Reluctant pirates of Australia, this one's for you. Announced today, Australia's getting a brand new internet service, Yournet, which uses geododging to grant you access to TV from around the world. No VPN/funny business needed. Yournet is a soon-to-be-launched internet provider with a philosophy that everyone should pay for the content they consume, but also that Australians often get shafted out of competitive deals and easy access to good streaming services because of a certain someone’s monopoly on the market (Foxtel. It's Foxtel. Foxtel.). According to SMH, Yournet will un-geoblock your access to the holy grails of cheap TV streaming (US Netflix, Hulu, HBO Now, Amazon Prime, BBC iPlayer) and other blocked foreign sites. Yournet will become available in August and you’re looking at an ADSL2+ connection for $129.95 with unlimited downloads, which is a wee bit more than your current (terrible) TPG bargain bin deal. But considering a good VPN will cost up to $10 a month and Yournet has an uncapped download limit, we’re pretty into it. Yournet is also designed specifically for people who like to procrastabinge-watch entire seasons of TV shows without slow buffering times reminding you of the mountain of responsibilities that lurk outside of the safe zone (your laptop-warmed, bed pillow fort). If you're using Yournet, you will need to find your own way to sign up for blocked overseas services and actually pay for the service. But once you're signed up, Yournet allows you to flick between platforms easily with the 'Global Mode' service — unlike many VPNs like Hola, which don't allow Australian geoblocked sites through to the rest of the world, you can just flick between BBC and ABC iView for example. With Australia's new copyright laws rolling out with gusto, this could be the solution that lets you hang up the cutlass and parrot. How this is possibly legal, we're still pretty in the dark. However, Fairfax references legal advice that this type of technology to bypass geoblocking is perfectly okay, something that consumer advocacy group CHOICE Australia thinks is not exactly correct. "It's possible that we'll see a legal challenge against Yournet, similar to the actions against Global Mode services in New Zealand," CHOICE campaigns manager Erin Turner told SMH. "CHOICE remains concerned that the recently passed Copyright Amendment (Online Infringement) Bill 2015 will allow Australian rights holders to block access to online tools that allow consumers to access geo-blocked services. This isn't an anti-piracy measure, it's an anti-consumer measure that could see some of Australia's biggest companies block access to their international competitors." Check out Yournet here, launching in Australia in August. Via SMH.
It was something we thought would remain tucked away in the USA and Japan, sitting happily on Burger King breakfast menus or part of a solid, questionable homemade stoner diet. But here it is, rearing its processed, pink head in Sydney. We're talking the unfathomable Spam burger. We've heartily tucked into bao burgers, ramen burgers, mac 'n' cheese burgers. But this is next level shit (also what you'll likely drop in the bathroom after one of these). Recently-opened Darlinghurst venue Bloody Mary's is behind this diabolical burger, giving a bit of Australian love to the oft-ridiculed canned product. Owner Cinta Rockey told Good Food the burger tastes like "a burger crossed with a bacon-and-egg roll", which, let's be honest, sounds like some pretty high praise right there. Just look at it. Look how pink it is, sitting serenely between its lettuce and cheese hombres. It'll set you back 16 Spam-enabling dollars. They've even used Spam's former prison cell to hold the fries. Oh yeah. Welcome to first grade ???? ???? @bloodymaryssydney #spamburger #pineapple #bloodymaryssydney #darlinghurst #sydneyeats#spam A photo posted by Bloody Mary's (@bloodymaryssydney) on Jun 17, 2015 at 9:42pm PDT Not one to rest on spammy laurels, the Hamptons-inspired Bloody Mary's has quite the jaw-dropping menu. They've casually and maniacally deep fried Oreos: Limited time only. Deep fried Oreos ???????? @bloodymaryssydney @she_la_vee #bloodymaryssydney #oreo #darlinghurst #sydneyeats A photo posted by Bloody Mary's (@bloodymaryssydney) on Jun 18, 2015 at 11:23pm PDT They stack their other, less Spammy burgers high with onion rings: And of course, the mighty Bloody Mary is the star of the show, with a cocktail list including ten different Bloody Mary variations. You can choose your base spirit used including gin, tequila, dark rum and vodka, and then pick your garnishes. Fuck pickles! The 'Bloody Caesar' comes with bacon, cos lettuce and a prawn. Or this 'Bloody Hell' monster comes garnished with a prawn, chicken wing and a whole slider: If you're keen, find the formidable Spam Burger at Bloody Marys, 332 Victoria Street. Darlinghurst, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week. Via Good Food.
This could either be a truly great idea or the Worst Thing Ever. The 'party game for horrible people' is now playable all day long — on your phone. Usually cushioned by the presence of other terribly dark-humoured friends, Cards Against Humanity is now playable in the silent, silent realms of your solo commutes, bedtime reading moments or sneakily between work tasks. A new site called CardsAgainstOriginality.com allows you to play the politically incorrect party game on your smartphone, tablet or desktop. CardsAgainstOriginality isn't an official app available from stores, but rather a free-to-use mobile site you can save to your home screen. The whole thing sounds iffy (like it's one creepy, terrible person playing a socially inappropriate game for one), but you're not just playing against yourself. After clicking the 'new game' button, you can send the link to your friends and play online together (drag and drop your round submission, judge clicks on the winner) — an attempt at simulating all those whisky-fuelled weekends away on the way to work. Built by developer Dawson Whitfield, the official Cards Against Humanity team have nothing to do with this. The original Cards Against Humanity game has always existed under a Creative Commons licence that allows for the game to be printed out, remixed and used for free (as long as you're not selling copies). According to the website, "It has all the cards you know and hate, plus all five expansions. It’s like having a big black box of cards in your pocket!" We're not completely sold on this probably terrible idea. The beauty of Cards Against Humanity comes from group acceptance of straight-up horribleness; the painstaking, side-splitting and often horrific reading out of every last terrible player card that's "kid tested, mother approved", what "the US has begun airdropping to the children of Afghanistan" or what grandma "would find disturbing, yet oddly charming". Pissing yourself laughing alone on a train about terrible, terrible politically incorrect humour might just make you a terrible, terrible person. But it could be great. We're torn. UPDATE 12/3: Site down. Site down. According to Mashable, the creator of CardsAgainstOriginality.com, Dawson Whitfield, said the site is running slower than a final episode ad-break. After y'all read and clicked, the site experienced staggering traffic. Whitfield is apparently updating servers to cope with the huge influx of traffic, and expects everything to be hunky dory by the weekend. Image credit: Cards Against Humanity via photopin (license). Via TIME.
In huge news for the Australian music industry and fans alike, US music events giant Live Nation has announced it's snapped up a controlling stake in Secret Sounds Group — the organisation behind both Falls Festival and Splendour in the Grass, run by Jess Ducruo and Paul Piticco. This 51 percent stake marks the first Aussie acquisition for the enormous LA-based company, which already lays claim to over 80 global festivals, including Lollapalooza, Reading, Leeds, Bonnaroo, Austin City Limits, Governor's Ball, Electric Daisy Carnival, and Rock Werchter. According to Music Business Worldwide, the deal excludes Secret Sounds Group-owned record labels Dew Process and Create Control, and Dew Process Publishing. Helmed by Michael Rapino, Live Nation has been buying up especially big in the music biz of late, with France's Nous Productions, South Africa's Big Concerts, and a majority stake in Tennessee's AC Entertainment just some of the 2016 additions to its ever-bulging portfolio. Nine months into this year, the group had already forked out a cool $113.1 million on net acquisitions. "Splendour in the Grass and Falls are the two most iconic festivals in Australia," said Rapino in a statement announcing the deal. "Jess and Paul have created events that attract the biggest artists in the world but still feel uniquely Australian. We look forward to partnering with them to find new ways to grow our live event footprint across Australia." Secret Sounds co-CEOs Ducrou and Piticco echoed the sentiment in their statement. "We started Secret Sounds with the sole mission of introducing Australians to the best artists, events and music possible, and Live Nation is the perfect partner to help us take this goal to the next level. With their support we can continue to curate the lineups that fans love, while also experimenting with new exciting ways for fans to experience live music." That such a big global player is now shouldering in on the Aussie festival scene and in control of two of our most prominent music events, could spell dramatic changes ahead. Via Pedestrian and Music Business Worldwide. Image: Splendour/Bianca Holderness. Home page image: A. Catt.
A nirvana of live music and creative thinking nestled smack bang in the middle of one of America’s most conservative states, Austin, Texas is amongst the most hypeworthy cities in the world. Never is this truer than during South by Southwest, a ten day festival of hugely talked-about movies, must-hear new music and groundbreaking, interactive tech. From flying cars to talks by Edward Snowden, this year’s event has once again got us turning green with envy. To help us cope with hardcore FOMO, we’ve come up with seven things happening at SXSW 2015 we wish we were bragging about experiencing firsthand. MEERKAT IS TAKING OVER With a tech-head on every corner, SXSW has become a premiere destination for developers looking to launch their latest app. Twitter and Foursquare both got their start in Austin, but this year the buzz has coalesced around Meerkat, an app that lets you live stream video from your phone to Twitter. Interesting idea, although whether it has staying power remains to be seen. VIRTUAL REALITY IS PUTTING PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE AT SNL40 Right now it feels like we’re right on the cusp of virtual reality actually being a thing. The team at Saturday Night Live certainly think so, teaming up with Sony to capture the filming of their recent 40th anniversary show. Just think: now you’ll be able to experience Eddie Murphy’s awkward guest spot like you were squirming in the audience firsthand. THERE'S A KWIK-E-MART FOOD TRUCK HANDING OUT FREE SQUISHEES Celebrating 25 years since the Kwik-E-Mart first opened its sliding doors on The Simpsons, Fox have created a food truck for SXSW that's serving up free squishees to lucky, lucky jerks for the duration of the festival. The flavours? 'Not So Very Cherry' and 'Give 'em the Razz'. The whole thing's a publicity stunt of course, and coincides with the announcement of the first ever 1100-piece Lego Kwik-E-Mart set. JIMMY KIMMEL TAPED A COMMERCIAL FOR A LOCAL AUSTIN VIDEO STORE For the second year in a row, late night host Jimmy Kimmel made the trip to Texas for a week’s worth of shows, with guests including Bill Murray, Willie Nelson and Kanye West. But the highlight might be the trio of TV ads he recorded for Austin’s Vulcan Video, where he and a self-effacing Matthew McConaughey pay tribute to Leonard Nimoy and extol the virtue of VHS. Alright, alright... alright? THERE'S BEEN SWORD FIGHTING AT SXSWESTEROS Well of course there was a Game of Thrones thing. HBO’s SXSW installation, teasing the launch of the show’s fifth season, has been one of the biggest drawcards of the festival, with lines stretching around the block. Fans got the chance to practice their swordsmanship, snap a pic in the Iron Throne and get a taste of the show’s latest branded beer, Three-Eyed Raven Ale. As of yet, no one appears to have been betrayed and brutally murdered, but we’ll be sure to keep you posted. TINDER'S BEING USED IN A CREEPY BUT MOVING MARKETING CAMPAIGN Okay, so we’re not exactly sure we’d actually want to experience this one. Like any popular social networking app, Tinder has got its fair share of bots, but none of them are quite like Ava. While she appears to be a pretty 25-year-old, she’s actually part of a viral marketing campaign for sci-fi thriller Ex Machina, which premiered at the festival over the weekend. It’s a clever stunt, although we can’t help but feel a little bad for the guys who swiped right. PEOPLE ARE VOLUNTARILY STAYING AT BATES MOTEL We all go a little crazy sometimes. Some of us are even crazy enough to want to stay in a pop-up Bates Motel, publicising the A&E thriller television show with a terrifying stay. An exact replica built with the help of the show's set designers for the third season of Bates Motel, the pop-up fully functioning hotel accommodates guests in three rooms from March 13-21. You're only able to check-in by winning a daily sweepstakes in the motel office. Lucky winners have found a fake blood spatter in the shower in their room, along with poor ol' Norma's bathrobe on the bed. Freaky. PEOPLE ARE GENUINELY RALLYING AGAINST ROBOTS Perhaps a few of Ava’s disgruntled victims were amongst the protestors at the Rally Against Robots, a protest march attempting to warn festivalgoers about the dangers of artificial intelligence. Or at least, that’s what it looked like. Turns out this was actually another marketing stunt, for a dating app called Quiver. That said, we’ve seen The Terminator enough times to think they might actually be on to something. PUNTERS ARE TAKING INTERSTELLAR VR TOURS Speaking of virtual reality, a VR tie-in with Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar put attendees 'inside' the film’s Endurance space craft — letting them explore the ship in zero gravity and get a glimpse of a time-warping black hole. No word on whether this experience actually helps you understand the plot of the movie, but either way it sounds pretty cool.
