City Hub 9 October 2014

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october 9, 2014

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POWER TO THE poets Rapper Solo is performing at the Word Travels Story Fest

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Uncertain future for Pyrmont Bridge garden on Pyrmont Bridge for pedestrians and cyclists who would have been forced into their cars,” said Cr Scott.

Cr Scott expressed relief at Minister Goward’s decision to back down on the proposal this week.

Another strong voice in opposition to the proposal is Bicycle NSW, a group representing the interests of cyclists.

Bicycle NSW spokesperson Sophie Bartho told City Hub she is pleased with recent developments.

“The proposal would reduce access to the shared path facilities, which would increase risks to pedestrians and cyclists.

The whole proposal put pedestrians and cyclists at risk,” she said.

Ms Bartho said Bicycle NSW’s concerns also related to a lack of consultation between Bicycle NSW, SHFA and Transport for NSW. “It was very alarming that the appropriate consultation never took place in regards to this proposal,” she said.

Minister Foley, Ms Bartho and Cr Scott all agreed that sustainability should be a priority when planning NSW transport infrastructure, but that Pyrmont Bridge was the wrong place to instigate these plans.

“We need to focus on sustainability but it’s very clear that this was just proposed in the wrong location.”

All three opponents of the proposal also agreed they would support the plan if it were moved elsewhere.

While Minister Goward did indicate she would back down on the proposal, the development application itself has not been officially withdrawn.

Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority told City Hub no decisions have been made as yet, and implied the cancellation of the project is not certain.

“SHFA is considering all options at this Photo: Bike NSW

BY Lucia Osborne-Crowley NSW Planning Minister Pru Goward has signalled she will back down on a controversial proposal to build a large sustainable garden on Pyrmont Bridge.

The project, called AMAZE and championed by Ms Goward with the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority (SHFA), proposed to build three sixty metre compost barges on the bridge.

A development application for the proposal was submitted to the City of Sydney Council for consideration in July.

Last week, Minister Goward told The Daily Telegraph she would not progress with the proposal.

This decision may have been related to a strong community backlash, both from local politicians and community groups.

Shadow Minister for Planning Luke Foley said he was pleased at the Minister’s decision to withdraw the proposal.

“I’m all for sustainability, but plonking a six metre wide, 180 metre long compost heap on the busy Pyrmont Bridge was simply planning madness,” Minister Foley said.

“The demise of Pru Goward’s compost dream is a humiliating defeat for the Planning Minister.”

City of Sydney councillor Linda Scott opposed the proposal based on its potential to increase congestion on the bridge, which is currently believed to be at or near capacity.

“The Pyrmont Bridge serves as a key pedestrian and cycle route for over 17,000 inner city residents and visitors each day.

This development application, if approved, would have seen increased congestion

An artist’s impression of the AMAZE project

stage,” a spokesperson said.

“Due to difficulties with the planning approvals from the City of Sydney, SHFA missed the window in the growing season, and will have to postpone AMAZE for this year. SHFA is looking forward to working on AMAZE in the future and want to explore how to make it happen at another time.”

The spokesperson referred to the project as a “unique showcase of sustainable design”.

Cr Scott called on SHFA to officially withdraw the development application for AMAZE and abandon the project entirely.

“The Minister and Liberal State Government now need to deliver on this commitment and withdraw the proposal.”

This issue relates to a broader problem facing the local and state governments relating to transport infrastructure servicing the western harbour.

“We have a really serious problem with transport connecting Pyrmont to the city,” said Cr Scott.

“The City of Sydney needs to do some serious hinking about how that demand of people to walk and cycle into the city is met. It’s clear that Pyrmont Bridge is reaching capacity.”

“With the development of Barangaroo and the Bays Precinct, we will need a really strong new transport solution for that area.”

Minister Foley agreed.

“Improving connectivity between Sydney Harbour’s fast growing western waterfront and the CBD is a serious policy challenge.”

Minister Goward’s office did not respond to requests for comment on the issue.

Kyol Blakeney to shake up student council Published weekly and freely available Sydney-wide.

Copies are also distributed to serviced apartments, hotels, convenience stores and newsagents throughout the city.

Distribution enquiries call 9212 5677. Published by the Alternative Media Group of Australia. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy of content, City Hub takes no responsibility for inadvertent errors or omissions.

ABN 48 135 222 169 Group Publisher: Lawrence Gibbons Group Manager: Chris Peken Group Editor: Lucia Osborne-Crowley Contributors: Chris Sutton, Jessica Yun, Jessica Rapana, Christopher Harris, Tang Li, Georgia Kriz Arts Editor: Leigh Livingstone Live Music Editors: Chelsea Deeley & Alexandra English Dining Editor: Jackie McMillan Advertising Managers: Toni Martelli, Robert Tuitama & Mike Contos Design: Joanna Grace Cover: Chris Peken - Solo Email: question@alternativemediagroup.com Advertising: sales@alternativemediagroup.com Contact: PO Box 843 Broadway 2007 Ph: 9212 5677 Fax: 9212 5633 Web: altmedia.net.au

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BY Tang Li Last week Kyol Blakeney won the 2015 presidency of the Sydney University Students’ Representative Council (SRC), ending a long period of Labor leadership at the university and becoming the first Indigenous president in a decade.

In a massive triumph, Blakeney won every single voting booth, claiming 61 per cent of the vote, where 3851 votes were counted in this year’s election.

A member of the Grassroots faction, Blakeney beat National Labor Students (NLS) candidate Amy Knox for the top job. He currently serves as the SRC’s Indigenous Officer and will be the first non-Labor president in 14 years.

When Mr Blakeney first arrived at Sydney University, there was little representation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in any student positions.

This instigated his desire to provide a voice towards management, particularly through the SRC. After consulting the Indigenous Collective in the Koori Centre, he successfully ran for the position of Indigenous Office Bearer.

“I wanted to be somebody who could hold a vote on council so that we had more of a sway and influence with the way our university went about its cultural business.”

Blakeney’s agenda for the 87th SRC will focus on three main issues.

These include opposing fee

deregulation and continuing to fight against discriminatory reforms to higher education; working with the university to ensure that its new student housing project will be affordable and high quality; and lobbying the government to increase Youth Allowance, AusStudy or AbStudy above the poverty line.

“I want the SRC to be an activist space which serves the students of this university. I want an SRC that will continue to challenge the government and the university management for the benefit of students,” he said.

Currently, Indigenous students constitute approximately 0.8 per cent of the Sydney University student body. Mr Blakeney is determined to push for more affordable housing for students but in particular, Indigenous and those from low SES backgrounds.

“One of the main deterrents students face about coming to university is that they have nowhere to live.” “ Many Indigenous students leave their communities in rural and remote areas to attend tertiary study but either cannot find suitable accommodation to start/ continue their degree or do not have the financial support to pay for accommodation,” he said.

When asked about the significance of the end of a long Labor leadership, Blakeney ‘s main concern has always been the

question of whom they are loyal to, regardless of who is in office at the time.

“I honestly question anybody who is part of or affiliated with a political party as their agenda can seem to reflect that of the party.”

Bridget Harilaou, a Sydney University student told City Hub she voted for Mr Blakeney because of this distance from any of the major parties.

“It’s really refreshing to see

a ‘student politician’ with no ambitions for climbing a partyladder,” she said.

Liam Carrigan, University of Sydney Union Board Director and Queer Portfolio holder, said he looked forward to an increase in activism in coming years as a result of Mr Blakeney’s leadership.

“I really would like to see the SRC properly promote its amazing welfare services and empower more young activists during Kyol’s term.”

Kyol Blakeny

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Waverley Council divided over amalgamations

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a council we are sustainable to the future,” said Mayor Betts.

“We could and should only support amalgamation if it benefits the community with improved services and residents agree to any structural reforms. This would need to be the essential criteria for the community and council,” she said.

However, Labor councillor Ingrid Strewe said the statement in the report suggested a preference that was not consistent with the

view held by council.

“The Mayor’s position seems to be a preference for a local eastern beaches amalgamation, but that is for personal political reasons and is not council’s position.”

After Cr Strewe realised the report stated a preference for amalgamation, she unsuccessfully moved to rescind the motion, which was voted down by all the Liberal councillors.

“I noticed that the General

Manager’s report said we (council) preferred amalgamation with Randwick and Woollahra. That’s not the case; we’ve never have a stated position on preferring amalgamation with anyone.”

“Because the Mayor knows the State wants amalgamations, she wants to get the best amalgamation for herself.”

Labor candidate for Coogee Paul Pearce also weighed in on the discussion, claiming the Mayor’s Photo: Chris Peken

BY Jessica Yun Waverley Mayor Sally Betts has sparked controversy within council over her response to the NSW Government’s planned local government reform, including council amalgamations.

The reform, called Fit For Future, encourages councils to consider voluntary amalgamations with neighbouring councils.

A council report outlining the Mayor’s position reads: “Council’s stated position has been one of support for local government reform but is not supportive of the proposition for Waverley becoming part of the ‘global city’ with City of Sydney.”

“Instead, the investigation of the possibility for merging with neighbouring councils Woollahra and Randwick is preferred provided benefits for the community can be demonstrated.”

While Mayor Betts believes most local governments – including Waverley Council – prefer no amalgamation at all, it may be the case that the NSW Government will push local councils to amalgamate regardless. If this is the case, councils will need to be prepared.

According to the Mayor, Waverley is financially capable of remaining independent, but is open to exploring possibilities of amalgamation provided there are proven benefits for the community.

“We’re quite confident that as

Waverley Mayor Sally Betts

attempt to promote amalgamations was underhanded.

Mr Pearce encouraged Mayor Betts to “come clean” about any negotiations made between herself and Liberal Randwick Mayor Ted Seng.

“It is very clear from the nature of the claims being made

by Waverley Mayor, Sally Betts, that there have been significant discussions between the two Liberal Mayors notwithstanding (that) the adopted position of Randwick Council is ‘no amalgamation’ and Waverley has has not formally adopted a position.”

Mayor Betts said she was surprised at Cr Strewe’s attempt to rescind the motion.

“The rescission was trying to change the report … and you can’t do that.”

Mayor Betts said the General Manager wrote the report and the issue should have been taken up with him. Nonetheless, it was not legally possible to change a report, she said.

“You cannot have a rescission to change what the General Manager wrote . They should know that.”

Cr Strewe said the rescission motion was to rescind the report completely in order to withdraw and amend the ‘preference’ for local amalgamation.

Independent councillor GuttmanJones voted alongside Labor on several accounts, but suspects Labor’s attempted rescission motion belies a political motive.

“Labor knew that they would

not have the numbers to get the rescission motion passed.”

“Their main aim is try and make the Mayor, Sally Betts, look bad.

That has been the way they’ve been operating for the last two years,” she said.

Cr Guttman-Jones’ personally prefers no amalgamation but understands “it could be that the State government will legislate that amalgamation will be compulsory.”

For resident Kimberley Croft, amalgamation with inner city councils may in fact simplify matters for cyclists in Waverley.

“I think, especially in a metropolitan area, there are far too many councils. That can cause a lot of difficulties especially in roadplanning, and in particular cycling infrastructure,” said Ms Croft.

On Ms Croft’s commute from her home to the city, she crosses three council areas in a 7.5km trip.

