Neighbourhood Media Surry Hills Magazine | December 2023

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ISSUE #7

HISTORY OF THE HOPETOUN HOTEL A NIGHTMARE ON NICKSON ST WHO IS THIERRY NOIR? ARTS & THEATRE IN 2024 + HEAPS MORE SH O PPING WEL L NES S FAS HI ON C O M M U N IT Y L IV IN G H E A LT H P E T S

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Hey Surry Hills + Darlo!

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HISTORY History of the Hopetoun Hotel

ARTS The Surry Hills house and it’s links to U2’s chart-topping album.

HUMANS OF 2010 Astra Howard brings the personal to the public in Surry Hills with Village Voices.

ARTS What’s in Store for 2024?

ARTS Blanc de Blanc - Season extended again!

COMMUNITY Camp Fitness, Building community spirit through exercise

TRUE CRIME The Nightmare on Nickson Street

HEALTH Get Fit, but still have Fun!

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We’re back with our final 2010 Magazine for the year - time really does fly when you’re having fun. In this issue, we delve into the history of the Hopetoun Hotel, which was first built in the 1830s.

Then it’s all about the arts - we meet Thierry Noir, genius behind one of Surry Hills’ most recognisable murals, and also caught up with local artist, Astra Howard, who is the brains behind Village Voices. We shine a spotlight on the best Arts and Theatre coming in 2024, and we also tell you why you can’t miss the final run of Blanc de Blanc Encore.

We meet Pip who is building community spirit through exercise. Murders Most Foul have shared another fantastic true crime story - a Nightmare on Nickson St. There’s some fun ways you can get fit locally, dining with a difference at Refettorio, we meet the team behind the epic Carousel Bar, wish the Record Store a happy birthday + more!

The Neighbourhood Media Team x PUBLISHER - Neighbourhood Media DESIGNER - Robert Everett CONTRIBUTORS - Isabella Edwards, Corina Harvey, Jamie Apps, Robert Everett, Rita Bratovich, Alec Smart & Elliot Lindsay ADVERTISING - Georgie Pengelly - 0416 972 081

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PARTY Carousel Bar - Destination Good Vibes

FOOD Refettorio - Dining with a Difference

SHOP Happy 20th Birthday to The Record Store

BUSINESS DIRECTORY There is no better time to shop local, make sure to show your support

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HISTORY

By Alec Smart

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WHEN, in 1846, a new landlord relocated to larger premises on the corner (where it remains today), he transferred it all, lock, stock and many barrels, as well as the avian brand, and the patrons followed.

By the start of the 20th century, the venue had seen four name changes: The Sportsman’s Arms, Kilkenny Inn, and The Great Western Hotel.

In 1901 it was taken over by Tooths, which, as one of colonial Australia’s first and largest companies (established 1835), amassed many drinking establishments across Sydney, with the liquid amber supplied by their Kent Brewery on Broadway (now high-rise apartments and retail space).

Tooths upgraded the building in the popular Federation Warehouse style (typically red brick with decorative roof finials and cupolas, sometimes including balconies and gables) and renamed it to honour the newly independent nation of Australia’s first Governor General, Lord Hopetoun.

For the next half-century the Hopetoun continued trading as a licensed hotel serving meals and beverages and providing accommodation for travellers. They had to keep an outside lamp burning all night (a legal requirement), and relinquish their premises for autopsies if the authorities demanded (due primarily to the convenience of a chilled basement for storing beer, where bodies could also be kept).

ROCK ‘N’ ROLL REVELRY From the 1950s, when six o’clock closure laws (aka the “six o’clock swill”) were rescinded in NSW, the Hopetoun hosted live music for the after-work patrons seeking entertainment. Australian bars became perhaps the world’s foremost training ground for live music, engendering noisy pub rock in the 70s and 80s, which honed the talents of AC/ DC, Midnight Oil, Cold Chisel, etc.

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Hopetoun Hotel, the legendary, State Heritage listed pub on the corner of Bourke and Fitzroy streets in Surry Hills, which was closed and boardedup in September 2009, has gone through several transitions since its foundation in 1839.

Initially it was known as The Cockatoo, and occupied a building a little further along to its present location at 416 Bourke, on the opposite side at 471B Bourke St.

In this heady mix, the Hopetoun Hotel was arguably one of Sydney’s best venues for nurturing new bands, due to its central location and the mixed music-loving clientele living in close proximity.

Sarah Blasko, Paul Kelly, Wolfmother, Hoodoo Gurus, Ed Kuepper (The Saints), Michael Hutchence (INXS) and The Cockroaches (two of whom co-founded the internationally successful kids’ music phenomenon The Wiggles) were among the many talents that performed in the small but intimate main bar.

Edwin Garland patronised the Hopetoun for several decades as well as performed with his band, Waxworks, or solo. In 1991, with venue booker Darcy Condon, he cocreated a compilation album of bands that played on the premises, called Big Hope, Little Town.

Edwin explained why the Hopetoun, affectionately known as ‘The Hoey’, was such a popular watering hole during its 1980s-90s heyday.

“The Hopetoun helped new bands and those from interstate break into the Sydney live music scene,” he revealed. “There were lots of run-down terrace houses throughout Surry Hills that were cheap to rent, so the surrounding neighbourhood was full of students, artists and musicians from where their audiences came from.

“The rock ‘n’ roll community was intertwined; on a night out you might see punk rockers with mohawks alongside a transgender person. You had a diversity of subcultures because Surry Hills itself was a lot more accepting of different people and lifestyles (like the many music tribes, LGBT crowd and the theatre community of playwrights and actors), wearing clothes they couldn’t get away with in Blacktown, the Eastern Suburbs or the North Shore and Northern Beaches areas.”

Edwin continued, “The Hopetoun was special. Women

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could go there and feel safe and there were a lot of mixed licensing regulations plus fines levied by NSW Police for gender bands thanks to bookers like Darcy Condon and crippling their operation. A 5000-signature petition was Peter Kelly. The Triple J Radio DJs used to loiter there unsuccessful in getting the closure reversed. because it had an ‘underground’ music vibe, like the On 6-7 August 2012 the Hopetoun interior was adapted to legendary CBGBs in New York. look like a Japanese bar for a scene in the Marvel superhero “Interesting characters could also be found there, such as film The Wolverine, starring Australian actor Hugh Jackman. the neighbourhood pieman who baked pies in his kitchen (In November 2012, nearby Brisbane St was transformed and sold them out front of the Hoey on to look like a Japanese laneway, including Friday and Saturday nights; Tony “Danger Japanese language signs, for another scene Mouse” Young, a tiny fellow who played air in the film, which was released the following “The Hopetoun helped guitar onstage during gigs; and a black & new bands and those from year.) white dog that used to randomly walk in and Apart from the movie, the premises have watch the bands.” remained closed to the public since 2009, interstate break into the although occasional rumours have arisen of Sydney live music scene.” rescuers promising to resurrect the historic GENTRIFICATION EXODUS Unfortunately, with the gentrification of Hopetoun.

Surry Hills in the late 1990s, new neighbours The Covid pandemic with its accompanying began complaining about the Hopetoun’s rock ‘n’ roll music social distancing rules inhibited the opening of licensed revelry, and despite spending money on soundproofing, the venues throughout the peak transmission periods of venue owners paid several Court fines for exceeding noise January 2020 – January 2022. levels.