Ethical shopping is really goddamn hard sometimes. On one hand, you don’t want clothes that have been painstakingly made by someone earning a dollar a day in a sweatshop. On the other hand are a bunch of shopping bags because you've no idea where to even start shopping ethically. Like everything, an ethical mindset happens incrementally and the first step you can take is here — the Good On You ethical shopping assistant app is seeking crowdfunding. Intended to help you make better consumer choices, the Good On You app amalgamates information on the ethical rating of fashion brands, either by search term or in your local area. The app also measures different production impacts and processes such as child labour, treatment of animals and contribution to climate change. Basically, the app tells you all the real ingredients that went into making your must-have leather jacket, leaving no stone unturned. At times, it may be a hard pill to swallow if your favourite brands don’t pass the test, but the GOY team don't want you to stop shopping — the app also feature alternative suggestions, based on your style, that do better ethically. And perhaps the feature with the greatest potential to catalyse change is the ability to directly message brands who don’t pass muster (fire up your emoji dictionary for maximum emotional impact). There are a few ethical shopping assistant apps on the market right now, however this is the first that systematically catalogues Australian fashion and beauty brands — and it’s about time. Ethical shopping needn’t be a time-consuming ordeal and with an app that creates brand transparency it hopefully soon won’t be. Image: Dollar Photo Club and Good On You. UPDATE DECEMBER 18, 2015: Thanks to awesome crowdfunded dollars, Good On You reached their target of $15,000 and the app is now live. You can download it from their website. Go team!
A magical feast awaits the foodies of London, inspired by the writings of C.S. Lewis. For two weeks starting in late January, fiction-inspired supper club The Literary Hour is hosting a five course Narnia-themed banquet — and yes, you have to step though a wardrobe to attend. Just don't forget to bring your winter furs. Set to take place in a secret location somewhere near Tottenham Hale station in north London, Feast in Narnia is but the latest literary supper club hosted by the group. Previous dinners took their cues from the Brothers Grimm and Roald Dahl, and featured dishes such as Cinderella's pumpkin arancini and Willy Wonka's whipple-scrumptious fudgemellow delight. They've also run a not-so-fairytale dinner inspired by Hannibal Lecter, featuring blood soup, brain fritters and Silence of the (Ten Hour Slow Roasted) Lamb. What exactly you'll find on the menu in Narnia is currently being kept under wraps, although the organisers are promising "traitors' tea with Mr Tumnus" and "a fine fishy time with Mrs Beaver". We figure that it's not too much of a stretch to assume that Turkish delight will feature prominently as well. Londoners can book themselves a spot at the table via Grub Club. The rest of us might have to find our own enchanted wardrobe to transport us there first. Via Londonist.
We're all up in cat cafes. We've lined up for cat video film festivals. Now your insatiable need for quality feline time without actually owning one has reached peak internet-happy headline — a new London start-up is planning to open the world's first ever cat cinema. Yep. Cat cinema. Great Kitten — possibly the most puntastic business name since Thai Tanic — is the grand crowdfunding project of mid-20s legends Paula Siedlecka and William Piper. Not only a cinema where you can cuddle up to a cat while taking in a film (really) but also as cafe and cat shelter (slam dunk), Great Kitten is looking for dosh on IndieGoGo to fund the idea you wish you came up with first. The goal is £120,000 (about $235,646), which seems pretty achievable with the amount of crazy cat lovers online. They're looking for a spot in Crouch End in London, hoping to deck it out like a wintry log cabin — fireplaces, hot cuppas and all. "Working in London for 18 months, we saw first hand the demand for constant innovation within London's entertainment scene," say Siedlecka and Piper on their IndieGoGo page. "As animal lovers with a flair for business, seeing the global popularity of Cat Cafes got us thinking — how could we add a twist to an already successful concept? Simple — we add a cinema." Now you won't have to cry all over your date through Infinitely Polar Bear. So what can you expect to be watching with your furry armrest? According to their IGG page, Great Kitten will be screening around ten films every week. While exact titles haven't been confirmed, it's not going to be all cat-themed, but sure, we're hoping some feline-inspired movies first-up — definitely The Aristocats, perhaps Catwoman, probably not Pet Sematary. Ticket prices have been set at $19 to $24 and you'll get to book in a one or two hour-long snuggle with one of the shelter's more people-friendly resident kits. One-hour cat-patting tickets will cost around $9 to $11 , and two-hour slots about $15 to $19. Sure, it sounds a tad brothelly, but these are rescue cats getting much-needed pats. Great Kitten isn't just a novelty trend concept though. The team are planning to invite children and adults who struggle with mental health issues (such as depression and anxiety), physical disabilities or life-threatening illnesses, for all-expenses-paid cinematic cat cuddle sessions and cakes and tea and all round loveliness. Very cool. Throw Great Kitten some dosh over here. Image: The Shiznit — Antonio Banderas stages 'special screening' for Puss in Boots at Montreal's 2014 International Cat Film Festival. Hopefully what you can expect from Great Kitten, Banderas included.
Generally speaking, New Year's Eve can go one of two ways. Get it right, and it's a chance to let loose with your friends and celebrate the promise of the next 365 days. Get it wrong, and it's an unending hellscape of munted revellers, terrible music and being cooked to death on crowded public transport. But while it doesn't always seem like it, there are other options — ones that don't involve crushing crowds or spending an arm and a leg on some 'exclusive' party that'll only end up disappointing. If you're not one for blowouts and can't be stuffed watching the fireworks, here are five alternative suggestions for NYE 2018. HOST A DINNER PARTY At the end of the day, the best thing about New Year's Eve is getting together with your friends and loved ones. Well, it turns out you can have all that without the stress of leaving the house. Invite a few of your closest friends around and then get busy cooking. Once the night is underway you can keep yourselves amused with everything from bake-offs to board games to catching up with old episodes of Brooklyn Nine-Nine. If nothing else, getting your friends to supply the booze will mean you save yourself a bundle to spend in 2019. HOST A SLUMBER PARTY Doubling down on our previous suggestion, a sleepover saves you the awkwardness of kicking your mates out at 1.30am once the party has wound down — and it means you don't have to worry about dressing up, since you'll presumably all be hanging out in your pyjamas/'at home' clothes anyway. Spend the evening and early hours of the morning playing Cards Against Humanity and gorging yourself on snacks before collapsing onto a giant pile of pillows in the living room. As an added bonus, this idea means you get to wake up in a room full of your favourite people… and then you can guilt them into helping you with the cleanup. GO CAMPING While everyone else is figuring out the best way into the city, we reckon that there's a very strong case to be made for heading in the opposite direction. If it's serenity you're after, grab a tent, a sleeping bag, an esky and a couple of friends, and make your way deep into the bush. There mightn't be fireworks, but as you're ringing in the New Year gazing up at the stars, you won't feel too hard done by. Just make sure you're aware of any fire restrictions that might be in place, and be careful on the roads. Check out some of our favourite spots outside of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Auckland. MOVIE MARATHON There were a ton of great movies to hit cinemas this year (we wrote about some of our favourites over here). As we gear up for another Oscar season, there's no better time to fire up your Netflix account and catch up with the flicks you might have missed. If you do want to get out of the house, select Palace Cinemas around the country are hosting advance NYE screenings of the crowd-pleasing Green Book, with a celebratory glass of Prosecco included in the ticket price. Alternatively, Melburnians can pay a visit to the historic Astor Theatre and rock into January with Prince's Purple Rain. FIND SOMEWHERE TO VOLUNTEER YOUR TIME IN 2018 Look, let's be honest — 2018 was not a great year. So why not spend its final moments figuring how to make 2019 a better one? Volunteering is a great item to include on your list of New Year's resolutions, and there are no shortage of worthwhile organisations looking for extra bodies. Medicine sans Frontiers, Oxfam, Second Bite and the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre sit at the top of our list, but a quick Google search will reveal hundreds of others. Wouldn't it be nice to wake up on January 1 feeling good instead of just really, really hungover?
Woken up in a self-induced, whiskey-fuelled, stomach-grating, cold-sweating Sunday Hades too many times? You’re about to feel real guilty. London’s wholesome beige cashmere cardigan of a suburb, Notting Hill, is about to open the unthinkable: an alcohol-free cocktail bar called Redemption. We like to call this a ‘juice bar’. But apparently there's more to it than that. Redemption is London’s first alcohol-free bar, the city’s only ‘cocktail spot’ with a mocktail and food menu designed by nutritional therapists. Created by Catherine Salway, ex Virgin Group Brand Director, executive chef and raw, vegan specialist Andrea Waters, the bar sports the tagline, “Spoil yourself without spoiling yourself.” It’s the latest in a ‘healthvolution’ (yep) of dry bars happening across England, tackling the country’s huge social drinking focus by simply replacing the booze with Healthy Things. It's like almost like nicotine patch for being around bars. “These days it’s hard to get away from booze – you can’t even go to the cinema without being offered a glass of wine,” says Salway and Waters. “With Redemption, we are creating a space away from temptation that still feels like a treat. We’re challenging the convention that we need alcohol to lubricate every social occasion.” Anyone who just did Dry July (right here), would probably be down with this. But let’s be honest, this isn’t a ‘cocktail bar’. Basically it’s a wholesome, vegan cafe open late and using a buzzword to generate articles like the one you’re reading now. Consider us suckers. Redemption’s less about getting smashed on Negronis and more about filling your weekends with less sugar and alcohol. Think 'beet-o-tinis', 'apple mockjitos', and the mildly terrifying-sounding ‘lettuce spray’. For those who don’t drink at all, or those looking to detox the Captain Morgan from their pores, this is a great, appealing initiative from a country whose deep-set drinking problems mirror our own. Perhaps it’s time for a Redemption of our own? *rolls over, orders pizza online, burps Chardonnay* Redemption Bar opens on August 10 at 6 Chepstow Road, London. Open Monday – Saturday 10am – 11pm. Sunday 10am – 5pm. Via VICE and Sharking for Chips and Drinks. Images: Redemption and Sharking for Chips and Drinks.
People are always finding new and exciting ways to advance technology — and when their aim isn’t creating phone apps or more realistic pornography, it’s often about helping others. The Chilean team behind the SULI project fall into the second category of helpers. Their solar-powered SULI lamp is designed to bring a quick, easy, renewable light source to people without access to electricity. SULI estimates 1.5 billion people worldwide are without access to lighting, and use alternatives (such as kerosene lamps, candles, etc.) that are expensive and dangerous. And while solar-powered lights aren’t exactly new technology, an easy, cheap and versatile application for solar lighting is. With 3D-printed accessories, the SULI lamp has applications in both the developed and developing word. It can be used as a flashlight, a bicycle light, a garden light, a reading lamp or (this is the best one) screwed onto a water bottle and transformed into a device that throws light up to five metres. The light takes up to 12 hours to charge and the charge lasts for around 50 hours. For those of you trying to cut down your electricity bills, this may be the gadget for you. With two years of development and several grants behind them, the SULI team has finally brought the project to us via Indiegogo. For US$52 plus shipping you can send yourself one lamp, but for $85 you can add a second that gets sent to Haiti, where 3500 people are still living without electricity or access to water since the devastating 2010 earthquake. SULI have already raised US$22,000 but they still need to sell a few hundred more lamps in order to keep production costs low and their altruism train rolling. So get on board with this clever idea, fill your house with SULIs and know that while your household enjoys light after dark, so does a household in Haiti. Via PSFK. Image via Suli Lab.
Anyone who’s dreamed of spending a summer living in Berlin has just gotten some added incentive. The German capital has officially enacted new rent-control legislation, in order to curtail rising rental prices that have been driving low-income earners out of the city. Must be nice. The new law, which was approved by the German parliament in March, will prohibit landlords from increasing rent to more than 10 percent above the local average. The law was already in place for existing contracts, but will now apply to new tenants as well. Berlin was previously experiencing some of the fastest rising rental rates in Europe, with the average rate jumping by more than 9 percent between 2013 and 2014 alone. If you’re wondering why Australia doesn’t have similar legislation on the books, then welcome to the club. A recent global survey that took into account rental prices as well as various other cost of living factors including food, transport and utilities found that Sydney was the fifth most expensive city in the world, with Melbourne right behind at number six. Brisbane came in at 21, while Perth and Adelaide tied at 24. By comparison, New York City was number 26. That’s right. Living in New York is less expensive than Perth. The NSW Greens Party actually proposed changes to Sydney rental laws during their state election campaign earlier in the year. Under their proposal, rises in rent would be tied to the rate of inflation, and landlords would be restricted to one price increase per year. Member for Newtown Jenny Leong has pledged to introduce the legislation to the state’s lower house. In the meantime, Flight Centre has tickets to Berlin starting at $1499. Via The Guardian. Image: Dollar Photo Club.
