Now in its 34th year, Primavera 2025: Young Australian Artists at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia spotlights early-career Australian artists aged 35 and under whose works rethink production, labour and transformation in a rapidly changing era. Curated by the MCA's assistant curator Tim Riley Walsh, the exhibition invites visitors to consider what it means to continue making art in a digital and post-industrial world. The five selected artists — Francis Carmody, Alexandra Peters, Augusta Vinall Richardson, Keemon Williams and Emmaline Zanelli — work across a wide palette of mediums, from boomerangs and birdcages to bronze, corten steel, video and enamel paint. The artworks engage with the fraught relationship between human creativity and machine manufacturing, exploring the pressures on the role of artists in a rapidly changing world. [caption id="attachment_1045266" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Francis Carmody, 'Canine Trap I', 2025, installation view, image courtesy the artist and Museum of Contemporary Art Australia © the artist, Photograph: Hamish McIntosh[/caption] Among the works: Carmody's narrative-laden installations that marry digital processes like 3D modelling with experimental materials that explore histories of ensnarement and trap-making as metaphors for capitalism; Zanelli's two-channel video and immersive installation that reimagine the subterranean spaces of mines as fantastical realms home to strange beasts; and Williams' sharp critique of cultural labour, featuring 999 outsourced aluminium boomerangs stacked into teetering towers that echo corporate skylines and the unsustainable pressures placed on artists. Running through to Sunday, March 8, 2026, Primavera continues its annual legacy of providing an early-stage platform for emerging Australian artists and curators. With more than 250 artists and 30 curators among its alumni, the series has helped launch numerous artists onto national and international stages. For art lovers, this is an opportunity to engage with the cutting edge of contemporary art — whether you're already plugged into the local creative ecosystem, or looking for new points of entry. [caption id="attachment_1045267" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Hamish McIntosh[/caption] Top image: Emmaline Zanelli, Magic Cave, 2024-2025, installation view, image courtesy the artist and Museum of Contemporary Art Australia © the artist. Photograph by Hamish McIntosh.
Blessed be the TV screens — because on April 26, The Handmaid's Tale is back. After becoming 2017's number one must-watch show with its compelling first season, everyone's favourite dystopian drama returns for a new 13-episode round of bleakness. Yes, that means more time trawling through the oppressive society of Gilead and watching women forced into child-bearing servitude, thanks to this grim but gripping adaptation of Margaret Atwood's iconic 1985 novel. It also means once again trying to shake the feeling that this fictional future really isn't all that hard to imagine. Elisabeth Moss putting in another fierce performance, Alexis Bledel stealing every scene she's in, the all-round stacked cast showing why the series won eight Emmys and two Golden Globes: yep, that's all on the agenda as well. It's enough to make you cancel your plans every Thursday night for the next 12 weeks, with this season airing weekly on SBS and SBS On Demand after the two-part premiere. Sure, that means that you can't binge it all in one sitting — but, it also means that your time with Offred and company will last even longer. If you're eager to extend the experience further still, then get a jump start by working through our five pieces of Handmaid's homework. Praise be, obviously. RE-BINGE THE FIRST SEASON It's an easy starting point, we know, but the best way to prepare for the new season is by rewatching the first. Also, it's something else for you to watch if you've already replayed the season two trailer over and over and over again. Scour for clues about what might come next, and come up with theories about Offred's fate; given that the show left audiences with a cliffhanger, there's plenty of questions to ponder. Or, see if there's anything you missed the first time around (like Atwood's early cameo), or introduce all things Handmaid's to your friends that were clearly hiding under a rock last year and somehow haven't seen the show. They're all great reasons to dive back in again, not that you need them when a program is as engrossing as this. As it was last year, the full first season is currently available on SBS On Demand. READ (OR RE-READ) THE NOVEL Maybe you were already a fan of Atwood's 33-year-old book long before the TV version was announced. Maybe you segued from watching the first season of The Handmaid's Tale to devouring the novel. Maybe you meant to get around to pouring over the text (you really, truly did mean to), but life just got in the way. Whichever category you fall into, now is the perfect time to read or re-read the piece of fiction that started it all — and, to set the scene for what might happen in the television program's second outing. As thorough as the first series was, it doesn't include everything that Atwood initially dreamed up. We won't spoil the details, but if you don't have time to stick your nose in the printed tome, here's a rundown. There's also an audiobook version too, if you'd rather listen, as read by Claire Danes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTnhx_N7nro WATCH A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT TAKE ON THE TALE The Handmaid's Tale that we know and love isn't the only screen version of the story. In fact, if the timeliness, insightfulness and hugely enthralling nature of the show got you thinking "why hasn't the book been adapted before?", well, the short answer is: it has. Back in 1990, German filmmaker Volker Schlöndorff joined forces with poet and Nobel laureate Harold Pinter on an American film based on the novel, starring Natasha Richardson at Offred, Faye Dunaway as Serena Joy and Robert Duvall as Fred. Saying that it's completely different to the current take is quite the understatement, right up there with saying that Gilead isn't the best place to live if you're female. If you're keen to seek it out, it's available to watch on Stan. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-fofQ9VpPQ SEEK OUT LAST YEAR'S OTHER GREAT ATWOOD ADAPTATION 2017 didn't just deliver one adaptation of Atwood's work, but two. Yep, when it rains, it pours, as the saying goes. While Alias Grace didn't attract anywhere near as much attention as The Handmaid's Tale, the Netflix miniseries is definitely well worth your time. Directed by American Psycho's Mary Harron and starring Sarah Gadon (11.22.63), Zachary Levi (Chuck), Anna Paquin (True Blood) and legendary The Fly filmmaker David Cronenberg, the six-part show takes inspiration from famous 19th-century murders. Gadon plays the real-life figure of Grace Marks in this somewhat fictionalised version of true events, with the series exploring a question that has been pondered for nearly two centuries: what was Marks' actual involvement in the crime? GET COOKING Food has special significance in The Handmaid's Tale. No, we're not talking about the "blessed be the fruit" greetings exchanged by handmaids — it refers to the children they're supposed to be bearing, rather than the goods they're often seen shopping for — but, rather, the way it's used to denote status. Handmaids buy it for the household, Marthas prepare meals and the Gilead elite eat fancy spreads while everyone else tucks into something much less appetising. In one first-season episode, for example, a macaron is used to signify the divisive role that food plays, with Serena Joy (Yvonne Strahovski) offering Offred a rare treat. There are plenty more instances where that came from, and it's enough to make you both horrified and hungry. Unsurprisingly, there's no shortage of Handmaid's-themed party menus floating around, but if you whip up something crimson red (cupcakes with red icing are a favourite), then you're on the right track. Or, you could turn your hand to something particularly elaborate. When season two started filming, Elisabeth Moss received a cookie shaped like a music box — something else of significance within the series.
What microwaves did for heating, UK company Enviro-Cool is promising to do for cooling. They've created a drink cooler that takes bottles and cans from room temperature to 5 degrees celsius in just 45 seconds. There's every possibility that the invention, which uses 80 percent less energy than commercial refrigeration, could soon become commonplace in homes, shops and eateries all over the world. Envriro-Cool created the technology, which they've patented 'V-Tex', back in 2007. It's based on a sophisticated application of the 'Rankine Vortex'. A European Commission grant of 930,000 Euros enabled its development into a commercial product. According to the promo video, the EC "recognised that the energy used to constantly chill pre-packed beverages was enormous and an unsustainable strain on our depleting energy resources." Three types of coolers have been developed. There's one suitable to commercial use, powerful enough to replace high-energy use equipment, such as multi-deck open refrigerator, and two domestic-friendly units — one stand-alone and one that can be added to existing refrigerators. It's estimated that, for every fridge replaced, over $1000 in electricity will be saved annually. Trials begin in Holland next month. Via PSFK.
First there was Shirt Bar. Then came champagne and sneaker bar Butter. Now, to complete the outfit, Surry Hills has welcomed Soultrap, Sydney's first hat bar. Taking over the old Play Bar space on Campbell Street, new underground venue Soultrap combines mistelle and millinery, or more specifically, fortified wines and feathered fedoras. The hybrid venue was established by small bar specialist Christophe Lehoux who co-founded House of Pocket group, which includes much-loved drinking dens Pocket Bar, Stitch Bar and Button Bar. Lehoux is passionate about small bars and hat making, and rather than choose between his two loves, he thought, "to hell with that, I'm doing both". When he isn't taking orders or pouring drinks behind the bar, you can find him at the back of Soultrap working away in his dedicated hat workshop. His handiwork is displayed throughout the venue and all hats are available for purchase. Headgear aside, the venue functions primarily as an underground small bar and live music venue. The bar is run by Josh Craker (ex-QT Sydney) and the house specialty is mistille, a traditional French drink made from fermented grape juice and eau de vie (fruit brandy). Each region in France has its own variation and Soultrap offers a fair few, either as mistille melanges (mixed mistilles) or mistille-spiked cocktails. For an introduction into the mysterious world of mistille, we recommend the Pinocchio ($17), a simple aperitif combining Pineau des Charente and bitter Campari. The taste is sweet, light and floral, similar to Pimm's or sherry. Alongside mistelle, Soultrap serves a selection of seasonal cocktails, craft beers and organic and biodynamic wines. The cocktails are the real deal, too — strong, subtle and not too sweet. Top tipples include the Australian Fare ($22) a Manhattan made from Australian amaro and a native botanical vermouth, and the Spouses' Sour ($18) a cherry marzipan concoction, made from Aperol, gin, almond syrup and orange blossom. Soultrap's food menu is just as sophisticated as its drinks, with a selection of small French and Italian morsels, which can be combined to create a charcuterie or cheese plate. Options include the jamón serrano ($7), Brillat-Savarin ($8) squid in its ink ($8), peppered fig paste ($4) and baked camembert ($13). For something more substantial, there's also the pissaldiere ($14) a flaky French pastry topped with caramelised onions, anchovies and olives, and a smoked ocean trout dip with crisp endives dippers ($13). The tradition of live music continues with Soultrap hosting a jazz, soul and funk night every Thursday and vinyl-only DJ sessions on Saturday. And for bringing great drinks and live music back to Surry Hills — we take our hats off to them. Appears in: Sydney's Best Underground Bars for 2023
Waverley's Wholegreen Bakery is the only place in Sydney that you can get gluten-free croissants, fruit danishes, eclairs and sausage rolls alongside gluten-free baguettes and loaves of olive and rosemary sourdough. The bakery's goods can be tracked down outside of the eastern suburbs, too — at some cafes, and at Carriageworks Farmers Market and the North Sydney Produce Market — but most gluten-free Sydneysiders make the journey to Waverley to pick up a haul. However, soon they might be able to load up on their lunch break, when Wholegreen opens a second gluten-free cafe in the CBD. The venue — which is due to open on Clarence Street in early March — will, like its Waverley counterpart, be 100 percent gluten-free. This is important because those that suffer from coeliac disease have a sensitive reaction to even a small trace of gluten and, this way, there is no chance for cross-contamination. But, unlike the original cafe, this one will be way bigger with room for 60 diners. While it's all gluten-free, Wholegreen will be catering to all city workers as a place to grab a coffee and something to eat. It'll be baking all of its bread and pastries each morning, meaning that you'll be able to get your hands on one of its golden croissants, pain au chocolats or even a loaf of sourdough to take home. The bakery also does a wide range of cakes and sweets, including lemon tarts, banana bread and frangipane tarts. Plus, there will be some dairy-free, vegan and sugar-free options. It'll also pump out some lunch items worthy of walking a few blocks for, including spinach and feta pasties, sausage rolls, toasties and fresh rolls stuffed with ham and salad. It'll also be licensed, so wines and gluten-free beer will be on the menu if you're eating in. Cherie Lyden, Wholegreen's owner, got into gluten-free when her daughter was diagnosed as coeliac and needed to eliminate gluten from her diet. She quickly found she was "disappointed with what was available on the market" and, in an effort to lift the — sometime dismal — standards of gluten-free products, she started doing what no one else was doing at the time: making actually good gluten-free bread. She's operated the wholesale side of the business for six years now, and the Waverley cafe for four. Both cafes are 100 percent gluten-free, and are currently in the process of getting accreditation from Coeliac Australia. Wholegreen Bakery's new CBD venue is set to open on Clarence Street in early March, 2020, and will be open Monday to Saturday. We'll keep you updated when we know more details.
The Cambridge Markets team behind the Ryde Wharf Markets and the Entertainment Quarter Markets is introducing a newcomer to their happy family of fresh produce providers – in the CBD, no less. Just a stone's throw from the Circular Quay ferry terminal and train station, the Quay Quarter Lanes will be adding this new Market to their already expansive dining precinct (of two city blocks and a 49-storey tower), opening for the first time on Wednesday, November 9. You might be familiar with the Customs House/Quay Quarter precinct as a food festival venue (the Bastille day market in particular), but this is the debut of a fresh produce market in Sydney's CBD. The recently-renovated Loftus Lane creates a buzzy enclosed setting where you can get up close and personal with the markets' 40 stalls and vendors. Speaking of vendors, look for Quay Quarter locals like Zini Gelato, Adora Chocolates, Grana and Bubble Nini Teas; joined by market mainstays such as Farmer and Son produce, Berliner Bakery, Stephen Hodges Fish, Savannah Estate Winery, Brother Mountain Macadamias, Le Saucier pasta sauces and Bacca cured meats. Plus, calorie-intensive delights from Jeery's Tacos and Thicc Cookies. Starting on Wednesday, November 9, the Quay Quarter Lanes Market will take place outside Customs House and stretch out and back to Loftus Lane on the second Wednesday of every month. See the website for more information.
