WEDNESDAY 16 JULY
Dry July doesn't have the same ring as say, Movember. For one, there's nothing funny about it. You're stone sober while everyone else is plastered, pulling down their pants and in a general state of glee. For two, there's no cute camaraderie involved, no fuzzy-mo'ed knowing nods. There's simply the look of sheer horror which radiates from bar staff, your friends, and general punters when you mutter "one soda water with fresh lime thanks..."
On the upside (yes, there is one), Dry July does encourage new appreciation for life outside the inside of a bar. Seriously. For bikes, for Batman, for Play-Doh, for too much Fine Foods and well, for August.
Issue 145. Dry July
Cover photo by Noodle. If you would like to submit a cover shot email nadia@twothousand.com.au
Also on the website:
LOOK China Heights new space
MIXTAPE Between a Rock & a Soft Place
HEAR Volume 1, Wooden Shjips
OUT In Flagranti
Things you should know:
Orson & Blake no longer stocks clothes
Zoo Emporium has moved to 180 Campbell Street
From St Xavier closes for good this weekend
We love you just the way you are
The Big Bento Box Of Unuseless Japanese Inventions
WHAT
THE BIG BENTO BOX OF UNUSELESS JAPANESE INVENTIONS
WHERE
GOOD BOOK SHOPS OR ONLINE HERE
HOW MUCH
$27.95
Meet Kenji Kawakami, designer, pathological mail-order enthusiast and author of this book. Kawakami is the founder of Chindogu, the art of the 'unuseless' idea and the tome's premise. He's developed an entire philosophy around bizarre gadgets. There are 10 tenets of Chindogu; man-made objects that have broken free from the chains of usefulness. They are not for sale - if you accept money for one you surrender your purity. Chindogu is not propaganda, it is never taboo, it cannot be patented and finally, it is without prejudice. However, if the said Chindogu turns out to be handy, or have a use, it is not actually Chindogu.
I'm sorry Mr. Kawakami, I beg to differ that the ‘Dust and Shake' isn't a handy invention, I imagine I would be very pleased to sit down to a gin martini after a spot of light dusting, it would certainly put some ‘woo-hoo!' into household chores. Some other favourites are the ‘Hay Fever Hat', the Drive-by Drier and Self-lighting Cigarettes. You owe it to yourself to open up to the world of Chindogu.
Format: Book
Motivation: Improve your dinner conversation
Keywords: Japan
The Beagle and The Dove, John Steel Singers
WHAT
THE BEAGLE AND THE DOVE
WHO
THE JOHN STEEL SINGERS
ON
STEEL RECORDS / MGM
MYSPACE
MYSPACE.COM/THEJOHNSTEELSINGERS
I've never been to Brisbane, but I wanna go. Everyone I've ever dealt with there has been super friendly, and judging from their perky, upbeat bands (The Grates, Operator Please), it must be all sunshine and fun times up north.
Bouncing into town with a van full of instruments is another blast of sunny Brissie disposition - The John Steel Singers. The band's debut mini-LP, THE BEAGLE AND THE DOVE, puts to good use their various horns, banjos, slide guitar, xylophone, piano, harmonising vocals, and other organs.
Their ‘60s pop sound conjures up Sergeant Pepper, Burt Bacharach, The Kinks, and The Beach Boys, although it's all a little dirtier and a little noisier (think of contemporaries Dr. Dog). Pure pop for the people, this is sure to keep us southerners warm this winter.
Release: EP
To Cure: Hypertension
Keywords: John Steel Singers, Pop, Brisbane
Manuka Fine Foods
WHAT
MANUKA FINE FOODS
WHERE
SHOP 13, PALMERSTON LANE, MANUKA, ACT
WHEN
MON-THUR 8.30AM-5.30AM, FRI 8.30AM-6PM, SAT 8AM-5PM
HOW MUCH
SO MUCH
CONTACT
6162 0516
Canberra. For many, its worth equals cheap fireworks and endless porn. However, a recent trip to our capital city unveiled a beacon amidst the bric-a-brac.
