Drones: if filmmakers aren't deploying them to capture bird's-eye sights, they're making thrillers about their use and impact. Expect plenty of the former at Drone Film Festival Australia + New Zealand, as lofty visuals get their time to shine — and swoop, soar, float, glide and more. Touring Australia throughout September and October, the fest showcases 36 unique short drone films, stories and documentaries from around the world, including those made by filmmakers, production companies and everyday drone hobby enthusiasts. It's the kind of cinematic package those not so fond of heights mightn't be eager to see, so consider yourself warned. For the rest of us, however, it's a chance to look at the world from a whole new vantage. Last year's highlights included superhero-like tales, jaunts through natural and urban spaces, and even a beer odyssey, as filmmaking took to the skies thanks to the latest unmanned aerial technology. Expect a whole new crop when the festival comes to Dendy Newtown on October 3 for a one-night-only stopover.
Whether you love 70s tunes, are obsessed with 80s tracks, live for the 90s or can't get enough 00s vibes, getting a musical blast from the past is rather easy in Australia at the moment. Every week or so, an iconic name seems to be dropping tour dates — from Red Hot Chili Peppers, Elton John and Beck through to Blink-182, the Backstreet Boys and Vengaboys, plus everyone from TISM to TLC. The latest to join the list: Sir Rod Stewart and Cyndi Lauper. They're teaming up and coming Down Under in 2023 for a string of dates across arenas and wineries. Yes, that means that 'Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?', 'Tonight's The Night (Gonna Be Alright),' 'Time After Time' and 'Girls Just Want To Have Fun' are all going to get a whirl at the same gig. Stewart is the headliner, with a huge focus on his hits, including 'You Wear It Well', 'You're In My Heart', 'Sailing', 'Rhythm Of My Heart' and 'Maggie May' as well across a massive two-hour set. But having Lauper onboard is a huge drawcard, whether you love 'True Colours' or appreciate her Tony Award-winning work on the Kinky Boots musical, where she became the first solo woman to win the acclaimed prize for Best Original Score (music and lyrics). She'll play for an hour before Stewart. The pair will be joined by Noiseworks and INXS' Jon Stevens — playing arena shows in Perth, Melbourne, Adelaide, Sydney and the Hunter Valley. If you're a wine-and-dance kind of gig-goer, all three are also gracing the stage in Geelong, Mount Cotton and Bowral as part of A Day on the Green, too. ROD STEWART'S THE HITS! AUSTRALIAN 2023 TOUR WITH CYNDI LAUPER DATES: Saturday, March 11 — RAC Arena, Perth Tuesday, March 14 — Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Tuesday, March 21 — AEC Arena, Adelaide Wednesday, March 29 — Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Saturday, April 1 — Roche Estate, Hunter Valley A DAY ON THE GREEN DATES: Saturday, March 18 — Mt Duneed Estate, Geelong Saturday, March 25 — Sirromet Wines, Mount Cotton Sunday, April 2 — Centennial Vineyards, Bowral Rod Stewart and Cyndi Lauper are touring Australia in March and April 2023. For more information about the arena shows, head to the Live Nation website. For the A Day on the Green shows, head to the festival's website. Tickets for all gigs go on sale at 1pm local time on Thursday, November 17.
It was true in the first season of Nine Perfect Strangers, and it appears accurate in season two as well: for the guests invited to stay with wellness guru Masha Dmitrichenko (Nicole Kidman, Holland) at her choice of luxe retreat, little is what it seems. This time, the Austrian Alps is the group's destination. The setting has changed, and the nine perfect strangers are also all different; however, as the just-dropped trailer shows, this series is still plunging its characters and viewers into a mystery. While the initial season of Nine Perfect Strangers was shot in Byron Bay, the second definitely wasn't, given that the Australian spot can't double for frosty European climes. The cast around Kidman in season two starts with Henry Golding (The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare), Lena Olin (The Darkness), Annie Murphy (Fingernails), Christine Baranski (The Gilded Age), Dolly de Leon (Jackpot!) and Mark Strong (Dune: Prophecy). Murray Bartlett (The Last of Us) also features, after starring so memorably in The White Lotus' first season. Also joining him and the above actors: Lucas Englander (The Day of the Jackal), King Princess, Maisie Richardson-Sellers (Wolf Hall) and Aras Aydin (To Betray). The storyline again charts the titular cohort as they're summoned by Masha to a transformational wellness retreat —" because sometimes, you shouldn't deal with pain gently", she tells them. Healing her guests, and helping them recharge and "rediscover inspiration", isn't the only thing on the agenda. The group unsurprisingly have their questions and suspicions. As proved the case in season one, too, their host is also on her own quest. Call Nine Perfect Strangers season two's arrival — from Thursday, May 22, 2025 Down Under via Prime Video, dropping weekly episodes — a case of great timing if you love watching things going awry at lavish resorts on super-scenic getaways, plus digging into star-studded small-screen mysteries. Call it a trend repeating as well. In 2021, within the space of mere months in the middle of the year, the debut season of The White Lotus hit, followed by the first season of Nine Perfect Strangers. Four years later, The White Lotus is a season ahead of Nine Perfect Strangers, but they're both back. David E Kelley (Presumed Innocent) remains one of the driving forces behind Nine Perfect Strangers — and author Liane Moriarty (The Last Anniversary), who wrote the novel that the first season was based on, is one of its executive producers again. As a result, Kidman continues her link with both. Kelley was also behind Big Little Lies, which, like Nine Perfect Strangers, also adapted a book by Moriarty. While The Undoing didn't initially stem from the Australian writer's pen, it did connect Kidman and Kelley. Nine Perfect Strangers' new on-screen lineup follows in the footsteps of an equally starry group: Melissa McCarthy (Only Murders in the Building), Michael Shannon (The Bikeriders), Luke Evans (Weekend in Taipei) and Asher Keddie (Fake), plus Bobby Cannavale (Unstoppable), Regina Hall (O'Dessa), Samara Weaving (Azrael), Melvin Gregg (Fight Night), Grace Van Patten (Tell Me Lies), Tiffany Boone (Mufasa: The Lion King), Manny Jacinto (The Acolyte) and Zoe Terakes (The Office), who all starred in the first season. Check out the trailer for season two of Nine Perfect Strangers below: Nine Perfect Strangers season two streams from Thursday, May 22, 2025 in Australia and New Zealand via Prime Video. Images: Prime Video / Reiner Bajo.
UPDATE, December 23, 2020: The Midnight Sky is screening in select cinemas in Sydney, and will also be available to stream via Netflix from Wednesday, December 23. It has been four years since George Clooney last appeared in a movie, dating back to 2016's Hail, Caesar! and Money Monster. Accordingly, while The Midnight Sky definitely isn't a documentary, the fact that it features the actor at his most bearded and reclusive instantly feels fitting. Also noteworthy: that this sci-fi drama joins the small but significant list of films that combine the star and space, following Solaris and Gravity. Clooney has everything from TV medical dramas and sitcoms to heist flicks, action fare, rom-coms and a stint as Batman on his resume, of course. He's a versatile actor, and an Oscar-winning one, too (for 2005's Syriana). But 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. Clooney plays workaholic research scientist Dr Augustine Lofthouse and, although The Midnight Sky rockets into space, 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 a crew on the spaceship Aether, 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. Consequently, films about folks marooned in the great black expanse, dealing with the fallout of a pioneering journey and/or trying to make contact — whether those in space's depths are attempting to chat to earth, trying to find others lost in the same situation, or being sought by the people left on terra firma — reach screens every year. The Midnight Sky proves familiar as a result; if you've watched Clooney's other space-set features, or Interstellar, The Martian, Ad Astra, Contact or 2001: A Space Odyssey, you'll spy elements you've seen before. Although adapted from Lily Brooks-Dalton's 2016 novel Good Morning, Midnight, that screenwriter Mark L Smith is on scripting duties also adds a number of recognisable components. He penned the screenplay for The Revenant, another tale of survival against an unwelcoming terrain. Here, he has graduated from the wilds of 19th-century America to one of the globe's frostiest and most isolated spots, as well as all that lingers outside of the planet's atmosphere. The Midnight Sky isn't merely an exercise in flinging derivative parts out into the beyond and seeing what comes back, however. The key, both on-and off-screen, is Clooney. When the film spends time with the Aether's astronauts, 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 Augustine to head there as well, or for the feature to plummet back down to earth to join him once more. As the movie's focal point, Clooney is as soulful and grizzled as he's ever been. As a filmmaker, he certainly gifts himself the feature's best moments. But in the latter guise, he's also aware that films about space are films about connection, including to routines and everyday moments — so the fact that Sully and company's exploits feel well-worn, including a climactic sequence involving an action-packed space walk, cleverly reinforces that idea. Unmistakably, this is a big-thinking and big-feeling feature. Its characters grapple with life, love and loss — aka what it means to be human, and to have lived — while also confronting the reality that the world they know is changing forever. It's purely coincidental, but The Midnight Sky overflows with 2020-esque inclusions, too. Having your sense of normality ripped away, spending time alone trying to reach out to others, and endeavouring to find a route back to the existence we once knew but may never again in quite the same way couldn't be more relatable (and that's just from the pandemic; parallels with climate change are also unsurprisingly rife). Amidst the obligatory outer space sing-alongs, as well as the smattering of life-and-death incidents, these concepts land as thoughtfully as intended. It helps that, spanning not only himself but also Jones, Oyelowo, Chandler, Bichir and Boone, Clooney has amassed an impressive cast. His co-stars mightn't be playing the most fleshed-out figures, script-wise, and may not match the actor/director in terms of screen presence, but the same uncertainty and yearning lingers in their portrayals. The script's use of flashbacks to Augustine's past are less convincing, as is their importance to The Midnight Sky's third act via a plot development that's easy to predict. Alexandre Desplat's (Little Women) score also falls on the heavy-handed side, stressing the mood and tone in an unnecessarily forceful way — especially given that Martin Ruhe's (Catch-22) cinematography is aptly pensive and probing, particularly in its earth-bound visuals. Still, Clooney is a skilled filmmaker. He has demonstrated that again and again since he first jumped behind the lens with 2002's excellent Confessions of a Dangerous Mind and 2005's masterful Good Night, and Good Luck, and it's clear here as well. The Midnight Sky isn't his greatest achievement as a director in general or as an actor in a space flick, but it's an involving, engaging and poignant addition to his resume on both counts. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gb8ZbP6qAzE&feature=youtu.be
Hanami and Japan go hand in hand, but what if you could indulge in the art of flower viewing a bit closer to home? Well, that's where the Sydney Cherry Blossom Festival comes in. It's an annual celebration of everyone's favourite pink flora in Sydney's west. Between Saturday, August 20–Sunday, August 28, the Auburn Botanic Gardens will transform its Japanese Gardens into a beautiful, blooming wonderland. Across the nine days, you'll be able to ramp up your appreciation of the fleeting natural phenomena that is cherry blossom season by viewing the eye-catching blooms in the lead-up to spring. Tis the season, after all. And taking in the spectacular scenery isn't the only thing you'll be doing. There'll also be an array of Japanese food trucks serving sakura burgers, onigiri, cherry blossom-themed waffles or bubble tea, and cakes from Tokyo Lamington. There will also be a range of activities like a putt-putt golf course, music from Parramatta foodie DJ Levins, a mocktail bar and roaming appearances from Hello Kitty. Tickets cost $11.75 for general admission and are free for Cumberland residents and children 16 years and under. The event will run from 9am–5pm daily with each visitor booking in a 45-minute timeslot to attend. Images: Destination NSW.
Not only a destination to soak in crystal-clear waters during the warmer months and explore undeveloped islands, New Zealand's Far North has a food culture worthy of shouting from the rooftops. With a big focus on seasonal produce, menus are ever-changing and no two visits to the Bay of Islands will taste the same. Thanks to its handy placement on the fringe of the world's largest ocean, you can expect to lap up an abundance of seafood plus locally made cheese, chocolates and wine all year round. This is your guide to eating and drinking in the Bay of Islands. Before even setting off on your island adventure, the outskirts of Kerikeri has a number of eateries worth swinging into. The Rusty Tractor is a good place to get a feel for the community and refuel with generous portions. The family-friendly cafe is the kind where everyone knows everyone. On this visit the barista could be found hopping between the coffee machine and working in the gardens, while another local was spotted making himself at home behind the counter for a chat. The menu offers a contemporary (and hefty) take on breakfast classics, including mince on toast with poached eggs and onion rings, mushrooms in a cobb loaf with pea and feta salsa verde, and cinnamon sugared doughnuts. If you're in the business of caffeine, the cafe uses first-rate Supreme beans and has the option of a four-shot coffee bucket. If you have an afternoon to wile away, Marsden Estate is a short trip from the airport. At the winery you can enjoy an educational wine tasting before settling on your preferred varietal. We also suggest grabbing the antipasto platter of local cheeses, handmade terrine, dips and spreads and perching under the vines in the courtyard. Afterwards, take a stroll around the subtropical vineyard gardens with another glass of vino in hand. [caption id="attachment_986518" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Old Packhouse Market[/caption] For something on the run (especially if you're around on a weekend), head to The Old Packhouse Market. Found in Kerikeri, literally in an old packhouse, the weekly gathering of more than 100 vendors is the perfect spot to load up on supplies before heading off on a road trip. Expect to pick up everything from homemade pies to raw milk, deep-fried oyster po' boys and fruit and vegetables from producers that reside just around the corner. Enjoy your finds while listening to live music, receiving a palm reading or getting a reflexology massage. Across the road is another must-visit attraction. As soon as you enter Makana Confections the smell from the adjoining factory will be tugging on your heartstrings. The best part is that free samples are handed out upon arrival in the gift shop so you can try before you buy — you'll also see staff crafting the exact same thing through the window, so you know it's fresh. The cafe offers a lineup of gelato, chocolate truffles, cakes and slices for dine-in or takeaway. While you're in Kerikeri, head to Cafe Jerusalem for authentic Israeli cuisine that encapsulates the flavours of the Levant. En route to Russell, you'll pass through Paihia. Here you'll have the option of quick bites spanning kebabs, pizza and ribs. On the other side of the one-way bridge from the township lies the official birthplace of New Zealand, Waitangi. As part of the historical Waitangi Treaty Grounds you can enhance your visitor experience by witnessing the unveiling of a traditional hāngi — a Māori method of cooking in the earth with hot stones. Hāngi chefs will introduce the cooking process before you tuck into the feast. [caption id="attachment_986502" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Paroa Bay Winery[/caption] Once off the car ferry en route to Russell, make a short detour for Paroa Bay Winery, a family-owned property set against the rolling hills and overlooking Paroa Bay. The boutique vineyard has a big focus on sustainability, using techniques of dry-grown vines across chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, syrah, cabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon, malbec and merlot. Go for a tasting flight and stay for the Mediterranean and European-inspired menu at onsite restaurant, Sage. With its award-winning restaurant set right on the water, The Duke of Marlborough is a pristine destination to stop in Russell for a bite to eat. The property was erected in 1827 and later became the first licensed hotel in New Zealand. The property still retains its vintage appeal; the rooms are grand with high ceilings, the walls are covered with marine memorabilia and the solid furniture certainly has a story to tell. The restaurant is all about showcasing local seasonal produce and modern interpretations of classic favourites. You can expect to sample local oysters or oven-roasted fish that was caught directly in front of the hotel. The beverage list is extensive with over 100 wines and 30 beers from the Bay of Islands to Burgundy. The wine tasting rack is a good option for indecisive diners, offering three generous samples to sip back as the sun drops over the inlet. [caption id="attachment_986497" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Gables[/caption] Just down the main strip from The Duke is The Gables, the oldest licensed restaurant in the country. The building was originally built by an immigrant shoemaker who purchased the land from a Māori chief. It's now owned by Robert and Jenny Loosley, who have retained the old world charm and a collection of documents — including the original deed of sale. The kitchen aims to showcase classic New Zealand flavours, with fresh local seafood and grass-fed meat big players on the menu. Elsewhere is Hone's Garden in the warmer months offers wood-fired pizza, fresh beer and friendly community vibes; and Hell Hole is a great option to start your day with loaded bagels and fresh coffee. GETTING THERE Kerikeri Airport is the region's main port of call. From Auckland Airport it's a breezy 50-minute flight to the sleepy terminal. Alternatively, it will take you just over three hours to drive from Auckland to Paihia and Russell. Find your very own Aotearoa New Zealand here.
