City Hub 23 July

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city hub 23 july 2015

Waverley’s tennis blockbuster

By LYDIA WATSON-MOORE A state government decision to rezone recreational land in Bondi has sparked fierce council and community outrage.

The Wellington Street site currently houses several tennis courts, but after a successful development application from its owners, the site will be rezoned for residential apartments.

Waverley Mayor Sally Betts has vowed to fight the Department of Planning’s decision and said that this was the wrong decision for the community.

“This is a slap in the face for Waverley and our residents, as their views have been completely ignored,” she told City Hub. Clr Betts said Waverley was already adequately housed and that recreational space was a community need.

“Waverley is the most densely populated municipality in Australia. And we don’t have enough open space to cater to our population,” she said.

The application was made by former owners Sports Properties Pty Ltd, and the current owners, the Friends of Refugees of Eastern Europe (FREE), have welcomed the decision.

The group’s spokesperson Rabbi Yoram Ulman said the decision was “just” and the department had acted professionally.

“At last, after five and a half years of trying to get a positive decision concerning this 0.4 hectare piece of land, we have a decision that allows it to have identical zoning,” he said.

Rabbi Ulman said that while the group were disappointed with the council’s stance, they were willing to hold discussions with council about “potential common ground”.

“We would like to reassure council that FREE’s key objective in dealing with this site is not inconsistent with broader community objectives,” he said.

However, other community representatives told City Hub that the decision was “disappointing” and “illogical”.

Vaucluse MP Gabrielle Upton expressed her disappointment with the state’s decision, and said that this was one of few recreational spaces in the area.

The Wellington St Tennis Courts. Source: Chris Boyd

“The loss of amenity for the local community will have an irreversible impact on our local area where open space is scarce,” she said in a statement.

“I will continue to fight to ensure that my local community has a strong voice on planning matters.”

Clr Betts noted that the controversial Bronte RSL DA, which was appealed to the state government earlier this year, was rejected as Waverley had already met its housing targets.

“It stands to reason 105 Wellington Street is not required to contribute additional housing stock…the rezoning decision by the Department of Planning has no merit and makes no sense.”

Local community representatives agreed, with action group Rescue Bondi taking to social media with outrage.

Rescue Bondi spokesperson David Gravina said the decision had no case to support it.

“Waverley has already met its housing quota, it’s already done its bit, so there isn’t even any housing argument that stands up to any scrutiny here,” he told City Hub. A statement released by the Department of Planning indicated that the decision was unanimously reached by the Independent Sydney East Joint Regional Planning Panel.

The statement said that rezoning made the site “consistent with existing residential buildings in the surrounding area”.

However, Mr Gravina called this argument “absurd” and said open space provided needed relief in dense housing.

“Surely the point of having open space and recreation in between residential zoning is to provide for it, otherwise you may as well make the entire state residential. It’s ludicrous,” he said.

“I cannot see the logic in saying you should rezone open space to matching the surrounding area. It’s totally illogical.”

Mr Gravina said that the decision was made without community consultation or first hand knowledge of the area.

“We have a planning ministry who are just looking at paper documents, not coming out to the community to talk to them, not engaging in the council process or hearing first hand what is happening,” he said.

Mr Gravina said before their closure by the current owners, the tennis courts had been commonly used by local residents.

“They were very popular. There’s very few tennis courts in the area, and a severe lack of tennis facilities.”

A council spokesperson told City Hub that a council representative had met with members of the FREE group but had made no agreement.

“Waverley Council’s Director of Waverley Futures met with the FREE group recently to discuss the Wellington Street site. No decision was reached at the meeting.”

Clr Betts told City Hub that Waverley Council will now consider buying the property from FREE and seek to rezone the site back from R3 Medium Density.

“We have already met with the applicants to discuss council purchasing the property and may now have to consider our own rezoning application and compulsory acquisition,” Clr Betts said.

Mr Gravina said that it would be “fantastic” if Waverley Council could acquire the land.

“This issue is just totally black and white, and we’re all on the same side of this issue because it’s so clear cut. It’s just appalling,” he said.

Mr Gravina said Rescue Bondi would be running a campaign through RescueBondi.good.do to lobby the Planning Department to reverse the decision. dissappointment.

Council voted on July 21 to investigate purchasing the land for its own rezoning.

Callan Park closer to becoming the Centennial Park of the inner west Published weekly and freely available Sydney-wide.

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By Alexander Lewis Callan Park is one step closer to total protection from development after the state government passed a motion to implement a trust to manage its future care and use.

The heritage-listed site has languished for more than a decade under revolving door management from multiple government agencies.

And while the Callan Park Act of 2002 prohibits the sale of the 60 hectares of harbour front estate, the state Greens MP for Balmain Jamie Parker said the government has always had an eye to sell it in the future.

“We’ve managed to hold the barbarians off of the gates, but we haven’t actually finally secured it for the future, and that’s what we’re doing now,” Mr Parker said.

“It would be like the Centennial Park Trust or the Parramatta Park Trust: actually having an independent body managing it and not having government departments looking at Callan Park for its real estate value but rather look at it for its historical and community value.”

The state Labor MP for Summer Hill Jo Haylen told the parliament during the motion’s debate on June 4 that without action from the NSW Government, the park would continue to suffer demolition by neglect and that the inner west would suffer as a result.

“Callan Park could and should be the Centennial Park of the inner west,” Ms Haylen said.

The land, which for more than 100 years was the site of state mental institutions, is currently owned by the Department of Health.

On July 1, responsibility for Callan Park

Photo: Wikimedia commons

shifted from the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority to the Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH).

Mr Parker said the ownership of the land should be transferred to the trust, but acknowledged that the Department of Health would have to come to an arrangement with the OEH to ensure current health services in situ would not be affected.

“Obviously they don’t pay rent on their own site, and they want to make sure that if they pass land to another body that their current arrangement would be maintained.”

The member held a meeting last Friday with Leichhardt councillors, the Minister for Planning, the Minister for Environment and Heritage, and community stakeholders.

“This was another positive step forward in the campaign to finally secure the future of Callan Park,” Mr Parker said.

“During our meeting with the Ministers, I proposed a working party including

representatives from Leichhardt Council and Friends of Callan Park to progress the establishment of a trust which will then ensure proper care, control and management.”

Deputy Mayor of Leichhardt Daniel Kogoy said the council acknowledged the unique opportunity that this outcome brought to inner west communities.

“Leichhardt Council remains committed to seeing a master plan implemented under a governing Trust and we have been encouraged in our discussions with the ministers to that end today,” Clr Kogoy said.

Cr Kogoy said the breakthrough comes after years of campaigning by council and the community to see a Master Plan implemented under a governing Trust.

“This beautiful park belongs to the people because it has been saved – on many occasions – by the people,” he said.

Mr Parker said he expected the trust would be implemented in 12 to 18 months. city hub 23 july 2015

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BY ALEXANDER LEWIS An ice addict inhabiting Ultimo public housing has terrorised her fellow tenant Anna Hamilton for three “sleepless” years.

But Housing NSW has refused to relocate either tenant, despite a litany of complaints from Ms Hamilton and NSW Police.

Earlier this month, Housing NSW successfully appealed an order from the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) to relocate Ms Hamilton, 52, based on a legal technicality.

“They’re putting up drug addicts. Now she’s not the only one in this building, but she’s the one that has just crippled my life,” Ms Hamilton said.

“When does Housing NSW start their job as landlord?”

Ms Hamilton said the addict, who has five children “in the state crèche”, had threatened to kill her and had even set her clothes on fire.

“She is usually naked, never sleeps and as she descended into meth-induced psychosis in early 2014, she became ever more feral: spitting, screaming, thrashing, smashing and swearing like a trooper.”

“It’s not possible to have any semblance of a life living beneath a dedicated ice addict who also drank enough booze to kill a horse.”

The former policewoman confessed that the addict’s behaviours had almost pushed her onto the wrong side of the law.

“At the worst of it, I’ve gone down to the police station because I had the knife in my hand and I was ready to go up there and cheerfully slit her from navel to neck.”

“The foundation of the problems are drugs and a landlord, who aids and abets the drug culture, who does nothing about

The addict’s bedside arsenal Photo: Anna Hamilton

complaints, and then lies about it when challenged at NCAT.” In June, City Hub reported that public housing tenants in Surry Hills had complained to FACS about drug dealing occurring on the premises, and according to Ms Hamilton, her experience does not augur well for them.

“I’ve taken it to the tribunal. I’m at the other end of where people are at Surry Hills,” she said.

“I have for three years done everything right. I’ve followed every process. From the landlords, with my obligations as a tenant, with the police and now with NCAT, and it’s changed nothing.

Ms Hamilton formally applied to be transferred last September but was only informed by Housing NSW during the NCAT hearing in February that more than 130 “high risk” residents were on the waiting list before her.

The matter will be reconsidered by

NCAT, but Ms Hamilton said it was likely they would only award her financial compensation.

“What’s the price of an ice addict living in your building?” she said.

“I’m not here for financial compensation.

I’ve never wanted money. It’s not going to solve the problem.”

“They can give me up to $15,000, but there’s still going to be an ice addict with junkies all over the shot coming morning, day and night. How does that pull Housing NSW into line?”

A spokesperson for the Department of Family and Community Services (FACS) said evicting a tenant should only occur in the most serious cases and required an order from NCAT. “FACS applies to evict tenants where there has been a severe breach of their tenancy agreement which has been proven, for example dealing in drugs from their public housing property,” they said.

“In other cases, it warns tenants about unacceptable behaviour and will seek to evict if a tenant does not address that behaviour.”

The spokesperson said a date had not been set for parliament to consider the government’s proposed “one strike and you’re out” policy for tenants engaging in illegal behaviour in social housing.

Ms Hamilton, who has endured a stint of homelessness, said the provision of housing to drug addicts meant people with a genuine need for it missed out.

“These people are custodians of a fantastic welfare system that is a safety net.”

There are currently about 59,500 people on the waiting list for public housing in NSW.

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Balmain business wilts

By PETA GILLBERT Balmain businesses have united in an attempt to retain the village-like atmosphere of the suburb after a spate of business closures in the area.

The inner west suburb has seen a noticeable decline in consumers as well as increased commercial vacancy rates, but local business are determined to fight the decline.

Many businesses have been forced to close as rents increase and interest in independent local shops dwindles.

Recently, Leichhardt Council allocated a further $47,000 towards Renew Leichhardt, an initiative aimed at utilising untenanted shops. The project allows rent-free occupancy for creative enterprises, which attract visitors to the area without taking business away from local shops.

Renew Leichhardt is part of the social enterprise ‘Renew Australia’ which hopes to “catalyse community renewal, economic development, the arts and creative industries across Australia”.

A statement from Renew Australia said “Renew Leichhardt continues to breathe new life into the Leichhardt shopping precinct… the project is set to extend across the Municipality, with Council investigating locations beyond the trial Leichhardt shopping precinct”.

The decision comes after Leichhardt Council rejected a $28,000 grant requested by the Balmain Chamber of Commerce to implement shuttle buses between the White Bay Cruise Terminal and Balmain to create extra revenue for shop owners. Although the program was expected to generate a minimum of $1.3 million, the grant was refused because the council did not support the cruise terminal.

Balmain landlord and President of the Balmain Chamber of Commerce, Stephen Bastian, is determined to reinvigorate Balmain’s shopping strip, and was heavily involved in pushing for implementation of shuttle buses.

At the next council meeting, Mr Bastian hopes to

propose a one metre weekend allowance of footpath to be used by shop owners on a temporary 12 month basis to sell their products, in the hope of creating a ‘market atmosphere’.

He also planned to implement a more personal strategy to support his tenants in the startup phase of their business.

This would include no fixed rent and any extra money made after paying their wages and other necessities would go towards the rent.

