In a society as culturally diverse as Sydney, food is an excellent way to highlight community approach and rich global culture. In particular, Newtown is a hub of good food and community spirit. So what better way to celebrate this success than with the Newtown Good Food Fair? On Sunday, 13 October, Newtown will mark Sydney's Good Food Month by playing host to a celebration of food and community. Newtown locals and broader Sydneysiders alike are invited to embark on a taste sensation: sampling a little of everything that the friendly neighbourhood will be offering on the day, for the dirt cheap prices of regular street food. Held in the Newtown Square, the culinary lineup for the day is, in itself, something to celebrate. On offer will be feasts from a selection of Newtown's 'new wave' of food, with spreads put on by Miss Peaches, Newtown Hotel's The Animal, Suzy Spoon's Vegetarian Butcher. Old favourites like Bloodwood, Mad Pizza e Bar, Kuki Tanuki, Rubyos, Twelve, Coopers Hotel and WaterHorse Small Bar will also be there to cook up a bite-sized storm. Newtown Good Food Fair has been organised in association with the Newtown Precinct Business Association, with all money raised going towards the Newtown Community Centre. The event will take place from 11am to 4pm. Image: Miss Peaches.
Ornette Coleman reckons Pharoah Sanders is "probably the best tenor [saxophone] player in the world". He moved to New York City from San Francisco in 1961, but, unable to make a living playing music, ended up working odd jobs and even sleeping in the subway. Three years later, Sanders was invited to play in John Coltrane's band. Fast forward 12 months and the two of them were revolutionising jazz — swapping old-school structures like functional harmony for a more open-ended approach that bordered on anarchy. Sanders' vital, expressionistic sound was crucial. Now 74, and with at least 33 recordings as band leader under his belt, he plays with more gentleness and lyricism — albeit no less intensity — than ever before. This living jazz legend will be performing his groundbreaking works as part of Vivid's Modulations program at Carriageworks.
During the COVID-19 lockdown, many Australians have turned to home baking for comfort. Scroll through your Instagram feed and you're sure to see an overexcited jar of sourdough starter, a misshapen loaf or a #squishvid. Head on over to your local supermarket, though, and you're likely to find empty shelves where the flour once sat. This isn't just the scenario in Australia, either. According to Miller Magazine, flour demand has doubled in the UK and French supermarket sales have tripled, and in an episode of Samin Nosrat's new podcast Home Cooking a desperate Angelean asks how to make their wife white cake without the hard-to-find white flour (hint: you can't). But, if you're keen to begin your own baking adventures, not all hope is lost. You might actually find the elusive powder hiding at your local restaurant or cafe. As restaurants have been forced to adapt during the closure of non-essential indoor venues, many have pivoted to providing their local communities with grocery essentials and produce boxes. And one of the essential products they're selling is — you guessed it — flour. [caption id="attachment_768410" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Emma Joyce[/caption] Many Sydney cafes, including Marrickville's Cherry Moon, Brickfields in Chippendale, St Peters' Sample Coffee and Surry Hills' Reuben Hills and Single O, now have flour on their shelves, available to pick up or (in some cases) deliver. If you're looking for the gluten-free version, Waverley's Wholegreen Bakery has you covered. Two pubs, The Tudor Hotel and The Royal Hotel, are now convenience stores, stocking toilet paper, hand sanitiser and, yes, flour. Some restaurants are also selling produce boxes, including Fratelli Fresh, which are filled with a heap of pantry staples. In Melbourne, non-profit cafe Sibling has its own online store with baking ingredients, including flour and yeast, while St Kilda East's Grosvenor Hotel and Lamaro's Hotel in South Melbourne both have their own a bottle-o and shop. Ted's Grocer — formerly all-day diner Theodore's — also has produce boxes and essentials. If you've already jumped on the baking trend and are looking at other quarantine cooking projects to start, we're rounded up six fun, tasty and time-consuming recipes you can try out here. If and when you do decide to head out to get groceries, remember to follow the Australian Government Department of Health's social distancing guidelines. Top image: Cherry Moon by Kitti Gould
From web searches and browsers to email and document storage, Google has its fingers in plenty of different online pies. Many of its services have become such a part of our daily lives that we no longer give them much thought, but every now and then the company has fun with one of its platforms. So far, it has brought Pac-Man, Mario Kart, Where's Waldo? and Snake to Google Maps, and Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? to Google Earth, for example. With Avengers: Endgame shaking up cinemas right now, it should come as no surprise that the company has the Marvel Cinematic Universe in its sights. Or, for that matter, that it's using a certain Josh Brolin-voiced supervillain and his famed gauntlet — aka the object that's been causing so much grief in the MCU in recent films. A word of warning: if you somehow haven't seen Avengers: Infinity War over the past year, Google's latest Easter egg is definitely a spoiler. If you have seen Infinity War but haven't seen Endgame, however, the company isn't giving away anything that you don't already know. All MCU fans need to do is type 'Thanos' into Google's search engine and look for his Infinity Stone-adorned gauntlet, which is currently appearing next to his name in the information box on the right-hand side of the screen. Click the image, and you'll find the giant purple figure's finger-snapping tricks wreaking havoc on Google's search results. In other words: prepare for a bit more space on the page. The Easter egg is a timely move, given how many people have been rushing to cinemas to see Endgame — and how many people are probably searching for every piece of MCU-related information that they can find online afterwards. In Australia, the film smashed the opening day box office record when it launched on Wednesday, April 24, making more than $10 million on its opening day. Top image: Marvel Studios.
This article is sponsored by our partners, Wotif.com. Adelaide is no stranger to pesky licensing laws impeding the onward march of excellent late-night bar culture, but thankfully in April last year the city’s council saw reason and introduced friendlier regulations. The result? A city that's turning on its charm year-round, not just in February and March when the Adelaide festival and WOMADelaide convert the place into a bohemian heaven. 2014 is Adelaide’s year of the small bar. Here’s a selection of the finest. THE GALLERY ON WAYMOUTH Big, bold and shiny, the Gallery replaces Fad Bar with a more upmarket, suits-friendly offering with two levels of bars to mingle and a middle level for dining. The walls feature a changing gallery of contemporary art, but if that’s not enough to soothe your Friday afternoon exhaustion, get stuck into some BBQ beef ribs and crusty bread ($11) or a heartier main of Saltbush lamb ($27). 30 Waymouth Street, Adelaide UDABERRI Adelaide’s Hindley Street may be one of Australia’s more eccentric red-light main drags, but it has no shortage of laneways like Leigh Street housing civilised bars such as Spanish wine bar supreme, Udaberri. Offering Basque-style bar snacks including an extensive list of Spanish cheeses, it’s all the civility you’ll ever need after a loiter down Hindley Street. Udaberri Pintxos y Vino, 11 Leigh Street, Adelaide PROOF Set on the suitably obscure Anster Street, Proof wine bar is a sophisticated little joint manned by bar staff in waistcoats. Proof will satisfy a hankering for an Old Fashioned or an honest cheese toasty (and by honest we mean beef ragu with Fontina). Proof, 9A Anster Street, Adelaide THE BOTANIC BAR An Adelaide institution, the Botanic on North Terrace has undergone some serious sprucing in recent times. Improvements include spicy chicken wings provided by Golden Boy Thai, who are now serving authentic Thai goodness to thankful Botanic punters as they sip on a luscious Montenegro sour or Rangoon Standard. 309 North Terrace, Adelaide ROCKET ROOFTOP Rocket Bar is Adelaide’s original home of good music. Rocket Rooftop serves serious adult wine from McLaren Vale’s Alpha Box and Dice and also has a solid cocktail list. Rocket Rooftop is the perfect place to enjoy a cool drink on a balmy summer’s night under the best palm tree in the state. 142 Hindley Street, Adelaide THE COLLINS BAR A nod to the roaring 1920s, the Collins Bar shows off some of the state’s best local wines as well as a playful list of cocktails sourced from their extensive, if alarmingly tidy bar. They’re offering the usual suspects in the bar snacks department, such as lemonade-braised pulled pork slider and slaw at a bargain $8. Oh, they also have a fantastically long tequila list. Hilton Adelaide, 233 Victoria Square, Adelaide CLEVER LITTLE TAILOR As its name suggests, the Clever Little Tailor is little and clever. It’s a bonafide small bar — intimate, classy and dedicated to quality booze. Set in an old vintage store on Peel Street, it’s been decorated with old school decor and is serving excellent beers such as Mountain Goat, Feral Hop Hog and Four Pines, along with a selection of charcuterie from Lucia’s at the Central Markets. Clever as they come. 19 Peel Street, Adelaide CANTINA SOCIALE Showing off the best of Adelaide’s boutique wine industry, Cantina Sociale serves authentic, one-off wines not available in any stores, wine lists or bars. Located on Sturt Street, this is a haven for wine lovers to really love their wine. 108 Sturt Street, Adelaide LOFT OYSTER AND WINE BAR The Loft is one of Adelaide’s newest bars located on Gouger Street in the Central Market precinct. With its sparkly new interior, it’s a perfect after-work drinks spot, serving Asian inspired mezze and oysters in every way imaginable. Level 1, 128 Gouger Street, Adelaide STREET-ADL Street-ADL is the first of a two-part venture from chef Jock Zonfrillo. Offering informal dining, cocktails and street food, Street-ADL is all-American with its cheeseburgers and sundaes, and true blue with its Goolwa pipis and lamingtons. Street ADL, 285 Rundle Street, Adelaide
The luxury ocean liner the Empress of Australia has docked at the Bondi Pavillion as Tamarama Rock Surfers ushers in its most ambitious production of 2013. Following up on the award-winning success of last year’s I Want to Sleep with Tom Stoppard, Toby Schmitz brings us Empire: Terror on the High Seas, a nautical murder mystery featuring a 20-strong cast. Directed by Schmitz’s long-time collaborator Leland Kean, the production oozes 1920s swagger and jazzy interludes. As the play steadily ploughs through the Atlantic, an enticing narrative is woven as the characters attempt to uncover the identity of the macabre serial killer stalking the shadowy depths of the ship. Tackling the challenge of creating a post-colonial Australian story external to the great southern land, Schmitz and Kean combine forces to present an epic and gothic tale overflowing with frights, gags, flashy frocks and dinner suits. Don't miss what is sure to be an entertaining and tumultuous voyage.
