Maurice Terzini — known for launching Icebergs and The Dolphin — is unveiling an opening of a different kind this month, a guerrilla store showcasing his latest fashion collection. Terzini launched his unisex streetwear label Ten Pieces at Australian Fashion Week back in May 2017. The brand's next collection, Disco SottaSopra, will hit Bondi on February 16. The collection's concept — to 'turn disco upside down with a punk philosophy' — has been realised by Terzini with hand-numbered, super limited-edition pieces. Think black and white slides sporting the words 'disco' and 'unity', along with a range of customised military-style canvas pieces. The 'day-to-night' collection will also introduce new colours, prints and embroideries for the brand, including runway zip boots, wool cashmere knits and bright orange knitted coats. "We feel like it's much more appealing to wear clothing that has an artisan feel about it," says Terzini. "This collection has all been hand customised in Australia which gives it a really personal feel." Situated inside Pacific Bondi Beach on the corner of Gould Street and Beach Road, the shop will open daily from 9am to 5pm — but, in true limited fashion, will only remain open until sold out. This is a very literal case of first in best-dressed.
According to Goran Bregovic, what sets Balkan music apart is its propensity for insanity: "In other countries, just plain music is enough. In the Balkans, it's not only about the music – it has to be madness." In his sixty-two years, Bregovic has carried the gypsy craziness of his homeland to all four corners of the globe. After selling fifteen million albums as leader of Yugoslav rock band Bijelo dugme, he took to composing film scores. On this visit to Australia, his first since 2008, he'll be travelling with his Weddings and Funerals Orchestra, which he has described as "an unlikely mix of extremes". Featuring a string quartet, a six-piece male choir, five brass musicians, two Bulgarian vocalists and a drummer, the ensemble will play music from Bregovic's new album, Champagne for Gypsies, as well as some older material. https://youtube.com/watch?v=AKRCo3347fw
Audible is the world's largest creator and retailer of audiobook content, so you can be sure they know a thing or two about great stories. During Vivid Sydney, Audible is hosting three separate events with some of the city's best names in audio entertainment. On Wednesday, June 1, former MasterChef Australia champion Adam Liaw will be speaking about how the food we cook and eat shapes the world around us. Wednesday, June 8, sees TV presenter Melissa Doyle examine how the world handles – or rather, doesn't handle – the concept of women ageing. Finally, on June 15, writer Laura Nagy and journalist Marc Fennell uncover some of pop culture's more unusual and niche trends.
When the Paramount Recreation Club fitness rooftop opened back in April, we were promised a new haven for physical, social and mental health. It has certainly delivered on the physical and social sides, and now, with the launch of the Mental As Anything festival, it has made good on that mental health promise, too. The week-long festival kicks off spring with a series of workshops, talks, guided meditations and classes, all hosted on the venue's lush rooftop terrace. To do it right, the Paramount team has partnered with some of Australia's leading meditation centres including The School of Life and A–SPACE, along with sound therapist Phoebe Joel and mindfulness expert Tom Cronin. Workshop topics include understanding anxiety and stress, mindfulness in relationships and the pursuit of happiness. The talks are especially important considering one-in-three Australians currently suffer from mental illness, and depression is slated to be the number one disease in the western world by 2020. Other highlights include an usual laughter meditation session with comedian Nick Coyle, a special edition of Dance Memory with Groove Therapy and a Sonic Yin workshop — which combines yin yoga with Tibetan singing bowls. Plus, a Golden Age Cinema screening of the mind-bending cult classic Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Ticket prices vary, but the opening evening includes a free-with-registration mass meditation session. To check out the full program, head over here.
Cult favourite Aussie basics label Bassike is hosting its annual warehouse sale this weekend, selling its organic cotton jersey, Japanese denim and mainline collections at up to 70 percent off the regular price. Both men's and women's fashion will be up for grabs for three days this weekend — the sale starts at 9am each day and stock will be replenished each morning. The price list includes over 25 items spanning clothing, swimwear, footwear and accessories. Expect half-off sale items, denim for $90, tees for $30, tops for $60, shoes for $90 and one-piece swimsuits for $60. If you're already looking ahead for winter, there will be jackets for $120 and coats for $150, too. No, these aren't basement bargains — but they are reasonable prices for these fine organic duds. The shop is also running a recycle program throughout the weekend. As part of the boutique's zero waste goal, customers are encouraged to bring any pre-worn Bassike jersey pieces to be recycled into fabric offcuts, rags and cleaning supplies. Those who partake get to skip the queue and gain express access to the sale. The sale will run from 9am–9pm on Thursday, 9am–6pm on Friday and 9am–4pm on Saturday.
Beloved Woolloomooloo pub The Old Fitz has reinvented itself as Bar Bodega Fitz for the duration of lockdown. Following a successful three-day pop up as Bar Bodega Fitz pre-lockdown, the inner city spot is now serving up takeaway and delivery tapas along with aperitivo. The continually changing menu, lead by Old Fitz Head Chef Anna Ugarte-Carral, features a range of tasty morsels including crab omelettes, manchego croquettes, garlic prawns and mushroom with garlic and sherry. If you want the decisions taken out of your meal, you can order a mixed selection of ten tapas pieces from $45 or 20 pieces for $80. Those looking for an elevated tapas experience can add the massive $135 five-week dry-aged sirloin on the bone to their meal. Alongside the Fitz's usual selection of craft beers and wines, you can order Partida Creus MUZ in a negroni or on ice with orange and olive, or a glass of sangria. The pop-up is running 12–7pm Friday–Sunday until Sydney's current lockdown ends.
Art & About 2013 is shaping up to be another festival of fun, accessible and thought-provoking art. With the focus on creation and storytelling, one of this year’s expected highlights is the unique interactive work I Think I Can. Terrapin Puppet Theatre artistic director Sam Routledge and interdisciplinary artist Martyn Coutts have co-created a whimsical project that offers viewers the opportunity to become an imaginary resident in an imaginary railway town. To take up this virtual residence in Springfield Junction, the participant completes an iPad personality test and is subsequently allocated a character (and a passport so you can return!). Of the dynamic town community, you could live vicariously through the Queen, a hitman, a reality TV star, or perhaps even President Obama. Your tiny puppet avatar will then be animated, magnified and broadcast live onto large screens above the model town. You can also read about the latest news and scandals happening in the miniature community via the online newspaper.
If you were a child of the 90s, there's a good chance you will remember the page-turning thrill of the Goosebumps choose-your-own-adventure books or the semi-terror of The Simpsons halloween specials. Well, now there's a chance to live out your own bespoke adventure (or Treehouse of Horror episode) in real life. A Midnight Visit is a captivating theatre experience in which participants will traverse an abandoned Sydney warehouse on a hair-raising journey through a surreal dream world. And we've managed to get our hands on some double passes. Audiences will find themselves transported to an intriguing and wistful world — with a David Lynch meets Stanley Kubrick aesthetic — which takes its cues from the notoriously macabre works of Edgar Allan Poe. It's certainly not for the faint-hearted, with suffocatingly small spaces and many 'troubled characters' — but you can calm your nerves with a cocktail or two at The Ravens Rest pop-up bar — though, unfortunately, there'll be no Bart-turned-raven taunting Homer. This immersive choose-your-own-adventure experience is unlike any theatre offering the city has seen before and, the best part is, tickets are on us. Enter with your details below. [competition]691327[/competition] Images: Anna Kucera and Tim Da-Rin.