“At least this way I have someone in the shop and someone is able to make a go of it,” said Mr Bastian, who last week formed a committee with 30 other local businesses, dedicated to stimulating the economy in Balmain.

“One thing we are going to be working on is trying to encourage Balmain residents to use the local shops more,” he said.

Former owner of Balmain BBQ Chickens, Stephanos Nalpantidis agrees, and said locals needed to support the area.

“It’s the mentality of locals you have to change... If the trade is slowing down, rents are going up and the locals just aren’t shopping here, businesses will have no choice but to leave,” he said.

Mr Nalpantidis said residents play a huge role in saving Balmain’s village atmosphere by choosing to support local shops over big business.

“When Woolworths closed for five weeks for renovations, every shop in Balmain benefited. It’s such a beautiful shopping strip but it’s a shame what ‘big business’ is doing to it.”

Balmain BBQ Chickens was one of several Balmain stores to close down in recent years, following the closure of Bloomsbury florist, Ralph’s Delicatessen and various other longstanding stores.

Lorna Newling, who owned Bloomsbury for nearly 20 of its 40 operational years, closed its doors earlier this month after failing to sell the business.

“The purchaser lost because they couldn’t get the business they wanted and I lost because I couldn’t sell

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The local community is disappointed that long established local shops are closing. Source: Peta Gilbert

the business after all those years,” said Ms Newling.

“I think it will bounce back sometime in the future, it’s all cyclical.”

Principal at LJ Hooker Balmain Mary Karabellas said she was concerned about the future of the suburb if the village atmosphere continued to diminish.

“It’s a beautiful spot but ten years ago you only had to pay about half of what you pay for commercial property now and people aren’t willing to do that,” said Ms Karabellas, who grew up in Balmain.

“The vacancy rate would be more than double what it was compared to ten years ago. Back then it was buzzing, people were almost lining up to be

on waiting lists to get a shopfront in Balmain. Now retailers can’t afford the rent but landlords won’t drop rent to meet the market.”

Mr Bastian hopes to continue working with council to rectify Balmain’s economic situation, although said business owners “will not rely solely on them.”

Together with the group of thirty Balmain business owners, he hopes to propose, discuss and vote on potential initiatives to finance.

“We have a few ideas being throwing around but nothing we have taken to the next step yet,” Mr Bastian said.

Riding into a storm: Sydney cyclists face politics on two fronts

By Jaz singh-brah & CHRISTOPHER HARRIS Cycling groups have slammed the NSW Government’s idea of a licensing scheme for riders, saying there is no evidence of a need for identification.

One group said the idea of a licensing scheme is the government’s mechanism to cause division in an otherwise unified interest group.

Bob Moore of Bike Leichhardt said that carrying photo identification was a “distraction”, would not improve safety and was a “a typical tactic to divide cyclists”.

Last Monday, Roads Minister Duncan Gay held a roundtable discussion with cyclist, motorist, pedestrian, and community groups.

Also discussed at the meeting was a proposed trial of a distance of 1.5 metres from cyclists while overtaking, and wide support for an increase in fines for “reckless riding” to be increased above the current $69 fine.

Greens MLC Mehreen Faruqi said that the proposal to carry ID served no real purpose and was merely a roadblock to active transport such as cycling.

“Instituting punitive measures such as carrying identification may make the government feel like it’s doing something, but it doesn’t help anyone else, as cyclists remain with little separated infrastructure, making life harder, more stressful, and more dangerous for cyclists and motorists alike” she said.

Bicycle NSW CEO Ray Rice, who attended the roundtable, said that there was nothing to suggest carrying identification would improve safety.

“I think the real question is what does this add to bicycle riders safety? Carrying photo identification doesn’t give you some magic force field to protect you from danger and from cars,” he said.

“We don’t see this as achieving anything for bike riders safety, we haven’t seen any evidence that identifying riders has been an issue, a couple of weeks back they held a major blitz on cycling

Sydney is set to lose cycleways. Source: Christopher Harris

behaviours in the city and they booked over 400 riders and we have seen no issue of identifying riders from that blitz.”

But Harold Scrubby of the Australian Pedestrian Council told City Hub that figures from a freedom of information request three years ago showed the lack of identification meant riders never paid fines issued to them.

“50 per cent of penalties issues to cyclists are never paid and about 90 per cent of the penalties are to cyclists who aren’t wearing helmets,” he said.

“Young people under 18 aren’t the problem, it

is the ones who get in Tour De France mode and are doing 50 km an hour, and they’ve been clocked doing that on the Pyrmont pedestrian bridge where there are a lot of pedestrians.”

He said there was an urgent need to increase the penalty of $69 as it currently stands for cyclists found to be riding recklessly.

“There has been a majority support for some sort of ID, there is majority support for increase in certain penalties, everyone agrees reckless riding should be a lot more than not having a bell.”

Mr Scrubby said the government should

introduce license plates for bikes, citing a 2002 incident where pedestrian Maria Giuliano was unable to identify the rider who left her with a brain injury on the Iron Cove Bridge.

“Pedestrians who are seriously injured have no way of knowing who it was if the cyclists rides off from an accident,” Mr Scrubby said.

Dr Faruqi said the notion of licensing was “ludicrous” and that bike paths such as the College St cycleway should be expanded and not removed because they are beneficial to safety.

“Tearing up the multi-million dollar College street cycleway makes no sense at all, especially one that thousands of people coming into the city use. With the whole city’s transport in upheaval, retaining the College street cycleway is even more essential as this will provide an alternative transport option,” she said.

“It’s time the government understood active transport like cycling to be an integral part of transport planning and infrastructure, and invest in expanding safe and separated cycleways that provides New South Wales cyclists with the appropriate level of security on the road.”

Independent Sydney MP Alex Greenwich wrote on July 6 this year to Auditor General Tony Whitfield expressing his concerns.

He said NSW Government’s plans to remove the cycleway with no alternative infrastructure contravened its own long term traffic plan as well as the City of Sydney’s.

“A government contract with the City of Sydney requires construction of a safe, separated cycleway on Castlereagh Street between Hay and King streets before the College Street cycleway can be removed.

However the government has only determined to proceed with part of this route at this time leaving cyclists with no full alternative route.”

A spokesperson for Mr Greenwich’s office said they had not yet received a response from the Auditor General.

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22/07/2015 3:45 pm

Leichhardt cycles ahead of state

Bypassing Erskineville

By RYAN QUINN More than 100 angered Erskineville residents have united at the suburb’s town hall to end uncertainty over the future of trains to Erskineville and St Peters stations.

Friends of Erskineville President Darren Jenkins addressed the meeting, held on Tuesday July 14, and discussed the government’s plans to bypass the two stations already in need of more services.

“Sydney Metro’s plans have pointedly refused to rule out the possibility that we will have fewer services when Sydney Metro is introduced,” he said.

A recent survey conducted by Sydney Trains shows that morning peak services stopping at Erskineville are overloaded at 167% capacity.

“I’m regularly amongst locals who stand on the train platform unsure whether we are even going to be able to get into the train,” Mr Jenkins said.

Erskineville’s population is also set to grow by 6,000 over the next five to ten years, according to City of Sydney data, differing from Sydney Trains data which only quotes an increase of 1,000 people, according to Mr Jenkins.

He said that in light of this difference, he didn’t have confidence in the government’s ability to make decisions about public transport in areas of population growth.

Ecotransit co-convenor Mathew Hounsell also questioned capacity figures quoted for the new single-decker Metro trains when compared with the current double-decker Sydney Trains fleet.

“When they say it’s 40,000 people [per hour], what they’re doing is quoting the 1300 crush-capacity, where everyone is literally physically crammed into the Metro,” Mr Hounsell said.

“The underground Metro actually can hold 900 per car.”

Federal NSW Greens Senator Lee Rhiannon said the government were using inaccurate claims to support the Metro.

“They’re making out that there will be more people being able to travel on something half the size,” Ms Rhiannon said.

The organisation invited attendees to sign an online petition calling for Transport Minister Andrew Constance, who was absent at the meeting, to guarantee more services.

By ALEXANDER LEWIS Leichhardt cyclists have welcomed an allocation of nearly $1 million to local bike paths as pressure mounts for the state government to abandon its plans to tear up Sydney CBD’s College Street cycleway.

The combined Leichhardt Council and RMS funding, as outlined in council’s 2015-16 budget, is set to improve existing Leichhardt cycleways, as well as build a new path along Lilyfield Road.

The Hawthorne Canal Cycleway will receive $400,000 in upgrades, while the Catherine Street bridge will see dedicated bike lanes completed.

Local cycling group Bike Leichhardt welcomed the council’s continued commitment to regular cycling upgrades, but the group’s president Bob Moore said there needed to be further increases from council, not just RMS. “The amount quoted this year [from Council’s funds] is the same as for the last year. We reckon there should be an increase to at least cover inflation,” Mr Moore said.

“Plans for Catherine St bridge have been awaiting funding for a number of years. The western footpath is unused, so it makes a lot of sense to turn it into a northbound cycle path.”

Mr Moore said the local cyclist community wanted to be engaged in plans for the cycleway on Lilyfield Road.

“A separated bike path may be hard to achieve unless parking is removed on one side of the road,” he said.

“This could be possible where there is no residential frontage, for example along the section from Denison Street to Balmain Road, but would council go that far?”

“We actually don’t mind the current layout, which has uphill bike lanes and sharing the traffic lanes on downhills, where bikes can keep up, but there are sections which could be improved.”

He said there were other key locations in the

Photo: Wikimedia commons

area that needed better conditions for cyclists, including on Victoria Road.

“A new bridge over Victoria Road is also needed, or perhaps a link from the foot of Gordon Street along the goods yard and under Victoria Road to bypass the need to go over the footbridge.

This link might be possible as part of the Urban Growth redevelopment of the area,” he said.

The council’s cycle budget allocated funding for improved bus shelters to allow better cyclist vision, however Mr Moore said this area needed much more attention.

“The Victoria Road shared path needs a lot of work, and not just at the bus shelters, so again we are hoping to work with council and RMS to identify and fix the problems,” he said.

Deputy Mayor of Leichhardt Daniel Kogoy said council remained committed to providing

safer and more connected alternative transport options.

“Cycling is such an important transport option in our local government area, especially given our close proximity to the CBD,” Clr Kogoy said.

“Funding off road and separated bicycle paths is a proven way to get more people cycling, more often. Many more people want to ride, but don’t feel safe on Sydney streets.

Clr Kogoy said that council would continue to back the community’s fight to save the College Street cycleway.

“It is more than a little bizarre to see the state government on the one hand contributing funding for the Lilyfield Road safe, separated bike path, while at the same time planning to rip up the heavily used College Street cycleway,” he said.

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New party to tackle housing crisis

By CASSANDRA MORGAN AND CHRISTOPHER HARRIS A new political party is aiming for a senate seat in the next federal election after months of media discussion of housing unaffordability in Sydney.

The Affordable Housing Party of Australia was conceived in 2013, but the party is “stepping up their game”, with the pursuit of giving buyers a chance in the simmering NSW property market.

The Sydney-based party is attempting to recruit 700 members in order to guarantee registration with the Australian Electoral Commission.

The party will seek to increase the affordability of housing by increasing supply and decreasing demand through a series of fiscal measures.

Party member Bob Eggleton said there needs to be a rethink on negative gearing, capital gains discounts, high stamp duty, a lack of public housing, first home buyer grants and superannuation tax concession, all of which he sees as contributing to ‘skyrocketing’ house prices.

“We have seen a lot of people who have kids supporting our cause, people in their 50s, and they are wondering, ‘how are my kids going to afford a property?’” Mr Eggleton said.

The new party is focusing on negative gearing in NSW, which the party says is one of the largest catalysts of rising property costs.

“Neither [major federal] party wanted to do anything because there are over a million people who have negatively geared property, and they don’t want to upset this large group” Mr Eggleton said.

