A time to celebrate and be celebrated swamp rockers Swamp Fat Jangles and the BY MICHAEL KOZIOL Alexandria-based live electronic band Svelt. but also to be celebrated. If you they want to share their story,” said Inner West Vocalist and songwriter of My Sauce Good, Do they know it’s Christmas? It don’t have family or friends to Lauren Whitby, the Night Patrol Laura Brozky, said they were excited to be was a question Bob Geldof asked celebrate with, then you can come co-ordinator for Sydney University part of a new festival. of starving children in Africa, but musos head celebrate with us.” Young Vinnies. “We expect it might become the new Peat’s it might also be pertinent for the The lunch will include ham, The December 25 Night Patrol Ridge,” she said. “It’s got that vibe to it.” thousands of Sydneysiders who west for NYE turkey, roast vegetables and will also feature a DJ playing They’ll be joined by an international guest don’t have a loving family to be BY JONathon LEONARD pudding donated by businesses, Christmas songs and most likely, - the Underscore Orkestra from Portland, with on December 25. The sky is the limit for the inaugural volunteers and the public. There Ms Whitby says, some carolling. Oregon. Christmas is a time when the Skyvillage People’s Party being held this New will be family entertainment Julie McDonald, General The festival will take place in Scheyville city’s charities lift their already Year’s Eve. including a mini jumping castle, Manager for fundraising and National Park, located 41km from the CBD laudable network of outreach Held in a scenic bush setting on the a Santa photo booth and other communications at St Vincent just north of Rouse Hill. programs. One of the biggest outskirts of Sydney, the festival promises activities for kids. de Paul, said it’s going to be an Conscious of the surrounding environment, events will be the Salvation Army plenty of low-key but talented musicians, At Martin Place, the St Vincent especially tough Christmas. the organisers have capped attendees at 500 Christmas Lunch at the Australian burlesque, cult cinema and other art de Paul Society will conduct a “There are a lot of people out and are asking people to bring their own non- Technology Park in Eveleigh. installations. special Christmas Day “Night there needing help with the basics,” disposable plates, cutlery and water bottles Attended last year by 1200 The creators say they want to extract their Patrol” featuring a BBQ at 7.30pm. she told City Hub. “We’re only that can be washed on-site. people, the lunch is open to favourite aspects of festivals and implement Around 40 volunteers will dispense about 50 per cent of the way to Attendees are able to camp overnight and anyone, including families, those hampers including personal hygiene meeting our appeal target.” them in one perfect, accessible event. you can take full advantage of the pop-up bars experiencing homelessness or tools, biscuits and other odds and Ms McDonald said those wishing Shani Moffat, one of the organisers, said as you bring in 2014. Tickets are $50 and a people who are simply feeling ends for those living on the streets. to volunteer should make time in her perfect festival is “not about the big link can be found on the Skyvillage Facebook lonely at Christmas. Night Patrol, which operates January rather than on Christmas. lineups but the good vibes and good friends”. page. “It’s a really eclectic group of seven nights a week excluding “It’s obviously a day people want “Good music doesn’t have to be famous people who come together to share New Year’s Eve, is also about to give back, but unfortunately it’s a music, and all the acts playing at Sky Village Christmas,” says Mitchell Evans, engagement and socialising. day we’re well over-subscribed to,” are fun, talented musicians that stand up Sydney streetlevel mission leader “The conversation’s the reason she said. “Making a commitment purely on quality, not record sales,” she said. for the Salvation Army. why we’re there...to have someone to help on another day next year “Sydney has a really thriving underground “Christmas is a time to celebrate who’s willing to listen to them, if would be hugely beneficial.” party scene that sits outside of big commercial

music venues. We get very excited by smaller Photo: Amanda Austin festivals, warehouse parties – basically places where there’s an opportunity for people to do things a bit differently.” There will be two stages on the day, one with live music featuring genres such as gypsy, jazz, funk, blues and grass, and another stage with DJs playing electronic, dubstep, drum and bass, and trance. Skyvillage will see a cavalcade of inner west talent head for the city fringe. Among the acts are DJ and producer Antonio Rosselli (Ribongia) from Marrickville, Newtown Playing at Skyvillage: My Sauce Good

Coalition abandoning communities: Albanese BY ADAM HUNT a combined 25,000 visitors each history. The demand for facilities facilitator at the Addison Road The federal government’s week, is worst hit by the cuts with such as ours has outgrown the Community Centre. Published weekly and freely available Sydney-wide. commitment to multiculturalism $60,000 in funding for upgrades to availability – the government is “Refugees and migrants to this Copies are also distributed to serviced apartments, hotels, in Australia has been called into convenience stores and newsagents throughout the city. its main hall scrapped. not providing them so we are country have always punched question following its decision to “What message is the responding to the needs without above their weight and contributed Distribution enquiries call 9212 5677. Published by scrap the Building Multicultural Abbott government sending to the grant.” to Australia’s economic and social the Alternative Media Group of Australia. While every effort Communities Program (BMCP) Australians?” asked Rosanna Boot-Up, an organisation within life – these people give weight to is made to ensure accuracy of content, City Hub takes no that provides financial support responsibility for inadvertent errors or omissions. Barbero, manager of the Addison the Addison Road Community that whole wealth-for-toil notion to groups that encourage social that is so much part of Australian cohesion and multiculturalism. Road Community Centre. Centre which provides a space for ABN 48 135 222 169 culture,” she said. The former Labor government “To rescind on a grant that refugees and migrants to take their Group Publisher: Lawrence Gibbons “It is really quite incredible delivered $100,000 in grants for was successful under the previous first steps in the marketplace, is one Group Manager: Chris Peken that this government will stymie community organisations in the government and deemed essential such group affected by the cuts. Acting Group Editor: funding and support to get cultural Michael Koziol inner west through the BMCP in servicing the community is really “There seems to be a whole ventures up and running that will City Hub Editor: Adam Hunt following a competitive process to turn your back on every single range of nails being driven into end up funding themselves and Contributing Editor: Triana O’Keefe where groups compiled detailed Australian man, woman and child,” the coffin of diversity in Australia Contributors: Gavin Gatenby, Paul Gregoire, Jonathon applications. she said. even when that diversity is clearly making the Australian economy Leonard, Tom Neale The money was budgeted and “We are the most significant proving to be of economic benefit,” stronger and more diverse.” Arts Editor: Leigh Livingstone ready to be distributed until the multicultural program in Australia’s said Lisa Sampson, Boot-Up Ms Sampson said the cuts Live Music Editor: Chelsea Deeley Coalition cancelled the program. would make it more difficult for Dining Editor: Jackie McMillan “Many of these organisations microenterprises to find space or Advertising Managers: David Sullivan, Toni Martelli, have planned for 2014 with this startup funding and investment. Robert Tuitama and Debra O’Kane funding in mind and the Coalition’s Mr Albanese demanded the Design: Joanna Grace decision to take money away will Coalition explain why it is not Publisher’s Assistant: Deeksha Chopra leave community organisations supporting community groups and Distribution Manager: Danish Ali stranded,” said federal member for a multicultural Australia. “The government is ripping Cover: Ros Sharp - Jonathan Teplitzky Grayndler, Anthony Albanese. Email: [email protected] He called it a “cruel” decision to funding from a number of Advertising: [email protected] take in the lead up to Christmas. community organisations, and the Photo: Photo: Pip Hinman and Peter Boyle Contact: PO Box 843 Broadway 2007 “These organisations are the BMCP is not their only target,” Ph: 9212 5677 Fax: 9212 5633 Web: altmedia.net.au backbone of our multicultural he said. communities and should be “Mr Abbott and his sidekicks do supported by the government. not prioritise building community If you have a story you’d like to tell us: Many of these groups are not-for- even here in the inner west, where [email protected] profit and work with those less Liberal MPs like Craig Laundy fortunate, in order to maintain should be sticking up for the cohesive and socially inclusive community organisations in their neighbourhoods.” electorate.” The Addison Road Community Government ministers and altmediagroup altmediasydney Centre in Marrickville, home to Liberal MP Craig Laundy were 22 separate organisations with Participants of the Addison Road Community Centre contacted for comment.

3 Mr Mambo eyes up New Year’s Eve BY PAUL GREGOIRE Opening doors for the homeless now I believe, doing a logo and contributing some of permanent housing. “The Way2Home program is The distinctive artwork of Reg Mombassa will the ideas for the fireworks,” Mr Mombassa said. BY TRIANA O’KEEFE decorate the city as he takes on the role of New The City of Sydney will The outreach program and just one aspect of the homeless The iconic artist has designed an eye logo along the volunteers from Neami services that we provide and Year’s Eve cultural ambassador. with a range of accompanying imagery that express continue funding its successful Mr Mombassa has had a long and varied artistic Way2Home project until July. National helps the homeless fill I think a decision should be this year’s theme, “shine”. out the forms required to apply made only after considering career. He is a Mambo artist, has had numerous “The eye is like the soul, or the spirit shines Established in 2010, solo exhibitions of his paintings, worked on graphics Way2Home assists people for long term housing. what the state government has through the eyes supposedly, and eyes are sort of “The number of people to say.” for the 2000 Olympics, and played with Mental As shiny and a bit wet, looking like the harbour,” he experiencing homelessness to sleeping rough in Sydney has Ms Doutney has told council Anything and Dog Trumpet over 30 years. told City News. move into long-term housing declined since the inception of she is happy to table the Mr Mombassa, Glebe resident, said he was “I did four panoramics, some of them have got and re-establish ties with the Way2Home and we want to see discussion of an extension honoured to be asked. the city in the background, one of them has the community. council continue to support and to the Way2Home program “It was very nice of them to ask me. It’s the kind harbour bridge. It’s sort of like looking through gum Its “housing first” approach fund programs such as this,” until the round table workshop of job I would imagine quite a few artists would like trees with eyes.” is based on the philosophy that Ms Doutney said. but encourages the CEO to to do, so I was pleased to be asked,” he said. The City of Sydney said the design represents a people should be able to enter The role of cultural ambassador involves creating harmonious city. long-term housing contracts City of Sydney CEO Monica be mindful that the “inner city artworks for the events surrounding NYE13. “Mr Mombassa’s ‘all-seeing eye’ motif aims to without first having to meet Barone told council the state homeless situation is vastly “It’s really doing banners proclaiming the event, encourage individualism while also representing prerequisites such as sobriety government would offer a round different to the rest of NSW”. which they’ve just started hanging around the city Sydneysiders’ singular vision to live harmoniously,” or treatment compliance. table workshop reviewing all “With this difference in mind a spokesperson said. “Housing is provided first and homelessness services. we have to make decisions Mr Mombassa attended last year’s New Year’s then support services required “I would like to see council based on what works for our Eve celebration on the harbour and recalled it was a to help a person recover and table this motion until after the local government area and not family-friendly event. thrive are negotiated with the meeting in early 2014 when the state of NSW as a whole,” “It was a great party, there were more than client and provided to them in we can evaluate our homeless Ms Doutney said. a million people there all having a good time their housing,” a council report services as a whole,” Ms The Way2Home initiative will Photo: Chris Peken Photo: peacefully. It was very pleasant family entertainment noted. Barone said. now expire on June 30, 2014. I thought,” he said. The project will be extended One of the founding members of Mental as by three months and council Anything, he has recently been touring with his will provide an additional current band Dog Trumpet. payment of $150,000 for the “We released a double album about three or extended service period. four months ago and we’ve been touring around “This project has seen promoting that, so that’s keeping me busy on the positive change in the lives of musical front,” Mr Mombassa said. all clients,” Greens councillor The official charity partner for NYE13 is Irene Doutney said. Engineers Without Borders (EWB), a not-for- “In some cases we have profit organisation specialising in humanitarian seen an end to homelessness.” engineering work in both communities overseas and Co-funded by the City, the indigenous communities in Australia. program has supported 189 “It’s our opportunity to showcase...the important people who were previously role of engineering and technology in fighting chronically homeless in poverty,” said Lizzie Brown, the charity’s chief the inner city to move into City of Sydney homeless information centre “The eye is like the soul”: Reg Mombassa executive officer.

