Hamilton isn't the only hit musical from the past few years that took a few cues from the past, paired a well-known chapter of history with toe-tapping tunes and made on-stage magic. Another theatre show that did just that: Six the Musical. First premiering back at the 2017 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, then jumping to London's West End, the musical takes inspiration from one of the most famous sextets there's ever been — because even if you don't know much about Britain's past kings and queens, you likely know that Henry VIII had six wives. The Tudor monarch's love life has inspired plenty of pop culture content over the years — including 00s TV series The Tudors and 2008 movie The Other Boleyn Girl — but this one takes the pop part rather seriously. It's presented as a pop concert, in fact, with Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves, Catherine Howard and Catherine Parr all taking to the microphone to tell their stories. Each woman's aim: to stake their claim as the wife who suffered the most at the king's hands, and to become the group's lead singer as a result. A five-time nominee at the Olivier Awards, Six the Musical has already played Australia, thanks to a 2020 season at the Sydney Opera House. Making a comeback, it's joining the long list of musicals doing the rounds this year and next — alongside Hamilton, Come From Away, Moulin Rouge!, The Phantom of the Opera, Cinderella, Mary Poppins, West Side Story, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Jagged Little Pill, to name a few big-name shows gracing Aussie stages either now or in the near future. Hitting up Brisbane's QPAC Playhouse from November 2021, the Sydney Opera House from December 2021, and Canberra Theatre Centre, Her Majesty's Theatre in Adelaide and Melbourne's Comedy Theatre in 2022 — with exact dates to be revealed for all cities — Six the Musical will welcome back four 2020 cast members for its new tour. Kala Gare (Rent) returns as Anne Boleyn, Loren Hunter (Strictly Ballroom: The Musical) will reprise her role as Jane Seymour, Kiana Daniele (Dirty Dancing) will step into Anne of Cleves' shoes again and Catherine Parr will be played by Vidya Makan (Green Day's American Idiot) once more. They'll welcome new co-stars Phoenix Jackson Mendoza (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) and Chelsea Dawson (Shrek the Musical), as Catherine of Aragon and Catherine Howard, respectively. SIX THE MUSICAL AUSTRALIAN TOUR 2021–22: Brisbane — QPAC Playhouse from November 2021 Sydney — Sydney Opera House from December 2021 Canberra — Canberra Theatre Centre sometime in 2022 Adelaide — Her Majesty's Theatre sometime in 2022 Melbourne — Comedy Theatre sometime in 2022 Six the Musical will play Brisbane's QPAC Playhouse from November 2021, the Sydney Opera House from December 2021, and Canberra Theatre Centre, Her Majesty's Theatre in Adelaide and Melbourne's Comedy Theatre in 2022. Tickets for the Brisbane and Sydney seasons will go on sale in August — to join the waitlist, head to the musical's website. Images: James D Morgan, Getty Images.
One month. Two countries. 32 teams. A single, shining, much-coveted, hard-contested trophy. They're the basic numbers behind the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, which is being played across Australia and New Zealand from mid-July to mid-August. Football fans — and no, we don't mean AFL, NRL, rugby union or gridiron devotees — this is your time to shine. Here are a few other pivotal figures: two nights, one hotel suite, and you and three mates. And some more: one Aussie soccer squad, a world-first place to stay and one pivotal match. Throw in one football star, too, and you have everything you need for the ultimate Matildas-themed staycation (for Sydneysiders) or vacation (if you hail from beyond the Harbour City). To celebrate the FIFA Women's World Cup heading Down Under, The Star Grand Hotel Sydney is giving its two-storey penthouse a Matildas-worshipping makeover for a couple of nights, and just for a few guests. As part of a partnership with Destination NSW, it's decking out the place in green and gold — what else? — for you and a a trio of your soccer-loving besties to call home from Wednesday, July 19–Friday, July 21. The timing coincides with Australia playing the Republic of Ireland on Thursday, July 20, with tickets and transfers to the game included in your stay. The one big catch: you'll need to win this football fanatic's dream of a stay in a game of skill, by explaining why Sydney is the best place on the planet to see Australia's women's team compete for the cup, with entries open until 9pm AEST on Wednesday, July 12. If you're the lucky recipient, you'll score that curated suite that pays homage to Sam Kerr and her teammates, which comes decked out with a four-metre-long Matildas scarf, various football ornaments, books about the team's history, a staircase adorned with football quotes, and framed photos of past and present Matildas legends. Autographed jerseys also feature, and international trophies — yes, real ones — already won by the squad, such as the AFC Women's Asian Cup, Cup of Nations and the Tournament of Nations. And, there's a foosball table for you and your crew to get playing yourself. Michelle Heyman will also pop up to meet and greet you, and chat about football, the FIFA Women's World Cup and a career that spanned becoming the A-League Women's top goal scorer. "This is the ultimate experience for any football fan! Not only do you get to stay in this incredible football suite, you get to fully immerse yourself in the Matildas hype ahead of their first match on home soil. You even get tickets to the Matildas soldout opening game, so overall it's a money can't buy experience and an incredible way to get behind the Matildas and celebrate women's sport here in Sydney," said Heyman. You'll also take home a heap of Matildas merchandise, and get a pre-game party playlist curated by Nina Las Vegas. Live outside of Sydney? Domestic flights are included, too, and you might be extra keen on the harbour and Harbour Bridge views from the penthouse. Now that's how you kick off the World Cup in style — and cheer on the Matildas to hopefully make football history. Entries to stay at the Matildas Fan Suite are open until 9pm AEST on Wednesday, July 12, for a two-night stay from Wednesday, July 19–Friday, July 21 — head to The Star Grand Hotel website for further details. The FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 runs from Thursday, July 20–Sunday, August 20 across Australia and New Zealand, with tickets available from the FIFA website. Images: Scott Ehler. Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world.
Insta-worthy eats and drinks are one thing, but a world-class food scene isn't built on the edible stuff alone. There's also a stack of gorgeous design work behind the most memorable hospitality venues and it's this very aspect that's celebrated at the annual Eat Drink Design Awards. As Australia and New Zealand's only hospitality design awards program, the Eat Drink Design Awards recognise hospo design gems across both countries, from restaurants, bars, and cafes, through to temporary spaces. While the 2017 award winners won't be chosen by the jury until November, the shortlist was revealed today and, as expected, it's packed full of all those cafes, bars, and restaurants your inner style nerd has been drooling over this past year or so. Local nominees for Best Bar Design include ACME&Co's Merivale project Charlie Parker's, George Livissianis' work on The Dolphin Hotel and SJB + TRD for The Buena. The CBD's Edition Roasters is among the projects shortlisted for Best Cafe Design, while the likes of Fred's, 12-Micron, Cairo Takeaway, Mode at the Four Seasons, Jade Temple and Long Chim are being considered for the Best Restaurant Design gong. Other categories being selected include Best Installation Design, Best Identity Design, and Best Retail Design. The winners will be announced on Tuesday, November 14 in Melbourne. For the full list of nominees, visit their website. Jump over to The Eat Drink Design Awards website to see the full lineup of nominees.
Venturing into Prince Wine Store in Zetland should come with a warning: not only will you come out with a bottle or two more than you expected, but you'll also leave armed with plenty of wine knowledge to impress your mates with after a chat with the knowledgeable staff. The store was gifted to Sydney by our Victorian neighbours who have been enjoying the wine expertise from Prince Wine in its two Melbourne stores for over two decades. The independent wine merchants focus on Australian producers plus a selection of imports from France, Italy, New Zealand and California. In addition to the team exercising their encyclopedic knowledge of wine in the retail space, Prince Wine also run a series of wine education courses throughout the year. These range from introductory courses for oenophile amateurs to formal qualifications for those seeking industry recognition. Images: Kitti Gould
Since 2017, Biang Biang has satiated cravings of hot, spicy noodles from Haymarket to Liverpool. Bringing a taste of the Shaanxi Province in central China to Sydney, Biang Biang stays true to its name, specialising in biang biang noodles. They're long, hand-pulled noodles made from wheat flour. It can be hard to choose from the nine different dishes that incorporate these chewy noodles — you can get them topped with tomato and egg, eggplant, stewed pork or chicken. But, whatever you decide, expect a chilli bomb. You know, the type that you'll feel in the very back of your brain? Yep, that level of spice. Thankfully, it's a little easier to choose a side: the rougamo is a must-order. This Shaanxi-style 'burger' is a flaky pastry stuffed with pork, cumin beef or spicy potato. It's crunchy on the outside and tender inside, and will quash any doubts you had about staying in and ordering a takeaway. Images: Letícia Almeida.
Head to the growing food mecca that is Burwood and make a beeline for Yang's Dumpling. Part of the popular Shanghainese chain, it first opened in Burwood as a takeaway-only spot. Thankfully, it has since set up shop on Deane Street with space to dine in, and another neon-lit outpost on Enmore Road in Newtown. You'll want to order its signature sheng jian bao (from $7.80) — doughy, crisp-bottom dumplings filled with spicy pork mince. The xiao long bao ($8.80) here are also exceptional, as are the sui mai ($7.80), deep-fried mini pork buns (from $6.80) and the Sichuan-style wontons in peanut sauce ($10.80). Hot tip: order extra peanut sauce and put it on everything.
