Category: CITIES

Get cheap drinks at Gin Lane for World Gin Day this Saturday

Posted: 06/06/2018

If there was ever a bar any drinker – let alone a gin drinker – needs to go to, it’s Gin Lane on Kensington Street in Chippendale. Not only is it the ideal destination for any flatteringly mood-lit date night, but in honour of World Gin Day this week, it’s serving-up some cheap bevs for everything for a specially extended 7-hour ‘happy hour’ from 12-7pm this Saturday. Gin Lane Classic G&T’s – The Cucumber G&T and Spiced G&T will be on offer for half the going rate (at $7 each) to celebrate. Additionally, they will be launching a brand new show-stopping drink, The Lightbulb Moment (pic above) served in a light bulb and charged with prosecco and liquid nitrogen, a secret they’ve been working on especially. Check out more over here.

Category: CITIES, FOOD & DRINK, LIFESTYLE, SYDNEY

Tags: chippendale bars, cocktails, gin cocktails, gin lane, kensington street, world gin day

IMAX Celebrates 20 Years at the Top with Everest

by Rachel Farah

Updated: 14/06/2018

IMAX Melbourne celebrated 20 years of wowing its audience with an exclusive screening of the 1998 documentary Everest, presented on IMAX 1570 film. As the first film showcased at IMAX and still in the top ten most viewed, it features the first giant screen images ever brought back from Mt. Everest. Released in IMAX theatres in March 1998, it became the highest-grossing film made in the IMAX format and still has a meaningful impact to all its viewers. IMAX offers the most immersive cinematic experience and is the world’s largest at 32 metres wide and 23 metres high. An American documentary film, Everest is the dramatic true story of a group of courageous individuals who dared to climb to the highest mountain peak in Nepal. This was filmed during and after the infamous 1996 tragedy in which eight climbers lost their lives in a deadly storm, never making it back down the mountain. Directed by Greg MacGillivray and narrated by Liam Neeson, the film educates its audience on how the mountain was formed and how it continues to evolve, how high-altitude challenges a climber’s physical and mental capabilities, and how Sherpa culture and tradition permeates the Mount Everest experience. Although a special screening, you can still read the newspaper articles featured in The Age framed as a proud reminder of where IMAX began to what the cinematic experience has evolved to today. To another 20 years and beyond – congratulations IMAX. To view the latest movies and book tickets visit them here.

Category: CITIES, LIFESTYLE, MELBOURNE

Tags: everest documentary, imax 20 years, imax everest, mount everest

Hoyts takes LUX to new heights with a menu by Manu

by Rachel Farah

Updated: 13/03/2021

It’s one thing to watch favourite Frenchman Manu Feildel’s innovative cooking skills and judging on television, and it’s another to experience his creations yourself. So what happens when you combine his culinary style with the most comfortable and cutting edge sound and visual cinematic experience? HOYTS LUX has crafted the perfect collaboration to take your cinematic experience to the next premium level with colourful, flavoursome dishes inspired by Manu’s French heritage. As the latest 2018 Brand Ambassador, Manu shares, “My current passion is to bring restaurant quality food to a casual dining experience and what better way to do this than as part of the HOYTS LUX cinema experience”. We couldn’t agree more, because once you’ve sat in LUX and tasted the new gourmet food and wine menu, you’ll never want to watch a movie without the French twist! A mutual favourite is duck bao: a trio of steamed buns filled with crispy confit duck, house made shiitake, cucumber pickle, ginger mayo and a smoky hoisin sauce. Other starter options include Southern Style Fried Chicken (best we’ve ever tasted!) and classic Mac ‘n’ Cheese Balls. Menu options also include slider trios, nam duck and grilled chicken salads for the health conscious, and for the hungry, beef bourguigon pies, encased in short crust pastry and topped with creamy potato purée and rosemary leaves. We highly recommend you don’t leave out satisfying your sweet tooth; the delectable trio of éclairs, French lemon cheesecake smash and chocolate & hazelnut Malteser sundaes with a French wine will complete the… Read More

Category: CITIES, FOOD & DRINK, LIFESTYLE, MELBOURNE, PERTH, SYDNEY

Tags: Best cinemas Sydney, Hoyts Gold Class cinema, hoyts lux, Hoyts LUX experience, hoyts lux menu, manu feildel, Movie Cinemas Sydney, Movie experiences Sydney, Sydney best movie theatre, What is Hoyts Lux cinema

Opera Australia puts on spectacular new production of Aida as its winter season highlight

by James Banham

Updated: 05/06/2019

Opera Australia is putting on Aida this year as their headliner for the 2018 winter season.

