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WestConnex to reduce size of Sydney Park BY ELLIOTT BRENNAN est onne officials ha e re ealed to the it of dne ouncil that an area etres wide along the length of dne ark will be subsu ed as art of the second stage of the ro ect he ri ate consultation in which this was un eiled beca e a oint of contention with so e ouncillors clai ing est onne ennis liche was erball abused” during the course of the eeting dne ark is one of the largest o en green s aces in the inner cit he ro osal as art of he est onne eli er uthorit s road widening would see a loss of roughl , s uare etres fro the site a o e which has angered ost e bers of ouncil he loss of s ace has led to serious uestions fro a nu ber of the it of dne ouncillors who addressed the issue in their official ouncil eeting on onda ece ber abor ouncillor inda cott said roads should ne er be ut before arks reen s ace in the inner cit is recious and ust be e anded, not destro ed and turned into ri ati ed toll roads ith increasing nu bers of our co unities li ing in a art ents and obesit rates on the rise, inner cit green s ace should ne er be turned into roads,” she said ord a or lo er oore ut forward a otion to note that the i acts on dne ark were unacce table” dne ark, the significant regional ark for increasing nu bers of inner cit fa ilies, will be effecti el surrounded b a or four lane highwa s on all sides, otentiall reducing edestrian access fro surrounding residential areas,” she said
he est onne eli er uthorit has infor ed it ub that the land is owned b oads and ariti es er ices and has alwa s been intended for road widening” he it of dne s e tensi e lan of anage ent for the site was released in a this ear and acknowledges that the land is tate owned r cott belie es the ur ose of the tate owned stri has changed significantl in recent ears noting the old lan for an ast est link e e had a trans ort bureaucrat ull out a ear old lan and ut it to the o ern ent, and the e u ed for o ,” she said iberal ouncillor hristine orster inter ected, sa ing t s their land ” he etre corridor, if full used will cut off a ed building that is on the site as well as the etro i atching lant t re ains unclear if the tate will ac uire and re o e these buildings r cott belie ed that this new infor ation could ean that the inister for oads, uncan a a ha e isled arlia ent n o e ber, a said that green s ace in dne ark would not be re o ed b the t eters est onne interchange ro ect n res onse to a abor uestion that dne ark would be retained in its entiret as o en s ace, r a res onded the short answer is es,” she said r a s office declined to co ent on the issue, but the est onne eli er uthorit told it ub that it was uston road getting e anded, and not dne ark being reduced which sti ulates that the land was ne er a art of the ark oth iberal ouncillors, dward andla and hristine orster, said that the council
Sydney Park’s iconic brick stacks Source: streetfurniture.com
as a whole had been disres ectful when est onne ennis lich et with the t was a cowardl attack on a de art ent s okes erson,” r andla said worried that because of our actions as a collecti e council we are going to be left out of future negotiations” r orster said that the eeting was not constructi e
his is si l ni b is ,” she said e should be engaging with est onne , not criticising the we need to o e this along” nde endent ouncillor ngela ithoulkas co letel re ected the idea that the grilling was uncalled for he ord a or was tough with hi ,” she said ut wh shouldn t she be he
should be able to answer these tough uestions, and uite frankl his answers were disa ointing to sa the least” he ord a or o ed a otion to de and ore infor ation about the est onne lans including the lace ents of e haust stacks which are redicted to be at the t eters end of the e tension which assed with the su ort of all but the iberal ouncillors
TAP Gallery building sold Published weekly and freely available Sydney-wide. Copies are also distributed to serviced apartments, hotels, convenience stores and newsagents throughout the city. Distribution enquiries call 9212 5677. Published by the Alternative Media Group of Australia. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy of content, City Hub takes no responsibility for inadvertent errors or omissions. ABN 48 135 222 169 Group Publisher: Lawrence Gibbons Group Manager: Chris Peken Group Editor: Elliott Brennan Contributors: Christopher Harris, Lauren O’Connor, Tang Li, Keiran Adair, Erika Vass Arts Editor: Emma Salkild Live Music Editors: Chelsea Deeley & Alexandra English Dining Editor: Jackie McMillan Advertising Managers: Toni Martelli, Robert Tuitama & Mike Contos Cover: Joanna Kelly Cover Models: Nicole Abbey, Tahani Hasin Sayed Email: question@alternativemediagroup.com Advertising: sales@alternativemediagroup.com Contact: PO Box 843 Broadway 2007 Ph: 9212 5677 Fax: 9212 5633 Web: altmedia.net.au
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BY ELLIOTT BRENNAN he building that for the last ears has housed the aller has been sold gi ing the co unit that has been built around the enue eight onths to find a new ho e he new owners won t o e in until ul ne t ear when the building is understood to see its last e hibition as the are ru oured to be turning it into an office s ace anager of the enue, esle i ick sa s that is ore than a building and that all the need is a roof o er their heads aller is an organisation, not a building,” she said ecent difficulties with the it of dne ha e ut an enor ous strain on the co unit n ul of this ear a co laint was ade about the fire safet of the u stairs theatre s ace an the council subse uentl dee ed it to be a fire ha ard he galler then s ent o er , in a two stage rocess to bring the safet of the building u to the re uired le el he had alread co leted the first stage, and were set to begin the second e ade all the doors ush outwards, we e done a huge clear out of accu ulated aintings that we since re o ed because the saw the storage of the aintings as a fire risk, and we e ut non sli aterial on both our e its,” s i ick said ut in o e ber, the it of dne ouncil infor ed the galler that the had ne er had the correct oning to o erate a theatre s ace his all started fro ust one co laint and it s been an ongoing hell fro there e s ent an i ense a ount of one on fi ing the fire ha ards onl for the to hit us with the roble and tell us we can t use the s ace an wa ,” s i ick said e ha e to hire a lanning law er to ro e legall that we are a non rofit organisation running
TAP Gallery
a co unit arts centre so that we can resu e our erfor ance, whether it be here or in another building” e reall thought that we would ha e the full su ort of the council sur rised that council didn t show ore understanding es eciall gi en that the knew the building was u for sale and how uch ressure we were alread under” he council assured it ub that the continue to work with the aller and to find it a new ho e he it of dne continues to work with aller to resol e the issues associated with the use of the building for erfor ances he discussions ha e in ol ed e ternal lanners, lanning law ers and fire safet e erts, and are continuing,” a s okes erson said it staff ha e also ro ided infor ation on accessing it owned s aces through our
acco odation grants rogra , and will continue to ro ide su ort if the galler needs to relocate” ut s i ick sa s she has been let down b a lack of su ort fro the council hat the e done is ade it er difficult for us to gracefull o e on e were aware that the building was u for sale and we were re aring for the o e ut the trouble with council has knocked us back financiall and ruined our goodwill with our co unit ,” she said er one in dne thinks that the aller has closed down er anentl , not ust the erfor ance s ace” has been running a o ible co ca aign to reco er so e of the one the s ent bringing the fire standard u and that will be used to urchase a new site o far the ha e raised , of their , goal
3
South East Light Rail could cause havoc for George Street Critics of the State Government’s light rail development say the project will upend Sydney from George Street to the Eastern Suburbs without regard for the consequences. As part of the ‘Sydney City Centre Access Strategy’ that focuses on investment in public transport, the 67 etre long light rail will be finalised before hrist as and begin construction on April 26 next year, the day after the ANZAC Centenary. The route goes through Circular Quay, George Street and Randwick via Surry Hills and is claimed to add $4 billion worth of value to state assets. he ser ice will take an esti ated fi e ears to complete and will disrupt bus, pedestrian, train, park and traffic routes according to it of dne ouncillor Linda Scott and Jim Donovan spokesperson for an activist group Action for Public Transport (APT.) Although supportive of the development, Scott expressed concern that costing, community and logistical assessments were not adequately undertaken. She said it was ‘incredibly worrying’ that at this stage of the project important details had not been provided to the Council, who have committed $220 million to its realisation. “Given that we’re really weeks away from the beginning of construction where the whole of George Street will be dug up, I think its concerning that this level of detail hasn’t been made public ... why haven’t we seen plans about how the construction will be managed?” she said. “I am seriously worried that with the construction hase, which is esti ated to be fi e ears long, and without reall significant in est ent in ublic trans ort our city will really grind to a halt.” Donovan told City Hub although light rail is a welcome improvement to congestion in the CBD, it would not fill eak hour ca acit and will create problems for parallel routes in other areas of the city. “As soon as they start, all the George Street Buses will
4
George Street Source: wikipedia.org
have to stop using George Street,” he said. “The result will be that all George Street trips will be that much longer. Incoming buses will have to turn at Rawson Place, get to Elizabeth Street and head up to
Circular Quay that way “A lot of the cars will be displaced out of George Street as soon as the work starts and they’ll want to use another north south street this will go on for four or fi e ears
until the light rail starts”. “They say it’s set in stone, but if we embarrass them enough they might draw back given there’s an election coming,” Donovan said. Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian announced in October that a consortium ‘Connecting Sydney’ which includes French tram manufacturer Alstom had won the construction contract. Exploration of subsurface George Street began last week which led to the first of an o ernight closures set to continue on Sundays in the coming months. Ms Berejiklian said that business along the relevant corridors had been thoroughly consulted about the changes through a series of forums. “The forums have been positive and productive and have become a vital part of helping us limit the impacts of this project during construction,” Ms Berejiklian said. “…vehicle access to driveways and loading docks will be aintained b traffic controllers during the interchange works, and pedestrian access to footpaths and property entrances adjacent to the worksite will be maintained at all times.” Cr Scott was clear that Labor is in favour of the light rail and maintains that investment in public transport is a priority for NSW. But she has submitted a question time notice to get access to bus, garbage and freight timetables in preparation for the light rail construction period. “The residents that live in the CBD are obviously going to be directly affected. I have been talking to them about…their concerns…particularly about the construction period like what is going to happen in Chippendale when all those construction vehicles start parking and loading and coming through those tiny back streets in the residential areas,” she said. “It will affect people who study, who work, it will affect tourism it will affect the whole inner city and I’m incredibly concerned that we don’t have more information.”
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BY KEIRAN ADAIR Police are using sniffer dogs to search Redfern commuters at a rate 6.5 times higher than other similar stations, but these searches are less likel to find drugs, according to figures recentl obtained b the reens n a community historically marred by tensions between the residents and police, this statistic are being seen by many as further evidence of discriminatory policing. David Porter, a solicitor from the Redfern Legal Centre, said there was clearly a bias. “Redfern is disproportionately targeted, but from the evidence, it is hard to see why,” he said. t doesn t ha e a higher strike rate t doesn t ha e the higher assenger nu bers The evidence does not explain the way the rogra is run in edfern if ou re not using evidence to inform your decisions, ou re robabl using re udice ” his is not the first ti e concerns ha e been raised over the potential of sniffer dogs to enable biased olicing n , researchers at the University of California at a is showed that a sniffer dog s accurac in detecting drugs is undermined by their handler s beha iour The dogs pick up unconscious cues of their handlers, such as when a olice officer stares at a particular person, leads a dog to a particular location, or encourages dogs to dis la unusual interest in a s ecific location The potential for this type of bias is especially troubling in Redfern, an area with
Sniffer dog at work Source: positivepolicedogs.wordpress.com
a high ndigenous and outh o ulation, and may partly explain why sniffer dogs have proven so ineffective in identifying people carrying drugs. ast ear, of the , searches conducted in edfern, no drugs were found in cases re ious state wide figures ha e shown the nu ber of false identifications to be as high as , or four in e er fi e people searched. enn eong, the reens candidate for Newtown, spoke at a public forum on sniffer dogs held in Redfern last week. dne s aboriginal co unit has consistently faced the brunt of over-policing and disproportionate law and order
agendas,” she said t s also an area with a high ro ortion of young people and students and a station used by many who live in nearby public and community housing – all of which are ore likel to struggle to find the resources a ailable to fight such harass ent and intimidation.” eong s concerns are irrored across the Redfern community, who are growing increasingly critical of the use of sniffer dogs at their station. or the ost art in isible to olice dogs when on the wa to work and in a business suit” Nick, a local resident, told City Hub, but end u feeling indignant and a little hel less when see a dog sto in front of so eone and fi e co s con erge on that person.” Responding to the criticism, the NSW police told City Hub they had no plans to discontinue the use of sniffer dogs. f our o erations re ent ust one erson from putting their life at risk, then they are succeeding” a Police spokesperson said. “The reality is that the presence of our drug dogs has a strong deterrence factor.” t is unclear whether the olice will be taking steps to address the broader concerns of targeting and discrimination at Redfern station. Jenny Leong has announced her plans put forward legislation that would end the use of sniffer dogs in NSW, if elected in the upcoming state election.
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Redfern station unfairly targeted according to residents
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Rumours fly around future of Moore Park Stables BY TANG LI The Moore Park Stables community is fearful that their license may not be renewed at the end of the year. u ours ha e been circulating that four out of fi e riding schools (Budapest Riding School, Centennial Stables, Eastside Riding Academy and Papillon Riding Stables) at the Centennial Parklands Equestrian Centre (CPEC) have been given the green light for their respective license renewals, but Moore Park Stables may cease to operate. But the acting President of an Eastern Suburbs Group, Jane Anderson, told City Hub that these rumours are unfounded and that she has not heard of the stables closing or any of the riding schools being evicted. “I do know that they did their usual call for expressions of interest to run a riding school at the CPEC and the a lications ha e now closed t is done e er fi e ears and the licenses are for fi e ears asked if the results are available yet and was told by the Stables Manager that they are still going through the process,” Ms Anderson said. A third year student at Moore Park Stables, Sheridane Kumanidis, organised an online petition to the House of Representatives to renew Moore Park Stables’ license. The petition has objected to the removal of the Moore Park Stables by way of the Centennial Park and Moore Park Trust’s refusal to renew their license to operate at CPEC. “That we object to the removal of all horses and cessation of horse riding activities from Moore Park Stables which, has for over thirty years, been a feature of the Centennial Park Equestrian Centre,” it stipulates. Ms Kumanidis told City Hub that she received a letter response from the Centennial Park Trust entailing the ‘fair and equitable process’ of the tender renewal and that all fi e riding schools were gi en clear instructions But Ms Kumanidis believes otherwise. “While the other riding schools have been informed that their licenses will be renewed, the Moore Park Stables
Horse riding at Centennial Parklands Source: www.toptouristparks.com.au
are still up in the air and in limbo,” she said. She believes that a closure of the stables would be caused by an apparently unsatisfactory performance in business and safety sustainability. “They would be taking away something so important to us. We are worried about job losses and will be devastated if that is the case.” “At the end of the day, we form really close bonds with
the horses and coaches there and it will be a major loss for all of us t s not that si le to tell us to find another riding school, as forming a bond takes time,” she said. The CPEC Marketing and Communications Manager, raig asdown, would not s eak s ecificall about oore Park stables, but insisted the process was fair. “Licences have been offered on merit as per the priority order recommended by the tender assessment
panel following detailed discussions with each short listed proponent. We have kept all the incumbent licensees updated at all stages of the process,” he said. “We recognise that it may seem an elongated process, however the thoroughness and importance of this process is one we take seriously and we are ensuring it is undertaken with due process.” final decision will be ade in the co ing weeks
Skaters finally win over City for skate park BY CHRISTOPHER HARRIS The City of Sydney is planning to build its first skate ark in ears in the ohnsons reek Parkland development in Glebe. The plan comes about after extensive lobbying from the Sydney Skateboarding Association, who worked with Labor councilor Linda Scott, who last week successfully moved a motion to build the skate park in the Inner West. Skating advocates have seen the council dragging their heals on the issue of skate parks. A 2006 council report recommended the construction of four new parks in the local government area, but none have been built. The Sydney Skateboarding Association are hopeful that more parks can be built, and that the council can be brought up to speed and keep pace with the changing paradigms of park design, as well as the wider community’s attitudes to skating. Linda Scott believes more needs to be done. “There is a huge demand for more skateboard facilities in the inner-city and I have been working with the Sydney Skateboard Association to make sure Council listens to the needs of Sydney’s skateboarding community. We need to listen to their ideas for what skateboarders want from these facilities to get the design right.” “Whilst the plans for a future skate park in Glebe are welcome, there is much more to do given that since the 2006 report, the Council has not met the demand for skateboard facilities given the growing popularity of skateboarding. I will continue to work with Sydney’s skateboarding community to make sure Council delivers on its promise of new skateboard infrastructure in the future” 8
Skateboarders outside Town Hall Source: facebook.com
She believes the successful motion is a mandate for the city to have more fun. “This is a massive victory to ensure the future of our City is more fun. We’ve had to stand against the Lord Mayor who failed to deliver new skating facilities and Liberal Councillors, who declared skateboarding was dead. Today our communities who support more fun have won.” Cameron Sparkes of Sydney Skateboarding Association believes that it is not only an issue
of fun, but about improving the Sydney’s community and having a more equitable distribution of public infrastructure. “There’s a lack of enthusiasm to build any form of infrastructure unless its something Clover Moore likes. Skate Parks aren’t very different because everyone is getting short changed. If you look at skate parks there is an element of the community that is not too thrilled about them. “ “Skating is one of the fastest growing cultures in the world. CSIRO and ABS data has shown participation rates in traditional team sports is decreasing, whereas participating in extreme sports is increasing - skating is at the forefront of this growing trend.” “If you want a real life example of this, look at the skate park in Waterloo. There are 20 to 100 people using the facilities. Then look at the recently constructed tennis and basketball courts in Prince Alfred Park, and there is barely anyone there at night.” he health and social benefit is so i ortant, it is the best thing you could do. For a lot of them, it’s introducing them tosomething that will provide health and wellbeing, because young people can be part of an active community” Mr Sparkes believes that the new skate park will be a positive step for the local Glebe community. “If you look at the youth center, Weave, in aterloo, we know how beneficial for the indigenous community it has been within that area.” “Since the skate park has been the Local Area Command has reported a drop in youth crime rates and youth drug abuse.”
Strut the Streets Source: aimementoring.com
Sydney-siders take to the streets in their swimmers BY ELLIOTT BRENNAN The Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience (AIME) held its si th and final Strut the Streets’ parade on Friday December 5. Over 550 swimwearclad Sydney-siders took to Martin place in an attempt to break a uinness world record and raise funds for the organisation. AIM connects young Indigenous Australians with mentors to help them through high school, into niversity and then the workforce. nfortunately the parade fell just shy of the 03 person record previously set in South Africa, but an AIM spokesperson told City ub
that the parade has never been about records. “It’s always been just a bit of fun to end the year and celebrate and help fund the hard work that everyone has done,” the spokesperson said. C of AIM Jack Manning-Bancroft said this year had been the best yet. “This year we connected 3, 00 Indigenous kids with 1, 00 volunteer university student mentors, and we have the platform to reach 10,000 Indigenous kids across Australia each year by 201 . There is still a way to go, but the tide is well and truly turning.” Over $55,000 was raised on the day.
Rozelle Fire donations process criticised Porteous says the money is being allocated the way it was always going to be under the committee Cr Byrne set up. “Council decided from day one that it was important that the decision-making process and administration of the funds be made by a committee representing the wider community and that decisions be at an arm’s length to council to ensure they were not subject to political interference,” she said. This committee is made up of the Principal of Rozelle Public School, the President of the Rozelle and Balmain Chamber of Commerce, a representative of local residents, two representatives from the Rozelle Bendigo Bank, the Manager of the Rozelle Neighbourhood Centre and a senior Leichhardt Counil staffer. A statement from the committee read “100% of funds received will go directly to the eligible applicants with none going into administration costs. It is intended that all funds will be allocated by 31 December 2014.”
BY ELLIOTT BRENNAN There has been disagreement in the ranks of Leichhardt Council over the management of funds raised during the Rozelle fire appeal to help those affected by the blast in October that killed three people, including a mother and her baby. Former Mayor, Darcy Byrne says that the distribution of the money does not take into account the emotional trauma of the victims’ families. “I initiated the Rozelle Fire Appeal so that so that local people could make donations and do something practical to help the families of the victims,” Councillor Byrne said. “People of goodwill have donated more than $220 000, essentially in the names of Bianka, Jude and Chris Noble’s families. The vast majority of that money should be going to those people, who have lost so much. “At the moment it seems that Bianka and Chris’s families will only receive a token amount which is just plain wrong. But Mayor Rochelle
Candidates fight for Millers Point BY ELLIOTT BRENNAN The Member for Sydney, Alex Greenwhich, and the Labor Candidate Edwina Lloyd have come to political blows over the residents of the Millers Point social housing community. Both candidates have been long dedicated champions of the community but an alleged false report from Ms Lloyd led Mr Greenwhich to take to twitter last Wednesday (December 3) to say that she had reached “a disgraceful new low” without mentioning what it was. Ms Lloyd then posted an email on her website that Mr Greenwhich had sent out to members of the Millers Point community. “I have just received a frustrating call from a journalist who has told me that the Labor Candidate running against me for the Seat of Sydney is telling media outlets that I am not committed to the retention of public housing in Millers Point,” the letter read. “This is a desperate lie, and deeply hypocritical coming from the political party that started selling housing in Millers Point, and engaged in a process of eviction by neglect in your area while they were in Government.” Ms Lloyd told City Hub that she has been open with her views and that she doesn’t reject the idea that Mr Greenwhich doesn’t care. “I know that Alex has been working very hard for the community, but it’s absolutely no secret that I think that he could be fighting a little bit harder,” she said. “As a constituent of my electorate, it’s my right to lobby my local Member to do more, and as a candidate it’s my right to push for the best outcome all of us can be doing better.” Ms Lloyd was particularly concerned about the last line of Mr Greenwhich’s letter, which read: “I ask that you don’t allow that Labor Candidate for Sydney
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Edwina Lloyd (far left) and Alex Greenwhich (far right) in support of Millers Point Source: millerspointcommunity.com.au
to use your community for deceptive political point scoring.” She felt that he was encouraging residents to reject all the work she has done for them. “It’s beyond arrogant for Mr Greenwhich to assume that he has a monopoly on representing the people of Millers Point,” she said. “And it’s completely improper for him to tell them that they can only deal with him.” Mr Greenwhich and Ms Lloyd both have a good rapport with the Millers Point community and both
agree in principle that this issue needs to be above politics. “As I’ve said to anyone who asks, I am committed to fighting alongside residents and with all sides of politics to achieve a good outcome,” Mr Greenwhich told City Hub. “This isn’t about me, and it isn’t about Alex,” Ms Lloyd said. “At the end of the day it’s the Miller’s point community who are at stake here and everyone needs to work together to help them stay in their homes.”