Each winter Vivid draws Sydney out of hibernation with a festival of light installations, talks, workshops and performances. Now in its tenth year, the festival is bigger and brighter than ever. From the illumination of major city landmarks to international acts and challenging ideas, there's a lot to pack into the 23 nights. With the help of our friends at YHA Australia, we've put together a rundown to help you navigate the festival. From what to see and do and to where best to eat and drink. [caption id="attachment_670002" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Sydney Harbour YHA rooftop[/caption] STAY With so much to see and do during Vivid, you'll want to be close to the action. Sydney Harbour YHA in The Rocks is the perfect home base; it's just a stone's throw away from the installations in The Rocks and walking distance to Circular Quay and the Botanic Gardens. It's also right in the thick of some of the most historic pubs in Sydney. The building combines modern comfort with the heritage of the area — it's set above archaeological remains of colonial Sydney. Choose from private or dorm rooms and head to the rooftop balcony to treat yourself to one of the best views in Sydney. From this bird's eye vantage point, you'll have an uninterrupted view stretching from the Harbour Bridge to the Sydney Opera House, Customs House and city buildings, all lit up for the festival. Grab a drink and settle in to soak it all up. If you'd prefer to stay a touch further away from the heaving Circular Quay, YHA also has locations in Sydney Central and Railway Square. Here, you'll be in walking distance of Haymarket (and its many dumplings, noodles and 30c cream puffs), Spice Alley and Darling Harbour's stunning light installations. All three YHAs are offering 20-percent-off during Vivid, too. [caption id="attachment_625341" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bodhi Liggett.[/caption] EAT You'll need to keep your energy levels up in order to fit in everything in during the festival. Luckily, there are heaps of great food options around. Start the day with quality coffee and a beautiful, picturesque breakfast at The Grounds of the City. If you're short on time, though, you can grab a cup of joe and a brekkie burger, bowl or muffin from the takeaway window. For lunchtime refuelling, head to La Renaissance Patisserie for house-made pies, baguette sandwiches and pastries. The tree covered courtyard is a sweet little place to retreat from the crowds for a little while. In The Rocks Centre behind Kendall Lane, you'll also find the Fine Food Store serving up sandwiches, salads and winter warmers like soups and stews. When the sun goes down, check out the new Bar Patrón by Rockpool for authentic Mexican eats, margaritas and views of the Vivid lights. Alternatively, head to The Morrison, located between The Rocks and Wynyard, for a mean sirloin steak or the $1 oyster happy hour from 6–7pm each Wednesday. And if you've really got cash to splash and a burning desire for views with some top eats, head to Cafe Sydney. Found above Customs House (which will be covered in a Snugglepot and Cuddlepie light show), this place serves up Australian haute-cuisine with a killer view. The restaurant also has a dedicated vegan menu for those looking for some fine dining that considers their dietaries. For another prime spot with more casual eats, head next door to Gateway — home to Neil Perry's Burger Project, Din Tai Fung, Four Frogs Creperie and Gelato Messina. DRINK The Rocks area is heaving with pubs — in fact, two of them, The Lord Nelson and The Fortune of War, lay claim to being Sydney's oldest. The best way to fit them all in is to head on a pub crawl — starting at The Lord Nelson, making tracks to the potentially haunted Hero of Waterloo, heading up to The Glenmore rooftop for excellent harbour views, passing by The Fortune of War and finishing up at the newly refurbished Orient. If you're after something more sedate and refined, hit Henry Deane, the rooftop bar at Hotel Palisade which boasts incredible views of the harbour and the lights of Vivid. Otherwise, check out Bulletin Place for intricately crafted cocktails, or cosy up at The Doss House, a new underground whisky bar set in an incredible heritage building in The Rocks. [caption id="attachment_624496" align="alignnone" width="1920"] James Horan.[/caption] SEE The projections onto the Sydney Opera House have been the crowning glory of the Vivid light display since the festival's inception. This year the sails will feature the work of artist Jonathan Zawada, blending everyday objects with the pictures inspired by the Australian environment. Meanwhile, Skylark makes use of the high rises around Circular Quay, featuring a custom-built laser atop the Harbour Bridge projecting onto buildings in a stunning light show every half hour. The Southern Pylon of the bridge will be lit with Bangarra Dance Company's Dark Emu, melding dance and art and paying homage to the agricultural knowledge of Indigenous Australians. [caption id="attachment_623212" align="alignnone" width="1920"] James Horan.[/caption] See bacteria writ large at Beautiful and Dangerous in The Rocks. The work takes you under a neon microscope to explore some of the deadliest diseases facing mankind and what's being done to curb them. While you're in the area, look skyward and see A Little Birdie Told Me — a work depicting the threat to many of our native bird species. The festival of light also makes full use of the glorious Botanic Gardens, with installations dotted throughout. Impressions shows a time-lapse of flora captured from the garden throughout the day, displayed across five huge canvases. Check out The Bloom, a giant metallic flower covered in LED pixels. And hanging in a canopy of trees is Hyperweb, a giant web combining light and soundscape. DO With so many artists and thinkers in town, you might want to extend your stay to fit more in. Top of the ticket is Solange, performing at the Sydney Opera House. Her shows are sold out, but festival organisers recommend checking the website daily for last-minute releases. Also in town are Grammy award-winning singer St Vincent and legendary rapper Ice Cube. There are heaps of local acts to check out too, including No Mono, Middle Kids and Stonefield. For one night only Heaps Gay will host a fabulous, not-to-be-missed fancy dress party, Qweens Ball, at Town Hall. Plus for a change of pace, this year's festival also includes a jazz series for the first time. [caption id="attachment_574541" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Bodhi Liggett.[/caption] Vivid Ideas will get your mind bubbling about the big issues. There are talks on everything from building a sustainable future and the threat to democracy to the art of creativity and understanding consciousness. For podcast nerds, the Audiocraft Podcast Festival features a line-up of industry heavyweights in a series of talks and workshops. If you're headed to Vivid this year, YHA is offering 20% off stays for Concrete Playground readers during the festival. The offer applies to all rooms (private and multi-share) at Sydney Harbour YHA, Sydney Central YHA and Railway Square YHA. Use the code VIVID to claim the discount when you book online, valid Sunday to Thursday between Sunday, May 27 and Friday, June 15. More info about the offer and other weekend discounts here. Image: Destination NSW.
Fining guests for posting bad reviews of your Vanderbilt-built hotel? Might want to think twice on that poorly-formed brainwave and avoid giving internet reviewers a reason to unite. Union Street Guest House in Hudson, New York is doing exactly that. The Rockefeller/Vanderbilt estate hastily took down a controversial rule from its own website yesterday, according to Huffington Post. The super dumb, money-grabbing rule charged wedding guests (primarily the newlyweds themselves) for any bad reviews posted on review websites like Yelp and Trip Advisor. Yep. Apparently, as pointed out by the initial New York Post story on Monday, couples holding their wedding at the USGH would see a sneaky $500 deducted from their security deposit for each thumbs down posted online by their guests. After a few WTF inquiries, the hotel took to Facebook and pulled the ol' 'it was all a joke' card to quash the backlash, but then mysteriously that post went missing too. "The policy regarding wedding fines was put on our site as a tongue-in-cheek response to a wedding many years ago," read the Facebook post. "It was meant to be taken down and certainly was never enforced." Although it's no longer (obviously) up on the hotel's website, Business Insider snapped it up before it was lost to the ages. Here's what the rule read, seriously: If you have booked the Inn for a wedding or other type of event anywhere in the region and given us a deposit of any kind for guests to stay at USGH there will be a $500 fine that will be deducted from your deposit for every negative review of USGH placed on any internet site by anyone in your party and/or attending your wedding or event. Although the team attempted to put out the fire, the sparks had already flown. Over 500 angry reviewers threw the hotel major shade with the lowest possible rating, again and again and again. Although sites like Yelp delete reviews who haven't actually stayed in the venue up for review, the slams are still coming for USGH: Now Union Street Guest House's rating looks like this: Yikes. Think before you joke-fine. Via Business Insider, Huffington Post and New York Post.
If you Google 'Michael Jackson's legacy', you'll find the following pearls of pop culture wisdom: he made R&B the sound of pop, he made music videos an 'event', he made dancing a prerequisite to any occasion, he was instrumental (no pun intended) in developing the celebrity charitable-industrial complex, and his 1977 book The World Guide to Beer created the modern concept of beer styles that underpins the craft beer movement to this day. That last fact may come as a surprise to devoted fans of the King of Pop, but probably not to craft beer aficionados who are well aware that there's more than one Michael Jackson in the firmament. When it comes to craft beer, the 'real' Michael Jackson was an English writer, journalist and TV presenter, and not a moonwalking, anti-gravity-leaning, crotch-grabbing singer. Although it's easy to see how confusion could arise. The book explored the wide and wonderful world of craft beer styles — from porter to pilsener and everything in between. It elucidated their history, discerned their characteristics and uncovered unique (and decidedly roguish) facts about each type. Almost 40 years on, thanks to the work of Michael Jackson and other craft beer evangelists like James Smith, more people are aware of the beer varieties available to them. But what do the different styles mean and how does sampling them introduce you to a whole world full of flavour? Let us explain. Porter Brewed from brown and dark coloured malts, this moderately hopped beer became popular in 18th century London. Sharing similarities with stout, it descended from brown ale. Expect a complex, interesting beer with flavours of chocolate and coffee. Many tall tales have been told about the origins of this style of beer. No one can be certain which is true, which only adds to the porter's mystique and appeal. India Pale Ale (IPA) Also originating in the 18th century, this strong, hoppy (yet also light, bright and sparkling) beer was brewed specifically to last the journey from England to India in the days of the British Raj, so that the thousands of ex-pats living there could still enjoy their creature comforts. On arrival in India, IPA was said to be watered down before being given to the rank and file British troops, meaning only the officers got to enjoy it in all its glory. American-style Pale Ale Typified by strong citrus and fruity hop aromas, American pale ales were developed in the 1980s and take their name from the use of American hops such as Cascade. The style has since been adapted to embrace hops from around the world, while retaining the key taste characteristics and a good balance of malt and hops. Anchor Liberty Ale is regarded as the first modern American pale ale. It was first brewed in 1975 to mark the start of the American War of Independence, when the US colonies effectively said 'up yours' to their British overlords. Golden Ale Combining elements of pilsners and wheat beers, golden ales are technically part of the broader pale ale family. Noted for their alluring colour, golden ales are light, refreshing and highly drinkable, with a restrained bitterness and dry finish. Often called 'summer ales', this is the fastest-growing style of beer in the UK, charming drinkers away from the heavily promoted lager brands. Pale Ale Originating in northern England (Burton upon Trent, to be precise, a town blessed with plenty of rich, hard water, which helps with clarity and enhancing the hop bitterness), the term stems from the practice of using coke to dry-roast malts, resulting in a lighter-coloured beer. Pale ales tend to be fruity and hoppy, and can vary in colour from amber to golden. Craft beer fans around the world have innovative chemist CW Vincent to thank for identifying the calcium sulphate content in the Burton water that first allowed for hoppy beers to be brewed. The act of adding gypsum to water is now known as 'Burtonisation' and now allows the likes of the Malt Shovel Brewery (home to the James Squire craft beer range) to bring out the flavours of the hops. Copper Ale Named after their distinctive colour (which perhaps isn't the most creative approach, but at least you know what you're getting), copper ales can vary in taste from mild to bitter. In the US, copper ales are classed as American amber ales and originated on the West Coast, home to various counter culture movements and alternative, individualistic approaches. Amber Ale Another member of the pale ale family, and another named after its colour, amber ales tend to be balanced, rich and effortlessly flavoursome. Coloured malts such as Crystal are used to create the rich amber colour. Amber ale was the first craft beer brewed in the James Squire range. Now known as Nine Tales Amber Ale, it tells James Squire's remarkable life story in a toffee-caramel nutshell. Pilsner Also (and more correctly) spelt pilsener, this pale lager takes its name from the Bohemian city of Plzen (or Pilsen) where it was first brewed. There are now three main styles of pilsner: Czech — golden, earthy and bitter; German — colourful, light and foamy, European (mainly Dutch and Belgian) — sweeter. Josef Groll, the brewer who invented pilsner, was a Bohemian in every sense of the word, from his revolutionary approach to brewing to the manner of his death — of natural causes while happily telling stories at the regulars' table in his favourite pub. Australian lager Synonymous with Australian beer, lagers are European in origin (the word comes from lagern, meaning 'to store' in German). The fundamental difference to ales comes from the type of yeast used (bottom-fermenting as opposed to top). Lagers tend to be clean and crisp, and often have grassy characteristics. In the US, lagers brewed before Prohibition were often crafted with a high percentage of corn. Coincidentally, James Squire also brewed beer from corn in Australia's earliest days — which perhaps makes 'necessity is the mother of invention' the rogue's motto. Photo credits: Daveybot, Jaryl Cabuco | Fitted.Life, Keithius, Claudio Brisighello, Speed-Light, Matthew Black, blondinrikard, and martingarri via photopin cc.
As if your boyfriend needed another reason to stay glued to sport. The Allphones Arena and Lingerie Football League, LLC (LFL) have announced a partnership that will bring the 'explosively popular' lingerie football sports league to Australia. Dubbed the “fastest-growing sports league in the US” by BusinessWeek, the sport is played just like it reads. All-female teams don their scanty bra-and-panties sets and get rough out on the football field. It’s no wonder the LFL touts itself as “True Fantasy Football”. The game is played as a modified version of American NFL football, and began as an alternative half-time show for the NFL Superbowl. In 2009, the LFL was created and drew sell-out (surprisingly male-dominated) audiences and millions of primetime TV viewers. The 2012 LFL All-Star Game will be held in Brisbane at the Entertainment Centre on June 2 and at Allphones Arena in Sydney on June 9, and will feature 32 of the best women across the league as the Western and Eastern Conference teams clash. The two cities have been pointed to as potential homes for franchises in 2013. Is the world's single most sexist sport doomed for failure in Australia?
A few years ago the gin and tonic seemed like a basic drink order saved only for times of limited choice or hot days when there was no cold beer within reach. But the rise of Australia's own boutique gin production has changed that quite rapidly, with small-scale distillers — like Sydney's Archie Rose and Melbourne's Four Pillars, to name a few — creating some distinctive and downright delicious gins in our own backyard (Pinot Noir gin, anyone?). The latest weird and wonderful gin creation comes from South Australia's Applewood Distillery. They've just released a limited run of one-off Green Ant Gin, which is infused with — you guessed it — green ants. How does it work? Like all gin, it's made up of a selection of botanicals. But along with the usual juniper berries and orange peel, the essence of ants has also been thrown in. That's because ants release a pheromone during the distillation process, which produces a flavour that complements the other botanicals. According to Applewood, the green tree ants give the gin a "lime-licked burst of intense green flavour". While this is the first gin made with green ants we've heard of, Applewood's not the first people to use the tiny insects in gin — Copenhagen's Nordic Food Lab produces an Anty Gin that costs a bomb per bottle, and last year Victoria's Bass and Flinders Distillery released their Angry Ant Gin made with ants sourced from Western Australia. As a general rule we don't allow green ants anywhere near our mouths, but we'll probably make an exception for this one. Bottles are currently going for $120 on Applewood's online store. There's only 300 of them though, so you may have to snatch one up stat.
One of Sydney's most cherished Chinese restaurants, Golden Century, is set to permanently close its doors. According to a notice posted by ASIC on Thursday, August 19, the restaurant went into administration earlier this month. The CBD mainstay closed its doors on Saturday, June 26 due to NSW's current stay-at-home orders and according to its website, it was set to reopen at the end of August. Run by Eric and Linda Wong, Golden Century has been an institution for after-hours feeds in Sydney for decades. Most notably known for its late-night banquets and XO pippies, the restaurant has proudly served Sydneysiders since the 1980s and has grown a cult-like following throughout the city. [caption id="attachment_725461" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Parker Blain[/caption] In 2019, Golden Century opened XOPP — a new restaurant in Darling Square dedicated to its signature pippies in XO sauce, and added a 1500-bottle wine bar to its original Haymarket location. The restaurant has since endured multiple lockdowns and reduced foot traffic in Sydney's CBD due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. While the future of the Golden Century group is unconfirmed, tributes for the restaurant have already begun rolling in online. Dan Hong (Ms. G's, Mr. Wong and El Loco) posted a series of heartfelt Instagram stories writing to thank the venue and saying that, "My kids have grown up [at Golden Century]". The new Sydney advisory group Committee for Sydney said it was "shocking to see iconic Chinatown restaurant Golden Century go into administration. No question, the longer this goes on, the more significant reshaping of our city's local economies we're going to see." Golden Century is located at 393–399 Sussex Street, Sydney.
Maybe you're a fan of puzzles, or of horror movies. Perhaps you've always considered yourself a bit of an escape artist. Or, you might've spent so much time at home over the past year that the idea of trying to sleuth your way out of another space — any other space — sounds ideal right about now. Whichever category you fall into, Sydney isn't short on escape rooms, including The Cipher Room in Newtown. Soon, however, you'll be able to experience its games at a second site in St Peters. Come Tuesday, March 23, you'll be able to head to a warehouse on May Street, put your noggin to good use and try to figure your way out. The Cipher Room's owners — and self-confessed puzzle fanatics — David Vella and Marise Watson have also come up with a brand new scenario for their new space. If you find dolls particularly unsettling, consider yourself warned. The new site will play host to Mr Pepper's Toy Shop. No, guessing where it's set isn't part of the puzzle. Here, you'll step inside an abandoned and haunted toy store, because inspecting properties with ghostly visitors is your job. Once inside, you'll need to work out why people have noticed strange lights and noises coming from the place more than 70 years after it closed. Mr Pepper's Toy Shop comes with a warning about creepy imagery — again, there's dolls — and potential jump scares. So, if you're easily spooked, it mightn't be for you. Vella and Watson plan to keep creating new games for their new site, and doing it all themselves. The pair designs the concepts and narratives, all the puzzles, and the sounds and lighting. Supporting fellow local businesses, they also source props from nearby second-hand and vintage shops — and use reclaimed and recycled materials where they can. Over at the original Newtown venue, which is a six-minute walk from the new St Peters spot, you can still opt for 1940s spy thriller Espionage if that's more your style. There's also Cabin, where you'll play a detective hunting a serial killer, and The Marlowe, a film noir-style experience where you'll track a gangster in 1950s New York. Find The Cipher Room's second venue at 31–35 May Street, St Peters, from Tuesday, March 23.
