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Everyday life is changing rapidly in Sydney. Things that would seem reasonable just days ago, as innocuous as visiting a family member or sitting on a park...
There’s a fair chunk of the population currently sitting at home, twiddling our thumbs and trying to ride out the Covid-19 pandemic as safely and responsibly...
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Time In
The nationwide shutdown of “non-essential” businesses has put Australia’s hospitality industry at unprecedented risk. And while venues are currently permitted to continue trading by offering takeaway and home delivery services, the last few days have proven that for many owners and operators – including some of the city’s largest hospitality conglomerates – adapting to the new restrictions simply isn’t viable. Profits have plummeted, staff members have been stood down and doors have been temporarily closed. As Time Out Sydney’s Food and Drink Editor Matty Hirsch wrote in a letter from the editor on Saturday, gestures like “purchasing a voucher or placing an order from your favourite venues are easy ways to make an immediate impact, but no number of takeaway meals or pre-batched cocktails will be long-term solutions. Political action is not just necessary – for many it is the only option.” In response, the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA), chaired by Time Out Australia’s Managing Director, Michael Rodrigues, has launched the Keep Our Venues Alive campaign, calling for government support for the hospitality sector. Take a moment to show your solidarity by signing the petition urging: Work with councils to suspend business rates on venues for at least three months Financial provision for all venue staff (including casual staff) and self-employed operators who cannot work for at least three months Tax relief for the hospitality, arts, culture and recreational sectors for
As we all adjust to the new normal of shutdown-life, sweaty nights moshing to live bands are likely to be a distant memory. But just because we’re all stuck at home in our Covid-19 isolation chambers shouldn't mean we can’t rock out to our favourite gigs. And we don’t just mean sticking your fave ‘live’ albums on high rotation. We’re talking about the real deal: live music in real-time. And that's exactly what you'll find at newly launched website, Sofa King Fest. It's a clever go-to international gig guide for all the live-streaming performances going off in a glorious no-surrender response to the pandemic shutdown from musicians. Confirmed artists set to feature so far include the legendary bandana-wearing country star Willie Nelson and hip hop supergroup Cypress Hill along with Melissa Etheridge, Big Freedia, Trombone Shorty, ATRAK, Tank and the Bangas and Triple Threat DJs. The Marys Group, Sydney’s hospitality champions of beastly burgers and live gigs, will be curating the Australian contingent of Sofa King Fest. Built and organised by a small army of volunteers from both the music and tech industries, it functions as both a listings and fundraising platform, connecting fans to their favourite bands in these crazy distancing days. “During these extraordinarily difficult times we wanted to do our part to help all the artists and crew members whose livelihoods have been adversely affected by the massive festival and tour cancellations, and bar and club closures,” said R
If you’re a hospitality worker impacted by the unfolding Covid-19 crisis – and we know that thousands of you are – here’s a tiny bright spot of good news. From 12 noon today (Friday March 27), meal vouchers worth $25 are being made available to affected hospo staff in Victoria, NSW and Queensland. The 4,000 Deliveroo vouchers will on the one hand provide a free quality feed for workers in tough times and on the other help keep takeaway businesses operating. To get your hands on a Meals for Mates voucher code, just email MealsForMates@pernod-ricard.com along with a photo of your RSA card or other proof of working in the hospitality industry, such as your last or latest payslip (you can block out any confidential or sensitive pay information). It’s a first-come, first-served offer, but the voucher itself is valid for three months. The offer applies to anyone in the broad spectrum of hospitality, from bar workers, chefs, kitchen hands, sommeliers and front-of-house to sales reps. The $100,000 worth of vouchers, which are being given away by a large alcohol company, may admittedly only be a very small candle of hope in a whole lot of darkness, but it’s not the only candle. Venues and businesses are doing everything they can to help their employees and the sector generally, and Sydneysiders under lockdown are doing their bit too. Whether or not you are in the hospo industry you can lend a helping hand at this devastating time by ordering a takeaway or delivered meal or drinks or
Self-isolating? Why not make it a little cuddlier? With many people across the country practicing social distancing and staying at home, TheLatch found out that the RSPCA is looking for Aussies to take on pets in need of a temporary home for around two to four weeks during the COVID-19 pandemic. Fancy yourself a pet parent? Just contact your local RSPCA and you might be lucky enough to be matched with a companion to ride out all this new-found downtime with. But be prepared to take your new role seriously: pets who go through the foster care system need oodles of love and care. Some need high-level attention if they're recovering from a major operation or illness, like changing bandages and administering medication. Others are just too young to qualify for adoption or are too stressed out by the shelter environment. If you're down to lavish a temporary fur baby with love, there's no end to the kind of pet you could share your home with for the next little while: from cats and pups, to even chicks, duckings, goats and lambs. The last couple might not work in an inner-city terrace, but you get the idea – and just imagine introducing your new duckling to your colleagues via video conference. What if you want to make your commitment long-term? Fostering's great for temporary company during the pandemic, but the RSPCA also runs a regular adoption service where you can choose your companion online. Get browsing. Confused about the ins and outs of social distancing? Check out our
