The Sydney Fair: Back in Randwick from May to June

Posted: 15/05/2019

Take your pick from over 5000 items around 60 exhibitors at this year’s Sydney Fair, back on again from 30 May to 2 June. Right in the heart of Randwick, it’s the kind of place you’ll find some of the most unique and covetable items available in Australia along the lines of vintage fashion, antiques, jewellery, arts and rare objects. Highlights at this year’s Fair are all about a range of vintage Scandinavian and revered George Jensen jewellery available for purchase from fine jewellery expert, Christopher Becker. Actor and collector Jermel Nakia (better known for his role as young William on hit TV series This Is Us) will add a splash of Hollywood glamour with his meticulously curated collection of iconic movie costumes. The History of the Handbag exhibition will also make its debut as a retrospective of iconic handbags from the last 100 years, from the ornately decorated flapper bags of the 1920s through to today’s most highly sought designer bags. So if stuff is what you need, the Sydney Fair is where you’ll find it! See more at the Fair’s website.

Category: CITIES, LIFESTYLE, SYDNEY

Out of Office: Friday drinks just got better at the Golden Sheaf Double Bay

Crowd of people dancing to music at the Golden Sheaf

by James Banham

Posted: 15/05/2019

Because Friday is the beginning of the weekend and all you want to do is erase the memory of the week that was, we give you Out of Office: new activation by the Golden Sheaf in Double Bay that will help you achieve it all. It’s the Friday night go-to destination for those who work hard and play harder, kicking off in May. Pairing DJs chosen by Sydney heroes UNDR Ctrl with exclusive food and bar offerings, the free affair is the perfect setting to ditch the desk chains and dive into an OOO mentality. Handshake Happy Hour from 4-6pm kickstarts Friday freedom right with the Corona Cart and more surprise and delight moments each week. From the Garden Bar, feast on a bar-style menu of fish sliders, brisket spring rolls and chicken tacos, designed for sharing with the whole team in a sneaky after-work meeting. Stay and Play from 6pm marks your final clock off moment when a new stint of cocktail specials kick in, as the dance floor gets moving to close the loop on the 9-5 week, all the way to a 2am close. From this Friday, May 17 Shantan Wantan Ichiban will appear behind the mic at triple j and FBi Radio. Joining him is World Champion DJs with a set of psych-funk treats, and Life Of Leisure. Supported by Junya.Junya, fearless femme tastemaker Luen will step behind the decks on May 24, setting alight her groove-snatching rarities that has seen her support Peggy Gou and DJ Seinfeld. Rounding out the month on May 31 is a DJ set from bedroom-producer and triple j… Read More

Category: CITIES, LIFESTYLE, SYDNEY

Tags: Golden Sheaf, Golden Sheaf Sydney, sydney bars, Sydney clubs, Sydney Friday drinks, sydney pubs, THE F Golden Sheaf

Nicolaes Maes is the Dutch Master of the Golden Age coming to the National Gallery London

by James Banham

Posted: 13/05/2019

From 22 February 2020, the work of Dutch Master Nicolaes Maes will grace the ground floor galleries of the National Gallery, right in the heart of London. It’ll make for what’s to be the first exhibition exclusively devoted to the man who died in 1693, taking on loans from private collections around the world. Made up of 35 pieces of work in paint and lead, the exhibition will take you on a journey through the life and learnings of a creative, considered one of the star pupils of renowned Dutch Golden Age Baroque artists, Rembrandt. What’s Maes known for? Maes was fond of works that depicted genre scenes, portraits, religious compositions and still lifes, many of which make up the bulk of next year’s exhibition. He was a pioneer of the theme of the eavesdropper; his carefully styled narratives often break the fourth wall, making the viewer a participant in the scene, as characters (often a maid) eavesdrop or point to illicit goings-on. To end the exhibition, it’ll focus on the period from 1673 when Maes settled in Amsterdam and abandoned domestic genre scenes to devote himself almost exclusively to portraits. A group of these lesser-known works will show how he brought a Van Dyckian elegance and swagger to the portraits. The exhibition will run until 31 May 2020. See more from the National Gallery at the website.