“Finding out who is responsible for different parts of the road – sometimes it’s the RTA, sometimes it’s Waverley Council, sometimes it’s Woollahra Council, sometimes it’s the City of Sydney. It’s quite difficult to get any kind of straight answer.

One concern with larger councils is that councillors will be responsible for more people and areas they may be unfamiliar with.

“The further the decision-maker is away from the area of which they’re making decisions on, there’s potential for making decisions that are going to affect residents in a negative way.”

White supremacist group resurfaces in inner Sydney according to residents of inner city suburbs such as St Peters and Tempe.

The new campaign suggests the group is expanding its activity, consisting of large posters put up around these suburbs as well as racist literature delivered to people’s mailboxes.

Anti-facist group Antifa said they believe Squadron 88 to be closely connected to far-right party Australia First.

Photo: clovermoore.com.au

BY Lucia Osborne-Crowley A white supremacist group has begun a new racist campaign around Sydney’s inner city suburbs this week.

The group, called Squadron 88, made themselves known to inner city residents in late August when they began distributing anti-Semitic flyers around the eastern suburbs.

A series of media reports on the campaign seemed to lead the group to halt its activities, however this week the group has resurfaced,

Independent member for Sydney Alex Greenwich

Two flyers have been received by local residents. The first flyer features lengthy paragraphs outlining racist perceptions of the Jewish population and claims “diversity really means white genocide”.

The campaign also features a new anti-non white immigrant flyer.

“Why are we allowing non white migrants who do not like our culture and European way of life to live here?” the flyer reads.

Both flyers also connect the group to Stormfront, a large neoNazi organisation in the United States with a recently created Australian branch.

The Online Hate Prevention Institute (OHPI) expressed concern that the recent flyers may indicate the group is prepared to include violence in their xenophobic campaigns.

“The military based name of the group, and the reference to 88 which is white supremacist shorthand of Heil Hitler (H being the 8th letter of the alphabet), suggest that what might need to be done may involve violence.”

The group is believed by OHPI to be headed by a Stormfront member who calls him or herself ‘Truewhitewarrior’. The user created a Facebook page which attracted over 200 members before being shut down by Facebook

authorities.

The group reappeared on Facebook this week, but again the page was removed.

Inner city residents have expressed deep concern about this activity.

“I’ll be emailing squadron88sydney@gmail.com to let them know they are the ones who are not welcome in our area,” said one local resident.

Independent Member for Sydney Alex Greenwich also expressed concern about the increasingly racist activities of the group, and also articulated similar sentiments regarding the lack of tolerance for this behaviour in the inner city.

“The Sydney electorate is one of the most tolerant and diverse parts of Australia,” he said.

“This has been shown in recent days with the outrage expressed about moves to ban the burqa from public places.”

Mr Greenwich also said elected officials were allowing this kind of xenophobic activity to flourish in Sydney.

“Sadly the conduct of some state and federal leaders have fanned the flames of persecution rather than promoting multiculturalism.”

Mr Greenwich said he has been contacted by multiple constituents who are concerned about this increase in racial persecution.

Following this, Mr Greenwich has requested that NSW Parliament investigate ways that this persecution can be prevented in NSW.

Redfern celebrates as Rabbitohs break Grand Final drought

BY Jessica Rapana The South Sydney Rabbitohs have hopped to glory, stepping on the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs to get there, with a 30-6 win on Sunday.

The victory broke a 43-year drought for the team, winning their first premiership triumph since 1971.

The match between the two traditional rivals attracted more than 83,000 fans to ANZ Stadium on Sunday night.

The NRL said the game was one of the most successful matches in the history of rugby league after the record turnout.

Detective superintendant Peter Lennon of the NSW Police said police were pleased with behaviour at the game.

“The behaviour and patience displayed by the majority of people made this a largely incidentfree event, in what was a capacity-crowd enjoying the footy,” he said.

Rabbitohs fans packed

into the Redfern Oval on Sunday night to watch the game, after screens were put up by the City of Sydney and Rabbitohs’ charity organisation, Souths Cares.

Celebrations continued there on Monday afternoon, as supporters gathered again to cheer the team and celebrate their triumph.

Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the victory meant a huge amount to the Redfern community.

“As a local, I know a lot of people who have been waiting a very long time for this day,” she said.

Rabbitohs’ lock Sam Burgess, 25, became the grand final hero after receiving the Clive Churchill Medal.

He continued to play despite fracturing his cheekbone during the game.

His performance was compared to that of John Sattler, who played with a broken jaw in 1970.

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Central to Eveleigh corridor controversy resurfaces

Sydney apartments to undergo drastic planning overhaul

BY Christopher Harris New apartment developments could be as small as 35 square metres with no parking provisions under proposed guidelines released by the NSW Government Planning Minister Pru Goward last week.

The move has provoked a spate of criticism from residents in relatively high density yet suburban areas, where parking is already at a premium and transport is not as well integrated as some inner city networks.

The NSW Government said the aims of the changes are to encourage better design and to make apartments more affordable.

“While the review found that the policy and the design code are still relevant today, extensive stakeholder and community consultation highlighted that with some changes the policy has the potential to improve apartment design further, to account for population change and to make apartments more affordable.”

Tony Recsei, president of community group Save Our Suburbs, has slammed the move as detrimental to the quality of life Sydneysiders currently enjoy.

“This is ideology gone mad. Such tiny apartments are

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third world living and totally inappropriate for Australian cities.

Not only will they reduce quality of life, but there is no guarantee that they will be genuinely affordable.”

Mr Recsei also believes the removal of car parking in new developments is simply cost cutting that will not make housing more affordable, but will rather line the pockets of developers.

“Does the Minister think people can abandon car ownership because they live near a train station? Does she really believe developers will provide affordable housing because they’re spared the cost of excavating a car park?”

“Even if people living in those apartments take the train to work, most will still want or need a car,” he said. “People still have to drive all over town to take children to sporting matches.”

“They visit friends who aren’t necessarily on a public transport route, they shop for heavy groceries and for bulky goods. The latter are not even allowed on public transport.”

The changes to the State Environmental Planning Policy can be made by the Minister without parliamentary approval.

According to Mr Recsei, the

news in brief

left out consultation with residents and with the community.

“We are now twelve months on since this development was proposed and there has still been no broad-based discussion or community engagement between the Central to Eveleigh team and our community,” he said.

“They held some random focus groups and they have had two sessions with residents groups, but they have been very tightly focused around the issues that they want to talk about, rather than the issues the community wants to discuss.”

UrbanGrowth NSW disputed this claim.

“UrbanGrowth NSW has consulted widely with the community from November 2013 to September 2014 to gain valuable inputs into the corridor masterplanning process we are about to undertake,” a spokesperson said.

“We value the important role of Redwatch in the community and they have been involved in every round of engagement, including a one-on-one discussion with them in September 2014.”

An impression of the Central to Eveleigh corridor following the development

Minister plans to persuade councils not to issue further street parking permits.

Following a spate of political rivalries in the last couple of months between the NSW Government and Lord Mayor Clover Moore, smooth negotiations on this issue may prove to be more difficult than other councils.

The City of Sydney already does not issue street parking permits for buildings that were built or majorly refurbished after 1996 in the South Sydney area and

2000 in the Sydney City area.

The council has recently itroduced a visitor parking scheme, whereby eligible residents will be given a certain number of visitor day parking passes depending on the resident’s location within the city and existing parking permits.

Additionally, businesses in the area with no parking allocation and a need to transport goods in and out are now also eligible for a special permit.

The Government is accepting submissions on the proposal until the end of this October.

Planning Minister Pru Goward

Bondi Park Fitness Centre re-opens

The “outdoor gym” on Bondi Beach has reopened following extensive refurbishments.

The gym, formally known as the Bondi Park Fitness Centre, recently underwent a $220,000 overhaul including the addition of new and updated exercise equipment.

Vaucluse MP Gabrielle Upton said she is pleased the gym has re-opened for use by eastern suburbs locals.

“As we approach summer I am sure that more and more people will be getting outside and going to Bondi Beach, now with an upgraded and free gym available to use,” said Ms Upton.

“I thank the Rotary Club of Bondi Junction and Waverley Mayor Sally Betts for working with me to get this refurbishment completed.”

The upgrade was recommended by Ms Upton and Waverley Council as part of the NSW Government’s 2013 Community Building Partnership Program.

City of Sydney encourages Sydneysiders to ride to work

The annual Sydney Rides to Work day will take place on Wednesday October 15 as part of the City of Sydney’s Sydney Rides Festival (October 11-25).

The City will provide free breakfast and bike support at Union Square, Taylor Square and Prince Alfred Park to cyclists who participate in Sydney Rides To Work.

“I’m delighted to see businesses around Sydney embracing healthy, active transport and providing their employees with showers, lockers and bike parking,” the Lord Mayor said.

“Riding to work has proven benefits, including better health and increased productivity. It also reduces emissions and congestion on our roads for trips under 10 kilometres – and this often means getting to work cheaper and faster.”

Marrickville Council will also celebrate Sydney Rides to Work by providing free breakfast at Hollis Park in Newtown.

Cartoon: Peter Berner

responsible for the development.

Mr Turnbull said that now they have found out the buildings are still missing in the updated flythrough, he feels the group may have been misled.

“They told us the original plans weren’t indicative of how the development would turn out but now they’ve released an updated one with the same problems. This is very concerning to us,” he said.

UrbanGrowth NSW told City Hub that the updated flythrough was also not related to the final plans for the proposal.

“The representation of buildings in the flythrough does not constitute a planning proposal for development at Central to Eveleigh,” a spokesperson said.

“No development proposals have been prepared for any buildings, and any proposal in relation to heritage would most certainly involve community consultation.”

Mr Turnbull also said the entire process of the Central to Eveleigh development planning had

Photo: Redwatch

BY Lucia Osborne-Crowley Community group Redwatch has expressed concern about the future of heritage-listed buildings in the Redfern-Waterloo area.

The group fears many heritage sites will be removed under the NSW Government’s Central to Eveleigh corridor development.

Last week, an updated computer-generated simulation of the proposed Central to Eveleigh development was released. The simulation, also known as a flythrough, left out five heritage-listed buildings.

These buildings’ absence in the flythrough implies they will be removed during the project, according to Redwatch members.

The buildings include The New Locomotive Workshop, The Works Managers office, The Chief Mechanical Engineers Building, the Scientific Services Building, The Telecommunications Equipment Centre and The Paint Shop. According to Redwatch, these make up the majority of the heritage-listed buildings in Eveleigh.

The updated flythrough did, however, show the removal of a controversial high-rise that had originally been proposed in the middle of the Locomotive Workshops at the Australian Technology Park.

Redwatch spokesperson Geoff Turnbull told City Hub the group is very concerned about the developments.

“Most of these important heritage sites will now be destroyed or replaced by high rise buildings,” he said.

Redwatch had access to an earlier flythrough in March of this year. When the group complained about the removal of the heritage sites, they were told by UrbanGrowth NSW that the missing buildings in the early flythrough did not mean the removal of the buildings would appear in final plans.

UrbanGrowth NSW is the governmental body

Sydney University board blocks men’s society Street fair set to application, saying that the founders seemed aims to be explicitly non-exclusionary.

