St Mary’s Cathedral gets a makeover as winter wonderland
Get out and about in Sydney this week — check out the new outdoor ice skating rink at St Mary’s Cathedral; tick off your wedding checklist at a CBD bridal fair and take a peek under the circus big top at Moore Park.
Skating at St Mary’s
Cathedral Square, St Mary’s Rd, Sydney, until July 21
Winter has arrived in Sydney in the form of an ice rink, icy slides and some apres-ski food and drinks. The ground outside St Mary's Cathedral has been turned into the huge Canadian Air ice rink for the start of the Skating At event, from today. Try out some Ice Castles-style moves on the rink, or grab a snow tube and hit the icy slide on The Runway. After all that excitement, you can grab a bite to eat from the winter market, or take a break in the Maple Leaf Bar. The event attracted more than 100,000 people last year and has become a popular each winter. The giant ice rink is a highlight of the festival, which runs until July 21, with tickets for a 45-minute turn $28 (ages 14+), $21 (ages 5-13) and $10 (ages 3-4). Sessions run from Monday to Wednesday from 10am-9pm and Thursday to Sunday from 10am-10pm.
Wedded World
Hyatt Regency, Sydney, Tuesday 6pm-10pm
Don’t even think of planning your big day without first visiting this lavish bridal expo on Tuesday night at the Hyatt Regency, Sydney. Rub shoulders with more than 100 bridal exhibitors ranging from designers and florists to honeymoon experts and cake decorators. And if you need a little inspo, the same amazing Galia Lahav gown as worn by Beyonce at her secret vow renewal ceremony will be on display. Join the event’s hosts, celebrity stylist Donny Galella and former Miss World Australia Erin Holland, as they help you plan your perfect wedding day. Tickets are $35 each, two for $55 or four for $99 and will be available until 9pm Sunday at weddedworld.com. Tickets will not be available at the door.
GET ON IT
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They’ve already had to add second shows in Melbourne and Newcastle after venues sold out, so get in quick to make sure you don’t miss out when the boys bring their Chemical Hearts tour to Sydney in November. Expect to hear all the hits, particularly from their popular album Guide To Better Living.
Hordern Pavilion, Moore Park, November 2, tickets from $71.30, ticketek.com.au
ART
Near And Far
ARO Gallery, Darlinghurst, until July 7. Artist’s talk Saturday 2pm-3pm
Partners in life and in art, Debbie Mackinnon and Mike Staniford present their second joint exhibition featuring abstract landscapes inspired by their mutual love of travelling. Their acrylic and oil paintings will showcase the places they have been, from the Scottish Hebridean islands and New Zealand’s Southland wilderness to the remote beaches on Tasmania’s Bruny Island and coastal paths of NSW. See arogallery.com for times.
Beaches & Deserts
Gallery Lane Cove, opening presentation Wednesday 6pm. Exhibition until July 27
Peter Day is the artist behind two of the largest murals in the Southern Hemisphere and has created more than 200 public works. His latest exhibition, Beaches And Deserts, will include paintings, works on paper and sculptures inspired by his love of the outdoors, with desert work inspired by his time in Broken Hill, Central Australia and India. Opening day on July 3 will be hosted by ABC presenter Josh Szeps.
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Instaculture
Darling Quarter, Monday to August 3
Wayne Quilliam is an indigenous photographer best known for capturing rural, remote and urban areas across the world. Check out his latest exhibition — a large-scale outdoor display at Darling Quarter’s Open Gallery, in which he brings together drone technology with centuries-old Aboriginal art in what he calls “traditional digital art”. As part of NAIDOC Week, his exhibition will run alongside free family-friendly workshops highlighting indigenous art on July 8 and 11.
LIVE
Prima Facie
Riverside Theatre, Parramatta, July 3-6, 7.45pm; July 6, 2.15pm
This raw and confronting one-woman show stars Sheridan Harbridge as Tessa, a criminal lawyer who works hard to get her clients acquitted of sexual assault charges. Her world is turned upside down when she is assaulted and finds herself on the other side. Having sold out at Griffin Theatre in Kings Cross, catch this show written by Suzy Miller at Riverside from $62 at riversideparramatta.com.au
Things I Know To Be True
Belvoir Theatre, Surry Hills, until July 21
Sometimes the best stories can be found in the everyday. This production follows a year in the life of an Australian family, as they navigate the issues that befall the four siblings. Written by Andrew Bovell who brought us Lantana and The Secret River and starring Tony Martin and Helen Thomson, tickets are $65 to $85 at belvoir.com.au
Memories
The Independent Theatre, North Sydney, Sunday 3.30pm (afternoon tea from 2.30pm)
The popular Seraphim Trio (above) — made up of Anna Goldsworthy on piano, Helen Ayres on violin and Timothy Nankervis on cello - — returns to North Sydney to present some Czech classics, including Suk’s Elegie and a Smetana piano trio in G minor, plus a medley of musical portraits by Australia’s Richard Mills. Afternoon tea is included in the ticket prices of $49 (adult), $32 (concession), $22 (student) and $17 (child) available at theindependent.org.au
CIRCUS
Zirk!
Entertainment Quarter, Moore Park, Wednesday to July 21
Roll up, roll up, the circus is in town — but not as you know it. Take a peek under the big top to see some of the best circus acts from around the world, from amazing contortionists and aerialists to a trampolinist and a motorbike globe featuring seven fast-paced riders. The show makes it’s Sydney premiere after sellouts in Singapore and South Africa and brings together talented performers from Cuba, USA, Colombia, Dagestan and Canada. Tickets from $55 (adults) and $45 (concession) at ticketmaster.com.au
FILM
Scariest Films Ever
Hayden Orpheum, Cremorne, check website for times
If you watched The Shining through your fingers or winced at that scene from Psycho, check out this festival curated by David Stratton, which is a homage to Martin Scorsese’s scariest films. The festival runs through to August 22.
First up is the film that launched the catchphrase “heeeeere’s Johnny” as an axe-wielding Jack Nicholson tried to kill his family in The Shining. It will show tomorrow night as a double feature with The Leopard Man. And on Thursday, catch The Innocents followed by Night Of The Demon. Tickets are $19 (adult), $15 (concession) and $10 (senior) at orpheum.com.au
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