It was one of the biggest celebrity scandals of the 90s, and it's now heading back to screens. When a sex tape featuring Baywatch star Pamela Anderson and her then-husband Tommy Lee was stolen from their home in 1995, then leaked on online, it fuelled tabloid headlines (and internet downloads) for years and years. Now, the whole saga has been turned into a drama called Pam & Tommy — starring Lily James (The Pursuit of Love) as Anderson and Sebastian Stan (The Falcon and the Winter Soldier) as the Mötley Crüe drummer. Even better: US streaming platform Hulu, which is behind the eight-part show, has just dropped the first teaser trailer for the series. James obviously dons the red swimsuit that Anderson was so famous for wearing for 76 episodes of everyone's favourite 90s lifeguard drama — you really couldn't make a series about Anderson without it — and, given that the focus is squarely on the couple's intimate recording, how it became public, and the impact it had on Anderson and Lee, things clearly get chaotic rather quickly. In the sneak peek, a mullet-wearing duo played by Seth Rogen (An American Pickle) and Nick Offerman (Devs) can't quite believe what they've stumbled across. That's the focus of the trailer; however, the clip does also show Anderson and Lee's reaction when the tape makes its way out into the world. Pam & Tommy's stars firmly look the part — calling James' appearance a transformation definitely fits — and the trailer sports an expectedly hectic vibe. Australian-born director Craig Gillespie has jumped into larger-than-life true tales before with I, Tonya, so he's in somewhat familiar territory. He also keeps being drawn to decades gone by: the 90s here and in I, Tonya, the 80s in aerobics-focused dark comedy series Physical, and the 70s in this year's live-action Cruella as well. Hulu has set a February 2 release date for Pam & Tommy in America, dropping the first three episodes on that date and then streaming the rest week-to-week afterwards. At the moment, where and when it'll surface Down Under hasn't yet been revealed, but hopefully that'll happen around the same time. Check out the Pam & Tommy teaser trailer below: Pam & Tommy will start screening via Hulu in the US on February 2. A release date Down Under hasn't yet been revealed — we'll update you when one is announced.
You don't need binoculars or a deerstalker cap to be a sleuth. If you're keen to investigate new cases at the press of a few buttons, all you really need is a stacked streaming queue. TV mysteries and dramas are full of whodunnits, after all. And, while they're filled with on-screen folks trying to get to the bottom of many a thorny predicament, they're also all perfect for letting viewers play armchair detective at home. Perhaps you're excellent at spotting tiny foreshadowing details? Maybe you have a great feel for television's twists and turns? Or, you could just love escaping into a series, lapping up all the minutiae and seeing if you can pick what's going to happen next? Whichever category fits, we've paired up with streaming platform Binge to take care of your next five viewing picks. They'll have you puzzling along as you're watching — including via a 14-day free trial for new customers.
Heading overseas from Australia is about to become a reality again, with the Federal Government recently announcing that international travel will be allowed to restart on a state-by-state basis from November. When each state or territory hits the 80-percent fully vaccinated mark set out in the National Plan to transition Australia's National COVID Response, that part of the country will be able to resume international flights — and Qantas has announced which routes will be operating first. Back in August, the airline revealed that it was planning to begin flying overseas again in December this year, based on when it forecast that Australia's international borders would reopen again. It has since started selling tickets for a number of overseas routes and, now that a firm plan has been put in place to open the nation back up to the rest of the world, it's bringing forward the start date for its flights to London and Los Angeles. Both legs will operate out of Sydney, and recommence operations from Sunday, November 14. To begin with, there'll be three weekly return flights to each city on Qantas' Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. And if you're wondering why the carrier picked these two routes, it's because they've been the most searched options for the past few weeks. Pack your bags, flights from Sydney to LA and London take-off from mid-November ✈️ https://t.co/reJshnEF0U pic.twitter.com/KsxjrsBfGC — Qantas (@Qantas) October 1, 2021 The airline advises that it'll add more flights if it needs to, as per demand, and that the dates may shift once the exact border reopening date is announced (or, if anything changes with the Australian Government's current plan). So, if travel can recommence out of Sydney earlier, Qantas will move things forward — and it it gets pushed back, so will the flights, obviously. If you're keen to get booking anyway, ticketholders for these flights will be able to make changes without paying a fee for travel up until the end of 2022, although you will need to pay a difference in fare if that applies. Fares for the two routes are open to Australian citizens, permanent residents and their immediate families and some visa holders, and start at $1662 return for the Sydney–Los Angeles trip and $1869 return for Sydney–London. At present, Qantas is sticking with its plans to restart other international flights from Saturday, December 18. Previously, Qantas had revealed its intention to recommence flights to destinations with high vaccination rates from December 2021, including Singapore, Japan, the US, the UK, Canada and Fiji, before adding Hong Kong flights in February, and then trips to Bali, Jakarta, Manila, Bangkok, Phuket, Ho Chi Minh City and Johannesburg in April 2022. When overseas flights do resume, Qantas will use digital health passes to verify vaccination and testing status. And, as Qantas CEO Alan Joyce has previously stated, the airline will only allow fully vaccinated passengers to travel on international flights. Passengers will also need to have returned a negative PCR COVID-19 test 72 hours before departure. It's expected that travellers on these international flights will need to go into home quarantine for seven days when they return, which Prime Minister Scott Morrison mentioned when he announced that the international border will reopen in November; however, the exact details of how that'll work hasn't yet been revealed. As part of its efforts to encourage vaccinations — and to help speed up the return to its normal operations — the airline is also currently giving away discounts and frequent flyer points to vaxxed Aussies. Qantas will restart Sydney–Los Angeles and Sydney–London flights from Sunday, November 14. For more information or to book, visit the Qantas website.
Have you ever dreamt of a better version of yourself? At Sydney Film Festival's 2024 closing night, that'll be the question of the evening. The query sits at the heart of The Substance, which premiered at this year's Cannes Film Festival, got the movie world talking instantly and now has a date with the Harbour City on Sunday, June 16 to wrap up SFF with a dose of body horror. If you've being seeing Demi Moore's name pop up a heap lately and were wondering why, this film is the reason. After recently adding Feud, The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, Please Baby Please and Brave New World to her resume, the actor leads The Substance as celebrity Elizabeth Sparkle. When the character uses a black-market drug in an effort to cling on to her image and fame, it creates a younger version. "More beautiful" and "more perfect" is also how the first official clip from the film describes the temporary clone. If everything went swimmingly, however, there wouldn't be much of a movie. The Substance is also the long-awaited second feature from writer/director Coralie Fargeat, who made a spectacular debut with 2017's Revenge, and just picked up the Best Screenplay award on the Croisette for her sophomore effort. And, alongside Moore, Margaret Qualley (Drive-Away Dolls) and Dennis Quaid (Lawman: Bass Reeves) also star. "We are thrilled to close this year's Sydney Film Festival with the Australian Premiere of The Substance. Coralie Fargeat's film, featuring an outstanding performance by Demi Moore, promises to leave a lasting impression," said Sydney Film Festival Director Nashen Moodley. While the festival announced its full lineup in early May, the event always keeps adding to the program afterwards. Elvis' Austin Butler also joined the bill, coming to Sydney for a screening of his new film The Bikeriders. Plus, normally before the fest kicks off, it reveals a few more straight-from-Cannes titles. Accordingly, keep watching this space. Check out the teaser trailer for The Substance below: Sydney Film Festival 2024 takes place from Wednesday, June 5–Sunday, June 16 at various cinemas and venues around Sydney. For more information and tickets, head to the festival's website.
Yet another piece of the New South Wales Government's continual expansion of Sydney's public transport infrastructure has been announced this week, with two new inner city train stations set to be constructed as part of the new Metro West train line. Pyrmont and the CBD's Hunter Street will both receive new train stations under the expanded rail plans. Pyrmont's station will be located between Pyrmont Bridge Road and Union Street, near the Pyrmont Bridge Hotel and just down the road from the current Pyrmont Bay Light Rail Station. The Hunter Street station will have entrances between Hunter and George Street as well as Bligh and O'Connell Street. Designed to connect greater Parramatta to the Sydney CBD, the Metro West project will run through Westmead, Parramatta, Sydney Olympic Park and the inner west through to the new Pyrmont and Hunter Street Stations. The Metro project is expected to reduce travel time along the train line by up to 43 minutes. Public transport travel time between Parramatta Station and Pyrmont currently sits at around 50 minutes each way, with no direct public transport routes between the two locations. This travel time could be reduced to 18 minutes thanks to the new metro line, with travel between Sydney Olympic Park and Pyrmont being cut from 56 minutes down to just 13. "There will be massive and game-changing travel time savings across Sydney. For example, sports fans will be able to get from Bondi Junction to the new metro station at Sydney Olympic Park in just 27 minutes (interchanging at Martin Place) compared to 56 minutes now," Sydney Metro Chief Executive Peter Regan said. [caption id="attachment_811845" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Artist's render of the new Pyrmont train station.[/caption] 13 commercial buildings will be acquired by the government in the process of building the two stations. 11 CBD commercial residencies will make room for the Hunter Street station, while two Pyrmont locations will be acquired for its Metro station. The heritage-listed Skinner Family Hotel which resides atop the proposed Hunter Street Station site will be protected within the construction site. The Hunter Street station will become the fourth train station to operate in the city's CBD. When asked why one of the current CBD stations couldn't have been connected to the Metro West line instead of building a new station, NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance responded: "There is so much infrastructure underground in Sydney, because of this government, we had to find a site which worked". Mr Constance also confirmed the NSW Government is expecting a financial contribution from the Star Casino due to the proximity of the new Pyrmont Station to the casino. "One of the things we are flagging, of course, for the peninsular at Pyrmont is a contribution, given the fact that it is going to massively increase the value of properties in those areas." The Metro West project is expected to be completed by 2030.
Tokyo Tower's stunning views, Studio Ghibli's theme park, various Godzilla statues, Mount Fuji, ramen everywhere, all of the temples, taking the shinkansen, karaoke on a ferris wheel, the Rainbow Bridge, cherry blossom season, the best sushi you'll ever eat, becoming addicted to Pocky: these are some of the highlights of a trip to Japan. In fact, when it comes to dream vacation itineraries, they're just the beginning. Something else that should be on your list: Suganuma Village. The World Heritage-listed site sits on the Shō River, and is known not only for its stunning scenery — think: spectacular mountains and forests — but for its Gasshō-style thatched-roof houses. Usually, visitors to the town can only appreciate them by looking, not staying within them, with the village normally only open to residents after dark. Indeed, that's been the case for decades, and it's the reason that the locale is considered a hidden spot; however, via Airbnb, that's changing for two lucky travellers for a two-night stay. Add a once-in-a-lifetime getaway to this nine-home spot to the list of unique experiences that the accommodation platform has offered up in recent years, alongside the Ted Lasso pub, Hobbiton, the Paris theatre that inspired The Phantom of the Opera, the Bluey house, the Moulin Rouge! windmill, the Scooby-Doo Mystery Machine, The Godfather mansion, the South Korean estate where BTS filmed In the Soop and the Sanderson sisters' Hocus Pocus cottage, to name just a few. The Suganuma stay boasts something else special, though: it's free. As with all Airbnb specials, the service's price — here, $0 — only covers accommodation and the specific inclusions listed. Travelling there and back isn't part of the deal, so you'll be paying to fly to Japan and home. Still, this is the type of experience that doesn't come up often (or, before now, ever). And, you'll be hosted by the Nakashima family, who are fifth-generation locals, under their 170-year-old thatched roof. During your two-evening trip, you'll be immersed in the area's cultural traditions while marvelling at those distinctive buildings, which boast the style they do to last — as the Nakashimas' home clearly has — and because of winter's heavy snow. "I am delighted to open my family's home for a unique stay that will enable guests to enjoy the traditional life of our beautiful village of Suganuma. Through our collaboration with Airbnb, my family and I look forward to providing guests with unique experiences that have been part of our village for centuries," commented Mr Shinichi Nakashima. "We are honoured to offer a truly unique experience in Suganuma village, a World Heritage Site, through our collaboration with Airbnb. The rich history and vibrant culture of this charming small town, coupled with the warm hearts of the people who live there, will make for a fascinating and restorative stay. We hope this campaign brings attention to this beautiful destination for both Japanese residents and guests from around the world," stated Mr Mikio Tanaka, Mayor of Nanto City, Toyama Prefecture. If you're keen, you'll want to try to score the only booking at 10am AEST / 12pm NZST on Friday, June 30 — and if you're successful, you'll be having a money-can't-buy stay across Monday, July 17–Wednesday, July 19 this year. The reservation includes a welcome tea, plus Gokayama tofu, mountain vegetables and fish caught from the local river, as prepared by Mr Nakashima; a guided bike tour around the village and its surroundings; a hands-on workshop to learn about crafting thatched roofs; and also finding our more about the town's traditions such as making washi and sasara, a paper made of local fibre and a traditional instrument, respectively. And, you'll also be treated to a light show with folk songs one night, Suganuma Village's residents illuminating their homes. For more information about the Nakashima family's Gasshō home listing on Airbnb, or to apply to book at 10am AEST / 12pm NZST on Friday, June 30, head to the Airbnb website. Images: Satoshi Nagare. Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world.