BY Georgia Kriz boost Rozelle recovery “well-intentioned” and that she felt it was It was also suggested that the society should For the first time in over a decade, the Board inappropriate to predict that they would automatically create an exclusive and unfriendly space.

Board Director Kate Denton dissented, arguing that the Board was wrongly characterising BROSoc as a “men’s rights club” rather than seeing it as an opportunity to meaningfully engage men on campus and help them with mental health problems.

After a lengthy discussion, all Directors present except for Ms Denton voted against allowing BROSoc to become a society. Directors Robby Magyar and Tim Matthews left the meeting before the vote was held.

A supplementary motion was passed, empowering Honorary Secretary Eve Radunz to consult with BROSoc’s founders in view of them redrafting their constitution and refining their

By Lucia Osborne-Crowley This weekend, Sydney plays host to spoken words. Words of all varieties, spoken by all manner of wordsmiths: poets, performers, MCs and anybody with a story to tell. When drawn together, these words become the second annual Word Travels Story Fest.

So what is spoken word?

Poet, author, rapper and former Australian Poetry Slam champion Omar Musa said, in fittingly poetic prose: “it is taking poetry off the page and putting it on the stage.”

Nick Bryant-Smith, aka Solo, a rapper, one half of Sydney-based rap duo Horrorshow, spoken word performer and a guest performer at this year’s Australian Poetry Slam final, said the performance elements of spoken word set it apart from traditional poetry that lives on a page.

“Spoken word is all about removing the rules and conventions that surround different styles of poetry. Here, anything can be a poem as long as you are able to perform it.”

Both poets, along with Word Travels creative director Miles Merrill, said the appeal of spoken word poetry could be explained by an inherent human desire for making connections through stories.

“Storytelling is how we understand ourselves, each other and the world around us. I think we would find it hard to survive as a species if we didn’t have a way of doing that,” said Musa.

“It connects us to an ancient part of ourselves. We need to be able to tell each other stories directly and immediately and without reservation,” said Merrill.

“Storytelling is so important to us as humans and has been since the very

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beginning of time. It is a way to make sense of things and to make sense of ourselves,” said Bryant-Smith.

Our age-old history of verbal storytelling also relates to it being accessible and without barriers to entry.

“It is a very immediate platform for people who are otherwise marginalised in our mainstream media,” said Merrill.

He continues, “It is very rare to see, for example, a Sudanese refugee getting up in front of an audience and saying exactly what he thinks and feels in a creative way. It is a vehicle for people who need to get their voices out there; people who feel silenced.”

Built around the national Australian Poetry Slam finals, which will take place on October 12, the festival brings together Australia’s best spoken word performers for a series of broad-ranging storytelling events.

The Australian Poetry Slam, now in its 10th year, is made up of a series of competitions involving poets battling it out for the title of national poetry slam champion.

Merrill told City Hub poetry slam is all about sharing stories in a public space; putting a voice to untold stories that are desperate for the presence of an audience willing to listen with an open mind.

“Poetry slam is a platform for writers to get in front of a live audience and tell thier own stories, and have the experience of seeing the audience cheer, scream, jump up and down and hopefully be entertained and inspired.”

Merrill said the festival’s second iteration is hoping to be more provocative than the first.

“This year we have taken on much more controversial topics.”

BY Chris Sutton A street fair will be held in support of Darling Street to help raise funds for the local community following an explosion on September 4.

The tragedy, which killed three people and damaged multiple shops and homes, lost the street approximately $3 million in business and affected 400 jobs.

Leichhardt Mayor Rochelle Porteous believes the more they can do to stimulate the economy the better, aiming to involve the locals as much as possible.

“We are ensuring residents and local businesses are closely involved in the street fair planning process,” Cr Porteous said.

The street fair will be positioned between Victoria Street and Wise Street and held on November 30.

It is designed to encourage visitors to the street and boost financial aid, with entertainment, stalls and prizes available to create a market atmosphere.

The council will provide $90,000 towards the fair and assist in redevelopment and license fees.

Funds will be distributed to the families of the victims of the explosion by The Rozelle Neighbourhood Centre. Neighbourhood Centre Manager Holly Stewart praised the efforts of everyone in the community so far.

“The immediate and ongoing response of community and local business offering help shows a great amount of community resilience,” Stewart said.

The Rozelle Fire Appeal has already raised more than $176,000, while the concert raised $20,000.

The council added a further $20,000 in a dollar for dollar pledge.

Cr Porteous is encouraging not only locals, but people all over the city to attend the Street Fair and witness the festivities for Darling Street.

“We are looking forward to a family fun day that celebrates all that Rozelle is famous for – its wonderful café culture, clothing, culture, art, organics, fair trade and sustainable lifestyles - attracting people from all over Sydney.”

Three directors of the University of Sydney Union board

One example of this more controversial creative approach, according to Merrill, is the panel discussion on ‘the benefits of being brown’.

“We have brought people from more marginalised backgrounds to talk about the arts industry and its relationship to supporting multicultural artists,” Merrill said.

The creative force of nature has also organised a talk about the ethical issues of sponsorship in the arts, sparked in part by a controversy earlier this year in which major arts donors, the Belgiorno-Nettis family, cut ties with the Sydney Biennale. This was based on community backlash against their being invested in a company involved with construction in Australian detention centres.

“We want to look at the integrity of sponsorship; who gets it, why, and when to accept it,” said Merrill.

The festival includes dedicated sessions with both Nick Bryant-Smith and Omar Musa in which the artists, in conversation, will discuss their own work and experiences with poetic art.

Both artists will also be performing guest sets of their own work at the national final on Sunday evening.

A range of other events, including a Literary Love-Inn during which audiences sit in intimate groups with performers in an abandoned restaurant, will fill the three days of the festival, beginning on Friday October 10 and ending on Sunday October 12 with the national final.

Merrill told City Hub he intends to continue chasing more controversial themes in his creative direction in years to come.

Musa said the festival is sure to both surprise and excite newcomers to the world of spoken word and slam poetry.

“Poetry gets a bit of a bad rap as something that is a bit pretentious and

dusty, but if people come to these events they’ll see how fresh it is. Leave your prejudices at home and come and see some real modern poetry,” he said.

Bryant-Smith said the Australian Poetry Slam final would be a powerful event.

“Every year poets stand up onstage and offer you a little fragment of themselves,

and every year they blow your mind,” he said.

“This festival is our chance to get out there and spread the good word about the true power of words.” (LOC) Oct 10-12, various venues, The Rocks, free-$44 (bookings essential), wordtravelsfestival.com Photo: Chris Peken

Word Travels

redevelop their constitution in close consultation with the Mental Health Awareness Society (MAHSoc).

The last time a similar dispute occurred was in 2012, when the anti-abortion group LifeChoice applied to join the C&S program.

The C&S committee rejected their application on the grounds that the club would contravene the Union’s constitutional commitment to building safe and inclusive spaces, and would undermine the work of existing Union structures that seek to fight gender discrimination.

The Board, however, led by then-President Astha Rajvanshi, voted to allow LifeChoice to become a society in spite of the C&S decision.

The vote was extremely close, with five Directors voting against and six voting in favour of allowing LifeChoice to become a society.

Photo:yourunionboard.blogspot.com

of the University of Sydney Union (USU) has rejected an application for a new student society.

The Brotherhood, Recreation and Outreach Society (BROSoc), held its Inaugural General Meeting in early September. During the meeting, BROSoc elected an executive and developed a constitution as part of its attempt to join the USU’s Clubs and Societies (C&S) program.

Subsequently, the C&S committee, two C&S staff members and the Director of Student Programs, approved BROSoc’s formation and granted them probationary status as a society.

At its monthly meeting, however, the Board voted against allowing BROSoc to formally join the C&S program, with many directors voicing concerns regarding the fledgling society’s arguably narrow focus on traditional masculinity.

BROSoc’s constitution states that the society’s main aim is to provide a safe space for men on campus and address mental health issues specific to men, through the establishment of a Men’s Shed.

The Men’s Shed is a not for profit mental health program for men and boys that has been broadly successful since it was founded in 2007.

At the monthly Board meeting, Queer Portfolio holder and USU Board Director Liam Carrigan argued that allowing the formation of BROSoc could cause “significant damage” to the queer community, especially amongst trans and genderqueer members.

Kate Bullen, Women’s Portfolio holder and Board Director, took a similar line, stating that BROSoc was “clearly not about breaking down gender roles”, and would be potentially exclusionary towards women.

Board Director Liv Ronan expressed discomfort at potentially voting down BROSoc’s

Omar Musa

EAT & DRINK Bistro Mint

Stolen Rum flamed at the table then liberally applied to a Rum Baba ($14) is just a taste of things to come, explains Sebastien Lutaud, Restaurant Associates’ General Manager of Culinary Services. He hints that a Stolen Rum bar is a likely addition to this already attractive venue, the idea a nod to the building’s history as a wing of Governor Macquarie’s notorious $ - mains less than $15

$$ - mains between $15-$22

ROCKS & CBD El-Phoenician Entering this gleaming glass box it’s immediately apparent it’s a cut above the usual Cleveland Street eateries, shrouded in dusty carpet.White tablecloths, comfortable leather chairs and a minimal ambient soundtrack are just the beginning.You’ll also find cocktails and a credible wine list including the 2010 Denis Pommier Chablis ($85/bottle). I categorise Lebanese restaurants into Homous ($11) or Baba Ganouje ($11), dependent upon which dip they do better. Chickpeas outdo the smoky eggplant, but it’s actually Labne ($9) that wins.A Combination Banquet ($62/head) will deliver all three against a hefty array of salad, seafood, poultry

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By Jackie McMillan Rum Hospital. As I lap up the Sydney sunshine and a gloriously dry 2013 Triennes Nans les Pins Rose ($81/bottle) on the colonnaded building’s stately balcony, I muse that there are already plenty of reasons to visit. The kitchen’s updated Coq au Vin ($32) with smoked speck, carrot and Shiraz is definitely one of them. Explore their interesting wine list over a series of small share plates, from House Cured and Smoked Meats ($10) to ‘Sot-l’y-laisse’ ($10) – they’re chicken ‘oysters’ for the linguistically challenged - cooked in burnt butter, shallots and crisp sage. Most wines, including the 2012 Ross Hill ‘Shed No 8’ Pinot Gris ($10/$37/$49) from Orange NSW, are sensibly available by glass, carafe and bottle.

Portions are appropriate to eating three courses, but if you’re not sold on my early recommendation – the airy rum-soaked-baba – do consider the fluffy cloud of Fromage Blanc Mousse ($13) with its hidden rhubarb surprise.

Upstairs, The Mint, 10 Macquarie Street, Sydney (02) 9232 2293 bistromint.com.au Modern French,Wine $$$$ $$$ - mains between $22-$30

and meat, cleverly spread across three waves.The star is the chicken Shish Tawouk ($30).

7 Towns Place,Walsh Bay (02) 9633 1611el-phoenician.com.au Lebanese $$$ Yayoi While the signature steamed rice Kama Daki Gohan ($8) - takes 25 minutes, the tableside-theatre and resulting pot of fluffy, freshly steamed rice, is worthwhile.This is the first Australian venture of a Japanese chain called Yayoiken.Their speciality is balanced home-style Japanese “teishoku” (meal sets).While you don’t need an entrée, a pretty plate of Gyu Tataki ($16) – seared waygu with asparagus and ponzu jelly – will keep you entertained. So will discussing the merits of the Premium Sake Selection

$$$$ - mains over $30

($10).Then tuck into a comforting wagyu beef hotpot - Wagyu Sukiyaki ($33) - or use the balanced sides as an excuse to dabble in deep-fried Pork Fillet Katsu ($27).

