so(hot)right(now)

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

The Justine Clarke fanclub got its newest member! We had a wonderful time with @clovermoore at the City’s Pyrmont Christmas concert last night, and on Friday with Cr Robert Kok at the Rushcutters Bay concert. These events are just so lovely, if you can make it, come join us at Alexandria Oval on Friday or Green Square Plaza on Saturday.

Published on December 7, 2019 11:04 pm.
Filed under: stuff along the way

Ya gurl having some opinions in today’s SMH about the end of the lockouts. Let’s celebrate this win for a moment – it came about because Sydneysiders, particularly young ones, organised, made their voices heard and put the pressure on government – and it worked. Thank you to everyone who made this happen.But there’s still work to be done to rebuild what has been lost, and a need for investment from the state government to undo the damage to our creative and social culture, and to our reputation.The good news is, we have the opportunity to reimagine what we want after dark in our city. Let’s keep talking about the future we want, and how we can contribute to building it together.

Published on November 30, 2019 1:41 am.
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Thank you Haymarket Chamber of Commerce for a gorgeous evening sharing that @haymarketlove at the rooftop bar of the new Vibe Hotel on Sussex St (Above 319). It was lovely to see everyone and to talk about the exciting year ahead – stay tuned for a huge Haymarket-focused program during the Lunar Festival – kicking off on Jan 25. More on that soon!

Published on November 27, 2019 12:07 am.
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Today I found out about the delicious @heytigerco ethical chocolate company – and I met founder @cyanctaeed – and better yet, I ate some! Rave begins here: amazing flavours (I cannot wait to try Whisky & Smoke), vegan options, incredible packaging design AND most importantly, cocoa is sourced transparently with by in-country checks on child labour. They also support @thehungerprojectau Check them out!

Published on November 26, 2019 6:15 am.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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#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.
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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.
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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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• 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