The Sydney Opera House is flicking the light switch to high beam dazzle later this month for this year's Vivid Sydney, with both its program of Vivid Live gigs and the accompanying festivities. The harbourside icon is going all out for its annual Vivid pop-up bar, this year channelling none other than its program headliners, legendary English alt-rockers The Cure. Brought to life by the minds behind Newtown bar The Midnight Special — also responsible for last year's retro-themed Goldie's Music Hall pop-up — Spellbound will see the Concert Hall's Northern Foyer reimagined as a neon-lit post-punk den of moody decadence. Expect dark leather couches and long banquet tables decked out with glowing fruit installations, sheet music and skulls, while black felt-topped pool tables entertain late-night Vivid explorers. On the menu, you'll find bites like Sydney rock oysters, broiche sliders stuffed with confit duck rillettes, and both a classic and vegetarian version of the humble croque monsieur. Beers will come courtesy of Sydney favourites Grifter Brewing Co and Young Henrys, while a lineup of signature cocktails includes the rose-hued Flowers of Romance. The bar will try to minimise plastic waste by offering reuseable plastic cups, which you can buy with a $2 refundable deposit. It's all enveloped with a moody soundtrack stuffed full of hits from the likes of The Damned, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Iggy Pop and New Order, as spun by local legends including Lucy Cliché, Mitch Tolman and Cristian O'Sullivan (Low Life). The Cure will play in the Concert Hall over five nights on May 24, 25, 27, 28 and 30. As the large number of unsuccessful ballot entrants will be aware, tickets were snapped up in record time — so a visit to the bar might be the closest thing to seeing them on stage. Otherwise you can watch the live stream on the Opera House's Facebook from 8pm on Thursday, May 30 or check out one of the other gigs happening at the Opera House throughout Vivid, like Sharon van Etten, Underworld, Stella Donnelly and Herbie Hancock. The bar will be open to the public from 6pm each night, except for the nights that The Cure is playing. On those nights, the bar will open to ticketholders from 6pm and the general public from 9.45pm. Images: Anna Kucera.
Don't believe that boy bemoaning, loudly, the lack of live music venues in Sydney. There's no truth to that rumour. Dig a little deeper, kid, and you'll see there's a whole range of places out there. Choose your own adventure from Concrete Playground's list of favourite spots, featuring everything from long-term Sydney stalwarts to DIY new kids on the block. 1. The Enmore TheatreWhere: 118-132 Enmore Road, Enmore Undeniably Sydney's most beautiful theatre, the Enmore maintains an antique, old-world feel inside a contemporary venue. Built in 1908, this art deco theatre has gradually been transformed into the kind of luxury that is pure rock 'n' roll: band posters are plastered beneath luxurious chandeliers, drinks are purchased from a bar in the foyer, and the seats in the stalls are, depending on the occasion, removed to make way for standing room audiences. If the ambiance alone isn't enough to entice you, never fear: the Enmore plays host to some of the biggest acts to visit our shores. We're talking The Rolling Stones, Sonic Youth, Wu Tang Clan, The Pretenders, Grace Jones... The list goes on. And while the size and prestige of this place is strong enough to attract the big acts, the performance space remains cosy and intimate. The combination of the theatre's traditional acoustics and an immense front of house system also results in exceptional sound, making the Enmore one of Sydney's premier live venues. Click here for venue review and details. 2. The Red RattlerWhere: 6 Faversham Street, Marrickville A new arrival on the live music scene, the Red Rattler is a community-based venue and innovative arts space. It's a space determined to make a lot of noise, and is named for the old Red Rattler trains that did the same. Building on the shoulders of Sydney's infamous illegal warehouse scene (which many of these Rats were involved in), this is a completely legal venue that seems far too good to be true. It's an inspiring space that feels more like a home than a warehouse. Plush red velvet curtains, mismatched second-hand couches and an intimate, friendly atmosphere make a night spent at the Rattler completely unique. The fact that it's run by a collective of artists guarantees an exceptional spectrum of performers, with past highlights including The Church, Naked On The Vague and the High Reflections experimental music nights. Click here for review and details. 3. The Annandale HotelWhere: 17 Parramatta Road, Annandale This pub rock institution is the lifeblood of the Sydney music scene. A '30s Aussie pub, converted in the early '80s into a live music venue, the Annandale has long been the quintessential Australian rock venue. There's the distinct stench of blood, sweat and tears in the air to prove it. With a substantial stage and lighting rig, and a sound system perfectly worn in to the room, any Australian band worth their salt aspires to play here (or already has). A rite of passage for up and coming bands, a night at the Annandale is memorable for musicians and punters alike. And to help the memory factor, the paved courtyard behind the hotel hosts 'pub cha' every Saturday and Sunday, offering regular favourites as well as weekly specials. Click here for review and details. 4. GoodGodWhere: 53-55 Liverpool Street, Sydney This cosy danceteria is bursting at the seams with character: think walls covered with coloured tiles and wooden wagon wheels, mirror balls and bright disco lights, and a crowd that still manages to distract from the interior. The most important feature here is the dance floor, which I guarantee you'll find yourself carving up in no time at all. The music policy varies each night, so look to the website if it's live music that's your thing. Past favourites include Jack Ladder, La Mancha Negra, The Coolies and live karaoke (meaning you plus live band), run by Siberia Records. Click here for review and details. 5. 505Where: 280 Cleveland St, Surry Hills Spartan would be one word used to describe 505. You'd quite easily walk past its front when strolling down Cleveland Street without even glancing up, or knowing that behind a bland, unobtrusive door lies a music venue showcasing some very groovy up and coming Sydney talent. And not just that - it also hides a great place for a drink. While it's not somewhere that you'd visit if you were just after a quiet night out, if you like music with your beverage of choice then this is the place, though that does mean there's usually a cover charge in order to get in. Still, with an array of music to suit your appetite and the fact that it's an artist run space that brings local talent to the stage nearly every night of the week, 505 definitely deserves to not escape your notice. Click here for review and details. 6. The VanguardWhere: 42 King Street, Newtown While it might feel as if you've slid back into the '20s, this comfortably luxurious venue was in fact purpose built. Channeling New Orleans in the heart of Sydney, the Vanguard is a bohemian haven and a place to experience something a little bit different. The restaurant offers a mix of modern Australian and 'soul food', while the stage plays host to an eclectic range of musicians and performers. For those whose tastes lie in jazz and blues, cabaret and burlesque: you've found your man. Click here for review and details. 7. The Factory Theatre Where: 105 Victoria Road, Marrickville The intentions of this venue are clear: a bar, a wide open space (soon to be dance floor) and an empty stage. If you arrive early, it may all feel a little bare, but this only means more room for shenanigans later on. Live music is the core of the Factory's operation, with acts as diverse as Ratcat, the Herd, Holly Throsby and Jamie Lidell. There's plenty of other good options to look out for as well, as this venue also plays host to unique events like the Sydney Underground Film Festival. Click here for review and details. 8. The LansdowneWhere: the corner of City Road and Broadway, Sydney Previously better known for its $10 meals than its live music policy, the Lansdowne is an old pub that's making way for new music. The recently renovated band room is impressive, and now offers live music six nights in a typical week. What's even better is that all shows are free, with an impressive array of local bands on board. Recent shows have featured The Laurels, Dark Bells and Domeyko/Gonzalez. Plus, the cheap meals are still on offer in the cosy bistro upstairs. In other words, a win win situation. Click here for review and details. 9. Black Wire RecordsWhere: 219 Parramatta Road, Annandale If it's the underground you're seeking, this is where you'll find it. Technically a record store, Black Wire offers not only an impressive array of music to purchase but also an enviable dedication to showcasing live bands. Rough and ready is the rule, with bands setting up to play early evenings on the shop floor. All shows are cheap and all ages, providing a vital opportunity for everyone to access cult music. Recent performers have included Alps of New South Wales, Kirin J Callinan and Slug Guts. 10. Oxford Art FactoryWhere: 38-46 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst Perhaps one of the most ambitious venues to open in Sydney in recent years, the Oxford Art Factory is inspired by Andy Warhol's seminal Factory, and intends to operate as a focal point of music and the arts in Sydney. The main room caters to larger and international acts, such as The Dead Weather, Digitalism and Warpaint. The Gallery Bar showcases local acts, with a feature wall repainted frequently by guest artists. Between the two lies the Glass Cube, an exhibition space that regularly features live performance art. Click here for review and details.
If you're of the school of thought that food often tastes better when it's paired with booze, then we have some very good news for you. Fried chicken joint/Champagne bar/sneaker store Butter is offering up the greatest Christmas present of all: an indulgent spiked menu to feast on. Executive chef Julian Cincotta has whipped up a menu that combines his trademark chicken with a pretty darn smooth booze: Hennessy cognac. Embracing the vanilla notes, hints of apple and smooth finish of the cognac, Cincotta has designed a limited edition Hennessy barbecue sauce. The sweet and spicy sauce is paired with Butter's signature fried chicken and shoestring laces (fries), plus a Hennessy ginger mule to wash everything down. The collaboration is in honour of the new Hennessy V.S Limited Edition bottle, designed in partnership with renowned Portuguese street artist Vhils. Noting that both blending Hennessy and Vhils' murals require experimentation and risk-taking, Cincotta says, "We have the same approach at Butter. I love experimenting with different ingredients...and I find spirits have traditionally been under-utilised in cooking." Get your hands on it while you can —the special combo box is only available from now until Sunday, January 6 at both the Surry Hills and Parramatta stores.
Social media can get you anywhere, or so the story behind Marvel's latest movie and the actor playing its eponymous character demonstrates. Back in 2014, Simu Liu tweeted at the comic book company-turned-filmmaking powerhouse, asking "how about an Asian American hero?". In 2018, after Black Panther's success, he tweeted again — querying "are we gonna talk or what?" with the #ShangChi hashtag. Now, the Kim's Convenience star leads the Marvel Cinematic Universe's 25th feature, and the first to focus on a hero of Asian descent in its 13-year run to-date. He's the face of the franchise's latest step forward, both in terms of inclusion and representation, and in keeping the MCU's ongoing narrative forever hurtling onwards. Liu anchors a film about history and destiny, too — one that's about breaking free from the past and committing to the future — and he heartily embraces the occasion. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings itself flits between offering up a lively picture that strives to carve out its own space in the series, and simply serving up more of the usual Marvel template but in enticing packaging, however. Liu first graces the screen as Shaun, a San Francisco valet who's happy parking cars with his best pal Katy (Awkwafina, Breaking News in Yuba County), even though they both know they could follow other paths. While the film shows Katy's family decrying her lack of ambition, Shaun has a keener awareness of what he isn't doing — because he's really Shang-Chi, the son of centuries-old warlord Xu Wenwu (Tony Leung, The Grandmaster), who leads the shadowy Ten Rings criminal organisation and wears the mystical bracelets it's named after. Shang-Chi also has the otherworldly Jiang Li (Fala Chen, The Undoing), the former guardian of an enchanted village filled with dutiful warriors and mythical creatures, for a mother. But when she died when he was a child, his life changed. After the grief-stricken Wenwu obsessively trained him to become an assassin and see vengeance, Shang-Chi fled for the US, where he's lived since. Then, initially via a postcard from his Macau-based, underground fight club-running sister Xu Xialing (debutant Meng'er Zhang), and then thanks a violent visit from his dad's henchmen, he's forced into a family reunion that puts the fate of the universe at stake. It's telling that Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings actually begins by honing in on Wenwu, laying out his backstory and pushing glorious Hong Kong cinema legend Leung — a star with seven Wong Kar-wai films, such as In the Mood for Love and 2046, to his name — firmly to the fore. Marvel has loved daddy issues since Iron Man launched the MCU in 2008. It also adores complicated histories, and stressing the idea that heroes are forged from such complexity. And, it likes anchoring its sprawling on-screen world in as much lore and as many links to the past as it can. That's all accounted for in Shang-Chi's opening move, but so is pure movie-star physics. Leung is never less than magnetic in every feature he's in, including here. He's an actor with breathtaking presence, which has seen him prove one of cinema's most commanding figures for four-plus decades. The power and texture he brings to conflicted characters improves any film and, even with Liu handling his leading role with all the charisma and energy demanded, Leung is always the biggest highlight of every scene he's in. In other words, writer/director Destin Daniel Cretton (Just Mercy, Short Term 12) has cast two essential roles devastatingly well — and maybe better than he intended in one case. Liu remains the star of the show, and the movie sets him up for more MCU appearances, of course. He crosses paths with other faces from the franchise, there's zero doubt that he'll be a key part of the saga moving forward and, based on this likeable-enough debut outing, audiences will want to spend more time in his company. But watching Leung constantly leads to yearning for more of Leung. The same applies when the great Michelle Yeoh (Gunpowder Milkshake) also pops up after Shang-Chi openly nods towards Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Marvel's decision to add a martial arts movie to its roster, and to populate it with Asian cinema superstars, can just remind viewers of all the exceptional works that the genre and those talents already made long before Hollywood blockbusters paid them notice, in fact. Shang-Chi brings other films to mind repeatedly, including via valet hijinks that ride in Ferris Bueller's Day Off's tyre treads, and a phenomenal bus scene — the movie's standout, and the beneficiary of dazzling fight choreography — that's more than a little like Speed-meets-Nobody. When a franchise spans 25 instalments and shows no signs of stopping, seeing echoes of past flicks comes with the territory as well, with Shang-Chi boasting the focus on character that makes the better MCU entries stand out, but also remaining happy to descend into the overblown CGI that's always been one of the series' worst impulses. It doesn't quite possess Black Panther's world-building flair, but it wants to. It can't exactly make its genre fit as well as Black Widow did with the spy realm, either. And, sometimes it feels like it's doing the bare minimum that Marvel thinks is necessary with this titular figure, and with committing to an Asian hero, as Captain Marvel illustrated before it with the saga's first solo female lead. When Shang-Chi soars — when Liu and especially Leung shine, the wuxia-inspired action choreography does the same and building engaging characters is the film's main motivation — it makes for vivid viewing. When it finds genuine emotion in Shang-Chi and Wenwu's thorny relationship, and celebrates the MCU's latest otherwise-overlooked sister (with Xialing joining Black Panther's Shuri and Black Widow's Yelena), it beats with heart, too. When it breaks out a sense of humour, which happens often in Cretton, Dave Callaham (Mortal Kombat) and Andrew Lanham's (Just Mercy) screenplay, it mostly mines an entertainingly goofy vibe (although it does lean a little too heavily on Awkwafina doing her Crazy Rich Asians sidekick schtick). That's the film's first two-thirds. When Shang-Chi regurgitates the standard formula, complete with a special-effects onslaught of a finale that favours pixels more than the fantasy flicks it's trying to ape, it surrenders a better movie to an average one. Here's hoping that Liu's tweets ultimately give rise to something more as the MCU keeps on keeping on.