Israeli cafe Shuk revealed some exciting news back in August when it announced that — after nearly five years serving the Bondi crowds — the brand would be expanding for the first time and opening a second spot in Elizabeth Bay. But it seems one new spot wasn't enough, with the cafe revealing it's also opening a third spot on the lower north shore — very soon. While the Elizabeth Bay launch has been pushed back till January, the Chatswood spot threw open its doors this morning — Monday, December 10 — along Victoria Avenue. The 100-seat cafe has a sprawling al fresco dining area that's reminiscent of Bondi. It has launched with the brand's signature breakfast and lunch offerings, with dinner service to come in the New Year. The 50-seat Elizabeth Bay will open in summer within the Trebartha Apartments in Rosyln Gardens — a retirement community that has recently been redeveloped by Lendlease. It'll boast a bright and airy balcony along with classic Shuk design elements. All three venues will have a consistent fit-out, including indoor and outdoor seating, long share tables and floor-to-ceiling windows. The brand's head chef German Sanchez will oversee all three kitchens and is bringing over existing Shuk signatures to the new venues — including those baked egg shakshuka and gluten-free teff pancakes for brekkie, and eight-hour slow-cooked lamb and hummus platters for lunch. The brand's daily baked breads, bagels, sourdoughs and challah will also be available across the venues and Sanchez will introduce new dishes to both cafes, giving each a stand-alone 'personality'. Shuk Chatswood is now open at 260 Victoria Avenue, Chatswood. Opening hours are Monday through Sunday from 6am–5pm. Keep an eye on this space for updates on dinner service and the Shuk Elizabeth Bay opening.
He might hail from the UK, but internationally renowned artist Bruce Munro is leaving quite the impression Down Under. He's the creative mind behind Uluru's stunning Field of Light installation – which has pulled over 450,000 visitors and been extended three times since launching in mid-2016 – and, more recently, he illuminated Albany's tree-lined Avenue of Honour for ANZAC-inspired work Field of Light: Avenue of Honour. Now, the artist has taken on the Top End for Bruce Munro: Tropical Light, his third Australian installation and first-ever city-wide exhibition, which opened in Darwin last week. Free to visit and running until April 2020, the Northern Territory installation features eight large-scale illuminated sculptural works, inspired by Munro's own travels across the region. Peppered through the CBD and Darwin's waterfront precincts, they make up a self-guided 2.5-kilometre sculpture trail audiences can enjoy at their leisure. Bruce Munro, Pukul Lima Expect to find plenty of pieces referencing the Top End's vivid sunsets and native creatures, along with many an ode to Mother Nature, all showcasing Munro's strong affinity for light. There's Light Shower, Wave Lagoon Canopies, which features 3000 drops of light; the spherical Green Flash in the Old Town Hall Ruins; and Time and Again, Palm Tree Grove — a waterfront piece made up of 37 radiant, stainless steel lilies. Munro's sculpture trail is accompanied by works from five local artists, including acclaimed aerial photographer Paul Arnold and a series of solar jellyfish lights by Bev Garside. Bruce Munro: Tropical Light runs until April 30, 2020, across Darwin. It's illuminate from 7–10.30pm every night.
Facebook is swiftly becoming the radar of global activity, now obtaining the power to track not only people's social networking patterns but also their travel paths, their ages and even their political inclinations. With over 800 million active users the social networking site is rampant, with immense data processing required for the constant stream of check-ins, status updates and photo uploads. Data scientist at Facebook, Justin Moore, created these global maps as a captivating visual indicator of where and who the world's Facebook users are to make sense of some of the unique data. SEASONED TRAVELLERS WHO WANT TO MAKE IT KNOWN Forget the old maps of showing aeroplane's routes across the globe because we can now follow travel patterns through Facebook users' check-ins. This map uses check-ins at two far off locations as a way of tracing globe-trotting journeys. NYC HUSTLE AND BUSTLE Check-ins over several days in New York City alone reveal the heavier users are situated around more heavily trafficked commercial and tourist areas. Shouldn't you guys be working or studying or something? NEW VS. OLD The colour ranges of this dazzling map represent the ages of users, again through their check-ins on Facebook. The green zones constitute the older and more established Facebookers whilst the blue are the younger rookies. PRETTY POLITICAL Although what may look like some sort of beautiful and rare star constellation, this last image actually maps American users' political affiliation. Democrats are shown as blue and the Republicans are red. Better pick up your game Obama, the social world has spoken.
If you've always been curious to peek behind the curtain in artist's studios, now is your chance to explore creative spaces at the EDGE Creative Trails Midjuburi. This free two-day festival hosted by the Inner West Council, takes place across 28 artist studios, independent galleries and artist-run initiatives on Saturday, August 12 and Sunday, August 13, from 11am until 4pm. Meet local artists and makers, see works in progress, watch art demonstrations, participate in workshops and join artist talks. You can even buy art created by talented local artists at studio prices at locations in Sydenham, Tempe, St Peters, Marrickville and Dulwich Hill. Some highlights include the 'August Artist Talks' at Airspace Studio where artists will candidly share their creative processes, a ceramic tableware hand-building demonstration at Smith Street Studios and upcycling fabrics with Shibori dyeing at Monster Mouse Studios. For a full list of all the happenings check out the website. Attendees can follow the self-guided map — available on the Inner West Council's website — or book a tour. These tours will guide you along the artist's trail. You can walk, cycle, or bus between spaces or capture your time with a photographic tour. Spaces on these tours are limited, but if you miss out you can guide yourself to the next destination via QR codes hidden at the locations taking part in Creative Trails. EDGE Creative Trails Midjuburi is taking place across the Inner West at select studios, independent galleries and artist-run initiatives from 12–13 August from 11am until 4pm. Find out more information — including a map of the locations — about this free event on the website. Images: Shane Rozario
Space travel made headlines in 2021 when several billionaires battled to be the first to exit the Earth's atmosphere. But thankfully, you don't have to be mega-rich to get your intergalactic fix this year. From Friday, November 19, you and your crew can immerse yourselves in the Australian premiere of Neighbourhood Earth — an award-winning exhibition taking place at the International Convention Centre in Darling Harbour. The family-friendly event will bring together science and cutting-edge technology to create an unforgettable and space-like experience presented by M Live. Inside the completely COVID-safe exhibition, you can expect illuminated screens, spectacular surround sound and a giant projection-mapped dome to top off the cinematic and multi-sensory adventure. There'll also be museum quality models, spacecrafts, tools and astronaut suits showcasing facts and stories about space exploration. Plus, touch sensing projections and holographics that'll leave you mesmerised. There's some big brains behind the project — it was dreamed up by the team at NEC Partners in conjunction with the US Space & Rocket Centre and NASA's George C. Marshall Space Flight Centre — so be ready to have your own mind expanded. Feel like losing yourself in a truly out-of-this-world experience? Looking for the antidote to your life in lockdown? Tickets to Neighbourhood Earth go on sale on Monday, October 11 and the exhibition opens on Friday, November 19 at the International Convention Centre for a limited time. For more information and to book, visit the website.
Marking its 13th year of celebrating a plethora of the world's best photographers, Australia's Head On Photo Festival is back and ready to showcase new stunning images at two of Sydney's major outdoor venues. The festival has gathered the works of 500 photographers across 107 exhibitions and will spotlight them at the Bondi Pavilion and Paddington Reservoir Gardens. Best of all, it's free for all to attend and enjoy. This year's theme centres on global issues, including the COVID-19 pandemic, global conflict, refugees, feminism, motherhood, pop culture, the environment, youth homelessness and gentrification. More specifically, the presented photos will provide the public insight into Sahat Zia Hero's life as a refugee in Bangladesh and unveil the reality of Syria captured by 21-year-old Syrian photojournalist Mouneb Taim. To commemorate the upcoming event, the Head On Foundation will host an opening night on Friday, November 4 at the Bondi Pavilion. Judges include Azu Nwagbogu (Founder and Director, African Artists' Foundation) and Kaya Lee Berne (Photo Editor, National Geographic Magazine). Visitors will also be treated to food, drinks and music for a night of fun and entertainment. [caption id="attachment_876615" align="alignnone" width="1920"] © Orna Naor, courtesy of Head On Photo Festival[/caption] Top image: © Kristie Lee, courtesy of Head On Photo Festival
One of the redeeming aspects of spending time in an airport is the lure of duty-free shopping. But given how rushed the airport experience can often be, there's not always time to browse the aisles when you've got one eye on the time. Sydney shoppers can take the stress out of the experience at the impressive CBD outpost of Lotte, the second-largest duty-free retailer in the world, where travellers can shop and browse at their leisure while taking advantage of the duty-free offers. Located on the corner of Pitt and Market streets, in the heart of Sydney's retail precinct, the three-level boutique is home to an array of brands never before seen in Australian travel retail. There's international favourites such as Pola, Vida Glow, Cosme Decorte, Grown Alchemist and Le Labo available alongside other much-loved beauty brands like Estée Lauder, Shiseido, SK-II, Gucci Beauty, Jo Malone and more. This Thursday, September 8, Lotte's flagship Sydney store will offer 20% off storewide (although duty free limits do apply and the offer excludes Omega, La Prairie, Qeelin). Plus, if you sign up to Lotte's email distribution list, you'll go into the draw to win a luxe door prize that includes products from SK-II, Le Labo, Pola, Sulwhasoo and Vida Glow. The only catch? You'll need an international flight ticket to purchase the international brands, but don't need one to purchase products by Australian brands. Come for the bargains but stay for the world-class retail experience. The three-storey space, the work of leading Australian interior design company Bates Smart, features a concierge, a cellar door (pictured above) and state-of-the-art technology that ensures a seamless shopping experience — and one you won't have to cut short to catch a flight. The Lotte Storewide Sale takes place from 10am to 9pm on Thursday, September 8. For more information, head to the website.
Imagine a huge spread of the finest French delicacies: cheese, charcuterie, pastries, tarts and cakes, with goblets of craft beer on the side. It could be a dream. Well, every Sunday between 11am and 3pm, this dream could be realised. Frenchies Bistro and Brewery, the new kid on the Saporium block in Rosebery (right near Archie Rose and Black Star), is replacing its usual bistro menu for a bottomless boozy brunch. So what does it entail? First: unlimited replenishments from the grazing table, which might include French cheese, cured meats, terrines and cake. Second: pastries. And third: free rolling refills of beer brewed in-house and beer spritzes. After a slight price increase, the brunch will now set you back $70. If you want to stay dry (or you've been conned into driving), it's $45 without booze. While you're at it, check out our other bottomless boozy brunch picks in Sydney. Updated: November 20, 2017.
