With just three months until we find out who will officially ascend the Iron Throne, Game of Thrones fans are facing a bittersweet farewell as the final season of the cult show looms ever closer. While we may be eagerly awaiting to see who'll ultimately survive the winter, saying goodbye to the show forever will be harder than watching the Red Wedding on repeat. However, living for the thrills that come out of all this Westerosi drama won't be totally lost. Alas, a musical parody (or shall we say homage) is coming to Sydney, gracing the stage of a venue befitting so epic a story: the Sydney Opera House. The A Song of Ice and Fire series from mastermind George RR Martin is given new life in musical form, telling the tale of a group of avid fans preparing to watch the final season. When one reveals they are a GoT virgin, the rest of the group tell the story themselves — with music. From the acclaimed producers at Spark Creative, the brains behind Baby Wants Candy, Shamilton and 50 Shades! The Musical Parody, the show comes to Sydney after selling out in Edinburgh, New York and Chicago. Featuring an original score, a vast array of costumes to cover the forty characters played by the ensemble and wit sharper than Valyrian steel, this show is sure to be a hit with fans and those unknowing John Snows, alike. So call your banners, mount your dragons, blow your horn three times and march down to the Opera House to see whether or not Theon, Grey Worm and Varys have the vocal range their characters should. This 'Long Night' of lust, laughter and lacerations (and surely a few White Walkers for good measure) runs from Wednesday, June 5 to Sunday, June 23. Tickets are on sale now and start at $45.
The game is ending. That the deadly contest at the heart of Squid Game just keeps going, continuing to pit new batches of 456 players against each other in a battle to the death to win 45.6 billion won, sits at the heart of the award-winning Netflix hit — but the show itself is wrapping up. That the series will say goodbye with its third season was announced in 2024, as was the fact that its final run will arrive in 2025. The streaming platform has now confirmed exactly when: Friday, June 27. Mark your diaries — and get ready to see what happens next in Seong Gi-hun's (Lee Jung-jae, The Acolyte) quest to bring down those responsible for the killer contest. If you've watched season two, which dropped on Boxing Day 2024, then you'll know that Player 456 went back in the game with new fellow competitors for company, and also found himself closer to the person pulling the strings than he knew. Season three will see Gi-hun keep at his pursuit to stop the game. It'll also feature more of his nemesis Front Man's (Lee Byung-hun, The Magnificent Seven) attempts to thwart his plan. However their respective efforts pan out, the show's last run is also set to feature a finale written and directed by series creator Hwang Dong-hyuk. Squid Game is now Netflix's most-popular non-English show of all time; in fact, it holds both the first and second spots on the list, for its first and second seasons respectively. Money Heist season four is third, Lupin season one is fourth, while La Palma, Who Killed Sara? and Berlin are also in the top ten. That Squid Game is a smash isn't new news, of course. It proved such a huge success in its first season that Netflix was quick to confirm that more was on the way — even if season two arrived after a three-year gap. In the show's second season, Gong Yoo (Train to Busan) returned as the man in the suit who got Gi-hun into the game in the first place, as did Wi Ha-joon (Little Women) as detective Hwang Jun-ho, but a series about a deadly contest 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 came in. If you've somehow missed all things Squid Game until now, even after it became bigger than everything from Stranger Things to Bridgerton, the Golden Globe- and Emmy-winning series serves up a puzzle-like storyline and unflinching savagery, which unsurprisingly makes quite the combination. It also steps into societal divides within South Korea, a topic that wasn't invented by Parasite, Bong Joon-ho's excellent Oscar-winning 2019 thriller, but has been given a boost after that stellar flick's success. As a result, it's easy to see thematic and narrative parallels between Parasite and Squid Game, although Netflix's highly addictive series goes with a Battle Royale and Hunger Games-style setup. Netflix turned the show's whole premise into an IRL competition series as well, which debuted in 2023 — without any murders, of course. Squid Game: The Challenge has already been picked up for a second season. There's no dedicated trailer for Squid Game season three yet, but you can watch a teaser Netflix's big returning 2025 shows below — and revisit the trailer from Squid Game season two: Squid Game season three streams via Netflix from Friday, June 27, 2025. Season one and two are available to stream now. Images: Netflix.
Winter might be dialling up the chill, but that doesn't mean things are starting to slow down. Across New South Wales regional hubs are stepping it up, with a packed lineup of events to keep locals and visitors alike buzzing through the cooler months. This month, the Central Coast is getting in on the action, serving up a fresh run of festivals and events that'll have you planning your next trip before the week's out. The Central Coast is an easily accessible day trip or weekend destination for Sydneysiders. The towns along the coast are peaceful enough to not feel overcrowded, yet lively enough to ensure there is always something new to see or do. We've rounded up some of the can't-miss events happening on the Central Coast this winter, so you can add them to your itinerary for your next drive up north.
Following the massive success of its Hokusai exhibition in 2017, the NGV will once again look to the cultural influence of Japan with an exploration of the country's widespread impact on Western modern art. Running from May 25 to October 28, Japonisme: Japan and the Birth of Modern Art considers the crucial period of time following the reopening of international trade from Japan in 1854. As artworks began to flow from Japan into Europe and America, a cultural revolution of sorts was set in motion as Western artists became exposed to the artworks and visual language of Japan for the first time. Influencing artists like Vincent van Gogh and other legends of the day, this moment in history is considered one of the crucial events that lay the foundations of Western modern art. Japonisme (which will be free to attend) delves into the NGV's huge Asian arts collection, showcasing examples that demonstrate Japan's influence of much of the world's art throughout the last 150 years. Western decorative arts, paper works, paintings, fashion and textiles, photography, as well as Japanese art will be on display. Specific highlights include Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec's much-loved Divan Japonais poster, examples from the 1866 Bracquemond-Rousseau dinner service, and an undulating art nouveau cabinet designed by Louis Majorelle, demonstrating the influence of Japanese styling on French furniture. Japonisme will show just how the Japanese respect for the environment influenced European artists, and you'll notice just how many examples of European art highlight the reworked organic forms, rich colours and gentle textures typically associated with Japanese aesthetics. Japonisme: Japan and the Birth of Modern Art will run from May 25 to October 28 at the NGV International. Find more info at ngv.vic.gov.au. Image: Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Divan Japonais (1893).
If running a successful startup business is a feat, running 11 successful businesses is a modern-day miracle. But that's what Julien Moussi does. If you're a Melbourne food lover, you've probably eaten at one of Julien's establishments (including Temperance Society in Hughesdale, Penta in Elsternwick, Tinker in Northcote and most recently, Bentwood in Fitzroy) and enjoyed the fruits of his entrepreneurial labours without even realising it. We teamed up with MYOB to get to know the people who are doing business right and had a yarn with Julien to learn how his venues manage to thrive in a city so inundated with hospitality talent. Turns out, it's a healthy mix of hard work, trust and not sweating the small stuff. And, whether it's your first startup or your eleventh, it doesn't get easier, but you do learn a heck of a lot along the way. Julien gave us a rundown of his best tips for small business owners. RUNNING A BUSINESS IS LIKE RAISING A CHILD "You have to put all your time into it. Forget about your usual sleeping patterns, hobbies or routines," Julien says. The first few years can be tough as you learn the ropes of running a business. You'll make mistakes and more importantly, you'll have to make sacrifices (forget everything you knew about work/life balance — you're a business owner now). If you ever doubt yourself, remember it's not forever. When your little business baby ages out of the terrible toddler years, you'll both be stronger for it. "Those sacrifices have paid dividends," Julien says. "I get to travel a lot overseas and have a very flexible schedule. I can also catch up in the middle of the day with my mum, dad and friends for a coffee — things that just weren't possible in the first three years." YOUR PEOPLE ARE YOUR MOST VALUABLE ASSET If your business is a baby, then choosing who to co-parent with is the most important decision you'll make. It's scary but important — sharing the load is the only way to prevent burnout and actually have some fun with it. "Nothing can really prepare you for business. I had no social life for at least the first two or three years and did nothing but work," Julien says. "[My] mentality was 'if it is to be, it's up to me', but then finding fantastic people to work with is key. Staff are the most important part of any business. Now, I'm happy for us to make mistakes in order to give people experience and growth." BE DIFFERENT OR PERISH There's a lot of sameness and copy-cattery happening in the Melbourne cafe scene, but there's still always demand. It's crucially important, no matter what your business does, to put your own spin on things. Carve out a niche for yourself however you can and make sure that niche is incomparable. "[With Bentwood] our aim was to make a space that was very different to the typical Melbourne cafe scene," Julien explains. "We wanted an environment that was sophisticated but not over-designed, so the interior has grand but honest and raw finishes. The biggest statement is the steel boxed ceiling which was very challenging to get sign-off from structural engineers." The bottom line? Don't scrimp on standing out. DO YOUR HOMEWORK In the early years, many small business owners end up wearing a lot of hats. You become the accountant, the operations manager, the social media intern — you try to do it all, and it's a double-edged sword. Getting involved in every aspect of the business in the early days is a great way to understand what makes it tick, but it's probably not a sustainable reality. "Understand your model," Julien says. "Measuring benchmarks and reviewing your financials weekly is the reason we grew so quickly...MYOB helps us get a quick snapshot of where the business is at any given time, whether it be daily, weekly, monthly or quarterly...I knew what everything cost, how much profit we were making and what I needed to do to keep evolving and growing. I always looked ahead and wanted more." If trying to do it all sounds intimidating, Julien's final piece of advice might help: ask questions, no matter how dumb they sound; never stop questioning and learning. "That's what's helped me grow my skill set which has made our business more powerful." Planning to open your own business? Whether it's the first or eleventh, consider MYOB to help sort out all your accounting needs.
Sometimes, enjoying the music festival experience involves gumboots, picking the best outfit with the most pockets and dancing in huge crowds. At other times, it spans making shapes at home while pretending you're at the real thing. Yes, the latter has become familiar during the pandemic, but it's also been a way to live the Coachella life without heading to Indio, California for a decade now. And, with the fest returning in 2022, so is its YouTube livestream. Boasting a lineup headlined by Harry Styles, Billie Eilish and Swedish House Mafia with The Weeknd — as announced back in January, albeit with the latter pair now taking over Ye's slot — Coachella is finally back for its first fest since 2019. It'll unleash its impressive bill over the weekends of April 15–17 and April 22–24, which is Saturday, April 16–Monday, April 18 and Saturday, April 23–Monday, April 25 Down Under. So, if you haven't been fortunate enough to make the trip to America, that's your long weekend sorted for two weeks in a row. Wondering who to watch when? Coachella has just dropped its setlists if you're wondering which acts will be hitting the livestream on which days. Styles headlines the first day, Eilish does the second and Swedish House Mafia with The Weeknd are now leading the charge on the third — on both weekends. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Coachella (@coachella) And, they're joined by a bonafide metric fucktonne of squealworthy acts, including Australia's own Flume, The Avalanches and King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, plus Phoebe Bridgers, Megan Thee Stallion, Doja Cat, Jamie xx, Run the Jewels, Fatboy Slim, Finneas and Joji, just to name a few. Also, when it dropped its set times overnight, Coachella just casually added Arcade Fire to the lineup. Of course, livestreaming music fests is no longer a novelty in these pandemic times but, given the calibre of Coachella's roster, it's still a mighty fine way to spend a weekend or two. And, YouTube will be adding live chats and artist interviews, aka the kinds of experiences that you wouldn't get if you were at the fest IRL. Coachella's return is a 'nature is healing' moment for the music industry, after a tough few years for festivals in general — and this one in particular. Coachella's 2020 event was postponed less than a month out, and later cancelled completely. And, plans to make a comeback in 2021 unsurprisingly didn't happen either. Coachella runs from April 15–17 and April 22–24 at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California. To watch the livestream, head to YouTube from 9am AEST / 11am NZST on Saturday, April 16 and Saturday, April 23. Top image: Roger Ho.
Turkish eatery Anason is the first permanent restaurant to open its sleek navy doors in the Barangaroo precinct. Nestled neatly in an unassuming alcove, Anason is immediately warm and inviting inside and out; the indoor area is largely dedicated to an open plan kitchen and wine storage so most diners eat outside in the open-air terrace. The innovative menu is stridently Turkish, showcasing authentic mezze plates characterised by bold flavours and even bolder colour palettes. The generous dishes crafted from fresh, local produce are designed for groups to share, which may be bad news for people who like to eat tiny meals alone. Anason invokes the bustling atmosphere of the meyhanes of Istanbul, but unfortunately the decor and music aren't enough to disguise the fact that you're eating in the middle of the soulless, futuristic ghost town that is the still-in-progress state of Barangaroo. While you peruse the list of local and imported Turkish wines, we recommend starting with a few dips and breads to share. A sesame seed-studded simit ($3 each) is served with creamy tarragon labne, and is simultaneously chewy and soft — it tastes like the delicious carby love child of a bagel and a loaf of sourdough. Meanwhile, both the Atom dip — which is served with a pool of burnt butter and dried Marash chillies — and the creamy pumpkin hummus topped with crispy salted chickpeas are large enough portions to justify ordering several toasted pita breads to mop them up with. For the larger dishes, Anason is plating up some seriously fresh foods from the sea. There's stuffed mussels brimming with wild rice and sweet currants ($18); according to owner and chef Somer Sivrioglu, these moreish morsels — intended to be tackled in a single bite — are the street food of choice after a Turkish bender. For those who prefer to eat their seafare with cutlery, the octopus with beetroot kisir ($20) is perfectly balanced and a stunning shade of magenta, while the whole calamari dolma can barely contain its delectable stuffing of feta, pistachios and sweet barberries ($28). It's served on a bed of avo-ghanoush, a curious blend of avocado and baba ghanoush, presumably intended for those who can tolerate heated avocado. If you're after something that hasn't spent a lifetime at sea, the cauliflower with walnut tarator and orange zest ($19) is a robust accompaniment that proves vegetables don't need to be relegated to side dishes, while our favourite is the lamb backstrap ($27). Served roughly sliced on a thick schmear of pureed eggplant begendi, the succulent lamb is impossibly tender and that perfect shade of blush pink that you only seem to see on ads funded by lamb lobbyists. If you've managed to save some stomach real estate for dessert, the poached quince with tart green apple sorbet ($15) was wonderfully light, while the creamy sutlac — a Turkish rice pudding with a caramelised top sprinkled with crispy pastry bits and hazelnuts — is the pudding equivalent of a toasty heated blanket. Unfortunately though, once you've had your fill, you have the unenviable task of ejecting yourself from a beautiful evening tucked away in what feels like a patio in Istanbul and returning to the desolate construction site of Barangaroo, where you wait alone on the street for a cab to take you back to civilisation.
