Wiz Khalifa is heading to Sydney's Luna Park in September, as part of Optus RockCorps 2015. The American hip hop star has added the NSW performance to his Australian tour schedule, alongside previously announced shows in Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth. And the best part? Tickets won't cost you a cent. Instead, fans will be able to earn free entry into the Sydney show by donating their time to charity. Four hours of volunteering will get you into the concert, which will be held in Luna Park's Big Top on Wednesday September 30. Khalifa will headline the event, which will also feature Australian electronic duo Peking Duk. Additional acts will be announced in the coming weeks. Volunteers from outside Sydney can also get involved, and will be rewarded with a $70 Ticketmaster voucher. "I'm excited to be part of the Optus RockCorps Project," said Khalifa. "Giving back to the community is something I’m passionate about and support wherever I can. I can’t wait to play in Sydney and see all the Aussie fans." Now in its third year, Optus RockCorps aims to treat young Australians to unique performances in return for their contribution to their local communities. More than 9500 people have donated over 36,000 volunteer hours over the past two years, and have been rewarded with tickets to shows featuring acts such as American Authors, Guy Sebastian, Rudimental and Empire of the Sun. Anyone keen on volunteering for a RockCorps 2015 project will be able to register their interest starting August 10 via the Optus RockCorps website or by calling 1800 ROCK 800.
The Australian ridesharing economy is set to go the way of Asia and Europe, with new company Scooti launching its fleet of scooter taxis on Melbourne today, Monday, March 25. CEO Brett Balsters boasts the service — which is, yes, government compliant — as a cheaper, faster and more eco-conscious mode of transport. It may sound odd for Australia, but scooter taxis are by no means a novel idea. Motorbikes and scooters already act as taxis all across Asia, as well as in European cities like Amsterdam and Florence — though this is the first time the concept has been implemented in Australia. So how does it work? Riders can request a pickup using the Scooti app, much like how you request a ride through Uber. The scooters will be available between 5am and 10pm and, for the moment, will only operate within a ten-kilometre radius of Melbourne Town Hall in the CBD. That means you'll be able to travel as far as Coburg, Footscray, Elwood, Hawthorn and Thornbury. Price-wise, you can expect it to be pretty on par with other ridesharing services per kilometre and minute — but, as you'll be on a scooter and able to move through traffic, your fare will presumably be lower. Also, as you'll only be able to ride solo, it could be a good option when you don't have anyone to split a cab with. Bikes will have a luggage box for small handbags and items, but you'll need to wear a backpack if you're travelling with more stuff. Drivers are also required to have an extra helmet for you, and they'll have hair nets on hand if you're grossed out by the idea of sharing headgear. As with any ridesharing company, drivers can use their own scooters as long as they meet Scooti's mechanical, safety, comfort and hygiene standards. All drivers are accredited by Commercial Passenger Vehicle Victoria and will have passed criminal, driving and medical history checks. Scooti is also offering up benchmark pay rates and rewards in the transport services/delivery category, which should mean the pay will sit fairly within Australian salary standards. If true-to-word, this could set them apart, as pay continues to be a major issue within the ridesharing and delivering industries. And while it's just tackling Melbourne for now, Scooti plans to launch in Sydney and Queensland soon. Stay tuned. You can now request a ride from Scooti in Melbourne, so keep an eye out for the scooters around town. For more information or to download the app, head to their scooti.com.au.
After spending the last few years in the grasp of tweens and sexless Mormons, it's good to see the vampire movie finally biting back. From the ingenious goofiness of What We Do in the Shadows to the eerie urban decay of Only Lovers Left Alive, it's been a banner year for big screen bloodsuckers, a trend that continued in 2014 with the most fascinating shakeup to the genre yet. Sexy, scary and fearlessly subversive, A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night became a last minute contender for one of the best films of 2014, and this Halloween, it's coming back to the big screen at Golden Age. Billed as the world's first Iranian Vampire Western, the debut film from writer-director Ana Lily Amirpour takes place on the outskirts of an industrial ghost town, ominously named Bad City. It's here that an aloof young vampire in heavy eye makeup and billowing chador (Sheila Vand) stalks the streets in search of victims to devour. What she doesn't count on, however, is the romantic attention of a handsome local drug dealer (Arash Marandi), who unwittingly presents her with a difficult choice: pursue a relationship or eat him for dinner. If the plot sounds thin, that's probably because it is. A spiritual descendent of David Lynch and Jim Jarmusch, the California-based Amirpour is far less concerned with narrative than she is with style and atmosphere. The moody black and white cinematography further enhances the film's already palpable sense of menace, while also calling to mind prototypical vampire movies such as Vampyr and the original Dracula. The eclectic soundtrack is equally evocative, Amirpour spinning a Tarantino-esque blend of European and Iranian pop music combined with the rousing strains of an old school Spaghetti Western. Yet despite her aesthetic self-consciousness, Amirpour's film is in no way lacking in substance. While vampire stories are traditionally about sexuality, A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night reframes the discussion to focus more on gender. It's obviously not a coincidence that Vand's vigilante vamp feeds exclusively on misogynistic men. Likewise the pointed choice of costume: her traditional head-to-toe black garb, so often viewed as a sign of oppression, re-appropriated as a symbol of her power. Even the film's title is misleading. Amirpour sets us up to expect a helpless victim, only to deliver something very different indeed. Bold and surprising, this is a truly stunning debut. See it on the big screen.
Strolls around the city have been much brighter in recent weeks, all thanks to the addition of some unexpected blooms. The CBD's grey, concrete streets have had a makeover as a part of the City of Sydney's twice-yearly 'Living Colour' floral display project, taking over Martin Place, Green Square, Town Hall, Alfred Street and the forecourt outside St Mary’s cathedral. But as the plants have been blooming since September, these flowers need a new home. Want some more snapdragons, celosia, golden marjoram and bromeliads in your life? On Sunday, November 8 from 8am, St Mary's Cathedral will be the spot to snag some cut-price botanical beauties. For just a gold coin donation, you'll be able to take home everything from petunias to curly parsley. Best of all, all funds raised will be heading directly to the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation. Add some colour to your own space and feel good about it too. Who could resist adopting these little blooms that've seen it all? People can pick up plants from St Marys Cathedral forecourt on College Street from 8am on Sunday, November 8 while stocks last.
Kick off 2016 in serious style with an epic New Year's Day shindig at the Watson Bay Boutique Hotel. The harbourside destination is teaming up with the iconic Hamptons venue The Surf Lodge for a summer pop-up by the water — and it all begins on January 1 with a private beach party headlined by a top secret international act. Located in Montauk on Long Island, The Surf Lodge is best known for its outdoor music concerts featuring the likes of Patti Smith, Solange Knowles, Willie Nelson and the Flaming Lips. No confirmation yet on which famous face they've got locked for Sydney, although the supporting lineup will include Oli Benz, Dangerous Dan, Mo'Funk, Cloud Rider and Motorik Vibe Council. First release tickets are currently on sale for $200 plus a $7.50 booking fee. There are only a limited number available to the public, so if you're interested you'd better jump on it quick. The Surf Lodge x Watson Bay Boutique Hotel summer pop-up will run from New Year's Day through to Australia Day on January 26, and will feature various live music and lifestyle events to be revealed in the coming month.
Less than two months into 2017, and the best film to reach Australian cinemas so far is a queer tale of identity, masculinity and longing. Don't just take our word for it — take the Oscars', too, where Moonlight will hopefully pick up many of the eight awards its nominated for. That's just the beginning of what's shaping up to be a fantastic year in LGBTIQ film, and if there's ever an event that makes that clear for Sydney residents, it's the annual Mardi Gras Film Festival. The cinema-focused offshoot of Sydney's inclusive celebration is back from February 15 to March 2, and positively bursting with must-see, must-talk-about flicks, including Moonlight, plus our picks of the program. TOMCAT The 2017 Berlin Film Festival is currently brightening up Germany with the latest and greatest in cinema — and, while it might take a few months or more for the hits of this year's fest to make it to Australian shores, one of 2016's standouts is flying the flag at the Mardi Gras film festival. Winning the Teddy Award for its tale of Vienna love disrupted unexpectedly, Tomcat explores just how a seemingly idyllic life can suddenly unravel. And, while the movie is about many things — the psychology of relationships, most prominently — a cat certainly does feature. WOMEN WHO KILL If you hosted a podcast about murders, it probably wouldn't be long until you started experience a rather predictable side effect: seeing evidence of homicidal tendencies in the people you meet in everyday life. If it sounds like the premise to a paranoia-laced horror-comedy, well, that's because it is. From writer/director and star Ingrid Jungermann, and also featuring A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night's Sheila Vand, Women Who Kill finds mystery, thrills and amusement in romantic suspicions of the both heightened and relatable kind. OUT OF IRAQ Just last year, Australian filmmaker Eva Orner endeavoured to expose the reality of Australia's offshore treatment of refugees to the world with Chasing Asylum, a documentary big on both detail and revelations. Now, she's ready to unleash her follow-up. Out of Iraq is something completely different, telling a love story between two Iraqi soldiers — however, this 13-years-in-the-making effort shares one thing with its predecessor. No, it's not the act of hopping between countries, although the film's four-nation tour definitely does that. Instead, prepare for a doco that might seem small in scope, but proves huge in its impact. BAD GIRL New town, new home, new mates — none of the above screams moody thriller, but audiences shouldn't let this Australian newcomer lull them into a false sense of security. Sure, Bad Girl seems as though it is charting familiar territory — and as its troubled teen protagonist Amy (Sara West) moves to the rural house her adoptive parents want her to call home, and makes a local pal in Chloe (Samara Weaving), it does so often. Still, even though charting the darker side of friendship is similarly commonplace on screen, this Aussie effort boasts more than enough twists and insights to retain attention. KING COBRA We've mentioned many, many times that no film festival program seems to be complete without an appearance by James Franco, but it just keeps proving true. In King Cobra, the never-far-from-a-camera actor jumps into a gay porn biopic about a gay porn scandal. If that's not enough to inspire intrigue, then the rest of the cast should help, with Franco joined by Christian Slater, Alicia Silverstone and Molly Ringwald — aka quite a few '80s and '90s icons all in one movie. Mardi Gras Film Festival runs February 15 to March 2 in various Sydney cinemas. More info here.
Picture this: you’re settled in for the night with your penne and personal tiramisu, pyjamas so fluffy it’s like wearing a cloud and none of your shitty housemates are home. You’ve got a tight lineup of trashy shows ready to go and a fat glass of wine in hand, but something is off — there’s not enough wine. There’s not enough wine in your glass, blood or on the television. There’s some wine on Masterchef, there’s demure wine on The Bachelor and there’s hardly any wine in Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader. All that’s about to change with Baptism of Fire, a wine-making reality show that pairs amazingly with indulgent nights on the couch. Mojo Wine is once again bringing us Baptism of Fire, a reality web series that pits team of amateur winemakers against each other for the glory of the win (and $10,000 prize money). If you want to take it further than simply watching the wine be made, you can even make the wine yourself — Mojo is looking for entrants now, and the only catch is you can never have never been employed in winemaking (recreational wine drinking, however, is fine and recommended). The experience is fully paid for and, we would guess, involves a fair whack of delicious wine-tasting. The competition traverses the entire process that turns not-at-all fun grapes into a so-much-fun bottle of wine with a cute label. The six teams of two will design and market their wine and the winners receive the chance to take their brand further — what this literally means, we're not 100 percent, but it is an opportunity to drink wine for ‘educational’ purposes on a weeknight. Bring it on. To apply for Baptism of Fire, check out the website.
