some of Phillip Island's most secluded beaches. With shorter tours also available to destinations like Rhyll Inlet, Churchill Island and Cowes foreshore, there's no better introduction to the island's coastal delights. SET OUT SEAL SIGHTING Set two kilometres southwest of Phillip Island, the aptly named Seal Rocks is home to more than 25,000 fur seals, making it one of Australia's largest colonies. If you're keen to meet these playful creatures, the experts at Phillip Island Seal Cruise offer a two-hour journey to this veritable marine haven. Thanks to a complimentary morning or afternoon tea and a well-stocked bar on board, heading out for an adventure among the waves is a glorious idea. Although the breeding season from October to December is when the seals are most active, it's possible to get up close all year round. FEED YOUR NEED FOR SPEED Phillip Island isn't just about serene wildlife encounters. Add an adrenaline-pumping activity to your itinerary with a 30-minute Thundercat boat ride from Ocean Adventures. Led by Captain Risky (yes, really), you'll admire several impressive coastal spots while getting the inside word on some local secrets as you whip along the coastline. Phillip Island also features a selection of world-class scuba diving spots, accessible only by boat. The Guided Sea Scooter Tour is perfect for beginners, as you'll join up with a PADI-qualified instructor to master snorkelling basics. Plus, you'll learn how to handle the sea scooter like the best of them. HIT THE TRAILS FOR INCREDIBLE SCENERY AND PICTURESQUE VIEWS If you're worried about your sea legs, tackling one of Phillip Island's captivating hikes delivers an equally thrilling experience. The Cape Woolamai Circuit traverses from the island's southern tip to its highest point. Although the full distance combines three walks, ranging from four to seven kilometres, completing a single section is a stellar option. No need to push yourself too hard —you're on a holiday, after all. The Pyramid Rock Walk is another top out-and-back hike, stretching from the cliffs overlooking the Bass Strait to the sweeping views along Berrys Beach. For something shorter, The Nobbies Walk is takes you along the stunning southern coastline. Here, you'll navigate scenic boardwalks and even get the chance to spot a whale or two during winter. PEEP THE PENGUINS AT A PRIVATE BEACH Don't miss your chance to meet Phillip Island's most famous residents when attempting to reconnect with nature. With around 32,000 little penguins calling the shoreline home, there's a great selection of eco-friendly tours that ensure your experience with the famous Penguin Parade is one to remember. Perhaps the most extraordinary is the Ultimate Adventure Tour. Here, you head out to a remote beachfront (equipped with night vision scopes) to see what the penguins get up to after dark. Plus, you'll receive live commentary via a personal headset from the resident experts, ensuring you learn precisely what makes this event so exciting. TEST YOUR BALANCE ATOP THE SEA The beaches of Phillip Island are incredible, with their many surf breaks considered some of the best in Australia. The team at Island Surfboards offers group and private lessons, including boards and wetsuits, to level up your skills and help you catch the waves of your dreams. Stand-up paddle boarding is also perfect for those seeking a less intense beachfront activity. You can rent all the gear at Island's Cowes and Smiths Beach stores. However, the waters around Phillip Island can get pretty choppy, so remember to always surf and swim at a patrolled beach. CRUISE THE COASTLINE ON TWO WHEELS Spanning around ten kilometres from end to end, Phillip Island is easily explored on two wheels. Rather than bringing your own, hop on a Super Cruzer electric bike. Featuring ultra-powerful pedal assist and a seven-speed gear system, these zippy bikes make exploring the island's relatively flat countryside a breeze. With two pickup points available in Cowes, you can set off in any direction to see the sights. Whether you want to check out the Rhyll Inlet State Wildlife Reserve or even trek across the bridge to San Remo, these comfortable e-bikes have more than enough oomph to make your two-wheel adventure fly by. Keen to explore Phillip Island? For more information and to start planning your trip, visit the website.