In Groundhog Day, weatherman Phil Connors (Bill Murray) finds himself reliving the celebratory occasion over and over again. Since 1993, viewers have been able to enjoy their own looping experience, simply by watching and rewatching the movie. But later this year, there'll be another way to step into the beloved comedy's world — by jumping into the feature's virtual reality sequel. After being adapted into an award-winning stage musical back in 2016, Groundhog Day is now getting a follow-up. Coming to a VR headset rather than to the big screen, Groundhog Day: Like Father Like Son takes fans back to Punxsutawney, reunites with the Connors family, and lets players experience the joys — and stresses — of repeating the same events again and again. As the title suggests, however, it doesn't focus on Murray's misanthropic character. We all know that Phil Connors really spent the original flick not only waiting to see if a woodchuck sees a shadow, getting frustrated and dying repeatedly, but learning how to value life and his loved ones. This time around, his son Phil Connors Jr will follow in his footsteps, all while experiencing his own bad, endless day. If you've chosen your way through Black Mirror: Bandersnatch, you can now do the same thing with this VR game, playing as the younger Phil and trying to break the cycle. Here's hoping that Sonny and Cher's "I Got You Babe" features on the soundtrack — you know that you're going to have it stuck in your head anyway. The news comes with the best possible timing, given that Saturday, February 2 marked this year's actual Groundhog Day. At Gobbler's Knob, 'Seer of Seers, Sage of Sages, Prognosticator of Prognosticators' Punxsutawney Phil didn't see his shadow, meaning that spring is on the way in the US. As for the game that this marmot-inspired superstition has given rise to, audiences will be able to see it on PlayStation VR, Oculus Rift and HTC Vive at a yet-to-be-announced date later in 2019. Check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rHHzQlqXdU Via Variety.
A mega-venue has opened in the heart of Sydney's Circular Quay, adding four unique venues to the harbourside CBD suburb. The new Hinchcliff House has overtaken the heritage Hinchcliff Wool Store, a huge sandstone structure dating back to the 1860's that has been restored and revived as part of the ever-evolving Quay Quarter. Two of the Hinchcliff House's four venues are now open to the public, with the other two set to follow suit in May. Grana, located on the ground floor of the former wool store, is an all-day Italian restaurant and bakery, while Apollonia is a low-light cocktail bar in the venue's lower ground. Head to Grana early for a taste of its breakfast treats. Think blue swimmer crab omelette ($23) or a classic bacon and egg roll on schiacciata with chilli mayo and a hash brown ($18), alongside a selection of breakfast cocktails. All of Grana's bread is made at its onsite mill, providing fresh morning pastries, or ideal starters come dinner. Once breakfast is finished, turn your attention to Grana's standard menu. On the bread and dairy section, sourdough is served alongside a rich macadamia butter ($4 per person) and cheese is wrapped in thin and flaky house-made focaccia ($16). While it would be easy to fill up on bread, make sure you leave room for the cauliflower cotoletta ($24) or market fish tartar with trout roe ($26). Of course, a healthy selection of pasta is available including ricotta and pumpkin occhi, swimming in a lemon balm and served with pickled pumpkin ($25), or a seaweed gigli paired with Moreton Bay bug ($34). All four of the venues at Hinchcliff House are the creation of prolific New Zealand restauranteur Scott Brown (Amano) alongside the team at House Made Hospitality. Brown has been running restaurants across the Tasman for over a decade, founding Auckland's Hipgroup in 2004, responsible for venues like seasonal Spanish restaurant Alma. Images: Jiwon Kim
In Westeros, and in books and TV shows that head to the fictional location, some things are simply inevitable. People saying "winter is coming" is one of them. Creepy relationships, whether because of gross age differences or blood ties, is another. Flowing long blonde hair is yet another certainty. People stabbing each other in the back for the Iron Throne ranks right up there, too. Indeed, there are so many predictable eventualities, you could make a drinking game out of watching new Game of Thrones prequel House of the Dragon — and we did. Here's something we should've included but didn't, though: House of the Dragon proving such a hit straight away that HBO has already renewed it for a second season. If you already been enjoying the show's jump back into House Targaryen's history, to 172 years before the birth of Daenerys and her whole dragon-flying, nephew-dating, power-seeking story, then rejoice — like winter, more is coming. Again, the news is hardly surprising, especially given that House of the Dragon's debut episode, which arrived on Monday, August 22, gave the US cable network its largest American audience for any new original series in the history of HBO. Yes, House of the Dragon is basically a case of new show, same squabbles, as it was easy to foresee it would be. Yes, it's pretty much Game of Thrones with different faces bearing now well-known surnames — and more dragons. And yes, this latest adaptation of George RR Martin's popular fantasy books is bound to continue on for more than just two seasons, but that's all that's confirmed for the moment. If you haven't yet caught up with the series, it dives into the battle for the Iron Throne before the one we all watched between 2011–19. Paddy Considine (The Third Day) plays King Viserys — and it's exactly who should be his heir that sparks all the Succession-style fuss. The words "succession" and "successor" (and "heir" as well) get bandied around constantly, naturally. The king has a daughter, Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen (played by Upright's Milly Alcock, then Mothering Sunday's Emma D'Arcy), who is also his first-born child. But because putting a woman on the throne isn't the done thing, the King's younger brother Prince Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith, Morbius) considers that spiky iron chair his birthright. And, this wouldn't be Westeros if plenty of other people didn't have an opinion, including Ser Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans, The King's Man), the Hand of the King; his own daughter Alicent (The Lost Girls' Emily Carey, then Slow Horses' Olivia Cooke); and Lord Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint, It's a Sin), who is married to Princess Rhaenys Velaryon (Eve Best, Nurse Jackie), who had a better claim to the throne when Viserys was named king instead. All that feuding over the realm's spiky metal seat will continue across House of the Dragon's ten-episode first season, of course, before returning for a second go-around. HBO hasn't announced a date for the show's second patch of episodes, but you could bet all the wine in King's Landing on it arriving around this time in 2023. House of the Dragon is the culmination of years of planning to extend the GoT franchise by HBO. Firstly, the American cable network announced that it was considering five different prequel ideas. It then green-lit one to pilot stage, scrapped it and later picked a contender to run withL House of the Dragon. It has also opted to give novella series Tales of Dunk and Egg the TV treatment, too, and to work on an animated GoT show. And, it's been reported that another three prequels are also under consideration — plus a Jon Snow-focused sequel series. Check out the full House of the Dragon trailer below: House of the Dragon streams Down Under via Foxtel and Binge in Australia and SoHo, Sky Go and Neon in New Zealand. Read our full review of season one. Images: Ollie Upton/HBO.
Despite her painting career lasting just eight years, late Aboriginal artist Emily Kame Kngwarreye smashed another art record this week, as her piece Earth's Creation I again fetched the highest price at auction for an Australian female artist. The contemporary piece went under the hammer for a huge $2.1 million, breaking its own 2007 record, having sold back then for $1.05 million. This time, it's been snapped up by art dealer Tim Olsen for his recently opened New York gallery, in an online auction headed up by Sydney's Cooee Art Marketplace and Fine Art Bourse. The sale of the acclaimed work, which has previously been on show at the likes of the National Museum of Art in Osaka, the National Museum of Australia and the National Gallery of Victoria, is also a big win for Australian Indigenous art, with Fine Art Bourse auctioneer Tim Goodman telling SBS: "this sale will go a long way to breathing life back into the Aboriginal art market." Hope you managed to get a look at it while it was in the country. Kngwarreye's painting is also not that far off the auction record for an Aboriginal artist, which was set by a Clifford Possum piece that sold for $2.4 million back in 2007. By contrast, the last known painting by Leonardo di Vinci, Salvator Mundi, just sold at auction for around $AUD590 million — making it history's most expensive artwork by far. Via SBS. Image: Emily Kame Kngwarreye (c.1910–1996) painting Earth's Creation I (1994).
In cinemas everywhere in 2023, to more than a billion dollars at the global box office, Ryan Gosling is "just Ken" in Barbie. He's also fantastic. Jump back almost two decades, however, and he was getting attention for locking lips with Rachel McAdams (Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness) during a downpour in The Notebook — and that Nicholas Sparks-penned effort isn't done spreading its sappy brand of romance just yet. 2024 will mark exactly 20 years since The Notebook hit the big screen, as based on Sparks' 1996 debut novel. It'll also see the musical version of The Notebook make its Broadway debut. The production was first announced back in 2019, then premiered in Chicago in 2022 and now heads to the Big Apple. While Gosling can sing — see: Barbie, La La Land, his band Dead Man's Bones — he likely isn't part of the stage show's cast. Exactly who'll be crooning through the book-turned-movie-turned-musical's lovestruck drama in New York's prestigious theatre district hasn't been announced yet, though, so you can hold onto your Gosling fantasy for a bit longer. Either way, expect singing in the rain, obviously, as well as belted-out declarations of love in a rowboat. Expect a song-filled account of heiress Allie Hamilton falling in love with lumber mill worker Noah Calhoun in the 1940s, too. Should tissues be handed out with every ticket? As The Notebook jumps from tear-soaked pages to weep-inducing celluloid to a stage version, that wouldn't be the worst move. This treading-the-boards take on the A Walk to Remember, Dear John, The Last Song and The Lucky One author's best-known tome will start Broadway previews on Tuesday, February 6, if you have an NYC trip in your future. Public tickets go on sale on Tuesday, September 26. The Notebook musical's script and songs stem handled by Bekah Brunstetter and Ingrid Michaelson respectively. The former was a writer and producer on TV show This Is Us, and the latter is best known for singles 'The Way I Am' and 'Girls Chase Boys'. And on directing duties: Michael Greif (Dear Evan Hansen) and Schele Williams (Motown the Musical). Check out a glimpse of The Notebook musical's Chicago season below: The Notebook musical opens on Broadway, at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre, with previews from Tuesday, February 6. Head to the show's website for more information, plus public tickets from Tuesday, September 26.
Forget about kennel stays or pet-sitting — the latest homegrown tourism campaign to hit our small screens is encouraging very good dogs to head off on their own weekend getaways (well, it's encouraging their owners to bring them along for the ride). The latest — and yes, slightly ridiculous — Visit Victoria ad campaign pushes the idea that dogs make the world's best travel buddies, showcasing pet-friendly cafes, restaurants, accomodation, breweries, wineries and activities all across regional Victoria. In an advertising first, it's also "dog-optimised", apparently, featuring a visual set-up designed specifically for dogs' eyeballs, apparently. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHbvL1dwVYk Pulling together content from some of the state's favourite four-legged social media influencers, Your Dog's Happy Space expands on the recent human-focused Your Happy Space campaign, and highlights the best out-of-town stuff you can enjoy with your dog in tow. The video ad features pet-friendly destinations like the Yarra Valley's DeBortoli Winery, Pancho Cafe in Daylesford and Toorongo Falls in Noojee, while a supporting website boasts a sprawling directory to yet more spots, organised by region. You can check out the new campaign and all its dog-friendly suggestions at visitvictoria.com/dogs. Currently, around 65 percent of Victorians own a pet, but most think that travelling with them is simply too hard. Let's see if this changes a few human (or dog) minds. Images: Courtesy @tomandcaptain
Sydneysiders are now allowed back into the pub, so live music is beginning to return to the city. One of the first cabs off the rank is beloved Merivale pub Vic on the Park, which has set up a killer lineup of free live music for Sydney's first weekend out of lockdown. As part of Merivale's live sessions program, there will be local bands blaring from the band room at Vic on the Park on both Friday, October 15 and Saturday, October 16. Kicking off the weekend is indie rock five-piece The Phazes with singer-songwriter Sam Marks in support. Come Saturday, exciting upstarts Jet City Sports Club will be bringing their heartfelt guitar-driven anthems to The Vic, with inner west cowboys Big Dog and their blend of country, folk and rock providing support. While you're there, you can also soak in the atmosphere out in the beer garden and enjoy a pub feed. The pub's new deck menu features spicy lobster rolls and thick-cut porchetta with roasted potatoes and salsa verde. Seats in the band room are first-come-first-serve, so get down early.
Having dominated Australian dining for decades with the likes of Bondi's Icebergs Dining Room, Da Orazio and The Dolphin Hotel, restaurateur Maurice Terzini is now taking his talents to Asia. And his first stop is Seminyak, Bali, where his new restaurant Da Maria will be opening on Saturday, November 5. As the name suggests, the venue will be bringing a splash of Italy to the tropical Indonesian island. Roman architects Lazzarini Pickering took care of the design and, walking into the courtyard, you'd be forgiven for thinking you'd landed on the Amalfi Coast. The cool whites and blues, bold shapes, fountains and feature ceiling are a contemporary take on 1960s aesthetics, including that of Giò Ponti's famous Sorrento hotel Parco dei Principi. "Da Maria is our portrait of Maurice Terzini in Bali," said Carl Pickering. "'Bali Style' wouldn't have worked for the ideas Maurice had for this restaurant." That said, there is evidence of Balinese influence in the rubber trees, cacti and passionfruit vines. Plus, you'll notice a dash of French fer forgé style in the tables and chairs. As far as the food goes, Terzini has gone for a modern take on simple, traditional Italian dishes. A cool 24 hours of fermentation goes into the pizza dough, which is made using Neapolitan techniques and cooked in lava stone ovens. You'll also find porchetta (whole pig) which has proved a big hit at Bondi's Da Orazio. Among the lighter dishes, there's asparagus with anchovy butter and parmesan, snapper crudo with tomato, chilli and marjoram, and octopus with overnight beans, red wine vinegar and parsley. If you're up for a long feast, then order 'La Panarda', which will get you a selection of sharing plates. "We are offering traditional Italian food, done correctly, in a modern environment without trying to reinvent the wheel," said chef Steven Skelly. "It's accessible, fresh and fun and we really enjoy cooking it." Meanwhile, in the Americano-influenced bar, expect Italian classics, like the Negroni and the Spritz, as well as house-made liqueurs, including vermouth, and a contemporary wine list. As at any Terzini establishment, special events will pepper the calendar, to be curated with help from Motel Mexicola's Adrian Reed. DJs will be popping in every night from 10.30pm onwards and, before then, you'll be kicking back to playlists put together by Sydney DJ Kali (Picnic). Last but not least, there's an onsite boutique, Da Maria Shop by Ten Pieces. Ten Pieces is Terzini's fashion label, launched in partnership with Lucy Hinkfuss in 2011. Find Da Maria at Jalan Pettinenget 170 Badung, Bali, Indonesia, open daily from 5pm–2am and on Sunday for brunch from 11am–3pm.
It's always summer somewhere, right? Not exactly, but that's long been the idea behind swapping Australia's winters for a midyear trip to Europe. And if that's on the cards for you at the moment — or you're thinking about it given how genuinely cold the last month has been already Down Under — then you can now hop on one of Qantas' new direct flights to Rome. To truly get the non-stop experience, you'll need to live in Perth. If you hail from another part of the country, you will have to make your way to the Western Australian capital first. But, either way, that flight from Perth to Rome won't make a layover — getting you from Down Under to continental Europe faster, and without switching planes, worrying about connecting legs and navigating other airports. The direct-to-Rome routes were first announced back in late 2021, but they've just started taking to the air since Saturday, June 25. They follow the airline's direct flights from Perth to London, and will make the trip three times a week between now and October. And yes, that timing is 100-percent aimed at letting Australians take full advantage of European summer holidays. As well as being the only flights that connect Australia to continental Europe, the new Rome trips are speedier than other routes to the Italian city — more than three hours faster than the current quickest travel time from Australia to Rome. That means fewer hours spent in transit, and more to actually soak in Italy. It also means spending a big unbroken block of time in the air, which still sounds a bit like science fiction after so long without international travel. If you're keen to head elsewhere on the continent, you can use Rome as a connection point to fly to 16 other European destinations, including Athens, Barcelona, Frankfurt, Nice, Madrid and Paris. You can also venture to 15 other spots in Italy, Milan and Venice among them. Also, if you fancy flying into Rome but coming home from London, or vice versa, Qantas will let you combine the two direct routes on the one return ticket. The airline has also added a few Italian-inspired food and drink items, including negronis, to its lounge and inflight menus — and it's screening films that link in with Italy, too, such as Rome, Open City and Life Is Beautiful. And if you're wondering about the possibility of travelling non-stop to Europe from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, which Qantas has been looking into for a few years now, the carrier has locked in direct Sydney-to-London flights (and direct Sydney-to-New York routes as well) to start in late 2025. Qantas' new Australia–Rome direct flights are flying three times a week from Perth until October. For more information, or to book tickets, head to the airline's website.