Do you like Italian food? Then let us introduce you to the happiest place on earth. Due to open in Bologna, Italy in the middle of next year, Eataly World will be the world's first Italian food theme park, featuring nearly 20 acres of restaurants, kitchens, grocery stores, classrooms, farms, laboratories and more. The park is the latest venture from Oscar Farinetti, the founder of Italian food and grocery chain Eataly. It was first announced a few years back, with an opening set for last November. Fingers crossed they stick to their revised schedule, because we're already looking into flights to Europe. Speaking to Eater, Eataly vice-president and Eataly World CEO Tiziana Primori said the park would mix entertainment with education. "We call it from the farm to the fork because you can see all the steps of the chain, from the animals to the raw materials and workshops and restaurants." The hope is that the park will attract as many as 10 million visitors each year, providing a boost to Bologna tourism in the process. The city already boasts a number of gastronomic attractions, including a medieval marketplace and the world's only gelato university. Via Eater. Header image via Dollar Photo Club
All you need for a beautiful day on the beach is yourself, some togs and a few hours of unburdened, gloriously free time. But wouldn't it be an even better day if you had these movie-set perfect beach and pool accessories with you? Yes. Yes, it would. Read on and cast your mind forward to a time when your aqueous outing is framed by the style, ingenuity and inflatable Pegasus-ry here collected. THE BEACH MAT: BEACHILL SMART MATTRESS Barely out of development, the Beachill can be a tough product to get your hands on — at the moment, the company's Facebook page asks that you get in touch via email to order. Nevertheless, the bubblegum-bright beach mat is so good that it's already moderately internet-famous. That's because it actually solves three common beach trip dilemmas: how to support your back (i.e. the usual beach mat mandate), how to keep your drink cool and how to charge your dwindling phone battery. It accomplishes the latter by way of a 7 watt solar panel on the back of the cushion. High five, Beachill. Price on enquiry from the Beachill Facebook page. THE BEACH TOWEL: THE BEACH PEOPLE ROUNDIE Throw away your old rectangular towel (read: leave it in the linen cabinet for a bit), because this season everyone's drying off with a whole new shape. That shape? The circle. Luxe and oversize, this new breed of towel is an extravagance, but one you'll be thankful for when you're wrapped in its embrace from head to fringe-tickled toe. Byron Bay company The Beach People do them best, in bold, monotone prints inspired by beach cultures from all over the world. $110 from The Beach People. THE BEACH SUNGLASSES: KREWE DU OPTIC ST LOUIS What's going on on that nose bridge there? Well, that would be a brushed metal architectural detail inspired by New Orleans' French Quarter's iconic 1800s cast iron balconies. Swoon. Krewe Du Optic are a brand you want to get in on — started in 2013, they handcraft all their frames using premium acetate, lenses and hinges. The sunset-hued mirrored pair above is a 'Bengal', but the St Louis style alone comes in 11 different colourways, each more fetching than the last. Just look. US$195–255 ($270–354) from Krewe du Optic. THE BEACH BALL: SUNNYLIFE INFLATABLE WATERMELON BALL If you're anything less than impressed right now, it's only because the full significance of Sunnylife's inflatable watermelon ball is yet to hit you. This ball is not just a toy to be tossed; it is a trompe l'oeil that will turn heads in wonder at your ability to keep a half-watermelon aloft with a few blasé taps. Not only that, but have you played with any beach ball lately? The things run away from you at the slightest suggestion from the wind. Hours of active fun right there. $18.95 from Sunnylife. THE INFLATABLE: FUNBOY PEGASUS POOL FLOAT The game of inflatable animal one-upmanship has gone so far it's crossed into mythical creature territory. Following summer after summer of the swan, the flamingo and the toucan, we now have in our midst the Pegasus, from LA brand Funboy. You know you want it. Though it's definitely not for open ocean beaches, take along Peggy to a pool, harbour beach or lake as desired. US$99 ($137) from Funboy. THE BEACH GAME: MEN'S SOCIETY ALOHA PADDLE BEACH BALL GAME SET What's with all the dude-centric brand names in the beach toy industry? Remedy this, someone. But for now let's plough ahead and appreciate this neat paddle tennis set anyway. It's designy, but not too designy. You could probably leave it unattended while you went for a swim and nobody would steal it. Note the colour palette; it seems to invoke the Pacific islands, the Rene Lacoste days of tennis and your primary school athletics uniform all at once. A real achievement. £29 from Men's Society. THE BEACH BAG: THE SHAKE TOTE The Shake Tote is okay-looking, but where it wows is on its bottom. Open the flap and all the sand that's inevitably made it into your bag during a day at the beach will just fall straight through the mesh lining and out of your life. Whataworld. The Shake range also comes in a small backpack and clutch, in two different colourways. US$80–90 ($111–124) from Amazon. THE BEST SUN PROTECTION: INVISIBLE ZINC 4HR WATER RESISTANT SPF50+ What's this guy doing here? Well, if your best accessory is the skin you're in (and let's say it is), then you're going to want to take care of it. Invisible Zinc makes it into our beach bags year after year because it's super effective at reflecting UVAs and UVBs, low irritant, Australian owned and a real leader in the physical sunscreen game, with a natural Zinc Oxide formula that rubs in nearly as well as chemical sunscreens. The latest addition to their product line is 50+ and 4 hours water resistant. $21.99 from Priceline.
Yesterday, the world was rocked by the horrific events that took place in Paris. With information on the attacks still coming to light, it will take a long time for the global community to fully come to grips with the tragedy. In the meantime, however, the outpouring of international sympathy has already begun. World leaders, including Barrack Obama and Malcolm Turnbull, have been quick to condemn the attackers and offer their condolences. But perhaps more moving has been the site of many of the world's most famous landmarks lit up in the colours of the French flag. Below, we've compiled some photos of familiar Australian landmarks that took part in the spontaneous display of support for the people of France. Je suis Paris. Sydney Town Hall has been lit in the colours of the French flag #PrayforParis pic.twitter.com/dTy38ATiMS — City of Sydney (@cityofsydney) November 14, 2015 pic.twitter.com/4LFei1TAxl — NGV (@NGVMelbourne) November 14, 2015 Story Bridge lit up last night for #ParisAttacks victims. Photo by Craig Capper. #9News pic.twitter.com/hS7KJqR6es — Nine News Brisbane (@9NewsBrisbane) November 14, 2015 Well played, @MCG #Paris #PrayForParis ?? ?? pic.twitter.com/zJm8yxAE9P — Clint Stanaway (@cstanaway) November 14, 2015 We'll be lighting Adelaide Oval in blue, white and red from 6pm tonight to show our support #Pray4Paris pic.twitter.com/c5LoGJGffi — Adelaide Oval (@TheAdelaideOval) November 14, 2015 .@LisaScafPerthLM @CityofPerth Looks stunning. #JesuisunParisien pic.twitter.com/QR8ZfK8Mbp — Matt Rosich (@subjectmattr) November 14, 2015 #Brisbane City Hall has also been lit tonight to show our support for the people of France #ParisAttacks pic.twitter.com/bvKtLgqxB1 — Team Quirk (@Team_Quirk) November 14, 2015 Melbourne town hall. ???? @LordMayorMelb @cityofmelbourne pic.twitter.com/hduJyWhYz5 — Sharnelle Vella (@SharnelleVella) November 14, 2015 Header image: Prudence Upton.
Japan’s beloved illustrator, director and Studio Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki is once again helping us believe in the good of humanity with his latest passion project. Miyazaki is building a park on Kume Island, in the Okinawa Prefecture, a park intended to preserve and celebrate nature and remind children that, to quote Miyazaki himself, “It’s good to be alive.” Pass the tissues please ;_;. The park, which is scheduled for completion in 2018, will inhabit 10,000 square metres of pristine forest and Miyazaki has donated $2.5 million towards the project. Although he is often touted as the Walt Disney of Japan, their parks couldn’t be more dissimilar. Miyazaki’s park will have room for just 30 guests, which leaves a whole lot of space for running through the woods and recreating iconic scenes from Princess Mononoke. And construction and development will be centred around using only local building techniques, resources and labour so you know, it’s the exact opposite of a soulless Disney theme park (and far removed from the beautifully depressing Banksy kind). Here's the plan for Miyazaki's pristine nature park: Perhaps you'll find a few little trolls in the woods: Or little kodama doing their thing: Or a casual forest spirit, hangin': Miyazaki has always been an unwavering social critic, picking apart the wrongs of society in both his films and his public commentary. The countless allegories for environmentalism in his films are not lost on the audience but unlike many celebrity crusaders, he can often be found quietly doing the hard yards as well. Earlier this year he ran a mass public clean-up of the Fuchi no Mori forest, which he saved from development 20 years earlier with a $2.56 million dollar donation, and which is believed to have inspired the setting of My Neighbour Totoro. In the 2013 documentary The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness he told documentarian Mami Sunada of walking to work every day with a rubbish bag in hand to clean up the streets and spending his weekend in gumboots, cleaning up the local river. He might actually be the river spirit from Spirited Away. So, now we all have a few new items to add to the bucket list, including ‘clean rivers’, ‘visit Kume’ and ‘become modern day version of Princess Mononoke’. All are now possible. Via Good Magazine.
As summer starts slipping away, slowing down our beachy adventures, it's only natural that we start looking inward. And what better way to do that than by getting in touch with our inner troglodyte. Fortunately, Sydney and its surrounds offer just as many caves as they do unusual swimming holes and secluded beaches. Whether you want to escape to a remote plateau where you'll be sleeping alongside ancient grinding grooves, share your cave with an entire party or get your wallet out and go glaving (that's the caver's version of glamping, d'uh), it's all right here. FOR SPACE (OR A PARTY): PINDAR CAVE, BRISBANE WATERS If you're looking to mix up your stay with a party, Pindar might be your cave of choice. This massive sandstone overhang can shelter as many as 50 people at once. To reach it, catch a Central Coast — or Newcastle-bound train to Wondabyne Station, from where it's located three or four hours on foot. The track follows a ridge line, so the views are stunning, and right near Pindar, there's a swimming hole that's best for dipping after rain. FOR WILDERNESS: GOOCHES CRATER, WOLLANGAMBE Gooches Crater camp cave is found among spectacular scenery in the Wollangambe wilderness area. The half-day walk from Bell Station takes you along dizzying rocky outcrops, through secluded valleys, past Indigenous rock art and to the beautiful Gooches Crater. Be aware that the trail is hard to follow, so you'll need to be prepared for some bush bashing and have at least one experienced navigator in your team. Like Pindar, the cave is big enough to fit 50 sleepers comfortably. FOR RIVER VIEWS: DADDER CAVE, LOWER BLUE MOUNTAINS Dadder is located on the banks of beautiful Erskine Creek and has space for about six people. Having been utilised by savvy hikers for decades, the cave has been treated to a few renovations here and there, and so offers more infrastructure than your average overhang. There's a decent stone fireplace, bench seating and, for entertainment, a logbook. The 6 kilometre walk in starts at the Pisgah Rock car park (2.2 kilometres from the Oaks Picnic Area, on the Nepean Lookout Fire Trail). FOR CAR CAMPING: PSYN CAVE, NARROW NECK, NEAR KATOOMBA Narrow Neck, a peninsula between the Jamison and Megalong Valleys, found just south of Katoomba, is home to a bunch of caves. This is one of the easiest to reach, being just a couple of hundred metres from the Glenraphael Road car park. Psyn is one of two caves on our list that enables car camping. It's a regular hang-out for bush walkers from Sydney Uni, can shelter ten people at once and features a little waterfall. Detailed directions are available right here. FOR PROXIMITY TO A PUB: SUNDECK CAVE, MOUNT PIDDINGTON Sundeck is a popular accommodation choice for climbers and abseilers, who head to Mount Piddington to take on its sheer rock faces. Non-adrenaline junkies, however, will find plenty to interest them, including excellent sunset views and clifftop trails. What's more, it's only 300 metres from Mount Piddington Road, Mount Victoria, which means, firstly, that you can car-camp, and secondly, that the nearest pub is only 1.5 kilometres away. If you head out for a beverage, don't leave your torch behind. FOR ANCIENTNESS: 100 MAN CAVE, KANANGRA BOYD NATIONAL PARK Grinding grooves visible in the 100 Man Cave indicate that it has been in use for thousands of years. This comes as no surprise — as far as caves go, this one is particularly cosy. There's a well-protected fireplace and, if you've been battling rain and wind on the way in, spots to hang wet clothing. Reaching 100 Man Cave does require commitment, though, as it's situated on the Ti Willa Plateau, which involves one or two days' walking from Kanangra Walls car park. FOR LUXURY: HATTER'S HIDEOUT, BELL This one is actual, bona fide rental accommodation, so it doesn't come free, but it does include luxury items that you won't find in the other caves. These include a gas barbecue, an esky, cooking utensils, real tables and chairs, solar powered lighting and rainwater. Take your ukulele — the acoustics are outstanding, with the owners describing the cave as a "similar size and shape to a small shell of the Sydney Opera house". Hatter's Hideout is situated in Bell, a two hours' drive from Sydney. Find out more about it over here. FOR CITY VIEWS: LITTLE CAVE, NIELSEN PARK Clear skies and an extra-special camping buddy are necessary to make this one work. Both room and protection from the elements are limited. If either is in doubt (or sleeping open so close to the city frightens you), stick to picnicking or use Little Cave as a spot for drying off after a night swim. However you experience it, enjoy incredible views of the harbour and city for free from your own private hidey-hole.
Batteries are pretty powerful things. And although the one in the back of your iPhone 5 can't seem to last the day without dying, there are batteries that power cars, batteries that take just 60 seconds to charge — and there are batteries that can power your entire home. On Friday, Tesla Energy announced the Tesla Powerwall: a battery that not only powers your home but one that stores power for when you need it. It's designed to hook up with your power source, which is either solar power, or the grid, where most people get their electricity from. And it's really smart, because depending on which power source you have, the Powerwall will either store the solar energy for later or charge itself from the grid in off-peak times. This not only saves you and your household some cash, but it's a step away from Australia's reliance on dirty coal and fossil fuels for power, and means that we can move towards cleaner energy like solar, wind and geothermal. And, at US$3,000 – $3,5000, it does it for a fraction of the price of similar batteries. Pretty cool, huh? Energy experts are excited about it too, and since the announcement, they've been quick to predict how this could affect the way we use and store energy in our homes and workplaces. THE POWERWALL COULD REDUCE THE NEED FOR DIRTY POWER According to Campbell Simpson of Gizmodo, the Powerwall isn't going to reduce your household’s grid energy usage to zero, but it will reduce the peaks in grid electricity reliance — therefore letting Powerwall users charge overnight instead of in the daytime when everyone else is using the network and increasing demand. "And because of that shifting of load, it will reduce the world’s need for peak power generation," he says. "Theoretically reducing the need for dirty power sources like fossil fuels." IT GIVES SOLAR POWER A CHANCE TO BE A SOLE PROVIDER OF ENERGY Stanford University's Vivek Wadhwa thinks the Powerwall is our chance to disconnect from the grid. Without the grid, we'll be able to raise the widespread usage of solar to the place where fossil fuels and nuclear power are at the moment. For Venture Beat, he writes: "Tesla is about to do to the power grid what cellphones did to the land line — free us from it. And it will dramatically accelerate the progress of clean energy." PRICES FOR BATTERY POWER COULD BE FORCED DOWN When crunching the numbers for Gizmodo, Dan Steingart found that the Tesla Powerwall can't compete with the price of electricity — at least not in the volume that a household would need to power it. But he believes that the release of the Powerwall can only make things cheaper. "Overall, if Tesla can deliver on what it claims here, it’s an important line in the sand for this market, and it can only force prices down," he says. "Until now, Sony and Panasonic have been selling similar systems for three times the price, with little market uptake." IT COULD ENCOURAGE POWER COMPANIES TO EMBRACE RENEWABLE ENERGY On the contrary, Forbes' Chris Helman is a little more cynical. He sees the Powerwall as an expensive "toy for rich green people", and doesn't think that the average homeowner should let the big power generation utilities take the risks and bear the costs when it comes to battery power. But he does hope that this could lead to big utility providers taking on this renewable energy, and investing money in perfecting the technology. "After all," he says, "any truly viable energy source is more economic when deployed on a large scale than on a small scale."