Dust off your sombreros, amigos. The latest international excuse for a good time to reach our shores is Cinco de Mayo — a celebration of all things Mexican (which, if we’re being nit-picky, is really more of an Americanisation than anything but shh, let us party). In celebration, the folks at Corona and Beach Burrito Company Coogee are putting together a fiesta, complete with face painting by local street artists and the first ever Taco Time Trials Eating Contest. For the less competitively inclined but equally taco-happy, Cinco de Mayo falls conveniently on a Tuesday, and Beach Burrito Co’s regular $3 taco deal applies, so your pesos’ll stretch further. With what you’ve got left, you can sip salt-rimmed margaritas, down trays of tequila shots (not recommended) or share a bucket of ice-cold Coronas. And, of course, come prepared to smash and whack your way to glory, because they wouldn’t be doing Mexico right without pinatas.
Tim Flach has captured wild animals in a way you may never have seen before. Studio-lit and beautiful, these animals create gorgeous subjects (although we're pretty sure they prefer their natural habitat to a black back drop and spotlight). Having spent years studying our bond with animals, Flach is known for his conceptual portraits of animals and the unique way in which he differs from a classic wildlife photographer. He has been awarded the Professional Photographer of the Year at the International Photography Awards and has published books, including Equus and Dogs Gods. He recently published More Than Human which features these photos and many more. His photographs challenge us to think of these animals and view them in ways in which we haven't before. He uses the defamiliarisation technique by placing familiar things, in this case animals, in an unfamiliar place to provoke questions and curiosity from the viewer. You can visit his website to view the entire More Than Human series.
Australian brothers Mike and Scott Norrie are onto a winner. While traveling through Africa, they were inspired to create a way to share music sustainably, and came up with Tembo Trunks. These silicone speakers integrate with your earphones, amplifying the sound to 80 decibels. Foldable, stackable, washable and virtually indestructible, they are the ultimate in sustainable speakers as they require no power, are made up of one material and are designed to last. The speakers are meant for use in a casual setting. "Don't expect to bust an eardrum or feel the ground shake when you're playing your music," say the Norrie brothers, "that's kinda the point." They're a great addition to any traveller's suitcase, and will soon be available in a range of bright colours. As a clever way of raising seed funding, the team allow you to pre-order a set of speakers by backing Tembo Trunks on Kickstarter. For a lazy ten grand you can even become the 'Chief of Colour' and the brothers will fly you to Sydney and cook you a beach-side BBQ. https://youtube.com/watch?v=IU2NVxN6zck [Via PSFK]
The first rule of Fight Night is: you do not talk about Fight Night. But the second rule? You will have your voice heard. Theatre-goers exercise their voting muscles in this pugnacious work, a collaboration between Belgium's Ontroerend Goed and Adelaide's The Border Project. In a kind of popularity contest-meets-game show format, five contenders battle it out to win approval from the audience, who use handheld voting technology to keep their favourite candidate in the running. Described by the Independent as "a cross between Big Brother and an Italian general election", it's an interactive show that manages to make a profound statement about democracy without ever having to explicitly refer to it, inviting viewers to reflect on the complexities of choice itself. Politics is a game, says Ontroerend Goed's Angelo Tijssens, who was asked by director Alexander Devriendt to play the show's bowtie-clad MC. "People love to see winners and losers, and the tension of waiting for the results," says Angelo. "We cheer for that person, we don’t cheer for the other person. And very often it doesn’t have anything to do with what they actually stand for." With that in mind, the show's contenders never discuss a specific policy. Instead the focus is on the voting process, how we're influenced and how we choose — ideas so internationally relevant it's understandable that Fight Night will soon be translated into Turkish and Cantonese. With over 60 performances under his belt, Angelo remains struck by how reliably audiences succumb to the techniques contenders use to gain votes: usually the same ancient tricks of rhetoric, false modesty and charming manipulation that we fall for as voters. But ultimately, it's not a cynical show. "We still believe in that system [democracy]," he says. "That it’s really a wonderful system. People are prepared to die for it so it would be cynical to say that it just doesn’t work any more. That would be a crime." The Border Project first became acquainted with Ontroerend Goed years ago at Adelaide Festival and crossed paths again in 2012 when OG (the inevitable abbreviation of a very tricky name) performed A History of Everything with the STC's residents, several of whom were Border Project members. Working together this time involved a three-month rehearsal process, during which the Aussies adjusted to the freer Belgian practice of occasionally calling it a day at 2pm to go home and digest things. "I think we’re artists and it’s better to go home and think about it and have coffee and two packs of cigarettes and then get back to work," says Angelo. "Well, it works better for us." The Aussie contingent apparently also adjusted to the Belgian nicotine habit. "They’ve started smoking again. I don’t think they like it but they do it just to please us." If you saw The Smile Off Your Face at the 2009 Sydney Festival, the good/bad news is this time you won't be blindfolded and pushed around in a wheelchair. Fight Night won't provide the same sense of shock or potential outrage for audience members with a rigid sense of the theatrical rulebook, which might explain the drama-free reception so far in comparison to other shows Angelo recalls ("Audience was a lot worse. I remember in Edinburgh a guy actually started throwing his shoes — heavy, Scottish, I-shall-walk-in-the-mountains kind of boots — so that was pretty, um, full-on?") But the warm invitation to interact so essential to OG as a company is still there, just on a more subtle level. "We're still doing the same thing," says Angelo. "We still take them by the hand, and we don’t drag them along. They get to choose whether they join us or not. Luckily, most people come along." Fight Night is on at The Wharf Theatres' Wharf 2 from March 20 to April 13 as part of the Sydney Theatre Company season. Limited tickets are left. Our advice? Try to nab a Suncorp Twenties ticket: just $20, with a new batch made available weekly.
That age-old act of verbalising frustration, anger or in some instances passion, in the form of a swear word is generally seen as a crass act. But artist Theo Olesen has turned this everyday language into illustrations that prove even the most profane words can be beautified with good design. When Olesen was in kindergarten learning four-letter words, he recalls suggesting 'fuck' as a four-letter word beginning with 'F'. Since then, his fascination with profanity has evolved into finely illustrated graphics that he posts on his online blog, Beautiful Swear Words. Barely two months old, his blog has already attracted over 2,000 followers. Not bad for a 17-year-old who cites "fun" as his motivation for illustrating profanities. Olesen updates his blog daily with hand drawn illustrations of swear words ranging from 'boobs' to 'gonads' and has begun making his illustrations available for purchase on t-shirts. Why say it when you can wear it?
If you’ve been missing the Festivalists’ best-known night about town, Jurassic Lounge, it’s been a long time between drinks. Their pioneering play-plus-edification mainstay at the Australian Museum slipped into indefinite hiatus with its extinction events late last year, leaving Festivalist fans to explore the film festivals, festival hub and Mayhem that make up part of their wider repertoire. This September, though, they’re adding more museum to their CV with a Lounge-like excursion to Darling Harbour: Hijinks. Hijinks sees the Festivalists take over the Sea Life Sydney Aquarium for three separate nights across September, October and November. And this time they’re going with the nautical theme. On arrival, attendees will be handed a treasure map which will help them to find a treasure chest over the course of the night. But to get to it you’ll need to complete a series of challenges. Says Festivalist director Matt Ravier, “The challenges take the form of riddles and photo challenges that you might complete by taking a photo with your phone, for example.” Helping you work out what to do will be a series of actors, performers and actual scientists scattered around the building. These challenges are optional. There’ll still be plenty of scope in the evening for just a drink and a bit of hanging out. But the treasure map is all about making good with this new space, after switching from a space like the Australian Museum’s interlocking rooms to the Aquarium’s path-like layout. The Festivalists try to look at each new venue with fresh eyes. When you first scope one out, Ravier says, you try to “leave all preconceived ideas and expectations at the door, and you’ll re-experience the venue almost as a child.” So, for Hijinks guests, “rather than just have a party, which we can do pretty much anywhere, they’ll be interacting with improv comedians, performers, artists, but also marine biologists throughout their journey through the Aquarium and getting clues from them that will lead them to the treasure chest, with a chance, of course, to win its contents.” This time, says Ravier, “the whole experience is designed as a journey, rather than a free-for-all invitation to disperse and be at a certain place at a certain time.” Which also means it’s laid out a bit like one-way system. “Although people who come regularly will start discovering short cuts and secret passages that allow them to move more freely than they thought they could.” And it won’t just be the people; the point of getting to explore at the Aquarium is to get a better look at that marine life on show. “I guess, with Hijinks, we’re bringing the party to the wildlife," says Ravier. "So, it’ll be an interesting kind of meeting, audiences and marine biology.” Is it hard to plan around fish? They’ve planned around the animals, but Ravier’s not too concerned about the prospect of mixing people with fish tanks. “It’s actually quite easy, because the space has already been designed with that in mind. The tanks etcetera have been built in such a way as to protect the animals from external noise and stimuli. It simply means that we won’t have loud music in certain spaces, that we have to be careful about bass and vibrations from the bass if we have a DJ playing.” Opening night, Thursday, September 11, sees a pirate theme. Highlights will include Tom Christophersen's radio-transmitted storytelling, puppet cabaret from Defy and tattoo-drawing lessons from tattooist Jimmy Memento. Not to mention the chance to hear divers at the Aquarium talk about rescuing grey nurse sharks in the wild, a little underwater art and maybe some extra underwater activities. “I think what underpins pretty much everything that we do is access," says Ravier. "So the idea of providing access to culture, or to collections, or to artistically or culturally valuable experiences.” And like most people he asked, Ravier says that for him, before Hijinks, the Sea Life Sydney Aquarium had been a place he mainly just took overseas visitors. But now he thinks Hijinks “could be a chance to almost reappropriate the aquarium for Sydney locals as a fantastic space that’s right on our doorstep.” Hijinks will make the Sydney Sea Life Aquarium its own for three Thursdays, on September 11, October 30 and November 13. In the meantime, if you can’t wait to check out their signature mix of high culture and low play, their Possible Worlds Canadian and US film festival launches tonight.