4

Minister warns mayors on WestConnex protest news in brief By TOM NEALE “grumblings from Labor mayors against WestConnex. Ms Haylen “Council has now resorted to On your bike fewer robberies and Roads Minister Duncan Gay who want to play politics”. is expected to seek preselection using freedom of information muggings. But there was has dismissed the threat of a The City of Sydney’s “Those mayors that are for the newly-created state seat requests to seek this background advocacy of bike lanes a significant increase in community campaign against considering wasting ratepayers’ of Summer Hill, where there will information and data.” is garnering results, with theft from retail stores in the WestConnex motorway and money to fight Westconnex be compulsory land acquisitions The government has already says the project will go ahead are also wasting their time and as part of the WestConnex established a WestConnex council figures showing a the city’s west. regardless. out of touch with every single project. Delivery Authority, chaired by 13 per cent rise in central Across the state, drug And he warned that mayors Sydneysider who wants us to Mr Gay insisted the Business Council of Australia Sydney cyclists over the offences were stable who do not cooperate would fix Parramatta Road,” he said. government had engaged in president Tony Shepherd. A past year. except for higher rates of be locked out of the planning “We want to work with local the planning process faithfully, planning application for the The report suggests the possession of cocaine, process. government and have already conducting 40 information project’s first stage – widening number of people jumping amphetamine and “other Leichhardt Council will held more than 20 meetings with sessions since September in the existing M4 motorway – has on bikes has more than drugs”. spend up to $20,000 providing councils in Western Sydney.” addition to meetings, property been lodged, with construction doubled over three and a information and lobbying kits to But the minister warned that a visits, phone calls and written to begin early in 2015. half years. residents in an attempt to block Festival Village grows concerted campaign by mayors correspondence. But Matthew Hounsell, Lord Mayor Clover Moore or hinder the infrastructure like Mr Byrne would see them The minister said the president of the No WestConnex This year’s Festival Village congratulated cyclists and project. sidelined from negotiations. WestConnex project is the Action Group, said the in Hyde Park, part of the said work was already “It has become clear that “We will continue to work only way to resolve persistent motorway’s distance-based toll Sydney Festival, will be WestConnex is proceeding to with the professional officers traffic problems surrounding was robbing the poor to pay the underway on Kent Street to link up the busiest bike three times the size of last a political timetable without on councils and the local Parramatta Road, and would rich. year’s, organisers say. any regard for proper planning community but we will not take 3000 trucks a day off local “This toll will take millions routes in the city. processes,” mayor Darcy Byrne waste time on mayors who don’t roads. of dollars out of the pockets of Open from 9am to 2am said. want to work with us,” he said. “It will also enable 10 NSW families to pay well- Sex assaults climb each day of the festival (except Mondays), the Mr Gay said the project would Marrickville mayor Jo Haylen kilometres of bus lanes to be connected companies like Bureau of Crime Statistics expanded Village will offer continue undeterred despite has also stepped up a campaign built that will almost halve the Transurban, Leightons, and figures reveal a big spike travel time for those commuting Macquarie Bank,” he said. in indecent assault in room for more music, between the inner west and the Mr Hounsell said WestConnex Sydney’s inner west. kids’ shows, late night city,” he said. is designed to induce traffic flow cabaret and acrobatics. The latest report shows But Leichhardt Council from new apartment towers In addition to a program believes the evidence to support to fund the road. A planned a 44.1 per cent rise in of live music, festival- those claims is unsubstantiated. revitalization of Parramatta sexual assault and related Deputy Mayor Linda Kelly said Road would allow for 25,000 offences over the 24 goers can soak up the Macquarie Street had failed to new dwellings to be built along months to September. sun with portable record clarify the benefits of the project. the corridor. There was also a 30.8 per players and a library of “The state government has ‘With 50,000 new residents cent jump in recorded LPs from Village Vinyl. The ignored council’s repeated moved into the suburbs around cases of fraud. City of Sydney will also requests for the necessary Homebush and deliberately Motor vehicle theft provide books as part of planning information we need limited public transport, they was down across the its Lawn Library. in order to assess the project will have no choice but to use city, while the CBD The Sydney Festival merits for our residents and the Westconnex,” Mr Hounsell and inner south saw starts January 9. Parramatta Road local businesses,” she said. said.

6

Community garden faces the shovel City excels in BY PAUL GREGOIRE HSC languages The Erskineville Road Community Garden could be BY MICHAEL KOZIOL turfed out, with the City of Sydney Inner Sydney schools have proposing to move it to a more excelled at languages in this Berner Peter Cartoon: “suitable” site. year’s HSC, with several students The garden was created in 2009 coming first in NSW in their on a block of land that had been chosen course. vacant for decades. At Fort Street High School in “It’s kind of like a gorilla garden Petersham, Kimberly Xian placed that the council hasn’t endorsed first in Chinese Continuers (the and it’s been there about five course for those who studied the years,” the garden’s convenor, Julie language in junior years), while Moffat, said. Marta Krzanowski topped the state “It was a vacant site that was in German Continuers. owned by council and it’s been The community garden on Erskineville Rd. Photo: Paul Gregoire Larissa Chok from Sydney vacant since probably the 1970s.” “For it just to be sold to be double gates to access the site, Girls High School beat out In July the City of Sydney’s made into another unit for a local so she remains uncertain about the competition in Japanese Continuers; the school also nabbed environment committee developer is really a disappointing council’s objections. first place in French Extension recommended the garden not outcome,” Ms Doutney said. “They’ve had many reasons over (Lillian Flemons) and the Modern receive approval. But Ms Moffat A spokesperson for the City of the years and it changes because I History (Ruby Lew). told City News an administration Sydney said the current garden guess, they come up with different Newtown High School of error occurred during the process did not meet council requirements reasons,” she said. where 22 community submissions Performing Arts produced two and they were working to find a “They do have a list of criteria first-in-course recipients - Jaimee that were in favour of the garden different site. and not many sites meet all that went missing. Hassos for English (Standard) “This site does not meet the criteria anyway. They acknowledge “So originally, they were saying and Oliver Shermacher for Music City’s criteria for community that not all sites can meet their 11 submissions not in favour of the Extension. gardens because of several criteria.” garden and 12 that were in favour. Sydney Grammar School So they said the community was challenges including safe public Mike Hatton, President of the dominated the classical languages, split,” she said. access, large trees and lack of Friends of Erskineville group, with students topping Latin “But then when they found sunlight,” the spokesperson said. said any alternative sites would Continuers and Latin Extension. that they had this administration “The City has been working take away parkland from the Gabriel Gregory, also from error they found 34 in favour of with the community to find a community. Grammar, topped both Classical the garden and 12 not in support,” solution, including looking at other “The alternate proposals from Greek Continuers and the she said. locations in Erskineville that may the council involve taking away extension course. Greens councillor Irene be better suited for a community parkland in one of five sites,” he Cian Galea, from the Doutney said she was concerned garden.” said. “My view is we have little International Grammar School about council selling the land and But Ms Moffat said the garden enough parkland now without in Ultimo, came first in Spanish replacing the garden with more has areas of both shade and taking more away for a replacement Extension, while Lucy Nason of development. plentiful sunlight, and there are garden.” Kambala topped Ancient History.

8

The night I fondled the detective sergeant’s piece By gavin gaTENBY mammals and insects, particularly during a victimless crime of interest only to greenies Back in the late 1980s and early 90s and after bushfires. And many native plants and wouldn’t take the operation seriously. Not there was a big trend toward native gardens. depended on the moisture trapped under only did they not set up the radar trap, but Sydneysiders were trying to get away from bushrocks to create the microclimate necessary relations between the national parks rangers water-hungry landscaping featuring exotic for germination and survival. and the cops were edgy. plants. There was, however, a dark side to To get at the rock, the poachers created By Sunday evening, things had turned this otherwise laudable trend, and this was the whole networks of destructive trails into the Saturnalian in the police camp. At nightfall, they bush and often increased their profits by carting lit a blazing campfire by the road and sat around fashion for strewing ‘bushrock’ around gardens. rubbish into the bush and backloading rock it, yarning. The detective sergeant in charge was Bushrock was the landscape industry term out. The National Parks and Wildlife Service a short, very fat man. He wore a grubby pair of for beautifully weathered and lichen-encrusted declared war on the poachers and I was right cheap tracksuit pants and a teeshirt advertising sandstone rocks from the forest ridges there in the front line. an auto spares business. After a big meal from surrounding Sydney. As the native garden trend In 1989 after high-level liaison with the the Scottish restaurant he fell asleep in the took off, poaching bushrock from national parks police we set up a series of joint operations drivers seat of a patrol car, snoring loudly. turned into a minor industry. With the rocks codenamed ‘Hotrock’ to catch the thieves Every now and then one of the cops around fell asleep in their cars, except the fat detective retailing for $40 a square metre, poachers could operating in Yengo and Wollemi national parks. the fire would saunter over to the open boot of sergeant, who had woken up and was warming make big tax-free profits. In Hotrock I, the plan was to stake out the a patrol car and fill his styrofoam cup from a himself at the fire. An awkward conversation Removing the rock had serious impacts on Putty Road at Colo Heights, watch for known flagon-sized bottle in a brown paper bag. followed. the ecology of the sandstone country because bushrock thieves going north, and then nab “Would you like a Ribena, Gavin?” one of “Did you go to university?” he asked. I the rocks provided shelter for reptiles, small them when they were on their way out. The them eventually asked. admitted I had. trouble was that when bushrockers passed the So that’s what they drink on long stakeouts. “Are you married?” Actually, my, ah, stake-out, they’d see a police operation was They must fortify themselves with vitamin C, I companion and I weren’t, I admitted. going on and get cold feet. The solution was thought. He filled a cup and passed it to me. I “Do you have kids?” We, no we didn’t. I was to set up an ostentatious, but fake, radar trap. took a long hard swig and nearly gagged. It was developing a weird feeling about where this Truck drivers would spread the news of the port. They’d been drinking cheap port for hours. conversation might be headed. There was a trap on their two-way radio and the bad guys, Suddenly, a 4WD utility pulling a large trailer long awkward silence. listening in, wouldn’t suspect they were in the sped past, heading south. Four cops and I “Would you like to see my piece?” he asked. gun. rushed for a patrol car and I wedged myself, I froze in horror. The sergeant bent down, Hotrock I was to run over a weekend and with my camera, in the middle rear seat, hoping pulled up the right cuff of his tracksuit pants, I was there to do the media. Things quite to get a shot of the trailer as we approached. and pulled a snub-nosed .38 revolver out of an accidentally got off to a flying start on the Friday The road down from Colo Heights is steep, ankle holster. He swung the cylinder open and night, before the op was officially due to start. A narrow and very scary, switching from side to knocked the six cartridges out into the palm of couple of Highway Patrol cops who’d only heard side of a razorback ridge. The driver poured on his hand, then he flipped the cylinder back in about it on the grapevine tailed a flatbed loaded the turps. I thought I was going to die. Eventually place and handed me the gun. with rock. The licence plate was on the Police we caught up with the suspect. Our driver came I fondled it as reverently as I could and tried Intelligence list of suspects and they pulled it up to within about 5 metres and threw on high out the approved two-handed ‘combat stance’. over, booked the blokes and impounded the beam. “Hey, it’s great! Thanks, mate!” I said and I truck. There was a spontaneous howl of laughter. handed it back. The Colo Heights stakeout started on the The trailer was full of sheep. The cops cracked It was just about as homoerotic as things Saturday. Trouble was, the police team assigned up, going “baaa-baaa! baaa-baaa!” could get between two straight men. After that Ranger with a captured bushrock poacher’s truck, 1989 to the job obviously regarded bushrock theft as We drove back up the hill and the cops all we got on like a house on fire.