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

Tags: aida, oa aida, opera australia, opera australia aida, sydney opera house

What to eat in Barangaroo this VIVID Sydney

by James Banham

Posted: 03/06/2018

VIVID Sydney is the city’s celebration of light, life and love for it all, working with some of the most creative minds when it comes to creativity. But that creativity extends well past light projections and timers, knocking right on to the city’s great culinary minds and venues, serving-up some light festival-inspired delicacies befitting a city-wide celebration that only Sydney can do. Barangaroo and its best venues are working with a unique offering of things like glow-in-the-dark fairy floss, colourful sliders and flaming cocktails and more. Here’s what’s on at the Barangaroo venues… Sparks fly at love.fish with a flaming orange winter spice cocktail of Ord River rum and cinnamon. Banksii spins glow-in-the-dark fairy floss (weekends only) and mixes illuminated cocktails at its Vivid Sydney spritz cart. Untied serves up vibrant rainbow sliders stacked with fried chicken, beef and cheese, barramundi or portobello mushroom. Wash it down with a ‘Dame Edna’ Ink Gin and lychee martini; or a ‘Wizz Fizz’ Ink Gin fizz with a rhubarb and grenadine foam. 12-Micron constructs a colourful Garden of Sweet Delights dessert with strawberry quandong jam and dried pistachio cake, dark chocolate and eucalyptus mousse, a milo lollipop, a chocolate cone filled with strawberry ice cream, mandarin jellies, forest fruit fizzy sours and coloured sugar shards. Accompany your dessert with a Lemon There Be Lights cocktail of Ricard, pomme verte, lemon and orgeat. Devon Café debuts ice cream sandwiches from its Vivid Sydney ice cream cart. The bright coloured sandwiches are made with a matcha shortbread cookie, strawberry and white chocolate parfait filled with popping candy, and balsamic and strawberry… Read More

Category: CITIES, FOOD & DRINK, LIFESTYLE, SYDNEY

Tags: barangaroo, barangaroo cocktails, barangaroo vivid sydney, barangaroo vivid sydney 2018, the f barangaroo, vivid sydney, vivid sydney 2018, where is barangaroo

Why Sydney’s Spice Alley in Chippendale makes a date night

by James Banham

Updated: 16/11/2022

Know what makes a good date night? Cold weather, coats, cosy bars and quality food and drinks, which is exactly what you get one a date night at Spice Alley, just off Kensington Street in Chippendale Sydney. It’s the city’s go-to for quality, affordable, cheap Asian eats tucked nicely behind a range of quality bars and other restaurants offering a a range of other menus like these. With the vibe befitting of a paved urban alleyway beneath a canopy of yellow lanterns, Spice Alley is a bustling lane that takes hawker-style dining and makes it inner-urban, right from the side streets of the largest Asian cities within the confines of Sydney. Some of its most top-notch eateries include Bang Luck Thai eatery, Alex Lee Kitchen Singaporean Eatery, Spice House function space, Hong Kong Diner Cantonese Eatery, Kyo-to Japanese eatery and restaurant, Hokie Poké and Old Jim Kee Malaysian eatery, really staging the best of what the region’s cuisine has to offer. Ideal for drinks, right from dinner, the offering of Spice Alley makes date nights a breeze, the need for thinking obsolete and the end result… well, up to you, but it’ll be good, regardless of the result. Check out more about Spice Alley here.