Bell Shakespeare artistic director Peter Evans has teamed up with Australian stage and screen actor Kate Mulvany to bring to life one of the most manipulative, dastardly and downright evil characters ever to stand before the footlights. Mulvany will play the notorious woman-hater and generally tasteless gent, which will undoubtedly lead to some tasty additional layers in the play and a fresh look at this gem of theatre and literature. Shakespeare's classic play explores King Richard III's Machiavellian acquisition of power and has essentially served as a textbook for most politicians from Henry Kissinger to… well, you can draw your own conclusions. The themes of power, deceit and malevolence amongst the ruling elite that are central to the play, have been echoed throughout the ages. If you're keen to get more out of House of Cards, this is a good place to start. Image: Pierre Toussaint.
Vivid LIVE is expanding this year with its Artist Talks Program (May 27 to June 13), which will see artists taking the stage for their Vivid show and also for a special Q&A. Artists like New Order, Anohni and Wafia will be chatting to audiences across multiple Opera House foyers, as well as in the Playhouse. The talks are designed to give audiences the ability to both hear artists perform and also reflect on their creative process. Perhaps the most highly anticipated talk, New Order in conversation with filmmaker/MFS label head Mark Reeder ($25+BF), is the only ticketed event, but will definitely be worth the bucks. The talk will focus on the years of Factory Records, Joy Division and Manchester. Veteran rock journo Paul Morley and former NME photographer Kevin Cummins will also delve into Manchester as part of The New Order Project. Festival headliner Anonhi will join collaborator and Australian artist Lynette Wallworth in the Playhouse to speak about our fragile connection to the natural world. Legendary experimental composer Max Richter will chat to Paul Morley (mentioned above), and Song Exploder see Hrishikesh Hirway unpacking Hiatus Kaiyote's Grammy-nominated songs in a live session with the band. MusicNSW will lead a panel on women in the Aussie electronic music scene — with Wafia and Flume/A$AP Rocky vocalist Kučka holding separate free sessions. FBi Radio's Chris Twite will chat to Polica about their work before their Vivid show, and Double J's Myf Warhurst is taking an integral part in this talk series. Having a hard time choosing? With most events completely free, you won't have to.
Need to spruce up your facial hair and spice up your casserole from the same product line? Say hello to Handsome Devils Co., your one-stop shop for all of your hot sauce and beard oil needs, "curiously crafted by Australian gentlemen". Wondering how someone could come up with a combination like that? It all started with hot sauce. Working out of a Bondi garage for the last year, this burgeoning Sydney company was initially all about food products when it was founded by Sydney entrepreneur Ryan Brown. "I was eating a lot of hot sauce and […] decided that I could make better products with no preservatives, no added colours or flavours," he says. After sharing his sauces with friends, one suggested that he should sell them and Handsome Devils Co. was born. The current sauce lineup consists of the smoky chipotle, tangy Verde, spicy Savina and Ryan's favourite of the month: de Arbol. When asked why it's his favorite, his response is simple: "It's just got this all-round awesomeness. I can eat it every single day and never get over it." 'Nuff said. Aside from the chillies, which are imported from Mexico where the climate is more chilli-growing friendly, all the ingredients in the bottles are sourced from local farmers in Port Macquarie. Of course, once you've mastered one of your favourite products, you'll inevitably look for the next project. Ryan's just happened to be grooming products. Handsome Devils Co.'s grooming range came from the same attitude that Ryan had towards the hot sauce: "I can make that." While this side of the business started as just beard oils, it quickly expanded to include shave oil, aftershave balm, activated charcoal soap and body scrubs. All their grooming products come from the same philosophy: "If you can't put it in your mouth, why would you put it on your skin?" Every product boasts all-natural ingredients — not that Ryan'd recommend anyone eat them — and Bondi's laidback vibe is present in everything they do. The company is essentially a group of mates doing what they love and trying to embed themselves in the branding (hence the combination of food and grooming). Sydney's small business scene is pretty cutthroat, with statistics saying that most fail within their first two years. But Handsome Devils Co. has triumphantly survived — albeit with seriously hard work. "It's been a lot of trial and error," says Ryan. They must be trialling something right — their nationwide list of stockists is testament to that. So what's next for Handsome Devils Co.? This young Sydney company has some pretty awesome things ahead. They're supplying hot sauce for Sydney rock band You Am I's latest album, Porridge and Hotsauce, and will be collaborating with everyone's favourite brewers, Young Henrys, for some events in December. Ryan is also working on a list of products (not necessarily hot sauces) to produce but he's trying to keep it hush hush. Despite not having a storefront, you can catch the guys at the Brewery Yard Markets and every three or four weeks at the Bondi Farmers Market. Check out Handsome Devils Co.'s website — they might just have the Christmas present you're looking for.
We’ve all got that one friend. The friend who has literally everything but still organises a gift exchange for Christmas, like it’s a challenge to your ingenuity. And inevitably you wake up sweaty and stressed the night before and realise you’ve left it too late, but can’t stand the shame of handing over another expensive soy candle. Don’t worry, this year we’ve got you covered. How about you get them a BridgeClimb? It’s the perfect gift for a Sydneysider because they mightn't have done one and will thank you in video form from the top. And what better bridge to climb than Sydney Harbour Bridge? It’s THE bridge. The bridge that gives other bridges self-esteem issues. BridgeClimb Sydney will take you safely (big emphasis on ‘safely’ for all you worrywarts out there) up and down the iconic landmark in a small group. You can choose from day, night, twilight or dawn climbs (best to avoid a dawn climb if your gift recipient isn’t a morning person). You might even see Jon Snow up the top, searching for Ygritte (the climb will be totally worth it just to stand where they stood). All BridgeClimbers receive a group photo, cap, free pass to the Pylon lookout (a lookout atop the big stone tower at the south end of the bridge) and, best of all, a certificate of authenticity. Stick that one in your wallet for the next time you’re out and someone doubts your bravery. And for those of you who want a taste of the experience but are not entirely sure that going all the way to the top is for you, you can try the BridgeClimb Sampler. This means a leisurely 1.5 hour stroll to halfway up the bridge to a unique vantage point (minus the vertigo). Christmas is just around the corner so book your BridgeClimb gift certificate stat. Top image: Dollar Photo Club. Climber images: BridgeClimb.
At first glance, mid-week raving and healthy living don’t seem to go hand in hand. The energetic people behind Morning Gloryville turned that preconception on its head with their breakfast raves in Paddington Uniting Church last year. Now, Sydney's dawn party experts are back with a brand new venue — an Alexandria warehouse. Taking over All Sorts Indoor Sports Factory from March 18, the London-founded breakfast bash will ring in its first Sydney pop-up event for 2015 with a huge warehouse party. An early, early 6.30am warehouse party. Lockouts, consider yourselves excluded from this shindig. "Anything goes really," says co-organiser Max Becker. "The benefit of having a rave at 6.30am is that the lockouts are irrelevant, plus rather than ensuring people get home safely it’s actually trying to make them go to work that becomes the problem." So first-timers, what can you expect from this breakfast rave? The Morning Glory rave started in London’s Shoreditch — where else — by Sam Moyo and Nico Thoemmes. Like last time around, music will be pumping from 6.30am, with sets from some of Sydney DJ favourites Levins and Max Attack. You’re encouraged to jump around and shake those cobwebs loose before heading to work — there's even a few furiously energetic dancers around to show you some moves. To keep your energy up and legitimately kickstart your day, MG offer up a bunch of tasty breakfast options and juices, as well as free yoga and massages. The recommended dress code is simply 'dress to sweat', but loads of colour and festivalwear is also encouraged — anything to help you seize the day. The only real rule is sobriety; let your inner dance monster show the world what it’s made of unimpeded by plonk. It's all ages, just ten beans if you get tickets early, and probably the most fun you'll ever have early on a Wednesday morning. Find Morning Gloryville at All Sorts Indoor Sports Factory, 160 Bourke Rd, Alexandria on Wednesday, March 18. Runs 6.30 - 9.30am, tickets are $10 for early birds, $15 first release, $20 second release, more on the door. Grab 'em here. Words by Hannah Valmadre and Shannon Connellan.
More home-style Vietnamese fare (just like mama used to make) is coming to Sydney, with local favourite Mama's Buoi opening a Sydney third location this winter, following their Surry Hills and Crows Nest branches. It'll be their their fifth restaurant counting Melbourne's Chadstone and CBD locations. Located at Tramsheds, the heritage-listed Rozelle Tram Depot-turned-colossal European-inspired market hall, Mama's Buoi will be joining the likes of Belle's Hot Chicken, Bodega 1904, Gelato Messina and many more. The new venue will open later this month, with an exact date to be confirmed. On the menu, you'll find MB regulars like fresh rice paper rolls, variations of vermicelli salad, and bowls of that coveted six-hour broth pho, served in a casual setting — with playful cocktails to boot. And of course, it's all relatively cheap — you can expect to get a decent meal for under $20. Mama's Buoi opens at Tramsheds Harold Park, 1 Dalgal Way, Forest Lodge in August 2017. Images: Mathilda Hill-Smith.
With three holiday dates coming up, April is the month to plan a weekend getaway. If you're still looking for your ticket out of the city, Flash Camp has just announced they'll be hosting a pop-up glamping site within Shoalhaven's Coolendel private reserve from April 7 through 25, including the Easter and ANZAC Day holidays. Only a 2.5 hour drive down the South Coast from Sydney and thirty minutes from Nowra, the remote location is an easy trip to achieve a true bush experience — well, kind of. As to be expected, the tents look quite luxe. The bell-shaped, premium 'Flash Tents' come with a king-sized mattress, covered in plush bedding and perched on timber pallets. The tents also feature solar lighting, table and chairs, Biology toiletries and a hand-woven Armadillo & Co rug. For groups looking for a slightly (very slightly) more traditional camping experience, Flash Camp also offer their regular bell tents with air beds. Guests will also have access to the existing Coolendel amenities, including hot showers and barbecue facilities, as well as a communal Flash Camp tent with seating, fairy lights and a campfire. The glamping site will be located within Coolendel's 52 hectares of bushland along the Shoalhaven River. Nature lovers will be keen on this secluded grassy park, which is an ideal location for spotting wombats, goannas, wallabies and native birds. Apart from nature watching and bushwalking, guests can also try a spot of canoeing, biking and fishing. Rates vary from $110 to $220 per night, depending on day of the week and holidays. Food is not provided, though, so campers should make sure to pack the eski full for the duration of the trip. Flash Camp Glamping will pop up at Coolendel from April 7 through 25. To book, visit the Flash Camp website. For more glamping options, check out our list for the ten best glamping spots near Sydney .
UPDATE: DECEMBER 10, 2018 — As it approaches the one-year mark, The Book of Mormon has announced that its final performance will be held on February 8, 2019 — and 10,000 tickets have just been released. You can currently book $69 tickets for shows between December 16 and February 3 next year. If you're one of the few Sydneysiders that haven't seen it yet, you might want to jump on it while you can — the tickets will only be available until December 16. Book them here. First, posters popped up around Sydney saying 'the mormons are coming' and come February, they'll officially be here. If you thought you were going to have to head down to Melbourne to catch The Book of Mormon, think again, because Trey Parker and Matt Stone's hit musical is bringing its hilariously irreverent self to the Sydney Lyric Theatre. After playing most of 2017 down south, the multi-award-winning production will settle in for a Sydney season from February 28, 2018. Tickets are now on sale for its second Australian stint, and given that all of its 250-plus performances have sold out in Melbourne, it's certain to prove a hot ticket. Written by South Park and Team America's notoriously puerile creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, together with Robert Lopez of genius grown-up muppet show Avenue Q, The Book of Mormon is probably one of the most lauded comedies ever to have centred on the Church of Latter Day Saints, African missions, AIDS, bum jokes and super ironic racism. If it wasn't so smart and so funny, few would forgive it. But since it is, The Book of Morman has picked up nine Tonys, four Olivier Awards, a Grammy and two Helpmanns since it debuted in 2011, and has been called "one of the most joyously acidic bundles Broadway has unwrapped in years". If you've been envious of the throngs seeing the musical in New York, Chicago or London, then you'll be plenty excited that you'll now get the chance to go learn all the idiosyncratic details of Mormonism, meet war criminal General Butt-Fucking Naked and know the true meaning of the hakuna matata-like saying 'Hasa Diga Eebowai'. The Book of Mormon has also introduced an online lottery for those wanting to nab some affordable $40 tix. Every week, eight double passes will be up for grabs for the week ahead — just enter the lottery here between midday on Wednesday and midday on Thursday. The show will still run a lottery at the theatre every night, but, this way, you don't have to actually go to the theatre without the promise of a seat. Image: Ryan Bondy, Zahra Newman, Nyk Bielak and company in The Book of Mormon, AUS 1411. (c) Jeff Busby. By Sarah Ward and Libby Curran.