The nightclub bathroom is a sacred space. Friends have been made and lost within those hallowed walls. Who among us hasn't had a life-altering experience in the bathroom at Soho or World Bar. This is what the new play taking residency at the Kings Cross Theatre is all about. Hot Mess is the latest production from The General Public and Bakehouse Theatre Company that peers into the lives of six twenty-somethings on a night out and their interactions in a public bathroom. Directed by Tasha O'Brien (Playlist), the play stars six of Sydney's most promising comedic actors: Jenna Suffern (Two Queers Walk into a Bar), Courtney Ammenhauser (FBi Radio), Mây Trần (Playlist), Jessica Adie (Sydney Comedy Festival), Alicia Dulnuan-Demou (Good Enough Show) and Hannah Grace Fulton (Noughty Girls). After originally premiering at Old 505 Theatre in 2019, the return of Hot Mess at KXT has been two years in the making. The show provides a hilarious and nostalgic look at rowdy nights out while centring female and queer experiences. It'll have you reflecting on all your favourite memories, or lack of, from nights out clubbing and reaching for your phone to message that one person you met at Good God Small Club back in 2015. Tickets for the show are $35-42, and if you're under 30 you can nab a discount on tickets every Thursdays.
In need of a little pre-weekend pick-me-up? This should do it. Prepare for cuteness overload when a crew of fluffy pups descends on Martin Place next Friday, November 16, to teach city-dwellers all about the NSW guide dog program. Running from 12–2.30pm — yep, perfectly timed for lunch-break cuddles — Guide Dogs in the City will feature a trio of adorable events, celebrating the hardworking fluffers who are changing lives around the country. The fun kicks off with a couple of puppy preschool sessions (at 12pm and 1.10pm), where you'll get to see some of Guide Dogs NSW/ACT's newest recruits learning the ropes. Then, two Guide Dog demonstrations (12.40pm and 1.40pm) will dive into the training process, highlighting all the steps that go into raising and teaching these pups. And from 2pm, you'll have the chance to make some very cute new besties during a puppy patting session. Get lots of cuddles. Take lots of photos. Look at them all afternoon when you're back at your puppy-less desk. And then, if you're ready for the responsibility, maybe consider applying to be a puppy raiser.
As we settle into the new year, many of us are prioritising our health and fitness goals for 2024. Fittingly, we've seen a rise in running clubs and events in recent times as both a fitness and a cultural movement – a way to get moving and connect with others. So why not take it to the next level? To raise funds for the Australian Cancer Research Foundation (founded in the 1980s) and celebrate 40 years of helping Australians with cancer, the Real Insurance Sydney Harbour 10k and 5k race will be heading back to the 80s and 90s on Sunday, July 28. Retro Run promises a nostalgic journey along a scenic track, lit up with neon, lycra, and big hair, as well as music zones and pop-culture pit stops. [caption id="attachment_949841" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Supplied[/caption] So get ready to lace up your Dad sneakers and dust off those leg warmers for a great cause. Whether you are a seasoned runner, a newcomer seeking a new challenge, or love to dress up, all are welcome to sign up and join in on some retro fun. [caption id="attachment_949840" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Supplied[/caption]
You've slogged your way through another Monday. Congratulations. Resist the temptation to head home to sit comatose on the couch and, instead, get a heady endorphin rush by finally trying out an F45 class. The exercise trend that's all over your social media feeds, this is high-intensity circuit training at it's most brutal — and invigorating. Sweat your way through the 45-minute class, trying your best not to pass out. Afterwards, reward yourself for surviving with a delicious bowl of Monday-only ramen from Chaco Bar in Darlinghurst. Hurry over, though, because this ramen is first-come first-serve and it disappears quick fast.
A few decades ago, marijuana becoming legal in parts of the western world while cigarettes were banned in public venues would have seemed unthinkable. Now, who knows what the future holds for drugs? In this panel discussion, psychoactive medicines are unpacked by Australian experts. Professor Iain McGregor and Dr Samuel Banister work in the field of medicinal cannabis and will be drawing on the findings of their investigations into the changing stance of big pharma. The pair will be joined by Dr Margaret Ross, who is currently running the country's first clinical trial using psilocybin (found in magic mushrooms) and has views that challenge conventional medical perspectives. Chairing the session is journalist and drug advocate Jenny Valentish, so prepare to have your horizons widened.
Transforming the Cellblock Theatre into a lonely-hearts club, Theatre Kantanka's CLUBSINGULARITY is a contemporary cabaret with a scientific twist. Attempting to answer — through song and dance, of course — the complex question of "why (and if) we're alone in the universe," the long-standing Sydney troupe will be exploring speed of light dating, along with the the strange, wondrous workings of the cosmos. Their ideal audience? In their words, "anyone who has fallen back to Earth from a broken heart." Theatre Kantanka (Bargain Garden, Missing the Bus to David Jones) have been around since 1995, with a rotating roster of some pretty awesome experimental performers like Katia Molino (Belvoir Street's I'm Your Man) and Arky Michael, who you may have caught in Kate Gaul's Penelope last year. If you're already a devoted fan, you'll recall their fondness for using non-traditional spaces to their advantage. And if you haven't yet been introduced, this could be the start of a beautiful, if unusual, relationship. CLUBSINGULARITY takes place as part of Performance Space's PSpace Social along with Micro Parks and NightTime: Talent Quest. See the Performance Space website for more details. https://youtube.com/watch?v=8yIXjsK_s_o
There's a lot to be learnt from ladies of a certain age. No doubt you've picked up some pearls of wisdom from the grandmothers in your life over the years, whether they're about how best to iron a button-up shirt or the ways of the wider world. A workshop series, Nanna Knows Best, aims to share some of that nana knowledge with the community and teach young'uns about that all-important, old-fashioned manners stuff. It's a crash course in communication, etiquette and presentation and it's led by deportment expert Pat Woodley, who held the titles of Miss NSW and Miss Australia back in 1951. We've heard it before: our generation is a pack of socially awkward, obnoxious web-dwellers more comfortable on our smartphones than conversing IRL (or on the phone). But Woodley is fairly optimistic about our capacity to regain the social skills of days gone by. She promises to school young folk in conversing confidently and 'boosting their powers of attraction'. Apparently that last bit's about more than having a smokin' Tinder profile.
It's that time of year again — the State Library of NSW is about to play host to the annual globally-touring World Press Photo exhibition. From May 27 to June 25, the library will display over 150 images painstakingly selected from 80,408 submissions by 5034 press photographers, photojournalists and documentary photographers from 126 countries to World Press Photo. That's a lot of photos. See what took out first prize in the contest's 60th year across categories including nature, sport, daily life and contemporary issues. Of course, the winner will be on display too — Burhan Ozbilici's chilling An Assassination in Turkey, which captured Mevlüt Mert Altıntaş mere moments after shooting the Russian ambassador to Turkey in an Ankara art gallery. Lighter fare includes a photo by Tomas Munita of The New York Times titled Cuba on the Edge of Change, which won first prize in the Daily Life: Stories category. The image depicts a barber shop — barber shop photography is quite the trend this month — in Cuba's Old Havana, taken shortly after the death of Fidel Castro.