The annual festival Tiny Stadiums commissions emerging artists to transform the public spaces of Erskineville with their creative works (2011's was a blast). This year's festival again hopes to shake up the way that residents interact with the space around them, with a focus on place, site and access. Join festival curators Groundwork and the 2012 festival artists for a one-evening discussion at Newtown Library. Tiny Stadiums in Conversation will explore the importance of this socially engaged and site-specific art genre. Once you are prepped and knowledgeable on the subject, be sure to check out the public art sites when they are installed in June. Tiny Stadiums in Conversation is free, but you will still need to reserve a spot.
This event is over. For the April 2014 round of World Movies Secret Cinema, go here. World Movies will bring Secret Cinema to Sydney next month, transforming a mystery downtown building into a lavish cinema just for the night. The film to be screened, similarly, will be revealed on the night of the event. The only disclosed details on the film describe it as award-winning and oh-so-scandalously rebellious — so much so that some countries have banned it. Intrigued yet? Us too. Secret Cinema aims to present cinema as an active experience rather than a passive diversion, immersing the audience through elaborate venue theming. London's huge-scale version has become iconic, re-creating LA's Chinatown in 2019 for Bladerunner and a 1950s Algerian casbah for The Battle of Algiers. For World Movies' Secret Cinema, the first attempt at a similar project in Sydney, the exact inner-city location will be revealed to attendees via text message on the day of the event. Guests will be greeted with a drink upon arrival, and enjoy themed food throughout the evening — all included in the original ticket price. After the film, stick around for the afterparty and live DJ. Tickets go on sale April 18. Check out World Movies' Facebook page for more details.
Before they were chasing storms in Twisters, the 28-years-later sequel to one of the disaster-film blockbusters of the 90s, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Glen Powell and Anthony Ramos were no strangers to whirlwinds. Filmmaker Lee Isaac Chung, who directs the Twister follow-up, swirls alongside them in the same category. The last few years have seen the careers of all four rise rapidly. Normal People made Edgar-Jones a star. Powell has enjoyed a Top Gun: Maverick, Anyone But You and Hit Man hot streak. Ramos is a Lin-Manuel Miranda favourite with an originating part — two actually — in Hamilton and a lead role in the big-screen In the Heights adaptation. And Chung is fresh from drawing upon his own life in Minari, which won an Oscar and collected five more nominations, including for Best Director. How did this quartet end up following in the footsteps of Helen Hunt (Hacks) and the late Bill Paxton (The Circle), as well as cinematographer-turned-filmmaker (and Die Hard and Speed veteran) Jan de Bont? Chasing fun, valuing the chance to focus on the human side of weather wreaking havoc, bringing America's Tornado Alley to the screen, not only having a personal connection with the first film but wanting the second to feel personal: they're among the answers that Twisters three leads and its director shared with Concrete Playground. For Chung, growing up on the Oklahoma border means that he's also no stranger to tornadoes IRL. As a teenager in the 90s, he was mesmerised with the original Twister, as the entire world was. "That was a really big deal for me, and for my friends and for my family," he advises. Under his guidance — working with a script by The Boys in the Boat and The Revenant screenwriter Mark L Smith, which started with Top Gun: Maverick helmer Joseph Kosinski — Edgar-Jones, Powell and Ramos play storm obsessives on a mission. Make that missions, plural, beginning in college. At first Edgar-Jones' Kate and Ramos' Javi are on the road attempting to establish that tornadoes can be tamed. Then, tragedy strikes. Five years later, the pair reteam to scan the seasonal gusts that terrorise the US heartland, using portable radars that Javi has built a business around, albeit with now New York-based meteorologist Kate reluctant to be back out in the field and Javi leaving the details of his funding out of their conversation. Also seeking the same squalls is Powell's swaggering Tyler Owens, who prefers livestreaming his crew's exploits — and being a "tornado wrangler", merchandise and all — over taking the ultra-professional ethos sported by Javi's team. As Edgar-Jones and Ramos do with their characters, he ensures that this is a part that feels like only he could've slipped into. Indeed, Twisters doesn't enlist its impressive main on-screen trio just to get them caught up in the well-staged spectacle and action. [caption id="attachment_965979" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for Warner Bros.[/caption] No one gets out of the film without battling wild weather, of course, a process that's "like being in a washing machine, really", Edgar-Jones explains. "A great dirty washing machine," Powell adds. That said, the naturalistic imagery that Chung and cinematographer Dan Mindel (Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker) paint their tale with, favouring an aesthetic approach that makes Twisters visually resemble Minari more than the standard disaster flick, also mirrors the film's handling of Kate, Javi and Tyler. There's always storms to chase, plus run from, with special effects proving both pivotal and phenomenally convincing; however, there's also a genuine sense of character as its key threesome face devastating vortexes alongside their own baggage. Appreciating the communities impacted by destructive gales feels equally as authentic. If it seems like a leap for Chung to hop from Minari to here, he went via an episode of The Mandalorian — and that his latest movie falls in the middle of those two extremes, even if it might appear closer to the latter on paper, also came up in our chat. With Twisters in cinemas Down Under since Thursday, July 11, 2024, we also spoke with Edgar-Jones, Powell, Ramos and Chung about tackling a sequel to a beloved film after almost three decades, perfecting the right look, the human element of the narrative and more, including preparing to play the resident cowboy who wants to shoot flares into the storm. "I always came to set with fireworks and rockets," Powell jokes. "Nobody ever knew when I was just going to fire those things off." On Twisters Falling in the Middle of Minari and The Mandalorian Isaac: "After I made Minari, I was editing Minari and watching The Mandalorian — that's where I decided I'd love to do an episode of The Mandalorian, just because I fell in love with that TV show. When I worked on that show, it was so much VFX work, so much work on these LED screens and on a stage that, in taking Twisters, I wanted to bring our production back out to the field and back out to Oklahoma. So it did feel like it was kind of zigging and zagging and trying to figure out what I've learned from Minari, what I've learned from The Mandalorian, trying to bring those two things together in some way." On the Appeal of Chasing Tornadoes On-Screen Anthony: "It sounds fun — and that's kind of the biggest appeal. It's something that I never thought I'd ever do. And to work with this team has been a dream. It's cool, just the thought of going out into Oklahoma and driving trucks and being in the elements out there, and working with an incredible cast — I think that's what made it so appealing. That's what made it sound like 'hey, this is something I want to do, sounds fun'." On How Growing Up on the Oklahoma Border Influenced Chung's Decision to Direct Twisters Isaac: "That was a hugely influential part of taking on this project. I felt like growing up, there aren't many big films, blockbuster films, that take place in that world. And when Twister came out, that was a really big deal for me, and for my friends and for my family. And I remember that being really special. When I saw that this project was happening, I thought it was just a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to go back to where I grew up with a big tentpole action movie. So absolutely, that was a huge part of that decision-making." On Ensuring That This Is a Disaster Film with a Strong Human Element Daisy: "I think that was a big part of why I was so excited to be involved with this film. I'd watched Minari — I'm such a huge fan of that film and Isaac as a filmmaker — and obviously that's got a very indie sensibilities, very character-driven. And so when I heard he was making Twisters, I was so curious to see what that mixture would be like, someone who has this real interest in detail and interpersonal dynamics, but also this huge scale, this blockbuster feel. And so I think that was what was so exciting when we were involved, that all of the characters feel very beautifully drawn out. It's imbued with a lot of reverence for nature, but it also has this fun, this scale, this adrenaline to it. And I just think Isaac did such a remarkable job of really making all the individual characters feel so grounded in truth. As an actor, that's the thing I'm most excited about: to represent people truthfully." On Taking on a Sequel to a Film That's Widely Adored — and Making It Personal Isaac: "It really makes it very challenging because everybody has their own reason for loving that previous work. I'd encountered that already when I was working on the Star Wars shows, which I think Star Wars audiences are maybe the least forgiving, because I love that world so much. So I got my feet wet already with the idea of 'how do I honour something that a lot of people love for very good reasons, and still try to bring in my personal side and my own spin to things?'. In general, what I find with audiences is that if you really start with that love and appreciation for something, then they come around to whatever you choose to do as long as you're really honouring. So that was my approach with this. I wanted to honour that first film, but also make it personal to myself." On What Goes Into Playing the Resident Cowboy Storm Chaser Who Wants to Shoot Fireworks Into the Wild Weather Glen: "At the end of the day, it's Kate's journey to rediscover something she loves, something that should give her a lot of joy. And so Tyler's role in this movie is just to remind Kate why chasing something that gives you joy is the greatest pursuit of your life. And so it's fun to show up in a cowboy hat and jeans, and cowboy boots and drive trucks across the Oklahoma plains, and shoot rockets into the sky. I recommend it. It's a good way to go to work." On Favouring Naturalistic Cinematography That Grounds the Film Over a Glossy Action-Blockbuster Sheen Isaac: "I worked with an incredible cinematographer named Dan Mindel, and he's a real legend behind the camera. When he came on board, we were already talking about old western movies like The Searchers, we were talking about Kurosawa. We wanted to create a sense of place and space, and also evoke a feeling of a western with this movie. And then when we knew that we were going to be filming a rodeo, we wanted it to really feel like rodeo photography from the 1970s in magazines. So there was a lot of that thought going into the process to bring out the texture of the place. And hopefully that comes through. It was just a real joy working with him." On Filming Action Scenes in a Movie That's Not Only About Tornado Season in Oklahoma, But Was Shot During Tornado Season in Oklahoma Daisy: "Every scene felt quite laced with irony in the sense that we would have to shut down filming pretty constantly for actual weather, to then start filming again to then recreate the weather we had to shut down for. It was so incredible to really be in Oklahoma during storm season. There were a lot of tornadoes that did touch down while we were filming, and weather like I've never seen before, but it really helped us imbue the whole thing with truth. And everybody we met that was there, that were background artists from Oklahoma, they were chasers, they were also Red Cross workers, it really helped, I think, to imbue the film with as much truth as possible. The actual filming of tornado sequences is just sort of wild. It's like being in a washing machine, really. You don't really know what's happening." Glenn: "A great dirty washing machine." Daisy: "You're just hoping that there's some acting happening, but you're just kind of in it." Anthony: "Yeah, if you're getting pelted with wind and your face, you can't help but to make a face because you're getting rained on, there's dirt all over you. I see stills of me in some of the scenes that we shot, and I'm dusty and my clothes are filthy — and that's what you want when you shoot this kind of movie. You want to be in it. You want to feel that, and they were so good about making sure that we did it." Twisters opened in cinemas Down Under on Thursday, July 11, 2024. Read our review.
In its third year, Immanent Landscape brings eight Australian and Japanese artists' works to Sydney. The project, which previously exhibited in Melbourne and Japan, explores the contemporary relationship between the opposing interior and exterior worlds. Encompassing a variety of media, 'Immanent Landscape' features works of photography, drawing, printmaking, and installation. Utako Shindo, participating artist and project coordinator, thinks, Immanent Landscape is "highly sensuous and visceral, and stimulates the embedded shared memory in anticipation of some time and space." And while you may or may not find that its artworks set you adrift amidst a Jungian vision of collective unconscious, you're sure to find something affecting among its many landscapes to chew over inside. Other participating artists include Ai Sasaki, Atsunobu Katagiri, Hamish Carr, Hisaharu Motoda, Jeremy Bakker, Kiron Robinson, and Nobuaki Onishi. Image: Hamish Carr, Redistributing intimacy (detail)
Every Wednesday and Thursday night this autumn and winter, Handpicked Wines is hosting a series of Raclette Suppers at its cellar door in the Chippendale, bringing a taste of Europe's après-ski culture to Sydney. Melted cheese, served fresh from the wheel, is poured over plates of potatoes, confit mushrooms, heirloom tomatoes, cornichons and rocket. Cured meats such as Prosciutto di San Daniele and Jamón Ibérico de Bellota are optional extras. With the Handpicked Wine Maker's Flight, visitors can pair their cheese with wines from some of Australia's most renowned wine regions, including Margaret River, Coonawarra and Yarra Valley. According to Handpicked's Sydney Cellar Door Manager Andrew Robinson, the events "bring our team's passion for regionality onto your plate, with cheese and meat sourced from some of our favourite producers around the world. Combine it with our incredible wines from some of Australia's best-loved wine regions, and it's a match made in heaven." The dining event runs from 5.30–8.30pm every Wednesday and Thursday until the end of winter, and costs $20 per person without any additions. Walk-ins are welcome, but bookings are recommended at the website.
Every year, the picturesque coastal town of Kiama invites some of the world's biggest artists to the South Coast for the Changing Tides Festival. After selling out two years in a row, this summer ritual will be headlined by big international faves and homegrown Aussie stars on Saturday, November 22. Leading the lineup is UK heavyweight Sam Fender, fresh off a near sold-out Australian tour. Known for his raw lyricism and anthemic indie rock, and of course, his viral hit 'Seventeen Going Under', he's set to be a festival highlight. He's joined by Noah Cyrus, who'll showcase her hauntingly beautiful new album I Want My Loved Ones to Go With Me in what promises to be one of the more emotionally charged sets of the day. Adding to the energy are local favourites and 2015 winners of Triple J Hottest 100, The Rubens, ready with their sing-along classics. Surf-rock legends Skegss will also bring Aussie representation to the lineup, as well as local indie darlings The Rions and MAY-A. Rising UK star Holly Humberstone will also be joining the bill, plus the boys from The Inspired Unemployed's music outfit, Retired Gentlemen's League. Also on the lineup: Boy Soda, Chloe Parché, and a yet-to-be-announced Triple J Unearthed act. There will be plenty of curated food and drink offerings, all against the backdrop of the beautiful Kiama seaside. So if you plan on heading down for Changing Tides Festival, then we recommend staying a bit longer to enjoy all that Kiama has to offer. Tickets are now on sale via the website, but be sure to grab them early as they will likely sell out very soon. [caption id="attachment_1023260" align="alignnone" width="1920"] SKEGGS. Supplied.[/caption]
Launched in July, Bridge Street newcomer Ette Sydney has already captured the community with its fast fine-dining model. Now, the restaurant is bringing more excitement to Sydney's laneways with $10 happy hour specials and a $12 Ettespresso menu. Stop by on weekdays from 3.30–5.30pm to treat yourself to $10 limoncello spritz, house wine, prosecco or beer. Now, if that means clocking off work a little early, then so be it. Then, on Monday–Friday from 9–11pm, treat yourself to the espresso martini menu of your dreams. Choose from five bold twists on the classic espresso martini, including the mascarpone-infused Ettespresso, the spiced Double Black and the zesty chocolate orange. Headed up by acclaimed chef Adam Grimsley (ex-Icebergs, Jacksons on George), Ette's standout offering is its $9.50 snackEttes — punchy, rotating small plates like tuna tartare in a seaweed cone and charred lamb rib with baba ganoush. Heartier mains priced at $39 rotate daily under the Steak, Land, Sea and Grain menu, with current highlights including the yuzu beurre blanc-topped fish of the day and wild mushroom linguine finished with black truffle. The venue initially began as a weekday affair, but you can also now book in for Saturday dinner. Walk-ins are still welcome, but bookings are recommended. Open from Monday–Saturday until 2am, there's no excuse not to try the happy hour and espresso martini menu. Ette Sydney is open from Monday–Saturday from 11.30am-2pm. For more information, head to the website. Images: Steven Woodburn.