It has been four years since The Skywhale first floated across Australia's skies, soaring through the air with its bulbous body and hanging breasts, and making every other hot air balloon look boring in the process. Come 2018 at Brisbane's Gallery of Modern Art, it'll get a sequel of sorts, with Aussie artist Patricia Piccinini creating a new, large-scale inflatable sculpture as part of her massive solo exhibition, Patricia Piccinini: Curious Affection. The piece will be suspended in GOMA's atrium, but, just as The Skywhale is only one of Piccinini's pieces, it'll form just one part of her huge Brissie showcase. In an Australian exclusive, Curious Affection will boast more than 50 new and recent works when it takes over the ground floor of the gallery from 24 March to 5 August. With the Aussie artist known for blending science, surrealism and mythology to craft imaginative, life-like creatures, expect plenty here, including 2016's The Bond featuring a woman lovingly cradling an ambiguous creature. A multi-sensory environment called The Field will rank among Piccinini's new efforts, using 3000 genetically modified flower sculptures to create an immersive landscape. Other pieces will keep stepping into her strange yet realistic world, in an exhibition designed to "will deliberately challenge our conceptions about what it means to be human and the power of empathy," according to Queensland Art Gallery and GOMA director Chris Saines. In addition to sculpture and installation, Piccinini's photography, video and drawing work will also be on display, complete with never-before-seen commissions that continue to explore the relationship between nature and technology in scientific research, genetic engineering and more. Curious Affection will mark GOMA's largest-ever solo collection by an Australian artist, celebrating a creative force who has represented Australia at the 2003 Venice Biennale, exhibited everywhere from Tokyo to Berlin to New York, and attracted more than over a million visitors to a touring showcase in Brazil in 2016. Patricia Piccinini: Curious Affection will display at GOMA from 24 March to 5 August 2018. For more information, head to the exhibition website. Image: Patricia Piccinini Australia VIC b.1965 The Bond 2016 Silicone, fibreglass, human hair, clothing 162 x 56 x 50cm Courtesy the artist, Tolarno Galleries, Melbourne; Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery, Sydney; and Hosfelt Gallery, San Francisco.
The vibey restaurant meets vinyl bar Rekōdo arrived at Solotel and Matt Moran's Barangaroo House in September 2022 and since then the spot has earned a name for itself with its melding of inventive Japanese-inspired dishes and vinyl DJs spinning records in the centre of the room — a nod to Japanese 'listening rooms'. The crew have levelled up its offering with the newly-launched Jukebox Bottomless, a regular weekend special that pairs bottomless drinks with beats for party-ready patrons. Upon arrival at your booking, the sonic sommelier that is your host will present a selection of tunes for you to choose from, with the likes of Whitney Houston and ABBA on offer — so you know it's a pro classic bangers atmosphere. Pair those tasty tunes with some tasty brews. The bottomless drinks menu includes both cocktails and bubbles. Indulge with a seasonal spritz, watermelon margarita or glass of prosecco while you vibe out to the classic bangers. If your booking is for 10 people or more, head chef Tara Chua will serve a menu of omakase-style dining in either nine or 12 courses. Smaller group? No worries. Simply spend $50 per person on food and you can add the two hours of bottomless drinks to your booking. Everyone deserves a chance to enjoy the vibes. Jukebox Bottomless is available from 12-4pm on Saturdays and 12-2pm on Sundays, from $75 per person. For more information, visit the website.
There are few film festival experiences as fun as spending four days camped out at Marrickville's Factory Theatre during the Sydney Underground Film Festival. Attending this fest in-person involves hopping in and out of its makeshift cinemas, watching all manner of out-there and indie movies you won't see elsewhere, and spending plenty of time at the bar chatting about what you've just seen — and, whether you're a diehard cinephile and festival devotee, you're just sick of watching mainstream fare or it purely sounds like a great way to spend a weekend, it's a total and utter delight. SUFF isn't playing out quite like this at the moment, however, for obvious reasons. Moving online for the second year in a row, it's hosting its 2021 edition virtually. Thankfully, while no one can enjoy the physical side of the fest between Thursday, September 9–Sunday, September 26, SUFF has brought its usual anarchic vibe to its 30-film program — all of which is now available to stream, and nationally as well. Get ready for affectionate documentaries, weird and wild features that just keep getting weirder and more wonderful, and pretty much everything in-between, all while getting cosy on your own couch. And if you've not sure where to start, we've watched, picked and reviewed seven highlights from SUFF's 15th annual program. There's your viewing sorted for the next fortnight or so. POLY STYRENE: I AM A CLICHÉ Add Poly Styrene: I Am a Cliché to the list of exceptional music documentaries — and yes, that observation can end there and prove 100-percent accurate. That said, this excellent film also belongs among the ranks of standout docos about famous musicians that serve multiple purposes. For existing fans of Marianne Elliott-Said, the punk singer who fronted late-70s band X-Ray Spex, this is an unflinching love letter that dives into every facet of her life. Covered here: her rise to stardom at a pivotal time in music history, the way she was treated as a British Somali woman, her efforts to subvert every standard that applied to women and public figures, and the toll it all took. As co-written, co-directed and guided on-screen by her daughter Celeste Bell — as an act of embracing everything her mother was and stood for — the film also demonstrates again and again why its title couldn't be further from the reality. For newcomers to the woman best known under her stage name Poly Styrene (which she picked from the phone book), this loving feature acts as an entry point, too. Like fellow outstanding music doco The Sparks Brothers, it'll give some of its audience a new obsession. Via voice snippets rather than talking heads, the likes of Bikini Kill's Kathleen Hanna and Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore also offer their memories of and insights into all things Poly, but Bell and her co-helmer Paul Sng (Sleaford Mods: Invisible Britain) understandably push their bold, rebellious and inimitable central figure to the fore at all times — including via riveting archival footage, as well as potent and emotional snippets from her diaries and poems. WONDERFUL PARADISE No one will finish Wonderful Paradise wondering what writer/director Masashi Yamamoto (The Voice of Water) and co-screenwriter Suzuyuki Kaneko might've left out of their script. The pair throw everything they can into this absurdist Japanese comedy, and it shows — because this is the type of movie where giant coffee beans get ravenous, children segue from projectile vomiting to transforming into branches, pregnancies last around 20 minutes, and parties become funerals, then turn into big song-and-dance numbers. The premise: at a house in suburban Tokyo, Akane (Mayu Ozawa, The Happy Prisoner), her father (Seikô Itô, We Are Little Zombies) and her brother (Soran Tamoto, I Turn) are packing up their belongings. For financial reasons that involve big debts and shady figures who are keen to collect, they're moving out of the sprawling abode. But Akane decides to host one last party and, after she tweets out the details, friends, relatives and strangers alike — including her estranged mother Akiko (Kaho Minami, Oh Lucy!) — all start popping up. From there, anything that can happen does. Indeed, sharing the same kind of manic energy that also made fellow low-budget Japanese flick One Cut of the Dead a delight, this plays like a hallucinatory mind trip more than a movie. That isn't a criticism of Wonderful Paradise; this is just a film that sweeps you along for a strange and surreal ride, satirises everything it can while also making plenty of savvy statements, careens off in weird and wonderful directions, and also makes you adore every minute. LORELEI Following an ex-felon who has just been released from a 15-year prison stint, as well as his former teenage sweetheart, Lorelei isn't in a rush to unfurl its dramas and dive to its deepest depths. Marking the feature debut of Sabrina Doyle, it's the type of film that needs that space and 111-minute running time to grow and breathe, and to build up to its surprises — and to earn the emotional journey that its standout lead performances slowly but commandingly convey at every moment. Orange Is the New Black's Pablo Schreiber plays Waylan, a small-town biker who didn't snitch when he was sent up for armed robbery. Keeping quiet cost him not only a decade and a half of his life, but his romance with Dolores (Jena Malone, Antebellum). His incarceration has saw their shared dreams dissolve, too, and led Dolores to have three children with other men since. The pair reunite after Waylan is released, crossing paths purely in passing. Quickly, staring into each other's eyes brings back old feelings, and also conjures up new regrets about the existence they always thought they'd lead together. Doyle is as concerned about the precarious situation that Dolores and her children Dodger (first-timer Chancellor Perry), Periwinkle (fellow newcomer Amelia Borgerding) and Denim (debutant Parker Pascoe-Sheppard) have endured over the years as she is with Waylan's route forward, and much of Lorelei thoughtfully dwells on the stark realities facing all of its characters. Indeed, there's not just empathy but a sense of rawness here — including when the film endeavours to leap into sunnier waters. ALIEN ON STAGE It's one of the greatest science fiction movies ever made, and always will be. It spawned three sequels and two prequels over the course of four decades and, while many of those have been stellar themselves, it still remains the best film there is with xenomorphs at its centre. It made Sigourney Weaver not just a star but a legend, too — and, thanks to an amateur stage version of the iconic flick that was initially staged in Dorset, then hit London's West End, it gave a group of British bus drivers their time in the spotlight as well. The movie in question: Alien. It mightn't seem suited to the theatre, but that didn't stop Dave Mitchell and his friends. When they decided to turn the film into a stage production, they put their hearts and souls into it, and Alien On Stage tells their story. The show turns out exactly as you'd expect with a non-professional cast and crew at the helm, and with homemade props recreating the Nostromo and its unwanted stowaway. The same description applies to his loving documentary — because this is a movie made by fans, about a stage show made by fans, and the end result leans into all of those layers of affection. Back in 1979, Ridley Scott mightn't have ever imagined that his sci-fi/horror film could spawn this level of devotion, or give this much happiness to folks trying to follow in his footsteps — and to a room full of immensely entertained Leicester Square Theatre attendees, too. That's just one of the things that Alien has spawned, and everyone can hear this movie's screams of joy. SWEETIE, YOU WON'T BELIEVE IT When Arman (Azamat Marklenov) and Murat (Erlan Primbetov) pick up Dastan (Daniar Alshinov, A Dark, Dark Man) for a day of fishing in Sweetie, You Won't Believe It, they're just trying to gift him one last moment away from his responsibilities. His girlfriend Zhanna (Asel Kaliyeva, The Secret of a Leader) is about to give birth to his first child, and this film subscribes to the idea that parenthood means kissing goodbye your old self. But, the trio have never cast a line into the water before. That's the excuse they've used to head away, though, so they decide to stick with it. They're soon fashioning a boat out of blow-up sex toys, but that's far from the worst that their day trip to regional Kazakhstan has in store. As they're floating and not really fishing, they witness gun-slinging gangsters (Alamat Sakatov, Yerkubulan Daiyrov and Rustem Zhaniyamanov) attempting to squeeze information out of another man in a violent fashion — and, soon, Dastan and his pals find themselves being pursued by the ruthless criminals as well. Then, complicating matters even further, a one-eyed, jaw-ripping psychopath (Dulgya Akmolda) on a quest for vengeance starts targeting everyone in sight. Sweetie, You Won't Believe It doesn't take any of its various parts seriously, thankfully. It's one part buddy getaway comedy, one part western slapstick, one part secluded horror and one part gory gangster flick, and it loves seesawing back and forth between all four. It also has ample fun satirising prevailing ideas of masculinity amidst the blood, guts and over-the-top silliness. CANNON ARM AND THE ARCADE QUEST When The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters chronicled Steve Wiebe's attempt to earn Donkey Kong's highest score ever — and oust Billy Mitchell from retaining that title in the process — it turned a slice of the gaming world into one of the must-see documentaries of the early 2000s. Well over a decade later, Cannon Arm and the Arcade Quest mashes similar buttons, this time focusing on the eponymous Danish Gyruss devotee and his dream of clocking up 100 consecutive hours playing the 80s game. If successful, Kim aka Cannon Arm won't just claim the world record for his favourite shoot-'em-up title. Standing in an arcade for more than four days straight (with some canny plans around how to eat, nap and go to the bathroom, if you're wondering how that all works), he'd smash the existing feat by a whopping 41 hours. Sporting a greying mullet and noted for his lack of conversation, Kim himself approaches the possibility with few words; however, his friends and fellow games are eager to do anything they can to assist his quest. As this doco charts, achieving this kind of milestone isn't straightforward. Yes, Kim's health is considered in detail as first-time feature filmmaker Mads Hedegaard — who narrates as well — explains. All that gaming isn't the only focus of the documentary, though, with Cannon Arm and the Arcade Quest smartly diving into what draws Kim and his Bip Bip Bar mates to their preferred pastime, what else they're fascinated with in their lives, and how gaming both parallels their other interests and provides a respite from their daily lives. DANNY. LEGEND. GOD. If there's one thing that Bulgarian councillor Danny (Dimo Alexiev, A Hidden Life) isn't lacking, it's confidence. He isn't short on arrogance, either, or on the impulses needed to take the most corrupt, abhorrent, self-serving option at any possible juncture — and he's extremely unpleasant to be around even in small bursts. Danny is also the titular figure in mockumentary Danny. Legend. God., so he demonstrates his worst traits over and over, and for an extended period. First-time filmmaker Yavor Petkov wants viewers to feel uncomfortable, in fact, because that's the natural reaction to seeing someone who's little more than a crook throw their weight about in a position of power, care only about themselves and have zero regard for the long-term repercussions for everyone in their orbit. In other words, this is a film that proves particularly piercing given the current global political climate. It's darkly humorous, but in a savage, biting, only-two-degrees-removed-from-reality way. And if you're wondering why Danny is in the spotlight — and why Alexiev puts in quite the committed performance in the part — that's because the film revolves around a news crew visiting the character's home town to capture and ideally expose his wrongdoing. What starts out as an attempt to make a documentary about money laundering soon gets hijacked by their subject, though, as Danny demands that his freewheeling life is captured exactly how he wants it — no matter what he's doing, or snorting, or the cost of his actions. The 2021 Sydney Underground Film Festival runs from Thursday, September 9–Sunday, September 26. For further details, or to watch online, head to the festival's website.