Cinemas in Melbourne have been given the go-ahead to reopen, but that doesn't mean that you need to farewell that groove in your couch — or, if you're located elsewhere in Australia, that you need to miss out on one of the Victorian capital's top film festivals. After its physical event for 2020 fell victim to March's COVID-19 lockdowns, the Melbourne Queer Film Festival is returning with MQFF Interrupted, a largely online fest that's streaming nationally from Thursday, November 19–Monday, November 30. Film buffs around the country can look forward to 17 features and 40 shorts, all telling lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer stories. And it's an impressive lineup — whether you're keen on Aussie teen rom-com Ellie & Abbie (& Ellie's Dead Aunt), haunting British thriller Make Up, trans drama Lingua Franca, American vampire comedy Bit or Georgian romance And Then We Danced. Melburnians can also attend an in-person event, thanks to a Coburg Drive-In screening of Happiest Season. It stars Kristen Stewart and Mackenzie Davis as Abby and Harper, a couple who head to the latter's parent's place for Christmas dinner — but said folks don't know that Harper is gay, let alone about Abby. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mxx76RnyVIo&feature=emb_logo
The actors have it: in The Whale, Brendan Fraser (No Sudden Move), Hong Chau (The Menu) and Sadie Sink (Stranger Things) are each masterful, and each in their own way. For viewers unaware that this drama about a reclusive 600-pound English professor stems from the stage going in, it won't take long to realise — for multiple reasons, the film's performances chief among them. As penned by Samuel D Hunter (also a writer on TV's Baskets) from his award-winning semi-autobiographical play, The Whale's script is talky and blunt. The movie is confined to its protagonist Charlie's home, and is as claustrophobic as it's meant to be as a result. But it's that key acting trio, with the portrayals they splash through a flick that's a complicated sea of feelings and ideas, that helps The Whale swim when it swims. Yes, the Brenaissance is upon us, showering Fraser in accolades including his first-ever Oscar nod; however, fellow Academy Award-nominee Chau and rising star Sink are equally as powerful. Is it really the Brenaissance if Fraser hasn't ever been too far from our screens for too long? When he was recently stellar in 2021's No Sudden Move, albeit in a supporting part? Given that it's been decades since he's had the space and the feature to serve up this kind of lead effort, the answer remains yes. Slip his The Whale performance in beside standout 2002 thriller The Quiet American — although the latter didn't place The Mummy action star and Encino Man comedic force beneath considerable prosthetics. Fraser doesn't let his appearance here do all the work, though. Filmmaker Darren Aronofsky, who hones in on the stressed and tested as he has so frequently before (see: Requiem for a Dream, Black Swan, The Wrestler and mother!), doesn't allow it to, either. At the core of the pair's collaboration is a portrayal that overflows with vulnerability and grief alongside optimism for humanity, and acutely fuses Charlie's emotional and physical states. The character self-mockingly jokes that his internal organs are buried deep, but nothing conceals Fraser's sensitivity. It's with a lone black square that The Whale initially explains Charlie's relationship with the world: on online calls with his students, he's represented by a void of a tile. He claims that his webcam is broken, but he's actively hiding — from his pupils' reactions and from facing his sorrow. Other than these digital lectures, visits from his friend and nurse Liz (Chau) to check on his wellbeing and deliver food, and daily pizza drops from a driver instructed to leave the slices outside, Charlie has withdrawn from everything beyond his first-floor apartment when the film begins. That said, The Whale isn't a portrait of a man who is sad and has shut himself off because he is overweight. Rather, it's an exploration of someone who has an eating disorder because he is heartbroken by a tragedy, relying upon food compulsively to cope, and to process his doubts and regrets over his decisions and their ramifications. Friedrich Nietzsche's aphorism "what does not kill me makes me stronger" is flipped here: after the death of his partner Alan, who he left his ex-wife Mary (Samantha Morton, She Said) and now-teenage daughter Ellie (Sink) to be with, Charlie is using the sustenance we all need for strength and survival as his escape route. His sense of self has been slain by his loss, and so has his willingness to go on. It isn't just to ramp up tension or establish that obesity can spark high blood pressure and heart attacks that The Whale has its central figure doubling over with chest pains while he's masturbating early in the feature. With the film's narrative unfurling day by day, the incident sets a ticking clock, but most importantly it sees Charlie refuse to go to hospital. When she arrives, Liz insists, but he still won't agree. In this specific character study, he's that steadfast — and, even as he tries to reconnect with the bitter Ellie and spouts hope for humankind's ability to care, he's that intensely unhappy without Alan. Indeed, if it wasn't for missionary Thomas (Ty Simpkins, Avengers: Endgame), who conveniently comes a-knocking for the New Life church spouting a message about the end of times, Charlie wouldn't make it to The Whale's second act. Instead of asking the soul-searching young man to phone an ambulance, he makes a request that seems inexplicable while he's struggling for breath: to read aloud from an essay about Moby-Dick. The film gains its title from and shares its sense of search with Herman Melville's famous novel, as Charlie battles the behemoth that is his own complicated, constantly contrasting and conflicted feelings. The link isn't subtle. Again, The Whale isn't usually subtle. For another case in point, hear: Rob Simonsen's (Ghostbusters: Afterlife) emotion-shouting score. But Fraser always conveys Charlie's pain like it's pumping through the actor's own veins, and proves devastatingly and movingly effective at balancing bright-eyed charm with piercing melancholy. While The Whale both demands and deploys Fraser's best — in tender moments, in dialogue-heavy exchanges and in his physical performance alike — it leaves ample room for Chau and Sink to make an imprint. Aronofsky may task his regular cinematographer Matthew Libatique (also a Don't Worry Darling alum) with boxing in Fraser via the constricting Academy ratio, often offering very little visible space around him, but Chau's distressed pal and Sink's cruel daughter remain pivotal to this story. What does it mean to want contentment and safety for a loved one who seeks the opposite for himself? To bear the hurt of someone else's choices? To have either your daily existence or your identity, or both, forged by another's decisions? In Chau's direct, kindhearted but quietly anguished turn, and in Sink's openly, flippantly brutal reactions as Ellie, The Whale compassionately plunges into these questions. It should come as little surprise that Aronofsky's eighth film is at its finest when it lets Fraser, Chau and Sink verbally bounce off of each other — when it's unpacking the feelings boiling in Charlie's grimly lit, amber-hued flat, and examining how every life's ups and downs ebb and flow into others. Finding insights in clashing people, attitudes and concepts is The Whale's approach in general, including in its use of darkness and light; handling of religion and salvation; survey of Charlie's internal and external suffering; and attempts to wade into stress- and binge-eating, consumption as a coping mechanism, and body-shaming responses to any departure from societal standards of beauty. Charlie himself chases meaning in the same type of chaos and contradictions, pinning his hopes as his days wane on a last-minute reunion with Ellie. In that fiery confrontation, as in every single one at the heart of The Whale, nothing is easy.
Surely the only thing better than feasting on creamy fresh mozzarella is having the skills to make it yourself, any time you like. Or you could enjoy the best of both worlds, when Leichhardt's Capriccio Osteria hosts a mozzarella making class on September 27. Here, you'll learn the art of crafting, shaping and knotting fresh mozzarella in true Italian fashion, guided by local producer Vannella Cheese's head cheesemaker Vito Minoia. This guy's a true cheese expert — he's been hand stretching curds for burrata since he was 16 years old back in Puglia, Italy. But of course, you can't have a culinary masterclass without some good old-fashioned food appreciation, so the one-night cheese students will also sit down to a four-course taster of Capriccio's new seasonal menu. Expect a lively lineup of spring's best spoils with cheese as the hero. The whole night's activities will set you back just $49 — which, for both the feast and your newfound cheesemaking skills, seems like a good investment. You can make a booking either online or over the phone.
If you’ve got the blues because you’ve missed out on Byron-bound, field-frolicking party times at Splendour this year, we hear you. Thankfully, many of the headliners are kind enough to put on a sideshow or two while they’re visiting — after all, many of them have come a long way for the occasion. While you've had other things like work, life and International Mojito Day on your mind, tickets have gone a-walkin' for these coveted sideshows, only adding insult to injury. Fear not, we've trawled through the best Splendour sideshows to see who’s still got tickets available if you want to join the festival buzz. Without further ado, here's some Splendour sideshows you could be slinging your dollars towards. NOTE: This is all very ‘at the time of writing’ so if something sells out in the meantime, we’re sorry for getting any hopes up.