Love a hyperlocal brew? Two-step your way to Inner West Country Fest – a three-weekend celebration of music, food and community spread along the Inner West Ale Trail, home to 18 of the best independent brewers in the country. Held across Saturday, May 10–Sunday, May 11; Saturday, May 17–Sunday, May 18; and Saturday, May 24–Sunday, May 25, each weekend will burst to life with rodeo-ready vibes, from country and southern hip-hop tunes to smoked meat feasts, laneway dance parties and vinyl markets. Best of all, the entire program is walk-in friendly and completely free, with an array of highlights providing the perfect opportunity to kick up your boots. Launching the festivities on Saturday, May 10, is the Pickled Monkey Brewing Co., hosting a hot chilli-eating contest presented by Burnin' Bites Down Under. Then, Sauce Brewing Co. takes over on Sunday, May 11, with the Dance Country Party, where DJ Levins will host a disco-country dancehall extravaganza. On Saturday, May 17, Young Henrys teams up with First Nations creative collective Awesome Black for Mindjiigari Ngurru — From Sky to Country. With live music, cultural dance, basket weaving and storytelling, this powerful event sees ten First Nation artists and DJs celebrate inclusivity, cultural exchange and connection to Country. Meanwhile, the festival's second weekend also features the Awesome '80s Party at The Bob Hawke Beer & Leisure Centre. As for the final weekend, Future Brewing hosts Inner West chef Mitch Orr and pitmaster Jo Chewy on Saturday, May 24, for the Country Cookout, serving up crowd-pleasing cuisine. Then, the event goes out with a bang under the stars, as Wayward Brewing Co. shuts down its laneway for the Hoedown Throwdown Laneway Party, teeming with live bands, late-night dancing, a Texan-style BBQ menu and laid-back cornhole games.
Located a stone's throw from Newtown and just down the road from the Vic on the Park, The Factory Theatre is one of Sydney's often under-appreciated live music establishments. The multi-space venue offers up stages of all different sizes for musicians and comics. Every Sunday, it takes full advantage of its openair courtyard with a series of free gigs titled Free-kin Weekends. For the month of February, The Factory has announced a program of four live music day parties featuring an array of local talents spanning a slew of genres. Kicking things off on Sunday, February 6 is a triple-header of fresh faces in the Sydney indie rock and pop scene staring Georgia June, Salarymen and Green Screen — the latter of which features members of the bands The Buoys and Baby Beef. Other exciting acts you'll find on the February lineup include punk rockers Crocodylus and Dick Dudley, reggae rockers Rum Jungle and the soothing sounds of Wollongong favourite Stevan. While audience members won't be able to sing or dance during February due to current NSW restrictions, you'll still be able to catch some live music, sample craft brews from the venues bar and grab a bite to eat at one of the courtyard's food trucks.
On the big screen since late June, Baz Luhrmann's Elvis Presley biopic has already proven one for the money, and currently sits among the top ten box-office drawcards for 2022 so far. But if you've already seen it in cinemas and you're keen for a repeat date with Austin Butler as the king of rock 'n' roll, you can now get all shook up from your couch — yes, Elvis is the latest high-profile flick to release on digital while it's still showing in movie theatres. As always, the silver screen is the best possible setting for Luhrmann's step back into Presley's life. Butler's swinging hips and slicked-back pompadour deserve to be projected onto the largest surface possible. The film's unsurprisingly enormous playlist of tunes sounds a treat echoing out of cinema speakers, too. Still, giving audiences more choice when it comes to how, where and when they see movies — and catering for everyone who hasn't been able to make it to a big-screen showing so far — is always a great thing. Elvis follows in some pretty hefty footsteps this year alone, with everything from Dune, The Matrix Resurrections and Spencer through to West Side Story, Everything Everywhere All At Once and The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent doing the same thing. Yes, fast-tracking from the big to the small screen is that common. That doesn't make Elvis entering the building — your building — any less welcome. Thank you, thank you very much indeed. If you've somehow missed everything to do with Luhrmann's film, it sees Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and The Dead Don't Die actor Butler slip into Presley's blue suede shoes to play the music icon from his teenage years through to his death — covering everything from the singer's days on the carnival circus through to his Las Vegas residency. Fame, love, scandal, Graceland, drugs, stress, all those songs: yes, they're all included. Shot in Australia, Elvis also stars Tom Hanks (News of the World) as Presley's manager Colonel Tom Parker, alongside a wealth of local talent — including Olivia DeJonge (The Staircase) as Priscilla, Richard Roxburgh (Fires) as Presley's father Vernon, Oscar-nominee Kodi Smit-McPhee (The Power of the Dog) as singer Jimmie Rodgers and David Wenham (The Furnace) as country artist Hank Snow. Charting its namesake's rise not just to popularity, but to icon status; exploring the role that manager Parker played in that journey; showing the toll that such a life took, and what it says about America and pop culture: that's all in the movie's remit as well. That and some phenomenal live performance scenes that'll test out your home speakers. Check out the trailer for Elvis below: Elvis is currently screening in Australian cinemas, and is also available to stream online via video on demand — including via Google Play, YouTube Movies and iTunes. Read our full review.
If there's been a big, White Night-shaped hole in your social calendar since the famed Melbourne after-hours fiesta wrapped up its last edition in February 2018, you'll be happy to know it's making a return this August. Just be prepared for a very different experience, as the immersive festival makes some serious changes to its programming and farewells part of the late-night fun. As well as making the move from summer to the deep of winter, White Night Reimagined has swapped its previous one-night format for an expanded three-night affair. Interestingly, it's also scrapped the all-nighter aspect in the process. Instead of the usual 7pm–7am program, which has been in place since the festival's inaugural 2013 edition, White Night is this year running from 7pm until midnight on Thursday, August 22, and again on Friday, August 23, followed by a 7pm until 2am session on Saturday, August 24. The new curfew means punters will no longer get to experience what some might argue is one of White Night's biggest pulls — the adventure of roaming around town soaking up art and installations, right through until the wee hours. Although, frosty August probably isn't the best time of year for pre-sunrise wanderings, anyway. The new-format event has also expanded in scope, held across three key precincts with each boasting its own distinct theme. Treasury Gardens will take the form of the 'Sensory Realm', showcasing dazzling projections, lighting and audio installations, and interactive artworks inspired by the five senses. Here, you'll find British artist Michael Pinsky's immersive Pollution Pods, which represented the different environments of global cities; a musical and calming SongCloud; a colourful light and audiovisual installation called Cluster; as well as a giant floating Cocoon made from 1000 lights tied together by ropes. Carlton Gardens will be transformed into the mystical 'Spiritual Realm', featuring a huge ten-metre lion puppet by Melbourne artist Joe Blanck, along with illuminations sharing the stories of Indigenous Australia. And the 'Physical Realm' descends on Birrarung Marr, showcasing the Aussie debut of internationally acclaimed street theatre performance Globe, from a troupe of 41 acrobats, aerialists, singers and actors. Other famed Melbourne spots coming to the party include the Melbourne Museum, the National Gallery of Victoria and the State Library Victoria, all hosting their own programs of art, food and music. The rest of White Night Reimagined's extended program, including the music component, is set to be revealed in the coming weeks. Starting from 2020, White Night will also form part of a new and bigger winter festival, in conjunction with the Melbourne International Arts Festival (MIAF).
Nicolas Cage can do anything and he has the filmography to prove it, spanning standout performances playing ex cons, con men, heartbroken lumberjacks, a version of Spider-Man, lonely paramedics, kooky dads milking alpacas, John Travolta, Elvis obsessives and himself. He made a mighty fine — and unhinged — undead obsessive back in 1988's Vampire's Kiss, too, which is the one Cage movie everyone needs to see if they only ever watch one Cage movie. And, 35 years later, he's now giving Dracula the good ol' Cage spin. This might be one of the rare instances where Nicolas Cage sucks — but on purpose and in a good way, of course. Cage playing Dracula is a next-level idea, as sits at the heart of Renfield, which focuses on the titular minion and his toxic relationship with his bloodsucking boss. Giving audiences two Nicks for the price of one, Renfield boasts The Great's Nicholas Hoult as eponymous character, who is getting unsurprisingly tired of doing his master's bidding. Catering to a vampire's every whim for centuries, even when you're given considerable powers in return, is losing its bite for the literary offsider — who, like the Count himself, does indeed hail from Bram Stoker's iconic horror novel. But ending that relationship isn't going to be easy in Renfield, as both the first sneak peek earlier in 2023 and the just-dropped latest trailer make clear. The film's namesake is already doubting his allegiances to the Dark One and the Lord of Death when he crosses paths with traffic cop Rebecca Quincy (Awkwafina, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings) and sparks fly — just as his employer does. Accordingly, in two early glimpses that big on camp, Renfield mixes up its horror-comedy by giving its lead a love interest. And, if you're feeling shades of Hugh Grant in Hoult's performance, you're not alone. So far, Cage's Dracula doesn't run around the streets shouting "I'm a vampire! I'm a vampire! I'm a vampire!", as Cage did in Vampire's Kiss. Whether that ends up happening in Renfield won't be seen Down Under until the end of May. Filmmaker Chris McKay (The Lego Batman Movie) sits in the director's chair here, working with a script by Rick and Morty writer Ryan Ridley based on an idea by The Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman (an idea straight from everyone's dreams, too). And, joining Cage, Hoult and Awkwafina on-screen is a cast that also spans Ben Schwartz (The Afterparty) and Adrian Martinez (The Guilty). Check out the latest trailer for Renfield below: Renfield releases in cinemas Down Under on May 25.
Tarts Anon and Koko Black are both huge names in Melbourne's food scene, as are the folks who dream up all their delicious creations. Pastry Chef Gareth Whitton built Tarts Anon into one of the city's top cake shops, won Dessert Masters, is working on a new cookbook and even created a pressure test for MasterChef Australia. He's a household name, having also worked with teams at Mill Brewery, Gelato Messina, Al Dente Enoteca and Kori Ice Cream. Koko Black's Head Chocolatier Remco Brigou has been working in the world of chocolate since the age of 18, and has been an innovative tour de force at Koko Black for nearly eight years. He's also no stranger to partnering with other chefs, having worked with Lune, Connoisseur, Black Star Pastry and Tokyo Lamington. Now, these two giants in the sweet-toothed sphere of Melbourne's hospitality industry have come together for World Chocolate Day, creating a limited-edition chocolate and leatherwood honey tart. This decadent treat is only available from Friday, July 5–Sunday, July 7, at a few Koko Black stores across Melbourne and Sydney, and at both of Tarts Anon's Melbourne locations. We chatted with both Whitton and Brigou about collaborating on the new tart, and how valuable that these partnerships can be for both chefs' personal growth and the success of their businesses. We also touched upon the role that collaborations can play in helping hospitality companies stay afloat during these incredibly difficult times. On Coming Together to Create a Limited-Edition Chocolate Leatherwood Honey Tart Brigou: "World Chocolate Day is a very important day for us at Koko Black. It is the day that truly celebrates what we do, and for this special occasion we like to work with like-minded brands to create something amazing. The entire Koko Black team, myself included, have always been big fans of Tarts Anon — we'd often discuss how amazing the tarts are and how we would love to work with Gareth and the team one day. So, this was the perfect opportunity, and we reached out. After the first introduction call, we knew straight away that both our brands share the same values, beliefs and spirit for innovation and excellence. We knew straight away that this was going to be a great collaboration." Whitton: "We were asked to join forces with the team at Koko Black as part of their annual celebration of World Chocolate Day. After being such big fans of theirs as well as seeing the elite execution of their previous WCD activations, we were thrilled with the opportunity to work together. Remco and I got together after piecing together a few rough ideas, and chatted out some of these napkin sketches and how we could bring them to life. I had a format that I had in mind, we knew it had to involve chocolate, and we then fell on the idea of using the leatherwood honey honeycomb as inspiration. We also pulled from Remco's Belgian heritage with the peperkoek, plus a couple of textures and recipes that we use quite regularly at Tarts Anon." [caption id="attachment_925594" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Whitton's previous collaboration with Gelato Messina[/caption] On Why It's So Great to Work with Other Chefs Brigou: "For me personally, I love working on collaborations. It is a great way to meet amazing like-minded people in the industry, but it is also a great way to stay inspired. The richness that comes from sharing knowledge and ideas is very valuable to me, and it is something that I will always be thankful for." Whitton: "I always try to work with people who are either very similar to us, or completely opposite. Kinda like matching colours of clothing. Not similar enough, and it's hard to find a connecting point, but if it's either easily interchangeable or very complimentary, then it doesn't seem forced. It opens you up to new environments where you perhaps aren't as confined with your creativity, and also allows you to explore things that you wouldn't see day to day." On the Power of Partnerships to Help Businesses Get Through These Tough Times Brigou: "I think it is important for brands to work together, not only so we can all leverage from each other, but more importantly so we can create an experience to both our customers and maybe introduce our customers to a different brand that they maybe never heard from before." Whitton: "[Collaborations] are a (relatively) low-cost way of exploring new ventures, and keeping outgoings low is of the utmost importance in times like these. Particularly in branches of the industry that rely on seasonal trade (like ice cream, for example) it helps to collaborate with brands that thrive in cooler months to keep revenue coming in. The underlying issue that the industry faces is that the market is becoming so unbelievably saturated right now, which feeds the staffing crisis and the high turnover of businesses. There's a new competitor emerging every other week, so the revolving door of what's 'hot' is moving faster than ever. Collaborating is a good way to stay relevant and be ahead of the game." [caption id="attachment_833241" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Brigou's previous collaboration with Connoisseur. Image by Julia Sansone.[/caption] On What's Holding the Industry Back Right Now Whitton: "It's hard to be too optimistic in times like these, there are too many motivated and passionate people trying to grab a hold of a dwindling number of opportunities. The emergence and prevalence of the food blogger is giving a platform that previously only the passionate and culinarily educated had access to, to anyone with an opinion. Now Google reviews and social media are rife with ill-informed and sharp-tongued critics single-handedly destroying businesses, and politics are creeping deeper and deeper into our dining rooms. It seems nihilistic to say, but I fear that most people are too concerned about staying afloat themselves that we're all treading water right now. The amount of tax that small businesses pay is frankly obscene. This is the big killer — wages will always take the biggest chunk, but that is an investment in people. When significant amounts of money are routinely taken from you and continually hinder any opportunity to grow, you are faced with the grim reality of choosing between success in your business or compromising your values to solely chase revenue." On the Best Advice That Brigou and Whitton Have Ever Received From a Collaborator Brigou: "I have had the privilege to work with a lot of amazing people and all of them have taught me so much, whether it is techniques, flavour combinations, or the passion and determination to deliver a beautiful product. I also like to think I have inspired them as well and maybe even taught them something, because that is the beauty of collaborations. It is a two-way street and I feel that sharing knowledge and letting people discover new things is the heart of our industry." Whitton: "The best thing I have learnt from someone I've collaborated with is to understand what it is you want to get out of the partnership. Having a game plan instead of trying to just feature two representations of your brand side by side will always triumph. Quality over quantity." Gareth Whitton and Remco Brigou's limited-edition chocolate and leatherwood honey tart is only available from Friday, July 5–Sunday, July 7 at a few Koko Black stores across Melbourne and Sydney, and at both of Tarts Anon's Melbourne locations. For more information on where to get the tart, visit the collaborations's website.