Now the Hopetoun is locked in limbo, with resurgent Sadly, the beloved Hopetoun began to lose its regular speculation on its future. A Facebook page that announced patrons as the gentrification of Surry Hills brought in July 2022 that the ‘Hoey’ was “making a comeback” has inevitable rent rises. Artists, students, musicians and low- not posted since. The webpage link it provided is inactive. income workers who loved live music relocated to cheaper This reporter contacted Hopetoun’s Sydney owner, accommodation options in the Inner West, where new bars Evangelos Patakas, director of The Lion Investment Group sprang up to cater for the exodus.

Pty Limited, (which purchased the venue in 1997) for an Eventually, the iconic venue shuttered its doors on update on the Hopetoun’s situation, however, there was no Monday 28 September 2009, the owners attributing new response.

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ARTS Those travelling by light rail via the LX route between Moore Park and Central Station, or driving north along South Dowling St towards the city, might be familiar with an eye-catching warehouse on a corner block in Surry Hills.

Decorated with brightly-coloured rectangles like a rainbow quilt, it is owned by Australian entrepreneur, John Winning, head of the Appliances Online retail company.

By Alec Smart

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KNOWN as The Colourful House and located at 625 South “Painting of all four sides took place between October Dowling St, the two-storey brick building is illustrated on the 2017 and January 2018. One fresco on the south side of front and rear facades with the profiles of side-facing heads, the building is a homage to Troxler himself.” This illustration, whilst the northside wall adjacent to the tramline features a facing the neighbouring apartment block, features a DJ at cartoon of a musical quartet. his turntables.

Most of the characters’ faces have big lips and prominent noses that to some degree BERLIN BAPTISM “The U2 collaboration resemble the Moai monolithic Easter Island So who is Thierry Noir? Born in 1958, he came about through statues – and that gives a clue to the creator. moved to West Berlin, Germany, in January The signature themes are those of veteran 1982, which was then divided between with a conversations with my French street artist Thierry Noir, who found massive wall, patrolled by soldiers who shot international recognition over four decades friend Wim Wenders, I had people attempting to climb over. of painting iconic murals, as well as his asThe wall was built after a fracturing of the worked with Wenders on sociations with pop culture and the Irish rock military alliance that defeated Germany in band U2.

WWII and in 1949 the Soviet Union under his 1987 film Wings Noir was commissioned to paint the former Joseph Stalin divided the country between of Desire.” jam factory (latterly a furniture warehouse) communist East and democratic West.

by American disc jockey and music producer In April 1984, Noir, whilst living in a squat Seth Troxler, a friend of the building’s owner. It reportedly in West Berlin and loitering with the city’s eclectic commutook Noir three months to complete the project. nity of artists and musicians, began painting the notorious Noir reveals on his website, “In 2015 the 1,100 cubic wall that divided the city. This was done clandestinely, often metre two storey historic warehouse was converted into under cover of darkness, to avoid the border patrols, bea single private residence. The owner is a close friend of cause the wall was 3 metres within the official border of East NOIR collaborator, the US techno DJ Seth Troxler. Troxler Germany, and communist police could arrest anyone who extended the invite to Australia to paint the entire building. came in close proximity.

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Join our community @ Because time was of the essence, Noir developed his distinctive ‘naïve art’ style comprising simple figures and bold colours – which he described as “two ideas, three colours” – quick and easy to create.

Initially Noir was treated with suspicion by the West Germans – a foreigner who preferred art to the political slogans adopted by most agitators who braved painting the accursed three metre high barrier – but soon his iconic characters were themselves seen as uplifting and rebellious.

In 1987, director Wim Wenders chose to film a scene of his existential fantasy Wings of Desire alongside a section of the wall featuring Noir’s artwork. For several minutes the angel, Damiel, who chooses to experience life as a human after he falls in love with a circus trapeze artist, strolls along the border and pauses to wave at Noir, stood atop a ladder painting the actual wall.

The highly rated film has become a cult classic.

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ATTENTION, ACHTUNG! Then, in 1991, a Dublin-based music band relocated to Berlin where David Bowie, Lou Reed and Iggy Pop had previously made influential albums, in the hope of tapping into that creative energy and move away from the pop anthem sound that defined them.

As they achieved success with the result – an album named Achtung Baby that brought huge international success and a string of accolades - the musicians, Irish quartet U2, sought out Noir for a collaboration.

U2 commissioned Noir to paint six Trabants (notoriously inefficient and highly polluting East-German-made cars) for their 1992 Zoo TV world tour. The vehicles were incorporated into the stage lighting rigs for their live concerts, and one of them was featured in the centre of 16 photos that illustrated the cover of the Achtung Baby album.

On Phillips Auction House website Noir said, “The U2 collaboration came about through conversations with my friend Wim Wenders. I had worked with Wenders on his 1987 film Wings of Desire …. Wenders was also at the time working with U2 on music for his next feature film, Until the End of the World, and U2’s song of the same name, inspired by Wenders, was the fourth track on Achtung Baby.

When Wenders called me with the possibility of painting a series of Trabants for U2’s ZOO TV tour, I said yes straight away….”

In an interview with Chinese-English contemporary arts magazine Art.Zip, Noir revealed how U2 returned to enlist his service on the 30th anniversary re-release of Achtung Baby.

“Thirty years later, I was invited by U2 to create a new Trabant. It was exhibited inside the entrance of the renowned Hansa studio in Berlin which was where Achtung Baby was originally recorded.”

Thierry Noir thierrynoir thierrynoir.com NoirThierry

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HUMANS OF 2010

By Adeline Chai

Astra Howard brings the personal to the public in Surry Hills with Village Voices.

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TUCKED neatly in the laneway between Crown Street and Wilshire Street is Village Voices, an interactive art installation that sets out to preserve Surry Hills’ vibrant histories and unique stories in the words of its locals.

I’m sitting across the artist behind it all, Astra Howard, in the cafe just around the corner.

“I don’t know much about the cafes here,” Astra laughs.

It doesn’t take long for me to realise that her area of expertise is, instead, the locals of Surry Hills – the real beating heart of the urban playground. Having volunteered and worked in a few homeless crisis services in the area since 2006, Astra witnessed first-hand the creativity of the people in their care.

“So many of the individuals there were so creative,” she says. “We would have art and writing classes, then I realised, ‘Wow. There’s so many fantastic stories in a service like this.’”

A seed – the desire to amplify those stories – was thus planted. While the thought lingered, Astra spent her next few years lecturing in Design at the University of New South Wales before coming across a callout for a public artwork as part of City of Sydney’s redevelopment of South Crown Street.

With a background in Graphic Design, Astra tells me she has always been interested in the contentious nature of public spaces. As the 2002 Samstag International Visual Arts Scholarship recipient, Astra has previously taken her passion for meaningful conversation to the streets of New York, Beijing, Delhi, and Paris.