This year may have gotten off to a chaotic start, but that doesn't mean the country's (or your) cultural calendar is looking too bare. Some of 2022's most exciting and immersive art and museum exhibitions have either just opened their doors across the nation or are on their way before the year is out — which means you've got plenty to see in plenty of places. That's especially exciting now that interstate borders are all fully open across the entire country, and cheap flights keep popping up with frequency, too. So, get out your diaries and plan trips to dive into all things Disney, peer at Yayoi Kusama's finest in two different cities, scope out Picasso's best and fall in love with Elvis paraphernalia — aka some of the art and museum exhibitions set to brighten up 2022. Top image: Raemar, Blue, 1969, James Turrell. Tate: Presented by the Tate Americas Foundation, partial purchase and partial gift of Doris J. Lockhart 2013. © James Turrell. Photo: Tate.
When the 21st Biennale spreads its artistic arsenal across seven venues in Sydney this March, we plan to be ready. 70 artists from across the globe will be exhibiting their eclectic works under the theme of Superposition: Equilibrium & Engagement in celebration of the 45th anniversary of this explosive festival. In partnership with the Biennale of Sydney, we've curated three different itineraries to arm you with everything you need to navigate this vast and varied program. But let's not forget that an inquisitive, creative-focused brain needs nourishment, so we've thrown in the best food and drink joints nearby as well. The artistic use of video is a loose connecting thread on this tour between Haymarket and Eveleigh. From the 4A Centre of Contemporary Asian Art to the expansive space that is Carriageworks, you'll experience different takes on filmmaking from across the globe. You'll also experience a Mary's burger pizza. [caption id="attachment_654207" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Akira Takayama: McDonald's Radio University, 2017. Photograph: Masahiro Hasunuma.[/caption] 4A CENTRE FOR CONTEMPORARY ASIAN ART Renowned Japanese theatre director and actor Akira Takayama has asked the fine folk of Sydney to share a poem or song significant to their family — regardless of their origins — that has been passed down from generation to generation to create a tapestry of oral histories of the city and its people. He has then invited those who submit to perform them for his film that will be shown at 4A throughout the festival. PITSTOP: THE LANSDOWNE Sydney's favourite live music venue lives and is about halfway between 4A and Carriageworks. "Music. Art. Pizza. Party" are the words used to describe the new Lansdowne on their website, so this must be the right stop off for your art-led itinerary. And have you tried their pizza? They have a Mary's burger pizza. Even better, if you're there between 12–3pm these legends offer lunch for just a tenner. CARRIAGEWORKS [caption id="attachment_654213" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Semiconductor: Earthworks, 2016. Photograph: Semiconductor.[/caption] IMMERSIVE ART The former rail yard space of Carriageworks lends well to large-scale installations, so the Biennale crew know to use this wisely and have curated something special with video at the core. Cutting-edge UK artist duo Semiconductor is set to give their take on our fascination with material things and will do so with a large five-channel video work. Also using experimental video, Chinese artist Chen Shaoxiang will work with four channels in his visual exploration of everyday life and Vietnam's Trinh Thi Nguyen will bring her filmmaker skills to a special Carriageworks piece. PITSTOP: CORNERSTONE BAR & FOOD Why exit the Carriageworks building when you can seamlessly sink into one of the couches at the on-site Cornerstone Bar & Food. This warmly lit industrial space is just the come-down you need from a day of such sensory stimulation. In fact, you may just want to come here once a week for their rotating menu of arancini balls. The hungry can tuck into a bowl of teriyaki chicken or Korean barbecue pork, but if you resisted the pizza at The Lansdowne you probably won't be able to avoid the lure of the Turkish pizza with haloumi and caramelised onion. The 21st Biennale of Sydney sets up across the city on March 16 and will run until June 11. Find out more about the program here, and check out our guides from the MCA to Cockatoo Island and the Opera House to Artspace in Woolloomooloo.
When you've ushered the world into Vincent van Gogh's work — getting them not just peering at it but stepping through it thanks to an immersive 360-degree experience — what comes next? For the folks at Melbourne-based Grande Exhibitions, it's now Claude Monet and his impressionist peers' turn. Hot on the heels of Van Gogh Alive touring the country, and even hitting up some cities multiple times, Monet in Paris is set to dazzle from winter 2023. This exhibition will enjoy its world premiere in Brisbane, hitting Northshore Hamilton for two months from Wednesday, June 7–Sunday, August 6. While further stops haven't yet been announced, the River City stint is being hailed as its global debut — and it will tour Australia afterwards. Art lovers can look forward to wandering around the 2500-square-metre Grand Palais, a marquee custom-designed by Australian theatre designer Anna Cordingley, with the venue set to feature six breakout spaces, a cafe, multiple bars and a gift shop. Of course, it's Monet and his pals' creations that's the big drawcard. Featuring Monet's Water Lilies, getting attendees dancing with Edgar Degas' ballerinas and just whisking visitors into 19th-century Paris' bohemian vibe — with detours to the French countryside — there'll be plenty to see. Fans of Van Gogh Alive know how it works from there, with iconic paintings projected large — pieces not just by Monet and Degas, but also from Camille Pissarro, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Paul Cézanne, Berthe Morisot, Mary Cassatt and more. Once again, that means using Grande Experiences' state-of-the-art technology, which is behind those beamed images. And, there'll also be a classical score soundtracking the experience. "The team at Grande Experiences are absolutely thrilled to premiere Monet in Paris in Brisbane in June," said Founder and CEO Bruce Peterson. "Produced in the same immersive multi-sensory format as the hugely successful Van Gogh Alive, this very new and unique experience will captivate and enthral audiences young and old as we enjoy many of the colourful works of art from the French masters of the 19th century, combined with a wonderful musical score and special aromas permeating throughout the venue," he continued. If Monet in Paris sounds familiar, that's because Grande Exhibitions also run Melbourne's digital-only gallery The Lume, which has been hosting the similar Monet & Friends Alive since October 2022. Monet in Paris' debut season will run from Wednesday, June 7–Sunday, August 6 at Northshore, Brisbane, with ticket pre-sales from Thursday, March 9 and general sales from Tuesday, March 14. For further details, head to the event's website. Images: Grande Experiences.
It was a delight as a webcomic, then on the page. As a Netflix series, Heartstopper instantly proved a gem, too. Indeed, if you didn't dedicate an autumn 2022 day to binging the show's first season, then you probably weren't anywhere near your streaming queue or social media. As charming as romantic comedies, LGBTQIA+-championing tales, British series and coming-of-age stories can get, Heartstopper dropped all eight of its first-season episodes at once, became an instant Netflix hit and started many an obsession — regardless of whether you currently are or ever have been a queer teen trying to be true to yourself, navigating high school and riding the emotional rollercoaster that is falling in love. After Netflix renewed the series for two more seasons last year because the first proved such a hit, the show will get viewers swooning again when season two arrives on Thursday, August 3. Wondering what's in store? There's now finally a trailer. This winter, Heartstopper will be making tickers miss a beat again, and twice, with the graphic novel's author and illustrator Alice Oseman also back as the show's writer (and creator, obviously). It's easy to see why more Heartstopper is on its way — and not just because its narrative has continued past where season one stopped on both the web and in print. The first season hit the Netflix top-ten list in 54 countries, wowed audiences and earned the online attention to prove it, and made stars out of its cast. Story-wise, Heartstopper heads to Truham Grammar School, where Charlie Spring (first-timer Joe Locke) was in year ten in season one. He found himself seated in his form class next to year 11 rugby player Nick Nelson (Kit Connor, Little Joe) at the start of a new term, with sparks flying swiftly and overwhelmingly — at least on Charlie's part — and a crush and then a life-changing love story blossoming. Filled with crushes, a coming-out narrative for Nick and a cute Paris trip — as based on the sneak peek — season two sees its key pair in the thick of their new relationship, and coping with exams and the prom. Also, Charlie's high-drama best friend Tao (fellow debutant William Gao) and recently out trans pal Elle (Yasmin Finney) are working through their bond, while her school friends Tara (Corinna Brown, Daphne) and Darcy (Kizzy Edgell) have their own challenges. "You don't always have to understand your feelings completely. You don't have to always have everything figured out. You can just feel," Nick tells Elle in the trailer — something that season-one viewers know sounds like classic Heartstopper. There's currently four volumes, spanning five chapters, of Heartstopper on the page — and a fifth volume set to arrive in November 2023 — so fingers crossed there'll be even more seasons of the Netflix series in the future. Check out the trailer for Heartstopper season two below: Heartstopper season two will stream via Netflix from Thursday, August 3. Read our review of season one. Images: Netflix.
Whether he's co-writing and starring in sketch comedies, directing two of the best horror films of the past few years, producing an Oscar-nominee or reviving a science-fiction classic, Jordan Peele has amassed an impressive resume. So, whenever he adds a new project to the lengthy list, it's worth paying attention. Already, he has Key & Peele, Get Out, Us and The Twilight Zone to his name— and he produced BlacKkKlansman, and produced and co-wrote the upcoming new Candyman flick too. This year, he also executive produced Al Pacino-starring TV series Hunters, about hunting down Nazis in the 70s. And, come August, he's doing the same with Lovecraft Country, a 50s-era exploration of both otherworldly and actual monsters. Based on the 2016 novel of the same name by Matt Ruff, Lovecraft Country follows a road trip across the US in the time of the Jim Crow racial segregation laws. Atticus Freeman (Jonathan Majors, Da 5 Bloods) is looking for his missing dad (Michael Kenneth Williams, The Wire), enlisting his friend (Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)) and his uncle George (Courtney B Vance, Ben Is Back) to trek around the country with him. Cue the unwelcoming, discriminatory and hostile reality of white America, as well as terrors of the supernatural kind (aka, the type that American sci-fi and horror writer HP Lovecraft is synonymous with, hence the show's title). Yes, it sounds like it's completely in Peele's wheelhouse. Lost and Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker's JJ Abrams is also one of the new ten-episode series' executive producers, too, alongside showrunner and writer Misha Green (Underground), directors Yann Demange ('71) and Daniel Sackheim (True Detective, Game of Thrones), and producers Bill Carraro (Blade Runner 2049) and David Knoller (Power, Big Love). Lovecraft Country hits HBO in the US in August, with the exact date yet to be announced. As for airing Down Under, Australians can likely expect it to screen on Foxtel and/or its new streaming platform Binge, with local details yet to be revealed as well. Check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJV9acMsDwM Lovecraft Country starts airing on HBO in the US in August. A release date Down Under is yet to be announced — we'll update you when one comes to hand. Top image: Elizabeth Morris/HBO
UPDATE, 2pm, Friday, July 22: Splendour in the Grass has now cancelled its main stage gigs on Friday, July 22 due to "a significant weather system" that "is currently sitting off the east coast and may reach land later today bringing more rainfall". Organisers also advised that the festival looks forward "to Saturday and Sunday programming moving ahead as planned". Yes, you can call it a comeback: after two winters without live tunes at North Byron Parklands, Splendour in the Grass has finally returned. But rather than a bustling weekend filled with huge sets from some of the biggest global and local musos there are — with Gorillaz, The Strokes and Tyler, The Creator on headlining duties — eager festival-goers are arriving to a soggy time. A chaotic time, too, especially if you're planning to camp — and you attempted to arrive on Thursday, July 21 to get settled early. Due to incredibly wet conditions, North Byron Bay Parklands has been experiencing flooding, leading to uninhabitable campsites, a logistical mess and hefty delays for carloads of Splendour attendees trying getting in. Concrete Playground staff writer Ben Hansen joined the queue at 5.50pm on Thursday, and didn't get into the campsite until 4am on Friday. "The communication was that there were cars being bogged and they were understaffed, and that's why they couldn't process anyone," he advised. "In the end, they were just trying to get people into the campsite, and then they gave up and redirected everyone that was in the lines straight into the car park that's usually for day parking. Everyone that was in those lines has just set up camp there. Nobody has talked to us since — we haven't talked to a volunteer, we've just kind of set up a community in the car park, and we're all just living there for the next three days. There's toilets but there's no other amenities." This morning, on Friday, July 22, Splendour organisers advised in a Facebook statement that North Byron Parklands "can no longer accept any campers or vehicles including day parking" at the site. Instead, all incoming camping patrons and day parkers are being directed to Byron Events Farm at 35 Yarun Road, Tyagarah, with free bus shuttles them taking them to the Parklands once they've set up camp. Understandably, the mood on the ground is mixed. "People are excited to be back at the festival, but people are sad," Hansen explained. On Thursday evening, the festival advised on Facebook that "the weather and staff shortages were all worse than expected". Unsurprisingly, the damp conditions around the ground are causing a muddy ol' time — even for a festival that's long been synonymous with mud. "It's as muddy as I've ever seen it. I was here in 2015, when everyone was like 'this is the muddiest year in ages', and I reckon it's muddier this year. Walking into the festival — I'm currently in front of the entrance to the festival, and the mud is up to my calf, nearly up to my knee in points," Hansen noted. "The gumboots are getting a workout... it's Splendour in the pool at this point." TikTok is currently filled with videos showcasing the situation, naturally. More rain is forecast by the Bureau of Meteorology for today, with showers and wind on Saturday, plus possible showers on Sunday. Splendour in the Grass runs from Friday, July 22–Sunday, July 24 at North Byron Parklands. For further information, head to the festival's website and Facebook page. Images: Ben Hansen.