Whether you've spent many afternoons lazing in the sun at your local park or you're just getting into picnics thanks to the NSW Government's recent outdoor recreation rules, no doubt you've got a swag of picnics planned this spring. And, as any seasoned picnicker knows, what you pack in your basket can make or break your al fresco afternoon. It's a fine balance between savoury snacks and sweet treats, and you want to be able to graze for hours — so bringing the right amount is crucial. Plus, if you're planning to bring booze, then you have even more decisions on your proverbial plate. We've teamed up with Rosie Spritz to bring you some perfect snack and spritz pairings for all your upcoming park hangs with mates. Why a spritz? Well, the fizzy Italo-style wine-based aperitivo has become synonymous with sunny days and laidback catch-ups, making it the ideal springtime picnic tipple. And because we take our picnic game seriously, we've divvied up our dreamy picnic feast into antipasto platters, more substantial snacks like sangas and salads, and delightful desserts — all matched with Rosie sips, of course. Whip up — or pick up — some of these tasty treats, grab a four-pack of Rosies and head to a park or beach within your LGA or five-kilometre bubble, pals, because picnic season is upon us. [caption id="attachment_826143" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Brooke Zotti[/caption] THE STARTER-PACK SPREAD WITH BUBBLY PROSECCO ROSÉ Any picnic worth going to will have a cheese platter. And, after so many months at home, you're going to want to do better than slices of Bega. You'll want a hard, a soft and a stinky — think smoked and aged cheddars, gooey camemberts and a fragrant roquefort. Luckily, Sydney has a heap of top-notch cheese shops where you can grab your stash, including Penny's Cheese Shop, The Stinking Bishops, Paesenella Food Emporium, Fourth Village Providore and Galluzzo's Fruiterers. Of course, you'll want to add some cured meats to that cheese board, for which we recommend LP Quality Meats' saucisson sec or a mixed charcuterie plate from Continental Deli's Newtown or CBD locations. If you want to emulate chic Italian vibes, then add some prosciutto-wrapped rockmelon to your basket. The creaminess of the cheese and salty hit from the charcuterie will complement the vibrant and crisp Rosie Prosecco Rosé you'll be sipping, too. Not only is it classy to kick things off with bubbles, but the tipple's notes of fresh pear, melon and wild strawberry are the perfect match for these rich snacks. If you're someone who goes all out on antipasto, then you'll also want to throw in some dips like taramasalata, baba ganoush, hummus...you get the idea. Of course, carbs are a must — even if just as a vessel for you cheese and array of dips — so be sure to throw in some crackers and bread. To get in your quota of veg, add some olives, marinated artichokes and stuffed baby peppers and you, my friend, have one helluva spread. And this is just the first course of your food- and bev-matched en plain air feast. [caption id="attachment_826147" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Brooke Zotti[/caption] SANDWICHES AND SALADS FOR WHEN IT'S ROSÉ SPRITZ HOUR Picture this: you're an hour or so into your picnic and you've grazed on all the Mediterranean snacks and dairy delights you can handle, plus had a spritz or two. Maybe you've even played a spot of Finska. Whatever the scenario is, you'll want to up the ante with some heftier eats if you plan on kicking it for a few more hours. The humble sandwich is a tried-and-tested winner at a picnic. Finger sambos are a go-to, particularly if you keep things old-school with fillings such as chicken, curried egg and cucumber — you know, the ones your nan would approve. Another nostalgic sanga — and one that will pair perfectly with a Rosie Rosé Spritz — is the lavish lobster roll. After all, rosé and seafood is a heavenly combo — and nothing screams 'occasion' more than lobster. Although you could pick up a crustacean from a local fishmonger and make your own, save yourself the hassle and pre-order one from Bart Jr instead. Due to Sydney's current health orders, the Redfern bar is currently offering a bunch of picnic-appropriate bites, including these WA Rock Lobster- and NSW Clarence River king prawn-stuffed rolls, from its takeaway spin-off Bart Mart. If you're interested in keeping things light, salads are a good shout. You will have to remember to pack bowls and cutlery, but, if you're willing, a Sicilian-style fennel and blood orange salad is a vibrant change from your standard iceberg lettuce chucked in a bowl. Or, you could make a bean-filled salad, like this zingy number made with cannellini beans, green beans and a hit of lemon and parsley. And, If you're seeking more carbs, a good ol' fashioned pasta salad never goes astray. [caption id="attachment_826145" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Brooke Zotti[/caption] NO PICNIC IS COMPLETE WITHOUT CAKE (AND AN ELDERFLOWER SPRITZ) It's spring, so a floral spritz is in order. Rosie's brand-new elderflower-flavoured spritz is the ideal drink to round out your extravagant picnic. The Rosie Elderflower Spritz is fragrant and has aromas of elderflower, vanilla, passionfruit and blackcurrant, so it's the perfect sidekick to a decadent cake. Citrus cakes are practically made for picnics — they're not too rich for a hot day, but they still satisfy those cake cravings. Flour and Stone's lemon drizzle cake is famous for a reason, so if you're willing to drop $75-plus on dessert, order one stat. Otherwise, Bourke St Bakery does a tasty flourless lemon number (from $25), topped with edible flowers. Or, you can bake one from scratch. Sticking with the spring theme, frangipane tarts also make for a delicious daytime dessert, and Baked By Keiran makes some great riffs on the French classic that you can pick up daily from its Dulwich Hill, Bondi, Peakhurst and Elizabeth Bay stores. Not a cake or tart fan? Perhaps more niche and nostalgic treats are more your vibe and you should pick up a few of Sydney's best finger buns. Naturally, you'll want a palate cleanser before you pack up your rug and head home, so it's time to tuck into the fruit platter. Complementing the elderflower spritz, fruits like watermelon, passionfruit and mangoes are crowd pleasers — and they're all in season. Rosie Spritz is an ideal springtime sip and is available at BWS, Dan Murphy's and First Choice Liquor stores across Sydney. For more picnic inspiration, check out our guides to idyllic picnic spots where you can BYO booze in Sydney's inner west, inner city, lower north shore, eastern suburbs and northern beaches. Top image: Brooke Zotti Remember to Drinkwise.
Goodgod Small Club fans listen up: a staple of Sydney dance floors in the 2010s is reuniting at Pleasures Playhouse on Friday, February 3 for a big nostalgic dance party. Halfway Crooks, the dynamic DJ duo consisting of Levins and Franco, will be breaking out the USBs and hitting the decks for one night only — bringing a signature set filled with big hip hop tunes and sing-alongs to the Haymarket venue. Running from 9pm–3am, the event will feature support sets from dance music tastemaker Yemi Sul and multi-hyphenate Sollyy. who has had a massive 12 months between his time behind the producer's booth, guest-hosting on Triple J and running his consistently sold-out Hotter Out West parties. While you couldn't have picked two better supports for this reunion, the focus of the night is sure to be Levins and Franco going back to back bringing partygoers what's sure to be a joyous set full of old-school hip hop, classics from the 2010s and hits of today. Be sure to nab tickets beforehand for $20, as they're sure to be hot property. In honour of the reunion, please enjoy this pixilated photo of a Halfway Crooks party uploaded to Concrete Playground in 2014: Top image: Pleasures Playhouse by Anna Hay.
After a two-year hiatus and a cancelled 2024 run, Groovin the Moo is officially returning — though not quite in the format longtime fans might remember. Rather than its traditional multi-stop regional tour, the festival will stage a single-day, single-stage event in Lismore on Saturday, May 9. Organisers have described the move as a "deliberate and considered return", signalling a slower, more sustainable rebuild for one of Australia's most-loved regional music institutions. "Starting with a single stage and single-day show allows the festival to rebuild with care, while staying true to its regional foundations," organisers said in a statement. For nearly two decades, Groovin the Moo has been a rite of passage for regional music fans — bringing major international acts and emerging Australian talent to towns often skipped by big-city touring circuits. Past lineups have featured everyone from Billie Eilish and The Kooks to Gang of Youths, Amy Shark and The Veronicas, alongside breakout local artists who've gone on to headline their own tours. But like many Australian festivals, GTM has faced mounting pressure in recent years. Rising production costs, shifting audience habits and challenging ticket sales led to the cancellation of its 2024 edition just weeks after the lineup announcement. At the time, organisers cited insufficient ticket sales and a need to rethink the festival's long-term model. Now, with support from Great Southern Nights, the NSW Government and Destination NSW, the comeback show aims to test a more financially viable structure — while still honouring its regional DNA. "The festival belongs to regional Australia," said Fuzzy CEO Adelle Robinson. "Returning with a one-off show allows us to focus on doing it with the care and responsibility it deserves while the festival industry continues to navigate rising costs and increased pressure." ARIA CEO Annabelle Herd echoed the sentiment, describing the return as "a genuinely special moment for Australian music" and highlighting the importance of regional centres like Lismore in the broader live music ecosystem. For now, the message is simple: Groovin the Moo is back — just smaller, more intentional and (hopefully) built to last. The full lineup and ticket details will be announced in the coming weeks. This article first appeared in Rolling Stone Australia. Images: Supplied
Rapid Prototype 3 plans to bring to Legs on the Wall's Lilyfield headquarters some of three-dimensional printing's make-sure-things-get-made-right attitude of print out, check out and recycle. Each instalment is a 'scratch' night with benefits all round: fun for you, feedback for the artist. They're each working at the junction of live art, interaction and tech, so testing is necessary to get all the kinks ironed out and all the robots suitably compliant. The night is part of Legs on the Wall's Open Source program. The follow-up to last year's ventures at 107 Projects and Alaska Projects, this one will feature Michaela Davies, who uses fine electric muscle stimulation to cause fine movements — such as those required to play an instrument. The Macquarie University Performance Innovation Team reveal a technology that might make you forget what a bad dancer you really are, while Applespiel and zin collective test out some of the interactive features of their upcoming Underbelly Arts projects.
Sydney artist management, touring company and all round nice guys, Astral People, know where the Good Music at. Vic Edirisinghe, Lee Danilewitz and Tom Huggett apparently met at an afterparty, deciding to form their own tunes-enabling company and signing some serious local talent such as Jonti, I'lls, Collarbones, Alba, Wintercoats and Wave Racer to their management roster. After 2013's wildly successful events like OutsideIn festival and their first huge Vivid Studio party, the Astral crew are back for another round of seriously solid shindigs. They're so keen on throwing down some tunes they're cranking not one but two super hyped events during Vivid Sydney, both serious contenders for Most Love in One Sitting on the lineup this year. For their first trick, the crew have rounded up their buds with Stones Throw whiz kid Jonti to pay tribute to Melbourne electronic legends The Avalanches — in particular their seminal album Since I Left You. Celebrated as the biggest Australian album of its decade, the 2000 album was apparently assembled from approximately 3,500 vinyl samples, selling over a million copies and winning multiple ARIAs. In a project originally developed for 2013's OutsideIn Festival (gaining thumbs way up from The Avalanches themselves), Jonti will re-visualise those thousands of vinyl samples onstage on May 24 with the help of a ten piece band; including celebrated Sydney alt-pop singer-producer Rainbow Chan. If you're wanting more Astral love, check out their Studio party; with Chicago acid house pioneer Phuture's Australian debut; the collaborative project of L-Vis 1990 and Bok Bok, Night Slugs; Andras Fox playing everything live; and Sydney favourites Ben Fester, Preacha and Rainbow Chan kicking on 'til 3am. To help you ditch the past week and gear up for the weekend, Astral People have put together a solid playlist for you. So crank it loud and visit the Astral kids at the Sydney Opera House in the coming weeks. Astral People's Top Five Tunes to Start Your Weekend: Andras Fox — Running Rate https://youtube.com/watch?v=GMtqxnq-r_o Rainbow Chan — Haircut https://youtube.com/watch?v=3J4_4cv0cC0 The Avalanches — Frontier Psychiatrist https://youtube.com/watch?v=U8BWBn26bX0 Phuture - Inside Out https://youtube.com/watch?v=bA0Onpo0me4 Bok Bok - Silo Pass https://youtube.com/watch?v=4bwrO23csTs Catch Astral People turning it up at Vivid LIVE on May 24 and 30 here and here, and check out the rest of our Vivid picks over here. Images by Voena and Prudence Upton.
Ever wonder where beautiful art is created? These little behind-the-scenes peeks into the places in which classic artworks are born fascinate us, home to some of the most stunning and influential artworks of our time. Gustav Klimt's studio - Vienna, Austria Salvador Dali in Port Lligat, Spain. Francis Bacon's studio - London, England. Paul Cézanne in Aix-en-Provence, France Frida Kahlo's Studio - Mexico City, Mexico Norman Rockwell in Stockbridge, Massachusetts Andy Warhol in New York Pablo Picasso in the French Riviera. Joan Miró's studio in Palma de Mallorca, Spain Jackson Pollock's studio in East Hampton, New York.
The most electrifying new movies from Spain and Latin America will heat up Palace Cinemas around the country once again this autumn. The much-loved Spanish Film Festival will celebrate its eighteenth birthday in 2015, with the festival's most diverse and exciting lineup yet. From smash-hit romantic comedies to Oscar-nominated tales of revenge, there’s a film in this year’s program to suit every conceivable cinematic taste. The festival begins with Spain’s biggest ever box-office success, the upbeat rom-com Spanish Affair. From there, audiences can choose between more than three dozen titles, including Goya Award-winning crime film Marshlands, Cannes-selected indie drama Beautiful Youth and the darkly comedic horror flick Shrew’s Nest. Further highlights include a documentary about soccer superstar Lionel Messi, and a movie that brings Bollywood dance numbers to the streets of Barcelona. Closing night film Wild Tales is another major standout, combing six outrageous short stories about people who are driven to the edge — each one funnier and more twisted than the last. For the full Spanish Film Festival lineup, visit the festival website.
