Category: FEATURES

World Pride exhibition in Sydney with The Huxleys and an installation by Paul Yore

The Huxleys drag performers

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Posted: 30/11/2022

Gay Sydney and The Huxleys are almost synonymous. Their glitter, their glam and their avant garde approach to drag, art and immersive exhibitionism is seconded by very few around the world. And this year, the Huxleys duo, artist Paul Yore and other contemporaries will put on a show worthy of World Pride in Sydney for the millions of punters from across the globe. MORE: Kylie Minogue will headline World Pride Sydney In 2024, Carriageworks in Eveleigh Sydney, one of Australia’s most significant contemporary multi-arts organisations, today announced a dynamic program spanning visual arts and live performance to be presented as part of Sydney Festival 2023. Presented from 5 January – 5 March 2023, a major new exhibition Bloodlines by Melbourne-based collaborative duo The Huxleys will honour legendary queer artists lost to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Utilising the artists’ skills in costume design, performance and photography, the exhibition will include large-scale photographic works, video art and an opening live art party on 4 January. The exhibition will also feature a durational collaborative installation that invites the community to contribute panels to be sewn together into a quilt, reminiscent of the AIDS Memorial Quilts created during the 80s and 90s. Bloodlines is a heartfelt tribute to LGBTQIA+ artists, including Leigh Bowery, Robert Mapplethorpe, Keith Haring and Sylvester, that continue to inspire the practices of The Huxleys and countless artists working today. Artist Paul Yore will present Paul Yore: WORD MADE FLESH, a major immersive installation, from 5 January – 26 February 2023. WORD MADE FLESH is a new… Read More

Category: LIFESTYLE, ARTS & CULTURE, CITIES, DRAG, FEATURES, LGBTIQ, SYDNEY

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Where is open in Sydney on New Years’ Eve and New Years’ Day

A plate of chicken on a table with hands holding cutlery going to cut into it

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Updated: 02/12/2022

Welcome to 2023 – almost. They say that where and how you ring in the new year will set you on the right – or in some cases, wrong! – path for the next 12 months of the year. So, choose wisely. Here are some places in Sydney that are offering options for New Years Eve and New Years Day. Anason  A modern Turkish restaurant and mezebar inspired by the seaside meyhanes of Istanbul. NYE Open Hours: 12pm – 10pm: NYE & NYD Maydanoz  An Aegean Turkish coast inspired bar and restaurant paying homage to the region’s vegetarian and olive oil driven casual meze bars. NYE Open Hours: 5pm – 10pm: NYE  Closed: NYD Portside Sydney Harbour A full house ticket ($995pp) includes outdoor seating with unobstructed views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and firework display, access to the private VIP lounge with seating and table service, 5.5hr premium beverage package of free flowing French Champagne, premium wine and beer, continuous food service of canapes and grazing stations and live entertainment with the incredible mega DJ line up. $995 for a 5.5 hour food and drink package. More info here Barangaroo House: House Bar @ Barangaroo House NYE party with Sydney’s hottest DJs playing from 4pm and into the night. The bar will open for service with drinks and snacks. Book here.  Rekodo @ Barangaroo House NYE party with live vinyl DJs, Omakase menu, and a 3-hour beverage package for $250pp including a cocktail on arrival, free-flowing wine and Asahi and midnight Champagne. Book here.  Smoke Bar @ Barangaroo… Read More

Category: LIFESTYLE, AUSTRALIAN FOOD, CITIES, FEATURES, FOOD & DRINK, SYDNEY

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Testing out the new Fitbit Inspire 3 fitness watch

Fitbit Inspire watch pink

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Posted: 29/11/2022

It was in August this year that everyone’s fave wearable tech brand Fitbit announced their latest and greatest – the Fitbit Inspire 3 fitness watch. And what a watch it is! Compared to other options on the market Fitbit has again knocked it out of the park with wearability, functionality and general stylishness. I mean, just look… The new Inspire was released with a couple of siblings Versa 4 ($379.95) and Sense 2 ($449.95) with itself coming in at $179.95, making it the latest, but not the greatest int he Fitbit line-up. So, why is it so good? Practicality. And function; but it’s a coupling that few other brands have mastered and here’s why. Similar to other models of the Fitbit range, the Inspire 3 comes with all the bells and more of what you want from top-of-the-range wearable tech that doesn’t let you down. Think massive features, like: With all this – plus a range of stylish colour combos to keep things interesting – there’s no wonder it’s thought of as the health & fitness tracker that helps you do what you love and feel your best. For more, head to the Fitbit Australia website