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

Tags: asian restaurants, spice alley, spice alley kensington, spice alley sydney, the f spice alley

There’s a naughty dessert festival coming to Sydney: The Milk ‘n’ Sugar

by James Banham

Posted: 03/06/2018

Feel that dull ache in your back teeth? Yeah, that’s your them screaming out for mercy in advance of this year’s naughtiest dessert festival coming to Sydney, Milk ‘n’ Sugar. It is set to return this year alongside VIVID Sydney at the Overseas Passenger Terminal Circular Quay next weekend, bringing together Sydney’s finest dessert enthusiasts to offer revellers a colourful array of diverse, distinctive and delicious flavours. With items on the menu like Fluffy Crunch’s Flurrito, scoops of ice-cream topped with Froot Loops and rainbow dust that is rolled up in fairy floss; a tonka bean mandarin mousse with a brownie base from Koi Dessert Bar; hand chocolate dipped cheesecake on a stick from Bianco Kitchen; a crunchy golden churro burger from Bar Coco; light-up doughnut ice-cream cones from Hungary Bites and dessert arancini balls from Arancini Guy, you should skip dinner. It all goes down at the Overseas Passenger Terminal from 8-10 June from 6-11pm, with a $2 entry fee.

Category: CITIES, FOOD & DRINK, LIFESTYLE, SYDNEY

Tags: fairy floss, milk n sugar, milk sugar, milk sugar dessert festival, sydney dessert

Design legend Tom Dixon has partnered with IKEA and Sydney’s UTS design students to make DELAKTIG

Ikea Tom Dixon UTS Delaktig house plants

by James Banham

Posted: 03/06/2018

Once IKEA start, they obviously can’t stop and it’s a great thing when you consider the vast – and awesome – range of stuff they keep pumping out with designer-after-designer. We’ve been through the rounds of Scandinavian designer collaborations so far, now moving on to things with slightly a different feel in the collection between IKEA and industrial designer Tom Dixon, coupled with some emerging design talents from Sydney’s UTS university. Now we welcome the latest collab, DELAKTIG, which is offering up something altogether new. The challenge for students was simple: personalise the range to reflect life at home in Australia. The end result was a creative take on just that, the kind of stuff you’d be happy to have at your place this winter. DELAKTIG is an open-source sofa concept, featuring an endlessly configurable modular furniture collection made-up of sofas and accessories. The design vision is based on a platform which can be personalised to people’s constantly changing wants and needs. “Co-creation is very normal now, particularly in the digital world. I could imagine it’s going to become much more popular in the physical world as well. DELAKTIG is an experiment that challenges the conventional methods of creation and distribution of furniture and explores the notions of adaptability and future-proofing. Ultimately, DELAKTIG celebrates sustainability, longevity, flexibility and creativity,” said designer Tom Dixon. The range’s aluminium frame allows for personalisation through clip-on items, such as side tables and lamps, but the range is the first that IKEA has formally encouraged customers and companies alike to modify or add… Read More

Category: CITIES, INTERIORS, LIFESTYLE, SYDNEY

Tags: ikea, ikea delaktig, ikea tom dixon, industrial designer tom dixon, the f delaktig, the f ikea, tom dixon

Monte Alto in Crows Nest is doing classic comfort food in style

by James Banham

Updated: 08/06/2018

At the top of a crest in the main thoroughfare of Crows Nest lies Monte Alto, the suburb’s new addition – right across the road from the Stuffed Beaver – turning out easy eats for those who like something a little bit different. Formerly known for its round-the-world coffee menu, Monte Alto has learnt to love a contemporary take on Australian favourites for the locals whose taste for well-done staples is paramount. Taking cues from owner and chef Harry Nguyen’s Vietnamese Australian cultural background, the food on offer is quality, and moderately adventurous. They work with things like charcoal, pair it with classics like a burger and make it 2.0 with the addition of homely touches like bacons, cheeses and other additions. Basically, it’s all welcome when you look at the finished product. Owner and head chef, Harry Nguyen, has designed a unique and honest menu to showcase his unrivalled passion for food and hospitality; using the best quality ingredients from reputable local sources to satisfy all taste buds. “The menu tells my story; from my Vietnamese heritage and culture, to the restaurants I have gained invaluable experience working in. I always keep those precious times very close to my heart and hope that my dishes can bring a unique dining experience for all guests,” he said. Monte Alto has managed to make themselves the main name in the game of halloumi fries served with tomato salsa and pesto aioli and 12-hour slow cooked coffee rubbed pork roast served with garlic mash, poached greens, tomato salsa and stock reduction… Read More