Maybe viewing old episodes of Aerobics Oz Style helped you stay active during 2020's first long lockdown. Perhaps you've been obsessed with the now-iconic Key & Peele aerobics meltdown sketch for years, as everyone should be. Or, you might've watched the excellent Kirsten Dunst-starring On Becoming a God in Central Florida and got bitten by the water aerobics bug. Whichever fits — or even if none of the above applies to you — leotards, exercise and all things 80s haven't been far from our screens in recent years. And, they'll feature again in a big way in Apple TV+'s new ten-part dark comedy series Physical. Set in the decade that's always going to be synonymous with leg warmers, Physical sees Rose Byrne make the leap from hanging out with talking CGI rabbits in terrible book-to-screen adaptations to getting hooked on aerobics. She plays Sheila Rubin, a San Diego housewife with a husband that's running for California's state assembly. While playing her dutiful part as expected, she struggles with her self-image. Then, the only form of exercise that TV shows and movies seem to think that anyone did back in the 80s suddenly enters her life. Cue a journey that brings Sheila success, and turns her into a lifestyle guru. Obviously, she won't be posting about her daily life on social media — but this show is set in the peak VHS era, so expect videotapes to play a part in the story. Physical is set to start streaming on Friday, June 18, and will drop its first three episodes in one hit before releasing the rest weekly afterwards. Naturally, big hair and spandex abound in the just-dropped, supremely 80s trailer for the series. Alongside Byrne, the show stars Rory Scovel (I Feel Pretty), Dierdre Friel (Second Act), Della Saba (Ralph Breaks the Internet), Lou Taylor Pucci (American Horror Story), Paul Sparks (The Lovebirds) and Ashley Liao (Fuller House). Desperate Housewives and Suburgatory's Annie Weisman created, wrote and executive produced Physical, and serves as its showrunner, while I, Tonya's Craig Gillespie, Dead to Me's Liza Johnson and Love Life's Stephanie Laing all enjoy stints in the director's chair. Check out the teaser trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQaHAy7r660 Physical starts streaming via Apple TV+ on Friday, June 18.
School's back, even if it's been years — or a decade or more — since you last stepped foot in a classroom. Come April, Netflix's Heartbreak High revival will return for its second season, after its initial comeback in 2022 proved more popular than the 3pm bell. When new episodes will drop was announced earlier in the year; now it's time for the trailer for season two, giving viewers a sneak peek at Hartley High's new term. Everyone who can remember their high-school days knows that chaos is always part of the experience — and the debut glimpse at Heartbreak High's second season stays true to that idea. Amerie (Ayesha Madon, The Moth Effect) is back to being hated, and understandably isn't thrilled about it. Also part of the season: picking a new school captain, the impact of a few new arrivals among the students and staff, sporting mayhem and a love triangle. When Heartbreak High first arrived on television from 1994–99, it became one of Australia's classic teen series. When it returned more than two decades later, the new version also had everyone turning up. Accordingly, after its first season proved a huge smash, 2020s-era Heartbreak High was promptly renewed for season two — as you'd expect of an International Emmy-, AACTA- and Logie-winning show. Also on the returning crew in the revival's second season, character-wise: Harper (Asher Yasbincek, How to Please a Woman), Darren (screen first-timer James Majoos), Quinni (Chloe Hayden, Jeremy the Dud), Dusty (Josh Heuston, Thor: Love and Thunder), Ca$h (Will McDonald, Home and Away), Malakai (Thomas Weatherall, Troppo), Spider (Bryn Chapman Parish, Mr Inbetween), Ant (debutant Brodie Townsend), Sasha (Gemma Chua-Tran, Mustangs FC) and Missy (fellow newcomer Sherry-Lee Watson) — as well as teachers Woodsy (Rachel House, Our Flag Means Death) and Jojo (Chika Ikogwe, The Tourist). As announced previously, they have some fresh faces for company. Sam Rechner (The Fabelmans) plays country boy and classic cinema fan Rowan Callaghan. Kartanya Maynard (Deadloch) joins the Hartley crew as Zoe Clarke, who has big thoughts on celibacy — she's in favour — as part of a gang of Puriteens. And Angus Sampson hops from Bump to Heartbreak High as Head of PE Timothy Voss. Season one started with Amerie becoming a pariah at Hartley after a big revelation — an "incest map" plotting out who's hooked up with who throughout the school — and also struggling with a sudden rift in her friendship with bestie Harper. Attempting to repair her reputation, she called on help from her new pals Quinni and Darren, all while working through her crush on Dusty and developing feelings for Malakai. And that's just the start of the Heartbreak High revival's season one story. In season two, everyone is back for a second term after doing some growing up over the holidays, and Hartley is now the lowest-ranking school in the district. Netflix has also been teasing that threesomes, chlamydia and burning cars will be distant memory for the gang — but there'll still be a whirlwind of teen antics, of course, or this wouldn't be Heartbreak High. It was in 2020 that Netflix initially announced that it was bringing the series back — and yes, it sure is a 2020s take on the Aussie show, including everything from friendship fights, yelling about vaginas from the top of a building and throwing dildos at walls through to consent, crime, drugs and police brutality. The original Heartbreak High was a massive deal, and was filled with now-familiar faces, such as Alex Dimitriades, a pre-Home and Away Ada Nicodemou, and Avengers: Endgame and Mystery Road's Callan Mulvey as Drazic. It painted a multicultural picture of Australia that was unlike anything else on TV at the time. And, for its six-year run across two Aussie networks, the Sydney-shot show was must-see television — not bad for a series that started as a spinoff to the Claudia Karvan and Alex Dimitriades-starring 1993 movie The Heartbreak Kid, too. Check out the trailer for the Heartbreak High revival's second season below: Heartbreak High season two will arrive on Thursday, April 11, 2024. The show's first season is available to stream now via Netflix. Read our full review.
The Giant Dwarf loves to bang on — so much so, they're dedicating two whole weeks to celebrating the art of it. After launching in 2017, the Redfern theatre's YACK festival is set to return for a second stint, bringing together a selection of Sydney's funniest, smartest and most provocative comedians, podcasters and panellists. The little festival will feature big laughs with a great lineup of people who like to have a good ol' chinwag. We're pretty excited to see Zoë Coombs Marr (as herself, not in character), Bob Franklin and Danielle Walker, the latter of whom you might recognise from Get Krack!n. Or, hear about failed jokes, bad gigs and unfulfilled ideas from SBS Viceland's Michael Hing and The Feed's Victoria Zerbst — and discover the secrets, joys and all-round allure of satire from The Weekly's James Colley and Black Comedy's Nakkiah Lui. The Freudian Nip School of Performing Arts Annual Showcase Evening will also make a comeback; themed storytelling night Story Club will hit YACK as part of its tenth year, this time focusing on the theme 'when we were young'; and The Chaser's Julian Morrow will host a slide night for current affairs junkies — and that's just the lineup so far. Judging by the state of world affairs, two weeks of non-stop laughing at YACK will be just what the doctor ordered, so head over to the Giant Dwarf website for tickets. The festival will run from October 19 to November 4.
If you're a fan of Ted Lasso, The Afterparty, Bad Sisters, Slow Horses, Hijack or Lessons in Chemistry, then you'll be more than accustomed to getting your streaming fix from Apple TV+. Across the first half of 2024, the platform has a heap more new shows vying for your eyeballs, plus a few returning series. And as Netflix just recently did, it has announced all the details, as well as a sneak peek of what's to come. To get your must-watch small-screen list started, new shows starring Ben Mendelsohn, Jonathan Banks, Noel Fielding, Kristen Wiig, Colin Farrell, Joel Edgerton and Jake Gyllenhaal are all on their way. Mendelsohn (Secret Invasion) will be gracing your television first, playing Christian Dior opposite Juliette Binoche (Both Sides of the Blade) as Coco Chanel in ten-part drama The New Look, which arrives from Wednesday, February 14. Also among the cast: Maisie Williams (Pistol), John Malkovich (Billions), Emily Mortimer (The Pursuit of Love), Claes Bang (Bad Sisters) and Glenn Close (Tehran). Noomi Rapace (You Won't Be Alone) and Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul great Banks star in Constellation, which also drops from February, about astronauts grappling with the reality of returning home. As for The Mighty Boosh's Fielding, he leads comedy The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin, which has more than a bit of Our Flag Means Death about it. The series riffs on a real-life figure, a British highwayman, with Hugh Bonneville (Downton Abbey: A New Era) playing the lawman on his trail. March will bring the Tobias Menzies (You Hurt My Feelings)-led true-crime effort Manhunt, about the hunt for John Wilkes Booth following Abraham Lincoln's assassination — and also Palm Royale, with Wiig (MacGruber) playing a woman trying to find a way into Palm Beach high society, and Laura Dern (The Son), Allison Janney (The Creator) and singer Ricky Martin also featuring. Sugar hits in April, enlisting Farrell (The Banshees of Inisherin) as a private detective looking into a Hollywood case. So does Franklin, with Michael Douglas (Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania) as Benjamin Franklin. Then in May, page-to-screen sci-fi thriller Dark Matter features Edgerton (The Boys in the Boat) and Jennifer Connelly (Bad Behaviour), while June has Presumed Innocent with Gyllenhaal (Guy Ritchie's The Covenant) as a Chicago chief deputy prosecutor mixed up in a complicated casw. Also, sometime midyear, dramedy Land of Women boasts Eva Longoria (Tell It Like a Woman). Among the returning slate, Apple TV+ has second seasons of The Reluctant Traveler with Eugene Levy, Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock, Maya Rudolph (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem)-starring billionaire satire Loot and The Big Door Prize on the way as well. And, the full lineup for 2024's first half also spans four-part documentary Messi's World Cup: The Rise of a Legend, Acapulco season three and Trying season four. Check out Apple TV+'s trailer for its slate for the first half of 2024 below: New TV shows will hit Apple TV+ throughout 2024 — head to the streaming platform for its current catalogue.
Exclaiming "I'm already a star. You don't become a star: you either are one or you aren't. I am!" to get into the hottest party in Los Angeles, aspiring 1920s actor Nellie LaRoy (Margot Robbie, Amsterdam) has ambition. Gracing the same Golden Age soirée after ending his latest marriage with an overplayed joke that could've sprung from Inglourious Basterds, veteran leading man Jack Conrad (Brad Pitt, Bullet Train) wouldn't have gotten where he is without the same drive and determination. And, helping the shindig be the only place to be, including wrangling an elephant for the night's entertainment (a pachyderm that empties its bowels on everyone pushing it up a hill no less), Manny Torres (Diego Calva, Narcos: Mexico) has the eagerness to do something — anything — in show business. Meet Babylon's zeal-dripping on-screen threesome, a trio matched only in their quest to rocket sky-high as the man conjuring them up: jazz-loving, La La Land Oscar-winning, Tinseltown-adoring writer/director Damien Chazelle. As Babylon unfurls across its hefty 189-minute running time, it takes a colossal heap of ambition — perhaps as immense as the pile of cocaine that Nellie gravitates towards inside the party — to make it or even fake it in the film industry. For his fifth feature, and first since 2018's First Man, Chazelle waves around his own as enthusiastically as he possibly can. Even just considering his hefty list of conspicuous influences makes that clear, with the filmmaker unshackling his inner Baz Luhrmann, Martin Scorsese, Paul Thomas Anderson and David Lynch, to name a mere few overt nods. The Great Gatsby, Goodfellas, The Wolf of Wall Street, Boogie Nights, Magnolia, Mulholland Drive: swirl them together with Kenneth Anger's 1959 publication Hollywood Babylon, plus everything from Sunset Boulevard to Hail, Caesar!, and that's just the beginning of Chazelle's plans. The end result also makes for a relentless and ravenous movie that's always a lot, not just in length, but is dazzling (and also very funny) when it clicks. That elephant crap doesn't just make quite the opening, as splattered from a visible opening. Beneath the glitz and glamour, and aiding all things shiny and starry to appear that way, lurks something far less seductive — so Babylon posits from the outset, then keeps pulling back the curtain like it's The Wizard of Oz. Before the film's first 15 minutes are up, it has also sprayed urine, waded through orgies, thrown around furniture, thrust about drugs and danced frenzied dances (Robbie does an entrancing one, No Time to Die cinematographer Linus Sandgren does another with his soaring and swooping camerawork, and Chazelle's usual composer Justin Hurwitz sets the bouncy tone with his Golden Globe-winning score, then keeps doing so). Also, before the initial revelry recedes, Manny is smitten with Nellie, while she has an acting job the next day. Hollywood: it's where shit explodes and snakes are wrestled literally and metaphorically, and where enough wishes are granted on-screen and behind the scenes to keep everyone returning for more. In the rest of its first act, Babylon is a filmmaking western; to spend time on a silent-era set here is to gallop across cinema's frontier. Nellie is a natural, and feted for crying on cue (that she's getting her start when big gestures and performances are a necessity also assists). Manny nabs an opportunity as well, his efforts to secure a replacement camera for a pivotal epic shot before a moody director loses his light instantly one of the film's most hilarious stretches. While the preceding party was a vibe, Babylon's best bursts through this madcap on-the-lot day. Simply surveying the packed-together sets, movies made next to movies upon movies, is a delight — and the pacing, zippily juggling Nellie, Manny and Jack's exploits, is among the picture's tightest. With the feature kicking off in 1926, though, the noisy, frenzied chaos that buzzes in this sequence has a talkie-sparked expiration date. For the fools who dream, Chazelle worships stories of artists chasing lifelong fantasies and meeting stark realities, with Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench, Whiplash, La La Land and streaming series The Eddy all leading to Babylon. He's equally fond of Tinseltown's favourite tales about Tinseltown: the path-crossing of new starlets and established players as change reshapes the business forever, as a couple of A Star Is Born versions, The Artist and the masterpiece that is Singin' in the Rain have all covered. It's the boldest of moves that any director can make to fashion a film as a copy or an origin story to the latter, or both, but that's where Chazelle's ambition brilliantly heads. So, with the advent of synchronised sound, and as Manny keeps working his way up, cue Jack striving to maintain his fame and Nellie struggling with her New Jersey voice. Babylon doesn't say anything new — when you're openly going where so many flicks and filmmakers have gone before, is there anything much new to say? — but it does pull off the Luhrmann-esque feat of making its style part of its substance. This has to be a flashy, energetic, excess-laden affair, selling the allure that draws Nellie, Jack and Manny in, plus the emptiness behind it. Babylon has to be slick but messy, decadent but corrosive, and affectionate but clear-eyed about Hollywood's ills, and a heady, hectic experience. It has to be jam-packed at the same time, but it could've been that and given Li Jun Li (Devils) and Jovan Adepo (The Stand) more to do. Their characters, Anna May Wong clone Lady Fay Zhu and talented trumpeter Sidney Palmer, traverse a rise-and-fall trajectory as well. They're exuberant, fascinating, and meant to demonstrate how Asian, Black and queer figures were pushed aside. To genuinely address that point, though, they're deserving of greater focus and a weightier part in Babylon's narrative. Among the trio receiving the bulk of Chazelle's attention, Robbie is exhilarating; understanding how Nellie demands the eyeballs of everyone in her orbit is easy. Nuanced layers of pain and sorrow also linger in her non-stop portrayal when she does slow down, or sometimes glistens in her eyes alone. Her Once Upon a Time in Hollywood co-star Pitt remains in that movie's mode, happily and fittingly so — and relative newcomer Calva is terrific as Manny. Add in a well-cast Jean Smart (Hacks) as a Louella Parsons- and Hedda Hopper-inspired gossip queen, plus Tobey Maguire getting villainous and channelling Alfred Molina, and Babylon keeps stacking in moving pieces as much as moving pictures. On that, this flick doesn't end subtly. But, ambition splashing heavily again, it also has its big finale work as an ode as much as a lament.