FROM THE MAYOR Three Year Delay for Callan Park Master Plan Adoption Continues It is shameful that the award-winning Callan Park Master Plan handed over to the State Government on 11 November, 2011 is still waiting for Government adoption. We have now been waiting over three years for the State Government to consider the final Callan Park Master Plan – despite the fact that it achieved an 87 per cent public approval rating and won the prestigious NSW RH Dougherty Award for Excellence in Communication. Leichhardt Council is committed to seeing the Master Plan implemented under a governing Trust. The Master Plan offers a secure, positive and sustainable future for Callan Park with mental health consumers central to every stage of the Plan’s implementation. This beautiful Park belongs to the people because it has been saved – on many occasions – by the people. Following 18 months of detailed community consultation and preparation, the Plan was formally presented to the then Minister for Planning, Brad Hazzard, on 11 November 2011 - yet we are still waiting for the Government to respond to it. We need to see this vision implemented. It is time The State Government stepped up to their responsibilities and adopted and implemented the award winning Callan Park Master Plan.
owe Av
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Best Aboriginal Art Gallery Again! Tali Gallery is a social enterprise entity which works with over 30 Not for Profit Aboriginal Owned Communities as well as selected Urban Indigenous Artists. A large range of paintings, prints, crafts and gifts are offered over two floors in our Gallery space and much can be viewed on line. Tali Gallery is engaged in philanthropic projects relating to Indigenous Scholarship Fundraising, Health and Literacy throughout the year. We host artists’ visits from remote communities and curate educational exhibitions through the City of Sydney Libraries and other organisations. Tali Gallery convenes workshops by artists, art appreciation classes for schools and adults, and talks and tours for special interest groups. Find out why people come from all over Australia and from all over the world to visit Tali Gallery and buy special and beautiful Aboriginal Creations. Tali Gallery has also won the Pauline McLeod Reconciliation Award, the Macquarie University Award for our work in Inclusive Communities and the Rotary Vocational Excellence Award (Balmain). Tali Gallery hosts Rozelle Fest to promote and support our own local community where we have lived and worked for some 30 years.
FINE ART
GIFTS
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www.taligallery.com.au 667 Darling Street Rozelle • Phone 9555 6555 Open 7 days from 11am to 6pm 12
INDEX
altmedia.net.au Editor: Alexandra English Contributors: Alexia Derbas, Lawrence Gibbons, Siri Williams, Ciaran Tobin, Elyssa King, Jennifer Hacker, Michael Muir and Ruth Fogarty Cover Photographer: Joanna Kelly Cover Models: Nicole Abbey, Tahani Hasin Sayed
A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR
DINING Page Best Bagels 15 Best Bakery 15 Best Basement Bar 15 Best Breakfast 15 Best Café 15 Best Caribbean 15 Best Coffee 15 Best Burgers 15 Best Chinese 15 Best Community Food Collective 15 Best Dessert 15 Best Food Court 15 Best European Café 16 Best Friendly French 16 Best Fresh Produce 16 Best Yoghurt 16 Best Fusion café 16 Best Gelato 16 Best Gourmet Café 17 Best High Tea 17 Best Indian 17 Best Italian 17 Best Jamaican 17 Best Japanese 17 Best Mexican 17 Best Muffins 17 Best Noodles 18 Best Northern European 18 Best Pies 18 Best Posh Nosh 18 Best Pub Bistro 18 Best RSL 18 Best Seafood 18 Best South American 19 Best Tapas 19 Best Vegetarian 19 Best Thai 19 DRINKING Best Alternative Pub Best Balcony Drinks
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Best Beer Best British Drinks Best Community Bar Best Jazz and Drinks Night Best Hotel Best Restaurant Bar Best Local Pub Best Nightclub Best Wine Bar ENTERTAINMENT Best Art Gallery Best Burlesque Best Bus Ride Best Church Best Cinema Best Comedy Venue Best Community Garden Best Conference Venue Best Drag Queen Bingo Best Drama Theatre Best Fish Markets Best Indigenous Art Gallery Best Graffiti Best Music Venue Best Markets Best Museum Best Public Park and Garden Best Performance Venue Best Street Artist SHOPPING Best Antiques Best Art Supplies BEST BIKE SHOP Best Book Shop Best Bookstore Café Best Bottle Shop Best Chocolate Shop Best Classic Furniture Shop Best Electronics Suppliers Best Fetish
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Best Gourmet Grocer Best Health Food Store Best International Designer Best Men’s Fashion Best Modern Furniture Shop Best Op Shop Best Shopping Centre Best Supermarket Best Vinyls Best Women’s Fashion
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SERVICES Best Arts Venue Best Barber Shop Best Beauty Salon Best Chemist Best Community College Best Cosmetic Surgeon Best Dance Studio Best Education for International Students Best Educational Institute Best Dental Surgery Best Film School Best Gym Best Handyman Services Best Hotel Accommodation Best Electrician Best Medical Best Photography Best Place to Get Pierced Best Public Pool Best Real Estate Best Tattoos Best Wedding Venue Best Wet Shave Best Yoga Best Travel and Tourism College
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Sydney is a city rich with a culture of independent bars, cafés, restaurants, fashion, music, boutique stores and captivating galleries. For the visitors, it’s about doing and seeing as much as you possibly can in a limited time frame; for the locals, it’s about more than just venues and spaces, it’s about the people who create them; for everyone, it’s about which places are worth your time and money. Cue the Best of Sydney 2014 guide.We’ve put together a team of local and talented writers who are drinking in the bars, eating in the restaurants, and wandering the laneways looking for the things that make our city what it is.We’ve explored the ins and outs of Sydney to present you with the most up-to-date resource of the best things to see and do here whether you’re just passing through or happily call Sydney home. We’re really excited about what’s ahead for Sydney in 2015 and beyond.We’ll keep going out and exploring this endlessly fascinating city, so come along for the ride. Alexandra English
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BEST OF SYDNEY 2014 BEST BURGERS
BEST BAGELS BROOKLYN HIDE The old boiled-then-baked role-with-a-hole has a long Polish and Jewish history, but Surry Hills is as far as you’ll need to go for a wide and delicious selection of bagels. Brooklyn Hide’s menu reads like a map of New York, from the Manhattan with its traditional topping of in-house cured lox, rocket, honey vinegar and cream cheese; to the Brooklyn Hide bagel with a braised pork shoulder, McClure’s dill pickles, baby spinach and apple am filling. ut heck, if that’s a bit too much for your taste buds then the plain bagels with different types of cream cheese are also immensely satisfying. (AD) 226 Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills, 2010, www.brooklynhide.com.au
BEST BAKERY CENTRAL DEPOT BAKERY This place has everything you could want in a bakery: cakes, pastries, pies, sausage rolls, pizzas, salads and sandwiches.There’s something to suit every mood, whether you’re feeling sweet, savoury, tried, happy, sad, or just plain hungry. Each store has a range of daily specials, fresh bread baked on site, and sweet and savoury pastries that they can provide for events and massive cravings. Plus! They deliver in the CBD, which makes it that much easier to convince yourself that the pm sugar crash is real, and must be rectified immediately. (AE) 37-39 Erskine Street, Sydney 2000, (02) 9290 2229, www. centralbakingdepot.com.au
BEST BASEMENT BAR BAXTERS INN Imagine a speakeasy with over 300 types of whiskey covering the walls behind the bar, where moustachioed bartenders serve you drinks and there is an abundance of free pretzels.This well-hidden, intriguing basement bar in the heart of Sydney provides patrons with wonderful service and even better drinks. It can be tricky to find this bar, but once you go down the flight of stairs and enter a dimly lit, mahogany filled room with chilled music to set the scene, you won’t want to leave.The Baxter Inn is a great place for a date, some cheeky drinks with your mates or some loose after-work bevies. (CT) Basement, 152-156, Clarence Street, Sydney, 2000, www. thebaxterinn.com
BEST BREAKFAST TOBY’S ESTATE As any discerning coffee drinker knows,Toby’s Estate is the go-to bean for a great brew, but you can also pay a visit to one of their two signature cafés in Sydney – Woolloomooloo or Chippendale – and nourish yourself with their all day brekky menu. ou’ll find the usual
suspects of bacon and eggs or bircher muesli, but Toby’s goes the extra mile with options like baked potato and leek gratin with smoked salmon, or smoked cascara lamb shoulder and beans.The truffled poached egg with haloumi will help you rediscover a love of truffle oil, which here is used to tantalise, rather than overwhelm, the tastebuds; a rare sure thing. (RF) 32-36 City Road, Chippendale, 2008, (02) 9112 1131, www.tobysestate.com.au
BONARCHE BURGERS At Bonarche Burgers, everything is made from scratch: the meat is cut, minced, pressed, and then topped with housemade condiments for an old-school burger that is best washed down with a classic milkshake. Treat yourself to specials and other creative meals like Japanese pulled brisket burgers, a plate of smoky BBQ pork, or British style fish n’ chips. egetarians and the gluten-intolerant are at home here with a range of suitable options. While the little ones devour a kids’ pack, the adults choose a craft beer, or indulge in the Hangover Burger with complimentary Berocca (AE) 14 Norton St, Leichhardt, 2040, www.bonarche.com
BEST CHINESE GOLDEN CENTURY A trip to Golden Century will make you feel like you’re actually in culinary mecca Hong Kong with some sort of travel amnesia where you can’t remember leaving the country. The pièce de résistance is the king crabs, cooked in every way imaginable. The longstanding appeal of Golden Century (they’ve been established for over 25 years) is the simple fact it is always buzzing, always delicious, and always open.Well, at least until 4am, ready to satisfy any late night cravings. (AE) 393-399 Sussex Street, Sydney, 2000, (02) 9212 3901, www.goldencentury. com.au
BEST CAFÉ CAFÉ MORSO Breakfast is important at Café Morso, moreso than any other meal.This is a place where they’re continually plating up breakfast classics with a gourmet twist.With bacon and egg gnocchi, smoked pork, and gruyere risotto with poached eggs on the menu, it’s surprisingly, the simplest of dishes that’s the most Instagrammed the truffle scrambled eggs with sautéed wild mushrooms. It’s brunch, so you’re allowed to en oy the first meal of the day with the first cocktail of the day while you bask in the tranquil waterside location. (AE) 26-32 Pirrama Rd, Pyrmont, 2009, (02) 9692 0111, www.cafemorso.com.au
BEST CARIBBEAN JONKANOO When you walk into Jonkankoo, you’d be forgiven for thinking that someone has put the essence of the Caribbean in a bottle, then shaken it up and watched it spray across the room.The people, the music, and most of all, the food and beverages, all work to create an authentic West Indian experience in the heart of Surry Hills. Diners sample the ever-changing menu that includes Trinidadian street food, soused mackerel from the Bahamas and Haitian griot pork.Those with a larger appetite can try the like the Caribbean classic curry goat, the escovitch fish or the grilled king prawns with black pepper, lime and a decent dose of rum. (AE) 583 Crown Street, Surry Hills 2010, (02) 9699 0019, www.jonkanoo.com.au
BEST COFFEE TOBY’S ESTATE Toby’s Estate takes coffee seriously, and the company prides itself on ethically sourcing the best bean while perfecting their roasting and brewing techniques.What this adds up to, in the words of Agent Cooper from Twin eaks, is “a damn fine cup of coffee.” They even run their own Espresso School where professionals and home baristas can learn the craft. It’s worth a visit to one of their two original cafés in Woolloomooloo and Chippendale to experience the full complement of their distinct hand crafted blends and single origin beans. (RF) 129 Cathedral Street,Woolloomooloo, 2011, (02) 9357 3601, www.tobysestate.com.au
BEST COMMUNITY FOOD COLLECTIVE COOKIES + MILK It started out as a simple equation: cookies + milk = niche café.Within a year or two the equation became more elaborate: cookies + milk + cold pressed juice vendor + am maker pie maker gardener mysterious waffle man = community kitchen collective for artisan makers and bakers. Libby Marriner is responsible for the meltin-your-mouth cookies and tasty coffee, while the Jam Bandits make sweet spreads, Bluepress Juice make fresh and bottled healthy drinks, Miss Lilly’s Kitchen pump out the sweet and savoury pies, and Mr Waffle moves around silently. It all adds up to a sweet-smelling café with quirky vintage furniture and this-feels-like-home vibes. (AE) 531 King Street Newtown, 2042, (02) 9516 4381, www.polka.com.au
BEST CUBAN EL CUBANO This restaurant is an exotic beast. Situated in historical Potts Point, on any given occasion you are likely to encounter a menagerie of diners and dancers spread across two levels in an explosion of good music, good food and good vibes. Upstairs, devour meals like pollo relleno can pure de boniato (chicken stuffed with cheese and jamón serrano, topped with mustard seed sauce , and for dessert, flan de caramelo flan caramel with spun sugar and cinnamon ice cream) with a Cuban cocktail.After the feast, move downstairs to get your swing on to the styles of Cuban salsa, Samba, Kizomba and Bachata. (AE) 13-15 Kellett Way, Potts Point, 2011, (02) 8065 1625, www.elcubano.com.au
BEST DESSERT GYPSY ESPRESSO The worst thing about being a kid, apart from having mum call you for dinner before it’s ready, is not being able to have dessert until you’ve finished what’s on your plate. How can you have any pudding if you don’t eat your meat? But being an adult means you can have dessert anytime you want. So when your sweet teeth start chattering, head to Gypsy Espresso in Potts Point, before or after dinner – hell, before breakfast if you want to.The café also serves breakfast, lunch and dinner meals for those looking for a proper feast. (AE) 6 81 Macleay Street, Potts Point, 2011, (02) 8356 9264
BEST FOOD COURT EATING WORLD The best way to avoid that relationship-ending squabble over what to get for dinner is to nab a food court table; be separate in your culinary tastes but so, so together. Eating World offers the most diverse range of Asian foods out of the Chinatown food courts. From Red Charcoal’s northern Chinese street food, through to the famous Gumshara ramen, feast your eyes on an art gallery of Chinese, ietnamese, Cantonese,Thai, Singaporean and Japanese menus.You could easily leave in a food coma with change from $10. Bonus: one of the two drink stalls, Centa Bar, also serves alcohol. Grab a beer, do a lap and only one. You’ll be coming back to try everything else. (AD) 25-29 Dixon St, Haymarket, 2000
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BEST OF SYDNEY 2014 BEST FRESH PRODUCE
BEST EUROPEAN CAFÉ
WOW COW royo franchise Wow-Cow was one of the first companies to successfully jump on the sweet-treat trend in Sydney.Though their stores have decreased in number as other better-priced competitors have popped up, their quirky style has set the benchmark.Their fun range of flavours range from classic Chocolate/Original to kooky lack Sesame/Watermelon and can rotate from week to week.Their friendly staff will let you sample before you buy. Twenty different toppings, both healthy and naughty, ensure that the dessert is never dull or lacking in a sugar high afterwards. (EK) 16 Hall St, Bondi Beach, 2026
ORGANIC FOOD MARKETS
LA BOHEME To step into La Boheme Restaurant and Café is to step into the heart of Europe.With an open kitchen and a cosy downstairs area adorned with photographs of Old Prague, La Boheme is the place to go to when you’re in the mood to leave Sydney but don’t want to deal with a 30-hour plane trip. verything is made from traditional recipes with fine imported ingredients and fresh local produce, and they have become known for their crispy roasted pork knuckle, schnitzels and warm apple strudel. Diners can wash down their meals with a range of tap beers including the original Czech Pilsner Urquell, Köstritzer, and Sch fferhofer. A 199 Glebe Point Rd Glebe, 2037, 02 9660 5639
BEST YOGHURT
BEST FUSION CAFÉ BEST FRIENDLY FRENCH LE PELICAN Le Pelican is an authentic French bistro situated in an heritage listed Surry Hills sandstone, serving French classics with a modern twist. Enjoy the intimate seating inside or their spacious al fresco setting out back - perfect for a special occasion. The bouillabaisse is a divine broth served with a generous serve of delicate snapper, king prawns and fennel, while le boeuf, an enormous and tender cut of rib-eye - not for the faint of heart. Take advantage of their excellent prix fixe lunchtime options of two courses for $45 or three for , and refined wines by carafe. All ingredients are seasonal and locally sourced. (RF) 411 Bourke Street, Surry Hills, 2010, (02) 9380 2622, www.lepelican.com.au
Who knows how far your food has travelled before it reaches your dinner plate. The Organic Food Markets let you connect with your food in all the ways a supermarket can’t – you will meet the people who passionately grow and make the produce sitting pretty in front of you. The openair markets supply Certified Organic food, artisan gourmet produce, and regular fruit and veg, as well as local and French cheese, smoked salmon, salami and truffles. isit the market each week, rain hail or shine, for a big shop, plus a range of fashion, home wares, plants and fair trade products. A 142 Addison Road, Addison Road Centre, Marrickville, 2204, www.organicfoodmarkets.com.au
CAFÉ ON JOHNSTON Café on Johnston is a sweet café in an even sweeter building. Literally, the café is in an old lolly factory. The café is cosy and intimate inside, with an outdoor area for those like to dine al fresco. On the menu are a range of modern and Middle Eastern fusion meals and sweets made from traditional family recipes.The staff takes pride in the community-vibe of the café, and have spent a long time developing their own house-blend of coffee. Open 6:30am to 4pm seven days, this caf has fast become a local favourite. A 63 Johnston St, Annandale, 2038, (02) 9660 5103
BEST GELATO COW AND THE MOON Saying your gelato is THE BEST in the world is an outrageous claim to make, but for nmore’s Cow And The Moon, it’s actually true.You may have heard about them in the last few months; they made headlines
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14 Norton St Leichhardt www.bonarche.com 16
BEST OF SYDNEY 2014 by taking out the title of ‘World’s Best Gelato’ at the championships in Italy in September. The ama ing flavour that took out the top gong ‘Gusto Mandorla Affogato’ is still available in store alongside a range of both regular and unexpected offerings. our new favourite might ust turn out to be the popular Tangy Marengo - a lemon meringue gelato that is a perfect blend of sweet and tart. Cow And The Moon is also known for its out-of-the-box flavours where else could one find avocado gelato alongside choc mint The cosy vibe of this coffee and dessert caf was almost lost in a flood of new customers following their world dominating success, but thankfully the crowds have begun to subside and it’s now possible to get in without spending eternity in the queue. (JH) 181 Enmore Rd, Enmore, 2042, (02) 9557 4255
BEST GOURMET CAFÉ REVOLVER Revolver offers a host of gourmet dishes like a nine-hour slow roasted lamb bruschetta, a house smoked trout rosti and the ever-favourite brunch delight of big breakfast
baked eggs.With an eclectic ambience of modern steel tables comfortably coexisting with ornateVictorian era furniture, Revolver caf has become the go-to place for a guaranteed cosy time over delicious food. It ust goes to show that you don’t need to go far for a great meal. (AE) 291 Annandale St,Annandale, 2038, (02) 9555 4727, www. revolver.com.au
BEST HIGH TEA VICTORIA ROOM TheVictoria Room’s Weekend High Tea exudes all the charm and sophistication that has seen so many Sydneysiders crooking their pinkies in salute to the English-social trend. Situated inVictoria Street, arlinghurst, the hangings and d cor are so rich it isn’t hard to imagine Her Ma esty sitting down uietly to en oy a cuppa. Dainty delicacies are delightful in their traditional style where fresh smoked salmon and cucumber finger sandwiches precede tantalising macaroons and cupcakes. ven the tea options are refreshing, with herbal and fruit infusion like lemongrass and ginger, oh and don’t forget the Champagne. (EK) Level 1, 235Victoria Street, Darlinghurst, 2010, www.thevictoriaroom.com
BEST INDIAN INDIAN PALACE RESTAURANT For 30 years, Indian Palace Restaurant has been the place to try some of the tastiest and most authentic Indian cuisine in Sydney, where specialty chefs cook, steam and saut fresh ingredients to turn them into enticing and exotic meals. Diners choose from a selection of beef, chicken and vegetarian dishes like beef vindaloo and bhindi bha i one of the most popular dishes in India. Afterwards, those with a sweet tooth can drool over a dessert menu that is full of traditional Indian sweets. (AE) 235 Darling Street, Balmain 2041, (02) 9818 3272, www. indianpalacerestaurant.com.au
BEST ITALIAN CIPRI Owned and run by three Italian brothers, Cipri Italian is truly a family restaurant.The menu is filled with dishes such as a layered eggplant with buffalo mo arella entr e, homemade pappardelle pasta with a rich duck ragu and a 12-hour slow roasted lamb shoulder. Like in any Italian home, portions are more than generous.A balanced but diverse wine list complements the food and one of the brothers is usually at hand to recommend a bottle. It’s no wonder Cipri Italian has been recognised by ‘Ospitalita Italiana’, an Italian Chamber of Commerce organisation that certifies authentic Italian restaurants around the world. (AE) 10 Elizabeth St, Paddington, 2021, (02) 9331 3333, www. cipriitalian.com.au
BEST JAMAICAN JAMVYBZ RESTAURANT High tail it into this colourful lebe flagship and make yourself familiar with the menu.The Chef’s Sample Platter is a great place to start, with a selection of codfish fritters, erk chicken wings, and erk prawn kebabs enough for two. Try the deliciously tender curried goat, served with rice and peas, or the erk chicken cooked over woodfire and coated with tasty erk marinade. inish the feast with a sweet dessert and take a minute to appreciate the delightfully kitsch vibes of the place. A 72 Glebe Point Road, Glebe, 2037, (02) 9571 1158 www.jamvybzrestaurant.com.au
BEST JAPANESE BIRU BIRU Sydney’s best Japanese restaurant is also our first to include a beer bar. iru iru serves the finest