With soups based on a century old recipe, you know that at Dragon Hot Pot in Burwood you are getting only the finest and most authentic Chinese flavours. The soup is a fusion of over twenty traditional Chinese herbs as well as marrow bones cooked for over twelve hours — all combining to create a soup as memorable as any you're likely to find in Sydney. Its signature Ma La Tang soup combines 24 wild herbs from Mount Emei in China and produces a fragrant, thick and golden soup. Vegetarians can enjoy the vegan soup with vegan herbs, spices and ingredients. For a richer flavour, try the pickled mustard concoction that's been fermented for six hours or the collagen bone broth that's includes only the highest quality marrow bones and is extremely flavourful. Flesh out your hot pot with meat slices including pork, wagyu, beef tongue and chicken or seafood options such as fresh squid, sea cucumber and raw fish. For something more adventurous, opt for the porcine brains, the bullfrog or the ox aorta. Vegetarians aren't forgotten here either, which can be rare at a hot pot, with an array of options including Chinese cabbage, potato slices and soybean sprouts. The atmosphere in here is bustling and the decor suggests a thriving Chinese market. The service is fast and friendly but the hot pot is the main focus. With a huge array of options, Great Dragon Hot Pot Burwood is bound to be a joint you return to over and over again. Top image: Griffin Simm
All hail the almighty face fuzz, the glorious crumb catcher, the big ol' chin curtain. Beards, the noble facial hair adventure many humans embark valiantly upon as soon as their hormones allow. And now, they've got their very own exhibition in Sydney. Artist Brock Elbank, a former advertising whiz and fashion photographer, is one of the best portrait creators around — and he's got an eye for beards. His most well-known work has become the visual anchor for Beard Season, the highly successful campaign for skin cancer prevention. He's turned this into a series, Beard, which showed at Somerset House in London and is showing this month at Michael Reid Gallery. See bearded famous faces adorn the gallery walls, including actor John Hurt, Harnaam Kaur (whose polycystic ovaries have caused facial hair growth) and Italian designer Angelo Gallemini. Image: Brock Elbank, Stefan Bostrom, 2014. Beard is exhibiting concurrently at Michael Reid Galleries in Berlin and 44 Roslyn Gardens, Elizabeth Bay.
Sydneysiders won’t hesitate to defend their favourite dumpling house or that hole-in-the-wall pho joint; Asian food remains one of Australia's go-to cuisines across the board. While joints like Chat Thai and Misschu make most go-to lists, these mainstream superstars often overshadow Sydney's tinier yet authentic spots. This weekend, instead of playing it safe, try some of the more unusual Asian delicacies that hide in so many storefronts. Not sure where to look? We've planned a full night of the best bizarre yet delectable dishes for the more adventurous among you. These plates won't only shock your Facebook friends, they’ll also give your tastebuds the excitement they've been missing. First Stop: Chinatown Night Markets What to eat: Lamb & Cumin stall — lamb kidney sticks ($9.75 for 5 sticks) This weekly market isn’t just a great way to eat roti but avoid the massive queues at Mamak. The white tents that pop up along Dixon Street every Friday offer a festive way to kick off the weekend and a perfect start to your bizarre foods trail. While the crowd at the Lamb & Cumin stall may gather for their namesake skewers, the more adventurous stomach should try the juicy and spicy lamb kidney. Chilli dry-rubbed and charcoal-grilled to order, these tiny organs are an easy starter since they really just taste like — you guessed it — lamb. Stalls change slightly each week, so be sure to take a good look around for anything unfamiliar, as the uncommon is often hidden among more mainstream dishes. Dixon and Little Hay Streets, Haymarket; Fridays 5pm-10pm; www.chinatownmarkets.com.au Second Stop: Market City What to eat: Taste of Cho — spicy beef shin and pigs ear salads ($2 small; $5 large) It is no surprise that this Asian megacentre houses some of the most unique delicacies in Sydney. For a cheap and easily digestible option, the Taste of Cho stand piles its counter with spicy salads containing meats like beef shin and pig's ear. While ear may not normally be on your to-eat list, the line of eager and hungry patrons should give you a sense of its deliciousness. The bright red chillies and crunchy chives make each bite an explosion of flavour and complement the uniformly tender and thinly sliced meat. These salads should be taken to go and eaten on the way to your next food hop stop. 9-13 Hay Street, Haymarket; Mon – Sun from 10am; www.marketcity.com.au Third Stop: Eating World Food Court What to eat: Red Charcoal — Ox heart ($1.5) and beef tendon ($2); Soya Kitchen – pig's feet ($9.30) Chinatown gourmet served in a food hall; Haymarket's food courts offer some of the most authentic and unusual dishes Sydney has to offer. With options including crocodile, soft chicken bones, pork chittering and Indonesian offal (an organ mash-up), it is impossible to exhaust your bizarre choices here. The most delicious among the peculiar is easily Red Charcoal’s beef tendon, which taste like handmade noodles on a stick. Feeling a little Temple of Doom? Try the spicy ox heart, the tastiest way to sound cool and virile. For a meatier option, the pig's feet at Soya Kitchen is succulent and slow cooked. The fatty feet are mixed in a thick sauce of juicy mushrooms or fermented red bean, both of which add a distinctive richness. It is served with seaweed in clear broth, a perfect palate cleanser before continuing on this food trail. 25-59 Dixon Street, Haymarket; Mon – Sun 10am-10pm Fourth Stop: Restaurants Galore By now, your stomach has been properly coated and is ready for a crazy main course. While you probably can't hit all of these restaurants in a night, a choice of any one will be enough to satisfy both your appetite and your curiosity. Taiwan Ganbei What to eat: salt and pepper crispy pork intestines ($12.80) Dixon Street is lined with restaurants, but Taiwan Ganbei is a clear standout. It's often packed with locals and the menu offers a variety of exceptional organ dishes, among them the shredded pigs ear with chilli ($5.50). A side of warm steamed rice nicely balances the snappy, cold ear. For a truly sensational dish, try the salt and pepper crispy pork intestine; crusted and stuffed with green onions and herbs, the heavily spiced dish cuts through the richness of the organ. Of course, there is no better complement to a plate of intestines than an ice cold can of Taiwanese beer ($4.50). 52 Dixon St, Haymarket; Mon – Thurs 11.30am – 10pm; Fri – Sat 11.30am – 12am; Sun 11.30am – 10pm; (02) 9212 2220 Two Sticks What to eat: pork blood jelly with chives ($4.80) Move away from the Dixon Street bustle at this new George Street favourite. The bright yellow, Yunnan style restaurant has mirrored walls that give the tiny treasure an expansive illusion. The chef’s speciality, rice noodle soup ($13.80 regular; $9.80 mini pot) is the crowd pleaser here, but the entrée menu is what you’re after. For a truly peculiar taste test, the pork blood jelly is one of the most unusual dishes you’re likely to eat in Sydney. The extremely rich jelly melts in your mouth while the spicy, oil based sauce awakens your nasal passages. This starter is appetizing in its oddity and is a must try on this food tour. 694 George Street, Haymarket; Mon – Sun 11.30am – late Chinatown Noodle King What to eat: stir fried pork tripe ($13.80) Don’t let the touristy name fool you, this classic noodle house is cooking up some very authentic Chinese food. The exposed kitchen is known for their huge dumpling portions ($10.80) and handmade noodles ($4 — $14.80), but the menu is home to some bizarre classics like boiled duck giblets ($7.80) and ox tripe with sesame and peanut butter sauce ($10.80). The best among these is the stir-fried pork tripe; shoe string sliced tripe and veggies are doused in soy sauce and served piping hot. A second helping of stomach for your stomach? You’ll be surprised how easily you say "yes please!" 357 Sussex Street, Sydney City; Mon – Sun 11am-10.30pm Last Stop: Dessert Finale What to eat: Old Town — deep fried egg white with durian ($16 for 6 pieces) The only way to end an evening of food curiosity is with some rare dessert. Look no further than this Hong Kong restaurant where their durian desserts will leave an unusual taste in your mouth. Though generally unpleasant to the nostrils, this funky fruit is a staple throughout most Asian cuisines. Old Town's desserts are well conceived with combinations that mask the smell while bringing out that interesting durian flavour — this ranges from durian milkshakes ($6.50) to durian pudding ($8.50) and pancakes ($8). The most bizarre-tasting is the deep fried egg white with durian; a pink peep-like concoction, the slightly off-taste of the durian is balanced by the soft, fluffy egg white. You may not want to go in for the kiss after eating this dessert, but it is the perfect way to conclude your night out with the strange. 10A Dixon Street, Haymarket, Mon – Sun lunch 11am-4pm; dinner 4pm-2am; www.oldtownhongkongcuisine.com.au
Balmy summer nights in Sydney, bring 'em on. Rooftop wines, twilight beach strolls and a plethora of blockbuster exhibitions opening their doors across the city — not to mention the after-hours parties that come with them. Bringing some of the world's most groundbreaking, celebrated and iconic art to the city for your perusing pleasure, the Sydney International Art Series is currently boasting two world-class exhibitions at the Art Gallery of NSW and the Museum of Contemporary Art. Of course, Sydney galleries don't just shut up shop after you've soaked up The Greats: Masterpieces from the National Galleries of Scotland and Grayson Perry: My Pretty Little Art Career, there's a whole bunch of late-night events to see through the evening. Here's a round-up of the must-do cultural programs to catch over the coming months. UP LATE WITH THE GREATS When the sun goes down every Wednesday, the Art Gallery of NSW decks the halls with jam-packed evenings of talks, guided tours, and live music. A super-charged extension of the Gallery's usual Wednesday night Art After Hours program will run on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights, dubbed Up Late with The Greats. After the Gallery's usual closing time of 5pm, you can take an extended jaunt through The Greats exhibition — featuring the likes of Titian, Botticelli, Gauguin and Degas, all the way from the National Galleries of Scotland — and partake in a ramped up range of activities. On Wednesday nights, celebrated comedian and SERIOUS art nerd Hannah Gadsby will be unveiling her SERIOUS art history chops and treating gallery-goers to a VERY SERIOUS rundown of different eras of Western art history each week. There'll be salon drawing on Thursday nights, and live music by members of the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra on Friday nights. On all three nights, Young Henrys will be serving a limited edition masterpiece-inspired brew at the Gallery’s pop-up bar. Up Late With The Greats will run Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays from January 6 – 29. MCA ARTBAR The Museum of Contemporary Art’s monthly ARTBAR has become a firm fixture on Sydney’s after-dark cultural calendar. After knocking off work on Friday, head down to Circular Quay for an extra dose of art, a splash of wine and your choice of fun-filled activities — with the added bonus of panoramic views of the harbour from the Sculpture Terrace. Past curators have included the likes of Pip and Pop, Blak Douglas, Haines and Hinterding, and Rebecca Baumann — each building uniquely flavoured late-night events. Wander in on the last Friday night of the month and you can expect a lively conglomeration of art, music, design and performance. It’s an excuse to let loose alongside some of Sydney’s best artistic talent. The next ARTBAR for 2016 will be curated by the supremely colourful Rosie Deacon. Who knows what’s in store for this one, but knowing Deacon, we will likely see something big, crafty and carnivalesque. MCA ARTBAR curated by Rosie Deacon will take place on Friday, January 29, with the following editions of MCA ARTBAR taking place on February 26, April 1 and April 29. DINE AT CHISWICK AT THE GALLERY It makes perfect sense to conclude an art adventure with a culinary adventure, right? Matt Moran’s Chiswick at the Gallery offers a cool and classy dining experience inside the Art Gallery of NSW. The ethos underpinning this restaurant is all about seasonal produce and inventive creations. Hence this season’s lamb comes from Moran’s family farm in the Central Tablelands, while the locally-grown herbs and vegetables come courtesy of Chiswick’s resident gardener. Head along for a bite to eat during summer and you can take advantage of a special dining package developed to complement The Greats. Take your pick of two mains, two desserts, a glass of Ross Hill Estate wine, plus a ticket to the exhibition for $75 per person — pretty great value. After taking in some old world inspiration, you can retreat to Chiswick for a more contemporary and replenishing experience. It's staying open for dinner on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays in January as part of the Up Late with The Greats. For bookings, contact Chiswick at the Gallery on (02) 9225 1819. MCA'S GRAYSON PERRY-INSPIRED GIN GARDEN If you haven’t dabbled in a spot of gin drinking, now is the time. Young Henrys, Archie Rose Distillery and the MCA have joined forces to open a pop-up Gin Garden, coinciding with the blockbuster exhibition Grayson Perry: My Pretty Little Art Career. Ushering in some English charm for the summer — with the added perk of Australian sunshine — this quirky watering hole ought to be the perfect accompaniment to arty afternoons at the MCA. Archie Rose has set forth on a mission to revive Sydney’s once-thriving passion for spirits with their dedicated Rosebery distillery. The team will offer expertly crafted cocktails incorporating native Australian ingredients, such as blood lime, Dorrigo pepperleaf, lemon myrtle and river mint. If beer is your beverage of choice, Sydney’s star boutique brewers Young Henrys will be pulling a few pints too. Once you’ve had your fill of Grayson Perry, this is the leafy little pop-up is ideal for a refreshing sip of gin and a conversation (or debate) about contemporary art. The MCA Pop-Up Gin Garden will be open Thursday to Sunday from 4pm till late, until February 14, 2016. MCA LIGHTS ON LATER The MCA's late-night program is your go-to inner-city art adventure in Sydney, with this summer's program brimming with activity after hours. Every Thursday evening until 9pm, enjoy late-night access to Grayson Perry: My Pretty Little Art Career and other MCA exhibitions. Discover and design your alter ego in a hands-on workshop, listen to MCA curators and guides, watch one of Grayson Perry’s popular TV documentaries, join a Subversive Tour of the exhibition led by a cast of diverse and eclectic guests. Then wind down over a glass of wine, a bit to eat and live music on the MCA’s Sculpture Terrace. Want to go on multiple Sydney art adventures without going broke? You can buy discounted tickets to the Sydney International Art Series by purchasing an Art Pass. It gives you access to both The Greats and Grayson Perry this summer for a discounted rate. Nab one from artpass.com.au.