There's been a slew of pop-up bars in Sydney lately — but none that deliver a message quite as blatant as Trash Tiki. It's operating waste-free and travelling the world showing customers and bar owners how to do it too. In the hopes of drawing attention to over-consumption and single-use ingredients in the craft cocktail industry today, UK bartenders Kelsey Ramage and Iain Griffiths have designed the pop-up to be a launchpad for a conversation on waste. Trash Tiki will set up at Ramblin' Rascal Tavern on Sunday, December 3. The drinks selection will be themed around junk and the night's signature sip will be the Sailor's Grave, made from Martell VSOP, Armagnac, Brookie's Slow Gin, watermelon rind cordial, cinnamon and Peychaud's Bitters. You'll also be able to get your hands on a Young Henrys Junk Ale — it's a brown ale made from spent and surplus malt, mash and hops from other brews that are usually put straight in the bin. Sydney is the 25th stop for the globe-trotting pop-up. It's travelled Europe, Asia, South America and the US, with plans to head to Brisbane and Melbourne in the next few months.
Ever wanted to run away to the circus? You sure will after a night with these gymnasts. Sydney Festival has roped in the sell-out acrobatic ensemble Gravity & Other Myths for two weeks of truly breath-taking tricks in the Aurora Spiegeltent. They'll be doing stripped-back circus for A Simple Space — a show so primally daring that props and theming would just get in the way. Tumbling and twisting terrifyingly close to audiences, the acrobats will be teamed with a set of live musicians to top off this raw display of human strength and agility. Dangerous or daring, we can't decide. This is one performance to truly get the adrenaline pumping.
After a successful debut last April, Homeground music and dance festival returns this month with a new and exciting lineup celebrating both the traditional and contemporary faces of Indigenous culture. Featuring as part of Corroboree Sydney, the free two-day event will take place once again along the boardwalk of the Opera House, kicking off with a modern day corroboree bringing together the welcome traditions of the Aboriginal, Moari and Fijian peoples. Performance highlights include Dan Sultan, headlining the Saturday evening, as well as Canadian folk-rock duo Digging Roots, 18-year-old self-taught guitarist Chris Tamwoy and the high-energy fusion dance of Brisbane’s Aboriginal Centre for the Performing Arts. The festival's Sunday session promises more acclaimed indigenous talent, including electro-soul group Bow and Arrow, actress and singer Ursula Yovich and stand-up comedian Sean Choolburra. Plus, a host of pop-up bars and eateries will take you from lunch to late-night drinks, with performances extending well into the evenings. See the Homeground Festival website for performance times and details.
The 80s got a lot of things right: music, movies, big hair and knowing how to have a good time. Cyndi Lauper said it herself... "girls just wanna have fun". So, if that anthem resonates with you, get ready for a series of 80s–inspired, fun-filled nights this month in Sydney. Step back in time and embrace the spirit of the 80s at Now & Then, the underground cocktail bar hidden in the heart of Sydney's CBD. Every Tuesday throughout April, Now & Then will be teaming up with Grey Goose for a series of 80s-theme nights to transport you back to the era of big hair, neon and those irresistible synth grooves. The event series will feature a curated menu of Grey Goose cocktails for just $16 each. Sip on updated nostalgic classics including French Martinis, Cosmopolitans, and a seasonal Caprioska. To satisfy your food cravings, the kitchen will be dishing out a selection of $12 jaffles — the perfect snack to accompany you on the dance floor (which will feature 80s anthems courtesy of DJ Joey Santos). Plus, don't forget to dress up in your best 80s attire for the chance to win some exclusive merchandise and maybe even a couple of Grey Goose bottles to take home. So grab some friends and get out the old hair-crimper and leg warmers for a retro celebration at Now & Then this month.
Sydney loves a Sunday block party and Soul of Sydney’s a good'un — a funk/soul/hip-hop oasis for house heads, Bboys and Bgirls, and pretty much anyone who can get down with getting down to a good beat. This Sunday afternoon, Soul’s taking to yet another secret Sydney disco dance floor for an indoor/outdoor jam in homage to the godfather of house music, Frankie Knuckles. Knuckles passed away in March 2014, leaving a house music legacy like no other; he was credited as being there when the genre first got its name in the '80s, putting the ‘early’ in early Chicago house vibes. To celebrate his life and legacy, Soul of Sydney DJs will be spinning heaps of the disco funk and garage tracks that shaped house music plus — of course — a not-to-be-scoffed-at dose of solid '90s house. The lineup includes Superbreak, Scott Pullen and Phil Toke, and there’ll also be a stepping and house dance showcase. If you haven’t got your tickets yet, get on it. The super-cheap $5 round has sold out, but there a handful of still-pretty-damn-cheap $10 tix left to snap up.
As Sydney approaches the five-year anniversary of the lockout laws — which have led to the closure of 176 music venues across the city — another arm of the industry is facing potentially strangling regulation: music festivals. Earlier this year, after advice from the government's expert panel on music festival safety, the NSW Government released its strict new music festival licensing regime. While it will not be officially introduced until March 1, the 'interim guidelines' have already led to the cancellation of two NSW festivals: Mountain Sounds and Psyfari. Byron Bay's Bluefest, which is set to celebrate its 30th anniversary in the coastal NSW region this April, has also threatened to leave the state. The festival's director, in a scathing letter to Premier Gladys Berejiklian said, "Will the last festival to leave NSW please turn out the light of culture in this soon to be barren state?". You can read the full letter here. In response to this, a rally to defend the city's live music scene — particularly live music festivals — has been organised in Hyde Park on Thursday, February 21, from 6–8pm. Organisers of the rally have criticised the government's "knee-jerk regulation" and lack of consultation with members of the industry, saying "festivals are being used as a scapegoat for years of failed drug and alcohol policy". They're demanding the State Government review its regulations and consult with members of the industry to create more effective and transparent policies. A corresponding petition, calling for the same actions, has garnered over 114,000 signatures. The rally is shaping up to be a bit of a music festival in its own right, too, with the lineup featuring the Rubens, Cloud Control, Urthboy & Bertie Blackman and Ocean Alley, who's song Confidence topped this year's Triple J Hottest 100. A range of big-name industry experts will be talking, including Julien Hamilton from the Presets; Michael Chugg, founder of Chugg Entertainment and Frontier Touring; as well as City of Sydney Councillor Jess Scully. At time of publishing, 23,000 Sydneysiders had registered their interest in attending. While the rally isn't directly call for pill-testing — there was a separate rally for that last month — the NSW Government's new music festival licensing regime follows the death of five young people from suspected drug overdoses at NSW festivals. The NSW Government is continuing to ignore increased calls for pill-testing as a harm-minimisation technique at festivals, but Groovin' the Moo in Canberra has just been given the go-ahead to host Australia's second-ever pill-testing trial. Image: Kimberley Low.
UPDATE, APRIL 4: Disney has announced a new release date for Mulan, with the film now hitting cinemas on July 23, 2020. UPDATE, MARCH 13: Due to concerns around the coronavirus, Disney has announced that Mulan will no longer release on its initially scheduled date of Thursday, March 26, 2020. At present, a new release date has not been announced — we'll update you when one has been revealed. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website. In Chinese history, the legend of Hua Mulan dates back to the sixth century. At the movies, the formidable female warrior first fought her way across the big screen in a 1927 silent film. The character is no stranger to the page, stage or cinema, but many folks know the tale thanks to Disney's 1998 animated musical. Now, as it has done with everything from Alice in Wonderland to The Jungle Book to Aladdin, the Mouse House is turning the story into its latest live-action remake. Once again, Mulan (played by Chinese American actor Liu Yifei) will evolve from dutiful daughter to kick-ass combatant, all to protect her family in a time of war. She's originally due to be married off to a husband chosen by a matchmaker, until the Emperor of China issues a decree stating that one man per household must serve the Imperial Army as it endeavours to fend off northern invaders. To save her ailing ex-soldier father from having to fight, Mulan disguises herself as a man, takes on the name Hua Jun and becomes an icon. Forget rousing tunes and talking dragons voiced by Eddie Murphy — this time, the tale hits the screen without the singing and smart-talking sidekicks, but with plenty of sword-swinging, arrow-flinging antics. In New Zealand director Niki Caro's (Whale Rider, The Zookeeper's Wife) hands, this version of the story goes heavy on the action and empowerment, as seen in the spectacularly choreographed scenes in the just-released first trailer. As well as Liu (whose resume includes The Forbidden Kingdom and The Assassins), the new Mulan features Jet Li as the Chinese Emperor, Gong Li as a witch, Donnie Yen as the protagonist's mentor, Jason Scott Lee as a villainous army leader, and Yoson An (The Meg, Mortal Engines) as her fellow fighter and love interest. The film hits cinemas next year — check out the teaser below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01ON04GCwKs After being delayed from its original release date of March 28, 2020, Mulan will now open in Australian cinemas on July 23, 2020.