Mr Eggleton said the party’s platform

Bob Eggleton is the spokesperson for the Affordable Housing Party

would advocate for the implementation of reduced stamp duty costs and increased public housing, as well as a review of first home buyer grants and superannuation tax concessions.

Lindsay David, economist and author of Australia: Boom to Bust, said this could have mixed long term economic outcomes.

“There would be winners, being, the next generation of Australians under these policies. But, you would have some losers… if house prices fall hard, so does the Australian economy.”

Eggleton also said foreign investment needs in property needs to be scrutinised.

“On the demand side, foreign investors

should not be able to invest in Australia. It was Kevin Rudd who loosened the rules in 2010. On a longer time scale, we’d like to look at the levels of immigration into Australia.”

Harley Dale, chief economist from the Housing Industry Association, disagrees with Mr Eggleton that foreign investors are to blame for increased house prices in NSW. “If you’re going to make grand neo statements about foreign investment and limiting immigration, you need to have answers as to what your alternative is” Mr Dale said.

Mr David said that limiting foreign property investment will not make NSW housing more affordable.

“Personally, I don’t think foreign buyers are making that much of an impact,” he said.

“They wouldn’t be driving the overwhelming price of housing,” he said.

Emile Chakty is one person who posted messages critical of federal government policy on the party’s Facebook page.

“Our children will have to rent for life…

Mr Abbott, not every homeowner wants house prices to rise. Time to treat housing as a basic need,” Ms Chakty wrote.

However, according to political experts, single issue parties in Australia very rarely gain traction and are more likely to have their policies incorporated into a major party if they capture a certain feeling around an issue.

Professor of Australian politics at the University of Sydney Rodney David said that the single-issue party’s chances of being elected are ‘slim’.

“People lose the initial enthusiasm they had for the idea of the party and they [the party] pass into history” said Professor David.

Shifty marina deals

By LYDIA WATSON-MOORE A decision on the future lease of the Elizabeth Bay Marina has been further delayed after Supreme Court proceedings were adjourned on July 17.

The case, which is a civil matter between NSW RMS and former lease holder Spicey Caricorn Pty Ltd, will not be heard again until August 14.

Spicey Caricorn Pty Ltd held the previous lease of the marina since 2009 but were evicted late last year by RMS. Spicey Caricorn is suspected to have business links to father and son duo, Eddie and Moses Obeid, found corrupt in ICAC findings.

Co-owner Michael Dalah previously told Fairfax Media that Moses Obeid was not financially connected to the marina but that Mr Obeid represented the other owner, real estate agent Joseph Georges, in the business.

ICAC heard that Mr Georges played a role in a shifty coal deal that earnt the Obeid family $30 million.

During this inquiry, Mr Georges denied that Mr Obeid had any financial interest in the marina, yet he was involved with the ‘day to day’ running of the business.

Solicitor David Deutsch, who is representing Spicey Caricorn in the case, is also representing the Obeid family in their legal dispute with RMS over Circular Quay cafes.

RMS had previously stated that new tender applications would soon be accepted, however NSW Parliament indicated in June that the court case had stalled the process.

“The intended expression of interest process has been suspended due to the commencement of proceedings in the Supreme Court by the former tenant,” read the statement.

An RMS spokesperson confirmed that the expressions of interest for tender remain on hold.

Fairfax media previously reported several initially interested locals who would prepare for tender, including Sydney developer Theo Onisforou.

However, when contacted for comment, Mr Onisforou apologised and said the matter was “commercially confidential”.

Sydney MP Alex Greenwich said that a proper leasing agreement was needed for the marina.

“Elizabeth Bay Marina is a public asset, and should be leased for community benefit,” Mr Greenwich said.

“I’ve repeatedly called for proper leasing arrangements, and will continue to press for a transparent process.”

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22/07/2015 3:45 pm

FEATURE

Free Gigs Fundraising Fun For Everyone

BY Jemma Clarke The fourth annual Sydney leg of the Reclink Community Cup is nearly here, and among the music nights building hype in the lead-up to the unconventional sporting event, MEAT CAKE and Sumeru are ready to rock the roof off of Vic on the Park tonight (Jul 23)!

Every Thursday night throughout July, Vic on the Park has played host to fundraise for the infamous, semi-skilled AFL grudge match between local media personalities the ‘Sailors’ and certified rock gods the ‘Walers’. With teams yet to be announced, the match is to be held August 2 at Hensen Park in Marrickville from 11am, and excitement is building among many people within the community.

Vic on the Park have dedicated their venue, staff and PA system in order to support the great work that Reclink provides within the community, in addition to a hearty beer fund courtesy of craft brewing legends Young Henry’s. Reclink is a national charity that started up in Victoria in 1990 and now provides over 80,000 Australians with support through sporting events as well as music and art. Local Sydney volunteers who have dedicated their time to organise the free weekly gigs for the Community Cup have helped raise funds for Australians who are disadvantaged, isolated or vulnerable. It is through free events that people from all walks of life are able to be equally entertained and connected - and who doesn’t love seeing some free live music?

MEAT CAKE band members Keith, Pete and Graeme are local musicians who have been around the area for many years. Although the band has only turned a year old, these musos are well-versed in jamming out and entertaining crowds. In the word’s of the band’s drummer, Pete: “As you get older and you continue to do the same kind of thing, you get to know people.” He says forming the band was as simple as

Never Stand Still

RECLINK COMMUNITY CUP Sunday August 2. Henson Park, Marrickville FEELING KINDA GROUPIE Free live bands. Thursday July 23 & 30.

Victoria on the Park Hotel, 2 Addison Road, Marrickville

Chris Peken - Alex Dyson from Triple J, Monique Schafter from the 730 Report and Tim Levinson aka Urthboy

being asked to play - which lead singer, Keith, admits had been something on their ‘to do list’. “Funny thing is we were here [at Vic on the Park] one day and I said ‘I wanna play on that [stage]’, and well now we are,” said Keith.

With their simple rock tunes, the guys don’t take themselves too seriously, but respect each other and their creative expression. “Most of the tunes are autobiographical from Keith’s perspective,” says Pete.

They are generally comical and quite relatable. Their signature song Too Many Daves is bound to be a crowd pleaser, because who doesn’t know a Dave or two?

“Everyone knows a lot of Daves... see we got too many of ‘em,” says Keith.

Sumeru will be bringing some “balls to the wall” metal groove along to your night in support of team Walers. The five-piece Sydney band will thrash out songs off their Holy Lands album, bringing you the kind of sound where you “…can just stand there and bang

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ya head or shake ya hips”. Having had a busy first half of the year touring around Sydney, Newcastle, Melbourne, Brisbane and Lismore where they were selling out shows and gaining more support, the guys decided to get on board and support the cause of the Community Cup. “Contributing 40 minutes of riffs to something like this helps a lot of people get organisations like Reclink out to people who need it,” says Peter Bursky, guitarist of Sumeru. “We’re very happy to be a part of it.”

The guys from Sumeru have been playing together for about five years now and hope that fundraising gigs of this nature continue to pull in support, so that charities like Reclink can rely less of government funding and more on generosity and kindness. Listen out for their opener Spines as well as stand-out track All I Am. There will be one more free gig at Vic on the Park next Thursday (Jul 30) featuring the sweet and sombre singer/songwriter Lisa Caruso as well as The Holy Soul, a

•For more information about upcoming gigs and the Community Cup, “Like” Sydney Reclink Community Cup on Facebook, and/or follow their Instagram or Twitter.

•For more information about Reclink’s programs or how you can volunteer head to: www.reclink.org gang of experimental, blasé rock ‘n’ rollers. Then the following night (July 31) at the Newtown Social Club, our very own Labor MP Mr. Anthony Albanese will be showing off his DJ skills! More than just your everyday Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Mr. Albanese’s secret skill will be sure to take you down to funky town. He will be spinning tracks between 8pm and 10pm in a bid to raise as many funds and as much awareness before the big game begins. There will also be raffles with a chance to win a shiny new REID bicycle, GIBSON merchandise, loads of DVDs, comedy tickets and a limited edition silkscreen from Jim Jeffries Sydney tour.

EAT & DRINK

Lucio Pizzeria Venture into Tomorrowland – otherwise known as Zetland (or ‘Zetciti’ as a clever business in the futuristic East Village shopping centre has dubbed it). Swallow down a portent dose of the future, where worker drones live in looming grey and taupe towers in fully self-contained dormitory suburbs; places where you can purchase an Audi as easily as you can order a name brand Lucio pizza. Grappling with the location over a Birra Ichnusa

$ - mains less than $15

$$ - mains between $15-$22

NEWTOWN & ENVIRONS Knuckles Sandwich Bar It’s the inkblot test – whether you think of a knock to the face, or a succulent hock of pork.This sandwich bar lies amongst factories in the industrial fashion precinct of Alexandria.Their Veal Schnitzel Ciabatta Roll ($12) made fresh to order with lemon aioli, rocket and Parmesan demonstrates it’s seriously the only decent place to get a sanga on McEvoy Street.

However don’t neglect the burgers! The popular Cheeseburger ($10) has a golden sesame milk bun that reminds me of the old school milk bars. Speaking of which, you must order a side of Hand Cut Chips ($3.50) and the Belgian Chocolate Milkshake ($6.50) to wash it down.

By Jackie McMillan ($8), I volunteer: it’s like Shanghai without the chaos.

“Hence Singapore,” our neighbours at the cheek-to-jowl tables, helpfully supply. By contrast, the artisan pizzas you’ll eat here are imperfectly perfect – complete with bubbling, chewy crusts festooned with just the right amount of char.This is fully certified (Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana) Neapolitan wood-fired pizza with minimal toppings, like Speck ($21) boasting mozzarella, Fontina and speck.All the better for showing off those flavoursome bases! Going light on the toppings enables you to appreciate the simplicity of what’s there, like paperthin prosciutto strewn over rocket and cherry tomatoes, topped with freshly shaved Parmesan on the Filetto ($21).The prosciutto is sliced using a gleaming red Berkel meat slicer, which is also employed in the production of Il Grand Tagliere ($36.50) a heaving antipasto board won by super-fresh buffalo mozzarella (though the creamy burrata also rates a mention).

Shop 34, East Village, 2-4 Defries Avenue, Zetland (02) 9697 3028 luciopizzeria.com.au Pizza, Italian $$

$$$ - mains between $22-$30

88 McEvoy Street, Alexandria (0403) 821 117 knucklessandwichbar.com.au Café – $-$$ Pitt St Diner Every neighbourhood should have a little Parisian bistro. A block from Redfern Park, Pitt St Diner has been building a solid local customer base using classic French cookery and friendly service.The young French chefs from the south-west of France play to their seaside strengths and offer up a clattering mound of Moules Marinières ($25) in white wine and cream sauce. Steak and Frites ($31) here is a blushing, charred, rib-eye with shoestring fries.Whole Fish of the Day ($25) is a crisp skinned, tender baked ocean trout.

Owner Gary Prebble matches Chocolate Fondant ($12) against the spicy and fruity

$$$$ - mains over $30

Storm Ridge Pinot Noir ($45/bottle); it’s a knockout combination.

96 Pitt Street, Redfern (02) 8668 5936 pittstdiner.com.au Modern French $$$ INNER WEST Charlotte Café Balmain’s awash with visitors from all corners of the city, keen to explore the cosmopolitan selection of trendy cafés. Precisely why Charlotte Café in neighbouring Birchgrove, provides pleasant respite from the hustle and bustle. It’s a place where locals meet for coffee (of which Campos fans will approve), with outdoor dog bowls provided for fourlegged friends.The Charlotte Special ($18.50) is a decadent, Norwegian take

Lan Yuan Pungent green fire is igniting my nasal passages, but I’m smiling! The genius addition of glossy wasabi mayonnaise to Lan Yuan Angus Beef ($26) makes it an easy favourite in Top Ryde’s new ‘bamboo garden’. Seek haven in Taoism or Buddhism – Tsing Tao ($8) or Lucky Buddha ($8) – to ease the pain. Designers Vie Studio have drawn their inspiration from traditional Chinese gardens (lan yuan); who knew plastics could look so luscious and

on eggs Benedict, featuring homemade Hollandaise and fish roe. Crunchy Corn Fritters ($14.50) with baby spinach and grilled haloumi is offset nicely with a cucumber and yoghurt topping.Avocado and Tomatoes on Toast ($10) with pesto, pleased my vegan dining-mate, and we’re told it’s a best seller.

