Ever tried to have a conversation about the NSW lockout laws but found yourself wanting for hard, easy facts on hand to explain it? The crew at Keep Sydney Open have created a video that spells it all out for you. Released today, the new ad features Sydney legends Joyride, Touch Sensitive and the mad skills from Entropico to lay down the lockout law for you. Highlighting some of the more dramatic stats — night time foot traffic in Kings Cross is down 84 percent, almost 50 bars, clubs and venues have shut down since the lockouts were introduced, our cultural life is being eroded, and our international reputation is on the slide — the video is aimed at explaining the impact the NSW Goverment's lockout laws have had on Sydney with the obvious intent of going viral. "If you wanted to reduce shoplifting, would you lock up the doors of your shop and hide all the stock in the cellar?" says Joyride in the video. "The overwhelming majority of Sydneysiders can have a good time without anyone getting hurt. Going out to see a band, dance in a club, or just have a few drinks amongst friends shouldn't be a crime, in fact, that's what's made Sydney such a great place to live. Other cities around the world have found solutions that tackle the actual problem." Watch the video here, it's already up to 16K views: Keep Sydney OpenIt's simple really: let's tackle the real problems and build a great city at the same time.Thanks to Entropico for coming up with this, Joyride for lending his pipes and Touch Sensitive for being a synth-lord. Posted by Keep Sydney Open on Wednesday, March 2, 2016 Keep Sydney Open are having fundraisers tonight at three Sydney venues. Info over here. Image: Kimberley Low.
Even if plans for a globe-trotting overseas holiday aren't in the cards for you this year, there's an easy fix for your travel blues, and it's located just three hours south of Sydney in the picturesque South Coast region of Shoalhaven. With white sandy beaches and a breezy pace of life, this coastal stretch makes for a dream getaway destination, whenever you need a timeout from big city living. And it's brimming with beautiful stays located by the water, befitting your next, much-deserved break. We've done the hard work for you and rounded up 12 of the most blissful coastal escapes you can book in Shoalhaven. Choose a winner, pack that swimsuit and get set for a hard-earned beachside getaway. Recommended reads: The Best Places to Go Glamping in NSW The Best Tiny Houses You Can Book Around NSW The Best Hotels in Sydney The Best Places to Stay in the Blue Mountains Bayview Magnificent, Mollymook Beach This cheery coastal getaway boasts its own backyard pool and space for the whole gang. Plus, a top-notch deck, overlooking North Mollymook Beach. From $270 a night, sleeps 12. Escape at Shady Acres, Narrawallee Soak up the serenity at this self-contained coastal retreat, featuring thoughtful modern touches, private sunny backyard and a primo location close to Narrawallee Beach. From $446 a night, sleeps eight. Drop In, Bendalong Break from reality with a stay at this gorgeously updated 50s beach cottage, rocking a suite of luxurious features, plus firepit and outdoor tub. From $392 a night, sleeps two. Banniester Head Cottage, Mollymook Beach A breezy modern cottage, boasting absolute ocean frontage. Unwind in style, with luxe furnishings, epic views and an in-ground pool overlooking the water. From $750 a night, sleeps four. Atra, Callala Beach This is the kind of stunning beachfront home you'll never want to leave. Enjoy luxurious, group-friendly spaces, dedicated media room and private beach access. From $1553 a night, sleeps 12. Barefoot, Callala Beach A luxe, modern riff on the classic beach house, with open-plan living spaces spilling right out onto private lawn and sandy shoreline. From $900 a night, sleeps four. Izba, Callala Bay Revel in your own Mediterranean-inspired paradise right on Callala Bay. This one's a lofty pad with dreamy outlook, luxury features and absolute water frontage. From $867 a night, sleeps nine. Gorgeous Beachside Cottage, Vincentia With its stylish fit-out and peaceful setting amongst sandy shoreline and natural bushland, this beachside bungalow makes for an idyllic couples' coast escape. From $229 a night, sleeps two. Cloud Nine Luxury Villa, Vincentia This architectural stunner boasts an incredible outlook over Jervis Bay, with luxurious interiors to match. Expect high-end features and a stunning deck for soaking up those views. From $690 a night, sleeps six. The River Retreat, Sussex Inlet A pet-friendly holiday paradise, set right on the river's edge. This one's got a breezy indoor-outdoor set-up with sunny waterfront lawn and its own private jetty. From $632 a night, sleeps six. The Old Bottleshop, Currarong If you're after irresistible ocean views, direct beach access and a bright, modern pad to unwind in, this is it. Pool table and roomy verandahs, included. From $814 a night, sleeps eight. Prince Edward Escape, Culburra Beach Metres from the sand, with newly renovated interiors, an enviable outdoor set-up and a separate studio apartment, this chic coastal cottage is a summer holiday dream. From $665 a night, sleeps eight. Top image: Atra FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