UPDATE, June 14, 2020: Devs is also now streaming in full on new Foxtel-run platform Binge. This article has been updated to reflect that change. If you're a fan of watching smart, rewarding, deep-thinking science fiction, then you're probably a fan of Alex Garland's. Originally an author, he initially came to fame as the writer of 90s bestseller The Beach, before moving into screenwriting with the script for 28 Days Later. More screenplays followed, including Sunshine, Never Let Me Go and Dredd — but it was his 2014 directorial debut Ex Machina that showed the extent of his filmmaking prowess. Annihilation proved a highly worthy addition to his resume in 2018, too, even after it was shuffled onto Netflix rather than screening in cinemas in much of the world. Given his track record so far, any new project by Garland is cause for excitement. This year, direct your enthusiasm towards new series Devs. The writer/director has made the leap to television with a cast led by Nick Offerman, Ex Machina's Sonoya Mizuno, Love's Karl Glusman, American Horror Story's Alison Pill and Bad Times at the El Royale's Cailee Spaeny — and, as currently streaming on Foxtel Now and Binge in Australia, it's a trippy ride into cerebral sci-fi territory. The eight-part show also radiates unease from its very first moments, all while sporting both a mood and a futuristic look that prove simultaneously unsettlingly and alluring. The setting: Amaya, a US technology company that's massive in size yet secretive in its focus, especially when it comes to its big quantum computing project. When Sergei (Glusman) is promoted to its coveted, extra clandestine Devs division, his girlfriend and fellow Amaya employee Lily (Mizuno) is thrilled for him. But when Sergei doesn't come home from his first day, Lily starts looking for answers — including from the company's guru-like leader Forest (a long-haired, very un-Ron Swanson-like Offerman). As intriguing as it is involving — as both Ex Machina and Annihilation were, too — Devs is the kind of series with twists and turns that are best discovered by watching; however as each second passes by, the stranger and more sinister it all appears. Expect conspiracies, tech thrills and big questions, in a series that does what all the very best sci-fi stories do: tackle big existential questions and intimate everyday emotions in tandem, all while asking 'what if?'. Also a highlight is Devs' spectacular set design and overall look, with Garland bringing striking, dark yet vivid images to his first small-screen project. Giant woodland areas, floating cube-like workspaces glimmering in golden hues, shimmering fields, a towering statue of a small child — they're all part of the show's appearance, and its mysteries. Check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8klax373ds The first season of Devs is available to stream on Foxtel Now and Binge. Images: FX Networks.
A voodoo-inspired, jungle-walled cocktail bar that can tempt you from any dinner plans with popcorn and a glass (or several) of absinthe, Papa Gede's is owned, designed and run by a trio of seasoned hospos: husband-and-wife team Lara Dignam (ex-Red Lantern) and Michael Dhinse (ex-Grandma's), and their friend Joshua Ng (ex-Rover). The cocktail list is a generous mix of classics and signatures, including a Zombie that promises to resurrect the dead. Some bizarre names dominate the menu, like the titillating Centrefold (a golden glass of marigold vodka, passionfruit, lemon, cucumber and coconut water soda with a topping of 'champagne' jelly), or the hopefully not prophetic Double Demerits (a surprisingly sharp mix of cognac, triple sec, guava cryo-concentrate, lemon and pomegranate, finished with a dusting of toasted fennel seeds). The one thing that sets Papa Gede's apart from the rest of Sydney's small bar scene? Its range of international and homegrown absinthes. The proprietors welcome newcomers to the absinthe game. "What I really like about it is that absinthe has this really terrible reputation... [We are] giving people the opportunity to do it in a new fashion," says Dignam. The added theatre of the absinthe ritual — featuring ornate glassware, four-tapped absinthe fountains and burning sugar cubes — will elevate your post-work drinks to a whole new level. Although ostensibly a cocktail bar, including a selection of aged cocktails — matured for one month and stirred upon request — vinophiles aren't left behind, with a generous wine list featuring local and foreign drops. In the fridge, there is also a range of local brews to choose from. As a venue that worships at the altar of history's greatest party animal, Papa Gede — who also happens to be the embodiment of death, a fan of cheap cigars, apples, and top hats — it's little wonder that music is also a big deal here. Expect live music sets from top local blues, jazz, reggae, soul and R&B artists. Images: Cassandra Hannigan
TIVA combines Sydney's love of luxurious bars and live music into a romantic venue underneath The Charles Grand Brasserie & Bar. Head down Wednesday through Saturday, and you're sure to find a band or a solo artist filling the room with jazz, soul, R&B or folk music until late. Plus, accompanying this roster of live entertainment is a daily program of DJs spinning tunes Monday through Saturday. The venue is reminiscent of many classic lounge bars, boasting subtle lighting, velvet booths and mirrored tables. A palette of navy and black tones pulls the room together, complimented by polished steel and marble finishes, giving it a luxe atmosphere. Once you've found your table or booth, your attention will turn to what you'll pair the night's playlist with. If you've come for a few drinks, there's plenty to choose from. "Tiva is a place you want to settle in to enjoy the music. High-end spirits, elegant cocktails, champagne, and table service with some understated theatre are the ultimate support act to the incredible entertainment planned," says Head of Bars Jonothan Carr (About Time, The Rover, Grandma's Bar). The espresso martini ($24) is elevated by the use of a high-end French press, the single malt whiskey and cognac old fashioned ($24) is served tableside in a decanter, and the Regal Margarita ($24) is complete with smoked paprika and roasted pineapple. As for food, Tiva takes queues from its upstairs sibling, The Charles Grand, serving up a French-inspired array of eats. Highlights include hashbrowns with roasted chicken cream ($10), a wagyu cheeseburger ($30) and crumbed Moreton Bay bug sandwiches ($20) — as well as caviar service ($140), of course. Pulling together champagne, impressive cocktails and French bar snacks with top-notch live music, Tiva is coming to Sydney's most romantic venues list. Head to the bar's website to see the list of performances it has coming up. Appears in: Sydney's Best Underground Bars for 2023
If you're unable to resist the charms of Lightning Ridge and need to take a piece home with you, head to the more traditional — but no less colourful — John Murray Art Gallery. Here you'll find the exclusive home for works by the celebrated eponymous artist. Murray's works showcase the beauty and the character of the Australian outback with wit and whimsy. Stop into the gallery to see Murray's photorealistic works up close, and exit via the gift shop where you can pick up original paintings, prints, cards and souvenirs. Murray is also the creative mind behind Lightning Ridge's newest mascot, Stanley the Emu. Unveiled in 2013, Stanley is an 18-metre-tall steel emu made primarily from VW Beetle bonnets and doors, and is an unmissable sight that greets visitors just 10 kilometres out of town. [caption id="attachment_843122" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Vance Bagwell (Flickr)[/caption] Top image: John, Flickr
This boutique bookseller where to go when you're looking for a fresh read to get absorbed in while the weather is cooler. Browse through the brightly lit shop and marvel at the huge bookshelf that takes up the entire back wall. The shop beholds an extensive collection of cookbooks, a huge fiction section and hot-off-the-press new releases. As for the name of the shop, it pays homage to Irish playwright and poet Oscar Wilde. Image: Arvin Prem Kumar
Muggles, something very magical has landed in Melbourne. While the city has already had a wizarding hotel, a Harry Potter escape room, a magical train trip and a potion-filled rooftop bar, it seems our love for The Boy Who Lived is insatiable — because, the country's biggest Harry Potter shop has today swung open its magical doors and started welcoming in wizards, witches, goblins, centaurs and even mere muggles. Located on the basement level of Myer Melbourne on Bourke Street, the 500-square-metre store is home to a Platform 9 3/4 — so you can finally achieve your dream of heading off to Hogwarts, even if you're much older than 11 — and an Ollivanders with over 20 different wands. As the store is a collaboration between Myer and Warner Bros, it's also home to tonnes of official merchandise, homewares, apparel, stationery, toys and more. We're told there's a heap more 'photo opportunities' from The Wizarding World, and Lego, too — so bring your smartphone and a patient mate. JK Rowling's Harry Potter and the Cursed Child theatre production is still playing at Princess Theatre and you'll be able to snag tickets for that here, too, at a dedicated booth. And to celebrate the Harry Potter at Myer store's opening, the play's cast performed hit track 'Wand Dance' on Bourke Street at midday on Friday, October 18. Of course, the opening of the Harry Potter store coincides with the lead-up to another magical event (which is, mind you, only ten weeks away), so we're sure Myer and Warner Bros are hoping to collect a few galleons from muggles doing their Christmas shopping. But, we're not complaining — the more Harry Potter, the better. The Harry Potter at Myer store will be disappearing — evanesco! — in December 2020, so we suggest if you're located interstate, to book in a trip to Melbourne ASAP. Find Harry Potter at Myer at the basement level, Myer Melbourne, 314–336 Bourke Street. It's open Monday–Thursday 9.30am–7pm, Friday 9.30am–9pm, Saturday 9.30am–7pm and Sunday 10am–7pm. Updated on October 18, 2019.