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Brothels to be audited Childcare provider OPINION the Forum. But they are relics of BY TOM NEALE Road brothel as an the Restricted Premises snaps up Forum Forum must a Sydney that has now grown up. Leichhardt Council is unauthorised brothel. The Act 1943, which allows BY Michael Koziol The tacky neon signs and cheap planning an expansion of Centre, which purports “circumstantial evidence” Constructions, were adapt to the Creditors of the Italian plastic seating are unbefitting of a random audits of brothels to offer “therapeutic rather than the “long and presented to a meeting in the local government Forum Limited (IFL) have serious food destination. massage”, was identified detailed process” of the of Leichhardt Council times area, following a Sydney agreed to sell the insolvent In my 15 months living there, by council in April 2013 Environmental Planning last week. The council is BY Michael Koziol Morning Herald report entity to childcare provider never once have I eaten at one and Assessment Act 1979. a major creditor and has The Italian Forum’s embattled that unlicensed brothel as operating illegally Tick Tock Services. of the Forum’s restaurants. If I’m Kylie Tattersall, guardianship over the cultural centre, for so long the owners were expanding because its original IFL controls the Italian going to pay $30 for a main, I’m executive director of the federal government’s $2.9 unfortunate victim of disorder, their operations along development application Forum’s cultural centre, going to A Tavola in Darlinghurst, Sex Workers Outreach billion conditional grant to spite, bureaucracy and a failure of Parramatta Road. was for a remedial clinic. including a state-of-the- or Lucio’s pizza, or perhaps Jamie’s Project, said complaints the centre. imagination, will soon be under The Herald report Mayor Darcy Byrne’s art auditorium, rehearsal Italian in the CBD. about brothels need to Mr Hathway said he new management. identifed Vasilios motion called on council space and kitchen. Dining in Sydney has undergone be dealt with using an understood councillors Whether Tick Tock Services Perdikaris as operating to investigate “illegal” As part of the a revolution and the Italian Forum evidence-based approach would consider the matter and its lessee, the Actors Centre the Thai Treatment brothels and have their resolution, the space will has been left behind. As a cultural rather than a moral by February but that Australia, can turn that tide around Centre on Parramatta closure fast-tracked using be leased to Actors Centre destination and as a residence, framework. “they would have been is at this point anyone’s guess. Australia (ACA), an acting it offers little in the way of “There is no such outvoted” had council But it’s far from the only school which boasts Hugh atmosphere, aesthetics or value. thing as an “illegal” staff dissented from the problem afflicting the place. Jackman as its patron. It cannot hope to succeed brothel in NSW, just an creditors’ agreement. After 15 months of living in a Tick Tock Services without massive change. unauthorised brothel,” The ACA had backed Forum apartment, tomorrow I will has previously indicated Michael Koziol is the news editor she said. “This is because the Novati Constructions move out. It is a building whose its intent to supplement in NSW sex work is bid, but was approached reputation precedes it, and not in a income by building a decriminalised, and a by both parties for an positive way. Most friends wonder childcare centre on the brothel has either been agreement. how I managed to stay that long. roof of the cultural centre. approved by the local “We see great potential I have come to appreciate the Stephen Hathway, council or it hasn’t.” for our school to grow, Forum for what it is, but I’ve also executive director of A spokesperson but also to connect encountered its many failures. administration firm SV confirmed Leichhardt with the community,” For residents, it is a prison: Partners, said the process Council would seek said operations and inaccessible, often gated, with had been “exhilarating” information regarding development manager sparse courtyards and no stairs. and that the best outcome unauthorised brothels Allan Rendell. Its enormous commercial had been delivered. “from a number of He said the ACA would vacancy rate is well known and has He said Tick Tock sources” as well as give the cultural centre been addressed in this newspaper produced a “superior auditing premises. a stable income and still many times. To council’s credit, the financial offer” and he Ms Tattersall said allow a large scope for Renew Leichhardt project will soon expects a contract to be SWOP would work with weekend and after-hours begin utilising vacant premises as signed before Christmas. council to “ensure the community activities. artistic and cultural spaces. The other options, health safety and well- “We’ve met a lot of Food and drink are at the heart including bids from Italian being of sex workers in interesting people who I of Italian culture and appropriately, their local area”. language school Co. As. think are just waiting for restaurants form the backbone of Italian Forum entrance Parramatta Road is home to a number of brothels With Michael Koziol It. and builders Novati that place to ignite.”

12 It’s always going to come down to the individual’s Jonathan Teplitzky: The man on fire ability to stick at what they are doing,” he says. “It’s no harder, it’s no easier than anywhere in the By Leigh Livingstone What it means to be human and deal with difficult As 2013 draws to a close and Teplitzky poises world. It is so much easier to make a film now; you Jonathan Teplitzky is about to become an circumstances are what great films are made of says himself on the catapult that will send him into the don’t even need film anymore. What is important is international household name. The Australian Teplitzky and The Railway Man is no different. stratosphere of international commercial success, he director, a Bondi local, is on the cusp of releasing his “I thought it [The Railway Man] was an incredibly has some thoughts about the challenges facing the having something to say and the creative desire to do next cinematic project titled The Railway Man. story about humanity. It’s really about the very worst Australian industry. It’s up to the individual. it through filmmaking,” he says. The film is generating Oscar talk and stars and the very best of human nature,” he says. “What we have in Australia, we have a lot of Teplitzky has plenty to say about the human Hollywood heavyweights Nicole Kidman, Colin Firth “I just thought they were really big dramatic ideas support from Government agencies that other condition and the Bondi director is ready to set the and Stellan Skarsgård. However, Teplitzky humbly to make a film about, which I really like.” countries don’t have, so we have a leg up there, but world on fire. (LL) says that the filmmaking process is very similar The Railway Man is adapted from Eric Lomax’s other countries have other things that we don’t have. The Railway Man is released Dec 26. despite the size of the production. autobiography of the same name. Lomax was a “In a funny sort of way it is exactly the same even British officer captured and tortured by the Japanese though it is a bigger production with prominent stars,” in Singapore during World War 2. While in the POW he says. camp, Lomax was forced to work on the Thai-Burma “Even actors like Nicole and Colin, they are railway, a horrific irony considering his keen interest incredible actors of course, but they just want to do in all things locomotive. really good work.” The Thai-Burma Railway is also notoriously The fruit of this dream-team’s efforts can be seen known as the ‘Death Railway’ because of the more just after Christmas, when The Railway Man is than one hundred thousand Allied prisoners of released on Boxing Day. war and Asian labourers that fell to disease and Teplitzky wasn’t always on the path to cinematic unimaginable suffering there. gold; originally he had a keen interest in photography. Although the ‘Death Railway’ has been the subject After a few relatively small-scale exhibitions in of previous films (most notably 1957’sThe Bridge on London and New York, Teplitzky made the switch the River Kwai), The Railway Man aims to accurately to directing. He says it happened because he loves portray the atrocities that faced these forced labourers telling stories and enjoys the engagement with various using Lomax’s first-hand accounts. people involved in creating a film. As well as openly involving the real Eric Lomax “The way it is all put together, you are solving in the production, Teplitzky filmed The Railway problems all the time. It is substantial. As soon as I Man mostly in actual locations portrayed in the started doing it, I just knew that I loved it.” book. These included Scotland and parts of the real Although directing was a better fit, Teplitzky still railway, like Hellfire Pass. The recreated POW camp has a soft spot for photography and finds parallels. and studio sets were brought to life in Queensland, “I love it [photography] as an art form, the framing ensuring the production does its part for the of images is really important to me and I really enjoy Australian industry. that part of it,” he says. Teplitzky says that the best thing the Australian Already known in Australian circles for modest industry can do for itself is to “make as good as successes like Better Than Sex and Getting’ Square, possible, distinctive, bold cinema and let the audience the buzz has been steadily growing around this engage with that. Australian director since his last project, Burning “We can’t replicate someone else’s formula for Man. Fiery themes of love and grief fuelled a story successful movie-making. What we have to do is both written and directed by Teplitzky. create and define our own cinema.” Jonathan Teplitzky and Nicole Kidman, The Railway Man set

13 EAT & DRINK By Jackie McMillan

light, open plan front bar that lends itself to daytime marble table, and it’s there that we’re treated to a thirty-somethings keen for a drink, without ruling sampling of ‘consigli’ (specials) and a purely Italian out pleasing twenty-somethings who pile in for DJs wine list. The Stracciatella Con Fave ($18) whets the after 10pm every Saturday night. And despite the odd palate, like an amuse-bouche, this ‘egg drop soup’ hipster font used here and there, it’s still the kind of contains broad beans, zucchini flower and pickled suburban local where you can go without a beard shallot, and is paired with a 2012 Poderi del Paradiso or full-sleeve tattoo. The menu is short and to the ($14/$59). The Raviolo with Cuttlefish Ink ($32), point, but there’s nothing wrong with pub classics is visually stunning and dressed with salmon roe, I when they’re handled well. Chicken Parmigiana ($17) could not fault it! However the knockout dish – and gives a good slab of schnitzel, with basil leaves and thankfully a regular player (just look at the ribbons of leg ham tucked between the toppings of tomato and fresh pasta drying in the kitchen) – is the Pappardelle gooey cheese. With decent chips, salad and a Stone with Wagyu Beef Shin ($34). It dances with a red Robin Hood and Wood Pacific Ale ($7.70/bottle) lunch is pretty wine and horseradish sauce, and it’s the apex of the much sorted - unless you wanna split some spicy night until Creminio ($14) – dessert – is served. Cute Hotel Buffalo Wings ($12)… Rested a moment longer, the A Tavola as a button in a coffee cup with layers of chocolate, 250g Grain Fed Rump Steak ($12) with creamy mash hazelnut, Italian meringue and salted caramel ice The Robin Hood Hotel’s distinctive wedge-shaped and well-executed vegies would win my vote for the By Alex Harmon cream, it’s the icing on the communal dining cake. In a Art Deco silhouette has long fascinated me on drives best-value pub steak in the East; and their pinot- Bondi’s newest precinct, ‘The Hub’ is like the post-surf taco town, it’s nice to know chic and sleek through Charing Cross. (If you’re scratching your heavy bottle shop is beaut too! graduation program for successful inner-city can still work. head, we’re talking about the intersection of Bronte 203 Bronte Road, Waverley (02) 9389 3477 businesses. Messina, Melbourne’s Sensory Lab, and 69-71 Hall Street, Bondi (02) 9130 1246 Road and Carrington Road in Waverley.) Inside the robinhoodhotel.com.au now A Tavola, the Darlinghurst institution, have all set atavola.com.au architecture is shown off to good advantage with a Pub Bistro $-$$ up shop on Hall Street. You’ll still find the ten metre Italian $$-$$$