It seems entirely appropriate that within five minutes of my meeting Lally Katz, she is drenched. When I call her, it is pouring outside and she mentions she is walking to rehearsals. "It's okay, I've got a small umbre–" She is interrupted by what sounds like a burst of static, but is, in fact, a large amount of water being displaced. "Oh shit. Sorry. Yep. Yeah, that was actually a car just driving through a massive puddle. Now I am, I'm pretty wet." She jokes briefly about how this is a special sort of road rage that drivers get to practice on rainy days and continues on, her spirits, at least, seemingly undampened. I say appropriate because I'm calling to talk to her about Atlantis, her latest work, which had its world premiere at Belvoir just this week. The play loosely revolves around Katz's return to her childhood home in Miami and her efforts to consolidate precious memories before rising seas claim the city forever. That at least one of us is sopping wet while we discuss this seems like providence rather than bad luck. Lally's work has been a staple at Belvoir since 2011 when her play Neighbourhood Watch stormed that year's season. Loosely based on the friendship she shared with her elderly Hungarian neighbour, it took awards by the boatload and gave Belvoir-goers a taste for Katz's witty and surreal style. Since then, she has wrestled with bears and curses in her one-woman show Stories I Have to Tell You in Person, detailed the awkwardness of maintaining joint custody of a cat with one's ex in The Cat and gotten to the bottom of her father's karate obsession in Back at the Dojo. With Atlantis, she flirts yet again with autobiography. As usual, though, fantastical elements flit in and out of the memories, stretching the bounds of possibility to the infinite. Although an accomplished chronicler of her own narrative, Katz's also seems to have an unerring, Louis Theroux-like ability to find garrulous oddballs busting to share an outlandish story. The idea for Atlantis came from a conversation she had with a cabbie in Mississippi. The cabbie told her that the mythical sunken city of Atlantis would come again and that we would all be called back there when it did. With this in mind, the cabbie was saving all of her money so she could move her family to Miami, where she hoped they would have a better chance of being taken first. "I thought 'Oh my God, she wants to drown her whole family'", says Katz. "And I don't think it's that uncommon a belief there. I think there's a network of Atlantis believers for sure." With thoughts of sunken utopias ricocheting through her brain, Katz stumbled across an article suggesting that Miami, the city she'd spent a fair chunk of her childhood in, could be completely underwater by 2030. Before that, she had always resisted the urge to return to the city, wanting to safeguard her memories from the cynicism of adulthood. But the ticking clock made her think otherwise and she's since been back several times. Katz was nine when her parents decided to emigrate from a small cul-de-sac in Miami to the suburbs of Canberra ("not as different as you might think", she points out). And while she was too young to immerse herself in Miami's vibrant culture, she has vivid memories of the wildness of the city's cocaine heydays. She speaks of growing up in a neighbourhood where everyone knew who the drug dealers were — "But they were nice, they were fine" — and of devastatingly glamorous women hitting each other with giant stiletto shoes. Katz is a naturally effusive conversationalist, but her tone changes as she remembers. She is full of nostalgia and wonder. "You know when you go to a place as a kid and it's so magical, and then you go there as an adult and it's like 'well…' (she gives the verbal equivalent of a shrug). But when I went back to my old neighbourhood, I was so struck. It was like a tropical Smurf village and it did feel magical to me. That was a big surprise because I thought I was going to go back there and be disappointed." The play grew out of these memories, from discussions she had with the city's residents, the Atlantis myth and from the looming possibility of Miami joining that fabled city at the bottom of the ocean. I ask whether knowing that she'll put such personal material on stage later makes it harder to enjoy these moments as they take place in reality. "I used to think there's something wrong with me, that I'm not living properly. Then in my mid-30s I came to pieces and thought this is just the way I live. It doesn't mean I'm not living, this is just how I am in the work." [caption id="attachment_643831" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lally Katz.[/caption] By this stage, Lally is indoors and out of the rain. Although as she heads into rehearsals, she points out that a series of hurricanes is staged throughout Atlantis. A car splashing up some water now seems rather small by comparison. Images: Brett Boardman. Atlantis runs in Belvoir's Upstairs Theatre until 26 November. Book your tickets here.
Sydneysiders who have been to Fairfield Council in the city's west will no longer be able to enter Queensland, with the Sunshine State declaring the region a NSW COVID–19 hotspot. Fairfield joins the neighbouring councils of Liverpool and Campbelltown, which were announced as hotspots back on Tuesday, July 14. On July 10, Queensland opened its borders to visitors from all states and territories — except Victoria, which is also declared a hotspot — but from 1am on Monday, July 27, visitors from Fairfield will be turned away at the border. Returning Queensland residents or those entering for a range of essential reasons will be required to quarantine in a hotel for 14 days. The move comes as a cluster of 46 positive COVID-19 cases are linked to the Thai Rock restaurant in Wetherill Park, which is part of Fairfield. https://twitter.com/AnnastaciaMP/status/1286184350870982657 The NSW Government sent out a health alert directing anyone who visited the restaurant between Thursday, July 9 and Sunday, July 12, or on Tuesday, July 14, to get tested immediately and self-isolate for 14 days, regardless of whether or not they have symptoms. While NSW recorded 19 new cases in the 24 hours leading up to 8pm on Wednesday, July 22, Queensland recorded zero and has just three active cases. When asked what classifies a hotspot, Queensland's Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young has previously said, "It's when there's clearly a growing numbers of cases and there's community acquisition of cases — so we've seen that here." From 1am on Monday, July 27, anyone who has visited Fairfield City in the past 14 days will not be allowed to enter Queensland unless they are a returning resident or are entering for one a few essential reasons. Those who have visited Sydney councils Campbelltown and Liverpool, as well as Victoria, are also subject to the same rules. For more information, head to the Queensland Government website. Image: The Queensland-NSW Border at Tweed Heads via WikiCommons.
At beachside hotspot Coogee Pavilion, the final piece of the puzzle has just clicked into place — and it's a big one. Five years in the making, the middle level of this historic building has finally been unveiled today, Friday, January 17, joining the multi-faceted ground-floor offering and much-loved Coogee Pavilion Rooftop. The hotly-anticipated Coogee Pavilion Middle Floor is actually home to three distinct venues — cocktail bar Will's, restaurant Mimi's, and a wine and tapas bar by the name of Una Más — combining to mark one of Merivale's most ambitious projects yet. While each venue has its own personality and design DNA, the whole level is an homage to the idyllic coastal location and is guided by the same Australian-accented take on modern Mediterranean cuisine. Executive Chef Jordan Toft (Bert's, Bar Topa) has taken the reins for this lot of newcomers, just as he's helmed the rest of the building's food offerings over the years. [caption id="attachment_757979" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Steven Woodburn[/caption] Boasting sweeping ocean views through its large arched windows, Mimi's pairs drops off a 600-strong wine list heroing the French wine growing region of Chablis with fresh seafood, top-quality meats and market-fresh vegetables grilled on the kitchen's josper. Don't expect any foams, gels or smokes here — Mimi's is all about letting the produce shine. Abrolhos scallops are steamed and served with summer fennel, black abalone is barbecued and skewered, and fresh peaches bathed in caramel vinegar and shiso. Larger dishes include spanner crab with preserved lemon mayo; a decadent hand-rolled pasta with pipis, sea urchin bottarga and warrigal greens; and asnapper tartare with finger lime. And, for even fancier occasions, the Mimi's Selects menu offers bumps of caviar, frozen vodka, Queensland mud crab and suckling pig. Luxe. Accompanying cocktail bar Will's exudes European charm with a lineup of Italian coastline-inspired cocktails created by two star bartenders: Luke Ashton (This Must Be the Place) and Ben Wainwright (Bert's, Charlie Parker's). Make your way through the likes of The High Tide (with peach and limoncello), the Bella Bella (nectarine, lemon myrtle and macadamia) and Greenleaf (rosemary and ruby grapefruit) or go classic with a Willy's martini or Mimi's margarita. [caption id="attachment_757975" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Steven Woodburn[/caption] Wine and tapas bar Una Más is the lively, playful sibling, where you'll happily spend a session straight off the beach. Fresh and fun, it's designed to be a modern locals' haunt, offering an approachable menu spiked with both Spanish and Australian influences. Snack on anchovies, charcuterie, octopus with fermented chilli and cauliflower with sheep's milk — then end with Catalan cream with passion fruit. To drink, there's a short list of wine, classic cocktail, sherry and vermouth on offer. It's meant to be a rainy weekend, so swap your beach visit for a day eating and drinking on Coogee Pav's middle level instead. Mimi's, Will's and Una Más are now open on the middle level of Coogee Pavilion, 169 Dolphin Street, Coogee. Mimi's is open from 6.30–10pm daily and 12–3pm Monday–Thursday, and 12–3.30pm Friday–Sunday. Will's and Una Mas are open 12pm–midnight Sunday–Thursday and 12pm–2am Friday–Saturday. Images: Steven Woodburn
The already staggeringly-large BIGSOUND lineup just got slightly more colossal. Adding another 40 or so artists to the already 80-strong list, Brisbane's answer to SXSW announced this afternoon that the likes of Seekae, Voyager, Nicholas Albrook, The Funkoars, Pierce Brothers, Hayden James, Art of Sleeping and Canada’s July will be joining the September festivities. The new batch join the existing cohort of already announced names like Gold Fields, DMA’s, Holy Holy, BAD//DREEMS, Client Liaison, KINGSWOOD and REMI. "It's no exaggeration to say that over two nights we'll be showcasing some of the most exciting rock, hip hop, punk, metal, dance, pop, folk, roots and country music in the world, said executive programmer Nick O'Byrne. "We reckon the quality of music and the incredible festival environment will firmly establish BIGSOUND as one of the most dynamic tastemaking events in the international calendar. What makes it even more exciting is the unprecedented influx of music industry leaders who can't wait to see and hear what we have to offer." BIGSOUND attendees will have to change up their highlighter colours to self-schedule the three-day conference program, with the recent announcement of speakers causing a significant amount of squealidge — think Neil Finn, the church, Bluesfest's Peter Noble, James Minor from SXSW, Tom Windish from The Windish Agency, Ben Marshall from the Sydney Opera House, and Jerome Borazio and Danny Rogers from St Jerome's Laneway Festival, all divulging all their long-lived industry secrets. Running September 10 - 11, BIGSOUND brings panels, keynotes, showcases and live gigs to Fortitude Valley for another year. This local love-in will run over 12 locations including Brissy staples like The Zoo, Ric's and Alhambra new sites such as The Underdog, The New Globe, The Elephant, Crowbar, and a new outdoor venue by Brightside and Magic City. You'll have your work cut out for you to see everything, but luckily you can start planning now. Tickets are on sale via Oztix with a two-day pass only setting you back $69+bf. BIGSOUND Live 2014 newly announced artists: the church Seekae Voyager Nicholas Albrook The Funkoars Pierce Brothers July Talk (CAN) Hayden James Art Of Sleeping SAFIA Life Pilot Meniscus Toehider THIEF Felicity Groom Jeremy Neale Harmony James DARKC3LL Mr. Hill & Rahjconkers A Million Dead Birds Laughing Kathryn Rollins Mammals Daily Meds Like Thieves Marlon Williams KU?KA Mise en Scene (CAN) Coin Banks Eden Mulholland Males (NZ) Mosman Alder Jesse Sheehan (NZ) REPTILES Bound For Ruin Mathas My Friend The Betrayer All Our Exes Live In Texas Usurper Of Modern Medicine Dozzi Peter Bibby Rolls Bayce Shellfin Sparkspitter Check out the BIGSOUND website for more info. Words by Shannon Connellan and Meg Watson.
Tortuga Studios lies at the beginning of the non-trendy edge of the Inner West, at the very end of King St, where the restaurants and homeware boutiques give way to an industrial zone pocketed with little explosions of culture every block or so. It may look like every other anonymous building on the Prince Highway, but behind Tortuga’s facade is a multi-level maze of studios which a very active, very committed collection of artists call their workplace. Ever wondered where those glorious wheely bin sound systems you see at street parties come from? Yep, Tortuga. And there are dozens more industrious artists and designers whose work you’ll be able to see next time Tortuga opens its doors to the public for its group show Analog. The show will explore the divide between the uniform perfection of digitalisation against the timeless appeal of the clicking clock hands, passing frames of celluloid film and the handmade painted portrait Just as vinyl- and book-lovers are resisting digitalisation, Tortuga is an artist’s community holding on to its own grassroots. This night of art and live music from over thirty local artists is our chance to be part of it. The exhibition continues until July 22. Image by por chamelo.