127 Rowntree Street, Birchgrove (0403) 924 168 facebook.com/ CharlotteCafeBirchgrove Café $-$$

GREATER SYDNEY Barrel Bar & Dining Twenty-six year old Zac Stanning has been a head chef for six months.Throw in a triumvirate of sommelier owners, and you have what could be a disaster.

What you find, however, is a cohesive

substantial? Clever use of light over tables ensures you won’t squint at menus, but creates intimacy with darkened restaurant surrounds that remind me of a movie set. Alfresco tables offer the opportunity to peer through a Chinese bamboo fringe at a giant outdoor TV screen; and, with a little imagination, you’re in Hong Kong.The chefs also hail from the former British colony, meaning they’re adept at making the sort of Southern Chinese cuisine that suits people who don’t tolerate heat, starting with a very gentle XO sauce coating Live Pippies ($30/500g). Fortuitously for me, they’re making two versions of the Szechuan Chicken ($22), because I like my dishes hot. Lan Yuan Fried Rice ($18/small) proves worth the spend, with tender scallops, king prawns and glistening orange crab roe; while addictive Egg Yolk Tofu ($20) should test the willpower of those who mock bean curd.

Shop 4005, Level 1, Top Ryde Shopping Centre, Devlin Street, Ryde (02) 9808 1030 lanyuan.com.au Chinese $$$

wine bar and restaurant reflecting the tastes and BYO proclivities of the local area. Stanning wants to cook “something that people will like”, evident in portsweet Duck Liver Parfait ($17), but also in the absence of obscure ingredients.

He makes a sweet orange symphony of Carrots ($17) - 24-hour cooked, pickled, smoked and crisp carrots with pebbles of honeycomb. Equally exciting is his forest floor of Sauteed King Oyster Mushrooms ($17), crisp mushroom bark and mossy green parsley sponge.

3/362 Military Road, Cremorne (02) 9904 5687 barrelbar.com.au Modern Australian $$$-$$$$ Cottage Point Inn Descend onto one of the leafy green fingers that protrude into the Hawkesbury. Parisian born Chef

Guillaume Zika delivers a modern, fadresistant menu. Line-caught Snapper Carpaccio ($28) utilises familiar ingredients - strawberry sauce vierge and celery – united by white balsamic to transport the dish somewhere new.

Spatchcock ($45) scratches the old roast chicken dinner itch, but lands looking beautifully contemporary. Under a fluffy shaved foie gras, the Grilled Wagyu Rump Cap ($48) is balanced by plump blueberries, king brown mushrooms, and roasted onion and lemon puree. Fabulous wines like the textural 2013 Château Petit Roubié Picpoul de Pinet ($83), and a ripper Raspberry Salad ($19) dessert, cement my affection for this unique spot.

2 Anderson Place, Cottage Point (02) 9456 1011 cottagepointinn.com.au Modern Australian $$$$

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city hub 23 july 2015

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EAT DRINK

EAT &&DRINK

By Jackie McMillan

Basement 33

By DJ Hookie Amidst the hustle and bustle of Goulburn Street’s Haymarket end, is nestled a brand new hidden bar gem, worthy of any nightlife veteran’s attention.

At present, the entrance looks like a cross between an underground karaoke bar (which I’m later told it once was) and a Thai massage parlour – although the delights found within far exceed that of the

ROCKS & CBD Fix St James The gentleman at the next table is wooing his date with stories of ICAC. The table beyond finishing rushed plates of Coorong Skirt Steak Tagliata ($34) are barristers working on a three-week case, by pulling another all-nighter. Hearing ‘allnighter’ makes me want wine, and to that end, this spot delivers.The 250-strong wine list carries everything from a refined 2013 Eldridge Estate Chardonnay ($99) to whole-bunch fermented ‘amber’ wines like the 2014 Punch ‘Saffron’ Chardonnay ($63).Team it with unaugmented Wapengo Lake Oysters ($4/each), an unexpectedly delicious 18-Hour Minute Steak ($19) teamed with hazelnuts, a carrot ribbon and pumpkin puree, or

By Alex Harmon If you’ve worked in a Sydney office, you’ve probably experienced a Brazilian all you can eat meat-feast on the boss’s dime. The stop/go paddles keeping the meat coming/ at bay, with the whole thing feeling hectic and wolfish. At Char and Co it’s different, their churrasco is intimate, and while the meat comes out on swords, you feel like it’s been freshly cooked just for you. At $55 for an unlimited service of twenty Brazilian cuts, including garlic lamb, chorizo, chicken wings, charcoal beef, prawns and chicken

EASTERN SUBURBS & BEACHES

Drake Eatery Just opened and already booked out, the light wood furnishings and grainy yellow floor here scream beach, while the dark wood highlights and floor-to-ceiling windows exude casual cool—it’s perfect for Bondi. Chef Ian Oakes named this beachside venture after his favourite protein, and as you’d expect, his Roast Thirlmere Duck ($29) is perfectly cooked. My Swedish dining partner exclaims: “My Scandinavian palate is singing!” after one taste of the Tea-Smoked Ocean Trout ($18), the earthy 12

city hub 23 july 2015

aforementioned establishments (not that I’d know).

I arrive on time, but my friend is predictably late. I pull up a stool at the bar, and order a martini, after raising a respectful eyebrow to the ingenious cocktail list. The drinks, needless to say, are on point. I later enjoyed a ‘Mel-Ki’ ($17) boasting melon liqueur, Grand Marnier and fresh kiwi. The interior of this nouveau nightspot is a mix of trendy tiling and sleek modern finishing; slightly too cool to be called flashy, but certainly maintains a shiny element. It’s the perfect spot for a covert liaison, or when the regular haunts are getting too passé.

Owner and proprietor Nathanial Bourke hints to me that the prospect of live music at the venue is also close on the horizon. I’m starting to get a Frankie’s Pizza vibe. Oh yeah… they also serve pizza.

Basement Level, 27-33 Goulburn Street, Haymarket (02) 8970 5813 basement33.com Bar, Cocktails $$

standout Roast Veal Sweetbreads ($18) with fennel and liquorice.

111 Elizabeth Street, Sydney (02) 9232 2767 fixstjames.com.au Modern Australian, Bar,Wine $$$$ Alpha Restaurant This stately restaurant simultaneously summons monumental history and lazy days by the seashore. Chic apron-clad staff exude effortless cool.They’re confident in the menu, and they should be - parts of it, like the Scallop Moussaka ($27), have stood the test of time. Seared scallops lie between eggplant rounds, glued together with a smear of standout Taramosalata ($12) (also available in dip form with addictive, house-made pita bread). Other classics, like Spanakopita ($20), result in an airy, golden-topped spinach pie, dissected tableside by the universally handsome

Char and Co

By Jackie McMillan jackie@alternativemediagroup.com

wait staff. Make Head Chef Peter Conistis’ Greek Spiced Slow Roast Lamb Shoulder ($38/$58) the centrepiece of your meal – roast potatoes don’t get much better.

238 Castlereagh Street, Sydney (02) 9098 1111 alpharestaurant.com.au Greek $$$ DARLO, KINGS X & SURRY HILLS The Devonshire Affable Restaurant Manager Craig McCall tells me to think of this spot as my “neighbourhood fine diner”.

And, after scraping the last skerrick of Devonshire Crème Brulee ($16) with scone ice cream and decadent cherry jam from the dainty teacup, I muse he’s right. Owner/head chef Jeremy

hearts, it is the best way to truly experience chef and owner Bruno Da Motta’s fine fare. His charming waitstaff will explain each offering and suggest the best accompaniments from your army of salsas, sauces, beans, rice, and salads. Of course you go on a true expedition by partaking in some extras, like the delicate Salted Cod Fritters ($16) with fish crackling (as good as it sounds), and the Deep Fried Jalapeños ($10) which won me over with their goats cheese stuffing. And you cant go South American without two things – a Caipirinha ($17) and ending the night with dulce de leche. Find the latter in the Peanut and Honey Parfait ($15) with peanut brittle and fried plantain.

15 Knox Street, Double Bay (02) 9328 5542 charandco.com.au Brazilian $$

baseline of celeriac ‘slaw and delicate trout punctuated by apple matchsticks and liquorice cream.

Faith in the staff is rewarded with nut and honeycombencrusted White Chocolate and Honeycomb Parfait ($14), and Ricotta Doughnuts ($12) dessert recommendations.

Corner of Curlewis and Gould Streets, Bondi Beach (02) 9130 3218 drakeeatery.com.au Modern Australian $$$ The Traditional Chip Shop The British sure know how to make a decent fish’n’chips.While it’s not exactly ‘catch of the day’ and the menu reads like a DIY heart attack, it’s a damn good

feed.This chippie has a mix of British and Irish specialties like haggis, black pudding and deepfried Mars Bars, but if you want to ease yourself in, go for Cod ($14.95) with hand cut chips.

Throw in some Mushy Peas ($2.50) and douse it with vinegar for a bona fide taste of England.

Curry Cheese Chips ($7.50) are a standout – like Irish poutine, they’re decadent hangover food.

Wash it down with sherbetflavoured soda: Irn Bru ($3), the ‘national drink of Scotland behind Whiskey’.

49-55 St. Pauls Street, Randwick (1300) 2447 7467 thechipshop.com.au Seafood $

Mum’s Table “Pho is a beef noodle broth,” says Mylisa Nguyen (exLuMi Dining) emphatically, before continuing:“there’s nothing vegetarian in Vietnamese food.” It seems Surry Hills folk have been demanding vegetarian pho without realising it’s like asking for vegetarian chicken noodle soup. Rather than “just give it to them”, Mylisa is showing steely determination to be true to her cultural identity at Mum’s Table; and it pays off in a wonderfully balanced

Bentley creates dishes that are highly worked without being challenging.

Moist Smoked Pork Belly ($25) squares are accompanied by pig’s tail, boiled in stock and soy, then crumbed and fried, balanced by pickled cabbage.

Golden-crumbed blocks of pressed lamb shoulder add texture to Slow Cooked Lamb Rump ($37) with eggplant caviar.

Shave down prices by booking a 6pm sitting for their two-course Pre-Theatre Menu ($49/head).

204 Devonshire Street, Surry Hills (02) 9698 9427 thedevonshire.com.au Modern Australian $$$$ Mama’s Buoi “Vietnamese food is spicy, but we are in Australia, with European/British taste,” Assistant Manager Guillaume Henry says, explaining the structural decision at

bowl of Pho Tai Nam ($14) with rare beef and sliced beef brisket.This business is “all in the family” from the bright, modern spacious restaurant design featuring Vietnamese hats (Nón Lá) hanging from the ceiling, to Mum (Maria) and Dad (Ian) both playing starring roles.While it’s their first family restaurant, they have run takeaway outlets, including a bakery; so as you’d thus expect, the banh mi (Vietnamese baguettes) here are great, particularly Dad’s favourite: Banh Mi Heo Quay ($9.50) with crisp pork belly and ginger sauce.You’ll also find all the perennial favourites from Pork Stuffed Chicken Wings ($10.80/2) and Sugarcane Prawn Mousse ($10.80/4) to Crispy Pancake ($16.50) (which, incidentally, does come in vegetarian) stuffed with tender roast pork and prawns.