Before the pandemic gave our everyday lives a big shake-up, we're betting that your spring routine was full of picnics. Sydney is a great city for packing a basket, gathering the gang and pulling up a rug, and then enjoying everything that comes next. But given that nothing has been quite normal lately — including the fact that Sydneysiders have spent much of 2021 in lockdown — picnics haven't played a big part in this spring so far. Thankfully, from Monday, September 13, that's changed. Back at the end of August, New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced that because the state had hit six million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine (yep, all in arms), the government would be loosening a few rules. Specifically, it'd be easing restrictions around outdoor recreation — so, for "sitting for relaxation, or to eat, drink or read outdoors", as defined on the NSW Government website — and changes would come into effect in all parts of the city. Now that the day for those eased conditions has arrived, you might be wondering exactly what's allowed. The short version: if you're fully vaccinated, your options just expanded. If you've had both jabs and live outside of Sydney's Local Government Areas of concern, you can enjoy outdoor recreation in groups of five as long as all adults are fully vaxxed and you all stay within your LGA or within five kilometres from home. Or, if you live in a hotspot LGA, you can enjoy two hours of outdoor recreation with the family members you live with, or with one other person if you live alone — as long as all adults are fully vaxxed, you stay within five kilometres of your house and you abide by the nighttime curfew. The list of things you can and can't do can be a bit overwhelming, though. So, we've broken the new outdoor recreation rules down for you in more detail. This information is correct as of Monday, September 13. [caption id="attachment_750943" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Destination NSW[/caption] What is outdoor recreation? First up, you're probably wondering what's meant by outdoor recreation, because it's not the kind of term we all used to describe heading out of the house before the pandemic. NSW Health advises that "recreation includes outdoor leisure activities such as sitting for relaxation, or to eat, drink or read outdoors". So, that includes heading to a park or beach to have a picnic, just sit and read, or even just to sit. Who can leave the house for outdoor recreation? Under the new rules that came into effect on Monday, September 13, the definition of outdoor recreation hasn't changed. But, who can head out for that exact reason has been given a revamp. The main rule: if you're fully vaccinated against COVID-19, you have more options. The restrictions also vary depending on where you live — so whether you live outside of Greater Sydney's Local Government Areas of concern, or within them. Outside of hotspot LGAs: For people who don't live in an LGA of concern (so, in the Bayside, Blacktown, Burwood, Campbelltown, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Fairfield, Georges River, Liverpool, Parramatta and Strathfield LGAs, as well as 12 suburbs in the Penrith), you have two options. If you're fully vaxxed, you can now can attend an outdoor gathering of up to five adults for outdoor recreation, as long as all everyone with you that's aged 16 years or over is also fully vaccinated. If you haven't had both your jabs, you can only enjoy outdoor recreation with one other person that you don't live with, or your entire household — or your nominated visitor under your singles bubble. This rule hasn't changed, and remains in place even with new eased rules coming into effect for folks who've been fully vaxxed. Inside hotspot LGAs: For people who do live in one of the LGAs of concern and are fully vaxxed, you can go out for outdoor recreation with fully vaccinated members of your household for two hours per day — or with one other fully vaccinated person who is not a member of your household. Not vaccinated, but live in one of the LGAs of concern? This doesn't apply, as you're not able to go out for outdoor recreation. When can I leave the house for outdoor recreation? Again, this depends on where you live — and if you're vaccinated. Outside of hotspot LGAs: Fully vaxxed, and live outside of the LGAs of concern? Then you can enjoy outdoor recreation whenever you like. There's no curfew on when you can go out. If you're not in a hotspot LGA, this actually also applies to people who aren't vaccinated — but they can still only enjoy outdoor recreation with their household or one other person. Inside hotspot LGAs: For people who live within an LGA of concern and have had both jabs, you need to abide by the 9pm–5am curfew when you're going out for outdoor recreation — and you can only go out for outdoor recreation for up to two hours per day. Not vaxxed, and live in a hotspot LGA? Again, you're not permitted to go out for outdoor recreation. How many people can I have a picnic with or hang out with outside? To reconfirm, picnics and just sitting and relaxing outside are covered under the definition of outdoor recreation. For further information, see the point on this above. And, as keeps proving the case, how many pals you can meet up with depends on where you live — and if you're jabbed. Outside of hotspot LGAs: If you don't reside in one the LGAs of concern and you're fully vaccinated, there's a five-person limit. So, you and four other fully vaxxed mates — who don't have to live with you — can all meet for a picnic or just to hang out outside. And, that five-person limit only covers adults. So, beyond those five fully vaxxed people over the age of 18, you can have any number of children aged 12 or under in attendance. Also, the kids don't need to have had their jabs, given that the vaccination campaign isn't currently open to this age group. Not vaccinated, but live outside the hotspot LGAs? Again, you can only exercise or enjoy outdoor recreation with one other person that you don't live with, or your entire household — or your nominated visitor under your singles bubble. This rule hasn't changed, and remains in place even with new eased rules coming into effect for folks who've been fully vaxxed. Inside hotspot LGAs: As mentioned above, for people who do live in one of the LGAs of concern and are fully vaxxed, you can go out for outdoor recreation with fully vaccinated members of your household for two hours per day — or with one other fully vaccinated person who is not a member of your household. Not vaccinated, but live in one of the LGAs of concern? This doesn't apply, as you're not able to go out for outdoor recreation. Where can I enjoy outdoor recreation? Yes, we're going to say it again — it depends on whether you've been vaccinated, and also where you live. Outside of hotspot LGAs: Everyone outside of the LGAs of concern can only undertake outdoor recreation either within their Local Government Area or within five kilometres of their home. This applies whether or not you're vaccinated. Inside hotspot LGAs: People inside the LGAs of concern who've been fully vaccinated can only undertake outdoor recreation within five kilometres of their home. Not vaccinated, but live in one of the LGAs of concern? You're not able to go out for outdoor recreation. Do I need proof that I'm vaccinated? In a word, yes. If you're going out for outdoor recreation, you must have proof of your vaccination with you at all times. If you're requested to show that proof of vaccination to a police officer, you must do so. Need to know where to find proof you've been jabbed? Our guide to booking your vaccination in Sydney explains that, handily. Just checking, what does 'fully vaccinated' mean? There's no harm in making sure you know exactly what's expected when it comes to being fully vaxxed. The rules around this state that "fully vaccinated means you have had two doses of an approved COVID-19 vaccination or have a medical contraindication certificate issued to you." Do I have to wear a mask? Yes, masks are compulsory unless you're at home. That means that you need to wear them whenever you're outdoors, other than if you're exercising; in all indoor non-residential settings, including workplaces (if you can't work from home, that is); on public transport, and while waiting for public transport; at outdoor markets and outdoor shopping strips; and standing in an outdoor queue waiting for a coffee or something to eat. You'll still obviously need to carry a mask with you at all times whenever you leave the house — even if you are exercising. The full list of rules — and exemptions to those rules — is available on the NSW Government website. Can I drive to a park for outdoor recreation? Yes, but you must abide by the distance limits. So, in parts of Sydney that aren't classed as LGAs or suburbs of concern, you must stay within your local government area for outdoor recreation, or within five kilometres of where you live. In LGAs or suburbs of concern, you're limited to a strict five-kilometre limit. And carpooling with people outside of your household still isn't allowed anywhere in Sydney, so you can't drive with your mates or family members if they don't live with you. Can I go to the beach? Yes, but only if a beach falls within your distance limit. Again, in parts of Sydney that aren't classed as LGAs or suburbs of concern, you must stay within your local government area for outdoor recreation, or within five kilometres of where you live. In LGAs or suburbs of concern, you're limited to a strict five-kilometre limit. During Sydney's last lockdown, many local beaches closed, so you'd be best to check your local council website before heading out. And if you're driving to a beach because it's within your distance limit, remember that carpooling with people outside of your household still isn't allowed anywhere in Sydney — so you can't drive with your mates or family members if they don't live with you. Can I go to a coastal/regional town? No, you cannot. You can not travel beyond your distance limit for outdoor recreation. It's also now an offence to leave Greater Sydney to travel to regional NSW without a reasonable excuse. If you do need to travel for an allowed reason, you'll need to get a permit. Can I road trip to an out-of-town beach for a day? Again, no. You can't take a day trip out of town for outdoor recreation. And, once more, it's now an offence to leave Greater Sydney to travel to regional NSW without a reasonable excuse. If you do need to travel for an allowed reason, you'll need to get a permit. For more information on what you can and can't do in NSW, head to the NSW Government website or read the NSW COVID-19 public health orders. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website.
Here's news to restart Australia's city rivalries: in 2024, just like in 2021, 2022 and 2023, Melbourne is home to the country's best pizza. This year, however, so is Sydney as well. That's the word from the experts at the 2024 50 Top Pizza awards for the Asia Pacific, which keeps enjoying slices from Victorian chain 48h Pizza e Gnocchi Bar — but this time, it loved the Harbour City's Al Taglio just as much. Both pizzerias have been named in the top-five slice-slinging joints in the Asia Pacific for this year, sharing fifth spot. They're the only Australian eateries in the top ten, but New Zealand's Dante's Pizzeria Napoletana came in sixth. If sending some affection 48h Pizza e Gnocchi Bar's way sounds familiar, that's because it happens often. As well as its Top 50 Pizza successes, the Melbourne pizzeria with outposts in South Yarra and Elsternwick was also crowned #1 Pizza in Australia at the Pizza World Championships in 2019. Back at the Top 50 Pizza gongs, only 48h Pizza e Gnocchi Bar placed on 2023's global list, too, with the Melbourne chain coming in 41st. Al Taglio popped up in the next 50, at number 63. How they'll each fare worldwide in 2024 won't be announced until September. This year's best Asia Pacific pizzerias were named at a ceremony at the Italian Institute of Culture in Tokyo. Running for the last seven years, the 50 Top Pizza awards are chosen by around 1000 experts across the globe, who visit the pizzerias anonymously to judge and rank their offerings. The annual international pizzeria guide chooses its picks based not just on the merit of their slices, but on each pizzeria as a whole, rating the food, drinks, service and overall ambiance. In top spot in the Asia Pacific this year: The Pizza Bar on 38th in Tokyo, which also earned the same placing in 2023. In second came Crosta Pizzeria in Makati in The Philippines, followed by RistoPizza in Tokyo in third, Hong Kong's Fiata by Salvatore in fourth and then the Aussie double shared fifth spot. A handful of other Aussie venues were also among 2024's Asia Pacific top 50 best pizzerias, starting with Sydney's Queen Margherita of Savoy in 23rd place. Lil Franky Pizzeria, also in the New South Wales capital, ranked 27th — and Gigi's Pizza, similarly in the city, came in at 30th. From Melbourne, Il Caminetto sits in 31st spot, Shop225 in 32nd and +39 Pizzeria in 33rd. Maestro Sourdough Pizza in Perth also earned some attention, ranking 43rd — and Sydney's Pizza Madre rounded out the list by coming in at 50th. Find 48h Pizza e Gnocchi Bar at 373 Malvern Road, South Yarra and 15 Gordon Street, Elsternwick. For the full 50 Top Pizza Asia Pacific awards list, jump over to the website. Craving a slice, Melburnians? Check out our top picks for pizza in Melbourne. 48h Pizza e Gnocchi Bar images: Hi Sylvia.
Winter's rolling in, but if you're not ready to let the warm days slip away just yet, a summery whisky cocktail could be your answer. Normally, the belly-warming properties of whisky call for a cosier setting. See: dimly lit bars, roaring fires, snuggle sessions. But this season, that's all changing. Ardbeg, makers of one of the world's smokiest whiskies, is getting ready to release a summer carnival-inspired drop, Ardbeg Drum. This special blend has been created by taking the traditional Ardbeg drop from ex-bourbon casks and then resting it in rum casks, adding a uniquely Carribean note to the already complex favourite. This limited-edition drop will be released in stores on Saturday, June 1, coinciding with the brand's annual party, known as Ardbeg Day. Yep, it seems that Ardbeg — and whisky fans — have a lot to celebrate. So, in the lead-up to this big day, Ardbeg has teamed up with a bunch of Sydney bars to keep the warm weather vibes going. Across the entire month of May, the bars will be slinging the salty, smoky tones of Ardbeg 10 Years Old in a selection of cocktails. From the zingy hit of tropical fruits to the richness of mole sauce, here are seven ways bars will infuse the spirit of Caribbean summer into their menus.
If you want something done right, you should probably go ahead and call the Reschs Appreciation Society. For the second time in two years, its fiercely dedicated members have managed to do the near impossible and bring back a cult-classic Reschs from extinction. This time, it's the beloved Reschs Dinner Ale which has been reinstated to bottle shop shelves across the state, albeit for a limited time. The red-and-white-tinned brew debuted back in the early 1900s and would go on to earn scores of devotees before Reschs ceased production in the mid-1990s — to the devastation of many. Now, Carlton & United Breweries is giving the trusty Dinner Ale its long-awaited comeback — and it's all thanks to the passionate pleas and successful petitioning of those Reschs Appreciation Society members. The tinnies will soon be available from NSW Liquorland and First Choice bottleshops while stocks last, with CUB marketing manager Marc Lord saying: "To have such a passionate group of people campaigning for a beer that hasn't been brewed for decades really says something." [caption id="attachment_778022" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Reschs Appreciation Society founder Matt Henricks (middle, wearing shirt illustration by Barry P) with other members[/caption] Founded in 2009 and now boasting an impressive 15,000 members, the Reschs Appreciation Society is truly a committed bunch. You might remember a previous petition of theirs led to the joyous re-release of Reschs Silver Bullet pilsner tins in 2020, inspiring CUB to permanently switch production from glass bottles back to the legendary cans of yesteryear. Yep, when it comes to a certain beer label and a refreshing brew, these folks get things done. Reschs Dinner Ale will be available from Liquorland and First Choice bottleshops across NSW, but only for a limited time.
The interwar years in Europe were a remarkable time, not least in Germany, where a new democratic Republic arose from the ashes of the First World War, replacing the old monarchy, and exploding with utopian ideas and a never-before-experienced freedom of expression. The artistic and intellectual developments of this period helped to lay the foundations of modernity as we know it, and it’s no coincidence that the movement is referred to collectively, as modernism. The Mad Square - Modernity in German Art 1910–37 brings together over 200 works of art from the modernist period to the AGNSW and, short of buying a plane ticket to Europe, this may be your only chance to see an exhibition of this calibre. Covering the Expressionism, Dada, Constructivism, Bauhaus and New Objectivity, it features artists such as Max Beckmann, Otto Dix, George Grosz, Hannah Höch and El Lissitzky. The accompanying Berlin Sydney programme of events running alongside is quite astonishing in its breadth and depth, and offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see some of the most pivotal art works of the twentieth century in the context of the culture and society from which they emerged. Do not miss out.