UPDATE, January 27, 2021: Savage is available to stream via Stan and Amazon Video. Tattoos covering his cheeks, nose and forehead, a scowl affixed almost as permanently, but raw sorrow lurking in his eyes, Jake Ryan cuts a striking sight in Savage. He's a walking, drinking, growling, hammer-swinging advertisement for toxic masculinity — how it looks at its most stereotypical extreme, and how it often masks pain and struggle — and the performance is the clear highlight of the Home and Away, Wolf Creek and Underbelly actor's resume to-date. Playing a character named Danny but also known as Damage, Ryan also perfectly epitomises the New Zealand gang drama he's in, which similarly wraps in-your-face packaging around a softer, richer core. Savage's protagonist and plot have had plenty of predecessors over the years in various ways, from Once Were Warriors' exploration of violence, to Mean Streets' chronicle of crime-driven youth, plus the bikie warfare of TV's Sons of Anarchy and even Aussie film 1%, but there's a weightiness on display here that can't just be wrung from a formula. That said, although first-time feature director and screenwriter Sam Kelly takes inspiration from NZ's real-life gangs, and from true tales from within their ranks spanning three decades, Savage does noticeably follow a predictable narrative path. Viewers first meet Danny in 1989, when he's the second-in-charge of the Savages, which is overseen by his lifelong best friend Moses (John Tui, Fast & Furious: Hobbs & Shaw, Solo: A Star Wars Story) but is also under threat by rank-and-file members agitating for a leadership challenge. In-fighting, and Moses' sheer desperation to remain on top, aren't Danny's biggest issues, however. Whether imposing the ramifications of being disloyal upon a younger colleague or being unable to relinquish control in an intimate situation, he's both tightly wound and silently aching, and he's also unable to shake the cumulative effect of all the factors and decisions that have led him to this testosterone-saturated point. A series of flashbacks, each fittingly moody and tense, explain why Danny is in his current situation physically, mentally and emotionally. The film first jumps to 1965, when he's nine (played by Pete's Dragon's Olly Presling), victimised by his overbearing father and sent to juvenile detention, where he initially meets and befriends a young, wild-haired Moses (Lotima Pome'e). The circumstances leading to Danny's stint in custody and his treatment while he's there each leave an imprint, with Moses swiftly becoming the only person that he can count on. Skipping forward to 1972, when the pair are in their late teens (played by James Matamua and Haanz Fa'avae-Jackson), they establish the Savages — and, although it gives them a sense of belonging that's absent elsewhere, they're soon caught in a Wellington turf war with a rival gang. Yes, all of the above narrative elements have a well-worn feel to them, but a blandly, routinely by-the-numbers flick isn't the end result here. Aided by suitably gritty and restless camerawork that mirrors Danny's inner turmoil, the film packs a punch when it lets that unease fester in quiet moments. It's also particularly astute when honing in on Danny and Moses's complicated friendship, and how pivotal it is throughout their constantly marginalised lives. There's never any doubting that Savage is a movie about family, including the traumas they can inflict, the hurt that comes with being torn away from loved ones at a young age, the kinship found in understanding pals and the concept of brotherhood in gangs, and the feature is at its most affecting when it lets these truths emanate naturally. Kelly does like to stress the point, though, and to do overtly. Indeed, the clunkiest parts of Savage involve Danny's yearning to see his mother and his tussles with his older brother Liam (played by Jack William Parker as a teen and Seth Flynn as an adult). Every year Danny, stands outside his childhood home, looks on at his parents and siblings and, unable to step into the yard, notches a mark on the fence outside — and it's an instantly and repeatedly overdone touch. When he's reunited with Liam, it's because the two brothers are in opposing crews, another obvious, template-esque inclusion that's far less effective or moving than seeing how Danny navigates the gang he has chosen as his new family. Unsurprisingly, Danny's gang life is brutal and violent, which Savage doesn't shy away from in a visual sense. Tonally, the film aims for Shakespearian levels of tragedy, too, as Sons of Anarchy did before it. But while most of the feature hits its marks, draws viewers in and keeps them interested, the movie's biggest force and asset is always Ryan. Tui also proves a commanding screen presence, as does first-timer Alex Raivaru as the latter's nemesis, while young Presling and Pome'e share a convincing rapport. When an actor plays the kind of immediately imposing role that Ryan is tasked with, however, how they handle the subtler side of the character is pivotal — and audiences can feel Danny's bubbling distress even when he's the most formidable figure figure in the room. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NK3eDfkXBzg Top image: Domino Films, Matt Grace.
When you were a kid, your biggest demonstration of self-control was not throwing Jaffas at the heads of people sitting in front of you at the cinema, right? Well, here's your chance to let loose and make up for lost time. Once a month, at Cremorne's decadent Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace, there's a screening of The Room — an American independent romantic-drama film. Tommy Wiseau not only starred in the feature, he also wrote, directed and produced it. The film quickly developed a cult following, after everyone realised it was terrible and unintentionally hilarious. The best bit of this screening is that you and everyone else are 100% permitted to throw spoons at the screen. Making as much noise as you like is most definitely on the agenda, too.
If Harry Potter and Singing in the Rain were mashed up, this gadget would be the key prop. It might look like a magic wand, but it acts like an umbrella. By sucking in air at one end and pushing it out at the other, the motorised head creates a jet airflow, pushing raindrops away from you. Hence, you’re kept dry, without the inconvenience of carrying around a soggy piece of fabric that will invariably whack your fellow pedestrians in the face. Created by Nanjing-based inventor Chuan Wang, the air umbrella is currently funding on Kickstarter. It began life as a prototype back in November 2012. Wang then spent time working with PhD graduates from the Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics to reduce the size, while maintaining an effective level of airflow. A controller at the base of the handle enables the user to manipulate the umbrella’s force, to meet the rain’s intensity. With ten days to go, the Kickstarter campaign has exceeded its target goal, thanks to 97 backers pledging to the tune of $10,283. Three sizes are available, the ‘A’, which is selling for $88; the ‘B’, priced at $98; and the ‘C’ at $108. The smallest measures 30 centimetres and weighs in at 500 grams, while the largest is extendable, to a length of 80 centimetres, and weighs 850 grams. The invention has some weaknesses. For one, it looks dodgy as. Dyson should really put this sleeker concept into production. Two, it eats battery life faster than Facebook for iPhone. Despite the significant size of the rechargeable lithium pack, umbrella ‘A’ offers only 15 minutes of protection at a time, while ‘C’ provides 30 minutes. Via PSFK.
Every Thursday night from now until the end of May, QT Sydney's opulent city-slicker hideout Gilt Lounge is grabbing your Thursday nights roughly by the collar and dragging them away from your nerdy mid-week friends onto the cool table with Friday and the hot weekend twins. In collaboration with Perrier-Jouët, the cocktail bar is rolling out a regular evening of bubbles, beats and treats in their elegant and intimate CBD space. Soundtracked by luxe deep-lounge DJs Cassette and Alice Q, you can grab a bottle of NV Grand Brut champagne and spoil yourself with four premium freshly-shucked oysters from the bar's in-house European brasserie, Gowing's Bar and Grill, for $99 until 10:30pm each week. Complete with an outstanding cocktail offering and the seductive atmosphere and mystique that often accompanies destination-hotel bars, Gilt Lounge has your back for dates and deluxe after-work hangouts. Every Thursday throughout April and May, you now have an excuse to drink champagne.
Last time Spike Lee stepped behind the camera, he took on American race relations in the 1970s, with the equally scathing, impassioned and amusing BlacKkKlansman winning him the Cannes Grand Prix and an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for his troubles. Two years later, the acclaimed filmmaker is back with his latest feature, which once again tackles inequality and its consequences — this time in Vietnam War heist flick Da 5 Bloods. Dropping on Netflix on June 12 — and just dropping its first trailer, too — Da 5 Bloods follows four African American veterans who head back to Saigon decades after the conflict. They're looking for the remains of their squad leader, who was killed in action, but they also have another mission: searching for the buried gold they stashed away all those years ago. As the trailer makes clear, Lee was never going to explore the controversial war without also examining the role played by African American soldiers at the time. That just wouldn't be a Spike Lee joint. So, as well as charting the exploits of his characters both now and during the conflict, Da 5 Bloods interrogates the political and social reality behind their military service — including the fact that they were fighting for a country that didn't treat them equally, let alone care whether they lost their lives in combat. Lee's latest flick also assembles a mighty impressive cast, including Black Panther's Chadwick Boseman as the unit's fallen commander — plus, as the older versions of the surviving squad members, The Good Fight's Delroy Lindo, Broadway veteran Norm Lewis, and The Wire duo Clarke Peters and Isiah Whitlock Jr. Whether the latter will exclaim "sheeeeeeeee-it" is yet to be seen, although Lee is clearly a fan. https://twitter.com/SpikeLeeJoint/status/1262194706416455680 Da 5 Bloods also features French actors Jean Reno and Mélanie Thierry, When We Rise's Jonathan Majors and Richard Jewell's Paul Walter Hauser, as well as Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul's Giancarlo Esposito — who reteams with Lee after starring in the director's School Daze, Do the Right Thing, Mo' Better Blues, and Malcolm X in the late 80s and early 90s. Check out the Da 5 Bloods trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5RDTPfsLAI Da 5 Bloods hits Netflix on June 12.
If you're watching a film in a darkened theatre without some sort of snack in your hand, are you really at the cinema? Lovers of popcorn and choc tops certainly don't think so. And while whipping up a bowl of popped corn kernels in the microwave is a rather easy way to help recreate that movie magic at home at the moment, enjoying a choc top — a proper cinema-quality choc top, not just your own attempt — isn't quite that simple while Australian picture palaces are temporarily closed. To help satisfy Australia's choc top cravings during the COVID-19 pandemic, Hoyts has been delivering them (and popcorn and other movie snacks as well). Other cinemas have been selling the desserts, too, such as Melbourne's Cinema Nova and Sydney's Golden Age Cinema and Bar. But if you'd just like to grab a few from the supermarket, you'll now find Bulla's choc tops in Coles' freezer aisle for a limited period. It's the first time that Bulla's choc tops have been available outside of movie theatres, with different flavours on offer in different states. Ice cream fiends in New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania can lick their way through mint, vanilla, salted caramel, and cookies and cream varieties, while Queenslanders, Western Australians and South Australians can opt for mint, vanilla, choc fudge and boysenberry. https://www.instagram.com/p/CArIHWhgWUg/ Bulla and Coles haven't revealed just how long the choc tops will be on the freezer shelves; however the fact that the majority of cinemas aren't aiming to reopen in Australia until mid-July might be a good guide. Find Bulla's choc tops in the Coles freezer aisle for a limited time. For further details, visit the Bulla or Coles websites.
It's time for natural wine drinkers and Australiana lovers to unite, with a new country club-style vino bar arriving on Enmore Road to help kick off 2023. A blockbuster crew of accomplished hospitality mainstays is teaming up to bring the Enmore Country Club, a neighbourhood bar drenched in 70s throwback nostalgia, to the Inner West from Tuesday, January 17. Taking over Cottonmouth Records' former digs at 182 Enmore Road, the 70-seat venue arrives with Dan McBride and Dynn Szmulewicz at the helm. You may have had a wine or cocktail at one of McBride and Szmukewicz's other beloved Sydney venues like Redfern's The Sunshine Inn and The Little Guy in Glebe. Adding to the firepower behind Enmore Country Club is natty winemaker Doom Juice's Creative Director Zachary Godbolt. The mastermind behind the wine brand's colourful and memorable visuals has come on board as the head designer for the new Enmore spot, leading the charge with its retro dive-bar aesthetic. The space has been given a full revamp with the bar set to live up to its name with fresh wood cladding, brass finishes, custom tablecloths from Defy Designs and a handmade resin bar top. As you would expect from a venue associated with The Sunshine Inn and Doom Juice, you'll find plenty of natural wines on the menu. The ever-evolving vino list will be projected onto the walls in order to facilitate any new drops that the team may get in. Complimenting the wines will be a seasonal cocktail list printed on the country club's coasters and a selection of local beers. McBride and Szmukewicz have also created a signature drink that plays into the country club energy: a house-made spiked cherry cola. The duo has also promised that there'll be some special surprises and hidden Easter eggs for when patrons being to roll in — but you'll have to take a visit to find out what they are. Find Enmore Country Club at 182 Enmore Road from Tuesday, January 17. Images: Angus Bell Young.
Sydney's northern beaches are again set to reap the rewards of acclaimed chef Giovanni Pilu's flair for regional Italian fare, as the Sardinian-born chef prepares to open his next bar and restaurant venture this weekend. Sister to Pilu at Freshwater, the soon-to-launch AcquaFresca by Pilu is a local take on the coastal trattorias of Italy, complete with al fresco dining, a share-friendly food offering and some primo waterfront views. It's also expected to have significantly cheaper prices than Pilu at Freshwater, so will be a way to experience Pilu's renowned fare with burning a hole through your pocket. The menu will feature a hefty antipasti offering with burrata and candied tomato crostini, and a bite-sized assembly of mortadella, farinata and pickled fennel. Add a drop or two from the strong list of both Italian and local pouring wines and you've got yourself an ideal after-work scenario. Deeper in, you'll find freshly rolled pasta — think pumpkin gnocchi with burnt butter, sage and truffle pecorino — along with a handful of mains and pizzas, made on dough proved in-house for 48 hours. Local beers and a crop of classic-leaning cocktails and spritzes round out the beachside fun. The restaurant will open inside the new Harbord Diggers, a $160 million dining and entertainment precinct in the northern beaches. Run by the Mounties Group, and replacing the former club overlooking Freshwater and Curl Curl Beach, the precinct will be home to a slew of bars and restaurants — including AcquaFresca, Teddy Larkin's Seafood and Steakhouse, pan-asian eatery WaterDragon and a new Harbord Diggers Bar — childcare facilities and a new senior living residences called Watermark Freshwater. These will all be part of Harbord Diggers' stage one openings, happening this Saturday, June 30. The second stage, slated to open in late 2019, will include a new fitness and aquatic centre and the completion of Watermark Freshwater. AcquaFresca by Pilu will open in Harbord Diggers, 88 Evans St, Freshwater, on Saturday, June 30.