Venues serving up Vietnamese soup are not exactly few and far between in Sydney. But as any regular soup slurper would know, there is pho and then there is pho. And Pho Pasteur definitely falls into the latter category; the type of pho that leaves both bellies and souls satisfied. This Chinatown eatery is definitely not skimping on options; there are over ten pho varieties plus a selection of other soup and dry noodle dishes. The broth is the complex balance of sweet, savoury and salty that would be impossible to mimic at home, particularly for the price. If you want to branch out, the menu does expand out to feature the finest of Vietnamese cuisine including stir-fries, grilled skewered meats and rice paper rolls. The dining room is tightly packed and constantly bustling which adds to the authentic vibe. Images: Kitti Smallbone
Conveniently sitting on the corner of Wentworth and East Esplanade, just steps from Manly's Ferry Wharf, is the Artisan Cheese Room. Occupying a small corner shop, this delightful room is created for cheesemongers, by cheesemongers. Owners Joanna and Paul Thompson opened up the carefully curated cheese haven after successful careers elsewhere — although a career in cheese with your significant other feels like a whole different level of success. Inside you can browse over 50 cheeses sourced from across the world, as well as from just a few hours' drive away. Also available are accessories like blue-and-white crockery and handmade knives, all with a sharp focus around cheese. The shop also offers cheese celebration cakes, boards, hampers and gift boxes all prepared upon request. If you're now hankering for a cheese plate, then you might be interested in the store's Cheese Club which provides four cheeses each month along with biscuits and tasting notes (for all you cheese newcomers out there). March's featured cheeses included the Holy Goat La Luna, sourced from the rural plains just a few hours north of Melbourne, as well as L'Amuse gouda, a cheese made in northern Holland's UNESCO World Heritage Site of Beemster, which then aged for two years in Amsterdam. Cheese lovers can choose between four options — or one ($90), three ($260), six ($530) or 12 months ($1000) of cheese. Sign up online, or pop into the cheese shop — and taste a few seasonal favourites while you're there.
UPDATE: MARCH 30, 2020 — When you're mostly living on pantry staples, a treat is more than deserved — and you can't go past this Clovelly patisserie's insane creations. You can order savoury pies, bread, eclairs and chocolate-dipped croissants to your doorstep via the Bopple app. It is currently closed to dine-in customers. When you're mostly living on pantry staples, a treat is more than deserved — and you can't go past this Clovelly patisserie's insane creations. You can order everything from savoury pies and bread to eclairs and chocolate-dipped croissants to your doorstep via the Bopple app — or takeaway from the store if you do want to venture outdoors.Sydneysiders with a sweet tooth should make tracks to Clovelly, where renowned pastry chef Yves Scherrer is now pumping out his goods at new patisserie and bakery Madame & Yves. Scherrer — who's opened the venue with partner Jennifer — has worked across several of Sydney's fine dining institutions, creating stunning desserts at the likes of Sokyo and now-closed restaurants Est. and Ananas Brasserie. He also recently coached the Australian World Pastry Cup team — which went on to win sixth place worldwide — and is the man responsible for Sake's much Instagrammed dragon egg dessert. While the dragon egg will not make an appearance at Madame & Yves, a few of Scherrer's other famed creations will grace the menu — including the salted caramel eclairs from Ananas and the white sesame gelato from Sake. The leaves room on the menu for a whole heap of new creations, like the matcha yuzu roll (matcha sponge, mascarpone yuzu cream, yuzu whipped ganache, shiso leaf gel and choux pastry) and the piña colada tart (coconut mousse, lime curd, rum-flambéed pineapple and sweet pastry). Expect cakes, tarts, fresh bread and pastries aplenty. There is a whole host of croissants, from the classic ham and cheese, to a Ferrero version filled with hazelnut and dipped in chocolate. There's also a sizeable list of handmade gelato and sorbet on offer, including vanilla bourbon, pineapple yoghurt and lemongrass varieties. You'll also notice a focus on native and seasonal Aussie ingredients here, with no artificial colours or additives to speak of. Patrons can see an environmental focus elsewhere in the shop, too — notably in the biodegradable plant-based packaging and the Green Caffeen swap-and-go cup cups. For those coffees, the patisserie has teamed up with social enterprise Madding Crowd Coffee, a small-batch Sydney roaster which donates a portion of profits back to charity (and whose beans come in reusable tins). The Clovelly Road shop is small, which means you can watch the team of pastry chefs in action from the open kitchen as you order at the counter. There are a few outdoor tables, too, made for morning coffees and croissants. Find Madame & Yves at 343–345 Clovelly Road, Clovelly. It's open daily from 7am–5pm.
Sushi has become so commonplace, it's usual to see it revolving around kitchen staff on colour-coded dishes on a conveyor belt or packaged in Woolies trays for the lunchtime business rush. There's not a lot of genuinely great sushi chefs in Sydney, but we've found a venue home to a few: Sake in The Rocks. Inventive sushi turns customers' head here for different reasons. And if the food doesn't get heads spinning, the 40 plus sakes on offer will. Three years since it opened in the Argyle complex in The Rocks, Sake still has its hat and its Aussie executive chef Shaun Presland at the helm. He trained and worked in Japan for 15 years before being headhunted for Nobu's Bahamas outing, then transferred to Sydney, at the Establishment's Sushi-e and Sake. Famed for his spicy but clean-on-the-palate platter of kingfish jalapeno, Sake has an extensive menu that's printed on fold-out paper, perhaps a vague nod to the art of origami, but it's more akin to opening up a Tokyo train network map. Appropriate, as there are many potential trips through Japanese cuisine to take, from steamed dumplings to Chinese-inspired prawn shumai with spicy ponzu or even wagyu beef with ginger and chives. The mains are once novel but now familiar eye-catchers such as popcorn shrimp. It's quite easy for diners to be marinated themselves if each dish is matched with a glass of sake, so the dessert extravaganza could be a much-needed sugar-rush hit. Certainly every assortment of ice cream, chocolate mousse and finely cut jelly is present, to cater for the inner child. As for the surroundings, Sake's faux traditional Japanese entrance foyer is simple and unassuming, with wooden stools and tables. The long walk into the main room reveals a cavern-like space divided between tables, booths and shoes-off and bum-on-floor tatami dining. Like the food, it's a blend of old tradition and flashy modernity. Three years down the line, this particular sushi train has not derailed. To extend the analogy, if anything, it's still Sydney's Japanese bullet train.
Back in simpler times, say about 30 years ago, it felt like every special occasion was topped off with a slice of Viennetta. Call it nostalgia, but this frozen treat seemed like the height of culinary indulgence, at least compared to the usual scoop of the most generic Neapolitan ice cream imaginable. However, things have changed in the world of dessert, especially since serious ice creameries like Gelato Messina hit the big time. Now that most of us have somewhat higher expectations when it comes to rounding out our meals, inspired creations like the Milo Messinetta offer a throwback bite with a lot more quality. Conceived as the ultimate Aussie summer dessert — and playing on the once-loved Viennetta — the experts at Messina have teamed up with the malt-based favourite to serve a reimagined frozen dessert featuring Milo gelato layered with Milo fudge and chunks of baked Milo cheesecake, finished with Milo crème chantilly. As malty as it sounds, the Milo Messinetta is available for pre-order online from Tuesday, October 14, or for pick up in stores from Friday, October 17–Sunday, October 19. For those seeking even more Messina-Milo goodness, the crew has also whipped up a decadent Milo Dinosaur Sundae for its Keng Eng Kee collaboration.
