What's happening in Sydney
The best things to do this week
A two-day bonanza of Mediterranean food and culture by Darling Harbour's foreshore
Let feathered paths and neon lights guide you through an Elton John fantasy at this glittery Grounds installation
A symposium designed by and for womxn of colour to build solidarity and explore challenges unique to their communities
Dive headfirst into the fascinating world of Australian native ingredients with an Indigenous expert
Have an after-dark encounter with the ocean's most misunderstood maneaters at this special event at Sea Life Sydney Aquarium
Women across creative industries will lead discussions about their passions, struggles and artistic adventures at the North Sydney Community Centre
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Get your tickets to Sydney’s original disruptive festival !
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There's nothing like a good whiskey, and we're giving you the chance to win one of the highest-rated whiskeys in the world. Only 30 bottles of Pappy Van Winkle 23 Year Old make it to Australia each year, which makes this product crafted by the Buffalo Trace Distillery incredibly rare. Each barrel of the Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve bourbon whiskey is aged for 23 years, which gives it aromas of caramel and cream with notes of oak, spices, nuts and leather. All that gets rounded off with sweet components of vanilla, maple and honey. If you’re lucky enough to ever try this bad boy, make sure you savour it neat! If you're a fan of good whiskey, you'll want to enter to win this bottle from the Buffalo Trace Distillery, which also happens to be one of the world's most awarded distilleries. One lucky winner will win a 750ml bottle of Pappy Van Winkle 23-year-old bourbon whiskey worth $3,500 (RRP). What's more, your bottle will be signed by Pappy Van Winkle's grandson, Julian Van Winkle. You'll also score a whiskey masterclass for you and three friends to be held at the Buffalo Trace office in Sydney. Keen to taste something similar that won’t break the bank? Pick up a bottle of Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon – the flagship from the same joint that crafts Pappy Van Winkle, for around $60 in leading bottle shops. Enter by February 28 for the chance to win. Enter now
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Been wanting to add to your collection, or perhaps buy your first ever piece of art? Head to The Other Art Fair where over 130 handpicked, independent artists will be taking over the Cutaway at Barangaroo Reserve, showcasing thousands of pieces of work from as little as $100. There will also be live art activations, event tours, creative workshops for those who want to get hands-on, live DJs sets to get you in the art party mood, plus a stocked bar and food to keep you going while you peruse the artworks. Been wanting to get some artwork on your body? A tattoo artist will be doing hand-poke tattoos too at the art fair. To mark this auspicious occasion, The Other Art Fair has put together the ultimate art-lover’s bundle to give away as a prize to one fortunate Time Out reader. The prize includes: - 2 x VIP tickets to the private view and opening night of The Other Art Fair on Thursday March 19, not available to purchase - One night’s accommodation for two at Ovolo Hotels Woolloomooloo, worth $699 - Private tour of The Other Art Fair with a Saatchi Art Curator, not available to purchase - Complimentary welcome drinks from 5-6pm - For good measure, $300 to spend on art at the event so you can come home with a piece of your own! If you miss out on the big prize, don't worry. Thirty runners up will also receive a pair of tickets (worth $60) to The Other Art Fair, which you can use to visit the art fair when the event kicks off in earnest between Friday to Sunday (March 20-2
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Have you ever considered that you’ll never receive more attention than at your funeral, and by then you’ll be dead? Myra DuBois won’t stand for missing the occasion, so the self-declared ‘Siren of South Yorkshire’ is going to deliver her own eulogy. In her Australian debut, DuBois (Gareth Joyner) takes a sharp and comedic swing at death and grief with the acerbic wit she is most known for. Dead Funny is a character comedy of the highest calibre, delivered by the British performer for the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival. And it’s all set to the musical stylings of Richard Thomas (Jerry Springer The Opera). If you haven’t heard of DuBois, her credits include sold out shows at the Edinburgh Festival, Underbelly Southbank Festival, Latitude Festival and Soho Theatre, a world tour with RuPaul’s Drag Race winner Bianca del Rio and an upcoming feature film adaptation of West End musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie. Apparently, Dead Funny will make you laugh so hard you’ll “R.I.Pee” your leopard-print pants — which are obviously required attire to pay the due respect to the late DuBois and her family at this difficult time. It’s playing in the Sydney Opera House’s Uzton Room from February 18–29, with tickets from $49.90 plus booking fee.