If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound? If 50 of the world's most renowned street artists transform a derelict, glamorous 19th-century bathhouse-turned-nightclub into a temporary gallery space but no-one sees it, does it even exist? Paris's historic Les Bains-Douches building is steeped in history — built in 1885 as a civic bathhouse where Marcel Proust reportedly enjoyed a morning dip, the grandiose space became a pumping discotheque in the late '70s, until some overzealous renovation attempts led to the iconic club's closure in 2010. It's set to reopen as a mystery venue in 2014, but for now owner Jean Pierre-Marois has invited a stable of prominent urban artists, commissioned by the Magda Danysz Gallery, to reimagine the soon-to-be demolished space. Les Bain's fleeting metamorphosis as a gallery space will never open to the public; instead it's memorialised exclusively in the online exhibition platform Un Artiste Un Jour ('One day one artist), as captured by photographers Stephane Bisseuil and Jerome Coton. Perhaps a throwback to the pleasure-seeking days of disco when Les Bains was a playground for the debauchery of Andy Warhol, Yves Saint Laurent, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Grace Jones, Kate Moss, Mick Jagger and Johnny Depp, the beautifully decaying artwork is here for a good time, not a long time. Hedonistic? Perhaps, but what is art if not beauty for beauty's sake alone. Take a sneak peek below, no fake ID necessary. Lek and Sowat Thomas Canto Jeanne Susplugas Joachim Sauter Sten Lex Zeer Image credits: Sambre, Lek and Sowat, Thomas Canto, Jeanne Susplugas, Joachim Sauter, Sten Lex, Zeer by Jerome Coton and Stephane Bisseuil. See more images here.
Coogee Pavilion, Merivale's revamp of the old Beach Palace Hotel, is set to open its first phase on July 24. If you've had mixed feelings about the mega group's growing expansion into Sydney's suburbs, they're determined to charm you: the plans for the ground floor of Coogee Pavilion sound less public house, more funhouse. Overlooking Coogee Beach, the Pavilion will of course focus on seafood dining, with fresh catches, a raw bar and an oyster counter. But then there's Vinnie's Pizzeria (serving up woodfired creations from Merivale's pizza maestro Vincenzo Biondini), a fresh flower stall, Will & Co coffee cart, a cocktail bar, a juice bar and a gift shop. The games area is perhaps the most surprising element of the venue. It's in big part for kids, but the promise of "beautifully refurbished" 1950s ping pong tables, petanque, a giant hand-painted Scrabble board and old-school arcade games suggests they've fun-seekers of more refined tastes in mind too. The area will even include a movie theatrette and barber. The 1887 building encloses 4500 square metres of space, which explains how they're able to promise all these fabulous things. The upper two floors will continue to be developed over the coming months. The ambitious plans for the venue have been developed by a design team including Kelvin Ho of Akin Creative, Amanda Talbot plus Justin and Bettina Hemmes. Coogee Pavilion ground floor will be open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and more from Thursday, July 24. Its opening hours are 11am - 11pm, Monday – Thursday; 11am – 3am, Friday; 7am – 3am, Saturday; and 7am - midnight, Sunday. Update July 22: The revised opening date for the Coogee 'Pav', as we may as well start calling it already, is July 24. Image: Santa Cruz beach promenade, many moons ago.
Everyone has had a Surry Hills Shopping Village experience. Maybe it is (or was) your closest spot for groceries, where you've bartered for salmon at the fishmonger, rummaged for discounted fresh produce at the fruit shop, or picked up an emergency serve of Singapore noodles from Noodle Star. Well, love it or loathe it, soon, it will all be different. The Cleveland Street shopping centre is set to be totally redeveloped — and the designs have just been released by property group Toga. And, boy, does it look different. In the hands of architects SJB and Studio Prineas, Murder Mall — as it's 'affectionately' known — will keep its original 1867 Federation-style brickwork frontage, but also gain commercial space and a casual 157 residential apartments across an additional three storeys. Also new will be a small public park at the rear of the site (towards Baptist Street) and a "market-style" laneway that will no doubt feature a few street food vendors requisite of all new developments. The interiors will be given an upgrade, too, thanks to BKH Interiors. The Coles supermarket will be retained, but it sounds like all other retailers will be booted in favour of more boutique offerings. A statement from Toga didn't mention specifics, but that it would be looking to fill the retail spaces with "a diverse mix of Surry Hills' finest providores and restaurateurs". The master plan has already been approved, so Toga has now submitted the development application for the Surry Hills site. If it all goes ahead, construction will start late 2019 with a view to finish in early 2022. The shopping village will be closed in that time — to try and make up for the inconvenience, a shuttle will run between the site and the Coles in Waterloo. There's no doubt that the shopping centre could do with a new coat of paint, but the development — which, according to The Australian Financial Review, will cost around $150 million — does pose to change the vibe of the site and the area around it, as has happened with similar developments in Waterloo and Chippendale. The Surry Hills Shopping Village is located on the corner of Cleveland and Baptist streets, Redfern. It will remain open until late 2019. Find more info on the development here.
When A League of Their Own hit cinemas back in 1992, it didn't just claim that there's no crying in baseball. More importantly, it told a spirited story about the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League back in the 1940s — and it hit a home run with audiences in the process. It should come as no surprise, then, that it's getting the remake treatment, this time with Broad City's Abbi Jacobson leading the show. Jacobson also co-created and executive produced Prime Video's new version of A League of Their Own, which'll slide into your streaming queue on August 12. If you've seen the movie — which starred Geena Davis, Madonna and Rosie O'Donnell as members of a women's baseball team, plus Tom Hanks as their manager (and the person who famously decided that tears didn't have a part in the bat-swinging game) — you'll know the general gist of what's in store. As seen in the show's initial teaser trailer back in June, as well as the just-dropped full trailer, the series again jumps back to World War II to follow a group of women who dream of playing professional baseball. That said, it also promises to expand its story further that the film, charting a whole generation of baseball-loving ladies with that dream, including beyond the AAGPBL — and looking at both race and sexuality on and off the field in the process. Jacobson plays Carson, while Chanté Adams (Voyagers) plays Max — and they're joined by The Good Place's D'Arcy Carden among the players, plus Parks and Recreation favourite Nick Offerman as well. Also appearing on-screen: Gbemisola Ikumelo (The Power), Roberta Colindrez (Vida), Saidah Arrika Ekulona (Better Call Saul), Kate Berlant (Search Party), Kendall Johnson (Sexless), Kelly McCormack (George & Tammy), Alex Désert (Better Things), Priscilla Delgado (Julieta), Aaron Jennings (Grand Crew), Molly Ephraim (Perry Mason), Melanie Field (The Alienist) and Dale Dickey (Palm Springs). Charting its characters' efforts to make their way onto the field — and not only be part of a team, but also discover who they really are along the way — the new A League of Their Own marks Jacobson's first ongoing on-screen TV role since Broad City said goodbye. If you're in need of a weekend-long binge in August, all eight episodes of the show will drop at once, too. Check out the full trailer for A League of Their Own below: A League of Their Own will start streaming via Prime Video on August 12.
If an early 20th-century Jewish immigrant found himself walking around in 2019, what would he think of the world? That question comes with a flipside, of course, because it's equally valid to wonder how today's folks would react in response. With Seth Rogen starring as a ditch-digging, rat-catching new arrival from Eastern Europe to Brooklyn, these are a couple of the queries pondered by An American Pickle. It's the latest in a long line of comedies that trifle with time while doubling as time capsules, and it falls firmly from a familiar mould. Some such flicks send teens to the past via Deloreans and phone booths, as seen in the Back to the Future and Bill & Ted franchises. Others focus on people from another era grappling with modern living, as the likes of Encino Man and Blast From the Past demonstrated. Yes, these concepts were particularly popular in the 80s and 90s — but no matter when they flicker across our screens, they do two things: serve up a snapshot of the attitudes and norms prevalent when they're made, and explore how current perspectives intersect with those gone by. That's true of An American Pickle, and overtly so, with seeing, examining and giggling at the contrast between century-old ways and contemporary ideas a considerable part of the film. Not only that, but this Simon Rich-penned adaptation of his own short story Sell Out does all of the above broadly and blatantly — pointing out that big, bushy beards have become hipster beacons, for example, and that much has progressed since the 1900s. Consequently, there's no avoiding just how slight An American Pickle is. Its protagonist might fall into a vat of brine, get sealed in, then emerge in a new millennium, but this movie isn't diving deep. Thankfully, mixed up with all the obvious jokes are two thoughtful performances, both by Rogen, that help the film interrogate the push and pull between the past and the present in a moving fashion. Rogen plays Herschel Greenbaum, a new arrival to US with his wife Sarah (Succession's Sarah Snook), after the pair leave their home of Schlupsk to escape Russian Cossacks and chase a better life. Rogen also steps into the shoes of app developer Ben Greenbaum, Herschel's great-grandson and only living descendant when he awakens in his preserved (and presumably extra salty) state. The two men are the same age, and look alike. That said, they sport differences beyond Herschel's facial hair and Ben's technological know-how. It's the usual generational divide, as instantly recognisable to everyone watching. The elder Greenbaum is devoted to his family and faith, and is horrified that his sole remaining relative doesn't appear as fussed about either, while Ben gets increasingly frustrated with his great-grandpa's know-it-all-approach, bluntness and incessant meddling. Rich gives the two men more reasons to argue, and for Ben to start plotting Herschel's downfall. An app that rates companies on their ethics, an artisanal pickle business that becomes a viral hit and a towering billboard for vodka all factor into their feud. So too does Ben's willingness to capitalise upon Herschel's inherent ignorance of 21st-century minutiae, and the proud and stubborn Herschel's insistence upon staying set in his ways. The details are almost superfluous and, as the narrative keeps picking low-hanging comic fruit, they feel that way in the movie as well. Herschel upends Ben's business plans with some unethical behaviour, and Ben tricks Herschel into spouting his dated and offensive opinions on social media, but there's never any doubt that it'll all eventually work out. As a result, even though An American Pickle delivers plenty of conflict, there's no real drama here — and no real investment in Herschel and Ben's spat. Instead, the movie deploys over-the-top clashes in the service of clearcut gags and satirical observations, and to drum up easy laughs. Well that, and a product placement-driven fondness for Soda Stream that's the one thing Herschel and Ben always agree on. But, despite how straightforward it all proves, the film still boasts heart, sweetness, and an understanding of how the past always leaves an imprint, the future needn't fastidiously be chained to tradition, and that everything old and all things new have a symbiotic relationship. Yes, watching Rogen battle with himself manages to convey those notions. Luckily, too, given that the latest feature from The FP's Brandon Trost is rather standard otherwise. Generally, everything about An American Pickle takes the expected option — including switching aspect ratios to distinguish between 1919 and 2019, and using varying colour palettes to differentiate between Eastern Europe and America — but that description doesn't fit Rogen. If you've seen him in everything from Freaks and Geeks and Knocked Up to the Bad Neighbours movies and Long Shot, you've probably started predicting how he plays his parts here. And yet Herschel and Ben feel grounded and textured in a way that little else in this flick does. Rogen offers up two convincingly melancholy visions of two men cartoonishly wrapped up in their own needs and ideas, and his dual performances are consistently anchored in relatable emotions instead of merely self-evident jokes. And, in an affable but also mostly forgettable film, he's the only aspect that doesn't feel like it's been pulled straight from a jar that's been sitting on the shelf for quite some time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RC2dsAGvGy0 Top image: Hopper Stone. © 2020 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Come October 2025 in Sydney, Tomato Day will be back on the big screen, all thanks to Looking for Alibrandi's inclusion in this year's Italian Film Festival lineup. A quarter of a century has passed since the Pia Miranda (Invisible Boys)-starring Australian page-to-screen classic reached cinemas, so the nation's annual celebration of Italian movies has programmed the beloved picture based on Melina Marchetta's 1992 book in its closing-night slot. Audiences will get a particular filmic treat, too, given that the 4K restoration of the film will be gracing the screen. So, as well as surveying the latest in Italian cinema — as IFF does every year, 2025 being no exception — there's an Aussie flavour to the festival this time around. Another example: the Greta Scacchi (Darby and Joan)-narrated Signorinella: Little Miss, with the team responsible for Lygon St — Si Parla Italiano turning their attention to Italian women who helped make the Italian Australian community what it is. 2025's Italian Film Festival kicks off in mid-September, running across Thursday, September 18–Wednesday, October 15 at Palace Moore Park, Palace Norton St, Palace Central and Chauvel Cinema in Sydney. While Looking for Alibrandi is on closing duties, romantic comedy Somebody to Love will get IFF 2024 started, as hailing from Perfect Strangers filmmaker Paolo Genovese. In the festival's centrepiece slot is La Grazia, the latest from Paolo Sorrentino (Parthenope) — and, like The Hand of God, Loro and The Great Beauty, starring Toni Servillo. Its inclusion is quite the get for IFF, given that the movie will head to Australia direct from having its world premiere opening the 2025 Venice International Film Festival. Servillo is a significant feature of IFF's lineup this year, too, thanks to also appearing in Sicilian Letters and The Illusion, with the first focusing on Cosa Nostra boss Matteo Messina Denaro's time as a fugitive and the second heading back to Giuseppe Garibaldi's efforts in 1860 to unify Italy. In another highlight, Napoli — New York sees Gabriele Salvatores (Cassanova's Return) chart the path of two Neapolitan children to New York in 1949 — and continue, as also evident courtesy of Looking for Alibrandi and Signorinella: Little Miss, the festival's celebration of migrant stories. The must-sees keep coming from there, with IFF also screening 2024 Venice Film Festival Grand Jury Prize-winner The Mountain Bride — Vermiglio; Diamonds by Ferzan Özpetek; The Great Ambition, which won Elio Germano (Trust) the Best Actor Award at the David di Donatello Awards for portraying former Italian Communist Party leader Enrico Berlinguer; Italian box-office hit The Boy with the Pink Trousers; and the Valeria Golino (Maria)-led Fuori, a biopic about Italian feminist writer Goliarda Sapienza. Or, attendees can catch post-WWII-set drama My Place Is Here, as based on the novel by Daniela Porto; The Life Apart, which sports Vicenza as a backdrop; and Gianni Versace — Emperor of Dreams, as focused on the fashion icon. And, for its blast from the pasts for 2025, the fest is embracing giallo, to the delight of horror and thriller fans. Think: a new 4K restoration of Dario Argento's Deep Red, alongside Lucio Fulci's A Lizard in a Woman's Skin, Mario Bava's Blood and Black Lace, Pupi Avati's The House with Laughing Windows and Sergio Martino's All the Colours of the Dark.
