March into Merivale - a festival of the senses 2015

2014 March into Merivale launch party

Back for its seventh year, March into Merivale brings together food, wine, adventure and surprise for a total of 50 events over five weeks. While past years have focussed solely on food and drink, this year’s festival aims to create a holistic Merivale experience, beyond just what’s on your plate – or in your glass. Think detox yoga sessions, pastry master classes and dining with off-duty chefs. “This year, we’ve upped the ante to deliver a jam-packed five week festival of the senses,” says Merivale CEO Justin Hemmes. “I cannot wait.”

There’s plenty to do all week, with a different event offered every day. But if you can only make it to one this year, make it the Launch Party. It’s the crème de la crème of the festival, with over 20 featured venues, including Ms.G’s, Papi Chulo and Coogee Pavilion, set to take over ivy for one unmissable night.

Excitement is also building for the inaugural Coogee Foreshore Festival, set at Merivale’s newest venue, Coogee Pavilion. With a big focus on the local community, Merivale is gathering some of its biggest and best venues for a seaside celebration that will spill out onto the promenade. In the same way Coogee Pavilion prides itself on being accessible to all, games, market stalls and roaming entertainment will ensure there’s something for everyone at the Coogee Foreshore Festival.

If planning ahead isn’t your thing, book you and your friends in for a three-course Mystery Dinner. Running Monday to Saturday every week of the festival, adventurous diners won’t know which Merivale restaurant they’re going to until the morning of. But with venues including est. and Mr Wong on the cards, it’s bound to be a good surprise.

With all these events plus many more, you’re sure to find something that whets your appetite. In past years events have regularly sold out, so book ahead to avoid disappointment.

• Official website and tickets: www.marchintomerivale.com.au
• Full event schedule PDF: http://marchintomerivale.com.au/assets/files/MarchintoMerivale_2015_calendar.pdf
• View full event schedule image: see below

Interview with Dan Hong, Exec chef of Mr Wong:

We chat to Executive Chef Dan Hong about food, hangovers and his top picks for the festival.

M: What do you have in store for the Ms.G’s and Mr Wong stalls at the Launch Party?
DH: We’re making really delicious, tasty dishes that are perfect for standing up at a party – we want each dish to explode with flavour in your mouth. Our menu for the launch is really reflective of the food we serve in our restaurants, so there are some of our signature dishes on there. For Ms.G’s we have the lamb ribs and for Mr Wong the lamb cutlets because they’re just so popular, but there’ll be new things to try as well.

M: Which Launch Party stalls will you be heading to first?
DH: I’ll definitely be going straight for Papi Chulo. I think they’re doing their hot smoked wings… They’re like the best wings in Sydney. I’m also excited to see what Danielle Alvarez has in store [for the Paddington Arms stall]. And Jordan Toft [at Coogee Pavilion] too.

M: What March into Merivale event are you most looking forward to?
DH: I’m really looking forward to my event [At Home with Dan Hong] where I get to cook for 22 people. I’m excited to meet and chat with all the guests. I’ll be keeping it really fun, putting all the food on the table so everybody can just help themselves.

M: We’re pretty excited for the Hangover’s Delight! brunch at Ms.G’s. What’s your fail-safe hangover cure? 
DH: I’d probably go down to Bankstown and smash down a bowl of pho, the Vietnamese noodle soup.

M: Where do you get your cooking inspiration from?
DH: I get inspiration from everywhere really – from travelling overseas, eating something off the street or going to another restaurant. I could be inspired by something I eat in a Chinatown food court, or just by an ingredient itself. I actually just came back from New Zealand where I ate loads of fresh local seafood, and I’m already thinking about how I can use it.


March into Merivale full event schedule: http://marchintomerivale.com.au/assets/files/MarchintoMerivale_2015_calendar.pdf

23 February to 29 March 2015

Matilda The Musical | Lyric Theatre

“ONCE IN A BLUE MOON, A SHOW COMES OUT BLAZING AND RESTORES YOUR FAITH IN BROADWAY. MATILDA THE MUSICAL IS THAT SHOW.” - New York Post

Matilda The Musical is the multi-award winning musical from the Royal Shakespeare Company, inspired by the twisted genius of Roald Dahl. With book by Dennis Kelly and original songs by Tim Minchin, Matilda The Musical is the story of an extraordinary little girl who, armed with a vivid imagination and a sharp mind, dares to take a stand and change her own destiny.
 
Winner of 50 major international awards, including 12 for Best Musical, Matilda continues to delight audiences of all ages both in London and on Broadway before arriving at the Sydney Lyric Theatre from July 2015.

‘EASILY THE STANDOUT MUSICAL OF THE DECADE’ - Sunday Times, (UK)

Get Tickets for Matilda at Ticketek

Find Great Value Sydney Hotel and Apartment Accommodation with Metro Hotels

Les Misérables | Show at Capitol Theatre Sydney

Cameron Mackintosh’s acclaimed new production of Boublil & Schönberg's legendary musical, LES MISÉRABLES, will open at Sydney’s Capitol Theatre in March 2015.

The new production features glorious modernised staging, orchestrations and dazzlingly reimagined scenery inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo. It has been praised by critics, fans and new audiences, breaking box office records internationally and inspiring filmmakers to make the outstandingly successful movie which went on to win 3 Oscar’s®, 3 Golden Globes® and 4 BAFTAs.

Playing the iconic role of Jean Valjean is established actor and musical theatre star Simon Gleeson. NIDA-trained Hayden Tee will play Valjean’s lifelong antagonist Javert while starring as Fantine is Patrice Tipoki. Playing Madame Thénardier is Lara Mulcahy and joining her in the role of Monsieur Thénardier is Australian theatre and cabaret favourite, Trevor Ashley.