After toying with a few ideas and designs, she proposed Village Voices. The installation is a frame made of black steel with bars separated by spaces between them, allowing the display of only six lines of text. Beneath those bars, a few sets of letters hang securely, only slightly swaying to big gusts of wind. It resembles a typical sign plastered across

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the entrance of a movie theatre or a suburbian church, but Astra tells me she found her inspiration during her time in New York.

“I was doing a residency there, and I saw these tiles up in subway stations where each tile had different letters on them,” Astra reveals. “I tried joining bits of tiles together to create sentences around them.”

Village Voices quietly carries the weight of the words from the Surry Hills community, both figuratively and physically. Anyone can submit their writing, anonymously or not, through the dropbox next to the installation or via email.

The artwork, though public, is so quiet that even locals have scurried by the alleyway without ever noticing it. As opposed to social media or advertising, which Astra often finds too fast-paced and aggressive, she intends for the installation to be subtle, slow, and reflective.

“When you engage with public spaces in the city, there’s a lot of advertising that is quite loud and dominating,” Astra muses. “Amplifying the voices of individuals within a community reveals the true character of a neighbourhood.”

“In Surry Hills, there are so many crisis services and the large Northcott social housing estate. So to have a neighbourhood that wouldn’t present those stories, where people wouldn’t see these individuals’ ideas, aspirations, challenges and frustrations, it wouldn’t be representative of the reality of the place.”

This year marks the seventh year since Village Voices first secured its place within the fabric of Surry Hills. If there’s one thing that Astra still hasn’t gotten tired of, it’s being greeted by a fresh stack of submissions when she reaches into the dropbox. Whether they contain words from a child or someone living in a homeless shelter, she thinks every story is worth listening to.

“Every story’s a good story in a way because each one of them is unique,” she explains. “I think the ones that stay

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“Every story is a good story in a way because each one of them is unique.” with me are those that communicate a challenge but with a twist to them. For example, where a difficult situation has made the person stronger.”

One of the poems engrained in her memory is that of Pat’s. A Surry Hills community member who moved to Sydney at 16 after his father died and was alternating between living on the streets or in shelters. His steadfast connection to poetry remained a constant regardless of his circumstances – he wrote anywhere – shredded cigarette packets, derelict papers and sometimes, paper towels when there was no other option.

“What is it this house I call / alone walls painted with words / A battlefields of sorts where / over the years my demons and / I have fought a house where / I endure but it cannot bear me,” Astra enunciates every word of Pat’s poem carefully, perfecting every pause. When she finishes, she exhales deeply before smiling at me.

“Somehow, this one always gets to me.”

For many individuals who engage with Village Voices, the process is transformative.

“Having their biography included on the acknowledgment panel, their photo taken in front of the artwork and people reading their text in public, it can be quite cathartic and lifechanging,” Astra says.

She then flips through a thick file filled with photos and handwritten entries of every Village Voices display from 2016 until now, introducing me to almost every person in the book. Astra tells me what some of these individuals are up to in life thus far: Vinita has gone on to take the writing course she’s put off for a while now, Pat is close to finishing and publishing a book, and Mick, who thought of himself as not being very good at writing in high school, is now doing more writing.

“3 am on a warm summer evening / a beautiful lady with red hair / I remember her dress was pretty / she stops and says hello / searching for her stolen purse / just another night in Surry Hills,” Mick’s submission reads.

Astra explains how diversity is the strength of Surry Hills, outlining a myriad of reasons: its historic waves of immigration as well as its active LGBTQIA+ communities and many services that support priority populations.

“The neighbourhood celebrates these different aspects of community and the suburb being enriched by a variety of backgrounds and experiences.”

Village Voices is a catalyst for conversation between YOURNEIGHBOURHOODMEDIA

community members who might not otherwise interact with each other.

“Someone would ask, ‘Oh, who’s the author?’ And I would say, ‘Oh, this is someone who goes to Bourke Street Public School,” Astra smiles. “The installation presents diversity in a way that you know it exists, even if you don’t have any personal or direct contact with it.”

Over the years, Astra has got to know many of the locals.

The artwork has been a catalyst for community building in the area. Pop-up events have been held in the laneway over the years, such as poetry readings, musical performances and exhibitions. In addition to the four hours it takes to install a new text, Astra usually spends another hour conversing with the public.

“There are people who pass by each time I change the text and they update me on their life circumstances. Or someone says, ‘Oh, you’re here a bit early this month!’

There’s a hyper awareness to the artwork changeovers.” she says.

In other instances, some individuals who have previously submitted their writing for display on Village Voices have verbally entrusted her with their collection of work if and when they pass away.

I tell her they must trust her a lot, and she tells me, in return, that ethical storytelling is her priority while conducting this project.

“It can be challenging to present writing by people living in precarious situations and ensuring they are not misrepresented,” she says firmly. “A lot of time is taken making sure the individual is happy with any edits to their text.”

Despite not living in the neighbourhood, Astra remains enthralled by Surry Hills, constantly returning to the suburb for the past two decades. For work and passion projects mainly but also due to her connections with the suburb’s locals, whom she praises for their “comradery and vibrancy”.

The community’s power is evident in how Village Voices progressed beyond just being Astra’s project to now becoming the community’s. Locals in the area look out for graffiti on the artwork, pesky advertisers, or development applications nearby. Someone had even once adorned one of the installations at Village Voices with flowers.

“It’s not my project, it’s their project,” Astra says. “I just sort of facilitate it. That’s the best outcome you can think of – that now the artwork is part of the community, and they’re always excited to see what story is coming up next.”

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ARTS

Sydneysiders know that a weekend without plans is a weekend wasted! There is always something to do, taste and see. Thankfully, 2024 has a stacked calendar of events and exhibits to fill out the year. Take a look at some of what Sydney has in store for the year ahead.

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SYDNEY DANCE COMPANY Walsh Bay Arts Precinct sydneydancecompany.com FIRST, we catch up with Rafael Bonachela, Sydney Dance Co.mpany’s Artistic Director, to find out what he’s most excited about for the upcoming 2024 Season: There is so much to be excited about for 2024! I am thrilled to welcome the extraordinary Melanie Lane back to create a major brand-new work for the Company called Love Lock with an original score by powerhouse electronic artist Chris Clark.

Love Lock asks us, what can folk dance look like in the modern world? A dance that absorbs the complex fabric of our diverse cultures, of an accelerating world and disappearing lands. Melanie Lane created the electrifying work WOOF for Sydney Dance Company’s New Breed program at Carriageworks in 2017, which also featured a hypnotic score by Chris Clark. WOOF was presented as part of Sydney Dance Company’s 50th Anniversary mainstage season in 2019 and has since toured nationally to much critical acclaim. Melanie is one of the most exciting choreographers working today, and I can’t wait to discover what she has in store for Sydney Dance Company audiences in 2024.

I also can’t wait to create my new, full-length work momenta for Season One. momenta captures the essence of fleeting moments suspended between the past and future, where individual trajectories collide and intertwine.

I’m thrilled to be working with my long-time collaborator and dear friend, the extraordinary Nick Wales on an original score for momenta featuring “Distant Light” by Latvian Composer Pēteris Vasks. Once again, I’ll be collaborating with the brilliant Damien Cooper on lighting design and I’m excited to work with the extremely talented Elizabeth Gadsby for the first time on set and costume design.