This month, Three Blue Ducks is expanding on its passion for sustainability, kicking off a welcome initiative that's a win for both the planet and for your wallet. On the last Friday of each month, the group's Bronte outpost is shouting free coffee to anyone who brings in their own reusable cup. This will start tomorrow — Friday, May 25 — and the deal's on offer all day too, from 6.30am until 3pm. If you haven't yet jumped onto the reusable cups train, this is the perfect opportunity. During each of these free coffee Fridays, Three Blue Ducks will be selling its own KeepCups at a discounted rate of $15 a pop, instead of the usual $25. Score yourself a free cuppa and reduce your plastic footprint? There is seriously no losing there.
Dinner and a movie: it's a classic for a reason. Take the magic of a good film on the big screen, add the deliciousness of a tasty meal and you've got a time-honoured, tried-and-tested date night on your hands. Throw in DJs, your doggo, dessert as your main dish and more, and you have more than just an ace dinner and a movie date for you and your significant other — you have a night at American Express Openair Cinemas. Until Wednesday, December 20 at Cadigal Green at Sydney Uni, movie-loving couples can enjoy the kind of outdoor cinema experience you don't get every day, even in a city that loves watching films under the stars. Whether you're both in the festive mood, want to bond over cerebral sci-fi or can't pass up one of the most romantic movies of the last year, there's something on the lineup for every couple. What's more, we've got ten double passes to give away, so you can see a film for free (free frosé in hand) and use that extra cash on some of the tasty eats available at the outdoor cinema. Below, we've selected five of our favourite date night combos from the hefty program. Who says that dinner and a movie is boring? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pdqf4P9MB8 CHASE STARRY DREAMS WITH YOUR DATE AND YOUR DOG It famously didn't win best picture at this year's Oscars, despite Warren Beatty first announcing otherwise. That's okay, though; as well as a few other trophies, La La Land also won plenty of hearts. Starring Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone as two dream-chasing lovers trying to make it big in Los Angeles, the visually stunning, emotionally engrossing musical fast became a romantic favourite. And, under the vibrant direction of Whiplash's Damien Chazelle, it also proved perfect date night material. If that's not enough to get you swooning (and, pairing Sydney's starry sky with its Californian counterpart really should be), then add some more love by bringing your pet pupper along. Three isn't a crowd when you're at an outdoor cinema with your favourite person in the world and your number one doggo. And even if you find yourself dateless, your pooch can sub in — because there's no greater love than the unconditional feels you have for your fur baby. Your cute canine can also grab their own pawfect picnic platter and couch, plus some dog doughnuts from Darby's Dog Bakery and Deli. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ue80QwXMRHg PAIR SUPERHERO FUN WITH SOME THUMPING BEATS The Thor films have long been the goofy but cool sibling in the now 17-strong Marvel Cinematic Universe. You know the type: offbeat, amusing and always marching to the beat of their own drum. Throw What We Do in the Shadows and Hunt for the Wilderpeople's Taika Waititi into the director's chair for the third flick, and Thor: Ragnarok was always going to be a blast. Gloriously entertaining in 80s-esque space opera-style — not to mention sidesplittingly funny — the return of the hammer-throwing god really doesn't disappoint. Indeed, it's the type of movie that makes you want to celebrate — and how better than at Openair's Friday night sessions? When the working week is done, live DJs will provide a pre-movie soundtrack (expect Led Zeppelin's Immigrant Song to feature), and you can also win the best seats in the house. You know, where they'd seat Chris Hemsworth if he went along. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mq4m3yAoW8E EAT DESSERT FOR DINNER WHILE SOLVING A MYSTERY Something a little unusual is going on at American Express Openair Cinemas, and only two people can get to the bottom of it. Hercule Poirot is one of them. The monocle-wearing Belgian detective is back for a new big screen adventure in the Kenneth Branagh-directed and -starring Murder on the Orient Express, and he has quite the case to investigate. And while Agatha Christie's famous character pieces together clues on a stranded locomotive in snowy climes — with the likes of Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz, Willem Dafoe and Judi Dench along for the ride — you can solve another mystery. If your sweet treat-loving self would rather skip the whole dinner part of a meal and go straight to dessert, American Express Openair Cinemas and Salt Meats Cheese have the answer. The latter will be serving up cheesecake on a stick in Nutella, sprinkle-covered, vanilla and violet, and fruit-topped New York-style varieties. Which one will you pick? That's yet another puzzle. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZOaI_Fn5o4 SEND YOUR TASTE BUDS TO ITALY AND YOUR MIND TO THE FUTURE For the past 35 years, two questions have troubled sci-fi fans: do androids dream of electric sheep? And could a Blade Runner sequel ever live up to the original? With Blade Runner 2049 releasing this year courtesy of Sicario and Arrival director Denis Villeneuve, we can finally answer the latter. Yes, yes it can — with Ryan Gosling joining the replicant-tracking fold, Harrison Ford back doing what he does best and a mind-bending onslaught of astonishing visuals as well. It's a cerebral trip of a film in the best possible way, and while it's sending your brain to futuristic places, your taste buds can head in another direction. That'd be Italy, courtesy of Salt Meats Cheese's signature truffle pecorino pasta. Actually, as you're feasting on cheesy truffle pasta tossed through a wheel of truffle pecorino and finished with a grating of extra truffle pecorino — and after catching a pre-film pizza acrobatics class too — you'll probably feel like you're in heaven. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gW9wRNqQ_P8 FEEL GOOD WITH A CHRISTMAS CLASSIC (AND HELP OTHERS AT THE SAME TIME) It's the most wonderful time of the year, which means spreading cheer by singing loudly for all to hear and watching Elf are at the top of everyone's Christmas to-do lists. Whether you've seen the Will Ferrell and Zooey Deschanel-starring feel-good film a thousand times, or haven't watched it for years, a repeat viewing under the Sydney sky is certain to get you in the seasonal mood. Admit it: there's something kind of hilarious about seeing a grown man galavanting around NYC in an elf costume. And if the scene where Ferrell's character DIY's the whole Christmas corner in the department store leaves you inspired, American Express Openair Cinemas has you set up to have your own crafty session. Head to the crafty corner with your date to get hands-on at a macrame, knitting or other creative masterclasses. Grab some frosés from the bar, and you've got a great kidult date to very kidult film. [competition]650006[/competition] American Express Openair Cinemas runs until Wednesday, December 20 at Sydney Uni's Cadigal Green.
Like the rest of 2020, New Year's Eve is going to be a little different this year. Well, significantly different. In a bid to contain the northern beaches outbreak, and a new Croydon park cluster, new restrictions have been implemented in Greater Sydney for the final night of the year. For New Year's Eve, Greater Sydney has been broken into five areas: the northern part of the northern beaches; the southern part of the northern beaches; a green zone, which encompasses the main fireworks vantage points in the CBD and North Sydney; a yellow zone, which encompasses more of North Sydney and the CBD; and the rest of Greater Sydney, which includes Wollongong, the Blue Mountains and the Central Coast. Depending on what zone you're in, you're allowed to do different things. Here, we've broken down exactly how you can watch the fireworks and catch up with friends. HOW CAN I WATCH THE FIREWORKS? All residents of Greater Sydney are encouraged to watch the seven-minute midnight fireworks display on TV, where it will be live streamed on ABC. "My strong message to everyone in Greater Sydney this year is to watch the fireworks on TV," Premier Gladys Berejiklian said in a statement. If you're in either of the northern beaches zones, which are both under stay-at-home orders, you'll have no choice but to watch them from home. For the rest of Greater Sydney, those who'd like to go out can watch the fireworks from the designated green zones along the harbour foreshore in Circular Quay and North Sydney (shown in the map below) — but only if you have a permit. You can only get one of these permits if you are a resident of the green zone, are visiting a resident in the green zone or have a reservation at a bar, hotel or restaurant in the green zone. You can apply for a permit over at Service NSW. North Sydney Council has announced that no businesses within the green zone will be open on NYE. You don't need a permit to visit the yellow zone, but the NSW Government has warned that "people gathering in these areas in large numbers may be moved on by police". That said, many councils, including North Sydney, City of Sydney and the Inner West, have closed parks along the foreshore — both inside and outside the yellow and green zones. CAN I HAVE PEOPLE OVER TO MY HOUSE? Yes, but only five. For all of Greater Sydney — including the northern and southern northern beaches zones — you are allowed five visitors in your home (including children and adults) per day. This new limit is down from the previously announced ten for Greater Sydney and the southern part of the northern beaches and will remain in place "until further notice". If you are in the northern beaches, however, you must stay in your zone. So, you can't have visitors from the other northern beaches zone or from other parts of Greater Sydney. You can check out a map of the two zones below. Those located in the remainder of NSW can have up to 50 people in their homes. CAN I CATCH UP WITH PEOPLE OUTDOORS? Yes, but there are different numbers depending whereabouts in the city you are. Those in the northern half of the northern beaches, can have gatherings of up to five people outside, while those in the south can have gatherings of up to ten. Once again, you cannot leave your zone, so outdoor gatherings can only be with people from your area. A reminder here that under the stay-at-home orders, northern beaches residents can leave there homes for four reasons: shop for food or other goods and services; travel for work or education, where you cannot work or learn from home; to get medical care or supplies, or to fulfil carer's responsibilities; and for exercise and outdoor recreation. Outdoor recreation includes picnics, golf, tennis, swimming, boating, jet-skiing, fishing and paddle boarding. You can find a full list here. For the rest of Greater Sydney, outdoor gatherings of 30 people are allowed, at places like public parks, reserves, beaches, public gardens and spaces. But, keep in mind, to reduce the risk of large gatherings, some councils have closed certain parks and beaches — including North Sydney, City of Sydney and the Inner West. If you're located in regional NSW — outside of Greater Sydney, the Central Coast, Blue Mountains and Wollongong — outdoor public gatherings of up to 100 people are allowed. ARE THERE ANY TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE TO HARBOURSIDE EVENTS? Surprisingly, there are. You can enjoy the fireworks side-by-side with giraffes at the Taronga Zoo's New Year's Eve celebrations, with panoramic views of Sydney Harbour, live entertainment and a visit to see the animals. Some harbourside restaurants still have reservations available, too, including Bar Ombre, which is pairing the fireworks with a five-course Italian feast and free-flowing booze; and Sydney Tower's Bar 83, where you can watch the lights from 83 levels up. O Bar also hosting a sky-high NYE event — and reservations are still available. For more information about the status of COVID-19 in NSW and current restrictions, head to NSW Health.