$ - mains less than $15 $$ - mains between $15-$22 $$$ - mains between $22-$30 $$$$ - mains over $30 ($8) with bacon, jalapenos and He reinvigorated his Lebanese pizza at the end of a peninsula, I survey melted cheese are like a Mexican shop by developing these amazingly the view. The theming feels post- EASTERN SUBURBS if you want a dish with weight The with value as the key. The Rib Eye version of poutine. Buns ($15/3) are moist Cinnamon Scrolls ($15/6) Colonial, with wide bamboo ceiling Wagyu Burger ($14) is tasty and on the Bone ($27/400g) is the tight – but not in flavour, with fillings blanketed in icing sugar. Scolls also fans, wall-mounted stag horns and Queens Park Shed towering. most expensive menu item; but my like crab, spicy chicken and chicken come in a battalion of flavours uber-comfortable safari chairs. New is out, converted is in - a Darley Road, Queens Park pick’s his juicy Royal Wagyu Burger liver parfait; and the Spring Wings from Salted Caramel ($5.90), to They’ve eschewed most of the disused sports shed in Centennial (02) 9380 9350 ($16). It’s a cut above your average ($12) are devilishly drool-worthy. a jam-filled Aussie fav. Lamington obvious renovated pub fare in Park is the latest ‘found café’ to trippaswhitegroup.com.au meat’n’bun affair. Word of warning: the Lobster ($5.90), to my preferred option: favour of a more chic than shabby emerge. The modern, airy space Café $-$$ 2 Perouse Road, Randwick Macaroni Bake ($28) is heavy! Wash Tahini, Sesame and Pistachio ($5.90). collection of British comfort food: maintains the integrity of its past Royal Hotel Randwick (02) 9399 3006 it down with a refreshingly tart Filled with halva mousse, the latter from pot pies to Ploughman’s through rustic finishes, quirky This stately two-storey heritage royalhotel-sydney.com Belladonna ($17). unites the two seemingly disparate lunches; Cornish pasties to scones light fittings, and a gorgeous water listed hotel (now with boutique Pub Bistro $$-$$$ 110 Spring Street, Bondi Junction themes of this bakery together. Try it with clotted cream; excellent house- station employing the original pipes. accommodation upstairs), is wrapped Spring Street Social (02) 9389 2485 at the comfortable communal table made Pickled Vegetables ($10) to The breakfast/lunch menu focuses by wide verandahs. The downstairs Never trust a charlatan or chunky facebook.com/SpringStreetSocial in this gleaming white store after Potted Crab ($14). Tea-soaked on healthy, affordable choices one is the perfect place to sink a fries described as ‘skinny’, right? Cocktails, Bar Food $$ a preliminary (four) Cheese Pizza raisins and a hint of Keen’s Curry that reflect the sporting past and ten-buck Frozen Margarita ($10) Forget everything you’ve learnt and ($6.50) or an even-better Sonia Powder raise the Poached Chicken present soccer mums. There’s a on a sunny day. While the beer list head to Bondi Junction’s newest GREATER SYDNEY Special Wrap ($9). and Mango Salad ($18) beyond usual Pulled Pork Baguette ($12) not doesn’t have much to write home underground bar. The Charlatan 1/56 Connells Point Road, pub salads; or there’s Crisp Skinned in plastic basket with fries, rather about, there are wines like Leo ($17) is a signature cocktail; Oregano Bakery Hurstville South (02) 9546 3666 Confit Duck Leg ($26) on Savoy with a tangy piccalilli and paprika Buring Dry Riesling ($43/bottle) for and with vodka, rhubarb bitters, Vivacious owner Sonia Jabbour oreganobakery.com.au cabbage with chestnuts and figs. aioli. Chicken, Roast Pumpkin and around forty bucks. Eats here are cinnamon-infused agave and lime told me that she sells the best Breakfast, Pizza, Lebanese, Bakery $ 2 Gale Street, Woolwich 9817 2204 Avocado Salad ($12) is incredibly another Danny Russo pub menu juice, it’s a tonic you’ll want to self- cinnamon scrolls in Sydney! Her Woolwich Pier Hotel woolwichpierhotel.com.au fresh, and generous for its size; but renovation (last seen at The Oaks), medicate with. Their Skinny Fries husband, Tony Jabbour is the baker. Perched on a comfortable verandah Pub Bistro, Cocktails $$-$$$

EAT & DRINK By Jackie McMillan

can be a winner for a minimal Sake ($7.50) spend. high-end favourites like Bridge Room and The Woods: Cheer when other people get sake. It’s churlish not pared back, unfussy, fundamental. So it seems fitting to. Our smiling server, the 21-year-old server Ben- to try it with unpasteurised, artisan sake – Terada san, keeps our energy up by hinting that sake pours Honke ‘Katori 90%’ ($11/glass) - by a brewer who’s more freely the louder one cheers: Kanpai! Food is returned to pre-modern methods. The Blood Sausage in a best supporting role – which isn’t to say their Sanga ($6/each) is so good, it’s causing me to have a namesake Duck Gyoza ($8/5 piece) wrapped in silky Pavlovian response to Chippendale: my mouth waters pastry skins aren’t tasty - just that izakayas are about and the steering wheel pulls toward the restaurant. Eat sharing style (you get to try more). Let someone drinking, so throw in a Koshihikari Rice Beer ($12) play Father and adorn the sticky Pork Hock ($32) chaser and everybody’s happy. Ben-san’s unhesitating with the juice of blackened orange. Include a head menu recommendations saw me enjoy unctuous of charred Cauliflower ($16) and the Asparagus/ and fatty Pork Belly Kakuni ($13), the White Sesame Ester Nasturtium/Egg ($16) combo for some green. Take Harajuku Gyoza Salad ($6) being its perfect foil. ‘Tenpura’ Eggplant on any dessert the small menu cares to offer. Three ($6) wedges go light on the batter (and are all the The austere minimalism of the room makes you Milks ($11) pays homage to goat, cow and sheep, Leave surly service behind and travel to happy J-pop better for it) against a pretty mirin-based sauce. concentrate on the subtlety of what’s in the glass and delivering a re-imagined Jersey caramel; while Mango/ world. Shiny red vinyl bar stools offer the best Explosive Salted Caramel Gyoza ($9/3 pieces) should on the plate. Against a limited colour palate – even Passionfruit/Meringue ($15) looks like something vantage points to eyeball their streamlined operation put to rest any rumours that Japanese don’t make the kitchen and floor teams wear alternating navy Nanna would make, but surprises with both texture (their initial store is in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley), good desserts. I’m already plotting my return… and dark grey – I find myself leaning in to capture and taste. and give you the opportunity to make friends with 9-15 Bayswater Road, Potts Point (02) 9356 3834 a whisker of smoke from the exquisite Roasted 46-52 Meagher Street, Chippendale (02) 8068 8279 other diners. (Breathe: there are tables for those harajukugyoza.com Oysters ($4/each). It’s wood-fire that links Mat ester-restaurant.com.au who don’t play well with others.) Here anyone Japanese $ Lindsay’s cooking to the new style emerging from Modern Australian $$$-$$$$

DARLO, KINGS X spring garden with pumpkin puree, against easy-drinking 2010 Antica Fremantle ‘giant’ octopus; the berries. Inside the kitsch, homely- local from an old men’s boozer & SURRY HILLS zucchini, yellow squash and peas. Enotria Falanghina ($48/bottle) mellow and slightly sweet Echigo vibe is broken up by a domed wood and gambling den, to somewhere Even the muffins are amazing… from the regionally arranged Italian Koshihikari ($17/500ml) rice fire pizza oven. The De Jamon Pizza you can get a decent cocktail, craft Devon Café 76 Devonshire Street, Surry Hills list. Ricotta Polpette ($8/4 pieces) beer proves my favourite. Yebisu ($26) bearing Jamón Serrano, pear, beer and something culinarily more Continuing the exodus from fine (02) 9211 8777 devoncafe.com.au prove a perfect start to my Italian and Kirin take me through gently walnuts, Parmesan and vincotto exciting than a ‘schnitty’ or ‘parmi’. dining to approachable eateries, Café $$ family-style feast! updated Nasu Dengaku ($18) and will make you thankful they didn’t While these items remain on the two of Guillaume Brahimi’s chefs Franco Franco 628 Crown Street, Surry Hills soy-braised pork belly, Butaniku no rip it out. Supplement pizzas with menu, you’ll also find American have landed in this little café on Get stuck into a chewy Neapolitan Italian, Pizza $$ Kahuni ($22)… wow! share plates, like quirky Pumpkin comfort food, from Hot Wings Devonshire Street. While there are style pizza from the dome shaped Ume 478 Bourke Street, Surry Hills Mousse ($12); roast Chook ($24) ($17.50) to Grilled Watermelon 9380 7333 umerestaurant.com.au the usual hipster affectations - a oven, while watching the pizzaiolo Two bites into the delicately seared with excellent wild rice pilaf, apricot Salad ($15.90), plus an upstairs Modern Japanese $$$$ yoghurt and pistachio crumb; and a hanging herb garden, and everything work. Con Patate ($21) bearing signature Scallop Carpaccio ($21) cocktail bar that doesn’t ignore perfectly cooked potato, red with soy brown butter, finger lime, Fairground Plate ($16) with candied from Refresher Juice ($7) to Iced the area’s Italianate influence. The Coffee ($6.50) served in jam onion and Italian sausage, won young sorrel and dulse, and I’m INNER WEST apples and pillowy marshmallows. Ginger Cat ($14) boasting Aperol jars – the coffee’s great and the me. Speaking of Italian meat, the kicking myself for not heading 342 Darling Street, Balmain and Appleton Rum, and the Garden food’s even better! The confidently shiny red Berkel meat slicer (and to Ume sooner. The understated The Cottage Bar & Kitchen (02) 8084 8185 short seasonal menu offers up the lad operating it) provide much white-tiled room quietly oozes Sitting in the front yard of this thecottagebalmain.com.au Party ($13) combining Tanqueray beautifully presented breakfasts to salivate over too, like boards confidence. Sipping Dassai 50 Junmai picturesque cottage with a punch Bar, Bar Food, Pizza $$-$$$ Gin, Vermouth and Campari were like Citrus Cured Salmon ($18.50) bearing Prosciutto San Daniele Daiginjo Sake ($39/180ml) I peruse bowl of Strawberry Sangria ($32) The Royal Leichhardt my cocktail favourites. with apple, celery, fennel and split ($16/50g). He’s also a dab hand at the beverage list – wine, Japanese I see the makings of a girls’ night Hipster pub pastiche has come to 156 Norton Street, Leichhardt dill cream; and creative lunches like pasta making, so order a gleaming whisky and beer – they’ve got it all. out. “I’ll have what she’s having!” Leichhardt, with the W. Short Hotel (02) 9569 2638 Green With Envy ($23) - nettle copper Scanpan bearing joyously I explore Japanese beers with Tako Soon after I had my own glass, Group doing one of those pub theroyalleichhardt.com.au semolina gnocchi presented as a simple Bucatini Cacio E Pepe ($20) ($20), plump tentacles of sustainable resplendent with fragrant red transformations that takes your Bar Food, Cocktails, Pub Bistro $$