The fight to save The Rocks' Sirius Apartments has been raging for over seven months now, and Tim 'Rosso' Ross has no intention of giving it up anytime soon. In the latest of the Save Our Sirius saga, Rosso is leading a gathering this Friday, March 31 from 5pm. He's encouraging Sydneysiders to rethink your Friday arvo knock off drinks and join together in a celebratory protest of the Brutalist building and its relevance to Sydney's future. Oh, and Rosso is bringing the snags. Despite the unanimous advice of the Heritage Council to list the building, the NSW Government decided back in September to replace the public housing with luxury apartments, effectively pushing out its low-income occupants in an act that many feel is anti-community and anti-inclusion. The public outcry was massive and Rosso, along with Federal Labor frontbencher Anthony Albanese and Lord Mayor Clover Moore, led over 1500 people in a public rally to save the building. Afterward, protesters kept the fight going and launched a crowdfunding campaign, raising over $50,000 by 600 citizens. The money went to help the Millers Point Community Association launched a legal challenge against the NSW Government. Rosso's Friday protest is in response to the NSW Department of Family and Community Services (FACS) blocking out the windows of the Sirius after the building's architect, Tao Gofers, lead over 1000 people on walking tours of the apartments last month in an effort to raise greater public awareness around the issue.
It's the film festival that gives German cinema fans a showcase of the European nation's latest and greatest movies without leaving Australia. It's a way to catch up on highlights from the Berlin International Film Festival from Down Under, too. And, it's where German-language flicks from beyond the obvious nation equally get their time to shine. Here's another description that fits: it's also where one of Rainer Werner Fassbinder's masterpieces is almost always on the bill. The event in question is the German Film Festival, which has a huge 2025 in store even just by the numbers. Making its way around Australia between Wednesday, April 30–Wednesday, May 28, this year's fest has 29 days of movies on offer across eight legs in nine places and 23 cinemas. Cinephiles in Canberra, Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Ballarat, Byron Bay and Ballina, get excited: 20 features, plus 14-part miniseries Berlin Alexanderplatz, are on their way across the festival's tour. Not every title is playing at every location, including the literally biggest of them all for 2025. Fassbinder's addition to this year's program only has dates with Sydney and Melbourne, playing on the silver screen across three weekends — but if you're a movie lover in either city, clearing your diary to see the page-to-screen great that is Berlin Alexanderplatz couldn't be more highly recommended. The German Film Festival's opening-night pick is showing at all legs of the event, however, with romantic comedy Long Story Short kicking off the celebration of cinema — and giving Australia the chance to see one of Germany's recent box-office smashes. Other highlights across the complete program include six flicks that first played at this year's Berlinale, spanning closing night's Mother's Baby, the Nina Hoss (Tár)-starring Cicadas and conspiracy thriller Hysteria, alongside Hildegard Knef-focused documentary I Want It All, comedy of manners What Marielle Knows and the family-friendly Circusboy. That strand of movies also demonstrates the fest's fondness for variety, and for veering from the amusing to the thrilling and the dramatic. Or, attendees can catch Anatomy of a Fall Oscar-nominee Sandra Hüller in heist comedy Two to One, which is based on real-life events in 1990; Lars Eidinger (Babylon Berlin) as an orchestra conductor in Dying; Sam Riley (Widow Clicquot) in biopic John Cranko, about the choreographer; the literary loving The Door-to-Door Bookstore, as fittingly based on the novel; or Winners, which picked up the 2024 German Film Award for Best Children's Film. With Fassbinder, Hoss, Hüller and Eidinger, 2025's GFF is packed with well-known names. Another comes courtesy of doco Riefenstahl. About Leni, the controversial director that shares its moniker, the movie stems from unparalleled access to her private estate as it unpacks the legacy of the helmer of Nazi propaganda film Triumph of the Will, and the fact that her work contradicts her denial of close ties to the party. German Film Festival 2025 Dates Wednesday, April 30–Wednesday, May 21 — Palace Electric, Canberra Thursday, May 1–Wednesday, May 21 — Palace Norton Street, Chauvel Cinema, Palace Central and Palace Moore Park, Sydney Friday, May 2–Wednesday, May 21 — Palace Balwyn, Palace Brighton Bay, Palace Cinema Como, Palace Westgarth, The Kino, The Astor Theatre, Pentridge Cinema and Palace Penny Lane, Melbourne Friday, May 2–Wednesday, May 21 — Palace Regent Ballarat, Ballarat Wednesday, May 7–Wednesday, May 28 — Palace James St and Palace Barracks, Brisbane Wednesday, May 7–Wednesday, May 28 — Palace Nova Eastend Cinemas and Palace Nova Prospect Cinemas, Adelaide Thursday, May 8–Wednesday, May 28 — Luna Leederville, Luna on SX and Palace Raine Square, Perth Thursday, May 8–Wednesday, May 28 — Palace Byron Bay and Ballina Fair Cinemas, Byron Bay and Ballina The 2025 German Film Festival tours Australia from the end of April and throughout May. For more information, visit the festival website.
Board rooms are so done. Stockholm-based artist duo Bigert and Bergström have built a modal, stainless golden steel, reflective, egg-shaped sauna with a heart-shaped wood burning stove, named the 'Solar Egg'. Why? Commissioned by Swedish economic and real estate association Riksbyggen, the egg is a "social sculpture" according to the artists, providing a communal space for the residents of Kiruna to discuss their town's problems. Kiruna is the northernmost town in Sweden with a population of just under 20,000. In 2003, they realised that due to adjacent iron ore mining activity (activity which provides thousands of jobs for locals), the ground beneath the town was becoming unstable. The solution? Move the whole town three kilometres away. The relocation has been underway ever since and will continue to trudge along, piece by piece, for many more decades supported by the government and the mining company responsible. So, the residents of Kiruna have a lot to talk about while enjoying a sauna together. And, like the town itself, the golden egg can be disassembled and relocated. As far as interactive art installations go, it's both acutely beautiful and functional, with stainless golden mirror sheeting reflecting the fragmented, changing scenery of the surround mountains and tundra. Inside, the sauna's interior is made of pine wood panelling and decks, and aspen benches, with an iron and stone stove in the centre. Temperature varies between 75 and 85 degrees Celsius in the egg. Images: Riksbyggen and Futurniture.
We're only just now wrapping things up for this summer, but already the NGV has us anticipating the next one with its most ambitious exhibition yet. Descending on the gallery this December, and then every three years after that, the NGV Triennial series will present a smorgasbord of art and design, plucked from all corners of the globe and representing established artists, emerging talent, and plenty else in between. Each blockbuster lineup will highlight the ever-blurring lines between art, fashion, architecture, design, and performance. Kicking off with a bang, plans for this year's inaugural event are nothing short of grand, with the NGV announcing the free exhibition will take over all four levels of the gallery and host exciting works by over 60 artists and designers. But where it's really upping the ante is in the audience experience, with visitors invited to present their own ideas through cross-platform content, and the exhibition's participatory works designed to engage like never before. Legendary Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, best known for her obsessive patterning and vibrant representations of the infinite, will invite glimpses into the artist's mind with a work titled Flower obsession. Created especially for the NGV Triennial, the interactive exhibition will have visitors unleashing some creativity of their own, as they help plaster a furnished space with an array of colourful flower stickers and three-dimensional blooms. Kusuma joins other international names like Germany's Timo Nasseri and Canada's Sascha Braunig, alongside an Aussie billing that includes the likes of Ben Quilty, Louisa Bufardeci, and Tom Crago. There'll be an installation from Chinese haute couture fashion guru Guo Pei, designer of Rihanna's canary-yellow Met Ball gown, and an epic display of 100 oversized human skulls created by Australian artist Ron Mueck. Chemist and odour theorist Sissel Tolaas will create the 'scent of Melbourne' exclusively for the Triennial. And Alexandra Kehayoglou will be creating one of her monumentally-sized, lushly illustrated carpets, spanning over eight-metres-long. UPDATE JANUARY 19, 2018: From January 19–28, the gallery will stay open from 6pm till midnight with DJs, dance tours, talks and a pop-up Japanese restaurant as part of its ten-day Triennial Extra program. Image: NGV/Sean Fennessey.
Haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate, but Taylor Swift just took a massive step up in our book after coming to the rescue of a Sydney theatre production, who were told they wouldn't be allowed to use one of the pop star's songs just days before their opening night. Opening today, Belvoir Theatre Company's Seventeen stars veteran Australian actors Peter Carroll, Maggie Dence, John Godden, Genevieve Lemon, Barry Otto and Anna Volska as a group of seventeen year olds on their last day of school. The play was meant to include a scene where the cast dance to Swift's 2014 hit 'Shake It Off,' but those plans were apparently scuppered on Friday after they were denied the right to use the song. In a last-ditch effort, director Anna-Louise Sarks took to twitter and petitioned Swift directly. Hey @taylorswift13 I'm a big fan and I'm facing an artistic emergency I hope you can help with 1/7 #greygrey4taytay — Anne-Louise Sarks (@annelouisesarks) August 3, 2015 .@taylorswift13 I'm a theatre director from Sydney, and we have a big show opening tomorrow night @belvoirst 2/7 #greygrey4taytay — Anne-Louise Sarks (@annelouisesarks) August 3, 2015 .@taylorswift13 It's about the last day of school - only the 17yrolds are all played by 70yrolds 3/7 #greygrey4taytay pic.twitter.com/t3i1JPdZn2 — Anne-Louise Sarks (@annelouisesarks) August 3, 2015 . @taylorswift13 (including Barry Otto from Strictly Ballroom which maybe you've seen) http://t.co/cBOHzj4vdp #greygrey4taytay — Anne-Louise Sarks (@annelouisesarks) August 3, 2015 .@taylorswift13 there's this great moment where they Shake It Off, and they know all the words and have amazing moves 5/7 #greygrey4taytay — Anne-Louise Sarks (@annelouisesarks) August 3, 2015 .@taylorswift13 But we've just at the last minute been told we can't have the rights to the song! 6/7 #greygrey4taytay — Anne-Louise Sarks (@annelouisesarks) August 3, 2015 .@taylorswift13 Is there anything at all you can do?!! Thanks for reading! 7/7 #greygrey4taytay pic.twitter.com/pdL1TW1Bv9 — Anne-Louise Sarks (@annelouisesarks) August 3, 2015 She also sent tweets to Russell Crowe, Hugh Jackman and former federal arts minister Tony Burke in the hopes that they could help her get in touch. A number of celebrities, including Tim Minchin and Orange Is the New Black star Yael Stone also got on board, and before long the hashtag #greygrey4taytay was trending around Australia. Then, yesterday afternoon, the pop star with over 61 million followers responded. Permission granted, @BelvoirSt. Good luck with your opening night :) — Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) August 4, 2015 Yes! The reaction from the cast and crew was understandably ecstatic. BuzzFeed Australia was on hand when the news came through, and later tweeted the following Vine. "WE LOVE YOU TAYLOR!" We were on hand as @taylorswift13 granted @BelvoirSt its wish http://t.co/L0szMLegFV https://t.co/QuD1aS1Kiy — BuzzFeed Australia (@BuzzFeedOz) August 4, 2015 Anyone who has ever said a bad word about Taylor Swift and/or twitter should be eating a massive slice of humble pie right now. Now let the players play. Seventeen is at Belvoir Street Theatre from August 5 – September 13. For more information, visit their website. Via BuzzFeed Australia.
After the overwhelming, sold- out response to the The School of Life's Sydney pop-up in early 2016, the school has just announced it will open permanently on Monday July 25. The first term of programming will run from Monday, July 25 to Saturday, October 29, with tickets on sale at 10am this Monday, July 4. Founded in London in 2008, TSOL is a cultural endeavour to teach 'emotional intelligence,' offering encouraging ideas for everyday life through workshops, events and seminars. While the school currently operates in various cities around the world — including Amsterdam, Belgrade, Istanbul, Paris, Sao Paolo, Seoul and Tel Aviv — Australia is the first country to open a permanent branch outside of London, starting with The School of Life Melbourne in 2014. If Melbourne's recent classes on the philosophy of disco and a presentation on misinformation are any indication of what Sydneysiders have in store, we're a lucky bunch. While the school's main classroom is located on Castlereagh Street in the CBD, special large-scale events will run at other, sure to be iconic, venues across Sydney. Australians are, not surprisingly, welcoming this second outpost with open arms. The school's original founder, philosopher Alain de Botton, will be touring Australia throughout the opening month as a partnership launch with TSOL Australia. So what Life lessons are we learning? The first term features 23 'how to' classes spanning ideas surrounding love, work, life and death, as well as cultural workshops including 'Photography as Therapy', 'Making Meaning: Spring', 'Storytelling as Therapy', 'Living with a Creative Mind', 'Understanding Mindfulness' and 'Stoic Mindfulness and Meditation'. Special events are also included in the program. We're especially keen on the 'Music and the Mind' and the 'Night of Better Conversation' events. The school's customary philosophy brunches and its much-loved 'Bibliotherapy' services will also run throughout the semester. The School of Life Sydney will be located at Legion House, 161 Castlereagh Street, Sydney; Tickets for the first term of classes and events will go on sale at 10am on Monday, July 4. Keep your eyes on The School of Life's website and sign up for the mailing list for further announcements on major events of the program.