Shop 2, 38-42 Bridge Street, Sydney (02) 9247 8166 yayoi.com.au Japanese $$$ Mordeo Bistro & Bar Nestled beneath five giant table lamps in the ultra-modern Deutsche Bank Place foyer, I find myself smiling. Perhaps it’s bartender Sarah Jane Clare’s Jamon & Char-grilled Pineapple Sazerac ($18) warming my heart with smooth butter-washed cognac, or maybe I just like this spot? Treat it like a bar with a Red Wolf ($15) cocktail combining beer and aperitif, and Caramelised Lamb Ribs ($12).Treat it like a restaurant,

Annandale Hotel ”Our son’s Italian greyhound can sit right there,” a couple at a neighbouring table explains, as they fill me in on why they frequent the new-look Annandale Hotel.

Besides canines in the courtyard (that’s styled like an with Octopus Carpaccio ($22) and a cracking white Grenache: 2012 La Miranda de Secastilla Garnacha Blanca ($59/bottle). Silky Sautéed Squid Ink Gnocchi ($23) and the 2012 Terra Sancta Estate Pinot Noir ($80/bottle) should see you through until the gurgling fountains become silent pools of reflection.

Shop 1, 126 Philip Street, Sydney (02) 9232 1306 mordeo.com.au Mediterranean, Cocktails $$$ INNER WEST Restaurant at 3 Weeds Decorated with bright Aboriginal art from Utopia, this comfortable restaurant is now in the hands of Chef Nathan Jackson. He first cooked here under Leigh McDivitt, and is now producing a short menu accentuated by a great wine list.The

Aussie back deck), the inclusion of vegetarian options - particularly the Grilled Portobello Mushroom ($16) – are the drawcards. Even kiddies are welcome, except in the front bar, which retains some of the Annandale’s sticky carpet charm - at least around the edges. Speaking as someone who visited during the crowded, sweaty, live band days, it feels like a half-gutted pub. Now there’s elbowroom to spare as you quaff a Kosciusko ($6.50) and tuck into a toastie from their interesting list. I tried Fontal ($12) with duck sausage, bacon jam and pickled leek. It’s great, and available late into the night as a condition of their license, though it’s questionable how late acoustic nights rock on.Traditional pub goers will appreciate the steaks, schnitzels and two fully customisable roasts. Free Range Chicken ($20) with duck fat gratin, gravy and seasonal greens will silence a monster appetite. Slabs of purple Congo potato on the Fremantle Octopus Salad ($15) didn’t quite work for me. I preferred the Roasted Duck Yorkie ($4) and Short Rib Empanada ($2.50) with my Alliance Loire Rose ($11/ glass).

17 Parramatta Road,Annandale (02) 9550 1078 annandalehotel.com Pub Bistro,Wine $$

2011 Domaine Bruno Sorg Sylvaner ($74/bottle) performs well against an interesting House Smoked Mackerel ($18) scattered amongst horseradish, pickled radish and gaufrettes. Fontina and Truffle Tortellini ($18) – a shade thick – are sound on flavour with shaved Serrano ham and mushroom consommé. Mains are bested by the somewhat pricy 7+ Wagyu Flatiron ($40) with bone marrow butter, pine mushrooms and ox tail jus. Ultrathin ginger nut biscuits make the Salt Caramel Parfait Sandwich ($14) a ripper!

197 Evans Street, Rozelle (02) 9818 2788 3weeds.com.au Modern Australian,Wine $$$$ Golden Age Cinema & Bar I’m very taken with this gorgeous bar, complete with electronically controlled curtains that silently glide to reveal a mirrored stage

and microphones. The Maple Pecan Old Fashioned ($18) made on smooth Bulleit Bourbon suits the space, but if you’re sleepy-tired and planning a flick, their espresso martini Paramount House ($19), uses beans from Paramount Coffee Project upstairs. Dip into (another) interesting Ned Brooks wine list against snacks like Tiger Sharks ($10) - canned anchovies – or Szechuan Popcorn ($5). The 2012 Ngeringa Growers Series Rousanne ($65/ bottle) makes an affable companion to movie-inspired toasties like The Spielberger ($9.50) – basically your Reuben – to The Big Cheese ($8).

They’re small, so you’ll also need a Gelato Messina Sundae ($8)…

Lower Ground, 80 Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills (02) 9211 1556 ourgoldenage.com.au Bar, Cocktails, Bar Food $

EAT & DRINK

Daisy’s Milkbar

By Alex Harmon The Beach Boys on the speakers, pin-up girls taking orders, a cordial station, jars of sweets and gingham curtains… If this place was any cuter I could be sick. Luckily this inner west café is perfect for the Devon By Night Chef Zachary Tan has kept dinner at this popular cafe distinctly casual.

He’s dishing up Malaysian-influenced hawker snacks, dressed up with the same premium ingredients that make Chef Jacqui Ektoros’ morning menus so special. So expect to find heady Manjimup truffle slices adorning Chinese Egg Custard ($29), and fleshy lobster tails slathered with Kewpie mayonnaise inside buttery brioche in an individual Lobster Roll ($15.50). Drink from a concise but cleverly chosen list of alcoholic beverages like the 2012 Mitchelton Marsanne ($17/glass) or Echigo Koshihikari Rice Lager ($12). End with the poor man’s ‘snow egg’ of Coconut Jelly, Guava Sorbet and Freeze Dried Pineapple ($11).

76 Devonshire Street, Surry Hills

By Jackie McMillan old-fashioned milk bar menu. Think shakes, Jaffles and sundaes - but with a modern twist. Greg’s Jaffle ($6) is loaded with bolognaise, while Uccella’s packs pulled pork inside a golden, white bread pocket.

Breakfast is served all day, which is great because the Zucchini and Corn Fritters ($16) would be enjoyable at any given time, made special by a lovely Indian relish and cardamom yoghurt. Of course it wouldn’t be a milk bar without a milkshake, and while the place screams ‘vanilla malt’, we went with the special of Honeycomb, Malt and Golden Syrup ($5). Sickly sweet: just the way we like it. The Pulled Pork Roll ($14) isn’t exactly a throwback, but it looks like a burger, so we’ll accept it. The roll is bursting with flavour, a touch of spice and a zesty lime vinaigrette.

Kick dessert old school with the Salted Caramel Banana Split ($14), best shared with your sweetheart.

If only there was a jukebox and a pinball machine, you’d never want to leave.

340 Stanmore Road, Petersham (02) 8065 3466 daisysmilkbar.com Breakfast, Café $-$$

(02) 9211 8777 devoncafe.com.au Pan-Asian, Café $$$ Bar H Dining Pickles, Chicken Skin, Wasabi ($12) are a delightful way to cleanse the palate and commence your Bar H Dining adventure into ‘Chuka’ cuisine, celebrating Japanese style ‘Chinese’ dishes. Chewy white mochi (rice cakes) give a nicely textural twist to Eggplant, Turnip, Dashi ($14), while fermented garlic and bacon give Pambula Oysters ($10) an updated ‘Asian Kilpatrick’ edge.

The slightly cloudy Uehara Shuzo ‘Soma no Tengu’ ($15/glass) will suit your bivalves, though if you’re a sake beginner, they don’t come much prettier than Houraisen Bi Junmai Daiginjo ($14/glass). Inside this dark and moody drinking den, beautifully balanced bar snacks like Cucumber,

All Good Things Eatery As well as delivering a bonzer brekky, Kingsgrove’s hippest café is open for dinner, every Thursday to Saturday night. Plan your meal around the sweets.The Watermelon Granita with Feta Ice Cream ($12) epitomises Sydney summer. It’s light and refreshing without losing sight of creamy and indulgent. It’s also a perfect palate cleanser after a meal of small

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NEWTOWN & ENVIRONS Camelot Lounge I’d follow singer Christa Hughes just about anywhere. Which is pretty much how I ended up climbing two flights of narrow stairs into this crazy collector’s jazz bar in Marrickville. Rather than knights, what you’ll find at Camelot Lounge is a lot of camels. Trawl the walls for kitsch dromedary depictions as you sip a sharp, salt-rimmed Margarita ($15) or Napoleone Pear Cider ($7). While the food isn’t much to

or large share plates.This visit I stayed small, grazing across updated Modern Greek classics like Loulou ($14), crisp tempura battered feta-stuffed zucchini flowers; oven-roasted Queensland Prawns ($22); and Octopus ($15); its char-grilled tentacles artfully entangled with dollops of lemongrass yoghurt foam.With the ethical meats here all sourced from my favourite providore, Feather and Bone, it was impossible to pass up Organic Goat Backstrap Carpaccio ($18). Head Chef Phillip Lakis presents it quite simply, with ponzu, wasabi and lily pads of avocado puree. Cretan honeycomb drew me towards Pantzari ($16), a picturesque salad of baby beets, goats curd and walnuts. It’s a lovely combo, but ate a bit on the sweet side for me.

Not wanting to commit to a bottle of Greek wine without being able to try it by the glass, I dabbled in cocktails, from a pre-dinner Negroni ($12) to Gin and Juice ($8), which cleverly employs the café’s freshly squeezed juices.

Shop 9-11 Mashman Avenue, Kingsgrove (02) 7903 0198 facebook.com/allgoodthingseatery Modern Greek $$

with Jean Luc Mader Pinot Blanc ($56/bottle) before advancing to Fickle Mistress Central Otago The Union Hotel Pinot Noir ($15/glass) with your Le Bistro’s menu is a hybrid of Slow Cooked Lamb Shoulder a traditional pub menu with ($25).You need Union Waffle elements of the Gallagher Chips ($10) too.

Hotels’ runaway success: Le Pub. 271 Pacific Highway, North The “dogs” I loved at Le Pub Sydney (02) 9955 5844 Balmain have migrated over, with unionhotel.com.au the Pulled Pork Dog ($6) edging Pub Bistro $$-$$$ out the Marinated Chicken Dog ($6). Duck and ‘Slaw Open EASTERN SUBURBS Steamed Buns ($14/2) have & BEACHES good alcohol absorbing qualities; and flavoursome Pea and North Bondi Fish Parmesan Croquettes ($15.50) Last year North Bondi Italian with truffled pecorino, pea closed its doors and no one puree and mint, aren’t just for could imagine this neck of Bondi Beach ever being the same. vegetarians.Accompany either GREATER SYDNEY

Black Fungi and Pigs Ear ($13) shine, even if the light level mutes their visual impact.

80 Campbell Street, Surry Hills (02) 9280 1980 barhsurryhills.com Chinese, Japanese $$$

That was until North Bondi Fish moved in. Stick to the theme and order the Fish and Chips ($29), or branch out with the Mussels ($25) that include a refreshing Stone & Wood beer. Grilled Prawns ($35) are whoppers but need their own side to balance the salty sea creatures. Crab Linguine ($30) gets it spot on, the lime and chilli offsetting the sweet crab flavour. End with cocktails – the Beachside Fizz ($16) fancy vodka soda with almond syrup – and a Cheese Platter ($25) to watch the sun go down.