In the Bible, people are made from ribs and soil. In Mexico, it's corn. In Japan, a baby gets found in a stalk of bamboo. Loss and grief aren't usually the first words that come to mind when thinking about Japan, but nonetheless they're the themes of one of its oldest written myths — as a couple find and lose their only daughter. The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter is actually about not getting married and humiliating high-level officials. But at the back of it there are deeper themes — returning to real life after meeting gods and divinities is painted with the same pain as that of finishing a great novel. Nobody in this tale ends up without suffering, except for the one person in it who might have been happier if she had. Kath Fries' Grove takes inspiration from this story and promises to take you into the dark bamboo cutter's world where the myth takes place. Dim shoots of bamboo, a silver moon and strange shadowy lattices will inhabit the gallery space of the Japan Foundation for this third, and final, exhibition in the Facetnate 2010 program. *Closed 20 and 23 September Image by The Japan Foundation, Sydney.
It's no small thing moving away from home to another country. If that's you, we've no doubt that you've experienced bouts of homesickness, laggy Skype conversations, and fond daydreams of your favourite meal from home. Luckily, one of the best things about Australia is the number of different cultures that live here, and they're all pretty good at bringing bits of home with them – like food. The restaurants we frequent on takeaway nights often provide someone else with a little slice of home. If you're one of our treasured expats living in Sydney, here's our guide to finding authentic treats that taste like home. If you're born and bred, here's how you can travel to the UK, China, South East Asia, South Africa and India – through your mouth. [caption id="attachment_587735" align="alignnone" width="1280"] @susan.ng.522 via Instagram.[/caption] CHINESE South Sydney suburb Beverly Hills is generally the place to go for a good Chinese meal, but restaurant Friendship Oriental steps up the nostalgia another notch here. Think fresh seafood from their tanks, seafood congee, XO sauce times and generally delicious and authentic Hong Kong-flavoured fare. It's open until 2am for those post-midnight cravings. [caption id="attachment_587732" align="alignnone" width="1280"] @immelisa via Instagram.[/caption] SOUTH-EAST ASIAN This is not a drill – bring your own mud crab to Malacca Straits on Broadway and they'll abide and cook it for you. Their food will appease your Malaysian cravings and heat up your soul. Battambang in Cabramatta will serve you up some Khmer food, full of the noodle soups and fish common to the cuisine, with iced coffees only $2.50. Or, if you want the taste of rice paper rolls in your mouth, Hai Au Lang Nuong in Canley Vale has you sorted. Try their fish specialties, suckling pig soup, or for the brave, there are the durian and jackfruit milkshakes. [caption id="attachment_587729" align="alignnone" width="1280"] @jodiandharley via Instagram.[/caption] BRITISH Who says the Brits don't do food well? Only those who have never eaten in a British pub. The East Village Hotel in Balmain has warm fuzzy pub feels you'll ever need and huge servings of Sunday roasts. It doesn't mess with a good thing (traditional British pub food) and serves up mouthwatering, classic roast dinners on Sundays. It's all really about the Yorkshire pudding, yeah? [caption id="attachment_587719" align="alignnone" width="1280"] @yujin_chloe_park via Instagram.[/caption] SOUTH AFRICAN Lucky Tsotsi Shebeen and Bar does South African food especially for sharing and snacking. Their menu oozes old-school, meaty goodness to make you go "aaah". Head to Darlinghurst to check out their chicken livers peri peri – they're "rich, dark and hot" and apparently to be eaten in private so you can shed tears if you like. [caption id="attachment_587741" align="alignnone" width="1280"] @twee_tee via Instagram.[/caption] INDIAN Excuse us, but is there anything more nourishing for the soul (if not the arteries) than a big spicy curry? Specialising in tandoori cooking, Faheem Fast Food in Enmore has a curry menu that'll have you over ordering and pre-removing your belt – the chicken section of the menu alone is exceptional, but they also do brain. If you're an expat living in Australia, World First can help you transfer your money back home quickly, securely and at rates better than the banks. Top image: nezuki via Instagram.