Effortless multitasker Joss Whedon has taken time off between letting Avengers and S.H.I.E.L.D. agents clean up the scum to unveil a fan-friendly surprise: his brand new film In Your Eyes available to rent online for just $5. The Avengers director high-fived his fans worldwide by releasing the film online as it was premiering at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City. Currently filming the next instalment of the Avengers: Age of Ultron, Whedon made $1.5 billion from the first ‘gang’s all here’ Marvel superhero romp. The Buffy creator has seen shifts in the industry over the years and wanted to explore options to satisfy both fans and his bottom line. "It's exciting for us because we get to explore yet another new form of distribution — and we get $5," he said. Whedon recorded a video message to introduce the release, played before the Tribeca screening and seemingly recorded on the Avengers set. In Your Eyes will mark the second release from Bellwether Pictures, Whedon’s pet project and “micro studio” that released the playful, black and white rom-com version of Much Ado About Nothing in 2013. Whedon and his wife Kai Cole founded the LA studio as a means to bypass "the classic studio structure" that Whedon receives millions of dollars yet limited creative distribution control to work in. Starring newcomers Zoe Kazan (writer and star of Ruby Sparks) and Michael Stahl-David (Cloverfield, NBC’s The Black Donnellys), In Your Eyes is a so-called paranormal romance, following two strangers who find themselves linked by supernatural means. Whedon wrote and produced the film, looked at his laughable schedule, then handed the director hat over to buddy Brin Hill (writer and director of 2008’s Ball Don’t Lie). Whedon has been pretty busy of late being King of Marvel Errrrthang, divvying up his directorial time on the Avengers sequel Age of Ultron to serve as creative consultant on Any Marvel Film Anyone is Making Right Now. Whedon penned dialogue for Thor: The Dark World as well as directing the mid-credits scene in Captain America: The Winter Soldier — Whedon’s Marvel input cameos might soon rival the onscreen pop-ins of legendary creator Stan Lee. “This is the most prolific title we’ve had on the platform, definitely,” Vimeo spokesman Greg Clayman told Gigaom. Stealthy, unannounced releases are becoming more used by major players as a means of distributing directly to fanbases. “It's a non-traditional way, for sure. But hey, it works for Beyonce." Due to Whedon being an absolute legend, In Your Eyes is available to rent on Vimeo right now. Via BBC and Gigaom.
When Melbourne's acclaimed 400 Gradi achieves a significant feat, it doesn't rest on its laurels. It was true when the Italian joint whipped up a 99-cheese pizza, which it then bested with a 150-cheese pizza. And it has proven true at one of the pizza industry's night of nights: the 50 Top Pizza awards in Naples. At last year's gongs, 400 Gradi claimed the title of Best Pizzeria in Oceania. This year, it's done so again. It's only the third year that the awards have been held, with the Melbourne eatery now emerging victorious two years running over all other pizza places in the region. To anoint its winners, the event secretly judges almost 1000 pizzerias in Italy and around the world. While 400 Gradi topped the list in Oceania, it had some local company in the shortlist, including Melbourne's +39 Pizzeria, Doc Pizza & Mozzarella Bar, SPQR Pizzeria and Woodstock Pizzacheria; Sydney's Gigi's Pizzeria and Rosso Antico Pizza Bar; Brisbane's Pizzeria Violetta; and The Dough Room in Perth. It has been a big year for 400 Gradi, with the pizza joint also picking up another coveted prize this year at the Olimpiadi Vera Pizza Napoletana contest. Held by the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana (which is also known as The True Neapolitan Pizza Association), it compiles a ranking of the best pizzerias in the world — and while 400 Gradi didn't take the top spot, it did come in second. 400 Gradi Essendon eatery was the only restaurant outside of Naples to make the top five, in fact, and was joined by 400 Gradi at Brunswick and Gradi Crown at sixth and eighth place. To check out the 50 Top Pizza awards full lineup of award-winning pizzas, visit its website. To run through the Olimpiadi Vera Pizza Napoletana contest winners, head to its website, too.
Whether you're in lockdown, working from home or just social distancing in general, your day could always do with a few more cute animals. And, if you didn't realise this before the pandemic, you definitely will have over the past few months: the internet is always happy to oblige. Earlier in the year, Melbourne's zoos started live-streaming their penguins, leopard cubs and giraffes, while Sydney's aquarium brought us playtime with Pig the dugong, the Wild Life zoo opted for cuddles with quokkas and Brisbane's Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary opted for a non-stop look at one of Australia's cutest native marsupials. The list of animal-focused streams has grown over the course of 2020, including Melbourne Aquarium's own series of meditation and relaxation videos. And now, also from Melbourne, a den of small-clawed otters are getting in on the fun. In the latest webcam setup at Melbourne Zoo, a lens has been trained on the site's four Asian small-clawed otter pups. They were born in February this year to otter parents Paula and Odie, who became the first of their species to breed at the Victorian site since back in 2011. And, whether they're sleeping or playfully fighting — a type of behaviour that helps them bond — these little critters are immensely adorable. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r14IcXmQMyg&feature=emb_logo The otter webcam joins Melbourne Zoo's Animals at Home portal, where you can also peer at the aforementioned penguins, snow leopard cubs and giraffes — and lions, too. As the otter live-stream runs all day, every day, we can't promise this won't put a slight dent in your usual plans — and, on weekdays, your productivity — but we can promise that it'll help brighten up your day every so slightly. Check out Melbourne Zoo's Animals at Home portal via its website. Images: Zoos Victoria
Sometimes, you just want a sweet treat and a few film facts. For Australian fans of lollies and movies, Fantales have always come through. Sure, the chocolate-covered caramels are great for a sugar fix, but they've become an iconic Australian favourite thanks to their yellow wrappers printed with stories about the big screen's stars. And yes, they're the perfect snack when you're hitting the cinema. Well, they were. Fantales have been around for almost a century, debuting in the 1930s, but the Aussie chocolate is going the way of silent the age. Come mid-July, they'll cease production, with Nestle announcing that it is closing the curtain on the lollies. If you were a pre-internet kid, you'll remember gleaning film tidbits about famous faces thanks to the sweets back in the day when every piece of information about every celebrity wasn't available online instantly. But apparently that hasn't been enough to keep folks buying Fantales. Indeed, Nestle's decision has been made due to declining sales, plus the upgrades that'd be needed to the machinery that makes them "We know our decision to stop making Fantales will be sad news for many people," said Nestlé Oceania Confectionery General Manager Andrew Lawrey. "Many of us grew up with Fantales and have fond memories of them. Despite the sense of nostalgia Fantales evoke, unfortunately people simply aren't buying them as often as they used to," he continued. "In addition, our Fantales equipment needs significant investment. It's become increasingly difficult to get the parts we need to maintain it and, with declining sales, replacing it isn't viable." Before you start fearing for that other Aussie childhood staple — that'd be Minties — Nestle has confirmed that they're sticking around, as are other party bag go-tos like Snakes Alive and Allen's Party Mix. Fantales will cease production in mid-July 2023. You'll find them on supermarket shelves for now while stocks last.
El Primo Sanchez made waves when it was launched in early 2023 by The Maybe Group, bringing free karaoke, a sprawling tequila collection and authentic Mexican bites to the table. Now, the bustling Paddington eatery is switching the latter up, exchanging its sit-down cantina cuisine for a taqueria-style menu. Newly appointed Head Chef Diego Sotelo (Rico's Tacos) has drawn on his Guadalajaran roots to design a lively agenda that pairs with the venue's famously upbeat cocktails. Named Primo's Taco Corner, expect a food offering centred on a build-your-own fiesta, where guests have plenty of choice to shape their perfect bite, from the style of dish to the protein inside. You might opt for a classic taco, quesadilla or burrito, or step things up with a cheese-crusted costra or even a California-style burrito jam-packed with fries. Then, it's up to you to select a meat (or plant-based) filling. Sotelo has come up with several tantalising options, with the low- and slow-cooked al pastor pork belly marinated in spiced citrus flavours, before being finished on the flame to add smoke-fuelled heat. You've also got beer-battered Baja fish with jalapeño mayo; beef barbacoa featuring a sharp salsa roja; or the vegan alternative, loaded with tomato, spice and dried chilli goodness. Another addition is the quesabirria — a birria-style beef and melted cheese one-two punch. Here, beef cheek and brisket have been braised for hours on end, then folded into a tortilla with melted cheese and served with a glossy consommé to dip and dunk. If you can't make up your mind, Primo's Taco Corner also presents a new set menu for $69 per person, stacked with guac, nachos, tacos, quesadillas, loaded fries and churros. "We wanted to create something that felt more like a classic taqueria — casual, lively, and all about flavour," says Sotelo. "The cocktails at El Primo Sanchez have always been playful and fun, and we wanted the food to match that same energy. It's food made for groups, for late nights, for that moment when you want something easy, satisfying, and made to go hand-in-hand with a great drink." Speaking of drinks, the cocktail menu remains unchanged since it launched in late 2024. Developed by General Manager Eduardo Conde, a Mexico City local and the 2023 Diageo World Class Australian Bartender of the Year, big and bold flavours are still the focus. Highlights include the Viva la Vida, which delivers a mango-spiked riff on a Tommy's margarita, alongside tequila twists on espresso martinis, mezcal-driven negronis and boozy slushies. Head along to see how they pair with El Primo Sanchez's revamped food offering. El Primo Sanchez is open Wednesday from 5pm–11pm, Thursday from 5pm–12am and Friday–Saturday from 5pm–2am. Head to the website for more information.
Want to get the most out of Vivid? Here’s a tip. Try, not only watching the lights from afar, but getting among them, too. And I don’t mean attempting to climb the Opera House sails. Cruise Bar, on Level 3 of the Overseas Passenger Terminal at Circular Quay, has taken on the Vivid mantle with the installation of an illuminated pop-up bar. Created in conjunction with Belvedere Vodka and named Belvedere BEAT, it’s situated on the Cruise rooftop, affording panoramic views of the Opera House, city skyline and Harbour. Each night, from May 21 to June 9, you’ll be able to sip on Belvedere-spiked concoctions while surrounded by light installations designed to complement the show outside — from the Opera House’s ever-shifting display to the glittering, multicoloured ferries darting around the Harbour — and listening to soulful local grooves. Entry is free. If you’re looking to match your Vivid experience with a meal, make a booking at the Cruise Restaurant on level two. Contemporary Australian fare with an emphasis on fresh, local, seasonal produce is on the menu. Think Sydney rock oysters, crispy skin smoked salmon and Gippsland lamb rump. Star of the dessert menu is whisky lemon cake (mandarin curd, whisky jelly, ginger ice cream and lavender meringue). And down on level one, there’s the Cruise Bar, where you can either sit inside or enjoy a beverage in the Heineken outdoor bar in the courtyard, set up for Vivid’s duration. Our bet is that Cruise is going to be an incredibly popular spot over the next couple of weeks. So if you’re planning a visit, make a reservation. You can do so by calling (02) 9251 1188 or emailing info@cruisebar.com.au.
Local breweries have again proved their might in craft beer's night of nights, as the Australian International Beer Awards (AIBA) named their 2022 victors. Overnight at the beer competition's annual awards ceremony, 35 trophies were handed out, after judges sipped and assessed a record 2,630 entries from across the country and the world. As with last year's competition, Victoria stole a good chunk of the fizzy, amber-hued spotlight, with the state's breweries taking out 13 of those major trophies. Reservoir's Hawkers Beer claimed the honoured title of Champion Large Australian Brewery, in addition to representing its home state as Champion Victorian Brewery. [caption id="attachment_744422" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Hawkers Beer[/caption] Meanwhile, fellow Melbourne-born brand Stomping Ground snapped up the trophy for Champion Medium Australian Brewery, also scoring top awards with both its Raspberry Smash and Bunker Porter. Take note if you're on the hunt for a new winter drop. Other southerners to emerge victorious included Footscray's Hop Nation, whose Get The Gist was awarded best modern IPA; Collingwood brewery Molly Rose nabbing the title of best Belgian/French ale with its Nectarined; and Co-Conspirators with a win for its Hop Peddler hazy pale. Of course, the awards proved there's also plenty of fine beer drinking to be done in other parts of the country. Those repping the craft brew scene for Queensland included Moffat Beach Brewing Co, named Champion Small Australian Brewery while also getting a gong for its Triology Best Coast IPA and Shadow Of The Moon Eclipse releases. [caption id="attachment_811810" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Wayward Brewing[/caption] Inner-west Sydney mainstay Wayward Brewing nabbed the title of best wood and barrel-aged beer, and in an era where low-alc and booze-free sips are having a moment, Stone & Wood's 2.7% East Point won best reduced/low alc beer. Western Australian beer fans have cause to raise a few pints, too, after Beerland's lolly-inspired Blueberry Clouds sour took out the top slot of Champion Australian Beer. The AIBA also awarded some international breweries worth adding to your beer hit-list, including California's Belching Beaver, Weihenstephan out of Germany, Korea's Artmonster and Auckland's Deep Creek Brewing Co — the latter of which claimed the title of Champion Medium International Brewery. The AIBA is the largest annual beer competition of its kind in the world, each year recognising excellence in brewing, beer packaging design and beer media. For the full lineup of this year's AIBA awardees, jump over to the website.
It's funny, you might think the crossover between people who love geek stuff and people who love art stuff would be small, but not so. GRAPHIC Festival at the Sydney Opera House has been proving the crude stereotypers of the world wrong for four years now with its melange of comics, animation, illustration, music, multimedia and storytelling. Not only does the festival pull audiences, it puts on some of the most new and daring events in the country, which in past years have included Gotye's live animated album preview for Making Mirrors and Elefant Traks' Dr Seuss-inspired concert. The headliners are here in abundance in 2013, and they're mainly drawn (ha) from the world of comics. The man most credited with introducing comics as a 'serious' medium and Pulitzer Prize winner for Holocaust-themed Maus, Art Spiegelman, will present a hybrid of slides, talk and music in a performance specially commissioned for the festival. The event, called WORDLESS!, will see Spiegelman share his own history while expounding on the depth comics are capable of. Same room, same day: Grant Morrison — legendary writer of such titles as Batman: Arkham Asylum, The Invisibles, New X-Men and All-Star Superman — will be in conversation with Gerard Way (former My Chemical Romance frontman, now award-winning comic artist). Morrison's not the only Arkham Asylum alumnus either; there's idiosyncratic artist Dave McKean. Best known for his collaborations with Neil Gaiman, he also designed the beasts in two of the Harry Potter films and created more than 150 album covers. And he makes music — six songs of which appear with three stories and a stack of images and film in 9 Lives, his Australian premiere performance during GRAPHIC. Also in the mix are Seth Green (Oz! Scott Evil!) and Matt Senreich of Robot Chicken; Wolverine and Swamp Thing co-creator Len Wein leading a workshop; The Incredibly Short Film Festival (it's GIFs, of course); The Cinematic Orchestra in full flight; and Radio National's Radio with Pictures team-up of homegrown artists and storytellers. They don't say it on their promo material, but what you should understand is that GRAPHIC is like arty Comic-Con, and you don't need to be an uber-fan to feel part of the party. There are few events quite like it in the world. The festival runs from October 4-7 and tickets are on sale on Friday, August 2, at 9am from the Sydney Opera House website.