handcrafted beers from Japan and their menu is izakaya-style, with things like kushiyaki (grilled skewers), sushi, gyoza and Japanese popcorn chicken, so you can share plates like tapas. The Biru Big Bites section of the menu is gorgeous with lightly grilled snapper, wagyu steak and crispy salmon skin but the nasu dengaku, or miso eggplant, is insane. Biru Biru is open seven nights for dinner, and during the week for lunch when dons and bento boxes are available. It’s BYO wine and you can order online! (AD) 239 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst, 2010, www.birubiru.com.au
BEST MEXICAN GUZMAN Y GOMEZ ver wandered the streets of Sydney on a uest for the perfect burrito? Well, stop searching because we found it! Guzman Y Gomez is a licensed Mexican Ta ueria taco shop that endorses all things atin the food, the music and the personality.This restaurant can be a venue for a nice sit down meal with some margaritas, or a fast food oint for a fa ita on the run. Needless to say, it’s a place that satisfies both the tastebuds and wallet. Imagine sipping on a Corona with fresh lime and eating a delicious taco, too. Guzman Y Gomez is where you’d rather be. (CT) Shop 14, Manly Wharf, East Esplanade, Manly, 2095, www.guzmanygomez.com
BEST MUFFINS RAGAMUFFIN The top of the muffin is the best. As laine enes once said, “It’s where the muffin breaks free of the pan and does its own thing.” She articulated so perfectly what everyone was thinking we want a cake that is acceptable for breakfast, and we want
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BEST OF SYDNEY 2014 it to be as delicious as possible. Ragamuffin heard the cries and came up with a uni ue process of steaming the muffins before baking them, which gives them a fluffy inside and a toasty fa ade. Most of the muffins even have a surprise am in the centre that hits right at that moment when you’re thinking “this muffin couldn’t possibly get any better.� A 157 Norton Street, Leichhardt 2040, (02) 7903 0524
are beer steins a-plenty in this comfort food paradise. Sit back and en oy a house-made organic cider, and rest assured that there is no long flight back to Sydney afterwards. A 133-135 Broadway, Ultimo, 2007, (02) 9211 3805, www.essenrestaurant.com.au
BEST NOODLES
HANNAH’S HOT PIES ou may know Hannah from such hot pastries as the meat pies at Harry’s Caf de Wheels. She spends a whole chunk of her time making Harry’s famous pies, pastries, and hot dogs, and the rest of her time selling pies on the side, uite literally, of the factory wall. We assume she has some leisure time booked in there somewhere too, there’s gotta be a limit on how many pies one person can take. So forget your late night kebab and head to ltimo for a satisfying chunky beef pie topped with peas, mash and gravy. ou’ll bypass the drunken Harry’s crowds and get the same great taste win win. A 562 Harris St, Ultimo, 2007, (02) 9211 2506
WOK ON INN “A big fat bowl of noodles� is the correct answer for when someone asks “What’s your favourite food � right up there with pi a and burgers. ut if pi a and burgers rank higher on your avourite ood yramid than noodles do, you desperately need to get down to your nearest Wok On Inn for some serious tasting and re-thinking. Choose one of eight Asian sauces, then pair it with one of six types of noodles or rice, and finish it off with your choice of vegetable or protein and there you have it the right answer for the next time some kid asks you what your favourite food is. There are five locations where this tasting can take place arlinghurst, almain, Rouse Hill,The Rocks, and Norwest so all you need to do is walk on in. A 80 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst 2010, (02) 9332 4554, www.wokoninn.com.au
BEST PIES
BEST PORTUGUESE BARTINO
BEST NORTHERN EUROPEAN ESSEN There are so many places in Sydney that, upon entering, you forget that you’re even in Sydney. ssen is such a place.Walk through the heavy wooden doors and straight into the welcoming smile of a erman waiter. ou’ll be ushered to a table, given a bright yellow menu, and left to your own devices as you try to decide between salmon and a hearty chicken schnit el.There
artino is a family-run restaurant that serves delectable tapas morsels alongside dishes like paella, seafood stew, skewered meats, and traditional ortugese meals like peito de galinha baked chicken breast fillet stuffed with prosciutto cheese . An extensive drinks list, surprisingly heavy on Australian wines rather than uropean drops, also includes sangria that is every bit as potent and fruity as you want it to be. iners can bask in the sundrenched courtyard, or dine in the cosy upstairs area, and when a special occasion calls for it, they can book out the function room for a catered affair. A 9 Union St, Pyrmont, 2009, (02) 9518 8000, www. bartino.com.au
BEST POSH NOSH THE ESTABLISHMENT ike the perfectly mixed cocktail with a name you’re not uite sure about, The stablishment’s eateries combine different cuisines to create a uni ue fine dining experience that is e ual parts surprising and delightful. The stablishment ar refines modern Australian amid a ma estic marblebar centrepiece and stylish outdoor setting. The elegance continues at st., where maestro eter oyle’s rench-inspired menu is matched in its ex uisiteness only by the uality of the service and the wine pairing. scape to the top level and play socialite for a night in the opulent Hemmesphere with its late-night Japanese menu and designer cocktails. 252 George Street, Sydney, 2000, www.merivale.com. au/establishmentbar
BEST PUB BISTRO PJ GALLAGHER’S
J allagher’s captures the best of Irish culture without the clich s.The hearty warmth that embraces you when you enter the homely venue would not be out of place in the cobblestoned streets of ublin, and the inviting nature that the merald Isles is so famous for translates into their delicious bistro fare. amiliar favourites like Steak and uinness ie with mouth-watering pastry are flavoured with seasonal veggies to add a esty local touch.The affordable prices, easy atmosphere and rousing live music only add to the inviting offering of a brief taste of Ireland ust a stone’s throw away from home. 1 Norton Street Leichhardt, 2040, www.pjsleichhardt. com.au
BEST RSL LA TRATT RS Clubs are not where you expect fine dining, but from its d cor to its menu and wine list, a Tratt at airfield is the exception. Chef Tristan Hodge combines the rich flavours of traditional Italian cuisine with a contemporary twist inspired by recipes from The Silver Spoon compiled by haidon , uy rossi, and others. Indulge in roast uail breast wrapped in pancetta, duck and porcini tortellini, blue eye trevalla with heirloom potatoes to name ust a few. Complementing the gorgeous menu is ma tre d’ Ma i au and his attentive team who add that personal touch that makes you want to come back for more. MM n ac venue, airfie d, ,
BEST SEAFOOD CYREN BAR GRILL SEAFOOD The mermaids have it pretty sweet they ust swim around all day, scantily clad in those fabulous seashell bras, chowing down on the freshest seafood while we humans can only dream of
'Winner of Sydney’s Best Thai Food for Four Years' AWARD WINNING THAI CHEF
SUJET SAENKHAM
OPENS SURRY HILLS EATING HOUSE WITH EXCITING NEW REGIONAL THAI MENU: Sample renowned Spice I am chef Sujet’s fabulous new dishes packed with the fresh pungent flavours of Thailand. The five Spice I am authentic Thai restaurants are still serving the finest Thai cuisine in Sydney. Spice I am Darlinghurst. 296-300 Victoria Street. Licensed, cocktail bar. Home delivery and early reservations. 02 9332 2445.
House. North East Thai Street Food. 202 Elizabeth Street, Surry Hills. Licensed, no credit cards. No BYO. Takeaway & reservations. 02 9280 0364. Spice I am Surry Hills. 90 Wentworth Avenue. Award winning eatery. No reservations, No credit cards. Open Tuesday to Sunday lunch and dinner. BYO. Takeaway. 02 9280 0928. Spice I am Balmain. 237 Darling Street. Licensed. Fresh young vibe. Credit cards Takeaway & home delivery. Reservations: 02 9555 9224. Surry Hills Eating House. 198-200 Elizabeth Street, Surry Hills. Licensed. Bookings: 02 9212 4092. Email: info@spiceiam.com. Open seven nights.
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BEST OF SYDNEY 2014 leading such a fantastical lifestyle. Swimming all day and wearing shells instead of underwear remains a far-off dream, but munching on fresh seafood is possible, especially at Cryen Bar Grill. Nick Manettas (of Nick’s fame) has replicated the ‘70s restaurant at Harbourside so diners can experience unbelievable views of Sydney Harbour while indulging in culinary brilliance. To top off the experience, there are a plethora of exciting and tropical cocktails, and let’s face it, it must be pretty damn hard for a mermaid to drink a cocktail under water. We win. (AE) On the Waterfront, Harbourside, 1300 989 989, www.cyrenrestaurant.com.au
BEST SOUTH AMERICAN CHURRASCO Your vegetarian friends are going to have to find something else to do tonight, you’re going to an all-you-can-eat meatathon. At Churrasco, juicy tender morsels are sword-skewered and delivered to your table directly from the grill. The restaurant’s name roughly translates to “BBQ”; a fitting title for a place with prime cuts of steak, mouth-watering chicken, marinated lamb, and tantalising pork ribs. Use your cardboard marker to signify when you’re about to explode, although you may have to politely refuse the platters that will come around anyway. Pace yourself, friends, and beware of the meat sweats. (AE) 240 Coogee Bay Rd, Coogee, 2034, (02) 9665 6535 60-70 William St, Sydney, (02) 9360 6070 www.churrasco.com.au
BEST TAPAS SPANISH TAPAS Live Flamenco shows every Monday, Friday and
Saturday; $2 drinks with a meal purchase on Tuesdays and Wednesdays; and paella and sangria tastings for parties – what more could a person want? Spanish Tapas offers all these amazing deals along with awesome party packages for all occasions. This restaurant offers more than just great food and service; it offers entertainment and a wonderful Spanish atmosphere. It’s a perfect place for a romantic date night, big birthday celebration or even a quick takeaway meal for you busybodies.You don’t have to travel to Spain for great tapas, just head to Sydney’s trendy suburb of Glebe to enjoy delicious Spanish food. (CT) 26 Glebe Point Road, Glebe 2037, (02) 9571 9005 www.spanishtapas.com.au
BEST THAI SPICE I AM Diners are in good hands with Sujet and Padet. Sujet has been a food connoisseur since he was four years old, and is now a leader in authentic Thai cuisine in Sydney. Even dignitaries and international Heads of State drop by to taste his latest fare when they get a chance.The pair takes traditional Thai cuisine, throws in a suave cocktail bar, adds some young faces and drops the prices for a dining experience that is not only delicious, but also ambient and buzzing.The meals are made with simple and fresh ingredients so every bite can be a glorious one, and Spice I Am also offer a take-away and home delivery service for those who think Thai food tastes best on the couch. 90 Wentworth Ave Surry Hills, 2010, (02) 9280 0928, www.spiceiam.com
BEST VEGETARIAN BENTLEY RESTAURANT AND BAR When you’re in the mood for something fancy, don your best attire and head to Bentley Restaurant and Bar. After seven years in Surry Hills, Nick Hildebrandt and Brent Savage moved their restaurant to the ground floor of the Radisson Blu Hotel in the CBD and got award-winning architect Pascale Gomes-McNabb to take care of the interior design. The menu features a full a-lacarte, tasting menu, and fine wines from around the world – the general theme is progressive, surprising and innovative. Diners are welcome to come in for dinner, a quick bite and a drink, or take advantage of the function room that seats up to 50 guests – enough space for all the vegetarians you know. (AE) Corner Pitt and Hunter Streets, Sydney 2000, (02) 8214 0505, www.thebentley.com.au
We are open for Christmas Eve Dinner and Christmas Day Lunch Come and spend this festive season in European tradition
Daily Specials | 20 off * Tap Beer | Functions 150 seats | ATM 199 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe NSW 2037 Ph: 9660 5639
www.laboheme.com.au
We wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and many thanks for your continued support La Boheme Restaurant & Bar Team *Tour of Europe section Tue-Thurs 19
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BEST OF SYDNEY 2014 BEST COCKTAIL BAR LOW 302 302 is an award-winning, cosy bar that is ideal for date night or catching up with a few friends. Head to the balcony for views over bustling Crown Street, or set up camp by the main bar that is surrounded by couches and tables with a grand piano and draping red velvet curtains to add a degree of extravagance. Get in before 11pm to avoid the queues – just about everyone wants to be in this bar, especially when the surrounding ones start to close. (JH) 302 Crown St, Surry Hills/Darlinghurst, 2010, (02) 9368 1548, www.low302. com.au
BEST COMMUNITY BAR
BEST ALTERNATIVE PUB COOPERS HOTEL
BEST BEER RED OAK BOUTIQUE BEER CAFÉ If you want to keep up-to-date on the best craft beers, Red Oak is the place to go. It has over 20 locally brewed beers handcrafted with passion and made with the highest quality ingredients. It is home to Australia’s most awarded brewery and provides great beer, great food and great service.The owners of the praised beer café infuse personality into their food to offer an amazing selection of dishes that complement the delicious craft beers. Red Oak is definitely a great venue for beer lovers and beer connoisseurs. (CT)
The ground floor is where you can uaff your favourite beverage while you watch your favourite team play their favourite sport on the screen. pstairs is where you will find the arden ar and istro, a place with an extensive menu of delightful fare and a multi-national wine list that includes drops from Australia, New Zealand, France, Italy, Spain and Argentina. op by on Mondays for Tranny ingo, or Wednesdays for some live music performed by Mitch Anderson’s soulful, funky band. (MM) 221 King Street Newtown, 2042, (02) 9550 3461, www.coopershotel.com.au
BEST BALCONY DRINKS BALCONY BAR ou’d probably walk right by alcony ar without even noticing it, but be sure to keep an eye out next time you’re walking down Erskine Street, because it’s well worth a visit.The bar is split across two narrow levels that have been furnished with cosy couches and deep red walls that are adorned with wine appreciation quotes. During the day you can head inside to check out the modest but tasty menu of burgers, salads and club sandwiches. However it’s at night that alcony ar truly comes alive.The chic venue offers a wine list with more than 30 options and a cocktail menu with more than 60 combinations to choose from. (JH) 46 Erskine Street, Sydney, 2000, (02) 9299 3526, www.balconybar.com.au
THE BEAUCHAMP Nowadays it’s rare to find a good old fashioned neighbourhood pub that actually cares about its neighbourhood. In a world where large, corporate hotel groups gobble up family-run pubs, the eauchamp pronounced “ eech um” is a breath of fresh air. Owners Claude ereny and Sue Ritchy are active members of their local community.They have worked tirelessly with local residents, business groups and the City Council to beautify their precinct, even championing a new park across the road and planter boxes outside their pub. They were instrumental in having their intersection at South Dowling and Oxford Street renamed Three Saints Square, and they have played host to a number of community forums and candidate debates over the years. Add to that the plush modern décor, the luxurious Velvet Cocktail Lounge, the upstairs deck and the delicious bistro menu, and you have good reason to raise a glass to the best community bar in Sydney. (LJG) Corner of Oxford and South Dowling Sts, Darlinghurst, 2010, (02) 9331 2575, www.thebeauchamp.com.au
BEST JAZZ AND DRINKS NIGHT
201 Clarence Street, Sydney, 2000, (02) 9262 3303, www.redoak.com.au
BEST BRITISH DRINKS TOXTETH HOTEL When you’re in the mood for an easy afternoon, head to Toxteth Hotel. ou’ll find there’s a lot to like here: the relaxed vibes, the basic pub-food menu, the courtyard, the large-screen projector on game days, and the ritish drinks list. Spend a la y afternoon at the pub, eating pot-baked pies, fish and chips, or simple burgers while tasting local and imported beers and wines.There’s something different on every night of the week, so be sure to check the website to keep up-to-date. (AE) 345 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe, 2037, (02 ) 9660 2370, www.toxtethhotel.com.au
FOUNDRY 616 Foundry 616 has been groovin’ week in, week out since 2013. It’s here that you can catch the crème de la crème of Australian jazz musicians as well as international acts. Jazzgroove perform at 616 regularly while audiences dine on a delicious selection of tapas and pizza and sip on matching wines.You can also catch the annual Sydney International Women’s Jazz Festival at 616. (MM) 616 Harris Street, Ultimo, 2007, (02) 9211 9442, www.foundry616sydney. com.au
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BEST OF SYDNEY 2014 BEST HOTEL
BEST LOCAL PUB PYRMONT POINT HOTEL Situated in the heart of the historic Pyrmont, this multi-level venue caters for everyone’s needs.With four main areas, Margot’s Lounge, Karma Bar, the public bar and the bistro, this local pub welcomes all kinds of people and events. If you’re going out for an intimate date, head to Margot’s Lounge. Karma Bar provides an upbeat setting with a wide selection of craft beers and cocktails, while the public bar is a great place to catch up for a good ol’ chinwag. Pyrmont Point Hotel has it all, so head down for any occasion. (CT) 59 Harris Street, Pyrmont, 2009, (02) 9566 2710, www.pyrmontpoint.com.au
THE VULCAN HOTEL
If you fancy a Sydney-side stay with a little something extra, the historic Vulcan Hotel might just be the place for you. Since 1894, this boutique hotel has provided guests with a taste of the local life. It was known in its day as the watering hole for both locals and travellers, with its fab music and even fabber atmosphere.Vulcan underwent a refurb in 2006, but remains as eclectic as ever, and is the perfect place to lay down your head after a night of urban exploration. (SW) The Vulcan Hotel, 500 Wattle Street, Sydney, 2000, (02) 9211 3283, www.vulcanhotel.com.au
BEST RESTAURANT BAR
BEST NIGHTCLUB
SIGNORELLI GASTRONOMIA In 2009,The Doltone House Group established Signorellia Gastronomia Italian Restaurant in the Darling Island Wharf precinct.The idea was to create a venue that explores the relationship between culture and food; a place where guests can buy, taste and learn about Italian food.The welcoming marketplace environment supports sustainably produced products and only houses food grown within a 100 mile radius of Pyrmont. There are dedicated wine and cheese rooms where visitors can attend courses in food education, take part in cooking demonstrations, and ignite their culinary imagination. (AE) Ground Floor of Accenture/Google Building,Trouton Place, Pyrmont, 2009 (opposite Metcalfe Park), (02) 8571 0616, www.signorelli.com.au
MARQUEE Marquee is Sydney’s hottest nightclub with a local and international talent line up week after week.The international nightclub brand kicked off in 2012, and Sydney is the newest addition to the Marquee family.With a whopping capacity of 1,200 and superstar acts such as Avicii, will.i.am and Afrojack, it’s obviously the place to be. Sydney’s Marquee mirrors the popular Vegas nightclub, right down to the prices: it costs $10,000 to sit down at one of the club’s tables. Nonetheless, this club is a place for people who want to spend some dosh, listen to bangers, and boogie till the early morning. (CT) The Star, Harbourside Entry via Pirrama Road, Pyrmont, 2009, (02) 9657 7737 www.marqueesydney.com
BEST WINE BAR BENCH WINE BAR Whether you’re having a girls’ night out, a special occasion soir e, or a Christmas party with flair to spare, Bench Wine Bar has got you covered.Tucked away on Newtown’s eclectic and electric King Street, Bench offers an impressive wine list, delicious nosh, and fantastic cocktails. Be sure to drop by Wednesday through Sunday from 5-7pm for their “Attitude Adjustment” hours with discounted cocktails.They also host private functions and provide full venue hire for large parties. If you fancy yourself a connoisseur, they also regularly offer wine and champagne tastings, complete with a set menu. (SW) 503-511 King Street, Sydney, 2000, (02) 9557 7428, www.benchwinebar.com.au
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BEST OF SYDNEY 2014 BEST CHILDREN’S THEATRE MONKEY BAA There is nothing quite like a live performance to capture the attention of a child and no one does it better than Monkey Baa. They focus on putting Australian stories on stage for children of all ages with a variety of shows that range from classics like Snugglepot and Cuddlepie and The Arte Of Commedia, to wackier titles like The Bugalugs Bum Thief. Monkey Baa stages around 15 shows each year and also hosts activities for young guests during school holidays and on performance days. Monkey Baa also takes selected shows on the road for national tours. They have recently expanded onto the international stage and are currently touring the US with I Am Jack. (JH) The Lend Lease Darling Quarter Theatre Terrace 3, 1-25 Harbour Street, Sydney, 2000, (02) 8624 9340, www. monkeybaa.com.au
BEST ART GALLERY WHITE RABBIT GALLERY Need to wash the dust of everyday life off your soul? Sure you do. Admission to the White Rabbit Gallery in Chippendale is free and it just doesn’t seem fair. The gallery showcases contemporary Chinese art, and the creative energy is unlike anything you’ll experience in Sydney. The private collection, not all on the floor at once, includes almost 1,000 pieces by more than 350 artists including artist and activist Ai Wei Wei. Contemplate the astonishing art over a selection of Chinese and Taiwanese teas and dumplings, or scones and beer and wine, in White Rabbit’s teahouse. This place is truly a Must. (AD) 30 Balfour Street, Chippendale, 2008, www.whiterabbitcollection.org
BEST BURLESQUE SLIDE BAR Feeling risqué? Slip into Slide Bar for a burlesque experience that combines dining, drinking and decadence. These multi-talented minxes are not just pretty faces: musical theatre, acrobatics, modern dance and cabaret blend as seamlessly as the delicious cocktails and delightful three-course menu. Whether standing or sitting, the intoxicating lighting and sultry speak-easy decor showcase an inviting venue that caters for an un-missable evening of sensual abandon. This is the most fun you can have without ending the night in handcuffs, though the night is still young… (EK) 41 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst, 2010, (02) 8915 1899, www.slide.com.au