who relish in smearing this rich, gelatinous goo onto FOOD NEWS crusty bread. Moving on from marrow, the Foie Gras and Fennel Tartine ($19) arrives balanced by If last week’s whiskies were a bit rich for the budget – or you cherry compote. Revelling in its earthy creaminess, just want to support Australian made – take a look at Hellyers my dining companion raises his 2012 Pierre de la Road Distillery in Burnie, North West Tasmania. After trying Grange Muscadet ‘Vieilles Vignes’ ($13) and declares: the more expensive Scottish cousins, I admit I didn’t love the “Eat healthy, die anyway.” He’s right of course; but Hellyers Road Original Single Malt Whisky [RRP $80.50/700ml] bar food isn’t designed as an everyday eat. So I take straight away. The flavour is quite big on cereal, but over the on Clams with Garlic Aioli Gratin ($16/8) and an course of the bottle, I have become quite the Aussie whisky Oyster Beignet Roll ($8) with nary a second thought. convert! For me it drinks best with the subtle companionship Even appreciating the fat-dissolving properties of pink grapefruit, pineapple and saffron gin in Le French of Fever-Tree Ginger Ale; but I am also partial to a tall glass Boudier ($18) came to an abrupt halt when I tried his of Hellyers Road Whisky, cold milk, maple syrup and Niuean Coffee Martini ($21). It drinks like a salted caramel vanilla (buy it at Herbie’s Spices) as my last drink before bed. If Ananas Bar & latte, so get two - they’re not conducive to sharing. creating your own nightcap sounds too much like hard work, Despite bemoaning Sydney’s current bun obsession, Hellyers Road Distillery also produce a lovely Whisky Cream Brasserie a Twice Cooked Pork Belly Brioche Roll ($10) [RRP $37.50/700ml] using rich Tasmanian cream. You can buy was appreciated for its alcohol blotting properties. direct online, or pick up a last minute bottle at Camperdown Champagne tastes on a beer budget needn’t preclude Alternatively Chef Paul McGrath’s interesting take on Cellars (Darlinghurst) or Porters (Pyrmont) if you’re still you from checking out the bar menus of Sydney’s Charcuterie ($32/5 items) is a fine way to finish. searching for gifts for those hard-to-buy-for people… big hitters. Here you can get a heaving board of 18 Argyle Street, The Rocks (02) 9259 5668 www.hellyersroaddistillery.com.au Roast Bone Marrow ($8) for under ten bucks. While ananas.com.au critic John Lethlean might scoff, I’m with the chefs Modern French/Cocktails/Bar Food $$ BAR FLY By Rebecca Varidel

$ - mains less than $15 $$ - mains between $15-$22 $$$ - mains between $22-$30 $$$$ - mains over $30 one that delivered that ah- STITCH ha moment. There are other ROCKS & CBD impressed with seared duck liver for a buck apiece. Throw in Crab There’s a reason we were smoky Islays, more whiskies and braised red cabbage against the and Lettuce Tacos ($18/6) and a perched around the end of and all sorts of hard liquor banana-flavoured German Wheat Redoak Boutique Beer Cafe pretty Scallop Ceviche ($22) against the bar - we were huddled down the stairs at Stitch too, Beer ($11/pint). They also make one This CBD restaurant and bar is the happy hour Punch-Draught but this session we started of Sydney’s better burgers: Beef, Beer up as close as we could great for groups. It specialises in Cocktail ($10) pumped up from with cocktails. “I reckon this and Brioche Burger ($25), which get to the Ardbeg cabinet. is the best sour we’ve had beer, and is vertically integrated, even includes a beer. The Morrison’s cellar, and it’s a great Ardbeg 10-year-old ($12); with them also producing every 201 Clarence Street, Sydney night out. House-smoked maple Uigeadail ($15); Alligator together,” the bar bloke beer on their (not-insubstantial) list! (02) 9262 3303 redoak.com.au syrup dresses up a Banana Old ($23); the confronting dropped in. Me? I nodded Choosing your brew’s a breeze after Modern Australian, Burgers $$$ Fashioned ($17), which goes down Corryvreckan ($24); the in happy agreement. Plus I trying their smart tasting boards The Morrison Bar & Oyster Room a treat with a stack of Fish Fingers tamer Blasda ($26); Ardbeg loved the touch of summer matching a beer quartet with four There’s a certain camaraderie that ($16). They’re not just ordinary Day Bottling ($16) and - the fresh cherry garnish. snack-sized dishes. Seafood ($25) comes from getting to a bar and fish fingers either, they’re quinoa- Supernova ($26) are all on And we agreed that our was bested by salt and pepper soft knowing that you’re all there for encrusted WA sardines. offer. Ardbeg (in case you test drink – a martini - was shell crab protruding from Oatmeal exactly the same thing. Here it’s the didn’t know) is the whisky also tops. Stout, caramelised onion and chilli 225 George Street, Sydney Wednesday night six o’clock oyster that changed my world. The 61 York Street, Sydney relish, matched to the quaffable swill, where between 6pm and 7pm (02) 9247 6744 themorrison.com.au breakthrough whisky. The (02) 9279 0380 stitchbar.com Organic Pale ($11/pint). Meat ($25) you can sink a bounty of bivalves Bar, Bar Food, Cocktails $$-$$$

16 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

For the first time in Sydney, Russall S. Beattie presents over the top enough as it is. places the performers mere inches his very own take on the hit television series Game of As well as taking the sexual energy up another notch from the pack. Here, audiences can Thrones. With Star Wars Burlesque: The Empire Strips Back there is another element that needs addressing. EMPIRE watch routines that move from roller- skating to balancing upon a spinning top and Batman Follies of 1929 already in the repertoire, “Another thing we’ve put in is the gore factor; there is When was the last time you went Dames of Throne is an ambitious one. to the circus in an antique 700-seat in a tent made of 3000 individual pieces. so much violence and death in the show we’ve had to With raunchy acrobatics, singing, “I’ve been working in burlesque for about ten years take that up a notch as well,” concludes Beattie. spiegeltent and had to leave the kids at and I’ve always liked doing acts which were based home? dancing, drag and wicked comedy, how How you get Game of Thrones any more graphic than it on something, where people already had a sense of There may be quirky costume routines, have Australian audiences responded to already is remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure, nostalgia or were really passionate about,” explains balancing acts and an MC, but is the show? “The crowds range from extremely Beattie. Dames of Throne promises to light a fire hotter than a Speigelworld’s returning show Empire rowdy to utterly conservative,” Bilgin Indeed, making a burlesque version of Game of Thrones wildfire in Westeros. (AH) just another trip to the circus? says. may be easier said than done. Where the original Star Jan 2-19, The Vanguard, 42 King St, Newtown, $43- “No way,” says Memet Bilgin aka 3D “It’s exciting. You never really know Wars had the ‘sexy’ element missing, Game of Thrones is 134, thevanguard.com.au Graffiti Guy. what kind of energy everyone’s going to “We’re part of a new wave of circus bring along.” groups. It’s unique and intimate, with far This adult-only fusion of vaudeville, DAMES OF THRONE more interaction between the audience burlesque, cabaret and circus promises and the performers.” to be a night out with a difference. (RG) Despite the number of seats, the Jan 7-Feb 16, Showring, speigeltent is an intimate space, with Entertainment Quarter, Moore Park, a rising and rotating stage that often $59-149, empireaustralia.com

TRAVELLING NORTH An ageing couple flee Melbourne’s cold for the warmer far North Queensland and a change of lifestyle, but Frank is soon beset by heart-problems and Frances has to deal with possessive, needy daughters. In the 1987 film of David Williamson’s play the principals were Leo McKern and Julia Blake - hard acts to follow - but Sydney Theatre Company’s production has Bryan Brown and Greta Scacchi, so sparks should fly. Written in 1979, it’s sometimes assumed to be about Williamson’s move to Sydney; in fact it’s about the experiences of his mother-in-law, a gentle and perceptive woman who’d remarried to an older man – an opinionated, intelligent, ex-Communist. The busybody neighbour who was a pest to her husband, and the doctor whose patience was tried by being questioned about the quality of his treatment, are based on her recollections. The concept of the ‘grey nomad’ is now an established one but “. . .living in paradise isn’t quite enough without having a social context of friends, families and meaningful activities to fill in the time,” says Williamson. Williamson also says that as he’s aged, the play has taken on a more personal relevance for him - as it may for everyone. (MM) Jan 9-Mar 22, Sydney Theatre Company, Pier 4/5, Hickson Rd, Walsh Bay, $50-85, 9250 1777, sydneytheatre.com.au

Arts Editor: Leigh Livingstone Contributors: 18 STAGE Alexandra English, Alexis Talbot-Smith, Andrew Hodgson, Angela Music Editor: Chelsea Deeley Stretch, Anita Senaratna, Cheryl Northey, Craig Coventry, Greg 19 SCENE Webster, Hannah Chapman, Katie Davern, Leann Richards, Lena Zak, Lisa Ginnane, Luke Cox, Luke Daykin, Lyndsay Kenwright, Marilyn 20 SOUNDS Hetreles, Mark Morellini, Mel Somerville, Michael Muir, Michelle Porter, Nerida Lindsay, Nick Hadland, Paul Gregoire, Rhys Gard, Ruth Fogarty, 21 SCREEN For more A&E stories go to Sam Crassweller, Tom Wilson, Triana O’Keefe, Vanessa Powell a&e www.altmedia.net.au 17 On the Shore of the Wide World Pessimism runs through the Holmes family’s This production of Stephens’ award-winning RENÈE GEYER veins. While most families share traits like play presents a cast of ten experienced and The word ‘legendary’ is thrown around far too blue eyes, or brown hair, or a love of playing emerging actors including Lily Newbury- casually these days but when it comes to Renée Geyer, it fits nicely. Four decades in the music charades on camping trips, the Holmes family Freeman as Alex’s love interest. industry both here and overseas, ARIA hall of members were all born with the ability to see “Simon Stephens’ play is instantly recognisable,” fame inductee and a killer back catalogue – the dark side of any, and every, situation. Hope says Skuse. she’s done it all. thrives briefly when 18-year-old Alex Holmes “It shows three generations experiencing grief, But it’s ‘that’ voice which gets fans. ‘That’ voice (Graeme McRae) falls in love for the first time, love, and imagining a better life for themselves - somehow seeping down into the bones and but during the nine-month period that follows, – all those things that make up our everyday. washing over the soul. When Motown stalwart the entire family has to come to terms with What is most beautiful is the way he presents Frank Wilson first heard her sing in LA in 1976 love, loss and reconciliation. these mundane incidents in an epic structure he said, “You’re going to have a really interesting Director Anthony Skuse and pantsguys that celebrates ordinary lives as extraordinary.” life because nobody who looks like you sounds Productions have come together to explore (AE) like you.” the universality of family drama through Simon Jan 8-Feb 1, Griffin Theatre, 13 Craigend St, Kings “I take it as an absolute compliment,” says Stephens’ play On the Shore of the Wide World. Cross, $35, 9361 3817, griffintheatre.com.au Geyer, “for a white Hungarian Jew, I sound black – I don’t try to, it just happens.” It would not be the festive season without Renée Geyer playing sell-out gigs in Sydney but with her current album Swing, fans can expect an eclectic mixture of old and new.