120 Ramsgate Avenue, Bondi Beach (02) 9130 2155 northbondifish.com.au Seafood $$

Bay Tinh Dining at Bay Tinh is like a trip down memory lane.

While I can’t claim to have been dining here for all of its twenty-eight year history, I have spent many an evening in the (previously putrid pink) space, albeit mostly when it was in the hands of predecessor and founder, Tinh Tran. In the ensuing three decades, write home about, you will find home-style pizzas with thin, crunchy bases. Stay simple with Garlic Pizza ($8), or dress ‘em up with salami and Kalamata olives on the Salama ($12.50), or pastrami and pineapple on the Blue Hawaii ($12.50).

19 Marrickville Road, Marrickville (02) 9550 3777 camelotlounge. wordpress.com Bar, Pizza $ Moon Park Two Claude’s chefs, Ben Sears and his Korean wife Eun Hee An, are “learning what it is to manage a restaurant in Sydney,” explains former Claude’s manager Abby Meinke. She runs a seamless floor with full command of the exciting wine list. The 2013 Ochota Barrels ‘The Flint Vineyard’ Chardonnay

Sydney’s Vietnamese offerings have come a long way.

Celebrity chef Luke Nguyen has taken them fine dining, Misschu made hawker food hip, Great Aunty Three turned the humble banh mi into a Newtown icon, and a few doors up the road, Bau Truong took Vietnamese tapas-style. So what you’re coming here for is a look at the origins.You’ll find home-style dishes like Dau Hu Don Thit ($18.50) – plump, golden-fried pork stuffed bean curd swimming in tomato sauce – alongside the usual suspects like crispy pancake and prawn-wrapped sugarcane.

Craving salad I skipped over them in favour of Goi Du Du ($18.50), a green papaya salad littered with prawns and thinly sliced roast pork. By chopping the black fungus finely, Tom Xao Lan ($22.50) - a creamy coconut prawn curry – lacked the textural pleasure I was expecting, but it went down okay with a glass of the 2012 The Pawn Cassia Pinot Grigio ($7.50) and Garlic Rice ($7.50).

318 Victoria Road, Marrickville (02) 9560 8673 baytinhrestaurant.com.au Vietnamese $$

($85) suits bar snacks like Moonlight Flat Claire de Lune Oysters ($4.50/ each) with chilli threads and plum vinegar, and Sea Urchin Roe ($6/ each) on seed biscuits with black garlic. Cabbage-wrapped beef bulgogi - Ssam ($7/each) - were a meal highlight; as was the unusual smoky Eggplant with Egg Custard ($16). Blow-torched marshmallow on the Moon Pie ($14) will ensure you emerge onto Redfern’s streets smiling.

Level 1, 34 Redfern Street, Redfern (02) 9690 0111 moon-park.com.au Modern Korean,Wine $$$ Swanson Hotel Another notch in the belt for Sydney’s expanding pub gentrification with the former Kurrajong Hotel

FOOD NEWS

being refitted and re-imagined British West Indies-style by the Balmain Pub Group. Start in the first floor cocktail bar where a caramel smear makes the Espresso Martini ($18) rather special. Move on to the 2012 Howard Park Flint Rock Chardonnay ($15/glass) in the dining room, against pungent piccalilli accompanying a rustic Pork Terrine ($16) or the well-balanced Beef Tartare ($16).

The hero of the menu is the Chargrilled Spatchcock ($26), served on a fighting combination of Brussels sprouts, bacon, lentils and chilli.

And pub desserts rarely scrub up as pretty as The Swanson’s Crème Catalan ($13).

106-108 Swanson Street, Erskineville (02) 9519 3609 swansonhotel.com.au Pub Bistro $$$

By Jackie McMillan Ten top Sydney bartenders packed into my favourite bar, The Owl House, and the opportunity to judge the Choya Umeshu Cocktail Competition, certainly made for an exciting evening. The pretty fruit liqueur, made from Japanese plum blossoms, was combined with all manner of things by the talented line-up.

Whisky popped up quite often, including in Igor Pachi’s winning drink, The Yume, a ‘dream’ cocktail made on Choya, Hakushi whisky, pineapple vinegar, lemon juice and a pinch of matcha green tea powder.

Igor, who can be found normally at Assemby Bar, took out the coveted $1000 cash prize by wowing us judges with a traditional Japanese tea ceremony, complete with thematic tunes. Simon Audas from Sokyo, and Dan Jones from The Roosevelt produced the two cocktails I most enjoyed drinking, and picked up second and third place respectively. Keep your eyes peeled for Choya Uji Green Tea Umeshu: I tasted it on the night and will be definitely buying some myself… www.facebook.com/choyaaustralia

Blogger’s Choice Bar

By Charn Tangson from The Food Diary by CK theckdiary.net

BLU BAR ON 36

Sometimes enjoying a great drink isn’t just about the drink itself, but also about the experience and atmosphere of the bar. Our favourite small bar is the classy yet cosy Blu Bar on 36 which offers some of the best cocktails in the city with a view to match. Floor to ceiling glass windows complete the experience with a breathtaking panoramic view of the beautiful Sydney Harbour. The menu is another sight to behold with half a dozen pages of inventive cocktails ranging from the chilli-infused ‘Fire Hazard’ to the Orient-inspired ‘Jasmine Garden’. The food on offer includes mouth-watering dishes such as wagyu tartare served with ponzu and truffle mayo. Those with a slightly higher budget can opt for the most expensive cocktail in Sydney, dubbed the ‘Martini On The Rock’, which goes for a cool $10,000 and includes your very own diamond to keep as a memento.

Level 36, Shangri-La Hotel 176 Cumberland Street, The Rocks (02) 9250 6124 36levelsabove.com.au/blubar

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

RHYS DARBY

Harvest

This sprawling comic play follows four generations of a Yorkshire pigfarming family as they fight to protect their livelihood over the course of the 20th Century. Harvest depicts 100 years in the Harrison family and how they have survived throughout the decades.

“There are seven scenes throughout the hundred years going right up to 2005 and there’s seven life-changing milestones in the life of the family and their farm,” says Jeremy Waters, who portrays protagonist William Harrison.

The epic tale written by Richard Bean, the celebrated writer of One Man,Two Guvnors, infuses quirky

humour and a deep understanding of family and human nature.

Although the family faces hardship throughout the years, Harvest reveals the ironic and dry humour of the characters.

“It incorporates comedy largely through the world view of the characters,” says Waters, “You see the working life of this family on the farm but it’s infused with a really nice sense of ridiculousness – some of the situations are pretty crazy.”

The humanity, humour and storytelling have mass appeal to the audience and who doesn’t love an underdog story? (CT) Until Nov 8, New Theatre, 542 King St, Newtown, $17-32, newtheatre.org.au

Internationally celebrated New Zealand comic, Rhys Darby, will entertain audiences at Sydney’s Opera House as part of Just For Laughs.

Darby, who rose to fame as Murray Hewitt on television series Flight Of The Conchords, has been doing stand-up for 19 years: “I’m definitely comfortable on the stage, it’s what I’m used to. I started it in 1995 at university with a comedy club.”

He says: “Stand-up is very much in the moment. I really enjoy comedy and the idea of making laughter happen. It’s a concept for me that I feel the most natural doing.”

Darby is known for his high energy on the stage, continuously experimenting with characterisation and sound effects:

Emerald City

photo: Brett Boardman

photo: Bob Seary

Photo: Greg Barrett

With the extremism currently loose, Kill the PM is a provocative title, but director James Dalton says writer Fregmonto Stokes’s aim was to immediately provoke the audience to a pro or con view of extreme action – which the play then explores.

The title is 12 months old and Dalton says it’s frightening to see how much the world has changed in that time. He understands the frustration of people who feel nothing they have tried has changed their circumstances – and lack of education and disempowerment are factors – but feels there are better ways to deal with problems in a civilised society than violence.

‘Freg’ himself is an agitprop performer whose alter-ego,Twiggy Palmcock, provokes in a Sacha Baron Cohen manner; he was onstage at the Liberal Party celebrations on election night and has pursued interviews with Tony Abbott and Clive Palmer.

Because of the nature of the play, this aspect of Freg may be fraught in future but due to his open and whimsical nature, it seems unlikely the playwright is currently on an ASIO person-

of-interest list. He says if he gets arrested when he returns from South America he intends to blame James. (MMu) Oct 12-26, Old 505 Theatre, 342 Elizabeth St, Surry Hills, $18-28, venue505.com

photo: Kate Little

Kill the PM

a&e

Sydney in the ‘80s was a party. It gave us lycra, MTV, and a raging economy that ended in the recession ‘we had to have’.

It was the ‘greed is good’ decade, with rampant consumerism, materialism and where success was measured in real estate – preferably with a harbour view.

Cut to today and things change – there is much less lycra – and David Williamson’s Emerald City is as relevant as ever.

“Even though it was written 30 years ago, we all believe it’s absolutely relevant to today because we are having the exact same conversations,” says Kelly Paterniti (Home and Away, Packed to the Rafters) who plays Helen, the free-spirited girlfriend of a hack writer. “Unlike the other characters she just wants to go

15 STAGE Arts Editor: Leigh Livingstone Music Editor: Jamie Apps 16 SCENE For more A&E stories go to 18 SCREEN www.altmedia.net.au and don’t forget to join the on Twitter at 19 Soundsconversation @AltMediaSydney

“My comedy is a mixture of funny sketch ideas, which I perform on my own, playing various characters. It also consists of observations I have of life and situations I find myself in.”

The comedian relies on a small notebook to document material: “If it makes me laugh, I’ll write it down. I put the material together and let people look into a window of my life, and how I see the world.”

He continues: “The Opera House is definitely the most iconic venue I’ve done, so I’m really looking forward to getting there and doing a full show.”

(GF) Oct 17, Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Pt, $69.90, (02) 9250 777, sydneyoperahouse.com

where the fun is and that’s why she is so alluring. She just doesn’t care, so she lacks the moralistic conundrums that they have,” says Paterniti.

Our most performed playwright, Williamson’s central characters are decent people, wrestling with their worst selves. In his sharply satirical sights are the worst excesses of materialism and compromise that the harbour city can serve up. Dual Helpman winner Mitchell Butel, Lucy Bell (All Saints, Crownies) and the redoubtable Marcus Graham make a stellar cast. In a splash back to the decade, set design is by iconic eighties pop artist Ken Done, whose work was so evocative of the time. (GW) Oct 24–Dec 6, SBW Stables, 10 Nimrod St, Kings Cross, $32-49, griffintheatre.com.au

Contributors: Alexis Talbot-Smith, Anita Senaratna, Carmen Cita, Ciaran Tobin, Craig Coventry, Georgia Fullerton, Greg Webster, Hannah Chapman, Jamie Apps, Leann Richards, Linda Carroll, Marilyn Hetreles, Mark Morellini, Mel Somerville, Melody Teh, Michael Muir, Michelle Porter, Peter Hackney, Rocio Belinda Mendez, Ruth Fogarty, Shauna O’Carroll, Siri Williams

11

The Wharf Revue 2014: Open for Business

photo: Grant Sparkes-Carroll

The Wharf Revue is again ‘Open for Business’, as everyone’s favourite lampoonists return for another edition of their trademark anarchic political satire. Now in its fifteenth season and with plenty of political cannon fodder courtesy of our elected representatives, they press on undeterred – not even for a bottle of Grange.