BEST BUS RIDE 263: CROWS NEST TO CITY Depart eclectic Crows Nest on route 263 and gaze out the window as the bus meanders to the City.You’ll head east, north – everywhere but south it seems. The terracotta of cosy Cammeray taunts you with the ever-receding dream of home ownership; Grafton Street offers inner-harbour glimpses en route to Cremorne; Jacarandas are in bloom and are even more numerous in Neutral Bay (which is still gracious despite the apartment towers.) Finally, 263 reaches Sydney Harbour Bridge, and if you ever grow tired of that view, you are tired of Sydney. For the price of a bus fare, Route 263 is one of the best ‘tours’ of the lower north shore you can have. (MM)
BEST CHURCH ST MARY’S Gothic-style and built from local yellow sandstone, St Mary’s Cathedral is one of the most gracious and significant buildings in Sydney. It was the work of 19th century architect William Wilkinson Wardell, but unfortunately he never saw the finished product because he died years too early. For music-lovers, the regular Choral Services by the Cathedral Choir feature sacred works by composers such as Palestrina, Mozart, Brahms and Monteverdi. Something not to be missed is the peal of bells: 9.50-10.30am Sundays and 12noonpm on the first and third Wednesday of the month – plus on civic occasions and weddings, of course. But above all, St Marys is a place of solace, worship and prayer. (MM) St Mary’s Road, Sydney, 2000, (02) 9220 0400, www. stmaryscathedral.org.au
BEST CINEMA PALACE CINEMA, NORTON STREET The Palace Leichhardt is more stylish than ever after undergoing extensive renovations and reopening in November last year. It now boasts eight licensed cinemas with luxurious seating and a very spacious, atrium-style bar and lounge area. It’s always running an excellent program of films, and also plays host to the annual French, Spanish, erman, reek and Italian ilm estivals. The cinema is ideally located in a restaurant strip, so you can get a meal before or after your film, but we recommend grabbing a drink and watching the world go by from the cinema balcony that overlooks busy Norton Street – enjoyable at any time, but near dusk it’s perfect. (MM) 99 Norton Street, Leichhardt, 2040, (02) 9564 5620, www.palacecinemas.com.au
BEST COMEDY VENUE THE FACTORY THEATRE You could spend half the week watching 2D pictures move across flat, backlit screens, while the couch moulds to your body, forever ensuring that no one else will ever be comfortable in that spot unless they have the exact same proportions, OR you could get up and see some 3D people move around in real life. The Factory Theatre has been providing real-life, in-person, no-pyjama entertainment for years, and upholds a reputation as the best comedy venue in Sydney. The venue was purpose built for an array of live music, performances, film and festivals, including the annual Sydney Comedy Festival. (AE) 105 Victoria Rd, Marrickville, 2204, (02) 9550 3666, www.factorytheatre.com.au
BEST COMMUNITY GARDEN ULTIMO COMMUNITY GARDEN If your windowsill ust isn’t cutting it and pesticide rumours are ruining your salad, consider joining your local community garden. Ultimo Community Garden invites locals to pay $20 to harvest their own produce alongside their neighbours. Located in McKee Street Park, members of the public are free to admire the garden, and perhaps get some ideas, but don’t touch; community gardens are a Members Only affair. Become a Garden Member and revel in the potential such a title has to make you sound more interesting, like fertiliser to the garden of your life. Seasoned gardeners are welcome, but if you don’t know a thing about gardening, there’s space for learning too. McKee Street Park, Ultimo, 2007, www. ultimocommunitygarden.org.au
BEST CONFERENCE VENUE AUSTRALIA TECHNOLOGY PARK Australia Technology Park is spread over 14 hectares, with an integration of heritage architecture (think exposed brick walls, high arched windows, and beams of light bouncing off the walls, ceiling and floor , and state-of-the-art conference facilities (think furniture, elegant table
settings, and video conferencing technology). The park prides itself on offering an environment specifically designed for collaboration, information exchange, and knowledge sharing conferences. The park is also located only a few kms away from the CBD and international airport for the utmost convenience of visitors. (AE) 2 Locomotive Street Eveleigh, 2015, (02) 9209 4222, www.atp.com.au
BEST DRAG QUEEN BINGO TRANNY BINGO AT COOPERS HOTEL Every Monday from 7:30pm you can head to Newtown and forget everything you ever thought you knew about bingo. Penny Tration and Tora Hymen host Bingo with Balls; a game moderated by the best (and maybe only) tranny bingo hosts in Sydney. At for five games, you’re getting way more than you bargained for with these charming and hilarious hosts who put their own spin on a game usually reserved for bowling club retirees. The team take their bingo to other venues around Sydney during the week, and you can keep up with their movements on their facebook page. (AE) 221 King Street Newtown, 2042, (02) 9550 3461, www.facebook.com/bingowithballs
BEST DRAMA THEATRE AUSTRALIAN THEATRE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE Being young is hard.You’re too old to play Rugrats Mini Golf on PlayStation, but you’re too young to be considered as the CEO for a start-up company. It’s a time when you need a supportive environment where you are free to find your feet and your passion. The Australian Theatre for Young People is such a place. They work to bridge the gap between being a young person without a clue, and being person with a viable career in the arts by building an interactive playwriting community that champions young artists. They’re your best friend through the formative years between your first theatre experience and your first professional production. (AE) Pier 4/5 Hickson Rd,Walsh Bay 2000, (02) 9270 2400, www.atyp.com.au
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BEST OF SYDNEY 2014 BEST FISH MARKETS SYDNEY FISH MARKETS The Sydney Fish Market is the largest market of its kind in the southern hemisphere (trading somewhere over 14,500 tonnes of seafood annually) so you can imagine it’s pretty damn busy.Those looking to buy the freshest seafood imaginable can also learn to cook it at the Seafood School where classes run on a daily basis, held by some of the country’s best chefs. On another positive note, the market encourages sustainability by promoting the encouragement of responsible fishing, farming and management practices.Visitors can make a day of it by dining at a number of great venues nearby before they make their haul. (MM) Bank Street Pyrmont, 2009, (02) 9004 1100, www. s dne fishmar et.com.au
BEST INDIGENOUS ART GALLERY
BEST GRAFFITI
TALI GALLERY
ANTHONY LISTER ON PARRAMATTA RD Lister’s Parramatta Rd mural has been up since 2009, but is yet to be outdone. If you come across this painting when you’re not actually looking for it, it’ll strike you as completely out of place. What is it doing above that store? How did it get there? Did he paint it in the dead of night? Do they know it’s there? These are the things that will go through your mind, but we recommend forgetting them all and just appreciating the sheer brilliance of the piece, and the ridiculous size of it, and the fact that nothing else compares to it. (AE) nthon ister i board, arramatta d, eichhardt, , www.anthon ister.com
BEST MUSIC VENUE
The symbolism in indigenous art is often so ingrained in unknown languages that it can be hard to comprehend. The work is always aesthetically poetic, and it is one of the few art genres capable of communicating sacred messages to unwitting audiences, but there is a strong need for dedicated galleries that will educate and inspire future generations. Cue Tali Gallery, an exclusively indigenous art gallery that has won numerous awards for its ethical sourcing of works and connecting of communities. Works are spread across two floors and include paintings, prints, artefacts, crafts and gifts sourced directly from Aboriginal art centres and urban Australian artists across the country. (AE) ar ing treet, o e e , , www.ta iga er .com.au
NEWTOWN SOCIAL CLUB Newtown Social Club offers a laid back and chilled out atmosphere, with cheap beers and live music (i.e. all you could ever ask for). The team behind Melbourne’s Northcote Social Club recently spent a whole bunch of time and money refurbishing the Sandringham Hotel to turn it into the ultimate music venue. The band arena sits on a floor above a vast downstairs bar with exposed brick walls, original tiling, intimate lighting and an incredible vertical garden.Your favourite Aussie beers are on tap, and there are a bunch of snacks to suit any budget or taste, which makes this venue a prime spot to relax and let the music take you away. (CT) ing treet, ewtown, , www. newtownsocia c ub.com.au
W H AT S O N @ LEND LEASE DARLING QUARTER THEATRE PRESENTS A SYDNEY PUPPET THEATRE PRODUCTION WRITTEN AND DEVISED BY SUE WALLACE & STEVE COUPE
Z
PRESENTS A MONKEY BAA THEATRE COMPANY PRODUCTION BASED ON THE BOOK BY TIM WINTON
THE
FOR GIRAFFE
TIMES DURATION TICKETS
21 - 24 JAN 11am & 1pm 40 minutes $15 + booking fee
WITCHES THE BUGALUGS
BUM THIEF
Based on the true story from long ago, about Zeraffa, a little giraffe, and her extraordinary journey across land and sea to become the darling of Paris. DATES
An hilarious story of the town of Bugalugs where inhabitants wake up one morning to find their buttocks gone! It will have you singing along and laughing your butt off! DATES
SU ITAB LE FO R AG ES
4-8
TIMES DURATION TICKETS
7 - 24 APR Various times 50 minutes $25 + booking fee
B O O K I N G S } 02 8624 9340 www.monkeybaa.com.au 24
PRESENTS A GRIFFIN THEATRE COMPANY PRODUCTION BASED ON THE BOOK BY ROALD DAHL
It’s up to a little boy and his grandmother to stop a coven of wicked witches from attempting to rid the world of children – by turning them all into mice! DATES
SU ITAB LE FO R AG ES
4-9
TIMES DURATION TICKETS
30 JUN - 4 JUL 11am & 1pm 40 minutes $25 + booking fee
SU ITAB LE FO R AG ES
6+
BEST OF SYDNEY 2014 BEST MARKETS
BEST MUSEUM
BONDI MARKETS What better way is there to spend a lazy Sunday than browsing through some of Sydney’s finest markets? Bondi Markets have been selling a huge range of locally designed craft, fashion goods and accessories for more than a decade. Since opening in 1993, the markets have developed a real variety of stalls and sellers. ou can find trendy glasses frames, quality leather handbags and ethical designer tees among pet fashion and fabulous furnishings. The markets include a few stalls where locals can stage spring cleaning and garage sales, as well as a stall for local charities and not-for-profits. This leads to an array of goods that are hard to find on the local market scene. JH Bondi Beach Public School, Campbell Parade, Bondi, 2026, www.bondimarkets.com.au
THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM Reading stuff on the internet will never compare to being in the presence of past cultures and creatures, in the form of artefacts and complete dinosaur skeletons. Enter Sydney’s Best Museum, like, physically go and enter that neoclassical sandstone building near Hyde Park. At the Australian Museum, walk among prehistoric animals, insect specimens and stunning minerals, as well as the insightful and immersive anthropological exhibitions. Don’t miss the Aztecs exhibition before it has to close in February. The museum will be open late on Thursday nights in December and January so you can sip on Mexicaninspired drinks and groove with the Latin DJ, all while experiencing the cultural treasures of one of the world’s greatest civilizations. (AD) 6 College Street, Sydney, 2010, (02) 9320 6000, www. australianmuseum.net.au
BEST PERFORMANCE VENUE OXFORD ART FACTORY The defining traits of a successful performance venue are much like those of a long-term lover: good looks just aren’t enough in a scene full of competitors; the allure is in variety. Oxford Art Factory ticks all the boxes with its multipersonalities in a venue that can be whatever you need it to be. The underground stage provides the intimacy that diehard music fans crave, meshing much-loved locals with the hottest international alternative acts. For clubbers, it is the perfect spot to kick on after the mic drops, while regulars can lounge peacefully in the adjacent bar. (EK) 38-46 Oxford St, Darlinghurst, 2010, (02) 9332 3711, www.oxfordartfactory.com
CASULA POWERHOUSE ARTS CENTRE PRESENTS A GPK PRODUCTION
BEST PUBLIC PARK AND GARDEN ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS Sydney’s best place to entertain someone for free is shockingly idyllic considering how close it is to our busy harbour and skyscrapers. From the herb garden to the rainforest walk, admire the Royal Botanic Gardens’ impressive array of international plants, most labelled with their botanical name and country of origin. The gardens are open from 7am until sunset with spectacular views of Sydney harbour. Take a free daily tour, eat at the café and visit the garden shop, or just plant yourself under the shade of a Choricarpia leptopetala and Zen out at your new default picnic spot. (AD) Mrs Macquaries Road, Sydney, 2000, www.rbgsyd.nsw. gov.au
BEST TOURIST ATTRACTION COCKATOO ISLAND There’s a wealth of history here. First Cockatoo Island was a penal settlement, but by the late nineteenth century shipbuilding and repair were its main functions, securing its place in the rich maritime history of Sydney. Regular tours cover the history, but the island is also popular for staging art and music festivals, workshops and exhibitions. The hungry and thirsty are provided for by three venues and there are picnic and barbeque spots for self-caterers. There’s even camping where all you need bring is sleeping bag, pillow and torch. Get there easily with regular Harbour City Ferries from Circular Quay and Darling Harbour. (MM) (02) 8969 2100, www.cockatooisland.gov.au
BEST STREET ARTIST
BEST WEEKEND GETAWAY
ANTHONY LISTER Anthony Lister has the whole Celebrity Artist thing down pat. His work is immediately recognisable, yet he is not. He can parade his art around major cities, and people will get all fangirl about it, but he can still go to his local Foodworks to buy a couple of bananas and a loaf of bread without being bombarded by iPhone paparazzi. Lister is a Brisbane-born, Sydney-dwelling, worldtravelling artist who creates street art that stands apart from your run-of-the-mill stencil artist and spray painters; this guy is a real painter – a real artiste. He has work on the street, Vogue and in galleries – he’s the real deal. Anthony Lister, www.anthonylister.com
THE BLUE MOUNTAINS Located just 90 minutes’ drive from the centre of Sydney, the Blue Mountains are ideal for a weekend trip. It’s far enough away to enjoy getting out of routine, but not so far that you’ll spend half your getaway just getting there. You can visit cosy tearooms and world-class spas to indulge in a weekend of pampering, or ramp things up with a bit of abseiling, canyoning or riding the world’s steepest train incline. A particular highlight has to be the SkyWay a glass floored cabin that crosses the Jamison Valley canyon. This ride offers incredible panoramic views of the Blue Mountains and the Three Sisters from 270m above the ground. (JH) www.bluemts.com.au
ZORBA THE FREAK! 20 February 2pm & 7pm ADULT $40 | CONCESSION $35 PRE-SHOW MEAL Mezze Plate $25 (serves two) BOOKINGS AND ENQUIRIES t. 02 9824 1121 e. reception@casulapowerhouse.com w. casulapowerhouse.com CASULA POWERHOUSE ARTS CENTRE 1 Powerhouse Road, Casula NSW 2170 (Enter via Shepherd Street Liverpool)
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BEST OF SYDNEY 2014 beans. On entry, visitors satiate their hunger with an extensive menu that includes eggs enedict with chai tea for breakfast or a gourmet sandwich, salad or pasta for lunch. ookworms and coffee aficionados can bask in the sun outdoors or bask in the warm atmosphere inside, and everyone should also know that the caf is fully licensed and can cater for events and special occasions. A 413 Crown St, Surry Hills, 2010, (02) 9318 1116, www.ampersandoncrown.com
BEST BOTTLE SHOP
BEST ANTIQUES MITCHELL ROAD ANTIQUE AND DESIGN CENTRE
fulfilling the dreams of ready-to-ride motorcycle enthusiasts since 1995. Whether you’re a Ducati racer or a Harley avidson tourer, you can find great deals on a pre-owned model, test out the latest gear, source those hard to find parts, or find your soul mate in one of the passionate members of staff. The company’s deep involvement in the Sydney motorcycle scene, from public demonstrations to sponsoring local MC’s, only adds pride to the prestige and quality services provided. 153-165 Parramatta Road, Concord, 2137, www. frasermotorcycles.com.au
BEST BOOK SHOP
Mitchell Road Antique and Design Centre is the go-to place for anyone who loves searching for rare and unusual antiques. The dealer warehouse is home to Sydney’s largest range of pre-loved goods with over 60 stallholders spread across two floors. The anti ue store, formerly known as Mitchell Road Auction House, has relocated to ourke Road in Alexandria, where vintage pieces are refashioned and saved from becoming landfill. Owner Lyn Richardson described the process as “recycling, reusing, repurposing and restoring” anything from home wares and lighting to toys, clothing and accessories. Shoppers rest their weary feet at the caf before heading back out on their quest for the perfect vintage piece. (JH) 17 Bourke Road, Alexandria, 2015, (02) 9698 0907, www.mitchellroad.wordpress.com
BEST ART SUPPLIES ART ON KING Art on ing is the kind of place that you can’t walk by without going in, even if you are in no way artistically inclined.The place is freakin’ huge.There’s a book selection to your right that is big enough to warrant its own store, and a multitude of art supplies to your left.You could spend forever staring at the psychedelic display of coloured pens, the rows and rows of carving and sculpting tools, piles of coloured paper, and walls of canvases at the back. Stock up on supplies and inspiration here - there’s no way you’ll walk out with empty hands or an empty mind. A 199-201 King St, Newtown, 2042, (02) 9516 2342, www.artonking.com
BEST BIKE SHOP FRASERS MOTORCYCLES ringing all your badass biker fantasies to life in one shop, rasers Motorcycles has been
DYMOCKS ymocks has transformed your beloved stuffy little nook in the back of the library into a literary haven in the bustling heart of the C . scape from the streets to the shelves among a quieter kind of crowd to visit some beloved old friends and discover some new ones. The crowd is relatively uiet, the caf makes a decent coffee, and the warm lighting and clear signposting creates an enjoyable atmosphere when you have time to wander aimlessly. Though the constant throng of word-worshippers may hinder you if you’re in a rush, ymocks is well worth the experience as one of the last great bookshop providers in the country. 424 George Street, (between King & Market Street), Sydney, 2000, www.dymocks.com.au
BEST BOOKSTORE CAFÉ AMPERSAND
RED BOTTLE In desperate need of a drop or forgot to BYO on your way to dinner after a chaotic day? Red Bottle is your one-stop bottle shop. Created by a perfectly distilled batch of independent retailers with a vision, this vintage company aims to service your needs uicker than you can say “perfect pour.” Outlets all around Sydney city make the store more than accessible with a huge range to choose from. est of all, the company won’t ever leave you high and dry: they offer free delivery to various sites for purchases over , uicker than you can say “lockout laws.” 181 Elizabeth St, Sydney, 2000 (Various), www. redbottle.com.au
BEST CHOCOLATE SHOP BLACK VELVET There are those days when nothing will save you but something sweet. ucky for Sydney-siders, lack elvet is there when those days inevitably come. With a mouth-watering array of delectable, award-winning cupcakes, this place is a must-visit for any self-respecting sweet-tooth. They have over - yes, you heard that right, cupcake flavours on offer, with their signature favourites being lemon vodka, salted caramel, black velvet, and passionfruit. They always have a vegan or gluten-free cupcake on offer in-store as well. It’s no surprise that the celebs, including Jessica Mauboy, ami Im, and uy Sebastian all head this way when that sweet craving comes to call. (SW) Shop 3A, 110 Darlinghurst Road, Darlinghurst, 2010, (02) 9331 8183, www.bvlifestyle.com
SAX FETISH OXFORD STREET orget Shades Sax is the real deal when it comes to fetish and leather goods that are modern and varied. Their men’s and women’s wear is startlingly fashionable more Street Savvy than Street Corner. The online store provides easy access to great specials, whether you’re time poor or still working up the courage to pop into their store. Ultimately the store’s best feature is not just its wide variety of toys, whips and chains, but its commitment to source or create new products to fit their customers’ kinks, should they not be in stock. Now that’s service 110a Oxford Street, Darlinghurst, 2010 www.saxfetish.com
BEST GOURMET GROCER ABOUTLIFE It’s safe to say that eating healthy and organic is no longer just a trendy thing for hipsters and North Shore mums to boast about. If you need some goodness in your life read gut , Aboutlife’s stores provide a one-stop shop for natural products and wholefood nutrition. It’s all completely natural, and the breakfast, salad and I pi a bars have got your immediate taste bud needs covered. If you have a particular health issue, there’s an in-house naturopath at the ody Wellness ar to find you the right vitamins and supplements. And while you munch on your kimchi and kale, think how Aboutlife is independent and, like, don’t own heaps of pokies machines. A See www.aboutlife.com.au for your nearest store (02) 8755 1333
BEST HEALTH FOOD STORE DR EARTH
BEST CLASSIC FURNITURE SHOP ANNANDALE INTERIORS Annandale Interiors stocks a carefully selected range of leather, timber and fabric pieces, so you should probably throw out all your existing furniture each trip is guaranteed to be a shopping spree. All customers will be able to find a piece that suits their lifestyle and colour palette, with a variety of leather lounge suites and chairs, and custom-made the timber pieces like cabinets, bookcases and desks. The team at Annandale Interiors can offer advice, care instructions and help out with delivery so you can have your new favourite piece of furniture in your house as soon as possible. A 40 Parramatta Road, Annandale, 2038, (02) 9550 2736
BEST ELECTRONICS SUPPLIERS
Named after the little squiggle that combines two words, Ampersand Caf and ookstore combines two of the best nouns ooks and Coffee. The bookstore sits humbly amongst bustling Oxford Street and lies in wait, tempting passersby with the smell of paperbacks and freshly roasted coffee
BEST FETISH
DME HI FI There is one thing about music that spans across all genres the need for a uality hi-fi system. Cinema-buffs feel the same way about their homeentertainment systems, which is why people from all walks of life head to M . The store stocks all the best hi-fi names like ose, Sonos, enon, and Sennheiser to name just a few. There are so many brands it can be difficult to choose, so you should let M tailor a solution for you. If all those cables and connections have you in a whirl of confusion, M can do the installation for you, so all you have to do is sit back and en oy. MM 20 Young Street, Neutral Bay, 2089, (02) 9908 5012