On entering Manuka Fine Foods you struck by two things. One, the sheer array of fresh produce, and two, the free samples. Within the first three minutes we had consumed duck pate, fig ice-cream and not one, but two kinds of cheeses fresh from the cheese room. Oh yes, Manuka Fine Foods has a cheese room. This means floor to ceiling fresh fromage, lovingly tended by a knowledgeable fella in a white cheese-man hat.
Cheese aside there are cured meats, sweets, oils and a charming wooden table on which you can perch aside some of the city's finest geriatrics.
The down side? Manuka Fine Foods is exorbitantly expensive. We're talking $16.90 for a (wonderfully presented) packet of dried apple. But what else will you spend your money on?
Product: Food
Anatomy: Face
The Fruiting Body, Nathan Gray
WHAT
THE FRUITING BODY BY NATHAN GRAY
WHERE
BLACK & BLUE, 302/267-271 CLEVELAND ST, REDFERN
WHEN
OPENS THUR JUL 17, 6PM
RUNS UNTIL AUG 3
CONTACT
9699 6038 OR HERE
Explosive, celebratory and flamboyant, there's also an eeriness to Melbourne artist Nathan Gray's strange creations - the latest of which can be seen in his solo show, opening at Black & Blue this Thursday.
Showcasing his brightly coloured impromptu assemblages that incorporate sculpture, screen-printing and drawing, THE FRUITING BODY pays tribute to the handmade, fleeting, improvised and accidental.
An optimistic, dynamic and festive installation made from humble materials, the work is inspired by Nathan's recent travels to Bali and the palm leaf weavings that are used as daily offerings before being discarded.
Exploring ephemerality and the relationship between creation and destruction, the show incorporates photos of small-scale sculptures installed in natural settings, defying the archival imperative and satisfying the artist's urge to destroy his own work.
Medium: Photography
Drink: Herbal tea
Keywords: Melbourne, Nathan Gray
The Dark Knight
WHAT
THE DARK KNIGHT
WHEN
OPENS WED JUL 16
WHERE
EVERYWHERE
WATCH THE TRAILER
HERE
WIN
WE HAVE 5 DOUBLE PASSES TO GIVE AWAY. TO ENTER, EMAIL WIN@TWOTHOUSAND.COM.AU WITH THE SUBJECT LINE 'TOO MUCH HYPE AIN'T ENOUGH'. SUBSCRIBER ONLY ENTRY.
Chances are you've already decided if you're interested in seeing THE DARK KNIGHT, so I'll keep this short.
This is pure pop-mythology. That doesn't mean it's lightweight - masks and costumes mean it's bigger, even deeper, than real life, and it earns every heavy second of its epic running time. It's almost awkward at first, but these jitters are exactly the point. Gotham City's morally-compromised heroes are barely keeping the thin layer of civilisation intact; once the Joker appears on screen, the film gets nervous. Suddenly it feels like anything can happen, and nothing will be okay.
There are reasons to avoid THE DARK KNIGHT - anti-commercial snobbery, been-there-done-that backlash, too - much - hype - but those reasons aren't enough.
Format: Cinema
Mood: Rad
Play-Doh 50th Birthday
WHAT
PLAY-DOH'S 50TH BIRTHDAY
WHERE
KMART, TARGET, AND TOYS'R'US
HOW MUCH
PLAY-DOH FROM $4.99
CONTACT
HASBRO
For nostalgic hungry types, tiny Picassos or mere fascinators of colour and malleability, it's Play-Doh's 50th birthday. The modelling goo celebrates 50 years, and you too can rekindle craft night with your own tub-of-joy for under a fiver.
Travelling a long way post birth (Play-Doh started life as a monochromatic off-white wallpaper cleaner), this aperitif slash play tool will have your intestines churning whilst opening the brain lid to non-toxic experimentation.
Say ‘Happy Birth-Doh', whilst squidging an anti-stress art mess between your fingers.