Category: CITIES, LIFESTYLE, SYDNEY

Tags: cafes sydney, crows nest cafes, monte alto, monte alto cafe

Underground Cinema Melbourne is back this May with DELIRIUM

by Clare Murphy

Posted: 30/05/2018

Breaking news: after years of attendance, I finally guessed an Underground Cinema film when I received the first email about it. And you know what? I didn’t enjoy it any less. Loved it, in fact. The theme of the first Underground Cinema for 2018 was DELIRIUM. We lucky cinema-goers were assigned the role of US marshals and reported for duty one suitably chilly night at Jack’s Magazine, a bluestone former ammunition storage facility used in colonial Victoria on the Maribyrnong River, which became the site of a hospital for our purposes; and our mission. Dressing in sharp 1950s suits, trench coats and hats, we reported to wardens, received instructions and spoke to some concerned (and some eerily-calm) nurses and doctors about a patient who had gone missing. As always, Underground Cinema did an amazing job in immersing us into this thriller- like environment. Wandering through dark tunnels to lavish offices and derelict dormitories, with the Underground Cinema actors making us question was what real and not, I have to admit to grabbing my plus one’s arm in fear (and being laughed at for it). Luckily there were Jameson cocktails, food trucks and popcorn for us to break the tension. As we finally sat down to the film (guessed yet? Scorsese’s Shutter Island), the audience cheered as the opening title came up. It happens every time at Underground Cinema, and I’m pretty sure it keeps the audience coming back. Get involved with the Underground Cinema movement here.

Category: CITIES, LIFESTYLE, MELBOURNE

Tags: delirium, ugc, underground cinema, underground cinema melbourne

ARTS & CULTURE

Ballet Flamenco – Sara Baras Voces Suite Flamenca cred Santana de Yepes I

Flamenco Festival London 2024 is back

05/05/2024

By THE F

London’s acclaimed Sadler’s Wells Theatre is set to host the exhilarating Flamenco Festival 2024 from Tuesday 4th to Saturday 15th June, now in its remarkable 19th edition. The recent residency by Paco Pena gave us a taste of what to expect! This year’s festival is brimming with anticipation, featuring ten UK premieres and showcasing a constellation of flamenco’s brightest stars. With performances spanning across the iconic Sadler’s Wells Theatre and the intimate Lilian Baylis Studio, attendees are promised an immersive experience into the heart of flamenco’s vibrant tradition and its contemporary interpretations. Kicking off the festival is the critically acclaimed Rocío Molina, who returns to stun audiences with her innovative piece, Al Fondo Riela, on 4th June. Molina’s performance is a profound exploration of reflection and reality, encapsulated through the traditional flamenco trio of dance, song, and guitar. Her artistry is complemented by the expertise of guitarists Oscar Lago and Yerai Cortés, setting the stage for a festival that melds tradition with avant-garde interpretations. The festival skyrockets further with appearances by flamenco guitar virtuoso Vicente Amigo, presenting a mesmerising concert that traverses classical and nuevo flamenco realms, and the dramatic duo Patricia Guerrero and Alfonso Losa in Alter Ego, a show born from spontaneous improvisation that promises an intimate glimpse into the soul of flamenco dance. Adding to the festival’s allure, Eva Yerbabuena contemplates her illustrious 20-year career in Yerbagüena (bright dark), delivering performances that promise to be evocative and spellbinding, while the renowned Israel Fernández teams up with guitarist Diego del Morao to present… Read More