With big food precincts the norm in Sydney these days (see: Tramsheds and Maker's Dozen), the Porteño crew has decided to start its own. Owners and hospo legends Elvis Abrahanowicz, Ben Milgate and Joseph Valore (Bodega X Wyno, Bodega 1904) are opening two neighbouring venues along Holt Street next month. Bastardo trattoria and Humble Bakery are set to join the 'Porteño precinct' this October. These newcomers follow the decision to move Bodega into the Wyno space back in July 2019. With five of the team's sister venues now side-by-side, Surry Hills is in store for a true food-filled haven. "We now have all of the retail space on our corner block, so we have a little Porteño precinct going on here," says Abrahanowicz. "We've never done a bakery before, so we thought 'why not.' And then when the second space came up for Bastardo, we thought 'why not' again." [caption id="attachment_601995" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Joseph Valore, Ben Milgate and Elvis Abrahanowicz[/caption] At Bastardo, expect a menu of homey dishes that will change daily and focus on seasonal produce. For the venue, the team bought an old-school pasta extruder and they'll use it to make as many different shapes and sizes of pasta as possible. While the menu won't be finalised until just before opening, it'll be vego-heavy, similar to the way the gents eat at home. "The concept [behind Bastardo] is in the name — it's a bastardisation of Italian food," says Abrahanowicz. "[Ben, Joe and I] are all mongrel Italians in one way or another, and the restaurant will be a reflection of that. It's pretty much how we eat on the weekends. It's not going to be traditional Italian cooking or from a specific region, it'll be our interpretation of Italian food." While the menu will be simple comfort food at its best, the fit-out will be quite loud. Think a 60s Italian vibe with green terrazzo tables and colourful paintings by artist Mikey Freedom — plus a standing aperitif bar with a foosball table that's been resurrected from the Gardel's Bar days. Then there's Humble Bakery, where the team is taking its bread game very, very seriously. They've sourced a big four-deck oven and 100-kilogram mixer for the space, plus built huge wooden tables for shaping and making the dough. "There will be a real buzz in the venue with bread being made right in front of you and coming out of the oven all day long," says Abrahanowicz. "We've done a lot of research and it feels like there aren't really places in Sydney where it's fresh out of the oven. People are really going to froth over it." [caption id="attachment_635064" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Wyno by Katje Ford[/caption] While Sydney's obsession with sourdough is palpable, Humble will instead focus on yeast breads like baguettes. For lunch, expect a menu of fresh sandwiches, salads and topped focaccia. "A lot of people have been coming to Porteño and wanting to buy loaves of our focaccia, so that'll be a focus at Humble," says Milgate. "Our sourdough will come out first thing in the morning, followed by baguettes and then the focaccia will be baked in time for lunch. It's kind of like walking into a bakery kitchen, everything will be on out on display." Apart from all that bread, the cafe will serve Mecca coffee and sweet pastries, plus gelato from its brand new gelato machine — which will serve all of the Porteño precinct venues. And, true to fashion, a few South American classics are on the docket as well, including empanadas, churros and a couple of hot dishes. While it'll mainly be a takeaway affair, there will be a few tables for 30 all up. Expect a bright, clean space with light timber tables — and flour dust everywhere. Bastardo and Humble Bakery are set to open on Holt Street, Surry Hills in early and late October. Top image: Porteño by Steven Woodburn
This Sunday night in Los Angeles, Hollywood's top tier will come together, pat each other on the back, and go home with little gold men and $150,000 gift baskets. That’s right, the Oscars are finally upon us, set to launch their 87th ceremony on Sunday, February 22 at the Dolby Theatre (or Monday, February 23 for us). Get ready for red carpet specials, awkward presenter gaffes and all the bitter celebrity reaction shots your heart could possibly desire. This year, we’ll be rooting for underdogs like Whiplash and Wes Anderson, while keeping our fingers crossed that American Sniper wins absolutely nothing at all. We’ll also be partaking in our annual Oscars drinking game, ensuring that when our favourite film inevitably gets snubbed for Best Picture, we won’t actually remember it happened. Here are our predictions for who’ll take home the gold, as well as our own winner picks — who really should win. BEST PICTURE This year’s main list featured eight nominees, because apparently they just couldn’t get to ten. In reality, it just comes down to two: Richard Linklater’s 12-year indie epic Boyhood and Alejandro Gonzalez Innaritu’s one-take showbiz satire Birdman. Both films are formally ambitious and have won their fair share of industry gongs already. We’re leaning towards Birdman based on subject matter — two of the past three Best Picture winners (The Artist and Argo) have been about the film business, so why buck the trend now? WHAT WILL WIN: Birdman WHAT WE'D LIKE TO WIN: The Grand Budapest Hotel BEST DIRECTOR Take what we wrote about the Best Picture contest and copy-paste it here. This comes down to two very different directing styles, both of which push technical boundaries in a way we rarely get to see. Again, we’re giving Innaritu a slight edge, although don’t be surprised if there’s a split between Picture and Director. WHO WILL WIN: Alejandro Gonzalez Innaritu, Birdman WHO WE'D LIKE TO WIN: Wes Anderson, The Grand Budapest Hotel BEST ACTRESS Of all the awards, this one’s probably the easiest to pick. It’s been quite a good year for female performances, and we’re particularly fond of Rosamund Pike in Gone Girl and Marion Cotillard in Two Days, One Night. That being said, Julianne Moore looks to have it all locked up, for her brilliant performance as an Alzheimer’s patient in indie drama Still Alice. WHO WILL WIN: Julianne Moore, Still Alice WHO WE'D LIKE TO WIN: Marion Cotillard, Two Days, One Night BEST ACTOR While the Best Actress race appears to have already been run, the men’s competition is still wide open. Birdman’s Michael Keaton appeared to be an early favourite, but has been losing steam to Eddie Redmayne as Steven Hawking in The Theory of Everything. Then there’s the matter of Bradley Cooper in controversial dark horse American Sniper. In the end, we suspect it’ll go to Redmayne. The Academy loves inspiring true stories, especially when they involve disability. WHO WILL WIN: Eddie Redmayne, The Theory of Everything WHO WE'D LIKE TO WIN: Michael Keaton, Birdman BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS Whether or not Boyhood takes home the top prize, they can take some consolation in Patricia Arquette’s likely win for Best Supporting Actress. This category is a relatively weak one, particularly when you take away the obligatory Meryl Streep nomination — although admittedly she’s one of the few good things about Into the Woods. WHO WILL WIN: Patricia Arquette, Boyhood WHO WE'D LIKE TO WIN: Patricia Arquette, Boyhood BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR This is another easy pick, and one that’s hard to argue with. 60-year-old J.K. Simmons has been a jobbing character actor for decades, popping up everywhere from Spiderman to Juno to HBO’s Oz. It’s always great when someone like Simmons gets the mainstream attention they deserve. His performance as a dictatorial jazz conductor in Damien Chazelle’s Whiplash is undoubtedly one of the best performances of the year. WHO WILL WIN: J.K. Simmons, Whiplash WHO WE'D LIKE TO WIN: J.K. Simmons, Whiplash BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY Birdman and Boyhood will both make a decent showing here, but we’re predicting this is the category where Wes Anderson gets some well deserved love. The American indie darling has previously scored writing nominations for The Royal Tenenbaums and Moonrise Kingdom, and seems like a decent chance to finally take home a win with The Grand Budapest Hotel. Note that if either Birdman or Boyhood do manage to nab it, it’ll bode very well for their chances later in the night. WHAT WILL WIN: The Grand Budapest Hotel WHAT WE'D LIKE TO WIN: The Grand Budapest Hotel BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY Maybe the hardest of the major categories to pick, the only certainly is that Paul Thomas Anderson’s baffling stoner detective film Inherent Vice has zero chance of winning (even though it’s awesome). Whiplash ended up in this category because it’s technically based on a short film by the same director, and it may have a slight edge over other nominees The Imitation Game, The Theory of Everything and American Sniper. When it doubt, we say give it to the indie movie. WHAT WILL WIN: Whiplash WHAT WE'D LIKE TO WIN: Inherent Vice or Whiplash. Watch the 87th Academy Awards this Monday, February 23. The live broadcast itself begins at 12.30pm and will be replayed in primetime at 8.30pm on GEM.
Two Door Cinema Club are bringing in a new season, Volcano Choir are erupting with musical brilliance and RAC want us to let it all go and just enjoy the weekend. 1. 'CHANGING OF THE SEASONS' - TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB August has been a near perfect month of music for this writer. HAIM released a contender for song of the year with 'The Wire' and announced their album release date, Lorde followed suit and will embark on an Australian tour in October and now the band that occupies all of my playlists (and my heart) have treated us all to their freshest serving of Irish indie rock, and boy is it a doozie. 'Changing of the Seasons' showcases the band's traditional dance-inducing sound just in time for the start of spring, when the band will hopefully announce the details of their upcoming untitled EP. 2. 'DADDY'S MONEY' - JOHNNY STIMSON Johnny Stimson is on a personal mission to make the world groove. His last single, 'Human Man', compelled us all to move, and his latest offering, 'Daddy's Money', gets everything dancing. He hits the vocal lows and highs to sonic perfection, which when combined with the song's bouncing bassline creates an infectious work of fun for your speakers. 3. 'COMRADE' - VOLCANO CHOIR Everything that Justin Vernon touches turns to musical gold. His brilliance transformed Bon Iver into arguably the indie band of the century so far and he is now returning his talents to the collaboration known as Volcano Choir. Whilst the band released their debut album Unmap in 2009 to little fanfare, the brilliant blend led to a blooming fan base eager to hear more. Now with the band set to drop sophomore release Repave next week on September 3, they have offered up 'Comrade', a beautiful harmony ready to be played over and over again until the sun comes up, at which point you'll let it lull you to sleep. A track for all occasions. 4. 'LET GO' - RAC FEAT. KELE & MNDR RAC are known largely for their remixing, but from time to time they take a break to create brand-new material of their own, and they should do it more often as it produces dance gems like this. With a little help from MNDR and Kele of Bloc Party fame, they have made something, well, perfect. I defy you to not feel impelled to dance to this song. 5. 'WE ARE THE CHILDREN' - NOVA & THE EXPERIENCE This song really only needs one word to describe it: happy. So go on, have a listen and be happy (and download it here for free).
Mercedez-Benz Fashion Week trends predicted a move toward sportswear this season, but French label le coq sportif have been running this trend for years. If you're getting somewhat inspired by the peloton pizazz of the Tour de France, you should cycle down to the The Rocks and get amongst the everyday sportswear of this new boutique. The label's second Australian concept store is open for business and launching its exclusive 'Atelier du coq' service, where you can customise your own garments with traditional retro sporty flocking techniques. The personalising service has only two other locations worldwide, Paris and London, and lets you handpick your own colour, design and base combinations for your very own sweet get up. Housed in a heritage-listed, square-pane windowed space on George Street in The Rocks, the newest le coq sportif store is an adorable space decked out with exposed pipes, polished wooden floorboards and cream-washed walls. Tackling the classic don't-touch-the-walls heritage-listing conundrum, the team have created hovering hanging space from metal piping (much like the Denham pop-up next door — they're both owned by Hilton Seskin, owner of Topshop and Glue). Le coq sportif is no spring chicken in the sportswear market. Founded in 1882 by Émile Camuset, the company started producing fashion in the '40s. The brand don't just preach their love of sportswear, they practice with the actual pros; sponsoring football, boxing, cycling and tennis teams worldwide. The brand finds a subtle balance between legit, performance-inspired sportswear and sport-inspired casualwear — and they've now got a crack team of Australian designers on board, who are cranking out casual collections like the wonderfully retro Aussie women's winter line. But you came here to customise, let's get on it. It's a pretty straightforward, relatively quick process. First, pick your design. In a process not dissimilar from choosing your own tattoo design, flick through a portfolio of 20 archival le coq designs and choose your poison. There's a significant amount of retro love in the options — the logo of the Zaire Leopards, the first sub-Saharan African team to qualify for the World Cup in Germany in '74; the Saint Etienne football team logo and the most popular of the bunch: the original '70s le coq sportif rooster logo. Next, pick your base. Whether you're an oversized jumper type of chiller, a snug sporty t-shirt enthusiast or a sucker for a deep v-neck, you've got all your grey marles, nautical navys and bright sporting greens to choose from. Then, pick your flock. Using a particularly furry type of retro flock, you can choose between around eight different colours to print your design on your base. We went for a white flock on navy for a classic, boaty vibe and a pink flock on grey marle for wearable '90s nostalgia. After you've locked everything in, your friendly neighbourhood le coq sportif teamster sends the design from the computer to the flock printer. Then it's time to Zen out and carve out the vinyl with a scalpel. When your design's looking top notch, it's time to pop the design in the centre of your garment and send it off to the press for a quick heating party. Then, the moment of truth. Now you're done, ready for some street strutting in your new customised threads. All up, the whole thing will cost under $100. T-shirts are $50, colour v-necks are $60 and jumpers are $90, flocking included. Not a bad price for your own personalised threads. Le coq sportif can be found at 79 George Street, The Rocks; (02) 8252 9703; www.lecoqsportif.com.au. Still shopping? Head next door to the Denham pop-up.
J-horror devotees, rejoice: Australia's Japanese Film Festival is back for 2023, and it boasts a couple of highlights for lovers of scary cinema. If you're a fan of Japan's contribution to frightening flicks, then The Forbidden Play is your first must-see. Behind the lens is Hideo Nakata, the director of 1998's iconic Ringu, aka the movie that helped spark a global obsession (and the American spinoffs, too). This time, the filmmaker tells of a son wanting to bring his mother back to life, so much so that he keeps chanting a resurrection spell that awakens something evil. This year's JFF isn't just about unsettling titles, but it does also feature Immersion, which hails from Ju-On: The Grudge director Takashi Shimizu (who also helmed the first US remake starring Sarah Michelle Gellar). In his latest effort, he's playing with grudges again, as well as traditional Japanese superstitions, virtual reality and a secluded island — which is never a good setting for a horror film. That's the unnerving contingent for JFF 2023, which is focusing on films that explore connections between the past and the present when it tours the country across spring. Of course, it will also serve another function: letting audiences head to Japan from their cinema seats. Everyone has a favourite place in the world to visit. If you love travelling vicariously through movies when you can't do the real thing — in-between trips, or when your budget or just life in general doesn't have room for big holidays — then you likely have a favourite country-focused cinema event as well. JFF is one such event, surveying the latest and greatest in the nation's filmography. 2023 marks its 27th year, in fact, complete with a packed program. Among the delightful aspects of this film festival is its two-pronged approach in most cities, giving both recent and retrospective titles their own time to shine. One part of the event heroes latest releases, the other goes big on classics, and each has their own run of dates. You'll find that setup in Canberra, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney from September–November, with Perth the only location solely focusing on new movies. Officially opening the fest for 2023: We're Broke, My Lord!, a character-driven story about an unexpected inheritance from director Tetsu Maeda (And So the Baton Is Passed). From there, audiences can also look forward to the aforementioned to J-horror pictures; the animated Gold Kingdom and Water Kingdom; Citizen Kitano's tribute to actor, comedian and filmmaker Takeshi Kitano (Outrage Coda); and Yokaipedia, which is about three boys on a monster-filled quest. Fellow standouts include Yudo: The Way of the Bath, a comedy about bathhouse rituals; romance We Made a Beautiful Bouquet; Natchan's Little Secret, where three drag queens head to a funeral; and Single8, with director Kazuya Konaka's paying tribute to filmmaking before the digital era. And, in the special series — aka the fest's retrospective thread — post-war Japanese cinema figure Kо̄ Nakahira is in the spotlight. JFF will screen 1956's Juvenile Jungle and Milkman Frankie, 1957's Temptation, 1962's Danger's Where The Money Is!, and 1963's Mud Spattered Purity, as well as Flora on the Sand, Only on Mondays and The Hunter's Diary from 1964, plus 1965's The Black Gambler. JAPANESE FILM FESTIVAL 2023 DATES: Canberra: Special series: Saturday, September 30–Monday, October 2 at NFSA Latest releases: Wednesday, October 11–Sunday, October 15 at Palace Electric Perth: Latest releases: Monday, October 16–Sunday, October 22 at Palace Raine Square Brisbane: Special series: Friday, October 6–Sunday, October 8 and Wednesday, October 11 at QAGOMA Latest releases: Wednesday, October 18–Sunday, October 22 at Palace Barracks Melbourne: Latest releases: Monday, October 23–Sunday, October 29 at The Kino and Palace Balwyn Special series: Thursday, November 2–Sunday, November 5 at ACMI Sydney: Special series: Monday, October 23–Wednesday, October 25 at The Chauvel Latest releases: Thursday, October 26–Tuesday, October 31 at Palace Central, Palace Norton Street and Palace Verona The 2023 Japanese Film Festival tours Australia from September–November. For more information and to buy tickets, visit the festival website. Top images: ©2023 The Forbidden Play Film Partners, © 2023 IMMERSION Production Committee.