High tea is typically considered a British tradition, however, the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth is giving it a decidedly Parisian touch. For a limited time only, the Sydney hotel is serving up a sophisticated spread every Saturday and Sunday from 1–3pm, for $89 per person. And, although you won't find scones and cucumber sandwiches on the menu, you'll still say "oui oui" to the selection of sweet and savoury delicacies being dished up. As well as taking inspiration from the couture catwalks of the City of Love, and treating guests to tea in the Sofitel's plush Velvet Room, the menu is also reminiscent of the kind of flavours you would find in a traditional French patisserie. Get started with a mini baguette with slow-roasted truffle beef, before tucking into petit pea choux and caviar, dainty quiche with smoked duck and porcini and traditional French chicken pithivier pies. Then, indulge in sweet treats such as elegant macarons, religieuse (choux pastries filled with rose and raspberry cream), mandarin-vanilla cannelés and a decadent Opera cake featuring lemon myrtle meringue. And while warm brews will be on the menu, we suggest complementing your feast with a glass of fine French Champagne — Moet Imperial to be precise. Whoever said "let them eat cake" was definitely onto something. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sofitel Sydney Wentworth (@sofitelsydney) To make a booking, visit Sofitel Sydney Wentworth's website today.
Despite our itchy feet, options for travel are still limited for the foreseeable future. So, what better time to make the most of where we live? In partnership with La Bella Verde, we've picked out six tours you can take to rediscover where you live — from underwater escapades to getting up-close to Sydney's haunted sites. Each one will help you see the city through a different lens and appreciate what's right here in our beautiful backyard. [caption id="attachment_791851" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Benjamin Williams[/caption] GO ON AN ECO CRUISE WITH LA BELLA VERDE We won't be welcoming any international cruise ships for a while yet, so why not take advantage of the emptier harbour to explore one of the most spectacular waterways in the world? Better yet, you can bolster your green credentials at the same time. Cruise Sydney Harbour with La Bella Verde, which has the only 100-percent solar-powered catamaran in Sydney. The green beauty departs from various wharves and can take up to 12 adventurers at a time for $200–250 per hour. Say hello to the Harbour Bridge as you float underneath, then wave at the Sydney Opera House as you sail past at your leisure — with zero harm done to the harbour eco-system. It also has large coolers on board and a flat rate of $100 for BYO booze. KAYAK AT THE CRACK OF DAWN Experience a different side to Sydney's usually bustling harbour by getting up with the birds for a caffeinated sunrise kayak tour. Sydney by Kayak offers tours from the Lavender Bay boat ramp (currently departing at 6.20am) before paddling round to Sydney Harbour Bridge. You'll be awed by the magnificence and scale of the Bridge from below and there's time to take in the splendour of the Opera House as the early morning light hits the sails. Your reward for getting up so early and exercising? A hot cup of coffee aboard your kayak. You'll be asked your order in advance and supplied with a suitable reusable cup for the journey. It's a very laidback tour and if you're celebrating a birthday they'll also bring cake to eat on the water. Tours cost $125–165 per person. [caption id="attachment_800090" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW[/caption] SEE SYDNEY FROM THE SKIES ON A SCENIC FLIGHT There are some things we land-based mammals can't see. Give yourself wings with a Sydney Seaplanes scenic flight and get a bird's eye view of our glorious city. Planes can take up to six passengers, with different routes to choose from, depending on your fancy. Flights take off from either Rose Bay or Palm Beach and flight times and costs vary depending on the route. The Sydney Secrets tour, for example, is a 30-minute soar over our famed coastline for $315 per person. Afterwards, take a pew at Empire Lounge and watch the other planes land as you order a platter of freshly shucked oysters. [caption id="attachment_800091" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW[/caption] CRUISE AROUND ON TWO WHEELS Take in Manly's famous promenade on two wheels with a Bonza Bike sunset tour, or head to its Circular Quay marquee to hire a ride to explore Farm Cove on the way to Mrs Macquarie's Chair. The company has taken 50,000 guests around Sydney since starting in 2004 and since COVID-19, it's operating as a tailored tour service so you can set the times best suited to you. We think you should hire a bike and hop on the ferry to Manly; from there you can pedal along the waterfront before heading up to North Head to take in the panoramic views. The bipedal trip will set you back $149 per person, with family packages available. [caption id="attachment_800537" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Flickr; KerryJ[/caption] JOIN A SPOOKY GHOST TOUR Take a ghost tour along the cobblestoned streets of one of our oldest precincts and you'll be transported back to the city's dark past. On The Rocks Ghost Tours, guides tell you the gruesome history of the area as they lead you down alleyways — from unfortunate souls buried in cellars to spirits haunting historic homes. The spooky journey takes in some of the most significant sites in The Rocks and offers a perspective of the city you may have overlooked, such as its violent colonial origins. Each nightly tour starts at 7.45pm, running for 1.5–2 hours, from Cadmans Cottage. Tickets cost $45 and during COVID-19 tours are limited to 25 people. [caption id="attachment_800092" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW[/caption] SEE WHAT LIES BENEATH ON A GUIDED SNORKELLING TOUR Dive Centre Manly runs guided snorkelling tours of Shelly Beach for $75 per person. The area is part of the Cabbage Tree Bay Aquatic Reserve and it boasts a treasure trove of marine life, from blue gropers and giant cuttlefish to wobbegongs and the occasional turtle. Tours are designed for those with some snorkelling experience, and all equipment is provided at the Dive Centre shop. Guides have an intimate knowledge of the beach and where best to float in order to spot its wonders. Find out more about La Bella Verde tours, here. Top image: Destination NSW
What began as a joke between a couple of mates has burgeoned into a successful annual festival, now in its fifth year. On Saturday, February 9, hundreds of locals and visitors will pour into the inner west, filling empty spaces with music, visual art, and live performance, for what organisers say is the final Reclaim the Lanes in its current incarnation. Reclaim the Lanes is all about celebrating community, diversity, and creative innovation. You can expect spontaneous improvisation sessions between local musicians, the sudden appearance of art in unexpected places, picnics in hidden spaces, games, dancing, and activities for children. Organiser Chris Lego has described the festival as "a celebration of doing things just because we can, and a display of what is possible with duct tape and community spirit". If you want to be a part of the action, get yourself, your friends, and family along to Peace Park at 2pm.
Returning for its seventh year, Sydney Beer Week — which has this year dropped the 'craft' from its name — celebrates beer in all its golden greatness this October. Running from Friday, October 20 through to Sunday, October 29, the ten-day celebration is packed full of events and activities that will grasp the interest of beer novices and connoisseurs alike. These will take place at several locations across Sydney — and there's quite the list to choose from. One notable event is the Hair of the Dog Breakfast, where the Rocks Brewing Company will throw a mighty six-course breakfast paired with eight beers promising to be one of the best hangover cures we've heard of. You'll need it if you're heading to any of the other events, like the kick-off party full of brews and food trucks at the Australian Maritime Museum. Or The Grifter Brewing Co.'s dog-friendly event at their Marrickville brewery. You can find the full event list on the Sydney Beer Week's website, but to make it a little easier we have picked five events that we think are worth checking out. There's no doubt SBW will leave you better quenched, better fed and better educated in beer-related matters than it found you.
Who needs unicycling dogs and lion tamers when you have fleet-footed humans springboarding one another into five-count backflips? Circolombia is a troupe of street circus performers from the Colombian city of Cali, and Urban is their gracefully mind-boggling autobiographical show. It paints a portrait of life in a city as dense with both poetics and violence through seamlessly executed dances and acrobatics, the ballsiest stunts quite effectively calling to mind both life and death. Strobe lighting and a throbbing soundtrack presumably do little to make backflips atop tightropes less alarming. Urban comes to the Sydney Festival following sell-out shows at London's Roundhouse and Broadway in Paris. If you only see one non-inner-city performance this year, this is a pretty weighty contender. https://youtube.com/watch?v=Zga7XO707GQ
Dear Pluto has garnered itself quite a reputation around the traps as one of Sydney's favourite locations for penny-saving fashionistas who like their clothes to be of the vintage variety. This week, Dear Pluto is not just hoping to spice up your wardrobe but also spice up your love life with a speed dating party on the rooftop of their current lodgings at Gaffa Gallery on Clarence Street. While Hollywood has taught us that speed dating is exclusively the domain for middle-aged divorcees and desperate wannabes, the Dear Pluto variety of speed dating is a far cry from this picture. Instead the event is only open to under 30s and is traditionally a hotbed for sexy, intelligent men and women working in the arts and creative industries. Unfortunately, the ladies tickets have now sold out, but there are a number of tickets still available for any men looking for some light-hearted mingling in a super chilled environment that also includes a healthy serving of complimentary booze. Head in store to grab a ticket or send an email to hello@dearpluto.com to reserve a place.