Category: LIFESTYLE, FEATURES, HEALTH & FITNESS, TECH & GADGETS

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Rent a pool by the hour in Sydney with Swimply

Flynn Cairns hotel pool

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Updated: 30/11/2022

The need for your own backyard pool has officially taken a back seat, thanks to Swimply. Rent a pool by the hour for all your summertime relief needs for just $25 per hour, You can bring together their family and friends and rent a private pool, with many venues on the platform also providing access to BBQ facilities and pool toys, making it the perfect (and affordable) ‘daycation’ or local escape.  Pool owners can now earn extra income by becoming a Host and renting out their pool on Swimply, with many hosts finding that the money made on Swimply not only covers maintenance expenses, but also provides them with a lucrative side hustle.   According to newly appointed Managing Director for Australia, Sam McDonagh, average pool maintenance costs in Australia are between AUD $2400 – $4800 per year – an amount that pool owners can reasonably expect to cover by listing their pool on Swimply. Get your toggs on and get going! See more at the Swimply website

Category: LIFESTYLE, CITIES, FEATURES, MELBOURNE, SYDNEY

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Christmas worthy alcohols and libations, ideal for the season

The Smash Cocktail The Waterway

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Updated: 15/01/2023

If there’s one thing that gets us through Christmas, it’s alcohol. And if not that, then plenty of food while thinking about drinking. So with that healthy approach in-mind, let’s take a look at some of the top bottles of grog to wrap your lips around this November-December as we descend into the madness that is Christmas. Manly Spirits’ The Beaches With a flavour profile that combines iconic summer ingredients – mango, coconut, and pine-n-line ice cream, The Beaches is a full-flavoured gin that’s perfect for tropical summer cocktails.  Available for limited time only, this exclusive spirit is perfect for Christmas gifting and is sure to get your name on Santa’s ‘nice’ list. Get it for $95 The Botanist Gin Your Christmas table will never have looked so good, as The Botanist Gin and Eden + Bell pair up to create the perfect finishing touches for entertaining over the festive season. The gift pack includes a 700ml bottle of The Botanist Gin and a stunning table centrepiece from Eden + Bell. The table centrepiece curated by Eden + Bell has been designed to complement The Botanist Gin by using plants and flowers that are reminiscent of the botanicals used in the gin and found in Islay, while using all Australian produce. Get it for $220 from Eden + Bell  Cointreau Christmas Gift Pack An ideal gift for margarita enthusiasts, this pack contains a 700mL bottle of Cointreau, as well as a complimentary salt rim tray for creating the perfect margarita, all in a special decorative gift… Read More

Category: LIFESTYLE, CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDES, FEATURES, FOOD & DRINK, GIFT GUIDE

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The Melbourne Parthenon: NGV brings a different kind of Greece to Australia

A digital image of the Greek Parthenon

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Posted: 22/11/2022

If you’ve been to Greece, or more specifically Athens (its capital), then you would have undoubtedly seen the impressive and imposing Parthenon atop the ancient Greek acropolis. Built by the Greek King Pericles in 447 BCE, it’s one of the ancient wonders of the world and this season, it’s coming to Melbourne. Kind of. Aggressively named Temple of Boom, the Parthenon will take on a digitally inspired and artistically affected interpretation, ranging from vibrantly coloured floral motifs to optical illusions, the artworks draw inspiration from the colourful and artistic embellishments that covered the original building over two-thousand years ago. Designed by Melbourne-based architects Adam Newman and Kelvin Tsang, Temple of Boom invites audiences to consider the effect of time on all architecture as the structure gradually transforms with artworks and murals, painted in three phases between November 2022 and August 2023. Who are the artists involved? Drez is a multidisciplinary artist based in Melbourne who uses colour and form to play with perspective. Drawing inspiration from art historical perspectives, including the Greenbergian Modernism and Op-Art schools, Drez’s work creates an intersection between abstract art and street art. For this installation, Drez will create a boldly colourful mural that changes composition when viewed from different angles. Manda Lane is a muralist, illustrator and paper-based artist from Collingwood, Victoria. With a keen focus on botanicals, her art explores the interactions between the natural world and industrial or man-made objects. In this mural installation, Lane will depict various growth behaviours of plants, creating a visual metaphor for personal expression and growth. David… Read More

Category: ART, ARTS & CULTURE, CITIES, FEATURES, LIFESTYLE, MELBOURNE

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Phantom of the Opera is on in Melbourne: why it’s a must-see