It might just be Australia's brightest festival, and it's returning to light up Alice Springs once again. That'd be Parrtjima - A Festival In Light, which delivers its fourth and most expansive annual program so far between Friday, April 5 to Sunday, April 14 — a shift from the event's previous timeslot, moving from spring to autumn. The nation's first indigenous festival of its kind, Parrtjima announced its shift of dates earlier this year, as well as its continued focus on dazzling light installations. Now, the free ten-day public celebration of Indigenous arts, culture and storytelling has started to reveal its lineup. In 2019, as well as a closing night performance by Baker Boy, the festival will feature seven luminous displays gracing both Alice Springs Desert Park Precinct and Alice Springs Todd Mall. While Alice Spring's CBD will light up with new installations and events, just out of town, tourism and conservation facility Alice Springs Desert Park will also come alive with the festival's main attraction. Once again, a huge artwork will transform a 2.5-kilometre stretch of the majestic MacDonnell Ranges, showering it with light from 6.30–10.30pm each night of the festival — and featuring an audio track voiced by Aussie acting legend Aaron Pedersen. Visitors will also be able to immerse themselves in art and storytelling as part of the returning Ahelhe Itethe – Living Sands (Grounded), where installations are projected onto the earth accompanied by a striking soundscape. While Parrtjima's returning slate is strong, new additions to this year's lineup include an illuminated tunnel that'll greet attendees as they enter the festival space, called Angkentye Anpernirrentye-kerte – The Language of Kin; an array of over-sized sculptures that'll relay the social history of First Nations station workers and their language of the land, dubbed Angkentye Stockmen Mape-kenhe – The Language of Stockmen; and a series of sculptured large-scale moths, badged The Language of Moths, which'll brighten up Todd Mall. There'll also be a huge maze for kids and a set-up of three bush taxis displaying works by First Nations artists. As 2019 is the UN's Year of Indigenous Languages, the festival will also have a linguistic edge — as many of the light installations' names make plain. With a theme of 'Language Expressions', the full program will feature many talks and workshops focused on Central Australia's many Indigenous languages, with details to be announced in the coming weeks. Also on the bill is jam-packed program of dance, music, workshops and talks, sharing stories and celebrating First Nations' culture. It's a nice supplement to the area's Field of Light installation, which has been extended until 2020. Parrtjima – A Festival in Light runs from April 5–14, 2019 around Alice Springs in the Northern Territory. For more information, visit the festival website. Images: James Horan.
If Gelato Messina's cult following in Sydney wasn't already at boiling point, the dessert lords just took things to a whole new level with the launch of an expansive headquarters in the heart of Marrickville. The flagship Inner West store works as a kind of Wonka-esque one-stop shop for all things Messina. Two years in the making, the Marrickville HQ is now officially open on the corner of Victoria Road and Rich Street, directly next to the Factory Theatre. And with this impressive addition to the Messina family, the team has gone all-out. There are 40 gelato flavours on offer — 35 signature flavours and a rotating selection of limited-edition varieties. Alongside the classic scoops, you'll find eight styles of gelato cakes, thickshakes, farm-fresh Jersey milk and an entire wall stocked with merch. A new range of take-home desserts is also on the menu at Messina HQ. Why not forgo the Woolies mud cake for your next birthday and opt for a Bavarian cream pie — with Iced Vovo, malt chocolate, lemon meringue and tiramisu flavours all available. There's take-home cookie dough here, and nostalgic cookie pies that can be ordered in the flavours fairy bread, peanut butter and dulce, OG choc chip or Messinatella. If all of this wasn't enough, the headquarters also functions as a chocolate shop with a range of Messina-made bars and blocks created using single-original cocoa and cocoa butter from Ecuador and Peru. Before you head off with your arms piled high with next-level desserts, you can also take a look at the production facility which is encased in floor-to-ceiling glass. This peak behind the curtain gives you a glance at the process behind all of the one-of-a-kind flavours and sugary creations that the Messina team ships off to its stores around Sydney and Australia. To celebrate the opening, Ricos Tacos is popping up in the carpark this weekend from 5pm on Friday, April 14 and midday on Saturday, April 15 to sling its beloved Mexican street eats, and the first 50 customers into the store on each of these days will be given a Messina goody bag. Gelato Messina's Marrickville HQ is now open at 1–9 Rich Street, Marrickville. It's open 12pm–late Monday–Sunday.