Photo: Hayley Sullivan Hayley Photo: Says Geyer, “The most yelled out songs I always do. If you’re going to have a hit then it means it’s pioneers,” she says. popular so why would you not do it?” “So come and check us out. You might get a big Joining her onstage at The Basement is her horn shock.” (GW) section and old friend Mark Punch on guitar, Dec 28, Lizottes, 629 Pittwater Rd, Dee Why, who co-wrote her breakthrough hit, Heading in $54-96, lizottes.com.au; Dec 29 & 30, The the Right Direction. Basement, 7 Macquarie Pl, Circular Quay, “Mark and I go a long way back - we’re the true $40-90, thebasement.com.au

Chi Udaka combines the SO FRENCHY, SO CHIC IN THE PARK themes of earth (Chi) and Summer in the park with great Cat Empire on speed. They for kids, we partner with water (Udaka) to form the CHI UDAKA tunes, champagne and French played at WOMAD in 2010 and a caterer in Sydney and basis of this Sydney Festival fare, that’s So Frenchy, So Chic they really rocked the stage,” have French-inspired picnic collaboration between TaikOz in the Park. Ponthieux says. hampers,” says Ponthieux. and Lingalayam. As part of the Sydney Festival, There’s a range of French (PG) It was conceived, composed So Frenchy, So Chic in the Park is cuisine and wine available and Jan 18, St John’s College, and choreographed by TaikOz coming to Sydney with a line- other activities. Camperdown, Sydney co-founders Ian Cleworth, up of France’s most renowned “We’ve got imported wine University, $86, Riley Lee and Lingalayam musicians. from France, we have activities cartellmusic.com.au/sfsc artistic director Anandavalli, “It’s a picnic in the park. who were inspired by the People come, lay on the forces of nature. grass, get a picnic hamper, TaikOz blends traditional buy a bottle of champagne or Japanese drumming practice wine and listen to music all while Lingalayam’s works afternoon,” says Jean-Francois nurture an appreciation of Ponthieux, director of the South Indian classical culture event and Cartell Music. and the unique role of women “There’s four bands coming and dance in ancient India. from France. They’re all at the “I didn’t see the connection Chi Udaka sees a cast of deep earthiness of Taiko top of their game. They’ve all point between TaikOz and six South Indian dancers, drumming with the flowing got platinum sales, so when South Indian Dance at the performing forms of classic sensuality of Indian classical they get up onstage they beginning,” says TaikOz’s Ian South Indian dance such as dance and show how these know what they’re doing,” he Cleworth. Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi. elements of solidity and fluidity continues. “But Anandavalli had very They interact onstage with shape and form the world. The So Frenchy, So Chic in the strong ideas about the eight Taiko musicians playing (CN) Park line-up is Lou Doillon, collaboration and now it’s clear mostly original compositions Jan 16-18, York Theatre, Féfé, Lilly Wood & the Prick that the music and movement for drums, flute, Carnatic voice, Seymour Centre, City Rd & and Babylon Circus. are beautifully integrated into cello and percussion. Cleveland St, Chippendale, “Babylon Circus is like the Babylon Circus the entire performance.” Chi Udaka aims to unite the $20-44, seymourcentre.com

THEATRE & masterpiece. It is full of complex warts-and-all ethos. MEASURE FOR MEASURE performance here. Phillip Scott, this singing and PERFORMANCE philosophies intended for The play tells the story of the Set in a place redolent of Kings Measure for Measure remains dancing extravaganza features interpretation by the audience all-consuming relationship Cross, director Richard Hillier a play for our time offering Amanda Bishop, Simon Burke WAITING FOR GODOT A at will, and STC’s production is between Donna and Tommy, and and the Sydney Shakespeare endless questions with no easy and Andrew Worboys joined by sparse, desolate theatre within simply superb. (LL) mulls over who decides when Festival present Measure for answers. (SC) Biggins and Forsythe to present a theatre set design ensures the Until Dec 21, Sydney Theatre, Pier and how it is appropriate to love Measure. It is labelled by some Until Dec 21, The Old Fitzroy a hilariously side-splitting focus is firmly on the two strong 4, Hickson Road, Walsh Bay, $55- one another. scholars as one of Shakespeare’s Theatre, 129 Dowling St, satirical view of the Federal leading men in this Samuel 105, 9250 1777, sydneytheatre. The Dreamer Examines His ‘problem plays’ with shifts Woolloomoolo, $21-39, 1300 307 Election – and no one is spared. Beckett absurdist comedy. com.au Pillow’s portrayal of love is between comedy and darker, 264, sitco.net.au From Abbott, Rudd and Gillard Hugo Weaving is Vladimir, whose THE DREAMER EXAMINES often described as unusual and more complex ideas. THE WHARF REVUE If the optimistic, jovial façade masks HIS PILLOW Unpathed dysfunctional for the way it With all-round excellent absurdity of the political climate to the Dalai Lama and Assange, weariness as he waits with Theatre Company stages this brutally dissects the rose-tinted performances including has left Australia in a state of these talented performers his friend Estragon ( Richard production by Pulitzer-winning love story archetype. (HC) Danielle Baynes (Isabella), John despair, then the latest Wharf deliver an impressively shrewd Roxburgh) to be seen by the playwright John Patrick Shanley. Until Dec 21, TAP Gallery Grinston (Duke Vincento) and Revue provides an excellent satire. (SC) never-arriving Godot. A dark comedy set in the 1980’s Upstairs Theatre, 278 Palmer St, Richard Mason (Escalus), James remedy to one’s despondency. Until Dec 21, Wharf 1 Theatre, Pier Waiting for Godot has a New York neighbourhood of the Darlinghurst, $25-30, Townsend’s portrayal of the Written and created by Jonathan 4, Hickson Rd, Walsh Bay$45-63, reputation as an elusive Bronx, it explores love with a unpathed.com.au bawdy Lucio is the stand-out Biggins, Drew Forsythe and sydneytheatre.com.au

18 THE NAKED CITY TALKING THROUGH YOUR ARTS

THE FEAR AND games that have paved the way for how we experience the act MASTERS OF PLAY of play. Games should provide at least the illusion of free will to players. Gaming is considered to be an art form of the age. It is a field LOATHING GUIDE The players should feel that they have freedom of action within that has virtually become one of the world’s most popular kinds the structure of a game. It is within our end-of-year holidays of recreation. A field that frontiers creativity in artistry and when we neck-back to reflect on efforts past, that we can then technology, a field that may well become the predominant art TO NYE angle forward towards redefining ourselves, to further develop form of the twenty-first century, as film was of the twentieth, as new tooling ideas and regenerate our many and varying artistic the novel was of the nineteenth. interests. An archaeological archive of digital gaming forms will be In 2014 be sure to bring a little play and mastery to your gaming unearthed at the Powerhouse Museum, in a groundbreaking of life. (AS) exhibition that celebrates the world’s video gaming. Game Game Masters, until May 25, Powerhouse Museum, 500 Masters is a comprehensive showcase of the most influential Harris St, Ultimo, $15-22 (includes general admission), game-makers and game-making. It presents over 100 playable powerhousemuseum.com amusements, from the 1970s traditional penny arcade machines, to the consoles of Space Invaders, Super Mario Bros, Pac-Man, Donkey Kong and Sonic the Hedgehog, to large-scale interactive displays of the electronic gifted-present. There are several valuable reasons to revisit a sense of play in these early gaming efforts. First, much of the early work is now inaccessible with the exception of long-time practitioners and collectors. These may appear to be unsophisticated efforts in comparison to the colourful and visceral productions of today, but this misunderstands the originality of those designers who worked without the benefit of historical models. In addition to coming up with the idea for a game, a designer had to understand computers and programming well enough to By Coffin Ed, Miss Death & Jay Best to leave the car home and actualise the work. From this angle these works can be regarded Katz take transport: Actually – best to as some of the most imaginative and inventive, even if they’re not leave the car home and stay home as vivid or spectacular as their contemporary counterparts. The usual myths busted... period! Sydney’s public transport is a Displayed in three sections, Arcade of Heroes is a passage that explores the games created by the pioneering designers of the Each year Sydney’s fireworks are nightmare on NYE, especially around late 1970s and 1980s. The second, Game Changes, focuses on the bigger and better than the year 12.20am when hundreds of thousands most influential industry designers who have shaped the medium before: Funny about that. Give or take of revellers descend on the city’s including Yuji Maka and the Sonic team, Nintendo, Blizzard some kind of cheesy motif hanging hopelessly inadequate train stations. If Entertainment’s World of Warcraft and Paulina Bozek’s SingStar. on the bridge they always look the you don’t want to become an extra in a Indies, the third portal, features the independently produced World of Warcraft same, especially if you have just skulled recreation of Eisenstein’s Odessa Steps half a bottle of Jägermeister. Does sequence, pull up a park bench in Hyde anybody remember what they looked Park and kip down with the possums. like in 2012 or 2011? Does anybody Despite the thousands of happy remember what they looked like even revellers in the CBD, crowds the next morning? are generally well-behaved and Sydney’s NYE celebrations are STOCKLAND the police report few arrests: Hidden in a corner of hues of Ron Adams’ pieces which for “all the people”: All partygoers Comforting to know unless you are Chippendale, Galerie Pompom’s counterpoint the muted pastels of are equal but some are more equal unlucky enough to get king hit in the tiny white space shelters a sensory Sarah Mosca’s I dont know, I never than others and the lucky elite get to rocks or clobbered in the Cross. The wonderland with Stockland. The know. Permeating the atmosphere watch the pyrotechnics from the very police report few arrests because show is a reminder of the talented like an aural perfume are the best positions. Whether it is rubbing they are hopelessly outnumbered by artists who were represented in soft chimes of Vicky Browne’s shoulders at the Lord Mayor’s celebrity the gallery through the year. a veritable army of hoons. Think of a The Woman Machine, an object knees-up, forking out $400 plus for an Diversity and innovation are normal, violent, alcohol-fuelled Saturday constructed from a turntable, a Opera House party or scoffing canapés key notes of the exhibition. The night in Sydney, magnified a thousand vinyl record and copper bells. from some exclusive hotel penthouse. visual feast of Nana Ohnesorge’s times! Overall, Stockland is a Christmas The remainder get to queue from psychedelic swirl, Dead or Alive, The safest place to be on NYE is kaleidoscope tinged with the wit 8.00am in the morning just to get a is tempered by the subdued within ten minutes of your own and humour which characterises goddamn patch of concrete adjacent to black and white of Izabela Pluta’s home: The safest place to be is actually the pompom experience. (LR) Circular Quay and wait sixteen hours pictorial essay Glass, whose simple in your home with the doors and Until Dec 21, Galerie for the midnight apocalypse. title camouflages an ocean of windows bolted and a pair of industrial insinuation. pompom, 2/39 Abercrombie Sydney’s NYE celebrations are the earmuffs to protect yourselves form The sensuous teasing continues St, Chippendale, free, envy of the rest of the world: Does the neighbour’s out-of-control party ‘Dead or Alive’, by Nana Ohnesorge, 2011 with the angular lines and bold galeriepompom.com anybody in New York, Paris, Mumbai or even Wollongong give a toss that we let that has just been invaded by five- off a bunch of firecrackers at midnight hundred Facebook freaks. and drink ourselves into a paralytic One billion people worldwide stupor? watch the Sydney fireworks: This is Sydney welcomes partygoers, surely the greatest lie of all, perpetrated ADAPTATION - GROUP SHOW by the City Council to justify the tourists & backpackers from all Adaptation at the Janet Clayton Orange Peels, a large installation ludicrous cost of the NYE event. Next over the world: Sure we welcome Gallery is a group show that composed of the eponymous them but we welcome their wallets thing they’ll be telling us thousands use combines photography, painting, rinds, manipulates texture and even more. Charging exorbitant rates the Bourke Street Cycle path everyday! and installations which enchant form to make compelling viewing. for grubby, rundown backpacker dorms, THE HIT LIST: with visual diversity. Kenway’s contributions are a food and beverages, overblown dance There’s no view of the fireworks but Alicia Rose’s Domicile series unique blend, part sculpture and parties and just about anything that plenty of pyrotechnics of the musical showcases pictures of decaying part painting, with titles that hint attracts a NYE premium. kind at the Mu-Meson Archives in rooms. Each empty space is a of cheeky independence. The fireworks cost a bundle but Annandale. Sounds of Seduction will narration of fragility, wistfulness The exhibition is a feast of form, kiddies love them: After queuing let loose with an eclectic and ever- and untold lives. These delicate light and thoughtful creativity. images contrast with the strong from 8.00am most kids are half-asleep expanding selection of rare grooves, The mixture is effective and colours and surrealistic style of by the 9.00pm fireworks and dead by cool visuals and kooky dance action entertaining and the show is one Remnim Alexander Tayco whose which proves the vitality and midnight, resuscitated just after the from 9pm until late. Your DJ’ing hosts Pyramids is an exposition of nature versatility of the Sydney art scene. Jay Katz and Miss Death guarantee the last rocket fires so they can make the precariously perched on a bed of (LR) torturous and traumatic trip home on a best value NYE Party in Sydney and all sharp triangular threat. Until Dec 21, Janet Clayton hoon-packed train. Is this entertainment for only $20 with a funky warehouse In the rear of the gallery, wit Gallery, 2 Danks St, Waterloo, or simply just child abuse? vibe. Enquiries: 9517 2010. ‘Pyramids’, by Remnim Alexander Tayco, 2013 awaits in Bess Kenway’s works. free, janetclaytongallery.com.au