Sydney Harbour is set to experience a taste of Broadway magic, circa 1957, when Handa Opera's famed floating stage plays host to legendary musical, West Side Story. Lighting up the unique waterfront opera venue from March 22 until April 21 next year, the Opera Australia production features homegrown talents Alexander Lewis and Julie Lea Goodwin reimagining the classic tale of star-crossed lovers in 1950s New York City. It tells the story of two rival West Side gangs and the drama that ensues when youngsters from each side fall in love. Acclaimed director Francesca Zambello, along with Brian Thomson and Jennifer Irwin, have created a new take on the original Broadway favourite, based on Arthur Laurent's famed novel. You'll get to watch this captivating show brought to life under the stars, from harbourside seats at Mrs Macquaries Point, bopping along to all the musical's iconic hit songs — I Feel Pretty, Maria, Somewhere, America, Cool and of course, Tonight. Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour boasts a reputation as one of the world's best open-air opera venues, with Carmen, Aida and La Bohème just some of the hits to grace its stage in recent years. West Side Story on Sydney Harbour will run from March 22–April 21, 2019. Tickers are available as part of an Opera Australia subscription package from August 16, and single tickets from September 3. Image: Hamilton Lund, 'Carmen'
Emma's Snack Bar in Enmore has a friendly, casual vibe and a full menu of mezze — this is Lebanese dining that always pleases. The retro interior draws inspiration from the local takeaway model; there's fluorescent signage, a blackboard menu, counter dining and a takeaway window when you're just too daggy to go inside. Another thing to note is that it's absolutely packed. Good thing it's mostly locals, so it's just a short (and sad) walk home if they forget to make a booking. The menu is designed for a relaxed pick and nibble while you sip on a glass of wine. With hummus being the staffroom lunch staple it is these days, Emma's has spiced things up by creating four different versions — our favourite being the spicy one. The garlic dip is another must-order, with so much pure garlic, it'll make you tear up a little. The oven-roasted eggplant features garlic and Lebanese spices to make a tangy, textural feast, while the spiced fried cauliflower with tahini is little short of perfection. Everyone wants more of the Moorish Chicken, which sees marinated chicken stuffed into a parcel of crispy pita. Sadly, it's cut into four slices, so you've really got no option but to share it with your 'friends'. Behold, the kebab arrives. Unwrapping the delicate paper folds reveals that this is no ordinary kebaby. A never-dry fet of falafels lie cradled in a bread blanket, lovingly tucked in with fatouche, pickles and a creamy thini sauce. It's fresh and heavenly, one of the few kebabs you'll ever eat without remorse. Although Emma's Snack Bar is a relaxed joint, the menu is all about the fine art of snacking, so don't expect generous platters of greasy food, and don't turn up at 2am (or really, really drunk) either. This is mezze so good you're sure to come back for a double dip. Images: Arvin Prem Kumar
When Super Mario Kart first rolled onto Super Nintendo consoles back in 1992, it came with 20 inventive courses and endless hours of fun. Nearly three decades later, the game has become a beloved phenomenon — not just speeding through desert tracks and rainbow roads, but onto Google Maps and mobile phones, and also into reality. The hugely popular game's next stop? Theme parks. Although an exact opening date hasn't yet been announced — and its launch has already been pushed back due to the COVID-19 pandemic — in 2021 you'll be able to enjoy a real-life Mario Kart experience as part of the first-ever Super Nintendo World. Initially announced back in 2017, the new site is joining Universal Studios in Osaka, with the park revealing this month that it'll open its latest addition early in the new year. Just what Super Nintendo World will entail has been a source of mystery over the past few years, but more and more details are slowly being unveiled. Yes, Mario Kart features as part of a new ride, with Mark Woodbury, President of Universal Creative and Vice Chairman Universal Parks & Resorts, calling the racing component "a new kind of attraction". Exactly what that means is yet to be revealed; however, it's safe to assume that fans will be able to strap into some kind of moving kart. What else could a Mario Kart ride feature? [caption id="attachment_785957" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Universal Studios Japan[/caption] Osaka's Super Nintendo World will also take over multiple levels — fitting for a gaming-themed space — and recreate the brand's popular characters and themes, complete with other rides, restaurants and shops. A certain highlight: the world's first Mario cafe, which is actually launching this week, on Friday, October 16, ahead of the rest of the site. Here, patrons will be surrounded by oversized Mario and Luigi hat sculptures, the whole space will be kitted out with a red and green colour scheme, and Mario Kart-style checkered floors will be a feature. As for what you'll be snacking on, there'll be Mario pancake sandwiches and cream sodas, plus other drinks available in 'super mushroom' souvenir bottles. Basically, in general around the venue, you can expect Mario and Mario-related characters to pop up often — with Universal Studios confirming that it'll boast a Yoshi ride, a Mushroom Kingdom, Peach's Castle and Bowser's Castle. "Think of Super Nintendo World as a life-size, living video game where you become one of the characters," explained Thierry Coup, Senior Vice President and Chief Creative Officer, Universal Creative. "You're not just playing the game; you're living the game, you're living the adventure." With that in mind, the theme park will introduce wearable wrist bands, called Power Up Bands — which'll connect to a special app and allow patrons to interact with the site using their arms, hands and bodies. That mightn't sound all that exciting, but the bands will enable you to collect coins just like Mario does in the Super Mario games. Like the red-capped plumber, you'll also be able to hit question blocks to do reveal more coins. And there'll be collectible items to gather, such as character stamps, which you'll find after achieving various goals. The stamps will also earn you even more coins — so you really will be basically playing Super Mario in real life. You will have to buy a Power Up Band separate to your entry ticket to enjoy that element of the park, though. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKCqJ8llKuA While it doesn't give away a whole lot, Universal Studios previously released a new Super Nintendo World song and music video with Charli XCX and Galantis, which they say "showcases the activities based on the real and interactive experiences available at Super Nintendo World". For now, all other specifics remain sparse; however, given that Nintendo's game stable includes everything from Donkey Kong to Tetris and The Legend of Zelda, there's plenty more to play with. Our suggestions: real-life Tetris, where you move bricks around in person, or a Donkey Kong water ride that uses the game's iconic aquatic music. While no one is travelling far at present, Universal Studios is also planning Super Nintendo Worlds for its other parks in Hollywood, Orlando and in Singapore — if you need to add more places to your must-visit list when international tourism starts returning to normal. The latter was just announced last year, and is set to open by 2025. Super Nintendo World is slated to open at Universal Studios Osaka in early 2021 — we'll update you with an exact date when one is announced. Top image: Super Nintendo World 'We Are Born to Play' by Galantis ft. Charli XCX.
David Spanton might just be Kings Cross' biggest fan. Not once but twice now, the Potts Point local has sprung into action when a beloved venue in The Cross has gone up for sale, turning longstanding spaces into vibrant new bars dedicated to their former custodians. The first was Piccolo Bar, a tiny Roslyn Street institution that Spanton saved and rejuvenated in late 2021, keeping all of the charm of the original while equipping it with a fresh coat of paint, a liquor license and an exciting drinks menu. Now, he's back to save another much-loved spot, this time taking the reins at the former digs of Cafe Hernandez on Kings Cross Road. The 24-hour cafe had been operating on this leafy street for 40 years — with Spanton recounting visits from the likes of Frank Sinatra and Guns N' Roses over the years. It closed in September of last year when the Hernandez family decided to step away from the venue. Worried it would be turned into a fashion boutique or hairdresser, Spanton came to the rescue, purchasing the property and transforming it into a bar devoted to fortified wine, fittingly called Vermuteria. [caption id="attachment_885994" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Michael Delany, David Spanton and General Manager Michael Drescher[/caption] Once again collaborating with Michael Delany (Cafe Freda's, Club 77, The Abercrombie and SHADES) on the design, Spanton is currently in the process of breathing new life into the space. But fans of the original cafe can rest easy — the new fitout will maintain key elements of the former, including an original painting from earlier owner Paquita Sabrafen depicting the Count-Duke of Olivares, on which she has superimposed her husband's face. The walls will also feature photographs of Cafe Hernandez and the Polish deli that occupied the space between the 50s and 70s, linking the bar with its storied past. "People will be able to come in and feel a connection to what was Hernandez Cafe," Spanton tells Concrete Playground. "It's one of those iconic venues in Sydney that most people know about if they're from the Potts Point/Kings Cross area, where you could always go to Hernandez to get a coffee." Much like Piccolo, Vermuteria will showcase a small specialised drinks menu and a range of tasty snacks, with vermouth and sherry at the heart of the booze offering. Barrels of vermouth will be scattered throughout the bar, and guests will be able to order vermouth on tap, sample the house-made sweet vermouth, and explore a lineup of sherry ranging from fino to manzanilla. A cocktail selection is set to include negronis, spritzes and sherry cobblers. [caption id="attachment_885993" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Paquita Sabrafen's painting of the Count-Duke of Olivares[/caption] The snacks menu will pay homage to the former deli, with charcuterie from LP's Quality Meats starring alongside gildas, tinned seafood, cheese plates and sausages. "There's definitely a much more positive vibe going on in Kings Cross," Spanton continues. "I think that a lot of great venues are starting to open in the area and a lot of places are starting to get a lot busier. I think the customers are loving that there's a lot more going on. And, I think that Kings Cross and Potts Point have some of the best customers." Fans of Cafe Hernandez's coffee can also still get their fix. While the cafe has closed down, the Hernandez brand is still producing coffee beans which you can order online. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Vermuteria (@vermuteriasydney) Vermuteria is set to open in February 2023 at 60 Kings Cross Road, Kings Cross.
The trailer for the fourth instalment of George Miller’s Mad Max franchise was released at Comic-Con in San Diego this weekend, and it's a total, jaw-dropping attention hog. Mad Max: Fury Road sees Tom Hardy take the reigns as 'Mad' Max Rockatansky, with appearances from Charlize Theron, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Zoe Kravitz, Megan Gale, Abbey Lee Kershaw and Nicholas Hoult thrown into the high-speed mix. From what we can gather the film revolves around a huge car chase sequence set in an unmerciful desert, complete with all the trimmings of daredevil motorbike jumps, rolling car crashes and explosions. Lots of explosions. There's some captivating end-of-days imagery going on, showing this classic Australian franchise has not been left to idle in the '80s. The fourth Mad Max has had film fans on tenterhooks for decades. It has a potted production history, having spent 25 years in what is known as "development hell". Most recently, filming was moved from Broken Hill to Namibia, after unexpected heavy rains turned the necessary desert landscape into inappropriate lush wildflowers. It's looking formidable from the trailer, so let's hope the movie — due for release on May 15, 2015 — delivers on the impact promised.
Australia's festival scene keeps delivering heartbreak, with Mona Foma the latest major event to announce that it's no longer going ahead. 2024's fest has already taken place, running back in February, but it will now go down in history as the last-ever Mona Foma. Tasmania's Museum of Old and New Art, aka Mona, has called time on its summer festival after a 16-year run of showcasing music and art — and giving Dark Mofo a sunny counterpart — during the Apple Isle's warmer months. Mona owner and founder David Walsh revealed the end of Mona Foma in a statement, bidding farewell to the event because "it's been magical, but the spell has worn off". [caption id="attachment_784488" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mona/Jesse Hunniford. Image courtesy of the artist and Mona Museum of Old and New Art, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia[/caption] "At Mona Foma — Mofo — at the Peacock Theatre, we joined the Zen Circus, and Italian punk came to live, rent free, in my head," starts Walsh's missive, which begins by running through past festival highlights. "In 2023 Peaches turned us all on with her sexy songs, but the thing that turned me on the most was the sign language interpreter signing 'peg'," he continues. "Guy Ben-Ary in 2017, wiring living neurons to speakers and cajoling them to scream. Gotye playing the ondioline. Robin Fox's beacons. David Byrne and Philip Glass. Wire and Cale. The Saints and St Vincent. Dresden Dolls and Dan Deacon. Sun Ra and Neneh Cherry. Kate Miller-Heidke and Vieux Farka Touré." "And the finches playing guitar. From Here to Ear. That was the first one, in 2009. We bought that work, but we've never shown it again. It was too much the first time." [caption id="attachment_880158" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mona/Rémi Chauvin. Image Courtesy Mona, Museum of Old and New Art, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.[/caption] "Mona Foma took us around the world. But it ends here. Maybe the end started at COVID. Maybe it's because the last festival was a poorly attended artistic triumph. But those aren't the reasons I killed it," Walsh notes. "I know that we live for experience but, more and more, I seek permanence, a symbolic immortality. At Mona, I'm building this big thing, hopefully it'll be a good thing, but it's a costly thing. I'm addicted to building, and my addiction got out of hand. Some things have to go before I'm too far gone." "Mona Foma is one of those things. It's been magical, but the spell has worn off. Only these words, from Kurt Vonnegut's Cat's Cradle, remain: 'live by the Foma that makes you brave and kind and healthy and happy.'" [caption id="attachment_832077" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jesse Hunniford, Mona[/caption] Ending Mona Foma is the latest big change for Mona's festivals. As announced in 2023, Dark Mofo is taking a breather in 2024. A number of the latter's regular events, such as Winter Feast, the Nude Solstice Swim, Night Shift and the Mona Gala are still happening this year, however. With Dark Mofo, the plan is to press pause for 12 months to take stock and come back even better. "The fallow year will enable us to secure the future of Dark Mofo and its return at full force in 2025," said Dark Mofo Artistic Director Chris Twite in 2023. The Mona Foma news comes after both Splendour in the Grass and Groovin the Moo cancelled their 2024 festivals mere weeks after announcing their lineups. Falls Festival took summer 2023–24 off, Summergrounds Music Festival at Sydney Festival was cancelled and This That hasn't gone ahead for a couple of years now. [caption id="attachment_926552" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Amy Brown, image courtesy of Street Eats @ Franko Hobart and Mona Foma.[/caption] 2024's Mona Foma featured Queens of the Stone Age, Courtney Barnett, TISM, Paul Kelly, Mogwai, Shonen Knife, and Cash Savage and The Last Drinks, for starters — and Holy Fuck, Wednesday, Michael Rother and Friends (playing Neu! songs), and Lonnie Holley with Moor Mother and Irreversible Entanglements. The lineup goes on from there. "Gratitude to all of you that came. And to those who didn't, a silver lining: you'll no longer suffer from FOMO for FOMA. And anyway, repetition is regimentation. And regimentation is ridiculous," said Walsh in his announcement. "Greatest gratitude to those who helped put it together. I hope it was as good for you as it was for me." [caption id="attachment_830704" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Remi Chauvin, Mona.[/caption] Mona Foma's last festival took place in February 2024. Head to the MONA website for further details. Top image: Mona/Jesse Hunniford. Image courtesy of the artist and Mona Museum of Old and New Art, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
Buying and supporting local projects is a proud badge worn by many a Sydneysider. You like buying Marrickville-made jam from Eveleigh markets, you support emerging Sydney psych bands at FBi Social every other week, so why wouldn't you also support Sydney's best local innovators online? Pozible have launched a Sydney-specific page, dubbed The Sydney Edit. Previewed at Vivid Ideas' hugely popular Stand Up, Stand Out event, The Sydney Edit puts local innovations under their own spotlight — making it easier for community-loving backers to find the crowdfunding projects in their own backyards. During Pozible's event at Vivid Ideas last week, the crowdfunding heavyweights asked current project instigators to live pitch to a physical audience. Sydney creators behind AKIO, The Right Foot, The Human Sound Project and the Flute Handbag Collection had five minutes to pitch their crowdfunding ideas, then a further ten to present their work. The audience then pledged $30 of their ticket price to their favourite project in a kind of real life Pozible backing. Sydney's DirtyFeet and their project The Right Foot took out the top spot and will soon see $4050 put into their Pozible campaign (just over a grand more than their own $3000 target). The Right Foot offers creative contemporary dance workshops for young people aged 14-26 with and without disability. Nice one guys. Sydney has already proved supportive of local Pozible ventures in the past, with the successful funding of Newtown motorbike workshop-meets-ramen cafe Rising Sun Workshop. The rev-enthusiasts raised $38,500 on the site and opened in April 2014 to much backer applause. In Pozible's Sydney Edit Collections section, Pozible works with a number of local organisations across the arts sector and creative industries, as well as government, community and non-profits. This is where you'll find 'collections' of Pozible campaigns under the likes of Vivid Sydney, Sydney Fringe Festival, Underbelly Arts, Alaska Projects and many more locally-based legends you can get behind. So throw in some spare cashola and crowdfund your own city's Pozible projects at The Sydney Edit. Top image credit: Rising Sun Workshop.