On September 25, 1981, Sydneysiders got their first look at the revolving restaurants inside Sydney Tower. Exactly 39 years later, the restaurants have reopened after a $12-million renovation, with new looks, A-plus cocktails and a star cast of Sydney hospitality elite. The tower's dining precinct is split into three levels: 70s-inspired Bar 83, opulent fine-diner Infinity and casual buffet restaurant Sky Feast. Each space has a unique design by Loopcreative, pulling inspiration from the likes of space odysseys, Aussie backyard pools and bygone Kings Cross bars. Sky Feast, according to the team, caters to a broader tourism market. Its design is a throwback to suburban Aussie backyards of the 70s and 80s with pebblecrete, breeze blocks, terracotta tiles and plenty of blonde furniture by Melbourne's Ross Didier. Food here is served buffet-style, but at the moment, because of COVID-19, it's a buffet that the staff bring to you for $80 a head (or $60 for lunch). There are more than 30 dishes on the menu, which we won't run through here, but expect plenty of seafood (oysters, mussels, baked barramundi), curries, noodles and six different desserts. If you've got a hunger that a regular dinner just won't fix, a big feed here might be just what you need. Images: Robert Walsh
"We were just saying, we love an Aussie." When you're My Old Ass writer/director Megan Park and Australia's own Margot Robbie has produced your latest film, it's easy to understand why. Gleaning why she greets Concrete Playground that way isn't hard, either. "We do," adds Maisy Stella, the movie's star. "Yeah, we really, really do," Park chimes back in. Robbie's production company LuckyChap Entertainment, which has I, Tonya, Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) and Barbie to its name as well — and, among flicks that don't boast its co-founder on-screen, Promising Young Woman and Saltburn, too — is also onboard for Park's next release after this marvel of a coming-of-age tale. Viewers of My Old Ass have more from Park to look forward to, then. Right now, though, they already have a must-see to enjoy courtesy of her second feature as a filmmaker. Actually, that also applies to her debut. An actor herself, Park initially jumped behind the lens on 2021's excellent Jenna Ortega (Beetlejuice Beetlejuice)-led The Fallout, which plunged into the aftermath of a school tragedy. Now, the former The Secret Life of the American Teenager star has penned and helmed a picture set as its protagonist gets ready to leave her small-town home behind for college. [caption id="attachment_974458" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Alex J. Berliner/ABImages[/caption] For her second movie about teens making sense of their world, too, Park embraces a high-concept setup — and one that heads down a universal path that resonates with viewers of all ages. Have you ever wanted to get life advice from your future self? Or, conversely, to give your younger self some words of wisdom, whether about what not to worry about or who to avoid? Focusing on Nashville's Stella as the just-turned-18 Elliott — and featuring Parks and Recreation, The White Lotus and Agatha All Along favourite Aubrey Plaza as the older version — that's My Old Ass' storyline. If you're wondering how the two Elliotts come to meet, the film uses a mushroom trip to head into magical-realism territory. When they come face to face, Plaza's 39-year-old Elliott has a specific piece of advice for the girl that she once was: stay away from Chad (Wednesday's Percy Hynes White). We all know what happens when you tell someone not to do something, especially a carefree teenager, so of course Stella's Elliott doesn't heed that warning. This is a film, however, that understands the urge to want to send your former self in a certain direction, because it understands what it's like to live with the ups and downs that life takes us on just as firmly. It equally appreciates that it's those ebbs and flows — and joys and hurts as well, so our course for better and for worse — that make us who we are. [caption id="attachment_974462" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Marion Curtis / Starpix for Amazon MGM Studios[/caption] What would Stella do if the Sundance Film Festival-premiering movie's premise became an IRL possibility for her? It depends on which way the advice was flowing. Park is of the same opinion. They'd each be keen to talk to their younger selves, but not their older guises. "I've decided that I reject it. I really reject it. I've been asked this and every time I try to think of something, and I think the reason that I don't have anything is because I would not take the opportunity. I would take the opportunity to meet younger self. But the older, it just feels a little scary to me," Stella tells us. "It gets dicey. See, it goes dark quick. I mean, it really takes a turn," she continues. "Yeah, it's a it's a scary one," agrees Park. "I think I'm going to hard pass on it too, probably. I'd want to go back and meet my younger self." Thinking about these questions is unavoidable after watching My Old Ass, no matter whether you decide that you'd seize or shirk the chance that Elliott is given. Also part of the viewing experience: wishing that Plaza could pop up in your life either way. We also chatted with Park and Stella about where the idea for the film sprang from, what Park was interested in exploring with it, Stella's excitement about playing Elliott, how she approached the character, and working with both Plaza and Robbie. On What Inspired My Old Ass, and What Park Was Interested in Exploring Megan: "I think the themes that I really wanted to explore were grief and time passing, and nostalgia — and motherhood, truthfully, was a big one that I wanted. I was a new mum when I wrote this script, so it was those feelings that were really the entry point into this idea that's so universal, I think, of wanting to talk to your older or younger self. Or regrets. Regret is another big one. I think I'm such an emotionally driven writer that I'm not thinking about necessarily the structure of the story, and what's going to happen and what are people going to take from the movie — I'm just driven from that emotional place, at least I have been so far in the two movies I've written. It's all I really know how to do it. So those were the themes I wanted to explore. And then as I didn't know where it was going, as soon as Elliott came to me, and older Elliott, I just followed that lead and figured out the story as I went." On Stella's Initial Reaction to the Script, and What She Thought That She Could Bring to the Younger Elliott Maisy: "My first reaction to it was just beaming with excitement. It was funny, because I had been auditioning for so long and I really enjoy auditioning, and I really enjoy reading scripts and I read a lot of scripts at that time, and it was just my favourite thing I'd read in forever. And I was immediately met with anxiety. The second I started reading it, the thought of it being taken from me, I was like 'no!'. And it wasn't even mine at all. But the thought of not getting to be a part of this amazing project was so scary to me. So yeah, my initial reaction to it was deeply, deeply moved; really excited and inspired by it; and would have just been so grateful and lucky to have been a part of it. And it worked out for me. I'm very grateful and lucky." [caption id="attachment_974461" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Marion Curtis / Starpix for Amazon MGM Studios[/caption] On the Journey to Realising That Aubrey Plaza Was the Ideal Older Elliott Megan: "Truthfully, I'd written the role for somebody to be much older, like in their late 40s, early 50s. And we cast the film around Maisy, and so we were really stuck on who looks the most like her, who's in that age range and who's available to come to Canada to film the movie. And there just was never anybody that came up that was the right match for the tone of the movie, for energetically with Maisy, for the comedy. It wasn't until there was a list of names that somebody had suggested, and Aubrey was on there. It was like 'wait a second, I'm such a fan of hers' — and I knew Maisy was a fan of hers. She was not even 40 and doesn't look anything like Maisy really, but we were like 'wait a second', and for some reason the energy and the chemistry was just such a connection. And it just made the whole movie make sense in a whole new way for me. I'm close to age to Aubrey and I thought 'wow, I've actually never felt older than hanging out with all the 18 year olds'. And there was something so funny to me about this idea that she thinks she's so old and she's not even 40. And even the title became funnier when it was Aubrey." Maisy: "Yes!" Megan: "So then, luckily we sent it to her, and only her, and she read it and loved it and wanted to be a part of it. So once we got it to her, the stars really aligned quickly, but it was kind of me getting out of my own way and being like 'wait, instead of worrying about who looks the most like Maisy, who fits into the movie?'." Maisy: "Instead of worrying about who's blonde?" Megan: "Yeah, exactly." On Collaboration When You're Playing the Younger Version of a Character While Sharing Scenes with the Older Version Maisy: "It was quick. What happened, I was filming for like two weeks when Aubrey was officially attached. So my younger Elliott was already kind of established. On anything else, if this was any other situation, I would have been meeting Aubrey — and she kind of had to meet me because I was filming. So it was a quick thing, she came for like a week and we just went for it." [caption id="attachment_974460" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Marion Curtis / Starpix for Amazon MGM Studios[/caption] Megan: "She'd been watching dailies and studying Maisy a bit before." Maisy: "And then when we met, I felt Aubrey staring and filming me with her eyes, and getting the mannerisms and physicality. I think that was probably more what we focused on. And also just creating a friendship and a nice connection was probably the most important part, rather than mimicking each other. It felt more enjoyable." Megan: "I remember Aubrey asking me 'do you want me to mimic her? How deep do you want me to go with this?' And I was like 'I feel like that's not the most important part of it. I'd rather we just build the chemistry and the rapport'. And that was totally what I think was the main thing. We just spent the weekend together, talked through stuff." Maisy: "100 percent." Megan: "And it was just about building that chemistry — which, they're both genius actors, they can build chemistry so quickly. That's a skill that I think the best actors can do. And the two of them together were just able to connect so quickly." [caption id="attachment_974459" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Alex J. Berliner/ABImages[/caption] On Having Margot Robbie as a Producer, and How That Helped Shape the Film Megan: "As we were saying, we love an Aussie. Our other producer, Bronte Payne at LuckyChap, is also Australian. It happened really organically. I had a general meeting with the company, with Bronte, who had seen The Fallout — and she really loved the film, and she just wanted to sit and chat. And she was the one, honestly, who was like 'do you have any other ideas?'. And I was like 'I mean, there's this one thing I'm thinking about'. And she was like 'we'd love to hear more about that. We think that's a great idea'. Then she introduced me to the rest of people at the company, Tom [Ackerley, also one of LuckyChap's founders] and Margot and Josey [McNamara, another LuckyChap founder]. And they are just so — it's really hard to find good people in this industry who are really honest and smart and hardworking, and treat everybody, no matter if it's the star of the movie or the PA, they're just so consistent. And they're so grounded and down to earth, and there's a reason why they get so much repeat business with their directors. It's because it's genuine, and they're obviously very smart. So they were incredibly helpful, not only helping me build the script, but every step of the way — they've just been so invaluable and so easygoing. And just lovely, lovely human beings. I'm doing my next film with them, and I hope to work with them over and over again. They're incredible." On Balancing Playing a Carefree 18-Year-Old with Their Whole Life Ahead of Them with Elliott Getting to Take Stock of Her Existence Decades Before Anyone Usually Expects To Maisy: "Preparing-wise, I honestly read the script so many times. That was really my prep, just reading it. I didn't do too much, I didn't practice the deliveries." Megan: "We just talked through the scenes." Maisy: "We'd just talk it through. And on my own time, I had months before I went to film — but after I booked it, I enjoyed reading it so I would obsessively just read it and think about it a lot. I really lived with the concept and with the message. I thought about it a lot. I think was my preparation." [caption id="attachment_974457" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Alex J. Berliner/ABImages[/caption] Megan: "And you believed in it." Maisy: "And I believed in it and I meant it. I really meant it. Everything that Elliott says, I ended up meaning on the day. Even if I was learning from her and trying to mean it, I did end up meaning it." Megan: "Yeah." Maisy: "And with an indie, with the director like you [talks to Megan], where you really like things to feel like you press record and you're just like watching people exist, there's only so much you can do for prep to keep it feeling natural and real and sparky." My Old Ass opened in Australian cinemas on Thursday, September 26, 2024. My Old Ass images: Marni Grossman © Amazon Content Services LLC.
