so(hot)right(now)

arts & culture. airs on 2SER (107.3 fm) every Saturday 11am – 1pm.

What are you up to today? Come down to Jubilee Park in Glebe to be part of @seasidescavenge – meet people, help keep the park (& waterways) beautiful, & trade waste for vintage clothes & goodies! Find of the morning is @defyplasticwasteau – turn bottle caps into beautiful bowls right here in the park – check them out! It was lovely to open the event this morning, you can come be a part of it till 1pm today.

Published on November 22, 2019 10:56 pm.
Filed under: stuff along the way

It was a pleasure to MC @thesocialoutfit fifth birthday celebration tonight: what an extraordinary organisation, providing dozens of refugees and recent migrants with their first job in Australia, diverting 5 tonnes of fabric from landfill (so far), and producing beautiful and interesting clothes in collaboration with communities and some of our best fashion talent. Here I am interviewing Jehan and Shiva, two women who have been part of their success story, a big shout out to founder @iam_jgruddock & current CEO @camischippa too! You can be a part of this social and environmental solution: shop their spectacular collections or join their giving circle, link in my bio.

Published on November 21, 2019 12:03 pm.
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The awesome #TheBigIssue are celebrating their 600th (!!!) issue! I hit the streets (okok Devonshire Street Tunnel) with vendor Drew today as part of #MayorSelling around the country: Drew taught me some sales tricks and shared his patch. You know I’m not shy, and I have to say I found it incredibly hard work. Huge props to vendors everywhere for their warm, friendly presence in our cities, for your chats (Drew gave lots of lost people directions while I was there), it’s not easy to stay positive in the face of so many headphones and rejections! If you can, pick up the 2020 Big Issue calendar and an issue from a vendor near you, 50% of the cover price stays with the vendor and helps people #ProudlyWorking #HelpingPeopleHelpThemselves

Published on November 19, 2019 3:24 am.
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It’s been a tough few years for nightlife in Sydney, which is why we need gatherings like #GlobalCitiesAfterDark, bringing world leaders in party & creative culture to town to help us regroup, strategise & work together to help Sydney reach it’s creative potential. It was awesome to join my Nightlife & Creative Sector Advisory Panel co-chair @kerriglasscock this morning to present an update on all the work the panel has done this year to help @cityofsydney be a good partner & better government for nightlife. A huge thank you to the panel members, who give their time & expertise to help us do better, we couldn’t do it without you.

Published on November 15, 2019 1:26 am.
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Tomorrow is #AusMusicTShirtDay – do you have your t-shirt picked out? It’s a day to support @supportact – a charity that truly rocks – helping musos out when hard times hit. It’s a day to wear your favourite band shirt while tipping in to support the people who write and perform the songs we love. Here’s me in my Total Control tee last year! ‪This year for the first time City of Sydney staff have been invited to form a team: if you can, please chip in and spread the word! ‬

Published on November 14, 2019 5:50 am.
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Have you explored #StepIntoParadise, the spectacular exhibition celebrating Jenny Kee & Linda Jackson’s contribution to Australian fashion & creative culture, @powerhousemuseum? I got a little glimpse of it last night (I’m definitely going back) just before I joined this amazing panel discussion moderated by @drsallygraynow – chatting with @williamyang51 & @janedeteliga about Sydney’s creative culture, then & now. We’re facing some big challenges at the moment, but I’m optimistic we can organise & find a way to sustain & grow Sydney’s creative essence… I hope you get to check out the show & draw some inspiration for creating the powerful, bold, engaged counter-culture we need.

Published on November 13, 2019 1:17 am.
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‪Enough is enough, chant the crowd outside NSW Parliament. ‬ ‪We don’t need #ThoughtsAndPrayers for #NSWfires: we need real #climateaction. It would be criminal to pass laws outlawing consideration of #climatechange in planning approvals for new gas-fields & mines: that’s what our elected officials are planning to do today, as the state burns. #HowDareYou #nswpol ‬

Published on November 11, 2019 10:17 pm.
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It’s #NewtownFestival day! Here’s part of #TeamClover rocking a stall last year. Whether you’re part of the early-in-the-day dog show-attending or pram-pushing crew, or the later arvo party people, there’s something for you (just like Newtown, really). Have an awesome time & dig deep to support the wonderful work of @newtowncentre. My gal @jessmillersydney will be there, working the gates, give her something that folds if you can!