19 BEN CARR TRIO - PHOSPHORESCENCE His voice is probably best they have managed to record Their music was picked up by Joining ‘Continental’ Robert Susz “It’s the premiere line-up,” Smooth and sultry, the unmistakable known for the hit, Soul Kind of and play with some of the biggest Dan Ackroyd’s House of Blues on vocals/harmonica and Dave says Susz, “so it should be sounds of jazz flow freely from this eight- Feeling, which topped the charts names in the business - Big Jay radio program, which might Brewer on guitar is Vito ‘Mr. unstoppable.” (GW) track disc. for eighties band The Dynamic McNeely, Margie Evans, Buddy explain why James Belushi turned Showbiz’ Portolesi on the bass, Jan 4, Petersham Bowling Club, Another example of that Melbournian Hepnotics. However, it was Guy – the list goes on. They up to one of their Sydney shows. Antero Ceschin on drums and 77 Brighton St, Petersham, $25 musical might, this release boasts intricate as front man for The Mighty rarely play together these days – “We had a residency at the Cat Clayton ‘The Teenager’ Doley on (all tickets at the door), 9569 string elements accompanied by a pulsing Reapers that ‘Continental’ Dave Brewer now lives in Perth and Fiddle in Balmain in the 90s the Hammond organ. 4639, thepbc.org.au yet distant sounding percussion. Robert Susz found his musical – so expect people to come out and James Belushi must have It’s a wonderfully interlaced piece, with niche. of the woodwork to hear them been tipped off, because he was Ben Carr’s saxophone the main ribbon “I was in the Hepnotics and Dave when they come to Petersham there and got up to sing a few that ties it all together. Brewer had come over from Bowling Club for one night only tunes with us,” explains Susz. Carr leaves no terrain untouched as he Perth with his own band, The in January. Clearly excited to be getting the showcases the full extent of his beloved Elks, so if we didn’t have our own “The Inner West/Inner City area band back together, the boys are brass instrument. gigs we would try to find a venue has always been the home of looking forward to settling into a Check out third to have a jam,” explains Susz. blues and roots music in Sydney,” comfy groove. track Lieu of “We started off as just a fun says Susz, “and most of the “Fans can expect some funky Tracy. It features band. When the Hepnotics fizzled people who like to come and down-home-boogaloo, played an intriguing sax out, we kept going as The Mighty hear us play live around there.” with a lot of emotion – you can introduction that Reapers and played together for Although they never performed either be dancing to it or just pulls focus. (CD) the next 10 years.” live outside of Australia, letting it flow over you,” says It was a creative partnership that the Reapers built a distinct Susz. spawned four albums, countless following in America – the “To me, that kind of music - you THE MIGHTY CRUCIBLE - THE SONGS OF gigs and critical acclaim as home of the blues – where their can’t beat it. I love it myself, so HUNTERS AND COLLECTORS perhaps Australia’s finest blues records were released on the I just can’t imagine people not REAPERS The commercial radio-flogged, Aussie and roots band. Along the way independent Terra Nova label. enjoying it.” powerhouse rock group becomes relevant once more with this playlist of H&C tributes. Sydney Live Music Guide attend. Get in quick, these throughout history. Harbour Party 2013: Ian Featuring such notables as Neil Finn, Paul LIVE WIRE guys are going to blow up. Sun, Dec 22nd, Coogee Bay Carey, Timmy Trumpet, Dr Kelly, Missy Higgins and Eddie Vedder, the Ben Panucci Trio: They Tame Imapala and Mink Fox & Fowl: From Sat, Dec 21st, Brighton Up Bar, Hotel Don Don and those pesky Hunters are also covered by the likes of received the award for Mussel Creek, Pond have Canberra to Canada to Oxford St Steve Tonge: Northern Purple Sneakers DJs are just Birds of Tokyo, British India, The Panics album of the week at come into their own. After Brisbane, these boys have Alex Hopkins: A solo beaches boy Tonge has made a few of the stellar acts that Eastside Radio last month a name for himself within and more. much stumbling around, gained inspiration from a pianist, vocalist and all-round will be shaking Luna Park to and Panucci is known for August’s pivotal Hobo Rocket multitude of landscapes The Rocks community. His There are some great crossover tracks entertaining bloke, Hopkins the roots of those famous going “backwards, forwards was unleashed as a solidified since their inception in guitar and vocal skills have here. Paul Kelly mixed into an Urthboy will grace the floors of teeth. These guys will and sideways through the marker for the band. With 2012. Currently in the this venue by putting his become a focal point for a track won’t disappoint but the real one jazz tradition”. The latest provide some classic fist- raw, gutsy guitar parts, process of completing their personal spin on some best- man who takes influence to look out for is The Living End’s rock- album Short Stories is truly from a wide variety of pumping EDM magic to get intrusive electrical elements debut album, their indie- loved classics. After making a-billy treatment of a collection of broad jazz music. Tonge has recently the audience in the shuffling and warbling vocals, this pop dance-a-thon appeal waves in the acting world Say Goodbye. infused tunes with a solid completed jaunts in Perisher, spirit. With dazzling views of Although sound is made for a live garnered enough attention as a part of Logie-award backing from bassist Alex Parramatta and performed the harbour, plus headliner interesting, there is setting. Sources report their to catapult them onto the winning kids show Out There, Boneham and drum master alongside Adam Brand at the Havana Brown sassing it up no overarching flow James Waples. next record Man It Feels Like mainstage for Canberra’s Hopkins chose to focus Hunter Music Festival. He will and the result is Thu,Dec 19th, Foundry616, Space Again is ready to roll own Foreshore Music Festival. on the audible by honing be rocking this venue to get on a female front, it’s fair to tense suspense with Ultimo out, so chances are both old If their first single Pilot is his skills on the black and the audience in the festive say this event is not to be no pay-off. (LC) Pond: Emerging as an ego- and new will be on show. anything to go by, their white keys. From Killing Me mood. missed. (CD) free outlet for accomplished Fri, Dec 20th, Metro Theatre, sound will mean a fantastic Softly to Mr Bojangles, the Mon, Dec 23rd, The Observer Tues, Dec 24th, Luna Park, musicians associated with George St atmosphere for all who night will be full of hits from Hotel, The Rocks Milsons Point THE RAILWAY MAN It is not surprising that delivers the necessary support SHORT TERM 12 This cute little indie flick, set in Jonathan Teplitzky’s The Railway and strength needed from the all brilliant, the real stand out a boarding house for troubled Man has generated Oscar talk. wife of a returning soldier. is the screenplay, which covers Depicting the life of the teenagers, is both a dark horse an exceptional range and Together, the cast and crew and a bright spark. It is an all- famous Thai ‘Death Railway’ have produced an incredibly wraps everything up beautifully. survivor Eric Lomax, the round beautiful movie. The film deals with some really raw film about the code of The script uses classic quirky tale is woven with stunning heavy issues, yet it was created silence culture and what it humour to get audiences Edinburgh scenery and a so well that nothing feels too means to live with those into the character’s hearts, musical score to match. daunting or overbearing. It is Colin Firth, who plays Lomax, demons. before giving powerful insights It is a film for anyone who into their psyches delivered an emotional roller-coaster does an incredible job of that leaves the viewer feeling convincing the audience of the knows of sunlight silence, only through their art. fulfilled and optimistic. (LC) turmoil the prisoners of war to be haunted by nightmares While the cinematography, WWWW½ faced upon returning from in the dark. (TO) music and performances are their living hell. Nicole Kidman WWWW

little lonely for Elsa, until her FROZEN coronation as Queen brings From Walt Disney Animation her secret power to light. Studios, the creators of Snow-covered mountains Wreck-It Ralph, comes a new and an iced castle are the animated comedy-adventure backdrops to this tale of true inspired by Hans Christian love and friendship. However, Andersen’s The Snow Queen. it’s the secondary characters This is the story of two that audiences will delight princesses - Anna (Kristen in - Olaf the snowman (Josh Bell) and Elsa (Idina Menzel). Gad) who wishes for summer, Elsa has a special power and Sven the reindeer with a to turn things to ice and is penchant for carrots. A sweet locked away in the castle by film for younger children. (LG) her parents. All is well, if a WW½