Coffee is one of the simple luxuries that Sydneysiders can still enjoy in lockdown right now. If you live in and around Surry Hills, local cafe Suzie Q and coffee roaster Madding Crowd are looking to brighten your day next Monday, July 26, with a free cuppa delivered right to your door. Surry Hills locals can claim a free cup of filter coffee delivered to them between 10am and 2pm. To claim the free caffeine fix, all you have to do is fill out this form before Monday and Suzie Q will show up to make your home time a bit better. If you want to support Suzie Q and nab a tasty dinner, the cafe is running a lockdown takeaway menu currently featuring a different meal each night of the week. On the menu next week you'll find pumpkin and ricotta cannelloni, beef stroganoff and a potato and cauliflower curry. Top image: Nathan Harradine Hale
It's that time of year again — Vivid Sydney 2019 is returning from May 24—June 15. All of the Sydney CBD will be awash with colourful lights and the streets will again bustle with the light-seeking masses. If you want to catch this year's best sights without fighting through the crowds, there's no better place than at the American Express Lounge (you don't even need an American Express card to get in, just register for free access here). Located on the rooftop of Cruise Bar within the Overseas Passenger Terminal, the lounge allows for expansive views across the Sydney Opera House, the MCA, across Circular Quay and the harbour beyond. Here's a list of all the Vivid sights you'll catch a glimpse at from the comfort of the rooftop lounge. [caption id="attachment_671534" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW.[/caption] CITY SPARKLE, CIRCULAR QUAY For panoramic views of the City Sparkle light show, the American Express Lounge is the place to be. Created by 32 Hundred Lighting, it's a 'symphony of beams that play across the city skyline'. The show takes place atop some of Sydney's landmarks and, this year, uses 62 interactive light pillars. There will be 15 giant aquabeams along the Harbour Bridge's crest plus additional beams fixed atop the Bennelong Apartments, Overseas Passenger Terminal, Cahill Expressway and 18 CBD rooftops, as well as 13 colourfully lit building facades. If you want to get into more of the action after soaking it all in at the Lounge, head to the control room at East Circular Quay where you can interact with a 3D model of all the structures featured in City Sparkle. [caption id="attachment_720431" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Austral Floral Ballet by Andrew Thoma Huang and Bemo, render.[/caption] AUSTRAL FLORA BALLET, SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE Possibly Vivid's most iconic venue, the Sydney Opera House, is also in full view atop the American Express Lounge. This year, the white sails will be adorned by the Austral Flora Ballet light show, created by LA-based Chinese American artist and filmmaker Andrew Thomas Huang — the man behind sci-fi-style music videos for Björk, Sigur Rós and Thom Yorke. For Vivid, Huang has joined forces with choreographer Toogie Barcelo and LA design firm Bemo to create a light show that fuses contemporary dance with motion-capture technology. As the name suggests, the projection focuses on Australia's lush native flora — think waratahs, kangaroo paws and red beard orchids, among others. AMERICAN EXPRESS LOUNGE, OVERSEAS PASSENGER TERMINAL The Vivid installations aren't the only place to catch the lights, either. On your way up to the American Express Lounge, Cruise Bar will host its own light show. This impressive display will follow you as you head up to the rooftop venue. At the bar's marquee, you'll walk under an additional celestial canopy of lights, too. All this before you even take a seat. [caption id="attachment_720596" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Let Me Down, render.[/caption] LET ME DOWN, MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART The MCA's light installation Let Me Down is also in full view from the American Express Lounge. This year, the show has been created by Sydney-based artist Claudia Nicholson, who is making her Vivid debut. Nicholson was born in Colombia, and the installation acts as a homage to heritage through a mix of cultural traditions and pop culture references. Let Me Down adapts four of the artist's existing works — three alfombras de aserrín (sawdust carpets) and a floral arrangement called silleta. Award-winning LA creative studio Spinifex Group and Adelaide-based producer Lonelyspeck have helped turn the artwork into an animated display of creation, destruction and regeneration, with the works reconstructed through a sort of dance. [caption id="attachment_720426" align="alignnone" width="2280"] Under the Harbour, render.