ISSUE 20. This weekend in Sydney: fashion week, footy festivals and free concerts

Welcome to the week where Sydney collectively remembers it owns a pair of interesting shoes.

Between Australian Fashion Week taking over the MCA, the Vogue Vintage Market, Jude’s opening its underground cocktail den in Potts Point, Ibushi and Morena teaming up over one very serious grill, and Bag Raiders throwing a free pop-up party in a secret Potts Point location, it’s safe to say the city is doing quite a bit.

And because there is, frankly, too much on, we’ve done the responsible thing and cut this weekend’s guide down to the stuff actually worth leaving the house for. Revolutionary, we know.

Consider this your ultimate guide to what’s happening in town this weekend.

WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS

Australian Fashion Week

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’d know that Australian Fashion Week is back. This year, it’s having its rebranding moment at the MCA, meaning there’ll be plenty of serious sunglasses, outfit analyses and people watching up for grabs. Even if you’re not on the show circuit, the Shark Beauty Hub is also offering free styling sessions throughout the week, so you can at least leave looking like you were meant to be there.

• WHEN: Until Friday 15 May
• WHERE: Museum of Contemporary Art, CBD
• HOW MUCH: Free entry
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Ibushi x Morena Collab at Prefecture 48

If you’re looking to treat yourself this week, consider this your sign to snag a last minute booking to the Ibushi x Morena collaboration going down at Prefecture 48. For two nights of fire, smoke and serious grilling, Chris Kim and Alejandro Saravia are bringing a seven-course sharing menu that combines Japanese robot with Nikkei and Latin American cuisine.

• WHEN: Wednesday 13 and Thursday 14 May
• WHERE: Prefecture 48, CBD
• HOW MUCH: $180 per person
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Bag Raiders Free Pop Up Party

Bag Raiders, the Australian electronic duo behind the still-immortal song Shooting Stars, are taking over a secret Potts Point location this Friday for a pop-up party. In what can only be described as a once in a blue moon event in Sydney, the party will not only have free entry, but also have free drinks. RSVP required and recommended, as this one’s set to fill out.

• WHEN: Friday 15 May, 7-10pm
• WHERE: Secret location, Potts Point
• HOW MUCH: Free
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Vogue Vintage Market by eBay

The Vogue Vintage Market is making its Australian debut this Friday, landing at the Overseas Passenger Terminal for one day only during Australian Fashion Week. Presented by eBay, the market will feature pre-loved, archival, vintage and designer pieces curated by Vogue editors, Australian designers and friends of the magazine. Essentially, it’s your chance to buy something mildly dangerous for your bank account but 100% worth it.

• WHEN: Friday 15 May
• WHERE: Overseas Passenger Terminal, The Rocks
• HOW MUCH: Tickets from $49
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Beer, Footy & Food Festival

Beer, footy, food and an almost guaranteed army of mullets are heading back to historic North Sydney Oval for the third annual Beer Footy & Food Festival this weekend. Across Saturday and Sunday, every NSWRL game will be played on-site, alongside 15+ local brewers and distillers, an expanded food precinct and the return of the Beer Mile world record crowd attempt.

• WHEN: Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 May
• WHERE: North Sydney Oval, North Sydney
• HOW MUCH: Passes from $24
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

FASHION & CULTURE

Sydney Comedy Festival

Sydney Comedy Festival is wrapping up at the end of this week, so consider this your sign to jump on a show before you miss it. With a stacked program spanning from local favourites, to international names and emerging talent, expect everything from stand-up and satire to the slightly unhinged fringe-style stuff that somehow still sells out.

• WHEN: Monday 13 April to Sunday 17 May
• WHERE: Across Sydney
• HOW MUCH: Varies
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Biennale of Sydney

The 25th Biennale of Sydney is back, once again turning the city into a sprawling contemporary art trail. This year’s edition is themed rememory, which explores how personal and collective memories can shape the stories we carry into the present. Expect large-scale installations, boundary-pushing works and the kind of thought-provoking art that might leave you nodding along while quietly wondering if you fully understand it.

• WHEN: Saturday 14 March to Sunday 14 June
• WHERE: Across Sydney
• HOW MUCH: Free
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

The Hooligans at White Rabbit Gallery

The Hooligans is a timely exhibition unpacking how dissent, nonconformity and “troublemaking” have been policed in modern Chinese history. Referencing the now-abolished Mao-era crime of “hooliganism”, the gallery brings together contemporary Chinese artists responding to censorship, obedience and quiet acts of resistance.

• WHEN: Until Sunday 17 May
• WHERE: White Rabbit Gallery, Chippendale
• HOW MUCH: Free entry
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Art After Hours at NSW Art Gallery

If you’re looking for a midweek date night that’s not just drinks and discussing your favourite colours, the Art Gallery of NSW has you sorted. Every Wednesday, the gallery stays open late for Art After Hours. Think free exhibitions, guided tours, live music, films, and enough dim lighting to make you look very cultured. Grab a drink, stay for dinner, or join one of the interactive workshops. It’s also free, which is always a win. 