“I think that over the last few years the tone in politics has really slumped,” says Douglas Hansell, who replaces Drew Forsyth in the cast. “As a kid growing up I seem to remember things were much more dignified.

There are almost Orwellian things happening now. The upshot for us is that there is so much material to use in the show.”

The Australian public’s love-hate affair with politics makes the Wharf Revue an annual sell-out crowdpleaser. “Satire is a form of comedy that Australians really respond to,” says Hansell, “It is irreverent and fast.

Politicians make their way into our lives on a daily basis through the media so people feel like they know them pretty well. That makes them really accessible as comic material.”

Sketch highlights include the Adventures of Blinky Bill Shorten as well as Clive ‘Coach’ Palmer and the Balance of Power Rangers. “I get to play everyone’s favourite, Christopher Robin Pyne,” says Hansell, “and Jonathan Biggins does a great impromptu address by Paul Keating with a number of ‘catch-your-breath’ jokes only he could pull off.” (GW) Until Oct 18, Glen Street Theatre, Glen St & Blackbutt Rd, Belrose,$30-70, glenstreet.com.au; Oct 22-Dec 20, Sydney Theatre Company, Wharf 1, Pier 4/5, Hickson Rd, Walsh Bay, $40-63, sydneytheartre.com.au

One of Australia’s most recognised and decorated names in roots music is set to revive their original moniker and return to the stage as The Beautiful Girls this month. They embark on a national tour celebrating the release of their first album, Dancehall Days.

After 10 years of touring and producing music with great success to the order of 250,000 record sales, The Beautiful Girls essentially disappeared off the Australian music landscape in the eyes of the general public. This perception, however, was not the case as Matt McHugh explains, “We haven’t really been on hiatus, just the name was. We’ve been playing shows under Matt McHugh and the Seperatista Soundsystem for the last couple of years, but it got to the point that this seemed pointless because it was the same collective of people playing shows exactly the same way as this tour, just under a different name.”

Despite the widespread belief that The Beautiful Girls was a three-piece band, it has in fact always been a Matt McHugh project in regards to producing the music. It was in the live performance that the group would come together.

“Essentially it’s a collective of people that I’m fortunate enough to know and be able to call upon to perform the albums that I’ve written and recorded myself,” says McHugh.

THEATRE &

PERFORMANCE WICKED Steve Danielsen joins seasoned Wicked stars Jemma Rix (Elphaba) and Lucy Durack (Glinda) as the award-winning musical returns to Sydney.

Asked what it’s like joining a team who have been performing Wicked for years, Danielsen says Rix and Durack have been very welcoming and working together is “amazing”.

12

Potted Potter

Back by popular demand, Potted Potter condenses all seven Harry Potter books into a hilarious 70-minute show including a live game of Quidditch.The parody production also features all the favourite characters and Hogwarts magic.

Potter star James Percy says, “I grew up with the books and the films, it’s a childhood dream come true. As a young boy who wanted to be an actor it seems like Harry Potter was the best job in the world.” He continues, “Little did I know I would have to wait to be a full gown adult to get the chance to play the part.”

With only two actors being onstage

at all times, the physicality of the show is a challenge, but hilarity prevails.The fast-paced and high-energy production performs 10 minutes of each book.

“It is a very interactive show and the audience are the third actor in the show,” says Percy, “for example, we play a live full game of Quidditch with the audience.”

If you are an avid Harry Potter fan or want to see what all the fuss is about buy tickets to this uproarious show.

It’s rumoured that even JK Rowling couldn’t get a last minute ticket. (CT) Oct 21-26, Sydney Theatre, 22 Hickson Rd, Walsh Bay, $55-85, pottedpotter.com

Ken Thaiday’s intricate and beautiful headdresses are representative of the lifestyle and landscape of the Torres Strait Islander people.They loom magnificently in the cavernous Carriageworks space and entice, surprise and fascinate with their detailed construction.

The pieces serve two purposes, decorative and practical.They are designed to be worn in traditional performances and include pulleys and strings that can be used to enhance the dance interwoven with the display.

Each is a delicately created work of art with special significance.The colours, textures and materials are carefully chosen and fabricated to represent important aspects of Torres Strait Islander culture. For example, one represents a Hammerhead Shark, which has totemic resonance for the Thaiday family.

This is an exhibition which is unique in scope and stylistically intriguing. For the viewer it is a glimpse into a society which is little known to mainstream Australia. (LR) Until Nov 23, Carriageworks, 245 Wilson St, Eveleigh, free, carriageworks.com.au

Ken Thaiday

Dancehall Days is a slight departure from the previously well known sound of The Beautiful Girls in that it moves into more electronic experimental groove. When asked, McHugh says this new direction came into being because “I was able to get rid of the preconceptions and boundaries of what both I and the public considered the band to be, which was very liberating and gave me the ultimate freedom to produce a record more along the lines of what I had always wanted to make.”

The new record no longer features acoustic drums, rather it uses more electronically inspired beats, dancehall-inspired rhythms and heavy baselines, which further reflects the current live performance aspect of The Beautiful Girls.

This new inner awakening and direction for the band is not something fans should be concerned with, as the shows will continue to feature percussion, guitarists, keyboards and a two-piece horn section, along with the more experimental aspects of synths, MPC samplers, analog bass synths and live sonic manipulation with delays and different effects.

“It’s all about getting people up on the dance floor from the first note to the last,” says McHugh. (JA) Oct 17, Metro Theatre, 624 George St, Sydney, $35+b.f, metrotheatre.com.au

“I love it, and I don’t really just have to say that either, this show really means a lot to me,” he says.

Despite debuting over a decade ago, Wicked:The Untold Story of the Witches of Oz is still one of the most popular musicals in the world.

With the whole cast working hard to deliver the best performances they can each and every night, Danielsen says that the “incredible sets and costumes” will make it “really hard not to like this show”. (LL) Until Dec 31, Capitol Theatre,

13 Campbell St, Haymarket, $69-114, wickedthemusical.com.au SONDHEIM ON SONDHEIM Squabbalogic’s latest production takes a look at the man who revolutionised musical theatre with productions such as Sweeney Todd and West Side Story.

Created to celebrate Sondheim’s 80th birthday, this event interweaves video footage of the world-famous lyricist with live performances of his songs, telling the story of his childhood, relationships, his career spanning 50 years, and his songwriting

relationship with composer Hal Prince.

Cast member Monique Salle says that audiences should “expect the unexpected”, as there are some surprises in store for even the most die-hard of Sondheim fans.

She says there’ll be “something for everyone” regardless of whether or not you’re familiar with Sondheim’s work. (AS) Until Oct 18, Reginald Theatre, Seymour Centre, City Rd & Cleveland St, Chippendale $42-49, (02) 9351 7940, squabbalogic.com.au

The Beautiful Girls

KRYPTONITE It begins when they meet at University – Lian, the shy Chinese exchange student and Dylan, the carefree charismatic Sydneysider. As the years go by their paths cross and lives entwine, drawn closer until the personal and political collide.

“They have such a great love for each other,” says Ursula Mills, who plays Lian, “but life gets in the way.”

Set against a background of political intrigue and the spectre of Tiananmen Square, Kryptonite is an

unconventional love story.

Having writer Sue Smith (Brides of Christ, Mabo) in the rehearsal room is clearly an important part of the chemistry. One of Australia’s most treasured screenwriters, she has only recently turned her hand to theatre.

“It’s such an amazing privilege having Sue in the room with us,” says Mills, “there is so much trust in the writing and direction.” (GW) Until Oct 18, Sydney Theatre Company, Wharf 1, Pier 4, Hickson Rd,Walsh Bay, $50-99, sydneytheatre.com.au

THE NAKED CITY

When hipsters were really hip!

Don McCullin : The Impossible Peace They show war. They reveal still, serene, glimpses of winter plains covered in snow. They reflect impotence, fury, power, anger and sad acceptance of fate – five decades worth of Don McCullin’s photographs on display at the State Library of NSW are a multifaceted narrative of the human soul.

Don McCullin:The Impossible Peace, from War Photographs to Landscapes1958-2011 features some of the artist’s greatest works. In one image, a woman huddles behind a door in Derry as a squad of British troops rush stone-throwing youth, whilst in another a young girl peeks through barbed

wire as a soldier, with bayonet raised, builds the Berlin wall.

These stills capture and create history through tropes which have lasted decades.

The retrospective also showcases many of McCullin’s later works, which focus on sublime natural formations in exquisitely beautiful detail.

The beauty and the terror of life in all its aspects is demonstrated in this collection which astounds with its insightful vision. (LR) Until Oct 26, State Library of NSW, Macquarie St, free, sl.nsw.gov.au

West Berliner looking over a portion of the Berlin Wall at the time of its construction. East German soldier looks back,West Berlin, Germany, August 1961 – Don McCullin

By Coffin Ed, Miss Death & Jay Katz Every now and then a newly invented word from a half decade ago is revamped in the modern lingo with a twist of reconstructed meaning.Take the word ‘hipster’, which these days seems to apply to anybody with a Ned Kelly beard, a pair of skintight jeans, and a penchant for hanging around funky small bars.

Today’s hipsters are trendsetters, fashion starters and aficionados of all that is cool and groovy.

Back in the late ‘40s, ‘50s and ‘60s there were also hipsters and they too stood out from the crowd with their goatee beards and snappy attire. There’s definitely some connection between the two generations but when it comes to a real depth in subculture the oldschool wins hands-down. Fifties’ hipsters had their own language, their own music (i.e jazz), their own unique sense of humour and even their own style of home décor.

In the post-war era American hipsters and beatniks were definitely fellow travellers and shared a common dislike for convention and mainstream culture. Hipsters were generally the more flamboyant of the two and embraced the new innovations in jazz, such as bebop, with an almost religious passion. Theirs was also a movement that transcended racial boundaries, particularly when it came to music, and one that proved liberating for many young white middleclass men and women. Norman Mailer wrote about the ‘white negro’, describing white hipsters as individuals “with a middleclass background (who) attempt to put down their whiteness and adopt what they believe is the carefree, spontaneous, cool lifestyle of Negro hipsters: their manner of speaking and language, their

use of milder narcotics, their appreciation of jazz and the blues, and a supposed concern with the good orgasm”.

Whilst predominantly an American phenomenon, the original hipster movement spread throughout the world, although in countries like Australia it was probably contained to just a few odd neighbourhoods in Sydney and Melbourne. Kings Cross was of course the bohemian heartland of Sydney in the 1950s with its coffee shops, jazz cellar and affordable apartments. How many bona fide hipsters strutted its streets and back alleys is open to question but musicians like eccentric jazz vocalist Joe ‘Bebop’ Lane definitely led the way.

Today the description ‘hipster’ doesn’t carry much weight and as the fashion passes and the beards disappear, the word will probably fade from the current vocabulary. In a more romantic world, today’s hipsters might have rediscovered the music of Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie, adopted the entire lexicon of hip, jive talk, reduced their bushy beards into goatees and maybe even embraced what Mailer called “the good orgasm” (as opposed to the bad orgasm). Rather than just a latter-day appropriation of the word, it could well have been a synthesis of both the old and new – but hey, we knew this was never going to happen.