The NSW Government is urging everyone who visited or worked at the Crossroads Hotel between Friday, July 3 and Friday, July 10, to immediately self-isolate for 14 days and get tested, even if they have no systems. The public health alert comes as nine positive COVID-19 cases have been directly linked to the Casula pub in Sydney's southwest, but none of those are believed to be the source of infection. Those who have tested positive so far include an employee of the pub, a woman who dined at the pub on July 3 and a Blue Mountains man — who also dined at the pub on July 3 — whose three household contacts have also been confirmed COVID-19 positive. NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said in a statement: "While investigations are continuing, it is vital people get tested so we can try and establish the source of infection at the hotel. I encourage people to access a number of clinics at local hospitals at Campbelltown, Fairfield and Liverpool so people are tested as quickly as possible." A pop-up testing clinic has also been set up at the Crossroads Hotel. https://www.facebook.com/NewSouthWalesHealth/posts/1342931869239484?__tn__=K-R Dr Chant said that those who visited the pub between July 3–10 must self-isolate for 14 days since they were last at the pub, get tested, get retested if any respiratory symptoms appear and stay in isolation for 14 days even if they receive a negative test. It can take up to 14 days from exposure to the virus for symptoms to first appear, which is why the 14 days of self-isolation are recommended. NSW has also closed its border with Victoria — for the first time in 100 years — and discouraged Sydneysiders from visiting towns near the border as Victoria's positive cases numbers continue to spike. In the 24 hours leading up to 8pm on Sunday, July 12, NSW recorded five new cases of COVID-19, with two of those returned travellers in hotel quarantine and three the aforementioned close contacts of the Blue Mountains man who visited the Crossroads Hotel. For more information about the status of COVID–19 in NSW and to find your closest testing sites, head to the NSW Health website.
Last year was hot. We sweltered through Australia's warmest summer on record, a hotter-than-standard autumn, a warmer-than-usual winter and a spicy spring as well. To the surprise of no one, the next few months look set to continue the trend. This week, BOM released its climate outlook for the March to May period, revealing that most of the country is in for warmer days and stickier nights than we usually see at this time of year. Yep, the soupy weather is set to continue. In fact, across the majority of Australia, there's a 60–80 percent chance autumn temperatures will be a whole lot warmer than the median. To give an idea of exactly what that all means, the average daily maximum temperature for March sits at around 23.9 degrees in Melbourne, 24.8 in Sydney and 28 in Brisbane. In May, it's around 16.7 degrees for Melbourne, with 19.5 for Sydney and 23.2 for Brisbane. The BOM is forecasting that we'll see warmer than that across the three months. Unfortunately for farmers, parts of Queensland are looking to struggle through drier-than-average autumns, too. Elsewhere, it's likely rainfall will be relatively average. While recent heavy rainfall across NSW and southeast Qld has helped ease the dry in some areas (and increase Sydney's water storage by a whopping 30 percent), BOM is saying some regions require "several months of above average rainfall" to bring them out of drought — which doesn't look likely to happen this autumn. The recent spate of heavy rain has also helped — thankfully — to ease some of the catastrophic bushfires that have been burning across the country, with the NSW RFS today announcing that for the first time this season all bush and grass fires in NSW are now contained. While that is unquestionably great news, it might not be the case for long, with BOM saying the warmer-than-average days and nights predicted over the next four months will increase the chance of heatwaves and elevate bushfire risk. Image: Kenny Lover by Julia Sansone
Ethically accredited since 2012, Manning Cartell's sophisticated clothing is made right here in Sydney (a very rare thing, even for local fashion designers). Sisters Cheryl, Vanessa and Gabrielle Cartell chose to use their family name to set up the fashion brand in 2005. It's since amassed a celebrity following, including famous fans Amal Clooney and Margot Robbie. The socially responsible clothing label is all about kitting you out for the night (or a very fancy daytime do). It has embellished dresses, chic black jumpsuits and structured shirt dresses that range from $400–1000. Even casual polo dresses are made to stand out from the crowd. [caption id="attachment_779788" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cassandra Hannagan[/caption] It also makes and sells sustainable and environmentally friendly leather jackets, pants and skirts, plus a range of party-ready mules, metallic heels and shiny jewellery. You could easily drop $1000 in store, but you'd walk out with an entire evening outfit stored, which has value in itself. Images: Cassandra Hannagan
Masters of late night snack fuel Ben & Jerry's have been dishing out pop culture-riffing flavours like Liz Lemon Greek Frozen Yoghurt, Stephen Colbert's AmeriCone Dream and, of course, Schweddy Balls for years. Now, the the masters of frozen confection have gone and opened their seventh store in western Sydney's suburb of Wetherill Park. And, to celebrate, they're giving away free — free! — scoops for four whole hours. Head along to the new shop between 4–8pm on Thursday, August 15 and you can score an ice cream on the house. The hardest part of the night will be deciding what flavour — should you go chocolate fudge brownie? Salted caramel? Vegan caramel almond brittle? Dairy-free coconut almond fudge chip? See, it's not easy. As the new Scoop Store is located inside Hoyts, it could be a good excuse to organise a movie date night, too.
Twilight at Taronga — the after-hours live music series that boasts arguably the best view of Sydney Harbour as well as lots of adorable animals — has proven it's got some real cred when it comes to hosting outdoor gigs. Past lineups have featured the likes of The Jezabels, Courtney Barnett and Kurt Vile, and, from the looks of things, its 25th anniversary series will be just as epic. Held in Taronga Zoo's natural amphitheatre, the concert series will run from Friday, January 31 to Saturday, March 7, 2020. And we've got some real humdingers to look forward to including Aussie rockers Wolfmother, US gospel queen Mavis Staples, NZ synth-pop duo Broods and the Gravy King himself Paul Kelly (who'll be performing with composer James Ledger, singer Alice Keith and the Seraphim Trio). Band member from You Am I, Powderfinger, Jet and Spiderbait will also come together as the Australian Rock Collective to perform hits off The Beatles' Abbey Road album with Linda Bull. And, as always, the ABBA tribute act Bjorn Again will be back by popular demand. You can BYO a picnic, but there'll also be gourmet hampers available onsite alongside a handful of food trucks. Tickets include discounted same-day entry into the zoo (so you can sneak in a visit to your favourite mammal, bird or reptile beforehand) and, if you want to make a weekend of it, you can add on a night at Taronga's luxe new eco-retreat. As always, all proceeds will go back into Taronga's ongoing conservation work, including its campaign to protect our marine life. So, you can see a gig and feel good about helping the zoo. Get excited and check out the full lineup: [caption id="attachment_745448" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Taronga Zoo Wildlife Retreat[/caption] TWILIGHT AT TARONGA 2020 SUMMER CONCERT SERIES LINEUP Friday, January 31: Broods Saturday, February 1: Wolfmother Friday, February 7: Pete Murray Saturday, February 8: ARC perform 'Abbey Road' Live Friday, February 14: Bernard Fanning Saturday, February 15: Sunnyboys Friday, February 21: Kasey Chambers Saturday, February 22: James Morrison Big Band Friday, February 28: Paul Kelly in 'Thirteen Ways to Look at Birds' with James Ledger, Alice Keith and Seraphim Trio Saturday, February 29: Bjorn Again Thursday, March 5: Mavis Staples Friday, March 6: Meg Mac Saturday, March 7: Comedy Gala Tickets for Twilight at Taronga 2020 Summer Concert Series go on sale at midday on Thursday, October 31 via twilightattaronga.org.au.