When broadcaster, natural historian and living treasure Sir David Attenborough makes a new nature documentary series, it's well worth your time and attention. Luckily for everyone who loves peering at the planet's wonders, the 93-year-old icon is rather prolific. Already this year, he fronted Netflix's eight-part Our Planet series — and now he's heading back to small screens everywhere thanks to the BBC's Seven Worlds, One Planet. Across seven episodes — each focusing on a different continent — the new series will delve into the distinctive animal life that roams around Earth. Expect to spend time looking at creatures scampering across Africa's scorching plains and navigating Antarctic's frozen waters, as well as exploring the enormous diversity in Asia and the wildlife prowling through Europe, all alongside looks at Australia and Oceania, as well as both North and South America. In addition to celebrating the variety of natural life found on each continent, Seven Worlds, One Planet will ponder their threats in today's modern environment. The show also features some considerable human star power alongside Attenborough, with its lengthy trailer — badged a 'prequel' to the series by the BBC — featuring new track 'Out There' from Sia and Hans Zimmer. The preview was launched at this year's Glastonbury Festival, with Attenborough taking to the stage in front of his biggest live audience ever. Seven Worlds, One Planet is to premiere in the UK this year at a yet-to-be-revealed date, then head Down Under afterwards — the BBC owns seven channels across Australia and New Zealand, including BBC First, BBC UKTV, BBC Knowledge and CBeebies on Foxtel and Fetch TV in Australia; BBC Living on Fetch TV in NZ, and BBC UKTV and BBC Earth on Sky TV. Feast your eyes on the extended trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlFRPkT-hVc Seven Worlds, One Planet will premiere in the UK later in 2019, and screen in Australia and New Zealand afterwards via the BBC's local channels — although specific airdate details are yet to be revealed. We'll update you when they're announced. Image: Alex Board, Copyright BBC Studios.
In a surprising move that contradicts their usually pricey products, German sporting giant Adidas are set to launch a US$1 shoe under their subsidiary brand, Reebok. A similar project was undertaken by Adidas in 2010 in Bangladesh, but was abandoned after an initial run of 5000 pairs. This was due to production and import costs of US$6.50 exceeding the shoe's low price point. Adidas has now looked to neighbouring India as its new major growth market. With its booming population and high levels of poverty, the nation is an ideal market for durable and affordable clothing. Adidas CEO Herbert Hainer said that Adidas' surprisingly high sales have allowed them to undertake this venture. Furthermore, he told German newspaper Die Welt am Sonntag that "the shoe will be sold in villages through a distribution network... We want the product to be self-funding." Standing at US$1, or 52 rupees, this is a hard offer to turn down. [Via PSFK]
New outpost and Seoul sister of Balmain's popular (and now-closed) Mabasa, Sáng by Mabasa trades up the barbecued short rib and vats of melted cheese for plates that are delicate and well-balanced — and unlike those found at any other Korean restaurant in Sydney. Established and run by a Korean family, the tiny, pared back restaurant seats just 22, with counter seating to the right, and two wide communal tables that let you spill your food down the middle. In the open kitchen you'll find self-taught chefs, Seung Kee Son and Jin Sun Son, who have barricaded themselves behind glass jars of pickles, while their son Kenny Yong-Soo Son and his partner Youmee Jeon, run the front of house and floor. The clean, minimalist space reveals a tasteful aesthetic, thanks to artful objects in deliberate places and rustic clusters of native branches. It's little surprise, really, with Kenny also the owner (and maker) of contemporary design studio Studiokyss. Open for both lunch and dinner, Sáng's menu is a lineup of classic Korean dishes, but those on the hunt for lesser-known flavours will make plenty of new friends, too. Perhaps not too adventurous, but still highly rewarding, are the kun mandu ($14). Crisp and golden to the pleats, each pan-fried purse contains a steaming treasure chest of pork mince, glass noodles and crumbled tofu, with a pickled soy and sesame sauce that's electrifyingly good. While you may already know bibimbap quite well, Sáng's menu also includes a dolsot version ($20), which is served in a hot stone bowl and left to fry away on the table. Listening to the delicious hissing can be torturous at times; however, the reward for your patience is a crisp rice crust that adds texture to the raw tumble of egg yolk and slippery veg. Other delights include the pig's trotters ($28), soft and jellied in a saline-sweet sauce, and the tender joints of Korean fried chicken ($28), encased in a thick, pancake-y batter, like an old-school pluto pup. More than just artistic dots and dashes on the plate, a serve of buttery, nutty, yak gwa ($15), honey cookies, on black pools of sesame and seed cream, manage to be both gourmet and Gorman. The drinks list is small, but don't sweat it, there's still good stuff here. Sáng hasn't included any of the more watery Korean lagers, like Cass and Hite, but the rich and malty Kloud does make the cut. It's also BYO wine for an entirely reasonable $4 a bottle — not that you needed another reason to drop by. Images: Trent van der Jagt.
We've seen social media play it's part at the pointy end of politics with Egypt's facebook revolution, but does it have a role in regular democracy? Iceland seems to think so. The country suffered badly at the hands of the financial crisis, causing the collapse of their banking system, and bringing down its government. In such a dire situation, tearing up the rule-book and starting again starts to look like a good idea, but who exactly should be involved in drafting a new constitution? Well, it's a document for the people, so why not have it written by the people? Given that their current constitution was copied from Denmark's in 1944 with a bit of find-and-replace work, a new version is probably due. Iceland's constitutional council has a presence on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, and is using the social media channels to get the public involved in drafting the new constitution. Draft clauses are published to the council's website so the public can see exactly what they're up to, and provide feedback. The draft constitution, which will include checks to prevent further financial crises and changes to the way elections are run, is due to be put to a referendum at the end of July. Involving the entire population in the political process hasn't really been feasible in any nation since democracy's early days, but perhaps the internet is the way to manage it in the modern world. Australia's Senator Online has been trying to get at least one internet-driven representative into a 'traditional' parliament, but Iceland's constitution could be the first example of a democracy built on the internet involvement of its population. [Via Guardian UK, image via flickr]
It's often joked that the only dish Australian cafes serve for brunch is smashed avo, but, the truth is, our daytime eateries are significantly more complex than that. Especially this year's newbies. In the past 12 months, a cafe that's also a Greek bakery — serving up moussaka-filled pies, no less — has opened in the inner west, the CBD has gained a new spot by one of the country's best coffee roasters and there's also a new cafe-slash-Japanese milk bar with desserts that've been filling Instagram feeds for months. Our potential mortgages are being spent on much more than just (very tasty) green berries, thank you very much. Our cafe culture has undoubtably boomed this year with new spots popping up all over the city. To help, we've rounded up our favourite new cafes to swing open their doors this year. Make a list, start checking it off (twice).
Fellow mama-lovers, if you've let the annual celebration of maternity known as Mother's Day (Sunday, May 8 btw) slip your mind this year, we're here to help out. There are scores of ways to acknowledge just how incredible your mother (or grandmother or aunt) is with some good old-fashioned spoiling, but if you've yet to find a gift, it's really time to get looking. Whether your mum is the type to want dinner, flowers, or to spend a week in a camper van — we've got you covered. These personal Mother's Day gifts will have your beloved mum thinking you've been planning for weeks, so now you only have to worry about what your siblings are doing. [caption id="attachment_852109" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Photo courtesy of Camplify.[/caption] IF SHE'S PARTIAL TO A GOOD OLD FASHIONED ADVENTURE Think your outdoorsy-type mum may be looking for an escape? Gift your mum a voucher to spend some time traveling in one of Camplify's stylish camper vans. Perfect for a sustainable adventure, help your mum go on the much-deserved road trip she's been missing over the last two years. Whether your mum is looking to spend more time with you — or to drive as far away from you as possible — Camplify's gift vouchers are a unique and thoughtful gift for the adventurous mum. If road tripping is not quite your mum's speed, you can still gift her an unforgettable experience with Red Balloon's 20% off sale on gift vouchers this Mother's Day. Whether you think she wants a massage, a cooking class, or to jump out of a plane at 15,000 feet — take advantage of this sale to give your mum a memorable experience. And, if all else fails, take your outdoorsy mum on a hike. Whether you live in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne or anywhere else, check out some of our guides for the best hikes in your city to spend some quality time with nature and your mum. [caption id="attachment_852107" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Photo: Cocktail Porter's Bubblegum Fizz cocktail kit.[/caption] IF SHE LOVES HER FOOD (AND DRINKS) You can get definitely get more creative than a reservation at your mum's favourite restaurant (which, don't get us wrong, is still a great gift idea). Being a mum is hard work. If you think she may just want to relax at home and have a drink, check out Cocktail Porter's at-home drink-making kits. Delivered to her door, these boxes contain everything that she needs to make a variety of cocktails. Sydneysiders can even pick up their kits from Cocktail Porter's warehouse as soon as two days after ordering for the true eleventh-hour gift. If the weather is nice, take your mum on a picnic. Pick a park or beach, stop by her favourite local cafe for some sandwiches, and sit down at a picnic table for some quality time with your mum. Sydneysiders looking for a true luxurious outdoor eating experience can spoil their mum with the Catering Project's Mother's Day Picnic hamper — which includes everything you need from a picnic blanket to locally-sourced gourmet produce, mains, and sweets. [caption id="attachment_763458" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Photo: Clay Sydney[/caption] IF SHE'S THE CREATIVE ONE IN THE FAMILY Check out Champainting for a paint-and-sip painting class this Mother's Day weekend. With locations in Melbourne and Sydney, Champainting offers classes where you can paint with your mum on Mother's Day, or any day after. The two of you can learn to paint just about anything: from Disney characters to Monet-style water lilies to each other in a Picasso-inspired style — which is almost guaranteed to make the artistic (or hilariously not-so-artistic) mum laugh. If you and your mum live in different cities, or you're just looking to stretch a different creative muscle, check out Class Bento. With classes offered online as well as in person, you and your mum can learn her dream skill. Whether she wants to learn glass blowing, resin art or dumpling making, she will likely enjoy it even more if you do it together. You can also look around at studios in your city like Clay Sydney, which offers both in-person and at home pottery-making classes. AND IF ALL ELSE FAILS... You can't go wrong with classic. Whether you're far away from your mum this Mother's Day or just down the street, sending her flowers is a foolproof way to make your mum feel your love. Check out Fig and Bloom or Lvly for bouquets available for delivery on Mother's Day in cities across Australia, or look to a local florist in your mum's hometown. Regardless of where you get it, a bouquet on your mother's doorstep on Sunday is likely to make her day. That is, as long as you also remember to call.
Pyrmont will score a lavish new restaurant next week when two of Australia's most exciting chefs join forces for the first time. Sydney's lauded chef Chase Kojima (Sokyo, Gojima) and Melbourne's acclaimed Lee Ho Fook chef Victor Liong are coming together to open Chuuka, a new Chinese-Japanese fine diner at Jones Bay Wharf. In the space that used to be home to Flying Fish (which has just moved across the road to The Star), the two chefs will combine their respective specialties and techniques (Kojima in Japanese cuisine and Liong in Chinese) to create a cross-cuisine menu that goes well beyond your standard Asian fusion. The restaurant's name plays to this cultural exchange and nods to the historic culinary influence of the late-1800s Chinese immigrants in Japan. This menu will feature an amalgamation of flavours and traditional cooking techniques, all while using fresh Aussie produce. While not all of the menu details have been released, Sydneysiders can expect a dedicated raw menu, a roe service and lots of fresh seafood. Two dishes that'll appear on the menu are stir-fried spiny lobster with chilli miso butter and Japanese milk buns, and a take on the popular Szechuan dish bang bang chicken, where strips of chicken are pounded and topped with chilli oil, peanuts, shiso and yuzukosho (a fermented paste made from yuzu and chilli). [caption id="attachment_728477" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Victor Liong and Chase Kojima[/caption] Dessert will also be a big drawcard here with an exciting 'premium frozen yoghurt service' on offer, as well as dishes starring purple yam, jasmine, Okinawan honey and matcha green tea. The two-level interior is set to be pretty luxurious, too. The ground floor will have a 60-seat restaurant, wine room and outdoor bar — all of which are arranged to amplify the venue's encompassing views across the harbour — while a 70-seat private dining space will take up the upstairs floor. Local tattoo artist Deepak Munsami has also painted intricate murals across the restaurant's walls, which reflect the combination of Chinese and Japanese elements on the menu. You'll be able to head to Chuuka exclusively to drink, too, with the waterfront outdoor bar primed for after-work cocktails with a view. Inspired by the five elements (wu xing), the drinks list features signature cocktails such as the Wood (with hickory-smoked umeshu, rye and Campari) and Water (gin, black tea, lemongrass and sichuan pepper). Chuuka is the first off-property restaurant for The Star Sydney, which plans to continue to expand as a luxury entertainment group beyond its Pyrmont casino and hotel. Find Chuuka at Jones Bay Wharf, 26–32 Pirrama Road, Pyrmont from Wednesday, July 3.