Take a peep in any hock shop window and you’ll invariably see a pair of somewhat forlon bongo drums, the percussive heart of the beatnik movement and a poignant reminder of a bygone culture. The original hipsters haven’t really left us with a single iconic item, although Straight From the Fridge, Dad – A Dictionary of Hipster Slang is worth acquiring if you yearn for this era. Even the modern-day hipsters should check it out and get the paydirt on B-girls, moochers, shroud-tailors, bandrats, gassers, snowbirds, triggermen, grifters and long gone daddies!

Photo: Zan Wimberley

Haze

arms towards a central plinth surrounded by the black flags of political Haze, at 4A Centre for parades.

Contemporary Asian A stark white contrast Art, is an exhibition by is Sarah Contos’ 23 Ming three artists who visited Vases for Little Horse Beijing for the gallery’s inaugural studio program (everything that moves with artist Shen Shaomin. breaks). Her plaster vases juxtapose images Their works are of collectable Chinese a testimony to the pottery with the efficacy of the visit. disposable transience Tully Arnot’s light of modern life. sculpture, Cold Beer Cold Women, takes advertising Each artist has produced lighting and transforms it unique contributions that illustrate how their into a sparkling expose. exposure to a different Meanwhile Jensen’s cultural atmosphere Tjhung’s New God/False enhanced and expanded God, focuses on the the creative horizon. (LR) role of contemporary Until Oct 25, 4A Centre art in public space. This installation is dominated for Contemporary Asian Art, 181-187 by two zombie-like Hay St, Sydney, free, mannequins striving for survival, stretching their 4a.com.au

‘Haze’Tully Arnot, Sarah Contos, Jensen Tjhung. 2014 installation view, 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art. Courtesy of the artists

motion/emotion – Annette Messager Annette Messager’s motion/emotion is an expedition through the physical to discover the spirit of humanity.

The artist’s early life in a French village famed as both a convalescent and tourist destination, is clearly connected to these astounding pieces which reflect the conundrum of sickness and celebration.

The voyage begins with a dissection of the outer shell. Brightly patterned gloves with pencil talons cling to long threads in Les Gants – Grimaces – The Gloves – Grimaces. But the metaphor of comfort is ripped apart in Les Depouilles – Skins, a series of desiccated hides hanging nearby.

The journey continues with Penetration where internal organs are suspended from the ceiling like a mobile over a child’s cradle, menacing yet familiar.

Then the chronicle reaches its apogee with the startling Casino, which plays with the legend of Pinocchio to comment on birth, death and Christianity.

This is a thoughtfully curated exhibition, which showcases a complex and unique artistic oeuvre. (LR) Until Oct 26, Museum of Contemporary Art, 140 George St,The Rocks, free, mca.com.au ‘Casino’ by Annette Messager, 2005

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Antenna Documentary Film Festival 2014

The Antenna Documentary Film Festival has 35 features from over 20 countries, opening with Bugarach – a film about the small town in France that is predicted to be the only survivor of the Mayan doomsday prophecy.

Emerging filmmakers appear alongside established names such as Martin Scorsese and his latest documentary, The 50 Year Argument.

In Choose Your Own Documentary, the audience decides the course of the story by using remote controls – with over 1,500 paths and multiple endings possible.This boundary pushing approach to filmmaking gets its interactive premiere at the festival.

Two powerful films cover the Middle East situation – Return to Homs takes viewers deep into the Syrian conflict from 2011-13 and Point and Shoot observes the rebel army opposed to Gaddafi.

LGBTIQ issues get the focus with What Now? Remind Me, a film about living with HIV, and Limited Partnership, the story of the first legally married same-sex couple in the US. The festival rounds-out with the award of $6,000 in prize money, spread over three categories. (MMu)

The Judge Robert Downey Jr steps out of his multiple franchises (Avengers, Iron Man, Sherlock) for long enough to remind everyone that he has a talent for the serious roles as well as for superheroes. Flexing his chops in this outstanding drama with Robert Duvall is something to behold, the frustration and tension constantly bubbling beneath the surface is electric between them. From the trademark cheeky bravado that Downey Jr does so well onscreen to the painful vulnerability of an estranged son seeking his father’s forgiveness and approval, he has

Baltic Film Festival 2014

Oct 14-19, Palace Verona & Chauvel, Paddington; Giant Dwarf Theatre, Redfern, $15-140 (10 films), antennafestival.org

the audience hooked.

The Judge is a moving drama that is guaranteed to keep audiences on the edge of their seats with suspense.Through each twist and revelation, the ground under each character is constantly shifting until the viewer doesn’t know whether they love or loathe him. Every role is expertly cast and it should go without saying that Duvall is sublime as the stubborn, righteous, crank at the centre of the film.

To find fault with such a gripping narrative is tough but for the sake of balance, a weak subplot or two could have been omitted and it wouldn’t have affected the flow of the film at all. (LL) WWWW

Annabelle

A young couple (Annabelle Wallis and Ward Horton) have a problem: woeful taste – as exemplified by their ornaments, framed needlework and tan coffee mugs (the mugs are unforgivable – even for ‘60s middle-class).

They also own one of the ugliest dolls ever, which after an attack by satanic cultists, becomes a conduit for an evil entity that sets about terrorising the young family.

So, a dastardly doll, a satanic entity, a vulnerable young mother, a devoted – if somewhat THE SKELETON TWINS Twins Maggie (Kristin Wiig) and Milo (Bill Hader) become separated as teenagers and end up estranged.

When we meet them they’re thirtysomething and haven’t communicated for a decade. After a suicide attempt, Milo accepts his sister’s invitation to stay with her.

A synopsis might detail the events of this wonderful film but would give you no idea of the emotion, warmth and humanity at the heart of it, not to mention the pain and the sadness, but there’s also a great deal of fun and humour. Ultimately, it’s a positive and life-affirming work, one that will give hope to viewers – and that’s why it must be seen. So well written and so well acted. (MMu) WWWW

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THE LITTLE DEATH Josh Lawson makes his directorial debut with this offbeat comedy that explores the sexual relations and fantasies of a group of neighbours and friends. Unashamedly it delves into sexual and social taboos, as behind closed doors ‘normal’ couples discover what lengths they will go to for that fleeting ‘la petite mort’ – the little death.

With an ensemble cast of Australian talent, each character is well rounded and expertly acted. Lawson’s writing displays quick wit and a love for awkward comedy.Without losing the characters to caricature, Lawson unravels hilarious exploits in a genuine manner.

The comedy won’t be to everyone’s taste but with a charmingly authentic

The Baltic Film Festival makes its way to Sydney audiences at Dendy in Newtown, exhibiting impressive drama’s, documentaries, animations, comedies, and shorts from Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.

It begins with the Sundance Film Festival-nominated documentary The Other Dream Team, directed by Lithuanian-American director Marius Markevicius.

Featured on opening night, this production displays the Lithuanian national basketball team and their journey captured through the lens from 1992 as they struggle to get their bronze medal at the Summer Olympics in Barcelona.

The festival concludes with Motherland, another documentary – this time from award-winning director Kriv Stenders (Red Dog). It is a film that explores Stenders’s Latvian-Australian heritage.

Many social and political issues are touched upon in this great selection of creative expression.There are a total of seven films over this unique four-day event, which also includes Q&A’s from Australian and international directors, as well as folk dancers, Baltic music, and traditional cuisine. The Baltic Film Festival is a rare find, giving these countries some well-deserved exposure, and a following in Australia. Oct 15-18, Dendy Newtown, 261-263 King St, (RBM) Newtown, $20-50, thebalticfilmfestival.com

treatment it is a subtle reminder that it’s okay to be weird. (ATS) WWW THE INFINITE MAN is a quixotic journey through the mind of a very confused man. It is a tale of obsession and erotic fantasies.

Dean (Josh McConville), a quirky, neurotic pseudo scientist, is obsessed with Lana (Hannah Marshall) but his quest for her love takes an almost incomprehensible turn when he uses time travel to repair the rifts in their relationship.

The sparse setting of this movie is a reflection of its low budget, but works well as a backdrop for the raw revelation of human emotions.

This movie is confusing as a narrative; however, as a metaphor for the utter heart-rending dishevelment caused by

overwhelmed – husband, an impossibly cute infant, a well-meaning priest, a sympathetic African–American woman... have we seen this before? No, but the combination of elements has become well-worn.

This fairly stock-standard shocker pulls all the usual moves and will certainly give some thrills but audiences might get more bang for their buck on the roller-coaster at Luna Park – minus the forces of darkness.

(MMu) WW jealousy and abandonment, it is a stunning, humorous and thoughtful success. (LR) WWW½ WE ARE THE BEST! In 1982 two loveable 13-year-old nonconformists, Bobo (Mira Barkhammar) and Klara (Mira Grosin), believe punk is the recipe for life – despite the fact that everyone else says it’s dead.They set out to convert shy Christian girl Hedvig (Liv LeMoyne) and the trio form a punk band whose only song is I Hate Sport – a slim basis for a feature film and at only 102 minutes it seems overly long. It has its moments, but unfortunately not nearly enough.

Those teens, though – they are a life force! We Are the Best! is almost worth it just for them. (MMu) WW

Dracula Untold

Dracula Untold is the inevitable origin film about how Vlad the Impaler (Luke Evans) became cursed as the most infamous vampire.

It’s a deceiving title because this story has been briefly told before – 1992’s Dracula prologue, anyone? – but not with the flash CGI and other special effects developed over the last decade or so.

It doesn’t take much effort to reappoint Dracula as the misunderstood champion Prince of Transylvania who isn’t evil, he’s just had a tough life, and now has to make some tough choices to protect his people and keep them happy. Unfortunately those

WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS is a hilarious mockumentary that revolves around three housemates who just happen to be vampires – there is an outrageously surreal contrast between the normal streets of Wellington, New Zealand, and the very atypical selection of undead.

The film crew follows the lives of Viago (Taika Waititi), Deacon (Jonathan Brugh), and Vladislav (Jemaine Clement), and the comedic timing and performances will have audiences in stitches.

Almost like an inside-out horror production, What We Do in the Shadows has an abundance of comedy with horror relief – an eccentric and imaginative perspective on an

choices destroy his happiness, and ultimately, his mortality.

With only a hint of guano splattered throughout the dialogue, this film is much better than expected. Evans is well cast, portraying Vlad with a roguish intensity that he must have been saving for this, his first big lead in a blockbuster.The battle sequences are also suitably impressive, thanks to clever framing, filming techniques and those aforementioned special effects.

Although the inescapable ending can’t be much of a surprise if you know your Dracula, it’s still an enjoyable journey getting there.

(LL) WWW½

oversaturated subject. (RBM) WWWW THE IMMIGRANT 1921: Ewa (Marion Cotillard) and her ill sister Magda (Angela Sarafyan) arrive in the USA at the Ellis Island immigration centre after fleeing post WWI Poland.

Cotillard as Ewa looks beautiful, demure and vulnerable, and she needs protection from the exploitation of Joaquin Phoenix’s sinister Bruno, who gets her a job at the Bandit’s Roost, first as a dancer, then as a prostitute.