[/caption] UNDER THE HARBOUR, CUSTOMS HOUSE From the Lounge, you'll also be able to catch a partial view of Customs House. This year's light display on the facade of Customs House, Under the Harbour, explores the pulsing undersea world of the Sydney Harbour. Designed by Spinifex Group, expect a larger-than-life spectacle of neon-lit sea life, one of which is a giant octopus that wraps its tentacles around the sun. The spectacle will transport viewers into an underwater extravaganza of light and colour and is not to be missed. [caption id="attachment_624496" align="alignnone" width="1920"] James Horan.[/caption] HARBOUR LIGHTS, HARBOUR BRIDGE You can nab a glimpse of the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge light show while you're up top, too. Both the bridge and the water will be spectacularly lit up by 32 Hundred Lighting, who will incorporate satellite navigation and passing commercial vessels to coordinate the show. Expect a broad colour spectrum to dance along the bridge and throughout the harbour, as local boats by Captain Cook Cruises add to the incredible display. [caption id="attachment_721563" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Celestial Pancake, render.[/caption] CELESTIAL PANCAKE, CIRCULAR QUAY When entering the ground floor of Cruise Bar, stop for a moment before heading up to the lounge. Here, you'll catch the Celestial Pancake light installation. This fibre-optic suspended light installation is meant to simulate the night sky and boasts colours inspired by space. Visitors can walk beneath the canopy, where hidden microphones allow participants to change the sweeping, spiralling light show by speaking into them. The installation's glittering lights can be seen from near or far and is just as impressive from the warmth of the lounge. When you need a break from the crowds but not the lights this Vivid season, American Express has your back. Gain access to the American Express Vivid Lounge for free — even if you don't yet have an American Express card. All you have to do is sign-up here. Top image: Austal Flora Ballet, Sydney Opera House
Winter is well and truly upon us. Everywhere you look, Sydneysiders are decked in their downiest puffer jackets and thickest tracksuits. But don't let the oh-so-chilly air stop you, because the city is still in full swing. Winter is a season of warmth, driven by delicious roasts and hot drinks, and you don't need to rug up at home to enjoy that side of the season. Step into the warm sunlight and get ready to browse, because busy markets are popping up across Sydney to fill baskets and bags with all the fresh produce, tasty treats and homemade gifts you'd ever need. Start by pencilling in a visit to the Cronulla Winter Market. This 100-plus stall event is returning to its annual home of Don Lucas Reserve on Saturday, July 29 and Sunday, July 30, from 10am to 3pm. Here, you can get your hands on anything, from swimwear to ceramics. To keep your shopping energy up, fill your stomach with street food, baked goods, healthy choices and everything in between. If time gets the better of you, or if you're looking to get some serious shopping done, make plans for The Ultimate Winter Market EQ. This is being held on Sunday, August 6, from 10am to 3pm, under the Entertainment Quarter's Market Canopy. This is another 100-plus stall market, but it's in the heart of the bustling Entertainment Quarter, so expect live music and entertainment for all ages alongside the goods and food available. You're also within range of the local entertainment venues and can take advantage of two hours of free parking at the Entertainment Quarter. The Cronulla Winter Markets are running on Saturday, July 29 and Sunday, July 30, from 10am to 3pm at Don Lucas Reserve. The Ultimate Winter Market EQ runs on Sunday, August 6 from 10am to 3pm at the Entertainment Quarter. For more information on either, visit the Cambridge Markets website.
The 2014 Big Day Out lineup has been revealed, and it... sort of lived up to all those weeks of hype. Organisers spoke of their excitement at landing three "white whales", and the top of the ticket is pretty monumental. Pearl Jam is a classic choice for BDO headliner, Arcade Fire a welcome return visitor to the main stage, Blur a seriously impressive 'get' — and Snoop's good-natured, laaiiiiidbaaack style will be a nice counterpoint to the snarling grunge and indie-rock mania. And lucky Regine and that chick from The Lumineers — they'll have the backstage ladies loos virtually all to themselves! Here's the line-up in full: Pearl Jam Arcade Fire Snoop Dogg aka Snoop Lion Major Lazer Steve Angello Flume The Lumineers Tame Impala Dillon Francis Mac Miller Ghost Grouplove Flosstradamus Portugal. The Man Toro Y Moi DIIV The Naked And Famous Big Gigantic PEZ Mudhoney Cosmic Psychos Northlane The 1975 Loon Lake Kingswood Bo Ningen The Algorithm DZ Deathrays Peking Duk Ben Morris Rüfüs Gold Coast tickets are on sale on August 7; Sydney August 8; Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide on August 9 and Auckland on August 12 from the Big Day Out website.