I’m also looking forward to welcoming our littlest audience members to Sydney Dance Company’s Neilson Studio in 2024 to experience Club Origami. Presented in association with youth-centred artist collective Seven Circles and produced by UK’s Little Big Dance, Club Origami is devised

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by Japanese dance artist and founder Takeshi Matsumoto.

This beautiful interactive dance show invites children to explore the boundless possibilities of paper and imagination in origami. The Company will also embark on a major European, UK, and USA tour, performing repertoire including my works Impermanence and ab [intra] along with the smashhit triple-bill Ascent featuring works by incredible Spanish choreographer Marina Mascarell, Australia’s incomparable Antony Hamilton, and myself. We can’t wait to share the very best of contemporary dance with audiences at home and overseas!

CITY RECITAL HALL 2 Angel Pl, Sydney Cityrecitalhall.com Summer ’24 is set to be a scorcher at City Recital Hall, with shows in January and beyond already heating up our calendar. Start your year with Ireland’s Lisa O’Neill, one of the most striking folk singers performing today. Transcendent and original, her inimitable voice is raw, evocative and laden with emotion. O’Neill’s pure songwriting and organic music; she’s built a reputation as a modern artist tapped into the ancient, whose voice pulls at the heart and harkens to different worlds. Renowned for her transporting live shows, don’t miss O’Neill as she lets her wild loveliness rip.

The very next day, Australia’s own Courtney Barnett presents an evening split into two intimate sets. The first with Barnett and collaborator Stella Mozgawa performing from the instrumental album End of the Day (from the film Anonymous Club) and the second with Barnett performing songs from her incomparable back catalogue.

Finally, from Neu! to Kraftwerk, Michael Rother has cast a line of inspiration that has shaped numerous musical generations. His music has been inspirational for generations of musicians – from David Bowie, Brian Eno, Iggy Pop, DEVO, Sonic Youth, Stereolab, U2, Radiohead, Primal Scream, and beyond. Prepare yourself for an electrifying live fusion of krautrock, post-punk and avant-garde. From incredible voices to genre defining song writing, Summer Sounds Better at City Recital Hall.

Join our community @ BELL SHAKESPEARE Pier 2/3, Walsh Bay Arts Precinct bellshakespeare.com.au Bell Shakespeare returns in 2024 with a selection of Shakespeare’s most magnificent works. A Midsummer Night’s Dream will be performed at Sydney Opera House and for the first time in over a decade, the company presents King Lear, staging the epic work in the intimate theatre The Neilson Nutshell. The season will be rounded out with Artistic Director Peter Evans’ exploration of Shakespeare’s depictions of violence with In A Nutshell: The Poetry of Violence at The Neilson Nutshell.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream - Sydney Opera House (Previews 2 – 5 March) 6 – 30 March 2024 Shakespeare wasn’t kidding when he said the course of true love never did run smooth. Shakespeare’s classic comedy, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, is reawakened in this breathless production brimming with magic, mirth and mayhem. Fast, funny and family-friendly, this is A Midsummer Night’s Dream reimagined.

King Lear | The Neilson Nutshell (Previews 14 – 16 June) 20 June – 20 July For the first time since 2010, Bell Shakespeare presents King Lear. Directed by Peter Evans and starring one of Australia’s finest classical actors Robert Menzies, this heartwrenching new production promises to be powerful and utterly unforgettable. Performed in the profoundly intimate setting of The Neilson Nutshell at Pier 2/3.

In a Nutshell: The History of Violence | The Neilson Nutshell (Preview 4 September) 5 – 8 September When Shakespeare explores violence it is often epic and cruel, but never gratuitous. Shakespeare asks questions about our relationship with violence, but he also uses the word to describe the limits of emotion, and the rashness provoked by love and hate. Join Artistic Director Peter Evans and a crack team of actors as they jump from scene to scene and play to play, exploring the poetry of violence with relish and delight.

SYDNEY FESTIVAL Various locations across Sydney sydneyfestival.org.au The 2024 Sydney Festival is set to have a spectacular line-up of performances and events for Sydney’s music and art fanatics. Having co-ordinated a fantastic array of arts and cultural experiences every summer since 1977, Sydney Festival blankets the city in a colourful and exciting tapestry of creative and fascinating events – Greater Sydney comes alive with art and culture from January 5 - 28, 2024.

Sydney Festival recognises the importance of fostering new Australian pieces and showcasing our nation’s diverse storytellers to the world whilst drawing the world’s finest artists to Sydney.

In 2024, Sydney Festival will be directed for the third time by seasoned performance professional Olivia Ansell and will include, as always, a variety of events from breath-taking performances, art exhibits and immersive experiences.

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Such affairs include, Soliloquy at Sydney’s iconic, City Recital Hall (Jan 17-18). Devised by Melbourne recorder master Genevieve Lacey, Soliloquy is described as a “radical re-invention of the solo recital”. Soliloquy promises an evening of enchanting music and enthralling movement from the accompanying dancers.

SEYMOUR CENTRE Cnr City Rd & Cleveland St, Chippendale seymourcentre.com Seymour’s 2024 season: five outstanding, must-see events!

The season begins in April with Outhouse Theatre Co’s much-anticipated Australian premiere of A Case for the Existence of God by Samuel D. Hunter (The Whale), a beautifully written duologue that investigates connection between two very different men, both experiencing a hostile and divided world.

Excellence continues with a new Australian play, Trophy Boys, a queer black comedy about power, privilege and high school debating. The Age called this play “a revelation”.

In August the Australian premiere of Arlington by Enda Walsh (Once). A performance that almost defies category, Arlington is a wild fusion of story, physicality and visual art, dealing with the capacity of love to survive loss and death.

In September, WildThingProduction presents a new version of Sydney favourite; Seventeen by Matthew Whittet.

A group of acting legends will take on the challenge of becoming 17-year-olds on their most important day, the end of school – forever. Whittet’s heartfelt play explores youthful optimism seen through the eyes of experience.

The season ends with an absolute must-see theatre event: The Inheritance by Matthew Lopez. Thirteen actors tell a huge story over two parts, focusing on a group of gay men in New York all affected in different ways by the AIDS crisis. Winner of four Tony and four Olivier Awards including Best Play, The Inheritance is not to be missed.

If you like your theatre to be provocative, insightful and wildly entertaining, be sure to book your tickets to the Seymour in 2024.

SYDNEY LUNAR FESTIVAL 78 McDougall St, Kirribilli sydneylunarfestival.com Get set to welcome the Year of the Dragon. Watch Sydney City come alive over two weeks in February with live music, delicious food, playful lanterns, and vivid art as we celebrate the Lunar New Year. Celebrations will kick off on Saturday 10 February at the renowned Sydney Lunar Streets party. Haymarket will be abuzz with live entertainment, roving performers, food trucks, market stalls, and DJs. Look out for our vibrant 10m-long LED dragon weaving and winding its way through the streets. The Southern Hemisphere’s biggest dragon boat races will make a return.

See paddlers compete over two action-packed days right in Darling Harbour. When it comes to dining, you’ll be spoiled for choice with restaurants and bars serving Lunar New Year-themed dishes and mouth-watering specials.