Trust me when I say Homemade Crispy Skin Chicken ($14) and a Hanoi Beer ($8) provide great comfort on a blustery winter’s day.

457-459 Elizabeth Street, Surry Hills (02) 8021 2701 mumstablesh.com Vietnamese $$

Mama’s Buoi to make the dishes widely appealing. And clearly it’s worked: in the Surry Hills quick-bite-after-work market, this joint is killing it. Crunchy Hanoi Shrimp Cakes ($12) make excellent drinking snacks against cocktails like the aromatic passionfruit A.K. Sour ($16).

Juicy soft shell crab with green papaya and pomelo salad, makes Mama’s Boy’s Buoi ($20) another winner.Team grilled options like Marinated Pork Spare Ribs ($22) with the surprisingly delicious slow cooked Coconut Tamarind Curry ($16).

This still-expanding chain is fresh and stylish, and clearly speaks to the people.

116 Devonshire Street, Surry Hills (02) 9281 9993 mamasbuoi.com.au Vietnamese $$-$$$ Civilian Bar & Kitchen Polished concrete, dark wood, bare light

FOOD NEWS

bulbs, and heavy slab tables— Civilian is decor ready for inner-city cool. Come on a Friday and the Passionfruit Sour ($17) is a bargain at ten bucks, and comes with complimentary truffled popcorn. Light share meals from new Head Chef Aaron Mihelic steal the show: the Herb Crumbed Hen’s Egg ($12) is a crisp and decadent pleasure, while the generous serving of Hiramasa Kingfish Carpaccio ($16) with explosions of finger lime, orange soy and puffed wild rice, had me scouring the plate for missed morsels. For a sweet finish the Milk Caramel Chocolate Tart ($15) combines a lot of coffee-crunchy-banana elements in an artfully strewn mess.

248 Palmer Street, Darlinghurst (02) 9361 4162 civilian.net.au Modern Australian $$$

By Jackie McMillan As Sydneysiders get more familiar with Japanese ways of eating, with izakayas springing up all over town, it’s natural we’d want to start cooking these simpler Japanese drinking snacks at home. Enter Hideo Dekura, all-round expert in Japanese food. He’s put together a collection of Japanese recipes called Izakaya [RRP $29.99] designed to get you making your own ponzu and teriyaki sauces; pickling your own daikon; and even using the plums from your Choya ume shu. Expect to find many fast Japanese snacks, from yaki miso (wooden rice spoons of cross-hatched grilled miso) to deep-fried mochi cubes.This book is going to make shopping in Tokyo Mart so much easier! The book has an afterword by sake master Andre Bishop who got me drinking the amazing Dassai 23 junmai daiginjo sake at the inaugural Washoku Lovers Kitchen.This event featured a cooking demonstration and lesson by noted Japanese chef, Raita Noda.Washoku Lovers (which is free to join) is the brainchild ofYuri Tazunoki who tells me she was “shocked and disappointed to see so many “fake” Japanese restaurants here in Sydney” when she moved to Australia. To counter this trend, she has hand “selected authentic Japanese restaurants” and will be running more events to teach about authentic Japanese food culture (washoku); and hopefully cook it at home “more regularly using authentic ingredients such as Osawa Wagyu and Kikkoman soy sauce.” Think ofYuri as your Japanese friend, and use her website for personally curated Japanese restaurant recommendations… www.newhollandpublishers.com | www.washokulovers.com

FOOD NEWS Stepping into Miss Peaches feels like you’ve been transported straight to America’s Deep South. Think crunchy fried green tomatoes, homemade mac ‘n’ cheese and crispy fried chicken. Deeeelicious. After swerving past the rock ‘n’ roll dancers having a boogie on the dance floor, my date and I headed straight to the bar to suss out some cocktails. She started with a Bloody Mary Lou ($20): a spicy combo of vodka, tomatoes (smoked in-house), pickled okra juice, pork broth and Cajun spices; while I went for a fruity Shrub Club ($16) with gin, lemon and quince. If cocktails aren’t your thing, it might be handy to know that Miss Peaches boasts the biggest American beer list in Australia with over fifty on offer. Food-wise, you can’t go past the Bourbon Pecan Glazed Fried Chicken ($6/piece), the Fried Green Tomatoes with Louisiana Remoulade ($9) and the cheesy heaven that is the Gruyère, Cheddar and Parmesan Mac ‘n’ Cheese ($7).

Sweet Street by Anna Polyviou is an annual event at Shangri-La Sydney, 176 Cumberland Street,The Rocks www.shangri-la.com/sydney/shangrila/

By DJ Hookie

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Listen!

I’m Telling You Stories

Billy Milionis

Since the closure of the TAP Gallery at the end of last year there has been a general sense of helplessness about the decline in suitable spaces to house independent theatre in Sydney.That is why the opening of Pulse Group Theatre in Redfern brings some very welcome news. Not only does it signal the launch of a new theatre company, but the space will also be available for incoming productions.

In many ways a natural offshoot of the The Actor’s Pulse, an acting school that’s been running for about 15 years, the venue comprises two theatre spaces holding between 50 and 65 people, as well as a TV studio.Artistic Director Billy Milionis sees it as filling a unique role in the area:“There is a need for intimate theatre in Sydney.At about 120 square meters, this is a pretty cool little space.”

Drawing inspiration from the New York theatre scene in its formative stages, Milionis sees this initiative as a chance to bring a touch of the old city life back to Sydney, with little pubs and theatre spaces here and there, as well as an artistic hub for actors.

“I studied under Sanford Meisner, one of the founding members of the Group Theatre in New York, who then went on to form The Neighbourhood Playhouse Theatre.Actor’s Pulse is very much modelled on this, and is a home base that our actors can come back to,” said Milionis.

Kicking off its inaugural season is a slick production of Craig Wright’s dark comedy, Grace. In it’s Australian premiere, Grace is a confronting, clever and sometimes oddly funny examination of humanity under pressure. (GW) Grace - Until July 26. Pulse Group Theatre, Upstairs Theatre, 103 Regent Street, Redfern. $25.Tickets: www.stickytickets.com.au/pulsegrouptheatre Theatre info: facebook.com/PulseGroupTheatreCo

Listen! I’m Telling You Stories is a series of tales and reflections on life and the society that we live in that were sparked by a trip to Fowlers Gap Scientific Research Station, 112 kms north of Broken Hill.

There are nine performers in the collective who tell some quite personal stories of friendship, family and being young. There’s an interesting narrative about the flexibility of truth, particularly within the political realm; and stories about landscape and how it impacts on us as people. The play explores how we tell stories and who owns them, and brings all those debates together, exploring the notion of storytelling and truth.

“It’s not a linear narrative play. What we’re posing is a series of questions around the nature of the world we live in and our perceptions of life and the relationships that we have in this world. I hope audiences will come away thinking

French Baroque French Baroque is a show that combines great performances and spectacular music. Using an all-French music program, the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra joins with the contemporary circus performers of Circa for a combined production.Accompanied by French soprano Claire Lefilliatre, these powerhouse acts will take you on a beautiful and uplifting journey.

Created in 2004 under the direction of Yaron Lifschitz, Circa have toured in over 33 countries and have become widely known for their unique performances.Australian Brandenburg Orchestra are five time ARIA winners, who showcase great musical works from the 16th and 17th centuries. Since graduating from La Conservatoire de Caen in France, Claire Lefilliatre has become the principal interpreter of the productions of Le Poeme Harmonique.

The combination of this group of musicians and performers is sure to bring a delight to Australian audiences.Whilst widely popular in Europe, it is a rarity of this orchestral music and soprano performance to be seen in Sydney. Circa’s acrobatic contribution pushes French Baroque to an even greater level. (LB) July 22 - August 2. City Recital Hall, Angel Place, Sydney. $32-$166.

Tickets & info: brandenburg.com.au

a&e

13 STAGE 15 SCENE 16 SCREEN 17 Sounds

Circa performers in rehearsal. Photo: Steven Godbee

Pulse Group Theatre

about how we relate with the world, with our landscape and each other,” explained PACT Collective artistic director Katrina Douglas.

PACT has been running the Collective program for 15 years. “...Every year we put a call of expression out for emerging artists interested in looking at and devising contemporary performances,” said Douglas.

“This performance is a whole mix of genres, drawing on lots of different performance techniques. There’s really funny moments, some heart-felt provocative moments, there’s pathos, chaotic moments. People should come and see this play because it’s created by really amazing emerging artists who will go on to have fantastic careers in the Arts,” she adds. (MS) July 22 - 25. PACT, 107 Railway Parade, Erskineville. $20-$25.

Tickets & info: www.pact.net.au or 9550 2744

Arts Editors: Jamie Apps - Alannah Maher For more A&E stories go to www.altmedia.net.au and don’t forget to join the conversation on Twitter at @AltMediaSydney

Contributors: Brendan Modini, Carmen Cita, Craig Coventry, Greg Webster, Hannah Chapman, Jacob Harrison, James Harkness, Lauren Bell, Leann Richards, Lisa Seltzer, Mark Morellini, Matthew Bernard, Mel Somerville, Michael Muir, Olgar Azar, Rocio Belinda Mendez, Sarah Pritchard, Sinead McLaughlin, Siri Williams, Athina Mallis, Leigh Livingstone, Joseph Rana.

city hub 23 July 2015

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Risqué Revue Go on a burlesque double-date night with Risqué Revue.

Slide Lounge is an Oxford Street institution.The unassuming building at the Museum end of the iconic street features glamourous art deco style, all preserved from it’s early days as a bank in the 1930s.

The nights here are famous for going the extra mile.You may go to see theatre or art, and there is a clear distinction between the world of the venue and the world on the stage.

But shows at Slide Lounge blur that boundary in all elements, whether for their speakeasy nights or degustation circus experiences. Slide’s producer Jeremy Brennan has been there for some time.

“Seven years ago I walked in there and it was snowing inside the venue for a dance party with a winter theme…I’m so excited to be there now as part of the team and continue that tradition… we do everything we can to give the most amazing, transforming, transporting experience we can,” said Brennan.

The commitment to show themes at Slide also manifest in using technology for effect. Risqué Revue is a neo-burlesque show that showcases the glamour of European clubs.

Featuring dancers, aerial performances, pole work and song, it tells a story of burlesque performers wrestling for control of their fictional Parisian club from the male owner.

Think aerial antics, a wild can-can and champagne bubble baths served with French cuisine. (HC) Every Wednesday throughout Winter. Slide Lounge, 41 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst. From $89 (3 course dinner & show). Double Date Deal: $365 (table of 4).Tickets & info: slide.com.au/shows/risquerevue

Detroit A wide success in America, winning an Obie and placing as a finalist for the Pulitzer prize, Detroit is coming to Australia for its debut at Darlinghurst Theatre Company. The play frankly presents the financial blow-out of it’s namesake city (Detroit was amongst the most hardhit in the country) and features two couples, both in strife, who meet for a backyard barbeque that implodes over the successive 10 days.

Claire Lovering who plays Sharon, the fresh-out-of-rehab neighbour, says the play is a black comedy exploring two very different couples living in suburban America: “It’s about a middle-class couple and a ‘white-trash’ couple, and how they influence each other over the course of 10 days.”

“At its heart, this is a story about people and relationships, and how people find themselves not where they thought they would be,” explains Lovering. “It’s relatable to everyone.”

Lovering, who appeared in the film San Andreas (in a small but pivotal role alongside Paul Giammati) saw Detroit in London a few years ago, and is excited to be part of the Australian debut. “It’s serendipity to be playing this role in Australia.” (OA) July 22 - August 16. Darlinghurst Theatre Company, 30 Burton St, Darlinghurst. $30-$45.

Tickets & info: www.darlinghursttheatre.com or 8356 9987.

