The golden curve that is Coogee Beach has long been a go-to for groups. It's got a local feel to it, but still draws its fair share of travellers, making it an ideal spot to make some new mates over a friendly game. Set up several Survivor-style obstacle courses and see who is crowned champion. Or, if the beach isn't bustling with sun-kissed bodies, dive into a game of beach volleyball (as long as an organised competition isn't going on). Afterward, grab a round or two at Coogee Pavilion. Image: Destination NSW
For half a century, no trip to the Sunshine Coast has been complete without visiting a 16-metre-high pineapple. In 1983, even Princess Diana and the then-Prince Charles went there, as throngs of tourists have before and since. Stop by now and you'll still see a giant piece of tropical fruit, but one that's had a revamp, with the Queensland big thing officially reopening after undergoing renovations. Plenty of changes have been floated for The Big Pineapple and its 165-hectare site over the years, with a craft brewery, water park, and places to stay via an RV park, an eco resort and a hotel all among the ideas under the attraction's master plan. For now, however, owner Peter Kendall and his company CMC Property have focused on repairing and restoring the main highlight itself, as well giving the location's train the same treatment. The Big Pineapple has also scored a new cafe, new viewing platform and new children's playground. If the towering sight looks extra shiny — and ready to gleam in the obligatory snaps that everyone takes while they're in its presence — that's thanks to sandblasting, repairs and marine paint by the hundreds of litres. To get a good glimpse, that's where the new viewing platform comes in. Dating back to the 50s, the train now has a similar sheen after a restoration process, including to its carriages and track. "We are awaiting some final certification for the train and hope to start public train rides soon, providing rides across the property including access to Wildlife HQ," said Kendall, also mentioning the zoo with 200-plus species of animals that's been onsite since 2014. Stopping by The Big Pineapple hasn't just been about its fibreglass namesake for some time, given that TreeTop Challenge Sunshine Coast and its high-ropes courses and ziplines also calls it home. So does coconut foods producer COYO, as well as Sunshine & Sons distillery. Come October, The Big Pineapple Festival — the locale's music festival — will return for the first time since 2021. The fest started in 2013, then ran annually surrounded by pineapple fields until its present three-year break. Getting a ticket isn't just about seeing live tunes in the location's natural amphitheatres in such close proximity to The Big Pineapple, but also pitching a tent at event's 4000-person campground. [caption id="attachment_944026" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Big Pineapple, Alpha via Flickr[/caption] "The Big Pineapple is undoubtedly the most-recognisable tourism icon of the Sunshine Coast and so I am very proud of the team's work to restore the pineapple to its original glory," said Kendall. "This is just the first stage of the regeneration project. Our number-one priority was to reopen the main pineapple structure and cafe, and to get the train running again." "Our next priority is to complete the renovations to the inside of the pineapple structure itself and we hope to reopen it for tours later on." [caption id="attachment_698027" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Anne and David via Flickr[/caption] Find The Big Pineapple at 76 Nambour Connection Road, Woombye, Queensland — open 8.30am–4pm daily. For more information, visit the attraction's website.
Heated outdoor spaces are a hot commodity during winter. They offer a rare occasion to enjoy some fresh air without freezing your butt off. Luckily, The Grounds of Alexandria has you sorted. Sounds from The Grounds — a series of after-dark music events held in their fairy light-lit Alexandria garden — returns this winter to tempt Sydneysiders outdoors, and the next instalment is Latin-themed. If you missed tickets to previous sold-out events, the salsa night will return each month. Bundle up and arrive from 6pm to enjoy a glass (or two) of sangria in the heated garden. Latin band Los Papis will play at 6.30pm, 8pm and 8.50pm with a salsa performance at 7.30pm — dancing is encouraged. The $30 ticket price includes entry, music and the performance, with food and drinks available to purchase from the kitchen's South American-inspired menu. Think comfort-food favourites like arepas, quesadillas and tacos, plus the aforementioned sangria by-the-glass. If you want to bring your furry friend along, dogs (and kids under 12) are welcome and get in for free, too.
With the hustle of a 9-to-5 and the fast pace of modern life, each week can fly by in a way that leaves you feeling exhausted but, paradoxically, as though you haven't achieved anything of substance. Well, enough of that. Each day you can elevate your life by aiming for just one easy win — even small changes to your routine will help boost your week and leave you feeling accomplished. To get you started, we've teamed up with our friends at Coopers to bring you a list of 'easy wins' — small things that will enrich your week and help you balance that delicate trifecta of health, career and social life with greater aplomb than ever before. MONDAY: GET COFFEE WITH A COLLEAGUE You can go for months — years, even — only knowing your colleagues on a superficial level. So, why not take some time out of your Monday to get to know someone from the office a bit better. It's an easy win from both a social and career perspective. If you're shy or not too sure of what to talk about, the best place to start is to simply ask what path your colleague took to reach their current job. If that fails, Netflix chat is always a good back up — people love spruiking their favourite new series. Who knows, you could find a new work bestie. And, once the relationship progresses, you can swap coffee dates for after-work beers. TUESDAY: SPEND YOUR LUNCH BREAK AT A GALLERY Every day we are bombarded with images via our screens — but seeing things IRL is an altogether different, much more impactful, experience. Switch off your phone, head to an art gallery and stimulate your senses the old-fashioned way. It doesn't have to be a full-blown art affair where you spend your entire Sunday traversing one of the major galleries; it can be as easy as popping into a local gallery on your lunch break and doing a quick walkthrough. Add a bit of culture to your work week, and check out Kyle Montgomery's crystal Virgin Mary sculptures at China Heights in Sydney, Honey Long and Prue Stent's divine photography at Arc One in Melbourne or the young artistic talent at the Edwina Corlette Gallery in Brisbane. WEDNESDAY: DO A DIGITAL DETOX Sure, technology has its many benefits, but it can also have some pretty nasty side-effects. Constant connection can be stressful, distracting or, at worst, damaging to our mental health. While a full-on digital detox is off the cards for most of us — y'know work and stuff — design ethicist Tristan Harris has a number of tricks to help us reduce our reliance on smartphones and form more intentional relationships with technology. For starters, download Flux onto your computer (it cuts out the blue light from your screen at night so your melatonin levels are less disrupted), change your iPhone display to black and white (grayscale is less appealing to regularly check than colour) and turn off push notifications on your phone. Now that scrolling is no longer sucking up your time, you can bury your head in a book, catch up with friends, take a walk... the opportunities are endless. THURSDAY: EXPAND YOUR MIND WITH A TALK You know the importance of integrating physical exercise into our weekly routines, but it's easy to forget the need to keep our minds active, too. On any given night you can find a number of scintillating talks across your city on diverse topics like politics, media, art, sexuality and business. Many of these events — held at bookshops like Gleebooks in Sydney, Avid Reader in Brisbane or Readings in Melbourne — are free to attend. You can also check out our Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne event pages to find upcoming talks and classes in your city. FRIDAY: SAVOUR A BOWL OF PHO Wind down the work week with a Friday night pho from the best in the business. The most delicious meals often hail from the most humble looking places — a good noodle-soup discovery will attest to this adage like nothing else. Pho Tau Bay in Sydney's Cabramatta, Pho Hung Vuong 2 in Melbourne's Richmond and The Vietnamese in Brissie's Fortitude Valley all pack a punch with bountiful bowls of pure flavour. To take this easy win a step further, treat yourself to an ice cold beer — beer and pho are bros, trust us. SATURDAY: READ AN ACTUAL NEWSPAPER Yes, they still exist. Head to your local cafe, grabbing a paper on the way, order a flat white and catch up on the news in a slow, laidback way — rather than that frenzied, panicked newsfeed way. Kick leisure goals and expand your mind simultaneously. The Saturday Paper is prime for longer reads, The Australian Financial Review is perfect for the latest in business and politics, while The Age (Melbourne), The Sydney Morning Herald (Sydney) or The Courier-Mail (Brisbane) cover the news of your city. SUNDAY: TUCK INTO SOME TACOS You heard it here first, shrimp tacos are the at-home dish of choice for summer 2019 — fresh, zesty, and perfect for warm weather. Close out your week with the biggest of littlest wins, find your preferred recipe on the interwebs and put on a feast for your loved ones. Just add beers and sangria, and you have the perfect Saturday evening made. Kick off your 'easy wins' by enjoying a Coopers Dry, or two, with your mates.
Hospitality heavyweight Merivale has barely dipped its toe into Sydney's north, but where is has, it sure has done it a bang-up job of it. Proof of that lies in Manly Wharf's much-loved Papi Chulo and sprawling Pittwater pub The Newport, which Merivale reopened back in April 2016. Now, the group's announced plans to again beef up its northern beaches portfolio by taking over the beachfront Collaroy Hotel. Perched right on the sand and boasting some pretty special ocean panoramas, there's no doubt that this beach boozer is primed for the signature Justin Hemmes treatment. What's more, it's bound to work pretty well as a sister venue to The Newport, which will unveil its second stage — a new indoor restaurant and bar — this summer. At this stage, there's no word on exactly what we can expect from The Collaroy's newest incarnation or when exactly it's expected to open. We'll keep you posted. But for the time being, The Collaroy will remain open as usual.
Summer in Sydney is always welcome, this year more so than ever. Back are the long days, the beach escapes and the long-awaited gatherings with friends. With so much to enjoy, you may not always have time to plan ahead but, with help from our friends at Jacob's Creek, we've put together the definitive list of restaurants and bars to head to for last-minute catch-ups. Think of it as the plan for when you don't have a plan. [caption id="attachment_671515" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Leticia Almeida[/caption] THE WINERY, SURRY HILLS Gather your posse for a get-together at The Winery, the always buzzing bar in Surry Hills. The verdant outdoor garden space is the perfect place to be on a summer's afternoon, with the light filtering through the trees making your beautiful people even more so and the days seem endless. All the catching up and people watching is tough work, so you'll soon need to venture to the bar (or send an obliging pal for you). Light and fresh, Jacob's Creek Le Petit Rosé is the ideal accompaniment for such a gathering. [caption id="attachment_717351" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Karina Lee[/caption] COOGEE BAY HOTEL, COOGEE Like gin and tonic, Sydney summers and beach days are made to be together. After a day in the surf at Coogee Beach, head over the road to Coogee Bay Hotel for an impromptu session with your pals and the taste of salt still on your lips. In keeping with its beachside location, the atmosphere is languid here; the most important decision you'll need to make is what drink to start with. One that's done, settle into the garden for the best view of the beach as the sun goes down. [caption id="attachment_688657" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Enzo Amato[/caption] SEAN'S PANAROMA, NORTH BONDI Chances are you and your friends will find yourselves at Sydney's most iconic beach this summer. Why not take advantage of the location and head to Sean's Panaroma? While many other restaurants have come and gone, Sean's has remained steadfast, welcoming diners through its doors since 1993. There's a clear recipe for success here: chef Sean Moran's passion for produce teamed with an unpretentious neighbourhood charm. The roast chicken is the stuff of legend. Adding to the appeal, Sean's is also BYO so bring along a chilled bottle (or two) of Jacob's Creek Better by Half Pinot Gris to share with the table. [caption id="attachment_780365" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kitti Gould[/caption] SLIMS ROOFTOP, DARLINGHURST Where do you head with your mates when you want a drink with a view but don't have a plan? Slims Rooftop, with its mix of enviable city views and greenery is the perfect choice. The bar sits atop Darlinghurst's Hyde Park House and it makes the most of its aerial location with an eye over Hyde Park and the high rises beyond. Gather under one of the bright umbrellas splashed across the verandah and order a round as you drink in the westerly sun. SOCAL, NEUTRAL BAY An unexpected touch of California in the lower north shore, SoCal is an ideal spot to drop into for a last-minute summer soiree. With its beachside vibes, marked by a coastal colour palette, lush greenery and washed timber, this rooftop bar is not the kind of place you expect to find in suburban Neutral Bay. Like the venue, the food is relaxed. It's also designed to be shared — think tacos, quesadillas and slow-barbecued meats, made in the on-site smokehouse. Find yourself there for weekday happy hour and you'll be seriously tempted by the frozen slushy cocktails ($12). BERT'S, NEWPORT If you and your crew are in the mood for some off-the-cuff fanciness, then Bert's is the place to be. It takes minimal planning to have a great time here because most of the details have already been taken care of. Set inside Merivale's Newport behemoth, the brasserie is all class, with its panoramic windows, sun-drenched central bar and impeccable detailing all working together to create a palatial hotel feel. It would be almost criminal not to order from the oyster bar to start, with a glass of bubbles to match. After that, let the unhurried atmosphere wash over you as you settle in for the afternoon. THREE BLUE DUCKS, ROSEBERY You'll smell it before you see it: the spit roast cooking in the garden of Three Blue Ducks' Rosebery outpost. It's all the excuse you need to get some friends together and join the crowds for a long lunch. Beyond the barbecue, vegetables are celebrated in all their glory. Roasted until charred, piled into vibrant salads or whipped into dips, they're the perfect accompaniment or main event. Among all the eating, your group is sure to work up a thirst. SCOTCH AND CO, BARANGAROO It's a familiar scenario: you get together with friends for a catch-up and realise you're all so hungry you could eat a doorframe. Scotch and Co is on hand to help. This classy steakhouse, located at the bottom of the International Towers in Barangaroo, has extensive views over the harbour. Seafood makes a strong play on the menu, including fresh rock lobster, which will pair excellently with Jacob's Creek Double Barrel Chardonnay. But don't skip the steak. While some of the wagyu prices may make your eyes water, the result is mouth-watering enough to help you forget. Reconnect with your friends and family this summer with a bottle of Jacob's Creek. Discover the Jacob's Creek range and purchase a bottle today from all good liquor retailers. Top image: The Winery by Letícia Almeida Please drink responsibly.