There's no doubt we're a bunch of fierce lovers of the whole fabulous RuPaul's Drag Race franchise — you only need to look at the success of Drag Race Down Under to know just how much. Well, Drag Race fans across Australia and Aotearoa, we've got great news: your 2023 plans just got better — and brighter, bolder and sassier, too. Several of the biggest names from past US seasons are heading for our shores for a new, aptly named Legends tour in May 2023. Icons Trinity The Tuck (Drag Race season 9, All Stars season 4 and All Stars season 7), Monét X Change (Drag Race season 10, All Stars season 4 and All Stars season 7) and double winner Jinkx Monsoon (Drag Race season 5 and All Stars season 7) will be travelling across Australia and New Zealand in May 2023, treating fans to their one-hour show filled with all the dazzling high jinks and cabaret campery we've come to know and love through our screens. Across nine Australasian cities, the trio will be performing a mammoth 11 shows — including a one-hour performance during the opening night of Sydney's Drag Expo. They'll also have their own expo booths so fans can get autographs, photos and merchandise. The Legends tour kicks off in New Zealand with an all-ages show at Christchurch's Isaac Theatre Royal on May 3, before the queens make their way up to Auckland and Wellington for a couple of R18 performances. They'll then head across the ditch to Hobart for an all-ages show on May 9, before delighting fans with shows in Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide. Lucky Sydneysiders get several opportunities to see the queens — including an hour's R18 performance at the Drag Expo opening concert, before two all-ages shows that weekend. Finally, they'll finish things off with an R18 show in Perth before making their way home. If you're a true fan you'll probably want to save your pennies and fork out for one of the extremely limited VIP ticks — these include an extended meet and greet with Trinity, Monét, and Jinkx, and a personal photo moment. Start planning those photo 'fits now. It's a huge tour but if the hunger fans down under have for the show is anything to go by, we'd recommend getting in early for tickets — they're on sale now at itdevents.com. The full Legends 2023 schedule: Wednesday, May 3, 2023: Isaac Theatre Royal, Christchurch, NZ All ages, seated Friday, May 5, 2023: Studio, Auckland, NZ Restricted 18+, standing Saturday, May 6, 2023: The Hunger Lounge, Wellington, NZ Restricted 18+, standing Tuesday, May 9, 2023: Odeon Theatre, Hobart, TAS All ages, seated Friday, May 12, 2023: Plenary 2 (MCEC), Melbourne, VIC All ages, seated Saturday, May 13, 2023: The Princess Theatre, Brisbane, QLD All ages, seated/standing Wednesday, May 17, 2023: The Great hall, Adelaide, SA All ages, seated/standing Friday, May 19, 2023: Drag Expo opening concert at Home The Venue, Sydney, NSW Restricted 18, standing Saturday, May 20, and Sunday, May 21 2023: Drag Expo, Sydney All Ages Tuesday, May 23, 2023: The Rechabite, Perth Restricted 18+, standing The Legends tour starring Trinity The Tuck, Monét X Change and Jinkx Monsoon will be touring Australia and New Zealand in May 2023. Tickets are on sale now.
No, you're not confused, Triple J's Hottest 100 is on again for the second time in 2025. But this time around, it has an all-Australian twist. With the annual countdown bringing all types of music fans together, this special edition is no different, and the crew at Darlinghurst favourite Taphouse are setting the tone with a stellar day-long party. Kicking off from 12pm on Saturday, July 26, the countdown will boom through the ground floor and rooftop terrace, ensuring you don't miss a track from the inaugural Hottest 100 of Australian Songs. To celebrate, Taphouse is pouring $14 Aperol spritzes and $10 schooners of Mountain Culture Status Quo (with $1 from each donated to Headspace). The venue's Cantonese-inspired menu will also be in full swing. Served across all three levels, the menu is curated by Applejack's Director of Culinary Patrick Friesen (Queen Chow, Ms.G's) and Head Chef Mulianto Mulianto. Expect nostalgic bites like prawn wontons and barbecue pork buns, alongside mains like wok-fried lobster and Mongolian lamb. With Triple J turning 50 in 2025, it feels like an appropriate time to shake up the Hottest 100. However, with voting closed, you'll have to see if your favourite tunes make the list. Will the playlist be full of classic tracks from Midnight Oil, AC/DC and Crowded House, or more recent cuts from Tame Impala, Courtney Barnett and Flume? Get down to Taphouse Darlinghurst to listen in.
Prepare to stare at the moon in all of its glory — up close, without a telescope and without zooming into space. Measuring seven metres in diameter and featuring renderings of the celestial body's surface based on NASA imagery, the Museum of the Moon is a detailed installation by UK-based artist Luke Jerram. The giant sculpture has been touring the world since 2016, displaying in New York, Hong Kong, Mumbai and plenty of spots around Europe. From June 29, 2019 it'll add Sydney to its orbit as part of a 200-item exhibition at the Powerhouse Museum marking the 50th anniversary of the famed moon landing. The looming artwork recreates the moon at a scale of approximately 1:500,000, with each centimetre equating to five kilometres of the lunar surface. And if you're wondering just how intricate the 120dpi imagery is, the high-resolution NASA photograph that it uses is 21 metres wide, and was taken by by a satellite carrying the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera. The spherical sculpture is lit from within, so it'll add a glow when it comes to the Powerhouse Museum. It also combines its imagery and light with a surround sound piece created by composer and sound designer Dan Jones, and just how each venue displays it is up to them. Basically, it's never the exact same installation twice. Its stint at the Powerhouse Museum will mark the Museum of the Moon's third visit Australia, following 12-day showing on the Gold Coast and a five-month stint at Melbourne's Scienceworks. And the floating sculpture won't be the only celestial fun happening in Sydney either. Other objects you'll find throughout the Apollo 11 exhibition include parts of the original Redstone Rocket and Parkes Radio Telescope, as well as a computer used by NASA to calculate the launch and landing. There'll be more immersive and interactive events happening, too, including a virtual reality experience in which you watch the moon landing, an interactive arcade game, tours of the observatory and a heap of talks by astronauts and astronomers.
Are you ready to get out and about and make the most of everything summer has to offer? Us, too. For some, that may mean reading by the pool and for others, it's going on week-long hikes in the wilderness. Whatever your cup of tea (or cocktail), there's plenty to do this steamy season. Naturally, when you're enjoying the season with outdoor activities and spontaneous adventures, it's good to have a top-notch drink in hand. So, we've teamed up with Whitley Neill Gin to bring you seven Aussie summer scenarios with the perfect drink to match. CAMPING TRIP Hit the highway with the windows down as you head off for a weekend camping adventure to one of Australia's many diverse and beautiful nature spots. Come summertime, there are plenty of beaches, headlands, national parks and spots in the wilderness that are calling your name. But before you jump in the car, whip up a batch of Fizzy Berry Lemonade, made with Whitley Neill Raspberry Gin and lemonade (plus a few other cheeky ingredients) to enjoy when you arrive. It's a no-fuss cocktail that's sweet, refreshing and perfect for sipping while soaking in the sun around a campsite. BEACH CRICKET Is it really summer in Australia without a hit of beach cricket? Head down to your local salty spot with the bat and ball in tow. Pairing perfectly with this game is the Royalty Gin Spritz, which you'll only need four ingredients to stir up: Whitley Neill Rhubarb & Ginger Gin, soda water, lime wheels and sprigs of mint. It's a faultless, sessionable drink that's simple, sweet and a little bit spicy. You may even try to get bowled out just so you can have a drinks break. BACKYARD BARBECUE Fire up the grill, marinate the chicken (or tofu) and get the corn prepped and ready because barbecue season is back. This year, turn it up a notch and impress your friends by pairing the feast with a Queen's High Tea. Instead of getting yet another slab, this number will bring elegant vibes. As it's made in a jug, it's perfect for sharing. It's packed with fruitiness — fresh apple, rhubarb and sprigs of mint — and has notes of peppery and sweet gingery spice thanks to Whitley Neill Rhubarb and Ginger Gin. Plus, it's topped up with prosecco and we've never known a bubbly drink that hasn't been a hit around the barbecue. [caption id="attachment_796998" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Angelo Pantazis; Unsplash[/caption] BOAT PARTY Did someone say boat party? Slap on the sunscreen, fish out your best swimsuit from the back of the wardrobe and get out on the water to enjoy the breezy air with a drink in hand. To help you refresh from the inside out is the Spring Break Gin Spritz. It's just the drink to be sipping in the sun with mates after a swim. It's light and boasts fun notes of orange, rosemary and lime that complement the Whitley Neill London Dry Gin. It's incredibly simple to make, so the real challenge with this one will be sipping it slowly. CHASING WATERFALLS Despite what TLC says, chasing waterfalls can be a great summer pastime. There's nothing like getting out of the city for a weekend to escape the hustle and bustle for an adventure in nature. There are plenty of waterfalls, both to look at and to swim under, all around Australia. Once you've found the spot, and maybe taken a dip, enjoy a Raspberry Rose Gin Spritz. There's just one thing to say: it's refreshing AF. Made with Whitley Neill Raspberry Gin, the sweet, summery cocktail is topped with raspberry and rose soda, strawberries and basil. COASTAL SWIMS Bring some romance to a summer outing by heading to the seaside for a coastal swim, then sipping a Honeymoon in Sicily. Grab a SO or mate and take to the salty water for a refreshing dip before enjoying this Aperol spritz cocktail. The drink will do the heavy lifting by transporting you to Mediterranean sweet orange orchards with the inclusion of Whitley Neill Blood Orange Gin. Plus, the grapefruit and basil will make you feel like you're on the Italian coast. DAY HIKE A day hike always goes down well in summer. No matter where you are in Australia, there are plenty of places to get out in the wilderness, clear your head, reconnect with nature and get the blood flowing with a long explorative walk. Then, after you've enjoyed the great outdoors and earned some rest, kick back with a glass of Aperitivo Sunsets. This afternoon cocktail is the refreshing hit you'll be after. It's a fruity combination, made with dry gin, orange, grapefruit and cranberry juice and slices of fruit and mint, that tastes and looks like a sunset itself. For more information on Whitley Neill's innovative gin range, head to the website.
It's been a long time coming and a pretty rough road, but we finally have an answer to the Australian marriage law postal survey. And that answer is a big fat yes, pushing the nation, at long last, closer than it's ever been to marriage equality. As announced by the Australian Bureau of Statistics in Canberra at 10am today, 61.6 percent percent of Aussie voters are on board with same-sex marriage being legalised — that's a tidy 7,817,247 people. A break-down of the votes for various electorates and the participation rates for different age groups has also been nutted out, and is live now, over at the ABS' survey results website. Of course, this 'yes' doesn't automatically ensure a smooth ride to marriage law reform. The issue will now be handed over to parliament, and while Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull promised he'd "facilitate a private member's bill to legalise same-sex marriage", if that's how the public voted, the bill still has to be passed. That said, if you were one of the majority hanging for a 'yes' result, it's time to cue the celebrations, and get along to one of the many post-results gatherings and parties happening across the country. In Melbourne, they're closing off part of Lygon Street in front of Trades Hall for a massive street party from 5.30pm, complete with food, booze and performances by the likes of Habits, Tanzer, MinnieTaur and The Ballarat Orchestra + LGBTIQ Choir. Sydney pub The Lansdowne will be letting its hair down with some loved-up celebrations featuring DJs from 2pm until late, plus shows by legendary tribute lip-syncing parody drag band The Magda Szubanskis. And in Brisbane, West End's Rumpus Room is teaming up with GetUp! and Equal Love for an evening of drinking, dancing and celebrating, from 6pm tonight. Image: Leticia Almeida.
With the reopening of the Hotel Palisade, the controversial re-do of Durty Nelly's as The Village Inn, the revamp of the Bellevue Hotel, and the recent Vic on the Park-steered reno of The Lord Gladstone, the debate over great and terrible pub renovations is rife in Sydney at present. Now there's another on the table, with Petersham's White Cockatoo set to reopen as The West Village in October. Celebrated as a tried and true 'sham local with a schnitzel worth crossing the city for, the White Cockatoo is now under new ownership — ex-Drink 'n' Dine ownership. Locky Paech, former general manager of the Forresters in Surry Hills, is one of the new co-owners of the Petersham pub. Alongside business partner James Bodel, Paech has created a new Sydney hospitality group, Goodtime Hospitality. They've recruited lauded design crew Alexander and Co. for the job, renowned for such restaurant and bar fitouts as Surly's, Daniel San, The Print Room, Watsons Bay Hotel, The Morrison and the new Village Inn. Paech told Good Food the pub won't be gimmicky, so here's hoping the pub keeps some of its integrity. If you're worried about the schnitties, Paech is apparently going to keep a version of the dish that made the White Cockatoo famous in Sydney over 12 years of glory (in case you're after the real deal, the original schnitties are now being served at The Goni's Schnitzelria in Marrickville). We're not completely sold, but we'll give it a go. Paech has also recruited former Catalina chef Sam Thomson to create an original, gastropub-style menu for the West Village, with a focus on organic, ethically-produced ingredients. The West Village will open at 30 Terminus Street, Petersham, opening in October. The White Cockatoo's famous schnitzels can now be found at The Goni's Schnitzelria, 296 Marrickville Road, Marrickville. Via Good Food. Images: The White Cockatoo Hotel, Dollar Photo Club.
