If you are looking for a little ripper of an Italian Restaurant you cannot go past Liana’s Italian Restaurant in Parramatta. Situated on the corner of Phillip and Church St, Liana’s Italian Restaurant is back in the original owner’s hands and better than ever.

Whether it is for a quick pasta or special occasion this is a great place to eat. Liana’s offers a wide variety of fine Italian cuisine which portrays both the authentic and classic flavours of Italy. The menu is extensive so there is something for everyone.

We at Two Flat Whites have been a few times in the recent weeks and have been delighted trying a wide range of dishes from the Pasta, Risotto, Salad and even a wonderful Steak. As you would expect with an Italian Restaurant, there are Pizzas to be had and Liana’s offers something very different to most with its famous square Pizzas which are hearty and full of fresh ingredients. What also will entice customers is the size of the servings which are very generous and come at a very reasonable price.

The food is scrumptious, but you cannot beat the fantastic service. The waitresses are friendly, enthusiastic and always smiling. So now is the time to venture into Parramatta and have a great meal. Let them know that Two Flat Whites sent you!

Liana’s Italian Restaurant
306 Church Street (cnr Phillip Street)
Parramatta NSW 2150
Tel: 02 9687 7979
www.lianas.com.au

Article written by Dean Lawrence.

Co-presented with the Melbourne International Film Festival, lashings of gratuitous sex, violence and fuel-injected muscle car mayhem – the 70s and 80s Aussie exploitation films that broke all the taboos. Co-curated by director Mark Hartley and inspired by his long awaited documentary Not Quite Hollywood, these legendary works smash their way back onto the big screen after prowling the filmic wilderness for decades.

ACMI is the Australian Centre for the Moving Image. From the wonders of more than a century of cinema, to television, computer games and the screen-based art of the future, ACMI is the place to find out everything about the moving image. The films run from Friday 25th July to Sunday 10th August 2008.

Midnight Morning is a limited and handcrafted publication combining the distinct work of Haline Ly, Matt Huynh and Will Loeng in a new and never-before-seen illustration series celebrating shared experiences of love and devastation.

To commemorate the release of the book, Midnight Morning will be launched with a concurrent show at Rococo Productions’ warehouse exhibition space. For one night only, original artwork from the book will be displayed and will be available for sale alongside a selection of other new artwork, books and prints from the artists. All three artists will be in attendance on the night to meet fans, discuss their work and sign editions of the book.

When: 6pm – 9pm 17th July 2008
Venue: 12 O’Connell St, Newtown
Admission is free.
Refreshments and music provided.

Drawing by Matt Huynh

Beguiling, orchestral and lush, The Wishing Well’s first full length CD, Life On The Border, evokes an extraordinary gamut of emotions. A cacophony of three part harmonies, wistful violin and majestic rhythms all melded to achingly strong and haunting vocals produce a rich tapestry of mesmerizing folk, pop and rock.

Two Flat Whites recently attended an exhibition by talented designer/ illustrator Kareena Zerefos. We found Kareena to be not only a very talented illustrator, but an intelligent & beautiful young woman. Design for Kareena started in her Pre school days pasting macaroni onto paper plates. This led to an interest in the arts where she studied at the College of Fine Arts in Sydney & also a short stint at the University of Alberta, Canada. We had the pleasure in interviewing Kareena.

Where did you grow up & where do you hang your hat?

I grew up out at Dural, and lived on the northern beaches as a teenager. For the last year I’ve been living in Kirribilli in Sydney.

In your own words, what do you do?

I draw pictures. I work with themes of isolation & escapism to create a bittersweet, slightly unsettling feeling in my pictures.

Where did you learn your craft?

I studied design at the College of Fine Arts, but didn’t do any illustration or painting there, so technically I’m a self-taught illustrator/painter/artist.

Whose work do you relate to most? Who inspires you?

I’m quite inspired by the simplicity of the work of Egon Schiele and Sara Moon, and also their composition and use of white space. But at the moment I love Carson Ellis’ work, for the colours and fine details; as well as Audrey Kawasaki, Cecilia Carlstedt, Edwina white and numerous children’s book illustrators like Eileen Soper, Pierre Probst and Mary Elliot Lacey.

What inspired you to create?

There has never really been one defining moment that has inspired me to create; I’ve always created in one way or another.

Childhood Memories:

TV Show – Astro Boy, The Smurfs and Agro’s cartoon connection.

Hobby – Horse Riding, Climbing trees and swimming at the beach.

Food – Sicilian cheese cake, Ribena and Nutella.

Fear – spiders, ghosts and falling.

People – family and friends

Defining moment – sliding down a fireman’s pole in a playground at a park in Canberra.

Schooling memories, chore or cherished?

A bit of both.

Where is the most beautiful place in Australia you have visited?

Blue Lake in Mt Gambier, South Australia… or the Great Barrier Reef.

From the hours of 9am to 5pm, what do you get up too?

I don’t have a set routine, so I’ve gone with a general day leading up to my exhibition. Drink green and peppermint tea. Deal with emails. Draw some pictures. Tape pictures to the walls. Clean up. Package up prints and posters. Go to the Post Office. Go to Yoga. Check the mail. Draw some more. Research ideas. Read a chapter of Bambi. Change the music. Draw some more pictures. Talk on the phone. Take the pictures down from the walls. Paint the pictures. Eat something. Tape the pictures to the floor. Sit in front of my computer. Scan things. Print things. Draw some more pictures. Get interrupted by my sister. Refuse to go for a run. Drink herbal tea. Get back to drawing…

Where can people see your work?

www.kareenazerefos.com or at the moment at the Red Door Gallery in Edinburgh Scotland.