When Mother Nature is sick she pays a visit to a guy called r arth, so it makes sense that we mere humans should do the same. uckily for us, r arth is readily available to see us seven days a week in Newtown. The store is a one-stop shop for the health-conscious consumer with an eclectic range of organic, natural, health and eco lifestyle products, plus bunches of colourful flowers sitting pretty on the sidewalk out the front. Head inside to peruse food and lifestyle products, as well as gifts and toys.You can even grind your own coffee and peanut butter. A 287-289 King Street, Newtown, 2042, (02) 9550 2554
BEST INTERNATIONAL DESIGNER MARCS It’s really hard to shop in real life these days. Online shopping means you can search for a particular item that you have in mind, plus you don’t have to deal with the queues. Marcs is another online boutique to add to your bookmarks folder. Here, men and women can peruse the online catalogue and collection for a range of casual, contemporary and fashionable outfits. With free delivery and free returns, there’s really no reason to shop away from your computer screen anymore, ust head to Marcs. A www.marcs.com.au
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BEST OF SYDNEY 2014 BEST MEN’S FASHION
BEST OP SHOP
CAMPBELL AND HALL BONDI You should always wear nice pyjamas because you never know who you might meet in your dreams. It is this mantra that Campbell and Hall live by. The online store specialises in men’s sleepwear and underwear and offer free delivery in Australia with orders over $60. All designs have been inspired by the casual-cool of Bondi, with plenty of rich blues, greys, and nautical symbols. Go to bed in style with Campbell and Hall. (AE) www.campbellandhall.com
CAT PROTECTION SOCIETY OP SHOP If you’re planning on going op shopping, you need to swing by the Cat Protection Society Op Shop on nmore Road. It’s a no-brainer find yourself something nice – a unique lamp maybe, or a pair of slacks – and then hand over a bit of cash to directly aid cat welfare. The shop has everything you’d expect, from fashion to homewares and entertainment, and it’s run by saintly volunteers. The Cat Protection Society does great things for our feline friends so we urge you to try your luck. You could adopt a cat while you’re there? (AD) 85 Enmore Road, Newtown, 2042, (02) 9516 2072, www.catprotection.org.au
BEST MODERN FURNITURE SHOP SYDNEYSIDE FURNITURE From humble beginnings as a small joiners workshop for the local kitchen industry, SydneySide Furniture has grown into one of Sydney’s prime entertainment and home media furniture experts. Over 25 years the company has developed a reputation as the place to go for quality workmanship and exceptional customer service. The manufacturing base is situated in Marrickville where a highly skilled team of tradespeople, cabinet makers, and spray painters reside and produce custom made joinery for commercial and residental buyers. SydneySide are with you through your whole furniture journey – from developing, producing and delivering your dream pieces at competitive prices, all the while supporting our local industry and economy. (AE) 22-28 Parramatta Road, Stanmore, 2048, (02) 9557 8713, www.sydneyside.net.au
BEST SHOPPING CENTRE EASTGATE
Australia, Tender Gourmet Butchery. Perhaps the centre should be called ‘Eat-gate’. But after you’ve stocked up on meat, seafood, fruit and vegetables, try some retail therapy at the Reject Shop. Buy a new outfit at owes and get those shoes repaired last-minute at Mister Minit. There’s almost nothing you can’t do at Eastgate. (MM) 71/73 Spring St, Bondi Junction, 2026, (02) 9387 6377
BEST SUPERMARKET THAI KEE IGA All supermarkets have their minor differences: there’s the yummy ice cream at the Coles near your Nan’s, but the Foodworks down the road has that crazy selection of cheese.Thai Kee IGA pushes the boundaries of what a grocery store can provide.There are your Western foods, fruit and veg and whatever you need, but it’s all about the aisles of groceries from China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand. Sauces are bountiful; as are the snacks whose flavours you may not recognise but are guaranteed to be amazing.Take a jacket because you’ll be in the frozen section for a while – dumplings, seafood, green tea ice cream…and it’s cheap! (AD) Level 1, Market City, 9-13 Hay Street, Haymarket, 2000, (02) 9211 3150
BEST VINYLS What can’t you get at Eastgate? There are the familiar names of Coles, Kmart, ALDI, Harris Farm Markets, plus 22 speciality stores – all conveniently located under one roof.You can order beer, wine or spirits from Liquorland, seafood from De Costi’s and go to one of the most-awarded butchers in
THE RECORD STORE This is THE place for the vinyl audiophile, a paradise for DJs. With bass music/dub step, beats/heads/ breaks, drum ‘n’ bass/jungle, funk/soul, *breathe* hip hop/house, techno, rock/indie, and scratch records. If you’re after something older, have a go at the jazz/blues/reggae and funk/soul sections. There are
no stock shortages either with over 3,000 new releases, re-issued, rare and second hand vinyl records right where you want them to be – in front of you. Amazingly, they can de-warp your priceless discs for a mere $10, and restore precious vinyl with the Record REViRGiNiZER. (MM) 255b Crown Street, basement entrance is on Goulbourn Street, Darlinghurst, 2010, (02) 9380 8223, www.recordstore.com.au
BEST WOMEN’S FASHION MARKET CITY It’s hard to nut down such a category to a single store but we’re pretty sure all you ladies will be able to find something affordable to love in Market City. The first two levels are chockas with great clothes, jewellery and accessories; there are on trend chain stores like Cotton On and Esprit, and there are uirky independent stores where you’re likely to find something unexpected.There’s a lingerie store, street wear stores like angerfield and latypus Shoes, and I don’t know what’s in the water around here but maybe we can spread it like fluoride, because the service is insanely friendly and helpful! (AD) 9-13 Hay Street, Haymarket, 2000, (02) 9288 8900, www.marketcity.com.au
20 PACKAGES TWIN FACIAL SPECIALJUSTAVAILABLE! BUY A 1 HOUR CUSTOMISED FACIAL & GET 1 FREE ONE FOR YOU, ONE FOR A FRIEND! AN IDEAL CHRISTMAS GIFT FOR SOMEONE WHO DESERVES TO BE PAMPERED
JUST $95.00 FOR 2 FACIALS!
CONDITIONS: *1 FACIAL MUST BE A GIFT FOR SOMEONE ELSE *VOUCHERS ARE VALID UNTIL 31ST MARCH 2015 * SINGLE BOOKINGS ONLY * VOUCHERS ARE NOT TRANSFERABLE FACIALS ARE 1 HOUR IN DURATION TREATMENT INCLUDES: DEEP CLEANSE, STEAM & ENZYME EXFOLIATION, FACIAL MASSAGE, NECK & SHOULDER MASSAGE, HAND PICKED TREATMENT PRODUCTS AND MASK FOR EACH CLIENT, SKIN ANALYSIS.
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Sweetness & Light Advanced Beauty Therapy 109 Bowman St Pyrmont
Ph: 9518 9822
E: sweetnesslight@optusnet.com.au www.sweetnesslight.com.au
BEST OF SYDNEY 2014 BEST COSMETIC SURGERY DR LANZER
have a strong commitment towards community awareness. Their Rekindling Youth Program aims to inspire and equip young Indigenous Australians to become future custodians of their culture through the arts. They also support countless artists through their professional development programme – all while producing some of the country’s finest theatre productions. SW Pier 4, Hickson Road,Walsh Bay, (02) 9251 5333, www.bangarra.com.au
BEST EDUCATION FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
BEST ARTS VENUE
BEST CHEMIST
THE POWERHOUSE MUSEUM The owerhouse Museum of Science and Design is a must-see for all visitors to our fair city. Those of us who live here are lucky that we can visit anytime we like to experience the ever-changing exhibits (including travelling exhibitions from all over the world). The Powerhouse packs a punch in terms of visitor experience with exhibits targeted towards visitors of any and every age, and ongoing education programmes, as well as extensive online resources. It’s not difficult to get lost in all the information on offer for an entire day or more SW 500 Harris Street, Ultimo, 2007, (02) 9271 0111, www.powerhousemuseum.com
BLAKE’S PHARMACY In your lifetime, you’ll spend more time in a pharmacy than with any other healthcare provider, so you’d want your chemist to be a good one. Blake’s Pharmacy is an independent local pharmacy that strives to be part of the community by providing great service while keeping the prices down.They stock a huge range of vitamins along with a large range of baby products, so you’ll find whatever you need accompanied by friendly and helpful advice.The chemist is open until 11pm on weeknights, which is ideal for those unexpected diaper shortages. (MM) 20 Darlinghurst Rd, Potts Point, 2011, (02) 9358 6712, www.blakespharmacy.com.au
BEST BARBER SHOP
CITY EAST COMMUNITY COLLEGE This is not your average college, the reasons for which are threefold. One: City East Community College is a non-profit organisation two the courses on offer change every year and three the average student is between the ages of 2539, tertiary educated, worldly, and passionate about furthering their education. The college also caters for school leavers and seniors – anyone on the path of self-improvement. There are over learning venues in Sydney where students can undertake courses in Arts, Communication, Business, Graphic Design, Lifestyle and Languages, to name just a few. The tutors are passionate about adult learning and believe education to be “a collaboration between teacher and student.” 98 Bondi Rd, Bondi Junction, 2022, (02) 9387 7400, www.cityeastcc.com.au
CHOPS ‘N’ CHARLIE If you’ve ever stepped outside your house, you would have, at some point, seen a beard. And if you’re particularly astute, you will have noticed that beards are making somewhat of a comeback for men between the ages of 23 and 30. This was an age bracket that, a few moons ago, was sans beard, but now the hirsute men are everywhere. Cue Chops ‘n’ Charlie, an award-winning, old school barbershop of the contemporary kind in Darlinghurst. They specialise in cutthroat shaves, greasers, pompadours, waterfalls, and side parts, and strongly believe that these are not haircuts, they are lifestyles. (AE) 6 Stanley St, Sydney, 2010, (02) 8065 9910, www.chopsncharlie.com
BEST BEAUTY SALON SWEETNESS AND LIGHT You work hard and your body cops it most - late nights leave you tired, the gym leaves you sore, and looking after the kids leaves you aching for some alone time. Time to treat yo’self. Make your way down to the aptly named Sweetness and ight, where the staff will leave you feeling...well, much as the name suggests. Pampering of all kinds is on offer here, so whether you want to indulge in some girl-time mani-pedis, or spend some solo time leaving the stresses of the week far behind you, you will find what you’re looking for at this yrmont-based establishment. SW 109 Bowman Street, Pyrmont, 2009, (02) 9518 9822, www.sweetnessandlight.com.au
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BEST COMMUNITY COLLEGE
BEST COSMETIC SURGEON APHRODITE AND APOLLO Tired of looking...well, tired? If you’ve always wanted to try dermal fillers or anti-wrinkle injections, but found yourself associating it with that frozen, plastic look, then now’s the time to re-evaluate. At Aphrodite and Apollo, they promise “realistic treatments at realistic prices,” none of that too-tight, perma-shocked expression to worry about, just precise, simple treatments to help you look your best. With three locations, expert staff, and no-pressure consultations available to discuss your options, Aphrodite and Apollo are committed to helping you feel confident, healthy and energised, at any age. SW 4a 79-85 Oxford Street, Bondi Junction, 2026, 1300 666 244, www.aacosmetic.com.au
Just about everyone would have an answer to the question: “If you could change one thing about your body, what would it be?” Dr Lanzer is here to help those hypothetical conversations become reality. The doctor has over 25 years’ experience, so you know you’re in good hands whether you’re nipping or tucking or just touching up. Dr Lanzer understands that cosmetic surgery warrants a lot of questions from potential clients, so he welcomes direct conversations and distributes a wealth of information on his website. Men and women alike can make use of Dr Lanzer’s services. (AE) 3/276-278 Pitt St, Sydney, 2000, (02) 9188 2030, www.drlanzer.com.au
BEST DANCE STUDIO BANGARRA DANCE THEATRE Australia’s leading Indigenous Performing Arts Company has had another incredible year, and that should come as no surprise - they’ve been leaders in contemporary dance theatre in Australia for decades now. Bangarra has a strong commitment to shedding light on the Indigenous Australian experience through movement, and also
AUSTRALIAN PACIFIC COLLEGE The college is an Australian Government registered organisation that offers English anguage Intensive Courses to Overseas Students ICOS and a National nglish anguage Teaching Accreditation Scheme N AS . English courses are available for people of all skill levels, from beginners to intermediate, and advanced, where students are encouraged to speak, understand, read, and write English in a variety of scenarios. With campuses situated in the bustling CBD, Bondi Junction, and Manly Beach, APC is a place where learning coincides with living. On the doorstop of each campus is a plethora of shops, cafés, and local services where students can make the most of studying abroad while learning valuable skills. (AE) 189 Kent St, Sydney, 2000, (02) 9251 7000, www.apc.edu.au
BEST EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE THINK EDUCATION Think Education is education with a difference. The institution is part of Laureate International Universities, an international network of higher education institutes. Think encompasses eight colleges in NSW, and IC that host a range of short courses, or Bachelor and Masters degrees in business, health, hospitality and design. Some of the colleges included are Billy Blue College of Design, APM College of Business and Communication, and the Southern School of Natural Therapies. So if you’re leaving school or just thinking of a career change, study somewhere exciting, study with Think. (AE) Level 24, 680 George St, Sydney, 2000, (02) 8588 4733, www.think.edu.au
BEST DENTAL SURGERY ADVANCED DENTAL SERVICES Whether you’re in need of a filling, a cleaning, or some new tooth bling, Advanced ental has got you covered. They know a trip to the dentist is not on anyone’s wish list, so they go to great lengths to make the experience pleasant as possible. After all, their first priority is your peace of mind and health, which has been the case since r Saif Hayek started the practice many years ago. r Hayek and his team share a passion for aesthetic excellence and expertise in all areas of general dental treatments like implants, teeth straightening and cosmetic treatments. (AE) 201 New South Head Rd, Edgecliff, 2027, (02) 9328 1423, www.advanceddentalservices.com.au
BEST OF SYDNEY 2014 BEST FILM SCHOOL
BEST HANDYMAN SERVICES
BEST HOTEL ACCOMMODATION
AUSTRALIAN FILM TELEVISION AND RADIO SCHOOL (AFTRS) The Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS) equips its students with all the tools necessary to succeed in showbiz. The institute has world-class facilities, Australia’s best industry practitioners leading the way, and a range of dynamic courses from the basic groundings of the art form to more specialised courses like cinematography, editing or screen writing. They recently introduced the Bachelor of Arts in Screen, the most comprehensive screen degree in the world. AFTRS has been established for over 34 years and has been ranked in the Top 20 Films Schools in the World by Hollywood Reporter. (AE) Building 130, Entertainment Quarter, Moore Park, 2021, (02) 9805 6611, www.aftrs.edu.au
ORBIT ROOFING Keeping a roof over your head can be a challenge when storms rage and gutters fill with fallen leaves. Rather than face vertigo and broken bones, call in the experts at Orbit Roofing who are able to repair or replace metal, tile or slate roofs and fix gutters reliably. With almost a quarter of a century of experience you can depend on Orbit to keep you safe and dry all year round. (LJG) , www.orbitroofing.com.au
THE STAR Want a night out guaranteed to please everyone in your group? A stop at The Star is guaranteed to impress, with an array of restaurants and cocktail bars to suit every budget and taste. n oy live music and full-scale musical productions for a bit of spectacle, and hit the casino if you’re feeling lucky. There’s enough here to occupy everyone for hours, and if at the end of the night you find yourself too tired to make your way home, ust pop into the luxurious onsite hotel and arrange an overnighter. (SW) 80 Pyrmont Street, Pyrmont, 2009, (02) 9777 9000, www.thestar.com.au
BEST GYM ACTIVATE FIT What you’ll find here is something for everybody. If you’re after some motivation from your peers, there are a wide variety of group exercise classes including the classics like Body Pump and Body Attack. There are also the latest innovative classes like Suspension to utilise your body weight as resistance in training. Classes are all led by fully trained instructors whose only goal is to motivate you on your fitness ourney. At Activate it, it’s about making you excited to move a little faster, sweat a little more, and beat your personal best. (AE) 733 Harris St, Ultimo, 2007, (02) 9514 2444, www.activatefit.com.au
BEST ELECTRICIAN David Jones is a take-charge kind of guy. Whether you need to replace or install new electrical outlets, wire a home, or put new down-lights in place, David Jones and his team of highly experienced electricians can make your electric dreams come true. (LJG) 66 Brocks Lane Newtown 1300 35 35 32 (24 hours)
BEST MEDICAL BROADWAY GENERAL PRACTICE Centrally located in Broadway near Sydney University, Broadway General Practice provide quality healthcare across a wide range of medical and support services. If you find yourself about to embark on a holiday, be sure
to advantage of the full services they offer, including a complete suite of immunisations. Each travel destination is different, so they can advise individual precautions to take. The centre is open seven days a week, with late night hours on Thursdays. (MM) M105, Level 1, Broadway Shopping Centre, 1 Bay Street, Broadway, 2007, (02) 8245 1500
BEST PHOTOGRAPHY INLIGHTEN PHOTOGRAPHY Inlighten Photography make it their business to capture your special moments. Whether you’re getting married, or simply want some precious family portraits, you can rest assured that Inlighten have your best interests at heart. For those getting hitched, you can meet your photographer before the big day to discuss the ins and outs of the big day. Those getting together with family to strike a pose will receive photos that are both candid and posed, none of which will look cheesy, and all of which you will cherish forever. (AE) 326 Norton Street. Leichhardt, 2040, (02) 9550 0332, www.inlighten.com.au
BEST PLACE TO GET PIERCED STONE HEART Been itching for a new piercing? Perhaps some ink? Or a cover-up for some woefully misguided tattoo your past self somehow decided was a good idea? Whatever your body mod needs, Stone Heart (formerly known as First Blood) has got you covered. The team of highly skilled piercers and tattoo artists are happy to help you achieve the tattoo or piercing of your dreams (or cover
(02)9389 9755
• •
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BEST OF SYDNEY 2014 up the tattoo of your nightmares). They give equal care and attention to first-timers and old hats, so if you’re more Taylor Swift than Kat Von D, never fear - you’ll be in capable hands, regardless. SW 1/77 William Street, Darlinghurst, 2010, (02) 8095 0100, www.stoneheart.com.au
BEST PUBLIC POOL IAN THORPE AQUATIC AND FITNESS CENTRE We won’t say how much has been spent on this facility, but $40 million is a lot of money. It’s probably more than you’d be willing to spend on your own pool, so you may as well go and swim in this one.The ITAC offers a slew of health and aquatic programs and services for people of all ages, all abilities, and all walks (swims) of life. Head out on your own for a personalised work out, or make a day of it and brings the kids to frolic in the pool or learn to swim.There’s a café, sauna, health club and free WiFi – what more could you want? (AE) 456A Harris St, Sydney, 2007, (02) 9518 7220, www.itac.org.au
BEST REAL ESTATE DEAN’S PROPERTY When you’re looking into property, look no further than Dean’s.The company specialises in commercial, industrial, retail and multi-use listings for the city fringe and CBD areas.There is literally something for anyone who is looking into any kind of real estate – sales, leasing, property management, and projects.The team have been the undefeated winners of this Best of Sydney category since 2011 and show no signs of letting up any time soon. (AE) 255 Broadway, 2007, (02) 9282 6777, www.deansproperty.com.au
BEST TATTOOS
BEST WET SHAVE
BEST YOGA
LDF TATTOOS This tattoo studio is owned and operated by artists who draw on more than 50 years of experience in the Australian tattoo industry. Located in Newtown, aka the middle of the arts and cultural hub of Sydney, these tattoo artists combine their artistic talent with the customer’s direction to create a beautiful piece of art. rom pin-up to tribal to photorealistic, these artists can do it all.With a mixture of artists and ideas, you can count on these guys to create the tattoo you’ve always wanted. (CT) 26 King Street, Newtown, 2042, (02) 9550 6759, www.ldftattoo.com
THE BARBER SHOP For almost a century between the 1800’s and 1900’s, barbershops were a great place for men to not only get a haircut and a shave, but to socialise and ‘chew the fat.’ Sydney’s The Barber Shop has brought back the golden age and now you can enjoy a refreshing cocktail and a wet shave.With the barber shop in the front and the bar up the back stairs, you can enjoy the barber skills and bartender craft under one roof. If you fancy a haircut, shave and great selection of beverages, this is the place for you. (CT) 89 York Street, Sydney 2000, (02) 9299 9699, www. thisisthebarbershop.com
KUNDALINI YOGA COLLECTIVE Offering a tranquil, supportive and unique space, undalini oga Collective is Australia’s first not-forprofit yoga organisation that was established by the community, for the community.The Collective provides a sanctuary from stress where people can bend and pose their way to increased health and wellbeing.The mission here is to bring students and yoga teachers together to spread the word about Kundalini yoga. People of all experience levels – from beginners to downward dog devotees can reap the benefits of improved strength, flexibility, and muscle tone, with a more stress-free existence.The studio space can also be hired for workshops, photo shoots, and art exhibitions. (AE) Level 1, 199-201 King Street, Newtown, 2042, 0418 884 624, www.kundaliniyogacollective.org.au