THEATRE & PERFORMANCE BRENDAN COWELL’S MEN First premiering at the Old Fitz Theatre back in 2000, this play reemerges on that exact stage this year. The play focuses on three completely different stereotypes of men and the way they interact with each other. It stars Sean Hawkins, Ben O’Toole, Jamie Timony and Cheree Cassidy. O’Toole plays Crazy Bob - he is the male stereotype of the aggressive, testosterone-fuelled man. He enjoys the character for his complexity: “There’s serious stuff going on with Crazy Bob.” (AMal) Until July 25.The Old Fitz Theatre, 129 Dowling Street, Woolloomooloo. $30-$35. ($25 Cheap Tuesday) Tickets & 14

city hub 23 July 2015

info: www.oldfitztheatre.com or 0422 198 955 OF MICE AND MEN At its Broadway premiere in 1937, John Steinbeck’s famous play was a striking commentary on how society treats its most vulnerable citizens, and how the human spirit somehow endures. This current embodiment continues to be as pertinent and moving as then. During the Great Depression, George (Anthony Gooley) and Lenny (Andrew Henry) are displaced migrant workers who dream of one day settling down on their own piece of land. Of Mice and Men is an eerily salient indictment of our current treatment of our disenfranchised fringe dwellers, our migrant peoples and our poor, while remaining an uplifting story of friendship pushed to the limits. (JH) Until July 25. Reginald Theatre,

Seymour Centre – Cnr City Rd and Cleveland St, Chippendale. $25-$39. Tickets & info: seymourcentre.com/events/event/ of-mice-and-men/ BITCH BOXER Jordan Cowan produces and stars in this intensely physical one-woman show where blood, sweat and tears are balanced with a contemplated, emotional and often downright hilarious dialogue.

Based around the true event of women’s boxing being green-lit as an Olympic sport for the first time at the London 2012 games, this show meets tough-skinned Chloe in the hour before the qualifying fight that will decide whether she makes it into the Olympics. Months of intensive boxing training went into this through performance. Audiences who caught Katherine Shearer’s production in May at The 505

Theatre will nevertheless appreciate a different take on this groundbreaking script. (AM) Until July 26. District 1 Theatre, 7 Randle Lane, Surry Hills. $15-$25.

Tickets: trybooking.com MOTHER COURAGE AND HER CHILDREN Belvoir’s interpretation of one of Bertolt Brecht’s most widely-staged shows is a lively, episodic depiction of wartime society, hedonism and profiteering.

Eamon Flack’s direction, and new translation by Michael Gow, somewhat modify the original to point of contemporary global affairs.

Musical interludes spruce up an essentially terrible tale. Robyn Nevin is forceful as Mother Courage, wearing a daggy outfit resembling a caravan park host rather than a seventeenth-century war profiteer.

With her droll delivery and elfin

mischievousness, she dominates the show. (OA) Until July 26. Belvoir Theatre, 18 – 25 Belvoir Street Surry Hills. $39-$72. Bookings: belvoir.com.au or 9699 3444.

THE ODD COUPLE Neil Simon came up with a stroke of comedy genius when he put the fastidious and slightly neurotic Felix Unger into the same apartment as the perennial slob, Oscar Madison. The Odd Couple comes to King Street Theatre in its classic incarnation.

Audiences can expect to step off King Street, walk up some dimly lit stairs and directly into Oscar Madison’s New York apartment.

Calib James, who plays Felix, says: “It really is old-fashioned, clean-hearted comedy – very well-written and very, very funny”. (GW) Until August 1 (Tues - Sat). King

Street Theatre, Level 1/644 King Street, Newtown. $30-35.

Tickets: 0423 082 015.

THE CHERRY ORCHARD Set in Russia in the year 1904 – a time when there was massive social change and the middle class was just developing – this is a period piece with the appropriate costumes, yet the themes are still relatable today.

We fall in love with the wrong people, we make incorrect choices, and sometimes we just like to stick our heads in the sand. These are the same issues people were facing in 1904. (MS) Until August 1.

The Depot Theatre, 142 Addison Road, Marrickville. $20-$29.

Tickets & info: info@thedepottheatre.com or 0428032838

T H E NA K E D C IT Y

FERALS UNDER FIRE!

By Coffin Ed, and Miss Death and Jay Katz What is it about cats that inspire such out-pawings (forgive the pun) of affection in some quarters, and an almost pathological dislike elsewhere? There are literally thousands of cat videos on YouTube and no doubt millions of downloads worldwide. If you are feeling a bit low, it’s even suggested as therapeutic – Google ‘cute little kittens’ and there’s hours of relaxation in watching those fluffy little felines run amok.

There’s no doubt that for many people cats make great domestic pets and they have done so since the days of ancient Egypt, maybe even earlier.The Egyptians considered their feline buddies sacred, and even went to the trouble of mummifying them when they died. In the late 1800s, an Egyptian farmer uncovered an enormous tomb of some 80,000 mummified cats and kittens, most of which were exported to England as fertilizer. Not the sort of thing Bunnings would have on their inventory today.

Yet as we are all aware, the modern ‘felis silvestris catus’ also has a very sinister side, particularly when it runs wild and wages war on our native species. Nobody knows the actual number of feral felines throughout Australia, with estimates between five and eighteen million, but the damage they do is tragic.The daily death toll of birds, lizards and other small critters has been put as high as 75 million.

It might seem way too late, but the Federal Government has just announced a five year plan aimed at killing up to two million of the rapacious moggies.As the ABC’s Ashley Hall recently reported:

“We’ve had the war on drugs and the war on terror.

Today the Federal Government will declare war on cats, feral cats that is.”

Whilst a total of 10 new feral cat-free enclosures will

be established to protect endangered species, just how the actual cull will take place remains to be seen. Baiting, shooting and poisoning have been discussed, but the sheer numbers of cats at large suggests a formidable enemy - along with their ‘death cult’ allies, the camels and toads.

Whilst the feral population of cats is largely distributed through rural and outback areas, the urban areas should not be forgotten.Who could forget the infamous Woolloomooloo panther, an enormous jet black tom, who terrorised both residents and wildlife in the suburb for over two years.The evil beast was even spotted climbing trees to snatch newborn noisy miner chicks from their nests. Gladly or sadly (if you’re a pussycat tragic), the panther became a doormat when he chanced his fleet of foot against the might of a council garbage truck on a rainy Friday morning.

Needless to say the legacy of the panther remains through his numerous offspring that now populate the backstreets of the Loo and Darlinghurst (and may well have migrated, along with his dominant genes, right throughout the state).Whether the so called ‘war on cats’ has any noticeable effect in reducing their everexpanding numbers and protecting our beloved critters remains to be seen. In the meantime for those uncompromised cat lovers, for whom the shooting and poisoning of the feral variety is highly questionable, there is always a diversion into the fluffy world of playful kittens online.

Meguiar’s MotorEx

Green Influx by Charlotte Haywood at A-M Gallery is both unassuming and impressive.

It is the work of an artist who uses her sharp eye for detail to create the right measure of abstractness within the real, enhanced by different materials and textures while throwing in an array to complimenting colours.

Created as if to bring to life Australian history, Green Influx ends up nicely merging the man-made with the flora and fauna.

Beautifully handled use of different media (such as textiles, mirrors, steel rods and video) brings out a strong sense of the traditional, interspersed with the modern.

When they named it Green Influx, they weren’t kidding. The colour green is clearly set out to make a statement. It is embodied in all its various interpretations: envy, sickness, nature, life and renewal. Multi-layered, the artist’s work is a revelation of the co-existence of nature and society.

Hidden yet peeking visible elements of nature, environment, evolution of life and an undeniable influence from the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people defines Charlotte’s work. A project that has been assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council, Green Influx is an exhibition of rare class. (JR) Until August 1. A-M Gallery, 191 Wilson Street, Newtown. Info: a-mgallery.com or 0425253476

This weekend will see some of the most artistic and creative cars from around Australia converge on Sydney Olympic Park, all vying for their share of $100,000 in prize money and accolades.

Now in its 15th year, the show has grown exponentially from its roots as “far more focussed [on a] narrow range of classic and old school hotrods” to a much broader display if 1923 Ford T-Bucket Photo: Peter Green the “car hobby” as a whole, said show director Bruce Morrison.

The show has evolved into a place catering to all walks of life (not just your stereotypical ‘petrol head’) as it demonstrates that car culture can be an art form in its own right.“Some of our categories are absolutely open, meaning we aren’t worried about if the car is road registered, so they are given a lot of creative freedom and [the cars] do become pieces of art,” said Morrison.

Peter Green, an entrant showing his 1923 Ford T-Bucket hot rod (pictured) added:“...Especially with that car it is a piece of art, with all of the paintwork, design and how it was built [all contributing].”

The show will also feature a selection of famous movie vehicles and an appearance from George Barris who created the cars from Batman, Dukes of Hazard and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.There will also be a charity and community element to the show, with an airbrush station which will be donating profits to the Westmead Children’s Hospital. (JA) Jul 25-26. Sydney Showgrounds, Sydney Olympic Park. Adults from $38, Children from $15.

Details: motorex.com.au

I See Red - Charlotte Haywood, 2015.

Green Influx

exhibitions GO EAST:THE GENE AND BRYAN SHERMAN CONTEMPORARY ASIAN ART COLLECTION Exploring a range of social issues through various styles of photography, installations and sculptures - the exhibition, despite being pieced together from works of different cultures, manages to come together to present one unified Asia.

This mesmerising installation of contemporary art features 20 artists from all across Asia. If this visually appealing exhibition has a flaw, it lies in one’s inability to take in the

entirety of the exhibition in one go, due to splitting across two venues.

Move past this, and you have yourself a collection not to be missed by the art lover, the art collector, or the newly enthusiastic. (JR) Until July 26. Art Gallery of New South Wales. Free.

Information: artgallery.nsw.gov. au or 9225 1744 ART AS A VERB This group exhibition denotes the concept of art as action. Showcasing actions, performances, situational pieces, manifestos, interactive props, take home photographs, instructional works and intriguing takes on

seemingly mundane activity. There are over 60 pieces in the exhibition that journey through the 1960’s to the present. Mixed medium is used throughout including sculpture, performance and documentary.

There are many reflections on the social function of art itself, the relevance of interactions and all the situational, individual experiences and responses in between. A provocative and surreal exhibition, that requires an open mind. (RM) Until July 26. Artspace.

43 – 51 Cowper Wharf Road, Woolloomooloo, http://www.artspace.org.au/

LOCALS ONLY: CALIFORNIAN SKATEBOARDING 1975-78 The image of tanned bodies, sun splashed blonde hair and a ‘devil may care’ attitude is synonymous with California skaters of the 1970’s (namely the notorious Z-boys and Dogtown skateboarders). But who captured and popularised this image? Hugh Holland. Holland’s famous photographs are on display for the first time in Australia. Often imitated but never equalled, his work gives the viewer the opportunity to experience what’s its like to be there at the beginning of a

movement. (BM) Until August 1. Blender Gallery, 16 Elizabeth Street, Paddington 2021.

(Closed Sundays and Mondays.)

Info: www.blendergallery.com 24 Frames The Carriageworks has been transformed into an immersive multimedia and dance experience, featuring 24 different works by 24 different artists.

Commissioned as part of a partnership between the Australian Council Of The Arts and Carriageworks, this exhibition is set to be one of the most ambitious and extensive presentations of dance on

screen in Australia, occupying a space that is 6000 metres squared.

The curators of the show placed very few limitations upon the artists, the only guidelines being that the works had to have a film element and also incorporate a dance element. Due to this philosophy the variety of works is astonishing, ranging from projections in various sizes and formats to works that incorporate the structural heritage elements of the venue itself into the art. (JA) Jun 18 – Aug 2, Carriageworks, 245 Wilson St, Everleigh, FREE, info: carriageworks.com.au city hub 23 July 2015

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Self/Less

13 MINUTES Set in November 1939, this WWII drama is the incredible true story of George Elser, a German who attempted to assassinate Adolf Hitler, one of the world’s most feared men.