For love or money?

Love. You don’t decide to draw for a living if it’s about money. But you do need money if you want to draw for a living. Everyone needs to eat.

What future endeavors are in the pipeline?

Taking my solo show down to Melbourne and a few group shows, later in the year.
I’m hoping to spend Christmas in Scandinavia, and return all inspired to start working on a children’s book and some new drawings.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Drawing pictures in a bigger apartment, with an Italian greyhound jumping around, preparing for my third solo show in Paris.

If you could invite 3 people to chat over coffee, who would they be & why?

There are so many people I’d like to chat with over coffee, but I’m going to say Jon, Tina and Fiona… because they’re very creative and inspirational people, and to add a bit of cheese, they’re my best friends!

Coffee or Tea?

Tea. Herbal, green or white. No milk or sugar. I gave up my coffee addiction about 10 months ago.

From working the land in Narromine to winning cricket’s World Cup three times, Glenn McGrath has always faced life with fierce determination and an unerring will to succeed, despite the odds. Now, following his retirement from international cricket, McGrath shares the story of his life – in cricket and off the field.

Glenn McGrath’s most meaningful achievements, however, have been off the field. With his wife Jane, a survivor of breast and bone cancers, he established the McGrath Foundation, a major fundraiser for and supporter of people with breast cancer. Here, in their own words, the McGrath’s discuss their ongoing battles with the disease.

LINE AND STRENGTH is the tell-all story of an Australian country boy who took on the world. After battling cancer for 11 years, Jane died on 22 June 2008. Glenn McGrath is one of my heroes. He is a wonderful person & his wife Jane was a remarkable human being. For a great read, go & buy the book & you will not be disappointed. The book is being released on the 1st August 2008.

Two Flat Whites would like to pass on it’s deepest sympathies to the McGrath family. We appreciate all you have done for Australia Glenn & look forward to seeing the McGrath Foundation grow stronger.

Are you employed or studying in an agricultural, fisheries, forestry, food or natural resource industry and aged between 18 – 35 years?

Do you want to:

* Further your career?
* Get your hands on up to $50 000?
* Build networks with industry leaders?
* Advance the future of Australia’s agriculture, fisheries, forestry, food or natural resources industries?
* Make your ideas a reality?

Winners will receive up to $20 000 each to explore an emerging scientific issue or innovative activity over a 12 month period. One winner will also be recommended to receive the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Award, valued at an additional $30 000, to advance their research outcomes and career.

Projects can relate to agriculture, fisheries, forestry, food and natural resource management industries. Funding may be used for a research project, an industry visit, further study into a specific area or attending a conference. Entries close 14th July 2008. For further information visit here.

Morris Dilemma, how the mighty have fallen.

The Pope comes to Sydney and the NSW Government (look for votes) decide to create a “New regulation giving police and emergency service workers the power to stop behaviour that causes annoyance or inconvenience to participants in a World Youth Day event,” according to a New South Wales state government publication. Anyone who does not comply could face a $5,300 fine.

“Wearing an anti-Catholic t-shirt, handing out condoms and even riding a skateboard could incur the penalty.”

Anyone in Sydney who has been to the art gallery knows that The Domain is a haven for young skaters getting their jump on, and this also happens to be right near St Mary’s Cathedral, which will be one of the centre points of the celebrations for World Youth Day.

Imagine riding a skateboard through The Domain, wearing a silly t-shirt, carrying The God Delusion under one arm and a condom in your pocket. I mean, isn’t that what most kids of today do anyhow (besides The God Delusion maybe, swap that for a Ralph mag or something and it’s pretty close I would say)?

So what does that mean for the majority of us? It means we can’t wear whatever the f*ck we like because we may cop a hefty fine.

Nice one Morris.

-David Goldberg.

You’ll find new inspiration at the Byron Bay Writers Festival 2008. Expect new writers with new writing, new ideas and new media. The best of Australian writing awaits, although it may not always wear the face you’d expect!

The Byron Bay Writers Festival had its beginnings in 1997, when a small group of locals led by Chris Hanley wondered whether authors might accept an invitation to spend a winter’s weekend in Byron Bay. They did, and an audience of two hundred locals enjoyed a gathering of fifty Australian writers. Since then, the Festival has grown from a single venue event to fill four huge marquees and venues around town and sells 45,000 individual tickets.

The focus of the program is firmly on Australian writing, with recognition of our physical place in the world through the inclusion of Indonesian and Asian authors. The Byron Bay Writers Festival enjoys a close relationship with the Ubud Writers and Readers Festival and believes that through words and ideas, bridges are formed that cross cultures and schisms. Fundamentally, the Festival provides a forum for intelligent discussion and guests are invited to address the issues that matter to them as writers and which necessarily concern us all. It is a celebration of the vitality of thought and creativity with a healthy emphasis on fun.

“The most important book of photographs to come out of Australia in the past five years … Hijacked define the shape of things to come.” Alasdair Foster, Director, Australian Centre for Photography.

Providing a voice for some of the most exciting and provocative new photography from Australia and America, Hijacked takes a road less travelled. The exhibition erases traditional boundaries between art, document and snapshot to point towards the future of contemporary photomedia.

Australian Centre for Photography
257 Oxford Street, Paddington NSW 2021

Friday 13 June to Saturday 19 July 2008
Tue – Fri: 12.00 – 7.00pm, Sat & Sun 10.00am – 6.00pm