Fresh from premiering at 2023's Brisbane Festival, one of Sydney Festival's big 2024 highlights is a stage musical comedy from the songwriting team behind Muriel's Wedding The Musical: Kate Miller-Heidke and Keir Nuttall, who are taking the fest to Bananaland. Created by the pair after their success treading the boards with everyone's favourite Porpoise Spit resident, Bananaland focuses on 21-year-old Ruby. She has her own protest band called Kitty Litter, which accidentally becomes a hit with preschoolers. Penned by Nuttall and featuring a score composed by Miller-Heidke, with the duo joining forces on the show's musical numbers, Bananaland is a warmhearted but incisive exploration of chasing dreams — and an ode to performing live. Charting Kitty Litter's path to following in The Wiggles' footsteps, Bananaland is taking over Parramatta's Riverside Theatres until Sunday, January 14. Simon Phillips (Ladies in Black) directs, while Max McKenna (Jagged Little Pill) stars as Ruby. Production images: Darren Thomas.
Sydney's much praised Ume Burger has extended its repertoire to Japanese-inspired hot dogs, having launched Ume Dogs at Melbourne's HWKR food hall earlier this year. After hosting a one-day pop-up in Sydney last month, owner Kerby Craig is back — but this time, he's going all out, teaming up with Redfern Surf Club to serve up all-you-can-eat dogs for one day only. The pop-up will take over the new Australiana-themed bar from 12.30pm on Sunday, September 28, where Craig will be slinging his wood-smoked pork frankfurts. It's just $20 for as many as you can eat. Dogs will come plain, atop a soft steamed bun, but you'll be able to customise them over at the condiment bar — where you'll find pickled wakame, curry mayo, tonkatsu sauce, arare and bonito flakes, among others. Plus, Redfern Surf Club will be slinging $5 tinnies all day, too. There's no word yet on what brews will be on offer, but expect quality Aussie labels like The Grifter Brewing Co and Young Henrys.
A new Japanese spot is touching down at Barangaroo House this May, slinging Japanese snacks, sandwiches and bowls from the ground floor's House Bar. Rekōdo Katsu Kanteen is upstairs restaurant and listening bar Rekōdo's little sister. To commemorate its grand opening on Wednesday, May 15, the casual eatery will be giving out free sandos (sweet potato, prawn or chicken katsu) to the first 100 guests from 1pm. Headed up by Barangaroo House Head Chef Michael Dabbs, the menu spotlights Japanese comfort food. Standouts include the market sashimi with pickled ginger and wasabi, crispy eggplant with pickled chilli, and soft-shell crab baos topped with pickles and hot sauce. For something more substantial, there are options like bang bang chicken salad, wagyu donburi with wagyu tataki, and a wafu salad with your choice of protein. Of course, the main sandos are available in the form of prawn and crab katsu with cabbage and tartar sauce, pork katsu with an omelette and bulldog sauce, two chicken katsu options, and a vego-friendly sweet potato miso katsu. Rekōdo Katsu Kanteen will open to the public on Wednesday, May 15. Head to the website for more details.
If you're sick of bringing crackers and dip to the party, but get cheese blind when faced with a fridge full of fromage, then read on. There's no need to taste everything in the deli (although that isn't ever a bad idea), and we've a little something for you to ensure cheese no longer becomes such a pandemonium requiring social etiquette. Soon you'll be able to tell everyone how nutty but sweet the prima donna is.The Dutch-style gouda, that is. So, fromage fans, listen up: here's Concrete Playground's bluffer's guide to cheese. 1. Cheese 101: How is Cheese made? Apparently, the process of cheese making was an accident. The story goes that milk overheated in a storage container of some sort, soured and created curd. Now don't squirm, but rumour has it that the said 'container' was either an animal's internal organ or an inflated animal skin. Nowadays, it's more of a civilised process. The milk (from a cow, sheep, goat or buffalo) is pasteurised (heated then cooled to remove harmful pathogens) then starter cultures and rennet are added. This causes the milk to coagulate into an attractive custard-like mess. Miss Muffet then separates the curds and whey (milk serum) and appropriately ripens to enhance the variety of textures and flavours. 2. Varieties Stefano De Blasi of Salt Meats Cheese providores in Alexandria, advises that varieties of cheese are distinguished according to a range of criteria. "The age, texture, fat content, country of origin and animal milk all makes a difference," he says. So how can one identify all those cheeses at the deli? It is possible to judge a cheese's character by its rind; the texture, taste, strength of flavour, and even maturity. However, for us cheese novices, it's best to just remember these types to get the mozzarella ball rolling. Fresh cheese: feta, cottage, ricotta and cream cheese Soft white cheese: brie and camembert Washed rind (warning: stinky): tallegio and langres Blue: roquefort, gorgonzola, stilton Semi-hard: cheddar, manchego and gruyere; and Hard (robust flavour): parmesan. And lest we remind you that there's always the 'try before you buy' option. 3. Storing cheese The common rule of storing cheese is to store in its original wrapping. Failing that, plastic wrap is fine. If left unwrapped, the cheese will dry out and lose flavour. Harder cheeses have a longer shelf life than fresher types, such as a cream cheese or feta. These should be kept in their container with the lid on so no air can get in. If you start to smell something funkier than the cheese should, toss it. Make sure blue cheese and rind cheeses are kept tightly wrapped and separate to other food as their odour is quite strong. Again, you don't want your housemates to think something died in the fridge every time they open it up to get their milk. Mozzarella and bocconcini should be kept in their water, and don't get turned off if the water starts to get mirky coloured. It's just the milk in the water as the cheese releases its salt. But, as Stefano says, "to be honest, I never store. I always open and finish what I eat!" So shame on you if there are leftovers. 4. The perfect cheese board When preparing a cheese board, Stefano suggests not having more than three cheeses on offer and only one or two accompaniments per cheese. It's also best to bring the cheeses to room temperature in order to appreciate their full flavour. As a guide, you generally want a soft white cheese (such as brie), a blue (Ra Roquefort from France) and a firmer type (such as vintage cheddar). But don’t be afraid to ask your cheesemonger for recommendations. Encourage guests to cut wedges 'nose to tail' and cheese with rinds from centre to the edge. And don't forget to allow a few knives for cutting. You can't have the Stinking Bishop on the Jean de Brie. In terms of accompaniments, "definitely sliced pear, fig jam, quince paste or even orange marmalade, muscatel grapes and honey. And olives of course!" says Stefano. 5. Matching cheese with wine Cheese and wine. They're a perfect match. Complimenting the two requires a bit of time and experiment, but lest we forget to remind you that one without the other is a social faux pas. You can't go too wrong, however, if you follow the golden rule: the whiter and fresher the cheese, the whiter and crisper the wine; the darker and stronger the wine, the darker and stronger the cheese. For instance, brie is best matched with a dry sparkling or chardonnay; edam is great with a shiraz, grenache or pinot noir; and camembert's delicate 'mushroomy' character would be nicely offset with a sparkling white. Stefano highly recommends manchego for a dry white, and a simple cheddar for any red. He also emphasises that "any cheese will be good!" Cheese to that, we say. 6. Best melting cheese for pizza Mozzarella is originally from Italy, so it goes without saying that it would be the most ideal cheese for a pizza. "I love the buffalo mozzarella, just because of its white colour", says Stefano, "my pizza is just red and white. The tomato and the mozzarella." Bocconcini (any type is good) goes down a treat on pizzas too; its semi-soft elastic texture is mild, yet a little sweet. Stefano recommends cherry bocconcini. "The small balls are easy to slice and melt beautifully," he says. 7. European vs Australian ... similarities and differences With over 45 countries producing their own varieties of different cheeses, how on earth are we meant to decipher the difference ourselves? Basically, the flavour is affected by its origin. So essentially this comes down to what grass the cows or sheep are grazing on. For example, all blue cheeses are named so because of the mould Penicillin that is added, however, each has their own flavour and characteristic. A Bleu de Gex from Germany may be richer than a gorgonzola from Italy. The Greek's tend to add more salt to their varieties too. Think haloumi and feta (compared to a creamier Danish type). Most cheeses are named so after their place of origin. Fine examples include Gruyere, (Switzerland), Brie (region in France), Cheddar (England), Fontina (Italy), Havarti (named after a Danish farm called Havarthigaard) and Jarlsberg (Norway). 8. Cheese on a budget This can be done. Visit your local deli and suss out what's on special. Don't be shy to ask for a taste too. if you're going to be spending your pennies on cheese, it has to please. Stefano says that camembert, manchego, local vintage and smoked cheddar are generally going to be the more affordable varieties and "will always go down a treat no matter what". Pricier cheeses don't necessarily indicate that they will knock your socks off either, as it is a matter of preference. The price is just an indication that it's from a smaller farm and/or imported. Artisan cheeses are often more expensive as they are made by hand using traditional methods. 9. Talk like a pro Before you go forth and preach the gospel of cheese to your friends, brush up on these decorative phrases to raise a few brows ... "Wow, the camembert has a very pronounced, 'mushroomy' flavour." "This pecorino grated on the pasta is quite piquant and not too acidic. It’s not as strong as Parmesan Reggiano and seems to add a strong dimension to the dish." "I like semi-soft cheeses such as Monterey Jack, for its mild and buttery flavour. It goes perfectly with a good lager." "Epoisses is quite voluptuous with a well-rounded flavour." "I'm after something a little nutty, yet mild and pleasant. Nothing too earthy and pungent please." 10. Sydney's best cheese stores Salt Meats CheeseThis wholesale warehouse is open to the public and packed full of gourmet items that are imported from top suppliers around the world. There is an entire cold room dedicated to cheese and a mozzarella lab where you can watch them (and soon learn) make the goods. 41 Bourke Street, Alexandria; 02 9690 2406. Formaggi OcelloSpecialising in Italian cheese, they also hold cheese and wine pairing nights and also sell a wide selection of olives, antipastos and cold meats. Shop 16/425 Bourke Street, Surry Hills; 02 9357 7878. Gourmet Grocer BalmainA food lover's emporium stocking cheese and charcuterie delicacies. Many a cheese award under the belt. 332 Darling Street, Balmain; 02 9818 3354. Blackwattle DeliWith a huge amount of cheese on display, it can get very overwhelming, but they’re all lovely enough behind the counter to offer up good advice and tastings. Shop 8A, Bank Street, Sydney Fish Market; 02 9660 6998. Simon Johnson PyrmontCheese, homewares, recipes, you name it. Simon Johnson is a stalwart gourmet grocer here to service our every need when it comes to home entertaining. The on-site cheese room at Simon Johnson Pyrmont is definitely work checking out. 181 Harris Street Pyrmont; 02 8244 8240. Smelly Cheese ShopIf you're out and about in the Hunter Valley, The Smelly Cheese Shop has an impressive selection of local, imported and Smelly's own cheeses, as well as gourmet deli goods. 3/188 Broke Rd, Pokolbin; 02 4998 6960.
Truffle hunts, hot spas, roaring fires, incredible sunsets and pinot noir — there are so many reasons to take a winter weekender that aren't skiing. And, although Australia is synonymous with sun and surf, we're not short on mountain villages, cool climate wine regions and indulgent retreats. If you're ready to embrace the cold (but not so ready to throw your body into the snow) here are ten getaways to try — from hiking around the Blue Mountains to visiting the mineral springs capital of Australia and visiting the Adelaide Hills, where you can count on days filled with excellent wine, long lunches and vineyard strolls. [caption id="attachment_685963" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lowe Wines, Destination NSW[/caption] WINE TASTE YOUR WAY AROUND MUDGEE, NEW SOUTH WALES This pretty country town, which lies a three-and-a-half-hour drive northwest of Sydney, is home to experimental wines, friendly cafes and cosy stays. Head to Huntington Estate for big reds, Lowe Wines for spectacular views and Heslop Wines for small-batch drops in a 100-year-old cottage. The best spot for a long lunch is Pipeclay Pumphouse at the Robert Stein Vineyard & Winery. But, if you're looking for casual cafe fare, there's Alby & Esthers or Artisan on Lewis, where you'll eat surrounded by local artworks. When the time comes to rest your weary head, check into Perry Street Hotel, which is built within the converted 19th-century Mechanics Institute building that takes its design cues from Berlin, or sink into luxury at Sierra Escape, a luxe glamping retreat just outside of town, with phenomenal rural views, fire pits and outdoor baths. [caption id="attachment_726006" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Evans Lookout Blackheath, Destination NSW[/caption] HIKE AND CAFE HOP IN BLACKHEATH, NEW SOUTH WALES Get stuck into some invigorating mountain air, epic views and decadent dishes in Blackheath. This 5000-person village is in the Blue Mountains, one hour-and-forty-five minutes' drive west of Sydney. At 1000 metres above sea level, it occasionally gets snow, so pack your parka. Start by heading to Evans Lookout, where you'll find spectacular vistas and the starting point for a three-kilometre clifftop walk to Govetts Leap. Then it's time to eat. You'll find Campos coffee, an extensive tea menu and tasty brekkies at Anonymous Cafe, plus Asian-inspired hatted fare at Fumo Restaurant. If you're looking for a luxe sleepover, check into Parklands, where you'll wake up to 28 acres of landscaped gardens. For more local tips, see our weekender's guide to the Upper Blue Mountains. [caption id="attachment_669808" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Hepburn Bathhouse, Visit Victoria[/caption] SOAK IN MINERAL HOT SPRINGS IN DAYLESFORD, VICTORIA Swap skis for springs in Daylesford. Found a 90 minutes' drive northwest of Melbourne, in the foothills of the Great Dividing Range, this 2500-person town is home to the biggest concentration of mineral springs in Australia. That means there are plenty of places to kick back in a piping hot, nutrient rich bath and soak your winter worries away. Get started at the Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa, where Victorians have been blissing out since 1895, or the Japanese-inspired Shizuka Ryokan. Other adventures to add to your itinerary include hot chocolate at The Chocolate Mill, mulled cider beside the fire at Daylesford Cider Company, a multi-course feast at Lake House and a stay at Clifftop at Hepburn. [caption id="attachment_692634" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Keppel Lookout, Visit Victoria[/caption] WANDER THROUGH ELEVATED VILLAGES IN MOUNT DANDENONG, VICTORIA Dead keen to getaway, but not so keen on a long drive? Make Mount Dandenong — just one hour's drive east of Melbourne — your destination. You'll be out of the big smoke before you know it — and wandering through mountaintop villages, magical forests and frost-kissed gardens. To reset as quickly as possible, head to the Japanese Mountain Retreat in Montrose, for hot springs and spa treatments. When you're brave enough to face the great outdoors, make tracks to Olinda's RJ Hamer Arboretum, where there are more than 150 types of trees, or the Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden. Meanwhile, there's a cracking Devonshire tea — beside a crackling fire — to be enjoyed on at Ripe Cafe, Sassafras, and craft brews galore at Oscar's Alehouse, Belgrave. Still more time to kill? Get more ideas over here. [caption id="attachment_619823" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Fortitude Brewing Co.[/caption] SAMPLE LOTS OF CRAFT BREWS IN MOUNT TAMBORINE, QUEENSLAND Queensland is best known as a destination to escape winter, but the state isn't all tropical climes. And, among its most scenic cool spots is Mount Tamborine, in the Gold Coast hinterland, around an hour's drive south of Brisbane. Launch into your weekend with a wine tasting at Cedar Creek Estate Vineyard & Winery or a beer sampling at Fortitude Brewing Co, before tucking into a comfort food feast at Three Little Pigs Bar and Bistro. In between eating and drinking, you'll be journeying through ancient rainforest, getting to know glow worms and snuggling up in a cottage or chalet. [caption id="attachment_726033" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ridgemill Estate[/caption] STROLL THROUGH IDYLLIC COUNTRYSIDE, WINE IN-HAND, IN STANTHORPE, QUEENSLAND If your favourite winter warm-up is a good glass of red, then you ought to head to Stanthorpe. This riverside town — located three hours' drive southwest of Brisbane — is in the heart of Queensland's Granite Belt, an area of the Great Dividing Range known for its idyllic countryside, striking granite formations and wines. Visit Ridgemill Estate for shiraz, Whiskey Gully for malbec and Colombard, and Savina Lane for single vineyard drops, plus the occasional snowfall. Cheery cabins and cottages abound. [caption id="attachment_619495" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dark Mofo's Winter Feast, shot by Rémi Chauvin.[/caption] IMMERSE YOURSELF IN THE DARK ARTS IN HOBART, TASMANIA Ever since Dark Mofo — MONA's annual festival of darkness, death and change — launched in 2013, Hobart has been a firm favourite for winter weekenders. If you're in town in June, you should definitely immerse yourself in some dark arts. If not — or in addition — there are stacks more adventures to be had, from whisky tasting at Lark Distillery to lunch by the water at Aloft Restaurant to local art, objects and food at the Salamanca Market. Hobart's watery surrounds are magical in winter, so try to sleep with views — both The Henry Jones Art Hotel and MONA Pavilions have them. [caption id="attachment_717921" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Grindelwald Swiss Village.[/caption] TAKE A PRETEND TRIP TO SWITZERLAND IN TAMAR VALLEY, TASMANIA Take a mini-trip to Switzerland in Tasmania's Tamar Valley. Just 15 minutes' north of Launceston, you'll find Grindelwald, a village modelled on a Swiss one, complete with gable roofs, paddle boats and an 18-hole mini-golf course. Beyond that, Tamar Valley is a world of winding rivers, green valleys and rolling farmlands that produce a cornucopia of cheese, truffles, walnuts, cherries, ciders and beers. There are also plenty of wineries to hit up here, too. Don't miss brekkie surrounded by wetlands at Stonesthrow, dinner at Stillwater Restaurant or an evening in front of your own sandstone fireplace at the Red Feather Inn. [caption id="attachment_726040" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Karrawatta Wines[/caption] MEANDER THROUGH THE VINEYARDS IN ADELAIDE HILLS, SOUTH AUSTRALIA Every year, the Adelaide Hills welcomes winter with lazy lunches, wine-inspired events and festivals, including Winter Reds: a celebration of red wine, open fires and rustic fare, happening from July 26–28, 2019. Meanwhile, in Hahndorf, Australia's oldest surviving German settlement, you can do winter as the Deutsche do: with baked goodies, chocolates and craft beer. Other spots to visit include the quirky Uraidla Hotel, built in the 19th century; Karrawatta Wines, where wine tasting takes place beside an outdoor (or indoor) fire; and Hardy's Verandah Restaurant, for hearty fare with panoramic views. [caption id="attachment_726046" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Truffle Kerfuffle, Jessica Wyld Photography[/caption] GO TRUFFLE HUNTING (WITH ADORABLE DOGS) IN MARGARET RIVER, WESTERN AUSTRALIA Like Queensland, Western Australia is famous for its warm retreats. But, stick to the southern part of the state, and you'll discover charming wintry destinations a-plenty. For lovers of wine and good food, the Margaret River is the place to go. You'll avoid summer crowds, while making the most of winter festivals, like Truffle Kerfuffle, from June 21–23; Cabin Fever Festival, going down from July 19–28; and CinefestOZ, from August 28–September 1. Plus, even when there are no special events happening, there are bucketloads of drops to drink and, on the coast, whales to watch. Top images: Hepburn Bathhouse; Truffle Kerfuffle by Jessica Wyld Photography; Sierra Escape.