Elser (Christian Friedel) had a sixth sense about the fuher and claimed “Hitler is bad for Germany”, realising earlier than most of the peril and bloodshed Hitler would bring to Europe.

Elser had personally assembled and planted a bomb, and had it exploded just 13 minutes before Hitler left the scene of the attempted assassination, millions of people would not have perished during the war.

Highly suspenseful and heartfelt at times, this skilfully edited film intertwines flashbacks revealing the events in Elser’s life which led to his desperate mission to eliminate Hitler.

Hitler is seen only in the opening scenes, but his evil prevalence is evident through graphic and disturbing scenes of torture and executions which he ordered.

This film is highly-crafted and spoken in German, which effectively heightens it’s credibility.

(MMo) WWWW

Conceptually, Self/Less is a film that had the potential to explore some deep-seeded philosophical concepts, such as the interplay between the rich and poor, over-reliance on medicine, and finally what it means to be human.

Sadly however, these ideas are quickly dashed as the film descends into generic shoot-em-up thriller fair.

The film centres around Damian Hale (Ben Kingsley and Ryan Reynolds), a rich New York real estate magnate who is suffering from a terminal cancer. He is introduced to a shady doctor who in turn introduces him to the concept of ‘shedding’, which promises to transfer his mind into the body of a young,‘laboratory grown’ vessel.

The only catch being he must not have any contact with people from his past - and take a red pill everyday to prevent hallucinations, migraines and death.After Hale misses just one pill, the film descends into generic thriller fair - and it never recovers, often relying on obvious ‘twists’ that can be seen long before they happen. (JA) WW

Magic Mike XXL

Gleeful shrieks have rung out from cinemas around the world as the sequel to 2012’s Magic Mike slides half-naked into theatres.

Magic Mike XXL does what it says on the muscle-flexing tin. It’s a collection of scenes created with the sole purpose of getting the target audience “frothing” (as radio DJ Maz Compton so aptly put it at the Sydney premiere arena event).

Funny, entertaining and mostly gratuitous scenes are strung together with a barely-there plot about ‘getting back to the grind’, as Mike (Channing Tatum) and the remaining ‘Kings of

RUBEN GUTHRIE “Let’s get smashed” is the opening dialogue aptly summing up this Australian comedy/drama about alcohol abuse.

Ruben Guthrie (Patrick Brammall) is an advertising guru who loves to party and over-indulge on alcohol.

His fiancée gives him an ultimatum – stop drinking within 12 months, or else they’re finished. Can he refrain from participating in one of Australian’s favourite pass times?

Highlighting the difficulties in writing comedy, this film would have been more engaging solely as a drama.

Most comical dialogue backfired, simply evoking a sense of awkwardness. (MMo) WWW NO,THANK YOU This erotic comedy/drama from Finland explores the ideology that sexual incompatibility and breakdown in communications can lead to infidelity amongst married couples.

A near middle-aged couple, wife Heli (Anu Sinisalo) and husband Matti (Ville Virtanen), have seemingly been married forever. Heli craves intimacy and tries to take it by force, owing to Matti’s preoccupation with computers. She develops an attraction to younger men and encourages a steaming affair with her unattached, good-looking and 16

city hub 23 July 2015

Tampa’ take a boys road trip for one last hurrah at a stripper convention. Of course they meet a host of horny women and get themselves into mischief along the way.

This time the Kings are joined by Andre (Donald Glover) and Malik (Stephen Boss aka tWitch), with Jada Pinkett Smith as their sultry, powerful queen and MC, Rome.

Overall Magic Mike XXL is unapologetically cheesy and unabashedly entertaining, if only for the dance routines... and the stripping… which is basically the whole film. Squeal on, queens. (LL) WW

much younger student Jarno (Kai Vaine). Strong performances make this voyeuristic viewing a most compelling and stimulating experience. (MMo) WWW½ Screening at Palace Norton Street & Palace Verona as part of the Scandinavian Film Festival.

Until July 26. $19.50.

Tickets & Info: scandinavianfilmfestival.com ALL INCLUSIVE From Denmark comes this enchanting comedy.

When estranged sisters Ditte (Danica Curcic) and Sigrid (Maria Rossing) take their newly-divorced mother Lise (Bodil Jorgensen) to Malta for her 60th birthday, Ditte pays a young and charismatic bar tender to date her depressed mother. A romance quickly builds, which Ditte then hilariously tries to alleviate. Comedy also arises from the discussions these three ladies have about sex, marriage and lust further fuelled by the peculiarity of patrons at their hotel. Spoken in English and Danish with English subtitles, this film examines family ties whilst a poignant sub-plot concerning death and grieving briefly suspends the laughter. (MMo) TED 2 Ted (Seth MacFarlane) and his thunder buddy John (Mark

Wahlberg) are back in the sequel to MacFarlane’s 2012 comedy about a foul-mouthed teddy bear who came to life. In the first film it was John who needed to grow up, now the narrative is all about Ted. Since the predecessor was a comedy that successfully walked the line between clever and crass, the same could be expected for the sequel.

Unfortunately Ted 2 falls more on the crass side and feels like a halfhearted attempt to milk the concept – MacFarlane is more successful when he breaks the mould. (LL) WWW½ Screening at Palace Norton Street & Palace Verona as part of the Scandinavian Film Festival.

Until July 26. $19.50.

Tickets & Info: scandinavianfilmfestival.com OUT OF NATURE Filmed in the haunting beauty of the Norwegian wilderness, this quasi-documentary explores the anxieties of a man who feels detached from his wife and child and who yearns for a new life.

Martin (Ole Giaever) ventures to the mountains for the weekend on a habitual hiking trip. Cleverly scripted, this original and awardwinning movie is exquisitely filmed, with mesmerising close-ups of

soaring eagles, sunsets and mountain landscapes. Gratuitous full-frontal nudity pervades the film, and audiences should be amused by the shameless wilderness masturbation scene. (MMo) WWW½ Screening at Palace Norton Street & Palace Verona as part of the Scandinavian Film Festival.

Until July 26. $19.50.

Tickets & Info: scandinavianfilmfestival.com AMY This intimate and fascinating documentary by Asif Kapadia (Senna,The Sheep Theif) using Winehouse’s most poignant lyrics as the spine of the narrative, accompanied by never before seen footage.There is no creative editing or opportunistic re-appropriation of media footage to perpetuate the public perception of her, Amy is as honest, straightforward and complex as the ‘gobby’ girl herself. It is technically difficult to turn a disparate collection of shots and raw video into a flowing, accurate piece of cinema - but Kapadia has created a deeply honest and moving portrayal in Winehouse’s own words (or more aptly, lyrics). (LL) WWWW JURASSIC WORLD It’s been 22 years since the first Jurassic Park left

audiences enamoured with the concept of a dinosaur theme park, and that sense of wonderment has been successfully reinvigorated in this third sequel. It’s a testament to director Colin Trevorrow who has stepped up to take the reins of his first major blockbuster and knocked it out of the (jurassic) park. Leads Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard do a solid job of being coheroes. Romantic interest takes a backseat to the training relationship Pratt’s tough-guy Owen has with his team of raptors.While there are some weak points — twodimensional supporting characters and a shoehorned sub-plot — none of that will matter in one of the most anticipated sequels ever made.

(LL) WWWW SLM MOVIE CLUB SERIES: AUSTRALIAN FILMMAKERS Local filmmakers are being acknowledged in the Sydney Living Museum’s latest Movie Club Series, documentary screenings are followed by Q&A sessions with the filmmakers.

88 (July 26) is a landmark documentary from Adrian Russell Wills and Micaela Perske, which delves into the events that led up to January 26 1988, triggering the

largest assembly of Indigenous people in Australia.

Tender (Aug 30) from filmmaker Lynette Wallworth, is compassionate and inspirational, and revolves around a community centre in Port Kembla which is in the process of removing funerals from the business structure and placing it in the hands of the community.(MMo) Museum of Sydney, Cnr Phillip & Bridge Streets, $12-$15.

Bookings & Information: sydneylivingmuseums.com.au INSIDE OUT Pixar is famous for making animations that comment on the human condition and Inside Out is another triumph.This laughout-loud comedy about Riley (Kaitlyn Dias), who is guided by the emotions that live in the control centre of her mind, is funny for both adults and children. Featuring comedic star voices such as Amy Poehler as Joy, Bill Hader as Fear, Lewis Black as Anger, Mindy Kaling as Disgust and Phyllis Smith as Sadness. As with all Pixar animations, the formula is simple — there’s laughter, fun, nostalgia and a good dose of tugging at the heartstrings, with an honest message to tie it all together — but this is by no means a formulaic offering. (LL) WWWW

Sydney Live Music Guide LIVE WIRE

By Jamie Apps Big White: 80s inspired sweet synth-pop with catchy vocal hooks has seen this band’s rapid rise in prominence.This rise culminates tonight when they take the stage to support Catfish and The Bottlemen during their Splendour In The Grass Sideshow.

Thu, Jul 23, Oxford art Factory Suzannah Espie: Suzannah’s voice has been known to bring grown men to tears, with her powerful Aretha Franklinesque soul power. Combine this with a unique mixture of country, folk, blues and soul - this show is bound to be exciting and memorable as it launches a new single, I’m Sorry - adding another reason for fans to head out and brave the cold.

Fri, Jul 24, Django Bar @ Camelot Lounge Earl Sweatshirt: The American rapper/producer brings his brand of cerebral hip-hop back to Australian shores this week. Earlier this year Earl released his sophomore effort which has received even greater praise than his debut release.This is a rare chance for Aussie fans to get up close and enjoy some of the greatest hip-hop going at present.

Sat, Jul 25, Max Watts Ocean Grove: Melbourne’s Ocean Grove arrive in Sydney this week to commemorate the release of their Black Label EP.Taking inspiration from

NORTHLANE

genre heavyweights Marilyn Manson and Slipknot, the band has been able to produce their own unique twist on the genre and generated a loyal following nationwide.

Sat, Jul 25, MMRS

By jamie apps Sydney hardcore fans have an opportunity this week to get up close and personal (outside of the typical concert setting) with one of Australia’s best bands in the scene at the moment, as Northlane conduct an in-store signing/meet and greet.

Guitarist Josh Smith said events like this are “always fun to do…we owe everything to the them [the fans] so there wouldn’t be a more important way for us to spend our time.”

The boys will be at Utopia Records to celebrate and talk with fans about their latest album Node, which is also their first release since bringing in new vocalist Marcus Bridge.As one can expect, changing vocalists has had a tremendous impact on the bands direction and sound. But it has been a positive change, meaning Northlane have produced a record that Josh describes as “...much more reflective of us as a whole”.

This new whole-band focus of the sound has come about because the band have entirely overhauled their writing process, opting now for a much more collaborative approach. By following this approach Josh has been able to impart more of his ideas into the songs, which he has certainly enjoyed.

“I’m a pretty outspoken person, so I felt this was a really cool outlet for me to say what I wanted to say in a way that could grab peoples attention and make them think,” he said.

Josh was also quick to praise Marcus’ talent and ability to slot into the

Joshua Seymour: Having spent the last few years as a co-songwriter in Melbourne alt-country band Cherrywood, Seymour is now breaking the shackles to write his own material and has come out swinging. He has managed to impart his own Australian flair on the traditional Americana sound thanks to being a true student of the genre, having immersed himself in it for some time.

Sun, Jul 26, Petersham Bowls Club Gurrumul: Just days before the release of his third studio record The Gospel Album the iconic Australian singer will begin his national tour in Sydney.This run of shows is a rare chance to see his mesmerising performance accompanied by an orchestra and choir.

Wed, Jul 29, Enmore Theatre Mar Haze: Paying tribute to their greatest influences and showcasing their three year musical journey with their anticipated EP release this week.