Plant lovers of Sydney, you can now grab a coffee while shopping for your perfect tiny, tiny succulent. Garden Life, St Peters's beautiful store for urban green thumbs, is opening its very own onsite cafe. If you've ever been to Garden Life, you'll know that ordinary things don't tend to make it across the threshold. And the cafe's no exception. The coffee is coming directly from The Little Marionette, while Ovvio will be providing premium quality organic teas. Meanwhile, you'll be snacking on delicious treats from The Bread and Butter Project, a not-for-profit initiative by Bourke Street Bakery. And what better way to launch it than with free coffee and food? That's right, if you head along during the first two days of operation — Saturday, July 2 and Sunday, July 3 — you'll be treated to a hot, steaming brew as well as a selection of treats without paying a cent. Once launch weekend is done and dusted, Garden Life cafe will be open during the week for tea and coffee, and on weekends for light refreshments. Find Garden Life at 158 Princes Highway, St Peters. Opening weekend for the Garden Life cafe is Saturday, July 2 (9am-5pm) and Sunday, July 3 (10am-4pm).
For all of us down here in the southern hemisphere, Christmas has never really aligned with the classic ‘snowy tree, Christmas jumpers, roast dinner and egg nog’ style of celebration enjoyed by the north. Frankly, the thought of eating a hot, greasy wad of ham on a 35-degree day is kind of gross — give us a tinnie and a prawn skewer anytime. But that doesn’t mean we don’t like to pretend, and the Hotham Street Ladies have just the thing. These cheeky Melbourne artists have created a sweet, sweet installation for the iconic Hotel Windsor that features a massive, traditional Christmas spread. There's a fat roast chicken, glazed ham, juicy lobster, baked whole fish (man, we sure eat a lot of meat at Christmas, Gaviscon must rake it in) and not to mention the succulent desserts and sides. This piece of art looks better than any Christmas meal you’ve ever made (hell it looks better than most things) and the kicker? It’s made entirely from icing sugar. The Christmas at The Windsor exhibit (which is on display from December 1 to January 5) took over a month to create and the gals used an incredible range of modelling and piping techniques to work in so much detail. Aren't across these bold, culinary artists? The Hotham Street Ladies are an artist collective of five women — Cassandra Chilton, Molly O’Shaughnessy, Sarah Parkes, Caroline Price and Lyndal Walker — who derive their name from the days when they lived together in a share house in Collingwood. Their mutal passion for cakes, baking, feminism and craft has since informed their work and it’s pretty damned cute (with a big streak of feminist badassery). Check out some of their other work, including a puppy cake covered in iced flowers, candy beards, a table setting designed around leftovers and this gloriously graphic iced period stain installation in the men’s toilets at the Victorian College of the Arts. Christmas at The Windsor is on display at the Hotel Windsor, 111 Spring Street from December 1 to the January 5.
Finally, the Bloody Mary will have a breakfast bev companion. Bacardi has been cooking up what is thought to be the first spirit distilled from tea leaves, a new product they're calling Tang. Although we're pretty sure that's already a long-copyrighted drink name for a sugary orange fizz, Bacardi are running with it as inspired by the Chinese Tang Dynasty — when the country's obsession with tea really put down its roots. And with tea still the second most widely consumed beverage in the world (behind coffee, of course), it looks like Bacardi's capitalising on a still-travelling bandwagon. Someone at Bacardi obviously saw more than The Grim in their tea leaves. Apparently the company has been developing a brand new distillation process for four years, according to The Spirits Business. Releasing complex sugars from green tea leaves, the process makes the tea leaves fermentable — so able to become booze. Looks like someone at Bacardi left the leaves in their home teapot too long and had a Brilliant Idea. The fermented gloop then heads to distillation phase, before being blended to really get those tea flavours out. Then the whole thing is diluted with French spring water at Cognac's Grey Goose distillery and you've got yourself a 'tea spirit', designed to drink alongside Chinese food or dropped into cocktails. If you're all fired up to drop a little Tang in your morning cup, be warned; it's going to be exclusively distributed in China (initially only from DFS Hong Kong until May). Plus, it's not going to be cheap. Bacardi are only making small batches of 2000 500ml bottles a go (HK$1888 or AU$318), with the first 500 of the batch numbered, so you're going to see some pretty steep eBay prices on Tang. Via The Spirits Business.
Continuing in the tradition of online services that ensure you never have to leave your living room, a brand new website has recently launched in Sydney that will deliver groceries right to your door. Inspired by their success in Germany, ShopWings lets you select your groceries over the web, before dispatching one of its shoppers to do the busy work for you and deliver within about two hours. Basically it’s like The Iconic, but for food. After entering your postcode, visitors to ShopWings choose between three different grocery chains: ALDI, Coles and Harris Farm (sorry Woolies). From there, it’s simply a matter of filling your virtual shopping cart and heading to the checkout. The delivery fee comes in at a flat $8.90 — although in order to entice customers, your first use of the service is free. Once you’ve paid via credit card or PayPal, ShopWings guarantee delivery within two hours. They currently deliver to addresses in the CBD, eastern suburbs and beaches and the Lower North Shore, with plans for expansion already on the cards. Of course ShopWings isn’t Australia’s first online grocery service. Both Coles and Woolworths already offer home delivery, while Grocery Butler has been operating since mid-2013. Where this new operation aims to stand apart is in the quality of their service. ShopWings shoppers will even get in touch with you from the grocery store if an item you selected is out of stock, so that you can pick an alternative rather than going without dinner. Test out ShopWings over here. Image: ShopWings.
When your nine-to-five plays out like a well-oiled machine, it can sometimes feel like each week is a little same-same. But Sydney is brimming with a fine bounty of things to experience and explore each and every day. So aside from casual laziness and a little lack of inspiration, there's really nothing stopping you from squeezing a little adventure and spontaneity into your schedule. We've teamed up with Mazda3 to celebrate the landmark 40th anniversary of their iconic small cars, and in turn, help you celebrate the Sydney landmarks and institutions we all love. This week, discover and rediscover the things that make Sydney so great, with seven different detours through our city's classic spots. From Monday to Sunday, channel that Sydneysider spirit, and enrich your everyday with one completely achievable, time-honoured activity that helps bypass any mundane roadblocks in your routine. This week, rediscover the Sydney we know and love, with a massive plate of dumplings in Haymarket, a gig at the Metro followed by midnight Golden Century and a flick at an iconic Art Deco cinema. Plus, we've got your future detours sorted for the new few weeks here. All require no more effort than a tiny break from the norm — what's your excuse for not trying them all?
Calling all Gordon Gekkos and Jordan Belforts, the UK's got a new bar for you. The Reserve Bar Stock Exchange is London's new venue where drink prices fluctuate in real time according to their nightly popularity, opening on June 17. Set across three floors, Reserve is attempting to connect customers to the value of their cocktails, and how quickly one drink can rise in value while another crashes. It all depends on which drink is most popular on the night — classic supply and demand. There's a live market price board where you can see how different cocktails are doing, and the bar's smartphone app will let you keep track of things at your table — an app that also allows patrons to order cocktails right to their table. The bar's advice? "Buy low, play the market, and when the market crashes... everybody wins." We guess that means a sweet cheapo special. So who's the Wolf of Wall Street behind this whole deal? Reserve has been dreamt up by Alan Grant and his crew, whose former escapades include London's Cherry Jam, Supper Club and Notting Hill Arts Club. It's London's first bar of its kind, but it's not the world's — Austin, Texas has a stock market themed bar called The Brew Exchange, where the hundred beers on tap fluctuate according to popularity. If you happen to be in London (or you've got buds over there) before the bar opens on June 17, Reserve is offering punters the chance to feel like a right ol' Gecko — you can invest £25, £50 or £100 in the bar and you'll double your money instantly with a 100% return of £50, £100 or £200 in bar credit. The Reserve Bar Stock Exchange opens on June 17 at 46 Gresham Street, London. Via The Drinks Business. Image: Dollar Photo Club.
This holiday season, there's only one decoration we want hanging from our Christmas tree. It's the latest absurd dessert from the team at Gelato Messina, who so far this year have created ice cream cigars, ice cream hamburgers and an ice cream inspired by an air freshener. Available just in time for a yuletide family feed, Messina's 2015 Christmas cake combines the tastes of gingerbread, pear and chocolate. With flavours that smooth, it's no wonder they called it the Michael Baulble. The limited edition dessert, which can be ordered now until December 22 through the Gelato Messina website, consists of burnt butter and gingerbread gelato with pear mouse and fruit mince florentine, enclosed in a chocolate dome and dusted with gold powder. It also comes with vanilla brandy custard, which should be warmed and applied generously before eating. The Michael Baulble costs $90 and can be picked up from select Messina stores in Sydney (Roseberry, Miranda and Parramatta), Melbourne (Fitzroy) and Queensland (Coolangatta). According to Messina it feeds 16 people, although let's be real here: there's no way you're sharing it with that many people. Sure, Christmas is the time for giving and all that, but everyone has their limits. https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=6&v=SUp6tmSbQN0 To order your own Michael Baulble, visit the Gelato Messina website. Via Good Food.
When I first signed up for a day of whitewater rafting on Tropical North Queensland's Tully River I was pumped. I can't say it had ever been on my bucket list, but as a new resident of North Queensland I was keen to do anything that meant I got to explore the deep north – so I couldn't turn down this RedBalloon experience. My alarm on the morning of the adventure went off at 5.15am, and my dreams of being flung out the raft and thrown into white water came to an end. Mild panic had begun to settle in. By the time I arrived at the meeting point in Cairns where our tour bus was waiting to drive us to the riverside destination, I was scheming ways to get out of it. We travelled down the Bruce Highway past sugar cane fields, banana plantations and cloud-covered coastal mountains. About an hour later, the road started getting narrower, the surrounding vegetation more lush, and glimpses of the river opened up to full views. We got off the bus and our guide Gregor helped with my helmet and life jacket, then I grabbed a paddle and headed down the path with five strangers towards our raft. As we paddled towards our first lot of rapids I tried to recall the instructions on what to do. I realised that upon entering the raft, I'd been way too focused on wedging my foot in between the seats to ensure I was attached no matter what and forgot to listen. As the menacing whitewater looked like it was about to engulf us I didn't know whether to squeeze my eyes shut or hold on tight, or both. Neither of the options included helping to paddle. [caption id="attachment_593255" align="alignnone" width="1280"] This is me terrified and holding on to the rope.[/caption] Then Gregor's clear, calm voice came from the back of the raft, "Okay guys, this is how today will work," he said. "Listen to me and you'll be fine. I promise to give really simple instructions. We're going to have heaps of fun getting to know this river." I wasn't 100 per cent convinced but I did listen to him. My life was in his hands. "Okay guys, here we go! Paddle forward, forward, forward aaaand relax. Now back paddle, back, back, back aaaand relax." I did relax. Honestly. As soon as we'd cleared the first lot of rapids I knew I was in safe hands with a pro river guide and a bunch of people who were a mix of fairly experienced thrill-seekers and newbie thrill-seekers like me. Gregor maneuvered the raft through the first lot of rapids expertly. With names like 'Double D Cup', I couldn't help but giggle (nervously) as we approached them and then scream/laugh as we rode through them. Gregor informed us they were the trickiest set we'd encounter. I didn't want to ask if he meant before lunch or throughout the whole day, so I kept my mouth shut and rejoiced with the rest of my team that we'd aced it. As we floated into calmer waters we got out of the raft for a swim, letting the cool, crystal-clear waters take us past springs and falls while the magnificent rainforest growth of the gorge towered overhead. Ulysses butterflies flying above us came along for the ride too. After a refreshing shower under Pony Tail Falls we hopped on to dry land for a barbecue lunch in the middle of the rainforest before setting off to tackle the rest of the rapids. This time around, it was panic-free. By the end of the day I was jumping off a 5-metre-tall rock formation. As I bobbed up to the surface, I was chuffed with myself for being a bit of a daredevil. I knew I would've regretted not giving the jump a go, which sums up how I felt about the whole day. From the first "aaaand relax" from Gregor, my worries seemed silly. Photos from the day show that I was holding on to the safety ropes a lot, which made my team mates ask whether I'd actually done any paddling. But I did. I promise. Book your white water rafting adventure (or gift it to someone else) at RedBalloon. Images: RedBalloon.