happened”. Although the characters are ST GEORGE OPENAIR CINEMA 2014 AMERICAN HUSTLE The St George Openair Cinema in the restaurant followed by and St George Bank customers American Hustle is a retro not- Cooper and Jeremy Renner. An bordering cartoonish, these is an annual iconic event. It a movie screening whilst being can take advantage of exclusive quite-true con story directed uncredited Robert De Niro powerhouses of the Hollywood boasts an alluring program mesmerised by the spectacular offers. (MM) by David O. Russell and set in even makes a brief appearance. scene nail the human condition over 34 nights at a uniquely background harbour views. Jan 10-Feb 15, Mrs the 70s. The story borrows pieces from that drives each of them. stunning Sydney harbourside Premium packages Macquarie’s Point, Sydney The spot-on casting features the Abscam sting mounted by All the players have come location. incorporating luxurious (adjacent Botanical an array of Hollywood names, FBI officers against American together to pull off one The 2014 program has a vast accommodation at the Gardens), $33-37, 136 100, including but not limited to, the politicians in the 70s and thoroughly entertaining flick. selection of movies for all ages Intercontinental are available stgeorgeopenair.com.au busy Jennifer Lawrence, Amy it opens with a title that (LL) and tastes. Art-house movies WWWW Adams, Christian Bale, Bradley says “some of this actually include Enough Said starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus, dark comedy August: Osage County, and crime drama American Hustle starring Christian Bale. Music enthusiasts will be delighted by the behind-the- scenes documentary 20 Feet From Stardom. Previews of the summer’s major releases include The Wolf Of Wall Street, romantic drama Her, and Labor Day starring Kate Winslet. The Australian premiere of Dallas Buyers Club starring Matthew McConaughey is also highly- anticipated. Moviegoers can optionally The Wolf of Wall Street enjoy a mouth-watering meal

ENDER’S GAME is a science- Gilded Cage is a comedy about a he rescues a lady from jumping Chance of Meatballs picks up ONE CHANCE is based on ON MY WAY is a delightful fiction action film set in the working class, immigrant couple off a bridge. His obsession with a exactly eight minutes after the the true story of Paul Potts, ‘dramedy’ starring Catherine future, where gifted children with who unexpectedly receive an book he finds in her jacket is the end of the first animated film. winner of the first season Deneuve and is highly brilliant video gaming skills go to inheritance and decide to return catalyst to an adventure in Lisbon. It soon becomes apparent of Britain’s Got Talent. recommended for audiences military school in outer space. to their native Portugal to live on a Night Train To Lisbon is successful that Lockwood’s (Bill Hader) The film chronicles Potts’ life who enjoy French cinema. Effects are dazzling and vineyard. Things start to go a little on a dramatic literary platform, Bettie (Deneuve) is in her 60s performances strong from a machine is churning out menacing prior to BGT and his journey haywire when they have to inform but fails to ignite on film. food-animal hybrids and he towards stardom. Growing up in and elegant, yet childish. She is predominantly younger cast. their friends, neighbours and Flawless performances by a far removed from stereotypical Harrison Ford looking tired and must reunite with his friends the working-class town of Bristol, employers of their sudden wealth. brilliant cast and exquisite characters of her age and bored as a Colonel and Ben to save the day… again. England, Potts develops a love and Kingsley in his silliest role to date, With a huge line-up, and an array cinematography showcasing the audiences will warm to her owing of colourful characters this is a panoramic views of Portugal This is another solid entertaining passion for opera. A mobile phone to Deneuve’s cheeky portrayal are cast to attract a more mature film from Sony Pictures. Between salesperson by day, opera singer by audience in what is quintessentially highly enjoyable film. (VP) WWW don’t compensate for a and the humorous script that the Saturday Night Live alumni night, this is a rags-to-riches tale. a ‘kid’s flick’. (MM) WW½ mundane script. (MM) WW½ is wickedly funny at times. NIGHT TRAIN TO LISBON voice actors and the pun-filled James Corden is delightful to On My Way’s story builds slowly THE GILDED CAGE French Raimund Gregorius (Jeremy Irons) CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE script, this sequel ticks all the watch as the accident-prone Paul but once the craziness of the road film buffs will not be disappointed is a high school teacher leading an OF MEATBALLS 2 The right boxes for both adults Potts, and entirely believable. (VP) trip transpires, audiences should with this latest offering. The uninspiring life as a divorcee until sequel to 2009’s Cloudy with a and children. (LL) WWW½ WWW½ be captivated. (MM) WWW

1 FREEWILLASTROLOGY by Rob Brezsny with each other. The coming LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): When LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. In the coming months, you will year will be an excellent time edid you first fall from g22): The Italian painter i22-Dec. 21): Many be wise to shed any inhibitions ARIES (March 21-April 19): to heal the disconnect and fix grace? Do you remember? Tintoretto (1518-1594) was a farms in California’s Tulare that have interfered with you the glitch. a“Life is best organized It has happened to most of Libra. He worked with such County grow produce for getting all of the free-flowing as a series of daring ventures us. We spend time being vigor and passion that he was intimacy you’d love to have. from a secure base,” wrote GEMINI (May 21-June supermarket chains. Here’s privileged or cared about or nicknamed Il Furioso -- The the problem: Those big stores psychologist John Bowlby. C20): A horticultural Furious. One of his crowning Some of you Aries enjoy company in the UK is selling respected, and then, suddenly, only want fruits and vegetable AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): we no longer are. We lose our achievements was his painting “Artists who are content the “daring venture” part of TomTato plants to home Paradise, which is 74 feet long that look perfect. So if there k merely to hone their gifts that formula, but neglect the gardeners. Each bush grows innocence. Love disappears. and 30 feet tall -- about the are brown spots on the “secure base” aspect. That’s both cherry tomatoes and Our status as a favorite comes size of a tennis court. It adorns apples or if the zucchinis eventually come to little,” says why your daring ventures white potatoes. The magic to an end. That’s the bad a huge wall in the Doge’s grow crooked or if the carrots the Belgian writer Simon Leys. may on occasion go awry. If was accomplished through news, Leo. The good news is Palace, a landmark in Venice. get too big, they are rejected. “The ones who truly leave their you are that type of Ram, the handcrafted hybridization, that I think the months ahead I propose that Tintoretto serve As a result, 30 percent of mark have the strength and first half of 2014 will be an not genetic engineering. I may be time for you to climb as one of your inspirational role the courage to explore and excellent time to correct your the crops go unharvested. foresee a comparable marvel back up to one of those high models in 2014. The coming That’s sad because a lot exploit their shortcomings.” bad habit. Life will be offering states of grace that you fell months will be an excellent I’d like to borrow that wisdom you considerable help and in your long-term future, of poor people who live in Gemini. I’m not sure about the from once upon a time. The time for you to work hard at Tulare don’t have enough and provide it for you to use in inspiration in building a strong crafting your own personal foundation. And if you already exact form it will take. Maybe omens suggest that even now to eat. Fortunately, some 2014, Aquarius. Even if you’re you will create a product or you’re making yourself ready version of paradise on earth. not an artist, you will be able appreciate how important it is You may not be so wildly enterprising food activists for your pursuit of excitement situation that allows you to to rise back up -- and sooner have begun to work out to achieve an interesting kind satisfy two different needs than you think, there will be an robust to deserve the title “Il of success if you’re willing to to be rooted in well-crafted arrangements with farmers to simultaneously. It’s possible invitation to do so. Furioso.” But then again, you make use of the raw materials stability, the coming months collect the wasted produce will be golden. you will find a way to express might. and untapped potential of and distribute it to the hungry two of your talents in a single VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): your so-called flaws and SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. folks. I gather there’s a TAURUS (April 20-May 20): mode. Or perhaps you will Leonardo da Vinci created weaknesses. Whatever is f 21): Between 2002 and comparable situation in your bHere’s a tale of three be able to unite two sides of the painting St. Jerome in the h unripe in you will be the key to renowned Taurus brainiacs: you that have previously been 2009, Buddhist monk Endo life, Sagittarius: unplucked Wilderness around 1480. It Mitsunaga spent a thousand your creativity. Immanuel Kant, John Stuart unbonded. Congratulations in now hangs in the Pinacoteca resources and ignored Mill, and Bertrand Russell. days meditating as he did a advance! Vaticana, a museum in Vatican treasures. In 2014, I hope PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): They all had IQs over 175 and ceremonial walk around Mount City. For several centuries, Hiei in Japan. In 2006, English you take dramatic action to you will have the mojo all made major contributions CANCER (June 21-July 22): harvest and use them. l to philosophy. Yet all three though, the treasured work writer Dave Cornthwaite took to escape a frustration that d“To destroy is always the of art was missing. Legend 90 days to skateboard across has drained you and pained were physically inept. Kant first step in any creation,” said tells us that in the early 19th the entire length of Australia, CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. you for a long time. I mean had trouble keeping a sharp the poet E. E. Cummings. Do century, Napoleon’s uncle a distance of 3,618 miles. The 19): Derrick Brown has you can end its hold on you point on his writing instrument, you buy that idea, Cancerian? j the quill, because he was found the lower half of the first man’s intentions were a poem entitled “Pussycat for good. The coming months I hope so, because the spiritual, the second man’s Interstellar Naked Hotrod clumsy using a knife. Mill was cosmos has scheduled you painting in a junk shop in will also provide you with so undexterous he found it a adventurous. The coming Mofo Ladybug Lustblaster!” to instigate some major Rome. Years later he stumbled the chance to activate and chore to tie a knot. Russell’s months will be prime time I hope that at least once in creative action in 2014. In upon the top half in another cultivate a labor of love that physical prowess was so for you to contemplate both 2014 you will get up the nerve order to fulfill that potential, back alley, where it was will last as long as you live. limited he was incapable of kinds of journeys, Scorpio. The to call someone you love by you will have to metaphorically being used as a wedge in a astrological omens suggest While this project may not brewing a pot of tea. Chances that name. Even if you can’t smash, burn, and dissolve shoemaker’s bench. I foresee that you will generate extra bloom overnight, it will reveal are that you are neither as quite bring yourself to utter brilliant nor as uncoordinated any old structures that have the possibility of a comparable good fortune for yourself its staying power in dramatic as these three men. And yet, been standing in the way of sequence unfolding for you by seeking out unfamiliar those actual words, it will fashion. And you will be able like them, there is a disconnect the future. You will have to in 2014, Virgo. You just may experiences on the open road. be healing for you to get to to draw on the staunch faith between your mind and body eliminate as many of the “yes, manage to restore a lost To get yourself in the mood, the point where you feel wild you’ll need to devote yourself -- some glitch in the way the buts” and “I can’ts” and “not beauty to its proper place of ruminate on the theme of enough to say them. Here’s to it until its full blessings two of them communicate nows” as you possibly can. honor, one step at a time. pilgrimage. what I’m driving at, Capricorn: ripen.