It's hard to watch footage of astronauts gallivanting on the moon — with their lack of surefootedness and giddy delight — and not want to have a go. Unfortunately, there's a decided lack of accessible planetoids for us non-astronauts to do it on. But, in good news for earth dwellers, we've found an experience that will get you kinda close. Moon Drops is like NASA's version of a jumping castle: humongous black bouncy globules that allow you to feel what it would be like to run across a droplet of water, which we imagine feels a lot like the moon. NZ architecture firm Jasmax has collaborated with Alt Group and the Auckland Council Public Arts to bring the joys of space to Sydney — five drops will pop up around Darling Harbour for for the duration of Sydney Festival. Don't forget to take off your shoes and play The Police's hit 'Walking on the Moon' to get you prepped for your moonwalking debut. Image: Zee Shake Lee.
The Odd Culture Group (The Old Fitz, The Duke of Enmore, The Oxford Tavern) is bringing its love for odd and interesting food and drink to its latest Inner West venue through a series of extravagant meals. The group's much-hyped King Street wine bar and restaurant Odd Culture will host an event series dedicated to tastes and culinary techniques from off the beaten track. Oddity is kicking off on Thursday, October 20 with its inaugural event featuring a five-course dinner centred around drinks from French natural wine haven Loire Valley. Your guide for the night will be Loire Valley's Paul Hervy of Brix Fine Wines, taking you through some of his favourite drops from the region. Just some of the culinary delights on the menu include Sydney rock oysters, pork terrine, confit pork, fromage frais, fish dumplings in lobster sauce, aged roast duck and artichoke with foie gras — all carefully paired with wines from the likes of Julien Courtois' Clos de la Bruyere and Clos de l'Elu. There are 40 seats available for the night, with an all-inclusive booking setting you back $150 per person. There are more iterations of Oddity planned for the future, with Odd Culture promising no two events will be the same. [caption id="attachment_868444" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nikki To[/caption]
Foragers of the North Shore, take a breather and let a Michelin-trained chef do the hard work for you. Tomorrow Thursday, April 7, the good folk behind Bondi's The Corner House and Panama House will officially open a bar and eatery named Hunter Gatherer on the rooftop of North Sydney's Greenwood Plaza. And along with their cracking hospitality skills, they've got a top-notch chef on board as well. Said chef is one Paul "Mick" Micklewright, who's put together a menu based on all things good: freshness, locality, sustainability and ethics. Headlining dishes include Bannockburn free-range chicken braised with Sicilian olives, lemon, confit garlic, thyme and verjus, and a hearty farmer's market steak platter. Meanwhile, herbivores are taken care of with a spiced eggplant, haloumi and tomato salad, tossed with parsley and chickpeas. Living up to these tasty, tasty creations is a similarly spirited drinks list, featuring cocktails, craft beers and a handpicked selection of organic, biodynamic wines. The venue also does breakfast and lunch each weekday as well as dinner Wednesday to Friday, but isn't open on weekends (aside from private events). Regardless, it looks like a coup for North Sydneysiders looking for a new lunch spot or somewhere for a casual dinner. In keeping with the environmentally friendly ethos, the interior, which feels a bit like a welcoming country farmhouse, is dotted with lush plants. But it's not all rustic — an Italian-designed feature wall blends natural imagery with a psychedelic aesthetic. On sunny days though, you'll want to nab a seat outside on the vast terrace. Hunter Gatherer will open on Thursday, April 7 on the Greenwood Plaza Rooftop at 36 Blue Street, North Sydney. Opening hours are 8.30am to 4pm Mondays and Tuesdays and 8.30am to late on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.
Fulfill your daily meat, cheese and carb quota by swinging by Bar Luca and ordering one of their burger specials to go. We recommend taking your eating experience to the next level by adding burger 'hacks', which include everything from crunchy peanut butter to liquid cheese to a deep fried mozzarella patty. From Bar Luca it's a short, 10-minute stroll down the hill to Bennelong Lawn: the ideal place to spend the rest of the evening tucking into your glorious burgery creation and watching the sun go down over the harbour.