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ARTS The Encore, after the Encore! Find out why Blanc de Blanc has been extended for the third time, making this Sydney’s hottest ticket in town!

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By Isabella Edwards

IT’S cabaret meets circus meets stand-up with a cheeky twist. With all the glitz and glamour of traditional burlesque paired with high-energy aerial acts and raunchy laughs, Blanc de Blanc Encore is the performance Sydneysiders simply must not miss out on.

Boisterous, alluring, exhilarating. There are many ways to describe Blanc de Blanc Encore, but all you really need to know is this – you have to see it.

Coming off a string of sold-out seasons and international tours, Blanc de Blanc Encore truly lives up to its reputation as a quick paced evening of sparkling debauchery and exquisite movement. Conceived and directed by Scott Maidment, the show (a word that does not serve the performance justice) is an exuberant and invigorating experience that pops and bubbles like freshly poured champagne.

The current Sydney cast boasts a wealth of outrageous talents, from the incredible voice of Sasha-Lee Saunders to captivating dancing by Melanie Hawkins to jaw-dropping acrobatics from Duo Hoops’ Caitlin Tomson-Moylan and Spencer Craig to the side-splitting (and pearl-clutching) comedic stylings of Félix Pouliot and Sam Ferlo and so much more!

Currently residing in Surry Hills’ Grand Electric Theatre, you’d be forgiven for thinking you had stepped into a chic 1920s-esque French nightclub when attending a performance of Blanc de Blanc Encore. Opening on a single bottle of un-corked champagne, an immediate air of anticipation is evoked, offering a tantalising tease of what is to come.

Guilded and glamorous, the scene is only heightened by the exquisite costumes, beautiful staging and electrifying soundtrack. The evening is a delicious blend of classic burlesque troupes like French maids and cancanning and scandalous humour, modern music, and outstanding acrobatics – it’s as refreshing as it is exciting.

This is not a show for the faint of heart. No audience member is safe, not even those hiding up the back and averting their gaze. It is an entirely immersive, enthralling and gaspworthy experience. With performers dancing through the aisles and the skies, there are no bad seats at this production. Fair warning that those up front are in the splash zone – we can’t explain it; you’ll just have to see it!

With all the fizzle and rush of a champagne burst, Blanc de Blanc Encore is the perfect night out – so fill your glass and buy a ticket! Sydney’s current season has been extended until March 2024, and with tickets from only $59, there’s no excuse to miss out – we will certainly be heading back for more before the tour ends.

For tickets and more, head to: strutnfret.com/grand-electric-blanc-encore Tickets from $59

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COMMUNITY

By Clare O’Rourke

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How Pip Baldwin Is Using Exercise To Build Community Spirit.

PIP BALDWIN is a Surry Hills local who goes above and beyond to help his community. As the owner of Camp Fitness, Pip and his teammates run ‘The Northcott Fitness Workout’ every Friday at 10 am at Eddie Ward Park.

This free, 45-minute workout is for members of the community who live in social housing. It gives them a chance to come together each week and build a sense of comradery. Currently, Pip engages senior members of the community to work on simple strength exercises, such as balance and mobility.

We had a chat with Pip about his organisation and how it’s helping the Surry Hills community. This interview will surely warm the soul.

Where did the idea for this initiative come from?

The idea for this project was born from being in Eddie Ward Park, which is the predominant site for running workouts. We wanted to do something that gave back to the community, and which also used the park.

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The social housing community is often at a disadvantage when it comes to accessing exercise and fitness services so we thought that if we could help people look after their health then we could potentially also help reduce hospital and doctor visits. It’s a win for all.

Our project was recognised by Lord Mayor Clover Moore in August this year and later that month we secured funding for the program, via a city grant.

Do you think exercise forms deeper levels of connection between the participants?

Predominantly the workout is targeted at seniors, with an age range of 60-85 years old. I think that a sense of community and companionship is very important, especially for this age group, many of whom can feel lonely and isolated. It is a regular event in their diary, and it gives them something to look forward to. They are able to meet similar people, perform some simple exercises, whilst having a chat, so we are not only addressing physical

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health but also mental health.

Can you run us through the structure of the workouts?

Firstly, the class mood is always set with some good music, usually a 60’s playlist. I am a qualified PT, so I’ll instruct them all on how to do an exercise, they choose what weight they’d like to use (I pick the weights up from the community centre and bring them over in my cart) then I normally use the following formula: 12 rounds of 40 seconds of exercise with 20 seconds of rest. I always tell them that they need to listen their bodies, to perform each exercise gently and I will monitor each person’s ability to do an exercise, regressing any exercise if needed. They always joke that my workout is tough, because we stand and use weights, but they are all capable of much more than they realise. For example, an 85 year old attendee surprises me with her push-ups against the bench.

Do you sometimes have themed workout classes for different holidays throughout the year?

Yes, I often do something for the different holidays throughout the year. For Halloween I went to Kmart and brought them all a mask and we made a video of them walking like zombies. Next month for Christmas, I am taking them all for cake and coffee at Kurtosh on Crown St. Has there been a piece of feedback from a participant that has stuck with you?

They all really like the music I play as they say it makes them happy and reminds them of their youth. I have one lovely Chinese lady who brings me a goodie bag each week as a thank you, because she tells me that is what they do in their culture. Overall, what I hear a lot is that they feel stronger and healthier from having done the workout.

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TRUE CRIME

By Elliot Lindsay

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The massacre of the Woolloomooloo Rose.

BLOODY handprints smeared the glass window, which George Rose peered through. The small bedroom on the other side was in a terrible state with furniture knocked over, books and picture frames scattered everywhere, and blood - lots of blood. The walls and ceiling splattered with it. On the bed, the white linen soaked red, lay the contorted lifeless figure of a woman. George observed a man in the corner of the room, leaning out the bedroom window and looking over the backyard. The man was covered in blood.

He was puffing on a white cigarette smeared red. With each draw, the cigarette smouldered, and the man inhaled a lungfull of smoke.

“Richard!’ yelled George. “Why did you do this in my house?” The smoking man took a deep draw and slowly turned around, raising an open palm in George’s direction.

He smiled at George, and beneath his red-stained toothy grin was a vile deep wound stretching along his throat from ear to ear, bleeding profusely. The man exhaled, but the smoke did not pass through his lips; instead billowed out of the gaping wound.

On the evening of March 28th, 1906, the house at 66 Nickson Street, Surry Hills, was the scene of one of the most vile and horrifying murders ever reported to that date. When police arrived at approximately 6:50 pm, they discovered a room that resembled “a killing yard.” In a bedroom on the first floor were the mutilated remains of Rose Arnold, a woman in her twenties, a former tenant of the house. Lying by her side was Richard Riley, dying from a deep open wound. The room showed the signs of a violent struggle.

At 7 pm, Richard was rushed to the casualty ward of St Vincent’s Hospital. Rose lay on the bed untouched until the coroner arrived at 8:45 pm.

It was revealed to detectives that the suspect was a resident of the house and a tenant of Mr George Rose.

George owned and occupied the house with his wife and two-year-old child. He told police that Richard Riley took over the room from the victim a few weeks earlier. Rose Arnold had occupied the room in November the previous year but had to move out after she got a job at a hotel in Woolloomooloo. At that time, Richard would frequently visit Rose. On the night of the murder, both Richard and Rose arrived at the home together at approximately 6:10 pm.