It's that time of year, somehow. Christmas is almost here, summer has officially started and you're probably thinking about your 2021 shenanigans. While jetting overseas still isn't an option for Australians at the moment, you can make plans to roam around much of this country we all come home now that borders are reopening — and, if you'd like to head over to South Australia in the new year, its government wants to give you an extra incentive. As part of the returning Great State Vouchers scheme — which first ran in October this year — the SA Government is giving away $50 and $100 vouchers to use at hotels in the state between Thursday, January 7–Wednesday, March 31, 2021. The amount of the voucher varies depending on where you're planning on staying, with $50 vouchers on offer for regional and suburban accommodation, and $100 vouchers available to use for Adelaide CBD and North Adelaide stays. During the first round of vouchers, more than 50,000 where snapped up in just over an hour — but they were only available to South Australian residents. This time around, with more than $2 million worth of vouchers available, the scheme is open to interstate folks as well. And, in another expansion, they can be redeemed over a longer booking period, and can also be used at accommodation places with five or more rooms (up from ten or more last time). That means that you'll be able to choose between hundreds of places to stay — with more than 800 accommodation providers eligible to participate. To take part, you'll need to download a voucher from the scheme's website on Tuesday, January 5, then make your booking between Thursday, January 7–Sunday, January 31. There are a few caveats, unsurprisingly. The vouchers don't cover Saturday nights and, to try to nab one, you'll have to log on to the voucher website and prove your identification via your driver's license or proof of age card. Border-wise, SA currently doesn't require interstate visitors to quarantine, after opening its borders to Victoria on Tuesday, December 1. But some states do currently have restrictions in place for anyone who has travelled to South Australia, or parts of it (such as Queensland, Western Australia and Tasmania) — or require permits (Victoria) to enter if you've been in SA. So, it's best to keep an eye on your state's requirements when you're trying to score a voucher and then making a hotel booking. For further details about South Australia's Great State Vouchers scheme — or to nab one on Tuesday, January 5 — head to its website.
When 2022 began, it kicked off with famous faces stranded in the Australian outback, all thanks to local streaming platform Stan. Zac Efron did the honours in the film Gold, while Jamie Dornan lost his memory amid this sunburnt country of ours in six-part TV thriller The Tourist — and if you were a fan of the incredibly easy-to-binge latter, it's coming back again for another round of twists and turns. The BBC, which also had a hand in The Tourist, has announced that season two of the hit series is on its way. The British broadcaster also revealed that the show is its highest-rating series of 2022 so far, so stumping up for more is hardly surprising. Screenwriters Harry and Jack Williams (Baptiste, The Missing, Liar) will return; however, the BBC is keeping quiet on details otherwise, including around timing, casting and storyline. Accordingly, whether Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar and Belfast's Dornan will be back, where the six new episodes will be set, what plot they'll follow and when they'll hit your streaming queue is still all under wraps. If you haven't yet watched the The Tourist's first season, it starred Dornan as a man caught up in a mystery, and unfurled its specifics in cliffhanger-heavy instalments. It also had fun with its premise — and its onslaught of twists and turns. It knew that zigzagging thrillers that work from a clearcut roadmap should make their familiar pieces feel anything but, and should take their audience along for a wild ride. And, it was well aware that that should all be the case even when largely driving down a recognisable road. Playing an Irish traveller in Australia, Dornan's character's name doesn't matter at first, when he's using the bathroom at a petrol station in the middle of nowhere. But after he's run off the road by a steamrolling long-haul truck shortly afterwards, he desperately wishes he could remember his own moniker, plus everything else about his past. Local Constable Helen Chalmers (Danielle Macdonald, French Exit) takes a shine to him anyway; however, piecing together his history is far from straightforward. His other immediate questions: why is he in the middle of Australia, why does a bomb go off in his vicinity and why is he getting calls from a man trapped in an underground barrel? A well-greased concept, a confident approach, clever plotting, a fabulous cast: they're all on offer across the first season, and they all hit their marks. Add the script's smattering of memorable, nearly Coen brothers-esque lines and, whether hurtling in a straight line or zipping quickly around unexpected corners, The Tourist was easily 2022's first must-binge show. Here's hoping the same proves true of season two — whenever it drops, and whatever it's about. Check out the trailer for first season of The Tourist below: The Tourist's first season is available to stream viaStan in Australia and TVNZ On Demand in New Zealand — and you can also read our full review. We'll update you with further details about the show's second season when they're announced.
A book whose plot Amazon describes as "how the sexiest sales girl in business earned her huge bonus by being the best at removing her high heels" might not be anything to write home about. You know what would be? If the author of said book was someone's dad, and that someone decided it would be hilarious to read a chapter every week to the entire world, with some incredibly funny friends providing commentary. Jamie Morton did just that with his father's (pen name: Rocky Flinstone) erotic 'novels', the Belinda Blinked series. And so the audacious and pants-wettingly hilarious podcast My Dad Wrote a Porno was born. And now Morton and his pals James Cooper and Alice Levine are bringing their hilarious smut to Australia, announcing dates for live shows in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth this August. While listening to the podcast is a truly confusing and outrageous experience, imagine watching a guy read chapters from a porno novel that his dad wrote that includes the characters 'discussing the merits' of each others' nipples and popping their supposed 'vaginal lids'. In front of people. In real life. At least this time when you laugh out loud in public at the show, everyone will know what you're cackling at. Tickets for the live Australian shows go on sale at 10am on Monday, February 27. If you're a fan of the show, the live incarnation should make you very happy. For as Belinda says: when you get what you want, you feel great.
Game of Thrones might be coming to an end, but hope's not all lost for fantasy fans, with news that a Lord of the Rings television series is in the works. According to Variety, the folks at Warner Bros. Television and the estate of author J.R.R. Tolkien are in talks with Amazon Studios, and and are planning to make all your binge-watching dreams come true with a TV adaptation of the legendary novels. Sources have told Variety that the Tolkien estate and Warner Bros. have already been playing around with ideas for a series and apparently Amazon wants to be the studio to make it happen. The move comes just weeks after Amazon Studios farewelled three key executives, as it overhauls its programming in favour of large-scale shows with broader international appeal. Warner Bros' involvement is especially interesting, with the company recently ending its huge legal dispute with the Tolkien estate over the use of Lord of the Rings film characters in online games. No deal has been made and the talks appear to be in the very early stages. But we'll keep our eye on this precious tidbit and wait for confirmation from Warner Bros. or Amazon. Via Variety.
Dust off the wicker basket, roll out the plaid blanket and ignite the group chat, because you can finally hang with four (fully vaxxed) people. That's right, baby, picnic season is back and you know what that means — there's a menu to curate, a playlist to mix and a friends' reunion that's, dare we say, even better than the HBO special on Binge. For those living in Sydney's eastern suburbs, we've teamed up with Rosie Spritz to put together a handy list of our favourite picnic spots where you can BYO booze and have a merry ol' time. Whether you're after dreamy city views, secluded slices of paradise or harbour beaches where you can go for a dip before you tuck in, you'll find it all eastside. [caption id="attachment_753784" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Centennial Parklands[/caption] CENTENNIAL PARK, WOOLLAHRA AND RANDWICK Ah, Centennial Park. The green meeting place of the east uniting runners, rollerbladers, frisbee enthusiasts, cyclists, sunbathers, lunch-breakers — and soon, picnickers en masse — in one lush, leafy parkland. Arguably one of the better known parks in Sydney, it boasts 189 hectares of native bushland and rolling green hills, and it's home to countless species of local wildlife. Due to its size, there are amenities all over the place and even on its busiest days, you'll find a grassy patch to spread out the picnic blanket with your four vaxxed pals. Plus, Centennial Park's proximity to Oxford Street means there's a long list of worthy eateries currently serving to-go options, such as The Paddington and its on-site takeaway chook shop, and top-notch cafe-deli Alimentari. [caption id="attachment_825765" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Shark Island, John Yurasek/DPIE[/caption] BOOWAMBILLEE (SHARK ISLAND), SYDNEY HARBOUR NATIONAL PARK An island getaway of a different kind, Boowambille — also known as Shark Island — is situated between Point Piper and Vaucluse, but feels blissfully miles from civilisation. It has over 1.5 hectares of green space, and there are picnic shelters, a stately gazebo and grottos dotting the foreshore which were handbuilt back in the 1900s. It's truly a spot that'll have you saying 'how's the serenity' with its 360-degree harbour views, including a bang-on line of sight to the Harbour Bridge. There is a landing fee of $7 per person, which is nothing when you consider the million-dollar vistas. Plus, you can legally sip booze here — so cooler that Rosie Spritz, stat. You'll just have to take all your rubbish with you when you're done. Shark Island Wharf is undergoing repairs till September 22, so you can soon hop on the weekend ferry service or arrange a private vessel to drop you off and pick you up if you want to be extra fancy. Feeling adventurous? Hire a kayak from Rose Bay or Point Piper and paddle your way there. [caption id="attachment_825175" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Flickr, Alex Proimos creative commons[/caption] RUSHCUTTERS BAY PARK, RUSHCUTTERS BAY When you're not crushing Strava PBs around the foreshore, Rushcutters Bay Park is both a pleasant and convenient place to host a weekend picnic. The park's relaxed off-leash rules means you can bring your four-legged friends along, too, and it's a stone's throw from a handful of legendary food spots in the east (and a giant Woolies, if self-catering is more your picnic flavour). Despite the morning rush of runners, it's fairly easy to find a space to yourself, and while parking can be a bit of a punish (as is tradition in the eastern suburbs), it's only a brisk stroll from both Edgecliff and Kings Cross stations. Sit by the water, sip a spritz with your besties, and take in the enchanting bay view and breezy sailboats gently swinging offshore. [caption id="attachment_826976" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Brooke Zotti[/caption] BLACKBURN GARDENS, DOUBLE BAY Nestled behind Murray Rose Pool (formerly Redleaf Pool), Blackburn Gardens is a historic park surrounded by towering tropical gardens and features an out-of-this-world view of Sydney Harbour. Despite being just off the main drag of Old South Head Road, you'll feel like you've been whisked away to a peaceful garden paradise. Again, parking can be tricky here — the streets surrounding are residential and narrow AF — so plan accordingly. Though it's now quite well known among the summer crowds, Blackburn Gardens still has an inexplicable air of feeling like you've discovered an untapped picnic gem. Bag your swimmers and go for a splash pre-picnic, then kick back on the grass and watch boats cruise across the harbour as the afternoon dips. [caption id="attachment_825170" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Flickr, Cacau & Xande, creative commons[/caption] PARSLEY BAY RESERVE, VAUCLUSE If you're looking for the real eastside experience, you'd be hard-pressed to find better than Parsley Bay Reserve. Tucked inside an enchanting cove in Vaucluse, the bay boasts a naturally levelled park and its beach eases into one of the most dazzling bays this side of the bridge. If you're planning a leisurely dip before you snack and sip, you can take solace in the fact that the bay is cordoned off with a shark net for a fin-free swim. And, unlike other bays dotting the area, there's a small car park with ample space available (so long as you get there before the late-morning rush). If you're the picnicking type who can't sit still, there's a bushland trail to explore and a spectacular walkway bridge that spans Parsley Bay to help you capture the perfect post-picnic shot, too. [caption id="attachment_826995" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Brooke Zotti[/caption] MCKELL PARK, DARLING POINT Small in size but big in beauty, McKell Park is tucked away at the tip of Darling Point — though, with a wharf right in front, getting here is relatively simple. It's the kind of local-vibes spot where you want to spend all morning at, debriefing on the week with your bestie over a coffee. Or perhaps you'd rather take a picnic blanket and the latest can't-put-it-down read and while away the afternoon solo. There are no bad ideas, especially with McKell Park's waterfront locale. With plenty of leafy cover to cool off under and the twinkling, light-dappled water turning up the charm, you'd almost forget that its vantage point out across the harbour is in a league of its own. [caption id="attachment_826980" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Brooke Zotti[/caption] DUDLEY PAGE RESERVE, DOVER HEIGHTS When Sydney turns it on with another glorious sunny day, and you're in the mood for a scenic walk, we've got just the thing. The Federation Cliff Walk joins Dover Heights with Watsons Bay via a raw, rugged and generally pretty crowd-free five-kilometre route. It's the perfect accompaniment to a picnic at one of the most scenic patches of grass in Sydney — Dudley Page Reserve. Boasting what can only be described as jaw-dropping views of Sydney, this bright and breezy spot has the feeling of being up in the clouds. Whether you're the type who wants to picnic after they've worked up a sweat or would rather burn off those finger sandwiches with an evening stroll, this is one picnic spot that can't be beat. 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 and northern beaches. Top image: McKell Park, Brooke Zotti Remember to Drinkwise.
Since 2016, the cinema-loving world has had a Studio Ghibli-shaped hole in its heart. That's when the acclaimed Japanese animation house released its most recent film, the gorgeous French co-production The Red Turtle. Its last solo production actually came two years earlier, courtesy of 2014's When Marnie Was There. Still, much has happened in Studio Ghibli's world over the past decade. Hayao Miyazaki announced his retirement, then changed his mind. In 2018, fellow co-founder and acclaimed director Isao Takahata sadly passed away. And, over the past few years, the company has been busying itself with its very own theme park. The latter is due to open in 2022 and become quite the tourist attraction — but that doesn't mean that fans aren't keen for more Ghibli movies. Thankfully, the studio revealed earlier this year that it's working on just that, with two new films on its slate for 2020. One of those movies will be helmed by My Neighbour Totoro, Spirited Away and Howl's Moving Castle icon Miyazaki, with How Do You Live? actually first announced a few years back. As for the second film, information have been scarce to date; however the company has just provided more than a few details. Called Aya and the Witch — and also known as Earwig and the Witch in English — the movie will mark the first Studio Ghibli completely made using computer-generated animation. Director-wise, it's helmed by Hayao Miyazaki's son Goro Miyazaki, who previously directed Tales from Earthsea and From Up On Poppy Hill. It's also based on a novel written by British author Diana Wynne Jones, who penned the book that Howl's Moving Castle was adapted from, too. And, it'll head straight to Japanese television, with the film airing on local broadcaster NHK TV sometime during Japan's winter. Just when audiences elsewhere will get to see Aya and the Witch is yet to be revealed; however it was announced this week that it would've screened at the 2020 Cannes Film Festival if the event had gone ahead this year. In lieu of holding a physical fest, the prestigious event announced a lineup of 56 movies it would've shown, giving them the 'Cannes 2020 Official Selection' label — and Ghibli's latest is one of them. In terms of story, Aya and the Witch focuses on a girl at an orphanage. She enjoys living there, but her world changes when she's chosen to live with a couple — including, as the title makes plain, a witch. Fingers crossed that Aya and the Witch will head to screens Down Under sooner rather than later. In the interim, you can get your Ghibli fix by checking out the company's online tours of its museum on the outskirts of Tokyo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ccgm1Pp5Whw Via Studio Ghibli. Top image: Howl's Moving Castle.