Rain Man was some good publicity but a bit of a burden as well for people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It's good to get some high-profile, positive role-modelling going, but not every stage of the spectrum gives you a photographic memory or an abiding love for Australia's transcontinental airline. Instead, people on the autistic spectrum are just people, with good bits or bad bits and some idiosyncratic difficulties in understanding bits of the world. Steven Kilbey, Peter Koppes and Tim Powles from iconic band the Church are getting together for a one-off gig at the Red Rattler to raise money for Autism Spectrum Australia. Their air of mystery having survived the twin perils of winning an ARIA and being admired by George Negus, they're providing the reflective soul to the benefit. With early treatment, life on the autistic spectrum can be made a lot simpler, but this sort of thing costs money. Entry proceeds from the gig will go to Autism Spectrum Australia, a non-profit that operates here, in Victoria and the ACT. Art connected to the organisation will be offered for sale, the documentary Rainman Goes to Rockwiz will also be screened and the band promises to satisfy fans of Ref:omation as much as those of the Church. Image by Anthony Collins. https://youtube.com/watch?v=Osz-GQbX37o
Sydney hospitality powerhouse Merivale has been known to buy a venue — or five — over the years. So, hearing that the company has snapped up another venue is hardly surprising. The fact that it's branching out beyond Sydney for the first time in its six-decade history is definitely new, however. Merivale's latest purchase: The Quarterdeck, which is located in Narooma on the state's Far South Coast. Perched on the shores of Forsters Bay, the bar has been part of the Eurobodalla community for decades. Initially, it operated as an oyster grower's shed, then became a fish and chip takeaway with boat hire and an adjoining tackle shop — but it has been serving the locals in its current guise for the past 20 years. "Narooma has become my second home and the backdrop to so many of my happiest memories with my family. I think it is one of the most beautiful spots in the world, with a unique landscape, crystal clear waters and an amazing community of people who call it home," said Merivale CEO Justin Hemmes in a statement announcing the news. "It has been an absolute privilege to spend so much time here over the past six years and I'm excited to now join the local business community." The Quarterdeck now joins Merivale's portfolio of 70-plus brands venues, with the group picking up the keys to the bar in the coming months. It will keep trading as it is for now, with the hospitality company yet to announce any plans for future changes. [caption id="attachment_804933" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Wagonga Inlet at Narooma, Destination NSW[/caption] If you're now keen to drop by The Quarterdeck — or to add it to your must-visit list once Merivale takes over — you'll find it around a five-hour drive from Sydney. And, if you're planning a trip to the region, we've rounded up the best things to do while you're there in our Far South Coast road tripper's guide. Find The Quarterdeck at Riverside Drive, Narooma — open 11.30am–3pm Thursdays, 11.30–10pm Fridays and Saturdays, and 11.30am–3.30pm Sundays. Top image: The Quarterdeck, Narooma, Destination NSW
Watching Fantasmas means beaming with joy and wonder, whether 2024's standout new comedy so far — and series overall — is embracing the idiosyncratic and fantastical, painting navigating life as a dystopian experience, or dreaming up anything and everything in-between. Wanting a world where normal colours aren't the only hues shining and palettes don't play by the rules of the rainbow is mentioned early in the six-episode HBO show, as uttered by creator, writer, director and star Julio Torres in-character as the on-screen Julio. At least as long as audiences are viewing the former Saturday Night Live scribe's latest project, they don't need to pine for the same dream: we thankfully live in a world where Fantasmas exists. With a series that uses a pitch to Crayola for clear crayons to initially weave in its championing of accepting and adoring difference, Torres welcomes viewers into a realm that couldn't have been conjured up by anyone else. Those familiar with 2017's famous 'Papyrus' sketch with Ryan Gosling (The Fall Guy) and the previous year's 'Wells for Boys' skit will know that Torres has a distinctive comedic vision, as kept dazzling when he became the co-guiding force behind Los Espookys, then the filmmaker responsible for Problemista. In Fantasmas, his way of seeing reality — and satirising it — beams bright like he's colouring in with highlighters. Streaming in Australia via Binge since June 2024, this is a show that celebrates eccentricity and confronts life's absurdities, doing so with a pencil case stuffed with crayons that no one else has ever considered picking up. It's true again here, as it was with Los Espookys: Torres leaves his viewers grateful that they inhabit the same plane where he's making TV. HBO has once more given him the means and support to craft a comedy series so singular, so clearly the work of a visionary and so gloriously surreal that it has almost no peers beyond his work — and it does indeed look and feel crafted. There's little that's the same in its narrative or aesthetics, but Fantasmas brings to mind the patron saint of spilling the contents of your head and heart onto the screen with zero willingness to compromise or hold back: David Lynch. While that's the utmost of praise, even such a comparison can't prepare audiences for a show where Steve Buscemi (Curb Your Enthusiasm) plays the letter Q as an avant-garde outsider musician and Santa Claus is taken to court by elves (SNL's Bowen Yang among them) for trying to pay them in Christmas spirit. Then there's series-within-a-series MELF — just one of Fantasmas' pop-culture parodies — which riffs on 80s and 90s hit sitcom ALF, is led by Paul Dano (Spaceman), features quite the twist on its alien-adopting premise and screens in rideshares. Fantasmas also delivers a commercial for toilet dresses fronted by an entrepreneur (Aidy Bryant, another SNL alum) with more passion than you'd expect possible for slinging clothing to deck out commodes. It's easy to keep noting the show's sketches, but the selection mentioned so far already demonstrates another few crucial layers to Torres' comedy. Pursuing nostalgia but realising that nothing is ever as you remembered, constantly and ceaselessly hustling and selling, never being able to escape content anywhere, succumbing to meaningless distractions because it's better than facing life unfiltered: add them to Fantasmas' musings. As the sets appear exactly like sets but with a DIY spin, and also as vignettes pop in and out to expand Julio's mindscape as much as the futuristic domain imagined by the IRL Torres, there is an overarching narrative at the core of Fantasmas. The series' take on Julio trades in concepts, plus in being unflinchingly himself, but doing anything is impossible without a Proof of Existence ID card. He's on a quest to secure one, which isn't straightforward. In the process, he's also searching for a tiny gold oyster earring, under the threat of becoming homeless, and pondering whether to upload his consciousness and jettison his body. As star-studded cameos stack up as well, by Julio's side are robot companion Bibo (Joe Rumrill, The Calling) and agent Vanesja (Martine Gutierrez, returning from Los Espookys and Problemista). The first yearns to become an actor, because seeking fame and fortune isn't just for people. The second is really a performance artist playing an agent, but has been immersed in the act for so long that she's long stopped merely doing the gig as a show. While marvelling at the ingenuity of Fantasmas also just comes with watching it, statements abound again and again in every element. Be it from a narrative arc, plot point, side quest, design detail or seeming throwaway joke, there's a message or several to draw from each and every second of the series — and no matter how phantasmagorical that everything it flings at the screen can get, which is very. Torres excavates and plays with a world that trusts companies and bureaucracies over humans. He sees the cold, hard truth that prizing possessions and consumerism is a form of solace and catharsis, especially when securing existence's necessities — housing being one — is a battle. Fantasmas also contemplates the sensation that being flesh and blood can feel like a disadvantage. Amid the array of relatable issues in its sights, it equally tears into perceptions of societal status, as well as class clashes, more of capitalism's many woes and inequities, health care, the treatment of immigrants and the inescapable online realm. Although purposefully eager to splash around its handmade-esque creativity, too, it does so to stress that it's the product of people chasing a dream, alongside coping with everything that dwells starkly beyond their wildest fantasies, rather than soullessly hailing from corporations bowing to an algorithm. As an actor, adding to a resume that also spans The Other Two, Shrill and Search Party, Torres is just as an inimitable as a presence as the shows that he creates, and so the Lynch parallels continue. His on-screen company in Fantasmas includes Emma Stone (Poor Things) in a Real Housewives spoof, Dylan O'Brien (Maximum Truth) wearing lingerie, Tilda Swinton (The Killer) as water, and Kim Petras and Princess Nokia as mermaid telemarketers — plus familiar Los Espookys faces and a whole heap more — with everyone from A-listers to bit-parters delightfully adopting his wavelength. Stone executive produces, too, with the two-time Oscar-winner backing up the same role on one of 2023's best and boldest new TV shows (The Curse, which she led) with one of 2024's. Perhaps, as Torres and viewers are, she's also dealing with the fact that getting through each day never stops being bizarre by leaning in. Check out the trailer for Fantasmas below: Fantasmas streams via Binge.
The impact of Sydney's lockout laws might have held down partygoers in recent times, but that's not holding back Sydney promoters Picnic Music and their first foray into the festival scene. Taking over the entire six levels of the Kings Cross Hotel, Maximum Joy is a one-day event encompassing everything music, art and fashion. Headlined by nine international house and techno heavy hitters making their Australian debuts, including Americans Joe Claussell and Veronica Vasicka, it's a worldly affair with Germany's Dopplereffekt hitting the stage, as well as Japan's Dip in the Pool and Kuniyuki Takahashi. There'll also be 25 local DJs, so something is bound to get you dancing. The six levels have each been curated by a local or international music and fashion label, with Amsterdam's Music from Memory taking over the rooftop till close, while Sydney's Midnight Swim hosts the Disco Diner and Balcony room. In the Dive Bar, Maurice Terzini — admired hospitality guru and director of fashion label Ten Pieces — has teamed up with leading drag performers, plus local visual artist Dreamcatcher and musician Kali, to present an all-encompassing creative space called The Rude Club, which will also showcase the label's recent clothing collection. "Right in the middle of lock out dead zone Kings Cross we've set our sights on your comfort... in the cosy and rambling surrounds of the epic Kings Cross Hotel," says Picnic Music director Carly Roberts.
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.
Get your laughs at Marrickville's Factory Theatre when Sydney Fringe Comedy takes over from Tuesday, August 28 to Sunday, September 30. More than 100 Australian and international acts will appear, with five venues hosting up to 20 shows every night. Watch out for Aaron Chen in The Crushing Defeat and Public Humiliation of Aaron and Cassy Workman in Giantess, a fable about a kidnapped six-year-old whose only hope of salvation is a giant – which happens to double as an exploration of struggling with gender identity. Meanwhile, Break Out NZ will bring together accomplished Kiwi comics David Corroes, Donna Brookbanks and Jamie Bowen. These funny guys are just the tip of the iceberg; check out the rest of the massive program over here — most tickets are a steal at $10–$15.