There's an undeniable MC Escher-esque quality to Christopher Nolan's films: a recurring preoccupation with infinity, architectural impossibilities and mathematical paradoxes that explodes (if also confounds) on the screen. For the director and his brother, time and space are not constrictions but ideas to be played with, and engaging with them unconventionally is a device that often underscores their scripts, or — as was the case with Memento — forms their entire plot. Interstellar, Nolan's ninth and newest film, once again places time as the driving force behind the story. A lack of time, to be precise, because earth's days are numbered. In the near future, climate change has finally, fundamentally and — as we soon learn — irrevocably imperilled the planet and its remaining citizens. Farming is now the industry, and almost everyone does it. If you've ever had a taxi driver tell you he was formerly a surgeon in his own country, imagine that, but that on a global scale. Even former NASA pilots like Cooper (Matthew McConaughey) find themselves toiling the fields and ducking the sandstorms. But the crops are dying, and pretty soon there'll be nothing left to produce the oxygen required to sustain life. Earth's last hope, it turns out, is a secret NASA plan to seek out appropriate new planets for humans to live on in the far reaches of the galaxy. "Ahh," you might say, "that's all good and well, but the nearest ones are lightyears away." True, but hope springs forth courtesy of a wormhole that one day simply appeared in our solar system: a secret backdoor to viable new planets that the NASA team can only presume was 'sent' to us by a higher intelligence. So, Cooper makes the heart-wrenching decision to leave his kids behind and give both them and the planet one last chance at salvation. The crux, of course, is time. The distances and physics involved with interstellar travel — especially when relativity comes into play — mean time is measured in almost impossible scales. An hour on Planet X equates to seven years on the spaceship orbiting just above it, just as a day to Cooper represents a lifetime to the family he left behind. It's a device reminiscent of the 'dream within a dream' world of Inception, only here the stakes are so much higher. Naturally for a film of this scale, Nolan elected to shoot more than 100 of its 180 minutes in 70mm IMAX, and the result is breathtaking. Matched with a Hans Zimmer soundtrack that's so epic it sounds like the composer simply threw himself on a giant organ and writhed around for a few hours, Interstellar is a film that's experienced as much as it's watched. With clear allusions to its predecessors, including 2001, Contact and even Event Horizon, Interstellar still manages to forge its own unique style and story, albeit with 'revelations' that most will predict a long way off. Performance wise, McConaughey is solid in the lead and finds ample support from a packed ensemble featuring Michael Caine, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Topher Grace, John Lithgow, Wes Bentley, Casey Affleck and Ellen Burstyn. The standouts, however, are Mackenzie Foy as Cooper's rambunctious daughter Murph (named after Murphy's Law), and a faceless, wise-cracking robot named TARS. The conceit sounds cringeworthy, but the result is amazing, boasting some of the funniest, smartest lines in any film this year. In all, this will surely prove a divisive picture, with debates certain to arise over its science, storyline and ultimate resolution. Time-travel films inevitably involve paradoxes that, in turn, must (by tradition if not by law) spark heated arguments over causality and order and the misconception of time being linear and… well, you get the idea. It's not Nolan's best film, but it's perhaps his most ambitious, and it's to be applauded for its determination as well as its technical achievements. https://youtube.com/watch?v=0vxOhd4qlnA
Greater Sydney is currently under stay at home orders so, while you can't visit these pubs in person, you can still show your support with takeaway and online orders. You can stay up to date with the developing COVID-19 situation in Sydney, as well as current restrictions, at NSW Health. Whether we're having them delivered or enjoying them at the pub, chicken schnitties and pot pies will always hold a special place in our hearts. But sometimes, after a few beers at your local, you work up an appetite for something beyond traditional pub grub. Luckily, Sydney's pub scene is humming with venues dishing up more imaginative meals — and you can even get some of them delivered, too. We've teamed up with Guinness to highlight seven Sydney pubs to head to — once current venue restrictions lift, of course — when you're looking for flare in your pub fare. Add these these top-notch local watering holes to your future hit list, so you can tuck into the likes of harissa-spiced lamb scotch eggs, dip honeycomb and bread into melted camembert or devour a vegan Sunday roast. [caption id="attachment_679801" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Trent van der Jagt[/caption] RAG & FAMISH HOTEL North Sydney's oldest pub dishes up popular winter warmers as if they've been doing it for centuries (which they have, by the way). This multi-level joint offers restaurant and bistro dining, so you can match your meal with your occasion. Head to the upstairs eatery and satisfy big (and carnivorous) appetites with Moroccan-style lamb backstrap, 'drunken' pork belly with miso butternut pumpkin mash and the beef brisket served with a wild mushroom medley, confit garlic, potato, kale and red wine jus. You won't be disappointed downstairs, either, thanks to shareable bites like the pumpkin and sage arancini and baked camembert served with sourdough and honeycomb. Of course, counter classics are still available at this Miller Street mainstay, with food specials on offer throughout the week alongside trivia and footy viewing nights. [caption id="attachment_818630" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Saltwater Images[/caption] CHARING CROSS HOTEL Bronte's beloved Charo keeps diners on their toes with an amazingly diverse menu. Order extras for the table like the seven-spice squid topped with yuzu and coriander or pork croquettes with spiced pear chutney. And if you've never had a savoury pithivier, tick it off your bucket list here. This iteration of the round puff pastry pie is filled with potato, King Island smoked cheese, caramelised onion and truffle sauce — it's basically an oozing molten cheese mountain that will tempt any fromage fanatic. There are also five different Sunday roast options on the table to satisfy pub traditionalists, from a pasture-fed roast sirloin with veg and Yorkshire pud to the vegan roast of miso-glazed Japanese pumpkin with sage and onion stuffing, served with hazelnut granola and roast veggies. [caption id="attachment_818633" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Arvin Prem Kumar[/caption] THE ROYAL LEICHHARDT Watch fiery sunsets over the inner west from the leafy balcony of The Royal. Downstairs has abundant old-school public house charm, but as you ascend the stairs, you'll find dazzling dining areas with a distinctly botanical theme. No matter where you set yourself up, though, you'll be treated to a great menu which serves vegetarian and vegan punters well. The bright green pappardelle is served with peas, basil, spinach, lemon oil and a sprinkling of parmesan and pangrattato, while the lasagne forgoes beef for ricotta and spinach interspersed with roasted tomato sauce and pesto. Those craving meat should turn to the twice-cooked pork belly served on a bed of caramelised apple and accompanied by fried brussels sprouts with dill, parsley and hazelnuts. The Royal Leichhardt's bottle shop, Royal Liquor, is open daily from 12pm. Drop in to pick up wine, growlers and fresh flowers. BANKSIA HOTEL While it's not-exactly-glamorous location might make you think this Princes Highway spot is just another roadside pub, you'd be doing your inner foodie a disservice if you didn't stop in for a feed. With a menu overseen by pub food maestro Colin Fassnidge, the on-site Banksia Bistro plates up elevated pub fare in a slick, modern Scandi-like setting. Of course, you can expect classics like beer-battered fish and chips, chicken schnitzel, porchetta. But followers of Fassnidge will recognise his influence and Irish heritage in dishes like meatloaf with colcannon and egg, cheese and black pudding croquettes and suckling pig sausage roll with spiced apple butter. Banksia Bistro is offering takeaway food, tap beer and cocktails from 4–8pm, Thursday–Sunday. [caption id="attachment_818629" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Supplied[/caption] THE RIVERVIEW If the bright red doors, window flower boxes and glowing fireplace don't draw you into this Balmain pub, then the Sunday roast surely will. The popular beef roast comes adorned with baked veggies, seeded mustard jus and a fluffy Yorkshire pudding, which you'll be dreaming about in your post-roast nap. In the sophisticated upstairs Birchgrove Restaurant, the prawn linguini will warm you up with its hit of chilli, cherry tomatoes, capers and fresh basil, while the steak and Guinness pie, served with creamy mash and honeyed carrots, raises the benchmark for baked parcels of goodness. Beers on tap move from trendy IPAs to dark Irish brews, if your vibe is to also imbibe. Food is available to order online here, from 5–8:30pm, Monday–Saturday. [caption id="attachment_818628" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Supplied[/caption] THE TRINITY Settle in among bookshelves piled high with old tomes and pre-war sports paraphernalia in this Surry Hills hangout. While the vibes in the sports bar and covered beer garden are as chill as can be, perusing the menu at The Trinity is a culinary rollercoaster. The ride starts with pub classics like schnitzels and burgers, then twists dramatically to bowls of teriyaki jackfruit paired with shiitake mushroom, seaweed rice, edamame and pickled vegetables. Share plates provide further excitement with the likes of coconut, chill and citrus-spiced mussels, plus an oh-so-creamy macaroni bake of cauliflower, potato, spinach and artichoke. For a funky finishing touch, order a house cocktail like the Hard Nut to Crack, which blends gin with a liquid marzipan-style pistachio orgeat topped with sweet peaks of aquafaba. [caption id="attachment_818627" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Arvin Prem Kumar[/caption] AUSTRALIAN ARMS HOTEL The modern Aussie cuisine being served up inside this historic Penrith pub is a delightfully contemporary contrast to the building's art deco exterior. The Birdhouse Kitchen & Cafe manages the food here, which starts with lunch classics like fish and chips and parmies, and then elevates to dinner dishes like wagyu flank sizzling in marrow and jus beside a potato and fennel gratin. But it's the desserts that'll keep snap-happy Instagrammers busy. The old classic of strawberries and cream gets a complete makeover here, and features rose gel-glazed berries balanced on toasted brioche and ice cream, and layered with a fine Persian floss for fabulous effect. Thirsty? Find your closest place for a pint over at the Guinness Pub Finder. Top image: The Trinity
Start your Saturday early for a change and go for delicious breakfast ramen at Rising Sun Workshop (it's made with buttered toast broth, bacon, egg and tomato). While you're at it you can grab a Single Origin coffee, and if need be, get your motorbike adjusted (they offer that service). Once you're fed and your bike is fixed, join Culture Scouts for a street art tour of the Inner West. Pop on your comfy shoes and prepare to see parts of the city you've never seen before. You'll be surprised at how many artists have been busy bee-ing in laneways about the place. There are works by Beastman, JUMBOist, Bafcat, Skulk, Phibs, Numskull, Nico and David Cragg among others. Your journey finishes with local beers, cocktails, wine and nibbles.
It's a classic case of east meets inner west as hospitality heavyweights Merivale open modern Cantonese restaurant Queen Chow at Enmore's Queens Hotel. Located at the back of the first level of the old pub, the new eatery serves Hong Kongese street food and yum cha-inspired delicacies in a glamorous old-school imperial dining house. As usual, Merivale has the very best in kitchen staff — this time it's executive chefs Patrick Friesen and Christopher Hogarth from Manly's Papi Chulo, as well as dumpling master Eric Koh (ex-Tim Ho Wan and Mr Wong). Their menu, which can be ordered throughout the venue, includes dim sum, barbecued meat platters, live seafood and decadent desserts — definitely not your usual pub Chinese (and thank God for that). After 30 years of pastry parcel packing, Koh has his dough down to a fine art. His dumpling menu features a range of more-exotic-than-usual fillings beyond the basic pork and chive, including jade seafood, crystal pumpkin, Alaskan crab, and lobster and asparagus, each one pleated and pinched to perfection ($12-16). The dim sum menu also includes plenty of deep-fried goodness such as crispy duck spring rolls ($12) and the cloud-like pork and prawn 'footballs' ($12) made with chewy gelatinous rice flour and coated in toasted sesame seeds. In sport speak, this dish really kicks a goal. Beyond the bamboo baskets, highlights from the menu include a peppery black Angus beef, baby king oyster mushroom and potato stir-fry ($32) — the restaurant's clever take on a pub steak and chips — and the South Australian pippies in a garlicky swamp of black bean, chilli and Young Henrys Natural Lager ($36); the smooth rectangular shells make the perfect spoon for slurping up leftover sauce. For large groups it makes sense to order the combination roast meats platter ($75), which includes their signature roast duck and honey-glazed pork neck and spare ribs. It's the perfect middle-of-the-table dish for picking and sharing, although I can't guarantee that it will last very long. Need a drink to wash it down? Forget the Chinese tea, this is Young Henrys territory. The front bar serves a respectable selection of tap beers and aromatic wines from $8 a glass. From the cocktail menu, we recommend skipping the apple and rhubarb Chow Sour — which, for the restaurant's namesake cocktail, is overly sweet and unmemorable — and going for the Genghis Can ($17). More than just a gloriously punny name, the bloody mary-inspired bevvy contains Wyborowa vodka, tomato juice, hoisin sauce, Sriracha and shiitake juice served in a tin can. For a larger selection of drinks and an enchanting garden rooftop terrace, head one level up to The Smelly Goat, The Queens' cocktail bar.
It’s time to stop fishing behind couch cushions and shaking piggy banks; the boutique hotel-hunters at Mr & Mrs Smith have unearthed 10 budget-conscious escapes that won’t need a second mortgage. These ten wallet-friendly stays made the shortlist for ‘Best Budget Hotel’ in the inaugural Smith Hotel Awards, which just took place in London. Want to know the winner? You’ll have to keep reading. Best for bona fide bohemia: Brody House, Budapest, Hungary Smith’s ‘Best Budget Hotel’ is more like the private designer digs of a swish friend than a hotel. Brody House is bursting with creative inspiration and can add sometime-host to film and fashion shoots to its artistically inclined resume. Each room has its own unique style — some feature freestanding gold bath tubs — and is named after the artists whose works adorn the walls. The Brody House Bar is open to the public and keeps pouring as long as guests keep sipping; there’s also an honesty bar, so you can tap into your inner mixologist. An in-house chef prepares simple and seasonal Hungarian fare that changes daily and is best enjoyed in the picturesque courtyard. Best for pool-side hedonism: Ace Hotel & Swim Club, Palm Springs, United States Escape the desert heat and hop into the cool cocktail that is Ace Hotel & Swim Club: a reinvented hotel haven, luring in pleasure-seekers, bohemian-beauties and the hipster-chic. Designed with an organic, laidback ethos, some rooms have garden patios and fireplaces, record players and old vinyl. Brave the heat by renting a candy-coloured Vespa or booking a horse-riding lesson. Those reluctant to venture away from the cool comfort of air-conditioning may prefer languidly lying in a hammock and working through the bar’s cocktail menu. The King’s Highway restaurant (formerly a roadside Denny’s diner) dishes up classic American fare with dashes of the unexpected, such as kurobuta pork chops and roasted halibut cheeks. Best for culture vultures: Home Hotel, Buenos Aires, Argentina Click your heels and escape to Home Hotel, a green dream hidden away in an ivy-entwined structure in residential Buenos Aires. The eco-design and open-air pleasures – an outdoor passageway leads to the restaurant overlooking the gorgeous grounds – extend through to the rooms, which are tricked out with retro Scandinavian furnishings and vibrant vintage wallpaper in pretty florals. Take in an obligatory tango performance and a Lloyd Webber-inspired stroll to the grave of Eva Perón, before succumbing to the nimble-knuckles of Home’s in-house masseur, Luis. Don’t go back to your actual home without sampling delicious tapas and a Bloody Mary at the bar. Best for a romantic rendezvous: The Reading Rooms, Kent, United Kingdom Tucked behind a classic Georgian facade, The Reading Rooms is dotted with antique furnishings, preserved features and nooks for rekindling romance or igniting a new flame. Each of the three rooms occupies a floor of the restored townhouse and has antique wooden floors fit for a foxtrot, high ceilings and views over a peaceful tree-lined square. Begin days by dining on the in-room breakfast spread — bacon and sausage sandwiches, just-baked croissants and fresh fruits — before exploring Margate’s vintage boutiques and the picturesque Kent coast. Best for a rural romance: Borgo della Marmotta, Umbria, Italy Peer over the high stone walls at Borgo della Marmotta to find clusters of beautifully converted 17th-century farmhouses and stables, olive trees and views of Spoleto Valley. There’s no flash and pomp here; instead, expect a simple spin on luxury: rustic cobblestoned passaged leading to charming rooms and pockets of lush garden, pots of lemon trees casting shadows on the terrace and vibrant bunches of wisteria hanging from pergolas. Rise early to snag a table outside for a breakfast feast of sweet croissants, conserves, cheeses and cold cuts, before whiling away Umbrian sun-soaked days by the glittering blue pool. Best for artistic inspiration: The Cullen, Melbourne, Australia One for art aficionados and the creative coterie, The Cullen is inspired by the eye-catching and contemporary works of Adam Cullen — the hotel even has its own dedicated art curator, who has the lowdown on the top exhibitions around town. The gallery-worthy aesthetic continues to the rooms, where cartoonish prints adorn the walls and glass showers are engraved with Ned Kelly-esque horses and bushrangers — the views of Melbourne’s skyline aren’t half bad either. After a day of pedalling between Prahan’s fashionable boutiques — bespoke red Swedish Kronan two-wheelers are available to rent — don your newest designer duds and head downstairs to one of the eateries off the hotel’s ground floor. Gramercy Bistro brings a taste of New York to Melbourne, serving Reuben sandwiches, buttermilk pancakes and six cuts of steak to knock your oversized sunglasses off; Hutong dishes up dumplings and delectable duck. Best for a weekend wind-down: The Wheatsheaf Inn, the Cotswolds, United Kingdom Having played host to Kate Moss, The Wheatsheaf Inn has gone from traditional British coaching inn to bang-on designer den. Paintings of historic British tobacco barons keep a watchful eye over the Inn’s dining room, an inviting and lively eatery where seasonal produce is the star in a daily-changing menu and the all-day weekend brunch is best washed down with a Buck’s fizz. Between feasts, shooting — of the real and clay-pigeon variety — is up for grabs near this rustic retreat or, if you prefer something with fewer bangs, meander around the wallet-tempting boutiques of Northleach. Best for beach bliss: Mia Resort, Nha Trang, Vietnam A sojourn at Mia Resort — once a sugarcane plantation — will certainly leave a sweet taste in your mouth. This sandy getaway is neighboured by imposing mountains, lush greenery and beyond-blue waters, where days are spent moseying barefoot between the turquoise pool, sun loungers and Xanh Spa. Sea-frolicking is thirsty work and Mojitos bar serves at least eight varieties (if we miscounted, blame the rum); sip your way through ginger, whatijo (watermelon), lemon and lychee libations. Nab a spot on the sugar-sand beach for a sunset picnic, complete with a hamper groaning with sandwiches, cupcakes, a cheeseboard and carafe of fruit juice — just make sure to book ahead. Best for palatial paradise: Baudon de Mauny, Languedoc-Roussillon, France Walk through the heavy, centuries-old wooden front door at Baudon de Mauny and into the quiet cobbled courtyard to feel instantly at ease. Sprawling rooms are coupled with vintage-inspired furnishings and contemporary cool to create an escape with style so sophisticated, it could only be French. After exploring the local markets and brocantes, recline on the antique scarlet sofas in the first-floor salon, a glass of Faugeres in hand. Best for coastal calm: Chapman House, Nantucket, United States Forget ships in glass bottles and cliched beach-themed interiors: at Chapman House, nautical stripes have been replaced with pops of teal, coral and ikat prints. A kingly Continental breakfast is served each morning — fresh-baked breads and croissants, homemade muffins, fruits, cheese and granola parfaits — the perfect preface to a stroll around the harbour town or a series of aquatic adventures, including sailing lessons, whale watching, fishing excursions and sea kayaking. You don’t need a reason to return to boutique base-camp but Chapman House gives you one anyway: freshly baked cookies are your afternoon treat here. For more Mr & Mrs Smith boutique hotels, visit www.mrandmrssmith.com or call the expert Travel Team on 1300 896 627. Smith guests enjoy exclusive extras at all stays.