Exploring art galleries can at times be a sterile and overwhelming experience. Sprawling layouts, visitors' lack of knowledge, sleep-inducing audio guides, and a dearth of viewer interactivity with the world of the artworks and artists can quickly turn a cultural adventure into more of a cultural chore. Yet arts organisations across the globe are transforming how tech-savvy visitors can experience their works, with the help of innovative, entertaining, and interactive apps. Using multimedia, geolocation, augmented reality, and dozens of other features of mobile technology, these apps have the capacity to transform even the most unengaged of armchair critics into bona fide art aficionados. Take a closer look at these 10 of the best current arts apps, from online exhibitions to DIY art and pocket-sized glossaries. 1. Magic Tate Ball It seemed to be a match made in pun-lovers heaven: combining London's beloved Tate galleries with the concept of the Magic 8-Ball to create perhaps the most entertaining art gallery app available. The process is simple: once you have opened the app, give your iDevice a good shake and the Magic Tate Ball will take the date, time-of-day, your GPS location, live weather data, and ambient noise levels and spurt out the piece of artwork from the Tate collection that most closely matches your surroundings. So a hot day may have the Tate Ball tempting you into a pool with Australian David Hockney's A Bigger Splash or a loud, bustling pub may give you Georg Baselitz's sculpture carved from a chainsaw, all of which comes with a smattering of interesting details about why your particular surroundings produced that artwork. The brilliance of this app lies in its ability to utilise a fun gimmick to draw in people who only have a passing or casual interest in art, providing a refreshingly unique way to discover some of the highlights of the Tate's massive collection. 2. MCA Publications The Museum of Contemporary Art has become renowned for pushing artistic boundaries and embracing new technology. It therefore should come as no surprise that their newly launched e-publication provides a fascinating and highly interactive insight into the breathtaking exhibition of the legendary Gangnam-styling British-Indian artist Anish Kapoor. The iPad app takes the user on a virtual tour of the exhibition complete with photographs, in-depth descriptions of the various works, videos from the curator and Kapoor himself, and even a behind-the-scenes look into the immense task of engineering and installing the immense artworks. Add to this the intuitive nature of the app and you have yourself a brilliant tool for getting under the skin of the artist and understanding the awe-inspiring collection now on show at the MCA. 3. Watercolours of Namatjira For those of us whose brushwork leaves a lot to be desired, this app provides an interactive insight into how iconic Aboriginal artist Albert Namatjira is able to create his vibrant watercolour paintings of the Australian landscape. Developed by Big hART, it allows you to create virtual replicas and redesigns by filling in stencils of the artist's work with your own choice of colours and brush sizes, with the paint then soaking into the screen just like it would have on Namatjira's own canvas paper. The end results are both realistic and often surprisingly spectacular, allowing users to gain a firsthand understanding of the watercolour process and tempting them into a more detailed exploration of the Namatjira community development project, theatrical show, and vast array of beautiful landscapes. 4. Art Gallery of NSW: Contemporary and Australian Produced in association with The Nest, the Art Gallery of NSW's two companion apps for iPad do a couple of things really well: they provide richly detailed vision of the gallery's most celebrated works, and they do it in a really interesting interface that encourages browsing by feel and intuition. Once you focus on a work you like, you can also take in additional material, such as sketches, photos, and curator insights. 5. Frank Lloyd Wright - Fallingwater History's most celebrated architect and his most celebrated work have been given the app treatment to awesome effect. Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater, described by the American Institute of Architecture as the "best all-time piece of American architecture", can now be explored in three-dimensional glory from the comfort of your iPad. By combining photographs, archival drawings, floor plans, and videos in a sumptuous multimedia feast, this app allows budding architects the ability to explore Fallingwater in a unique and comprehensive way that is not possible on any other media platform. With more than 275 photographs, 360-degrees panoramas, and 25 minutes of video footage, this app is possibly the most perfect marriage of content and form yet imagined for tablet technology. 6. Art Authority Art Authority seems so simple in its concept yet quite unbelievable in its execution: collect the most famous and beloved works of art from across history and put them all together in a single, virtual gallery. This remarkable app includes a database of nearly 60,000 artworks from over 1000 different artists, taken from Ancient times all the way up until the present day. Perhaps even more impressive is the way Art Authority displays and organises the 10GB worth of art. Paintings are presented in beautiful, intricate frames on textured wallpapers resembling a real gallery and can be viewed in almost any thematic form you desire from time period to artist to subject matter. You can even take your virtual art tourism into the real world with the Art Near Me function, which allows you to locate nearby galleries and artworks. 7. Muybridgizer The technological pioneers at the Tate galleries in London have done it again, this time creating an interactive app that allows iPhone users to step into the shoes of the experimental motion capture artist Eadweard Muybridge. Created to accompany the Tate Britain's Muybridge exhibition, this app allows you to take filtered photographs and then piece them together to create a frame-by-frame animation that you can speed up, slow down, or reverse simply by swiping your finger across the screen, cleverly and playfully pastiching Muybridge's iconic videos of flying horses, waltzing couples, and cantering bison. Add to this the fact that they have managed to turn Muybridge's quite unpronounceable name into a verb and you can see why the Tate can almost undoubtedly stake claim to the title of most linguistically canny and technologically savvy gallery in the world. 8. MoMA - Art Lab Emphatically disproving the myth that iPads can only function as a medium for media consumption, the Museum of Modern Art - Art Lab app allows users to create some truly awesome pieces of virtual artwork. By playing with shapes, lines, and colours, you can make everything from collages to sound compositions and shape poems. What separates this app from your regular Etch A Sketch, however, is the way it combines simple drawing functions with the techniques and artworks on display at MoMA. You can trace a Matisse or read how Van Gogh created his starry, starry night or, if your creative flair dries up, check out the ideas section for a bit of inspiration from the world's premiere modern art gallery. In this way the MoMA app brilliantly combines the user's individual creativity with an interactive tour of the MoMA's world-beating collection. 9. Pocket Art Gallery If you've ever dreamed of becoming an art curator — selecting and hanging some of the world's most incredible artworks in your own home — then who else but the Tate could make that dream a virtual reality. The Pocket Art Gallery app allows users to select from a hundred famous artworks and then position them wherever they may desire while looking through the phone's camera. Augmented reality enables you to 'hang' a Picasso above your fireplace, a Turner in your workplace, or a Jackson Pollock in your bathroom. With the app linked into Facebook and Twitter, you can impress your socially networked friends with all the awesome and ingenious images you produce. 10. Tate Guide to Modern Art Terms Thanks in equal part to the complexities of the artist's technique and to the linguistic pretentiousness of the art world, keeping abreast of the terminology used by artists can be a mystifying and mind-boggling exercise. The Tate (again) is hoping to make the beguiling vernacular of artists more accessible and understandable with their Guide to Modern Art Terms. The app includes over 300 art terms covering everything from styles to schools to movements, allowing the user to search via category or through the app's image gallery. So if you're struggling to get your head around fauvism or want to find the word for sculpting concrete, then check out this super-handy app.
They say the world is your oyster, and the folk on the New South Wales South Coast take it very seriously. So much so that they're putting on a festival to celebrate and showcase that salty, slippery, seafood delicacy. The Narooma Oyster Festival, set in the heart of Australia's 'Oyster Coast' will take place on a glorious Saturday on the 5th of May. Head to the Big Oyster Bar where you will be able to feast on delicious oysters from eight south coast estuaries on the banks of the stunning Wagonga Inlet. If you're after a cool $500 in pocket money, the oyster shucking competition could be up your alley, but if you're new to the whole game, there are shucking demonstrations as well. For the most committed of oyster lovers out there, there is The Ultimate Oyster Experience, where you'll enjoy an exclusive master class guide by a local grower and sample Angasi, Pacific and Sydney Rock Oysters with complementing wines.
Anyone who's been outside over the last week will have noticed that Sydney has been unseasonably warm, with temperatures reaching 20 degrees or over for the past eight days. If you've been thinking that this toasty patch is not just out of character given the time of year, but rather prolonged, you're spot on. In fact, it's the first time that the city has achieved the feat in July. It looks as though that new record-setting period will continue, too, since temps above 20 are forecast through until Monday. Today, Friday, July 26, is due to hit 20, as is tomorrow, Saturday, July 27 and Sunday, July 28 — while Monday, July 29 will reach a maximum of 21. The last time that Sydney sweltered through a prolonged July warm spell was actually just last year, although it ended after seven days. According to the Bureau of Meteorology, the city reached six days in a row above 20 in 2013 — but before that, the record was five back in 1928. If the current run continues, 2019 will max out at 12 consecutive days. According to Weatherzone, the increased temperatures will likely smash another record as well. Sydney has already experienced 12 days above 20 degrees in total this month, with July 2018 holding the current mantle at 13. https://twitter.com/BOM_NSW/status/1154248438529384448 If you've been enjoying the hardly wintry climes, the fact that nicer conditions will be sticking around over the weekend is obviously good news — in the sun you don't even need a light jacket. It's hard to deny that this winter has been more pleasant than usual; the average maximum temp for July is 16.4, according to BOM, and the city has only dropped below that average once this month. But it undeniably and rightfully adds to the ever-present anxiety about global warming. Next week, however, it might be time to dig out your beanie again, as slightly frostier conditions are due to return. The mercury will dip down to 17 on Tuesday, July 30 and Wednesday, July 31, with the drop accompanied by showers. The wet weather will remain on Thursday, August 1, when a temp of 18 is forecast. The warmer spell has been a bit of contrast to the end autumn — when we were dealing with some frosty cold fronts and a whole heap of snow (even in the Blue Mountains) — although, it's not unexpected. Australia did swelter through its hottest summer on record and autumn was our third warmest ever. If you've got the weekend off, make the most of it — visit a beach, do a seaside walk or catch a ferry to explore islands and national parks. By Sarah Ward and Lauren Vadnjal. Via Weatherzone. Image: Manly by Paros Huckstepp.
UPDATE, Friday, June 20, 2025: 2025's First Nations Film Festival — National Reconciliation Week has been extended until Wednesday, August 6 (from its original end date of Tuesday, June 10). This article has been updated to reflect that change. As part of the flurry of streaming services always competing for our eyeballs, FanForce TV joined the online viewing fold during the COVID-19 pandemic as a pay-per-view platform. The service runs all year round, of course, but it goes the extra mile for National Reconciliation Week, which is when it hosts one leg of the First Nations Film Festival (previously known as the Virtual Indigenous Film Festival). In 2025, the National Reconciliation Week season is taking place between Tuesday, May 27–Wednesday, August 6, all solely online. The returning fest has four features and a collection of shorts on its lineup, starting with The Moogai — which sees writer/director Jon Bell (Cleverman) turn his own short into a full-length film, explore how Australia's past continues to haunt in the process, and brings back his stars Shari Sebbens (The Office) and Meyne Wyatt (Troppo) as a couple grappling with Stolen Generations trauma with their growing family. Also excellent: Like My Brother, a must-watch documentary that follows four young Indigenous women from the Tiwi Islands as they set their sights on playing AFLW at the highest level. With Blown Away, the impact of Cyclone Tracy upon Darwin is in the spotlight four decades later — and Winhanganha, which was commissioned by the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia, sees Wiradjuri artist Jazz Money examine archives through a First Nations lens. To view this at-home screen celebration, you'll need to buy an all-access pass, which lets you catch everything for $38.
The winter chill is enough to make anyone head for the airport. That idea is even more tempting now that Qantas has just discounted 350,000 seats across its international network for a huge one-week sale. With economy fares starting at $499 return, perhaps an overseas adventure is the perfect way to cure the winter blues. Featuring discounted flights on more than 30 routes across Asia, the Americas, the United Kingdom, Africa and the Pacific, now is your chance to soak up fascinating (and warmer) destinations. Think the bright lights of Los Angeles, a Tokyo shopping spree or some much-needed beachside bliss in Bali. For those who can't just get up and go, the sale features travel dates from July 2025 to May 2026, offering plenty of time to carve out some space in your calendar. Meanwhile, the sale coincides with the school holidays alongside must-see international events, like the Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival and Disneyland's 70th anniversary celebrations in LA. Ready to depart? There's no shortage of options. Melburnians can book return flights to Bali from $599, while Sydneysiders can soak up the island scenery of Nadi for the same price. There's also discounted return departures from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane to Vanuatu from $549, Tokyo from $949 and Los Angeles from $1099. Plus, holiday-seekers in Perth and Darwin can journey to Singapore from $519, while those in Perth can kick-start a European adventure in London with return flights from $1749. There are heaps more routes on the list too, with premium economy and business fares also discounted for those with a little more room in their travel budgets. "What makes this sale special is the availability during school holidays, which is something we know families really value," says Qantas International CEO, Cam Wallace. "Whether you're looking for a tropical escape to Bali, exploring Los Angeles and Dallas or experiencing the culture in Hong Kong, there's something here for everyone." Qantas' international sale is on now and ends at 11.59 AEST on Monday, August 4. Head to the website for more information.
Some pieces of film news feel like they can't be believed until the end results are actually seen. For a decade, the prospect of Hayao Miyazaki making another movie has been one of them. This enchanting development has come to fruition in the form of The Boy and the Heron, which not only exists but has been playing at international film festivals, already released in cinemas in Japan and now boasts two English-language trailers to give audiences a sneak peek at it magic. After a mesmerising first look back in September, The Boy and the Heron has just dropped a full glimpse at the new gift from the Studio Ghibli great. In store is the story of Mahito, a boy pining for his mother and experiencing the realm where the living and the dead converge. Also present: stunningly gorgeous animation. Miyazaki is back to spirit audiences away again, ten years after releasing The Wind Rises, which was expected to be his last film at the time. The movie maestro even announced his retirement. Thankfully, he changed his mind quickly — and now, more than half a decade after that welcome revelation, his next film is here. The My Neighbour Totoro, Spirited Away and Howl's Moving Castle icon's latest was confirmed back in late 2022 for a 2023 release, at least overseas. Back then, it was known as How Do You Live, but has changed its title since. The official synopsis describes it as "a semi-autobiographical fantasy about life, death and creation" — and yes, plenty of Miyazaki's trademarks already exist in that short blurb. While The Boy and the Heron hit the big screen in July in Miyazaki's homeland, it did so without the usual promotional campaign — which is why trailers have only arrived in the lead-up to the American release, which begins in November. At the time of writing, the feature doesn't have a date with cinemas Down Under as yet, but it'll obviously get one. Echoing through the latest sneak peek is the film's English-language voice cast, which boasts the starry likes of Christian Bale (Amsterdam), Robert Pattinson (The Batman), Florence Pugh (Oppenheimer) and Dave Bautista (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3). You'll also hear Gemma Chan (The Creator), Willem Dafoe (Asteroid City), Mark Hamill (The Fall of the House of Usher) and Karen Fukuhara (The Boys). There's nothing quite like a Miyazaki movie. While Studio Ghibli isn't short on gorgeous on-screen wonders hailing from a range of filmmakers, the Japanese animation house's best-known co-founder truly does make films like no one else. The Boy and the Heron already looks spectacular — unsurprisingly — in its initial glimpses, complete with lush greenery, mysterious spaces and floating critters. And, of course, with Mahito and the picture's titular bird making appearances. The Boy and the Heron marks Ghibli's fifth film since Miyazaki's last movie, following Isao Takahata's The Tale of the Princess Kaguya, page-to-screen treat When Marnie Was There, gorgeous French co-production The Red Turtle and the CGI-animated Earwig and the Witch. Check out the full English-language trailer for The Boy and the Heron below: The Boy and the Heron is already open in Japan, and will release in the US on Friday, December 8, 2023. The film doesn't yet have a release date Down Under — we'll update you when one is announced. Images: © 2023 Studio Ghibli.
As a writer I'm pretty happy with the fact that I get to sit around in pyjama pants all day, but even that has nothing on being a professional LEGO builder. New York-based artist Nathan Sawaya is man with this enviable job title, and he has created the first exhibition ever to focus exclusively on LEGO bricks as an art medium. Turning something that nearly all children have at home — and most adults still have a sentimental attachment to — into incredible large-scale sculptures, this is an exhibition that truly exemplifies the belief that art should be accessible to all. Art of the Brick has been selling out all over North America for several years, and has finally made its way to Sydney. Those with a predisposition to jealousy should probably avoid the exhibition, which will make even the most carefully constructed LEGO Pirate ships and intricate themed villages seem like, well, toys. Sawada’s creations resemble everything from pieces of fruit to famous faces and actual-size dinosaur skeletons, all created without the help of building instructions. Book early, because tickets will be hotter than a kit of LEGO Technic.
Queensland has the Big Pineapple and Big Mango. New South Wales boasts the Big Prawn and the Big Merino, and you'll find the Big Lobster in South Australia. They're just some of Australia's 150-plus big things, because we sure do love giant versions of foods, animals and everyday items — and if you'd like to walk into a huge whale that's also an underwater observatory, that'll be on the cards from the end of 2022, too. Australia already has a couple of big whales, but not like this one. The animal-shaped structure will house the Australian Underwater Discovery Centre, and it'll sit right at the end of the Busselton Jetty in Western Australia. That means that it'll be located two kilometres out to sea — and, when it launches in December next year, it'll become the largest natural marine observatory in the country. The $30 million centre has been in the works since 2017, when Busselton Jetty started looking into ways to increase the capacity if its current underwater observatory — because it can only accommodate 44 people per hour. Now, however, the designs for the new site have been revealed. Marine contractor Subcon has appointed Baca Architects as the project's lead architects, and it's going with a cetacean design that resembles a whale. The design recreates the marine creature in an abstract but still noticeable manner, and will be made to look as if the concrete structure is raising its head over Geographe Bay. When the building comes to fruition, it'll span 900 square metres across multiple levels, and huge windows will be a big feature. Some will measure up to 5.5 metres tall and 12 metres long, letting visitors peer out at the area's marine life — including via a partially submerged window called the 'cetecean's eye'. Attendees will enter from the pier, which is 5.5 metres above the average sea level, then descend down through an art gallery and accompanying exhibition spaces to the observatory on the ocean floor level. Those galleries will mainly focus on new habitats for fish and coral, but underwater sculptures and marine art will be part of the project, too. And, if you'd like to eat beneath the ocean's depths, an underwater dining experience is also set to be included. Project engineers Core Marine have experience with restaurants under the sea, as the company also worked on Norway's Under. The Australian Underwater Discovery Centre will be designed to withstand cyclones and storm surges, including 6.5-metre-high waves, and will feature an outer surface that'll enable barnacles and algae to graft onto the outside, like they would with a real whale. And, as it'll be fabricated onshore, the centre will then get towed out to its location — which is planned to occur in tandem with 2022's annual whale migration. As for Busselton Jetty's current underwater observatory, it's set to become a marine research centre. It'll focus on promoting clean oceans and educating people about ocean climate change. The Australian Underwater Discovery Centre is set to open at the end of Busselton Jetty by December 2022 — we'll update you with an exact launch date when it's announced.