Located in the sleepy backstreets of Rosebery, The Cannery is a hub of butchers, bakers, coffee roasters and world-class restaurants. It houses Sydney favourites like Archie Rose, Three Blue Ducks and Black Star Pastry. Now, just in time for the holiday season, the inner-city retail and dining centre is bringing back its old monthly markets that have sadly been missing from the majority of 2020. There will be plenty of local businesses on hand to support. If you're looking for unique presents you'll find handmade candles, jewellery, Christmas cards and artwork. If your sweet tooth gets the better of you, Christmas pudding, vegan macarons and Thicc Cookies will satisfy any festive cravings. Of course, a market at The Cannery wouldn't be complete without a tasting from some quality wineries and distillers. Never Never Distilling, Château Les Mesclances and Frerejean Frères will all be conducting tastings over the course of the weekend, Saturday, December 12 and Sunday, December 13. Plus, you can snag a sample of Blue Mountains Grown Gin, which is raising money for regeneration efforts at the Blue Mountains Botanic Gardens. While you're there you can also explore The Cannery's regular stores and vendors, or stick around for dinner at one of its many restaurants. The Cannery Christmas Market are open from 10am–3pm.
The 90s are the decade that keeps on giving — to nostalgic Australians, at least. On any given weekend under regular circumstances, you can usually find a party dedicated to kicking it old school-style. And, at the moment, you can still get retro with Isolation Trivia's 90s Music Trivia edition. Know everything there is to know about the Spice Girls, Backstreet Boys, grunge, 'Gangsta's Paradise' and chasing waterfalls? Then, come 6.25pm on Thursday, June 4, it's time to put your 90s-loving brain to the test. The Isolation Trivia folks will be asking the questions, your lounge room will be doing the hosting and you'll be slinging back your answers — if you wannabe the trivia champ, that is. No bookings or registrations are required — all you need to do it hit up the event Facebook page when it's time to strut your stuff. Our tip: prepare to channel Alanis when your competition gets something wrong — aka to have 'You Oughta Know' stuck in your head. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPcyTyilmYY
Sydney is not short on options when it comes to getting a good chicken feed. But while most eateries focus on one style – the buttermilk fried variety is overwhelmingly the most popular – new Pyrmont establishment Whirly Bird isn't putting all its eggs in one basket. Anthony Prior (formerly of The Keystone Group, which went into receivership last year) is upping the ante with an extensive menu all about the bird at his new venture. Alongside the obligatory buttermilk fried chicken (paired with either chilli and honey caramel or house-made smoky BBQ sauce), Whirly Bird is also doing rotisserie spit roast birds (available in quarter, half or whole), a shredded chicken banh mi and even a chicken salad bowl. Vegetarians and vegans are not forgotten with salt and pepper silken tofu and a vegan power bowl available. Sharing is encouraged, with plenty of starters and sides to peck at. Think duck fat roasted carrots, celery-battered jalapeno poppers and kimchi slaw. No matter what you prefer to pair with your poultry, the bar menu has you covered with an array of beers, wine and spirits. The cocktail menu designed by The Rook's former bartenders Rollo Anderson and Liam Doherty-Penzer is definitely worth a look, with plenty of options to complement your food choice. With a musical motif ranging from fresh apertifs ('Intro'), headier options ('Chorus') and indulgent digestifs ('Outro'), it is clear the team are aiming to add some elegance to the chicken game. With a generous capacity of 150, the team at Whirly Bird are obviously banking on this vast menu pleasing big crowds. So if you're craving some of the dirty bird in a setting that's not so casual, Pyrmont's latest could be one to try. Whirly Bird is now open at 84 Union Street, Pyrmont. For more information visit www.whirlybirdsydney.com.au.
The Australian bottleshop deserves a do-over. For too long we've purchased our grog at generic liquor stores that only really highlight the big, familiar names. Enter Native Drops. Bondi Beach's drinks retailer is putting a refreshing spin on the way we buy alcohol, turning the quick dash up to the bottle-o into an experience that features not only wine tasting, but also meet the maker sessions and workshops for customers. Ferster and his business partner Daniel Berman are the wine-obsessed brains behind the space, which sells solely Australian wine, beer and spirits. It's a boutique business that emphasises the importance of buying local and provides a glimpse into just how vast, delicious and amazing the nation's industry is. Regions from Tasmania to the Margaret River are represented, with the selection hand-chosen and centred around small batch and often biodynamic producers. Featured wine producers include The Other Right, Arfion, Swinging Bridge, CRFT and Charlotte Dalton. The interior design is earthy and rustic. Designer and architect Andy McDonnell has repurposed the site into a truly intimate space. It's low-lit and clean, with splashes of timber, copper and stone. Australian flora and fauna are celebrated with wildflower arrangements by local floral designer Selena Murray. The space includes a big tasting room, where the crew hosts regular wine tasting events.