• WHEN: Every Wednesday, from 6-10pm
• WHERE: Art Gallery of NSW
• HOW MUCH: Free
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

MUSIC & NIGHTLIFE

Inner West Gig Trail

Newtown and Enmore are turning the volume up this Saturday, with venues across the precinct transforming into a live music trail from afternoon through to late evening. Move between venues including The Duke, Pleasure Club, Young Henrys and Deadwax to catch both established and emerging artists. You can plan your path but we recommend just following the sound and letting King Street do the rest of the work.

• WHEN: Saturday 16 May, from 4pm
• WHERE: Across Enmore and Newtown
• HOW MUCH: Free entry, registration encouraged
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Dean Turnely at Oxford Art Factory

If you’ve been anywhere near a dancefloor lately, Dean Turnley’s Actin’ Tough has probably already lodged itself somewhere in your brain. The Naarm/Melbourne producer and DJ is bringing his bass-heavy, 90s-nodding club energy to Oxford Art Factory for his debut Sydney headline show as part of Great Southern Nights. Thursday night might be sold out, so a second show has naturally be added by demand and you best believe tix are still available (for now).

• WHEN: Thursday 14 and Friday 15 May, from 11pm
• WHERE: Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst
• HOW MUCH: $42 tickets
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

FOOD & DRINK

Jude’s Bar Launch

Potts Point gets a new underground late-night hideout tonight with the opening of Jude’s, a 30-seat basement bar tucked beneath Penny’s Hotel on Bayswater Road. Expect retro cocktails and girl dinner-adjacent snacks which obviously includes truffle fries, baked camembert and charcuterie boards. We had a sneak peek earlier this week and tried the signature Hey Jude (basically a lychee martini and spicy margarita lovechild). Let’s just say it’s worth dropping in for that alone.

• WHEN: From Thursday 14 May
• WHERE: Jude’s, Potts Point
• HOW MUCH: Free entry
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Burwood Chinatown Night Markets

Newsflash: the best Chinese food in Sydney isn’t coming with a $38 price tag. Instead, it’s more likely found at the Burwood Chinatown Night Markets. Here, a mere $10 goes a lot further: think dumplings, skewers, desserts and a crowd that’s very committed to the cause. This might as well be regarded a Sydney institution.

• WHEN: Every Thursday to Sunday, 5-10pm
• WHERE: Burwood Chinatown
• HOW MUCH: Varies
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Velvet Hour at the Razz Room

York Street just scored a daiquiri discotheque, and it’s leaning fully into the bit. Odd Culture Group’s Razz Room has opened underground in the CBD, pairing a retro-leaning bar upstairs with a sunken dance floor below, plus live entertainment from 7pm to late. The real draw, though, is the daily “Velvet Hour” from 4-6pm, where classic, dirty or strawberry daiquiris go for $13. Frankly, we think that’s reason enough to show up.

• WHEN: Every day from 4-6pm
• WHERE: Razz Room, CBD
• HOW MUCH: $13 daiquiris
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Sakura Sandos

CBD workers, this one’s for you. Sakura House is launching a limited-run sandos menu that is beyond. It’s a three-sando lineup by ex-Cho Cho San head chef Nick Sherman, featuring a ramen egg sando, fried chicken sando and ebi katsu prawn sando. They’ll be available Thursday and Friday from 12pm until sold out. Honestly, it’s a strong lunch proposition.

• WHEN: Every Thursday and Friday, from 12pm
• WHERE: Sakura House, CBD
• HOW MUCH: From $19
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Oyster Happy Hour at Morrison’s

I see no reason why the cost of living should get in the way of good taste, and neither does Morrison’s. If you didn’t already know, they’re kind of the go-to place for happy hour oysters in town. In fact, they sell a minimum of 6,000 oysters every week. Every Wednesday from 6-7pm, you’ll be able to snag those little gems for $2 each, which is kind of insane. Or if you want to check out the other oyster happy hours currently happening around town, head over here.

• WHEN: Every Wednesday, 6pm to 7pm
• WHERE: Morrison’s Oyster Bar & Grill, CBD
• HOW MUCH: $2 per oyster
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

$28 Steak and Chips at The Waratah

Anyone actually in the know will tell you Thursday nights are for The Waratah. The Darlinghurst pub, which won Australian Pub of the Year last year, slings some of the best steak and chips in town for the measly price of $28. Yes, you heard me correctly. The catch? None really, other than the fact that they sell out most nights, so it’s best to book an earlier table.

• WHEN: Every Thursday, until sold out.
• WHERE: The Waratah, Darlinghurst
• HOW MUCH: $28 
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.