While it seems the large majority of Australian expats have decided to put down roots in London or New York, Hong Kong has one heck of an Australian population — especially in the culinary scene. From Melbourne-style coffee bars and roasteries to underground contemporary Chinese fusion restaurants and Western Australian iron ore mine-themed cocktail bars (really), Honkers is brimming with little pieces from home for Australian travellers. Embracing the traditional cooking styles of HK with a little contemporary twist, these Aussie expat hubs aren't just for travellers, seeing locals queue up as much as visitors every day and night of the week. If you're planning a visit to Hong Kong, pop by and see how Aussies are representing. THE IRON FAIRIES One of the most talked about cocktail bars in Hong Kong is themed around nothing less niche than a Western Australian iron ore mine. Think Flintstones-like private cave nooks, gritty mining tools lining the back bar, live jazz, and a casual 10,000 dead butterflies suspended from the ceiling. Prolific Australian designer Ashley Sutton simply ran with what he knows — he really is a former miner from Western Australia. Sutton makes his own gin, Iron Balls, which features in a few of the highly decadent cocktails (a craft beer or wine-focused bar this ain't). Try the 'Underground Martini'. Pull up a leather Chesterfield armchair around what looks like a macabre bonfire of bodies but is actually a pile of iron fairies (hence the bar's name). Each fairy has its own name and personality — word is that each is named for Sutton's ex-girlfriends. Don't steal them like a jerk, instead you can buy a fairy and have it packaged up with magic dust and wishes. But what's this tunnel, and where does it lead... LG, 1 Hollywood Road, Central. J.BOROSKI Followed the tunnel? You've emerged into one of the city's newest, most unique and most visually jaw-dropping cocktail bars. Also designed by Ashley Sutton and run by owner/mixologist Joseph Boroski, this bar is a syndication of its sister bar in Bangkok and apparently operates on an invitation-only basis. Horned beetles tile every inch of a curved tunnel ceiling, while framed giant spiders line hidden alcoves made for intimate conversations. There's no cocktail menu at J.Boroski, only particularly intuitive bartenders who'll quiz you on your preferences before producing your perfect elixir. "Have we shown you the sex room?" asks the manager. We can't tell you about the sex room, but we can tell you it exists and involves 1950s porn. You'll just have to find it for yourself. Your only clue? Follow the spiders. Secret location. To request an invitation call +852 2603 6020 or email hk@jboroski.com. HO LEE FOOK Taiwan-born chef Jowett Yu has created one heck of a Hong King must-visit with his modern Chinese, Elgin Street restaurant in Central, Ho Lee Fook (say it out loud, you got it). The name literally translates to "good fortune for your mouth" and is inspired by old school Hong Kong cha chaan tengs (tea restaurants) and late night Chinatown haunts in 1960s New York. Yu's known in Australia for his Tetsuya's training and for co-opening Sydney restaurants Mr Wong and Ms.G's with Eric Koh and Dan Hong. You won't have trouble missing this highly publicised spot — just look for one of the most Instagrammed walls in the city, a clinquant assembly of waving cats. Just try and keep tipsy passersby away from this selfie trap. Downstairs, in his dimly lit, Chinese street art-adorned basement, Yu weaves contemporary Chinese magic through street food staples like French toast (Yu hides peanut butter in his version, and casually serves it with condensed milk ), prawn toast done okonomiyaki-style, and roast wagyu short ribs with jalapeño purée. But it's the roast goose that has foodies aflutter at HLF — order that bad boy 48 hours in advance. 1 Elgin St, Central, Hong Kong PEEL STREET ESPRESSO If you're looking for a little piece of Australian cafe life in Hong Kong, head for Central and seek out Peel Street Espresso, the brainchild of Scottie Callaghan from local wholesale roasting company Redback Specialty Coffee (co-owned by Keith Regan and Craig Jackson). Opened in February 2016, this modernist, cement corridor space looks straight out of Melbourne or Sydney, and plays host to locals and visitors to the city alike, with the Ho Lee Fook team regular coffee fiends. Perch up at the window bar with a black, white or filter coffee ($3.30 each), a freshly baked and schmeared bagel ($5-11) or the quintessentially Australian avo toast ($14) before a big day of exploring. If you pop back after closing time, the coffee beans are whisked away and the space transforms into a wine bar. 38 Peel Street, Central, Hong Kong, www.redbackcoffee.com.hk [caption id="attachment_600511" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Maison Libanaise[/caption] MAISON LIBANAISE Fancy a spot of Lebanese in the middle of Hong Kong? Head for SoHo's Maison Libanaise, a three-storey, canteen-style restaurant inspired by 1960s Beirut, the 'Paris of the Middle East' with its French-inspired architecture and contemporary food scene. On the ground floor you'll find takeaway nosh from Le Comptoir, on the first floor lives Le Salon, a seated, sharing-focused restaurant doing Lebanese mezze, and on the rooftop you can sip on a wine or two at La Buvette, overlooking SoHo's streets. Head chef James Harrison hails from Melbourne and trained under Greg Malouf at MoMo. He's dishing up honey-glazed haloumi, eggplant fattoush and hearth baked pita bread daily. 10 Shelley Street, SoHo [caption id="attachment_600509" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Ophelia[/caption] OPHELIA Yeah, yeah this one's another Ashley Sutton, but look at it. An epic peacock-themed cocktail bar inspired by 19th century opium dens and located in the nightlife-happy area of Wan Chai, Ophelia polarises bar fans in the city (like any venue boasting a penchant for blatant voyeurism, decorated female performers and onstage debauchery). Chef Angus Harrison, who's previously worked with Martin Boetz and Luke Mangan, does tapas here, perfectly paired with the bar's Asian herb-heavy cocktail menu. Shop 39A-41A,1/F, The Avenue, Lee Tung Avenue, Wan Chai. OTHER AUSTRALIAN-HELMED RECOMMENDATIONS Belon Carbone Le Garcon Saigon Images: Shannon Connellan unless otherwise specified. Concrete Playground travelled as a guest of the Hong Kong Tourism Board.
With Snapchat, Facebook Live and Instagram Stories, we thought we'd already seen peak selfie. But last week Nokia unveiled its new flagship device, the Nokia 8, which has been built for just that: streaming selfies. The brand new smartphone is primed for personal content sharing, with world-first technology that allows use of its front- and rear-facing cameras simultaneously. Dubbed the 'bothie' by Nokia, this feature uses the phone's dual sight mode to pull footage from both cameras into a split-screen visual, which can be live-streamed in real-time to your social feeds. You can record what's in front of you and your reaction to it for your fans (read: mum) to watch — most probably on Facebook Live or Instagram Stories. It's a cool little spec for sure, but, as the phone's flagship feature, we can't help but feel Nokia is differentiating the 8 through trend rather than technology. After all, the phone's longevity relies on selfies being a thing. But while the popularity of this bothie feature has a limited lifespan, the phone itself might just have enough to keep you hooked, even after you've grown bored of live-streaming your entire existence. For this device, Nokia has worked with ZEISS optics for the first time to ensure both front and back cameras are as slick as can be. The Nokia 8 is also first smartphone to feature Nokia OZO Audio to capture and play audio with 360-degree surround sound — a function that'll really take those 4K videos to the next level. It 64GB storage and also includes unlimited uploads to Google Photos. The device runs smoothly on Android — much like the Google Pixel — and is powered by the Qualcomm® SnapdragonTM 835 Mobile Platform. A bit longer than in iPhone, it feels nice in the hand and is engineered with a graphite-shielded copper cooling pipe to suck out the heat and keep it running without overheating. The best part about the phone is that is will retail at $899, which is a bit cheaper than many of its competitors — the iPhone 7 128GB and Samsung Galaxy S8 64GB currently retail for round $1200. The Samsung has just announced the Note 8, which is expected to be even more expensive, while Apple will announce the new iPhone 8 early next month. It will be interesting to see how the Nokia 8 compares to the new release of iPhones — but if you're looking for a usable Android phone at a reasonable price, the Nokia 8 is a really solid contender. The Nokia 8 is available now for pre-order from JB Hi-Fi and Harvey Norman for $899. By Libby Curran and Lauren Vadnjal.
Apple's plan to build its first Australian flagship store at Federation Square has been one of Melbourne's most controversial new building projects in recent times. And now, after almost 18 months of back and forth, it looks like the plans will be scrapped after Heritage Victoria today refused the huge tech company's application to knock down one of the existing buildings. Heritage Victoria has this afternoon officially refused Apple's application for a permit to 'dismantle and demolish' the Yarra Building and build a new two-level store on the site. In its refusal, the body noted that the proposed building would have an "unacceptable and irreversible detrimental impact on the cultural heritage status" of Fed Square as it would 'encroach' on public space and detract from the cohesive design of the current square format. It says that the negative impacts of the proposal "are not outweighed by the benefits". The Andrews Government has confirmed that, without the ability to build a new structure, Apple will not go ahead with the project. Instead, the government will launch a review (with public consultation) into the future of Federation to ensure it grows as "an innovative and exciting place for our community". https://twitter.com/NTAV/status/1114007888458948608 This will make opponents to Apple's plans very happy. After being announced in late 2017, Apple's proposed Fed Square store has received considerable community backlash, both around the designs and the fact that it would tear down and replace the existing Yarra Building — and displace the Koorie Heritage Trust in the process. The government has confirmed that the trust will be able to remain in its current home while the review is being completed. It's gone through a lot since. The Victorian landmark was granted temporary heritage protection in August, and then in October it was recommended for permanent inclusion on the Victorian Heritage Register by Heritage Victoria, which prevented any work on the new Apple store from commencing. This refusal doesn't mean Fed Square has heritage status — and it doesn't mean another retail offering could take its place. Heritage Victoria has stated that a "more conventional" commercial business could be viable for the Yarra Building if its requirements could result in a smaller impact on the square. Image: Robert Blackburn, Visit Victoria.
In 1840 the Duchess of Bedford grew tired of that hunger-inducing interval between lunch and dinner, and to the benefit of humankind she invented the elaborate ritual of afternoon tea. Who doesn't like to while away an afternoon sipping tea and sampling a dazzling array of bite-sized treats extravagantly served on those three-tiered stands? But despite its traditional roots, the face of high tea is changing. No longer restricted to the retired and the rich, some of Sydney's best cafes, restaurants and dessert bars are plating up creative (both traditional and not-so) afternoon teas for every tea-swilling sweet lover to enjoy. From the cake-laden to the New Orleans-inspired, here are the best high teas in town.
"Hear that? That's nothing. Which is what I, as a speaker at today's conference, have for you all." Ah, if only all presenters could be as honest as Will Stephen, CollegeHumor.com staff writer and editor, who presented a pretty spot-on parody of his fellow speakers at a recent TEDxNewYork event. The content is one thing, but it's Stephen's manner — the intonation, the weighty pauses, the glasses adjustment, the 'revealing' question thrown out to the audience — that makes this so great. If you weren't paying attention, you'd swear he'd just imparted a deep and essential truth vital to the global progress of humanity. Via Mashable
When Sir Allen Lane stood daydreaming on an Exeter station in 1935, letting the seeds for Penguin Books take hold, he probably didn't imagine that his range of, intelligent books at a low prices would one day be roughed up, played with, and soaked in semillon at a ramshackle flat above a convenience store on King St, Newtown. But he'd probably approve, as both Penguin Books and Penguin Plays Rough, a monthly night for writers, share an abiding love for literature and low prices. We caught up with the co-creator, Elly King, to find out more Why did you start Penguin Plays Rough? We wanted Sydney's emerging writers to have a place to tell their stories. A place for fans of the written word to get cosy, drink wine and soak up something new. Who runs it? It's run by myself and Pip Smith but it's kind of a family affair. Our flatmate Tarik is our poster design genius and you can probably catch the fourth and fifth members of the household, Monika and Vincent the cat, manning the door at some stage. If you could bully one book in an alley, what would it be? A Tale of Two Cities. That book gave me ample grief in high school to justify being bullied. Every time I hear the opening line, It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, I want to cry. Hang on, I am bullying it, or is it bullying me? Word of advice to young Sydney writers? Carry a notebook. People watch. Find the fascinating. Come to Penguin Plays Rough every third Monday on the month. Bag a wildcard spot and read us a story! This month PENGUIN plays ROUGH is teaming up with Monthly Friend to bring you Working Title, with five writer/performers unlocking the stories behind seven slides from one motel room...
Trumpets blared and picklebacks were downed when The Flinders Hotel reopened its doors under new management in December last year — the much loved Darlinghurst pub ceased operations back in January 2015, with management laying the blame squarely on the NSW lockout laws. And now it's officially relaunching to the public, with a new look and one hour of free booze, no less. The official relaunch party will kick off from 8pm this Saturday, May 13 with one hour of drinks on the house. But don't expect to see the old Flinders of yore — there's been a few changes. The new fit-out includes a swanky marble bar imported from Italy, a custom DJ booth and a pool table. The walls have also been repainted with a real jumble of graffiti — it's meant to mirror the aesthetic of the laneway — and Keep Sydney Open paraphernalia is a main feature. "Flinders was amazing, but we've given the space a few new tweaks to give it a point of difference from what it was before — but without changing the feel of it too much," says co-owner and Sydney nightlife consultant Jordy Mitchell. "This relaunch is a way for us to re-introduce the venue to the public and let people know that nightlife is still well and alive in Surry Hills." Along with the upgraded decor comes a new cocktail list with seven classics — from whiskey sours and Negronis to espresso martinis and margaritas — as well as the hotel's one specialty cocktail, the Flinders Fling, which is a concoction of white rum, cognac liqueur, lime juice, mint leaves and soda water. "I want to keep the drinks in the spirit of the venue and not have anything that is wildly over -the-top," says Mitchell. "We really wanted to nail the core classics without having a cocktail list a mile long." The kitchen is also revamped, turning out a new pizza menu and the usual pub classics until 10pm. Future plans for an upstairs lounge with an open woodfire is in the works for the next few months. The venue boasts a 3am licence, and they plan to put that to good use for this weekend's launch party, with some of the Flinders' original DJs manning the turn tables. "Our relaunch is definitely a 'fingers up' to the lock out laws," says Mitchell. "We're still here and Sydney is still alive." The Flinders Hotel is located at 63 Flinders Street, Darlinghurst. The relaunch party will take place this Saturday, May 13 from 8pm-3am, with free drinks from 8pm-9pm.
Well-known for his visual distinctive style and fondness for symmetry across films such as The Royal Tenenbaums, Moonrise Kingdom, The Grand Budapest Hotel and Isle of Dogs, Wes Anderson is now playing museum curator. Alongside his partner, set designer and illustrator Juman Malouf, he's put together an exhibition for Vienna's Kunsthistorisches Museum: Spitzmaus Mummy in a Coffin and Other Treasures. The creative couple were given a task that plenty would envy: trawling through the Kunsthistorisches Museum's more than four million objects, and selecting their favourites from the incredibly broad collection of in-house artifacts. The end result includes items from all 14 of the museum's collections, which span old master paintings, Greek and Roman antiquities, Imperial coins and more. Think pieces like historical musical instruments, suits of armour, foreign antiques, carriages and sleighs, plus a fully illustrated catalogue. If you're wondering what inspired Anderson, he explains in the exhibition catalogue that, with Malouf, he harbours "the humble aspiration that the unconventional groupings and arrangement of the works on display may influence the study of art and antiquity in minor, even trivial, but nevertheless detectable ways for many future generations to come". And if you're not planning to be in Austria before April 28, 2019 — or in Italy afterwards, with the exhibition set to travel to the Fondazione Prada in Milan at a yet-to-be-announced date — here's a look at what's on offer. [caption id="attachment_703302" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Exhibition view. © KHM-Museumsverband[/caption] Exhibition view. © KHM-Museumsverband [caption id="attachment_703299" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Exhibition view. © KHM-Museumsverband[/caption] Exhibition view. © KHM-Museumsverband Exhibition view. © KHM-Museumsverband Spitzmaus Mummy in a Coffin and Other Treasures exhibits at Vienna's Kunsthistorisches Museum until April 28, 2019. Images: © KHM-Museumsverband.
For the third year running, Pyrmont Bay Park will transform itself into a pop-up food festival of Asian cuisine for ten nights from Friday, January 27. Wander through a heap of food stalls, which will this year include Asian-inspired creations from Chur Burger for the first time, as well as nosh from Teague Ezard's Star Gingergirl pop-up. This year they'll also have a Bubble Bar serving alcoholic and non-alcoholic bubble teas, and all your Night Noodle Market regulars like Hoy Pinoy, Mamasan and the insanely popular Bao Stop. Black Star Pastry and N2 Extreme Gelato are once again teaming up to create a gelato riff on their strawberry watermelon cake smash with fire crackers, a rooster macaron and Chinese herbal syrup syringe Paired that with live music and roaming performers, this is a solid Chinese New Year date. The Lunar Markets are open Monday to Wednesday 5–9pm, Thursday to Friday 5–10pm, Saturday 4–10pm, and Sunday 4–9pm.