You might be exhausted from Art Month. You might be saving your energy for Vivid. But there's no reason you can't see just a very few of these instantly fascinating shows opening in April.
Some of the world's very best cocktail bars and makers will be in Sydney this month, as the Maybe Cocktail Festival returns for its third edition. Taking place from April 7–13, the event will see 20 of the world's best bars, including seven bars ranked in The World's 50 Best Bars 2024 list, taking over some of Sydney's very best bars for Australia's biggest international cocktail event. With these noteworthy cocktail shakers hosting 25 events over the festival's seven days, you won't have to look far to discover signature cocktails, exclusive collabs and world-class hospitality. So, who's on the lineup this year? Landing at #9 on The World's 50 Best Bars 2024 (and #2 on Asia's 50 Best Bars 2024), Seoul's Zest will take over Prefecture 48 for a headline event, while Barcelona's Paradiso (#10) will get down to El Primo Sanchez to showcase its creative libations. Also in attendance are a host of high-profile names from around the globe, including Connaught Bar (#13) and Satan's Whiskers (#29) from London, Buenos Aires' CoChinChina (#22) and Florería Atlántico (#46) and Milan's Moebius (#38). They'll be landing at world-class Sydney venues including Little Cooler, Dean & Nancy on 22, Whisky Thief and more. This edition of the Maybe Cocktail Festival boasts the event's most gender-balanced lineup to date. Among the acclaimed bartenders making the trip, there's Sarah Dawn Mitchell from Teresa Bar (Napier, New Zealand), Gan Kwok Yee from Cosmo Pony (Jakarta), and Daniela Negrete Leal and Gina Barbachano from Brujas (Mexico City). "In its third year, Maybe Cocktail Festival has become a must-attend event for cocktail lovers, and I'm incredibly proud that so many of the world's best bars are eager to be part of it," says festival director Stefano Catino. "These bartenders aren't just flying in to make drinks — they're showcasing their expertise, creativity, and the unique hospitality that has made their bars world-renowned." Whether you're a Sydney local or just visiting, the festival is a stellar opportunity to experience the best of international cocktail culture. You can sip agave-centred cocktails from Mexico City's top bars, discover what makes New York hospitality so special and experience the bold flavours driving Singapore's bar scene from strength to strength. You can RSVP to any guest shift, workshop or party of your choosing via the event's website, and you can buy two tokens at the door of each venue — $50 will get you two cocktails from visiting bartenders. The Maybe Cocktail Festival is happening from Monday, April 7–Sunday, April 13, 2025, at various venues across Sydney. Head to the festival's website for more information.
Butter just keeps giving Sydneysiders more reasons to go absolutely crazy for it. The cult favourite is already a palace of fried chicken, sneakers, Champagne and ramen. Now, you can add truffle to that list, too. Executive chef Julian Cincotta has sourced a whole heap of the luxe ingredient from Western Australian's premiere truffle region, Manjumup, and has created a full menu around the stuff. He's taken Butter's existing fan favourites and truffled them all right up. For $24, you can grab the shop's signature fried chicken sando, now smothered with truffle honey butter — made onsite using Pepe Saya, of course — and topped with fresh truffle shavings. Hot truffle doughnuts also come lovingly glazed and topped with the same butter and shavings. If a touch of truffle just doesn't cut it for you, punters can also go all in with the truffle fried chicken ramen — which, in addition to enoki mushrooms, greens and an egg, comes topped with a full eight grams of the decadent black fungus (for $20 bucks extra, that is). The truffle madness will be short lived, though, and only runs through to late July when the season wraps up. So, if you want it, come and get it. Butter's Truffle Menu is available at both the Surry Hills and Parramatta stores and is available until late July.
Thanks to a certain chest-bursting franchise that first hit screens more than four decades ago, Ridley Scott has long been synonymous with science fiction. So when the veteran filmmaker jumps onboard a sci-fi TV series — featuring androids again, but no aliens this time around — it's definitely something worth paying attention to. That show is Raised by Wolves, which is set in a dystopian future in the 22nd century, when the earth has been destroyed by war. Two androids, known only as Mother and Father, head to the planet Kepler-22b with two human embryos in their care, with the obvious aim of restarting civilisation. While it's immediately apparent that little will go as planned — that's just not human nature — don't go thinking that you'll be able to pick this striking, big-thinking series' every twist and turn.
Stay tuned. More info coming soon.
When the sizeable estate that Elizabeth Bay House formerly sat on was subdivided in the 1920s — with the mansion remaining, but its grounds broken up — the move eventually gave rise to Arthur McElhone Reserve. Named for a Sydney alderman and designed by council employee Ilmar Berzins, it sits on three old lots that remained unsold in the 1940s. Whether you decide to peer back at the house or down at Sydney Harbour, you'll find a peaceful patch of nature. Bringing a picnic and relaxing among the flowers is recommended. So is checking out the ornamental lake and its stone bridge.
What's the one thing Aussie's and Latino's have in common? They love a good party and a day off work to have one. So what better way to spend our God-given long weekend of great Aussie bludgery than at Darling Harbour's annual Latin American Fiesta. Now in its 19th year, this one's set to be the biggest yet with a hearty lineup of Australian and international talent, including high-energy bands, salsa and tango experts, sexy Brazilian carnivale girls, flamenco dancers, capoeira masters, DJs, giant puppet parades and much more. With three outdoor stages and open-air dance floors, there'll be plenty of room to shake it like a salsa superstar and generally get raucous. And you need not worry about queue's, cover charge's or over-priced drinks — this four-day fiesta is free and open to all ages.
Winter has hit Bondi. That means goodbye surf. And hello Bondi Winter Magic, a month-long festival filled with ferris wheel rides, ice skating, art shows, live music, history walks and fringe events. The world's most famous beach will embrace chilly days, and even chillier nights, with adventures you can't have in summer. Setting up next to Bondi Pavilion will be Bondi Vista, a ferris wheel that'll send you soaring 22 metres above the sand. From Friday, June 28 until Sunday, July 28, you go for a spin and feast your eyes on 360-degree views. On one side, you'll be gazing at wild waves, endless horizon and open sky. On the other, look out for glimpses of the city skyline. Rides run from 9am until 10pm every day. If you can, treat yourself to a sunset spin, when the views are sure to be at their most spectacular. Just don't forget to rug up. Between rides, you can go gliding on the Bondi Ice Rink and check out the Bondi Feast fringe festival — an extravaganza of circus, burlesque, comedy and theatre. Plus, on Sunday, July 14, you can follow an Art Trail to see works by local artists and, on July 28, you'll be dancing your way through the neighbourhood when Music On The Streets hits town. Bondi Vista will be open from Friday, June 28 to Sunday, July 28, as part of Bondi Winter Magic. Tickets can be purchased here.
This year has had us all discovering and rediscovering hobbies to try and keep ourselves busy and distracted. And if for you that has involved dusting off the ol' sewing machine, watching some online sewing tutorials and turning swaths of fabric into fashion, then you're going to want to know about Fabric Muse. This store in Chippendale has been supplying designers, costumers, students and home sewers with premium fabrics from all over the world since 2011. Dedicate some time to thumbing through the vibrant prints and designer fabrics — from houndstooth tweed and stretch silk to natural linen and wet-look effect lace.