BEST WEDDING VENUE DOLTONE HOUSE Doltone House as an institution is well known for its range of elegant function venues across Sydney with locations at Jones Bay Wharf, Darling Island Wharf, Sylvania Waters, Hyde Park and soon, Sans Souci. Each venue exudes luxury and sophistication while dripping in elegant décor, making each one the perfect place to host a wedding.The Doltone House team are famous for their wedding receptions, thrown in rooms with grand staircases, chandeliers and rich views of iconic locations in Sydney.The Jones Bay Wharf Doltone House, in particular, showcases incredible views of the Harbour Bridge as well as the Darling Harbour precinct. (JH) Piers 19 - 21 Upper Deck, 26 - 32 Pirrama Road, Pyrmont Point, 2009, (02) 8571 0622, www. doltonehouse.com.au
BEST TRAVEL AND TOURISM COLLEGE AUSTRALIAN PACIFIC TRAVEL AND TOURISM Australian acific Travel Tourism (APTT) College is committed to helping people turn their travel dreams into reality.The Registered Training Organisation (RTO) offers a range of education programs that have been designed specifically with the Australian Travel and Tourism market in mind. APTT can help students put their lessons into practice with a range of traineeships and work experience programs. Mandatory work placement is arranged by the college and provides students with the opportunity to gain important vocational experience. (AE) 1/100 Ebley St, Bondi Junction, 2022, (02) 9387 4230, www.aptt.edu.au
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THe BeaUCHamp Voted Alternative Media Group’s “Best Community Hotel 2014” • 3 great bars • Upstairs beer garden • Basement sandstone function bar • Delicious food you can afford to eat every day of the week • High quality and well priced biodynamic, organic & preservative-free wines • Function spaces from 15 persons to 150 persons
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EAT & DRINK Foveaux St Dining
Bare tables and thumping 90s rock, featuring Smashing Pumpkins and the Pixies, clue you in immediately that Darrell Felstead’s restaurant reincarnation is no longer a fine diner.Thankfully long time elstead fans, including myself, will find a through-line in the dishes making up his choose-your-own-adventure menu of any-day eating fun. $ - mains less than $15
$$ - mains between $15-$22
DARLO, KINGS X & SURRY HILLS Gazebo The revitalised Gazebo dining room runs in a gentle curve from grand piano to kitchen, the ceiling studded with low-hanging lights. Outside seating is prize territory at sunset. Everyone seems to be enjoying crunchy Carrot Crisps ($6) with Chantilly goats curd and balsamic. Creamy Polenta Wedges ($9) are outrageously crisp and worth coming for alone. Cucumber Cured ingfish ($19) is artfully strewn on a striking black plate with shards of green apple and a smoked oyster sauce, but it’s the Duck Breast ($28) with earthy beetroot, honeycomb and a smoked
By Jackie McMillan And since fun’s at the heart of things, I’m skipping straight to his Angel Cake ($15): textural, tasty and joyful to consume, this plate of lightly caramelised cake hunks, peppermint jelly, ginger sherbet sorbet and fresh strawberries is a real winner. Design the rest of your dining adventure using solo snacks, share plates and savvy sides, complemented by a crafted and thoughtful wine list. Sommelier Belinda Mackie puts the list down to having “good friends”, but I suspect she’s being modest. Her teaming theYellow Tail Mullet ($3/ each) white gazpacho and pumpernickel wafers with the 2011 Domaine Pichot ‘Coteau de la Biche’ ($8/$16/$32) confirmed my suspicion.The kitchen’s robata grill is put to good use in the Smoked Octopus Salad ($22) featuring Felstead’s trademark (candied) olive smear.The Braised Tamarind Short Rib ($36) and roast tri-tip combo is accentuated by another Felstead hallmark: robust yet airy eggplant foam.The Pig’s Head Terrine ($22) sums up everything: laidback yet delicious, with playfulness (hello toffee apple and cheffy flair. 65-67 Foveaux Street, Surry Hills (02) 9211 7752 foveauxstdining.com.au Modern Australian $$$$ $$$ - mains between $22-$30
almond sauce, that really steals the show. The pick of the desserts is Chocolate ($15) - cookie dough parfait spiked with raspberries and yogurt caramel. 2 Elizabeth Bay Road, Elizabeth Bay (02) 8070 2424 thegazebo.com.au Modern Australian $$$ Surry Hills Eating House Sujet Saenkham, owner of the popular Spice I Am restaurants, has done it again.Taking over the upstairs of Triple Ace Bar, Sujet explores Southern Thai. Pub prices for booze remain; and the Plan B 2012 Chenin Blanc ($36/bottle) makes an affable companion to Asian cuisine, starting with gloriously sticky and stretchy Pak Mor Youan ($9) porkstuffed rice rolls. Follow them with crunchy and compelling banana flower
$$$$ - mains over $30
fritters – Hua Plee Tod ($12) or Mieng Ka Na ($16), sweet and sour pile of pork floss, lime and chilli you wrap in supple Chinese broccoli leaves.Your must-have dish is the Gaeng Het Pho ($28), a well balanced bar cod curry with explosive Thai black mushrooms. Level 2, 198-200 Elizabeth Street, Surry Hills (02) 9212 4092 spiceiam.com Thai $$-$$$ Golden Age Cinema & Bar I’m very taken with this gorgeous bar, complete with electronically controlled curtains that silently glide to reveal a mirrored stage and microphones. The Maple Pecan Old Fashioned ($18) made on smooth Bulleit Bourbon suits the space, but if you’re sleepy-tired and planning a flick, their espresso martini Paramount House ($19), uses beans from
Keg & Brew Sydney has a new home of deep-fried everything.Well actually it’s an old home – the former KB Hotel – done up a bit fancy-like, and rebadged as the (slightly-new) Keg & Brew.Amidst the brown leather banquettes, cowhide bar panels and assorted taxidermy, you’ll find an odd mix of (mostly male) blue-collar workers and Paramount Coffee Project upstairs. Dip into (another) interesting Ned Brooks wine list against snacks like Tiger Sharks ($10) - canned anchovies – or Szechuan Popcorn ($5).The 2012 Ngeringa Growers Series Rousanne ($65/bottle) makes an affable companion to movieinspired toasties like The Spielberger ($9.50) – basically your Reuben – to The Big Cheese ($8).They’re small, so you’ll also need a Gelato Messina Sundae ($8)… Lower Ground, 80 Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills (02) 9211 1556 ourgoldenage. com.au Bar, Cocktails, Bar Food $ EASTERN SUBURBS & BEACHES
Popolo This is a confident restaurant that knows what it is.The wine list, mostly
bearded hipster types.They’re well-served by busy bar staff manning thirty-three beer taps, with only six pumping out mainstream beers.Their focus on locally brewed craft beers is epitomised in the Angstrom Voltaic Pale Ale ($8.50); brewed – if you didn’t guess from the name – by three physicists from Sydney University. Bourbon’s their other love, and they’re pouring over thirty. If you’re not familiar with American whiskies, the easy-drinking Old Fashioned ($15) is a great place to begin.After slaking your thirst, get stuck into crunchy golden bar bites, starting with compelling Fried Monterey Jack Cheese Sticks ($10).You can up your beer and deep-fried quotient with the Young Henrys Lager Battered Flathead ($15).They’ll even batter and fry your Oysters ($30/12), though I took mine natural and passionfruit. egan Cauliflower Steaks will help your arteries not harden, with the little, white florets taking on good char from the grill. I suspect the Deep Fried Twinkie ($10) is a bridge too far… 26 Foveaux Street, Surry Hills (02) 9212 1740 kegandbrew.com.au American, Pub Bistro $$
populated by Southern Italian wines, need not be bewildering.Wine-savvy staff are well versed in matching wines to drinkers, producing at my request for an easy-drinking red, a lovely 2013 Pietradolce Etna Rosso ($72/bottle). With tea and cherry notes, it suits the ecorino Timballo , a firm, baked cheese dish presented with pear custard. Napolitana-style pizzas baked in their wood-fired oven are also menu highlights, particularly if the Burrata Panzerotto ($23) is on. It’s a plump belly-shaped pizza pocket stuffed with creamy-centred mozzarella, tomato and basil. Or there’s a textbook Octopus Ragu Risotto ($24). 50 McLachlan Avenue, Rushcutters Bay (02) 9361 6641 popolo.com.au Italian $$$ The Golden Sheaf This leafy courtyard, alive with
chattering birds and chatting crowds at sunset, is where the Eastern Suburbs set congregate after the Randwick races or the AFL.And despite the affluence of ouble ay, you won’t find yourself having to double pay at the popular Sheaf Bistro. Both pub classics like the ever-popular Beef Fillet ($29.50) and the lighter Asian-inspired offerings like a Salmon and Tuna Sashimi Salad ($22) are generously proportioned. Handmade Pumpkin Tortellini ($18) balance the sweet orange filling with a nutty beurre noisette. My only complaint: even drinking at the top end of their wine list, the Simonnet Febvre Petit Chablis ($50/bottle) indicated there’s room for improvement. 429 New South Head Road, Double Bay (02) 9327 5877 goldensheaf.com.au Pub Bistro $$-$$$
EAT & DRINK
By Jackie McMillan
Daniel San With hot pink neon screaming “wax on, wax off” and a name like aniel San, arate id style Americanised appropriation of Japanese culture is a given. If you can get past “me love you long time” trophy pla ues, replica caged chooks and goldfish in plastic bags, en amin Orpwood, former head chef of Toko, dishes up credible
Charing Cross Hotel The light, coastally inspired interior is a delightful surprise, especially considering the unassuming pub exterior. Relax in a wicker chair in the stylish, baby blue dining room as you explore a drinks list that hits the trifecta - great cocktails, wine and on-tap craft brew.A Locals rop blending white rum, ruby grapefruit and Campari helps reduce the excesses of Chef Matt emp’s Crispy igs Head , pressed into fat, crumbed batons.A relative cheapie - Sant Josep White arnacha /bottle - is opulent enough to accompany Roast ork Neck with crackling, radicchio, honey and pears, without destroying a simple plate of Swordfish with uicy cucumbers, pink grapefruit and perilla. Carrington Road,Waverley charingcrosshotel.com.au
beachside i akaya pub grub. eing a drinking venue and one which seats at that ordering takes place at the bar.The Miyagi Mai Tai will wash the salt off your lips with a well-spiked mix of coconut, pineapple and lime. Move on to the Well Mannered Rose /glass as you tuck into fat, deep red slices of ellow in Tuna Sashimi . . Mounds of tuna and salmon tartare,Tar-Tacos , are fun sharing food, let down fractionally by slightly oily deep fried gyoza crisps. Owner raser Short The Morrison ar and Oyster Room has deep pockets, and you see the effects in the expensive robata grill. So expect the Japanese barbeque offerings to be highlights, from a trio of blackened crustaceans in rawn u u osho . to nicely charred roccoli florets on sticks.And if you need an alcohol blotter, the orkie /each bun with honey gla ed erkshire pig and spicy cashew sauce gets the ob done. North Steyne, Manly danielsan.com.au Japanese, Bar, Bar Food $$$
British, Pub Bistro,Wine, Cocktails $$$
GREATER SYDNEY La Tratt The flagship of airfield RS is a surprising restaurant delivering everything you’d expect from a C hotspot without any pretentiousness. Settle into the rich brown restaurant with traditional aperitivi like Campari and Soda via the circulating drinks trolley. Clear dish descriptions and wine matches printed on the menu mean you’re unlikely to find it intimidating.While the Swordfish Carpaccio special showed great restraint, house-made pastas are highlights.Aragosta Gnocchi i atate / with slipper lobster, tomato passata, chilli and cream, has been on the menu since they opened for good
Gowings Bar & Grill While my mas mantras are buy local’ and buy artisan’, if you are determined to brave the C madness, you’d best do it well fortified. Right in the thick of things, owings ar rill offers up an extensive breakfast menu that caters for all tastes and proclivities, including those healthy types who like taking the yolks out of their
Super ood Omelette . or the rest of us, there’s ggs Rockefeller a free-range egg encased in warm brioche with warrigal greens, hollandaise sauce yes more yolks topped with not uite enough caviar. While it is decadent, if I’m honest, it’s outperformed by lack Truffle Scrambled ggs with grilled asparagus and relatively sparse toast. The good thing about portion control is it allows you to make it a two-course breakfast – a perfect way to stretch out those corporate breakfast meetings. our other course could be astries go on, be a devil or a Watermelon Salad . The latter is the perfect post-egg palate cleanser, with the sweet, uicy fruit moderated by pomegranate, mint, ricotta and pomegranate molasses. There’s arista Coffee . or you can make do with an orange uice and arm yourself with a takeaway cup of the same Allpress Coffee from Parlour Lane Roasters downstairs. I suspect you’ll need it evel , Market Street, Sydney tsydney.com.au/food-drink/gowings-bargrill/ Breakfast $$$
. . If you stick to the classics, you ROCKS & CBD won’t be disappointed, but be sure DinTai Fung Central Park to let those legendary pork soup The signature item at in Tai ung dumplings cool a little bit first. is iao ong ao . , the semiCentral ark, evel , R legendary pork soup dumplings roadway, Chippendale that have carried this restaurant www.dintaifungaustralia.com.au/ across continents.They are seriously central-park good dumplings but be warned Chinese $-$$ the unctuous soup is delicious, but perilously hot. Similarly delightful is the The LemonTree A little ray of sunshine has burst raised eef Noodle Soup . with its dark and well-flavoured broth through the concrete brutalism of Australia S uare. Its warmth can be and falling-apart tender beef and felt in the greeting of Kate McMahon, the roasted chilli warmth of Shrimp bringing her expertise (and a and Pork Wontons with Tangy Sauce . had me scraping for leftover martini from Catalina. Co-owners Tim Holmes Court and aimon morsels. Cool your lips with the sweet and fresh Lychee Mint Freeze Downey, get their own nod on the
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reason. Caramelised ear Tart will see you off into the night, likely with their take-home gnocchi tucked under your arm airfield RS , An ac Avenue, airfield fairfieldrsl.com.au Italian $$$$ Montagne In the style of a convivial Parisian bistro, Montagne’s black and white ceilings, complete with fabric shaded lamp chandeliers, are visually striking. In contrast to the monochrome, the bar is lined with vividly green Chartreuse and in true French bistro style, daily specials are scrawled across a mirror.Try a classic rench Sidecar or en oy rench wines, nearly all available by glass with bottle prices under fifty bucks.The Cave de Clairmont Cro es Hermitage lanc /glass is a lovely drop. It’ll
cocktail list, in the form of a wellbalanced elicano Martini . Chef Peter Streckfuss dishes up a short menu of simple Italian food using premium ingredients, from Antipasti /person to eal Milanese . Pasta portions, like Lasagna Di Carne , seem geared towards ensuring the predominantly female audience get to eat dessert.And Ilaria’s Ricotta Cake is a lovely way to finish, taken alfresco on a gloriously balmy night. Australia Square Piazza, Corner itt and ond Streets, Sydney facebook.com/ thelemontreesydney Italian $$$-$$$$
Alfio’s Leveraging off a series of legendary pop-ups, including one in Opera Australia’s back lot, the Full Circle crew have snaffled semi-permanent digs on a sundrenched back street in eichhardt.The early session pm sees a friendly collection of locals, heavy on beards, young parents and loafers without socks, sitting relaxed and convivial around the largest communal table. ehind suit their textbook twice-baked Cheese Souffl or extend to rench Onion Soup crowned with ruyere croutons. Lightly browned Café de Paris butter explains why the Steak & Frites is popular. airfield RS , An ac Avenue, airfield fairfieldrsl.com.au French $$$-$$$$ INNER WEST LuMi Bar & Dining This restaurant delivers an imaginative obligatory eight-course egustation /head that balances Italian passion with an intriguing Japanese aesthetic. The opener armesan chawanmushi stifles any doubts that these two culinary influences will be anything other than the best of friends. It’s followed by five excellent savoury courses, from
explosive caviar-topped spelt ravioli, to a delicate mound of crab, Jerusalem artichoke and oyster powder. A deceptive twirl of stinging nettle chitarra – spaghetti well-coated with intense mussel cream and crumbled pork packs an umami punch reminiscent of bottarga.The Evergreen pre-dessert is outstanding – a garden of brightly green textures, temperatures and tastes. Catch this rising star while he’s still underpriced irrama Road, yrmont lumidining.com Italian, Japanese,Wine $$$-$$$$
NEWTOWN & ENVIRONS Three Williams This unassuming space on the fringes of Redfern is sparse, with wooden furniture, brick walls and a post-
FOOD NEWS Chocolates and flowers are both nice gifts, but nothing says that you care uite like pie In keeping with my desire to buy local, artisan and stick to things that people need this season, Pie Society caught my eye. ounder mma agnall tells me the inspiration “was born from the idea that as a society we want to look after each other, but we don’t always have the time”.Their family-si e golden, butter pastry pies arrive stuffed with natural and free-range ingredients, inside an insulated box.With flavours like spring lamb chunky beef, bacon and vegetable and mushroom and cheese, there’s something for everyone. or a seasonally appropriate gift, their turkey and cranberry pie will set you back . ou can ensure your lucky gift recipient gets a complete meal by throwing in mash and mushy peas apiece . My office was particularly impressed with the popular add-on of six American-style chocolate and raspberry brownies. www.piesociety.com.au
BAR FLY
SKY TERRACE
them an Amalfi coast mural catches the last rays of sun. Like the hanging Chianti bottles, it’s part of the previous occupant’s décor, which now – with the restaurant populated by hipsters – looks conveniently ironic.All eyes are on chef Daniel Johnston’s daily chalkboard menu kicking off with house-made bread and butter. Roman beans, tender from simmering all day in the pot, follow.The three-night week leaves chef time for the little things, like making creamy ricotta that adorns char grilled ucchini, mint and chilli and malloreddus, eggless Sardinian pasta, he dresses in a simple cherry tomato sauce with skinless salsicce Italian sausage and grated ricotta salata.After a simple grilled leather acket main accompanied by generous shared sides, I’m happy to end on runet, an indulgent fresh goats cheese from iedmont. Surprise honey ricotta fritters are another hint this collective likes exceeding expectations – except with the bill fifty bucks apiece and no charge for O. Renwick Street, eichhardt alfios. com.au Italian $$
It’s like a mini suit-filled street festival on the rooftop of the casino. There are food tents serving tasty Chicken uesadillas and rilled ork , bars scattered around the perimeter, a gaming tent, drinks served in blue plastic cups and oh a bongo player. While the bongo- J-saxophonist trio leaves my date with “mixed feelings,” we’re uite happy to en oy the sense of superiority that comes from being able to see such an expansive view of Sydney and the harbour es, we are looking down on you with cocktails in hand, tiny, scurrying ant-people. Mr T’s egacy Sour , made with Tan ueray, Sloe gin and passionfruit, is delicious and a favourite from the limited menu. ven on a cloudy day, we can appreciate how the crushed ice cocktails, especially the ear O Nuts , brimming with coconut vodka, Aperol and fresh apple and pear, will be ama ing on balmy summer nights. Rooftop, The Star, yrmont Street, yrmont star.com/skyterrace
apocalyptic tree branch above the counter. However if you look closer, you’ll find a certain charm. reen smoothies and salads peppered with the season’s freshest ingredients abound, like the Super Smoothie with kale, apricot, apple, almond, banana, ginger and cinnamon, and the Organic Tofu Salad with charred broccolini, almonds, Japanese seaweed and peas. Don’t want to work on your physique? The Chicken Schnitzel urger has your back - crispy and delicious with wasabi and avocado mayo and the rioche rench Toast is a textural masterpiece with caramel bananas, ha elnuts and elgian chocolate. a li abeth St, Redfern threewilliams.com Cafe $-$$
By Jackie McMillan And we’re talking about buying local, Hellyers Road Distillery, the people I credit with starting me on my own whisky ourney, have released the Hellyers Road ear Single Malt Whisky RR . . It’s the latest, well-priced offering from the Tassyowned and operated subsidiary of etta Milk. It’s grassy and biscuity, with a hint of vanilla gentle but it’ll still cope with a splash of Fevertree ginger ale if you fancy a longer drink. Wouldn’t mind a bottle myself www.hellyersroaddistillery. com.au
By Viv McGregor
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT WIN TICKETS TO TOTEM
JACKIE AND THE BEANSTALK or five nights only, this weird, whacky and wonderful beloved children’s story, Jack and the Beanstalk, is reprised and rejuvenated to a belly dancing, sci-fi inspired story. Jack turns into Jackie and as she explores the unknown world in outer space. She meets some interesting characters including her cow, robot and two alien chicks. “The traditional storyline of Jack and the Beanstalk still applies,” says director, actor and writer Ruth Jost,“But with a twist!” In it’s eighth year running, sci-fi aficionados and families of all ages should be prepared for what the King Street Theatre Company has in stall. “We’re very excited to have this show for five nights and are anticipating a fantastic turn out.” The music will also set the scene and ambiance.With traditional belly dancing music
in the ordinary world, the music will be transformed and enlightened by electric music in outer space. “When I was younger I watched a few pantomimes that excited and inspired me,” Jost explains,“And I wanted to be able to put a twist on my show and hope the audience
enjoys it as much as I do.” The King Street Theatre will ignite the imagination and inspiration of each audience member and will take them out of this world. (EV) Dec 18-22, King St Theatre, cnr of King & Bray St, Newtown, $15, bellydancepantos.com
Alternative Media Group and Cirque Du Soleil are giving you the chance to WIN one of two double passes to see their latest production, TOTEM, on Saturday January 9th, 2015, at 8pm. To qualify you need to be signed up to Alternative Media Group’s newsletter and like us on Facebook. So head to altmedia.net.au/subscribe
and facebook.com/altmediagroup, then send an email to arts@ alternativemediagroup.com with your name, email address and phone number. The competition closes on Thursday, 18 December 2012 at 10:00am AEST. Good luck. To find out more about this exciting new show, visit their website.