Sydneysiders are constantly searching for things to do that include more than just sitting around and drinking — we've seen that in the popularity of Newtown's Holey Moley and the growing amount of kidult activities available around town. And now, from the creators of the aforementioned mini-golf bar, comes a new funhouse-slash-cocktail joint: Archie Brothers Electric Circus. The place is crammed with activities. The Alexandria warehouse features everything your inner child could possibly desire. Old-school dodgem cars? Check. Bowling lanes? Check. Arcade games? Check. A 3D interactive theatre ride? We don't even know what that is, but check. The space is anchored around a tricked-out cocktail bar with a 'carnival' aesthetic — you might find yourself sitting in a repurposed saucer seat or on an old carousel horse. That's where punters will find a selection of boozy beverages including an array of extravagant spiked shakes. The diner will also be serving food like burgers, hot dogs and fries. It's all very much a novelty, but with the promise of arcade games and cocktails, is sure to pique the interest of punters. Games are priced pretty affordably — a game of bowling is $10, a go on the dodgem cars is $4 and you can top-up a card to play arcade games for $20, $50 or $70. Archie Brothers Electric Circus is now open for business at 55 Doody Street, Alexandria. For more information, archiebrothers.com.au. Images: Letícia Almeida.
This time last year, Netflix subscribers were getting excited about a slate of fresh flicks that included whodunnit Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, action-thriller The Gray Man, Marilyn Monroe biopic Blonde, Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio, the screen version of Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical and a new adaptation of Lady Chatterley's Lover. That's part of 2022's haul. In 2023, the streaming platform has another hefty list — and star-studded, too — of new movies to look forward to. And, to whet viewers' film-loving appetites, it has just dropped a sneak peek at quite the number of them. On Netflix's lineup for 2023, and therefore on yours as well: assassins, murder mysteries, battles at the edge of the galaxy, beloved TV series getting the movie treatment, action sequels, conspiracy dramas, rom-coms and more. And, a massive roster of recognisable faces, too, with everyone from Michael Fassbender and Adam Sandler to Emily Blunt and Reese Witherspoon popping up. Netflix has unveiled initial glimpses as well as release dates for all the flicks featured, which also means updating your calendar now. It isn't arriving first, but perhaps the number-one film to make a date with: David Fincher's assassin thriller The Killer, starring Fassbender (X-Men: Dark Phoenix) alongside Tilda Swinton (Three Thousand Years of Longing), and seeing Fincher return to his fondness for crime (see also: Seven, Zodiac and Mindhunter). It'll drop on November 10. Also instantly intriguing is Pain Hustlers, starring Blunt (The English) alongside Chris Evans (Lightyear) and Catherine O'Hara (Schitt's Creek), and hailing from Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts franchise filmmaker David Yates. Releasing on October 27, it tracks a woman striving for a better life but soon caught in a criminal conspiracy. [caption id="attachment_885547" align="alignnone" width="1920"] JoJo Whilden[/caption] Or, there's Rebel Moon, the latest from Zack Snyder — and his latest film for Netflix after 2021's Army of the Dead. Streaming from December 22, it focuses on conflict in an otherwise peaceful intergalactic colony, is firmly a space epic, and includes Charlie Hunnam (The Gentlemen), Sofia Boutella (Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities), Michiel Huisman (The Flight Attendant), Anthony Hopkins (Armageddon Time) and Djimon Hounsou (Black Adam) among its cast. And, from December 8, Leave the World Behind also gets well-known stars together — Julia Roberts (Ticket to Paradise), Mahershala Ali (Swan Song), Ethan Hawke (The Northman) and Kevin Bacon (The Guardians of the Galaxy: Holiday Special), for starters — with Mr Robot's Sam Esmail directing. Based on the novel of the same name, the film heads on a family vacation on Long Island, where strangers arrive with news of an eerie blackout. [caption id="attachment_885548" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Scott Yamano[/caption] Other titles reaching the platform throughout the year include Murder Mystery 2, arriving on March 31 and seeing Adam Sandler (Hustle) and Jennifer Aniston (The Morning Show) return (and get caught up in another mystery); Luther: The Fallen Son on March 10, with Idris Elba (Beast) back as John Luther after the hit TV show; the Gal Gadot (Death on the Nile)- and Jamie Dornan (Belfast)-led spy flick Heart of Stone on August 11; and Damsel with Millie Bobby Brown (Stranger Things) and Angela Bassett (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever) on October 13. And, there's the Jonah Hill (Don't Look Up) and Eddie Murphy (Coming 2 America)-starring You People on January 27; Witherspoon (The Morning Show) and Ashton Kutcher (That '90s Show) in Your Place or Mine on February 10; Extraction 2, the sequel to the Chris Hemsworth (Thor: Love and Thunder)-led hit, on June 16; comedy A Family Affair with Nicole Kidman (The Northman) and Zac Efron (Firestarter) on November 17; and coming-of-age animated musical Leo, featuring Sandler's voice work, on November 22. Add in Jennifer Lopez (Marry Me) in The Mother on May 12, the Kevin Hart (Me Time)-starring Lift on August 25, and They Cloned Tyrone with Jamie Foxx (Spider-Man: No Way Home), John Boyega (The Woman King) and Teyonah Parris (Candyman) on July 21 — yes, there's going to be plenty to watch this year. The list goes on — and, Netflix usually gives some of its new films cinema runs, too. That means that in addition to a heap of couch time coming up, you'll likely be able to see some of these movies on the big screen as well. Check out Netflix's trailer for its 2023 films below: New movies will hit Netflix throughout 2023— head to the streaming platform for its current catalogue. Top image: Brian Douglas/Netflix © 2023.
Sonoma sourdough may be a staple on breakfast menus throughout the city, but if you want to try its signature miche loaf, slow fermented baguettes or flaky pastries you'll need to head straight to the source. Of the six outposts in the Sonoma family, the Alexandria one remains the most impressive. Set within a converted warehouse, the shopfront boasts high, slanted ceilings and a sleek monochrome fit-out, with shelves stocked with loaves like a gallery for gluten. Sandwiches and toasties aside, you can chew your way through cultured butter croissants and French patisserie items, from sticky cinnamon 'morning buns' to kouign-amann, glazed pain au raisin and icing sugar-dusted danishes. Appears in: The Best Bakeries in Sydney for 2023
Take every horror movie staple, every expected line and all the usual eerie settings, then throw in a beloved childhood character that's stopped being friendly and turned savage instead. That's a recipe for one of the most intriguing movies of the year, Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey. Yes, it's a slasher film starring Winnie-the-Pooh. Yes, really. And yes, it looks set to forever change the way you see the childhood favourite. The flick itself isn't new news, but it now has a trailer — and it's as creepy as the whole concept sounds. "Oh bother!" is definitely the mood, after Christopher Robin returns to the Hundred Acre Wood as an adult, years after leaving his pals Winnie, Piglet, Eeyore, Tigger, Kanga and Roo behind. All that time alone hasn't turned out well, and there's about to be a body count to prove it. No, the idea that Pooh might turn murderous hasn't ever crossed anyone's minds before. Gracing pages for almost a century — plus screens big and small for decades — Winnie-the-Pooh has done many things in his time, but getting grisly hasn't been one of them. Ever since AA Milne first conjured up the honey-loving, walking-and-talking teddy bear back in the 1920s, Pooh has enjoyed plenty of adventures involving his human and animal friends, and tried to eat as much of his favourite foodstuff as possible. We've all seen the cartoons and toys, and also watched films such Goodbye Christopher Robin and Christopher Robin in recent years. To director Rhys Waterfield, however, Pooh is no longer cute and cuddly, even if he's a honey-fiending teddy bear who normally doesn't wear pants (although he appears to here). And if you're wondering about the tone of Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey, other than horror, the filmmaker's other upcoming titles include Firenado, Sky Monster and Rise of the Loch Ness. Clearly, Pooh breaking bad all falls into B-movie territory, which the premise makes plain as well. The setup: after seeing their food supplies dwindle as Christopher grew up, Pooh and Piglet have spent years feeling hungry. They've turned feral, in fact, even eating Eeyore to survive. So when Christopher returns, it sets the pair on a rampage, which leads to them a rural cabin where a group of university students are holidaying. From that summary, it's obvious what'll happen from there. The trailer cements that fact, and throws in more horror tropes than you could fit in a pot of honey in the process. Exactly when Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey will reach screens Down Under, and where, also hasn't yet been announced — and the film's release date in the US and UK is also yet to be set at this point — but it's heading to DVD and VOD rather than cinemas. Wondering why something that's usually so sweet and innocent is being given the creepy, bloody, eerie horror treatment — turning Winnie-the-Pooh into a killer, no less? It's because the character has just entered the public domain in America. Disney no longer holds the copyright, and no one can now hold the exclusive intellectual property rights over the character, opening the door for wild interpretations like this slasher flick. Check out the Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey trailer below: Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey doesn't yet have a release date Down Under — we'll update you when further details are released. Images: Jagged Edge Productions.
Josh and Julie Niland are proud pioneers. The pair's low-waste, often experimental approach to seafood — most notably the innovation of dry-aging fish — once raised eyebrows, but today, not only are these techniques a hit with Sydney diners, they've also earned the Nilands international acclaim and an impressive haul of awards, including three coveted Good Food Hats. Now, the pair are trailblazing once again, launching a boutique stay attached to a restaurant. The Grand National Hotel by Saint Peter will feature 14 luxury suites located above the dining space of the Niland's flagship fine diner, which moved last August from its original digs on Paddington's Oxford Street to Underwood Street, just around the corner. The former pub, which dates back to 1890, is entering its latest era as a multi-faceted hospitality destination following six years of renovations. During that time, an invitation to the Nilands from the pub's owner, George Penklis, to launch a new fine diner evolved into a bold plan to create a hotel-restaurant hybrid where top-of-class cuisine and plush accommodations go hand in glove. With input at every level from the Nilands, Studio Aquilo has designed the interiors to blend existing heritage features like marble fireplaces with vibrant, modern textures and luxe details. The rooms, featuring custom velvet headboards and Australian-made artworks including black and white sketches by Ken Done, also underline the Niland's low-impact, eco-minded philosophy with fish-fat candles, down duvets ethically sourced by Melbourne-based company Bonny and ceramics created using fish bones. The Nilands aim to offer a complete hospitality experience, with breakfast by the Saint Peter team, handmade chocolates, and a non-alcoholic minibar included with every booking. "When approaching the hotel, we paid as much attention to detail to the design and furnishing as we did with the restaurant. This is our first venture into being hoteliers, and we knew that we wanted to apply the same level of care to the rooms so that they weren't just an addition to Saint Peter but a destination in their own right," says Julie Niland. "We want the restaurant and the rooms to complement each other as much as possible.," comments Josh Niland. "Opening the hotel allows us the opportunity to fulfil our vision of hospitality beyond dining into a thoughtful 360-degree hotel experience, from handmade chocolates on your pillow to the breakfast cooked by our team." The Grand National Hotel by Saint Peter, located at 161 Underwood Street, Paddington, is set to open on January 31. Reservations are now open — go to the Grand National Hotel by Saint Peter website for more details. Images: Christopher Pearce
If you've seen Hannah Gadsby's two Netflix comedy specials so far — smash-hit Nanette and follow-up Douglas — then you'll know that the acclaimed Australian comedian's sets and "feel-good romantic comedy" don't usually go hand in hand. But comedy, like life, changes. Indeed, Gadsby has been embracing exactly that on- and off-stage. And after getting married to their producer Jenney Shamash, new special Something Special is all about warm vibes. Well, mostly. "Just for the next hour, we're going to feel good together, and then we can head back out there and be the mass-extinction event that we are," Gadsby tells the audience in Something Special's just-dropped trailer. "I didn't say who it's a feel-good show for," the comedian continues, as they also noted when the special's streaming date was revealed by Netflix. Come Tuesday, May 9, Gadsby has a wedding to talk about, plus the politics around nuptials, homophobic bakers, queer domesticity and bunnies. Announced in 2022 and filmed at the Sydney Opera House that same year, Something Special is based on their recent stand-up show Body of Work. Even with the feel-good rom-com tone, expect Gadsby's usual wit, insights and sense of humour. It's been a huge few years for the Tasmanian-born talent, and they keep going from strength to strength onstage — and on-screen. In fact, when the time came for Gadsby to initially follow up international smash-hit show Nanette, that seemed a rather difficult task. After all, the one-performer stand-up set copped serious praise on its 18-month travels across Australia and the UK, even scooping the top honours at both the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and Edinburgh Festival Fringe — and, of course, spawning its very own Netflix special. But, then Douglas was born, with Gadsby returning to the stage with a performance named after a pet pooch. While Nanette pulled apart the concept of comedy itself, dishing up an insight into Gadsby's past, Douglas took comedy fans on a "tour from the dog park to the renaissance and back". It made its way across stages around Australia and New Zealand in late 2019 and early 2020, and then hit Netflix in 2020 as well. After that came Body of Work — first as a live show again, and now as Netflix special Something Special, too. It's the first release in Gadsby's new a multi-title deal with the streaming platform that is also set to span a new multi-comic special featuring gender-diverse performers. Check out the trailer for Something Special below: Hannah Gadsby's Something Special Netflix special will be available to stream from Tuesday, May 9, 2023. Images: Jess Gleeson/Netflix © 2023.