Category: ART, ARTS & CULTURE, CITIES, LIFESTYLE, LONDON

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Tranquility meets functionality at new BodyMindLife studio in Kirrawee

by Emi Berry

Updated: 13/05/2019

We spend so much of our lives in the gym, so to find somewhere that feels like home (perhaps even nicer!) is the ultimate goal. That place has been found at the BodyMindLife studios. The brand new studio at Kirrawee in the South Village precinct has opened and between the 75 classes each week and stunning facilities, this is the first time we’ve never wanted to skip a workout. BodyMindLife founder Philip Goodwin says this was exactly his intention. “We want the community to come together here and to feel like they can stay as long as they like,” Goodwin says. As soon as you enter the peaceful space with its white walls, diffuser scented air and scandi elements, you’re immediately relaxed. I’m usually one to rush to and from the gym in a desire to get it over and done with, but at BodyMindLife I arrive early to stretch and remain after class for a cup of herbal tea. For those not familiar with Reformer Pilates itself, Reformer uses all the methodologies behind Pilates but instead performs them on moving platform frame (or ‘bed’) with different weighted springs to that create resistance as you move back and forth. The moving frame allows you to really target those small muscle groups and get in deep stretches you may not have thought was possible. Reformer is great for recovery after an injury and and building long, lean muscles. If you think there’s only so many moves you can do on a reformer bed think again. There… Read More

Category: CITIES, HEALTH & FITNESS, LIFESTYLE, SYDNEY

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Let yourself Bloom at Melbourne’s newest spiritual-fest

by THE F

Posted: 13/05/2019

If your idea of a good weekend involves sipping kombucha and doing breathwork while nibbling on a vegan curry and shopping for new essential oils, Super Bloom is the festival for you. Held at Melbourne’s iconic Abbotsford Convent over a weekend in April, Super Bloom brought together everything to do with the mind, body, and spirit. More than one hundred sessions covered everything from meditative breathing techniques to vulva painting, and classes covered tantric practises, raw vegan desserts, and even some pop-up lessons from the School of Life. Over fifty speakers also took the stage, sharing how-to wisdom on healthy relationships, waste-free cooking, and ‘extreme wellness’. If you’re a bit of a cynic, this might all sound like a lot to take in: after all, some of us would rather spend the weekend eating meat and staying up late instead of indulging in vegan cooking and practising yoga. But the festival’s program was pretty free and easy, much like the topics it celebrates. Guests could drift in and out of classes and workshops as they pleased, and take some time out on the sunny lawn of the Abbotsford Convent while they rested and relaxed between speakers. To keep things light, roaming performance artists circulated throughout the grounds, allowing guests to partipate in silent discos and even, if they were lucky, take a quick nap while being guarded by The Sleep Keepers. Sound mysterious enough yet? Keep an eye on superbloomfestival.com for your next chance to unleash your inner yogi, and free your mind.

Category: CITIES, MELBOURNE

Tags: Bloom festival, Melbourne Bloom festival

Japanese Mother’s Day: Where to take Mum on her special day

by James Banham

Posted: 12/05/2019

Sash Sydney opened only earlier in 2019, but has already managed to take Japanese food in Surry Hills to a brand new level. Read about what Sash is like, here. And just in case their already popular Sunday sessions weren’t enough of a reason to visit, then what they’ve got going on this Mothers’ Day 2019 is sure to be hollering for a booking. For the special woman in your life, they’re putting on a spread. Spoil Mum with a 7 course modern Japanese banquet designed by their head chef Peter Wu. It’s a menu to be grazed on, consisting of Sash’s already renowned dishes including, hand rolled sushi, inspired tacos and crispy battered delights. Find Sash Restaurant at 80 Wentworth Avenue, Surry Hills. Mother’s Day bookings are essential.

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

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Coffee all over Sydney: Chambers Fine Coffee does it right

Holding a cup of coffee in front of the trading hours of Chambers Fine Coffee

by Emi Berry

Posted: 11/05/2019

When you think of Haymarket in Sydney, delicious Chinese dumplings and barbecued Peking duck probably springs to mind. But located on the fringes of bustling Chinatown is some of the most satisfying coffee you’ll find in town – at Chambers Fine Coffee.Who would’ve thought? The queue for takeaway coffee is evidence that this the go-to cafe for locals working or studying in the precinct for their daily dose of caffeine. As the name suggests, Chambers Fine Coffee is committed to brewing a decent hot beverage, which isn’t just limited to coffee, but also includes trending favourites such as organic matcha lattes, turmeric lattes and dirty chai lattes – the perfect belly warmer for those cold autumn days. For the warmer months, Chambers also offers delicious frappes, milkshakes and smoothies. Chambers also offers an all day breakfast menu with old time favourites such as eggs benedict with smoked salmon, accompanied with slices of satisfyingly crunchy toasted sourdough. But then who can go past a finger-licking burger with chips for lunch, which also includes a vegetarian version with grilled haloumi, eggplant, tomato and lettuce? The menu is extensive but not overwhelming (because that’s the last thing you want when you want to sit down to an uncomplicated, casual meal), and guarantees to cater to all cravings at a reasonable price point. Chambers Fine Coffee can be found across six locations in Sydney including Haymarket, Top Ryde, Rhodes, Chatswood, Parramatta and Burwood Plaza.