When you think about getting some culture, your first thought might be to dust off the ol' passport and hop on an eyeball-drying flight across the globe. But with tens of thousands of years of rich and complex Indigenous history in Central Australia, it's high time we appreciate the culture present in our own country. We've teamed up with Tourism Central Australia to highlight ten of the most soulful experiences the majestic Red Centre has to offer, from dot-painting against a backdrop of sheer red cliffs to candid conversations with First Nations artists. Want to plan your very own adventure to the Red Centre? Take a look at our handy trip builder to start building your custom itinerary now.
The MCA's free music series Sounds on the Terrace is back for the seventh year running. And, once again, the gallery is teaming up with Young Henrys. The Newtown brewers will curate the music lineup and, you guessed it, add a healthy dose of craft beer to the drinks list. The next rooftop session on Wednesday, June 5 coincides with Vivid 2019 and will welcome Sunshine Coast due Sametime and a 90s nostalgia-inducing set from Melissah Marie, aka Moody Beach. It's no coincidence that Sounds on the Terrace is concurrent with the MCA's weekly Lights on Later program, either. In between sipping on Young Henrys lageritas — a combination of beer and tequila — and snacking on bites from Cornersmith at the MCA Cafe. You can also take a wander through the gallery's two current exhibitions: Janet Lawrence's blend of art, nature and science, and the MCA's curation for citywide biannual exhibition The National. More dates will no doubt be added soon. Updated: May 15, 2019.
Being a kid and loving spooky movies was glorious in 1993. That year three decades back gave the world two beloved all-ages-friendly flicks that have become October staples ever since — and, in one case, suitable festive viewing as well. One came with Tim Burton's name attached. The other told everyone to run amok, amok, amok. Now, to celebrate their 30th anniversaries, both The Nightmare Before Christmas and Hocus Pocus are returning to cinemas. Moviegovers can see Jack Skellington's antics on the big screen Down Under again from Thursday, October 12, and the Sanderson sisters wreaking havoc from Thursday, October 19. As for which actual picture palaces are playing the films, and at what times, you'll need to check your local — but nostalgia and family-friendly scares will be whirring through the projectors once more. With The Nightmare Before Christmas, filmmakers Tim Burton and Henry Selick (Wendell & Wild) served up one of the most enchanting holiday films to hit the big screen — and one that doubles as both Halloween and Christmas viewing. It's Burton's name that everyone remembers; however, a pre-Coraline Selick is actually in the director's chair on The Nightmare Before Christmas, which charms with both its offbeat story and its gorgeous stop-motion animation. Burton came up with the narrative though, because Jack Skellington only could've originated from the Beetlejuice and Edward Scissorhands filmmaker's brain. Imaginative, original and engaging (even as it nods to Dr Seuss a few times), it still remains a treat for all ages. [caption id="attachment_921880" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Disney.[/caption] The Hocus Pocus franchise is no stranger to comebacks, given that it dropped a 29-years-later sequel on streaming in 2022, with a third film also on the way. Helmed by Kenny Ortega before the director gave the world the High School Musical movies, the OG flick was the first to enlist Bette Midler (The Addams Family 2), Sarah Jessica Parker (And Just Like That...) and Kathy Najimy (Music) as Winnie, Sarah and Mary Sanderson — and to unleash them in modern-day Salem. Back then, someone lit the black flame candle, which resurrected the 17th-century sisters in the movie's world — and had viewers warned about locking up their children. If you have "twist the bones and bend the back" stuck in your head just thinking about it, you're obviously a fan. Check out the trailers for The Nightmare Before Christmas and Hocus Pocus below: The Nightmare Before Christmas is returning to cinemas Down Under from Thursday, October 12, and Hocus Pocus from Thursday, October 19 — head to your local cinema for details. Images: Matt Kennedy. © 2022 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Does Tom Cruise (Top Gun: Maverick) only have one more mission left in him? The title for the eighth Mission: Impossible film might just point in that direction. Viewers won't know until the movie hits cinemas in 2025, but the flick that was initially called Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part Two is now named Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning. Your mission, should you choose to accept it: spending until May wondering if audiences are about to see the last of Ethan Hunt. It was back in 2023 when Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One hit cinemas and left viewers wanting more, by design: when it wrapped up its 163 minutes of espionage antics, everyone already knew that a second part was on its way. Originally, the latter was meant to arrive in June 2024, less than a year after the first film. But amid Hollywood's strikes last year, the film was pushed back almost 12 months. Its release date Down Under: Thursday, May 22, 2025. It was also rumoured at the time that the movie would get a new moniker, so The Final Reckoning isn't a surprise in that regard. But the 'final' part of the title — and a just-dropped trailer that focuses on how every step leads you down a specific path, complete with the tagline "every choice has led to this" — wasn't as expected. "I need you to trust me one last time," Cruise also utters. The film's first teaser trailer traverses everywhere from snow and sky-high heights to under the sea and frozen in ice — and, as always, features plenty of Cruise running. Story details are sparse, however, but of course the film's star is seen hanging off of a plane. Viewers can expect world-hopping intrigue, explosions, chases and fights, though, as regularly occurs when Ethan Hunt and his Impossible Missions Force team return. Also back: a cast including Simon Pegg (The Boys), Ving Rhames (The Wild Robot) and Hayley Atwell (Heartstopper), Vanessa Kirby (Napoleon), Esai Morales (Crescent City), Pom Klementieff (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3), Henry Czerny (Zombie Town), Angela Bassett (9-1-1) and Shea Whigham (Lawmen: Bass Reeves) — and, behind the camera, director Christopher McQuarrie helms again after doing the same on Mission: Impossible — Rogue Nation, Mission: Impossible — Fallout and Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One. On-screen, Holt McCallany (The Lincoln Lawyer), Janet McTeer (The Old Man), Nick Offerman (Civil War) and Hannah Waddingham (The Fall Guy) feature as well. Check out the first teaser trailer for Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning below: Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning will release in cinemas Down Under on Thursday, May 22, 2025. Read our review of Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One. Images: Paramount Pictures and Skydance.
Theatre fans, prepare to get spend much of 2018 in the city's live performance venues. Sydney Theatre Company has revealed their lineup for the year ahead, and it's jam-packed with highlights, ranging from a diverse range of world premiere productions to new stagings of beloved classics to return seasons of recent favourites. STC's first season under new artistic director Kip Williams features sixteen shows across five spaces, with a particular focus on Australian works. "I've aimed to put together works that reflect our city and our community," says Williams about a lineup that boasts high-profile names on- and off-stage, such as actors Hugo Weaving, Jane Turner and Yael Stone; director Neil Armfield; playwright Nakkiah Lui; and a Kate Mulvaney-written two-part adaptation of Ruth Park's iconic classic Australian trilogy, The Harp in the South novels. Standouts include the debut of Michelle Lee's quarter-life-crisis effort Going Down, which explores the experiences of twenty-something woman in millennial Australia; and Still Point Turning: The Catherine McGregor Story, the true tale of the real-life titular figure's struggle to be herself. Weaving pops up in an all-too-timely piece about a demagogue threatening democracy, aka Bertolt Brecht's 1941 classic The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, while Stone takes on Joan of Arc in George Bernard Shaw's Saint Joan. As well as helming Black Blackie Brown: The Traditional Owner of Death, about an archaeologist's discovery of a mass grave in the Australian bush, Lui's Black is the New White is back for another run. The list goes on, with Holding the Man and The Secret River's Armfield also delving into the country's past — and telling an indigenous tale linked to an archaeologist — in The Long Forgotten Dream, which stars actor and The Sapphires' director Wayne Blair. Elsewhere, Mad as Hell's Francis Greenslade joins forces with writer/director Sarah Giles for a new adaptation of absurdist political classic Accidental Death of an Anarchist, with their version partly inspired by Melissa McCarthy's recent satirical efforts on Saturday Night Live; The Children becomes STC's second Lucy Kirkwood-scripted effort in two seasons after this year's Chimerica; and Lethal Indifference turns playwright Anna Barnes' own experiences into a one-woman effort starring Please Like Me's Emily Barclay. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntD0xw81C0Y For the full 2017 program and to buy tickets, head to sydneytheatre.com.au. Image: Rene Vaile.