In the latest "hello young people" example of giant fast food chains desperately attempting to be cool, McDonalds has announced that a dedicated French fry 'concept store' will open tomorrow in Sydney and it's called, wait for it, Fries With That. You can probably hear us sighing from here. Located on Glebe Point Road in Glebe, Fries With That will throw its doors wide to the insatiably curious masses at 11am tomorrow and the menu is (as you may have guessed) dedicated solely to fries. It's a big trend-sucking gimmick to promote their new loaded fries menu, and they'll be test running six new varieties of toppings. The most popular topping will get the honour of becoming a permanent member of the illustrious Maccas menu. As is tradition in a democratic country, you vote by smashing down your fave French fry flavour. After Camperdown's new eatery The Corner turned out to be a Maccas in disguise last year, this is just some more casual bandwagon-jumping for Maccas. Just look at this on-trend interior, blonde wood, white tiles, exposed light bulbs — someone's been paying attention: It's only open for three days and will close up at 6pm on Sunday, giving you only three days to try all the new flavours — which are, quite honestly, boring as batshit. The six options include sour cream and sweet chilli, Caesar, curry, pesto and parmesan, chipotle cheese sauce and peri-peri cheese sauce. Yawn. They'll also be serving gravy loaded fries which launched nationally yesterday. Eh, we'll probably inhale some. Stop looking at us like that. Find Fries With That at 166 Glebe Point Road, Glebe. Opening hours Friday, May 27 to Sunday, May 29 11am-6pm.
Redfern gin haven Moya's Juniper Lounge is turning one-year-old this week and they're throwing a little hootenanny to celebrate. The Regent Street blink-and-you'll-miss-it bar has garnered a reputation over the last year as a delightfully hidden gin joint that pays homage to traditional cocktails in a low-key, no-fuss atmosphere. Staying true to form, they're throwing a laidback birthday bash with a classed-up flare. Stop by their old-world gin palace on March 22 from 5pm and enjoy a complimentary glass of Champagne, along with some "custom-made gelato" which we're particularly intrigued by. On the no-frills side of things, they'll also be celebrating with a few slices of fairy bread — it is an Aussie bar, after all. The bartenders will of course be slinging their classic gin cocktails, including our favourites, the Charlie Chaplin and The Last Word, and serving up their small plates pairing menu. The event will round out with a live gig by The Squares, the perfect excuse to get stuck in to one of their cosy, plush velvet lounges, sip on an expertly crafted cocktail and toast to a year well done.
Don't believe anyone who tells you that you can't like both arts and sports. Whenever a film or TV awards ceremony rolls around, that's clearly proven wrong. Watching great movies and television shows get the attention they deserve, as well as the talented folks that make them, is the screen entertainment equivalent of a grand final — with the same amount of thrills. At this year's Golden Globes, that included a red carpet filled with black-hued outfits to make an important statement, Oprah Winfrey giving one of the most inspiring and extraordinary speeches you'll ever hear about oppression and the fight for equality, and host Seth Meyers making Kevin Spacey jokes. And that's not to mention Tommy Wiseau living his dreams and taking to the stage, Natalie Portman pointing out that there was not one female nominated for best director and Amy Poehler popping up as well. Plus, whether some of your most anticipated films of 2018 won plenty of shiny ornaments (hello The Shape of Water and Lady Bird) or you're certain the best damn thing on any big or small screen was thoroughly robbed (yes, we're talking about Twin Peaks), we can still watch all of the best and the rest once the ceremonies are over. Indeed, this year's Globes winners have gifted us all with quite the must-watch list of both quality efforts to catch up on, and others coming to screens near us soon. Here's our pick of their picks. Get viewing. BIG SCREEN MUST-SEES https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFYWazblaUA& THE SHAPE OF WATER Building his career out of monster movies in multiple guises, Guillermo del Toro has proven himself a master at creature features of the moving and unusual kind — think Hellboy, Pan's Labyrinth, Pacific Rim and even haunted house effort Crimson Peak. Compared to the above, The Shape of Water floats through its own stream of romance and drama, and yet it could've only been made by this year's Golden Globe winner for best director. Here, Sally Hawkins plays a mute woman who works nights cleaning at a top-secret government lab, only to fall for its prized possession: a man-like amphibian. The film won top honours at last year's Venice Film Festival, and it's likely to keep collecting them in the next couple of months. It's that entrancing and wonderful. GLOBES Won: Best Director — Motion Picture (Guillermo del Toro), Best Original Score — Motion Picture (Alexandre Desplat) Nominated: Best Motion Picture — Drama, Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture — Drama (Sally Hawkins), Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in any Motion Picture (Octavia Spencer), Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in any Motion Picture (Richard Jenkins), Best Screenplay — Motion Picture (Guillermo del Toro and Vanessa Taylor) In cinemas January 18. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzgTHyEv5Ng LADY BIRD Greta Gerwig, sitting solo in the director's chair for the first time in her career, didn't even score a nomination in that Golden Globes category. No female filmmakers did. As ridiculous as that is, her film won half of the fields it was nominated in anyway. A clearly personal endeavour for the Frances Ha and Mistress America star, Lady Bird wanders through life in her hometown of Sacramento circa 2002, spinning the exploits of its titular character (Saoirse Ronan) into one of the most relatable coming-of-age flicks to grace the big screen in years. No wonder it took out the gong for best musical or comedy film, and that fantastic Irish talent Ronan (Brooklyn) won best actress in the same category. GLOBES Won: Best Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy, Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy (Saoirse Ronan) Nominated: Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in any Motion Picture (Laurie Metcalfe), Best Screenplay - Motion Picture (Greta Gerwig) In cinemas February 15. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aZ3r-84EQc THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI If Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri wasn't already an Oscar frontrunner, it is now, winning best drama, best actress in a drama, best supporting actor and best screenplay. They're all well-earned awards for Martin McDonagh's black comedy about a mourning mother doing whatever it takes to motivate her local police force, though none is more deserved than star Frances McDormand's. She's in typical top form spouting McDonagh's typically coarse dialogue; however, the always-fantastic Rockwell shouldn't be underestimated for bringing nuance to a difficult role either. Our only gripe about its Globes success? That the fleet-footed Rockwell didn't dance when he won his statuette. GLOBES Won: Best Motion Picture — Drama, Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture — Drama (Frances McDormand), Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in any Motion Picture (Sam Rockwell), Best Screenplay — Motion Picture (Martin McDonagh) Nominated: Best Director — Motion Picture (Martin McDonagh), Best Original Score — Motion Picture (Carter Burwell) In cinemas now — read our review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DT41LF22ZA THE DISASTER ARTIST Well, we all know what The Disaster Artist 2 should focus on. James Franco might've won best actor in a musical or comedy for playing Tommy Wiseau, but there wasn't a fan of The Room didn't break into an enormous smile when the real-life man himself took to the stage as well. He might've missed out on another chance to leap up when The Disaster Artist couldn't turn its second nomination — for best musical or comedy flick — into a trophy, but he stole the show as he tried to steal the microphone away from the man who imitated him perfectly. Next stop: the Oscars, hopefully. GLOBES Won: Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy (James Franco) Nominated: Best Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy In cinemas now — read our review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyjnzhXJlHU IN THE FADE Diane Kruger may be the most famous German-born actress working today, but she hadn't starred in a German-language film until In the Fade. At Cannes last year, she won best actress for her troubles, but at the Golden Globes, it was the movie's time to shine. Under writer/director Fatih Akin's guidance, the best foreign-language feature winner is an exploration of terror, mourning and revenge that — like much of what we're seeing on screens these days — is all-too timely and relevant. It's also on the shortlist for the same field at the Oscars, so expect to keep hearing about it. GLOBES Won: Best Motion Picture — Foreign Language Release date TBC. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DIm1PyBSwc COCO In an industry increasingly ruled by sequels, prequels, remakes, reboots, resurrections, cinematic universes and franchises that'll still be going long after we're all dead, it's always a joy to see a studio rewarded for taking a chance. While Pixar was once known for only making original stories — albeit, always about toys, monsters, robots and even feelings having feelings — their love of follow-ups like the terrible Cars 3 changed that. Then came Coco, which isn't the first animated film to play with Mexico's Dîa de los Muertos celebrations, but it is the most gorgeous, engaging and heart-swelling. A great pick for best animated film, it overflows with warmth and authenticity as it charts a 12-year-old boy chasing his music dreams into the Land of the Dead. GLOBES Won: Best Motion Picture — Animated Nominated: Best Original Song — Motion Picture In cinemas now — read our review. FUTURE SMALL SCREEN BINGES https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOmwkTrW4OQ THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL Calling all Amy Sherman-Palladino fans. If you loved Gilmore Girls and Bunheads, then you'll follow the American TV writer, director and producer anywhere, including to her latest show The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Winning best comedy TV series, and best actress for star Rachel Brosnahan (House of Cards) too, it's the best show you probably haven't seen yet about a New York housewife trying out her stand-up comedy chops in the late 1950s. It should come as no surprise that Joan Rivers was one of the inspirations for the series, and that it is equally hilarious, heartfelt and finely observed, with the usual Sherman-Palladino charms in abundance. GLOBES Won: Best Television Series — Musical or Comedy, Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series — Musical or Comedy (Rachel Brosnahan) Now streaming on Amazon Prime. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9P34WqoBtQ BIG LITTLE LIES The series everyone was talking about in early 2017 just keeps garnering attention — turning a limited run into a second season, sweeping the Emmys and now doing the same at the Golden Globes. The only nods Big Little Lies didn't turn into victories? When it had two actresses competing against each other in both the lead and supporting actress categories. Winners Nicole Kidman, Laura Dern and Alexander Skarsgård, and nominees Reese Witherspoon and Shailene Woodley all star in this adaptation of Aussie Liane Moriarty's novel, about the mothers of first-graders attending the same school in California's Monterey. With filmmaker Jean-Marc Vallée (Wild, Cafe de Flore) in the director's chair for all seven episodes, it's a deep and complex ride through topics that aren't always thrust into the spotlight. GLOBES Won: Best Television Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television, Best Performance by an Actress in a Limited Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television (Nicole Kidman), Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television (Alexander Skarsgård), Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television (Laura Dern) Nominated: Best Performance by an Actress in a Limited Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television (Reese Witherspoon), Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television (Shailene Woodley) Now streaming on Foxtel Now. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJTonrzXTJs THE HANDMAID'S TALE 2017 couldn't have been been a better time for The Handmaid's Tale to make it to the small screen. If that felt true when it first aired, the series' depiction of the oppression of women in a near-future dystopian society only proved more powerful as events played out in Hollywood as the year went on. The show's topical nature is only one of the its selling points, however, with everything about the adaptation of Margaret Atwood's ahead-of-its-time novel drawing you into an utterly unnerving realm. Standout and best actress in a drama winner Elisabeth Moss is particularly fantastic as Offred, one of the still-fertile women forced into sexual servitude to bear the ruling elite's children, while the series' mastery of mood and tone will give you literal chills. GLOBES Won: Best Television Series — Drama, Best Performance by an Actress In A Television Series — Drama (Elisabeth Moss) Nominated: Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television (Ann Dowd) Now streaming on SBS On Demand. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzwZZjPHv3A FARGO When the idea of turning the Coen brothers' Oscar-winning black comedy Fargo into a television show was floated, fans were understandably skeptical. So specific in its tone, so tied to its directors' sensibilities and so driven by Frances McDormand's ace lead performance, would it work on the small screen? And if an attempt to do just that failed in 1997, why would it succeed now? Those fears were easily quelled by the excellent end result, and the anthology series has continued its stellar run across not one, or two, but three series to date. In the latest, newly minted best actor in a limited series winner Ewan McGregor plays two very different brothers, in another account of greed, crime and stupidity in snowy Minnesota climes. GLOBES Won: Best Performance by an Actor in a Limited Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television (Ewan McGregor) Nominated: Best Television Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television, Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television (David Thewlis) Now streaming on Netflix.