Published on November 9, 2019 7:01 pm.
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… then we went to #GreenSquare, to open the latest separated #cycleway (one which we’re hoping will connect up to UNSW and Randwick very soon) and our major drainage project, one which has facilitated the urban renewal of the whole area, and which is linked to the amazing water recycling facility here beside Joynton Ave Creative Centre. And it was my first time back on a bike since being pregnant – weekend goals achieved! #SydneyLocal

Published on November 9, 2019 5:00 am.
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Such an epic day! First we went to the official opening of #DarlingSquare Library – the city’s latest addition to #publicSydney – at the heart of a bustling new neighbourhood (and foodie destination). I loved the huge maker space, the hardware library, and the fact that library fans kept studying throughout the launch, it’s clearly already well loved! #library #publicspace #socialinfrastructure #Sydney #SydneyLocal

Published on November 9, 2019 4:49 am.
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It was an honour to give the graduation speech for Sydney University’s School of Architecture, Design and Planning today, thanks to Dean Robyn Dowling for inviting me, and to Dallas Rogers for the first pic (which I totally lifted from his Twitter)… In my speech I asked the graduates to be generous translators of their skills, empowering non-experts in being active city-makers, to remain idealistic and engaged, and to be conscious of the spatial dimensions of justice. I might post the whole thing on my Facey if you want to read it. Thanks to @poisontofu for the vid from the rafters!

Published on November 7, 2019 7:39 am.
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@happysadfilm begins it’s Sydney run this week! A beautiful Australian documentary exploring masculinity, the push to fit in and the urge to stand out, following some wonderful creative, passionate men as they carve their own path. I loved this film, big congrats to director Genevieve Bailey, I’d highly recommend it!

Published on November 6, 2019 1:21 am.
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Wow, such a wonderful poem, and very very good to keep in mind, thank you Rachel – if you’re heading to @crownstpublicschoolfete make sure you visit @typepolar

Published on November 3, 2019 2:25 am.
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Whatta wonderful day! There’s still time to check out @crownstpublicschoolfete @crownstreetcelebrates – a big thank you to all the parents and friends who made this magic happen, including wonderful @darlodarlings maestro & MC Mike Galvin. Great food, treats, rides & performances, & I got to hang with @jessmillersydney & take Elinor to her first fete!

Published on November 3, 2019 2:15 am.
Filed under: stuff along the way

It was delightful to help launch #SydneyIsOpen last night – and the first launch we’ve attended as a family! Rocking that pink carpet at six weeks, Elinor! Sydney Open is an invitation to everyone to explore our city, to learn its stories and how the built environment evolves – the battles people fought to save the buildings we love today – and the choices we can make to build a city that’s designed for a fairer, more sustainable and inclusive public realm.It’s also an amazing opportunity to have a stickybeak inside the buildings that intrigue you! There are still tickets for some focus tours today, including the After Dark series, and the main event flings doors open tomorrow, check it out @sydneyisopen

Published on November 2, 2019 12:57 am.
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Looking for something cool to do today? @woolloomoolivin will rock the Woo with hip hop & rnb DJs, performances from incredible local dance crews, street art displays and more. It’s happening 11-4 today at the basketball courts next to Woolloomooloo PCYC: it’s an awesome day out, especially for kids with energy who love learning new moves…

Published on November 1, 2019 9:37 pm.
Filed under: stuff along the way

This Sunday, come celebrate 170 years of Crown Street Public School! There’ll be games, rides, food and entertainment from 10am till 3pm, and it’s a great chance to meet your neighbours while supporting a local institution. The whole community is getting behind it: a big shout out to all the local businesses pitching in and donating, and to the parents and kids working hard on delivering a big day of fun. See you there!