They were in great spirits, laughing and playing with Mr.

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and Mrs Rose’s small child. Riley went upstairs to his room; George and his wife offered Rose some tea; however, Rose insisted on going upstairs to see Richard before having tea.

She ran upstairs to the room. Moments later, they heard screaming, “Help! Mrs Rose, call the police! Murder!”.

George and his wife ran upstairs but stopped when they heard two gunshots from the room. A deathly silence that followed unnerved Mrs Rose, who returned downstairs to comfort her scared child. George banged on the bedroom door and received no response. He ran to the balcony to look through the window. After discovering the grizzly crime scene, he took his wife and child out of the house and went to Surry Hills Police Station on Bourke Street. He returned to find dozens of street residents crowded in front of the house. Moments later, they all shrieked and gasped as several more gunshots rang out from within. Approximately half an hour later, the police arrived.

Doctors treated Richard Riley, and then he was interviewed by detectives in the hospital ward. Due to the deep laceration of his throat having severed his windpipe and vocal cords, he was unable to speak. Gesturing for a pencil and notepad, he wrote up a statement that would disturb the nation.

“I die. I am satisfied. My love I Kill. Dick Riley, New York.

My right name is E. Sexton.”

After writing about his sister in England, he proceeded with…

“I am a bad man, but I love my girl, Rose Arnold.”

The doctor asked if he had shot himself; Richard wrote “I try a lot, but I fail; and then I cut my throat. I fire two at her and then fail. I cut; I walk about; I don’t know how, but I am bad.”

Richard Riley was believed to have been an American

Join our community @ who arrived in Australia on the R.M.S Sonoma, on which he was a galley cook.

The coronial inquest was delayed until May for Richard to recover. A stream of witnesses provided evidence that painted a picture of the relationship between Richard and Rose and the events leading to her violent murder. Many vital events occurred in the former President Lincoln Hotel on Forbes Street and Cathedral Street in Woolloomooloo.

It was here that Richard would visit Rose while she worked as a barmaid. She would refer to Richard as “my boy,” and it appeared they were in a relationship. However, Richard was very jealous and violent towards her when she showed other men attention. On one occasion, he threatened to bottle her, and on another, he pulled a revolver out and threatened to shoot a patron who was talking with her. Rose ended the relationship, and the word got back to Richard that she was seeing another man. Richard confronted Rose about this, and when learning of the relationship dissolving, he convinced her to come to his room at 66 Nickson Street and collect some of her belongings.

Doctors were brought in to describe the injuries found on the victim and the suspect. Rose had a cut on her throat that was four inches in length and a depth to the vertebral column. Her fingers and palms were cut to the bone, indicating she fought vigorously to hold back her attacker.

She had a bullet wound in her face and a second bullet wound in her left upper arm; the bullet passed through her arm into her chest. She was covered in cuts and bruises. It was ruled that the shot to the head and her throat wound were both lethal. Richard Riley had a bullet wound in his jaw and a cut on his throat four inches in length. These wounds were self-inflicted. The evidence suggested that Richard ambushed Rose as she entered the room, attempting to cut her throat. She was a woman with an athletic build and was rather tall. She managed to fight off his attack, resulting in her grasping the Bengal razor and the blade cutting into her fingers. Richard managed to draw his revolver and fire several shots; some missed, but two hit her at point-blank range. When she went down, he finished her off with the blade to the throat. Afterwards, he raised the revolver to his head and fired. He failed to kill himself, so he proceeded to carve his own throat with the razor. The pain was so overwhelming that he gave up and stumbled around the room, bleeding profusely. He reached the open window, leant against it and lit a cigarette. The coroner referred Richard to stand trial for wilful murder.

There were two attempts at a trial. The first was on June 12th 1906, when Richard’s defence team declared that he could not stand trial due to insanity. Two NSW government medical officers stated that Richard believed Rose Arnold to still be alive and hallucinated meeting with her on a nightly basis. Furthermore, Richard had abandoned his American accent and adopted a French accent—a disturbing revelation. The jury returned a verdict that Richard was insane. The judge ordered he be returned to the Darlinghurst Lunatic Reception House on Forbes Street and held until he was able to stand trial. In May 1907, more than a year after the crime was committed, Richard Riley was determined sane and released from Parramatta Asylum to stand trial. The witnesses and evidence were presented to the jury. The defence argued that Richard had a mental illness brought on by a head trauma he obtained several years earlier. Richard took the stand and told of his love for YOURNEIGHBOURHOODMEDIA

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Rose, his extreme bouts of jealous rage and how wounds he received as a Natal carbineer in the Boer War in South Africa caused this. This story was initially doubted, but evidence was brought forward proving his military service and the head injury. Regardless of this, the jury returned a verdict of guilty of murder. Richard was allowed to speak and went on a tirade about how he and his supporters had been persecuted, and he had been forced to stay in the Parramatta Asylum with English convicts. The judge passed down a sentence of death by hanging in Darlinghurst prison. Upon hearing the sentence, Richard leapt to his feet and to the jury, he yelled, “That’s all you can give me. I am done then, but if it is in my power, I’ll haunt those people who persecuted me!”

Lucky for the jury, Richard Riley’s sentence was commuted, and the New South Wales government ordered him to be held “at the Governor’s pleasure.”

Richard Riley was a complex and mysterious figure.

Who was he? Where was he really from? What motivated him to commit such a horrendous act on someone he claimed to love? Did he have hallucinations, or was it just an act? After more than a century, we aren’t any closer to solving this crime.

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HEALTH

POWERLIFTING

The days are getting longer, temperatures are starting to rise, and there’s excitement in the air - summer is just around the corner

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FOR some, fitness is a lifestyle, “a choice they make every morning” (an actual quote overheard from a hardcore gym goer). They can spring out of bed at 6 a.m. on a Saturday morning to run an absurd amount of kilometres, fueled by nothing but the kale inside their ‘pre-workout’ skinny juice - and honestly, all power to them! The leadup to summer, with its more frequent beach visits and the wearing of fewer layers, is generally when fitness, or lack thereof, comes into sharp focus for everyone.

While some chomp at the bit to get started, others ponder trepidatiously on how they will get beyond the first step.

All of the experts say consistency is key, and we know it’s much easier to stay consistent at something you have fun doing! So, we’ve found some ways you can get cracking on your fitness journey in a fun way. Even better, you can do them all super close to home!

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Yes, whilst this is technically falling into the classic, gymgoing, category - Powerlifting really is in a league of its own. If you’re tired of the treadmill and want to see what you’re really made of, this one’s for you. Imagine a sport where the barbell is your dance partner, and your goal is to make it waltz with gravity like it owes you money.

There are three main lifts; the squat (because sitting down is for the weak), the bench press (because who needs a spotter when you’ve got determination), and the deadlift (because lifting something heavy off the ground is just plain cool). But it isn’t all about muscle, you’ve got to have the attitude to back it up. If that doesn’t sound fun enough - Powerlifters are also known for their camaraderie.

Forget the judgmental gym vibes – in a powerlifting gym, everyone’s your cheerleader. Your success is their success and your struggles? Well, that might be turned into a meme later.