Keen to break up your working week with a trip to the cinema, but your wallet doesn't want to play ball? Call Dendy's latest special a case of great timing, then. Every Tuesday until May 31, the Newtown cinema is making its Budget Tuesdays deal even cheaper — with all regular tickets costing $10 no matter what you see, and Dendy Lounge sessions costing $15. If you're wondering what to watch, you've got options. Current releases include Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore and Morbius, if you're keen on either long-running wizarding franchises or Spider-Man spinoffs — and Sonic the Hedgehog 2, The Batman and Dune, too. Or, there's heist antics with The Duke, moving dramas Nowhere Special and Belfast, stunning documentary River, Oscar-winner Drive My Car, horror gem X, the Tilda Swinton-starring Memoria and the glorious Paul Thomas Anderson-directed Licorice Pizza as well. You can score the cheap tickets in person at the cinema or online, although the latter will cost you an extra booking fee.
Yayoi Kusama's list of achievements just keeps growing. At the age of 96, the Japanese talent has proven a pioneer and an icon many times over across her eight decades of making art, and now she has breaking an Australian record to her name as well. Thanks to the exhibition that shares her moniker, which has been on display at Melbourne's NGV International since December 2024, Kusama can now claim the nation's highest-attended ticketed exhibition ever. This news confirms what Aussies have long known: we're dotty for the creative genius who uses spots aplenty in her work, plus pumpkins, tentacles and flowers — and for an art figure who knows how to get audiences losing themselves in a gallery via her infinity rooms. Since Yayoi Kusama opened on Sunday, December 15, 2024, it has welcomed more than 480,000 people through the door. That number still has time to go up, too, given that the exhibition runs until Monday, April 21, 2025. That it's open from 8am–6pm till Wednesday, April 16, then will operate from 8am–midnight daily between Thursday, April 17–Monday, April 21, will assist. To put that huge attendance in context, Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan compared it to one of Melbourne's best-known venues. "This record-breaking exhibition has brought five MCGs worth of visitors to the heart of Melbourne — that's great for local jobs, great for local businesses and great for families looking for something to do these holidays," Allan said. "We're truly overwhelmed by how enthusiastically Victorians and visitors alike have embraced this exhibition — and connected so strongly with Kusama's work and life story. This milestone is a testament to the enduring impact of Kusama's work and the growing appeal of contemporary art in Australia," added NGV Director Tony Ellwood AM. This celebration of Kusama was already in the history books for giving Australia its largest-ever retrospective dedicated to the artist. In terms of tickets sold, Yayoi Kusama takes the record from another Victorian exhibition, Van Gogh and the Seasons, which displayed in 2017 and saw 462,262 people head along. The National Gallery of Victoria's spectacular tribute to Kusama includes the Japanese icon's brand-new Infinity Mirrored Room–My Heart is Filled to the Brim with Sparkling Light among its ten immersive installations, breaking the world record for the number of such pieces by the artist assembled in one spot as well. In total, there's 200 pieces on display, taking over the St Kilda Road gallery's entire ground floor with a childhood-to-now survey of its subject's creative output. Kusama's five-metre-tall dot-covered Dancing Pumpkin sculpture in NGV International's Federation Court, a new version of Narcissus Garden, the yellow-and-black spheres of Dots Obsession, the all-ages-friendly The Obliteration Room, participatory floral piece Flower Obsession, the mirror-heavy Chandelier of Grief, gourds aplenty in The Spirits of the Pumpkins Descended into the Heavens: they're all part of the exhibition. Across the eight decades of art on offer, some pieces have never been seen Down Under until now. Some are sourced from private collections, and others from Kusama's own personal stash. Overall, Yayoi Kusama steps through the artist's work via a thematic chronology. Her output in her hometown of Matsumoto from the late 30s–50s; the results of relocating to America in 1957; archival materials covering her performances and activities in her studios, especially with a political charge, in the 60s and 70s; plenty from the past four decades: they all appear. Yayoi Kusama displays at NGV International, St Kilda Road, Melbourne until Monday, April 21, 2025 — including from 8am–6pm between Saturday, April 5–Wednesday, April 16, and from 8am–midnight between Thursday, April 17–Monday, April 21. NGV Friday Nights: Yayoi Kusama runs each Friday until Friday, April 18, 2025. Head to the NGV website for more details and tickets. Images: Visitors and artworks in the Yayoi Kusama exhibition at NGV International, Melbourne until 21 April 2025. © YAYOI KUSAMA. Photos: Danielle Castano, Sean Fennessy, Tobias Titz and Kate Shannassy.
They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day. So why not treat it as such? One Sydney spot that's letting you break your fast in style is Altitude Restaurant at the Shangri-La Hotel, Sydney, which is offering a luxe feast every day of the week. Better yet, it's serving it up with a side of sweeping harbour views — so you can take your brekkie game to the next level, literally. Altitude's breakfast takes place daily from 7–10.30am. Book yourself a table on the hotel's 36th floor and settle in for a sumptuous spread. You'll get an a la carte dish, which you can choose from the likes of waffles with poached autumn fruits, french toast or eggs benedict with smoked salmon. For $49, you'll get your brekkie, plus coffee, teas and juice. And, if you're looking to add a little libation to your meal, you can sip bloody marys, mimosas, spritzes and bottles of fine French bubbly for an additional cost. Altitude's Breakfast in the Sky takes place every day of the week. To make a booking, head this way.
If you spent a few days this winter attending a Twin Peaks-inspired ball and seeing a giant teddy bear with laser eyes — watching a stunning new take on Dante's classic examination of hell, purgatory and paradise, too — then you went to Dark Mofo's 2023 run. Organised by Tasmania's Museum of Old and New Art, the winter arts festival fills Hobart with all manner of weird and wild surprises every year. In 2024, however, it's pausing its usual sprawling event to plan for the future. The fest's team has announced that it'll largely sit out next year, after celebrating its tenth year this year. Apart from its beloved Winter Feast and Nude Solstice Swim, Dark Mofo will take a break in 2024 in order to work out what the next decade looks like for the fest. "Dark Mofo has always been dedicated to enriching and transforming lives through ambitious art and ideas. We want to make sure that we have a festival that continues to deliver incredible art and artists, that continues to expand its artistic boundaries and remains a beacon of creativity, innovation and cultural significance," said Dark Mofo Artistic Director Chris Twite. "While this was a tough decision, it ensures we move forward in a viable manner. The fallow year will enable us to secure the future of Dark Mofo and its return at full force in 2025." The moves comes after a hit year that saw Dark Mofo smash it with attendances and at the box office — notching up record figures, in fact. Despite the most event's success, the crew behind it will now work towards "a more sustainable model for a full return in 2025, and set the foundation for the next ten years", taking rising costs and other changing elements into consideration. So, no full Dark Mofo is the not-so-great development for your winter 2024 plans. That the culinary-focused Winter Feast and the frosty Nude Solstice Swim will still take place next year even without the broader festival around it is better news. "We are excited that in June 2024 — amidst the rebirth and renewal of Dark Mofo — that Tasmanians and visitors alike will still be able to meet and commune around the fires of Winter Feast and cast off the weight of another year at the Nude Solstice Swim once more," said Twite. This year's Winter Feast was headlined by Chef's Table alum Ana Roš from two-Michelin-starred Hiša Franko, cooking up fare inspired by her homeland but made with Tasmania's top seasonal produce with help from The Agrarian Kitchen's Stephen Peak and Rodney Dunn. Exact details for the 2024 food-centric event, and for the next chance to bare all and brave the cold while taking a dip, are yet to be announced. Dark Mofo won't take place in 2024 — apart from the Winter Feast and Nude Solstice Swim — with plans to return in full from 2025 onwards in Hobart, Tasmania instead. Head to the festival's website for further details. Winter feast images: Jesse Hunniford, 2023, courtesy of Dark Mofo 2023. Nude Solstice Swim images: Rémi Chauvin, 2023, courtesy of Dark Mofo 2023.
Jane has a message to everyone who thinks print media is dead and buried. Jane who, you ask? jane. by the grey attic, a new high-end, independently produced, bi-annual fashion, photography and fine art publication, the first issue of which is now available for purchase. The brainchild of creative director, writer and stylist Annika Hein, and fashion and fine art photographer Dean Bell, who freelance in the Melbourne fashion scene under the name The Grey Attic, jane. features 320 pages of film-shot photographs, arts, poems and articles from contributors dotted in 21 cities around the world. Highlights from the first issue include a review of Helmut Newton: A Retrospective at the Foam photography museum in Amsterdam that includes original snaps by the famed photographer, and an interview with Marion Hume, international fashion editor at The Australian Financial Review. "Our aim was to revert back to slower processes that nurture and encourage the slow creation and consumption of art, something that celebrates undone beauty, effortlessness, authenticity, timelessness and unconventional thinking," said Hein and Bell in a joint statement. "The element of film photography and our preference to analogue processes also provides something different in today's digital market." You can find issue one of jane. in Melbourne at Fitzroy Newsagency and Readings, or online at www.janebythegreyattic.com where they ship internationally.
The Von Erich family's second generation of wrestlers was born ready to rumble, regardless of whether they wanted to or not. After diving into a cult's thrall in Martha Marcy May Marlene, then the idea that money and status can buy happiness in fellow psychological thriller The Nest, writer/director Sean Durkin adds another exceptional and gripping film to his resume with The Iron Claw — a movie that draws upon elements of both, too, as it tells its heartbreaking true tale. Unpacking the weight carried and toll weathered by brothers locked into one future and way of life from the moment that they existed, this is a feature about the shadow cast by power and dominance by those caught in its shade, and the cost of doggedly chasing one concept of triumph and masculinity above all else. The Zac Efron (The Greatest Beer Run Ever)-voiced narration pitches it as a picture about a family curse as well, but the supernatural has nothing on an authoritarian force refusing to let anyone flee his grasp. The Iron Claw introduces the IRL Von Erich sporting dynasty with patriarch Fritz (Holt McCallany, 61st Street) doing the grappling, busting out the trademark grip that gives the movie its name, as his wife Doris (Maura Tierney, American Rust) and two of his boys wait outside. When they all come together after the match, it isn't just the pledge that Fritz will bring the National Wrestling Association's World Heavyweight Championship to their brood, which he's certain will fix their struggling plight, that lingers. Equally inescapable is the unyielding fixation burning in his steely glare, a look that will rarely falter in the film's 132-minute running time — and how his adoring sons (first-timers Grady Wilson and Valentine Newcomer) are already trained to see this world of rings, frays, throws and belts as their home, career path and destiny. Those two children, Kevin and David, are played as men by Efron — beefed up to a jaw-dropping degree, in a remarkable physical transformation that makes his Baywatch stint look lean in comparison — and Harris Dickinson (A Murder at the End of the World). When The Iron Claw leaps to the duo's adulthood in the 70s and 80s, they are indeed engrained in the family business. And it is the Von Erichs' business via World Class Championship Wrestling, where Kevin is initially the star performer. He's chasing the same prize as his dad did. Fritz, as firmly determined as ever, is always pushing and pressuring. Ranking his surviving boys (Jack Jr died at the age of six) is standard breakfast conversation. "Now we all know Kerry's my favourite, then Kev, then David, then Mike," he decrees over a table laden with eggs, sausages, bacon and juice. "But the rankings can always change." A man passionate about little other than wresting, winning and his offspring doing both, Fritz isn't lying: when David shows more skill with the microphone than his elder sibling, perfecting the patter and bragging-heavy rapport, and wowing crowds, the Von Erich dreams for glory shift down the line. After talented discus athlete Kerry (The Bear's Emmy- and Golden Globe-winner Jeremy Allen White) has his Olympics quest dashed by the US boycott of the 1980 summer games in Moscow, he joins his brothers in spandex, making Fritz's eyes gleam. The younger, lankier Mike (Stanley Simons, Superior) is more interested in music, but that isn't the approved corner, ensuring that he has his time in the ring as well. Durkin leaves out Chris, the baby of the family, who also attempted to follow in the expected footsteps. A third generation has done the same since — Kevin's sons Ross and Marshall, plus Kerry's daughter Lacey — in events similarly beyond The Iron Claw's focus. Few biopics rigidly stick to every fact and detail, but Durkin, who was a wrestling-obsessed 90s kid when the Von Erichs' fates were making regular headlines, truncates The Iron Claw's story for one reason: the sorrowful spiral of tragedy that's befallen its subjects is that relentless and devastating. The real-life details don't belong in the truth-is-stranger-than-fiction category — rather, they're evidence that life's worst exceeds anything that cinema can deliver, and that doubting that more blows can be on the way is the falsest move its characters, or anyone, can make. Agony, anguish and death stalk the Von Erichs, each new round chipping away at Kevin and his siblings' bonds of brotherhood. Among Fritz's boys, this isn't a movie about feuding kin; why Kevin is the feature's anchor is much more heartwrenching. In a different year, when Oppenheimer's Cillian Murphy and The Holdovers' Paul Giamatti weren't duking it out for awards season's Best Actor accolades, Efron would be in the square. Achingly raw, the High School Musical, Bad Neighbours and Gold star turns in his finest performance so far as someone struggling not to become fodder in his all-American family's pursuit of the American dream (Fritz was born Jack Adkisson in Texas, then took on his pseudonym while playing the heel as part of an "evil German" double act). Vulnerability courses in the veins on Efron's muscled-up limbs — vulnerability in the face of masculinity's most-toxic manifestations and expectations at that — as does affecting tenderness in Kevin's yearning for love and acceptance that's always conditional from his dad yet never wavers from his brothers. Earnestness ripples as well, especially in scenes with his other well-cast colleagues, with White at his broody best; Dickinson and Simons both seesawing between spirited and haunted, each in their own ways; and Lily James (What's Love Got to Do with It?) vibrant, supportive but no-nonsense as Kevin's fan, girlfriend and then wife Pam. Although wrestling and torment are no strangers in film — The Wrestler earned Mickey Rourke an Oscar nomination, and the lucha libre-based Cassandro barely preceded The Iron Claw to screens — Durkin's addition to the genre is a deeply resonant jump off the top ropes. It's also enamoured with laying bare the thrills and highs of the sport, aka what the Von Erichs keep seeking, with the in-ring action masterful in its choreography and showmanship no matter your fondness for the field going in. Behind the lens, cinematographer Mátyás Erdély (Foe, and also Durkin's The Nest and TV miniseries Southcliffe) excels in seeing the theatre and performativeness of the space, just as his outdoor shots of Kevin and his brothers at their most content together glow with light and naturalism. The demand to play a part versus craving simply to be is The Iron Claw's central contrast, after all. Boom boom boom: as impeccably executed and acted, and crushing to watch, this is cinematic gold.