Dessert king Reynold Poernomo is expanding his sugary empire, with the former MasterChef contestant and co-owner of Chippendale's KOI Dessert Bar opening a second location on the other side of town. Slinging sweet treats as of today — Friday, April 21 — KOI Ryde will feature the same decadent creations Poernomo's fans have come to expect, while also offering cooking classes with some of Sydney's best dessert chefs. The Ryde dessert bar will be run by Reynold along with his mother Ike and his brothers Ronald and Arnold, but it won't be a carbon copy of the Chippendale venue. Although it will function as a cafe where you can eat your cake straight out of the cabinet, the team hopes to also introduce a brand new menu offering (brunch is on the cards) and even monthly chef's table dinners. The space will also function as the production facility for all the cakes and pastries sold at both KOI locations and a masterclass kitchen, which will host classes by Sydney's best bakers, along with Poernomo himself. As for what you'll be scoffing on, expect KOI staples including the bright green mango yuzu made with mango mousse, yuzu curd and almond sable, and the coconut kalamansi featuring coconut mousse, white cheese, kalamansi (like a Filipino lime) curd and chocolate sable. We are ready for you, tomorrow 10am! #koidb #dessert #pastry #sydneydessert #ryde A post shared by KOI Dessert Bar (@koidb) on Apr 20, 2017 at 3:03am PDT KOI Dessert Kitchen Ryde is now open from 10am till 10pm Tuesday to Sunday at Shop 3, 62-66 Blaxland Street, Ryde. For more info, visit koidessertbar.com.au.
Cammeray's go-to for laidback weekend tipples, Norths has undergone a multi million-dollar renovation over the last year — and they’ve just revealed the spoils. Now strongly focused on post-work drinks, big local family dinners and weekend wine sessions, Norths has a brand new bar, cafe and seasonal menu to boot. Using the freshest, locally-sourced ingredients as much as possible, Norths are now serving up a range of seasonal, internationally-inspired cuisine in Norths Pantry — from the porcini pesto arancini to the classic 200gm angus beef burger, 'The Bear' housemade range-fed beef pie with mash, crushed peas and red wine jus to Marrakesh grilled eggplant and tomato baked in Moroccan spices. Dessert is by no means a mere afterthought, with a Tim Tam and white chocolate brûlée, The Pantry Sundae and the epic Eton Mess just a snippet of the sweet tooth part of the menu. Where possible, the Pantry's ingredients are locally sourced from sustainable supply chains. If you’re looking for a solid lunch or light snack on the sunny terrace, the newly revamped, Middle Eastern and Mediterranean-inspired Norths Cafe is brewing up their own personal blend of coffee, with a large selection of Greek and Lebanese delicacies, Italian panini and salted caramel eclairs. Just keen for a few bevs with buds? Head for the brand new Bar and Lounge and kick back with a frosty craft beer, light aperitif or something neat from the lengthy spirits list. More into vino? Norths also has a brand new wine bar, offering a selection of boutique wines ranging from Orange to Yarra Valley, Barossa Valley to Margaret River, New Zealand to California. Norths also do Moet Magnum Fridays, if you’re looking for a weekend kick-off. Find Norths at 12 Abbott Street, Cammeray.
If you've long thought of The Rocks as a gimmicky tourist trap, join us for a rediscovery. Like so many of Sydney's villages, this one is continually reinventing itself. The cobbled lanes and sandstone buildings mightn't have changed since Sydney Town days, but, within them, there are ever-evolving adventures to be had. From small bars, boutique hotels and off-beat eateries to new festivals and imaginative pop-ups, here's your guide to avoiding the traffic and taking a little staycation right here in your home city. STAY If you're after a little history blended with modern creature comforts, book yourself into the Harbour Rocks Hotel on Harrington Street. Walking into the historic foyer feels like being invited into someone's lounge room — if that someone just happens to have the knack (and the cash) for arranging beautiful, beautiful objects in a welcoming, cosy way. From the street, dark wooden doors slide open — like curtains lifting on a play — revealing lounges, sculptures, bookshelves and an ethereal light feature that looks curiously like candles tumbling down a waterfall. The reception desk, tucked away to the right, is friendly and efficient. Now part of Accor's MGallery collection, the 59-room hotel occupies what were once two separate buildings: three sandstone terraces on one side and, on the other, a former store, originally built in 1887. In the early '70s a bunch of artists, who came to be known as the Harrington Street Cooperative, seized on its rundown state and moved in — though today you'll find them in Chippendale, still painting, drawing and sculpting away. It was in 1989 that the buildings merged to create a hotel, but it wasn't until 2007 that master hoteliers Robert and Ruth Magid (who also own Sebel Pier One) nabbed it. A few years later, a 10-month revamp peeled back interior layers to expose some stunning rough-hewn wooden beams and hand-chipped sandstone. Today, a stunning atrium forms the hotel's centre, with rooms on either side. Book a room, and you'll follow a winding staircase to an open-plan studio suite. As in the lobby, the interior achieves the right balance of style and comfort, of old and new. Dark taupe paint covers the walls, brightened by a series of vast, arched, New York loft-style windows along two sides. The furnishings, arranged to maximise the room's airiness, add subtle, earthy splashes of ochre, tan, maroon and yellow. There's a king-sized bed, a sofa, a desk, tea and coffee-making gear, a large LCD TV on a pole (so you can watch from anywhere you decide to drape yourself), a simple bathroom with a shower and aromatherapeutic toiletries by Appelles. Don't spend your whole weekend in the room, though — be sure to leave time for a tipple on the bamboo-filled terrace overlooking Nurses Walk. [caption id="attachment_554611" align="alignnone" width="1280"] SJB Architects[/caption] DRINK AND EAT In addition to the terrace, there are three spots to explore before leaving the Harbour Rocks Hotel's front door. For brekkie, head downstairs to the 40-seat Scarlett Restaurant. There's a bit of a wait by 9.30am, but once you're safely ensconced in a soft leather seat, you'll be adequately recompensed with a continental buffet featuring light, fluffy pastries, and an aptly named Healthy Start of eggs, avocado, truss tomatoes and Persian feta on Sonoma sourdough — just one of the a la carte offerings. For a quick dash to Paris, pop into Creperie Suzette, where you'll find a warming variety of galettes and crepes, and for boutique wines, cocktails and tapas later in the day, visit the hotel's classy yet warm Eric's Bar. [caption id="attachment_554593" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Pei Modern[/caption] Meanwhile, at Mark Best's Pei Modern on George Street, things are even better than when we visited a year ago (and they were pretty damn fine then). The biggest news is that Joachim Borenius has taken over as head chef. He's spent ten years in Michelin-starred restaurants The Fat Duck and New York's Per Se, and six years as head chef and sous chef at Marque. Pei is sticking to the formula that it's known for, but continues to perfect the details; premium quality, locally-sourced ingredients are creatively combined with an absolutely cracking wine list, curated by 2014 Vin de Champagne champ Annette Lacey. Tuck into Pei's pork and fennel sausage, with impossibly smooth, creamy white polenta and sweet 'n' hot bullhorn pepper, and ricotta gnocchi with butternut squash, mint, parsley and pepitas. For dessert, you can't not order the duck egg sauternes custard that Best made famous — that delicious contradiction of burnt caramel and sugar, that ambrosial alcoholic follow-up is not to be missed. The roasted meringue with mango and coconut sorbet is like a brief, dreamy stopover on a tropical island. Contemplating a post-dinner night cap? There are more than 150 geographically diverse whiskies next door at Grain Bar. [caption id="attachment_546430" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Ananas[/caption] For a fancy-schmancy outing, reserve a table at Quay, one of Sydney's four three-hatted restaurants. Head chef Peter Gilmore spends hours in his experimental garden perfecting heirloom varieties, which he then commissions local producers to grow, before turning them (the varieties, not the producers) into magical dishes. Also on the posh side is the one-hatted Sake, where traditional Japanese cuisine gets a contemporary spin, and the French-inspired Ananas, whose brunches are legendary for their 'edible graveyards', 'fairyland desserts' and bottomless champagne. For a post-dinner beverage worthy of your feast, trot across George Street to Bulletin Place for a cocktail made by the man who's actually been named the world's best bartender, Tim Philips. Thinking about going a bit more casual? Join the locals for a Golden Gaytime shake, Coffee Alchemy cold brew or house-cured salmon bagel at The Fine Food Store. Or, for harbour views (without Quay's price tag), dine in the company of giant-sized sculptures at the MCA's fourth floor terrace cafe. As far as a sweet hit goes, it's still hard to beat a Picasso Mousse in La Renaissance Patisserie's quiet, leafy courtyard, where the dessert making's been reaching Parisian standards for over 40 years. And, at The Tea Cosy, hidden away in a rambling terrace, the scones are made from scratch and the tea is the real, leafy deal. [caption id="attachment_554622" align="alignnone" width="1280"] The Rocks Village Bazaar[/caption] DO Given the area's heritage significance, you may as well start with a historical refresh. The most fun — albeit cheesiest — way to go is with a Ghost Tour. Instead of hearing a dreary list of dates, you'll discover all the dirty, dingy stuff: murders, opium dens and disappearances. Or, if Sydney's been bearing down on you of late, do the opposite: wipe away the cobwebs with a Bridge Climb and re-appreciate the city from a whole new perspective. We know, we know, we're possibly sounding way too touristy right now. All right, you culturati, go on and get yourself down to The Wharf instead. Take an impromptu dance lesson with The Sydney Dance Company for all we care. Better still, book a ticket to one of their shows. The Sydney Theatre Company is in the same spot, and Rose Byrne will be dropping by later in the year. Alternatively, plan your stay to coincide with a festival or special event. One of our favourites is the Aroma Festival, a paean to the mighty coffee bean. Roasting, grinding, frothing, cupping and sampling happen throughout July, with the biggest day set for Sunday, July 26. It's a great place to stay for a night during Vivid mid-year, and we also love The Rocks Village Bizarre, which, in November and December, takes over every nook and cranny with magic, music, cabaret and unexpected occurrences. Jasmine Crittenden travelled as a guest of Harbour Rocks Hotel and Pei Modern.
Wondering what to say when you step inside Brisbane's new mini-golf bar? At Holey Moley Gold Club, it really is all there in the name. And, as awesome as the concept of having some drinks, donning a visor, hitting the indoor greens and taking a few swings on pop culture-themed holes sounds, the reality is even better (and weirder). Entering Holey Moley is like entering an alcohol-fuelled indoor amusement park for adults, even if the building it's in — a former church — makes that quite the surreal experience. So does the angel statue decked out with golf clubs, the pink-lit neon sign declaring "I like big putts and I cannot lie", and the twirling giant disco ball hanging in the centre of the venue, which visitors familiar to the site's many previous watering holes and live music spaces will recognise. Of course, with the right wall taken up by a stocked bar, it's obvious that this is a drink-focused spot with two nine-hole mini-golf courses inside, rather than a putting facility that happens to serve booze. Each hole has a six stroke maximum, however whether you decide to keep score is completely up to you — it's fun, rather than sports, that the venue wants to promote. Even taking a quick glance at the eighteen different holes on offer demonstrates that having a good time is the main aim here, unless you're scared of clowns and puppets, that is. Suspended from a frame and lurking on the ground, these vaudevillian creeps adorn the seventh stop on the ground level, which means anyone suffering from coulrophobia has plenty of time to work up the courage to play there. Beforehand, you'll hit your way through a beachy (fri)endless summer, enter a glow-in-the-dark space for three holes of luminous action, and play pinball and pool with a golf ball and club. Yes, really. Keeping with the arcade theme, a putting version of skeeball marks the end of the lower course — but don't worry, more holes await upstairs. That's where you'll show off your short game on a turntable, in a bathroom and a gym, and on a Twister board, to highlight just a selection of the standouts on the upper level. You'll also tap, tap, tap the ball into a Nintendo-focused hole that pays tribute to Super Mario and Donkey Kong, brave the Mad Putter's Tee Party, prove that you're obviously not a golfer at a bowling alley, and marvel at the glory of the nine-iron throne. You just know the latter is going to be mighty popular, particularly for selfies that'll clog up your Instagram feed. For something different between rounds, ping pong tables provide a break from the main action, as do a selection of old-school video games. Or, chew a couple of gum balls, grab a drink, and sit down and watch everyone else. In fact, the cocktail list is worth the trip alone, thanks to beverages like the Tee-quila Mocking Birdie (with Don Julio Blanco Tequila, Blue Curacao, sour mix and sugar syrup), Teeyonce Knowles (Pampero white rum, soda, fresh mint, limes and syrup) and Happy Gilmoreo (Chambord raspberry liqueur, Smirnoff Red vodka, Baileys, milk, chocolate sauce, crushed Oreos and whipped cream). Yep, we're calling it: Holey Moley is about to become everyone's favourite new hangout. Holey Moley Golf Club opens on September 29 at 25 Warner Street, Fortitude Valley. For more information, check out their website and Facebook page.