During times of uncertainty, a reliable routine can really help. However, if fitness was part of your daily ritual, you might be a little rattled by the recent NSW government orders to close down most public venues, including gyms, in an attempt to stem the rapid spread of Covid-19. But don't worry, we’ve picked out some handy online workouts by local experts, so you can still get your heart pumping and those endorphins flowing in the safety of your own home. RECOMMENDED: The best outdoor gyms in Sydney. Lean Bean Fitness, Bondi Access a whole host of online videos and workouts from the Bondi fitness studio run by local Lizzie Bland. She’s got fuss-free circuits (you only need a watch to time yourself), high-intensity cardio, and DIY workouts for you to mix and match your choice of challenge. Check them out on Lean Bean’s website. Fluidform, Waterloo Kirsten King sure is a royal in the pilates set, and you can access her videos online at Fluidform’s website. King’s workouts will leave your muscles feeling that good kind of burn. It’s $49 a month and you’ll get an at-home equipment pack with your first payment. Frame, Cremorne This chic, Melbourne-based personal training studio gives packages your gym needs into an easily digestible format. The husband-and-wife duo behind Frame understand the modern office worker's life, and they’re offering virtual workouts that undo the damage of working from home – from just $10 a class. Flow Athletic This boutique Paddington fitness s
In 2019, comic juggernaut Marvel ruled the world, raking in US$2.8 billion globally with their big-screen offering Avengers: Endgame. Capping two decades worth of storytelling in the MCU, it became one of the most-watched movies in history. Flash forward a year and the Covid-19 pandemic has managed what Thanos could not, by taking out the heroes we know and love. Both Black Widow and The New Mutants have been pulled from the release schedules as cinemas have shut worldwide. Production has also halted on the next installment of The Eternals. It's looking likely major competitor DC will further delay Wonder Woman 1984 too. But don’t despair. If you’re itching for some super-powered action, you can always go straight to the source. These 11 awesome comics are all available on Comixology, but make sure to check if your friendly neighbourhood comic shop is delivering – they’ll appreciate the business in these uncertain times. And yes, that was a Spiderman reference. RECOMMENDED: The 100 best horror movies you can stream right now.
The precautions being undertaken to stem the impact of COVID-19 have already started taking a sizeable hit to many sectors, not least of all the arts, events and music industries. The cancellation of festivals like Download and the regional Groovin’ the Moo has been upsetting for live music fans and the bands they love, but there’s many other creatives who are also being put out of work. The I Lost My Gig Australia website says that as of today, March 18, $150 million in lost income has been reported by small to medium businesses and independent contractors working in the creative industries. In a media release issued yesterday, it stated that the music industry is in crisis, estimating that 65,000 job opportunities have been lost and over 380,000 people have been impacted. These are numbers that are only likely to rise as social distancing and isolation measures continue to escalate. Freelance photographer, Jared Leibowitz, is one of the workers who has been left out of pocket. He has lost work with the festivals mentioned above, as well as a mix of gigs, artist photoshoots and commercial work. “While it's super important to be supportive of the artists that perform at these festivals and that entertain millions of people around the world by buying their merch and streaming their music, we need to ensure we also support the unsung heroes that work tirelessly behind the scenes to put it all together,” says Jared. “From the booking agents, to sound engineers, to photographers
Earning a living is precarious enough at the best of times for independent artists and creative freelancers. Now, with sector-wide shutdowns prompted by necessary COVID-19 precautions, the outlook for artists is even more dire, writes cabaret performer Mama Alto. These are trying times for everyone, but especially so for professionals in the arts sector. The heavy hitters of Australia's arts industry began closing their doors to the public temporarily this week, including state institutions like the National Gallery of Victoria, Sydney Opera House, and Melbourne Recital Centre, to name just a few. Across the nation, festivals like Dark Mofo, Vivid Sydney, the Sydney Writers’ Festival and the Melbourne International Comedy Festival have been postponed or cancelled, while major productions like Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Billy Elliot and Come from Away announced early closures. The economic shockwaves of these big-budget cancellations will be devastating, but it’s the independent artists, creatives, freelancers, smaller venues and arts-adjacent contract or casual workers who will be hit hardest. Events and audiences are the most significant source of income for a broad diversity of jobs within the arts sector, from musicians to dancers, visual artists and authors to independent producers and venue owners. That extends to the production crews, bar staff, ushers, box office, sound and lighting professionals and many more who support them. For the most part, these workers
The outbreak of COVID-19 is a challenging, uncertain time for all of us. The global pandemic of the coronavirus has prompted strict measures and restrictions to everyday life in order to slow its spread. As of March 15, the Australian government has recommended that we practice ‘social distancing’ nationwide, a move which has been highly effective in places like Singapore, South Korea and Hong Kong, that have since seen a slowdown in new cases. Of course, it’s only natural to want to reach out and hug friends in these strange times, or distract yourself from the general chaos of the news cycle by going out. But right now, those simple gestures are far more complex to navigate. So we’ve pulled together a list of tips and tricks to help you socially distance successfully (without absolutely losing it). Here’s the rundown so you don’t get run down. What is it? Social distancing is just creating distance between yourself and other people as a measure to slow the spread of an infectious disease. This is important because COVID-19 spreads through contact with an infected person showing symptoms (or 24 hours before they do), or contact with a surface they have touched or coughed on. Why should we socially distance? Minimising contact with others will spread out the time over which the virus moves through the population. That’s not to say it’s a 100 per cent guarantee you won’t get sick. However, our health system will be overwhelmed if everyone gets ill all at once, and social dist
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