Another day, another new streaming service, or that's how it feels these days. When Tubi joins the ever-growing ranks of online platforms vying for Australian eyeballs, however, it'll boast a significant point of difference — it's free. Already up and running in the US and Canada, where audiences viewed more than 94 million hours of its content in May alone, Tubi is an ad-supported on-demand video service. Few things in life truly cost nothing, so, while this streamer doesn't ask for any of your hard-earned cash, it will make you sit through commercials. For your troubles, you'll get access to almost 7000 movies and TV shows when the service launches in Australia on Sunday, September 1. That number is due to grow, too, with the Aussie service aiming to reach 15,000 titles — which is what's currently offered on the US service — over time. If you're keen to get spooked by Hansel and Gretel, sing along to Hairspray and Purple Rain or watch Jean-Claude Van Damme unleash his martial arts skills in Lionheart, you'll be able to do without paying a cent from this weekend. As this range of flicks makes plain, Tubi doesn't focus on new releases, with fellow retro movies such as Dirty Dancing, I Am Sam and Young Guns also on the lineup. To access the streaming platform, you can head to Tubi's website or use most internet-connected screen devices — including Samsung televisions, Apple TV, Telstra TV, Amazon Fire TV, Google Chromecast, Apple iOS, Android tablets and smartphones, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. And if you're feeling spoiled for viewing choice at the moment, that's because Australia is in the midst of a streaming boom. Disney+ is due to launch in November, Apple TV+ should arrive sometime in spring, documentary service iWonder hit earlier this year, and everything from Netflix, Stan and Amazon Prime Video to Ozflix, DocPlay and Kanopy are already operational, just to name a few services. We're still waiting for horror-focused service Shudder, though, after it announced last year that it was heading to our shores. Tubi launches in Australia on Sunday, September 1. For more information, or to sign up, visit the service's website.
The wickedly weird and wild Dark Mofo lineup has been announced for 2023, and culture lovers all over Australia are poised to fight over tickets on Wednesday, April 5. But the most popular events and accommodations in Hobart are expected to book out ASAP — most local hotels tend to be fully booked even before tickets are released. That's why we've gone ahead and reserved a stack of rooms for those who book our totally unique Dark Mofo travel package, only available through Concrete Playground Trips. We'll put guests up in Hobart for two nights — with brekkie included — while throwing in a bunch of tickets to events. [caption id="attachment_895365" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dark Mofo/Rosie Hastie, 2021. Image Courtesy Dark Mofo, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.[/caption] First off, you'll get access to the Winter Feast — a food-, art- and music-filled winter solstice celebration. Gather around the fire pits and long communal tables, grabbing drinks and food from local vendors while checking out live music, art installations and roaming theatrical performances. We've also organised your tickets to one of Dark Mofo's late-night parties, better known as Night Mass. While just about anything can happen here, you can expect debaucherous art experiences and an epic lineup of musical performances and DJ sets that'll keep you dancing into the wee hours. These infamous parties sell out really quickly, so thank us later for your entry being sorted already. [caption id="attachment_854707" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dark Mofo's In the Hanging Garden[/caption] And to keep you busy during one of the afternoons, we have organised your entry to Mona itself. Arrive in style, via the ferry's Posh Pit and explore the gallery's eccentric exhibitions. This package hits most of the best bits of Dark Mofo, giving you the ultimate Hobart getaway without the need to do heaps of planning and separate bookings. It's also a bargain, coming in at just under $600 per person. [caption id="attachment_895370" align="alignnone" width="1921"] Winter Feast, Dark Mofo 2022. Photo credit: Rémi Chauvin, 2022[/caption] Head to Concrete Playground Trips to book one of the exclusive (and strictly limited) Dark Mofo travel packages. Top image: Jesse Hunniford (Winter Feast, Dark Mofo 2021)
It's an undeniable fact that when it comes to variety in drinking holes, Sydney is spoiled for choice. From whisky bars to microbreweries, to cocktail bars and establishments that specialise in fried chicken and Champagne, there's always a fresh way to whet your whistle. A reoccurring theme of late, however, is the renaissance of the pub. The people's pub. A pub with sports on the TV and a pool table where you can pronounce all of the beers on tap. The Five Dock Hotel has always been counted among the number of such venues, and a recent change in ownership seems to perpetuate the preservation of the pub. Former rugby union barnstorming loosehead legend Bill Young acquired the venue from the Lantern Hotels group last November for a cool 28.75 million dollarydoos. The sale — along with the group's sale of the Waterworks Hotel in Botany shortly after — has sparked speculation that the company will be delisted in the not too distant future. It's not yet clear how the former Wallaby intends to approach the new digs, but at the moment the wine lists boasts a few solid Australian numbers and the taps are filled with Aussie favourites. Given Young's growing portfolio of hospitality venues, it doesn't look like a complete revamp of the Five Dock is on the way. Under the Young Hotels umbrella, he also owns nearby pubs the Palace Hotel in Mortlake and Hotel Concord in Concord West, which are both venues the tend towards the classic local pub that fit their respective locations perfectly. It would be impossible to maintain a lifestyle where every night out included cocktails garnished with fairy floss served in a glass slipper, or a 300-year-old single malt Scotch distilled in a cave by blind nuns. The good ol' local is a sure bet when it comes to serious relaxation, and Bill Young's latest purchase looks set to carry on that tradition of the pub down the road. The sale comes as pubs all over Sydney are changing hands. The Tennyson on Botany Road was recently sold to Merivale for $37.5 million, Matt Moran's Solotel last month acquired the Clovelly Hotel and Oxford Street's Gaslight Inn has just been sold too. Via The Sydney Morning Herald.
When you're hungry for a good time, head to Woy Woy. Yes, there's the award-winning Woy Woy Fishermen's Wharf with its flocks of pelicans outside, but the real MVP is a neon-lit pizza bar with a heavy rotation of natural wines and craft tinnies. Located in the Colonial Plaza, Tropicana Pizza Pizza is open four nights a week slinging thick, Scilian-style pizzas in its colourful bar space and courtyard. The 13-inch pizzas are made with house-made dough, fermented overnight, and topped with pepperoni, Italian sausage, triple cheese and veggies for $20 a pie. The Trop Shop, as it calls itself, plays with its menu to keep locals coming back for more. There's been a Sunday roast pizza, a US-inspired white clam pizza, and the namesake pizza is a fresh take on the divisive ham and pineapple — with double smoked ham, shaved pinas and pickled jalapenos. When you want to taste the ocean, order the Fishermen's Wharf, topped with the freshest seafood, spanish onion, olives, lemon and dill. [caption id="attachment_777138" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kitti Gould[/caption] It's the kind of place where the sides are as tempting as the slices. From $5 a dish, you can add in meatballs, buffalo wings, pesto pizza fingers, salads and sodas. And the wines and tinnies are as cheap and cheerful as you like (and if you don't like, there's silky tannin vinos from Barossa Valley, Hunter Valley and Murray Darling for around $35 a bottle, too). Tins come from local breweries like Six String Brewing, The Grifter Brewing and Captains of Trade, which make for smashable options if you're here for a courtyard session — as the bar hosts DJ sets and cult movie screening in the courtyard from time to time. Images: Kitti Gould
Sculpture by the Sea kicked off its 22nd annual exhibition today — once again taking over the two-kilometre coastline from Sydney's Bondi to Tamarama Beach with many incredible sculptural feats. This year, you'll find 107 sculptures by artists from 21 countries globally. The works will be on display from October 18 through November 4, and it's all absolutely free. This year's highlights include a collaboration with China's leading art institute, the Central Academy of Art (CAFA), showcasing the works of eight alumni, all spread throughout the vast sculpture park. If you're looking to know more about the inspiration for the sculptures on display, you can grab a bean bag and hear directly from the artists every Saturday and Sunday. But, with so many sculptures to feast your eyes on, it can be overwhelming — and you want to make sure not to overlook the best of the bunch. Here are five sculptures to keep a look out for while you take that famed Sydney walk. [caption id="attachment_694145" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Trent Van der Jagt[/caption] COOL SHIT: DAMIEN HIRST LOOKING FOR SHARKS UK artist Cool Shit (the nom de plume of David Glass) has created a large-scale inflatable snorkeler as a parody of artist Damien Hirst — it reference's Hirst's quest for the tiger shark that made him one of the most iconic postmodern British artists of his time. Hirst caught the shark off of Queensland's Hervey Bay back in the 1990s, preserved it with formaldehyde and sold it as a sculpture in 2004 for some $12 million. Glass' work is a comment on the commercialism of Hirst's work, titled The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living, which Glass feels was more a hunt for millions than for art. The inflatable sculpture is mainly air and the outer sheath is made of hundreds of hand-painted fabrics. [caption id="attachment_694147" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Trent Van der Jagt[/caption] BARBARA LICHA: CBD Made of stainless steel bars and galvanised wire and mesh, CBD is a striking representation of the Sydney city centre, created by Polish-born Aussie artist Barbara Licha. She aims to bring attention to the structural beauty of our city and how we are connected not just to others but also to the place we live. This sculpture is full of movement and uses geometrical shapes to depict this intersection between people and place. It explores architecture as more than just a means to building houses, towns and cities but also as a form of art that connects us to our surroundings. [caption id="attachment_694175" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Charlotte Curd[/caption] MU BOYAN: HORIZON A three-metre-tall fleshy figure has really stolen the show this year as the most recognisable sculpture of the bunch. Mu Boyan's Horizon rests on the south Bondi headland at Marks Park and its towering stature is markedly contrasted by its peaceful pose. According to Boyan, the Buddha-like figure is an invitation to sit alongside it and empty your mind. A meditative force to be reckoned with, the sculpture is one-of-eight works in collaboration with Beijing's Central Academy of Fine Arts. [caption id="attachment_694174" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Trent van der Jagt[/caption] PENELOPE FORLANO: COUNTERPOINTS WA artist Penelope Forlano directly responded to the Bondi coastline in her sculpture Counterpoints, creating a work that is familiar yet contrasting to the natural surrounds. She began by focusing on the dynamic flow of the waves against the Hawkesbury sandstone — which once connected Australia to Antarctica 300-million years ago. The sculpture is reminiscent of both a water droplet and stone spearhead, the latter of which is meant to connect to nearby Aboriginal engravings. It is a shape that at once fits in and stands out, echoing both the enduring and ephemeral aspects of nature. [caption id="attachment_694168" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Trent van der Jagt[/caption] ALESSANDRA ROSSI: CAIRNS Referencing human-made piles of stones that have been created by cultures around the globe for centuries, Cairns uses opaque and mirrored perspex to reflect light on its surrounds. Visit it during different times of the day and you'll find yourself bathed in shimmering hues of red, pink, orange and blue. The impermanence of this light also helps convey a dichotomy between the temporary and the enduring, which is also reflected by the ocean — its ebbing waves and its surrounding solid rocks. The three pieces are by Italian artist Alessandra Rossi, who has also exhibited across Australia. Sculpture by the Sea runs until November 4. For more info, visit sculpturebythesea.com. Top image: Trent van der Jagt
If you've found yourself eating your way around London at some stage in the past few years, you're probably familiar with legendary 24-hour Brick Lane bakery Beigel Bake. Now, you can get your hands on a close rendition of its signature house-made, carbo-loaded treats — without the 23-hour plane flight. Yes, a crew by the name of Salt Beef Beigel has hit Aussie shores and it's channelling the beloved Jewish-style 'beigels' (the word 'bagel' is thought to be an Americanisation of the word 'beigel', which is used throughout England) for a new kitchen takeover at Enmore's Slyfox. To match the inner west bar's regular booze offering, Salt Beef Beigel will be plating up two pillowy bagel creations, which can be matched with waffle fries and your choice of dipping sauce for $16. There's the meaty edition, loaded with 18-hour slow-cooked wagyu brisket, crunchy pickles and mustard — as well as a vegan chickpea-crusted cauliflower bagel. Gluten-free options are also on offer, for a couple of extra bucks. And when it comes to those sauces, you're seriously spoilt for choice, with the likes of confit garlic aioli, chilli jam, smokey BBQ sauce, toasted cumin and lemon aioli, gravy, hot sauce and even a UK chip shop-inspired curry number. Find Salt Beef Beigel at the Slyfox, 199 Enmore Road, Enmore. It's open from 6pm till sold out, Tuesday–Saturday.