Even under normal circumstances, heading to the UK to see a theatre show isn't in most folks' budgets — which is why, for years now, Britain's National Theatre has beamed its performances into cinemas around the world via a series called NT Live. At the moment, with venues closed across the globe, the latter is obviously on hiatus. Enter a new initiative: National Theatre at Home. As the name makes plain, National Theatre is making its previously recorded productions available to viewers at home — so you can now get cosy on your lounge, put your feet up and pretend you're at the theatre. Shows will stream for free via NT's YouTube channel, with a different performance available each week. Each production will launch on a Friday morning, Australian and New Zealand time, then be available to stream for seven days. It all kicks off with Richard Bean's One Man, Two Guvnors starring James Corden, who won a Tony Award for his performance in the production's 2012 Broadway run. Catch it from 5am AEST on Friday, April 3 (7pm UK time on Thursday, April 2). Then, head back on April 10 for Sally Cookson's stage adaptation of Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre, journey to Bryony Lavery's version of Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island on April 17 and enjoy William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night on April 24. On May 1, one of National Theatre's biggest and best shows will drop: its stripped-back version of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, as directed by Trainspotting and Yesterday's Danny Boyle, and starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller. When the production was performed live back in 2011, Cumberbatch and Miller swapped roles each night, alternating between playing Victor Frankenstein and his revived creation — and both versions are hitting the NT's YouTube Channel. After that, on May 7, comes more Shakespeare: Antony & Cleopatra, featuring Ralph Fiennes and Sophie Okonedo as the fated titular couple. Then, when May 14 rolls around, viewers can check out a never-bef0re-seen archival recording of Inua Ellam's Barber Shop Chronicles. Fans of classic American plays and fantastic actors can look forward to A Streetcar Named Desire from May 21 — with none other than Gillian Anderson as Blanche DuBois, alongside Ben Foster and Vanessa Kirby. On May 28, James Graham's This House will hit YouTube, while June 4 sees Tom Hiddleston join forces with the Bard for a performance of Coriolanus. Keep an eye on the National Theatre at Home website, too, because more productions are likely to be added afterwards. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uh9_EdHDsV4 Top images: A Streetcar Named Desire, Johan Persson. Frankenstein, 2011, photo by Catherine Ashmore. Jane Eyre, 2015, Manuel Harlan. One Man, Two Guvnors by Bean, Author - Richard Bean, Director - Nicholas Hytner, Designer - Mark Thompson, Lighting - Mark Henderson, The National Theatre, 2011, Credit: Johan Persson. Updated May 9.
It has been more than two decades since James Cameron, Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet recreated one of the deadliest ship disasters in modern history. You know the one. Titanic also launched a lifetime of folks standing at the bow of boats and exclaiming "I'm the king of the world!", and made the world endure a Celine Dion song that, as the lyrics promised, would go on. As well as snagging a huge bag of Oscars and big, big bucks at the box office, the film did something else: reignite public fascination with the 1912 sinking. If you've ever watched and wondered what it'd be like to see the real thing, then wonder no more — because you can become a 'citizen scientist' on a new series of underwater expeditions to the famed wreck. Commencing in 2021, underwater exploration company Ocean Gate Expeditions will be taking fascinated seafarers down to the famous ship on ten-day journeys. They'll dive almost four kilometres deep into the North Atlantic Ocean in a titanium and carbon fibre submersible — accompanied by experts, naturally — to peer through the vessel that went down on its maiden voyage, taking more than 1500 people with it. This isn't a tourist trip, however. Ocean Gate is planning six missions as part of an overall Titanic survey expedition, and anyone who'd like to go along will need to apply. If you're successful, you'll be trained a mission specialist — and you'll be asked to help document the current state of the sunken passenger liner, including via laser scans and 4K video that will be combined with high-resolution images to make a 3D virtual model of the ship. Primarily departing from the coast of Newfoundland in Canada from May–July 2021, with more missions planned in 2022 as well, these undersea trips don't come cheap — even though they're motivated by scientific and record-keeping aims. You'll need a cool US$125,000 per person to make the voyage, which includes one submersible dive to the ship. Of course, it's hardly surprising that plunging deep into both the ocean's depths to visit a famed wreck costs a massive stack of cash and then some. This isn't the first time tours have been offered — indeed, presumably using some of the loot his romantic drama pulled in, James Cameron has made the journey multiple times — but only a small number of people have seen site in person since it was first discovered in 1984. "More people summit Everest in a day than have ever seen the Titanic," says Ocean Gate Expeditions president Stockton Rush. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OH_9Q3Z_xok Top image: NOAA/Institute for Exploration/University of Rhode Island via Wikimedia Commons.
Arguably the biggest pop sensation to emerge in the last five years, Billie Eilish has just announced a run of Australian and New Zealand tour dates throughout September 2022. The tour marks the first time Eilish has graced the shores of either country since 2019. In the two years since her last tour, Eilish has released her latest chart-topping album Happier Than Ever, a documentary and visual book, taken out the Hottest 100 and swept the Grammys, taking home all four of the major categories at the 2020 ceremony. The announcement of this run on dates also comes days after the announcement that Billie Eilish is set to become the youngest-ever performer to headline the UKs Glastonbury Festival in 2022. The Happier Than Ever Tour will kick off at Auckland's Spark Arena on Thursday, September 8 before moving to Sydney's Qudos Bank Arena on Tuesday, September 13. It'll then move on to the Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne and Perth's RAC Arena throughout the remainder of September. The tour follows previous tour announcements from international artists Tyler, the Creator, Gorillaz and Guns N' Roses, marking the expected return of international touring for the first time in more than two years. Tickets to the Happier Than Ever Tour start at $99 and are available as part of Telstra Plus and Vodafone pre-sales on Monday, October 11, plus Frontier and Live Nation pre-sales on Wednesday, October 13 before they go on sale to the general public on Friday, October 15. BILLIE EILISH — HAPPIER THAN EVER TOUR Thursday, September 8 – Spark Arena, Auckland Tuesday, September 13 – Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Saturday, September 17 – Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane Thursday, September 22 – Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Thursday, September 29 – RAC Arena, Perth You can find all the details on Billie Eilish's Happier Than Ever Australia and New Zealand tour at the tour's website. Top Image: Crommelincklars
Express your adoration through petals and plants from this elegant Clovelly florist. The Botanic Lab creates glorious bouquets, whether you're after a bunch of roses and peonies in sweet pastels, a sculptural selection of flowers and foliage, or a waterfall of bright Australian natives. Designs range from $80–120, but you can also pick up a simple bunch of market-fresh tulips, daffodils or dahlias for $30–60 depending on the season and the bloom. These floral pros can wrap your selection, or you can BYO vase and have them arrange the bouquet for you. And if your beau is a green thumb, there's also a smaller selection of succulents and houseplants. Images: Arvin Prem Kumar
Residents of Warrnambool, a huge festival is coming your way. Music lovers, you're heading to the Victorian town. The coastal spot has been named the host of Triple J's One Night Stand for 2024, with G Flip, Ruel, What So Not — with some friends — and Thelma Plum leading the lineup. Warrnambool was picked by the Australian radio station from a huge 2087 submissions, with the nation clearly excited about the return of the fest for the first time in five years. The roster of talent taking to the stage at Friendly Societies Park three hours out of Melbourne also includes Sycco and DICE, a competition winner from Unearthed, and special guests as well. [caption id="attachment_966668" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Callum Walker Hutchinson[/caption] Triple J announced back in April that the event would make a comeback this year, then revealed at the beginning of July that it'd return on Saturday, September 14, 2024. Next came the lineup details, and now finally where the fest is rolling into town. Victoria was the site of the very first One Night Stand, too. Twenty years ago, the ABC station gave the town of Natimuk a day to remember when the spot 300 kilometres out of Melbourne hosted its very own major music fest, with Grinspoon, Eskimo Joe and The Dissociatives (aka Daniel Johns and Paul Mac) all getting behind the microphone. So began an event that became a yearly tradition, but taking place in different regional locations, with Triple J putting on a fest every year between 2004–2014, then again from 2016–2019. There's no prizes for guessing why One Night Stand pressed pause from 2020, but that gap in the event's history is finally coming to an end. The all-ages event is returning at time when the Australian live music scene has been suffering, and after a spate of festivals have been cancelling or saying farewell forever. In 2024 alone, both Groovin the Moo and Splendour in the Grass announced lineups, then scrapped this year's fests mere weeks later. Summergrounds Music Festival, which was meant to debut at Sydney Festival 2024, also didn't go ahead. As announced in 2023, Dark Mofo took a breather this year — and Mona Foma, the summer fest also held by Tasmania's Museum of Old and New Art, has advised that its 2024 event was its last ever. With the state of the industry in mind, bringing back One Night Stand is not only much-needed and well-timed, but will also raise funds Support Act, the charity for the Australian music industry. In the past, the event has also been to Ayr, Dalby and Mt Isa in Queensland; Port Pirie, Tumby Bay and Lucindale in South Australia; Cowra and Dubbo in New South Wales; Collie and Geraldton in Western Australia; Sale and Mildura in Victoria; Alice Springs in the Northern Territory; and St Helens in Tasmania. One Night Stand Lineup 2024: G Flip Ruel What So Not + Friends Thelma Plum Sycco DICE triple j Unearthed Competition Winner + special guests 2024's triple j One Night Stand will take place on Saturday, September 14 in Warrnambool, with tickets on sale from 19am on Thursday, July 25. For more information, head to the radio station's website. Top image: Drew de F Fawkes via Wikimedia Commons.
Watching television and subscribing to a streaming platform are both cheaper than going to the cinema. Should watching Netflix on your phone be even cheaper still? That's something that the international streaming behemoth is testing out, offering cut-price mobile-only plans — in Malaysia at present, although it has also flagged lower-price subscription options throughout Asia. Malaysia's The Star reports that the mobile-only option is currently available for 17 Malaysian ringgit (approximately AU$5.58) per month, offering unlimited viewing on one handheld device only — be it a phone or a tablet. The content is only available in standard definition, which is good news for anyone with a low data plan but bad news for anyone who loves high-definition viewing. Malaysian residents can only access the new plan by signing up via the Netflix mobile app, or by accessing the Netflix website on a smartphone. Still, it's cheaper than Australia's three tiers, with the basic $9.99 per month package allowing viewing on one screen at a time, including a laptop, tablet or mobile; the standard $13.99 tier upping the simultaneous screens to two and including HD; and the premium $17.99 option including ultra-HD and four screens. Variety notes that the tests are designed to appeal to smartphone-centric users in Asia — so if you do all of your film and television viewing on the smallest of screens (that is, your mobile), then you'll be hoping that Netflix expands its trial Down Under. The company hasn't given any indication that that's the case, but it does love to toy with new options — including, at the other end of the scale, possibly getting into the bricks-and-mortar cinema game. Via The Star / Variety.
Cue the nostalgia and prepare to feel positively ancient — Brisbane's last remaining video store is shutting its doors for good. As reported by the ABC, Oxley's Network Video has taken to social media to farewell its legion of loyal customers, many of whom have been trekking from all over Brisbane on the regular (and evidently still own DVD players). Owner Brenton Snell revealed the store's set to close this month, due to family issues. Even still, the old girl held her own longer than anyone anticipated. When Snell bought the store in 2010, the concept of video rentals was already taking a dive, fast succumbing to the popularity of online streaming services. He expected to sell up just a few years later, but DVD fans just kept rolling in and business boomed despite stiff competition from the internet. Those keen for a memento of the good old days — or to snap up a few titles for their home collection — should pay a visit in the coming weeks. Snell plans to start clearing out his 14,000-strong movie collection from Saturday, February 17. After Network Video's graceful departure, the nearest walk-in video stores will be those out in Ipswich and Logan. Network Video is located at Shop 4, 121 Oxley Station Road, Oxley, Brisbane. Its last official date of trade will be Wednesday, February 14 and it will start selling its collection on Saturday, February 17. For more info, visit the Facebook page. Via ABC.
If you've seen A New Zealand Food Story then you'll already know the backstory behind new downtown restaurant Ahi. The eight-part online series follows acclaimed chef Ben Bayly and his team as they set out to discover what local cuisine is all about and where our produce comes from. It sees him enter rough Fiordland waters to harvest paua and crayfish, stalk deer through the Avon Valley, join a hook-to-plate fishing expedition in Foveaux Straight, and munch an absolutely enormous fig in Marlborough. The end goal is to create a truly unique New Zealand restaurant for the 28 March deadline. Five months later, in this year from hell, it's finally here. Ahi, translating from te reo Māori to 'fire', opened its doors for the first time on 31 August inside the new Commercial Bay precinct. Inside, Bayly and co-founder Chris Martin expand on the concept of fire with an open hearth in the kitchen. The 120-seat, hyperlocal space also features a woven oak ceiling to represent traditional Māori kete baskets, handmade plates from a West Auckland potter and an abundance of native timber which was salvaged by Bayly during the course of construction. Bayly says that Ahi's menu has been devised as a "culinary representation of what it means to be home, celebrating the diversity of the New Zealanders who bring produce to our tables." From whenua and moana, the land and the sea, diners can enjoy oysters by way of Waiheke Island, buffalo cheese from Whangaripo, speared butterfish from Cook Straight and cauliflower from Pukekohe. Snack items include tahr tartare with wild garlic and fermented hot sauce, hāngī pāua with kahawai, sour cream and kawakawa, and an interpretation of the 'Trumpet' made with buffalo ice cream and chocolate from Auckland's Miann. The larger courses complete the nationwide food tour. There's Fiordland crayfish soup with kūmara and saffron ravioli, Gisborne butternut with toasted harakeke flax and māhoe shoots, and 'Boil-up Toast' made with Berkshire pork, watercress and egg. From A New Zealand Food Story comes Bayly's wild-shot fallow deer in loin and cheek form, while the half crayfish you may have seen being charcoaled on the rugged Fiordland coast now comes with green onion and ginger sauce and lemon-sorrel salad. The restaurant comes complete with picturesque views out over the Waitematā Harbour — something which Bayly says is essential so diners know that they are in Aotearoa. Find Ahi on the second floor of the Commercial Bay precinct at 7 Queen Street. It's open 11.30am til late, seven days a week. Images: Manja Wachsmuth.