Yes, Pilgrims is a vegetarian cafe but even carnivores should feel compelled to visit this Sydney breakfast spot. Vegetarians and meat-eaters alike will be impressed by the generous portions and creative combinations on the menu. In fact, Pilgrims is so popular that it has two homes, one at Cronulla Beach and the other in Milton so you can get your hands on those superb buttermilk pancakes when journeying to the south coast. All morning and afternoon, choose from an expansive but classic selection of brunch fare — everything from the aforementioned pancakes to roasted mushrooms on toast and breakfast burgers. For lunch, vegetarians will be delighted by the sheer range of burgers on offer. Far from the standard veggie patty burger that usually makes an appearance on menus, at Pilgrims there are multiple options to choose from (including tofu, mixed grain and curried lentil), plus a burger special for kids. And if you can't make it during daylight hours, stop by on Fridays and Saturdays when the venue stays open past sundown, serving Mexican food — strictly vegetarian, of course. Whether you're visiting for breakfast, lunch or dinner, bookings are recommended, as tables always fill up fast at Pilgrims in Cronulla. Appears in: Where to Find the Best Breakfast in Sydney
Sydney is best known for its glorious sunny days and big blue skies, but with La Niña hitting hard here on the east coast, we've had to find things to do during the wettest of weeks. Our city is teeming with wet weather-friendly activities, so don't let a bit of drizzle keep you from making the most of Sydney. Here are some ideas to keep you entertained and sufficiently dry before you consider hiding under your doona forever — binge-watching Netflix not included. HOLE UP IN A COSY BAR At the first sign of threatening weather, gather your best group of drinking buddies and head straight for your local watering hole. Nab a cosy corner, order a few rounds and stay put until the skies clear. Quality booze, food and friends are really all you need, but to take your rainy day pub game up a notch, choose somewhere with board games or a fireplace. Our favourites include 1989 Arcade Bar, Charlie Parker's, The Old Fitz and hidden Darlinghurst saloon Shady Pines. Endless hours of rain-less fun are guaranteed. GET CULTURED IN A NICE DRY GALLERY A rainy day is the perfect opportunity to finally catch that exhibition you've been meaning to see. Escape the elements and step into a haven of vibrant and colourful artworks that will surely take your mind off the wild weather. Some of our go-to inner Sydney galleries include China Heights, White Rabbit, aMBUSH, Cooee Art Gallery and Abstract Thoughts above Cafe Freda's. In Sydney's west, you can't go wrong at Casula Powerhouse and Campbelltown Art Gallery. Or, if you want big show-stopping exhibitions, MCA, AGNSW and Australian Museum have you covered. Spend all day browsing the talent and leave with some newfound inspiration to pick up a paintbrush. SNUGGLE INTO A CINEMA SEAT Is there anything better on a rainy day than snuggling up to watch a movie, popcorn in one hand and a glass of wine in the other? The next time it starts to drizzle, swap Netflix for a new release or a retrospective screening of a classic film at one of Sydney's best boutique cinemas. The art deco stylings and warm atmosphere of Golden Age Cinema and Bar make it the perfect place to while away a rainy afternoon, beginning with a cocktail before enjoying an art-house film in the intimate screening room. Govinda's is another option for those wanting a unique movie-going experience, featuring a hearty vegetarian buffet and floor cushions to watch the film from. If the rain falls on a Monday, you'll be able to snag cheap movie tickets at Palace Cinemas; on Tuesdays, head to Dendy or Randwick Ritz. [caption id="attachment_736378" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW[/caption] CURL UP IN A CAFE One of the best places to be on a rainy day is in a window seat at a cosy cafe, where you can watch the rain from a safe, dry distance. Add a cup of steaming coffee (or a glass of wine), a hearty meal and a good book, and you're all set for a delightful day indoors. With Sydney's cafe scene constantly expanding, there's no shortage of options to choose from, so just start from the top of the list and work your way down. Key requirements include lots of natural lighting, a chilled-out soundtrack and friendly staff. If they're also serving all-day breakfast, you know you've found a winner. And if ramen is their bag, like Rising Sun Workshop, there's nothing better for a drizzly day. HAVE A SPA DAY Treating yourself every now and then is essential for your health, so use the next rainy day as an excuse to sneak off to the spa for a little dose of zen. Relax and rejuvenate with a facial and massage, or even rope your significant other in for a couple's treatment. Sydneysiders are spoilt for choice when it comes to spa experiences, so take your pick from the best. Nothing is more luxurious than spending the day wrapped up in a robe, with cucumbers on eyes to complete the experience, of course. BOOK YOURSELF INTO THE THEATRE There's a certain element of romance to the theatre, which always seems to heighten on a drizzly night. The next time it's forecast to rain, book tickets to a show and you'll see what we mean. Whether you prefer the classics or are a fan of more contemporary productions, there's bound to be a theatre in Sydney with shows suited to your tastes. Our favourites include Belvoir, Sydney Theatre Company, Riverside Theatre, Darlinghurst Theatre Company, Bell Shakespeare, Carriageworks, Performance Space and Griffin Theatre Company, and there's plenty more where that came from. Check out Concrete Playground's events guide for what's on this week. TAKE A CLASS If you've been meaning to pick up a new skill for a while, a dreary day is your chance to make it happen. Finally learn how to cook something other than two-minute noodles at one of Sydney's cooking schools, which include Cornersmith, The Sydney Chocolate School, Salt Meats Cheese and Cucina Italiana. Alternatively, Sydney is home to various art classes that will get your creative juices flowing. Try pottery at Clay Sydney, painting at Waverley Woollahra Art School or photography at The Aperture Club. To revamp your exercise routine, get warm and stretchy at One Hot Yoga or perfect your party dance moves at Sydney Pole. Your rainy day activity may even breed a lifelong hobby. Top image: Cooee Art Gallery, Cassandra Hannagan
Warehouse parties are great. Secret Mexican holiday-inspired, neon-drenched, immersive warehouse experiences are even better. Curated by a group of Mexican visionaries and artists, Day of the Dead 3.1. promises to be one heck of a Burning Man-channeling spectacle you'll want to lock down tickets for — on sale this Saturday, August 15 at 12.30pm. And with the demand already high, this event is expected to sell out within hours, so your crew had better be ready. For hundreds of years, El Dia de los Muertos has been one of the biggest parties in Mexico honouring the dead. The 4000 year-old tradition's history can be traced back to Mexico's indigenous beliefs of the afterlife — that death is only the beginning. Now it's Australia's turn to delve into the underworld, as The Day of the Dead finds its way to Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane this spring, in secret locations within each city. Expect interactive art installations, light projections, extravagant costumes, murals created by renowned street artists and an exclusive lineup of local and international DJs and musicians — including one big ol' festival favourite headliner. The lineup will be released closer to the day, so stay tuned. Pop-ups by a handpicked bunch of Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane's go-to local Mexican eateries, like Playa Takeria, have been selected to create Dia de los Muertos menus. Plus, there'll be Mexican cervezas and tequila/mezcal cocktails to provide you with enough sustenance to dance the night away. With instructions being sent to ticket holders just one week before the event, this is secret warehouse party business at it's best. Each city's locations are more closely guarded than an abuela's special mole sauce ingredient and will only be released one day before the party. Get ready to nab a ticket and start preparing your best Dia de los Muertos outfit. Day of the Dead will visit Sydney on October 24, then Melbourne on October 31 before ending in Brisbane on November 7. Tickets are $75 and go on sale here on Saturday 15 August at 12.30pm and are expected to sell out super fast. Don't stall on this one, it'll be the death of you.
From naturally-occurring wonders to marvels of architecture and design, this great nation of ours has no shortage of photo-friendly locations. Year after year, tourists and locals alike flock to Australia's most famous destinations, looking to capture that picture-perfect shot. Now, with just a few weeks left in the year, Traveller have revealed a list of the most snapped places in Australia. And while none of the locations are particularly surprising, they do serve as a reminder of just how goddamn crazy beautiful this country is. 5. MELBOURNE CRICKET GROUND (MCG) A photo posted by artinayar (@artinayar) on Aug 16, 2015 at 1:03am PDT The most iconic sporting ground in Australia, when you consider how many people are regularly packed into the MCG throughout the year, its inclusion on the list makes a lot of sense. That said, we can't help but wonder if it would have appeared even higher if Instagram had waited until after the Boxing Day Test to release their rankings. 4. BONDI BEACH A photo posted by Adam Bull (@bulladam) on Dec 3, 2015 at 3:12pm PST Synonymous with Australian beach culture, Bondi offers Instagrammers the perfect opportunity to casually show off their tans against a backdrop of crystal waters and sandy shores. With an oceanside cinema, food pop-ups and a brand new dining precinct on the way, we don't expect to see Bondi drop off this list anytime soon. 3. SURFERS PARADISE BEACH A photo posted by Sharon Lewin | Australia (@thenomadictraveller) on Dec 1, 2015 at 12:52pm PST Pipping their NSW rivals to the proverbial post, Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast beat out Bondi as Australia's most Instagrammed beach. And with photos like these, it's rather hard to argue. Paradise indeed. 2. DARLING HARBOUR, SYDNEY A photo posted by Nimesh Yadav (@nimeshnimze) on Dec 3, 2015 at 5:37pm PST A bustling harbourside hub smack bang in the centre of Sydney, Darling Harbour has long been one of the city's biggest tourist destinations – and that was before they opened up their giant new urban playground. Just make sure you don't get your eye taken out by an errant selfie-stick. 1. SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE A photo posted by Tom Rex Jessett | Australia (@trex.photography) on Dec 1, 2015 at 1:01pm PST What a shocker! To the surprise of absolutely no one, the top spot on the most Instagrammed list goes to the most famous landmark in the country. From the dazzling displays seen during Vivid Sydney to the sobering site of the sails lit up in the colours of the French flag, the Sydney Opera House remains the number one place in Australia that inspires visitors to whip out their camera phones. And frankly, it's hard to imagine that changing any time soon. Via Traveller. Top image: Alan Lam via Flickr
Hundreds of years have passed since many of the masterpieces featured in The Greats at the Art Gallery of NSW were made. Botticelli, Boucher, Raeburn, Gauguin, Degas, Monet. Drummed in by high school textbooks, these names are part of the vocabulary of any good art-goer. But what do they mean today? Can they still surprise us? Looking back on the stiff social decorum of the 12th through 19th centuries, it’s easy to underestimate the power of these paintings. However, many of the artists in this exhibition were true game-changers and provocateurs in their heyday. In fact, they were frequently shunned for their boldness. One of Australia’s favourite painters, Archibald Prize-winner Ben Quilty took time to share his thoughts on getting the most out of these artworks and understanding how they resonate with our contemporary era. “All of the works in the show were radical for their time, really,” says Quilty. “Something we tend to do in Australia is lose context of pieces and what they meant at the time of their production. Context is essential in order to get your head around them and to give them the credit they’re due. These paintings were made hundreds and hundreds of years before a camera was invented.” THE BUILDING BLOCKS OF CRAFT One of the striking things about the paintings featured in The Greats is their technical precision. The highly controlled execution of these works is the product of painstaking hours of academic practice rather than a sense of innate genius that blossomed overnight. “Back then, all children left school being able to draw beautifully,” says Quilty. “But drawing wasn’t the true skill. It was how you then contextualised and used drawing to make an image that was radical; an artwork that spoke to the contemporary world and challenged people’s notions.” In many ways, it was the structure and rigour of art education that lifted artists into the annals of history. These masterpieces are the reward reaped by societies who choose to value art. “Absolutely, art was seen to be as important as philosophy, mathematics and Latin,” says Quilty. “And it was the ones who made some sort of symbol or statement or conceptual investigation into their societies that went on to become great artists.” JOHN SINGER SARGENT: BREAKING WITH TRADITION One of the boldest paintings to stir up a sensation toward the end of the nineteenth century was John Singer Sargent’s Lady Agnew of Locknaw (1892), one of the works you shouldn't miss at The Greats. “Looking at that painting, there are works in the Art Gallery of NSW’s collection that were directly inspired by it,” says Quilty. “People tend to think it’s just a funny old thing but it broke with so many traditions of that period.” The subject of the painting, Lady Gertrude Agnew, is depicted in a decadent armchair against a silk tapestry printed with Chinese characters. However, it is her casual posture and piercing gaze that shocked viewers of the time, who condemned the work as indecent. “If you were a young adult when that painting was made, it was totally radical to see a female figure splayed out and laidback rather than very poised,” says Quilty. EL GRECO: PAINTING OR POSTER? Perhaps one of the more ambiguous paintings you will see in The Greats is El Greco’s An Allegory (Fabula) (1580 – 85). A boy, a monkey and a grinning man are huddled around a flame. Unlike other works in the show, this painting is far from the art of religious iconography or the commissioned portraits of aristocrats. Something mysterious is unfolding amid the arresting play of light and shadow. This work is also one of Quilty’s top picks for the exhibition. “This painting strikes me as so contemporary,” says Quilty. “The first time I saw this work, it was like looking at a black and white poster. There is something very graphic about it. It’s very different to the rest of the show and so enigmatic. It’s beautiful and dark and foreboding. I guess this is the painting that makes me want to go to my studio and accelerate my practice.” DIEGO VELAZQUEZ: PERFECT POACHED EGGS The Greats has its share of showstoppers; however Diego Velazquez’s Old Woman Frying Eggs (1618) is all the more impressive knowing the artist was a mere teenager when he painted it. From the metallic shine of kitchen utensils to the gentle mingling of egg and water, the textural precision of this work is truly arresting — making it another of Concrete Playground's artworks you shouldn't miss at the exhibition. “Seeing every piece of that painting — the hands, the fingernails, the shadow of the knife — it’s extraordinarily beautiful," says Quilty. Velazquez would have been mixing his own paint too. The pigment came straight out of the ground and was mixed with oils and binders to create something for us to see more than four hundred years later. It gives me goosebumps. You win, Diego." Above all, this painting highlights the fundamental skills necessary to create a long lasting works of art. "When it comes to painting, you have to be aware of the boring and scientific side of things," says Quilty. "Part of the craft of being an artist is that you have to respect the materials you’re using and their histories. But you know what, if anyone can paint eggs poaching in boiling water like Velazquez can, I’ll do anything for them. It’s an extraordinary feat for an eighteen year old man.” The Greats: Masterpieces from the National Galleries of Scotland runs October 24 to February 14. Tickets are $22 adult, $18 concession and available from the Gallery or the website.
The Finders Keepers Markets have become a staple for those who are into design, creativity and supporting local artists. Treat yourself to a stroll around the market — it has over 200 stalls featuring fashion, ceramics, jewellery and food. Returning to The Australian Technology Park for three days for the second time this year, you'll be able to nab some marvellous treats that are difficult to find anywhere else. It's the perfect time to knock out your Christmas shopping in one go. The designer-centric, come-one-come-all mini-festival has managed to bridge the gap between local market and exclusive exhibition, creating a space for independent designers to engage with the wider community. This time around, keep an eye out for beautiful summery swimming costumes from Camp Cove Swimwear, Raw.suds for some men's beauty care (potential Christmas present), and The Salty Merchants for a summer beach umbrella. As usual, there will be a healthy amount of food. Cornersmith will be there serving up gourmet treats, as will Mr. Bao and Nighthawk Diner, and Donut Papi will be on hand for sugar cravings. Finders Keepers will run over three days, on Friday December 9 from 6pm-10pm, on Saturday December 10 from 10am-6pm, and on Sunday December 11 from 10am-5pm. For more information and a full list of designers, visit the Finders Keepers Sydney website. Image: Bridget Bodenham by Bec Taylor.