In Stay of the Week, we explore some of the world's best and most unique accommodations — giving you a little inspiration for your text trip. In this instalment, we take you to the Intercontinental Hayman Island Resort, where they have just launched their new lavish beachfront pavilions. We've even teamed up with Intercontinental Hayman Island Resort to bring our readers a great deal. Head to Concrete Playground Trips here, to book a three-night stay in the Premium Lagoon Room (including all transfers and breakfasts). WHAT'S SO SPECIAL? Spend a few nights in your own luxury retreat located on a private island's shoreline. You can roll out of bed and slide right into your own plunge pool in mere seconds. THE ROOMS When staying at the Intercontinental Hayman Island Resort's new pavilions, you are located right on the beach. The beach isn't a short walk down a path. Just step off your private terrace and immediately feel the sand in between your toes. This place is about achieving absolute relaxation in the most luxurious of settings. And that means no kids. It's an adults-only accommodation for those who need a break from hectic youth energy and noise. Each standalone room has a generous living area, a plush king bed, an ensuite with a free standing bath and separate shower area as well as your very own plunge pool overlooking the beach. Yes, these luxury accommodations come with a fairly steep price tag but at the Intercontinental you very much get what you pay for. FOOD AND DRINK We get that you won't want to pull yourselves away from your private paradise, but you'll want to indulge in the excellent food and drinks program on offer. The resort has five distinct restaurants and bars, serving up all the best local produce to guests. But it's their private dining options which are most impressive. They organise private picnics on remote beaches including Langford Island and Blue Pearl Bay (where you'll be served premium honeymoon vibes along with the champagne). They also have poolside cabana lunches and hands-on chef's table experiences. It is proper decadence. [caption id="attachment_874908" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Guillaume Marques (Unsplash)[/caption] THE LOCAL AREA Hayman Island is the most northerly of the famous Whitsunday Islands, off the coast of Central Queensland. Once you arrive on Hamilton Island, you'll then need to get either a boat or helicopter to Hayman Island. Once you're here, you've got all the best nature experiences at your fingertips. You can walk into the tropical forests full of wildlife or find your very own remote beach away from the other resort goers. The crystal-clear waters surrounding the private island are also full of coral and tropical fish — making this ideal for diving and snorkelling. Editor's tip: if you're looking for an epic way to experience The Whitsundays then book one of these exclusive getaways through Concrete Playground Trips (including a sunset cruise, scenic flight over the Great Barrier Reef, luxury accommodation and a tour of Whitehaven Beach). THE EXTRAS The Intercontinental Hayman Island Resort has a huge range of activities available to those seeking to either relax or go out on an adventure. On the island, guests can go on nature-bound walking trails, picnics on the beach, immersive wildlife tours, fish feeding trips, cultural weaving classes and take part in a whole host of sports and fitness activities. These guys can also organise a bunch of expeditions by air. Helicopter tours and private seaplane charters will take you above Whitehaven Beach's iconic turquoise swirls and gaze over the world-famous Heart Reef. And lastly, you can go exploring the Great Barrier Reef and nearby islands by sea. Get on a daytime tour of the reef (full of snorkelling or scuba diving), work up a sweat during a sea kayaking excursion, head on a fishing adventure by boat or fully relax on a sunset cruise. Heaps of premium sun-soaked activities are on the menu here. Feeling inspired to book a getaway unlike anything else out there? Only through Concrete Playground Trips, our new travel booking platform, can you now purchase holidays specially curated by our writers and editors. We've teamed up with all the best providers of flights, stays and experiences to bring you a series of unforgettable trips at destinations all over the world.
At the Art Gallery of New South Wales, 2024 started with Kandinsky and Louise Bourgeois exhibitions, all carrying over from 2023. Now that the middle of the year has hit, the Sydney institution has thrown over its walls to another massive art name: Alphonse Mucha. The Czech-born painter and illustrator is virtually synonymous with Paris in the art nouveau period in no small part thanks to posters for French stage actor Sarah Bernhardt in the late-19th and early-20th centuries — and Alphonse Mucha: Spirit of Art Nouveau, AGNSW's big winter showcase, is dedicated to his work. In an exclusive-to-Sydney display that opened on Saturday, June 15 in Naala Badu, the gallery's north building, and runs until Sunday, September 22, Australian audiences can now step through why Mucha's art is so influential. Whether they're devoted to a theme, a movement or a specific artist, every exhibition tells a story, with this one exploring the two parts of its name: a man who gave an era its look and the aesthetic that he helped immortalise. This isn't a small step through all things Mucha, with more than 200 items featured. Alphonse Mucha: Spirit of Art Nouveau is the most-comprehensive showcase of the artist's work that the country has ever seen, in fact. And yes, posters for Bernhardt and others are among the pieces on display, alongside illustrations, photographs, sculptures, jewellery and interior decoration. Surveying Mucha's five-decade career, created in collaboration with the Mucha Foundation in Prague and featuring works from the Mucha Family Collection, Alphonse Mucha: Spirit of Art Nouveau also includes a digital component, with painting cycle The Slav Epic from 1912–26 — a piece that spans 20 canvases — getting the immersive treatment. AGNSW is also pairing works by Mucha with Japanese prints sourced from its ukiyo-e collection that date to the same period that Mucha was in Paris, plus band posters and record covers from the 60s and 70s, as well as manga from more recently, that demonstrate his ongoing influence. "Alphonse Mucha was one of art's great stylistic innovators, and whilst best known for his iconic posters and decorative designs that contributed to the development of art nouveau, we hope this truly comprehensive exhibition will offer audiences the chance to take a deeper look at the remarkable life of this fascinating artist and his humanistic ideals," said AGNSW Director Michael Brand. "We are grateful to the Mucha Foundation for their generosity in lending these treasures to allow audiences here in Sydney the chance to discover an exhibition not only rich in art but also in history, human achievement and political commitment." Alphonse Mucha: Spirit of Art Nouveau displays at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, The Domain, Sydney from Saturday, June 15–Sunday, September 22, 2024. For more information, visit the venue's website. Images: installation view of the 'Alphonse Mucha: Spirit of Art Nouveau' exhibition at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, 15 June – 22 September 2024, photo © Art Gallery of New South Wales, Diana Panuccio.
There's a good chance you've witnessed a superyacht cruising across Sydney Harbour. Now you have the opportunity to climb aboard for a ride with Solaré – a lavish culinary experience redefining hospitality on the water. Boarding in late summer 2025, the ultra-luxe 150-foot vessel will serve as a glamorous venue, with each of its three levels offering an immersive hospitality event. Inspired by sun-drenched sailing trips along the Italian Riviera, Solaré allows guests to soak up that same timeless elegance and laid-back luxury, even if only for a rarified moment. With the enchanting atmosphere of the Mediterranean in mind, you can expect a similar kind of concept reflected in the cuisine, with executive chef Pablo Tordesillas delivering an indulgent dining experience. On the main deck, a sophisticated dining room invites guests to explore contemporary coastal Italian cuisine through a swanky tasting menu ($185pp). Available for either a 3-hour lunch or sunset dinner cruise, each dish evokes a dreamy seaside feast and is driven by seasonal produce and complemented by Mediterranean wines curated by Ed Loveday. Dine in style with starters like brioche and amaebi prawn, then dive into mains such as reginette with Moreton Bay bug or raw tuna with pomelo and fennel pollen. When it's time to socialise, a 'Cruise Pass' ($50pp) offers three hours access to the terrace on the middle deck. Here, guests will find a vibrant cocktail bar alongside à la carte snacks that pair with the endless sunshine and sea breeze. For those looking for an even more lavish journey, a members-only sun deck inspired by Balinese beach clubs offers custom-designed daybeds and booths. From this opulent vantage point, guests will catch panoramic harbour views while enjoying Don Julio 1942 Rosado and plates of fritto misto. "In today's fast-paced world, true luxury is having the time to slow down and enjoy amazing food and drinks with friends. Onboard Solaré, our motto for guests is 'Let's do less'. Time slows down and the sunshine, sea breeze and spectacular views provide the perfect escape from daily life," said Solaré's founder, Scott Robertson. Alongside a distinct culinary offering, Solaré's sprawling interiors have also been thoughtfully imagined by leading interior designer, Alex Zabotto-Bentley. Conjuring the warmth of the Mediterranean and stylish details from Venetian bars, hardwood teak furniture and solid green onyx are just some of the high-end materials used to blend nostalgia with contemporary lifestyle. Live a little like Slim Aarons and book your spot on Solaré this summer. Solaré will launch in late summer 2025 — we'll update you with more details when they're announced. For more information in the interim, head to the website. Images: Jason Loucas.
One of the things that make the humble sandwich so great, is that you don't need to pull out all the stops to make it delicious. This unassuming little sandwich shop in a CBD food arcade proves that with its classic and gourmet options. A classic lunch bar, Northies (as the hordes of city workers who frequent call it) lets you choose your bread or wrap (there's white, brown or wholemeal Vienna loaves, and a few different sourdough and ryes for an extra 50 cents), then pops fillings like crunchy chicken schnitzel, slow-cooked pork shoulder and five-spice marinated grilled lamb between two slices. With sandwiches starting at $10, you can add a bunch of extra salads or sauce, plus chips and a drink and still keep it under twenty.
UPDATE: February 10, 2019 — Mountain Sounds has been cancelled, you can read more about it here. In February 2019, the Central Coast's Mountain Sounds heads into its fifth incarnation, after selling out four years in a row. Headlining the music program are Melbourne-based singer-songwriter Courtney Barnett, Sydney-based electronica act What So Not and folk siblings Angus and Julia Stone, followed by a plethora of 2018's favourite acts, including Thundamentals, Middle Kids, Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever and Stella Donnelly. Despite its popularity, Mountain Sounds has stuck to its ethical guns. The festival is all about transporting you to another world, where music, art, culture, nature and sustainability rule. In between checking out the music, immerse yourself in installations, jump rope, grab a paint brush and wander around pretty, pretty Mount Penang Gardens. If you can manage it, wake up early for sunrise (or stay up all night). A cornucopia of tasty food and drinks will keep you fuelled all weekend long.
"I do love this film." So advises Bob Odenkirk, exclaiming his fondness for Nobody 2 as soon as he starts chatting with Concrete Playground. As evident to everyone who sees the sequel to Nobody, that affection is already splashed across the screen. The same proved true in 2021, too, when the franchise's first movie initially gave its star a chance to switch up from leading one of TV's greatest-ever tragedies and series overall, aka Better Call Saul, with a jump into action mode. His task: playing Hutch Mansell, a seemingly ordinary suburban dad with a past that meant that he was never going to let gun-wielding thieves break into his home and upset his family life with his wife Becca (Connie Nielsen, Gladiator II) and their two children (Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent's Gage Munroe and Harland Manor's Paisley Cadorath) without making those responsible pay for it. The debut picture set Hutch against the Russian mafia, all to take care of his loved ones. That isn't Mr Show with Bob and David and Breaking Bad alum Odenkirk's IRL path at all, but elements of Nobody were indeed personal. The idea to begin with started with him in his prime Saul Goodman/Jimmy McGill/Gene Takovic days. And, as the Nobody 2 director Timo Tjahjanto (The Shadow Strays) explained back when the sequel's initial trailer dropped, "the first film is also sort of based on what happened to Bob in real life — the whole idea that he was confronting this thing that happened in his house, when somebody broke into his house. So he exorcised that sort of, I guess, trauma, by writing a script or writing a story." Four years later, with a movie that follows the Mansells on vacation to Plummerville — Hutch's dad David (Christopher Lloyd, Wednesday) included — this is still a action-flick saga with IRL connectioms for its lead. In his childhood, Odenkirk once went on a similar getaway. Again, the exact scenario that awaits Hutch isn't how its star's real life panned out; however, links to reality remain, including in exploring Plummerville's criminal element. Getting personal and relatable has always been baked into the Nobody films as well in a broader sense, given that both hone in on someone trying to do the best for their nearest and dearest. That's Hutch's emotional journey. Crucially for Nielsen, she tells us, the same applies to Becca. Nobody 2 kicks off pre-holiday, with Hutch working off his $30-million mob debt from the feature's predecessor, and barely spending time at home as a result. Becca isn't thrilled. Cue the trip, at Hutch's suggestion, to Plummerville's Wild Bill's Majestic Midway and Waterpark — a place with youthful memories for the film's protagonist. Of course, running afoul of the corrupt owner of the local theme park (John Ortiz, The Madness), a take-no-prisoners crime boss (Sharon Stone, The Flight Attendant) and underhanded law enforcement (with And Mrs' Colin Hanks as the sheriff) wasn't on anyone's dream vacation itinerary. Writing for Saturday Night Live, plus featuring in everything from Nebraska, Fargo, Little Women, Undone and Lucky Hank to The Bear and Glengarry Glen Ross on Broadway, are all on multiple Emmy-nominee Odenkirk's resume. Whether as Hutch in the Nobody films or as Jimmy-slash-Saul, he's been especially focused on bringing to life figures who refuse to get knocked down and stay down for over 15 years now, though — but that's a trait that he stresses he believes applies to everyone. Indeed, there's always a relatability-meets-wish fulfilment mix to Hutch, Becca and the situations they're in. Who can't relate to struggling with work-life balance, or their partner's lack thereof? Or a holiday not quite panning out the way you'd hoped and wanting to set that right? Or protecting those most important to you? Nobody 2 sees Nielsen on-trend in her own career. For the second time in less than a year, she's returning to a big-screen part. First came Lucilla in Gladiator II; now follows Becca. While both are formidable women, as she has played repeatedly across a career that started with screen roles in the 80s and also spans The Devil's Advocate, Rushmore, Brothers, Wonder Woman, Origin and plenty beyond, it is particularly satisfying and gratifying to portray someone who is meant to be an everywoman — as Hutch is an everyman — and who demonstrates that she too, like all women, can hold her own, she notes. Alongside digging into why Nobody 2 is personal, and its focus on family as well as everyday woes — amid and sometimes through the action setpieces — Odenkirk and Nielsen also chatted with us about the origins of all things Nobody, further fleshing out Becca's story in the sequel, tenacity and more. On Whether Odenkirk Was Keen to Find His Next Recurring Character Beyond Better Call Saul and Breaking Bad — and What He Was Looking For Bob: "I didn't really think on the grand scale that you've described to me. I was really thinking about how Better Call Saul, to my surprise, was pleasing people in countries around the world. I really was mystified initially that Better Call Saul played so well in Italy and Romania and Russia and even England — and everywhere. I actually asked a journalist in Europe 'how do you understand the show? Do you have lawyers like this?'. And they said 'well, we've seen a lot of American entertainment and we understand enough about American culture to understand who Saul is in his community, in his world'. And then I saw that it played in China, and it gave me the thought 'well, if I did an action film, that could play around the world, too' — because action is fairly simple and easy to follow. And the value or the kind of drive of the film is easy to relate to. So I asked my manager 'what about an action film?' — and I thought he'd laugh me off the phone, but he did not. He said 'I get what you're saying. That could work'." On Nielsen's Opportunity to Further Build and Flesh Out Becca Mansell in Nobody 2 Connie: "I think Bob is just such a generous writer. He just writes all these situations where the humanity of his wife is just so clear. There is a wisdom that he builds into Becca — and a zenness, like a knowingness, that I find so attractive about Becca. Becca is patient, but she's not long-suffering. The difference is huge. And she is critical but never blames, never uses blame. She holds him accountable for the sake of the family, for what's best for all of them, but not to control. So there's this wonderful way you can build a character, and I think that Bob just really writes that into Becca since day one. I remember the first time when I read the first script and the reason why I decided I wanted to do it, even though I knew that they wouldn't be developing Becca until the second installation — I just knew that I wanted to do it because there was this sensitive, beautiful scene of two people sleeping with a pillow in-between them. And they're both awake, and they just can't figure out how to how to ford that river between them. And I just thought that I've never seen that in an action movie, something as sensitive as that. And I just love that." On Nobody 2's Personal Ties for Odenkirk, as the First Nobody Also Sported Bob: "Nobody 2 is about a family going on vacation. When I was a kid, we went on two vacations: one to the Illinois State Fair and one to the Wisconsin Dells. And the Wisconsin Dells are just like Plummerville — or at least they were 35, well 45 years ago, when I went on vacation to them. They're mostly water-based. There's duck boats. There's a guy who owns all the attractions in town — just like Wyatt Martin, played by John Ortiz. Wisconsin is where Al Capone ran his booze through. He actually had a home there, in Lake Geneva, I believe. So all that stuff that The Barber [Colin Salmon, EastEnders] says to Hutch, 'used to be a bootlegging route' — that's true of this place where I used to go. All of that is true. The backroads of Wisconsin was where they ran alcohol up to Canada during prohibition, ran it out to the other states, ran it through to Wisconsin. So all that stuff is based on my memories of childhood — and also Derek Kolstad [John Wick], who wrote the movie, his memories. He grew up in Madison, Wisconsin, very close to the Wisconsin Dells. So yes, this movie too is connected to my personal experience." On Doing What's Best for Your Family Always Being at the Heart of the Nobody Films, Even as Action Movies Filled with Violence and Vengeance Connie: "It really is, and I think that that's what attracted me to the story — is that it always stays grounded in something real. There's a real family there, kids, and the real community as well. So I love it when you see writing that just makes the small things come alive, because they are the ones that we just inherently use to create reference points to who we are all the time, and I love that kind of writing." On What Appeals to Odenkirk About Playing Characters Who Refuse to Get Knocked Down and Stay Down, and Are Determined to Bounce Back Up However They Can Bob: "Well, you can say that they're special people or they're indefatigable spirits, but I actually think that's actually pretty common. Most people I know don't quit until they're forced to. They kind of just don't quit. People don't quit. Sometimes I think people are limited by what they imagine they'd be capable of. And that limits them more than their spirit of fighting. I think most people fight pretty hard." On What's Satisfying and Gratifying for Nielsen About Portraying Formidable But Also Relatable Women Connie: "I think the most important thing is really showing normal people trying to address the enormous difficulties of living. There's just so much stuff that's hard to do. Family is hard. Relationships are hard. Jobs are hard. And just showing that, I think, at the same time as you're also entertaining, I think that makes people feel like they're seen — that their lives make sense, because everybody is going through that. So I think I really respond to writing where I see a real human struggle, and I also see indicators for where it becomes meaningful — like, that struggle has meaning." Nobody 2 opened in cinemas Down Under on Thursday, August 14, 2025.