No matter how jolly December normally looks to you, one merry getaway has your festive plans beat: staying in Santa's cabin for three nights. Say "ho, ho, holidays" to Airbnb's latest one-off listing, with the accommodation-sharing and -booking platform letting up to four lucky guests — two adults and two children — head to Finland to slumber in a winter wonderland adjacent to Santa's Main Post Office in Rovaniemi. And if that's not enough of a present, the reservation is free. Airbnb's Santa's cabin listing follows in the footsteps of Shrek's swamp, Barbie's Malibu DreamHouse, the Ted Lasso pub, the Moulin Rouge! windmill, Hobbiton, the Bluey house, the Paris theatre that inspired The Phantom of the Opera, the Scooby-Doo Mystery Machine, The Godfather mansion, the South Korean estate where BTS filmed In the Soop, the Sanderson sisters' Hocus Pocus cottage and more — all once-in-a-lifetime experiences. As well as the ultimate jolly vacation, the trip to the Arctic Circle includes channelling your inner elf to help with the letters. 'Tis the season, after all. If you're lucky enough to score the booking for Monday, December 18–Thursday, December 21, Katja, Chief Elf of Santa Claus' Main Post Office, will be your host — and teach you the necessary 'elfing' skills for your visit. You'll sort letters while referring to the naughty and nice list, as well as empty mailboxes, stamp the post with the Arctic Circle postmark and learn about how the post office runs on a day-to-day basis. "The elves have been working around the clock to transform Santa Claus' cabin into a winter wonderland. We want this to be a magical and immersive experience for a family in search of the ultimate yuletide experience. Not only will guests get to sleep in Santa Claus' cabin, they'll also get a sneak peek behind the scenes of the world's official Santa Claus' Post Office during our liveliest time of the year," said Katja. The stay isn't just about Christmas, Christmas and more Christmas. It also spans seeing the northern lights, getting steamy in a traditional Finnish sauna, a snowmobile activity and traditional Finnish meals. Still, grinches likely need to not apply — nor anyone already thinking "bah humbug!" to the idea. As for the cabin itself, it's decked out with Yuletide Lapland decorations, an open fire for roasting chestnuts and appropriate elf attire — because you'll be donning a felt hat, complete with a jingling bell, as well as a tunic for your stay. If you're keen, you'll need to try to nab the booking at 9pm AEDT / 8pm AEST / 11pm NZDT on Monday, December 11. Whoever gets these special kinds of Airbnb reservations is usually responsible for their own travel, including if they have to get to and from their destination, but this one includes complimentary return flights to Rovaniemi from London Heathrow Airport via Finnair. You will still need to cover your travel to and from London, however. This listing is also helping a good cause, with Airbnb making a one-off donation to Special Children's Omaiset ELO as part of the Santa's cabin promotion. For more information about the Santa's cabin stay on Airbnb, or to book at 9pm AEDT / 8pm AEST / 11pm NZDT on Monday, December 11 for a stay across Monday, December 18–Thursday, December 21, head to the Airbnb website. Images: Samir Zarrouck. Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world.
Given the trendy fit-out, tasteful fare and great coffee to boot, you'd think Wedge is the handiwork of someone who's done some serious rounds in the industry. Instead, it's the result of 23 year-old and first time cafe owner Toby Wilson's savoir-faire. That someone so young with only a few years of hospitality experience has pulled this off is impressive, to say the least. Everything at the Wedge screams attention to detail. The 5 Senses coffee blend hails from Melbourne, the single origin from Perth, and they even have blends from different roasters around Sydney doing the odd cameo. If you take your coffee strong and black, then Wedge's own 'Cold Drip' Coffee ($4) served on ice is worth a tilt. Several sophisticated herbal teas also feature on the menu. While the 'First Flush Darjeeling' is pushed as a must-try, in my humble opinion the real pick of the bunch is their Iced Tea ($5). Sweetened with rose water, and served with big chunks of ice and a dried rose bud garnish, it looks as good as it tastes. The menu features breakfast basics with a little added flare – their shaved dried fig, pistachio, ricotta and rosewater honey on fig sourdough is a case in point. However, it's the sandwiches that really stand out. The mouth-watering Pulled Pork sambo ($9) balances the sweet flavours of pork and plum sauce with coriander, spring onion and rock salt, and comes served on delicious chewy sourdough courtesy of Luxe Bakery in Newtown. The space can accommodate small groups but is best suited to you and a newspaper and/or a friend. With an open plan full of natural light it's a great summer spot, and it'll be even more interesting to see what they'll do in winter. Finally, a big thumbs-up to a cafe that isn't afraid to serve icy cold Milo and a hell of a lot of it. Hats off, Toby and the Wedge team.
Rugby usually involves a few schooners at the pub after the game, but George Gregan's latest hospitality venture (also backed by Phil Waugh, David Wenham and Sam Neill) couldn't be further from a footy club bar room. A relatively new addition to the Neutral Bay café/wine bar scene, The Local Bar is as good for a relaxed breakfast and flat white as it is for a pre- or post-dinner drink and nibble. Tucked away on Young Lane just off Grosvenor Street, inside is ultra-modern but intimate with small tables that curl around the pressed metal bar. The tables on the footpath outside are perfectly positioned for the morning sun and something off the breakfast menu. Try the novelty of "fancy Weet-Bix" (really just Weet-Bix, banana and honey but nostalgically satisfying nonetheless) or something more substantial like boiled egg, jamon and rocket on toast. Jamon and other charcuterie meats take pride of place on the menu, used as a toast topping in the morning and on generous platters in the evening complemented by quality cheeses, cornichons and spiced almonds. The menu encourages matching charcuterie with one of the Spanish sherries on offer, with a sherry "flight" of four different kinds available for $13. The wine list is extensive and favours an Australian drop ,while the beer and cider selection is more international. Cocktails deserve a special mention with their playful names and enticing combinations. 'Lucky Lips' ($16) is a caipiroska with mashed kiwi fruit and vodka, and the 'Chilli Jam Margarita' ($16) gets its name from a mix of Tequila, Grand Marnier, fresh lime and chilli. It's hard to go wrong, though, with 'The Fish House Rum Punch' ($38) for 4 - a heart-warming jug of rum, cognac and "love."
Bringing the European beach club vibe to Sydney Harbour, Pier One is introducing a sun-drenched encounter designed to make your summer. Launching on Thursday, February 19, and running daily until the end of April from 11am–4pm, POOL by Pier One and Business & Pleasure Co combines a floating pontoon and pop-up swimming pool experience, primed for lazy days perched on the edge of Walsh Bay. Just steps away from the hotel's Pier Bar, guests can expect a social hub ripe with refreshing cocktails, summer nibbles and the buzz of Sydney's most iconic harbour setting. So, take a dip in the netted pontoon, then settle into the luxe poolside seating. While there's no sand or pebbles to sink your toes into, this Euro-inspired escape offers the fair trade of uninterrupted harbour views and undeniable coastal luxury. Once you've cooled off, you're invited to order summery small plates from the Pier Bar menu, like kingfish ceviche and bay bug 'Big Mac' sliders. Meanwhile, there's a signature Business & Pleasure Botanical Spritz to sip on. The namesake beach and outdoor furniture brand has brought the al fresco space to life with an assortment of pastel umbrellas, loungers and decorative touches that evoke Riviera resort towns and Slim Aarons' photographs. "POOL by Pier One is about creating a sense of escape without ever leaving the city," says Kristy McKellar, Director of Marketing at Pier One Sydney Harbour. "It is a space designed for relaxed moments by the water, swimming, socialising and soaking up the harbour views, and a natural extension of our vision to deliver memorable, design-led experiences on Sydney Harbour."
Market City's newly minted 1909 Dining Precinct has a fiery side: an upscale Korean BBQ offering named Kogi. Joining a fast-growing contingent of eateries in the modern third-floor food court — one that already houses the noodle house from Mr Meng of If You Are The One and Japan's famed Yayoi — the 80-seat restaurant is plating up a contemporary Korean nosh punctuated by top quality local produce. Seoul-trained chef Hang Jun Chung has designed a menu of raw, fresh and marinated proteins and vegetables, headlined by 15 primo cuts of pork and wagyu beef. This one's a hands-on food experience, with diners invited to cook directly over charcoal — right there at the table. Expect to find yourself salivating over the likes of marinated beef spare ribs (galbi) while it cooks on the grill alongside authentic side dishes. The $75 pork platter for three is good value, as is the $10 lunch box. Bibimbap and fried chicken find their way onto the menu, too. With General Manager David Bae's father credited with opening Australia's first Korean barbecue restaurant in 1992, it's safe to say Kogi's got sturdy roots in the cuisine.