Olympus Has Fallen is what the studio is calling 'an action movie' and what the Secret Service will likely call 'a comedy'. It's one of two films coming out this year (the other being Roland Emmerich's White House Down) that revolve around 1600 Pennsylvania being overrun by terrorists, and both feel very much like land-based versions of Air Force One feat. 'the hero character' from In The Line Of Fire. Olympus Has Fallen was directed by Antoine Fuqua (Training Day) whose last film, End of Watch, was a gritty cop drama featuring tense action and crackling dialogue. In Olympus Has Fallen, that action's been dialled up to 11, whilst the dialogue's been dialled back to 'dumb'. The film's first act serves up a truly terrifying and confronting assault on the US capital, albeit one with a fairly tasteless allusion to the collapse of the World Trade Center via a crumbling Washington Monument. The body count fast becomes countless as bombs, rockets and bullets tear shreds through man, metal and even a courageous mutt. Fuqua has certainly proven himself a director prepared to pull no punches in the pursuit of realistic violence, but here he seemed more intent to simply destroy everything the budget permitted. All the same, the first half hour pumps along with enough adrenaline (and even a hint of plausibility to the assault) to sufficiently draw you in. The problem is, there are still loads of problems. For one, it's unbearably patriotic throughout, including multiple shots of US flags tragically dropped or heroically raised. Then there the barely drawn out characters who are given nothing to work with and are often introduced alongside subtitles bearing their official government role, imputing a bizarre pseudo-documentary feel to the film every time it happens. Beyond that, the military's pig-headed incompetence is terrifically frustrating, the Secret Service's constant breaches of protocol are baffling and the multiple news reports referring to the White House as — I kid you not — 'The Whitehouse', defy belief. Despite then what he's got to work with in terms of the script, Gerard Butler actually makes for quite an impressive action hero, the elements of which we first saw in 300. He's mercifully spared the traditional 'post-kill' one-liners and even manages to throw a few new tough guy lines into the mix. The same, though, can't be said for Aaron Eckhart as the entirely 'meh' President, Morgan Freeman as the bland Speaker of the House or Rick Yune as the expressionless terrorist leader. All deliver such nothing dialogue, you wonder whether this film might've worked better as an action version of The Artist. Then, however, audiences would have missed out on perhaps the single worst piece of writing for the year, in which a double agent explains his enormous act of treason via the phenomenal catch-all: "Globalisation and f*cking Wall Street!" To be fair, though, that shocker comes in response to the President's equally bad question: "So...what's the going rate for a soul these days?" Bottom line, Olympus Has Fallen is a fair-to-decent action movie let down by everything that happens in between. If you're looking for some mindless fun and a whole lot of skull-stabbing, then this is the perfect film for you. Just be prepared for a whole lot of head shaking, too.