Bar Morris takes its place among the steadily growing crop of excellent new bars in Sydney's CBD. Set on the ground floor of the Hotel Morris in Haymarket, Bar Morris features a day-to-night menu and a plush interior of marble, velvet and natural timber flooring that transcends a typical lobby bar and should earn a place on the list of go-to spots for intimate first dates and business lunches. Bar Morris offers everything from a quick cocktail with snacks or a no-holds-barred feast. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, you can pop in for Industry Beans coffee and Sicilian pancakes in the morning, the daily pasta or panini special at midday or a lavish Italian dinner led by fast-rising Head Chef Rosy Scatigna. At just 30 years old, Scatigna has already worked across Michelin-starred restaurants in Italy and the UK after studying at Alma International School of Italian Cuisine. On the after-dark menu, you'll find rich, flavour-packed starters and mains like mussels gratinate with saffron aioli, cheesy 'nduja madeleines paired with preserved lemon and guanciale, marinated prawn and pumpkin risotto, and flank steak topped with a signature Café de Morris butter. Natural wine enthusiasts will be excited by the wine list which is made up of nearly entirely Australian and Italian producers and boasts an extensive range of skin contact drops both by the glass and the bottle. Swap your usual glass of reisling for a skins-y Hunter Valley fiano or start your night with a glass of rosé pét-nat in place of your usual sparkling. If you're heading in with mum, never fear, there's still plenty of traditional tipples to be had across the extensive 50+ bottles on offer. And, if you prefer to pair your spaghettone with something a little stiffer, you're in luck: classic cocktails, an entire page of amaros and inventive blends are all on offer. After something a little different? Try the Salted Stars which combines chilli, grapefruit, amaro Montenegro, lemon sorbet and Archie Rose vodka. It's an excellent entrant to the Sydney bar scene and, if it delivers on early promise, could earn a place among the best bars in Sydney. Image credit: Steven Woodburn
Digitise your notes and hold them forever without losing the art of touching ink to paper. The line between the digital and non-digital world becomes ever thinner and more transparent with the influx of nifty new technologies like Moleskine's Smart Notebook. This notebook changes the world of handwritten notes as it allows you to photograph them, upload them onto note-taking program Evernote, and view them on a smartphone, tablet or computer. The notebook is for sketches or brainstorms which require old-school pen and paper, but can still conveniently be stored digitally. The Smart Notebook makes your notes, sketches, lists etc. incredibly "accessible, searchable, and shareable." After you've uploaded your notes onto Evernote, you can store them easily, look through them on screen, and easily share them with friends, family or work colleagues. Moleskine's notebook also comes with stickers or tags, so that you can group relevant notes together and make it much easier to sift through and search for various notes or drawings. On the Evernote app, it is easy to search for tags or keywords to easily find past notes. It also does helpful things, like automatically straightening images according to the lines of the notebook. Each Moleskine Smart Notebook comes with a three month Evernote subscription, so you can could theoretically make use of their service by simply buying a new book every three months.
If, for you, warmer weather brings with it a craving for fruity gelato and a nostalgic longing for that tell-tale sound of 'Greensleeves' playing through your neighbourhood, say no more. The Mr. Mercedes Ice Cream Truck has got you — it might not be summer yet, but the wheels are already a-rollin' on this particular mobile candy dream machine. But, beware, this is no ordinary ice cream mobile. The truck will be handing out cones to mark the launch of Foxtel's new thriller series Mr. Mercedes. The show stars Brendan Gleeson as a retired police detective being taunted by a serial killer who masquerades as the local ice cream man. The story is based on the best-selling novel by Stephen King, which should be a dead giveaway of the creepiness you can expect from this pop-up. We don't want to completely scare you off, though, so here's the good news: the cones are free and you've even got a shot at winning $1000 in cash. And, there'll be no actual cold-blooded killers present — just cold soft serve and cold hard cash. The truck will be in Chatswood, opposite The Concourse on the corner of Spring and Victoria streets, between 9am–1pm and 3–8pm, and the Foxtel offices in Macquarie Park between 2–2.45pm. Head over for flavours including chocolate eclair, Whistle Pop and Berry Good Bar. Stream season one of Mr. Mercedes on Foxtel On Demand or screen on showcase Mondays at 9:30pm. Image: courtesy of Sony Pictures Television.
Gear up with SPF30+ and broad-brimmed sunhats and squeeze the most out of the last days of summer. It can’t be time to put actual pants on and face up to the changing seasons. We’re already nostalgic for long, lazy afternoons of Redleaf Paddle Pops, pining for balmy cider-fuelled nights outside the Speigeltent, disdainful toward slight jacket-prompting breezes offensively well before sundown. Never fear, there's still plenty of summer lovin' to have you a blast. We've pulled together a few ideas to help you truly squeeze the last unruly droplets of sticky, sweaty, daylight savings-y goodness out of summer. Just remember to be a total legend and whack on some sunscreen and a hat before you head out; that summer sun ain't goin' nowhere yet and Sydney's UV rays are pretty brutal all the way through autumn too. Check out Pretty Shady for their (free) go-to skin savers and get out there. SWIM: WATTAMOLLA As far as watery outdoor day trips go, Wattamolla has everything — not only a waterfall but a lagoon and a beach to boot. Reaching the 7m high waterfall requires a 50m swim from the lagoon’s edge. Some people attempt a shortcut by jumping straight in, but that’s actually against National Parks and Wildlife regulations. After a swim, relax in the shade of cabbage tree palms, take a bush walk or spend the rest of the day looking out for sea eagles and oystercatchers. Wattamolla is a 50-minute drive from the Sydney CBD, in the eastern section of the Royal National Park. Just be sure to bring along your ol' friend SPF30+ and your best broad-brimmed hat — the sun can get through those trees alright. Check out Pretty Shady for their (free) go-to skin savers. Wattamolla has one of the best five waterfalls near Sydney. Check out the rest here. Royal National Park, Sydney's South Coast. PLAY: CLARK ISLAND Clark Island boasts the urinal with the best view in the entire city. It’s an en plein air affair, carved into the natural rock and facing Darling Point’s multi-million dollar mansions. The island’s other claims to fame lie in agriculture: it’s the only place in the Sydney Basin where rare rainforest tree celery wood grows, and back in the 18th century, it hosted one of the colony’s first vegetable gardens. To get there, grab a water taxi, take your own boat or get your paddle power on. Let the Sydney Harbour National Park Information Centre know you’re going by calling (02) 9253 0880. Just be careful of that sun. Check out Pretty Shady for free tips. Check out our Guide to Sydney's Islands here. Clark Island, Sydney Harbour. EAT/DRINK: BEACH HOUSE BY GPO Forget sandy sandwiches. Next time you visit Balmoral Beach, congratulate yourself on your sun-safe prowess and splash out on exquisite Italian fare at Beach House by GPO. Just like the parking, this seaside cafe fills up pretty quickly, but if you don’t score a table, the takeaway fish and chips are a shore thing. Formerly Awaba Cafe, this spot was snapped up by Peter Petroulas, adding to his GPO collection, which includes Prime and Intermezzo. Retaining its nonplussed charm, the contemporary interior features an open shopfront, making the most of sea breezes and waterfront views. Patrons are welcomed in with sandy towels and dripping hair and offered a comfortable spot to enjoy a civilised lunch and a glass of prosecco. Read our full review here. 67 The Esplanade, Balmoral. SHOP: REPRESSED RECORDS Let the team at Repressed Records push the perfect summer LP into your hands. If you’ve got a loved one who’s losing all their funds supporting the local Sydney music scene and buying the latest LP from the newest punk/alt act, feed the habit and direct them toward Newtown's Repressed Records. The team at Repressed are champions of Australian independent music and always have something amazing in stock they can’t wait to get you listening to — plus, if you're having a summer barbecue and need the perfect soundtrack, they can supply more than 'Run to Paradise' on repeat. 356 King Street, Newtown. Check out Pretty Shady for more summer tips and ideas on how to beat that dastardly sun at its own game. By the Concrete Playground team.
It's fair to say the whole world is ready to tune in to the final season of Netflix's Stranger Things. The gates to Hawkins, Indiana — and the Upside Down — are about to open for the final time. But the dark and dreary alternate dimension has bigger plans than just taking over your streaming queue, it's reaching into Sydney too. You may remember when a tentacled rift split open the sand on Bondi Beach. Strange sights are being reported all over Sydney this time, and Vecna's since lost a fight with a few teenagers, so he's back with a vengeance and a much bigger appetite. This time around he's setting his sights on Sydney Harbour. Tonight and tomorrow night (November 25–26) are your opportunities to grab your bike and your flashlights. You'll see something eerie lighting up the area at 8.30pm as the Upside Down breaks through the veil. Predictions are saying the Northern Wharf by the Overseas Passenger Terminal will have the best view of this otherworldly phenomenon. At the same time on Wednesday, November 26, the Harbour Bar at Squire's Landing will play host to a Hawkins hotspot, since the Upside Down is nothing without its real-world hunting grounds in the once-sleepy Indiana town. You'll be able to make the most of themed photo spots and a special viewing deck of the corruption down by the water. This all coincides with the premiere of Volume 1 of Stranger Things Season 5 on November 27, at midday AEDT. These last episodes — the remainder of which will be released in separate volumes on Boxing Day and New Year's Day — return us to Hawkins for the last time. It's 1987, scarred by Vecna's assault and the intrusion of the Upside Down, Hawkins is under quarantine and Eleven is once again on the run. The anniversary of Will Byer's disappearance is fast approaching, and our heroes have to reunite the party for one last fight, to finish what they started and complete the mission they've previously failed: find and kill Vecna, once and for all. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PssKpzB0Ah0[/embed] Watch 'Stranger Things' on Netflix, plans start at $9.99 a month. Images: Marty Rowney
A superstar Hong Kong bar dedicated to mezcal and tequila has just been named the number one bar in Asia for 2023 at the annual '50 Best' awards which took place in Hong Kong overnight. The victorious establishment COA (pictured above) located in Central Hong Kong and helmed by acclaimed bartender-owner Jay Khan, has retained the number one spot on the list for the third consecutive year, demonstrating that excellence and consistency can go hand-in-hand — even when tequila is heavily involved. [caption id="attachment_909998" align="alignnone" width="1920"] COA's Head of Operations Ajit Gurung and Owner Jay Khan[/caption] The top 50 features bars from 17 cities across Asia from Taipei to Tokyo, providing ample inspiration for destination drinking on your next trip to the continent. The bars that made the top five spanned five different countries. At #2 was perennial favourite Jigger & Pony in Singapore — inarguably one of the most influential businesses in getting the Asian bar scene on the map. At #3 is the glitzy BKK Social Club located at the Four Seasons Hotel in Bangkok. Then at #4 is Tokyo favourite Bar Benfiddich, a delightfully oddball 14-seater bar in the hectic Shinjuku district that champions farm-to-bar cocktails. And rounding out the top five, at #5 is the beautifully-designed Seoul venue Zest, which also took out the Highest Climber Award for 2023 after jumping an astounding 43 positions from last year's 50 Best list. Explore the full list below and start making notes for your next getaway. [caption id="attachment_909985" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Inside Tokyo's tiny Bar Benfiddich[/caption] Asia's 50 Best Bars 2023 1. Coa, Hong Kong 2. Jigger & Pony, Singapore 3. BKK Social Club, Bangkok 4. Bar Benfiddich, Tokyo 5. Zest, Seoul 6. Tropic City, Bangkok 7. Nutmeg & Clove, Singapore 8. Argo, Hong Kong 9. Darkside, Hong Kong 10. Sago House, Singapore 11. Indulge Experimental Bistro, Taipei 12. Vesper, Bangkok 13. Cham Bar, Seoul 14. The SG Club, Tokyo 15. Analogue Initiative, Singapore 16. Republic, Singapore 17. The Aubrey, Hong Kong 18. Sidecar, New Delhi 19. The Cocktail Club, Jakarta 20. Virtù, Tokyo (winner of the Highest New Entry Award) 21. Manhattan, Singapore 22. Mahaniyom Cocktail Bar, Bangkok 23. Lamp Bar, Nara 24. 28 HongKong Street, Singapore 25. Le Chamber, Seoul 26. Penicillin, Hong Kong 27. Atlas, Singapore 28. Alice, Seoul 29. Pantja, Jakarta 30. Employees Only, Singapore 31. Quinary, Hong Kong 32. Stay Gold Flamingo, Singapore 33. Mostly Harmless, Hong Kong 34. The Curator, Manila 35. The Bombay Canteen, Mumbai 36. Bar Trigona, Kuala Lumpur 37. Southside Parlor, Seoul 38. Copitas, Bengaluru 39. Hope & Sesame, Guangzhou 40. Smoke & Bitters, Hiriketiya 41. Vender, Taichung 42. Native, Singapore 43. The Public House, Taipei 44. Bee's Knees, Kyoto 45. High Five, Tokyo 46. Soko, Seoul 47. The Old Man, Hong Kong 48. The Living Room, Mumbai 49. The Bellwood, Tokyo 50. Penrose Kuala, Lumpur Main image: COA
Daytime raves are taking over our feeds this year. Aotearoa-born Morning People have been riding this wave long before it hit the mainstream — founders Vanessa Scott and Jamie Newman have been on alcohol-free morning parties across New Zealand for almost a decade. Partiers get the full rave experience, except they swap out hangovers and food deliveries for a shot of euphoria before a full day ahead. In November, Morning People is landing in Sydney for the first time. Head to Oxford Art Factory at the crack of dawn, where DJ powerhouse and drag diva Jimi the Kween will be on the decks. Jimi has pumped up crowds at major party cities like New York, Berlin, Ibiza and Tokyo — if anything can jolt you awake, it's her signature blend of house and high-energy dance anthems. If the lights and bass don't wake you up, the complimentary fresh-plunged coffee will. Help yourself to some fruit and non-alcoholic drinks on the way out, so you'll be glowing (and smugly energised) once you hit your desk. Images: Supplied
Brooklyn Boy Bagels is again bringing a taste of New York City to the Sydney CBD, popping up for the month of July along Darlinghurst's Victoria Street. The shop will be open daily from 6:30am to 3pm so you can grab a traditionally boiled and baked bagel with creamy schmear any day of the week. What started as pop-up stands at farmers markets has turned into a citywide favourite with a storefront in Marrickville, along with other pop-up shops throughout the city. Now Darlinghurst is no exception, at least for the rest of the month. They're serving up traditional NYC varieties, like sesame, poppy and cinnamon raisin, along with babkas (twisted sweet bread) like Nutella and hazelnut or salted caramel and sesame. And, since no bagel run is complete without a good cuppa, the shop will also offer up Mecca coffees — meaning you can eat like a New Yorker without the shit coffee bit.