When it opened 88 years ago at Milsons Point, Luna Park Sydney wasn't the world's first Luna Park, or even Australia's. But Harbour City residents and tourists alike have enjoyed its presence around multiple closures, reopenings and revamps ever since. Come December, the amusement park will unveil its latest reason to stop by and enjoy its attractions: Dream Circus, an immersive experience that's revamping the site's big top. If you've ever wanted to feel like you've walked into a movie, this is the Luna Park Sydney feature for you. Dream Circus will be filled with 360-degree projections, holograms, motion-activated LED screens, surround sound and lighting to immerse you in a Hollywood-style experience. It'll become Sydney's first permanent immersive-experience attraction, the venue advises — and a world-first type of attraction as well. Attendees can expect to enter a narrative journey, where characters and a spectacle that engages the senses will combine. The experience will take over the 3000-square-metre big top, with its sights filling a surface area of over 3500 square metres — and with Artists in Motion, TDC and Auditoria, who have ABBA Voyage, King Kong on Broadway, works at Vivid and Walking with Dinosaurs to their names, behind it. Luna Park Sydney expects people to flock to see the results when Dream Circus opens on Friday, December 22, just in time for the Christmas holidays, anticipating that 50,000 people will check it out over summer. The new attraction will help the site embrace the future, while still loving its status as an art-deco amusement park that dates back almost a century. "We are proud to build for Sydney one of the most technically advanced environments in the country. The result will be a venue without equal — capable of featuring the best immersive experiences, never-before-seen immersive live music and special events" said Luna Park Sydney CEO John Hughes. "As a world-class amusement park, we need to be more than rides, and expanding our depth of offering through world-class immersive experiences will mean that Sydneysiders won't have to travel the globe to experience these incredible environments. We want to be a reliable, magical, and affordable destination for all generations of Sydneysiders and visitors to our city". Dream Circus launches at Luna Park Sydney, 1 Olympic Drive, Milsons Point, on Friday, December 22 — visit the park's website for more information and tickets.
If there's one thing the crew at this play-on-words beachside cafe is famous for, it's grilling some serious burgers (and being snapped on Instagram the city over). There are at least 16 different versions to choose from at Bare Grill, covering everything from the classics to chicken, vegetarian and fish — so whatever your preference, you've always got at least a few options. And if you think delicious cheesy towers like these don't come cheap, then you'd be mistaken, because The Original — with a beef patty, American cheddar, gherkins, caramelised onions, American mustard and ketchup served on their famous Bare Grill-branded bun — will only set you back $10. If you're feeling particularly famished you might want to tackle The Grizzly Bare: four beef patties, American cheddar, bacon, Bare sauce and a side of fries for $25. But the fun doesn't stop there. If your goal in life is to claim victory in a man versus food comp, then the 'Death by Burger' challenge ($45) has your name on it. All you have to do is swallow ten beef patties, ten slices of American cheddar, ten pieces of bacon, Bare sauce, two buns and a large chips in half an hour. If you do it, you'll become the third person in Bare Grill's history to complete it, and you'll score yourself a T-shirt and a free meal. Glory is a bonus. However, we can't give all the glory to the burgers alone, because their fries ($4 small) are damn good too. Perfectly golden chunks of potato smothered in a seasoning so good you can't stop eating — that is, until you see a basket of their 'epic' fries ($15) come out of the kitchen. That's when food envy sets in. Waffle fries are smothered in pulled pork, cheese, spiced aioli, Carolina sticky BBQ sauce, bacon and shallots. It's basically a meal in itself, so we'd recommend ordering smaller items to go with it, or nothing at all. And then there are the signature and extremely indulgent Gaytime and Malteser Bare shakes, which have to be seen (on Instagram) to be believed. Jam-packed with confectionery, syrups and ice cream; these guys certainly know how to shake things up. But don't be fooled into thinking this is just another fast food joint. There's also ribs ($30 for half a rack), seafood and salads on the menu for those not necessarily feeling burgers. And with the picturesque Bare Island fort as the backdrop, it's no coincidence this local gem is bright and relaxed with openair bar seating and shades of yellow and turquoise. Even little touches like newspaper-printed burger wrappers make for an old-school Aussie seaside experience. And even if you haven't been to Bare Grill yet, but don't want to bus it to La Perouse, then you're in luck, because their second cafe in Surry Hills is proving to be just as popular. Images: Katje Ford.
Just west of Sydney CBD, across the sparkling waters of Darling Harbour, you'll find Pyrmont. It's famously the home to a number of tourist hot spots, including Sydney Fish Market, the Powerhouse Museum and The Star. But, beyond these legendary landmarks, there's a cornucopia of quirky restaurants, small bars, cafes and friendly pubs to explore. Begin your day with Egyptian bakery treats, stop for lunch in a 177-year-old pub and finish up with a degustation where Italian fare meets Japanese influences. In between eats, step into the future at the Powerhouse Museum and catch some live jazz in a New York-style club. Here are ten places in Pyrmont that you really, really shouldn't miss. Plus, for a few more hot tips, check out our video above for Terminus Hotel venue manager Luke Reimann's favourite spots around the suburb.
The service industry has really been through some things lately. 'Shake up' doesn't even come close. Crowd-sourcing, app-ification, and hyper-localisation mean that the service industry we enjoy looks nothing like what our parents knew. And the latest offering from the team behind Paramount Coffee Project, Reuben Hills and Melbourne's Seven Seeds is a testament to this brave new world. The Paramount House Hotel won't be a hotel in the traditional sense of the word. It's gone local instead of global. It won't be a glitzy chain where everything looks and feels the same no matter which country you're visiting. It aims to be an immersive local experience and give visitors a genuine slice of life in Surry Hills. "We hope to encapsulate the spirit of Surry Hills and offer the guest an immersive local community experience," said co-owner Ping Jin Ng. "We are considered but not staged, generous but not lavish and we will offer a memorable and inspiring stay — not just comfortable and slick." The hotel will be part of Paramount House, which currently houses Paramount Coffee, a co-working space and Golden Age Cinema. The hotel's lobby will blend into the downstairs cafe, and a two-storey extension will provide 29 rooms. Room service will be provided by acclaimed local restaurant Ester. Finally you'll be able to eat their sourdough ice cream in bed. Ng sees the hotel's patronage being similar to the crowd that comes into Paramount Coffee — those that appreciate "good food and coffee, but also beautifully designed spaces and interesting events". The vision for the hotel has been realised by Melbourne architecture firm, Breathe. You may know them for their work on Seven Seeds, Brother Baba Budan, Host, the Collingwood Arts Precinct, The Commons and Transformer. They'll retain the heritage details and deck it out with little luxuries like private terraces, generous greenery and Aesop products in all the bathrooms — of course. We'll keep you updated on an opening date. Paramount House Hotel is expected to open in early 2018 at 80 Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills. They're currently hiring staff too. For more info, visit paramounthousehotel.com.
A stunning new dining experience has arrived in Sydney's inner west, courtesy of restaurateur Bill Drakopoulos (Ormeggio at The Spit, LuMi Dining, Ripples Chowder Bay, Chiosco by Ormeggio and Jardin St James). The Fenwick, a heritage-listed waterfront building, reopened as a cafe and gallery last week. It boasts sweeping harbour views, seasonal fare and exhibitions by local and international artists. The tiny sandstone space was built in the 1880s and was originally used as a tugboat store. Heaps of private development proposals were rejected before the building was finally acquired by the former Leichhardt Council in 2003 (now part of the Inner West Council), thanks to a campaign by local Balmain East residents. After a restoration that cost millions, The Fenwick is finally open to the public. To us, the space better resembles a chapel — think a pitched roof, exposed timber beams and large barn doors that open out to views across Barangaroo, the Harbour Bridge and Luna Park. At the simple yet sleek cafe, co-owner and executive chef Davide Rebeccato (Aqua Dining) is serving up modern Australian eats with a focus on seasonal dishes. For breakfast, expect scrambled eggs served on French toast and topped with prawns and eggplant; pulled pork breakfast burgers with fried egg and cabbage slaw; and poached eggs on sourdough with haloumi, mushrooms, avocado and kale. Apart from all those eggs, you can tuck into homemade granola with fresh fruit and berry compote pancakes with banana, coconut and pistachio crumble. More refined fare is on offer for lunch, including pickled sardines, burrata with prosciutto and figs, and jalapeño kingfish with tiger milk. Larger plates feature snapper tail served in a lemon and garlic butter sauce; fish stew with fregola, olives and capers; and wild mushroom and black truffle gnocchi. For the morning, the cafe is slinging Little Marionette coffee and cold pressed juices. Once the arvo hits, a specialty cocktail list will accompany lunch — it includes the Chamomile Kicker (chamomile-infused gin, elderflower liqueur, lime juice and egg), the Lavender Martini (gin, Amaro Nonino, lavender syrup and lime) and the Dark Chocolate Negroni (gin, Campari, Regal Rouge vermouth and dark chocolate bitters). Jugs of Pimm's Cup and rosé spritzes are also up for grabs, as are heaps of local and international wine by the glass and bottle. Level twos houses the public gallery, which will be open daily and offers regular exhibitions featuring local and international artists. Creative events held in partnership with other local galleries and community groups are also on the docket. Keep an eye on this space for upcoming exhibitions and events. The Fenwick is now open at 2-8 Weston Street, Balmain East. Cafe opening hours are for breakfast 7–10.30am and lunch noon–5pm daily.
It is little wonder that, for many of us, bikes are our preferred means of transport when getting from A to B. They're cheaper, greener, and ensure the health and general perkiness of various muscular groups. Yet while we love our bikes, we rarely share the affection with the cycling paths we ride on — indeed quite the opposite. But that may be about to change. French industrial designer, Ines Le Bihan, has recently developed Bicycle Road, a modular bike path with benefits galore. The Bicycle Road consists of small square-shaped panels which are easily assembled and disassembled, which means they take the labour, disruption and cost out of painting pesky white lines. The Bicycle Road is also well-equipped to deal with seasonal changes and to cope with the natural inclinations of the road. It also promises to be a safer alternative. And Greener. What is not to like about the Bicycle Road — it promises to be a greener, safer, more economical alternative to the less than adequate bike tracks that currently trail around our city street. We may even end up loving our bike tracks as much as our bikes. Maybe.
The role of Andie Whitford, the lead part in High Country, was written for Leah Purcell. It's easy to understand why. There's a quiet resolve to the character — a been-there-seen-that air to weathering tumult, too, and to knowing that she'll always have to fight hard for what she wants — that's long been a part of the Indigenous Australian star's acting toolkit across a three-decade career. Purcell first appeared on-screen in 90s TV shows such as GP, Police Rescue and Water Rats. In the past year before High Country, The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart and Shayda also popped onto her resume. In-between, the 2000s brought Lantana, Somersault, The Proposition and Jindabyne — and the 2010s added Redfern Now, Last Cab to Darwin, Janet King and Black Comedy. Across three formats, as a play, a book and a movie, she also interrogated and reimagined Henry Lawson's The Drover's Wife in blistering fashion, and while writing, acting and directing. It's thanks to Wentworth that High Country came Purcell's way, however. Creators Marcia Gardner and John Ridley worked with her there, then made this the trio's next shared project. The nuts and bolts of the series are solid anyway, but it joins the ranks of Aussie detective and mystery tales made all the better due to their main talent. Mystery Road, which High Country co-star Aaron Pedersen (High Ground) has led in films and on TV, was the same. Jack Irish, featuring Guy Pearce (The Clearing) as its namesake and also Pedersen as his righthand man, equally fits. So does The Dry and its sequel Force of Nature: The Dry 2, both with Eric Bana (Blueback) — the latter of which also used Victoria's alpine region as a backdrop, as does High Country. Andie is a seasoned police detective who takes a job back in uniform overseeing the town of Broken Ridge, which is located in the mountainous Victorian spot that gives the show its moniker. While High Country might be the second Aussie effort in 2024's early months to embrace this part of the nation — among a small but growing wave of rural-set Down Under movies and programs that aren't traversing red earth, such as the Tasmanian-set Deadloch, The Gloaming and The Kettering Incident, too — it's no mere rehash there, or anywhere. High Country's framework, down to its character types, is easily recognisable. Gardner and Ridley know what everyone does, though: that a great story can make any whodunnit-driven procedural feel different, as can excellent casting. A big reason for Andie's move: stability and work-life balance, aka relocating for the sake of her personal life with spouse Helen Hartley (Sara Wiseman, Under the Vines) and daughter Kirra (Pez Warner, making her TV debut). An existence-resetting tree change is meant to be on the cards, then, in a place where leafy vantages stretch over mountains and down into valleys as far as the eye can see. But her arrival, especially being installed as the new police chief, doesn't earn the sunniest of welcomes. Then there's the missing-person cases that swiftly start piling up, some old, some new, some previously explained by pointing fingers in specific directions. An absent doctor (Francis Greenslade, Irreverent) and the car he leaves behind is Andie's entry point, but that isn't the beginning or the end of the tale. Also key to the series are Andie's retiring predecessor Sam Dryson (Ian McElhinney, The Boys in the Boat), who is fixated on the past disappearance of a young boy — and former teacher Damien Stark (Henry Nixon, The PM's Daughter), who he's certain is responsible, has become the town outcast as a result and contends that he's psychic. Andie is soon perched between them. She values Sam's advice, yet spies how fixated he is in his vendetta (one wall in his house is right out of the obsessed-cop playbook). At the same time, she enlists Damien as a consultant to help on active cases, hoping that he'll accidentally reveal his involvement in the process. Ranger Owen Cooper (Pedersen) is one of the few other Indigenous faces in town; his teenage son Ben (Pedrea Jackson, Sweet As) quickly befriends Kirra. Throw in Rose De Vigny, the financially challenged proprietor (Linda Cropper, How to Stay Married) of a haven for artists, plus cop colleagues of varying help and loyalty (Romance at the Vineyard's Matt Domingo and Wyrmwood: Apocalypse's Luke McKenzie), and Broken Ridge doesn't lack in players. Rabble-rousing siblings (Boy Swallows Universe's Nathaniel Dean and The Clearing's Jamie Timony), town bigwigs (Geoff Morrell, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power) — the list goes on. Crucially, no matter how many of High Country's characters feel as if they could've walked in from fellow Aussie fare, where the show takes them is always its own journey. The same is true of Andie, and not just within a homegrown context; Jodie Foster (Nyad) in True Detective: Night Country and Kate Winslet (The Regime) in Mare of Easttown have charted comparable paths, but never this exact route. Pivotal to giving High Country its own flavour is its sense of place — not merely as a source of picturesque sights, which Andie often takes in as a newcomer to these parts, but in getting entrenched in the ragtag Broken Ridge community. When Sam reflects early that disappearances and deaths are just what happens here, Andie is horrified. Digging into the motivation behind his words becomes another of her missions, and the series'. With a wealth of fellow Wentworth alum behind the camera — Kevin Carlin (Ms Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries) and Beck Cole (Deadloch) direct; Craig Barden (The Rooster) and Darrell Martin (White Fever) are High Country's cinematographers — this is a probing affair. The surroundings that make us, and also hide our secrets, prove a canvas, a minefield and a map. Discovering what they contain in this small-town thriller makes for addictive viewing, unsurprisingly. And in Purcell as Andie, High Country has a discerning and determined guide to fuel not just one season and its mysteries, but hopefully much more to follow. Check out the trailer for High Country below: High Country streams via Binge. Read our interview with Leah Purcell Images: Sarah Enticknap / Narelle Portanier.