Product: Art
Theft: Theft is inevitable: Buy two
Petersham Charcoal Chicken
WHAT
PETERSHAM CHARCOAL CHICKEN
WHERE
98 NEW CANTERBURY RD, PETERSHAM
WHEN
MON-SUN 9AM-9PM
HOW MUCH
$13 FOR A WHOLE CHICKEN
CONTACT
9560 2369
Portuguese fare is not (despite the over-proliferation of certain fast food outlets) only about the chicken burger. Trust me I've been to Portug... Petersham. They also do whole, half and quarter chickens - all flat and slow roasted over hot coals with a proven selection of herbs. This ensures that it tastes amazing even if, god forbid, you forgo the house-made chilli sauce.
But then this chicken shop is not, despite the name, only about chicken. Poke your head beyond the front counter and you'll be rewarded. Not just by a restaurant, but by clams and cod, the real heroes of Iberian cuisine. The house special is by far the standout; clams, cod and chicken thighs swim with potatoes and pickles in a white wine sauce that almost demands you to drink it.
Just don't turn up too late if you want something to eat or somewhere to sit.
Venue: Restaurant
Meal: All day
Big Free Bike Love
WHAT
BIG FREE BIKE LOVE
WHERE
MORI GALLERY, DAY ST, SYDNEY
WHEN
FRI JUL 18, 5.45PM FOR 6PM DEPARTURE
FILM 6.30PM
HOW MUCH
FREE FOOL
IMAGE
FROM THE TRIPLETS OF BELLEVILLE
It's Tour time. You know what that means, killer lycra, yellow shirts, irritating French posturing and the delightful Phil Liggett. Unfortunately, its difficult to get excited about the above at 10pm every evening, which is why Mori Gallery and the Bicycle Film Festival are bringing Le Tour to a more southern hemisphere-friendly hour.
Serious cycle heads should meet outside the GPO at 5.45pm with bike for a mini cycle sojourn. At around 6.30pm, all shall reconvene at Mori to take part in a faux French fest of baguettes, blankets, bottles and bad accents for a picnic and film session on the Gallery floor. First up is documentary DETOUR DE TOUR, which tracks the 2005 Tour de France through the eyes of ex-rider John Trevorrow, journalist Denis Donoghue and Bill Schwarzenberg. This is followed by THE TRIPLETS OF BELLEVILLE from animator Sylvain Chomet, whose work also includes PARIS, JE T'AIME. Yellow jerseys optional.
Ambience: Outdoor
Difficulty: Won't hurt a bit
Keywords: City, Mori Gallery, Film, Bikes, Tour de France
Bogan Bingo
WHAT
BOGAN BINGO
WHERE
OXFORD ART FACTORY, 38-46 OXFORD ST, DARLINGHURST
WHEN
WED JUL 16, 8PM
HOW MUCH
FREE
With motor sports and football taking up the best part of the weekend and dishlicker meets on Mondays, you may think that your average bogan has a full schedule. But with State of Origin finished for the year, said folks have been cruising the streets in their hotted up Commodore VH‘s (or VK, VL, VN, VS or VT's) like lost souls, looking for brutal team sports, a friendly TAB...anything to occupy their Wednesday nights. Thankfully the search is over as Oxford Art Factory opens its doors to the most unpolished of flannelette wearers. Promising sausage sangers, beer and mid-week gambling, Bogan Bingo is, perhaps best of all, free - so you can save your cash for Thursday's TRADING POST finds. - JG
Event: Party
Stimulus: W
Keywords: gambling, Bogans, Oxford Art Factory
Snowman w/ Baseball
WHAT
SNOWMAN W/ BASEBALL
WHERE
ANNANDALE HOTEL, CNR NELSON ST & PARRAMATTA ROAD ANNANDALE
WHEN
THUR JUL 17 AND FRI JUL 18, 8PM
HOW MUCH
$10
WIN
ONE OF TWO DOUBLE PASSES JUST EMAIL WIN@TWOTHOUSAND.COM.AU WITH THE SUBJECT 'BRING ON THE PLAGUE' AND WHICH NIGHT YOU'D LIKE TO GO. SUBSCRIBER ENTRY ONLY
Snowman's latest release, ‘We Are The Plague', begins with a thumping tribal kick and brooding bass. Then a ghostly voice begins to chant, a skeletal guitar line warps in and the song burns, literally. If you haven't heard it, rectify this situation and see the band this week when they launch their album THE HORSE, THE RAT AND THE SWAN.- VH