There's no doubt that 2020 has been the year of leisurewear, and Venroy's enduring popularity — even before the days of Zoom meeting attire — make it a must for lovers of style and cosiness alike. Established in Bondi in 2010 as a maker of swim shorts, it's all about quality fabrics, comfort and detail, applying those key principles to a wide range of clothing across three additional Sydney boutiques. When the weather is warm, Venroy's abundance of linen products is certain to be a hit for both seasoned buyers and newcomers to the brand. Other fabrics employed at its own production factory include Japanese denim, cashmere and rich cotton shirting — all centred, of course, around the idea of leisure. Images: Kitti Smallbone
Gaming and esports are coming to Harbour City in a big way. From Saturday, April 8, Chippendale's Central Park Mall will welcome Fortress Sydney, a multi-level centre devoted to computer, video, console and tabletop gaming. When it launches, it'll become a bigger sibling venue to Fortress Melbourne — which opened in 2020 to become the largest site of its type not only in the country, but in the southern hemisphere. Fortress' second Aussie outpost, this 1000-person venue will be a seven-days-a-week haven for Sydneysiders eager to mash buttons with their mates somewhere other than their lounge room — or beyond your respective homes while connected online. Head to this sprawling spot for gaming PCs, suites dedicated to consoles, an arcade and a fantasy-themed tavern. And, for feeling like you've walked into gaming heaven, clearly. If you take your favourite pastime a bit more seriously, you'll definitely be in the right place. The esports arena turns playing into a competitive spectacle, and there's also broadcast and production facilities. Unsurprisingly, Fortress Sydney will host events year-round, such as live tournaments and international playoffs. Elsewhere, function rooms with their own computer setups will be available to hire for private events and parties — and there'll be a merchandise store onsite as well. When it comes to kicking back after a few games, that's where that tavern comes in, serving both drinks and food. Monday nights on-site will be all about trivia over beverages, while Wednesdays will focus on board games, letting patrons work their way through the venue's hefty board game library. On Fridays and Saturdays, there'll be late-night gaming sessions. And Sundays will host Dungeons and Flagons, self-contained D&D sessions guided by an expert Dungeon Master — and with a drink, stationery and character sheet all included, and all experience levels welcome. Whether you're a Super Smash Bros lover or a Counter Strike fiend — or maybe you just love Uno, the card game of champions — Fortress Sydney aims to appeal to everyone, catering for casual fans, competitive gamers and esports diehards, as well as families and after-work crowds. It arrives at a stellar time for gaming culture — The Last of Us is one of 2023's best new TV shows; Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves, The Super Mario Bros Movie and Tetris are heading to screens big and small; and there's always obviously something new to play. Fortress Sydney will open at Central Park Mall, 28 Broadway, Chippendale on Saturday, April 8 — head to the venue's website for bookings and further details.
Something delightful is happening in cinemas across the country. After months spent empty, with projectors silent, theatres bare and the smell of popcorn fading, Australian picture palaces are back in business — spanning both big chains and smaller independent sites in Sydney and Brisbane. During COVID-19 lockdowns, no one was short on things to watch, of course. In fact, you probably feel like you've streamed every movie ever made over the past three months, including new releases, comedies, music documentaries, Studio Ghibli's animated fare and Nicolas Cage-starring flicks. But, even if you've spent all your time of late glued to your small screen, we're betting you just can't wait to sit in a darkened room and soak up the splendour of the bigger version. Thankfully, plenty of new films are hitting cinemas so that you can do just that — and we've rounded up, watched and reviewed everything on offer this week. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Ekw85OqJck THE WITCHES What's the one thing that every movie remake has in common? No matter how it turns out, the original film still exists. So, if the latest version doesn't cast a spell, you can return to the old one — revisiting it, appreciating it anew and steeping yourself in nostalgia in the process. That's worth remembering regarding the latest screen adaptation of Roald Dahl's The Witches, even with writer/director Robert Zemeckis (Back to the Future, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, The Polar Express) and co-writers Kenya Barris (Black-ish, Girls Trip) and Guillermo del Toro (Pan's Labyrinth and The Shape of Water's) involved. Its main achievement: reminding everyone just how great the previous screen adaptation of Roald Dahl's book from back in 1990 still is. It might be unfair to think that some remakes only eventuate because a studio executive thought it was time to wring some more cash out of a beloved story, but that's how this movie feels. It's simultaneously broader and tamer — including Anne Hathaway's (Dark Waters) over-the-top performance as the Grand High Witch, although she does appear to be enjoying herself immensely — and it radiates big pantomime energy. Indeed, there's a lack of overall magic in The Witches, either of the twisted or charming type (unless sending viewers clamouring to find wherever the original is currently streaming counts). A few things have changed in this fresh iteration. It's 1968, and the the film's unnamed young protagonist (Jahzir Bruno, The Christmas Chronicles 2) moves to Alabama to live with his grandmother (Octavia Spencer, Onward) after his parents are killed in a car accident. He's grief-stricken, but they bond over her shocking revelation: that witches exist, they're everywhere, they despise children and she has experience with them. Also, once a witch sets their sights on a kid, it never lets up. That's why, after one crosses the boy's path, grandma whisks him off to "the swankiest resort in Alabama", where she's certain they'll be safe among rich white folks. Of course, she couldn't have predicted that the group of women that have taken over the Grand Orleans Imperial Island Hotel's ballroom — the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, apparently — are all witches. Or, that the Grand High Witch is in attendance, unveiling a plan to turn every kid in the world into a rodent via a potion called 'Formula 86 Delayed Action Mouse-Maker'. Much that has endeared The Witches to readers and viewers over the years remains in the latest film, but tinkering with the details and tone makes an unfortunate impact. Brimming as it is with bright colours and overdone CGI, the new version of The Witches favours gloss and shine over chills and potential nightmares. Everything here is overt to an in-your-face extreme, and also far less intricate and much more bland. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8DT_zVzxhk THE FURNACE At this point in Australia's cinema history, audiences can be forgiven for wondering if homegrown movies have unearthed and told every tale there is to be found among the vast outback. The answer: an overwhelming no, especially when Aussie filmmakers traverse the country's sunburnt and sprawling expanse to explore stories steeped in our problematic past. The Furnace is one such movie that proves the point. The first feature from writer/director Roderick MacKay, the gold rush-era western serves up a powerful interrogation of Australia as a multicultural nation — harking back to 1897, to Western Australia, and to a time when transporting freight around the country relied upon a network of cameleers trekking across the desert. The men covering great distances to move goods from one place to another hailed from India, Afghanistan and Persia, were largely of Muslim and Sikh faith, and were badged together under the label 'Ghan' by white Aussies. They were treated poorly, except by Indigenous Australians. And, they're a real but oft-forgotten part of the nation's story, so much so that The Furnace will introduce their existence to many viewers for the first time. That's just one of this vividly shot, exceptionally acted film's achievements, though. Another: posing the kinds of questions about our national identity that we should always be asking. Afghan cameleer Hanif (Ahmed Malek, Clash) didn't choose to come to Australia, or to take up this line of work. So, when he witnesses the death of his mentor at the hands of a white man, he's eager to find a way to get the cash he needs to return home. The Indigenous Yamatji Badimia people he often spends time with on his travels, including leader Coobering (Trevor Jamieson, Storm Boy) and Hanif's friend Woorak (Baykali Ganambarr, The Nightingale), suggest that he stays and joins them instead. But, after stumbling across injured thief Mal (David Wenham, Dirt Music), he's determined to use half of his new acquaintance's stolen Crown-marked gold bars to finance his escape and leave the life he hates behind. Troopers led by the fervent Sergeant Shaw (Jay Ryan, IT: Chapter Two) are swiftly on the unlikely pair's trail; however, Hanif and Mal keep traipsing towards the eponymous smelter, where Mal promises they'll be able to melt down the precious metal and remove any trace of the government's ownership. Following Hanif's journey — physically, and emotionally and spiritually as well — The Furnace is a patient film. It's a meat pie western through and through, applying the western genre's trademarks to an Australian context, and it joins The Proposition, Sweet Country and the aforementioned The Nightingale as one of the best 21st-century examples. MacKay spies the beauty and the imperfections in Australia's arid, dusty landscape, as many filmmakers have before, but he also never lets the flaws in our national character that are made plain by this chapter of history ever fall out of view. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gb8ZbP6qAzE&feature=youtu.be THE MIDNIGHT SKY The Midnight Sky is George Clooney's first film role in four years (since 2016's Hail, Caesar! and Money Monster), so it's fitting that he's at his most bearded and reclusive within its frames. This sci-fi drama also joins the small but significant list of features that combine the star and space, following Solaris and Gravity — and there's something particularly alluring and absorbing about seeing Clooney get existential, as all movies that reach beyond earth's surface tend to. He clearly agrees, because he not only leads The Midnight Sky but also directs it as well. This is a big-thinking and big-feeling film, with its characters grappling with life, love and loss. It boasts aptly pensive and probing cinematography, too; however, both on-and off-screen, Clooney is the key. When the movie spends time with astronauts onboard the spaceship Aether, including the pregnant Sully (Felicity Jones, On the Basis of Sex), ship commander Adewole (David Oyelowo, Gringo), veteran pilot Mitchell (Kyle Chandler, Godzilla: King of the Monsters), and other crew members Sanchez (Demián Bichir, The Grudge) and Maya (Tiffany Boone, Hunters), it's at its most generic. Indeed, when it ventures to space, The Midnight Sky almost screams for either Clooney to head there as well, or for the feature to plummet back down to earth to join him once more. The actor/filmmaker plays workaholic research scientist Dr Augustine Lofthouse and, although The Midnight Sky rockets beyond the earth, it doesn't send its protagonist there. Instead, in 2049, after an environmental disaster has made the planet uninhabitable, he chooses to remain in the Arctic as his colleagues evacuate. He's dying anyway, and frequently hooks himself up to machines for treatment — in between downing whiskey, watching old movies, eating cereal and talking to himself. Then, interrupting his lonely decline, two things change his status quo. Firstly, a young girl (debutant Caoilinn Springall) mysteriously pops up out of nowhere, refusing to speak but obviously needing an adult's care. Secondly, Augustine realises that he'll have to trek across the oppressively icy terrain outside to connect via radio to Aether's crew, who've been on a two-year mission to ascertain whether newly discovered Jupiter moon K-23 can support life, and are now making their return unaware of what's been happening at home. The space movie genre is as busy as the sky above is vast, and The Midnight Sky proves familiar as a result, delivering plenty of elements that viewers have seen before — but this isn't merely an exercise in flinging together derivative parts. While this isn't Clooney's greatest achievement as a director in general or as an actor in a space flick, it's still an involving, engaging and poignant addition to his resume on both counts. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ij8m_XQ_J2E WORDS ON BATHROOM WALLS When it comes to portraying illness of either the physical or mental kind, Hollywood doesn't have the greatest track record. Case in point: this year's awful All My Life, a cancer-fuelled weepie that decided it'd rather focus on the girlfriend of its sickness-stricken character — who is based on a real-life person — than on the man fighting to survive. Accordingly, by actually directing its attention towards Adam (Charlie Plummer, Lean on Pete), a high schooler who is diagnosed with schizophrenia in his senior year, Words on Bathroom Walls immediately demonstrates a willingness to actually engage with its protagonist's predicament. The film is based on a YA novel by Julia Walton, rather than on reality, but it sees Adam as a person rather than a reason that someone else's existence increases in drama. That's a pivotal move by filmmaker Thor Freudenthal (Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters) and first-time screenwriter Nick Naveda, and one that improves their movie immensely. But Words on Bathroom Walls doesn't completely avoid cliches and tropes. Instead, it saves them for the usual teenage experiences, serving up everything from bullying classmates to first kisses, prom night antics and graduation chaos as Adam doesn't just try to cope with his condition, but with testing every treatment option there is, and also navigating the disappointments and the side effects. Adam's struggles begin in science class, where he has traumatic hallucinations, injures a friend and gets expelled. Seeing people who aren't there isn't new to him but, with the incident badged a psychotic break, his mother Beth (Molly Parker, Deadwood) devotes every waking hour to finding him the best care — when she isn't spending time with the new boyfriend, Paul (Walton Goggins, Fatman), that Adam doesn't like. For the teen himself, he's most concerned about chasing his dreams. He wants to be a chef, but he needs to get his diploma to get into his chosen culinary course. The local private school agrees to let him attend, as long as he undertakes a specific treatment plan and doesn't trouble his peers with his illness. Consequently, when he meets the studious and resourceful Maya (Taylor Russell, Waves), he keeps his condition to himself, even as a friendship and something more springs. At its core, Words on Bathroom Walls endeavours to address and break down the stigma that surrounds schizophrenia and mental illness, a feat that it perkily but thoughtfully achieves. Still, there's no missing the fact that it squeezes its empathetic intentions — and its narrative in general, and Adam's plight within it — into a well-worn teen formula. While Words on Bathroom Walls still succeeds where many other movies about health struggles fail, thanks in no small part to excellent performances all-round from Plummer, Russell, Parker and Goggins, its need to fit a template threatens to undercut its sensitive approach to its subject. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uIUUKZsEUY&feature=emb_logo ARCHENEMY Looking for a world where superheroes don't exist? Archenemy travels between two dimensions, or so the often whiskey-swilling Max Fist (Joe Manganiello, Rampage) claims, and finds the super-strong figure in both of them. That said, Fist could be a fallen fighter from another realm who is trying to stop his nemesis Cleo (Amy Seimetz, The Secrets We Keep). Or, he could be a homeless person with problem — or someone about to start waging a crusade for the forces of good after teaming up with siblings Hamster (Skylan Brooks, Empire) and Indigo (Zolee Griggs, Bit). Fist joins forces with the latter duo after Hamster starts pestering him to tell his story. The teen, who has the word 'fiction' tattooed across his face, is trying to land a photojournalism job at a clickbait-chasing website called Trendible (and to go viral doing so), and thinks that Fist could be his ticket. Their new camaraderie is reluctant on elder man's part, but he's willing to talk about his alternate-universe home world of Chromium to anyone will listen. However, complications arrive via Indigo, who works as a drug dealer for a seedy figure known only as The Manager (Glenn Howerton, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia). Although she's trying to earn enough money to send Hamster back to school, she's soon immersed deep in murky gangster business. One of the small joys of this low-key caped crusader affair is that writer/director Adam Egypt Mortimer (Daniel Isn't Real) and his co-screenwriter Luke Passmore (Slaughterhouse Rulez) aren't trying to tell the usual story, or to make it fit the usual boxes — as the fact that Fist's tale could go one of several ways illustrates. Also impressive, as well as visually striking: the hot pink and black animation that literally illustrates Fist's narrative back on Chromium, and nods to the page origins of the superhero genre at the same time. Still, Archenemy is a mixed bag of a movie. It's trying to serve up a thematic and narrative mixed bag on purpose, but that quest spills over to unintended areas. The film strives to add something different to an overpopulated field, for example, but swiftly brings the likes of Hancock and Super to mind. It attempts to subvert a plethora of recognisable tropes, but also leans on a swathe of them itself. It features a moody performance by Manganiello that screams for more screen time (and, yes, more movies), but tasks Howerton and Seimetz with being cartoonish in a one-note manner. As its actors demonstrate, Archenemy often seems as if it's hedging its bets, trying to offer something more grounded than the usual superhero blockbuster but also more outlandish at the same time — and, while often messily entertaining and definitely benefiting from an attention-grabbing score, it doesn't ever find the ideal balance. If you're wondering what else is currently screening in cinemas — or has been lately — check out our rundown of new films released in Australia on July 2, July 9, July 16, July 23 and July 30; August 6, August 13, August 20 and August 27; September 3, September 10, September 17 and September 24; October 1, October 8, October 15, October 22 and October 29; and November 5, November 12, November 19 and November 26; and December 3. You can also read our full reviews of a heap of recent movies, such as The Personal History of David Copperfield, Waves, The King of Staten Island, Babyteeth, Deerskin, Peninsula, Tenet, Les Misérables, The New Mutants, Bill & Ted Face the Music, The Translators, An American Pickle, The High Note, On the Rocks, The Trial of the Chicago 7, Antebellum, Miss Juneteenth, Savage, I Am Greta, Rebecca, Kajillionaire, Baby Done, Corpus Christi, Never Rarely Sometimes Always, The Craft: Legacy, Radioactive, Brazen Hussies, Freaky, Mank, Monsoon, Ellie and Abbie (and Ellie's Dead Aunt), American Utopia, Possessor, Misbehaviour, Happiest Season, The Prom and Sound of Metal. Images: The Midnight Sky, Philippe Antonello/Netflix.