CONNECTED
Student cast of Connected from McDonald College
Social media has brought young people closer together than ever before, but it has also torn them apart. Author and former teacher Craig Christie’s new musical with a message, Connected, will start touring through schools in 2015 to educate teenagers and parents about the dangers of cyberbullying. “I think we all know about cyberbullying in a general sense, but it’s performed in such a powerful way in this musical that it brings home that it is a serious issue,” Christie says. The production is the story of a girl who moves from the country to a new school and falls foul of the mean girl, and she becomes a target of cyberbullying. Set to a soundtrack of indie-pop, the
musical uses the language and style of teenagers to express the prevalence of cyberbullying and the destruction it can cause for those who experience it. “This doesn’t fit the form or structure of a normal musical, it begins quite lightly and then it becomes very dark at one stage,” Craig says. The musical is an educational and entertaining look at cyberbullying that is perfect for both children and adults. “I hope it alerts them to issues and encourages people to start more of a dialogue with their parents,” says Craig. (SOC) Touring through schools 2015, $11-$22, connectedthemusical.com.au
TELL ME AGAIN If you like cryptic and outstanding drama, Tell Me Again is for you. Cannily minimalist in production, this two-hander begins with a pair of unnamed characters, played by Jeanette Cronin (who also wrote the quick-witted, fast-paced script) and James Lugton admiring the simplicity of birdlife. They appear to be confessional strangers, mulling over past loves and transgressions, and share a familiarity that serendipitous meetings might create. But do they have a more intimate connection? Cronin is scornful, vital and difficult, transforming from timid to tempestuous in an instant. Director Michael Pigott matches the pair’s volatile, bracing exchanges; Lugton is no mere mirror to Cronin’s
challenging personality.When she objects to being called “sweetheart,” he rallies to name her a “nightmare,” and love reigns again. Both actors are seasoned professionals in command of the performance, and at around 90 minutes the play is never less than gripping. The bare-bones set, lighting and music build a cohesive domestic landscape of love in its banalities and exhilarations. Tell Me Again is a brilliant and tender exploration of love and loss, and wellsuited to the intimate venue of The Old 505 Theatre. (OA) Until Dec 21,The Old 505 Theatre, 505/342 Elizabeth St, Surry Hills, $18-$28, venue505.com
a&e
38 STAGE 39 SCENE 40 SCREEN 42 SOUNDS
Acting Arts Editor: Emma Salkild Music Editor: Jamie Apps For more A&E stories go to www.altmedia.net.au and don’t forget to join the conversation on Twitter at @AltMediaSydney
Contributors: Alexis Talbot-Smith, Anita Senaratna, Carmen Cita, Ciaran Tobin, Craig Coventry, Erika Vass, Georgia Fullerton, Greg Webster, Hannah Chapman, Jamie Apps, Leann Richards, Leigh Livingstone, Marilyn Hetreles, Mark Morellini, Katie Rorison, Mel Somerville, Michael Muir, Michelle Porter, Nick Jewlachow, Peter Hackney, Rocio Belinda Mendez, Ruth Fogarty, Sarah Pritchard, Sharon Ye,
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work from a range of national and international choreographers. “All of the choreographers have a very fresh vision,” Rings explains. “They are all very in touch with their independent practice as well as an
SYDNEY HILLS SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK The Crucible Photo: Seiya Taguchi
If you are trying to think of something dramatic, outdoorsy and cultured to do over the holidays check out Sport For Jove’s 6th outdoor theatre season with performances of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Crucible lighting up the Bella Vista Farm in Baulkham Hills. Artistic director of Sport For Jove theatre company, Damien Ryan, says the eerily beautiful and historic Bella Vista Farm will complement the classic works with their themes of magic, the spiritual, and nature, as well as providing locals the opportunity to see some great performances close to home. “We’re starting to broaden the opportunities for people to see theatre, which has always been our mission,” he says. “The farm is 200 years old and has a haunting look to it.There is an old shed where The Crucible will be performed, lit up with 250 candles. It’s uite a site-specific event. I want people to be in another time and place.” Ryan thinks the location is a perfect match for these two plays, with their focus on nature and the mystical. Characters run naked into the woods for release, the young break the rules, and the overall experience of those seeing these classic works performed in nature will be much more interactive than sitting in a darkened theatre, watching. “It’s almost like a cinematic setting for a play,” he explains. “You couldn’t build a set like this.” (MH) Dec 5-30, Bella Vista Farm, Baulkham Hills, $28-$35, sportforjove.com
THEATRE &
PERFORMANCE CIRQUE DU SOLEIL has another hit on their hands with Totem. Billed as a “fascinating journey into the evolution of mankind”, the production uses trademark aerials, acrobatics and gravity-defying stunts to enthral audiences. Over two acts the origins of humanity are explored using colourful costumes, simple but creative set design, and mesmerising live music. It’s a beautiful piece that explodes with energy from the amphibious origins through to the futuristic quest for outer space. Though, with the ever-expanding roster of Cirque du Soleil productions around the world, the 38
extensive teaching history at NAISDA.” Rings realised she had a passion for dance early on, learning about NAISDA when she was in high school. “I always had a passion for dancing.When I discovered NAISDA, I realised the stories I wished to tell had a platform.” “Students are taught through different styles and genres of dance,” she continues. “It’s very vibrant and about discovering who you are and what your ancestors have bestowed upon you.” (GF) Dec 10-13, Carriageworks, 245 Wilson St, Eveleigh, $18-$38, carriageworks.com.au
CYRANO DE BERGERAC
Edmond Rostand’s timeless play about expectation, identity and the power of words and beauty, seems especially relevant in today’s age of online personas, catfishing and Tinder. “It’s funny how we curate our personas based on how we think people will perceive them,” observes Eryn Jean Norvill, the production’s Roxanne. “What we project in the world isn’t necessarily true and may not find us the honest and real connections that we’ve been looking for. In the play Cyrano hides behind his ugliness, and behind someone else’s good looks. Christian hides behind Photo: James Green
Indigenous culture will be celebrated through contemporary dance, as Carriageworks hosts your Skin, my Skin this December. An initiative of NAISDA Dance college, it explores untold stories from past to present, through Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander contemporary and cultural dance. “NAISDA is a training institution so it is a showcase, but it’s also about identifying strongly with the indigenous experience, whats happening today and about respecting our past,” says director, Frances Rings. Your Skin my Skin will feature
his wit and passion, and my character hides behind the idea of what she thinks it is to be a woman, or in love.And in the end of the play, all that stuff, all those shadows and masks disappear and drip away because they’re not important.” Also starring Richard Roxburgh, Julia Zemiro and coupled with an incredibly timely message, Norvill promises theatregoers an exciting night.“It has elements of fairytale and picture book, but also tragedy. It’s got sword-fighting and theatre, and war, and the love triangle.There are so many elements of the story that are complex but in the end it tells a simple story of people searching for connection.” (SW) Nov 11-Dec 20, Sydney Theatre, Pier 4 Hickson Rd,Walsh Bay, $50-109, sydneytheatre.com.au
standards for a Cirque show are so high now that it feels like there is an element of innovation lacking in Totem.The performers are allowed to shine individually – and it should be said that their feats are outstanding - but it’s a daring balancing act within itself to walk the line between individuality and overall cohesiveness. A Cirque du Soleil extravaganza is nothing to be sneezed at and always enjoyable, and Totem is no different. (LL) Until Jan 11, 2015,The Grand Chapiteau, Entertainment Quarter, 122 Lang Rd, Moore Park, $79-236, cirquedusoleil.com PAGE 8 David Page is bringing back his critically acclaimed one-man-show, with the help of Bangarra Dance Theatre and its Creative Director
(and David’s brother), Stephen Page. “[It’s] a love letter to our family, our history and our culture,” Page says. He recalls doing his best to do justice to his tale of struggle, success and family support. “I think the rest of the family were shitting themselves,” he laughs. “Especially six older sisters. They wore the boots and the stilettos.They were pretty wild, and very strong women.” The story covers his early successes as a child star with hits on the radio, touted as Australia’s answer to Michael Jackson, to the moment his voice broke and changed everything, and his subsequent life as a performer in Australia and beyond. Page hopes his show will remind people once more of the important role family plays in our lives. (SW)
HANDLE IT - A UN WOMEN’S FUNDRAISER In recognition of the United Nations Women Beijing+20 campaign – marking the 20th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action established to universally advance women’s rights – as well as to encourage conversation around contemporary issues affecting women is the one night fundraiser, Handle It. Journalist Tracey Spicer, whose recent TEDx talk The lady stripped bare has received over one million views online where she (literally) deconstructs society’s unrealistic female image, will open the night as one of two guest speakers.Alongside her will be feminist writer, theatre director and performer,August Supple. After a sell-out season at the Sydney Fringe Festival, the night will also feature a performance of the critically acclaimed piece Handle It – A One Woman Play.Written and performed by Laura Jackson, one of the event’s key organisers, Jackson hopes that through the play’s focus on issues such as domestic violence, rape, and the impacts of social media on women’s privacy, this will spark much needed dialogue a while also supporting an organisation (UN Women) that works towards similar goals of protecting and empowering women. “It’s going to be a really exciting evening,” says Jackson. “The two guest speakers are going to give us a lot to think about.The play itself has six different characters and of those six there are three which are very much comedy so there’s a lot of entertainment as well.” With the night also featuring musical entertainment by Aspiring Musical Theatre Company, Jackson says that overall, she hopes audiences “take away a positive message”.
“There’s issues of course we have to work on but I hope that through all these people coming together and talking about it, that it’s seen that there’s a way forward,” she says. Funds raised from this event will go to support UN Women’s Beijing20 Campaign. 50% of ticket sales revenue will be donated to protect women and girls from violence, provide safe and stable jobs, develop women as leaders, ensure women’s participation in peace processes and advance gender equality. (KR) Dec 11,The Imperial Hotel, 35 Erskineville Rd, Erskineville, $40, trybooking.com
BEYOND DESIRE Beyond Desire is an exceptionally beautiful, dramatic theatre production with intensity and ethereal artistic delivery from the first instant. Performances by all involved are not only engaging and palpable, but delicate and genuine with respect to the dialogue, to the characters themselves, and to the story. Anthony lake owden is the first to stand out, with his potent, vibrant voice and musical ability alongside dramatic acting, birthing a strong yet vulnerable temperament. It’s sublime to the ears, eyes and heart from start to finish.With each member of the cast having their oneto-one moment with the audience in a perfect, intimate setting, this environment only accentuates the strength and tone of their voices, as you see clearly the emotion that may have been reduced to a nuance in another location. The production’s score has a subtlety only the small live-orchestra of six could achieve.They manage to remain an important character throughout this musical. Soaked with charisma, and an abundance of talent and emotion, this production has it all –– murder, mystery, sensuality and tenderness. A beautiful experience I would love to revisit. (RBM) Until Dec 13, Hayes Theatre Co, 19 Greenknowe Ave, Potts Point, $55, hayestheatre.com.au
Until Dec 14, Bangarra Studio Theatre, Pier 4, 15 Hickson Rd,Walsh Bay, $35-$49, bangarra.com.au SWEENEY TODD New Theatre’s latest offering is served up with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Audiences can expect a delightful and thrilling tale with a tragic twist and a realistic glimpse of historical 1800s London hardship within its welldefined, tiered society. Convict Sweeney Todd (played by award-winning Justin Cotta) goes on revengeful rampage of killings which are ingeniously covered up.When he returns and sets up a barber shop in his old stomping ground at 186 Fleet Street, London, it’s conveniently connected to Mrs. Lovett’s (Lucy Miller) pie shop - a familiar neighborhood filled with hatred,
severed relationships, (and jugulars). The musical gives a shocking insight into the remorseless head of a serial killer. The faultless live musical backing is thanks to a trio of piano/organ, cello and violin; and the cohesive 17-piece cast includes a chorus ensemble of eight. Lighting (Liam O’Keefe) and set design (Jo Jewitt) is simple in keeping with the austerity of the times and versatile as platforms are wheeled into varying formations to creatively accommodate a team vocal delivery that can be commended. (MS) Until Dec 20, New Theatre, 542 King St, Newtown, $17-32, newtheatre.org.au WICKED Steve Danielsen joins seasoned Wicked stars Jemma Rix (Elphaba) and Lucy Durack (Glinda) as the award-winning musical returns
Photo: Oliver Toth
YOUR SKIN, MY SKIN
to Sydney. Asked what it’s like joining a team who have been performing Wicked for years, Danielsen says Rix and Durack have been very welcoming and working together has been “amazing”. “I love it, and I don’t really just have to say that either, this show really means a lot to me,” he says. Despite debuting over a decade ago,Wicked:The Untold Story of the Witches of Oz is still one of the most popular musicals in the world. With the whole cast working hard to deliver the best performances they can each and every night, Danielsen says that the “incredible sets and costumes” will make it “really hard not to like this show”. (LL) Until Dec 31, Capitol Theatre, 13 Campbell St, Haymarket, $69-114, wickedthemusical.com.au
HELEN S TIERNAN FARMING WITHOUT FENCES
THE NAKED CITY
THE ART OF THE SOUNDTRACK
CO IN AN MISS AN JA AT
ATH
Movie soundtracks are a distinct musical genre in their own right and the best surely rank as definitive pieces of art.They infiltrate our psyche and remain with us long after we have seen the original movie.Think of soundtracks to films such as The Godfather, Jaws, Anatomy Of A Murder, 2001 A Space Odyssey, Raging Bull, Requiem For A Dream and Star Wars, to name just a few, and your subconscious has surely logged many of their distinctive passages. en urton is a young Sydney-based musician and composer, very much inspired by film music including both the great composers and the session musicians who make it happen. He recalls, “I first became interested in film music through my idolisation of the session musicians who record the soundtracks in L.A. For me they are some of the greatest musicians in the world.As a result I ended up listening to and falling in love with a lot of film music. However, I was always intimidated by the pen, manuscript and piano’ process of composition itself. It was the arrival of computer-writing programs that allowed me into the world of composition.” Originally from Adelaide it was a Meet The Orchestra’ concert by the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, while still in ear Three, that first inspired him to take up the trombone. ears later while studying at the Adelaide Con he joined ‘acid jazz’ combo Crisp, touring Australia and introducing a young singer called Sia Furler – yes the same Sia who has now gone on to take over the world. Now based in Sydney en has busied himself with session work and touring with some noteable composers and musicians including arcy Argue, Maria Schneider and the Ja groove Mothership Orchestra. More recently he has begun to
explore his love of film soundtracks seriously, recording his debut album relude To A Scene, using a uni ue recording and production process. Engineered by the renowned Ross A‘Hern, one of the best jazz recording engineers in this country, and mastered by Morten inderg of Records in Norway, it’s the first album produced in Australia at audiophile resolution kh / bit. And the first release from Mir Creation. That might all sound a bit technical but the end result is an album that definitely evokes the cinema experience and suggests an imaginary scenario even though it wasn’t written with any film in mind. Recorded with live takes in the legendary studio in Sydney en explains that he “wanted to create the best environment for the musicians to feel comfortable and inspired by the sound in the room. I wanted them to mix the album within the space at the time of recording.” en would certainly en oy the opportunity to compose and record soundtracks in the future. He is realistic enough however to note that “it’s a very tough world though and one going through a lot of change at the moment. New technologies are changing many of the skills re uired. He further explains that he does “enjoy working collaboratively and find the constraints of writing to film and theatre far more inspiring than the blank page of writing music for myself,” and notes that he’s “ ust finished composing music for a new short film by Sydney filmmaker raeme Robertson called “ ackspace” which is looking and hopefully sounding beautiful.” inally when asked what composers really inspire him en lists his current favourites as Mark Isham,Alberto Iglesias, Carter urwell, James Newton Howard and Jonh Williams. ocally he is a fan of Cezary Skubiszewski, noting ‘everything he writes is beautiful, even when it’s ugly.” Prelude To A Scene is out now through iTunes, the Klicktrack Music Store (in high res) and at Birdland Records in the Sydney CBD.