The New South Wales Government wants to overhaul "outdated, complicated and often duplicated regulation" across the state in order to facilitate a more thriving nightlife. Newly introduced Vibrancy Reforms legislation is set to deliver changes in six key areas that the government hopes will lead to more live music, more outdoor dining and less trouble with noise complaints. The six areas of reform that are expected to be addressed are sensible sound management, nightlife precincts, outdoor dining and entertainment, the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner's remit, licensing and an improved night-time sector for workers. "This is a clear statement of intent from the State Government that the night-time economy matters," said Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) CEO Mick Gibb. "If NSW is going to realise the full potential of these reforms, we need Local Governments to get behind the suite of options at their disposal. By creating vibrant, diverse and safe Special Entertainment Precincts, a local council can shape the type of night-time ecosystem it wants to create for its community," Gibb continued. Among the reforms, you'll find commitments to streamline noise complaints, extend the success of the Enmore Road Special Entertainment Precinct to other areas across the state, make applications for al fresco dining quicker and less strenuous, and make the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner a statutory role. While many local councils have been pushing for an overhaul of the noise complaint system, venues such as The Great Club in Marrickville have still run into issues with neighbours, even in supportive councils like the Inner West. These new reforms will remove noise tests, which are highly subjective, from the system. They'll also see all issues go through Liquor and Gaming NSW. "The NTIA is delighted to see the government stick to its election commitment and make the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner's role a statutory appointment. This is a measure that will mean there's a champion for the night-time economy embedded into the government so we can avoid ever going back to the devastation of lockout laws while maintaining public safety at all times," said Gibb. The Vibrancy Reforms also include promises to remove outdated regulations, meaningfully encourage venues to host live music and the arts, and ensure that after-dark staff from healthcare workers to security and retail have the support they need. The announcement comes less than a month after Western Sydney's Lakemba was named a global Purple Flag-accredited safe nightlife zone alongside international areas including London and Stockholm. It's the third Sydney precinct to gain the recognition, following YCK Laneways' and Parramatta CBD's certification. [caption id="attachment_798916" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cassandra Hannagan[/caption] For more information on the New South Wales Government's proposed Vibrancy Reforms legislation, head to the NSW Government website. Top image: Jasmine Low.
It was all quiet on the Western Messina front, until now. The monarchs, the sultans, nay, the emperors of gelato, Messina, have extended their cold, creamy love to Parramatta with a brand new store opening today. No more cross city, traffic-laden escapades for your favourite salted caramel crack. The newest chapter in the Messina tale, Parramatta's gelato hub joins Sydney's flagship Darlinghurst and subsequent Surry Hills, Bondi and The Star casino spinoffs, alongside Fitzroy's Melbourne venture. The new Messina will sit smack bang in one of Parramatta's busiest intersections, on the corner of Church and Phillip Street. "We’re so excited about making a mark in one of Sydney’s cultural hotspots and making our product accessible outside of inner Sydney; nobody should be deprived of good gelato," said founder (and owner of bragging rights to That Job We All Wanted in Year Three) Nick Palumbo. He'll hand the Parramatta reins over to an original Messina partner Ray Abbas, who spent a little stint in the corporate end of the food realm before realising... it's Messina. Making everything from scratch, raw and wriggling, Messina will continue to pride themselves on ditching the pre-made ingredients and testing out flavours meeting the highest form of "What? Huh? No way." Most memorable flavours in recent memory include Homer's Odyssey (beer and peanuts), Heisenberg (blueberry yoghurt gelato with crystallised violets made to resemble Breaking Bad's currency of choice) and Robert Baratheon (chocolate gelato with red wine jellies and fig custard. "Big, bold and beautiful with subtle tones of pillage and plunder."). Messina have created a special edition gelato for the occasion dubbed East meet West — a base of house strained labneh and pistachio gelato, and finished with the sweet touch of fig and date jam. "The flavour is an ode to both the multicultural cross section that is Parramatta and our way of saying ‘Hi’ to our friends out West — from East with love," say the Messina team. Gelato Messina's Parramatta store will open at 5pm today. You can join the predictably gargantuan queue at 283 Church Street, Parramatta (Corner of Church and Philip St).
Although headlines spout statistics and assumptions about refugees, it's rare that we get insight into an individual's experience. But Melbourne-born doco maker David Fedele is changing that. His 2014 film The Land Between took audiences into the world of asylum seekers living in the mountains of northern Morocco and risking death to enter the Spanish enclave of Melilla. Now, he's collaborating with refugee Adama Konate to bring us a unique film, Clandestine Crossing. Konate, who lives in France, will be returning alone to his home country, the Ivory Coast, where he'll re-trace the journey he risked eleven years ago as an asylum seeker. This time, though, he'll be armed with a camera. So, through his eyes, we'll experience his dangerous flight across the Sahara Desert to Morocco, through seven countries and often in the hands of people smugglers. It's a path taken by thousands of asylum seekers every year. "As far as I know, it's never been done before," Fedele said. "When most people leave their country, the last thing they're doing is thinking of making a film… Yet, here is a refugee prepare to take a risk. Why? Why is this so strong for him? He obviously feels strongly about the issues. It's also really interesting, because he wants to tell his own stories. "Adama came up with this idea three years ago and hasn't been able to get it out of his head… Our intention is to start from a place of understanding and empathy. We want to film openly, to understand the reality of why people leave and the reality of the challenges the face." To make Clandestine Crossing happen, Fedele and Konate are running a crowdfunding campaign via Indiegogo. Throw a few bucks their way to score a reward — from a digital download to a Skype chat with the directors.
The term institution gets thrown around perhaps more than it should, but one restaurant that embodies the word and all its meaning is Lee Ho Fook. Founded over a decade ago in Melbourne by celebrated chef Victor Liong, the two-hatted landmark has played a pivotal role in redefining Chinese cuisine in Australia. Now the restaurant is ready to turn the page on a new chapter, announcing a soon-to-open outpost in Sydney at The Porter House Hotel. Launching on Wednesday, September 17, Lee Ho Fook will join an already impressive lineup of dining destinations within the neighbouring precinct. Guided by hospitality operator Trippas White Group, guests encounter European deli charm at Porter House Grounds & Cellar Door, rooftop cocktails at Bar See See and pan-Asian inspiration at Moutai. Yet the arrival of Lee Ho Fook is set to add a heap more culinary weight thanks to its prestige reputation. "Our aim has always been to create food that's delicious, engaging and a little unexpected," says Liong. "Lee Ho Fook in Sydney will continue to respect the foundations of Chinese cooking while presenting them through a contemporary Australian lens — refined yet warm, with service that makes you feel like you've found a place you'll keep coming back to." The Sydney iteration will carry on Lee Ho Fook's celebration of China's diverse regional cuisine, with Liong bringing an elegantly simple flair to the equation. Expect signature small plates like prawn toast with Tasmanian sea urchin, and its acclaimed crispy eggplant with spiced red vinegar. Meanwhile, mains at the new restaurant will include Kung Pao Skull Island prawns, and steamed Glacier 51 Toothfish with silken tofu. An experienced team supports Liong's vision in both front and back of house. In the kitchen, Head Chef Brad Guest brings vast experience working alongside leading culinary names like Martin Benn, Neil Perry, Daniel Puskas, Clare Smyth and Pasi Petӓnen. Then, Victor's sister Nianci takes up the reins as restaurant manager, drawing on years of experience working in renowned eateries like Momofuku Seiobo, Fred's, King Clarence and Sokyo. Though Lee Ho Fook is making its move north, the design of the Sydney outpost will maintain its Melbourne aesthetic. Think raw brickwork and deep-toned polished timber floors set against neon lights and moody red and brass accents. With the restaurant's launch only a few weeks away, Lee Ho Fook will be open for lunch from Wednesday–Sunday and dinner from Monday–Saturday. Bookings are now open. Lee Ho Fook - The Porter House Hotel is expected to open on Wednesday, September 17, at 203 Castlereagh St, Sydney. Head to the website for more information. Images: Parker Blain.
Siblings Dan and Dom Angeloro spend their days laughing behind pop culture’s back in their writing, video art, installations, photo-collages and occasional curatorial gig. They currently have a new work featured in Three of a Perfect Pair, an exhibition at MOP Gallery which brings together some of the very best young artist partnerships, including Ms&Mr, Eleanor & James Avery and Jaki Middleton & David Lawrey. Somehow, they found time to chat with us about their work …

How did it all begin?

Soda_Jerk was officially born in 2002, but we like to think our artistic collaboration began at ages 12 and 14, when we got our first video camera. We got our friends together and 'sweded' late-80s teen flick Heathers. It's the only video work we've ever performed in; Dan played Heather #3 and Dominique was Betty Finn. A decade later, we were still mucking around with equipment.

What role does remixing play in your work?

As artists, we only work with found material so remixing is the underlying process of everything we do. It's a form of improvisation in that we never try to predetermine how a video project will play out. 

What’s the appeal of video as a medium?

Our overriding fascination with video has to do with the complex relationship to time that is implicit in recorded media. It's a science fiction thing; we think of sampling as a form of time travel, a concrete way of directly manipulating the space-time continuum.

What has been your favourite project to date? 

Last year, we made a 3-channel video installation 'Astro Black: A History of Hip-Hop (Epsidodes 0-2)' (2008) for Primavera at the Museum of Contemporary Art. It's an episodic work that came out of our interest in the cultural theory of Afrofuturism. A key Afrofuturist figure is the cosmic jazz musician Sun Ra, who envisaged music as a portal to alternate universes. We think of remixing in a similar way so, conceptually, we wanted to create a work that drew these elements together. It also enabled us to pay respect to hip-hop innovators like Grandmaster Flash, Kool Herc, Afrika Bambaataa, Chuck D and Flavor Flav.

Are you informed by the work of other remix and collage artists?

Absolutely. We really believe you have to know where you're from to know where you're at. We have always been fascinated with the relationship between video sampling and hip-hop turntablism. We are also interested in the found-footage practices of visual artists like Craig Baldwin, Candice Breitz, Martin Sastre and Philip Brophy. 

What are you working on next?

We're currently finishing a video for Federation Square in Melbourne called After the Rainbow. This video is part of a wider body of work called The Dark Matter Cycle, which began in 2005 with 'The Phoenix Portal' and looks at the intersection of cinema, temporality and death.