Bravo Child is a performance poet and a community builder. But he's also a coder, and he doesn't see that as all that far divided from his other talents. Bravo will be the host of Memebrain, an upcoming hackfest in Chatswood convened by dLux MediaArts, with partners Darwin Community Arts Centre, Kulchajam and the ISEA Portals Project, which aims to link up willing hackers in Sydney, Byron Bay and Darwin to see what they can do when pressing the arts and the computer sciences together. Concrete Playground recently got the chance to catch up with Child at one of his workspaces in inner-city Chippendale, where he told us all about what happens when art and science collide. If you're a coder, it's probably not a great surprise that Memebrain host Bravo Child would like to see you at his upcoming hackfest. But, if you're more of an arts type with little in the way of technical skills, you should know he wants you there, too. A hackfest is traditionally an afternoon, day or weekend where coders get together to collaborate and hopefully come up with some interesting software. Probably the best known recent Sydney attempt was the apps4NSW hackfest that slowly led to real-time bus and train data appearing on Sydney transport apps. The day itself is a 48-hour hackfest buried under the new Chatswood Concourse building. All sorts of people are expected to turn up Friday night — games developers, web developers, creative coders, roboticists (to be confirmed, at time of writing), illustrators, DJs, VJs and maybe even another poet. They'll all be politely clumped together to try to find new ways of linking up art and tech. The long term goal with Memebrain is to start a kind of Kino for Sydney hacking, with a permanent online presence and meetups in the physical world. Growing up to be a Coginaut Bravo describes himself as a 'coginaut', which he says is "an explorer of ideas". Essentially — like recent Vivid Ideas guest Jonathan Harris — he's a storyteller across media. Child splits his time over performance poetry, design work and occasionally cheering up countries one suburb at a time. His technical skills are only a late arrival in an ongoing love of live story. "My art form, if I could whittle it down, would be ideas and experiences." He wasn't always captivated by the technical side of things, though. He started when he was young at singing, acting and dancing workshops in South Africa. Coming to Australia, he studied at Australian Theatre for Young People, later learning impro and competing in the Cranston Cup. He'd run Outspoken workshops and hip hop battle nights and toured with spoken word group the Spokes. Eventually a degree in communication design (print media, essentially) got him interested in the technical, and his career veered off into game design. Make Code Without Computer Skills According to Jonathan Harris, "the medium of our time is code". Child feels similarly, that it's code that cleaves modern electronic art away from being just a repetition of cutscene-heavy, movie-like '90s games. But he doesn't think you need to give up your arts-brain to get into it just because there's a new mechanism to understand behind the scenes. He gives examples of easy ways to dip your toes in the coding world, depending on where your artistic interests lie: Code Academy turns the basic ideas of code into a game, with Foursquare-like achievements for threading your way through short, approachable coding lessons. Processing is another good place to start experimenting. Max/MSP is great for manipulating sound, while Isadora is a simple, "node based" way to learn to program your own interactive video for the stage. Just like some people can write prose but can't really draw, Child makes coding sound like simply another skillset for artists to DIY, or learn to coexist with. You wouldn't need any of it to turn up to Memebrain. But, equally, it doesn't sound like it would be too much drama to get a taste of the code side of things along the way. 48 Hours of Hacking For hacking participants, 48 hours of Memebrain will start Friday evening, June 14. Anyone can join in the main event there. And it's free. But you'll need to register first. There'll be some briefing, some meet and greet, then a night of hacking. He says that the vibe will be a bit like a mini-festival, with massages on Saturday, a chill-out space off to one side for sleepy-lidded hackers and some Saturday mentoring from ISEA Portal Project artists. There'll also be a live link up to teams working in parallel in Darwin and Byron. Participants bring their own components — art, mechanisms, code, ideas — and find a way to plug them together and do new, wonderful things. On Sunday, the results will be shown to the public in front of the Concourse big screen at 6pm. Zydnei should also be wrapping up nearby. It's about integrating skillsets. Any tech or art skill will do, says Child: "If you make cakes: cool. Bring your cake, and we'll plug an electrode into it." But it's also about integrating disparate pools of talent across town. As Child sees it, it's more about combining the two Snowian cultures of science and art. It's a hackfest that takes all types. "An artist who uses technology as the medium or a technologist who creates something artistic. We're really trying to have the fault line between the two become one."
After three months behind closed doors, the Woollahra Hotel has reopened following some well-earned renovations. Built in the 1930s, the Woollahra Hotel is one of the east's landmark pubs — so it's nice to see the owners have opted for some gentle tweaking – rather than a complete overhaul. From the outside, Woollahra's still got that classic art deco aesthetic, with toffee-colored bricks and rounded cornices, but the front bar and restaurant have both been given a serious spruce. So what's changed? Well, the locals' front bar looks as good as ever, polished to within an inch of its life. It's still a great spot to bend an elbow after a game at the SCG or Moore Park. The biggest shift has been in the kitchen, where new head chef Jordan Muhamad (ex-Rockpool, Spice Temple, Chin Chin) has given the menu an Asian-inspired twist: think steamed snapper ($29), a selection of house-made curries and Hiramasa Kingfish sashimi. Head over on a Thursday night for curry night where you can nab your curry of choice with a serve of rice and a drink. And that's just the bar menu. There's also Bistro Moncur, hidden within the pub, newly refurbished, led by head chef Mark Williamson, dishing up some of Sydney's best French grub. Moncur has always been fancy date-night territory: Barossa chicken pâté, grilled sirloin and saffron crab omelettes, with a mix of local and international wines to wash it all down. Moncur Cellars' Mark Blake is handling the vino, and he's clearly got a thing for organic, vegan and preservative-free drops. There's a top-shelf cocktail menu, too, re-designed from the ground up. The Woollahra's open-air terrace is still there, with its fern-covered vertical garden, pink neon and dangling pendant lights, which are sure to please the Instagram crowd. A bit of razzle-dazzle with a rump steak never hurt anyone, after all. Appears in: The Best Rooftop Bars in Sydney
Does your version of celebrating whichever occasion takes your fancy involve eating more of the things you love? Do pork belly, chicken schnitzels, chicken wings and German sausages fall into that category? If so, The Bavarian has an all-you-can-eat special that'll tempt your tastebuds — because a bottomless feast is on the menu. On Wednesdays, the German-themed chain is serving up all-you-can-eat meat platters. They come stacked with all of the aforementioned meats — and yes, the pork belly includes crackling — plus sauerkraut and gravy as sides. And, once you've finished your board, you'll get a whole new serving. On All-You-Can-Meat Wednesdays, there's a two-hour time limit to your eating — and it'll cost you $35 per person. There is a two-person minimum, too, so you'll need to take at least one meat-loving pal along with you. Feel like you can fit in fries, mash and salad as well? That'll cost you an extra $5 for each one, or you can get all three for $10. You'll find The Bavarian at Charlestown, Rouse Hill, Castle Hill, Shellharbour, Tuggerah, Manly, Penrith, Miranda, Macarthur, Green Hills, Entertainment Quarter, York Street, World Square, Wetherill Park, Chatswood and Wollongong in New South Wales. And if you want to pair all that meat with German brews — which is understandable — you'll pay extra for the drinks.
Churchills Sports Bar, on Anzac Parade, is a popular venue for those who like their sport with a wager on the side. With its giant screens and late-night hours airing everything from international football to UFC and boxing, Churchills is the place to be for die-hard sports fans. Racing features every day. But for everything else, Churchills provides a weekly email schedule, so you know exactly when your match will be screening. The establishment expanded in 2023, opening the Churchills Bar and Grill. It's here you'll find tantalising burgers, crab linguine, grilled rump steak and baby back pork ribs. Pub classics, like fish and chips and chicken schnitzel, are on the menu, too. Want more action with your outing? Churchill's offers poker, pool, trivia and more. And they don't call it the 'professional punters paradise' for nothing. There are seven betting terminals, along with TAB touch screens for all the latest odds and statistics, as well as KENO and Trackside on-site.
When a standard villa and self-made holiday itinerary simply won't do, you could turn your attention to Hotel Clicquot — a world first entry to all-in luxury accommodation by French champagne house, Veuve Clicquot. Here's the skinny: The hotel is popping up in the Byron Bay hinterland at Cooper's Shoot, a prime location for exceptional ocean vistas (and possible Zac Efron sightings), from 24 November to 5 December 2021. As per the description: A quintessential part of a stay at Hotel Clicquot is the daily calendar of unique, money-can't-buy experiences, all of which are entirely optional. Do or do not! Once there, you'll be looking at two nights and three days of activities (or no activities!), pre-arranged for you, so the only decision-making required is whether or not you should have another glass of champers. There's a 24hour butler service. There will be an in-house sommelier to guide you on a journey through the French champagne house's finest drops. A massage therapist will be at your disposal. Meals will be prepared for you and your cohort, one by up-and-coming chef Alanna Sapwell and the other by David Moyle of acclaimed local spot Harvest Newrybar, who will host a 'garden gastronomy' dinner. And, it should go without saying, but yes: there is of course an infinity edge pool. Helicopter transfers are optional. And if you need to fill a seat, I solemnly nominate myself for the task. Bookings are available from 1 November and you can register your interest here.
Can you really say you've seen the American South if you haven't explored the region's rich musical history and culture? After all, the South is the birthplace of some of the world's most influential, enduring and popular genres of music. Rock 'n' roll, bluegrass, blues, country, gospel, jazz, soul, zydeco — the list goes on — are all genres with deep roots in the South and wouldn't sound how they do today without the region's musical influence. Whether you want to trace the history of music in the Western world, experience the South's rich musical culture and traditions firsthand or simply see an unforgettable show that only the South can put on, then you won't want to skip any of these music destinations when you visit the South. In partnership with Travel South USA, we've taken on the trip planning and handpicked the most unmissable music destinations and experiences in each of the South's nine states so that all you need to do is focus on having the trip of a lifetime. Carnegie Hall — Lewisburg, West Virginia There's no question where you'll find the beating heart of West Virginia's creative culture. It's in Lewisburg, one of the state's prestigious certified arts towns, at Carnegie Hall. The West Virginian landmark hosts musicians, exhibitions and special events year-round. The venue is also home to the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame exhibition, which showcases the impact of the state's musicians, including Bill Withers and Little Jimmy Dickens to name just a few, over the years on the American music landscape. Grand Ole Opry: Nashville, Tennessee Nashville is not only the home of country music — it's also where you'll find modern music's past, present and future. The extent of Nashville's musical impact and influence can make it hard to decide how best to explore the city's music culture. After all, the city's countless studios, cafes, bars, halls, stages and venues always have something on and there are more musicians, shows and history than could possibly be covered in a lifetime. That's why Grand Ole Opry is the best place to start. The legendary show, which started as a radio broadcast in 1925, is country music's biggest stage. To celebrate a century of country music, head to Opry House for Opry 100. Running over the course of the year in 2025, the celebration showcases an unprecedented lineup of country music's rising stars, superstars and legends through a series of spectacular live shows. Carolina Country Music Fest: Myrtle Beach, South Carolina South Carolina's Myrtle Beach is a haven for music lovers. With venues ranging from beachfront bars to intimate lounges, the coastal city boasts a thriving live music scene that's sure to strike a chord with every visitor. One of the best times to experience Myrtle Beach is when Carolina Country Music Fest is on. The annual summer festival takes place outdoors at the boardwalk along the beach and always features a stacked line up with over 40 of country music's hottest artists. MerleFest: Wilkesboro, North Carolina When you can't decide which artists to see live, music festivals are the obvious solution. Instead of tossing up between experiencing just one of the region's many musical genres, head to North Carolina — a state that straddles both the South and Appalachia — for MerleFest, one of the country's major festivals. Held annually in Wilkesboro, the music festival celebrates "traditional plus" music, covering traditional music of the Appalachian region including bluegrass and old-time music, as well as Americana, country, blues, rock and more. Kansas City Jazz: Kansas City, Missouri America's Prohibition era saw music clubs across the country shutter — but not in Kansas City. The city's clubs were run by the mob, not only continuing to serve alcohol, but also giving musicians a platform where they could keep performing. Soon, musicians were flocking to the city known as 'Paris of the Plains', where different musical styles merged and evolved. The legacy of this long musical history in the city lives on today with countless jazz clubs, including the Mutual Musicians Foundation which hosts midnight jam sessions on Friday and Saturday nights and has done so since 1930, and the American Jazz Museum which allows visitors to dive into the history of the state's soulful music. GRAMMY Museum® Mississippi: Cleveland, Mississippi The GRAMMY Museum® Mississippi isn't just any music museum. It's the most technologically advanced music-themed museum in the South and was the second of only three GRAMMY Museums in the world, chosen in a testament to the state's musical chops, Mississippi has more GRAMMY winners per capita than any other state in America. The influence of the Mississippi Delta on the development of American music can hardly be overstated. So much so, the state claims the title of "the birthplace of America's music". If Elvis Presley, B.B. King and Eddie Willis of The Funk Brothers — to name just three — ring any bells, it might be because they're all Mississippian musical greats. [caption id="attachment_987473" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Morgan Petroski[/caption] Frenchmen Street: New Orleans and Shreveport Municipal Auditorium: Shreveport, Louisiana What do the musical genres of jazz, Cajun, zydeco and swamp pop have in common? They all hail from the great musical state of Louisiana and the impact of the state's musical history cannot be overstated — with blues, country and rock 'n' roll all being shaped by artists from this Southern state. The list of artists hailing from Louisiana reads like a history book of American music and includes: Louis Armstrong, Jerry Lee Lewis, Aaron Neville, and Mahalia Jackson, as well as Jon Batiste, Lainey Wilson and Trombone Shorty more recently. Head to Frenchmen Street in New Orleans for a taste of live music as it can only be experienced in the South. Here, you'll find jazz clubs like The Spotted Cat, while Lafayette is home to Cajun dance halls like Blue Moon Saloon. To get even deeper into the South's music scene, head to north Louisiana and stop by Shreveport Municipal Auditorium. The performance venue is a National Historic Landmark, a designation that recognises locations of outstanding historical significance. Today, live performances continue to take place and the venue offers history tours about the Louisiana Hayride, a music show that not only featured artists like Hank Williams, Johnny Cash and other major artists, but was instrumental in launching the career of the king of rock 'n' roll himself, Elvis Presley. Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame: Owensboro, Kentucky It's difficult to pinpoint where exactly bluegrass originated, but it's easy to quickly brush up on your knowledge of the genre at the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Owensboro, Kentucky. The museum is a must-visit for music lovers who also want to explore Kentucky's cultural heritage. It celebrates the rich history of bluegrass music with engaging exhibits, live performances and a Hall of Fame honouring influential artists, including Bill Monroe, the "father of bluegrass music." FAME Recording Studio and Muscle Shoals Sound Studio: Muscle Shoals, Alabama The small town of Muscle Shoals, Alabama is one of those must-visit destinations for music lovers in-the-know. Located in the state's north-west, about equidistance from Memphis and Nashville, the town is home to FAME Recording Studio and Muscle Shoals Sound Studio. Many of the greatest hits by Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, The Rolling Stones and countless others were recorded in these two studios. Across the Tennessee River, about a ten-minute drive away is the town of Florence. It's the birthplace of W.C. Handy, the "father of the blues", and where a museum in his name stands today. Also nearby is Huntsville, where a state-of-the-art, 8000-seat amphitheatre built by Mumford & Sons' member Ben Lovett stands, after being inspired by the Muscle Shoals music scene. Find your next adventure in the South. Discover more unforgettable destinations and start planning your trip with Travel South USA.