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

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Best crepes in Sydney for Vivid Festival: Four Frogs Creperie

by Emi Berry

Updated: 16/11/2022

The countdown is on to Vivid Sydney, where spectacular light exhibitions transform the city over a three week period commencing Friday 24 May. While there will be events taking place all over the city, Circular Quay, Sydney Opera House and The Rocks will no doubt take centre stage during this iconic light festival. As the city illuminates from 6pm each evening, you’ll probably want to grab dinner before, after or in between discovering the inspiring light installations. The nights will be cool, so what better way to warm up than indulging in a warm glass of mulled French cider and a delicious crepe at Circular Quay’s Four Frogs Creperie. Founded by four Frenchmen who fell in love with Australia, Four Frogs Creperie is the real deal when it comes to mouth-watering sweet crepes and galettes (savoury crepes). With over 50 variations of a mix of crepes and galettes on offer, even the fussiest eaters amongst us will find something to satisfy. For those seeking a traditional French galette, you can’t go past the La tartiflette which is produced with bacon, Swiss and raclette cheese, potato and onion slow-cooked in cider. You can choose to add an egg to the topping, which is highly recommended if you really want to enjoy the complete ‘la tartiflette’ experience. We’ll also let you in on a very important tip, particularly during those cold evenings by the harbour: the homemade mulled cider is exceptionally good, so why not spoil yourself and order a glass to accompany your meal. Made with… Read More

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

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SYDNEY: Dinners for VIVID – Chroma dinner at Mode Kitchen & Bar, Four Seasons

Mode Kitchen & Bar_Hiramasa kingfish sashimi, sweet & sour onions, macadamia

by James Banham

Updated: 13/06/2019

VIVID Sydney will again take over the city from 24 May to 15 June, so if ever you’ve wanted to eat colour, the time is now. What? Mode Kitchen and Bar on the ground floor of the Four Seasons Hotel Sydney – and under the insanely legendary hand of head chef Francesco Mannelli – is putting on what’s called the Chroma dinner. It’s a sumptuous feast of gastronomic proportions, open to the public, for the entire season for VIVID in Sydney. “Inspired by interesting and extraordinary Australian ingredients I created a unique menu to stimulate guests senses, whilst paying homage to my Italian heritage playing with cooking techniques to create natural vibrant colours and dishes to excite our guests,” said Francesco. It’s a dinner of the celebration of light, colour, sound and sensation created around three dishes and a dessert specifically designed to awaken the senses and take diners on a culinary journey of colour, scent, sound and light. Each dish has been carefully matched to a cocktail or drink by Roderick Boerma, Grain Bar Manager who reigns from Amsterdam and is a true master of fine local produce. Inspired by RGB, these colours have been created to enhance the dining experience as guests enter a world of colour and a sensorial awakening. And if that wasn’t enough, Mode has transformed a space into a white canvas, ready to integrate the very unique BroomX projector that has abilities to create spectacular virtual reality projections who surprise and delight guests, transforming the newly white room into… Read More

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

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Butcher and the Farmer does bottomless British brunch in Sydney

by James Banham

Posted: 08/05/2019

At the Tramsheds in Glebe, right in the heart of Sydney, Butcher and Farmer has nestled in nicely; and now they’re doing bottomless brunch. Because; Sydney. With stuff on the menu like eggs sunny-side-up, bacon, BATF signature pork and fennel sausage, confit mushroom, roasted Roma tomato, fried Sonoma bread, house braised beans and a hash brown, it’s a good time. Top it all with bottomless prosecco and the very British Pimm’s cups, it makes for a good time. Why? Butcher and the Farmer have teamed up with Will Stewart and Steve Flood, both English, who’ve spruiked the new Union Jack themed Smeg toaster, on show at Butcher and the Farmer, to inject a little English into seaside Sydney. It’s an explosion of British gastronomy, right in the middle of town, which for those with a penchant for the UK, will hit the spot ideally. See more and make your own booking at the Butcher and Farmer’s website.

Category: CITIES, FOOD & DRINK, LIFESTYLE, SYDNEY

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