For more than 20 years, Redfern-based social enterprise Tribal Warriors has been hosting programs focused on health and wellbeing, family dynamics and employment opportunities to improve the lives of First Nations people. To help support these efforts, Tribal Warriors run tours and provide cultural performances for events. Its vessel, Mari Nawi or 'Big Canoe', regularly tours the harbour for one-off events, but you can enquire any time to join the Cultural Cruise. This informative journey provides insight into pre-colonial Indigenous coastal lifestyles as you pass harbour landmarks and learn their significance to the Gadigal, Guringai, Wangal, Gammeraigal and Wallumedegal people. It includes a stop at Be-lang-le-wool (Clark Island) and could feature surprise cultural performances. Images: Destination NSW
Step inside the unassuming shop on High Street and you will be impressed by the artfully compiled blooms, from bright natives to delicate orchids and pink peonies. The store also carries a great range of giftware such as oversized wall prints and wooden jewellery, plus the full range of locally made soy wax Bordeaux Candles — so you can complement your bouquet order with something longer lasting. Not sure what you're after? Name your price and ideal colours and the talented team will whip up a bunch to impress in no time.
There's nothing shameful about texting back "nah can't, busy" when it's basically three degrees outside and you can't feel your toes. There's also nothing shameful, we say, in embracing the part of you that yearns for cosy nights in. That part that is more than happy to spend weekends wrapped in a blanket, comfort food in hand — or better yet, a nip of something stronger to help keep you warm. Spend this winter with Jimmy. No, not that Hinge dude you went on a date with last year, but Jimmy Brings, the alcohol delivery service/a cold winter night's best friend. Not only will the service deliver your prefered drops to your door, but this season, it's also running a doppelganger competition till Thursday, August 8. If you or a mate happen to look like Jimmy himself, enter the competition via Instagram, and you might find your face plastered on the service's vans. And with such fame, you and a friend of your choice will both get a six-month supply of Jimmy Brings ($150 per month). Start checking out your friends with glasses and scruff, stat, and in the meantime, here's how to have a good time this winter without leaving your home. CARDS AGAINST HUMANITY + THE PARTY STARTER BUNDLE Possibly the greatest party game (and often most incendiary right after Monopoly), Cards Against Humanity isn't for the faint-hearted, your nan or anyone who isn't prepared to have their dating life, political beliefs and general being thrown under the bus. But as long as you know that nobody you're playing with is a flat-earther or anything, Cards Against Humanity might be just the ticket to kicking off a fun night of hibernating (a hibernight, if you will). Pair it with Jimmy Brings' party starter bundle to really get your creative juices flowing. Complete with one chardonnay, one pinot noir, a six-pack of Coronas, two bottles of coke, chips and nuts, the pack will have you carding 'til the wee hours (or until the first person storms out). [caption id="attachment_609970" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Fonda by Brook James.[/caption] MEXICAN FOOD + THE SPARKLING JIMMARITA BUNDLE Forget about your numb lil toes and rewarm your hands by getting them around some spicy Mexican eats. Order yourself some tacos from Fonda in Melbourne or Sydney or the chilli con carne from Pepe's Mexican, all available on UberEats for maximum hibernation points (boss level unlocked by getting your housemate to answer the door instead of you). Pair your muy bien feast with Jimmy's Jimmarita bundle: one bottle of Jose Cuervo tequila, one bottle of prosecco and two limes, which can also be used to dress your tacos a little more. [caption id="attachment_716662" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Colleen Hayes.[/caption] WINE COUNTRY ON NETFLIX + THE CRISP WHITE BUNDLE Netflix, aka Our Winter Lord and Saviour, is currently streaming Wine Country, the new film from Amy Poehler. The Parks & Rec funny lady brings her mates along for the ride, too, with Maya Rudolph, Rachel Dratch and even Tina Fey showing up to help her guzzle wine at a weekend getaway she throws for her friend's 40th birthday. There's a lot of day drinking and scheduled fun — and women living their best lives — and you can join 'em from the comfort of your own home. Order in Jimmy's Crisp Whites bundle, featuring four greatest hits of sauvignon blanc and pinot gris, and invite over four of your galpals (or boypals). [caption id="attachment_729110" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The National: 'I Am Easy to Find' cover art.[/caption] THE NATIONAL'S LATEST ALBUM + A PINOT NOIR American rockers The National are high in moodiness and low in fi, making them the perfect band to spend a cold night in with — so why not let Jimmy join you? Maximise the broody, rainy vibes with a bottle of medium-bodied South Island pinot noir from Central Otago, with "sagacious tannins"; let Matt Berninger's resonating vocals wash over you by listening to the band's new album, I Am Easy To Find. Nothing like doing some solid introspection by getting yourself lost in the flood of A. red wine, B. the rain outside and C. emotions from the very emotion-inducing indie rock band. (Every person has at least one break-up song from the back catalogue, surely). Feeling things can be living your best life, too; here's to solo bedroom therapy. [caption id="attachment_729109" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Shetland still.[/caption] BINGE WATCH SHETLAND + A DRAM OF GLENLIVET WHISKY Atmospheric TV show Shetland is set in the wild Scottish Isles and follows a detective inspector investigating murders on the island of Shetland. Set off the longing in your heart to retire to an obscure island by binging the first three seasons (they're all on Netflix, with season four currently showing on ABC iview) and resolutely ignoring the "are you still watching?" question the streaming giant will ask you when you get elbow deep in murder mystery. Pair your binge with a neat Glenlivet — Jimmy will bring you an entire bottle for sipping as you try to figure out whodunnit. If you're hibernating this winter, do it right with good entertainment, your mates and Jimmy Brings. Download the Jimmy Brings app to get started, and keep your eyes peeled for that Jimmy doppelganger. It could land you and a mate a six-month supply of Jimmy Brings. To enter the competition, follow @jimmybrings on Instagram and tag your doppelganger photo with #jimmybrings before Thursday, August 8, 2019.
Last time these guys battled against the teen-pop industry, David Finnigan ended up stripping, wrapping his head in sticky tape and raving about his own imaginings of making out with a pick-pocketing Enya. Now they're back for another iteration dubbed Bondi Feast vs Teen Makeouts, a spoken word night where disgruntled or nostalgic writers verbally spit and spew on the costs and idols of teenagerhood. The event, part of the Bondi Feast festival, is a sort of argument about what teens should be enjoying instead of becoming zombified into a gyrating mass by hysterical thrusty beats. Writers including Jessica Bellamy, David Finnigan and Adam Hadley let their inhibitions relax and their gripes lead. It's not entirely clear what will actually happen but expect to hear terrible things about every teenage idol or pop star to spout about love or parties over the past five years. Image: Bondi Feast.
Simple, short and often filthy. The Sexes Festival’s accompanying exhibition, created by Performance Space, is an absorbing series of meditations along the sidelines of sex, with occasional excursions into the priapic. The most obviously theoretical piece is a five track sound installation in the foyer, Like a Prayer (Justify my Love) by Jess Olivieri and Parachutes for Ladies, which sings simultaneously in operatic swoon, bassy refrain and solemn thinking, reflecting on gay marriage and gender. Paul Knight’s (NSFW) Falling Sideways from the Chamber Music series (NSFW) makes a similar point less directly. It’s the most explicit piece in the show and also the most casually intimate. Falling Sideways a slide show of random moments from a relationship (in fact, it is Paul Knight’s own.) There are slides of plated food, scrabble games and intimate sex between two naked blokes. The piece would be essentially pornographic, but the inclusion of fish and chips, scrabble boards and random embraces mean it feel like rifling through a couple’s intimate snaps. Moments of sex, moments of relaxation. Each are given equal weight. Each reflects equally the love in the relationship. A soundtrack pulses in the room, like a heartbeat. Luke Parker and Sangeeta Sandrasegar’s Exquisite Corpse uses the classic dada art game to make body collages whose appealing frankenart arrives at mismatched, serpentine forms which snap together into Beardsley-curve shapes. Around the corner, Tracey Moffatt and Gary Hillberg collect big screen films with couples from different ethnicities getting it on in Other. The videos cut between films like Mutiny on the Bounty, Interview with the Vampire and the King and I. Dance, travel and passion are all nearly interweaved with a rising bass soundtrack suggesting looming drama or disaster. Which, most likely, rests in the viewer’s opinion of colonialism, orientalism and/or sincere shagging. In the foyer Cigdem Aydemir’s artistic series of progressively more absurd objects draped in niquabs reaches its z-axis apogee as an entire belt drive system (aka a Carriageworks corridor) gets cocooned in black for Site Occupied 2. A pair of eyes peek out from above the corridor mouth, luring you to wander down its enveloping walls. Hook around the loos at the end, and look out for Philip Brophy’s video triptych Stadium on the way back. Afternoon live art performances will take place in situ throughout the season. Check the program for details. The show is open 10-6, 10-8 on evenings of performances. Image shows Glitterface by Liam Benson.