"What we don't acknowledge becomes the shadow within ourselves," says Western Australian curator Clothilde Bullen. "And that is what has happened in this country. We have to more openly have these conversations, in order to bring these histories into the light." Pieced together from the Artbank treasure trove and complemented with select loans is a new exhibition curated by Bullen, showcasing the work of contemporary Indigenous artists. Darkness on the Edge of Town will explore narratives of marginalisation and the positioning of the Indigenous Australian. It's a timely exhibition that will excavate hidden histories and reflect on continuing injustices. Bullen was drawn to create an exhibition that responded to the ongoing injustices against Indigenous people. "The works are highly political in nature," she says. "When I started this exhibition, I was looking at the Black Lives Matter movement and SOS Black Australia." What is striking about many of the works on display is their dark aesthetics — shades of black and grey ripple through paintings, photographs and sculptures. "A lot of history is very murky — there are parts people choose not to know about it," says Bullen. In revising the white-washed version of Australian history, Bullen's exhibition is all about restoring and elevating black voices. "I would like there to be an understanding that within these spaces, and within Australia, these are important voices that matter," she says. "Our voices are front and centre — they are embedded within the history of this country. Let's not participate in the great forgetting." Darkness on the Edge of Town runs August 18 to November 12 at Artbank Sydney. Bullen took us into the Artbank store for a peek into the exhibiting artists and what to expect from this complex, highly timely exhibition. [caption id="attachment_582492" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Christopher Pease, Balga resin (2008), Artbank collection[/caption] CHRISTOPHER PEASE — BALGA RESIN Looming large over this exhibition is a painting from Wardandi artist Christopher Pease. This heavily textured work was created through a labour intensive process of collecting resin from the balga or grasstree, which is native to Southwest Australia. Pease then melted the resin onto hessian and canvas, creating a dramatic visual effect. "The resin is actually a living thing," says Bullen. "This work changes every time you look at it and in different lights. It has different personalities." From one angle, the sumptuous and bioluminescent painting looks like purple veins pulsing through black paint. Under a different light, it looks like a red lightning strike cracking open the darkness. "The materiality tells a lot of the story," says Bullen. "In terms of the way the resin is bound to the hessian, the work speaks to a connection to country and how that has changed over time." [caption id="attachment_583651" align="alignnone" width="1280"] James Tylor, (Erased Scenes) From an Untouched Landscape #5 (2014), Artbank collection.[/caption] JAMES TYLOR — ERASED SCENES (FROM AN UNTOUCHED LANDSCAPE) #12 James Tylor is quickly becoming one of Australia's most eminent young photographers. In this series, Erased Scenes (From An Untouched Landscape), his moody and mysterious photographs look like documents from a crime scene investigation. Of course, there is a sophisticated political critique that binds these works together. The geometric black shape imposed onto each image omits the presence of Aboriginal people and culture, paralleling their omission from history and society. "The immediate sense you get when you see these works is that something is missing — the country is incomplete. Alternatively, something has been laid over the top," says Bullen. "So there is either a hidden history or something we want to blank out. What goes on in that blackened space? What has been forgotten? As simple as these works look, they are embedded with multiple levels of meaning." [caption id="attachment_583228" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Lorraine Connelly-Northey, Narrbong (String Bag) (2007), Artbank collection.[/caption] LORRAINE CONNELLY-NORTHEY — NARRBONG (STRING BAG) Lorraine Connelly-Northey's sculptural practice begins with sifting through discarded materials: fencing wire, barbed wire, rusted iron, metal meshing. Salvaged mainly from farming lands, these industrial materials are typically used to demarcate property. In this way, her objects contain a powerful commentary on the territorial impact of colonisation. Connelly-Northey's intricate sculptures are modelled on traditional Aboriginal artefacts. For instance, her reimagined narrbong references the string bag once used to collect water. "We have these traditional objects that we can't necessarily make anymore," says Bullen. "Our culture is dynamic, it's not static. This work is an example of we can utilise whatever we can in order to make something that is going to work for us. This exemplifies the practice of using ideas around traditionalism and manifesting them in completely new and contemporary ways." [caption id="attachment_582495" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Ian Abdulla, Night Boxing (1992), Artbank collection.[/caption] IAN ABDULLA — NIGHT BOXING Rooted in a specific historical phenomenon, Ian Abdulla's work traces the culture of tent-boxing in Aboriginal communities. This bareknuckle sport, which was frequently illegal, arose around 1900 and continued until the late 1980s. "In reference to the title of the exhibition, we're talking about fringe dwellers," says Bullen. "These were people who were kept out of town at night and were asked to exist on the edges." While the history of tent-boxing is a complex one, Abdulla draws attention to a self-sufficient practice, which unfolded outside the control of authorities. In this way, it provided an alternative set of fiscal structures beyond the mainstream. "To me, this work makes a nice comment on what you need to do in order to be economically viable," says Bullen. "Tent-boxing was a meaningful cultural tradition for people all over the country." [caption id="attachment_583229" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Clinton Nain, What are you saying? (2007), Artbank collection.[/caption] CLINTON NAIN — WHAT ARE YOU SAYING? In scrutinising the scars of dispossession, Clinton Nain's practice confronts the darkest elements of Australian history. In particular, his painting, What are you saying? is a sombre take on the linguistic assault on Aboriginal languages. "Nain uses materials that are found in missions and reserves," says Bullen. "Then he turns them around to create strong messages about the colonial history of this country. While this work looks quite abstract, it's a critical statement about families being in missions and the stolen generations." Using bitumen and bleach — an uneasy combination — Nain's painting contains a political message that evokes the attempted conquest of white over black. "The medium is quite expressive and matches the content," says Bullen. Darkness on the Edge of Town runs August 18 to November 12 at Artbank Sydney. Images: Kimberley Low.
Amrita Hepi wants you to dance away shame. She told you, us and thousands of keen ears at this year's TEDxYouth last week. A lifelong dancer, a writer, an activist and a Bundjulung/Ngapuhi woman, Hepi is a busy one. From running the Hollaback dance class in Surry Hills and highly popular Beyonce and Rihanna dance classes at Plan B Small Club to hosting Dance Dance Revolution on FBi Radio and curating a performance for Melbourne's Next Wave Festival, TEDx is the next achievement she can add to her impressive resume. We were lucky enough to nab an exclusive interview with Hepi the day before TEDx, 24 hours before she delivered a speech on 'dancing your way through shame' to a Sydney audience and streaming listeners Australia-wide. Think nuggets of wisdom like this on stage: "Even the best dancers and heaviest drinkers have that worry... [of] not wanting to make a total fool of [themselves]... The next time you get an offer to join in, commit to your movements. There's nothing to lose in your movement, you can be as loud and as big as you want... The next level, the Jedi level, is to commit to your action and be able to be generous enough to help others dance with you." Let's get moving. How does it feel to have been asked to speak at TEDxYouth this year? What's your TED Talk about? I feel really privileged and grateful. When they first asked me, there was a list of 50 people to interview, so I was not expecting much! I may call the speech 'How to Dance Better at Parties' — it's about commitment to action and the idea that, if you're a really good social dancer, you're committed to your movement, and if you're exceptional then you can involve others in it too, without shame. Can you tell us more about this concept of 'shame'? It comes with being a woman, and also as a woman of colour. There are these ideas of embarrassment around certain parts of the body and the way people are looking at you. There's especially a long history of shame in the Indigenous community. When I started teaching, I wanted to find a way to navigate that shame — to get rid of it for myself and help others to do the same. The only way to do it is to have the discussion. But shame doesn't only apply to women either. It's more the way people, men and women, assign themselves to gender fields. It's the idea of engendered roles and how we're taught to operate in society. How did we get to that? You don't really have to operate on that level or do that role, and that's part of what I try to teach through my classes. Can you tell us a bit more about your own background as a dancer? I started dancing when I was three and I loved it. I went to dance school from about age nine until I was 18 or 19 when dance, for me, became so shame fueled and uncomfortable. I was worried about being looked at in the right way, at the right time. Women have to disappear or only appear in the right ways. So I stopped dancing for a year. I started teaching classes again to dance through this shame. What sets TEDxYouth apart from TEDx? There's such a difference between the two rooms – people in the main hall are all very professional in their fields and the speeches are looked at as a tool. People watching TEDxYouth are looking up and getting inspired. It's that mentality of "I could do that one day." Movement and body for youth are specifically important and can be really instrumental in spacing language. Language is so important because the language we use goes straight into the mouths of others. I remember watching public speaking and debating when I was in primary and high school and the lasting effect it can have. If one person finds my speech helpful and it changes one person's idea of shame, well the butterfly effect of that is very powerful. It's a small conquest. Amrita wasn't the only one dropping truth bombs at TEDxSydney and TEDxYouth this year. Returning to the Opera House with an all-star lineup of speakers and performers, TEDx saw an overriding theme focused on the importance of communication and the connections you can make through different forms of conversation. For those really looking to connect, TEDx replaced Tinder for the day, supplying event goers with red and rainbow heart shaped stickers to help the singles to mingle. Dr. Jordan Nguyen spoke about the ability to communicate with ourselves and with others more effectively through virtual reality, giving users the ability to literally step into someone else's shoes. Neurogamer Karen Palmer discussed how mind-focusing virtual games can help take control of your life and find courage in your goals and ambitions. Peta Murchinson expressed the power of human connection and kindness, while finance researcher Elise Payzan-Lenestour discussed the recklessness inherent in human nature. Cartoonist Cathy Wilcox spoofed on the same theme in her satirical speech on the "culture of outrage." Masculinity expert Dr. Michael Kimmel urged men to "talk our walk" and to re-communicate the meaning of masculinity to boys. Radical body activist Kelli Jean Drinkwater discussed self-worth, shame, and reclaiming your body and space. Natalie Jeremijenko, donning a tiara, spoke about a physical version of reclaimed space, discussing her projects to create a healthy urban ecosystem and reconnect to the world around us. These include tree offices, butterfly bridges, and an inner city zip line transportation system. Emily Parsons also touched on our environment and gave one of the most powerful speeches of the conference in her discussion on the breathable air of our past and future and its unspoken influence for life on earth. You can watch TEDxSydney and TEDxYouth talks here.
Common wisdom tells us that, if you really want to innovate, you need to think outside the box. But it turns out thinking inside the box can sometimes be just as effective. Case in point: Freight Farms, a shipping container farm company aiming to revolutionise urban agriculture. It's the brainchild of owners Jon Friedman and Brad McNamara, and the result of some out-of-the-figurative-box, inside-the-literal-box thinking. As the name suggests, the American company specialises in sustainable farm systems built inside portable shipping containers. The so-called Leafy Green Machines (LGMs) are outfitted with LED lighting that replicates sunlight, a drip irrigation system that uses just ten gallons of water a day, and sensors that balance temperature, humidity and carbon dioxide levels. Crops such as lettuce and kale are grown in vertical towers to avoid wasted space and ensure the maximum possible yield. "Freight Farms is just a much more efficient use of land," Friedman told The Huffington Post. "You're talking about growing vertically in a very condensed footprint." Apparently, the farms can yield the equivalent of two acres of conventional farmland. "The cost to get a farm right now is right around $80,000" says McNamara. "But the operating cost is going to be under $20,000 a year. We have farmers who are clearing revenue anywhere from $60,000 a year growing certain crop, all the way to $90,000 and above." And according to the pair, the farms don't require a great deal of expertise or in-depth training to run. "We focused a lot on creating a platform that people can use with only motivation — not requiring advanced degrees or advanced schooling or long training." Anyone up for growing their own kale? Freight Farms Allow You To Grow Food AnywhereThis portable vegetable garden's growing inside a 320-square-foot shipping container that can yield as much as two acres of farmland. Posted by The Huffington Post on Friday, January 8, 2016 Via The Huffington Post.
It's the society wedding of the year, and you're invited. Melbourne socialites Jasper and Jasmine are going to tie the knot at St Kilda's West Beach Bathers Pavilion this May; trotting down the aisle, barking their vows and sniffing each other's butts. Yep, they're pugs. It's a pug wedding. A real life pug wedding. Seems there's a Leslie Knope living in Melbourne. Raising much-needed funds for Pug Rescue and Adoption Victoria Inc. (a volunteer-run, foster care-based animal welfare charity with a focus on pugs), this wedding doesn't have the happiest Disney backstory. Jasmine and Jasper came into the care of Pug Rescue in April 2013, after they were found to be so morbidly obese they could hardly breathe. They were taken from their former home by the rescue team and apparently were turning blue on the car ride, poor little things. But just one year later, Pug Rescue have nursed the pair back to health so they can enjoy a newfound pug life with each other and their new family — together. Take a hike, The Notebook; this is a true love story for the ages. Now, let's get these pugs married already. On Sunday, May 17, Pug Rescue are putting on the works for these pups. Get ready for this; Jasmine will wear an exclusive couture bridal gown designed by renowned Australian designer and Project Runway runner-up Craig Braybrook. A pug in couture. As if you're not locking this in already. Jasper's outfit is yet to be confirmed, but we're predicting mini bowtie at the very least. The whole event will be styled by Christian Wagstaff of Melbourne’s famed Creative Production and the venue will be decked out with flowers by Virginia Chorley of The Bouquets of Ascha Jolie. Tickets to the Wedding of the Year are $60, which we reckon is a straight-up bargain considering all funds raised go to Pug Rescue; helping to fund future pug psychological and physical rehabilitation along with the vet care and specialty surgery. And apparently they're selling fast, so get on it. If you can't make it, make sure you raise a water bowl to Jasper and Jasmine next Sunday; overcoming terrible odds and living a brand new #puglyf together. Jasper and Jasmine's pug wedding ceremony is happening from 1pm on Sunday, May 17, West Beach Bathers Pavilion, 330A Beaconsville Parade, St Kilda. Tickets are $60 per person from jasperandjasmine.com, or 'virtual tickets' are $19.95 — an invitation-only live video stream of the wedding online. Video of the wedding will also be available online for two weeks post-event for virtual ticket holders. Images: Ragamuffin.