This article is sponsored by our partners, Toshiba. If one of Sydney’s favourite sushi restaurants and the leader in technological innovation have a food baby, how is it delivered? Via roller-coaster obviously. Last weekend Toshiba teamed up with the sushi maestros at Zushi, taking over District 01 in Surry Hills with their sushi roller-coaster. The gateway to Sydney’s latest pop-up was indicated by the crowd spilling out from within and the glowing red light hinting at the #seriouslyjapanese experience to be had inside. While I waited briefly, falling victim to mounting anticipation akin to riding an actual rollercoaster, I tried my hand at a number of Toshiba tablets and laptops on display for each guest’s enjoyment/technological literacy enhancement. Stunning Geisha girls emerged from the red lantern forest to seat us around the roller-coaster’s loop, ensuring front-row viewing and immediate access to our dinner upon its arrival. We sat, taking in a year’s quota of Hello Kitty and nodding hypnotically to the wave of the Lucky Cat, before examining the menu (also the waiter), which came in the form of the Toshiba Encore 2 tablet. Yes, we were in the future. With all other aspects of our experience perfectly managed (comfort, atmosphere, cultural awakening), choosing what to eat was by far the biggest challenge, with pre-calculated FOMO being the only tool of help. The maki with soft shell crab and tempura prawn? The salmon soba noodles with yuzu dressing? Or the delectable motley sushi and sashimi plates? I went for the latter, and just moments after putting finger to screen, my sushi was seen whizzing (yes, whizzing) down a 25m roller-coaster from above, flying 360 around a poll, gaining speed on the final decline before it nailed the last bend and slowed to a halt right in front of me. Ta-da! The assortment of nigiri and maki was packed with both the freshness and flavour Sydneysiders expect and love from Zushi, and a perfect ratio of salmon, avocado, kingfish and tuna I didn’t even know I appreciated. The sashimi being inhaled next to me was equally generous in size and delightfulness, and the maki and soba zooming past predictably incited palpable food envy. While I’m not sure every sushi train station will be upgrading to this high-octane delivery system, Toshiba and the guys at Zushi have proved they know the real definition of fusion.
Launched in Melbourne in 2016, and running annually since, the Feminist Writers Festival is finally heading to Sydney for the first time on November 1–3. The impressive three-day program will take over UTS's Dr. Chau Chak Wing Building and features 12 sessions with over 40 of Australia's leading feminist thinkers and writers. In an effort to promote and support female-identifying writers within Australia, the festival will see speakers come together in panel discussions and workshops focusing on activism, fiction and the intersectional lives of women. Session topics include 'finding and sustaining a feminist voice', 'writing and speaking indigenous lives', 'domestic violence and the law' and 'words for the feminist activist'. Big names include legal writer Larissa Behrendt, commentator Anita Heiss, independent editor Zoya Patel (founder of Feminartsy), Fairfax columnist Jenna Price, renowned novelist Rebecca Shaw, essayist Alison Whittaker and poet Fiona Wright.
Twelve of Australia's best young winemakers will be gathering in Sydney on Thursday, May 30, and you're invited to spend an evening in their company. You'll be sampling their latest drops, asking all the questions and, ultimately, deciding who decides to get take home the 13th Young Gun of Wine People's Choice Award. To be part of wine history in the making — and play James Halliday for the night — you need to snag a $45 (or $55 after May 22) ticket and rock up at midday. The event, being held by Best Cellars, will be happening at Porteño on Cleveland Street. As well as wine, there'll be a selection of the restaurants famed Argentinian snacks — hopefully including those crispy brussels sprouts. Four states and some of Australia's most famous wineries are represented in the Young Gun list of finalists — including Andrew Scott from La Petite Mort in Queensland's Granite Belt, Sacha La Forgia from the Adelaide Hills Distillery, Ben Ranken from Macedon Ranges' Wilimee and Rhys Parker and Paul Hoffman from Vallée du Venom in the Margaret River. If, on the day, any particular drops takes your fancy, you'll be able to buy bottles at cellar door prices.
Sherman Contemporary Art Foundation has been taken over. Hanging from scaffolding is an enormous cardboard structure, a slum created by husband-and-wife team Alfredo and Isabel Aquilizan. The sheer scale of this installation is staggering. From the ceiling to the floor, the shantytown takes over the gallery with hundreds of tiny, modular cardboard elements tacked on and expanding like tumours. The houses expand in every direction and dimension into a floating, horizonless, living city. This is an abstracted version of a real place: a nomadic, seafaring indigenous people called the Badjao live in the Phillipines. A documentary tells us the Badjaos live in houses on stilts so their beds stay dry. The people and their houses are in a constant state of flux: Alfredo and Isabel are in fact from the Phillipines and have since moved to Australia. Their identity swims in a no-man's-land between the two countries. Peeking out from cardboard windows are videos of Badjao children rapping and drumming (busking is their main source of income, and their sound recalls early M.I.A.). The concept is carried out to it’s maximum potential: miniature bamboo skewer ladders connect tiny apartments, there are tiny Badjao drums scattered around the place, and even the hooks that hold the headphones are made from tape and card. Audience members, especially kids, are provided with the means to create their own little cardboard structures which they take home or give to the gallery attendants to add on to the installation. The artists' choice of second-hand cardboard as their main material is genius. It recalls the Depression-era ghettoes where vagrants made their makeshift homes. It's also metaphor for the slum's invisible inhabitants: the Badjao people have been discarded by the rest of society and relegated to the fringe between the land and the sea. The Aquizilans have visually distilled the essence of the migrant experience and ideas about refuge, displacement and poverty. Though it comes from a place of personal experience, In-Habit can't help but be deeply political. Ducking and weaving to explore the massive shantytown, I realised how rare it is for artists to actually transform an entire gallery. The Aquilizans have morphed a cold, white cube into an entire new world that is exciting and treacherous and fun to navigate. Many contemporary art projects employ the idea of “community engagement” as a token afterthought, a measure of lip service, when in reality, they just continue to relate to the same art-going minority. In-Habit is not like that. Though the project is in part aimed at children, it’s not for kids as such: it’s for everyone, and it shows that art at its most excellent can engage anyone, regardless of their art-world knowledge and familiarity. Image: detail from In-Habit by Alfredo & Isabel Aquilizan.
Music panel shows weren't invented when Spicks and Specks and Rockwiz started airing in Australia back in 2005, but the two series became Aussie icons quickly. Seemingly everyone watched one, the other or both, with the pair earning a devoted following by realising a pivotal fact: as well as seeing musicians live, audiences also love watching them banter, bust out their smarts and just generally connecting over music. Also taking that idea and running with it is Georgia Mooney's Supergroup, which originally debuted in Sydney in 2019 and is now taking its live variety show on the road. It's inspired by Spicks and Specks and Rockwiz, obviously; focuses on stellar songwriters; and also includes live music and interviews as well. If that sounds like your kind of night out, music fans in Sydney will get to rediscover Supergroup's wonders at the Factory Theatre from Saturday, August 13–Sunday, August 14, with an impressive lineup that includes Tim Minchin, Hannah Joy from Middle Kids and Ziggy Ramo on the first night, then Josh Pyke, Ngaiire and Martha Marlow on the second. But before that — and for the first time ever — Supergroup will also head to Brisbane and Melbourne for two shows in each city. In Queensland, from Wednesday, July 27—Thursday, July 28 at The Triffid, Ball Park Music's Sam Cromack will do the honours with Elizabeth and Seja, as will Jeremy Neale, Hope D and Evil Eddie from Butterfingers. In Victoria, Brunswick Ballroom will play host to Ruby Gill, Bob Evans and KYE on Thursday, August 4, and then to Mo'Ju, Maple Glider and Ryan Downey on Friday, August 5. Here's how it works: on each evening, the guests come together to form a band, with support from the Supergroup House Band. They'll only play together for that one night, with each high-profile songwriter taking turns to perform songs while their colleagues join in. And it's all spontaneous — with no rehearsals and absolutely zero prior planning. That means that guests get an experience that's never been seen or heard before, and won't ever happen again with the same songwriters and tunes, either. "There is something quite magical about it," says All Our Exes Live in Texas' Mooney. "It is communal and whimsical and musical in the purest sense. I have a feeling this tour will take that to a new level. It's going to feel incredibly poignant to connect again in this way, after the two years we've all had." SUPERGROUP 2022 TOUR DATES: Wednesday, July 27: The Triffid, Brisbane — with Sam Cromack (Ball Park Music), Elizabeth and Seja Thursday, July 28: The Triffid, Brisbane — with Jeremy Neale, Hope D and Evil Eddie (Butterfingers) Thursday, August 4: Brunswick Ballroom, Melbourne — with Ruby Gill, Bob Evans and KYE Friday, August 5: Brunswick Ballroom, Melbourne — with Mo'Ju, Maple Glider and Ryan Downey Saturday, August 13: Factory Theatre, Sydney — with Tim Minchin, Hannah Joy (Middle Kids) and Ziggy Ramo Sunday, August 14: Factory Theatre, Sydney — with Josh Pyke, Ngaiire and Martha Marlow Georgia Mooney's Supergroup tours Australia in July and August — head to Georgia Mooney's website for further information and to buy tickets.