Ultimately, The Immigrant is a reminder of the value of courage and persistence in the face of life’s vicissitudes. (MMu) WW½

Patrick James – Broken Lines Short but sweet, Patrick James’ second EP, Broken Lines, is very easy to listen to.The words and music are clear and slow enough to absorb as the listener makes their way into his journey. Mellow and peaceful with a hint of sadness, this EP is wonderfully satisfying to the ears and to the heart.

An album great for cleaning the house to, negotiating gridlocked traffic or during any situation that causes stress to reach boiling point.

Broken lines will only get better with repeated listening, with a few plays extra for track three, Message. (SP)

Mindy Sotiri – Creatures in the Ceiling Mindy Sotiri has a unique voice, she offers it to the listener in a conversational tone. Sotiri has a unique style of singing and of talking through her music that reverberates honesty and real life. She is an acquired taste, though, in the sense that it takes a few songs to get on board her drift.

Listening to Creatures in the Ceiling is like meeting someone for the first time. Mindy starts the conversation, she ambles, she leaves spaces for the listener to talk, she offers little pieces of familiarity, and by the end of it they would like to see her again sometime. (SP)

Local Sydney party boys,The Griswolds, will return home for the official launch tour of their new album, Be Impressive, which has already received phenomenal support from their fan base.

“We’re so stoked to be home, we’ve been on the road for so long in the US where we played 55 shows in roughly 100 days and had only five days where we could genuinely do nothing. So it’s really exciting to be playing some of the venues we know and started out in,” says singer Chris Whitehall.

Whilst overseas, the band recorded the album with world famous producer Tony Hoffa, who has previously worked with The Kooks, Foster The People, and Beck.The collaboration with Hoffa was unexpected, says Whitehall; “We didn’t actually think we could get him on board, so when he said ‘yes’ we were in shock, because it meant we would be working with someone we idolised and who had produced some of our favourite albums.”

Clearly the collaboration was fruitful, as the album has already received very positive feedback – it debuted at number five on the iTunes alternative charts.

Whitehall describes the emotions of getting such high praise by saying, “You never know how it will

LIVE WIRE

Katy Steele: After spending the last few years based in Brooklyn, New York, writing, recording and touring, Steele returns home to Australia for a one-off special show.The gig will showcase all of the new material cultivated during her time overseas, with Steele being accompanied by a full band and choir.

Thu, Oct 9th,The Basement Woodlock: Young Victorian band Woodlock arrive in Sydney for the launch of their latest single, The Garden.

be received so when it was at [number] five we were beside ourselves, we had no idea it would get that high from the beginning.”

The Griswolds were also asked to perform live on the world famous radio station, KROQ, joining the likes of Coldplay,The Arctic Monkeys and Vampire Weekend.

“Just to get added onto their playlist was a big thing in itself when that happened, so we got a bunch of champagne to have a bit of a party.Then to be asked to play live was amazing, to think that now on the wall of performer’s signatures is the little old Griswolds alongside other huge acts is crazy,” he says.

The Griswolds are set to tour the country for a solid month, bringing their renowned sound which combines super fun catchy beats that are irresistible to dance to with deep, dark poignant lyrics.

“The live show is the ultimate experience, it’s our moment to finally let go after all the hard work, have some drinks, and go crazy up close and personal with all of our fans,” says Whitehall. (JA) Oct 11, Metro Theatre, 624 George St, Sydney, $17.33+b.f, metrotheatre.com.au

Sydney Live Music Guide

Thanks in part to Triple J’s Unearthed feature, brothers Zech and Eze Walters along with close friend Bowen Purcell, have been building some hype and notoriety recently.This is a chance to catch these boys in an intimate setting before they blow up.

Fri, Oct 10th, Newtown Social Club Nicky Night Time: The alter ego of Van She frontman, Nick Routledge, heads to Erskinville’s newest and rapidly

growing late-night spot to headline a night filled with house and techno. It’s perfect for those looking to continue their party into the early hours of Saturday morning without fear of lockouts.

Fri, Oct 10th,The Imperial Hotel Green Mohair Suits: Newtown’s own alternative country/bluegrass band return home following their east coast tour to launch their new album, Wooden Duck.The dynamic of this band is interesting, as they feature

The Griswolds

four songwriters who each provide three songs that provide a diverse live experience.

Sat, Oct 11th,The Vanguard Sheppard: With 2014’s highest selling single already under their belt with Geronimo, Sheppard now return home post-European tour to keep the juggernaut rolling.This may be the last chance Sydney get to catch the indie-pop group before they head off to conquer the United States.

Sun, Oct 12th, Enmore Theatre

Ryan Bingham: The critically acclaimed Americana singer-songwriter known most notably for his song The Weary Kind, which won Academy, Golden Globe and Grammy Awards, is coming Down Under to perform in Newtown this week. Bingham will be performing tracks from his new album, Until I’m One With You, which is also the name of his second track and featured as the title song for television show The Bridge.

Tue, Oct 14th, Newtown Social Club

The Tea Party: These Canadian rockers make the long journey to Australia for the fourteenth time with The Ocean At The End tour.This one coincides with the release of their first studio album in 10 years, which they say was spurred by the spark they felt when they last toured Australia in 2012. Supporting them will be the reforming of Australia’s own Aria Award-winning band,The Superjesus, following a ten year hiatus. (JA) Wed, Oct 15th, Enmore Theatre

FREEWILLASTROLOGY

by Rob Brezsny

a

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Situation #1: If you meet resistance or doubt, say this: “Ha! This diversion can’t slow me down, because I am in possession of an invisible magical sword!” And then brandish a few charismatic swipes of your sword to prove that you mean business.

Situation #2: If angst and worry are preventing your allies from synchronizing their assets with yours, say this: “Begone, dread! For with the power of my wicked crazy songs, I am the destroyer of fear.” And then sing your wicked crazy songs.

Situation #3: If you’re finding it hard to discern the difference between useless, ugly monsters and useful, beautiful monsters, say this: “I am a useful, beautiful monster!” Your kind will flock to your side.

b

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): In her poem “Advice to Myself,” Louise Erdrich speaks of the human heart as “that place you don’t even think of cleaning out. That closet stuffed with savage mementos.” I invite you to use her observations as a prod, Taurus. Now is an excellent time to purge the savage mementos from your heart, and clean the whole place up as best as you can. You don’t have to get all OCD about it.

There’s no need to scour and scrub until everything’s spotless.

Even a half-hearted effort will set in motion promising transformations in your love life.

C

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): I hope you will learn more in the next eight months than you have ever before learned in a comparable period. I hope you will make a list of all the subjects you would love to study and all the skills you would love to master, and then devise a plan to gather the educational experiences with which you will reinvent yourself. I hope you will turn your curiosity on full-blast and go in quest of revelations and insights and epiphanies, smashing through the limits of your understanding as you explore the frontiers of sweet knowledge.

d

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Three times a week, I take a hike along a rough path through an oak forest.

I say it’s rough because it’s strewn with loose rocks. If I don’t survey the ground as I move, I’m constantly turning my ankles. Or at least that was the case until last week. For two days, with the help of a rake, I cleared many of those bothersome obstacles off the trail. It took several hours, but now the way is smoother.

My eyes are free to enjoy the sights that aren’t so close to the ground. I recommend that you do similar work. Stop tolerating inconveniences and irritations that hobble you. Get your foundations in shape to serve you better.

e

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): American author Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849) was ahead of his time. He created the genre of the detective story and mastered the art of Gothic horror tales. According to the Internet Movie Database, 240 films have referenced themes from his work. British writer Aldous Huxley wasn’t a fan of Poe, though. He said Poe was “too poetical -- the equivalent of wearing a diamond ring on every finger.” Judging from the astrological omens, I suspect you may be at risk to lapse into a diamond-ring-on-every-finger phase yourself, Leo. While I am all in favor of you unveiling more of your radiant beauty, I’m hoping you won’t go too far. How about wearing diamond rings on just four of your fingers?

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VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Republican Jody Hice is running for the U.S. House of Representatives in Georgia’s 10th Congressional District. To bolster his authority, he repeats quotes by revered figures from American history. One of his favorites has been a gem from the sixth U.S. President, John Quincy Adams: “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.”

The only problem is, those words were actually written by country singer Dolly Parton, not

by Adams. Don’t get fooled by a comparable case of mistaken identity, Virgo. Be on the alert for

unwarranted substitutions and problematic switcheroos. Be a staunch fact-checker. Insist on verification.

g

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): “I am naughtiest of all,” wrote poet Emily Dickinson in a playful letter to Maggie Maher, dated October 1882. In accordance with the astrological omens, I authorize you to let that same declaration fly frequently from your own lips in the coming week. Feel free to invoke other variations on the theme of naughtiness, as well: “I am exploring the frontiers of naughtiness,” for example, or “You need to be naughtier” (said to a person you’d like to get naughty with), or “Being naughty is my current spiritual practice.”

h

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): “There’s a way not to be broken that takes brokenness to find it,” writes Naomi Shihab Nye in her poem “Cinco de Mayo.” I suspect this describes your situation right now. The bad news is that you are feeling a bit broken. The good news is that this is a special kind of brokenness -- a brokenness that contains a valuable secret you have never been ready to learn before now. Allow yourself to feel the full intensity of the brokenness, and you will discover a way to never be broken like this again.

i

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): In a competitive game show on Japanese TV, 13 people

had slabs of meat tied to their foreheads. They then poked their heads up from below, through holes in the floor of an elevated platform, where a hungry lizard was stalking around. But not one of the contestants stuck around when the lizard came to nibble the meat; they all ducked down out of their holes and fled to safety. That was probably wise, although it meant that the prize went unclaimed. Now I’m wondering, Sagittarius, about what might happen if a similar event were staged in your neighborhood. I suspect there’s a chance you would will yourself to stand calmly as the lizard feasted on the meat just inches from your eyes. As much as I admire that kind of poised courage, I want you to know that there are better ways to express it. Be on the lookout for noble challenges with goals that are truly worthy of you.

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CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Director Michael Bay makes big, loud, fast, melodramatic action films, including *Armageddon,* *Pearl Harbor,* and the four *Transformers* movies. The critics hate him, but he’s unfazed. “I make movies for teenage boys,” he says. “Oh, dear, what a crime,” he adds sarcastically. I love that stance.

He knows what he’s good at, and makes no apologies for doing it. I recommend that you cop some of that attitude right now.

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AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): While walking in San Francisco, I passed the Pacific Heights Health Club. The sign out front said, “Birthday suits tailored here.” It was a witty reference to the idea that working out at a gym helps people get their naked bodies in good shape. I’d like to interpret the sign’s message in a different way, and apply it to you. The time is right for you to get back in touch with your raw, original self, and give it the care and the fuel and the treats it has been missing. Who did you start out to be? What does your soul’s blueprint say about who you must become? Home in on your source code and boost its signal.

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PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Horror novelist Stephen King has sold more than 350 million books. But when he was young and destitute, still honing his craft, his self-confidence was low. His breakthrough work was *Carrie,* about a teenage girl who develops telekinetic powers. But when he was first writing that manuscript on his old manual typewriter, he got so discouraged that he threw his first draft in the trashcan. Luckily for him, his wife retrieved it and convinced him to keep plugging away. Eventually he finished, and later sold the paperback rights for $400,000. I hope you have an ally who will go digging in your garbage to fish out the good stuff you unwisely discard.

Or maybe this horoscope will convince you not to scrap it in the first place.

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