Published on October 29, 2019 10:19 pm.
Filed under: stuff along the way

#SydneyIsOpen happens this weekend! There are still tickets left for a few of the new After Dark tours, giving you one-of-a-kind tours and access to unique buildings and sites. For history buffs, there’s the tunnels of Newington Armory, for mystery lovers, the stories of the Justice & Police Museum, and for design lovers, a soirée at Stylecraft’s showroom in the sky… others have booked out, nab a spot now!

Published on October 29, 2019 9:44 pm.
Filed under: stuff along the way

Nothing brings people together like a community garden: it was wonderful to join the Kings Cross community yesterday at the launch of 12 Fine Oranges, a beautiful new garden they’ve created at Lawrence Hargraves Reserve. Clover and I visited in May 2018 when the garden was just a dream, and thanks to the hard work of a few motivated green thumbs, and a City grant, the reality is flourishing today. It’s not too late to be a part of it: sign up here https://www.kingscrossgarden.org/becomeamember

Published on October 26, 2019 10:17 pm.
Filed under: stuff along the way

I’ve got to plug @bloommountainsdesigns – my super talented sister Cass – for these spectacular floral extravaganza arrangements she brought over on the weekend. I can’t stop looking at them! (Every house looks 400% less overwhelmed by nappies when styled with sisterly assistance. Thank you Shorty!) Book her, you guys!

Published on October 21, 2019 7:25 pm.
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A live video recap of #Emergent2050 from @jessmillersydney & I… #Sydney2050 #cities #sparkfestival #startup

Published on October 19, 2019 5:48 am.
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@jessmillersydney & I explored #Emergent2050 today: a showcase of innovative ideas, startups & orgs creating the city we want, as part of #sparkfestival & our #Sydney2050 consultation and big-picture imagination process. We chatted with @indigilab working on VR storytelling, Seer working on data-led decision-making, @vigilantidesign working on #affordablehousing (playfully through the #SurvivingHousing board game)… thanks to everyone imagining and working on new ideas for Sydney!

Published on October 19, 2019 5:23 am.
Filed under: stuff along the way

There’s one famous Swede in the news as a climate leader: today I met another one. Carl Bildt was Prime Minister of Sweden from 1991-94, foreign minister 2006-14. He has been committed to #climateaction since then: Under PM Bildt in the early '90s, Sweden implemented several schemes to promote investment in renewable energy, and had a carbon tax. Swedish emissions have dropped 26% since 1990.Today, Sweden is the largest per-capita donor to the Green Climate Fund, the Adaptation Fund and the Least Developed Countries Fund. Sweden's 2018 Climate Act mandates net zero emissions by 2045. I also met Magnus Schöldtz, Senior Advisor to Wallenberg Group, to talk about the upcoming Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken (SEB) Conference in Sydney, February 2020: we talked about what can we learn from Nordic leadership in social and environmental sustainability, and how we get Australia on a future-focused path.

Published on October 18, 2019 5:04 am.
Filed under: stuff along the way

I love artist Fionn McCabe’s interpretation of the distinctively noodley exterior of our new Darling Square Library!The #library officially opens at 12:30pm on 9 November, and there are already some unique creative events lined up at the Library, including @readtome_ Over 3 Tuesdays in November, cartoonists, writers, illustrators, comedians, musicians and radio makers will present a night of graphic storytelling like no other. It’s happening Tues 12, 19 and 26 of November, you can book your spot by clicking through to @readtome_ Presented by City of Sydney Library as part of Late Night Library, #ReadToMe will be sharing stories about identity, family and place at the @cityofsydney‘s newest #publicspace for creativity and community.

Published on October 3, 2019 7:52 am.
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Looking to inspire a girl in your life? We had a cuddly visit from Girl Geek in Chief, @girlgeekacademy CEO Sarah Moran, just before she launched the second round of amazing #GirlGeek novels – the Babysitters’ Club of C21. I’m most excited by the fact that they’re evvvvverywhere – I can imagine 8 year old me finding them in the book section of Big W & it changing my life forever. Check them out & scoop them up for the creative, young maker in your life!

Published on October 2, 2019 3:05 am.
Filed under: stuff along the way

• about

  arts & culture in Sydney and beyond. airs as a radio show Saturdays 11am - 1 pm on 2SER (107.3fm) or at www.2ser.org.

  jess[at[sohotrightnow[dot]net