Phantom Opera Melbourne

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Updated: 15/11/2022

Since 1986 when Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera took to the stage, it did so much more than that. It took the hearts and minds, imaginations and operatic passions of everyone who’s seen it since – including the latest round of audience members in Melbourne Australia with the debut of the latest production touring the city this year in 2022. Cameron Mackintosh’s spectacular new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera will wow audiences throughout the summer months has welcomed a stellar cast talented ensemble cast including Elliot Baker, Anton Berezin, Laura Bianchi-Bishop, Eleanor Blythman, Gavin Brown, Ben Clark, Bridget Costello, Andrew Dunne, Lewis Francis, Christina Gibbs, Claudia Hastings, Olivia Jenkins, Daniel Koek, Naomi Livingston, Josephine Lonergan, Aaron Lynch, Imogen-Faith Malfitano, Kayleigh Marven, Emma McFarlane, Lachlan O’Brien, Brittany Page, Edward Smith, Anna Stephens, Tod Strike, Troy Sussman, Raphael Wong, Jack Wunsch and Elisha Zion Lee. And though the story’s already held in the firmament of what’s good in the world of theatre, new direction by director Laurence Connor with choreography by Scott Ambler, set design by Paul Brown, Tony Award-winning original costume design by Maria Björnson make for a once-in-a-lifetime experience on stage. The production of Melbourne’s Phantom of the Opera is on until 5 February 2023. Get tickets at the Phantom of the Opera website

Category: ARTS & CULTURE, CITIES, FEATURES, LIFESTYLE, MELBOURNE, OPERA

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Have a cocktail in Sydney, save a tree in the Daintree

Daintree cocktail bartender drink

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Posted: 11/11/2022

It’s not often you find a bar with an interstate social purpose and manifest that benefits so much more than its own tills. Especially not in Sydney! That is until you discover Daintree Sydney, the social enterprise first cocktail bar that’s putting the benefit of the Daintree Rainforest and the greater Australian ecosystem at its core. At a time when we need it most! The unique micro-bar is a proud partner of HalfCut – an environmental movement that engages people to raise funds to protect rainforests and wildlife. HalfCut, with Daintree Sydney’s fundraising support, is currently focusing on preserving the Daintree Rainforest in Queensland, working closely with the Traditional Owners of the low land Daintree. Daintree Sydney donates half of all its profits to HalfCut. Since opening its doors in July 2022, the bar has raised more than $52,000 and counting via their HalfCut fundraising page. The cocktail list features drinks with seasonal native ingredients and where possible, fresh herbs grown by the bar. Cocktail classics with a native twist include a Gumnut Negroni, Quandong Daiquiri and a Piña Nut, Daintree Sydney’s take on the Piña Colada with coconut-wash white rum, macadamia butter and wattle seed. Alongside the cocktails is a wine and beer list that champions New South Wales producers and highlights minimal intervention and natural wines. As a further nod to Daintree Sydney’s transparent environmental pledge, the menu also points out how far each of their wines and beers have travelled as a real carbon cost. Find Daintree Sydney at 106b George Street,… Read More

Category: CITIES, FEATURES, FOOD & DRINK, LIFESTYLE, SYDNEY

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Opera like you’ve never seen it: a grungy Carmen is coming to Sydney

Carmen on Cockatoo Island Summer 678x449 1

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Posted: 11/11/2022

Do away with the dresses and bring out the elbow grease; Carmen is back in Sydney. Normally the saucy southern Spaniard, bringing her heat from the ramparts of Seville to the stage of Sydney is dress-adorned and flaunting what she’s got the enjoyment of fellow cast and audiences – this this time ’round we’re looking at something different. Think Carmen with an Amy Winehouse beehive and all the animal prints your heart can desire. Oh, and motor bikes. It’s something new for Opera Australia, which over the past half a decade and maybe longer has erred on the side of reimagined traditional and minimalistically chic in its stage productions, costumery and on-stage – or pontoon in the case of the annual Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour! And it’s a welcome change. Under the direction of the acclaimed Liesel Badorrek, a cast of brilliant singers and musicians, 12 contemporary dancers and three motorbike riders have begun weaving together the story of Carmen, who Liesel says is the ultimate femme fatale. “This is Carmen as you’ve never seen it before. For me it is a story about misfits, fringe dwellers and outsiders and nothing says that like rock ‘n’ roll. “Sydney’s Cockatoo Island is an industrial and gritty place so we have taken that aesthetic to the next level with the sets and costumes to create a thrilling set. You will feel like you’ve entered our world of Carmen as soon as you step off the ferry, it really is going to be a unique experience,” said director Liesel Badorrek. Incorporating such… Read More

Category: ARTS & CULTURE, CITIES, FEATURES, LIFESTYLE, OPERA, SYDNEY

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