Challenge your perception of art, dining and local market experiences with three sensory recalibrations this November
Remove those gallery walls: Chicago-based artist Nick Cave (not to be confused with the Australian ex-pat singer/songwriter) visits Sydney for the pemiere of HEARD.SYD. An ensemble of 60 dancers wearing ‘soundsuits’ representing festive horses (brightly-coloured raffia embellished by traditional patterns and found materials) will perform choreographed movements accompanied by musicians along the train tracks of Carriageworks and amongst the bustling Pitt Street Mall. Cave’s horses are a vivid amalgam of sculpture, performance art and dance guaranteed to create a dreamy escapist state in your mind. His work is predominantly characterised by various ‘soundsuits’ he has fashioned over the years to camouflage the body in turn creating a second skin that conceals race, gender, and class (all subjects central to his agenda), forcing viewers to look at his performers without judgment. HEARD was first performed in New York’s Grand Central Terminal in 2013, attracting crowds so large that an entrance to the station had to be closed. Where/When: Pitt Street Mall — 5pm, 10 November Carriageworks — 10am and 12pm, 12 November Visit website
The plate shift: Heading out for Lebanese? Who said falafel has to roll out the same flavour combinations time after time, and why should eggplant only get an appearance when dolloped over pita bread? And for that matter, why should you have to sit in a dark take-away hub to enjoy rustic Middle Eastern flavours? Enter Nour, Crown Street, Surry Hills’ newest dining venture. It serves Lebanese fare unlike anything you’ve ever seen or tasted before. Nour’s (translated as “light” in Arabic) stylish interior is awash with sorbet shades and delicate metallic flashes, setting the tone for a palate refresh. The kitchen is led by Palestinian head chef Nader Shayeb, previously of London’s award-winning Moro Restaurant, and Israeli senior sous chef Ran Kimelfeld from Tel Aviv’s famous Raphael Restaurant. Together they worked closely on the menu with Israeli-born executive chef Roy Ner from Sydney’s multi-hatted Aria. The result of this collaboration hops from lamb tartar with quail eggs and pickled okra to snapper with saffron and cuttlefish rice, and pumpkin and delicate labneh cocooned in mouth watering dumplings bathed in light warm yoghurt. Where: 490 Crown Street, Surry Hills Visit Website
To market, to market: no, we’re not spruiking yet another organic fresh produce weekend fair (though to be honest, food stalls will be here). This time it’s a three day fiesta of local and international design stalls (perfectly timed for Christmas shopping early birds). With over 200 stands, The Big Design Market offers everything from homewares to fashion, furniture, stationery, kids toys plus body care and lifestyle products. You can also get your innovative minds and hands busy at workshops with the likes of renowned interior stylist Sibella Court, Vivien Haley for block printing classes and Home-Work for silk-screening sessions. Where: Royal Hall of Industries, 1 Driver Ave, Moore Park When: Friday 25 November, 10am-9pm Saturday 26 November, 10am-7pm Sunday 27 November, 10am-5pm Cost: $2 entry (kids under 12 free) Visit Website