Listen to a selection of hundreds of personal and revealing voice messages left in the middle of the night at this new exhibition being hosted by The National Art School as part of Sydney Festival. With The Nightline, audio theatremaker Roslyn Oades, sound artist Bob Scott and their collaborators have collected more than 600 voice messages left by nightshift workers, insomniacs and late-night revellers — all between midnight and 6am. Attendees at The Nightline will be welcomed into a low-lit room full of old-school telephones and switchboards. Then, you'll be granted access to these soul-baring messages, with each visitor to the exhibition given an entirely unique set of voices over your 40-minute slot. All you need to do is pick up the phone and tune into snippets of lives lived while others are asleep. Running from Wednesday, January 12–Sunday, January 23, The Nightline is hosting three to four sessions each night, starting from 9pm. Tickets are $60, or $36 for concession holders. Images: Sarah Walker
This year, Barangaroo's January 26 program will begin with the symbolic WugulOra Morning Ceremony – held at Barangaroo rather than the Sydney Opera House for the first time. The ceremony aims to acknowledge Australia's shared history and will include dance performances from the NSW Public Schools Aboriginal Dance Company and the Jannawi Dance Clan, a young, community-based Indigenous dance company. The Kari Choir will perform the national anthem in local language, and there will be another performance of the song Budjari Guyalungalung Baraya-la ('Let's Sing Good Dreaming'), sung by 250 voices. The location also sets attendees up with a fantastic view of the Aboriginal and Australian flag raising ceremony on the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Image: Barangaroo Delivery Authority.
Three Blue Ducks is expanding its collection of ever-popular farm-to-table eateries with a new road trip-worthy regional restaurant. Following the opening of a Snowy Mountains outpost in 2020 (and closures of its Brisbane restaurant and original Bronte cafe), the hospitality group has now turned its attention to the New South Wales mid-north coast to showcase the area's renowned produce at a venue in Bellingen. Opening on Thursday, July 13, this new addition to the Three Blue Ducks family will be located at scenic Bellingen hotel The Lodge, expanding the group's current slate of locations to five alongside Rosebery, Byron Bay, Melbourne and Nimbo. Located on the hotel's 16-acre gardens, the restaurant will offer all of the hallmarks of Three Blue Ducks with a menu that favours bold, spice-packed dishes. "We've always loved working with spice, lemongrass, ginger, chilli, makrut, et cetera, and after working closely with the local producers and farmers, we've created a menu for the restaurant that showcases these flavours," says Three Blue Ducks' Darren Robertson. "The menu draws from some of the favourite dishes we've cooked during our travels and at our other locations over the years, combined with new dishes to keep it fresh and exciting for us, our staff and people that drop in." The Three Blue Ducks crew has been working with a range of local suppliers including Levenvale Farms, The Patch Organics, Nautical Wholesale Seafood, Coffs Coast Mushrooms and Promised Land Organics to pull together a menu that places the spotlight on the best beef, seafood, chicken and vegetables that the region has to offer. The all-day restaurant will kick things off early on Saturdays and Sundays with Single O coffee and brekky favourites like the restaurant group's beloved granola, bacon and egg rolls, avocado and roasted mushroom toast, and cocktails like Bloody Marys and cherry blossom spritzes. From there, Bellingen locals, hotel guests and tourists alike can settle in for a flavour-packed lunch or dinner, with a hefty a la carte selection available alongside a series of set menus. There's a prominent Asian influence throughout the menu, with dumplings and bao on offer as starters, salt and Szechuan pepper squid and prawn toast available on the smaller plates, cauliflower curry on the mains and a chocolate yuzu eclair ready to round out your meal. Other highlights diners can expect at Three Blue Ducks Bellingen include beef tartare with fragrant chilli oil and togarashi; lemon, lime and south plum duck; fried chicken sandwiches; ponzu-topped oysters; flat-iron steak with citrus butter and curry leaf; and miso caramel cheesecake. There will also be a separate functions menu, with the Three Blue Ducks team working with The Lodge to offer private events and catering for weddings. The Lodge boasts 30 individual rooms, luxury glamping options, a pool with day beds and a bar, and five alpacas that wander the gardens. Reservations for the restaurant are open now. [caption id="attachment_834387" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Three Blue Ducks, Rosebery[/caption] Three Blue Ducks Bellingen will open on Thursday, July 13 at The Lodge, 1381 Waterfall Way, Bellingen. It'll be open for dinner Monday–Sunday, lunch Friday–Sunday and breakfast Saturday–Sunday.
Here's your chance to meet the man who burned a million pounds. Back in 1994, as one-half of the K Foundation, Bill Drummond met with co-performer Jimmy Cauty in an abandoned boathouse on the Isle of Jura, Scotland, where the two of them set fire to most of the money they'd earned as The KLF, an acid house band that ruled the early '90s. These days, Drummond makes art under the name Penkiln Burn. His recent escapades have involved making and giving away flowers, beds and cakes. Right now, though, he's on a world tour, which began with daffodils beneath Spaghetti Junction in Birmingham in March 2014 and will finish there — but not until April 2025. Along the way, he's exhibiting his show The 25 Paintings in 12 cities in 12 various nations. The University of Northampton is so impressed they've given him an honorary Master of Arts degree. As part of Modulations, Drummond will make an exclusive appearance at Carriageworks on Saturday, June 6, at 6pm to discuss his art.
In a win for anyone who experiences a panic attack at the mere thought of being stuck in a daunting IKEA store maze, the homewares and furniture company is making its online shopping and home delivery service available to Sydney customers from today. While New South Wales is a little late to the party — with online shopping already offered in the Australian Capital Territory, Tasmania, the Northern Territory and Queensland — the move will no doubt score IKEA some extra customer brownie points in the lead-up to retail giant Amazon's impending Australian launch. As with its interstate counterparts, IKEA's Sydney online service will allow customers to shop 9000 products from the comfort of their home and have their goods delivered (albeit without any Swedish meatballs) from $99. Or they can opt for the $40 'click and collect' alternative to go and retrieve their order from IKEA's Tempe, Rhodes or Marsden Park stores. According to IKEA Australia's multichannel manager Michael Donath, the move is a logical step forward in the company's plans for Aussie-wide growth. "Opening up online shopping for Sydneysiders is the next phase of our expansion, as we strive to make IKEA more widely available," he said. Let's hope the other states won't be left hanging for too long.