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For 30 years now, Bell Shakespeare has been changing the way Australians see Shakespeare, with innovative and gripping productions that bring his work hurtling into the 21st century. The company is kicking off its anniversary celebrations with a new production of Hamlet, the tragedy considered by many to be Shakespeare's best work, starring Harriet Gordon-Anderson in the title role. Bell Shakespeare's artistic director, Peter Evans will be at the helm, delivering a production awash with 1960s glamour. This gorgeous vision will provide the perfect backdrop for the story of a young prince's struggle with the enormity of his loss as his family is ripped apart by murder and betrayal. And of course, there's the visit from a certain ghost that changes Hamlet's path forever. Gordon-Anderson is joined by a cast of newcomers and theatrical veterans, including Lisa McCune, Jeremi Campese, Tony Cogin, Jack Crumlin, James Evans, Kevin MacIsaac, Jane Mahady, Robert Menzies, Aanisa Vylet and Sophie Wilde. The production is the Playhouse, Sydney Opera House, with previews from February 29.
When the mercury rises this summer, leave the city behind and head for the hills. There's nothing quite like a relaxing swim in a cool, clear swimming hole surrounded by nature. If your mates have well and truly done the beach thing, a visit to one of these little-known swimming holes is the kind of outing they won't forget in a hurry. Round them up, pack some refreshing Lipton Ice Tea, and hit the road. Before you head off for an outback adventure, always check for closures and fire bans on the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service website and check the air quality rating. Extreme weather conditions and catastrophic bushfires have led to the closures of many national parks in recent months. Find out more about Lipton Ice Tea.
Not only has Buffalo Trace Distillery been producing bourbon whiskey for more than 200 years, but it’s been taking home awards for more than 150 of them and now stands tall as the most decorated distillery on the planet. The family-owned operation’s portfolio includes some of the most storied brands in the business, like Pappy Van Winkle, George T Stagg, EH Taylor, WL Weller and Elmer T Lee among them. Some of these bottles will set you back as much as $3,500, but even the more accessible labels in the repertoire stand out. The Buffalo Trace flagship itself retails for only around $60, yet it’s aged in oak for a minimum of eight years – or twice as long as the competition. Each year, five extremely rare and highly sought-after releases hit the shelves as part of the annual Buffalo Trace Antique Collection. Just how rare, you ask? There are only 15 bottles of the distinctively spice-forward 18-year-old Sazerac Rye in Australia – so few because almost 85 percent of the barrels’ liquid content had evaporated at the time of bottling. These super-limited collectibles, which also include Eagle Rare's elusive and delicate 17-year-old bourbon and Thomas H Handy's warm, spicy rye whiskey, cost anywhere between $500 and $1,000 each. Truth be told, they're often resold for a whole heck of a lot more, which means you’d do well to get your hands on one quick smart or pull up a pew at your favourite well-stocked watering hole to sample the goods.
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A few years ago, if you tried to guess what Darling Harbour would look like in the year 2020, your wildest imaginings would not be far removed from today’s reality. Thanks to one of the biggest urban redevelopment projects Sydney has ever seen, the zone is populated by futuristic new buildings and thrilling urban landscaping. Feast your eyes on the great glass palace that is the ICC – host to concerts and major events – or on the coiling wooden facade of the Exchange, which houses restaurants, a food market and the new Darling Square Library. There’s also a schmancy new Sofitel Hotel, a spanking new dining precinct in Steam Mill Lane, and the revamped promenade of Tumbalong Boulevard to stroll through in a state of sheer admiration. The area is ripe for exploration this summer, with shows, permanent attractions and a mind-boggling selection of food and drink to make it all worth a day’s outing. The precinct is much more accessible than before, and light rail, trains and buses make it very easy to get to. Whether you’re flying solo, catching up with friends or bringing the entire family along, now is your chance to experience the new Darling Harbour for yourself. Night Owls Kids Film Festival. Photograph: Supplied What’s on in Darling Harbour? One of the free highlights of Sydney Festival, Dodecalis Luminarium is a colourful inflated labyrinth of winding tunnels that looks like it’s dropped in from another planet – find it in Tumbalong Park from Jan 8-26. Over at the
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Sunshine just makes things better, and summer is when Sydney truly comes alive. Ready to get outdoors, soak up the sun and make the most of Sydney with your friends? Whether it's kicking back in the great outdoors or trying out the latest event that guarantees a good time, here are five great places to be with your mates this summer. Fresh ideas for catch-ups deserve a refreshing drink like Lipton Ice Tea to help you cool down. Find out more about Lipton Ice Tea.
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Sydney is an outdoor city and summer is its traditional time to shine. When the weather's gorgeous, locals are enticed down to the water's edge. The temptation to stay here all day is strong when there are so many stunning places to swim, play cricket and generally revel in nature. Among Sydney's many attractions are the free outdoor electric barbecues to be found along the harbour foreshore, by the beach and in hundreds of inland parks. Australians' love of barbies is not just a tourism catchphrase, it's an integral part of life – so pack up your meat (or veggo) patties, hit up the petrol station for some refreshing Lipton Ice Tea, and make the pilgrimage to one of these top Sydney barbecue spots... and don't forget your tongs! Find out more about Lipton Ice Tea.
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