If seeing movies and TV shows you love pick up shiny trophies is your preferred form of sport, congrats — awards season is here for another year. We're never too far away from Hollywood's latest opportunity to celebrate itself, given that the Emmys were only a couple of months back. But the period between December and March tends to be the entertainment industry's version of Christmas (or until April in 2021, given that the Oscars happened later than usual). Accordingly, it's that time of year for the Golden Globes, which has just announced its latest batch of nominees. That said, if you're keen to actually watch a heap of people collect their accolades come Monday, January 10, Australian and New Zealand time, think again — the ceremony won't be televised due to multiple controversies surrounding the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, the organisation behind the awards, and whether it'll stream somewhere (and if any celebrities will actually show up) hasn't yet been revealed. The list of films and series competing still spans plenty of 2021 favourites — covering both the big and small screens, because the Globes likes to have it both ways. Among the cinema fields, Jane Campion's phenomenal western The Power of the Dog leads the charge with seven nods, a feat only matched by nostalgic Kenneth Branagh-directed drama Belfast, which was inspired by the filmmaker's own childhood. And in the TV categories, Succession picked up five nominations, Ted Lasso and The Morning Show nabbed four, and a heap of shows — including Squid Game — picked up three. The Power of the Dog received Australian funding — and from New Zealand, too — so there's a local tie to this year's nominees. Campion also scored a nod for Best Director for the film, and Aussie actor Kodi Smit-McPhee earned a spot among the Best Supporting Actor nominees. Still staying local, Nicole Kidman is a Best Actress in a Drama contender in the cinema fields for playing Lucille Ball in Being the Ricardos, while Succession's Sarah Snook scored a Best Supporting Actress nomination in the TV categories. A heap of other excellent flicks and shows earned some love as well — including a Best Drama nod for Dune, a Best Comedy nomination for Paul Thomas Anderson's Licorice Pizza, acting recognition's for the latter's first-timers Alana Haim (yes, of Haim) and Cooper Hoffman (son of the Philip Seymour Hoffman), plus a trio of nominations for The Great, Hacks and Only Murders in the Building. Other highlights span the Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical nod for Annette's Marion Cotillard, Lupin's two showings, and Jennifer Coolidge's recognition for The White Lotus. Plus, after making history in 2021 for nominating three women for Best Director for the first time ever — after only ever nominating seven other female filmmakers in the Golden Globes prior 77-year run — the awards have given not only Campion but also The Lost Daughter's Maggie Gyllenhaal some love this time around. If you're wondering what else is in the running, here's the full list: GOLDEN GLOBE NOMINEES: BEST MOTION PICTURE — DRAMA Belfast CODA Dune King Richard The Power of the Dog BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE — DRAMA Jessica Chastain, The Eyes of Tammy Faye Olivia Colman, The Lost Daughter Nicole Kidman, Being the Ricardos Lady Gaga, House of Gucci Kristen Stewart, Spencer BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE — DRAMA Mahershala Ali, Swan Song Javier Bardem, Being the Ricardos Benedict Cumberbatch, The Power of the Dog Will Smith, King Richard Denzel Washington, The Tragedy of Macbeth BEST MOTION PICTURE — MUSICAL OR COMEDY Cyrano Don't Look Up Licorice Pizza Tick, Tick … Boom! West Side Story BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE — MUSICAL OR COMEDY Marion Cotillard, Annette Alana Haim, Licorice Pizza Jennifer Lawrence, Don't Look Up Emma Stone, Cruella Rachel Zegler, West Side Story BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE — MUSICAL OR COMEDY Leonardo DiCaprio, Don't Look Up Peter Dinklage, Cyrano Andrew Garfield, Tick, Tick … Boom! Cooper Hoffman, Licorice Pizza Anthony Ramos, In the Heights BEST MOTION PICTURE — ANIMATED Encanto Flee Luca My Sunny Maad Raya and the Last Dragon BEST MOTION PICTURE — FOREIGN LANGUAGE Compartment No. 6 Drive My Car The Hand of God A Hero Parallel Mothers BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN ANY MOTION PICTURE Caitríona Balfe, Belfast Ariana DeBose, West Side Story Kirsten Dunst, The Power of the Dog Aunjanue Ellis, King Richard Ruth Negga, Passing BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN ANY MOTION PICTURE Ben Affleck, The Tender Bar Jamie Dornan, Belfast Ciarán Hinds, Belfast Troy Kotsur, CODA Kodi Smit-McPhee, The Power of the Dog BEST DIRECTOR — MOTION PICTURE Kenneth Branagh, Belfast Jane Campion, The Power of the Dog Maggie Gyllenhaal, The Lost Daughter Steven Spielberg, West Side Story Denis Villeneuve, Dune BEST SCREENPLAY — MOTION PICTURE Paul Thomas Anderson, Licorice Pizza Kenneth Branagh, Belfast Jane Campion, The Power of the Dog Adam McKay, Don't Look Up Aaron Sorkin, Being the Ricardos BEST ORIGINAL SCORE — MOTION PICTURE Dune Encanto The French Dispatch Parallel Mothers The Power of the Dog BEST ORIGINAL SONG — MOTION PICTURE 'Be Alive', King Richard 'Dos Orugitas', Encanto 'Down to Joy', Belfast 'Here I Am (Singing My Way Home)', Respect 'No Time to Die', No Time to Die BEST TELEVISION SERIES — DRAMA Lupin The Morning Show Pose Squid Game Succession BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES — DRAMA Uzo Aduba, In Treatment Jennifer Aniston, The Morning Show Christine Baranski, The Good Fight Elisabeth Moss, The Handmaid's Tale MJ Rodriguez, Pose BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES — DRAMA Brian Cox, Succession Lee Jung-jae, Squid Game Billy Porter, Pose Jeremy Strong, Succession Omar Sy, Lupin BEST TELEVISION SERIES — MUSICAL OR COMEDY The Great Hacks Ted Lasso Reservation Dogs Only Murders in the Building BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES — MUSICAL OR COMEDY Hannah Einbinder, Hacks Elle Fanning, The Great Issa Rae, Insecure Tracee Ellis Ross, Black-ish Jean Smart, Hacks BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES — MUSICAL OR COMEDY Anthony Anderson, Black-ish Nicholas Hoult, The Great Steve Martin, Only Murders in the Building Martin Short, Only Murders in the Building Jason Sudeikis, Ted Lasso BEST TELEVISION LIMITED SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION Dopesick Impeachment: American Crime Story Maid Mare of Easttown The Underground Railroad BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR A MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION Jessica Chastain, Scenes From a Marriage Cynthia Erivo, Genius: Aretha Elizabeth Olsen, WandaVision Margaret Qualley, Maid Kate Winslet, Mare of Easttown BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR A MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION Paul Bettany, WandaVision Oscar Isaac, Scenes From a Marriage Michael Keaton, Dopesick Ewan McGregor, Halston Tahar Rahim, The Serpent BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, LIMITED SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION Jennifer Coolidge, The White Lotus Kaitlyn Dever, Dopesick Andie MacDowell, Maid Sarah Snook, Succession Hannah Waddingham, Ted Lasso BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, LIMITED SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TV Billy Crudup, The Morning Show Kieran Culkin, Succession Mark Duplass, The Morning Show Brett Goldstein, Ted Lasso Oh Yeong-su, Squid Game The 2022 Golden Globes will be announced on Monday, January 10 Australian and New Zealand time. For further details, head to the awards' website. Top image: The Crown, Des Willie/Netflix.
A decade ago, English Premier League team Tottenham Hotspur FC scored a new American coach and assistant in an advertisement hyping up soccer coverage by US TV network NBC. In that four-minute commercial, Ted Lasso made his debut, taking a gig across the pond without knowing a thing about the sport — or letting that whole lack of familiarity with the world game stop him. At his side: a bearded, sunglasses-wearing, cap-donning offsider, who dutifully offered advice and tried to steer him in the right direction. Unsurprisingly given how successful Ted Lasso has now become as an award-winning sitcom, viewers warmed to the sketch and its characters. A year later in 2014, the clueless coach returned in another ad, this time back in the US and using his Premier League learnings on home turf. But it'd take six more years before the Apple TV+ series that's widely and deservedly loved would grace screens, and before Saturday Night Live alum Jason Sudeikis and his We're the Millers and Horrible Bosses 2 co-star Brendan Hunt would return to the roles of Ted and Coach Beard. Now, Sudeikis has two acting Emmys for the first two seasons of the smash-hit show, and another two as one of its executive producers — and Hunt has a nomination for his on-screen supporting part, and shared those latter two wins. "It's wonderfully insane," Hunt tells Concrete Playground while chatting about Ted Lasso's long-awaited third season, which starts streaming from Wednesday, March 15 after an almost two-year gap since 2021's season two. Even if you hadn't seen the two ads that sparked the show, Hunt's face might've been familiar when Ted Lasso first hit Apple TV+ — his resume also includes appearances on everything from Parks and Recreation and Community to How I Met Your Mother and Key & Peele — but co-creating, -producing, -writing and -starring in one of the biggest comedy smashes of the past four years has made him instantly recognisable. He's also the man behind one of the show's most beloved characters, which is no mean feat given how widely adored the AFC Richmond crew are. A man of few words who's always at Ted's side, Beard hasn't stopped intriguing viewers yet. When Ted Lasso started its run as a series, its namesake and his righthand man Beard moved to London, and switched sports. So far, so familiar from the ads. But Ted Lasso as a series has a warmer tone, a busy roster of other players and the hearty embrace of audiences worldwide thanks to its kindness as much as its comedy. The gap between season two and three has been keenly noticed and felt — and not just because season two ended with a bombshell, after AFC Richmond assistant coach Nathan 'Nate' Shelley (Nick Mohammed, Intelligence) defected to rival club West Ham United, burning bridges with his old team and, pointedly, with Ted. How will Ted and Nate handle their new status quo? How has Hunt handled the Ted Lasso rollercoaster ride so far? Why is Beard such a fan favourite? They're just some of the things that we discussed with Hunt — alongside season two's delightful Beard After Hours episode, of course. ON TED LASSO'S JOURNEY FROM A SKETCH TO A SITCOM — AND ITS HUGE SUCCESS "Yeah, it's bonkers. You know, we took that first gig in that first campaign, and the main selling point was 'oh and we get to go to London for three whole days!'. Cut to: last year when we're in London for ten months. I think last year we were in London so long, we were like 'eh, London'. But that first one was super fun, and it went well enough that they had us go the next year, and that was fun too. And then Jason, [Ted Lasso co-creator] Joe Kelly and I got together [and went] 'alright, we've got to find a way to do more of this'. And then we wrote a pilot and put together a season arc — that was in late 2014/early 2105, and it felt like 'oh wow, we're going to have a TV show any minute now!'. And we didn't. We didn't for years. Years passed. Jason's career, he's going fine. Joe's career, he's going fine. Me, I'm baking on a rock, holding on for dear life in Los Angeles. And I had officially gotten to the point where I had given up any hope of anything Ted Lasso happening — like I was no longer even asking Jason if anything was happening. Then one day out of nowhere, he was like 'hey, is that pilot we did, is that still online somewhere?'. Yeah man, of course it is, that's how online works. He goes, 'oh, because Im talking to [Scrubs creator and sitcom veteran] Bill Lawrence tomorrow'. And then suddenly things moved very, very quickly after years of nothingness and heartbreak. I mean the last four years — it is what it is, and I just cannot, cannot, still cannot believe what has happened. I try not to think about it. I try to just get on the ride and pull down the harness and shake it and make sure it's secure, and then 'weeeeeeeeeeeeee!' — and then not think about the actual physics of the loop-de-loops, because it's insane." ON WHY TED LASSO HAS STRUCK SUCH A CHORD WITH AUDIENCES "In the ads, it's a sketch. And a thin sketch idea can work really well for five minutes, but it's unlikely to work for 30. So we just had so much fun doing the first two — 'like, we've got to find a way to do this' — and as soon as were making the TV show, we knew from early on, and this was Jason's idea, that something has to be going on in Ted's life to make him do this crazy thing. And we came upon the idea that he's going through a divorce. We weren't going to play the divorce for laughs — we were going to play the divorce for real. Jason and Joe and I, we've all been through a divorce. It's nothing to mess with. It's a very hard time. And once we had that in there, then the reality of this character is more fully formed and is now baked in, and is something to keep returning to. That's what led the way to panic attacks. That's what led the way to finding out his history with his dad, and stuff like that. I think we wouldn't be sitting here still talking about this show if it was still what it was in the original campaign." ON COACH BEARD'S ROLE IN THE SHOW — AND HIS FAN APPEAL "I think the main thing was still have him standing next to Ted as much as possible, because then people understand why he's there. No, it's just the idea that Ted wouldn't do this crazy thing alone. He would do it with someone he trusts — someone who would help him with the finer points, such as offside. And Beard's whole mission — we come from an improv and sketch-comedy culture, and one axiom you hear in that world is while you're offstage, while you're watching your partners improvise, ask yourself 'what does the scene need?'. Then you come into the scene with that. Well, Ted is the scene that Beard is watching, and Beard is always asking 'what does Ted need?'. That is rarely for Beard to talk, because Ted's pretty good at that bit. So Ted and Beard just have a very unspoken yet incredibly clear relationship and dynamic, and one's not going to take such a journey like this without the other — they're bosom buddies. I think it's [Coach Beard's fan appeal] just sort of a happy ancillary result of how little he talks, because he's on camera a lot by dint of the aforementioned standing next to Ted, who will most often be in the centre of your screen. And when someone is on camera that much but isn't talking, well, that's mysterious. Now you don't know what that dude's really about. It makes him a bit if a blank canvas that people can project themselves on and make their own assumptions about, but they're still unable to fill up that whole canvas themselves. So that accidentally discovered air of mystery, once we knew that was there, then it was like 'we can play with this and have good fun with it'." ON SEASON TWO'S BEARD AFTER HOURS EPISODE "We started writing season two before season one had come out, and season two was going to be ten episodes as season one was. We'd been going for three or four months before season one came out, so by then we had the season worked out — we had it mapped out, we had the dynamics, we had the peaks and valleys, and where things were going to go. Then suddenly the show comes out and, as you may have heard, that went pretty well. Almost first thing Monday morning, Apple was like 'you have two more episodes, please do two more episodes!'. And we're like 'okay, alright'. But we can't just mess with the dynamics we'd created for the scenes, so we had to come up with two episodes that were kind of standalone. We had a bit of a discard pile of things we were thinking of doing, and one was the Christmas episode, and the other was an episode where we follow Beard around. On top of that, where it's placed in the season, we really liked from sort of a mischief standpoint — because the episode before is a very big episode where a lot of big things happen, and by the end of that episode, you're definitely ready for next week and to find out where these things are going to go. And instead we go 'no, no, sorry, you're getting Beard for 45 minutes'. 45 minutes! 'Yeah, sorry, his is how it worked out'. And then, the week later, then we finally get back to business. So it was a happy accident, essentially, and it ended up being a pretty fun diversion." ON SEASON THREE'S BIG THEMES "Certainly for Ted, he made a promise in season one if they ever got back he'd try to win the whole fucking thing. Well, now they're back, and he doesn't give promises lightly. So he has to decide if he's going to go whole hog with that and, if so, is that at the risk of the values that he's trying to teach? And at the same time, Nate is off at West Ham having to figure out if what he's done or what he's doing, and what he has now, is worth the bridges that he's burned. With Rupert in his ear, that can go a few different ways. Other than that, we're looking at some of the same things we always have — vulnerability and honesty, and love and pain. And every ten minutes or so, somebody apologises for something." Season three of Ted Lasso starts streaming via Apple TV+ from Wednesday, March 15. Read our full review.
