The Stew - Issue Four [Grapeshot Magazine]

WATCH

The Sydney Film Festival

June 8 – 19

Pull out the popcorn and let your mind be captivated by the Sydney Film Festival. Now in its 58^th year, this annual cinematic experience has earned a reputation for featuring filmmakers who are bold, adventurous, innovative and strive for the unexpected – a far cry from the monotonous box office hits most of us are so used to. This year, the festival will screen over 100 feature-length films from around 45 different countries, so you’re guaranteed to enjoy diversity and a surprise around every corner. And, if you’re a real lover of film or call yourself something of a film buff, there are loads of scheduled talks, forums and panel discussions to choose from, so you can pick the brains of the creative geniuses that work behind the silver screen.

www.sff.org.au

RELISH

Manly Food and Wine Festival

June 4 - 5

Yum, yum and so much more yum. Manly Food and Wine Festival is an absolute must if you like to eat and drink, which I know you all do. Stroll along the beachfront with a gorgeous glass of vino and let your mouth water over all the tasty delights at your fingertips. There are exclusive wines from all over the countryside and cuisine from Asia to Europe and back again. There is also a pretty impressive array of entertainment, including camel rides on the beach. But really, that’s just to disguise the fact you’re only there for the quality booze and tastebud party. As far as I’m concerned, there’s no shame in that. I should warn you though, you drink your wine out of plastic cups and eat your treats from plastic plates. No shame in that either, right?

LISTEN

Adele, 21

This curvaceous, red-headed minx is taking the world by storm and I’m totally on the bandwagon. Each and every song on this album is bittersweet, honest and sometimes even slightly heart-wrenching. The girl’s got soul with a voice to match and provides a refreshing alternative to the likes of Beyoncé, Rihanna and that blithering mess Britney. My favourite (and I think everyone else’s) would have to be ‘Someone Like You’. If that song doesn’t make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up, maybe you should get them looked at.

www.adele.tv

CONQUEST

NRL State of Origin

I’m not really into football but there’s something about the State of Origin that brings out my competitive side. I’d say it’s got something to do with the fact that I’m a Queenslander – don’t hold it against me – and the Queensland team seems to squash the Blues like cherry tomatoes. Suckers. This year though, New South Wales has definitely got something to prove so I might walk away with my tail between my legs. I doubt it.

Game 1: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane – May 25

Game 2: ANZ Stadium, Sydney – June 15

Game 3: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane – July 6

www.stateoforigin.com.au

HELP

Red Nose Day

June 24

Red Nose Day is the perfect excuse to look like a clown! By donning that iconic red nose this June, you can help raise funds for SIDS and Kids, an organisation that is dedicated to saving the lives of babies and children and supporting bereaved families. This year it’s not just all about looking like Rudolph, you can also download the Red Nose Day iPhone application or tag yourself on Facebook wearing a red nose! Talk about keeping up with the times!

www.rednoseday.com.au

Editorial - Issue Four: Underground [Grapeshot Magazine]

I don’t know about you, but I’m not into believing without seeing. I don’t believe in blind dates. I’m not religious. And I certainly don’t advocate buying any kind of attire without having first tried it on. In fact, I’m not even sure if I believe that Osama bin Laden is dead. The proof is meant to be in the pudding, but I haven’t seen any pudding.

Most of the time too, the things that you can’t see, you don’t want to know about anyway. Smelly bottom emissions. Bad breath. Germs. No surprises then that this issue of Grapeshot Magazine definitely pushed my beliefs and ruffled my feathers. Just like the rest of those things you can’t see, most of what you find ‘Underground’ and under our feet is grubby, gross and better left undisturbed. Dead bodies. Worms. Sewerage. No thank you.

But, as always, the creative juices of our faithful contributors pleasantly surprised me. No, I don’t think that does them justice. I wasn’t just pleasantly surprised, I was rapturous! And so, our pages are bursting with stories of drag queens, cemeteries, illegal substances, vampires, catacombs, leeches and other morsels underground and underground.

Adrian Chen encourages us to face the real facts about the so-called ‘War on Drugs’ – a war that, if he is to be believed, the Australian government is losing miserably. His solution? The legalisation of illicit substances.

And have you ever wondered where the sequin-laden, make-up loving, high heel-adorning drag queens of the 1980s have disappeared to? Alex Pittaway introduces us to Mitzi Macintosh, a retired Sydney drag queen who reminisces about days gone by, costumes since hung up and the disease that may have kept that uniquely Australian underground culture afloat all along.

Shayaan Malik lifts us up and out of the underground and catapults us 30,000 metres aboveground. She gives a nostalgic account of all those things we love about airplane travel. Queues. Lost luggage. Turbulence. Chatty neighbours. But we’re also reminded that, without the bad, a whole lot of good is forfeited.

I wish I could give you a little taste of all the treats that are in store for you as you turn the pages, but some things really do need to be dug up and discovered for yourself.