Recent WAAPA graduates Kerrie Anne Greenland and Emily Langridge play Eponineand Cosette respectively. Chris Durling takes on the role of the passionate student leader of the revolution, Enjolras and Euan Doidge plays Marius the love struck revolutionary.

Set against the backdrop of 19th-century revolutionary France, LES MISÉRABLES is a much loved blockbuster musical which has been seen by over 65 million people worldwide in 42 countries and in 22 languages, LES MISÉRABLES is undisputedly one of the most popular musicals of all time. 

Having won more than 100 major awards around the world it has been hailed as the most stirring, moving musical ever. Based on Victor Hugo’s classic novel, it is an epic and uplifting story about the survival of the human spirit. The magnificent score of LES MISÉRABLES includes the classic songs “I Dreamed a Dream”, “On My Own”, “Stars”, “Bring Him Home”, “Do You Hear the People Sing?”, “One Day More”, “Empty Chairs at Empty Tables”, “Master of the House” and many more.

This new production of LES MISÉRABLES made a triumphant return to Broadway earlier this year.

“Refreshing, rethought and every bit as epic.” Chicago Tribune
“A sizzling Les Mis for the 21st century ...” The Huffington Post

Running Time: Approximately 2 hours & 55 minutes including 20 minute interval

See the Capitol Theatre Website for Full Information about the Show Les Miserables

Metro Hotel Sydney Central is located directly opposite Capitol Theatre, so is an obvious accommodation choice when you next require a hotel when catching a show at Capitol Theatre

Palace Hotel Sydney is a nearby Venue for pre and post show meals and refreshments

Baseball and Gridiron Could Come to Sydney with Proposed $123m Funding Boost

A NATIONAL Football League (NFL) game could soon be headed to Sydney with NSW Premier Mike Baird to inflate the state’s major events budget to a record $643 million should the Coalition be re-elected in March.

A Major League Baseball game featuring the Yankees or Red Sox, a National Basketball Association (NBA) game, the President’s Cup golf tournament and stealing Formula One from Melbourne are among other big ticket items on the Baird government major events wish list.

Mr Baird, who will today announce details of a $123 million funding boost to the events budget at the Hurley Australian Open of Surfing event at Manly Beach, will also use the extra funding to bid for world premier concert tours of major artists such as Madonna while extending already successful events such as Vivid Sydney.

The premier said the funding boost would help NSW to secure the state’s reputation as the “undisputed home” of major events in Australia.

“We have the track record that shows when we put on a show, we do it well,” Mr Baird said.

“Since 2011, we have successfully hosted the Major League Baseball Opening Series, friendly matches with football giants Manchester United and Juventus, the British and Irish Lions Rugby Tour, the Sydney International Art Series: Pop to Popism, the first Pop Art exhibition to be showcased in Australia since 1985, and the hugely successful Vivid Sydney.

“More major events will attract more tourists to NSW who will provide a boost to the State economy when they stay at local hotels, eat out at local restaurants and take cabs home.”

The announcement follows a last-minute pitch by the government to organisers of the America’s Cup for races to be held on the Harbour.

The government is evaluating whether to make a multimillion-dollar bid for the qualifier races in February 2017.

Premier Mike Baird wants to increase the state’s events budget.

It is understood an NFL game would top the list of events sought by the government should former NRL star Jarryd Hayne win a spot on a team.

The priority of other event bids is to be kept secret so as not to corrupt the tender process.

The government calculates the increased events budget would increase visitor expenditure by $481 million.

Of the extra $123 million in funding, $73.25 million will be dedicated towards the goal of making Sydney the number one destination for major events in Australia with $22 million set aside for Western Sydney.

Another $40.6 million will go towards growing regional tourism while $9.5 million would be focused on targeting overseas visitors from priority international markets.

Tourism and Major Events Minister Troy Grant said the lower Australian dollar and oil prices would help create economic conditions to boost jobs and growth in the sector.

He said the increased funding would help in moves to encourage tourists to stay longer and visit regional NSW.

“One in five visitors to Sydney also visit regional NSW,” he said.

“Our aim is to encourage more tourists to extend their stay and visit regional NSW and today’s announcement helps achieve this.”

Drinks Menus at Palace Hotel Sydney

Drinks Menus at Palace Hotel Sydney

Autumn Menu 2015 at Palace Hotel Sydney

Autumn Menu 2015 at Palace Hotel Sydney

Cosentino | The Grand Illusionist Tour Australia

Cosentino | The Grand Illusionist Tour Australia

Australia's world-renowned entertainer, Cosentino the Grand Illusionist, will be taking his spectacular new live show 'TWISTED REALITY' across the country in April - May 2015.

Join Cosentino as he performs never before seen death-defying escapes that will thrill your senses, mind boggling stage illusions and cutting-edge street magic that twists your view of reality.

Cosentino's trademark blend of dance and magic with a touch of hilarious audience participation will take you on a journey that will captivate fans, new and old, until the very last mind-bending moment.

"I've been working on my new live show 'TWISTED REALITY' for over a year. It's going to have even bigger stunts, crazier escapes and the best magic I've produced so far. I'm really proud of what we have created and I can't wait to hit the road and perform it live for my fans across the country", said Cosentino.

Tour Dates:

Thu 23 Apr Jupiters Hotel & Casino Gold Coast, QLD

Fri 10 to Sun 12 Apr The Palms at Crown, VIC

Sat 18 to Sun 19 Apr The Star Event Centre, NSW 

Fri 1 to Sat 2 May Regal Theatre, WA

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