Helen S Tiernan’s work is a unique amalgam of old and new, traditional and modern, indigenous and non-indigenous influences. In Colonial Wallpapers,Tiernan draws upon th Century engravings of Australia with their strange delineated lines and odd perspectives and combines them with indigenous imagery to produce a uni ue artistic view.The piece encompasses Ned elly, arliament House and kangaroos within a frame of blues, reds and greens which recall iconic early motifs. In contrast,Where Have All The Trees Gone, features machines eating the land like hungry dinosaurs. Its haunting yellows and blacks recall the colours of everyday construction and simultaneously the hues of the environment being destroyed. These paintings are brilliant expressions of dismay and poignant displays of love for the country and its heritage. eautiful and intricate, they are apt reminders of a world gone mad with greed and withering disregard for the value of life. (LR) Until Jan 17, Cooee Art Gallery, 31 Lamrock Ave, Bondi Beach, FREE, cooeeart.com.aucom.au
GRAHAM SHEARER EAU
Water, it runs through our veins, moulds itself to our bodies and sustains existence. Graham Shearer’s Eau, is a reflection of all these aspects of the life giving element. Shearer is best known as a fashion photographer, and he uses his knowledge of the female body in this exhibition to enhance his artistic oeuvre. ach of these photos display a naked woman in a swimming pool. ut this simple description does not convey their depth and beauty. In au the model lies suspended within swirling eddies of liquid delight, embraced by shadows and circular waves.The combination of curves and arced surfaces with the brilliant rays of yellow light produce an hypnotic whole which mesmerises the eye. Shearer has captured the union of man and nature in these works which in their marvellous use of form, structure and texture raise them to the status of unique creative achievement. (LR) Until Dec 24, Black Eye Gallery, 138 Darlinghurst Rd Darlinghurst, FREE, blackeyegallery.com.au
POP TO POPISM
Andy Warhol Triple Elvis © Andy Warhol Foundation
eaping off the whitewashed walls in an exuberant rainbow of colours and design, op to opism is a thrilling ride through the annals of a an art revolution. The straight red lines and golden lettering of Warhol’s soup cans is matched only by the vibrancy of his magnificent Marilyn Monroe.The latter a piece that has been reproduced in countless books and billboards which cannot capture the sheer enthusiasm of the original. For these works are not only familiar they are witty, wry and funny. ichtenstein’s, ook Mickey, is a twisted colourful take on the ubi uitous mouse, whilst his distressed female characters have been the prototype of advertisements and anime. And the Australians are here too. ittle known in context of the pop movement, but for the first time presented next to their North American and uropean contemporaries. The swirling reds and oranges of rett Whitely give way to Martin Sharp’s and Tim ewis’ Still life, a parody mashup of Warhol and an ough.The Australian contribution in no way suffers by sharing walls with their foreign cousins, they seem equal members of a family which had no fear. op to opism is a heart racing roller coaster of visual stimulation and intellectual provocation.Above all it’s fun, insouciant and a stunning record of the themes which underpin much of modern creative experience. R Until Mar 1, Art Gallery of NSW, $10-20, artgallery.nsw.gov/ exhibitions/pop-to-popism
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MOONLIGHT CINEMA
LOVE IS NOW The state of the Australian film industry Jim ounsbury says,“If a nation doesn’t have an ability to tell its own stories it becomes a little bit culturally lost, trying to find its identity it is a critical time for Australia.” His first feature film ove Is Now will open in cinemas around the country this Thursday. It’s a love story with a difference and a Sixth Sense-like twist in the ending. The leads are Eamon Farren (Red Dog, Carlotta) and Claire van der Boom (The Square, Red Hill). Jim was impressed with the empathy between them and feels Farren’s natural acting style, combined with striking features, could see him bound for an international career. American by birth, Lounsbury describes himself as ‘Australian-made’ – his entire professional career as a filmmaker has been here. Starting in music videos, his love of telling real-life narratives lured him to documentary. The current film is about his twelfth script. In partnership with a S studio he’s developing Children of the Sun - a sci-fi fantasy he hopes to film in a desert area here. He says,“It is important that we find a way to empower Australian filmmakers to continue to tell Australian stories.” (MMu)
Moonlight Cinema is Australia’s favourite outdoor cinema and with the warm summer arvos picking up it’s the perfect time to sit back, relax and enjoy some great movies. The / season will launch in ecember and screen advance previews, contemporary, classic and cult movies on the lawn of Belvedere Amphitheatre in Centennial Park. Thanks to sponsors ‘Telstra Thanks’, Sydneysiders are able to enjoy a wide range of new and exciting movies.There is even a fancy yet utterly relaxing and literally the best seats (bean bags) in the house grass . old rass’ tickets are available for if you book ahead to secure your place. Nothing goes better with a movie then some delicious LA Street food, like some nachos, southern fried chicken burgers, New Yorker chilli dogs and a fully licensed bar to keep you nice and hydrated. Moonlight Cinemas is a perfect date night for you and someone special, or a group outing with friends or work colleagues to chill out after a long day. Get on down to the hottest thing to hit Sydney this summer CT Dec 11-Mar 29, Centennial Park, $14-$35, moonlight.com.au
PADDINGTON
THE CONGRESS
From Israeli writer/director Ari Folman comes The Congress, a live-action/animated science-fiction/fantasy which will mesmerize and perplex audiences. Robin Wright delivers a powerful performance playing a fictionali ed version of herself, as an aging and washed-up actress who sells the film rights to her digital image to a ma or film studio. Twenty years later she returns to Abrahama City, an animated zone which resembles a looney tunes playground to re-negotiate her contract and stages a comeback. The live action sequences are riveting and the old-school animation is da ling, but the film falters in the second half where complexities in imagery and messy storytelling lead to confusion and frustration. The Congress takes a satirical look at Hollywood, the ruthless studio executives, the agents and the Hollywood machine which spits out aging actresses.The startling depiction of the future restructure of Hollywood is also apparent, where computer imaging replaces actors. (MMo) WWW
FINDING VIVIAN MAIER A beautifully crafted documentary centred on a mysterious woman who roamed the streets capturing the unalloyed reality of the view behind her lens. At first glance she was merely a nanny, but at second and third she was not only an artist, but a tender observer of the human condition. Over 100,000 negatives were inadvertently discovered at an auction in Chicago – many of which were never seen by Miss Maier herself.The documentary is captivating from start to finish, treading a fine line between honouring an artist and mild exploitation; which in essence is Vivian’s posthumous fame. Such beauty should be shared, but by whom? (RBM) WWWW INTERSTELLAR Science Fiction enthusiasts will not be disappointed in Christopher Nolan’s latest cinematic 40
offering, an ambitious and highlycrafted film which effectively combines a family melodrama and an intergalactic space adventure. Set in the near future, Earth is slowly dying as its resources are depleting. Cooper (Matthew McConaughey) embarks on an expedition to the stars in search of other habitable planets. McConaughey delivers a remarkable performance as the father who decides to leave his children to save humanity and is supported by a high-calibre cast including Anne Hathaway, Michael Caine and Matt Damon. Adversely, storytelling technics falter in the second half of the film which leads to confusion, further compounded by long and intricate references to quantum physics, worm holes, the theory of relativity and space time travel. Ultimately, it is a visual spectacular in
which audiences will believe they have been transported to the far reaches of the universe. (MMo) WWWW SERENA The latest film starring Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence is not comfortable viewing,but dark and atmospheric it most definitely is. Set in the Smoky Mountains of North Carolina during the Depression, it is a story that starts quite simply: George and Serena fall in love, marry and begin to set up their life in the mountains. What starts as a passionate and loving marriage soon begins to deteriorate when a series of unfortunate events befalls the couple, and the past comes back to haunt George. A sense of foreboding begins early in the film, and the captivating and wild shots of the mountains build the tension. Cooper and Lawrence are stunning, and Rhys Ifans is a surprise, putting in a very believable performance as a sinister
Based on the world famous children’s books, Paddington is an adorable film beautifully crafted by aul ing in his feature film debut. StudioCanal’s most expensive movie ever is about a talking marmalade-addicted Peruvian bear that goes to London when an earthquake destroys his home and uncle. Luckily for Paddington a wealthy family offers him hospice and try to help him find a new home. Paddington is full of laugh out loud moments that both old and young will enjoy.A charming but honest portrayal of London has just the right amount of Poppins to delight.The adventures are complemented by entertaining performances from Sally Hawkins (Happy-Go-Lucky, Blue Jasmin) and Ben Whishaw (Perfume, Skyfall who provides the voice of addington . Nicole idman rolls out another solid performance as the sadistic taxidermist who is determined to stuff Paddo. Would you believe Colin Firth was originally cast to voice the furry Londoner but voluntarily bowed out when it was agreed that his voice would be too old for the role? (PS) WWWW
FOLIES BERGÈRE
What a beaut film rigitte Isabelle Huppert and husband Xavier (Jean-Pierre Darroussin) are long-married, middle-aged and live in rural bliss, raising Charolais cattle. But life seems incomplete for Brigitte.A young man at a party lures her to Paris where she meets a charming Dane (Michael Nyqvist).“Oh, the good life, full of fun, seems to be the ideal,Yes, the good life, let’s you hide all the sadness you feel.” (Sacha Distel) ialogue and action flow so naturally here that you forget you’re being told a story. One of the most poignant aspects of life is the gap between our reality and our aspiration. Brigitte is blessed to eventually conclude that her aspiration and her reality are one and the same. No guns, no car chases, no CGI, no superheroes ust real people experiencing life. rench cinema ong may it reign To uote Mr. enaud “Marrrvellous that.” (MMu) WWWW½ and shadowy figure. y no means an uplifting story, but one filmed with brilliant technique and acted with intensity. (LS) WW LOVE, ROSIE The story is simple – two best friends who grew up together have always been in love but never seem to get the timing right. One thing that sets this film apart from its contemporaries is its portrayal of the lovers’ obstacles; it is not overdramatised nor dwelt on. Although by the same token, the incredible friendship of Rosie (Lily Collins and Alex Sam Clafin appears to be underdeveloped and not as unrelenting as the producers would have us believe.The latter, who is reminiscent of a young Hugh Grant is cast perfectly opposite the bright-eyed Lily Collins. Even though the characters are wanting in complexity, the film is charming and has its
moments of authenticity.The two leads share a very believable chemistry. (SY)WWW½ THE GREEN PRINCE Wellresearched, well-intentioned but tedious and slow is possibly the kind of documentary to avoid.The opposite of that is Nadav Sherman’s latest work which tells a tale of middle-eastern intrigue with the tension and pace of a thriller. Dramatic, shadowy interiors are shown in panning shots, an ominous but subtle music score (by Max Richter of Waltz with Bashir) adds to the mood.The story is told in matter-of-fact style by the two protagonists; a tale that seems to blend the incredible with the inevitable and has such immediacy it appears to happen in real time. Mosab Hassan Yousef is the son of Sheikh Hassan Yousef, a founding member of Hamas. Recruited by Israeli security (Shin Bet)
and code-named The Green Prince, for 10 years he was their informant; his ‘handler’ was Gonen Ben Yitzhak. Both men have turned their backs on their former lives. (MMu) WWWW TWO DAYS, ONE NIGHT An extremely simple but nonetheless emotive French drama, beautifully crafted and subtly performed by all involved. Particular praise goes to Marion Cotillard who plays Sandra, a Belgian mother with a history of depression. Sandra is about to lose her job, and she is trying to keep herself together for her family and her sanity. If her co-workers choose their significant bonus over her keeping her position at work, she may fall back into bad habits.Viewers can’t help but struggle with her and any mild victory is magnified with brilliant nuances by Cotillard. (RBM) WWW
WRITERS AND OPINION MAKERS WANTED The Alternative Media Group of Australia is looking for writers. Opportunities in print and online are available to opinion makers and up and coming journalists. Send a CV, writing samples and a covering letter to: cityhub@ alternativemediagroup.com
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PUNK GOES POP VOL. 6 The Punk Goes Pop franchise returns with a new 13-track offering featuring some of the most recognisable and popular songs from the radio in the past year. Throughout this release the standout tracks tend to be those that drastically rework the originals rather than live in fear of straying too far from an original that has already lost its lustre. Standouts include August Burns Red’s reimagining of the Miley Cyrus hit Wrecking Ball,The Crown Empire’s version of Burn by Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding and finally We Came As Romans’ cover of I KnewYouWereTrouble by Taylor Swift. Sadly though many of the other covers are far too similar to the originals to create anything truly unique and intriguing. (JA)
MELINDER SCHNEIDER & BECCY COLE GREAT WOMEN OF COUNTRY
SLUMBERJACK EP Perth duo Slumberjack recently rose to prominence being featured on Triple J Unearthed. Following on from this buzz they have now released their debut self titled four track EP. They have clearly put a lot of time and effort into this EP right down to the fine details of pacing throughout. Opening with the R&B infused chill-trap track Body Cry ft. Father Dude before building into Horus, which incorporates middle eastern sounds, then closing with the two best tracks The Others ft. KLP and Felon. The Others has obvious drum and bass influences along with a new wave sound reminiscent of Flume but still uniquely their own. Felon is a hard hitting trap anthem that is sure to fill dance floors this summer. For a debut EP the level of polish and quality of production is fantastic and a great first salvo onto the scene, if only there were more of it. (JA)
Two of Australia’s biggest country music superstars and longtime friends, Melinder Schneider and Beccy Cole, are pairing up for a run of shows to accompany their recently released Great Women Of Country And The Songs That Made Them. Renowned for their successful solo careers, between them they have produced 15 albums while collecting numerous accolades including 15 golden guitars along with Female Vocalist and Song of the Year awards from APRA. Despite this paralleled success the ladies had only ever briefly collaborated for one-off awards ceremony performances. When the idea for the album first came about, Schneider suggested to Cole they pay tribute to the women of country music that influenced them.“It was simply an idea I couldn’t refuse,” says Cole. For the album the ladies wanted to highlight some of the most popular female country songs off all time ranging from the 1940s right into the 1990s.This proved to be a somewhat daunting task.“We had to look at it more as a tipping of the hat and tribute through our own interpretations in order to honour and bring these songs back to the forefront,” Cole
LIVE WIRE
FrankYamma: One of Australia’s most important and influential indigenous singer/ songwriters recently returned from a tour of Canada’s music festival circuit where he received glowing reviews. In celebration of the release of his new album Everybody’s Talking will be performing in Newtown this week.With his brutally honest songs of alcohol abuse, cultural degradation and respect for the old law Yamma has a unbridled ability to cross
explains.“Rather than trying to recreate or fix something.” When speaking about the upcoming shows the ladies appeared to be most excited about the opportunity to perform at such a
SYDNEY LIVE MUSIC GUIDE
cultural boundaries. Thu, Dec 11, Newtown Social Club Mick Thomas and The Roving Commission: In what has become somewhat of a Christmas tradition Mick Thomas and his band will once again set out on a 13 stop “silly season” tour making a stop in Sydney this week. Known for his poetic, honest and heartfelt Australian pub-rock Thomas’ career has continued to evolve but has forever remained intriguing.
Fri, Dec 12, Coogee Diggers Jack Carty: Following tour with Josh Pyke and Katie Noonan, Carty finally began the daunting task of his own 32-date tour which winds its way into Sydney this Saturday. With tracks from his third album Esk in hand and Playwrite in tow for support fans are in for an interesting night of travel tales set to beautiful indie folk-roots inspired music. Sat, Dec 13,Venue 505 Millions and Japanese
Wallpaper: After recently winning Triple J’s Unearthed High 17 year old Gab Strum aka Japanese Wallpaper is teaming up with another new yet beloved band on the Australian music scene for an all ages show this Sunday afternoon. Japanese Wallpaper’s beautifully mesmerising tunes combined with the exciting live show of four-piece band Millions is set to create one hell of an atmosphere. Sun, Dec 14, Metro Theatre Damon Albarn: In an earlier life Albarn led Blur, then moved
prestigious venue as the Sydney Opera House and to also be able to bring country music into the capital cities which is a rare occurrence in Australia. “We’re really excited and it’s fantastic to be able to do that because it doesn’t happen very often since we’re always touring regionally,” says Schneider. “It’s a great opportunity for us to get country music into such an incredible venue. If someone had told me when I first started that I would be able to sing country music in the city, let alone the Opera House, I may not have believed them,” Cole continues.“It’s quite the dream actually.” From talking with the pair it’s clear that they have a true friendship which they both said was one of the main aspects of the show that they are looking forward to showing off to the audience in what is set to be a very sentimental show as they explore songs that moulded their early lives and careers and bring back many memories. “Mel and I tend to spark each other up on stage,” Cole says. “There is a real chemistry when we sing together, so we’re looking forward to bringing that out of the studio and in front of a live audience. People can expect a little fun and frivolity along the way.” (JA) Dec 14, Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point, Sydney, $69-99+b.f, sydneyoperahouse.com
on to become the mastermind behind the Gorillaz and has now moved onto a solo project which has just released a new album Everyday Robots. Once again relying on his eclectic musical style and observational lyrics this project proves once again that he is one of the most original, deep, gifted and inventive musicians of his generation. Mon, Dec 15, Sydney Opera House The Basics: The side project of the well known Gotye along with band mates Kris Schroeder and Tim Heath
formed in 2002 and has quickly gained a reputation as one of Australia’s hardest working bands.Well known for their sense of humour and energy during live shows, their sound has been described as everything from indie-pop to rock-and-roll as they span a wide range of genres including reggae, ska and electro-pop. They have just released their newest EP The Lucky Country and are set to show it off over the upcoming tour shows. Tue, Dec 16, Newtown Social Club
FREEWILLASTROLOGY BY ROB BREZSNY
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ARIES (March 21-April 19): Lord Byron (1788-1824) was an English poet who loved animals. In the course of his life, he not only had dogs and cats as pets, but also monkeys, horses, peacocks, geese, a crocodile, a falcon, a crane, and a parrot. When he enrolled in Trinity College at age 17, he was upset that the school’s rules forbade students from having pet dogs, which meant he couldn’t bring his adored Newfoundland dog Boatswain. There was no regulation, however, against having a tame bear as a pet. So Byron got one and named it Bruin. I think it’s time for you to find a workaround like that, Aries. Be cunning. Try a gambit or two. Find a loophole.
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TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Whenever I lost one of my baby teeth as a kid, I put it under my pillow before I went to sleep. During the night, the Tooth Fairy sneaked into my room to snatch the tooth, and in its place left me 25 cents. The same crazy thing happened to every kid I knew, although for unknown reasons my friend John always got five dollars for each of his teeth -- far more than the rest of us. I see a metaphorically comparable development in your life, Taurus. It probably won’t involve teeth or a visit from the Tooth Fairy. Rather, you will finally be compensated for a loss or deprivation or disappearance that you experienced in the 42
past. I expect the restitution will be generous, too -- more like John’s than mine.
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GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Through the scientific magic of grafting, a single tree can be altered to grow several different kinds of fruit at the same time. One type of “fruit salad tree” produces apricots, nectarines, plums, and peaches, while another bears grapefruits, lemons, oranges, limes, and tangelos. I’m thinking this might be an apt and inspiring symbol for you in the coming months, Gemini. What multiple blooms will you create on your own metaphorical version of a fruit salad tree?
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CANCER (June 21-July 22): No other structure on the planet is longer than the Great Wall of China, which stretches 3,945 miles. It’s not actually one unbroken span, though. Some sections aren’t connected, and there are redundant branches that are roughly parallel to the main structure. It reminds me of your own personal Great Wall, which is monumental yet permeable, strong in some ways but weak in others, daunting to the casual observer but less so to those who take the time to study it. Now is an excellent time to take inventory of that wall of yours. Is it serving you well? Is it keeping out the influences you don’t want but allowing in the influences you do want? Could it use some renovation? Are you willing to reimagine what its purpose is and how you want it
to work for you in the future?
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LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): The Arctic Monkeys are British rockers who have produced five studio albums, which together have sold almost five million copies. Rolling Stone magazine called their first album, released in 2003, the 30th greatest debut of all time. Yet when they first formed in 2002, none of them could play a musical instrument. I see the current era of your life, Leo, as having a similar potential. How might you start from scratch to create something great?
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VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Alan Turing (1912-1954) was a British mathematician and pioneering computer scientist. After World War II broke out, he got worried that the German army might invade and occupy England, as it had done to France. To protect his financial assets, he converted everything he owned into bars of silver, then buried them underground in the countryside north of London. When the war ended, he decided it was safe to dig up his fortune. Unfortunately, he couldn’t recall where he had put it, and never did find it. Let’s draw a lesson from his experience, Virgo. It’s fine if you want to stash a treasure or protect a secret or safeguard a resource. That’s probably a sensible thing to do right now. But make sure you remember every detail about why and how you’re doing it.
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LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Even if you are not formally enrolled in a course of study or a training program, you are nevertheless being schooled. Maybe you’re not fully conscious of what you have been learning. Maybe your teachers are disguised or unwitting. But I assure you that the universe has been dropping some intense new knowledge on you. The coming week will be an excellent time to become more conscious of the lessons you have been absorbing. If you have intuitions about where this educational drama should go next, be proactive about making that happen.
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SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): You now have a special ability to detect transformations that are happening below the threshold of everyone else’s awareness. Anything that has been hidden or unknown will reveal itself to your gentle probes. You will also be skilled at communicating your discoveries to people who are important to you. Take full advantage of these superpowers. Don’t underestimate how pivotal a role you can play as a teacher, guide, and catalyst. The future success of your collaborative efforts depends on your next moves.
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SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Harper Lee was born and raised in Alabama. At the age of 23, she relocated to
New York City with hopes of becoming a writer. It was a struggle. To support herself, she worked as a ticket agent for airline companies. Finding the time to develop her craft was difficult. Seven years went by. Then one Christmas, two friends gave her a remarkable gift: enough money to quit her job and work on her writing for a year. During that grace period, Lee created the basics for a book that won her a Pulitzer Prize: To Kill a Mockingbird. I don’t foresee anything quite as dramatic for you in the coming months, Sagittarius. But I do suspect you will receive unexpected help that provides you with the slack and spaciousness you need to lay the foundations for a future creation.
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CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): In the ancient Greek epic poem the Odyssey, Odysseus’s wife Penelope describes two kinds of dreams. “Those that that pass through the gate of ivory,” she says, are deceptive. But dreams that “come forth through the gate of polished horn” tell the truth. Another ancient text echoes these ideas. In his poem the Aeneid, Virgil says that “true visions” arrive here from the land of dreams through the gate of horn, whereas “deluding lies” cross over through the gate of ivory. Judging from the current astrological omens, Capricorn, I expect you will have interesting and intense dreams flowing
through both the gate of ivory and the gate of horn. Will you be able to tell the difference? Trust love.
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AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Your chances of going viral are better than usual. It’s a perfect moment to upload a Youtube video of yourself wearing a crown of black roses and a V for Vendetta mask as you ride a unicycle inside a church and sing an uptempo parody version of “O Come All Ye Faithful.” It’s also a favorable time for you to create a buzz for you and your pet causes through less spectacular measures. Promote yourself imaginatively.
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PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): At age 80, author Joan Didion has published five novels, ten works of nonfiction, and five screenplays. When she was 27, she wrote, “I have already lost touch with a couple of people I used to be.” That wasn’t a good thing, she added: “We are well-advised to keep on nodding terms with the people we used to be, whether we find them attractive company or not. Otherwise they turn up unannounced and surprise us, come hammering on the mind’s door and demand to know who deserted them, who betrayed them, who is going to make amends.” I recommend her counsel to you in the coming months, Pisces. Get reacquainted with the old selves you have outgrown and abandoned.
Kings Court Massage “Delightfully Different”
261 PARRAMATTA RD GLEBE NSW 2037 Traditional Hot oil massage Daily 9 am to 1 am www.kingscourt.com.au 02 9660 0666 GPS to our discreet rear entrance at 18 Grose St Glebe Kings Court Massage is a big and friendly adult massage venue in Sydney. We are known all over the world for the cartoon ads that have appeared in Penthouse for several decades. A lot of them are based on true stories like this one about Judd the “North Qld Stockman”. He had been to Bathurst for the
car races and told us he was the envy of all his mates because on his trip south he would be going to Kings Court in Sydney. They knew all about us from our cartoons, so we decided to make him a legend in a whole cartoon in the next magazine. He was a nice guy and Big John also started out as a North Qld Stockman.
Like many country people Big John learned at an early age to treat women well and he is now the much loved boss at Kings Court. Much of our success is because our ladies are happy and well looked after. Everyone knows someone who should know about Kings Court: a nice girl who needs a harmless job with a discreet income; or some boy who needs to start out on the right track with respect for women. We’re famous for the huge lounge where first time customers can meet first time girls. You can play pool while deciding which lady to see for your massage. We have party spas to cater for groups or private spa rooms if you are on your own. It is best to be in before 1am except on Fridays and Saturdays when we are open 24hrs. Early birds can enjoy a 20% discount from 9am to noon daily. There is a $20 cover charge from 9pm to 9am. We don’t take phone appointments and bookings are made on a first come first serve basis to avoid dissappointment.
Website: kingscourt.com.au Facebook:
facebook.com/Kingscourtmassage
Twitter: @kingscourtlive
VACANCIES:
We are looking for polite and well groomed young ladies to join our team of friendly massage girls. We offer you training and great working conditions, plus the sweetest and nicest clients in Sydney! Part time and casual hours to fit your lifestyle. Call 02 9660 0666 to arrange a discreet interview.
THE 6TH ANNUAL SYDNEY HILLS SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK
THE CRUCIBLE ARTHUR MILLER DIRECTED BY DAMIEN RYAN BY
DECEMBER 5-30 AT BELLA VISTA FARM
VISIT WWW.SPORTFORJOVE.COM.AU FOR MORE INFORMATION
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SPORT FOR JOVE T H E AT R E C O M PA N Y
THE 6TH ANNUAL SYDNEY HILLS SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK
7/11/2014 1:10 pm
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE DIRECTED BY SUSANNA DOWLING BY
DECEMBER 5-30 AT BELLA VISTA FARM
VISIT WWW.SPORTFORJOVE.COM.AU FOR MORE INFORMATION
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SPORT FOR JOVE T H E AT R E C O M PA N Y
7/11/2014 1:10 pm