When word got out that Guillaume Brahimi was working on a dining room revamp of one of Paddington's best-loved pubs, The Four in Hand, Sydney heard some pretty high-pitched squealing from this keen team. Now, we're making a big ol' B line for the Paddo pub, as The Four in Hand by Guillaume has officially reopened. Teaming up with Mitchell Waugh of Public House Management Group (Collaroy Hotel. The Royal Paddington, Woollahra Hotel), former Guillaume at Bennelong maestro Brahimi is leading the Four in Hand into ultra-fancy, French-inspired pub grub territory. After buying the joint from chef Colin Fassnidge, he's recruited new head chef Darrell Felstead to create a sophisticated, two-tiered gastropub menu — a bar menu in the pub, and a bigger but still apparently casual menu in the dining room. At first glance, the seasonally-changing restaurant menu immediately takes things next-level for the pub. Think snacks like tinned anchovies, butter, watercress and toast, or duck liver parfait, pear chutney and toast. There are starters like roast quail salad with egg, frisee and parmentier potatoes, mains like salt-baked celeriac, carrot risotto and sorrel, and desserts like peach tart with peach ice cream, strawberries, sable, sheep's yoghurt sorbet and peppermint tea jelly. Head sommelier Rodolphe Bertin has put 100 predominantly Australian and French wines on the wine list (22 of those by the glass). Yearning for a little of the old Four in Hand? There's about 100 bottles from the previous cellar that'll be on the menu until they're gone. "The Four in Hand has always been one of my favourite pubs. It was one of the first places I drank a beer when I arrived in Sydney many years ago, and it's one of the best pub dining rooms in the country. It is also down the hill from my restaurant, so it's an area of Sydney I know and love," says Brahimi. "I have worked closely with Darrell to maintain it's spirit but also to showcase some of my favourite casual dishes, the kind of food I like to eat every day." How Brahimi has time for this, we don't know. He already runs Paddington's two-hatted Guillaume restaurant, two restaurants at Crown Resorts, Bistro Guillaume in Melbourne and Perth, and is culinary director of Crown Resorts. The Four in Hand by Guillaume is at 105 Sutherland Street Paddington. Open seven days a week for lunch (12pm – 3pm) and dinner (5.30pm – 9.30pm). Bookings via the website. Images: Nikki To.
Merry Christmas, music lovers! Radiohead have gone and dropped a brand new track in time for the holidays, and we don't mind saying that it's pretty damn spectacular. Turns out that Thom Yorke and his bandmates were commissioned to write the theme song for the recently released James Bond movie, although for some baffling reason the producers didn't end up using it. But the group finished the song anyway, and released it via SoundCloud overnight. So, without further adieu... First impressions? This is definitely how we'd expect a James Bond tune by Radiohead to sound. Which is to say that it won't be for everybody, although personally we like it a hell of a lot more than Sam Smith's eventual effort. The existence of this track, which shares a name with the movie, isn't entirely surprising. Rumours that Radiohead would be composing the Spectre tune circulated on the internet for months prior to the film's release, before it was eventually revealed that Smith had been tapped instead. As it happens, Radiohead were approached, but according to York "it didn't work out." Last year we were asked to write a tune for Bond movie Spectre. Yes we were ........... — Thom Yorke (@thomyorke) December 25, 2015 ... It didn't work out ... but became something of our own which we love very much .... — Thom Yorke (@thomyorke) December 25, 2015 .. As the year closes we thought you might like to hear it. Merry Christmas. May the force be with you ... https://t.co/BXN8MQKJyQ — Thom Yorke (@thomyorke) December 25, 2015 Bit weird that he finished that tweet with a Star Wars reference, isn't it? Unless...wait a minute...could Radiohead be working on a track for Episode VIII? You heard it here first people. Let the rampant speculation begin.
Master of all smooth tunes and poster child of Melbourne's enduring obsession with beards, Chet Faker has just announced a huge national tour for 2015. And we really do mean huge — this local legend is returning from a string of massively successful European and American shows to play Sydney's Hordern Pavilion, Melbourne's Palais and the freakin' Brisbane Convention Centre. His shows are officially pulling the same numbers as the G20. This is no doubt welcome news for those that missed out on his national tour earlier this year. With Hordern Pavilion holding roughly 4,000 more people than the Enmore where he played in June, tickets will be much easier to come by. In Brisbane that difference will be even more pronounced. The Brisbane Convention Centre can host a whopping 8,000 rampant Chet lovers. All this hype comes after a stellar run of critical acclaim for the Melbourne musician. He's been nominated for a spectacular nine ARIA awards this year including Best Male Artist and Best Breakthrough Artist — and he's already won three, including Producer of the Year at the ARIA Artisans. His much-loved debut album Built On Glass is also a hot tip for winner of Australian Album of the Year at the J Awards. However this arena setting is sure to affect the show itself too. Specialising in croony electronic ballads and music that makes you feel all warm and gooey inside, it's hard to see how Chet will translate well to the big stage. How are we supposed to snug up and get a little intimate around the stage where Barack Obama talked just a few months prior? Melbourne, on the other hand, may get treated to a rare glimpse of this intimacy. His show at the Palais — assuming it's still standing by then — will actually be smaller than when he played the Forum earlier in the year. Get ready for some hometown lovin' — after he picks up all of the ARIAs he'll probably be graduating to Rod Laver Arena. Tour dates: Wednesday, February 11 – ANU Bar, Canberra Friday, February 13 – Hordern Pavilion, Sydney Saturday, February 14 – Convention Centre, Brisbane Friday, February 20 – Chevron Gardens, Perth Festival Saturday, February 21 – Chevron Gardens, Perth Festival Friday, February 27 – Palais Theatre, Melbourne Saturday, February 28 – Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide Tickets go on sale 9am, November 20. To find out more about about Chet Faker and his killer debut album check out our interview from earlier in the year.
Another beloved Australian music festival is sitting 2025 out, with the Listen Out team revealing that the event won't be on the calendar this year. In 2024, when Groovin the Moo announced its dates then cancelled, and Splendour in the Grass sadly did the same, this electronic-meets-hip hop fest still toured the country. Now, though, it's "hitting pause on Listen Out as you know it", organisers announced via social media. "We've always tried to build something special — where the lineup reflects the culture and the energy flows both ways between the artists and you," the statement advises. "The last few years have been tough." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Listen Out (@listenout) Although Listen Out isn't going ahead in 2025 in its usual format, the crew is putting on a series of shindigs badged Listen Out Presents, however. Music lovers can expect "one-off, carefully curated parties in killer locations around Australia all year long" featuring "some of the best artists in the world", the festival team announced. No further details have been revealed so far. Skipping the big fest setup for a smaller affair yet still boasting impressive names was Spilt Milk's approach in 2024 — when it ditched its usual festivals but had Troye Sivan, Glass Animals and G Flip take to the stage Newcastle, Perth and on the Gold Coast. The fellow fest is returning in its full form in 2025, headlined by Kendrick Lamar. That said, Listen Out's cancellation this year in favour of parties comes after both Groovin the Moo and Splendour in the Grass failed to make 2025 comebacks following their year off. [caption id="attachment_957230" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Samm Venn[/caption] In 2024, Listen Out did the rounds for its 11th year with a lineup featuring 21 Savage, Skepta, Tyla and Flo Milli among its hip hop and R&B names, plus John Summit and Sub Focus on the electronic side. The year prior, in 2023, the fest held its most-successful event at the time in terms of ticket sales ever, with the crew behind it hoping to continue that trajectory by turning the fest into a 16-plus event, age-wise, which was a first for 2024. [caption id="attachment_957228" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Anna Warr[/caption] [caption id="attachment_957224" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mitch Lowe[/caption] [caption id="attachment_957218" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jordan Munns[/caption] [caption id="attachment_957221" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sam Venn[/caption] Listen Out is not taking place in 2025, with Listen Out Presents parties set to pop up instead — we'll update you when more details are announced, and keep an eye on the festival's social media in the interim.
The times are indeed a-changing in Kings Cross. Alongside the tightening noose of lockout laws, many a Cross venue has been downgraded, shuffled or closed down altogether — most recently (and controversially) Hugo's. But thankfully, one of our ol' favourite spaces has been spared total annihilation and is being repurposed in a pretty excellent way — as a brand new theatre. The Kings Cross Theatre (KXT) is opening on level two of the Kings Cross Hotel, in the bones of the space that once housed beloved live music venue FBi Social (RIP) and The Bandroom (RIP). Just around the corner from The Old Fitz, the KXT theatre has seating for 75-90 and has some big ideas in terms of programming. Suzanne Millar, co-artistic director of the bAKEHOUSE Theatre Company (the team responsible for the reno) says the intention is for the theatre to be afford and accessible (great!) and produce ambitious works (even greater!). It’s a venture not just for the public to enjoy, but also for the artists to love and build up. We’re mentally fist bumping the crap out of it too — a new theatre in Sydney is music to our ears. This is a really excellent way to breathe life into a space that, like so many around it, may have fallen by the wayside if not for some TLC. And the bAKEHOUSE Theatre company are certainly capable of piquing our dramatic interest. They’ve a bundle of productions under their collective belts (including Great Expectations, multicultural smorgasbord Story Lines, Phillip Pullman’s His Dark Materials and The Ishmael Club) and are rigorously dedicated to diversity in casting and working with independent and innovative storytelling. In essence? We can't wait to see what they cook up — and it brings a tear to the eye to see the old FBi Social space being used for good. Find KXT on Level 2, Kings Cross Hotel, 244 - 248 William Street, Kings Cross. Stay tuned for 2015/2016 programming.
The National Gallery of Victoria is wrapping up this wild year in style, hosting the blockbuster second edition of its much-hyped NGV Triennial. Taking over the gallery from Saturday, December 19, the exhibition looks set to be the biggest art event to hit the city in three years, featuring works from over 100 artists, representing 30 different countries. Among them, you can expect a diverse response to this year's themes of illumination, reflection, conservation and speculation. With a lineup like this — and many months of missed art appreciation to make up for — it's hard to know where to even start. You'll wander through the halls and discover a large-scale, neck-tilting celebration of light and movement; a layered, shimmering sphere of used lenses; and even a giant octopus crafted from hand-felted cigarette butts; and a life-size, mirror-polished stainless steel sculpture based on an 18th-century porcelain figurine. The exhibition is huge, we've offered up a sneak peek here, but, if you'd like to delve deeper, we've also pulled out five must-see artworks over here. Start plotting your art gallery debut now. The NGV Triennial 2020 will be on show at NGV International from Saturday, December 19 until Sunday, April 18, 2021. For more info and to see the full program, visit the NGV website.
In a piece of news we're filing under 'how is this just happening now?', New York City is getting ready to host its first ever Donut Fest. Taking over Verboten, a music venue and bar in the heart of Williamsburg, the festival will see the finest bakers in the city gather for a day of deep-fried, sugar-glazed, sprinkle-coated goodness. It's all set to go down on Saturday January 23... giving you just over two weeks to sort out a plane ticket. Vendors in the lineup include The Doughnut Project, whose far out flavours include pineapple with habenero and salted chocolate with buttered pretzel; Erin McKenna's Bakery, whose doughnuts are egg, dairy and gluten free; and Dun-Well Doughnuts, who boast a range of more than 200 flavours including Peach Cobbler, Raspberry Pistachio and Pina Colada. A number of New York's specialty coffee outfits, including Cafe Grumpy and Brooklyn Coffee Roasters, will also be on hand for dunking purposes. Now that's all very well and good, but technically speaking Melbourne actually beat NYC to the punch with Day of the Donut in June last year. Classic New York... always two steps behind. Each vendor at Donut Fest 2016 will submit their favourite creation to compete for the title of New York's Best Donut. All entry fees will be donated to Food Bank for New York City, an organisation that helps combat food poverty in the five boroughs. Via The Gothamist. Image: Dollar Photo Club.
We're just days out from one of the Mornington Peninsula's most hotly anticipated launches, with the team behind Pt. Leo Estate announcing the cultural and culinary haven will open to the public on Wednesday, October 25. Gracing 134 hectares at the Peninsula's southern tip, the multifaceted family-owned property will boast a 110-seat restaurant, an enormous cellar door and a sprawling sculpture park, pegged to be the most significant of its kind in the country. With panoramic Western Port Bay views as the backdrop, the sculpture park will debut with over 50 large-scale works from both Australian and international artists and is set to evolve and grow over the years. Meanwhile, the semi-circular cellar door and restaurant is the work of acclaimed Melbourne architects Jolson, taking pride of place at the property's highest point and featuring sweeping views across the vineyard, the sculpture park and the Bay. The eatery's menus, created by Culinary Director Phil Wood (ex-Rockpool and Eleven Bridge) will centre around seasonal, regional produce, kicking off with dishes like a beetroot pancake with salmon roe and lemon curd, and a wallaby pie. Meanwhile, a central woodfired oven will work magic with quality local proteins like duck and beef. The restaurant's pitched as a comfy, casual venue, with a second more intimate dining space slated to open towards the end of the year. Pt. Leo Estate will open at 3649 Frankston-Flinders Road, Merricks, from Wednesday, October 25. For more info, visit ptleoestate.com.au. Images: Anson Smart.