Described as a "high-sensory experience," the latest exhibition from Argentinian artist Adrián Villar Rojas promises to have you seeing light and darkness in an entirely new way. The inaugural installation at Art Gallery NSW's former wartime oil bunker known as the Tank, The End of Imagination is powered by a maelstrom of code dubbed the Time Engine. It generates hypothetical scenarios across millions of years before filling the space with mindbending light sculptures inspired by said situations. In 2021, Rojas 'downloaded' the virtual sculptures and painstakingly recreated them in mixed media before transporting them across the world from his home country. Displayed in a pitch-black environment teeming with moving lights, Rojas' creations seek to answer environmental, socio-political and anthropological quandaries we haven't even yet begun to ask ourselves. Images: Installation view of Adrian Villar Rojas 'The End of Imagination' 2022 in the Tank at the Art Gallery of New South Wales © Adrian Villar Rojas, photo © Jörg Baumann
Get the jab, get permission to head out of the house: that's a key part of New South Wales' COVID-19 strategy, as Premier Gladys Berejiklian has been talking up. And, while concrete details haven't yet been revealed, it looks like eating in at restaurants, pubs and bars — and working out at the gym, too — may be on the cards for folks who've had both jabs once NSW reaches the 70-percent fully vaccinated mark. The state is currently experiencing its biggest COVID-19 outbreak of the pandemic, reporting 825 new local cases on Saturday, August 21 and breaking Australia's record in the process. Lockdowns and restrictions have been tightening in response, including across Greater Sydney, in Local Government Areas of concern and statewide. But, as well as containing the current spread, outlining how NSW emerges from its current stay-at-home rules has also become a prominent focus — with the Premier set to release a roadmap for moving forward sometime during the week beginning Monday, August 23. Back in mid-July, this exact roadmap was also promised, outlining how Sydney would emerge from lockdown; however, as case numbers grew and stricter rules were put in place, it didn't emerge. Now, it appears set to be released, detailing what'll be possible for people who've had both shots — starting when the state reaches six million jabs, then expanding when 70 percent and then 80 percent of NSW residents are fully vaxxed. The latter two benchmarks fall in line with Australia's new overall 'National Plan to transition Australia's National COVID Response' that was announced in July. Obviously, case numbers will still have an impact when it comes to whether these plans eventuate. At present, the state remains under lockdown until the end of September. But NSW Police Minister David Elliott told the Seven Network's Sunrise that allowing restaurants, bars, pubs and gyms to open to fully vaxxed NSW residents once the 70-percent target is reached is the plan. "That's something that a lot of people have been working very hard towards. We've got to make sure that we continue to encourage people to get the vaccine," the Minister said, noting that being able to go to the pub once you're jabbed should be a powerful motivation. "It's something she's been working towards for quite some time," Elliott continued when asked if the Premier would be announcing the details soon. "We've been speaking to the hospitality industry, the AHA [Australian Hotels Association], Clubs NSW, restaurants... and it makes sense, it makes perfect sense. It's exactly what the British government did." "That's the plan" NSW Police Minister David Elliott confirms Premier @GladysB will ease most restrictions for double jabbed residents when the state reaches 70 per cent vaccination. "It's exactly what the British government has done" pic.twitter.com/xrev6lPr7v — Sunrise (@sunriseon7) August 19, 2021 Exactly what that might mean in practical terms hasn't been revealed, but outdoor dining is likely to be a big feature, as it was in 2020 when NSW reopened after lockdowns. Also, vaccine passports may play a part, with Prime Minister Scott Morrison announcing after Australia's last National Cabinet meeting on Friday, August 20 that work will now move forward regarding "incorporating the proof of vaccination status into existing state and territory check-in apps." Wondering when the 70-percent target might be reached? Earlier this week, the Premier advised that "at this stage, those targets will be met at the end of October for 70-percent double dose and mid-November for 80-percent double dose." She continued: "Life will be much freer than what it is today once we get to 70 percent and 80 percent. It doesn't mean we'll be completely free. It doesn't mean that we will let the virus be rampant in the community no matter our number of cases, but it will be freer than it is today." Again, exactly what double-vaxxed NSW residents will be allowed to do at the six-million jab mark, at 70-percent double doses and at the 80-percent fully vaccinated threshold hasn't yet been outlined in detail, and neither has the impact of rising daily case numbers. Getting haircuts has also been floated as a possibility, and the federal plan for the 70-percent mark includes letting jabbed folks out of lockdowns and border controls. At 80-percent fully vaxxed, the nationwide outline proposes allowing vaccinated people to travel overseas again without restrictions, too. [caption id="attachment_798916" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Cassandra Hannagan[/caption] Amid all of the discussion about opening back up, the Premier has also advised that the NSW Government does expect case numbers to remain high in September and October. That said, she still expects that there'll still be scope to ease some rules for vaccinated people — with encouraging folks to get vaccinated obviously a very big part of the strategy moving forward. "What we need to do is to make sure that when we get to that 70-percent double dose in New South Wales and that 80-percent New South Wales double dose, that we try and he's gonna keep the case numbers as low as possible," the Premier said at the state's daily COVID-19 press conference on Saturday, August 21. "What we do also have to accept is how we actually talk about this disease moving forward. Once you get to 70-percent double doses, it will be a situation where the vaccine rate will be more critical than how many cases we have." If you're wondering were you can get vaccinated, there's a handy online map that helps you find your nearest clinic. Australia's vaccination campaign is also expected to get a boost from Monday, August 30, when the Pfizer jab will open up to everyone aged 16–39 — and also from September, as that's when the recently approved Moderna vaccine will join the rollout. For more information about the status of COVID-19 in NSW, head to the NSW Health website.
Boom, boom, boom, boom: Vengaboys want Down Under audiences in a whole heap of rooms when the 90s Dutch Eurodance favourites return to Australia and New Zealand on their latest nostalgic tour. The Vengabus has headed this way for similar throwback gigs in 2019 and 2023, because this group likes to party — and it'll be back again in 2025. Pull out that old Discman, break out the cargo pants and start practising your smoothest dance moves from three decades back — you've got 90's Mania to prepare for. Vengaboys, aka Cowboy Donny, Captain Kim, PartyGirl D'Nice and SailorBoy Robin, will be busting out all of their well-known favourites, such as 'We Like to Party! (The Vengabus)', 'Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom', 'We're Going to Ibiza' and 'Up & Down', when they headline a series of shows that'll also feature DJ SASH!, Alex Party and Livin' Joy. All four acts will play at every one of the tour's nine Down Under dates in January 2025, starting on Friday, January 17 at Metro City in Perth. From there, 90's Mania will make its way around Australia, hitting up Sydney's Enmore Theatre, Waves in Wollongong and Southern Cross Club in Canberra, before pulling into Wrest Point Entertainment Centre in Hobart, Festival Hall in Melbourne and Brisbane's Eatons Hill Hotel. In NZ, Christchurch and Auckland's respective town halls will be jumping to close out the month. Yes, you'll now have Vengaboys tunes stuck in your head just from reading this — and likely DJ SASH!'s 'Encore Une Fois', 'Ecuador', 'Stay' featuring La Trec, 'Mysterious Times' featuring Tina Cousins, 'Move Mania' and 'La Primavera' as well (plus 'Wrap Me Up', 'Don't Give Me Your Life', 'Read My Lips', 'Saturday Night Party' and 'Cause I Can Do It (Right)' from Italy's Alex Party, alongside 'Dreamer', 'Don't Stop Movin', 'Where Can I Find Love', 'Something Beautiful' and 'Follow the Rules' from Livin' Joy). In all Australian stops except Melbourne, Nick Skitz is also on the bill. And in the Victorian capital only, Mark Pellegrini and Joanne join the lineup. 90's Mania 2025 Dates Friday, January 17 — Metro City, Perth Saturday, January 18 — Enmore Theatre, Sydney Sunday 19 January — Waves, Wollongong Wednesday, January 22 — Southern Cross Club, Canberra Thursday, January 23 — Wrest Point Entertainment Centre, Hobart Friday, January 24 — Festival Hall, Melbourne Saturday, January 25 — Eatons Hill Hotel, Brisbane Tuesday, January 28 — Christchurch Town Hall, Christchurch Wednesday, January 29 — Auckland Town Hall, Auckland 90's Mania 2025 Lineup Vengaboys DJ SASH! Alex Party Livin' Joy Australia only, excluding Melbourne: Nick Skitz Melbourne only: Mark Pellegrini Joanne 90's Mania tours Australia and New Zealand in January 2025, with presale tickets from 12pm local time on Monday, November 4 and general sales from the same time on Thursday, November 7. Head to the tour website for more details. Top image: Sven Mandel via Wikimedia Commons.
If spending a day listening to Porter Robinson, Gang of Youths, Peking Duk, Hockey Dad and Alex Lahey at This That was on your agenda for this spring, the festival comes bearing bad news — again. After cancelling its 2022 end-of-year events, the Newcastle and Brisbane fest has now done the same for 2023. "It is with the heaviest of hearts that we announce This That Sandstone Point (Qld) and Newcastle (NSW) festivals will no longer be going ahead," the festival team announced in a statement on its website and social media. "This difficult decision was reached due to the challenging economic conditions we have been working within this past year, and the many factors that have been impacted by this. It has left us feeling that the This That experience you have come to know and love, and that we pride ourselves on offering, would only be dampened if we were to forge ahead," the This That crew continued. View this post on Instagram A post shared by THIS THAT (@thisxxthat) This That's November dates — on Saturday, November 4 at Sandstone Point Hotel in Sandstone Point and Saturday, November 11 at Wickham Park in Newcastle — were set to mark the coastal festival's return for the first time since early 2022. When the event pulled the plug last year, it was "due to a combination of issues", organisers advised; however, it promised that it'd be back in 2023. Also on the first This That 2023 lineup announcement: Slumberjack, Set Mo and The Presets doing a DJ set, plus Lola Scott, Trophy Eyes, Dear Seattle, Chillinit, Hooligan Hefs, Jesswar, Sophiya, Godlands, Kinder, Alice Ivy and more. [caption id="attachment_910563" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Zagexma via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] Some of the acts on this year's now-shuttered bill were also on the roster last year's scrapped, such as The Presets, Winston Surfshirt, Chillinit, Hockey Dad and Jesswar. Ticketholders for 2023 will be contacted by Oztix about refunds, which will be returned to the card that tickets were purchased with automatically. This That will no longer return in November 2023 at Sandstone Point in Queensland and Newcastle in New South Wales. For more information about the festival's cancellation, head to the event's website. Images: Jordan Munns / Mitch Lowe.
One of the funniest TV comedies of the 2020s is back with its third season, and as hilarious as ever. So what are you waiting five? If that question doesn't make any sense to you, then you clearly haven't yet experienced the wonder that is Girls5eva. It starts with a numerical pun-heavy earworm of a theme tune that no one should ever skip, then bounces along just as catchily and sidesplittingly in every second afterwards. A move to Netflix for season three — after streaming its first and second seasons via Peacock in the US, Stan in Australia and TVNZ+ in New Zealand — might just see the Tina Fey-executive produced music-industry sitcom switch from being one of the best shows that not enough people are watching to everyone's latest can't-stop-rewatching comedy obsession. In other words, this a series about a comeback and, thanks to its swap to the biggest player in the streaming game, now it's making a comeback itself. Two years have passed for longterm fans since Girls5eva last checked in with Dawn Solano (Sara Bareilles, Broadway's Waitress), Wickie Roy (Renée Elise Goldsberry, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, and also a Hamilton Tony-winner), Summer Dutkowsky (Busy Philipps, Mean Girls) and Gloria McManus (Paula Pell, Big Mouth), but the gap and the jump to Netflix haven't changed this gem. Consider the change of streamer, which kicks off on Thursday, March 14, in the same way that Dawn and the gang are approaching their leap back into their girl group after two decades: as an all-in, go-hard-or-go-home, whatever-it-takes relaunch. For new viewers, seasons one and two of Girls5eva are also now available on Netflix — and bingeing through all 22 episodes, with season three providing six of them, is the best way to spend a day, weekend or few evenings right now. With its non-stop jokes that reward multiple viewings because you're likely laughing too hard to catch all of them on the first go-around, deep-cutting pop-culture references, satire that's always both razor-sharp and raucously ridiculous, and supremely stellar cast, the series is a quintessential Fey-produced comedy. If her post-Saturday Night Live efforts were songs, 30 Rock, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Great News, Mr Mayor and Girls5eva couldn't make a better record. (Meredith Scardino, who created Girls5eva, is also an Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and Mr Mayor alum.) The riff for Girls5eva: parodying the pop-music realm as the titular group endeavour to stop wondering what might've been after their career fizzled out 20 years earlier, aided by their single 'Famous 5eva' getting thrust back into the spotlight via another artist. The takedown of the entertainment world that was at the heart of 30 Rock hums along here, too, as does calling out the treatment of women, especially by the media, that also fuelled Fey's first sitcom hit alongside Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and Great News. Whether via Liz Lemon's dating life and quest to have a family, or in Mr Mayor's experienced deputy played by Holly Hunter (Succession), unpacking how women are perceived the moment they're out of their 20s and beyond has also echoed through the Feyniverse — and Girls5eva croons that tune with force and feeling. Now firmly back together, the surviving members of Girls5eva — Ashley Gold (Ashley Park, Only Murders in the Building) died in an infinity pool accident — have taken to the road. So far, however, their big Returnity tour has been happy in Fort Worth. In the Texan city, their track 'Tap Into Your Fort Worth' keeps drawing in crowds, even if that's all that concertgoers want to hear. Also, the Marriott Suitelettes for Divorced Dads has become their home away from home, but resident diva Wickie isn't content just playing one place. Always dreaming huge, massive and stratospheric, she sets the band's sights on Radio City Music Hall, booking them in for a gig at a fee of $500,000. Cue a six-month timeline to sell it out — a feat made trickier by the fact that the show is on Thanksgiving — or risk ruin. When season three commences in Fort Worth, and among weekend-only fathers buying forgotten birthday presents for their kids out of vending machines, the quality of Girls5eva's writing proves as gleaming as ever. Here, the pregnant Dawn can put pancakes from the breakfast buffet in her robe, and also get cosy watching The Crown, which has a storyline about Prince Andrew's stuffed-toy obsession. Gloria is on a mission to hook up with all 178 types of women, complete with a spreadsheet tracking her progress, which is a riotous source of amusement. "Always gonna never stop restarting, never gonna end not un-beginning, don't un-try to un-stop us now" aren't just lyrics for Girls5eva the band and Girls5eva the show, though. So, into the van the group hops, with Percy (John Lutz, 30 Rock) as their tour manager. Girls5eva's big joke energy doesn't slow down when Wickie and company are drumming up cash at private concerts, battling with a state senator (John Early, The Afterparty) who doubles as a "Fetal Citizen Advocate" or trying to capitalise upon the fame of pop's current megastar (Thomas Doherty, Gossip Girl) — or when the series charts Summer's attempt to work out who she is without her ex-husband Kev (Andrew Rannells, Invincible) through a multi-level marketing scheme for teeth-whitening gummies. As that snapshot of season-three elements makes plain, the show's love of loopiness, hijinks and hysterical bits doesn't fade out, either. Flashbacks to the band's late-90s, early-00s fame continue to deliver gold, too, including Gloria and *NSYNC's Lance Bass trying to make a sex tape. Girls5eva isn't afraid of silliness for the comical sake of it, but it's also as savvy as comedy gets in lampooning the state of the world and fleshing out its characters while sparking never-ending chuckles. Holding back or taking a beat isn't Girls5eva's style; if it was an album itself, it'd be wall-to-wall singles. (Its tunes, which continue to showcase the musical-comedy prowess of Fey's husband Jeff Richmond after 30 Rock, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and the like, already make ace records.) Giving anything but 100 percent isn't Bareilles, Goldsberry, Philipps or Pell's style, either — and the series keeps benefiting. Bareilles' ability to ground every type of chaos remains essential but, away from New York and Dawn's family, that's no longer her main remit. Always at home when the show is at its most absurd, Goldsberry, Philipps and Pell have also never been funnier. ("Hi, this is Gloria, from sex!" is one of Pell's all-time great lines.) The only issue with season three: that this stint with Girls5eva's glorious on-screen talents is too short, just like forever versus 5eva. If it becomes a Netflix smash, here's hoping that it'll be famous at least one more time. Check out the trailer for Girls5eva season three below: Girls5eva season three streams via Netflix from Thursday, March 14. Read our reviews of season one and season two. Images: Netflix.