We're all for bringing lunch to work. You save money, eat leftovers (reduce food waste) and can show off your cooking prowess to your coworkers. But we also know sometimes you can't bear to eat that same soup for the 14th time. Sometimes that sandwich you constructed with one eye open at 6am isn't quite going to cut it. Sometimes, god forbid, someone stole your food from the fridge. And sometimes you just deserve to treat yourself. So, here's where you can go to grab something tasty for lunch in the CBD — that'll also be relatively fast — from next-level vegan burgers to chicken ramen, gyoza and $10 bowls of pasta (and even giant Aperol spritzes).
We made it through 2020. We're in the throes of a new year, with two months of summer still ahead of us. The holidays are done and dusted, and as we get back into the swing of work it can be easy to get swept up in all the chaos and miss out on the good stuff — like outdoor cinemas, gigs, award-winning musicals and G&T pop-ups. It's time to make the most of the summertime events you probably meant to check out in 2020 but didn't. New year, new you. And that means getting outside and embracing the best of Sydney life. Here are seven things to do this summer and autumn to help lift your mood. Get out there and enjoy it.
Lovers of utes — or Aussie cars in general — should make tracks to Deniliquin this October, for the 21st annual Deni Ute Muster. The town sits in the southwest corner of New South Wales, making it a relatively quick 3.5-hour commute for Melburnians (it's 7.5 hours from Sydney). The 'rural-themed' camping festival attracts some 20,000 visitors, as well as utes of all models and vintages. There are so many trucks in attendance that each year the festival tries to break its own 1999 Guinness World Record for the largest parade of utes (currently 2839, if you're interested). Country music fans have their own reason to visit, with a full lineup of local and international acts taking the stage across two nights. This year's program is headlined by Tim McGraw. Driving competitions, building challenges, lawn mower races, whip cracking, wood chopping and a go-kart track are also on the docket. The $269 ticket price also covers camping, so you can bring your own tent or caravan — or simply roll out a swag in the back of your ute.
A bustling little corner of lunchtime and late-night activity in Bondi, Mamasan is Moulin Rouge-meets-1920s Shanghai. Pull up a plush seat in your very own Bondi opium den and start ogling the menu, a tempting fusion of Taiwanese street food and Japanese deliciousness — the chef grew up in Taiwan before living in Japan. Alternatively, you can perch at the bar and let the bartenders talk you through the excellent sake, whisky and Japanese plum wine lists. Try them straight or in a signature cocktail. Like the Jap Dak, a twist on the daiquiri, with Okinawa Rum Rebellion Shochu, cloudy Aragoshi Umushu plum wine and fresh lime juice; or the Japanese Penicillin, with 12-year-old Yamasaki whisky, ginger, lemongrass and honey. Drop by on Sundays for the Mamasan markets, where Asia-inspired artists and designers put their wares on display. And keep an ear out for live jazz gigs, which happen every now and again.
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 who has always played her dutiful part as expected, but struggles with her self-image and her sense of self in general. 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, sees her forge her own path beyond being a wife and mother, and also turns her into a lifestyle guru. As seen in both the first sneak peek last month and the just-dropped new trailer, she obviously 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 are set to play a huge part in the supremely 80s-looking 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 Cruella'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 latest trailer trailer below: Physical starts streaming via Apple TV+ on Friday, June 18.
It seems that 2020 is the year of staying local, although you don't need us to tell you that. For months so far — and for months to come — we're all making the most of our own backyard. We're eating local, and supporting local businesses. We're all travelling and holidaying throughout New South Wales, too. And, whether you prefer a yeasty brew to cap off your week, a full-bodied wine with dinner or a few cocktails whenever the mood strikes, you can drink the state's finest tipples as well. We're always keen to highlight local folks doing great things, of course — and, to showcase homegrown winemakers, brewers and distillers, we've teamed up with our mates at BWS to celebrate a few of the best. Here are six must-try NSW and ACT drops that you can pick up at your nearest BWS.
Whether you're planning a big event or just want to brighten up your (or someone else's) day with a small arrangement, Wild Bunch is a must-visit. The florist, run by Saskia Havekes, has been part of the Potts Point community since 1995. Each and every morning, Havekes is up bright and early to hit the flower markets and handpick the best blooms of bunch, from muted natives to vibrant hydrangeas and roses. As a result, stepping inside this tiny store on Macleay Street is sensory overload. Over the years, Havekes has extended her floral expertise into the publication of four books on flower arranging and foliage and the launch of Grandiflora Fragrance, a tightly curated range of floral-driven perfumes.
The team behind beloved Surry Hills wine bar Mille Vini has arrived in the city with Rovollo, an all-day Italian restaurant and wine room on the ground floor of 25 Martin Place. Rovollo has been designed to whisk you straight to the Amalfi Coast — or at least a swanky Roman supper club — via a 75-seat space that blends golden-age glamour with old-school hospitality. It all takes place under a ten-metre-long, hand-painted ceiling mural; a dramatic lighting pendant fashioned by artist Moya Delaney from an old parachute; and, of course, the shadows of Harry Seidler's iconic modernist monolith. It's a maximalist space with maximalist flavours. The menu, overseen by Executive Chef Cami Feliciano (ex-Seta) and Head Chef Zane Buchanan (ex-Clam Bar, Fish Butchery) veers between classics done well — think snacky Italian starters like arancini, burrata and house focaccia — and more opulent options, like seafood towers stacked with oysters, crab, prawns and sashimi. All pasta is handmade daily, though none are perhaps as theatrical as the signature pici carbonara, set alight tableside before being tossed through a parmigiano-reggiano cheese wheel and topped with a freshly cracked egg. When in season, you can also add a fresh shaving of Australian black truffle to any dish of your choice. There's a spotlight on large-format proteins here as well, with the likes of wagyu rump cap and whole market fish grilled to order and served with your choice of sauce. Desserts follow a similarly 'more is more' philosophy — the panna cotta is finished with limoncello and burnt honey, while a towering 24-layer dark chocolate cake is served with a warm rosemary-infused berry compote. Drinks are just as transportive. The 250-strong wine list features bold Italian picks, Australian varietals and champagne, while the cocktail menu — designed by award-winning bartender Alissa Gabriel — has been designed as a journey through Italy in seven sips, from the citrusy Amalfi with its blue-hued salted limoncello foam to the pizza-oven warmth of the martini-style Napoli, lifted with charred focaccia vermouth, burrata whey, basil and tomato oil. Image credit Food images: Nshot Creative Cocktail and venue images: Christian Michael Photography
A hole was left in the heart of the Neutral Bay dining scene when the Woodland Kitchen closed its doors after seven years. Last month, the venue was sold to the owners of Henrys Cronulla — and, after a quick refresh, will reopen the doors to its leafy lower north shore digs as Henrys Neutral Bay this Saturday, February 8. The Neutral Bay restaurant will boast a similar laidback vibe as its south Sydney sister restaurant, but in more refined surrounds. Expect black-and-white tiled tabletops, patterned chairs, heaps of light and outdoor seating aplenty. Head Chef Allan Mikami is coming up from Cronulla to head up the kitchen and — just like down there — his Brazilian-Japanese background heavily influences the menu. Think crispy flathead tacos with habanero mayo, yellowfin tuna sashimi with wasabi ponzu, Alaskan king crab soldiers with foie gras and crispy sichuan calamari. Larger plates include rare seared petuna trout with goats curd and chicken karaage with wakame seaweed and curried mayo, plus a lamb rump with chimichirri dressing. For drinks, expect a wine list focusing on biodynamic, organic and vegan drops — with a focus on bottles of rosé and bubbles in these warmer months. A list of cocktails will be available, too, and you can bet it'll include a spritz or two. It's open for lunch and dinner seven days a week.
Striking a balance between fun and serious dining can be difficult. Some restaurants lean one way, offering affordable meals, karaoke and 'Ring for Tequila' buttons. Others nail the full-blown fine dining experience. But Barangaroo's Korean barbecue and steakhouse joint SOOT manages to provide a mix of both, pairing vibrant communal dining and shots of soju with top-notch cuts of wagyu. SOOT lands next to NOLA Smokehouse and The Butcher's Block on Barangaroo Avenue from the hospitality group Kolture, led by David Bae (Tokki, Kogi), whose father introduced Australia to Korean barbecue in 1992. Each table is fitted with smokeless and odourless DIY charcoal grills ready to sizzle some high marble-grade beef for you and your friends. Hero dishes ready to hit the grill include the MBS9+ chuck eye roll steak, short rib cooked using a 50-year-old family recipe, on-the-bone rib-eye which can be ordered by the gram and marinated kurobuta pork ribs. Pickled and fermented items also feature heavily on the menu, with SOOT making its own kimchi, sesame bean sprouts, pickled onions, jalapeños, okra, asparagus or radishes in-house. Rounding out the extensive list of eats is Korean fried chicken or cauliflower, seafood pancakes, a raw bar featuring rock oysters and sashimi, minced wagyu bibimbap, tofu clam soup and truffle mashed potatoes. While the food menu features cuts of meat and truffle-infused veggies that could rival Sydney's new wave of omakase experiences, the drinks list is a joyous celebration of Korean spirits and sake. Cocktails range from miso sours and soju spritzes through to grapefruit highballs and Hennessy, lemon, jasmine and minted honey tea, but the extensive range of sake, soju and Korean ju are the real highlights. Ask the staff for recommendations and expand your soju palette with a variety of flavours, strengths and rarities. If you want to sample your way through the best of SOOT's menu and leave the decisions up to the chefs, turn your attention to The Butcher's Table set menu. This journey takes you through sections of the menu's hits including a banchan set, wagyu tartare, seafood pancake, shallot salad, assorted veggies, gyeranjjim, the dessert of the day and four carefully selected cuts of meat: the 240gm SOOT steak, the 120gm deckle steak, the ox tongue and the family-recipe short rib.