Brush up on your heaps sick macaroni necklace skills, coordinate your crew's dress-ups and dig out your ol' faithful tent. One of Australia's best and most beloved festivals, Secret Garden Festival, is back for another year. Returning to the festival's hallowed and not-so-secret-anymore location outside of Sydney, Secret Garden is celebrating its eighth year over February 26 and 27. Hold up, you haven't heard of Secret Garden? Grab a beer, line up for the egg and spoon race and we'll fill you in. Forget everything you know about big, personality-less, bro-zone festivals. If that's your thing, you enjoy that, but this little homegrown gem ain't for you. Secret Garden is Australia's most genuine, perpetually surprising, made-for-mates-by-mates festival, with a bigger heart than most festivals could hope to have. Directed by the inimitable, larger-than-life, outrageously hard-working Clare Downes, held annually on the idyllic Downes family farm outside of Sydney and brought to life by the ever-loyal Secret Garden family, this NSW festival reminds punters to ditch the attitude and remember what bloody good fun looks like. Secret Garden's more than a lineup (although said lineup is inevitably kickass each year, with Parquet Courts, Sharon Van Etten, Remi, Gang Of Youths, Client Liaison, The Griswolds, Japanese Wallpaper, UV Boi, Willow Beats, Milwaukee Banks, Total Giovanni, Peter Combe (PETER COMBE) and more playing last year). But with hidden handcrafted areas, drag queens, lawn games, facepainting, ballpits, pillow forts, craft tents, forest pop-up bars, huge art installations, local food, tiny rave caves, photobooths, birds nest-shaped DJ booths, kissing booths, ticket booths and a hell of lot more to be found at the festival, you'll be pressed for time. Importantly, you should start planning your costume, because if any festival goes above and beyond on the dress-ups, it's Secret Garden. Think big — this year's dress-up theme is 'Space Cowboy'. And the 2016 Friday dress up theme is... TICKETS ON SALE NOW >> http://bit.ly/SG_Tickets Posted by The Secret Garden on Thursday, January 7, 2016 Donning a bigger sunhat than ever for 2016, Secret Garden will be taking place over two full days and nights on Friday and Saturday, giving 'Gardeners' more live music, love and glitter than ever. But as usual, in true SG tradition, the festivals always sells out before the lineup's announced. As always, proceeds from ticket and bar sales will go toward charity — and these guys have donated more than $200,000 to Oxfam, The Boys and Girls Brigade and the Sarah Hilt Foundation. Noice. Capacity hasn't changed even though the festival program has, so tickets are going to evaporate. There's a couple of options for tickets: the 'Two-Day Celebration' ($209.65), 'One Hot Night' ($144.35) and the 'Office Worker Package' ($575.80). Head to Secret Garden's fancy new website for more details and to book tickets. And you'll want to — last year Client Liaison brought confetti cannons. In a highly ineloquent statement, Secret Garden rules. We should know, we put on a humdinger of an event with the SG crew last year, Cubby House, so ner. Secret Garden Festival returns to its (sort of) secret location on February 26 and 27, 2016. General tickets are on sale now from Secret Garden's website. Images: Anna Warr, Jack Toohey.
Each January, as the temperature rises and languid afternoons stretch into sparkling nights, the city comes alive with the three-week carnival that is the Sydney Festival. Now in its 41st year, Australia's biggest annual arts fest transforms our city into a creative playground, filling our summer with a generous helping of culture. With hundreds of performances ranging from thought-provoking theatre to innovative dance and awe-inspiring circus, the Festival's program is always packed with choices for a night out — and 2017 is no exception. To help you make the most of next year's panoply of offerings, we've highlighted eight stand-out shows. All world premiere performances that can be seen for the first time in Sydney, these performances and installations — including dance, opera, and visual arts — promise to be a feast for the senses. Sydney Festival is iconic for bringing together somewhat unusual collaborations, such as the Sydney Dance Company and the AGNSW for Nude:Live. All up there are 16 world premieres at Sydney Festival 2017. We've picked out our favourites. If you can only fit in a few shows this summer, make sure at least one of these is on your list. Top Image: Nude Live.
From Friday, November 29 to Sunday, December 1, Wine Island is back, but not as you know it — for the first time, the festivities are departing Clark Island and coming ashore to Watsons Bay, taking over the Gap Bluff area of the Sydney Harbour National Park. What won't change, however, are the jaw-dropping harbour views and the holiday vibes, so prepare to sip your way around the world, one delicious drop at a time. Festivalgoers can embark on a global tasting adventure with Wine Island's top-notch drinks and culinary highlights. Savour your way through a curated lineup of top cellar doors from vineyards such as Kies Family Wines, DAS Juice, Chateau Tanunda and Rameau d'Or, to name only a few. You can also discover some of Australia's best distilleries and craft breweries, including Broulee Brewhouse, Papa Salt Gin and Lūla Rum. Once you've had a taste of home, it's time to experience the Mediterranean. You won't need your passport to access The Amalfi Beach Club, where stunning waterfront vistas go hand-in-hand with luscious Italian wines, spritzes and irresistible beachside pizzettes. Who needs a Euro-summer jaunt when you have this little slice of the Med right on your doorstep? From the shores of Italy, to the kitchens of South America — it's time to get a bite. The Flavour Fiesta dining precinct is bringing the heat with yummy eats from Carbón, Cancun Boat Club, Santa Catarina, Brazilian Flame and BrOz Burger. And of course, there will be plenty of Tequilas, Mezcals, and Margaritas to wash it all down. But Wine Island isn't just about sipping and snacking — it's also about diving into other kinds of fun (with a glass in hand). Unleash your creativity at the Pottery & Plonk workshop, find a moment of zen with Yoga & Unwined, or expand your vino knowledge at the Wine Selectors Tasting Terrace. In the mood to dance? Club Tropicana's silent disco blends good music and great wine for a playful twist on your typical weekend boogie. For those who want to take the experience up a notch, First Class (VIP) tickets offer a range of exclusive perks, including uninterrupted harbour views in a private seating area, an International Wine Bar, a Greek barbecue feast, and access to the Oyster & Yarra Valley Caviar bar. It's the luxury escape you've been dreaming of.
With so much space and so few people, Australia has the edge when it comes to country pubs. There are eccentric, outback institutions, hundreds of kilometres from anywhere, that have witnessed murders and shoot-outs and cattle stampedes. There are posh hotels with incredible views and gourmet menus featuring emu and camel and kangaroo. There are cosy joints with fireplaces where the locals will sidle up for a yarn within minutes and offer you a beer. Here are ten of the best of the lot. PUB IN THE PADDOCK, TASMANIA There are two reasons to visit Tassie's Pub in the Paddock. One, it's actually in a paddock. So, you'll find yourself in the country — seriously — and surrounded by spectacular, rolling green scenery. Two, it's home to a beer-sculling pig by the name of Priscilla, who can knock back a stubby in seven seconds. Don't fret; the alcohol content is significantly diluted. You can stay the night in one of six private rooms, and the pub, which has been licensed since the 1880s, is famous for its fresh-fuelled menu and hug-worthy hospitality. Find Pub in the Paddock at 250 St Columbafalls Road, Pyengana, 30 kilometres inland from St. Helens. Give 'em a call on (03) 6373 6121. GRAND HOTEL, WESTERN AUSTRALIA Built in 1902, the Grand Hotel is as friendly as ever. Back in the day, it was an epicentre for local gold diggers, but these days it shares its home town of Kookynie with just ten people. Travellers still drop by, though, to hang out on the Grand's wide, shady verandahs and stay the night in its spacious, old-school rooms. Keep an ear out for ghosts. The Grand Hotel is on Kookynie Rd, Kookynie, which lies 200 kilometres north of Kalgoorlie. Call on (08) 9031 3010. PRAIRIE HOTEL, SOUTH AUSTRALIA Situated right where the Flinders Ranges turn into the outback, the Prairie Hotel, which has been licensed since 1876, serves up your cold one with excellent mountain views. It's also home to one of Gourmet Traveller's Top 100 Gourmet experiences, the Feral Mixed Grill. That's kangaroo fillet, camel sausage, goat chop and emu patty. There's enough accommodation for 90 people, from fancied-up heritage rooms to architect-designed executive studios to self-contained cabins. You'll find the Prairie Hotel on the corner of High Street and West Terrace, Parachilna, 90 kilometres north of Hawker. Make a booking on 1800 331 473. DALY WATERS PUB, NORTHERN TERRITORY It's possible that the Daly Waters has a bigger bra collection than any pub in Australia. The legend goes that, back in the '80s, a passenger passing through bet her coach driver that, if she couldn't drink a nominated number of beers, she'd leave her bra behind. She lost. Ever since, other patrons have felt the urge to donate their undergarments to the display. Built in 1930, the Daly Waters sits on the Explorers Way, 600 kilometres south of Darwin and 900 kilometres north of Alice Springs. Its official dress is 16 Stuart Street, Daly Waters. Call up on (08) 8975 9927. SCARBOROUGH HOTEL, NEW SOUTH WALES On a sunny Sunday, many a Sydneysider scoots down to the Scarborough Hotel for a lazy afternoon overlooking the sea. Situated just an hour's drive from the city, it's not quite as hardcore countrified as other pubs on our list, but you'd travel a long way to find one with better Pacific Ocean views. The spacious 'Seacliff' Beer Garden comes with both tables and island-inspired huts. Best to book in advance on weekends. The Scarborough Hotel is at 383 Lawrence Hargrave Drive, Scarborough. Make contact on (02) 4267 5444. THE LOADED DOG, NEW SOUTH WALES Country music fans crowd into The Loaded Dog every third Saturday of the month for its legendary live gigs. A stack of well-known country musicians have played there, including Amber Lawrence, Luke O'Shea and Felicity Urquhart. Built in 1848 in the then bustling, now disappearing town of Tarago, 69 kilometres northeast of Canberra, the pub used to be the main pit stop for travellers to and from the national capital. Now, it's on the scenic route, but worth the detour for its open fireplaces and hearty bistro fare. The Loaded Dog is at 1 Wallace Street, Tarago. The number is (02) 4849 4499. NINDIGULLY PUB, QUEENSLAND Daly Waters might have the bras, but Nindigully has the Akubras. One-hundred-and-forty or so of them hang on the walls, donated mostly by local farmers and stockmen. Situated on the banks of the Moonie River, Nindigully is the oldest continuously licensed pub in Queensland, having been in operation since 1864. Visitors are welcome to camp and park their caravans nearby, and there are free showers on tap. Find this one on the Carnarvon Highway via Thallon, 160 kilometres west of Goondiwindi, 45 kilometres east of St George and 70 kilometres of the Queensland-New South Wales border. Call in on (07) 4625 9637. BIRDSVILLE HOTEL, QUEENSLAND One of Australia's most famous pubs, the Birdsville Hotel perches on the edge of the Simpson Desert, in the town of Birdsville, 1,590 kilometres west of Brisbane and 720 kilometres south of Mt Isa. One hundred people live there. The pub was opened in 1884 and is a gathering place for locals, who are only too happy to shout visiting strangers a beer and a story or several. If you're keen to stay, there's plenty of room at the associated motel units. Stay over on a Sunday night and you'll be treated to a traditional roast. The Birdsville Hotel is on Adelaide Street, Birdsville, and can be reached on (07) 4656 3244. TINAMBA HOTEL, VICTORIA Tinamba Hotel makes the list for keeping its old-school, unassuming atmosphere, but introducing a delicious, locally sourced menu. The owners even list their producers on their website. Established in 1874, the pub has changed hands numerous times and is now owned by food-and-wine-loving pair Brad Neilson and Damien Gannon, who bought and revamped it in 2009. The pub is situated in Gippsland dairy farming country, in the small town of Tinamba. Find it at 4-6 Tinamba-Seaton Road and get in touch on (03) 5145 1484. TANSWELLS COMMERCIAL PUB, BEECHWORTH For getting in touch with your bush-ranging ancestry, Tanswells Commercial Pub in Victoria's northeast is the place to go. Ned Kelly and his Gang used to drink here while planning their next exploits. These days, there's an open fire and a long drinks list, featuring craft beers and wines from local, regional and international producers. Stay over and leave yourself time to wander through the historic goldfields town of Beechworth. Find Tanswells Commercial Pub at 50 Ford Street, Beechworth and phone in on (03) 5728 1480.
