Here we go people. Another weekend, another round of fab shenanigans to get up to. The next few days’ calls for bottomless gin, tea and choc, a real bodies exhibition (like actual bodies that have been preserved for hundreds of years) and an 80s themed roller derby.
We know, big things are calling your name this weekend and yeah, you’re probs going to do all of them. Let’s just say, you owe us a hot toddy. Or at least a high five.
Here are 16 awesome things to do in Sydney this weekend!
All Weekend
TRUFFLE MENU AT 117 DINING
Get ready to be truffle pigs in mud with the new five-course menu at 117 Dining, which showcases elusive black truffles. Menu-wise we’re talking wagyu short rib with truffle potato puree followed by truffled double brie with honey and rosemary lavosh. I know right, you’ve got to brie kidding me. Truffle for dessert? Yep, the black truffle ice cream with macadamia praline and malted cream is totally a thing. It’s a little nutty but we’re into it. The best part? Wine pairing. For more deets, head here.
When: Fridays and Saturdays in August, 5:30-7pm or 7:30-10pm Where: 117 Dining, InterContinental, Sydney CBD Cost: $139 per person. Additional $49 per person for wine pairings.
URBAN DECAY: AN EXHIBITION BY JOSHUA SMITH
This exhibition will bring you right back to the good ol’ days where getting around your fine new Lego set was the peak of your childhood and more. Okay, sorry guys it may just be slightly more impressive. In his first solo exhibition, Joshua Smith focuses on cities at their most dilapidated, honest state. There are miniature models of buildings and shop fronts covered in graffiti and complete with overflowing dumpsters, rust and grime. His intricate creations are looking to probe questions about urban design and decay’s impact on future development. You’re not going to want to miss this one. For more info, head here.
When: Tuesday – Saturday 11-4pm Where: Australian Design Centre, Darlinghurst Cost: Free
HUNTER & BARREL
Digging into a one kilo T-bone steak with your lover is the new ‘romantic candlelit dinner’ and if your date night doesn’t look like this, you’re doing it wrong. We’re calling it the new and improved ‘Lady and the Tramp’ moment. Hunter & Barrel have launched a one kilo, we repeat, one kilo T-bone steak offering for parties of two. The delish succulent meat is served up how you like it with a side of thick cut chippies, chopped green salad and your choice of sauce. You’re going to want to BYO loose-fitting attire and get ready for a stroll along the totes stunning Cockle Bay Wharf to rid those food coma feels. For more, jump right here.
When: Sunday – Thursday 12-10pm, Saturday 12-10:30pm Where: Hunter & Barrel, Cockle Bay Wharf Cost: $89 for two people
RemniSCENT AT MAY SPACE
This is something you’re going to want to ‘nose’ about. Fourteen contemporary artists have created a multisensory voyage at this ingenious exhibition at May Space. There’s a heap to see, but the main focus is on treating the olfactory receptors to some culture. Some of these scents are pleasant with Melinda Le Guay’s ‘Collective Gathering’ featuring smells of her annual Christmas cake. Others like David Capra’s ‘Eau de Wet Dogge’ are not so easy on the nostrils, incorporating a perfume that smells like his Dachshund Teena during bath time. It’s a little quirky and we’re actually into it. Check out more details here.
When: Thursday 9 – Saturday 11 August, 10am Where: May Space, Waterloo Cost: Free
CRY-BABY AT HAYES THEATRE
PSA: there’s a musical on at Elizabeth Bay’s Hayes Theatre based around the 1990 cult-classic that once featured our fave bad boy Johnny Depp. If you never got around Cry-Baby the movie, think 1950’s, rock n roll, topsy-turvy moral meritocracy and a helluva lot of hormones. This musical is utter madness combined with a pinch of doo-wop and a generous serving of belly laughs. We’re thinking an epic dinner on Macleay St and some theatre-going is on the cards. Book your tickets here.
When: Tuesday – Saturday 7:30pm, Saturday and Sunday 2pm (Run time: 2hrs 20 mins) Where: Hayes Theatre Co, Potts Point Cost: $59-$69 per person
REAL BODIES EXHIBITION AT THE ENTERTAINMENT QUARTER
Now folks, this Real Bodies exhibition is an out of body, utterly spine-tingling, display that you’re going to want to dip your toe into. It presents more than 20 real, perfectly preserved human bodies and over 200 anatomical specimens that allows y’all to get to know the body inside and out. So, if you’re like us and you want to delve into all those hella deep questions like, what are we made of?; where do we come from?; and why are we here? Then we think you’re actually going to love this one. For more info on the exhibition, head here.
When: Monday – Sunday, 10am Where: Entertainment Quarter, Moore Park Cost: Tickets from $21.50-$36.50
Thursday 9 August
TATTINGER AND CHARCUTERIE AT NOLA SMOKEHOUSE
Looking for the perfect spot for Friday eve? We’ve got a smoking hot arvo planned for you. Nola Smokehouse is offering a complimentary charcuterie board with any bottle of Tattinger Cuvèe Prestige. Is it just us or do complimentary things always taste better? Get down to this waterfront hotspot and finish the workday with a glass of champaz in hand. Get more details over here.
When: Every Thursday from 12pm Where: Nola Smokehouse, Barangaroo South Cost: $100 bottle of Tattinger + complimentary charcuterie (or $15 a glass special)
Friday 10 August
Tuchuzy Warehouse Sale
Listen up legends. Tuchuzy is shedding some extra baggage in the glorious form of a stellar warehouse sale and yeah, you’ll probs want to chuck a sickie on this day. This one goes for a solid 2 days (so if calling in sick for work doesn’t work on the Friday, you always have the weekend to load up on all the designer goods) so that means a whole 48-hours with up to 90 per cent off shiz like Alexander Wang, Helmut Lang, Bec & Bridge and Bassike. For more deets head here.