Blending rock, coastal melodies and R&B grooves this band are truly something special.

Wed, Jul 29, Frankies Pizza

The Coolites – Caravan Park Summers Being born in the nineties, I missed the origin of the kind of beat The Coolites are rocking here. The thick half-sung, half-spoken voice brings me back to things I have only seen in movies. The Coolites refresh the old ways, mixing their modern Australian perception with the sounds my parents rocked out to before the births of my brother and I put a hold on all that.

We’ve seen a lot of musical variation since then, but the 80’s are still alive and kicking. Here’s your second chance, Mum and Dad, get your Discman around Caravan Park Summers. (SP) WW1/2

band so easily - and also to thank him for helping him with some of the intricacies of songwriting.“His skill set has been a really cool fresh pallet of stuff for us to work with and we’ve had a lot of fun working with him,” said Josh.“[Working with him] was cool for me because I can struggle to see how things fit into songs, so he was really helpful to bounce ideas off and give each other feedback.”

After the signing sessions the boys are set to embark on their first ever headline tours of North America and Europe, which Josh described as “scary but really exciting”. Unfortunately for Australian fans this means they will have to wait a little longer to see the guys performing locally again, but an announcement is coming very soon so keep your eyes peeled.

Jul 24. Utopia Records, 511 Kent St, Sydney.

FREE. More Info: facebook.com/northlane

The Waifs – 6000 miles

It is a pleasing experience to listen to TheWaifs single 6000 miles, from their new LP BeautifulYou. I have long been a fan of TheWaifs easy musical flow, and their sense of individuality that makes listeners feel like they are hearing and sharing in a unique story between the band members and those they have loved - a story this reviewer is equally spellbound by.

The passion, the unassuming conversation between lyrics, and everything else that’s going on break down all of the barriers to soaking up every moment of the three minutes and thirty seven seconds in this haunting song.This is just one of the gems of TheWaifs newest album. (SP) WWWW

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All enquiries please email chris@altmedia.net.au city hub 23 July 2015

17

FREEWILLASTROLOGY

by Rob Brezsny

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ARIES (March 21-April 19): The Latin motto “Carpe diem” shouldn’t be translated as “Seize the day!”, says author Nicholson Baker. It’s not a battle cry exhorting you to “freaking grab the day in your fist like a burger at a fairground and take a big chomping bite out of it.” The proper translation, according to Baker, is “Pluck the day.” In other words, “you should gently pull on the day’s stem, as if it were a wildflower, holding it with all the practiced care of your thumb and the side of your finger, which knows how to not crush easily crushed things -- so that the day’s stem undergoes increasing tension and draws to a tightness, and then snaps softly away at its weakest point, and the flower is released in your hand.” Keep that in mind, Aries. I understand you are often tempted to seize rather than pluck, but these days plucking is the preferable approach.

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TAURUS (April 20-May 20): When I talk about “The Greatest Story Never Told,” I’m not referring to the documentary film about singer Lana Del Rey or the debut album of the rap artist Saigon or any other cultural artifact. I am, instead, referring to a part of your past that you have never owned and understood . . . a phase from the old days that you have partially suppressed . . . an intense set of memories

you have not fully integrated. I say it’s time for you to deal with this shadow. You’re finally ready to acknowledge it and treasure it as a crucial thread in the drama of your hero’s journey.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): The ancient Greek philosopher Thales is credited as being one of the earliest mathematicians and scientists.

He was a deep thinker whose thirst for knowledge was hard to quench. Funny story: Once he went out at night for a walk.

Gazing intently up at the sky, he contemplated the mysteries of the stars. Oops! He didn’t watch where he was going, and fell down into a well. He was OK, but embarrassed.

Let’s make him your anti-role model, Gemini. I would love to encourage you to unleash your lust to be informed, educated, and inspired -- but only if you watch where you’re going.

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CANCER (June 21-July 22): Charles Darwin is best known for his book The Origin of Species, which contains his seminal ideas about evolutionary biology.

But while he was still alive, his best-seller was The Formation of Vegetable Mould Through the Action of Worms. The painstaking result of over forty years’ worth of research, it is a tribute to the noble earthworm and that creature’s crucial role in the health of soil and plants. It provides a different angle on one of Darwin’s central concerns: how small, incremental transformations

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that take place over extended periods of time can have monumental effects. This also happens to be one of your key themes in the coming months.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): A researcher at the University of Amsterdam developed software to read the emotions on faces. He used it to analyze the expression of the woman in Leonardo da Vinci’s famous painting, the Mona Lisa. The results suggest that she is 83 percent happy, 9 percent disgusted, 6 percent fearful, and 2 percent angry.

Whether or not this assessment is accurate, I appreciate its implication that we humans are rarely filled with a single pure emotion. We often feel a variety of states simultaneously. In this spirit, I have calculated your probably mix for the coming days: 16 percent relieved, 18 percent innocent, 12 percent confused, 22 percent liberated, 23 percent ambitious, and 9 percent impatient.

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VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): “What makes you heroic?” asked philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. Here’s how he answered himself: “simultaneously going out to meet your highest suffering and your highest hope.” This is an excellent way to sum up the test that would inspire you most in the coming weeks, Virgo.

Are you up for the challenge? If so, grapple with your deepest pain. Make a fierce effort to both heal it and be motivated

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by it. At the same time, identify your brightest hope and take a decisive step toward fulfilling it.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Actress and musician Carrie Brownstein was born with five planets in Libra. Those who aren’t conversant with astrology’s mysteries may conclude that she is a connoisseur of elegance and harmony.

Even professional stargazers who know how tricky it is to make generalizations might speculate that she is skilled at cultivating balance, attuned to the needs of others, excited by beauty, and adaptive to life’s ceaseless change. So what are we to make of the fact that Brownstein has said, “I really don’t know what to do when my life is not chaotic”? Here’s what I suspect: In her ongoing exertions to thrive on chaos, she is learning how to be a connoisseur of elegance and harmony as she masters the intricacies of being balanced, sensitive to others, thrilled by beauty, and adaptive to change. This is important for you to hear about right now.

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SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): You’re entering a volatile phase of your cycle. In the coming weeks, you could become a beguiling monster who leaves a confusing mess in your wake. On the other hand, you could activate the full potential of your animal intelligence as you make everything you touch more

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interesting and soulful. I am, of course, rooting for the latter outcome. Here’s a secret about how to ensure it: Be as ambitious to gain power over your own darkness as you are to gain power over what happens on your turf.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): I’m a big fan of the attitude summed up by the command “Be here now!”

The world would be more like a sanctuary and less like a battleground if people focused more on the present moment rather than on memories of the past and fantasies of the future. But in accordance with the astrological omens, you are hereby granted a temporary exemption from the “Be here how!” approach. You have a poetic license to dream and scheme profusely about what you want your life to be like in the future. Your word of power is tomorrow.

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CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): A philanthropist offered $100,000 to the Girls Scouts chapter of Western Washington.

But there were strings attached. The donor specified that the money couldn’t be used to support transgender girls. The Girl Scouts rejected the gift, declaring their intention to empower every girl “regardless of her gender identity, socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, or sexual orientation.” Do you have that much spunk, Capricorn? Would you turn down aid that would

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infringe on your integrity? You may be tested soon. Here’s what I suspect: If you are faithful to your deepest values, even if that has a cost, you will ultimately attract an equal blessing that doesn’t require you to sell out. (P.S. The Girls Scouts subsequently launched an Indiegogo campaign that raised more than $300,000.)

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Consider the possibility of opening your mind, at least briefly, to provocative influences you have closed yourself off from. You may need to refamiliarize yourself with potential resources you have been resisting or ignoring, even if they are problematic. I’m not saying you should blithely welcome them in. There still may be good reasons to keep your distance. But I think it would be wise and healthy for you to update your relationship with them.

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PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Over 10,000 species of mushrooms grow in North America. About 125 of those, or 1.25 percent, are tasty and safe to eat. All the others are unappetizing or poisonous, or else their edibility is in question.

By my reckoning, a similar statistical breakdown should apply to the influences that are floating your way. I advise you to focus intently on those very few that you know for a fact are pleasurable and vitalizing. Make yourself unavailable for the rest.

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You’re the best!

We’d like to give you the opportunity to tell our eighty three thousands readers why!

This August in celebration of the City Hub’s TWENTIETH ANNIVERSARY, we are compiling our annual salute to the BEST OF SYDNEY. Every week the City Hub hits the street with inner city news, alternative views and a comprehensive guide to what’s on in Sydney.

The BEST OF SYDNEY is our most popular issue of the year and contains an insiders‘ guide to some of Sydney’s most favourite, offbeat, well-known and unusual places, spaces and faces.

People save the Best of Sydney edition and refer back to it throughout the year.

Businesses who participate in the TWENTIETH anniversary BEST OF SYDNEY edition receive an editorial profile, a print advertisement in our collector’s edition, a month’s worth of online banner ads as well a certificate and sticker to display in your premises.

To find out how you can be featured in our TWENTIETH Anniversary BEST OF SYDNEY Call (02) 9212 5677

Booking Deadline: July 31 18

city hub 23 July 2015

Kings Court Massage Kings Court is the only place to have twenty two massage rooms and eleven hot tubs, spas, and bubble baths.

Wall to wall beautiful ladies, pool tables and luxurious leather lounges. You can have a coffee and enjoy the friendly atmosphere.

Approachable managers help you choose a lady for your massage. There is a fair queueing system and no hidden charges or credit card fees. We are just along from Central Railway at 261 Parramatta Rd Glebe, Sydney NSW 2037 Phone 02 9660 0666 Its a $10.00 Taxi Ride from the CBD Visit our web site at

www.kingscourt.com.au We are open 9 am to 1 am and 24 hours on Weekends. There is a 20% discount from 9 am to 12 noon & FREE ENTRY before 9 pm each day.

After 9 pm a $20 entry fee forms part of the pricing structure and also protects the massage ladies from insincere visitors.

Parking is available in the Broadway Shopping Centre near our discreet rear entrance at 18 Grose St Glebe, first 2 hours free. Check out the website: at www.kingscourt.com.au for information, funny stuff and pictures of pretty women. There are no photos of the regular girls as they are too shy.

Also check out Big John’s Facebook to see a mixture of really funny pics, photos, stories and links to the best pages of our website. This is updated regularly:

www.facebook.com/KingsBigJohn Kings Court Massage: Where the first time customer can meet the first time massage girl!

VACANCIES Kings Court is the best place to learn adult massage. You can work with us part time or be a casual and you are paid cash daily. Work times can suit students or young mothers. When you start we get one of the regular girls to show you how to do your first massage. We have off street parking for ladies with cars and for your interview you can park in the Broadway Shopping Centre near our discreet rear entry with two hours free parking. The 18 Grose Street Glebe NSW 2037 address is the best way to find us using GPS plotting. Ring us on 02 9660 0666. Some ladies from out of town stay over when they visit. We have the bestest and sweetest customers of any place.

The website is www.kingscourt.com.au On the home page have a look at, “Is this your first time” and see the ten tips that help customers to understand how we do business and how they must behave towards our girls.

Hi, this is Big John the owner of Kings Court.

A massage at Kings Court is really a very nice experience and you can sit naked in the spa with a pretty girl and have champagne.

We have very nice, “girl-next-door” types here and because we don’t allow the girls to have their privacy invaded they remain as sweet young things and do not toughen up. You will leave with a smile on your face and a tremble in your knees!

The best new thing we have at the moment is all the really funny stuff on our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/KingsBigJohn

The Kings Court cartoon ads are based on actual things that happen: The joke here is that one of the girls went to watch at the training of a rugby league A grade team and the guys were showing off and very distracted. They were quite thrilled to see her at Kings Court the next time they came in.

city hub 23 July 2015

19

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