We can't get enough live music. That is, we can't get enough live music until the Blurs and Mark Ronsons of this world blow through town, take all our money and leave us penniless and devoid of boogie. Then we literally cannot get enough live music. That's where these ten bars, venues and creative nooks come in. Don't have the wallet for a seven-day rotation of cover charges? These spots boast free (and great) live music, so you can catch a new act every day of the week if you so choose, all without breaking the bank.
A design label born in South Australia, Acler is known for creating luxury fashion pieces. Creative Directors Kathryn Forth and Julia Ritorto expertly curate textiles and overlay classic silhouettes with draping techniques, producing self-assured and timeless statement garments. To celebrate the launch of their latest collection, Resort 23', Acler is popping up at Chatswood Chase's The Edit Collection until Monday, January 16. The pop-up will mark Acler's first brick-and-mortar shop since it first launched over eight years ago; and will be the only physical retail store customers can purchase Acler's Resort 23' collection in-person. The Edit Collection is Chatswood Chase Sydney's experiential retail space, in partnership with the Australian Fashion Council and Afterpay. An evolving concept that welcomes sustainable, creative and unique fashion labels, The Edit Collection has helped launch physical pop-up spaces for four emerging fashion brands since opening. Images: Jess Gleeson.
Some days are good days and some days are bad days but only one day is International Daiquiri Day. And what better way to heat things up this chilly July 19 than by visiting a cosy little cocktail bar in celebration of all things rum. Such as rum. And things that go well with rum. And also locations which are fit for the consumption of rum. In fact, this whole month is Bacardi Rum Month. Need we say more? First mixed back in 1898 by American engineer Jennings Stockton Cox while working in the humble Cuban mining town of Daiquiri, the iconic blend of Bacardi rum, lime and sugar has since become a specialty of mixologists all over the world — including several right here in Sydney. Over the years, the daiquiri been bastardised by slushy machines and TGI Fridays into pink, icy mush, but there are some noble bartenders taking this misunderstood cocktail classic back to its traditional form. As usual, we've done the dirty work and sorted out where to head this Daiquiri Day for the most delightfully rummy cocktails in town. Get sipping. EAU DE VIE SYDNEY For a killer cocktail, it’s hard to beat Eau De Vie Sydney. It’s cool, it’s romantic, it’s fun — and their drinks are top-notch. Watching the beverages being made is the real treat though — who would have thought there was such a stunning array of old-school cocktail-making contraptions out there? Eau De Vie Sydney does wonders with an original take on the Bacardi Daiquiri: rum, lime and sugar laced with a dash of egg white makes for a Sunday treat as silky and soft as you could possibly desire. And the iconic Bacardi Bat Logo in aromatic bitters provides a sensationally spicy floral aftertaste. 229 Darlinghurst Road, Darlinghurst QUEENIE'S If you’re celebrating Daiquiri Day with a gang of mates, head down to Queenie’s and get your Jamaican vibe on. It’s cosy, colourful, and offers enough tasty food and drink options to put you in the best darn mood this side of the Caribbean. The Coconut Daiquiri is a signature Queenie's cocktail — as rich and creamy as Marley’s voice, the coconut puree with Bacardi Carta Blanca and fresh lime gives an old island favourite a new lease on life. Ask your bartender for a little salt and chilli around the rim for a kick up the proverbial you know what. Level 1, The Forresters, Corner of Foveaux and Riley Streets, Surry Hills STITCH Oh baby... you had us at three dashes of absinthe. Stitch slings a daiquiri better than most, and International Daiquiri Day is all the invitation you need to get down to their York Street basement. Try their house specialty — it's pineapple-infused Bacardi Carta Blanca, Cointreau, lime juice, vanilla sugar and three licks of absinthe. It's hard to be too troubled by anything after a couple of these bad boys in your life. 61 York Street, Sydney WORLD BAR A longtime Sydney stalwart, you can still get it all at World Bar. Beverages, tunes and even a ball pit in the mix now and then — what more does a Sunday need? Plus they love putting delicious things into teapots, which we're certainly not averse to. Here you'll find The Bacardi Blaquiri Teapot — lashings of Bacardi Carta Blanca, De Kuyper Blackberry Liqueur and fresh lime with a spot of added sweetness, shaken (not stirred). Perfect for sharing (although drinking the whole thing by yourself is also a very valid option). 24 Bayswater Road, Kings Cross VASCO Vasco is Cleveland Street's small Italian bar with a rock 'n' roll twist: think trucker caps, cut off denims and all things Vasco Rossi. They love the originals as well as the classics, and that goes for both their menu and their cocktail list. The team here are all about fusion, and this particular cocktail is sure to knock your winter stockings off. Bacardi Carta Blanca, green chartreuse, fresh lime and house falernum, shaken and strained in a vintage coupette. Goes down a treat at Vasco with an Italian hot dog. Happy Daiquiri Day! 421 Cleveland Street, Surry Hills Top image: Dollar Photo Club.
Sydney has a high volume of top quality cafes all over the city, but Marrickville is home to a big chunk of them. A boom circa 2012 and another one this year means that the inner west suburb can offer everything from all-vegetarian breakfasts to fresh pastries to some of the country's best coffee. But if there's one quality that ties these disparate breakfast-to-lunch hangouts together, it must be their sense of community. They all pride themselves on their local and hyperlocal produce, in-house preparation techniques, and nose for what their regulars want. If you live in the inner west, you've probably been to at least a few of these already. But for those who haven't (local or otherwise), here's the ranked list of Marrickville's best cafes. They've been judged on the tastiness of their menus, the quality of their coffee and the feel of their interior design. Go forth and brunch.
Feel a hankerin' for eggplant dumplings from Haymarket's Chinese Noodle Restaurant but they don't deliver? Want twelve original glazed Krispy Kremes in your couchbound face? Need some extra screws from Bunnings for that bed frame you're attempting to pull together? There's a new Australian company who'll bring pretty much anything (legal) you want to your door — beers, flowers, hangover kebabs — in under an hour. ASAP is a brand new company delivering anything and everything to Sydneysiders. Literally all you have to do is text 0437 825 625 and the ASAP crew will do everything in their power to bring you what you request — they launched the service with Tella Ball milkshake delivery (smart). There's no charge for a quote, and when you order you'll be notified of the total price so you can confirm before you pay. Also good to know ASAP use your credit card details safely — and they don't store 'em. ASAP's operating hours are from 10am - 10pm, seven days a week. They only operate in Sydney right now, although there are apparently plans to expand to Melbourne in the near future. The delivery network covers the Sydney CBD (+10km travel distance) towards the inner west, eastern suburbs and lower north shore. Check out ASAP on their website. Image: Dollar Photo Club.
The two-kilometre coastal walk between Bondi and Tamarama is always a stunning Sydney sight no matter when you mosey along it — and for locals and tourists alike — but it's especially impressive during Sculpture by the Sea. Once a year since 1997, except during the pandemic's early days, the outdoor art event displays large-scale pieces with the ocean as a backdrop. Understandably, it isn't just one of the annual highlights of Sydney's cultural calendar, but of Australia's. That excuse to soak up the great outdoors in the Harbour City returns again in 2023, from Friday, October 20–Monday, November 6. On the agenda once more: 100-plus artworks by Australian and international sculptors, all along a two-kilometre walk. But this is the 25th Sculpture by the Sea, so it's celebrating notching up that milestone with pieces by artists who displayed at the event back at its beginning. Paul Bacon, Stephen King, Michael Le Grand, John Petrie, James Rogers and Margarita Sampson earn those honours, bookending a quarter-century run. [caption id="attachment_911393" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Artist: Nigel Washington. Photo: Jack Bett.[/caption] Sculpture by the Sea 2023 also features works by Philip Spelman and Ron Gomboc, who reach double decades displaying at the event; Lucy Barker and Ayako Saito, who hit a decade; and Chinese artist Chen Wenling. Discovering exactly who'll be showing what and where is part of the fun of taking the spring stroll, but this year's event clearly won't be short on talent. Another huge must-see: the return of 2006's famous melting ice cream van, aka Hot with a Chance of a Late Storm by Glue Society + James Dive, which will display at Tamarama Beach. As always, the exhibition is set to draw a crowd. Each year, Sculpture by the Sea attracts approximately 450,000 visitors over 18 days, with the same number of art lovers expected this time around. [caption id="attachment_922730" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Artist: Glue Society + James Dive. Photo: Louise Beaumont.[/caption]
Sydney Harbour is bursting with waterfront bars and boat parties aplenty. But while the The Island and those tacky glass-walled party boats provide temporary shindig spaces, we've been missing a permanent go-to floating bar in Sydney. That hole in the waterfront nightlife market will be plugged, with the triumphant arrival of the Seadeck — a vessel that's set to become a Harbour-cruising venue, permanently. We gave you the heads up on this one back in December last year, but now the ship's physically made its way to Sydney, after a delay at one of the ports en route in the Middle East this past March. The creation of Scott Robertson, Mel Como and Gavin Douchkov, Seadeck is currently making its way here from Europe. Robertson used to be involved with Future Music Festival and now heads up DIVISION Agency, a full service music and hospitality agency repping the likes of The Bucket List, Harpoon Harry and Vine Double Bay. Specific details are yet to come about exactly what features the Seadeck will be touting, but we'll keep you updated. Seadeck will be ready to set sail this year. Check the website for upcoming events.
“Your nose like a delicious slope of cream. And your ears like cream flaps. And your teeth like hard shiny pegs of cream.” Diner en Blanc — like Howard Moon's poem — will have you in all white. But sorry Booshers, the fourth Sydney edition of this event is just for the sophisticated. Now on five continents, the Diner en Blanc began in Paris just under three decades ago thanks to François Pasquier and friends. This year, around 4000 of Sydney's creme de la creme will once again dress in all white on Saturday, November 28, for the event held at a predictably stunning and highly Instagrammable location that remains secret until the very last moment. Following an evening of elegance, fine dining and live music, the foodies then pack up their crystal, dinnerware, tables and litter. Like ghosts (white 'n' all), they leave behind no sign of their rendezvous. (But don't get any ideas: a white sheet thrown over your figure will not do for an outfit). Diner en Blanc guests must either be invited by a member from the previous year, or get on the waiting list for a $43 ticket (+$11.50 membership fee). Diner en Blanc returns to Sydney on Saturday, November 28 at a mystery location. For more info, check out the website.
The Kings Cross Hotel is about to be transformed into an immersive wonderland as part of this year's Vivid Sydney festival. As part of the truly epic Vivid Music program (which includes the world premiere of Björk's digital project), the hotel will be in full swing with a slew of live music, theatre and cabaret throughout the three weeks of the festival from May 27 until June 18. Relive the glory days of Sydney's late-night culture when things kick off with the Welcome to Kings Cross party on Saturday, May 28. With some of the city's best DJs across the pub's five floors, there'll be ample dancefloor action to satisfy your dancing feet. Not only that, but the party will also bring the legendary '90s Sydney party night Sounds of Seduction back to the Kings Cross Hotel. Not enough for you? Well, on Friday and Saturday evenings, some of Sydney's cabaret pros will be setting up shop in the Hotel's plush Red Room as part of Avant-Cabaret. And from June 1, the venue will go into immersive theatre mode on Wednesday and Thursday nights. Visiting Hours will see the Hotel become a mysterious old hospital with performances taking place across the five floors. It's been produced and directed by bAKEHOUSE Theatre, so you know it's going to be legit. And a little creepy. The Kings Cross Hotel's Vivid takeover will run for the length of the festival, from May 27 until June 18. For more information on what's happening at the Hotel, visit their website.