When you think of Bathurst, you might think of rally cars and farms, and while yes, there is that, it has evolved in recent years to become a region of fine artisan producers. A destination in its own right, this corner of NSW is also an epic stopover for a trip to Orange, Mudgee or even Warrumbungles if you're feeling ambitious. If you need a break from the hustle and bustle of city life, pack up your car, head two hours west and spend a weekend recharging your batteries in the fresh country air. Friday: Arrive and Settle in Just outside the main town of Bathurst is the luxury and eco-friendly cabin retreat Rest at Boxgrove. It is set on a picturesque 170-acre working family farm and vineyard that blends rural serenity and modern luxury. Flick on the turntable, relax on the bed or grab the bottle of vino or mini bottle of local gin from Boxgrove's welcome basket, fill up the twin outdoor tubs, and take a dip in the warm water as the sun starts to dip behind the hills. If you'd prefer to head out for a bite and a tipple, make your way into Bathurst proper. Enjoy a pre-dinner cocktail at Dogwood, BX, a saloon-style bar, before heading around the block to Vine & Tap on Keppel Street for dinner. This charming restaurant, set in a leafy cobblestone courtyard, offers a menu of contemporary Italian dishes like house-made gnocchi, woodfired pizzas and arancini. Decompress as you sip on some local vino under the canopy of vines and fairy lights. [caption id="attachment_807252" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Renzaglia Wines[/caption] Saturday: Explore Central West Region's Produce Wake up to stunning views of the surrounding countryside at Rest at Boxgrove. Fire up the outdoor barbecue and make yourself breakfast with all the fixings from the welcome basket: bacon, freshly baked bread, fresh veggies and eggs. Once you've had your fill, it's time to explore the area's offerings. The first stop on your itinerary must be the local farmer's markets, held on the fourth Saturday of each month from January to November. Check out what the Central West region has to offer. Stop by to meet the farmers and stock up on local honey, sweet treats and organic veg. If the dates don't line up, you could make your way down to Berry Park to the Riverside Markets on the first Saturday of the month. Browse through stalls selling plants, jewellery, clothes, and handmade trinkets. If you love your artisan spirits, you'd best pay a visit to the family-run, sustainability-minded, award-winning Bathurst Grange Distillery, set on a heritage estate and working farm. Book a tour to learn about its whisky and gin made with botanicals grown on site. Settle in for a tasting and pair with a cheeseboard loaded with local cheese. The Blue Mountain Gin, inspired by the view from the distillery and infused with mint and rosemary grown on-site and native Australian pepperberry, is an eye-catching must-try. You shouldn't leave before sampling the luscious Bourbon Cask Release Single Malt Whisky distilled with locally sourced heirloom malt barley, which won Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Awards 2023. If you're a vinophile, head to Renzaglia Wines, overlooking the O'Connell Valley. Make an appointment for a tasting and discover why it was named Dark Horse Winery of the Year in the 2022 Halliday Wine Companion. The spot is headed up by the award-winning winemaker and viticulturist Mark Renzaglia, who emigrated from Illinois in the 1980s. Known for its small-batch wines that always bring something new and special to the table, the winery is now a family affair with Mark's son Sam on board crafting lighter-style reds, field blends and funkier drops. Return to your cabin and enjoy a quiet evening with a barbecue dinner on the covered deck, enjoying the serene countryside views. Elevate your evening more by lighting the private firepit, tucking into the goodies from the markets and cheers the stars and neighbouring cows with wine or a G&T. Sunday: Bathurst's Artistic and Historical Treasures Before you say goodbye to Rest at Boxgrove, take a peaceful early morning stroll around the 170-acre property and through the burgeoning vineyard. Breathe in the fresh country air before heading into the town for some grub. The Hub is a popular brunch spot slinging locally roasted coffee from Fish River Roasters and generous breakfast portions. For something savoury, opt for the shakshuka, but if you love a sweet breakfast, you shouldn't go past the buttermilk pancakes with caramel creme patisserie and gingerbread crumble — it's basically dessert for breakfast. A short stroll away is the Bathurst Regional Art Gallery, or BRAG for short, where you can check out the latest exciting exhibitions for free. Artworks don't just reside inside its doors. BRAG hosts public art projects and works that can be found throughout Bathurst. When you're exploring the town, be sure to keep a look out for sculptures, posters and more. Your next stop should be to step back into history at the Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum. It is home to the Somerville Collection of over 5000 fossils, minerals, and dinosaurs. The museum is housed in the 19th-century Bathurst Public School House and offers a fascinating glimpse into the development of life on Earth and a disconcerting insight into the impacts of climate change. Take a load off with a pit stop at Reckless Brewing Co., co-founded by award-winning brewer Grace Fowler. This project started as a travelling brewery until the trio founded their permanent digs in a heritage-listed flour mill that formally housed Two Heads Brewing. Take a seat on the leather Chesterfield sofa in front of the roaring fireplace and enjoy a tasting paddle (or two). Be sure to sample some of the limited-release beers, which have included collabs with Renzaglia Wines (a zesty chardonnay sour) or the Matilda XPA, inspired by the Australian women's national soccer team. If you're hungry for lunch, Reckless has an on-site restaurant, Roadhouse by Reckless, slinging share plates, cheeseboards and burgers galore. Alternatively, head to Church Bar, tucked down an alleyway in an old Anglican Church Schoolhouse. This unassuming spot offers woodfired pizzas with inventive toppings, great cocktails and a considered wine list with drops from NSW and beyond. Recharge with a slice of pizza out in the leafy courtyard before heading back on the road to reality. Concrete Playground was a guest of Rest at Boxgrove. Top Image: Rest at Boxgrove
Start the new year in style and welcome 2022 while kicking back at The Glenmore. The airy terrace boasts uninterrupted views of Sydney Opera House and the harbour, making it the place to be this New Year's Eve. So, expect to catch some of the best views of the fireworks at this The Rocks' famed rooftop bar. The NYE party kicks off at 7pm and is taking over both the venue's roof and cocktail lounge. Your $399 ticket gets you access to the party, plus deluxe canapes, live entertainment and a four-hour beverage package. You'll also score a celebratory glass of Veuve Clicquot at midnight. So, round up the crew to farewell 2021 and dance into 2022. Tickets to NYE at The Glenmore Hotel are available now via the website.
So you've started a business and it seems to be a success. People have been flocking to try something new and different, and the feedback is largely positive. But once the initial hype dies down, how do you keep customers coming back time and again? Surry Hills neighbours Paramount Coffee Project (PCP) and Butter have been serving the community for 11 and eight years respectively. Though their offerings differ — PCP slings contemporary brunch fare and top-notch coffee, while Butter dishes out fried chicken and tipples in a sneaker store — both venues know a thing or two about building customer loyalty. In partnership with Square, we asked the two industry mainstays how they managed to build customer loyalty, how they balance consistency and change, and what changes they've made to improve the customer experience. Paramount Coffee Project on Customer Service For Operations Manager Michelle Galloway, loyalty stems from how you treat your customers and whether you can foster a sense of trust. "Friendly and consistent customer service is most important when it comes to customer retention. One bad experience with a rude waitress is enough for a customer to completely dismiss your cafe, even if you have great food or coffee," shared Galloway. "It's important to acknowledge all customers that walk through the door with a friendly 'good morning'. We treat our regulars more like our friends than customers. Small things like getting to know your customers, friendly banter and remembering their names and coffee order is essential for any cafe," said Galloway. "There's lots of ways to create a memorable experience, but we focus on three main points: laidback, friendly customer service, a unique food menu and great coffee." For that reason, it's crucial to have a strong team that can construct a rapport with customers. "Staff play the most crucial role in building relationships with customers as they are the face of the company. They are the ones that can build a sense of community with our customers." Galloway continued, "Having good staff retention and good training systems means having strong, well-trained staff at all times that are ready to take on all your customers." As a cafe that's constantly updating its menu, how does PCP strike a balance between new offerings and classic menu favourites? "Keeping staples on the menu to build familiarity is important, but we're always on the hunt to add interesting items to both our food and drinks menu based on what's in season, what's popular and what's trending in Sydney." Either way, consistency is key for all menu items. "We pride ourselves on ensuring all products follow a strict recipe to ensure top quality and consistency. There's nothing worse than spending your money on a drink you ordered and loved last week, only for it to taste completely different the next time," explained Galloway. "All our drinks have a recipe that states how many grams of each ingredient goes in each drink." Butter on Technological Updates and Unique Offerings For owner, COO and Executive Chef Julian Cincotta, a small change that made an impact on customer retention was "implementing a digital loyalty program that connects with our POS system, website and EDM list — which is all Square." He continued, "By rewarding repeat visits and offering exclusive deals to regular customers, we've fostered a stronger connection and encouraged more frequent returns." Digital tools have allowed customers to be rewarded for returning to Butter, as well as allowing them the freedom to engage with the venue on their terms. "They [digital tools] have been instrumental in our customer retention," said Cincotta. "Our loyalty system rewards repeat customers, fostering a sense of appreciation and exclusivity." "Online booking has made it more convenient for customers to visit us, reducing barriers and enhancing their overall experience, whilst being able to spread the word of events, specials, collabs and media activations," he explained. "We also allow flexibility in our ordering — from having QR table ordering to bar ordering and table service — all depending on how the customer wants to interact with us." These tech updates have also allowed for greater customer satisfaction. "Streamlining our ordering process by integrating an efficient POS system has reduced wait times and minimised errors. This allows our staff to focus more on customer engagement rather than administrative tasks, enhancing the overall dining experience," Cincotta shared. Although helpful, these upgrades would be useless without an effective team and one-of-a-kind offerings. "Our staff are the heartbeat of Butter. They go beyond serving food; they engage with customers, remember their preferences, and create a welcoming atmosphere. Their genuine interactions and personalised service are key in building trust and long-term relationships with our wonderful customers." Cincotta went on to say, "At Butter, we focus on delivering a unique and immersive experience by combining exceptional food with elements of music and street culture. Our aim is to engage all the senses — from the taste of our dishes to the ambiance created by our curated playlists — making each visit memorable for our guests." That said, taking on feedback and keeping an open mind are also vital in appealing to customers. "We've incorporated customer feedback to introduce new dietary options, such as vegetarian and vegan dishes, catering to a wider audience," revealed Cincotta. Find out how Square can kickstart your business at squareup.com.
In the coming years, Sydneysiders will be able to visit the city's Powerhouse Museum in Parramatta, with plans to open a flagship site in the city's west officially getting the final go ahead. Set to spread across 18,000 square metres of museum exhibition and public space, Powerhouse Museum will build its new location next to the Parramatta River — and will become the first of the state's major cultural institutions to be located in area in the process. The New South Wales Government initially announced its intentions to completely move the Powerhouse Museum back in 2015, so the new venue itself isn't fresh news. The plans for the Parramatta site have just been approved, however, and early works are now scheduled to commence in the coming weeks. When it's finished, it's expected that the new venue — which will specifically focus on science and technology — will attract two million visitors per year, with Powerhouse Board of Trustees President Peter Collins AM QC calling it "Australia's very own Smithsonian". If you're wondering what it'll look like when it opens in 2023, Moreau Kusunoki and Genton's winning designs for the new facility were released in 2019. They include seven exhibition spaces, plus 1.5 hectares of public open space, some of which will replace the carpark on the foreshore. Exactly where Sydney's Powerhouse Museum will reside has been the subject of much debate in recent years. Originally, the current Ultimo base was set to close, with everything moving to Parramatta; however, the NSW Government then backflipped on that part of the proposal. So, the museum is now retaining its existing venue and keeping it open, while still forging ahead with the new western Sydney location — which'll become one of four sites used by the museum in the Greater Sydney area. Although staunchly backed by the NSW Government, the Parramatta plan has earned both opposition and controversy since it was first revealed. Concerns have been raised around the cost (which has been earmarked at $645 million, but could hit $1 billion), the fact that St George's Terraces and the heritage-listed 1800s villa Willow Grove will need to be knocked down, and worries that the new Parramatta site could be subject to flooding when wet and stormy weather hits. An inquiry into the government's management of the Powerhouse Museum is also currently underway in NSW's upper house. The Powerhouse Museum is currently located at 500 Harris Street, Ultimo, with the organisation's new Parramatta museum slated to open in 2023. Images: Renders of Powerhouse's Parramatta site.
Behind the Betta Meats butchery facade, you'll find a secret but beloved cocktail bar: Earl's Juke Joint. It has been around since 2013 and remained a firm Newtown favourite since then. Owner and ex-Shady Pines head honcho Pasan Wijesana has pulled off the seemingly impossible — soul without kitsch — and given King Street a grown-up bar with a New Orleans edge. On the spectrum of masculine broody, the Earl's decor comes in at about the 'thick with bourbon' mark — you could be forgiven for swearing there is a haze of cigarette smoke in the air. They have gone with a basic but effective design brief: dim yellow lighting, dark wood and corrugated iron, topped off by faces like Fats Waller and T-Bone Walker looking down at a comfortably eclectic crowd from the whitewash walls. The feature of the bar, is, well, the bar; a goliath amongst bar tops that coolly dominates the space and invites you to take a seat. If you're not so keen on bartender banter there are a few booths at the back of the room, and plenty of side tables if you're after a touch of privacy. Once you've secured a menu look over the house rules. Rule # 2: 'Don't be creepy' is a built-in conversation starter (or ender) for those on dates. Move on down the menu to the cocktail list, which rotates through eight options every two months and uses native ingredients like saltbush and kaffir lime. If cocktails aren't your port of call, there is plenty else to love about Earl's extensive beer list, which has taken a turn toward mainly Australian and New Zealand craft. Like the cocktail list, it too changes regularly but has an intriguing roster of local legends Wildflower, Yullis, and Philter as well as craft breweries further afield. Wines take a heavy natural and organic lean, with rare 'cult' drops making an appearance every month. The only disappointment here was that we didn't get to see Rule # 5: 'If Triumph by the Wu-Tang Clan plays there will momentarily be no bar service. At least for the first verse anyway.' Updated April 28, 2023.