Your local: The Yard | 278 Palmer St, Surry Hills Casual visit $33 | Membership/Class Packs from $69 | theyard.com.au

PERSONAL TRAINING (PT) When starting out on your fitness journey, it can be an overwhelming and daunting experience. What exercises should I be doing? Am I doing them correctly? Is everyone staring at me? A PT is a great way to ensure you start off right! It’s like having an extremely knowledgeable and reliable gym buddy supporting you every time you work out. Not only will you have amazing company, but PTs are proven to help keep their clients accountable, an extra guarantee that you’ll reach the fitness goals you set out to achieve. It’s also a great way for newbies to develop the correct technique! Lucky for the Darlo Darlings, The Camp Fitness is in the hood! These guys offer friendly, judgement-free bootcamps and personal training - where every size, age and fitness level is welcome and because they are a mobile personal trainer, it means you can always train at a location that’s convenient for you.

Your local: The Camp Fitness | Various locations PT Classes $70 | Bootcamp 5 Days $5 Trial

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BALLET

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PILATES

Ballet is not just a captivating art form; it’s also a fantastic way to stay fit. While it has evolved over time, ballet’s origins can be traced to the Italian courts during the 16th and 17th centuries. The term «ballet» itself comes from the Italian word «balletto», which means a dance or a piece of music for dance. Ballet engages both major muscle groups and smaller stabilising muscles, resulting in improved posture and a toned physique. Through precise movements and controlled breathing, it enhances body awareness and mindfulness. Enjoy ballet on the harbour at Sydney Dance Company, with more than 75 classes each week in a variety of styles, from beginner to advanced!

Imagine a workout that not only tones your muscles but also gives you the grace of a swan. That’s Pilates for you!

Named after its creator, Joseph Pilates, this exercise is all about control, precision, and that mind-body connection we all crave. Picture this: you’re on a mat, channelling your inner zen, engaging muscles you never knew existed. It’s not about how many reps you can squeeze in; it’s about doing each movement with finesse. And don’t be fooled by the calm vibes – Pilates means business. It targets your core intensely, giving you abs of steel and a posture that says, “I got this”.

Your local: Sydney Dance Company, Wharf 4/5, Walsh Bay Arts Precinct In-studio Memberships and Flexi-packs available Intro offer $99 = 1 month unlimited classes

Your local: Studio Pilates | 425 Elizabeth St, Surry Hills Casual visit $35 | Class packs available from $81 | studiopilates.com/ studios/surry-hills

PARTY Surry Hill’s highly-anticipated club, Carousel Bar & Ballroom has finally opened its doors and dancefloors.

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By Isabella Edwards

FROM Kerry Wallace and the team that bought us S*A*S*H, Stanely’s Bar, Slyfox and Solid Circles Touring, comes Sydney’s newest hit venue. At Carousel, patrons will be treated to its enticing nightclub on weekends, with the space reserved for performances and functions mid-week.

We caught up with Kerry to find out more.

Named for the beautiful rotating stage discovered during construction, Carousel rests on the foundations of some of Sydney’s most iconic queer party venues, including the famous Capriccio’s, once owned by Dawn O’Donnell.

Capriccio’s was one of Sydney’s first queer venues and a famous Oxford Street fixture since it’s opening in 1969.

Describing itself as a “cabaret inspired by sleazy 70’s discotheque”, Carousel playfully pays homage to the history of the legendary space.

“I think for all of us - the staff - once the venue took shape & the finishing touches were added, it did look very red-light district/cabaret/burlesque. Also, the venue’s history tells us it had queer cabaret shows & burlesque for years.” Kerry said.

“We’re breathing new life into the space….. it’s been brought back from the dead, where people from all walks of life once again gather to enjoy music & make memories.”

The venue is superbly decorated and leans into sultry decor evocative of a dimly lit 1970s party, creating the perfect discotheque aesthetic and vibe. With three bars, a state-of-the art sound system and varying across multiple levels, there is a space to suit everyone. It also makes the ideal venue for private events.

We asked Kerry what he was most looking forward to at Carousel; “THE FUTURE! The venue is fresh; the sound system is 2nd to none for it’s size in Australia and all the top-tier promoters are moving their parties to Carousel, as we speak.”

“The future is super bright for the Carousel & we’re all pumped for it!”

He also teased some exciting news and possible accolades for the venue: “Next year in Feb we have something exciting happening too, we have an inspector from the international night time association coming to inspect the club. This is the association of the world that puts together the top 100 club list. They believe after my discussions with them and going through some preliminary questions/ticking checklists, they

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believe Carousel is in a great position to enter next year’s top 100 club list of the world - very exciting!

Carousel is the next step in Kerry’s plan for Sydney’s nightlife – having worked as a promoter and DJ for over 20 years, he spoke about the transition into venue oner: “I’m just evolving from being a promoter, to a venue owner. Brands have life spans, venues don’t! I’ve owned Stanley’s the little cocktail bar in Darlinghurst too, for 3 years and I have a new venue to be announced soon. I’m putting Hemmes on notice!” Kerry joked Carousel will continue the work of Wallace’s previous ventures but will incorporate it’s own sense of self and identity reflected in the cabaret style of the venue and some of its regular events. You can catch headliner DJs like Sonja Monnear performing live, as well as S*A*S*H* nights, including their upcoming S*A*S*H*M*A*S* event on weekends with a sprinkling of mid-week affairs, including Carousel Comedy on Tuesday evenings.

“S.A.S.H has actually moved to Carousel every Sunday night, so you can expect the same carnage as always on Sundays! But for Friday & Saturday, it’s a mixture of music across the board with external promoters running their events. Saturdays are a little more house music driven & usually an international artist flying into Sydney to play at the club. Fridays are a mixed bag, with techno, drum & bass, disco, progressive house…. It just depends on the promoter.”

Carousel’s event calendar is already filling up, despite only having opened in September – to catch their complete list of events and to stay up-to-date, follow their socials.

“Everyone has been very receptive to the venue, from promoters to visiting artists, amazing feedback from everyone!

At Carousel we are inclusive to all walks of life…. All you need to be able to do is dance”

The latest addition to Sydney’s Pink Mile, you can find Carousel Bar & Ballroom in all her glitzy retro glamour at Level 2, 169 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst.

For more, follow @carouselsydney or at Carousel.net.au

COMMUNITY

Every dinner purchased at Refettorio OzHarvest Sydney pays for four people in need to dine free of charge the next day.

Jasper Avenue

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Jasper Avenue

DINING with a difference takes on a whole new meaning at Refettorio teams up with local charities to introduce their Refettorio OzHarvest Sydney. This warm and inclusive not- café to Sydney’s vulnerable communities and enlists a for-profit café leads the way when it comes to sustainable yellow army of volunteers to serve these guests. dining in Sydney, serving up cutting-edge vegetarian “Everyone feels welcome and respected no matter cuisine made from over 90 percent rescued their circumstance, and each day we ingredients. More than just a café, the see the positive impact that a dignified “Everyone feels welcome Refettorio is a testament to the power of dining experience can have,” says Nicole food and its ability to unite the community in Khoury, Restaurant Manager at Refettorio and respected no matter an act of love.