UPDATE, December 23, 2021: The Lost Daughter released in select Australian cinemas on Thursday, December 16, and will be available to stream via Netflix on Friday, December 31. Watching Olivia Colman play a complicated woman is like staring at the ocean: it's never the same twice, even just for a second; it couldn't be more unpredictable, no matter how comfortable it appears; and all that surface texture bobs, floats, swells, gleams and glides atop leagues of unseen complexity. That's always been true of the British actor's absolute best performances, which could fill any body of water with their power and resonance. It's there in her acidic work in The Favourite, which won her an Oscar, and also in The Crown's more reserved turn as a different English monarch. It flowed through the devastating Tyrannosaur, which perhaps first truly showed the world exactly what Colman could do — and has marked her Academy Award-nominated supporting part in The Father, plus TV standouts Peep Show, Broadchurch, The Night Manager and Fleabag. It's fitting, then, that The Lost Daughter tasks Colman with glaring at the sea, and doing so both intently and often. A necessity of the narrative, as penned on the page by My Brilliant Friend's Elena Ferrante and adapted for the screen by actor-turned-filmmaker Maggie Gyllenhaal, it's a touch that washes through the movie with extra force due to its star. Colman plays comparative literature professor Leda, who fills much of her time peering at the ocean as she summers on a Greek island — and also people-watching thanks to the loud, entitled Queens family that keep invading her chosen patch of sand. While both gazing at the waves and taking in the onshore domestic dramas, Leda sees her own ebbs, flows, thorns and flaws reflected back. Vacationing alone, Leda isn't on a getaway as much as she's escaping — not actively, but because that's her default mode. She's never willing to stray far from her work, shuffling through papers as she sunbathes and flirtatious young resort manager Will (Paul Mescal, Normal People) moves her lounger to keep her in the shade; however, as flashbacks show, the urge to flee all markers of apparent normalcy has long gushed in her veins. Leda tells anyone who asks that she has two daughters (Bianca is 25 and Martha is 23, she frequently offers), but they're heard via phone calls rather than seen as adults. She's prickly when mum-to-be Callie (Dagmara Domińczyk, Succession), of those noisy interlopers, asks if her extended group can take over Leda's beach umbrella. But in Nina (Dakota Johnson, The Nowhere Inn), the raven-haired mother of frequently screaming toddler Elena (debutant Athena Martin Anderson), she spies more of herself than she's been willing to confront for decades. The Lost Daughter's title references an incident one sunny day when Elena disappears as Callie, Nina and company — the latter's shady husband Toni (Oliver Jackson-Cohen, The Invisible Man) as well — idle by the water's edge. The Americans react with distress, but Leda calmly strides forth amid the chaos, all while battling memories of being a young mum (Jessie Buckley, I'm Thinking of Ending Things) searching for her own absent child. Indeed, loss and escape are serpentine concepts here, winding through Leda's past, her affinity for the clearly unhappy Nina and the second wave of mayhem that erupts when Elena's beloved doll also goes missing. The concept of trouble in paradise proves just as layered, infecting idylls scenic and, in pondering the supposed bliss that we're all told motherhood brings, societally enforced. The idea that bringing life into the world isn't the existence-defining triumph of femininity it's sugar-coated as doesn't simply sit at the heart of Ferrante's novel and Gyllenhaal's debut stint behind the lens — from the instant that Colman is seen collapsing on the pebble-strewn shoreline in the picture's opening, it laps over The Lost Daughter's every moment. Leda is a woman haunted by everything having kids has brought, as well as guilt-stricken by all that's followed, and this bold and affecting movie confronts that rocky truth. It's the filmic antithesis to keeping calm and carrying on, or relishing the rewards while disregarding the sacrifices, whether Leda is trying to retain a sense of self in the feature's journeys backwards, grappling with the gnawing consequences of her choices and the parallels in Nina's exasperation, or obsessing over dolls, those symbols of maternity routinely given to girls at birth. For any director, this is audacious and intricate terrain, but Gyllenhaal is as exceptional and daring a filmmaker as she is a performer. As her own impressive acting career demonstrates, complete with knotty and slippery turns in Secretary, Sherrybaby, The Kindergarten Teacher and The Deuce, she could've played Leda and just as phenomenal a film would've likely resulted. Her decision to enlist Colman doesn't only spring from humility, though, but from spying what we all notice whenever the star graces any screen. One of Colman's extraordinary skills is her knack for ensuring that her characters could swim in any direction and, whatever swings and lurches they take, it always feels like the most natural development there is. She's a master not just of complicated women, but of conveying the innate and relentless state of being complicated. Daughters get lost, mothers struggle, prickly exchanges pepper the picturesque setting — Leda isn't afraid to voice her displeasure to Callie and her relatives, or to teens ruining a trip to the local cinema, and she's positively awkward with Lyle (Ed Harris, Westworld), the caretaker of her holiday apartment — but so much of The Lost Daughter's tension rushes from Colman's performance. From Buckley's, too, with the movie's two Ledas echoing each other — the woman she once was and the one she becomes — with precision and synergy that's too shrewd and naturalistic to resemble mere mimicry. It's also telling that Gyllenhaal has cinematographer Hélène Louvart (Never Rarely Sometimes Always) lens the film like a volatile memory, probing closeups, lingering details and slight but inescapable jitteriness all included, while the jazzy score by Dickon Hinchliffe (The Third Day) skews towards the melodic. Everything about Leda's experiences has been stressful rather than peaceful, but the prevailing view of being a mum keeps trying to tell the world otherwise — and both the character and the film refuse to accept those false platitudes.
Rejoice, fans of excellent television, fried food and pop culture-themed pop-ups alike — Los Pollos Hermanos is coming to Sydney. Ever since the TV-viewing world was first introduced to Gus Fring's fast food chain, every fried chicken fiend has been hankering for a piece of their juicy poultry. Yes, we all know that it's a fictional chicken empire in a television show, but Breaking Bad was just that damn addictive. With Los Pollos Hermanos' head honcho once again crossing paths with Jimmy McGill/Saul Goodman (Bob Odenkirk) and Mike Ehrmantraut (Jonathan Banks) in the third season of ace Breaking Bad prequel spin-off Better Call Saul, subscription streaming video provider Stan is making everyone's dreams come true with two days of chicken goodness. The pop-up will take over Potts Point's Thirsty Bird for lunch and dinner on April 11 and 12 — and it that's not that's not exciting enough, good ol' poultry-cooking, drug baron Gustavo himself, aka actor Giancarlo Esposito, will be there. Is everything to your satisfaction? It's the event we've all been waiting for since the idea that Los Pollos Hermanos could actually become a real-life restaurant first came up, and it's timed to coincide with Better Call Saul's season three premiere on April 11. Attendees are encouraged to dress up in their very best Better Call Saul-themed outfit, so expect to see plenty of pretend dodgy lawyers around. No word yet if anything blue will be on the menu. Find the Los Pollos Hermanos pop-up at Thirsty Bird, Shop 3, 2-14 Bayswater Road, Potts Point from 11.30am-3.00pm and 5.00pm-8.30pm on April 11 and 12. For more information, check out the event Facebook page. Image: Robert Trachtenberg/AMC/Sony Pictures Television. Copyright: © 2017 Sony Pictures Television Inc. All Rights Reserved.
When The Afterparty arrived on Apple TV+ in 2022, riding a wave of revived murder-mystery comedy love that Knives Out and Only Murders in the Building had helped wash over screens big and small, it made one big risky move. Throwing a motley crew of characters together, then offing one? Tried, tested and a favourite for a reason. The ensemble cast attempting to sleuth its way through a shock death? Flawless. The genre-bending setup that saw each episode in the season parody a different style of filmmaking? Perfectly executed. Having the words "how great is this party?" uttered over and over again? That's what could've proven dicey if The Afterparty wasn't in fact great; thankfully, it very much was. There's a reason that phrase kept being uttered, because superfluous detail isn't this show's style: as in all great whodunnits, everything happens, is mentioned or can be spotted with cause. Creator Christopher Miller and his fellow executive producer Phil Lord, a duo with Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, 21 Jump Street and 22 Jump Street, and The Lego Movie on their resumes as co-directors, know the format they're working with. Crucially, they know how carefully their audience will scrutinise every clue and element. And, in the show's first season and now the just-arrived second season — which streams from Wednesday, July 12 — they also know how to equally honour and spoof. Fittingly, The Afterparty feels like a murder-mystery comedy party as a result. Affectionate, adoring, irreverent, willing to get loose and shake things up: that's the vibe and approach. In season one, the series' title was literal thanks to a high-school reunion with fateful post-soiree hijinks. In season two, a wedding brings a disparate group together — and, following the nuptials and reception, The Afterparty's moniker comes into play again. To the horror of the returning Aniq Adjaye (Sam Richardson, I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson) and his ex-classmate, now-girlfriend Zoe Zhu (Zoe Chao, Party Down), another body then puts a dampener on the festivities; however, this second go-around doesn't get a-solving just in one night. Aniq and Zoe have recovered from their last confrontation with a killing at a celebration by diving into their romance, but it's the latter's younger sister Grace (Poppy Liu, Dead Ringers) who's getting hitched. Her groom Edgar (Zach Woods, Avenue 5) sports both family money and a cryptocurrency-aided bank-balance boost, he's an all-work-no-play socially awkward type as a result and, when he's alive, he's more fond of his pet lizard than most humans. Then he's found face down after the afterparty, plus his reptilian friend as well. Experiencing a hefty case of déjà vu — season two's episode, which focuses on him, is even called 'Aniq 2: The Sequel' — Aniq calls in the also-returning Danner (Tiffany Haddish, The Card Counter). His plan: to get his now former-cop pal to help him find the culprit before the real police arrive. This season's suspect pool spans another murderers' row of talent. Liu is distraught as Grace, but perhaps not as upset as one might expect in the circumstances. Elizabeth Perkins' (Barry) Isabel is standoffish and snobbish before her son is dead, and doesn't improve amid her gin-sipping afterwards. As Edgar's adopted sister Hannah, Anna Konkle (PEN15) plays the family eccentric — and as his business partner Sebastian, Jack Whitehall (Jungle Cruise) trots out a charm offensive. On Grace's side, Vivian Wu (Irma Vep) and Ken Jeong (Community) dote as the elder Zhus, and also worry about their baobing business. John Cho (Cowboy Bebop) plays absentee uncle Ulysses, and Paul Walter Hauser (Bupkis) a pining ex. All could have motivation to help shuffle Edgar off this mortal coil. As is The Afterparty's template, all have different perspectives on his demise, as well as the events leading up to it and then following his next-morning discovery. Miller has set himself a trickier task with season two, since The Afterparty's debut run took most of the obvious genres, worked in a murder-mystery and got lampooning. Aniq's new dedicated chapter is a rom-com follow-up, which the cast and writers alike have a ball playing with. From there, everything from Wes Anderson flicks, period romances and black-and-white gumshoe noirs to Hitchcockian suspense, Jane Austen romances and melodrama get a spin. The perceptive thinking behind the show's gimmick remains astute, demonstrating how differently each and every one of us sees not just shared events, but our overall lives. The Rashomon effect, cycling through varying takes on the same incident, also muses cleverly on cause and effect. And the execution largely remains smart and savvy; having to dive deeper with its genre homages only sometimes dulls the series' usually sharp writing. Swapping and hopping between stylistic filters has helped The Afterparty counteract the threat of formula and familiarity, too. Each batch of episodes takes place in one setting, after all, and retraces the same death again and again. Even if flitting between erotic thrillers and heists (and more) wasn't on the agenda, season two's main players would be a treat together — and most make the utmost of their stint in the spotlight. Cho scores a glorious 'Careless Whisper' dance, Hauser is a comic delight in his hard-boiled spoof, and Konkle makes certain that following in The Royal Tenenbaums' footsteps doesn't feel like a social-media meme or AI copy. Still, as the mismatched duo going all Hercule Poirot and Captain Hastings, Richardson and Haddish are the show's MVPs — and hilarious. Odd-couple detectives are a sleuthing staple, but when they're done this well and with such fine-tuned performances, including in a caper comedy with Miller and Lord's penchant for mile-a-minute gags, they're the scaffolding that everything else hangs off. Richardson plays Aniq as sincere yet shrewd, fretting over impressing the potential future in-laws and doing everything he can to get in their good graces — and the Detroiters, Veep, Ted Lasso and I Think You Should Leave star is indeed the life of this party. Haddish's timing never falters, nor her pace and energy, nor her ability to ensure that Danner is never a stock-standard inspector in any way. Death at a Funeral has already been done, and twice, but a must-attend bash awaits however and wherever Miller reteams his two leads for a hopefully soon-to-be-greenlit third season. Check out the trailer for season two of The Afterparty below: Season two of The Afterparty streams via Apple TV+ from Wednesday, July 12. Read our full review of season one.
Whether you've been directly impacted, have watched on from your own less-waterlogged patch of southeast Queensland or have seen the news from further afield in Sydney, the past week's catastrophic wet weather has been impossible to ignore. It's been a lot to take in, actually, thanks to record rainfalls in Brisbane, relentless deluges hitting from the Sunshine Coast down to northern New South Wales, and floodwaters destroying homes and businesses in two states. Accordingly, it might've left you wanting to do your part to help out. In Brisbane, you can sign up to the Mud Army 2.0 to assist on the ground — and wherever you're located, you can also throw your support behind a fundraising effort by Surry Hills' Bar Suze. The late-night Sydney haunt is helping the flood-relief cause in two ways: in-person at a big wine-fuelled five-hour event on Sunday, March 6, and online via a raffle. For Sydneysiders, you'll want to swing by Foveaux Street between 1–6pm to sip rare natural wines, mix them up with Poor Toms gin and tonics, and tuck into Bar Suze snacks. Whatever you choose to eat and drink, all of the proceeds will go to flood-relief funds for folks impacted by the weather in NSW and Queensland. At the event, the venue will also be drawing a raffle, with more than 25 prizes on offer — and all of the proceeds from the $50-each tickets will also go to the flood relief fundraising effort, too. Prizes include a dinner for two at Bar Suze, as well as a one-night stay at the soon-to-open Ace Hotel Sydney in Surry Hills, a two-evening trip to a Byron hinterlands retreat that sleeps 12 — and boasts its own saltwater pool and outdoor cinema — plus an In Bed linen set, hair salon vouchers, a Coffee Supreme subscription, and a bar tab at Redfern's The Woolpack. There are also prize packs on offer from DRNKS, Cocktail Porter, Pepe Saya Butter, Worktones and Lo-Fi Wines — and the list goes on. The raffle is open to everyone, and tickets can be bought online, too — so that's how you can get involved if you're not located in Sydney or can't make it along on Sunday. (Obviously, tell your Sydney pals to attend either way). For tickets, just get buying before 5pm AEST on Sunday, March 6, with the raffle drawn live at Bar Suze that evening. As for all of those proceeds, they're going to on-the-ground initiatives in the Northern Rivers and Queensland. At the time of writing, Bar Suze is supporting Flood Relief Cook Up — Northern Rivers region, Bundjalung flood relief and Northey Street City Farm flood relief — with more worth initiatives likely to be added. Bar Suze's flood relief fundraiser will take place from 1–6pm on Sunday, March 6. Raffle tickets are on sale online now, with prizes drawn at 5pm AEST on Sunday. Images: Nikki To.