It has been a tumultuous two years for the Sydney Film Festival. First, the event moved completely online in 2020, as many fests did. Then, it hosted a brief summer season this January, welcoming cinephiles back to the State Theatre. And, in the hope that running the huge movie-filled festival as normal might've been more of a possibility later in the year, SFF then shifted from its usual June dates to the end of August for 2021. Obviously, the Greater Sydney region's current extended lockdown has now gotten in way of the latter, and its planned run Wednesday, August 18–Sunday, August 29 now during the city's stay-at-home period. So, unsurprisingly, the fest's organisers have announced that they're shifting this year's SFF to November. Movie buffs, you'll need to block out Wednesday, November 3–Sunday, November 14 in your calendar, as that's when SFF's 68th edition is now scheduled to take place. And, you can start looking forward to a festival that won't require carting your winter coat around, sipping soup in the State or enjoying the rush between cinemas because it keeps you warm — because this year's fest will now be a late-spring affair. Which venues SFF will screen in, and how many of its already-announced first 22 films will still grace its screens — and what the rest of the program will look like, too — is all yet to be announced. It is expected that the fest's lineup will undergo some tinkering, however, given that some of the titles already unveiled will have already reached cinemas in general release before November. So far, that includes Zola, the wild Sundance hit based on a lengthy 148-tweet Twitter thread. When the rest of the program will be announced also hasn't been revealed, although SFF normally doesn't unveil its full lineup until around a month before the festival — so, it's safe to assume further details will arrive by early August. Standout movies currently on SFF's bill include New Zealand's The Justice of Bunny King, which stars Essie Davis (Babyteeth) and Thomasin McKenzie (Old); Riders of Justice, a revenge-fuelled Danish comedy led by the inimitable Mads Mikkelsen (Another Round); 2020 Berlinale Golden Bear winner There Is No Evil, a searing Iranian drama about the death penalty; and Undine, the alluring and beguiling latest film from German auteur Christian Petzold. The festival has also already announced a retrospective dedicated to Iranian filmmaker Abbas Kiarostami. SFF joins Vivid in postponing due to the current outbreak and lockdown — and doing so after already delaying its 2021 dates in an effort to avoid cancellations, rescheduling or being impacted by restrictions. At present, Vivid is due to run from mid-September. The 2021 Sydney Film Festival will now take place between Wednesday, November 3–Sunday, November 14. For further information, head to the festival website.
If you've been itching to get out of your comfort zone and ditch tradition these holidays, you're not alone. A mammoth proportion of young Aussies are looking to celebrate the silly season a little differently this year. New research from the adventure lovers at Adrenaline has found 84 percent of young Aussies are abandoning their Christmas plans to celebrate in a bigger way — with almost half of young Aussies planning to bail on their family lunch in favour of gifting themselves an adventure. And we don't blame them — especially after spending a good portion of the year where the most exciting journey was walking to a coffee shop within five kilometres (shivers). So, if you reckon you fit into the statistics above, we've got you covered. From kayaking to skydiving, read on for five adventurous activities you can do this festive season. Plus, if you've left gift shopping to the last minute, these all double as excellent presents, so you and your favourite people can go on a fun experience together. SWAP STUFFING FOR SKYDIVING Is the stress of whipping a pav and scrambling for last-minute presents not enough to get your blood pumping? Why not try jumping out of a plane over Wollongong? You'll experience the Illawarra region from a whole other level (literally) and get to jump from up to 15,000 feet with a 60-second free-fall. Once you're at about 5000 feet from the ground, your instructor will pop off the parachute and you'll get five straight minutes of easy breezy gliding time to soak up the sights — it's thrilling and dreamy at the same time. A tandem skydive with an instructor goes for $339. FORGET THE ELVES AND MAKE FRIENDS WITH FLIPPER If you're visiting Victoria for the holidays, shake things up a bit and have a swim with everyone's favourite sea dogs. You can dive head-first into the water with these intelligent fellas near Sorrento, for an incredible up close and personal aquatic adventure. You'll be taken out on a scenic boat ride across Port Phillip Bay, before diving into the crystal clear water to explore reefs with sea dragons and swim around with wild bottlenose dolphins and and playful fur seals. A pass for two people will set you back $330. LEAVE KRIS KRINGLE FOR A KAYAKING ADVENTURE Whether you're in Sydney or somewhere else along the NSW coast this season, Adrenaline probably has a kayaking adventure nearby for you to jump on. There's a 2.5-hour kayaking tour in Byron Bay for those of you further north, where you'll be able to spot dolphins, turtles and other marine life and learn to surf your kayak on the way back into shore. Down south for the holidays? Check out the full-day Jervis Bay self guided tour, which costs just $85 for two. Or, if you're staying put in the city, jump on the Sydney Harbour kayak tour, which begins in Glebe and includes a guided walking tour of Goat Island. DITCH THE CHRISTMAS HAM FOR A HELICOPTER RIDE AROUND THE HARBOUR Sydney Harbour is pretty jaw-dropping when witnessed from land, but have you ever gotten a bird's eye view? Take a private scenic ride on a helicopter to witness the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Opera House and city in all its glory. You can go as a pair for 30 minutes for $430, and you can bring a third person for free. Want that extra thrill? There's a black ops doors-off military flight mission you can hop on, with take-home GoPro footage so you can brag about it later. On top of the crazy speeds, you'll be taking in fantastic views of Sydney Harbour, Bondi and more. If you want to explore more of Sydney's northern beaches, opt for a scenic 30-minute seaplane flight, which leaves from Rose Bay and flies you over Manly, Curl Curl and Avalon on the way up to Palm Beach and over the Pittwater's magical waterways on the return. And if the experience has inspired a potential career change, you can get a taste of the pilot life on the 30-minute training flight. CHANGE UP CHRISTMAS LIGHTS FOR ZOOMY LAPS If that history-making final Formula 1 race last week has you craving that high-voltage car racing thrill, sign up for a V8 race around Eastern Creek Raceway, from $399. After a pre-race briefing, where you'll get the lowdown on apexes, braking points and overtaking, you'll get to drive a real V8 supercar for six laps around this challenging circuit with a professional instructor as your passenger. There's no speed limit so it's entirely up to you how heavy you want to push that accelerating pedal. You have a choice of manual and automatic transmissions in a range of custom-built Ford and Holden cars. To celebrate an Unconventional Christmas, head to the Adrenaline website and choose from over 2500 adventurous experiences to share with your loved ones, and add a little thrill to your holiday season.
There's a brand new eatery in Cronulla by the name of Blackwood Pantry. The cafe-restaurant is the domain of chef Rob Lechowicz, a local lad who's spent the last few years honing his skills in Michelin-starred establishments in London and Paris. Now he's taking everything he learnt abroad and bringing it back home. In the food department, expect an all-day menu made up of some seriously appetising dishes. The vegetarian Buddha Bowl is made with fried eggs, quinoa, kale, roasted cauliflower, picked red cabbage, toasted almonds, lemon and buttermilk dressing; while the 'Miss Piggy' consists of crispy pork belly, roasted peaches, chimichurri and goat's cheese on toasted ciabatta. You can also grab a range of gluten-free salads, including a roast beetroot number made with yellow beans, pickled onions, goat's cheese and toasted pistachio. Those of you with a sweet tooth can indulge in their daily pastry offerings, or even grab a fresh fruit paddle pop. Okay so technically that last item is on the kids menu, but we're sure they'll let you order one for yourself if you ask them nicely. Drink options include coffee, tea and a variety of fresh squeezed juices, plus a cookies and cream milkshake we can't wait to try for ourselves. If you're looking for something a little stronger, they've also got beer, wine and cocktails, as well as white sangria with peaches by the jug.
If you're the type of traveller who doesn't just plan where you'll be staying and what sights you'll be seeing, but also what you'll be drinking while you're there, then add Australia's latest accommodation option to your dream holiday list. A collaboration between caravan rental site Camplify and The Botanist Gin, The Botanist Van is the country's first gin-themed caravan — and yes, a bottle of gin will be waiting for you when you get there. Nicknamed Mazzy the Van, the holiday spot on wheels has been painted in beachy blue and white hues, while its interiors have been decked out Hamptons-style — with oozing serious 70s vibes one of its aims. The renovated 1979 Viscount Royal vintage caravan comes with a barbecue, an outdoor table and chairs, and an awning, as well as indoor and outdoor games, a beach umbrella and beach towels, and a picnic basket. It's the stocked Botanist Gin bar cart, however, that'll make you thirsty. During your stay, you'll be sipping from a complimentary 700-millilitre bottle of The Botanist gin, a four-pack of Fever Tree tonic waters and Botanicus' flavoured herbal Tea Tube. You'll also be combining all of the above with dried fruit garnishes and other ingredients to make gin cocktails. The Botanist team have some new suggestions for the latter, too, including its own spin on a G&T — so you just need to get mixing and sipping. If this sounds like your kind of getaway, The Botanist Van is available to book from Friday, November 6 through until the end of summer (February 28, 2021) from $140 per night — sleeping four people, and for a minimum three-night stay. You will need to get cosy over a weekend to receive the gin pack, though, as it comes with Friday–Sunday and Saturday–Monday bookings. As for where you'll be having a few drinks, kicking back and getting nostalgic, the van is based on the New South Wales South Coast. It can be reserved and set up on your choice of campsite within 100 kilometres of Flinders — so between Austinmer and Jervis Bay. To book The Botanist Van — with prices from $140 per day, and rentals available within 100 kilometres of Flinders in New South Wales until February 28, 2021 — visit the Camplify website.
Sydney's cinema scene started off the year with a deep dive into the wondrous cinematic worlds of Wes Anderson. But, when this filmmaker is involved, you can never have too much of a good thing. So, from Thursday, February 4–Wednesday, February 24, Dendy Newtown is falling head over heels for the acclaimed director's work, too — via a film series called Fantastic Mr Wes: A Wes Anderson Retrospective. Film buffs can enjoy Anderson's distinctive visual stylings, compelling soundtracks and all-star casts, with the inner west venue playing different flicks multiple times across the three-week period. First up, catch 1996 crime-comedy Bottle Rocket, followed by the Jason Schwartzman-led hit Rushmore, the family dramas of The Royal Tenenbaums and the stop-motion animation delight that is Fantastic Mr Fox. Also on the bill: The Darjeeling Limited (which'll help you vicariously indulge your wanderlust), The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou (if you feeling like wearing matching tracksuits with your movie date) and Isle of Dogs (because no one does animated canines like Anderson) — plus Moonrise Kingdom's tale of young love and the exceptionally cast The Grand Budapest Hotel as well. Fingers crossed that 2021 is the year we all finally get to see Anderson's latest, the pandemic-delayed The French Dispatch, too. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rs7mIoG8ffI
Sydney's Bondiwood film festival started with a conversation, a hypothetical and a realisation. Could you make a movie just using folks from Bondi? If so, who would be involved? Also, what do their filmographies look like? When coming up with a list of people and pictures proved easy, this cinema celebration was born, putting the results of a friendly chat up on the big screen at Bondi Pavilion. From Thursday, September 26–Sunday, September 29, 2024, Bondiwood is getting the projectors whirring to showcase flicks with ties to this famous patch of the Harbour City. Some are internationally beloved, such as Chopper, The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and Bran Nue Dae. One, slasher film Cut, stars Kylie Minogue. And with Tanna, audiences can see the first Australian movie to be nominated for Best International Feature (then called Best Foreign-Language Film) at the Oscars. Also on the lineup: the Joel Edgerton (Dark Matter)-starring Wish You Were Here, the Ryan Kwanten (The Portrait)-led Red Hill, an event digging int Mad Max's origins with a video introduction from George Miller, 1982's Going Down in the closing-night slot, a Q&A with filmmakers Kieran Darcy-Smith (Wish You Were Here's director) and Nash Edgerton (Gringo) about making the leap from shorts to features, a showcase of surf films and more. Festivalgoers will hear from talents involved with the flicks on the program at every session — and other talks include filmmaking 101, guerilla shooting and key legals if you're going to make a movie, helping the next batch of Bondiwood names on their path.
Whether TLC is singing about chasing waterfalls, Backstreet Boys are reminding us that they're back, Elton John is saying farewell again or Billy Joel is saying that it's still rock 'n' roll to him, Australia and Aotearoa's music venues are frequently alive with the sounds of nostalgia. Going retro is big touring business of late, and it's hip hop and R&B festival Juicy Fest's whole angle — with T-Pain, Ashanti and The Game on the bill for its just-announced 2024 events. Expect to hear auto-tune aplenty when the 'Buy U a Drank', 'I'm Sprung' and 'Can't Believe It' rapper hits the stage, performing tracks from a career that's also included featured appearances on Flo-Rida's 'Low', Akon's 'I Can't Wait', The Lonely Island's 'I'm on a Boat' and Snoop Dogg's 'Boom'. If it seems like a while since he's been our way, it has: this will be his first time in Australia in more than a decade, too. When Juicy Fest kicks off its January 2024 season in Christchurch, Wellington, Tauranga and Auckland, then heads across the ditch to Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Adelaide and the Gold Coast, it'll see Ashanti return Down Under after appearing on 2022's Fridayz Live tour in Australia and Friday Jams tour in New Zealand. As for The Game, who came to fame in the 00s in the West Coast scene, he was meant to tour Down Under in March 2023, but was replaced by AB Original. Bone Thugs-n-Harmony are also on the bill, as are T.I., Trey Songz, Fabolous, Mario and Keri Hilson. And, there's still one headliner to be announced down the line. Juicy Fest's 2024 run will mark its second, after debuting in January 2023 and attracting more than 100,000 attendees. The event has only announced a specific venue so far for the Gold Coast, hitting up Doug Jennings Park, with further details to come. JUICY FEST 2024 DATES: Wednesday, January 3 — Venue TBC, Christchurch Friday, January 5 — Venue TBC, Wellington Saturday, January 6 — Venue TBC, Tauranga Sunday, January 7 — Venue TBC, Auckland Friday, January 12 — Venue TBC, Melbourne Saturday, January 13 — Venue TBC, Sydney Sunday, January 14 — Venue TBC, Perth Friday, January 19 — Venue TBC, Adelaide Saturday, January 20 — Doug Jennings Park, Gold Coast JUICY FEST 2024 LINEUP: T-Pain T.I. Ashanti The Game Trey Songz Bone Thugs-n-Harmony Fabolous Mario Keri Hilson Juicy Fest will tour Australia and New Zealand in January 2024, with tickets on sale from Wednesday, April 26. Head to the festival's website to register for pre-sale access.
Bartenders are the new rockstars — if their touring habits are anything to go by, anyway. In the past few years, more and more cocktail bars and their helmsmen have joined musicians for fly-in, fly-out visits to Australia — but instead of touring records, they're touring killer drinks lists. Last year saw Asia's best bar 28 Hongkong Street and hidden New York City jaunt Attaboy both do a quick stops in Melbourne and Sydney, while Mace popped up at Sydney's PS40 just the other week and PDT was in town a little while back too. And now another NYC bar is making its way to our shores for a cheeky cocktail pop-up. The Dead Rabbit Grocery and Grog will come to Australia for three nights only, spreading its shaking skills across the east coast with one night at Melbourne's Black Pearl, one night at Sydney's Baxter Inn and one night at The Gresham in Brisbane. Dead Rabbit will be sending their finest drink makers to work in collaboration with the host bars to create a one-night-only menu that will showcase their skills and signature drinks and food items (like their Scotch egg). Their cocktail menu is pretty extensive, but we're hoping they bring their Hong Kong Phooey with them — it blends rum with Aquavit, grapefruit, pistachio and avocado. Although we've had a few bars pass through our major cities by now, this one's pretty special as Dead Rabbit, which is permanently located in lower Manhattan, took out the top spot on last year's World's 50 Best Bars list. So if you can't get to the Lower East Side anytime soon, this is your next best option. Tickets are a little pricey at $40 (plus booking fee) — that includes a cocktail on arrival and one of Dead Rabbit's signature Scotch eggs. You'll then be able to purchase extra drinks on top of that.