OzHarvest Sydney. their circumstance, and Chances are you’ve strolled past the On Thursday nights, members of the Refettorio, which is housed in a beautiful public are invited to come and enjoy the each day we see the positive same three-course 100-year-old terrace building on the dining experience for impact that a dignified dining $80 per person. By booking a seat at the southern end of Crown Street. This social impact café is an Australian-first Refettorio’s Pay It Forward Dinners (formerly experience can have.” collaboration between the nation’s leading known as Neighbourhood Dinners), you food waste organisation, OzHarvest, and become an integral part of OzHarvest’s renowned Italian chef, Massimo Bottura. It proudly joins mission, enabling the café to serve a nourishing threethe ranks as the 13th Refettorio worldwide, operating course lunch to at least four people in need during their under Bottura’s charity initiative, Food for Soul. weekday lunch service or Saturday brunch.

Everyone is invited to pull up a chair at the Refettorio.

Creativity is key when it comes to the super sustainable During its daytime service, the café warmly welcomes menus, which utilise rescued food sourced from bigthose facing food insecurity or social isolation, offering name supermarkets, producers, and retailers including them a nourishing three-course meal, on the house. The Woolworths and Marley Spoon. The Refettorio also relies

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Join our community @ on generous donations from local businesses and suppliers like Sydney City Farm and Two Providores.

“Based on OzHarvest’s zero-waste philosophy, we use up to 95 percent rescued ingredients to create beautiful and delicious gourmet vegetarian meals,” explains Cleo Griffin, Events and Marketing Coordinator at Refettorio OzHarvest Sydney.

The menu changes weekly but past highlights include carrot tartare with grapefruit yogurt and wonton crisps; potato gnocchi with miso butter, kimchi and crispy shallots; and ricotta orange fritters with roasted grapes and lemon mascarpone for dessert.”

Dinnertime guests are also surprised with a seasonal house-made mocktail, along with staple non-alcoholic drinks including the Refettorio’s signature shrub (fermented fruit drink), Heaps Normal alcohol-free beers, and hot drinks to go with dessert.

Basically, Refettorio OzHarvest Sydney is a place you can feel good about eating at. You’ll walk away with a full stomach and the fulfillment of knowing that you’ve contributed to positive change within the community.

REFETTORIO OZHARVEST You can make a Pay it Forward Dinner booking at: ozharvest.org/refettorio-ozharvest-sydney/dinners Gunawen gunawen

6 CLASSES * FOR $60 C O M P L I M E N TA R Y O R I E N TAT I O N W O R K O U T

* T & C s A p p l y.

0451 366 095 | surryhills@studiopilates.com

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SHOP

The iconic Record Store is turning 20! We caught up with co-owner and vinyl connoisseur Steph Györy to find out how the Record Store has changed over the last couple of decades.

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SURRY HILLS’ legendary Record Store is celebrating the area has changed in that time.

BIG 2-0 this December, but they are showing no signs of “I think the character of the area has remained the same, slowing down with age! Like most twenty-somethings, but obviously, there’s been a lot of turnover in businesses, they’re energetic, excited, and looking to the and club life is not what it used to be; even future! though there are still some great things “the Record Store has Since opening its doors in 2004, the Record happening, life is change, and I think the Store has witnessed the ever-changing and been committed to delivering area is just as much fun now as it was back rapidly evolving music landscape of the last then. And will continue to be so.” the best music experiences 20 years. Including what Steph refers to as In the next 20 years, Steph would like to the “downturn in vinyl from 2005 to 2015ish”. see The Record Store “hopefully, in a building and expertly selected Throughout it all, The Record Store has we own, i.e., still around… or somewhere collectionsfor the Surry been an enduring fixture of Sydney’s musical close by if they decide to knock this building landscape. down, like they did our last one.”

Hills community.”

As card-carrying members of the Flat Steph also cheekily suggested that all Music Society, the Record Store has been Surry Hills locals should invest in “The committed to delivering the best music experiences and Eastside Sydney Micro precinct walking guide.” Surely, expertly selected collections for the Surry Hills community that’s a map that leads directly to Sydney’s iconic home of for the last twenty years. We asked Steph how he thinks the vinyl, The Record Store at 302 Crown Street, Surry Hills.

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TANYA PLIBERSEK FEDERAL MEMBER FOR SYDNEY HERE TO HELP As your local representative, I can assist with enquiries or problems you have with Federal Government departments and services like Centrelink, immigration, superannuation, Child Support payments, Medicare, the Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme (PBS), Veterans’ Affairs, the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), the National Broadband Network (NBN), universities, employment, training, Commonwealth funding and grants.

CONGRATULATORY MESSAGES My office can arrange messages of congratulations for people who live in my electorate and are celebrating their golden (50th) and diamond (60th) wedding anniversaries; and 90th and subsequent birthdays.

Please allow for 6-8 weeks for congratulatory messages from dignatories.

JUSTICE OF THE PEACE

MESSAGE FROM TANYA

My office offers Justice of the Peace (JP) services on Mondays (2pm-4.30pm); Tuesdays (10am-1pm); and Thursdays (2pm-4.30pm).

Please contact my office to make an appointment.

I hope that all readers have a wonderful Christmas and New Year and that 2024 brings joy and contentment.

1A Great Buckingham St Redfern NSW 2016 TanyaPlibersek.com

02 9379 0700

Tanya.Plibersek.MP@aph.gov.au

Authorised by T.PlIbersek MP (ALP) 1A Great Buckingham St, Redfern

| 02 7255 1561

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SYDNEY GRAMMAR SCHOOL The ideal school for boys who are independent, creative thinkers with a love of learning, a curiosity about the world and a passion to get involved in sport, music, drama, debating, chess, Cadets, art and more. Grammar is an unusual school. Its liberal curriculum sets it apart, as does its focus on the life of the mind. If families are worried about the fees, please note that Grammar offers a very extensive fee-assistance programme to help boys attend our School. There is no waiting list and entry is based on merit alone.

College St, Darlinghurst | sydgram.nsw.edu.au 02 9332 5805 | admissions@sydgram.nsw.edu.au

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MAKING A GRAMMAR EDUCATION POSSIBLE Scholarships and fee-assisted places available Is your boy an independent, creative thinker? Then Grammar may be the ideal school for him. There is no waiting list and entry is based on merit alone.

If families are worried about the fees, please note that Grammar offers a very extensive fee-assistance programme to help boys attend our School.

For more information about our Open Days and the Scholarship and Entrance Assessments, please visit www.sydgram.nsw.edu.au, or contact Tara Rennie at admissions@sydgram.nsw.edu.au.

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Be yourself at International Grammar School

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Find out more at igssyd.nsw.edu.au Contact us 9219 6700 admissions@igssyd.nsw.edu.au

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A HUGE THANK YOU TO ALL OUR SPONSORS

WHO MADE THIS ISSUE POSSIBLE!

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Move your body this summer Introductory Offer $99 for one month of unlimited classes* *Newcomers only

Photo by: Wendell Teodoro

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28 May – 8 June Roslyn Packer Theatre World premiere by Rafael Bonachela Photo by: Justin Ridler Photo: David Boon

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