Breakups are usually associated with loss (and copious amounts of wine and Meg Ryan). But they can be profitable, too. And we’re not talking about ‘whatever-doesn’t-kill-you-makes-you-stronger’, new age, Facebook-meme kind of profit. We’re talking about cold, hard cash. Well, that’s the idea behind a brand new service called Never Liked It Anyway, anyway. Dubbed ‘eBay for breakups’, it’s a platform that lets you sell everything that reminds you of your ex – without feeling bad, guilty or ashamed about it. The range of products on sale is mind-boggling, maybe even slightly unsettling. There are wedding dresses, engagement rings, mink shawls and even a bracelet with a coin from 35 B.C — all relics of past love ready for new owners. Because, out of sight, out of mind, right? It’s tough to forget your ex when your home is littered with his/her gifts. And, why burn them on a bonfire when you can turn them into your next shopping spree or dinner out or (depending on your ex’s generosity levels) holiday? Rather than just being any old online shopping platform, Never Liked It Anyway sees its job as bringing relief to the broken-hearted. “We started [it] to make moving on easier. It’s a place to shed the stories and the stuff,” founder Bella Acton told The Atlantic. Not only can you buy and sell on the site, you can tell your story, read the site's highly useful blog for tips on moving on, and read other tales of heartbreak. The site isn't just about making cash money out of closing a chapter, it's about looking forward to the next. The nicest bit of the whole site? The 'Break-Up Services' section, where you can procure a a 'Bounce Back Stack' (50 cards of warm fuzzies and advice to help mend your broken heart) or a 'Bounce Back Box' filled to the brim with things meant to 'get you back to fabulous': lip gloss, nail polish and a whole host of treat yourself goodies. Via Refinery29. Image: Dollar Photo Club.
Sydney, you just can't get enough chicken. Last month we reported on the transformation of lower north shore eatery Johnny Lobster into Johnny Bird. Now, we bring you further poultry-related tidings: The Gretz has closed and in its place is Wish Bone, an eatery dedicated to fried chicken. This new venture comes courtesy of The Gretz's owners, U.S.-born chef Gregory Llewellyn and Naomi Hart, who wanted to make the change to focus on something singular. It's not any old cooked chook you'll be feasting on, either, but an old favourite — Llewellyn's mighty version, which attracted hungry hordes to Hartsyard, before it revamped and swapped to a veggie-driven menu in January this year. You can expect a tight offering, with fried chicken as centrepiece — available in two, four, six or eight pieces, or inside a hot butter bun. The rest of the menu reads like Llewellyn's greatest hits: poutine, man 'n' cheese, and biscuits and gravy. The space looks a bit different too — the bar has been replaced by a long communal table. The feel will be much more casual, but table service will still be offered. And so will drinks. Booze will come in the form of pre-batched cocktails, frozen margaritas and bourbon-spiked milkshakes. At the moment, Wish Bone is offering dinner from 5pm seven nights a week, and will look to add lunches down the track. Wish Bone is now open daily for dinner at 125 Enmore Road, Enmore. For more info, visit its Facebook page. Images: Alexander Mayes Photographey
One of Australia's most redeeming qualities is its ability to give good afternoon sun. There's something about its familiar glow that almost demands casual drinks — whether it's cracking open a cold beer after a day out, heading to the pub after a long day of work, or deciding on a whim that your backyard is perfect for having friends over. When you have friends this summer, heed our advice and take it to the next level by implementing a killer theme. We've spoken to a few of our favourite chefs, musicians and artists, to get their insights on creating the perfect balmy afternoon. On this adventure we've spoken to Luke Lucas — uber talented, Sydney based typographer, creative director and co-creator of the now defunct Lifelounge magazine (may it rest in peace). Each issue of Lifelounge was themed, so we thought Luke was the perfect person to ask for some tips. Read these, and get creative the next time you have friends over. THEME COMES FIRST, IDEAS COME SECOND The first step in throwing a next-level summer party is choosing the theme. No exceptions. You'll probably have a million ideas, but they'll most likely be unrelated to each other. Having a theme is a great way to bring everything together in a cohesive format. You could be really into the idea of having a pinata in your backyard. Once you've decided that your party is going to be all about food, you can make it into the shape of a burger. "Coming up with the theme was the very first process we went through for each edition of the magazine," says Luke. "I think if you try to retrofit content to suit a theme then it can feel a little contrived or forced so for us the theme had to come first. For the most part curating content or designing within the bounds of a them gives you the ability to connect concepts and ideas that don't naturally go together but when presented within the theme are perfect partners. It can be lot of fun." IF YOU DON'T LIKE SOMETHING, CHANCES ARE OTHERS WON'T EITHER Everything in Lifelounge made it in because it was something Luke liked — not what he thought other people would like. "We were mostly creating the magazine for ourselves," he says. "It was a way of expressing thoughts and ideas about things we were passionate about. There wasn't a great deal of thought put into how appealing it might be to others." When you're thinking of a party theme, make sure it's something you're into. Don't go for a double denim theme just because you know your friends will like it. Pick something your passionated about — that could be a 90s theme. You're much more likely to get people hyped up. "I think if you are passionate about something then the way you present that passion is naturally infectious," Luke says wisely. DON'T COPY YOUR FRIENDS Trying to one-up your mates with a better 90s party than they threw last year isn't going to work. You won't be able to do anything new, and everyone's costumes or activities will most likely be the same as last year. Instead, use last year's raging party for inspiration. If they did 90s, shy away from decades and try for something else – a clothing related double denim theme for example. As Luke says, "there needs to be enough of a point of difference between themes so we can create unique content and design treatments for each edition." WHERE TO GET YOUR INSPIRATION "We're influenced by everything we see, hear, touch and experience. Inspiration can come from any combination of those sources but for me it rarely presents itself if I'm searching too hard for it. Ideas present themselves when my mind is clear or I'm doing some kind of activity that involves little thought — like taking a shower or waiting in between sets in the surf." In the words of Mad Men's Don Draper, "think about it deeply, then forget it. An idea will jump up in your face." Enjoy your summer afternoons with the new low-carb Heineken 3 — we're helping you make the most of them. Images: Luke Lucas.
It's the news Australian film and television fans have been dreading ever since they signed for a geododging service and a Netflix account. The streaming media behemoth might've taken your cash and looked the other way for years — even when they launched here in 2015 — but now that they're operating in 190 countries around the globe, it seems like they're gearing up to stop users accessing overseas libraries. In a post that appeared on the Netflix blog overnight, Vice President of Content Delivery Architecture David Fullagar advised, "Those using proxies and unblockers will only be able to access the service in the country where they currently are." Exactly how they'll shut out everyone using VPNs, proxy servers and smart DNS services hasn't been disclosed, though the statement does mention that "technology continues to evolve and we are evolving with it." So, if your account is almost permanently logged into the US service, your viewing options could be about to take a bit of hit. While Netflix-produced fare like House of Cards, Master of None, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, BoJack Horseman, Jessica Jones, Making a Murderer and A Very Murray Christmas are available everywhere, the American library currently has almost three times the number of titles than its Australian counterpart. Plus, plenty of content varies between the two; local comedy is quite popular on the Aussie version — or Netflix sure hopes it will be, seeing that their library is packed with it — for example. If you're a bit puzzled by this turn of events, particularly given that Netflix only recently trumpeted their plans to make sure everyone who subscribes to the service can access the same content regardless of the country they're in, that's understandable. They haven't really changed their tune — it's safe to assume that they're working towards that goal, which involves complex rights negotiations in each territory, by first locking down any loopholes that currently allow customers to circumvent geographic restrictions. Of course, just what will eventuate in the long- and short-term is anyone's guess, because Netflix has promised to stamp out geododgers before and then promptly done nothing about it. All Aussie customers can really do for now is watch this space — and maybe start thinking about signing up to Stan or Presto. Via The Sydney Morning Herald.
FBI special agents Dana Scully and Fox Mulder are returning to find that truth after 13 years off the air. The X-Files is officially returning to your screens, with creator Chris Carter, David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson locked in for the reunion fans have been waiting for. While it's not a full-blown season — just six episodes are planned — it's news to the ears of X-Philes worldwide. "I think of it as a 13-year commercial break,” Carter told TIME. "The good news is the world has only gotten that much stranger, a perfect time to tell these six stories." Here's hoping we don't pick up where we left off in 2008's cinematic casserole The X-Files: I Want to Believe. No cameos of Billy Connolly playing a convicted paedophile thanks. Let's hope Carter throws back to 1993, when The X-Files first kicked off years of killer dolls, literal substitute teachers from hell, creepy skateboard dudes and Texas Chainsaw-like creepo families. And aliens, o'course. According to TIME, the six episodes will indeed head back to the show's original format — we're talking one show, one mystery, all sexual tension. The X-Files is heading into production this winter, with no release date in sight yet. But we want to believe early 2016. Via TIME. Image: Diyah Perah, 20th Century Fox.
Get your bingo cards ready, movie lovers — the Oscar nominations have arrived! This year's contenders are a motley crew, ranging from action blockbusters to little-seen indie flicks and worthy social dramas. And while there aren't many surprises, there are still plenty of great films on the ballot. Let's dive right in, shall we? Leading the pack with a dozen nominations is the grizzly DiCaprio vehicle The Revenant, although box office favourite Mad Max: Fury Road is hot on its heel with ten. Both scored nods for Best Picture, where they'll compete against current favourite Spotlight as well as The Martian, Room, The Big Short, Brooklyn and Bridge of Spies. The Best Director race, meanwhile, will come down to Alejandro G. Inarritu for The Revenant, George Miller for Mad Max, Tom McCarthy for Spotlight, Adam McKay for The Big Short and Lenny Abrahamson for Room. Were Innaritu to come out on top, it would mark back-to-back directing wins for the Mexican filmmaker, following his gong for Birdman last year. Perennial runner-up Leonardo DiCaprio might finally be in with a chance of taking home Best Actor for his work in The Revenant. He'll be competing in the category against last year's winner Eddie Redmayne in The Danish Girl, Matt Damon in The Martian, Bryan Cranston in Trumbo and Michael Fassbender in Steve Jobs. Australia's Cate Blanchett has been nominated for Best Actress for her role in Carol, along with Brie Larson in Room, Jennifer Lawrence in Joy, Charlotte Rampling in 45 Years and Saoirse Ronan in Brooklyn. Worth noting is that, for the second year in a row, no person of colour has been nominated in any of the acting categories. Other notable omissions include the absence of Star Wars: The Force Awakens in all major categories, although the film has been nominated for a number of technical awards including Best Film Editing and Best Special Effects. Quentin Tarantino missed out on a screenwriting nomination for his racially-charged Western The Hateful Eight, though the film is up for Best Cinematography and Best Original Score, and earned a Best Supporting Actress nomination for Jennifer Jason Leigh. The 88th Academy Awards will take place next month on February 28, and will be hosted by Chris Rock. For the full list of nominations, go here.
The light-filled, open-plan offices of Single Market Events are a hotbed of activity as not one but two art fairs prepare to launch in Sydney next month. Founded by investor Tim Etchells in 1989, Single Market Events produces a host of high-profile food, fashion and art exhibitions in Australia and around the world, including international art fair Sydney Contemporary. Now they're preparing to launch a second art fair in Sydney, aptly titled The Other Art Fair. It’s the latest feather in Etchells’ investment cap, a new art market for emerging and independent artists that will run alongside Sydney Contemporary from September 10-13. Two impressive women, Emilya Colliver and Zoe Paulsen, have been tasked with making it happen. As we sit in a light-filled meeting room, Colliver is quick to point out the differences between The Other Art Fair and Sydney Contemporary. “Basically it’s an artist-led fair, so artists are manning their booth and selling direct to the public,” she says. Another point of difference is that all exhibiting artists are unrepresented (at Sydney Contemporary, it's the galleries doing the representing). “We want to maintain strong relationships with galleries — they play an important role [in selling artists’ works], but in this day and age artists need a new platform to showcase their work and this is what we’re doing. Giving them an opportunity to get a further reach.” Colliver is founder and director of Art Pharmacy, a Sydney-based gallery for emerging artists, and has extensive experience working for galleries, museums and private art collections both here and in London. She also got some insight working as a tour guide for the inaugural Sydney Contemporary in 2013. In fact, Colliver calls Barry Keldoulis, director of Sydney Contemporary, her business mentor. It was he who put her forward for this job. “He said 'you should do it', so it all kind of came about that way,” she says. “I know Zoe through the MCA Young Ambassador Program. We’ve known each other for quite a long time, and I said, ‘Why don’t you come along and help me? Let’s just run it together.’” They’ve been all systems go since February. While they are quick to define The Other Art Fair as an independently run event, Colliver continues, “We definitely wanted to do it at the same time as Sydney Contemporary, because nationally and internationally we’ve got people from all around Australia and overseas coming to Sydney at this time”. The Other Art Fair started in London three years ago as an alternative to commercial art market giants like the London Art Fair. Colliver and Paulsen are recreating the successful London model in Sydney. A curatorial team including artist Mikala Dwyer, collector Dick Quan, MCA curator Meg Robson, public art advisor Virginia Wilson and White Rabbit’s Paris Neilson were tasked with the job of sifting through over 300 applications to choose the 75+ most promising artists for exhibition. Eight to ten thousand people are expected to visit The Other Art Fair over the course of the four days. “What’s great about this is that it appeals to a really broad audience,” says Paulsen. “The fair appeals to first time buyers because the works are so affordable, as well as collectors and gallerists, because these are hand-selected artists.” It's tempting to see it as a chance to scoop the next big thing. So what’s in it for punters? Paulsen explains the benefits of an artist-led fair for collectors. “If you go to Sydney Contemporary you’ll talk to a gallerist who represents the artist and can tell you about the work. But if you go to The Other Art Fair you’ll meet the artist, you’ll talk to them about the artwork — when they did it, how they did it, their emotional state, where their motivations come from or whatnot.” She adds that it’s also an important process for artists to go through. “It gives them an opportunity to learn how to market themselves. They don’t often find themselves in a situation where they have to do that. For some artists it can be really difficult and it’s not necessarily the way that they do it for years to come, but it’s still a good skill to experience. Also I think when the public are actually buying their work, it validates their practice and gives them a reason to keep on going.” And for collectors just starting out? Colliver has three big tips: "Set a budget, choose a medium and buy what you love,” she says. “And don’t buy ‘art’ from IKEA or Freedom Furniture.” The Other Art Fair is on from September 10–13 at Central Park in Chippendale. For more information and to book tickets, visit the Other Art Fair website.