Thanks to airport reads and movies based on them, everyone has heard of The Da Vinci Code. Leonardo da Vinci's Codex Atlanticus is the true stunner, though. The 12-volume set is filled with the artist and inventor's drawings and writings, detailing his thoughts and featuring his sketches on a wide array of topics. It dates back to the 15th and 16th centuries. It's priceless. Original pages from it are also on their way to Australia. From Saturday, March 16, Australia's first permanent digital-only art gallery The Lume will exhibit Leonardo da Vinci — 500 Years of Genius, the Melbourne venue's major 2024 exhibition. In its immersive fashion — because creating walkthrough art experiences is its approach — the site is paying tribute to the Italian Renaissance master. Most of the showcase will involve towering versions of artworks such as the Mona Lisa on the walls, plus pieces from his contemporaries as well; however, Codex Atlanticus will be a big feature, too. This is the first time that sheets from Codex Atlanticus will be on display in Australia. Since 1637, it has called Milan's Biblioteca Ambrosiana home. It's thanks to a relationship between the latter and Grande Experiences, which is behind The Lume and also Rome's Museo Leonardo da Vinci, that some of its pages can head this way. The Codex Atlanticus features entries from da Vinci from between 1478–1519, dating up to the year of his death. In his handwriting — in Italian, of course — and as sketched by his fingers, everything from flying machines and architecture to engineering and hydraulic systems are covered. [caption id="attachment_943630" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Biblioteca Ambrosiana[/caption] "These pages from the Codex Atlanticus represent not just a collection of sketches and writings but a gateway into the brilliance of Leonardo da Vinci's mind," said The Lume founder Bruce Peterson. "Their arrival in Australia is profound, allowing visitors to explore Leonardo in a once-in-a-generation opportunity." Leonardo da Vinci — 500 Years of Genius is clearly more than the world's most-famous enigmatic smile beaming down, then. The gallery is calling it its "most ambitious, immersive and breathtaking yet", which is quite the claim for a collection that follows a van Gogh celebration, a focus on Monet and his peers and the First Nations-centric Connection. The Last Supper will also enjoy the spotlight in a big way, while the Mona Lisa will link in with the segment of the exhibition that's all about French optical engineer Pascal Cotte, who invented a multispectral camera and has peeled back the artwork's layers using his research. Accordingly, get excited about Mona Lisa Revealed, which will include an exact 360-degree replica — the only one in the world — as created thanks to Cotte's 240,000,000-pixel multispectral camera. Also among Leonardo da Vinci — 500 Years of Genius' highlights: 50 of da Vinci's "machine inventions", which will be on loan from the Museo Leonardo da Vinci in Rome. This part of the exhibition will hero recreations made in Italy from the artist and inventor's sketches, and also using the materials and techniques he would've at the time. The exhibition will step through da Vinci's life, as well, including journeying through Florence's streets, Venice's canals and Milan — as brought to attendees via sight, sound, scent, touch and taste. That said, Leonardo da Vinci — 500 Years of Genius isn't solely about its namesake's well-known works, with the 3000-square-metre multi-sensory gallery also exploring his inspirations and those creating their own masterpieces at the same time. Botticelli's The Birth of Venus, Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel ceiling and works by Caravaggio will feature, for instance. In Queensland, at HOTA, Home of the Arts, Grande Experiences's Italian Renaissance Alive will also take a broader look at the period — but anyone wanting a glimpse of Codex Atlanticus will need to head to Melbourne. Leonardo da Vinci — 500 Years of Genius opens at The Lume, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, 5 Convention Centre Place, South Wharf, Melbourne, from Saturday, March 16, 2024 — head to the venue's website for tickets and further information.
As we come into the cool winter months, it warms the heart to look forward to one of the flagship events on the Sydney calendar. Vivid Sydney will be back for its twelfth year from May 27 to June 18 — and the 2022 iteration promises to be bigger than ever. The range of attractions on offer are many and varied but, at its core, Vivid Sydney is a light festival that gives colour and glow to the night sky and every conceivable canvas the city can provide. From illuminating some of Sydney's most famous landmarks to immersive exhibitions that seek to alter your perception of reality, here are ten must-see light installations on this year's program. Prepare to be dazzled. [caption id="attachment_853123" align="alignnone" width="1920"] 'Sharing the Same Life Essence', Rhoda Roberts AO and Deon Hastie, Destination NSW[/caption] 'FIRST LIGHT' First Light, the piece which kicks off the 2022 program on Friday, May 27, promises to be a stunning beginning that celebrates our rich Indigenous and First Nations culture. Vivid Sydney takes place on Gadigal land and waters, and as an acknowledgement of this, the Harbour Bridge pylons will be lit up with Sharing the Same Life Essence (Wayne Quilliam), a projection celebrating the Traditional Owners. First Light will also feature a Welcome to Country, Smoking Ceremony and performance by NAISDA dancers, culminating in a powerful and poignant opening work. Find out more here. [caption id="attachment_853125" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Spinifex Group, Destination NSW[/caption] SYDNEY HARBOUR BRIDGE 90TH BIRTHDAY The iconic coathanger has already had its own birthday party this year but, as one of the key landmarks of Vivid Sydney, you just know there had to be something special happening to mark the Sydney Harbour Bridge entering its tenth decade. Suitably, there's a storytelling angle to this year's light extravaganza, with the Historical Archive and Digitisation Team at Transport for NSW looking back into its comprehensive photo archive to tell the tale of one of the world's most famous man-made structures through the people and places it connects. The light show will be brought to life on the bridge's giant pylons by animation experts Spinifex — and it's on repeat every night of the festival. [caption id="attachment_846473" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mandylights, Our Connected City[/caption] 'OUR CONNECTED CITY' The bright lights of Sydney are impressive all year round, but it doesn't compare to the illumination of Vivid Sydney. This year, the creative festival will be taking advantage of that already expansive canvas with Our Connected City, an installation from the creative minds at Mandylights. Hundreds of colour-changing lights will pulse through The Rocks, Circular Quay and across the harbour, lighting the CBD in a ribbon of light that spreads from the Opera House all the way to the northern pylon of the Harbour Bridge. There will also be 150 searchlight beams shining into the night sky like a series of beacons connecting the clouds to the people and land below. To add to the effect, all of these lights will be perfectly synchronised — a representation of connection come to life before your eyes. [caption id="attachment_853126" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Glenn Turner, Oracle-Liquid, Destination NSW[/caption] 'SYDNEY INFINITY' There's no doubt that one of the biggest selling points of Sydney is the incredible harbour, so it's only fitting that it will be celebrated at Vivid Sydney 2022. Glenn Turner, of internationally renowned special-effects company Oracle-Liquid, is putting the waterway front and centre with Sydney Infinity, a site- and festival-specific installation billed as the largest liquid and light show ever seen in Australia. At Darling Harbour, water and light will combine in a spectacular, infinity-shaped floating installation consisting of compressed-air water cannons, robotic fountains and thousands of LEDs (plus, the dazzling display will be synced to a soundtrack from Peewee Ferris). The sheer scale will be something to behold — the cannons will blast water 80 metres into the air and the fountains will disperse nine tonnes of water in the air per second. It's thanks to this pumping power that the exhibition can be viewed from around the city, including Pyrmont Bridge, nearby high-rises, and the harbour's floating walkway. [caption id="attachment_854523" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Temple of Joy, Elliot Routledge, Destination NSW[/caption] VIVID HOUSE Taking over Darling Quarter, Vivid House is an immersive experience that combines light and sound to stimulate your senses over three distinct installations. In A Floating World (Stephen Ferris), musicians and visual artists combine to create a sonic painting that evokes imaginary landscapes. With Progressum (aFX Global), subtlety is key as flickers of light permeate the darkness and gradually build to become one with sound. Finally, Temple of Joy (Elliott Routledge) is a tribute to the halcyon days of Sydney's nightlife. Take in all three for the full, unforgettable Vivid House experience. [caption id="attachment_853127" align="alignnone" width="1920"] James Dive, Destination NSW[/caption] 'BUMP IN THE NIGHT' While Australia isn't quite as full of terrifying, life-threatening creatures as the rest of the world seems to think, you do tend to hear unidentifiable sounds of nature on a regular basis. Was that mad cackling a cockatoo, a kookaburra, or your neighbour watching Kath & Kim reruns again? Bump in the Night (by installation artist James Dive) is an interactive exhibition that looks like a genteel campsite (complete with muffled snores coming from inside the tents) but you get to play the strange creatures in the dark, with any noise you make potentially stirring the campers. This might be one of Vivid Sydney's strangest experiences but it's also one of the most fun. [caption id="attachment_853130" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Isabel Hudson and Trent Suidgeest, Destination NSW[/caption] 'A MIRRORED CITY' A Mirrored City creates a city within a city at The Goods Line. Conceptualised by artists Isabel Hudson and Trent Suidgeest, the installation brings shimmering surfaces to reflect the rich tapestry of Sydney life. As darkness falls, lights hidden within the surfaces create a larger Sydney, one that goes far beyond the confines of the station. From some of the city's most recognisable urban landscapes to stunning beachside vistas, A Mirrored City will take you on a tour of the city, telling stories about the people and places that make it what it is, all while you stay in one place. [caption id="attachment_853131" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Michaela Gleave, Destination NSW[/caption] 'ENDLESS LOVE' The concept here — from contemporary artist Michaela Gleave — is pretty simple, but sometimes the simplest ideas are the most powerful. The words 'endless love' will be displayed as part of a giant, lit-up arch at Circular Quay. Because who doesn't want endless love — and what could be bigger and better than an enduring promise of never-ending adoration? Endless Love is Vivid Sydney's gift to the city, and it's also a message from our city to the rest of the world. Every morning, the sun rises above Sydney to herald a new day and, throughout Vivid Sydney, this message will be shining too. Oh, and you'll look great standing beneath it on Instagram, which is also important. [caption id="attachment_853132" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Atelier Sisu, Destination NSW[/caption] 'EPHEMERAL OCEANIC' For this year's festival, Walsh Bay will be turned into a floating, bubble-laden playground courtesy of Atelier Sisu artists Zara Pasfield and Renzo B Larriviere. A floating boardwalk weaves between 150 giant orbs, lit from the inside and changing colour throughout the night, projecting ever-changing patterns onto the water below. Remember the pure glee you'd get from blowing bubbles as a child? This is the grown-up version of that, but it's also a reminder that you're never too old to have fun and lose yourself in life's simple pleasures. The inherent ephemerality of this piece is also encouragement for you to consider your environment and how easily things can change. [caption id="attachment_853134" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sinclair Park, Destination NSW[/caption] 'FRANKLY, MY DEAR...' When Vivid Sydney rolls round, everything is a canvas — iconic buildings and structures offering more surfaces and interesting angles for light to hit. The UTS School of Business is known for the paper bag-like aesthetic given to it by seminal architect Frank Gehry. Sinclair Park, the light artist behind Frankly, My Dear, noted the building is "unique and playful... an irresistible canvas", and created a site-specific work that will allow viewers to see the structure from a whole new perspective. Using lights in changing hues in the building's windows, he accents the exposed brick and unusual shapes, turning one of Sydney's most distinctive buildings into one of its most undeniably beautiful. Vivid Sydney takes place at locations citywide from May 27–June 18. For the full program and to find out more, head to the website. Planned your visit already? Remember to get social and use the hashtag #vividsydney or tag Vivid Sydney in your shots. Top image: Yarrkalpa — Hunting Ground (2021), by the Martu Artists and Curiious with soundtrack by Electric Fields and Martu Artists (inspired by Yarrkalpa — Always Walking Country, 2014), Destination NSW
If you're in Byron Bay right now, looking forward to this year's Splendour in the Grass — or you're on your way — then you'll already know that it's mighty wet in the region at the moment. In fact, it has been so soggy that campsites have been flooded, lines to get in have taken all night, there's even more mud than usual and the past 24 hours have been filled with chaos. And with more rainy weather due for the rest of the day, the fest's organisers have pulled the plug on all main stage gigs today, Friday, July 22. "A significant weather system is currently sitting off the east coast and may reach land later today bringing more rainfall. In the interest of patron safety and in consultation with all relevant emergency services, we have decided to err on the side of caution and cancel performances on the main stages today only — Amphitheatre, Mix Up, GW McLennan and Park(lands) stages," said the Splendour crew in a statement. "All of our destination spaces (Global Village, Tipi Forest, Forum, Comedy and Science tents, etc) will remain open today for patrons who are already onsite as well as those at our satellite campground at Byron Events Farm. Please relax and enjoy what is open." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Splendour in the Grass (@splendourinthegrass) From the fest's hefty lineup, Gorillaz, The Avalanches, DMA's, Dillon Frances, Kacey Musgraves and Orville Peck are among the acts that were due to perform today, but won't now. Organisers also advised that SITG looks forward "to Saturday and Sunday programming moving ahead as planned". So, fingers crossed that The Strokes, Glass Animals, Jack Harlow, Violent Soho, Tim Minchin and more will hit the stage on Saturday — and Tyler, The Creator, Liam Gallagher, Bad//Dreems, Mura Masa and others on Sunday. More rain is forecast by the Bureau of Meteorology for Byron Bay today, with showers and wind expected on Saturday, plus possible showers on Sunday. Affected ticketholders will be contacted by Moshtix in the coming week, via the email address you used to buy your ticket, with further information on refunds. Today's cancellation comes in Splendour's big comeback year, after two winters without live tunes at North Byron Parklands due to the pandemic. Splendour in the Grass runs until Sunday, July 24 at North Byron Parklands. For further information, head to the festival's website and Facebook page. Images: Ben Hansen.
Wall to wall books. Books from ceiling to floor, interspersed with communal tables. Gertrude & Alice is what Shakespeare's is to Paris, and provides a welcome haven amongst the surfers and backpackers of Bondi Beach. The food served is fresh and universally excellent, and it's one of the best places to go if you're feeling a bit lonesome, because the welcoming communal tables ensure that you'll always feel at home. Named after Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas, the famous expat American couple who encouraged the careers of Hemingway and Henry Miller, amongst others, there's a lot of heart to this place, as well as lovely velvet sofas and delicious chai. They also boast a Hemingway room, quieter and lined with reference books and the perfect place to woo another attractive bookworm. Guzzle down on a honey infused chair and sink into one of the snug sofas. With over 25,000 books at your disposal Gertrude and Alice is the unchallenged coffice for workers with research heavy projects, people addicted to the smell of ancient books or those seeking solace from the cold pinch of traditional libraries. A coffice for readers.
If digging for bling isn't your thing, how about searching for dinosaur fossils? At the Australian Opal Centre, visitors are welcome to register for Lightning Ridge Fossil Digs, which give you the chance to discover opalised fossils buried for over 100 million years. With the next dig scheduled for August 2022, you can sign up for six days of adventure alongside some of Australia's leading palaeontologists and researchers. Previous excavations here have resulted in several world-first discoveries, so your trip might just make history. Places are strictly limited, so if you want to spend a week fossicking for fossils, book your spot now. Image: James de Mers, Pixabay
The force is strong with this one — the Lego-building force, that is, with the largest collection of life-sized Lego Star Wars models ever assembled, as well as the biggest touring Lego exhibition, set to hit Australia in 2025. Earlier in 2024, news arrived that Lego Star Wars: The Exhibition was on its way in this very galaxy, world-premiering Down Under. Now, exactly when and where you'll be able to check it out has been revealed. Melbourne has locked in the first-ever Lego Star Wars: The Exhibition season — and yes, of course it'll open on Sunday, May 4. Melbourne Museum will be filled with more than eight-million bricks, all making models based on the George Lucas-created space saga. What music goes best with turning all that Lego into a Star Wars fan's dream? 'Luke's Theme', aka the franchise's main tune? 'The Imperial March' when things get tricky? 'Parade of the Ewoks', just because? That's a question for Ryan McNaught aka Brickman, who has indeed been spending time turning plastic rectangles, squares and other shapes into a recreation of a galaxy far, far away. The exhibition is set to take 25,000-plus hours of building, which is occurring at McNaught's headquarters in Tullamarine. Here's a question for attendees, too: which tunes will pair well with walking through this Lego Star Wars wonderland? You've got a few months to think about it, but you can start getting as excited as a Skywalker learning how to first use a lightsaber. The full list of models that'll feature hasn't been unveiled so far, but one will be life-sized — and that'll be a Lego Star Wars first. A huge 64,759 bricks are being used to craft the three-metre-high X-wing Red-5, taking 382 build hours. Attendees can also expect to see battle scenes between Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader, plus Qui-Gon Jinn and Darth Maul duelling, and also Emperor Palpatine's throne flanked by two Royal Guards. If you're keen to check it out and you don't live in Melbourne, you'll need to head to the Victorian capital to wander through Lego Star Wars: The Exhibition. As well as the hosting the world-premiere season, which will run until Monday, January 26, 2026, the stint at Melbourne Museum is an Australian exclusive. While you're there, you won't just be looking at all things Star Wars in Lego — you'll be able to get building yourself. As it constructs an immersive experience and follows in the footsteps of the Jurassic World franchise, which has also scored the Lego treatment from Brickman, Star Wars: The Exhibition has plenty of material to draw upon. On-screen, the series spans the initial film trilogy that released from 1977–83, then the prequels from 1999–2005, then the sequels — including The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker — from 2015–2019. Rogue One, Solo, The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Andor, Ahsoka, The Acolyte: the list goes on across the big and small screens, including the wealth of animated efforts in the saga. "Building these iconic scenes and characters in Lego Star Wars form is an extremely complex task — taking the humble Lego brick and using it by the millions to translate into Star Wars builds and models at an epic scale the world has never seen before," said McNaught about Lego Star Wars: The Exhibition. "My team and I are super excited to launch this mind-blowing experience right here in Melbourne. My inner seven-year-old self still can't quite believe this is happening. I can't wait till May the Fourth next year to be able to share this incredible galaxy-first exhibition with the fans." Lego Star Wars: The Exhibition will make its world-premiere from Sunday, May 4, 2025, running until Monday, January 26, 2026 at Melbourne Museum, 11 Nicholson Street, Carlton. Head to the exhibition's website for more details and to join the ticket waitlist. Exhibition images: Museums Victoria.