Situated in the beautiful Baja Peninsula, Los Cabos is often most recognised for its high-end luxury accommodation (check out Corazon Resort and Spa), the place the Laguna Beach kids visited for Spring Break, and endless sunshine (and food and drinks if you stay at an all-inclusive hotel like Breathless Resort). But there's so much more to experience to make your visit to Los Cabos a truly exciting adventure. Beyond the joys of sunny days, exceptional food and an excuse to drink margaritas at any time of day, Los Cabos has experiences for all types. From swimming with whale sharks to off-road expeditions through the desert to the finest in farm to table dining… let's take a spin through three must-do adventures when you visit Los Cabos. [caption id="attachment_950073" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image credit: Emma Li[/caption] Swimming with Whale Sharks These glorious creatures are the gentle giants of the sea. As plankton-eaters, their focus is on food and not on the (comparably) tiny humans who are snorkelling nearby desperate to get a close look. And a close look you can get! The team at Cabo Adventures picks you up from your accommodation, taking you to Bahia de La Paz where the whale sharks like to hang out and feed – about two hours drive from Cabo San Lucas. Ask your nerdy nature questions to your heart's content on the way, and by the time you get there, you'll be primed and ready to roll. After a quick stop to fit your wetsuit, fins and snorkel enjoy a glorious boat ride on the sparkling water off to the protected harbour and home to the whale sharks. Once your friendly guides find you your fish, it's go time. Slip into the water then snorkel alongside these magnificent, gentle, chilled creatures and observe them doing what we all love best: having a great feed. When to go: November to April is the peak, but they can be seen all year round. [caption id="attachment_950080" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Whale shark street art on a wall in Los Cabos. Image credit: Elizabeth Tucker[/caption] [caption id="attachment_950082" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Flora Farms[/caption] Fantastic Farm-to-Table Fare Known for beautiful fresh produce, Los Cabos has a thriving agricultural industry and growing farm-to-table offerings. In the foothills of the Sierra de la Laguna Mountains, you'll find three beautiful destinations for eating, exploring and playing. Well-known Flora Farms is a 25-acre farm with largely hand grown ingredients, and is a wonderful place to visit for a cooking class. Their neighbour down the road, Acre, also offers boutique accommodation and a globally inspired menu using their freshly farmed produce. Finally, Los Tamarindos is a glorious outdoor setting, representing a traditional Mexican hacienda. Looking out over the farm with picturesque mountain views, sip on a smoky mezcalita and enjoy the incredible tasting and shared plates toasting a gorgeous Mexican sunset. [caption id="attachment_950083" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Beautiful rustic dining at Tamarindos. Image credit: Elizabeth Tucker[/caption] Off-Road Desert and Dust Derby Get the full desert and oasis experience on an off-road adventure like you've never experienced before. Wear your darkest clothes (because they're bound to get dirty) as you hop aboard a an ATV designed to hoon through muddy terrain and dusty dirt trails in the Sierra de la Laguna UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Encounter the region's unique endemic flora and fauna, gaining insight into its ecological significance. And once you've worked up an appetite, sit back and much on an amazing local ranch lunch, savouring authentic flavours and tranquil surroundings. This is another of Cabo Adventures' amazing offerings and one not to miss. For places to stay, there are endless resort and boutique offerings to suit your tastes. To find exactly what you're looking for, Los Cabos Tourism has a perfectly curated selection of accommodation for all travel tastes and styles. Concrete Playground travelled as a guest of Visit Los Cabos. Top Image: Jules Clark via Pexels.
In real life, technology is bound to keep bringing out the worst in people, or vice versa, in 2024. If you want to see Charlie Brooker's take on how humanity's use of gadgets and innovations can go nightmarishly wrong, however, you'll need to wait until 2025. That's when Black Mirror will return for its seventh season, two years after 2023's sixth season. Given that there was a four-year gap after season five, that's positively speedy. Season seven's batch of Black Mirror episodes will also be bigger than the past two seasons, serving up six instalments — which only season three and four have done in the past. There'll be another link to season four, too, with one chapter in the seventh season set to be a sequel to its Star Trek-riffing USS Callister episode. Netflix confirmed Black Mirror's 2025 comeback, number of instalments and return dive into USS Callister's realm as part of the platform's unveiling of what's next set to hit its catalogue from the UK. If you're after more details about Brooker's huge hit, though, that's all there is for now. Cast members, other storylines, if any cast members from USS Callister — which featured Jesse Plemons (Love & Death), Cristin Milioti (The Resort), Jimmi Simpson (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia), Michaela Coel (Mr & Mrs Smith) and Billy Magnussen (Lift) — will be back: that's all still unknown, as is whether Brooker took any inspiration from his headline speaker gig at the first-ever SXSW Sydney in 2023. Still, you can start preparing yourself for next year's dose of dystopian dread, and speculating about what might get the Black Mirror treatment this time. The show's sixth season pondered streaming algorithms with Salma Hayek Pinault (Magic Mike's Last Dance) and Annie Murphy (Kevin Can F**k Himself), true crime with Samuel Blenkin (The Witcher: Blood Origin) and Myha'la Herrold (Bodies Bodies Bodies), and an alternative 1969 with Aaron Paul (Westworld), Josh Hartnett (Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre) and Kate Mara (Call Jane). Also on its list: a paparazzi tale with Zazie Beetz (Atlanta), Clara Rugaard (I Am Mother) and Danny Ramirez (Stars at Noon) — and the first Red Mirror episode, going full horror, with Anjana Vasan (Killing Eve), Paapa Essiedu (Men), Katherine Rose Morley (The Syndicate) and David Shields (Benediction). Season seven has an announcement video, which you can watch below, alongside the trailer for USS Callister: Black Mirror season seven will stream via Netflix sometime in 2025, but doesn't yet have an exact release date — we'll update you when one is announced. Read our review of season six, and our interview with Charlie Brooker. Images: Netflix.
It's a tradition we all know well: go to IKEA with the intention of picking up some new water glasses, spend two hours wandering the labyrinth and filling a basket with tea light candles (you can never have too many), bath rugs (so soft!) and plants (you'll keep this one alive, promise), then sit down for a plate of delicious meatballs and mash. During COVID-19, IKEA has had to temporarily shut its in-store restaurants, in line with the government's closure of non-essential indoor venues. But, so you can get your fix at home, it has just released the recipe to its blessed meatballs. The Swedish flatpack experts are also now offering contactless delivery (in Australia) and have a podcast that reads through the IKEA catalogue, so you can really relive your time strolling through its endless corridors. But, we'll skip the smalltalk and get straight to what you're all looking for: the recipe. IKEA'S MEATBALLS Serves four 500 grams beef mince 250 grams pork mince 1 onion, finely chopped 1 clove garlic (crushed or minced) 100 grams breadcrumbs 1 egg 5 tablespoons of milk Salt and pepper to taste For the cream sauce Dash of oil 40 grams butter 40 grams plain flour 150 millilitres vegetable stock 150 millilitres beef stock 150 millilitres thick double cream 2 teaspoons soy sauce 1 teaspoon dijon mustard To make the meatballs Combine beef and pork mince and mix with your fingers to break up any lumps. Add finely chopped onion, garlic, breadcrumbs and egg and mix. Add milk and season well with salt and pepper. Shape mixture into small, round balls. Place on a clean plate, cover and store in the fridge for two hours (this will help them hold their shape while cooking). In a frying pan, heat oil on medium heat. When hot, gently add your meatballs and brown on all sides. Add to an overproof dish and cover with aluminium. Place in a hot oven (180°C conventional or 160°C fan) and cook for a further 30 minutes. To make the cream sauce Melt butter in a frying pan. Whisk in flour, stirring continuously for two minutes. Stir in vegetable and beef stock. Stir in double cream, soy sauce and dijon mustard. Bring to a simmer and allow sauce to thicken. Serve with your favourite potatoes — either creamy mash or mini new boiled potatoes.
When Australia has just thrown one of the world's biggest LGBTQIA+ parties, what comes next? Incorporating hits from 2023's Sydney WorldPride into 2024's Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. For everyone who loved revelling on the sand at the fest's Bondi Beach Party, we come bearing excellent news: it'll be back next year for 15,000 attendees. Mardi Gras' full 2024 lineup spans 100-plus events across the Harbour City, taking place from Friday, February 16–Sunday, March 3. While 2023's iteration marked the 45th anniversary, don't go thinking that turning 46 isn't being taken just as seriously — all around the theme "our future". "For 45 years, the energy, vibrancy, and unity of Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras has made it a globally significant event. And each year, our commitment to bringing forth an even more fabulous celebration grows," said Sydney Mardi Gras CEO Gil Beckwith. "In 2024, we embrace our roots and look forward with eager anticipation to our future. Our mission is clear: to echo the voices of our communities, to champion progress and instigate impactful change." "Beyond the individual events, and there are many, the 2024 festival underscores our commitment to inclusivity, unity and remembrance. The 2024 festival celebrates our past, our present and most crucially, the promising future we're building. Here's to another unforgettable Sydney Mardi Gras," continued Beckwith. As well as the return of Bondi Beach Party, Mardi Gras will also give Sydney WorldPride's Ultra Violet a second run, celebrating LGBTQIA+ women in an event that takes place as day turns to night at the National Art School. Similarly huge: a one-night-only special performance of musical & Juliet, which will occur just days after the production arrives for its Sydney season. Also on the lineup: the Welcome to Country via citywide event Festival First Light; floating venue Glass Island hosting trans and gender-diverse celebration Hot Trans Summer; and Diamond Dance, which will mark Pollys Club's 60th year. Or, there's talks and ideas series Queer Futures, the Marks Park Dawn Sunrise Service of Reflection to honour 70s- and 90s-era victims of homophobic and transphobic violence, two-week fringe fest Oxtravaganza in Darlinghurst and the boozy Darlo Big Drag Brunch. Yes, the parade is back — so mark Saturday, March 2 in your diary and prepare for a big night with 200-plus floats on Oxford Street. Plus, Mardi Gras' premium parade viewing areas will feature again to help the hundreds of thousands of folks heading along get a prime view of the 12,000-plus marchers. Throw in the also-returning Mardi Gras Film Festival, Progress Pride Flag Raising, Fair Day, Paradiso Pool Party, Kaftana Pool Party, Laugh Out Proud and Sissy Ball — and Queer Art After Hours as well — and Sydney will be jam-packed with things to do and ways to celebrate, as it is during every Mardi Gras. Other highlights include a dance party at ivy Pool Club, SEA LIFE Aquarium hosting drag storytime and a queer formal, with more events still to be announced as Mardi Gras gets closer. Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras 2024 will run from Friday, February 16–Sunday, March 3, 2024. For more information, or for tickets, head to the event's website. Select images: Jeffrey Feng Photography, Lexy Potts
If you've had enough of watching countless friends flaunt their European summer adventures on social media, or you've just returned from your own Italian sojourn and haven't quite accepted it yet, Parlour Cucina might have the cure. The QT Sydney's ground floor resident is kicking off a weekly aperitivo hour, aiming to capture the free-spirited essence of Italy with live jazz music and authentic drinks for the occasion. Each Friday, from 5–7pm, you can enjoy a shot of house-made limoncello on arrival and graze on a selection of complimentary Italian nibbles from Executive Chef Michael Box. That's mini arancini, pecorino, hand-cut salami, mini calzone and olives — on the house. If you haven't been down to the newly refreshed Parlour Cucina, this might be the perfect chance to check out the low-lit, elegant deco restaurant and savour some of the traditional Italian fare on offer. There's an extensive wine list catering to any preference, with glasses starting at $9 and bottles capping out at $160, so the vibes can continue well after the limoncello has been sipped.
Australia's answer to South by Southwest, the biggest music industry gathering in the southern hemisphere descends once again on Fortitude Valley — BIGSOUND. Music business meets pleasure in a boastful lineup of top notch industry speakers and next level ones-to-watch artists performing in various locations across Brisbane’s biggest cultural precinct. Delegates will flock en masse to daytime conferences to tune in about the state of our national music scene — how to succeed in the exciting realm of music management and performing, and how to best support and promote Australian artists who are proving a success on local and international stages. Triple j’s Richard Kingsmill, ARIA-winning, platinum-selling artist Megan Washington, the legendary Neil Finn of Crowded House fame and Peter Noble, the brains behind Bluesfest are just a drop in the bucket of pure steeze dishing out their insider industry knowledge in the conference component of BIGSOUND. After dark, artists will take over stages in and around Fortitude Valley for two epic nights of loud and proud performances. With a solid lineup of official and unofficial parties, gigs and showcases scheduled, the choices of how to spend your two nights in this double-header of a festival are pretty limitless. Catch the likes of Deep Sea Arcade, Kingswood, Avaberée, Thelma Plum, Holy Holy and a sizeable avalanche more, all you need is your golden ticket (otherwise known as a wristband of awesomeness) to take your pick. The go-to happening for Australian music fans and industry leaders alike, BIGSOUND is your ticket to big gigs, big rubbing shoulders ops and even bigger ideas. Check out the full BIGSOUND program of panels, events and gigs right here. If you're strapped for time or slightly unorganised, we've counted down the ten artists you must see at BIGSOUND over here.