Ramblin' Rascal Tavern was always going to be a small bar with an advantage. Originally the brainchild of Charlie Lehmann, Dardan Shervashidze and Sebastian 'Cosmo' Soto (alumni of The Baxter Inn and the now-closed Frankie's Pizza), Rascal certainly boasts a feel reminiscent of other beloved drinking holes. This time things have moved uptown with this basement bar establishing itself in the old Laugh Garage on Park Street. The result? A bar of a very familiar vibe: a dimly lit, fresh-juice-squeezing watering hole, with recognisably boisterous bartenders. Loyalty shows in the all-Australian beer list, accompanied by a no-fuss but modern assortment of wines featuring a couple of whites, a couple of reds, a prosecco and a natural orange wine. There's a $6 Tinnie for the battlers (the brand changing to suit the mood of each week). And the cocktail list is just as unpretentious — its six house cocktails ($23 each) champion some great quality spirits without messing with them too much. [caption id="attachment_785468" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ramblin' Rascal Tavern[/caption] The decor is a throwback to childhood nostalgia — chalkboard walls in the bathrooms beckon all those drunken Picasso moments. The evening's soundtrack echoes a country twang typical of Shady Pines or Baxter's. But stay late enough and the beat will drop. The mood of the bar transforms until tables have been shifted out. of the way and suddenly you are cutting shapes with the bartenders to the likes of Nelly and Shaggy. If you're after a spot to eat, you're in luck. The bar has teamed up with Surry Hills favourites Butter to ensure you can have a box of fried chicken or a cheesy chicken burger delivered right to the bar. On a busy night, it might take a little longer to get to you than an in-house kitchen, but that just gives you more time to sample the drinks menu. True, in recent years Sydney has grown somewhat spoilt with trendy small bars. And perhaps it is becoming more difficult to stand out from the crowd. But the Ramblin' Rascal Tavern provides a lovable underground dive bar in the heart of the city, without resorting to too many theatrics and gimmicks. And for that, we thank it. Updated Tuesday, March 21, 2022. Appears in: The Best Bars in Sydney Sydney's Best Underground Bars for 2023
Don't just smile and wave, musical fans. If you're fond of films turned into stage shows — animated hits making that leap, to be specific — then you'll want to scramble into the theatre to see the next smash-hit making its way around Australia. This time, a group of animals escape from their home in New York's Central Park Zoo, then find themselves washed ashore an island after a series of misadventures. Yes, it can only be Madagascar the Musical. Adapted from the 2005 DreamWorks animated movie, this production will start doing the rounds from December 2022 with all the bells and whistles of the international touring production. After runs in the UK and New Zealand, the show will bring the screen-to-stage story to life, supported by a lavish set, world-class puppets and colourful costumes. This'll be Madagascar the Musical's Australian debut, enjoying a two-week run from Friday, December 16–Sunday, January 1 at Sydney Coliseum Theatre to kick things off. Melbourne's Comedy Theatre will next do the honours from Wednesday, January 4–Sunday, January 15, 2023, then the Crown Theatre in Perth from Thursday, January 19–Thursday, January 26, 2023. Brisbane and Adelaide residents, fingers crossed it's your turn after that. If you've seen the film, which also sparked 2008 sequel Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, 2012's Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted and 2014 spinoff Penguins of Madagascar — as well as various TV shows and shorts, then this musical since 2018 — then you'l know the story. At the show's centre sits Alex the lion, Marty the zebra, Melman the giraffe, Gloria the hippo and a gang of penguins, who find their zoo routines shaken up and then some. As set to an upbeat score featuring hits 'Copacabana', 'I Like to Move It', 'Best Friends' and 'Boogie Wonderland', this crew of critters leaves its comfortable zoo life behind, exploring the eponymous island ruled by King Julien. Hijinks ensue, as brought to the stage in the musical's Aussie run by a cast that includes Andrew Papas (ex-Titanium) as Alex the lion, Joe Kalou (The Book of Mormon, In the Heights, Wolf Like Me) as Marty, Moniquewa Williams as Gloria, Devon Neiman (The Brief and Frightening Reign of Phil) as Melman and Jonathan Martin (the Pop Up Globe stage) as King Julien. MADAGASCAR THE MUSICAL 2022–2023 AUSTRALIAN TOUR: Friday, December 16, 2022–Sunday, January 1, 2023 — Sydney Coliseum Theatre, Sydney Wednesday, January 4–Sunday, January 15, 2023 — Comedy Theatre, Melbourne Thursday, January 19–Thursday, January 26, 2023 — Crown Theatre, Perth Madagascar the Musical tours Australia from December 2022. For more information and tickets, head to the musical's website. Images: LK Creative.
Daylesford is a haven of spa retreats, friendly pubs, roaring fireplaces and mountainous beauty. Nestled into the foothills of the Great Dividing Range and just a stone's throw from the healing powers of Hepburn Springs, it's lovely at anytime of year, but winter brings a special kind of magic. Rather than feeling like you should be out, relentlessly doing, you can shamelessly surrender to warm, cosy, heartening indulgences — from soaking in hot tubs filled with nutrient-rich mineral water to sipping craft ales by a roaring fire. Here's your guide to winter decadence in Daylesford and its neighbouring towns. Winter slips by quicker than you think, so make plans soon. WHERE BREAKFAST MEETS DESSERT The French sure know how to do a winter's breakfast: with hot chocolate. Follow their lead at the Chocolate Mill, a strawbale marvel 7km north of Daylesford that produces handmade chocolates. Peer into the open kitchen to witness the creators in action before claiming a table at the Hot Chocolate Cafe. Next stop, real breakfast. You'll get it with a stone fireplace at Moto Bean Coffee Roasters in Malmsbury, about 30 kilometres' north-east of Daylesford. Formerly a farmer's barn, this epic, industrial-inspired cafe is dotted with classic motorbikes and dedicated to roasting coffee beans. Tuck into an apple hotcake with whipped honey mascarpone, walnut crumbs and baby herbs. FUEL UP BY THE FIRE Come lunchtime, head to the Farmers Arms, where you can hide away in a booth or soak up some rays in the beer garden, accompanied by your dog. The menu is all about fancied-up pub classics, such as roasted pork belly with mash, broccolini, Harcourt apple cider jelly and red wine jus. Another spot where it's easy to while away a winter's afternoon is the Cosmopolitan in Trentham. This gorgeous 1866 pub, encircled by weatherboard verandahs, was rebuilt in 2009 following a 2005 fire. The extensive craft beer and local wine lists will keep you sampling for hours, plus, on Sundays, there's live music. Eats are gastropub-style — think smoked duck breast with grilled witlof, beans, kipflers, hazelnuts, sherry vinegar and maple dressing. If you want to treat yourself, then swing over to Kyneton – about 30km north-west – for dinner. At Source Dining, owner-chef Tim Foster serves up hatted creations, accompanied by a wine list that holds two Australian Wine List of the Year Glasses. Try the local beef tartare, with pickled farm beetroot, beetroot mayonnaise, cured yolk, fresh horseradish, salt and vinegar kale, and potato chips. Most produce comes straight from the kitchen garden. Alternatively, there are excellent woodfired pizzas at Olive Jones in Macedon. SOAK AND SINK INTO SPAS Every visit to Daylesford should involve a long, long soak in Hepburn Springs' warm, nutrient-rich mineral waters. Victorians have been onto this since 1895, when Hepburn Bathhouse and Spa was built. The complex, which scored a $13-million revamp in 2008, hosts two social pools, as well as private tubs for those keen to rejuvenate in peace. Once you've bathed, try drinking the waters: various springs are dotted around Hepburn Mineral Springs Reserve. Alternatively, at Salus Day Spa at Lake House Hotel, sink into a deep tub in a treehouse, surrounded by blonde timber and lush greenery. Also in Hepburn Springs is Shizuka Ryokan, a Japanese wellness retreat, inspired by ryokans: ancient inns where samurai warriors would go to rest and reflect. Don a kimono and wander around the minimalist grounds before settling in for a spa treatment – be it a Geisha facial based on 1200-year-old techniques or a shiatsu massage. FINE INDOOR PURSUITS Now that you're thoroughly relaxed, it's time to get arty at the Convent Gallery, a mansion turned convent turned gallery. Or get your hands dirty with a sourdough-making workshop at RedBeard Historic Bakery, Trentham, where the results will be baked in a massive 19th-century oven. If that sounds like too much thinking, get even more relaxed with a wine tasting session at Passing Clouds' stunning cellar door in Musk, just five minutes' drive from town, before continuing to Daylesford Cider Company for mulled ciders, made with organic apples, by the fire. THE COSIEST SLEEP SPOTS One of the hands-down best things about winter is snuggling in bed, ensconced in doonas, woollen blankets and piles of pillows. Add a roaring fire, and there's no going anywhere. Luckily, Daylesford and its surrounds are packed with dreamy retreats. At the luxe end of the scale is Clifftop At Hepburn, where private villas come with spectacular views, spas, stone hot tubs, massage chairs and fireplaces. Another collection of beautiful villas surrounded by bushland is Kudos. These architect-designed wonders offer fireplaces and spa areas that open onto private decks. To step back in time, sleep over at Peppers Mineral Springs Hotel, built in 1935. There's a day spa onsite, with mineral water baths, heated to 37 degrees Celsius, stunning Italian gardens and Stuart Rattle-designed lounges, splashed with marble, leather and polished wood. Rooms vary from cosy classics to a four-bedroom villa built in 1864. For a stay in downtown Daylesford, book at Frangos. Think high ceilings, spa baths and quirky touches, such as hand-embroidered pillows, mirror walls and velvet bed heads. There's also an in-house Endota Spa. To explore more winter indulgences in the Daylesford region and get booking, visit the Wander Victoria website. Top image: Peppers Mineral Springs Hotel.
For 45 years, Houston's beer can house has been causing near traffic accidents. "It tickles me to watch people screech to a halt," the building's creator, John Milkovisch, once explained. "They get embarrassed. Sometimes they drive around the block a couple of times. Later they come back with a car-load of friends." A child of the Great Depression, Milkovisch was raised when 'Waste not, want not' was a religion, rather than an option for the environmentally conscious. Employed as an upholsterer for the Southern Pacific Railroad, he spent much of his spare time transforming fragments of marble, metal and rock into one-of-a-kind landscaping features. It was in 1968 that his thoughts turned to the architectural potential of beer cans. At the time, aluminium siding was a must-have, so Milkovisch started opening out and flattening each of the cans he had stored in his attic. 50,000 units and 17 months later, his home had become one of the recycled wonders of the world. However, Milkovisch didn't see his idea — or himself — as particularly out-of-the-ordinary at the time. "Some people say this is sculpture but I didn't go to no expensive school to get these crazy notions," he said. "I guess I just thought it was a good idea, and it's easier than painting." Milkovisch passed away in the 1980s, and his wife continued to live in her husband's masterpiece for another ten or so years. In 2003, the property was taken over by the Orange Show Centre for Visionary Art. Through sensitive restoration and re-creation projects, they have made every effort to maintain the beer can house's artistic and historical integrity. It's now open to visitors on Saturdays and Sundays between midday and 5pm and has at last been recognised as one of Houston's official landmarks. [via Inhabitat]
Bayswater Road has a new edition in the form of Turkish fine diner Izgara. From the team behind Above Par and Malika Bakehouse, the sleek Potts Point eatery arrived in late June with share plates and grilled meat at the heart of its menu. The restaurant is the handy work of co-owners Efe Topuzlu and Ozgur Sefkatli of Wondrous Entertainment. The pair wanted to emulate the ocakbasi restaurants of Istanbul, where Topuzlu's family ran a similar eatery during his teenage years. Ocakbasi restaurants refer to venues where chefs cook in front of the diners — an intimacy that Izgara has created by placing the kitchen in the centre of the dining room. Topuzlu and Sefkatli have been working on Izagara over the last year, investing over $1 million into the fit-out for the elegant eatery. With just 35 seats in the venue, diners are provided with an intimate dining experience, elevated by the restaurant's spacious booths, muted tones, red curtains and marble tabletops. Izgara means grill in Turkish, a fitting name for a venue where the grill is always firing. Meat-lovers can opt for reserved mains like 250-gram scotch fillet or shaved lamb backstrap served in iskender, a regional west-Turkish dish in which the lamb is placed on top of fried pita bites with butter and yoghurt; or let loose with 800 grams of mb3+ rib-eye on the bone for a cool $160. The real highlights of the menu, however, are found on the Wild, Snacks and Oven Baked sections of the menu. The best way to tackle the meal is to order a selection of plates to share. Once you kick the meal off with oysters or kingfish, top picks from the starters include a creamy smoked eggplant, maras pepper and garlic yoghurt dip; fried zucchini flowers stuffed with harissa ricotta and aged kasar cheese; and the Yamba tiger prawns which are lit up by a flavourful spiced prawn butter. Plus, the fresh gavurdagi salad combining olives, walnuts, tomato and pomegranate is a mush-try addition. The drinks list is also impressive. Cocktails are short but sweet, with just four options on the menu including a tasty dried apricot sour. The wine list on the other hand, is expansive — reaching from around the country and all over Europe including Turkey. If you're reaching for a bottle to share with the table, it's hard to go past the Doluca from Ankara, Turkey. It's easy to spot Topuzlu and Sefkatli's addition to Bayswater Road thanks to its bright neon-red sign. The diner adds to the ever-growing list of exciting venues in the once-bustling Potts Point/Kings Cross area. While you won't find the packed streets and booming nightclubs of old, the area has emerged as a hotspot for food and drink. Alongside classics like Ezra and Cho Cho San, Izgara joins Bones Ramen, Parlar, Diana and the revamped Piccolo as new additions to the area. Izgara is located at Shop 2, 9-15 Bayswater Road, Potts Point. It's open Tuesday–Saturday, 5.30–10pm. Images: Scott Ehler
What will inspire you to spend your Sunday nights busting out your music trivia knowledge, and also playing along with one of the most-beloved Australian TV shows there is? The return of Spicks and Specks for 2024. Back in 2023, the ABC announced that it was bringing the series back for a new season after it took the past year off — and you can now mark Sunday, June 9 in your diary for the big comeback. Among everything that the ABC has ever broadcast — news, entertainment, after-school kids shows, oh-so-much Doctor Who and late-night music videos to keep you occupied after a few drinks all included — the Adam Hills-, Myf Warhurst- and Alan Brough-led Spicks and Specks is up there among the favourites. If you're keen to watch a heap of top Australian talent sit around and talk about tunes again, this season's guests from the music side of things include Anthony Callea, Marlon Williams, Elly-May Barnes, Nooky, Montaigne and Dan Sultan, as well as Mark Seymour, Oli from Lime Cordiale. Among the comedians, Hamish Blake, Tommy Little, Steph Tisdell, Abbie Chatfield, Shane Jacobson and Jenny Tian will feature. Plus, Adrian Eagle, Gut Health and Lime Cordiale will perform. Here's how it works, if you've forgotten: the show's contestants answer questions, compete for points and just generally be funny, too. That's the concept behind the series, which takes more than a few cues from the UK's Never Mind the Buzzcocks, pits Aussie musos and comedians against each other, and has proven a hit several times over. It was a weekly favourite when it first aired between 2005–2011 — and it keeps being resurrected. As fans already know, Spicks and Specks has enjoyed more comebacks than John Farnham, although that has meant different things over the years. When the program was first revived back in 2014, it did so with a new host and team captains, for instance. And when it started to make a return with its original lineup of Hills, Warhurst and Brough, it first did so via a one-off reunion special. That 2018 comeback proved more than a little popular. It became the ABC's most-watched show of that year, in fact. So, the broadcaster then decided to drop four new Spicks and Specks specials across 2019–20 and, for 2021, to bring back Spicks and Specks in its regular format. In 2022, ten new episodes hit. The new season will air at 7.30pm on Sunday evenings via ABC and ABC iView — and new segments will also be part of the fun. T0 tide you over until June, here's a classic clip from past Spicks and Specks runs: Spicks and Specks will return to ABC TV and via ABC iView from 7.30pm on Sunday, June 9, 2024.