From towering mountains and serene fiords shrouded in mist, to black sand beaches and forests housing some of the world's oldest trees, Aotearoa New Zealand's natural landscapes truly are something else. No matter when you visit, you'll feel the wairua (spirit) of New Zealand's landscapes drawing you in as you're immersed in them and they envelop you. This is scenery you'll feel, rather than merely 'view'. Winter transforms vistas as the skies darken, mountains rising from the horizon are dusted in snow and the seasonal passing by of wildlife occurs. During autumn and spring, you'll be bathed in warmer temperatures and lingering sunlight that casts a different light over the landscapes. We teamed up with 100% Pure New Zealand to unveil some of the most awe-inspiring scenery New Zealand has to offer each season, so you can plan a trip that's made all the more memorable by these breathtaking encounters. Flick the switch for our top picks of experiences to have in autumn, winter and spring and see how New Zealand changes with the seasons. Jump to switcher
CBD business lunch stalwart de Vine was an outmoded Market Street spot that you could easily walk by without ever noticing its presence. Then in 2023, in its 21st year of trade, the wine bar and restaurant underwent a million-dollar renovation and an overhaul thanks to restaurateur brother duo, Anthony and Julian Izzillo. The swanky interior, divided up between front bar seating and moody restaurant out back, features exposed brick, a curving granite bar, champagne-tinted mirrors and green velvet banquette seating. The look is very 'big city style', but the warm, personable hospitality is akin to a small neighbourhood restaurant. Anthony is usually front of house, while Julian leads the drinks program — which includes a showstopping selection of Amaro all on show a brass wall display. The wine offering is equally impressive with some 500 bottles available from the cellar, with a focus on artisan wines primarily from the wine regions of Italy, with a more tightly curated edit from the rest of the world. Head Chef Timothy Fisher *previously of Michelin-starred Osteria Lucio in Dublin) has created a reassuring menu of classical Italian dishes executed without fault (vitello tonnato, polpette and zucchini flowers), excellent house made pastas including a signature risotto with king prawn and Balmain bug, and stand-out mains like pork cotoletta. Then, once the plates have been cleared, if amaro is your pleasure, just sit back and let Julian pick a match for your palate or treat yourself to a tasting flight. If you've still got room, the tiramisu is worth your attention.
The Boathouse Palm Beach may have shuttered its windows, but a new Italian-inspired venue has popped up for the summer in its homewares store: CASA by The Boathouse. With classic brunch fare, best enjoyed in a rustic setting within spitting distance of the water, CASA joins Boathouse Group's other beachfront venues, including Balmoral, Shelly Beach and Manly Pavilion. Unlike its predecessor, CASA is also offering up an all-day Italian-inspired menu and drinks — with cocktails like Aperol Spritz, Montenegroni (classic negroni with Amaro Montenegro) and Boathouse Margarita (with pineapple and jalapeño-infused olmeca altos tequila) as well as a beer and wine list. Choose between classic Italian antipasto, including arancini al formaggio and calamari fritti with chilli and aioli, pizzas and side dishes. If you can't snag a seat, the menu is also available to takeaway so you can enjoy some Italian eats at home. If you're in Palm Beach to catch some morning waves, you can enjoy breakfast and Single O coffee out the back daily from 7am until 3pm. Breakfast options include fruit salad, classic avo on toast and bircher muesli, and Italian panini.
If you happen to have an outfit in your wardrobe that's the same shade favoured by Squid Game's guards, here's a piece of advice: it'd be best not to wear it to St Kilda Beach on the morning of Tuesday, December 10, 2024. A huge 200 people will already be there in that exact attire, with Netflix sending a continent of pink guards to the sandy patch of Melbourne to remind everyone that the hit series' second season is on the way — and soon — in an eerie fashion. When season one proved a massive success, the creepy Red Light, Green Light doll from the show towered over Sydney Harbour. Ahead of Squid Game's second season, the Victorian capital is getting in on the action. If your morning routine involves hitting the beach in Melbourne, you'll clearly have plenty of company — not just from the guards, but from others keen for a glimpse at the pop-up. And if you're located elsewhere in Australia, expect to see photos all over social media. Netflix is promising "a true Aussie takeover", all to celebrate Squid Game season two sliding into your streaming queue on Boxing Day. It might be wise to avoid wearing green tracksuits to St Kilda at the same time that the stunt is taking place, too, to avoid earning the pink guards' attention. Up at Sydney's Luna Park, you'll have another chance to get some IRL Squid Game action — without any murder, of course — when an immersive experience hits the tourist attraction to get you playing Red Light, Green Light from Monday, December 16, 2024. Three years have passed since Squid Game became an award-winning Netflix sensation — for viewers and, in the show itself when new episodes drop, for Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae, The Acolyte) as well. Audiences and Player 456 are alike are in for a new round of life-or-death matches when the streaming smash finally returns, although only the series' protagonist will be fighting for survival again while on a quest to shut down this chaos forever in season two. No one watching should ever want Squid Game to end; however, the show itself will wrap up in 2025 with season three. First comes the long-awaited second season to end 2024, though, where Player 456 is back in the game with new fellow competitors for company. Netflix has been dropping multiple early looks at season two, including a teaser trailer to kick off November — and it finished off the month with a new glimpse at what's to come. As the show's protagonist dons his green threads once more for the new season, his new fellow competitors are wary of his motives. Also part of the recent teases: Lee Byung-hun (The Magnificent Seven) as Gi-hun's nemesis Front Man, plus Wi Ha-joon (Little Women) also back as detective Hwang Jun-ho. For season two, Gong Yoo (Train to Busan) also returns as the man in the suit who got Gi-hun into the game in the first place; however, a show about a deadly competition that has folks battling for ridiculous riches comes with a hefty bodycount. Accordingly, new faces were always going to be essential — which is where Yim Si-wan (Emergency Declaration), Kang Ha-neul (Insider), Park Sung-hoon (The Glory) and Yang Dong-geun (Yaksha: Ruthless Operations) all come in. Check out the full trailer for Squid Game season below: Squid Game's pink guards are taking over St Kilda Beach in Melbourne on the morning of Tuesday, December 10, 2024. Keep an eye on Netflix's social media for more details. Squid Game season two streams via Netflix from Thursday, December 26, 2024. Season three will arrive in 2025 — we'll update you when an exact release date for it is announced. Images: No Ju-han/Netflix.
Tucked between Burwood's bustling streets, Ford Lane has undergone a transformation that's turning heads. Once an overlooked laneway designed around cars, it's now a vibrant place to gather, celebrate, and discover something new. Complete with large-scale murals and impressive lighting installations, it's quickly becoming one of Burwood's must-visit destinations. And now, the story continues. This spring, it'll transform again into Sydney's newest outdoor live music venue with the launch of Fridays at Ford Lane, a free series of live music, food, and cultural events designed to transform Friday evenings into something extraordinary. Each edition will have its own flavour, kicking off with an eclectic showcase of sounds inspired by Asia's thriving pop scene. Local selectors DJ Hideoboo and DOOFus will be on the decks, and they'll be joined by singer Venice Qin and dance crews TODAY&ALWAYS and DanceKool. Expect a night of C-Pop, K-Pop and hip hop fusion, with street eats and a pop-up bar keeping things fuelled. Future instalments are already locked in. Roll up on October 31 for a hip hop block party with DJ Rydeen, MC Mari and beatboxer Voltak. On November 28, gypsy jazz and world beats will take over with performances by turntablist DJD and Scratch Band, plus multi-instrumentalist Marcus Holden + Friends. Each outing is designed to spotlight local talent and celebrate the suburb's cultural diversity, with lineups curated by DanceKool, creative incubator opnsrc.co and Burwood Council. The series is part of Burwood Council's Ford Lane Transformation Project, backed by Transport for NSW's Permit Plug Play Pilot Program. The initiative has activated the laneway as a permanent stage for arts and entertainment, framed by large-scale commissions by artists including Drez, marking the Melbourne creative's first Sydney artwork, Georgia Hill and Okto Studio. Upgrades like a new power supply and removable bollards also mean the laneway is fully equipped for regular events like the new Friday night series. And if you're looking for a unique backdrop of your own, Ford Lane is now a bookable space ideal for everything from private events to video shoots. Just get in touch with Burwood Council if you're keen. Entry to Fridays at Ford Lane is free, but capacity is capped. Walk-ins are limited, so the best way to ensure entry is to register at the event's website.
