Editor’s Picks: The Best Things to Do in Sydney in January

Those who know me would have heard me say every year “January is the best month” – because it really is. That said, we’re most definitely not living our best January. The fires are horrific and upsetting – and put life in perspective. We’ve got lots of ways you can help those affected by the fires, so read on. Plus: the places Sydney chefs go when they’re not cooking for us, Sydney Festival events and more. This is what I’ll be up to this month – follow my adventures here.

Help those affected by the fires

While there doesn’t seem to be any end in sight for the fires, there are ways we can make a difference. In fact, there are so many amazing Aussies doing so many cool things – and donating their time and money – it’s filled us with hope.

These are the Sydney businesses, eateries, bars, cafes and restaurants doing their bit for the relief effort, meaning your morning coffee, after-work drink or online shop can become a contribution, too.

More than 30 Sydney chefs have banded together for Cook for the Bush, a one-off dine-in brunch (now fully booked) and bake sale happening on Sunday, January 12 at the Nomad pop-up, Nomad Up the Road (which is really fabulous by the way – put it on your list and order the new Nomad bread). Nomad ’s executive chef Jacqui Challinor is behind it, with chefs from Aria, Ester, Firedoor, Fred’s, Icebergs, Rockpool Bar & Grill and Sixpenny coming on board, among others. Thanks to an overwhelming response, the bake sale has moved to Gogo Bar in nearby Chin Chin, and Challinor has had to add a rooftop lunch at Paramount Recreation Club. One hundred per cent of proceeds from the day will go directly to the Australian Red Cross.

The editor of design blog The Design Files, Lucy Feagins, has organised an online art auction. There’s a still life by Archibald Prize-winner Yvette Coppersmith; an undersea-scape by Ken Done; a striking oil-on-linen piece by Guy Maestri, another Archibald Prize winner; and a spectacular acrylic work – both in size and scope – by Melbourne-based artist Kirra Jamison. Art Fights Fire is on until 5pm on Monday, January 13. You can bid on work here.

If you’re already in the market for new clothes, homewares or other retail goods, buy from these labels, which are committing part of their January profits to relief organisations.

Spend With Them is a new Instagram account that helps you buy direct from clothing labels, surf shops, farms, wineries, distilleries and other businesses in fire-affected areas. It was inspired by @buyfromthebush, which launched in October 2019 to support companies affected by drought.

And of course, you can also donate directly to Red Cross and Wires Wildlife Rescue to help.

Go where the chefs eat
We chatted to a handful of Sydney chefs to see where they like to eat and drink when the weather warms up. I completely agree with Trisha Greentree of 10 William St: “Bondi’s Sean’s Panorama is the ideal place for a Sunday lunch during summer. I can never go past their daily pasta and classic roast chicken.” I’d also suggest getting the soup entree. It’s always cold and spectacular.

I also endorse the suggestions from Ragazzi ’s Scott Williams, who likes The George in Waterloo “for an al pastor [spit-grilled pork] taco and a bottle from the Drnks wine shop”.

Mike Eggert of Totti’s says he likes to get out of town to the Argyle Inn in Taralga, 240-kilometres south-west of Sydney (before your journey, check on road closures because of the and fires here). “A meal in the summer sun at the Argyle almost feels cathartic,” he says. “Add to that the direct support of local growers and farmers who are battling horrible drought and fires, and there is no reason everyone shouldn’t be taking a drive down to Taralga or Orange or the Hunter. At least one weekend in summer, [you should] get out of Sydney and support local small restaurants who support local farmers.”

Speaking of Totti’s
The CBD will get an outlet of the much-loved, perennially booked, very-hard-to-get-into Italian eatery this month (word is around January 15). It was supposed to open over the Christmas break, but there were delays. It’s on George Street (part of the Ivy complex), and when I walked past the other day it was looking schmick.

Book a holiday
If you’re feeling the pain of being back at work, do the one thing that’ll make you feel better: book a holiday. Perhaps you should flick through Broadsheet ’s list of the best Australian hotel openings of 2019 for some inspiration. But of course, it’s not all about the new. I still think you can’t beat the swim-up bar at Elements of Byron, and I’m going to make time in 2020 to visit Brisbane’s very pretty Calile Hotel.

Feeling a little broke after the holidays?
Here are 10 things you can do in Sydney in summer for less than $10. You’ll catch me dancing it up at Harpoon Harry on Friday nights for zilch. I’m also going to be chipping away at the new 80-kilometre Bondi to Manly walk – there are a couple of harbour beaches I’ve never visited in the north. And did you know there’s a museum devoted to May Gibbs, one of Australia’s most beloved children’s authors? It’s called Nutcote and it’s on the site of her harbourside home.

It’s Sydney Festival time
That means the city is awash with culture until January 27. I’m going to check out the free, immersive installations at Carriageworks by four leading Australian artists. Each large-scale work is very different, but all employ light in different states: natural, projected, photographic and LED. Works by Rebecca Baumann, Daniel Boyd and Kate Mitchell opened on January 8, and Reko Rennie’s Remember Me will open later this month.

The other event you should have on your radar is The Vigil, which was held for the first time last year. Back then, festival director Wesley Enoch told us, “January 26 falls within the Sydney Festival dates, so as an Aboriginal man I need to have a response to it. What is the history of this day? What are the rituals? How did it come together? Maybe that’s the role the Sydney Festival could play – find different rituals of commemorating, rather than celebrating.”

It’s being held from dusk on January 25 until dawn on January 26, Australia Day. Enoch doesn’t regard The Vigil as a protest or a political statement, but rather as a time for people to sit around a campfire and reflect on what life was like before January 26, 1788, when life changed irrevocably for Australia’s original inhabitants and their descendants. There’ll be music, performance, stories and reflection.

Catch a movie at this outdoor cinema
There are plenty movies being watched under stars across the city this time of year (here’s our round up of the best), but I reckon my favourite is the Westpac Openair Cinema. It’s been held at Mrs Macquarie’s Point for 20 years, and its 350-square-metre screen rises from the harbour each evening of the season – set to the same theme music since day one.

What’s different this year, though, is the food. Biota’s James Viles (of Southern Highlands destination diner Biota) has been recruited to look after the menu for à la carte dining space The Lounge By James Viles (you need to get a ticket upgrade for this). Eat oysters with finger lime dressing, heirloom tomato with ricotta and tomato water, and chicken slow-cooked in tarragon while taking in some of the most impressive dining-room views in Sydney.

If you’re after something more low-key, there’s a casual eatery by Automata ’s Clayton Wells. He’s taking cues from his Chippendale diner A1 Canteen, serving chicken-Caesar sandwiches and a bagel with spiced cream cheese, beetroot, carrot, sprouts, tomato and pickles. There’ll also be a regularly changing menu of salads and house-made pastries, as well as pastas and fried-fish sandwiches. And there’s a bar, of course, where you can grab a cocktail from Sydney distiller Archie Rose. The cinema is running until February 21.

Sarah Norris is editor of Broadsheet Sydney. Missed her picks from last month? Check them out here.