Since winding up the breakfast show at Triple J last year, comedian Tom Ballard has not slowed down in the slightest. Sure, he might not have to get up so early every weekday morning, but in between nationally touring his stand-up comedy shows, writing op-eds and returning to radio for a six-week Chatback stint, Ballard is one busy lad. Now he's set to launch and host his own show on ABC TV called Reality Check, which will look exclusively at the bizarre world of reality TV. Before that all happens, we were lucky enough to pull him over for a quick chat about his stand-up comedy career, Dry July, Thorpie and RuPaul's Drag Race. Congrats on the new show. What made you want to explore the world of reality TV? Ahhh, the money? Since I left Triple J breakfast I'm destitute and living on the street, so having a regular paycheck is pretty good! But it's also a bonus that it's a really fascinating topic that we don't talk about enough, and I get to do it with CJZ [the merger of Cordell Jigsaw Productions and Zapruder's Other Films, independently responsible for shows such as The Gruen Transfer and Go Back to Where You Came From] and ABC who make pretty awesome TV together. There is a wealth of material that hasn't been mined yet, there's a shitload of really important, moving stuff, but there's obviously a ton of jokes as well. It's the perfect sweet spot for me. You'll be joined by previous reality TV 'stars' — I use that term very loosely! Who are you most excited to have on the panel? (Slyly giggles to himself) Well, I have to be a bit boring and tell you we're keeping that one close to our chest at the moment. We've had a bunch of producers whose names you may not know, but they're actually responsible for huge reality TV hits, as well as previous judges and contestants. We've spoken to some people who have been the voice of Big Brother, some people who have won a major series, and people who have worked in the UK and America who have batshit crazy shows so it's really fascinating talking to them. Every week there will be names who are very familiar to reality TV addicts but also people who only follow it on the periphery. We worked really hard on getting some good names who can give us a lot of insight on the shows and the issues we want to talk about. https://youtube.com/watch?v=RmfHMNkhtn8 What reality TV shows did you watch growing up? Or are there still some that you watch now? Australian Idol was huge for me. I watched the first series. I was a big MasterChef head as well. I love RuPaul's Drag Race as well, and that is a really funny show. Come Dine With Me, and just stupid shit like the Kardashians. For this show we've watched a shit-ton of stuff and looking at the crazy moments that have happened in other countries like Nigeria's Got Talent and China's Got Talent, Big Brother Houses in other countries, one which was full of short-statured people. There's a UK show called Tourettes: Let Me Entertain You, which was basically a talent search for young people with Tourettes, just insane shit like that. I'm really excited about bringing that to the fore and laughing and celebrating all that stuff we get to see. You have just wound up your return to Triple J with Chatback: What was it like being back? It was great. It was really lovely, I was starting to miss everyone quite a lot so I got to go in on Thursdays and say hello to everyone. It reminded me how much I love radio and all the cool and crazy stuff that station does. There were also a few of your famous friends calling in under aliases, did any of them give you a heads up about their characters, or did they just let you have it? Yeah, we workshopped them all, a lot of that stuff was pre-recorded. We went back and forth with a few ideas, and then characters that people really liked, like Rebecca or Dr Jangles, came back in later weeks. It was really fun to have a character on twice because people were really keen to hear more from them and find out how their lives are going. I just think radio like this is underutilised. At the BBC in the UK the amount of comedy radio out there is amazing and I'd love to see more of that in Australia, because there's just so much fun you can have on a very low budget. It's just messing with peoples minds. That's what Chatback was — it was funny how worked up people got who thought they were real people. You also wrote a great op-ed recently about Thorpie coming out and why that was so important. It's no secret you're an opinionated young man, but what has to happen for you to decide, right, I'm going to write an op-ed about this? Well, to be honest a friend of mine who works at Fairfax called me and they wanted a young gay person's perspective on the issue. But honestly I did think about it, because there were a million think pieces and even for the next two days everyone and his dog had an opinion on the whole situation. I felt like I had something to say that I hadn't seen in many other media outlets so I thought that was a good chance. I want to be a comedian, that's what I want people to think of me as so I don't want to get on my high horse too often, but it is something that's really important to me. I'm really passionate about the mental health of young queer kids, and I wanted to remind people that when someone comes out, we should be happy. Yes we can have our criticisms about it, but ultimately it's a good news story. Have you enjoyed having more time to focus on your stand-up comedy this year? Although to be fair, it looks like you've had a million other side projects going. The first six months of the year had a lot of touring, so I wasn't being very visible on other media. It was all about getting out there and doing a whole bunch of stand up which was really fun. The truth of the matter is if you want to make a living from being a stand-up comic in this country you do need to push your media profile to make sure people are aware of you from other areas. It's kind of a balancing act. I am really excited about this show, I think it's going to be super fun, but I'm also excited about the fact that hopefully more people will come see me live and laugh at my jokes in front of me. Finally, how did your Dry July go? [Tom was on a team called 'Alco-Hellllll No!' with Megan Washington, and Triple J staff including Zan Rowe and Kyran Wheatly] Hahaha! Ummm…. Bad? I've raised money and it's been great not drinking, I feel a bit healthier and it's for an awesome cause, but it's much tougher than I thought it would be! Reality Check premieres on ABC TV on Wednesday, August 13, at 9pm.
If you're looking for ways to cut back on your coffee and want to give back to a good cause — well then, Sorry Thanks I Love You's inner-city store is the place for you every Friday until the end of the year. Originally launched online in 2015 before setting up a brick-and-mortar store and then moving to Westfield Sydney, Sorry Thanks I Love You is all about gifting differently, offering a range of items that are unique and thoughtfully-designed to give to your best friend, a family member, your partner or even yourself. The emphasis here is on handmade, expertly-designed products that tell a story. All of the creations in the space are unique, so you're in very little danger of doubling up on gifts for your mate. Among the clothes, accessories and homewares, the retailer also runs a cafe within the store, and, while the focus of the store is on helping you find the perfect gift, it also gives back, donating to cancer hospital the Chris O'Brien Lifehouse. In order to encourage donations, Sorry Thanks I Love You is offering up their baristas and Single O coffee for a gold coin each week. Each Friday morning until the end of 2022, anyone who comes in-store to get their morning coffee can pay with a gold coin donation to the Chris O'Brien Lifehouse. That's right, you can pick up your daily cup of joe for as little as $1 and know the money is helping out. STILY is aiming to raise enough money for 500 patients to visit the Lifehouse's psychology and counselling services through this program.
When you really want to make a statement, send a bouquet of flowers arranged by My Violet. Sydney florist Myra Perez, who recently opened up a Rosebery studio after seven years based in Redfern, is known for her bold, textural designs that are entirely led by what's in season and arranged for the biggest impact on the eye. Bright and vibrant colours take precedence over more delicate shades, and Perez's team uses height, volume, colour and textural contrast to turn heads wherever the flowers are delivered. Though the Rosebery studio is open throughout the week, it's best to order online for deliveries within eight kilometres of Sydney; you can choose from a mass of singular varieties for $100, and by tones like vibrant, jewel or white from $150 upwards. The utmost care is taken throughout the process to produce a bouquet with serious wow-factor, and you can even shop for same-day deliveries as long as you place an order before midday. Images: courtesy of My Violet.
A Paddington pub has today joined a long list of venues, shops, gyms and public transport routes across Sydney that have been linked to positive COVID-19 cases in recent weeks. At a press conference today, Wednesday, September 2, Dr Kerry Chant said that Sydneysiders who visited the downstairs area of the Four in Hand Pub on Sutherland Street for more that two hours between 6.30–10pm on Wednesday, August 26, should immediately get tested and self-isolate for 14 days. If you visited the pub between those times, but dined only in the upstairs area or for less than two hours, you should monitor for symptoms and get tested if you develop even a sniffle. The announcement comes as the state records 17 new cases in the 24 hours up to 8pm on Tuesday, September 1, with eight of those linked to the CBD cluster, which now includes a total of 49 cases. https://www.facebook.com/NewSouthWalesHealth/photos/a.232420926957256/1386868234845847/?type=3&theater Dr Chant also announced that Sydneysiders who visited Metro Fuel Greystanes, Big Bun in Merrylands, Carslaw Building University of Sydney Camperdown toilets and Stockland Merrylands at various times across Thursday, August 27 and Friday, August 28 should also monitor for symptoms. The NSW Health continues to update its long list of venues and public transport routes associated with positive COVID-19 cases over at its website. With cases confirmed across a number of suburbs, NSW Health is asking anyone who lives in or has visited the following areas in the past 14 days to get tested if they have any symptoms: Bankstown, Cumberland, Fairfield, Ku-ring-gai, Liverpool, Mt Druitt, Parramatta, Randwick, Sutherland, Sydney, Waverley, Willoughby and Woollahra. As has been the advice for months now, those with symptoms — coughs, fever, sore or scratchy throat, shortness of breath or loss of smell or taste — are encouraged to get tested and self-isolate while awaiting results. You can find out closest testing clinic over here. For more information about the status of COVID-19 in NSW, head to the NSW Health website.
Sydney is no stranger to a pop-up concert venue. Just this year, gig-goers have been blessed with the introduction of Pleasure Playhouse in Haymarket and Speakers Corner on William Street. These two limited-time spaces brought together rosters of genre-spanning talent for a series of gigs, and this summer, another like-minded venue is springing forth — this time in a nostalgic Martin Place building. The Weary Traveller is taking over the basement of the iconic Harry Seidler mushroom building — also known as the CTA Business Club — between Thursday, January 5 and Sunday, January 29 as part of Sydney Festival. This late-night haunt will bring a 70s lounge bar energy to the longstanding building and play host to 16 shows, each presenting a different boundary-pushing artist spanning the genres of pop, punk, jazz, hip hop, dance and more. On the lineup: always relatable Wergaia and Wemba Wemba singer-songwriter Alice Skye, pop trailblazer June Jones, sax-heavy Sydney punk duo Party Dozen, experimental electronic producer and dance floor favourite Moktar, and rock-reggae icons Coloured Stone. And that's just the start. There will also be two big dance parties curated by Astral People, a performance from Australian voice Tom Snowden, a collaboration between Melbourne hip hop trio Two Birds and Sydney's Bayang (Tha Bushranger), two shows from British grime star Lil Silva, and appearances from Automatic, HTRK and Potion. Adding to the throwback energy of the venue, Sydney Festival has enlisted the help of nostalgic Australiana expert Hawke's Brewery as the official beer of the festival and The Weary Traveller. Tickets range between $29–59 and can be purchased in a multipack. Head to the Sydney Festival website to view the program and nab tickets. [caption id="attachment_884257" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jacquie Manning[/caption] Top image: Jacquie Manning
While you might not eat them too often over the rest of the year, Australian summer is the best time to break out classic local dishes like barramundi and pavlova. Yet if you're looking for a patriotic treat of a different kind, perhaps what Marrickville's Brooklyn Boy Bagels is serving up will scratch that itch. Available until January 31, three limited-edition, Aussie-inspired creations are up for grabs. Chocoholics will almost certainly find their Tim Tam cream cheese ($11) irresistible, with crushed-up biscuits mixed through a sweet spread to form a crunchy cheesecake filling. Lather it on a cinnamon raisin bagel or simply attack it with a spoon – we won't judge. Next on the agenda is pavlova cream cheese ($11), where a rich spread has been topped with crumbled meringue and seasonal fruit compote. One bite and you'll be reminiscing about the cake your nanna whips up for special occasions. If you're in more of a savoury mood, the VBLAT ($20) is your best option. Stacked atop an extra-crusty tiger bagel, black forest bacon, butter lettuce, vine-ripened tomatoes and avocado are finished with the perfect amount of Vegemite. Head to Brooklyn Boy Bagels to give these bonza creations a taste.