When: Friday 10 August, 9-6pm and Saturday 11 August, 9am-5pm Where: Suite 1, 292 Coward Street, Mascot
GIN CLASSES AT GIN LANE
Usually, you’ll find us at Gin Lane sipping on a G&T and pretending to be posh as anything. We now have yet another reason to head to this cosy hotspot this winter (we know, like you need a better reason than a good ol’ gin and tonic). It’s called free G&Ts people and you’ll want to get all around it. Gin Lane is now running a gin school which combines gin tasting, cocktail making and expertly paired cheese and charcuterie with some free-flowing fun from the good stuff. The classes are designed for groups of 12-25 peeps and yes, you can all leave this 90-minute hands-on experience an expert gin taster and cocktail connoisseur. Book here.
When: By appointment, Friday’s and Saturday’s Where: Gin Lane, Chippendale Cost: $110 per person
LADIES NIGHT AT HUSTLE AND FLOW
On the first Friday of each month, the legends at Hustle and Flow are playing all your fave RnB/ hip-hop old-school party anthems to celebrate all the home girls finishing off the work week. Oh, and cocktail specials that won’t break the bank too #yassqueen.
When: Friday August 3rd, 5pm-12am (5-9pm $10 cocktails) Where: Hustle and Flow, Sydney CBD Cost: Free entry
Saturday 11 August
BOTTOMLESS ROSÈ AT NOMAD
LBH, who doesn’t love a rosè… but pop a ‘bottomless’ in front of it and we’re shouting ‘yes way rosè’. Nomad is where you want to be this Saturday for a long boozy lunch with the squad because they’re offering two hours of bottomless rosè and a delish menu. Food-wise we’re talking duck and pork rillettes with fennel jam and wood-fired focaccia followed by BBQ eggplant and slow roasted lamb shoulder. Now that’s a #saturyay. To make a reservation, head here.
When: Saturdays 12-5pm Where: Nomad, Surry Hills Cost: $75 per person
TEA AND CHOCOLATE PAIRING WORKSHOP
Now this is a tea-riffic workshop, choc-full of deliciousness. When two of our fave things come together, we are sooooo down to get the par-tea started. Each participant will brew their own teas and pair them with the perfect chocolate. In other words, you’ll leave a tea connoisseur with an expert understanding of flavours, aromas and textures of premium natural farming teas AND you get to eat lotsa choccie! It’s all in the name of education peeps. For more details, head on over here.
When: Saturday 11 August, 2:30-4:30pm Where: Balmain Cost: $50 per person
GLORD: 80S THEMED ROLLER DERBY
C’mon get your skates on team and get around the ultimate derby showdown in Moore Park this weekend. GLORD aka The Gorgeous Legends of Roller Derby is encouraging you to get on your best 80’s themed spandex and get ready to roll with the Sydney Roller Derby League. We’re talking booze, tunes, costumes, 2 games, 4 teams and some hard AF hits. For more info, head here.
When: Saturday 11 August, 5-10pm Where: Sydney Boys High School, Moore Park Cost: $15 - $20 (Kids under 5 free)
FISH BUTCHERY AT CARRIAGEWORKS FARMERS MARKET
Oh my cod, you’re going to want to hear this. Josh Niland of Fish Butchery (AKA the guy behind the only fish sandwich with a waitlist longer than your arm) is coming to Carriageworks Farmers Market and we’re going to tell you everything we know, because we’re not shellfish. The market stall is based around whatever is fresh from that morning. There’s an array of pre-prepared, incred seafood meals like fish curry, fish pies, fish fingers, fish cakes and crumbed fish… all ready for you to take home and have your very own MasterChef moment (with approximately 97% less effort required). As for this famous sanga? We’re talking wild cobia from Evans Head which is corned like beef before being crumbed and wedged into a soft white roll with cheese and pickles. Get all the juicy deets here.
When: Saturdays 8-1pm Where: Carriageworks Farmers Market, Eveleigh Cost: Free entry (food prices vary)
YOGA AND WINE AT HANDPICKED CELLAR DOOR
You may have heard that yoga with goats is totes on trend at the moment, (BTW we’re very much on board with that idea). It appears that yoga goes with just about anything because now Handpicked Cellar in Chippendale is offering a Saturday yoga and wine sesh… you have goat to be kidding me. It consists of a one-hour yoga class followed by a wine tasting with the Handpicked Sommelier. As you know, we’re always down for a bev, particularly when it means we’re being utterly #healthspo in the same sitting. But don’t dilly dally because there are only ten spots per session. For more deets, head on over here. Namaste. Jump here to book.
When: Saturday 11 August, 11:30-1pm Where: Handpicked Cellar Door, Chippendale Cost: $35 per person
Sunday 12 August
JAZZ AND NEGRONIS AT MOYA’S
Is there a better way to finish your weekend? Go on, we’re waiting. Yep. Didn’t think so. Moya’s Juniper Lounge is ridding your looming Monday blues with a free jazz performance from The Squares and classic negronis for just ten buckaroos. Cosy up in this trendy gin bar with a Negroni in hand and perhaps a cured meats plate or ‘ham and cheese sanga’ with crisp prosciutto, ricotta and pineapple pickles. For more, head here.
When: Sunday’s from 6pm Where: Moya’s Juniper Lounge, Redfern Cost: Free
BTW, here's all the farmers' markets in Sydney worth knowing about.
Image credit: Unsplash