There's nothing better than hearing the words free, tequila and mezcal put together. For one afternoon only, Tio's Cerveceria is hosting a free tequila and mezcal tasting. Going down on Sunday, November 13, it's the perfect time to unwind with your mates before the new week commences while tasting some quality mezcal. The Surry Hills Mexican-influenced bar from the team behind Bar Planet and Cantina OK! is set to take your tastebuds on a journey with Australia's best tequila and mezcal importers and brands including Agave Lux, Agave Cartel, Cerbaco, Altos Tequila and Del Maguey. Adding to the free tastings, Tio's is kicking its lively evening up a notch by serving up tacos from Bad Hombres. Get ready for an exciting afternoon and join the Tio's family from 2—4pm. Head over to the event page for more details. [caption id="attachment_794055" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bad Hombres - Supplied[/caption] Top images: Tio - Supplied
Because you're reading this, we know you're not someone who received a pet for Christmas, only to decide it wasn't for you. We know you're one of the good folks. You're probably wishing that you did receive a loveable animal as a gift, even if you already have one — or several — that you adore. And now more than ever. We understand your yearning, and so does the RSPCA. And, to find permanent homes for pups, cats, bunnies and guinea pigs surrendered into its care, it's calling out to the community to help look after its many animal during this tough time. While more of us are working from home and practising social-distancing (and increasingly wanting a four-legged friend as a comforting companion), the RSPCA is encouraging Australians to foster or adopt. So, if you've been thinking about adding a pet to your fam (and have considered it thoroughly), now might just be the time. Last year, the RSPCA found new homes for 2654 pets Australia-wide. Right now, RSPCA NSW has 2577 animals in its care, ready for new homes full of love and pats — temporarily or forever. In a statement, RSPCA NSW CEO Steve Coleman said, "As this pandemic escalates, we are asking for your help to find forever homes for the animals in our care." The Victorian and Queensland branches echo this sentiment, with one website saying, "our foster program is now more important than ever". If you're keen to foster a furry friend, you can register in NSW, Victoria and Queensland as usual; however, for adoption, the process has changed a bit in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. As of today, Friday, March 27, you must make an appointment before visiting one of the RSPCA NSW's locations, which can be done by filling out this form. Once that's done, they'll arrange a time for a meet-and-greet with your potential new family member. A similar process is in place at RSPCA Queensland's locations — you'll need to fill out this pre-adoption form before heading in — and in Victoria, you must submit an application before you can set up a time. According to the RSPCA, at present there is no evidence that you can contract COVID-19 from a companion animal or that they can become sick if exposed to the virus. If you're thinking about adopting, you can check out all the good boys, kittens, bunnies and birds looking for new homes in NSW, Victoria and Queensland. For details about adopting and fostering animals, head to the RSPCA NSW, Victoria and Queensland websites. If you are going out to meet a potential new family member, have a look at the latest COVID-19 advice and social-distancing guidelines from the Department of Health.
Having established itself as a summer favourite in Adelaide, Brisbane, and Melbourne over the last few years, The Royal Croquet Club is finally gearing up for its Sydney debut. After a false start last year — in which the event was cancelled at the last minute — the outdoor festival is set to take over Bondi Beach next month. Gracing the shoreline from November 24 to December 4, the ten-day event promises all the fun and flavour of its interstate incarnations, offering up a buffet of live entertainment, experiential arts, food, drink, and — of course — more than a few games of croquet. The al fresco festival will see revellers of all ages and skill levels hitting the central croquet pitch, with some of Sydney's best food on hand for refuelling in between games. And the fun continues away from the mallets too, with a lineup of local and international artists dishing up live tunes, and an assortment of unique pop-up food stalls and bars for further indulging in that summertime spirit. While there's no word yet on who exactly will be feeding us at this year's event, previous festivals have seen Gelato Messina serve up ice cream creations in Campbell's Soup-like tins — so we've got pretty high expectations. Fashion stalls, markets, and an array of health and wellness events will round out the RCC experience, which is expected to pull a 60,000-strong crowd for its first Sydney stint. The Royal Croquet Club Sydney will come to Bondi Beach from Thursday, November 24 to Sunday, December 4. For more information as they announce it, check back here or visit royalcroquetclub.com.au.
The Rocks is hoping to serve up all your Christmas-time needs in its neighbourhood — from bespoke gifts and decorations to joyful meals and even a life-sized snow globe. The giant snow globe will be installed within The Rocks' cobble streets, where you can also find weekend Christmas Markets every Friday through Sunday from December 7–23. Roaming entertainers, art installations and street food will accompany the gift stallholders — from the latter, expect artisan presents like handmade jewellery, wooden children's toys, locally made Christmas decorations and independent designer prints. Plus, DJs will keep the party going on Friday and Saturday nights from 7–10pm. The Rocks' usual shops will be done up in your standard red-and-green, silver-and-gold hues, too. And the local bars and pubs have you covered post-shopping, from craft brews at Endeavor Tap Rooms and Aperol spritzes at The Observer Hotel to cocktails on Mrs Jones terrace and drinks-with-a-view on The Glenmore's rooftop. The Christmas Markets will be open from 9am–9pm on Friday and 10am–5pm on Saturday and Sunday.