Dutch piano virtuoso returns to the Sydney Opera House

30/04/2024

By James Banham

Mark your calendars and prepare to be enveloped in the soul-stirring sounds of Joep Beving, as the maestro makes his grand return to the Opera House this July. After mesmerising audiences in previous years, Beving is back with a bang, ready to unveil the mystical realms of Hermetism across two spellbinding shows on Monday, 22 July 2024. Each performance promises an experience akin to a spiritual odyssey, underscored by Beving’s deeply introspective, neoclassical sound that has captivated millions globally. This year, the enigmatic Dutch pianist is set to elevate his musical narrations to unprecedented heights, blending his artistry with an awe-inspiring audio-visual spectacle developed alongside the innovative minds of Boris Acket, Merijn Versnel, and Roxanne Percobic. Hermetism, drawing inspiration from Beving’s 2022 album, invites you on an enchanted voyage exploring the essence of spirituality, the elusive nature of time, and the depths of the inner self. This isn’t just a concert; it’s an invitation to transcend the ordinary, led by a masterful storyteller who’s rediscovered his love for the piano and transformed it into a source of universal connection and wonder. Joep Beving’s remarkable journey from personal loss to streaming stardom is a testament to the power of music to heal, unite, and inspire. With over 200 million streams on Spotify and a place among the giants of post-classical composition, Beving’s return to the Opera House isn’t just an event; it’s a pivotal moment in the world of contemporary music. As Ben Marshall, Sydney Opera House Head of Contemporary Music, aptly puts it, “Joep describes… Read More

Sydney Film Festival’s World Premier of Midnight Oil

28/04/2024

By James Banham

The 71st Sydney Film Festival is set to kick off with a bang as it proudly presents the World Premiere of Midnight Oil: The Hardest Line at its Opening Night Gala on Wednesday, June 5, at the prestigious State Theatre. Following the screening, a vibrant post-screening celebration will light up the Sydney Town Hall, marking a milestone event in the festival’s history. The Hardest Line unravels the pioneering narrative of Midnight Oil like never before on the silver screen. Defiant. Passionate. Vocal. Over their illustrious 45-year journey, ‘The Oils’ have left an indelible mark on modern Australia with anthems such as US Forces, Beds Are Burning, Blue Sky Mine, and Redneck Wonderland. This groundbreaking documentary features exclusive interviews with every band member, unseen live performances and studio footage, and iconic moments like the outback tour with Warumpi Band, the Exxon protest gig in New York, and the unforgettable “Sorry” suits at the Sydney Olympics, encapsulating the extraordinary odyssey of Australia’s quintessential rock ensemble. Sydney Film Festival Director Nashen Moodley expressed his excitement, stating, “We are delighted to feature Midnight Oil: The Hardest Line as our opening film this year. This documentary not only charts the remarkable journey of one of Australia’s most influential bands but also encapsulates the ethos of an era that reshaped our cultural and political landscapes. It is a tribute to their enduring legacy and a poignant reflection on their enduring influence that continues to resonate with audiences worldwide.” Writer, director, and executive producer Paul Clarke shared his sentiments, “There exists no… Read More

British Museum and Huw Locke explore legacies of Empire

28/04/2024

By James Banham

The British Museum has embarked on a groundbreaking collaboration with the esteemed Guyanese-British artist, Hew Locke, for a significant new exhibition delving into how the Museum’s collection reflects the enduring legacies of British imperial power from centuries past to the present day. This innovative exhibition, co-curated by Locke, will showcase iconic objects from the Museum’s vast collection alongside specially commissioned new works by the artist himself. Throughout his illustrious career, Locke has demonstrated a profound interest in objects and the narratives they harbor. His connection to the British Museum collection dates back to his formative years as a student in London, where he frequented the Museum of Mankind to draw inspiration from its ethnographic collections. This forthcoming exhibition marks a milestone as Locke’s first venture into artist-curated museum exhibitions, offering him a unique opportunity to delve deeply into a museum collection unlike ever before. The rich history and holdings of the British Museum intertwine closely with the narrative of the British Empire. This exhibition is poised to dissect these intertwined histories while engaging with the contemporary debates swirling around cultural heritage. By focusing on Britain’s historical interactions with Africa, India, and the Caribbean—regions that significantly influenced Guyana, Locke’s place of upbringing—the exhibition will serve as a personal exploration by utilizing interventionist techniques to reframe historical objects within the collection. Locke’s exploration aims to unravel the intricate ways in which museums are entangled in the legacies of Empire, embracing the complexities and ambiguities of these narratives. Rather than providing definitive answers, Locke seeks to provoke introspection… Read More

Michelangelo last decades exhibition at British Museum this spring

28/04/2024

By James Banham

Delving deep into the intricate tapestry of the Renaissance master’s late career, this immersive showcase promises a revelatory exploration of how art and faith intertwined in the twilight years of an iconic artist.