What is personal style? For many of us, it's about the clothes we wear or the accessories we pick — the impression we give of ourselves when heading out the front door each day. But for many creatives, it's about all that alongside the personal artistic expression they reveal to the world through their work. This concept has been captured by Danish jewellery design house Georg Jensen in its new campaign Art of Style, giving insight into how some of our favourite creative personalities let their style trickle into their artistic process — and vice versa. One such featured personality is Australian artist Amanda Shadforth, who revealed in a video for the campaign that she unleashes her creativity both in her art studio and through her chosen jewellery. She even created a bespoke art piece inspired by the retailer's collection. The two go hand-in-hand — similar to Georg Jensen's core design values, Shadorth's style is classic and understated, and her artistic inspiration comes from nature. In collaboration with Georg Jensen, we've delved deeper into some of the key characteristics of Shadorth's style and handpicked some of our favourite pieces from the Offspring, Mercy, Reflect and Curve collections that work together to reflect it. EMBRACE THE IMPERFECT Any fan of Shadforth's work knows she has an eye for organic shapes drawn from nature — her bespoke art piece for Georg Jensen does away with traditional fine art techniques and digital influences. Shadforth says that's one of the main things that draws her to the design house: the perfectly imperfect, organic shapes that feel like they're a natural expression of the human body. "Some of the pieces actually feel like they could have been part of nature once," says Shadforth. If you're also a fan of wearing pieces that reflect the calm dynamism of nature, opt for Georg Jensen's Mercy collection. This range, by acclaimed American designer Jacqueline Rabun, uses sterling silver and 18k gold to create unique pieces reflecting the shifting sculptural forms of nature and the human experience. Our pick: The Mercy Double Ring in sterling silver. This piece at first gives the appearance of two rings, but on closer inspection reveals itself to be one continuous, flowing shape. The curve of this double ring almost appears like ocean waves or the essence of time, captured on the wearer's fingers. RRP: $475 Pair it with: The Mercy Earrings in 18k yellow gold Another Rabun design, these striking earrings are made from one organic flowing shape, twisting through the ear hole and hugging the lobe — almost acting as an extension of the ear. According to the designer, the strands are inspired by the twists and turns of time. RRP: $1175 DON'T BE AFRAID TO MIX AND MATCH Shadforth reveales she uses everything from giant stainless steel trowels to tiny delicate brushes to create depth and texture in her artworks — she even makes her own equipment when she needs a particular way of applying paint. Her affinity for mixing and matching is echoed in her favourite pieces from Georg Jensen's collections, where style 'rules' are made to be broken. If you've previously considered yourself a solely silver or gold girlie, change things up and create a fresh, contemporary look by mixing metals, stacking and layering pieces from different collections — perhaps a mix of delicate understated pieces and striking standouts. The classic chain designs seen in Rabun's new Reflect collection for Georg Jensen can be paired with her larger statement forms of the egg-shaped Offspring collection, or Regitze Overgaard's bold and sculptural Curve bangles, earrings, pendants and rings. Our pick: The Large Offspring Ring in sterling silver: an eye-catching conversation starter in the Offpsiring collection's signature oval shape, this chunky piece lends itself perfectly to stacking with more delicate shapes and offsetting with different metals. RRP: $345 Pair it with: The Medium Curve Bangle in 18k yellow gold and sterling silver. The line dividing the gold and silver in this statement bangle contrasts with its soft, organic shape — and proves that any outdated rules you might have about mixing gold and silver can be nixed. Instead, combining different metals creates a look as individual (and striking, of course) as the wearer. RRP: $7700 PAIR FEMININE AND MASCULINE STYLES Again showing that mixing and matching is key, Shadforth describes her style as a paradox between masculine and feminine. She has a "tomboyish" tendency to gravitate towards trousers and blazers, which she pairs with classic, understated pieces. Jewellery is an effective way to achieve such a mix — since the dawn of civilisation, it's been used as a tool by both sexes to embellish and stand out. Achieve it yourself by taking classically unisex shapes like the chains and striking rings from Georg Jensen's Reflect collection and pair them with the feminine shapes celebrated in the Curve collection or the egg-shaped Offspring collection. Our pick: The Reflect Ring in sterling silver. Designed by Rabun and formed by two ends of a piece of sterling silver wrapped around each other, this striking unisex ring can be a bold statement piece or used to stack with other forms. RRP:$375 Pair it with: The Offspring Bangle in sterling silver. Delicate silver bangles are, of course, always in vogue, but this one adds a modern, feminine twist on a classic shape thanks to its wave-like curve. Combine it with the Reflect Ring for a contemporary mix of thick and thin metals. RRP:$475 SHE'S SO GOLDEN There's no doubt that chunky gold jewellery is having a moment — but loyal fans of this glittering shade know that it never really goes out of style. Shadforth opts for gold in both her artistic and fashion expressions — her art piece in collaboration with Georg Jensen uses a thick application of dark ochre, amber and gold tones that give the piece real warmth. And you only have to take a look at some of Shadorth's other stunning works to know it's a theme that carries through much of her oeuvre. If you're keen to give gold a go, opt for timeless pieces in yellow gold that can be easily stacked with other metals and shapes. Our pick: The Mercy Earrings in 18k yellow gold with diamonds — because when is that combination ever not fabulous? Inspired by the passage of time, these delicate twisted hoops manage to be both classic and contemporary — and can be passed down through generations. RRP: $3350 We'd pair them with: The Large Reflect Bracelet in 18k gold. The classic link bracelet has been given a modern and luxurious makeover with this Rabun-designed gold chain piece. With a bit more 'tude than other chain bracelets tanks to its interlocking links, it definitely doesn't come cheap, but again is timeless enough to be passed down from mother to daughter over many years. RRP: $14,000 Feeling inspired? You too can express your own art of style through Georg Jensen's Mercy, Reflect, Curve and Offspring collections — the pieces are designed to be layered and stacked together, across collections and combined with different metals. For more information, head to the website.
The sleepy western suburbs of Sydney may not seem like the most obvious place to drop a multi-million dollar food court. But it's certainly one of the smartest. Catering to the area's growing population (and large number of residents with southeast Asian backgrounds), Cabra-Vale Diggers — which straddles the border of Canley Vale and Cabramatta — has just completed a gigantic expansion of their premises, including a 600-seat food precinct, named District 8. After eight months of construction, the club has turned 2000 square metres of space into an all-day diner, which is open from 9am till late every day of the week. As the name suggests, District 8 will have eight food offerings, and vendors have been organised in a way that feels like a culinary voyage through the countries of the Mekong River. You'll be able to get everything from dumplings, congee, noodles and baked goods, to jellyfish salad, poached Hainan chicken, beef massaman curry and crispy silver fish green mango salad. There will also be a dessert area and a bar. The food precinct's design is an architectural marvel to behold. Over 5000 pieces of red timber hang from the ceiling and 2000 roof tiles were imported from China to give the ultra-modern space an authentic Asian feel. If that doesn't work for you, then maybe the 266 Maneki Neko that were imported from China to form a huge 'waving arm cat' wall will. "We have created 'streets' and walkways throughout the scheme, surrounded by columns, plants and Hong Kong-style illuminated signage to really give that feeling of being outdoors," says Tina Fox, project manager of Altis Architects, who painstakingly designed nine mock-ups before completing the project, two of them to scale. "There is some logic behind District 8, as some Asian countries are divided into districts," says Boris Belevski, CEO of Cabra-Vale Diggers. "Not only does the number eight imply good fortune, but there will be eight vendors." District 8 is part two of an $18 million four-stage renovation to the food offerings at the Diggers. A restaurant and cafe have already opened on the premises, with a steakhouse and a dining room for the venue's new hotel the next stages to be completed. Cabra-Vale Diggers and District 8 is now open daily from 9am till late at 1 Bartley Street, Canley Vale. For more information, visit cabravale.com.au.
In need of a foolproof cure for those Monday blues? Make your way over to Cleveland street favourite 505 for an evening of jazz and board games. This artist-run spot has something going on pretty much every night of the week but we're especially big fans of the Monday jazz and boardgame sessions. The in-house game selection is big enough to include childhood classics and new favourites, and your game-playing will be accompanied by smooth sounds by supremely-talented musicians from Australia and abroad. Throw in a few snacks from the Italianesque menu and a couple of craft beers, and Mondays might just become one of your favourite days of the week.
When Sydneysiders want to spend a day carving up the snow, they usually have to jump in a car for at least five hours and head to one of NSW's ski resorts. But, in a few years, it might be as easy as jumping on a train to Penrith, thanks to a new $200-million indoor Winter Sports World that's been proposed for the city. Set to be built in Jamisontown on the corner of Jamison Road and Tench Avenue, the centre will include a 300-metre indoor ski slope, ice skating rink, and both ice and rock climbing facilities. If executed to plan, the proposal claims the ski slope will be one of the top ten high-performance training centres in the world. A food and drink precinct featuring bars, restaurants and cafes, and a 170-room hotel have also been included in the proposal. The development, which is currently open for public feedback, is part of the Penrith City Council's plan to double visitors and tourism revenue in the area by 2025. If it goes ahead, the development is expected to contribute $74.9 million to the NSW economy each year. Once built, the facility is hoped to provide a boost to Australia's Winter Olympians and their training. The Winter Olympics haven't traditionally been one of Australia's sporting strong suits — the national team first competed in 1936 and didn't win its first medal until 1994. The proposal has been in the works since November 2018 and is currently up for Public Exhibition on the Penrith City Council website. According to the scheduled timeline, if the development is approved the planning phase will be complete by July 2021, making way for the start of construction. If construction does kick off, it certainly won't be the only building happening in Western Sydney. Parramatta Square dining precinct is almost complete, and Badgerys Creek will soon be home to Sydney's next major airport. You can review the winter sports facility proposal and give feedback on the Penrith City Council website up until 4pm on Friday, November 6.
2025 marks once, not twice, but three times in a row now that winter in Melbourne is being bookended by major arts festivals. RISING kicks off the cooler weather, then Now or Never helps farewell the frostier temperatures. As the former was as well, the latter is back in a big way this year, whether you're keen to witness one of the city's key spaces undergo a spectacular transformation just for the fest, fill 11 days and nights with live tunes, hear more about astronauts and astronomy, see where the lines between cinema and real-time performances blur, or celebrate queer Black excellence. Now or Never packs its lineup with arts, ideas, sound and technology events. From Thursday, August 21–Sunday, August 31 around Melbourne, 2025's fest features more than 140 free and ticketed sessions, which are the products of 285-plus local and international artists. Whatever else you head to, making a date with the Royal Exhibition Building — the venue that hosted its first large-scale live music performances in over 20 years at 2023's debut Now or Never — is a must, however, if you want to step inside a pink bubble. Free, running for the first four days of 2025's festival, and both an Australian premiere and a Melbourne exclusive, MATRIA looks set to prove quite the stunner. The installation's aim: to turn the Royal Exhibition Building, its temporary home, into a womb-like space via a recycled pink inflatable. Courtesy of Barcelona-based collective Penique Productions, translucent membrane will wrap around the venue's wooden interior skeleton — and breathe. The accompanying soundtrack, complete with a solo vocalist, will get it vibrating. Dancers will also help the installation's skin move and stretch, and you can expect to see futuristic art feature as well. Inside MATRIA, you'll be cocooned — and you'll also engage with more of Now or Never's program, because the site is still hosting shows and gigs within the installation. Dancer and choreographer Amber McCartney is teaming up with DJ Shapednoise on one, composer Alex Zhang Hungtai is in the spotlight on another, and rRoxymore is also doing the honours one evening. Or, get inhaling and exhaling along with MATRIA thanks to The Breath Haus and its meditation and breathwork sessions. For more music, Melbourne Town Hall will feature four nights of acts spanning Marie Davidson, DJ Python, DJ Logic1000, Young Marco and Yarra — plus Japanese visual and sound artist Ryoji Ikeda bringing ultratronics and its blend of minimalistic light and sound to Australia for the first time. Also engaging multiple senses in the same venue is Einder, a 20-metre-long light and sound installation by Dutch artist and composer Boris Acket. For one evening only, you can also feast beneath it, with Julia Busuttil Nishimura in charge of the multi-course menu. For a memorable outdoor installation, Dr Christian Thompson is on the case at the Evan Walker Bridge. Burdi Burdi (Fire Fire) is all about quiet reflection, and will be the Bidjara/Chinese Australian artist's largest such work. Hit up State Library Victoria instead and you'll spy DELIRI from the Barcelona-based Hamill Industries, a large-scale projection musing on understanding and deconstructing reality that's taking over the building's facade. Thinking about the cosmos is on the bill when Aussie astronaut Katherine Bennell-Pegg and astronomer Dr Tania Hill team up, complete with a screening of a short film commissioned by the Australian Space Agency. For more folks chatting, former Australian of the Year Tim Flannery will contemplate facing the future as the climate changes. Plus, the Charting the Future: First Nations Knowledges and Artificial Intelligence session will examine Australian innovation, not just looking at machine learning now and beyond, but also at knowledge in First Nations cultures — and neuroscientist Ariel Zeleznikow-Johnston is digging into potentially living forever. If you're all about the big screen, ACMI is presenting Rashaad Newsome's documentary Assembly, which steps behind the scenes of his installation at New York's Park Avenue Armory. With this year's Melbourne International Film Festival, it's also screening VR documentary The World Came Flooding In. Or, drop by for PARA.CINE's merging of where cinema and real-time virtual performances intersect. One world-premiere piece is giving picture palaces a zoological spin. The other boasts New York's Team Rolfes, with speeding jockeys at its centre.
It visited Melbourne in June and has just arrived in Brisbane, and now Australia's sweetest dessert museum is finally heading to Sydney. Called Sugar Republic and heading our way in early 2019, the immersive pop-up brings sugary delights to folks with a sweet tooth, boasting an array of spaces filled with all things chocolate, confectionery and dessert-oriented. While what exactly you'll find at the Sydney pop-up is still under wraps — with Sugar Republic promising, "14 brand new rooms, all new installations, plus a sweet themed cafe and candy store" — its previous Aussie iterations have included a giant gumball machine that you can climb inside, an adult-sized ballpit in bubblegum-pink hues and a dedicated fairy floss room with its own swing. It sounds like the kind of place that Willy Wonka might own. Other highlights in Melbourne and Brisbane have included a sherbet-filled rainbow bridge, a 'press for confetti' button, an interactive sprinkles wall, a neon art wall and other dessert-centric art. We're expecting Sydney to be equally OTT. Basically, if you missed out on visiting New York's Museum of Ice Cream back in 2016, this is Australia's equivalent. Typically these kind of places are designed to be as photogenic as possible, so expect plenty of pics to clog your Instagram feed. The exact Sydney location and dates haven't been released just yet, but you can expect the dessert museum to pop-up in February 2019 at a Myer store. Tickets go on sale next month, and we'll keep you updated with any new details.