Deep-fried ice cream is the kind of confection that delivers the best of two worlds. On the one hand, there's frosty, creamy ice cream. On the other, there's the hot, crunchy crust. While you'd often have to venture to a suburban Chinese restaurant to get your hands on this singular treat, deep fried ice cream on-the-go is now an option thanks to a new Strathfield store from longtime Sydney food truck Duo Duo. You may have caught the truck at a food festival or event around town, or you might remember the name for the home delivery kits that were rolled out during lockdown. Now, the dessert-loving enterprise has levelled things up and opened a flagship store on Strathfield's The Boulevard. Sporting a slick modern fitout, the store could be dismissed as another Rivareno or Gelattissimo competitor. But, step up to the stylish marble countertop and you'll be greeted by a far more inventive addition to Sydney's dessert scene. Of course, the deep fried ice cream is a major drawcard. The pandan coconut is the original speciality with sweetened coconut sauce and roasted coconut flakes making it a must-try for coconut-lovers. The vanilla bean serve comes topped with house-made salted caramel and butterscotch popcorn, while the cookies and cream flavour is paired with Nutella ganache and cookie crumble. There's plenty more to love here if you're on the hunt for a sweet treat that's a little less hedonistic. There's a classic gelato bar out the front that sets itself apart with high-quality scoops and unique flavours. You'll find classics like vanilla bean and pistachio side-by-side with less traditional flavours like durian, macha, taro, blueberry cheesecake, Vietnamese iced coffee and Thai milk tea varieties. Plus, there's doughnuts. The team recommend tucking into a creme brulee or strawberry, cream and berry jam-filled variant, while crowd-pleasers like Biscoff cheesecake or classic original glazed are also on offer. If you're feeling parched after you've devoured your dessert, Duo Duo is ready with a selection of in-house sodas and teas as well. Order a green grape, yuzu or lychee soft drink, or opt for tea available in strawberry hojicha, apple black or grape sencha. Duo Duo is now open at 11 The Boulevarde, Strathfield. It's open midday–10pm Sunday–Thursday and midday–11pm Friday–Saturday. Photos: Regan Ching
Run by the same folks at Sydney Park Hotel in Newtown, The White Cockatoo is a beloved pokies-free pub and accommodation in Sydney's Petersham. On the ground floor, you'll find the public bar and dining room as well as a vine-covered beer garden that's simply made for summer drinking seshes. Grab a parmy, some cheesy poutine chips, burgers and some craft beers or go a little fancier. Taste your way through some of The White Cockatoo's impressive selection of wines, pairing the drops with a great cut of steak or some crispy skin barramundi. [caption id="attachment_904456" align="alignnone" width="1920"] KW Photography[/caption] Alternatively, make all your decisions based on the daily pub deals. Mondays are for 'pint parties' when all schooners are automatically supersized to pints. Tuesdays are all about cheap tinnies. Trivia is hosted here every Wednesday. On Thursday nights, pub members go in the draw to win a cash prize. And Fridays see the locals pack in for the free meat raffle. You can even live at The White Cockatoo. Not behind the bar, but in one of the 20 recently renovated pub-style rooms — each kitted out with a queen bed, flat-screen TV, wardrobe and lounge. Plus, they have access to a fully equipped kitchen, laundry and shared facilities. Call this top-notch neighbourhood pub home for the night, or even a couple of weeks. It's one of our personal favourites for a reason. Appears in: The Best Pubs in Sydney
Back in 2015, when word arrived that the Flinders Street Station Ballroom would be brought back to life after three decades of sitting dormant, no one could've imagined the wonders that it has gone on to hold. Skywhale artist Patricia Piccinini filled it with twisted flowers and otherworldly creatures. Street-art legend Rone decked it out with a new immersive artwork. For RISING 2025, now an art exhibition that's also a nine-hole mini-golf course is temporarily moving in. When it takes over Melbourne each winter, RISING is always all about giving the Victorian capital — and Australia — brand-new experiences. As popular as putt putt is around the country, Swingers: The Art of Mini Golf is definitely a unique addition to the major annual arts festival's 2025 lineup. The event has enlisted female-identifying and gender-diverse artists to design mini-golf holes at the Flinders Street Station Ballroom, and is inviting RISING attendees — plus anyone in Melbourne for a couple of months after the festival — to get swinging at the three-month-long pop-up. While RISING itself will run from Wednesday, June 4–Sunday, June 15 in 2025, Swingers: The Art of Mini Golf will kick off on the fest's opening day but keep letting folks get putting until Sunday, August 31. When you're tap, tap, tapping, you'll be navigating greens designed by Kajillionaire filmmaker and All Fours writer Miranda July, Australian artists Kaylene Whiskey and Nabilah Nordin, Japan's Saeborg, the United Kingdom's Delaine Le Bas, and Indonesia's Natasha Tontey. Expect surreal, mindbending creations — whether July is riffing on her latest book's name with an 'all fores' setup, Whiskey is merging pop culture and Anangu traditions, latex creatures are a feature courtesy of Saeborg or Le Bas is working in embroidery, to name just a few of the details set to star. Swingers: The Art of Mini Golf is RISING 2025's first program announcement — and if you're keen to find out what else is in store, the full roster arrives in March. For this certain highlight of the fest, as well as a mini golf-meets-art mashup, there'll also be a Swingers Clubhouse, aka a pop-up Archie Rose Distilling Co bar, for when you're done swinging. As for what inspired the piece, "the history of mini golf is surprisingly subversive and sits at the heart of this project," explains RISING Senior Curator Grace Herbert, who developed Swingers: The Art of Mini Golf. "It's been incredible to see how each artist has taken this on. Alongside playing mini golf and experiencing the artworks, you might have your fortune told, travel to desert country, become a human-animal hybrid or even find yourself singing along to Dolly Parton." "RISING is about creating collective experiences and Swingers continues that tradition. Bringing such unique artistic minds into the creation of a nine-hole course is a literal game-changer. I can't wait to see audiences step up and take their shot," added RISING Co-Artistic Directors Hannah Fox and Gideon Obarzanek. RISING 2025 runs from Wednesday, June 4–Sunday, June 15 across Melbourne — and Swingers: The Art of Mini Golf will run from Wednesday, June 4–Sunday, August 31, extending past the festival. Head to the event's website for further information. Images: Eugene Hyland.
Keen to escape the realities of 2020 for a little bit? We don't blame you, it's been a pretty wild ride. Helping you go back to simpler times this November and December is Hoyts Cinemas, with its new retro series the Best of the Classics. First up, the entertainment company is screening a heap of flicks from the 1970s and 1980s, full of lo-fi special effects, bad fashion, epic stunts, nail-biting adrenaline and cheesy one-liners. In other words, the ideal antidote to our current reality. Every week till December 2, Hoyts Cinemas across Sydney will be screening 70s horror and 80s action blockbusters, so you can get your cinematic chills and thrills on the big screen this spring. From the 70s, expect Ridley Scott's Alien, the 1976 adaptation of Stephen King's Carrie, William Friedkin's The Exorcist and everyone's favourite shark film, Jaws. If you're more keen on action-packed cinema, then catch Bruce Willis in the OG Die Hard, James Cameron's sci-fi thriller Aliens or Arnold Schwarzenegger in The Terminator and Predator. Sessions dates and times vary for each participating Hoyts cinema, so best to check the Hoyts Best of the Classics program here before booking in your next movie date. [caption id="attachment_788789" align="alignnone" width="1920"] 'Alien'[/caption] Find your closest Hoyts Cinema here — then check out the Best of the Classics program and book your seats. Top images: 'Predator' and 'Die Hard'
It's the main reason most of Sydney has made their way to Good Food Month over the last couple of years, and in 2017, the ever-popular Night Noodle Markets are back — and they're bigger than ever. Sure, every event says that these days — but the fact that 40 different stalls will converge on Hyde Park for a whopping 18 nights this October makes the claim seem pretty accurate. Among the spoils will be all manner of noodles, dumplings and other delights from Mr Bao, Din Tai Fung, Hoi Pinoy, Indu and House of Crabs. For dessert, Gelato Messina will predictably be back with a menu of pure wonder (including a deep-fried gelato katsu sandwich) and Black Star Pasty will return for another year. The markets will again take place in Hyde Park, which will also be — for the first time — a festival hub for the month. It's inspired by California's Palm Springs, dubbed 'Hyde Park Palms' and designed by Sydney design studio Caroline Beresford (The Cannery). The hub will host a bunch of talks, parties and feasts, starting on October 5 with an opening night party overseen by The Rockpool Group. The markets will run from Thursday, October 5 until Sunday, October 22. They'll be open Monday and Tuesday 5-9pm, Wednesday and Thursday 5–10pm, Friday 5–11pm, Saturday 4–10pm, and Sunday 4–9pm. Entry is free but the place — if other years are anything to go by — will be packed. Image: Bec Taylor.
Butter — Sydney's palace of fried chicken, sneakers, champagne and ramen — is adding yet another layer to its already over-the-top offering. It's bringing back its bottomless brunch at both its Surry Hills and Parramatta stores for summer, relaunching on Saturday, December 7 and running every Saturday and Sunday thereafter. On offer are venue's beloved fried chicken, sides and doughnuts, along with an optional 90 minutes of bottomless booze. As is, the brunch banquet ($38 a person) comes with fried chicken wings or mushrooms, fried haloumi and a heap of sides and sauces (including fries, corn, pickles and that gravy). Oh, and you'll get dessert, too — a hot cinnamon doughnut. Known to go all out, the restaurant is also offering three different bottomless booze options. Choose from Chandon blanc de blanc ($39), Hennessy lemon iced tea punch ($50) and Veuve Clicquot ($80). What ever you choose, you'll get endless pours of it for 90 minutes. And, in true Butter style, a limited-edition Butter X Hennessy basketball is also up for grabs — to win it, you'll need to Instagram your brunch and tag @butter. As always, the brunches are sure to get busy, so reserve your spot over here. Butter's bottomless brunch is happening every Saturday and Sunday from 11.30am–3pm at Butter in Surry Hills and Parramatta.
Come lunch — or straight after work — get away from your sitting habit with a run around the Sydney Opera House and Mrs Macquarie's Chair. This is, quite possibly, one of the most scenic city running routes on the planet. To conquer the entire thing, start under the Harbour Bridge (on the southern side), pass along Circular Quay, dash across the Opera House forecourt and spring into the Royal Botanic Gardens to follow the foreshore to Mrs Macquarie's Chair. This isn't a chair, exactly, but a bench carved from sandstone — the handiwork of convicts in 1810 — to provide Governor Lachlan Macquarie's wife, Elizabeth, with an outdoor seat overlooking the water. Image: @alamogordo333 via Instagram.
Just west of Sydney CBD, across the sparkling waters of Darling Harbour, you'll find Pyrmont. It's famously the home to a number of tourist hot spots, including Sydney Fish Market, the Powerhouse Museum and The Star. But, beyond these legendary landmarks, there's a cornucopia of quirky restaurants, small bars, cafes and friendly pubs to explore. Begin your day with Egyptian bakery treats, stop for lunch in a 177-year-old pub and finish up with a degustation where Italian fare meets Japanese influences. In between eats, step into the future at the Powerhouse Museum and catch some live jazz in a New York-style club. Here are ten places in Pyrmont that you really, really shouldn't miss. Plus, for a few more hot tips, check out our video above for Terminus Hotel venue manager Luke Reimann's favourite spots around the suburb.