All hail the new kid on the block — Chaotic Social is here to shake things up. If your current adult life has begun to feel monotonous, uneventful or (dare I say) lonely — or if it has simply been lacklustre for some time now — here's your chance to change that. As the name suggests, this social club aims to add some creative flare and organised fun to your current schedule. Founded by Sydney's former 'Sausage Queen', Chrissy Flanagan, the vibrant organisation hopes to not only forge new friendships between attendees, but also to spruce up social calendars everywhere. Previously the co-owner of The Sausage Factory restaurant and the Queens Of Chaos brewery, Chrissy has taken to this new venture which was birthed from her personal frustrations with the difficulty of forming new friendships as an adult. "It's often said Sydney is a particularly tricky place to make friends as an adult," Chrissy said. "If you miss out on doing any of the big four — high school, uni, work, kids — locally or at all, it's hard to bridge the gap, leaving many of us lonelier than we would like." She continues: "As adults, we're embarrassed or too self-conscious to use modern tools such as friend networking apps to solve this problem. Chaotic Social is seeking to bridge that gap, in the form of classes and panels on weird crafts, mad skills and naked ambition, where you're encouraged to roll solo and go home with a few new mates in your phone." At its core, Chaotic Social aims to solve the struggle of making new friends in adulthood by hosting a bunch of fun events in a safe space. From creepy doll-making classes and 'speed mating' parties to sausage classes (naturally) and an online book club, you'll find activities that, at the very least, pique your interest. Head over to Petersham and you'll be greeted with the bold neon sign out front, before entering a room completely enveloped by orange. Whether you choose to hit up the event of your choice solo or in a group, you are guaranteed a good time — and your future self will thank you for it. Do keep in mind that participation in activities is not optional — no spectators! So if you're planning to attend, be prepared to get involved. You can find Chaotic Social at 256 Stanmore Road, Petersham. If you're keen to head in and check it out, take your pick from the social club's upcoming events at their events page.
Just over an hour outside Sydney, this sunshine-soaked venue sits on the gorgeous shores of Terrigal Beach. Meribella is a lavish restaurant boasting a produce-driven menu with Mediterranean influences and a Head Chef with Michelin star cred. Situated on the first floor of the Crowne Plaza Terrigal Pacific, Meribella revamps the classics by drawing inspiration from two key concepts: old-world European architecture and its primetime seaside surroundings. The sunlight-filled space is adorned with breezy, coastal tones, restored marble and luxuriously high ceilings to really show off those views. Head Chef Joshua Mason heads the kitchen, using Michelin star cred gained at his time at acclaimed international restaurants like San Francisco's Atelier Crenn to craft a seasonally-inspired offering. When dining in, you'll want to ensure you've got the barbecued scallops topped with crispy chicken skin, aged duck with beetroot and blackberry and caviar and gold leaf tart on your must-try list. Other menu highlights include the creamy Balmain Bug linguine and the decadent chocolate crémeux cake accompanied by hazelnut and cherries, which pair beautifully with the restaurant's extensive wine list. The venue is open for dinner throughout the week, with an additional lunch option on Fridays and Sundays. If you're looking for upscale dining for a special occasion or are simply ready to splash your cash on a memorable dining experience, this sophisticated Central Coast gem is worth the trip.
Catharsis is crucial in filmmaking, as Jon Favreau (Iron Man) clearly knows. The writer, director and star emerges from big-budget cinema to return to the smaller side of Hollywood, seemingly purging his demons and addressing his disappointments in the process. In Chef, Carl Casper (Favreau) has toiled from humble beginnings to become Los Angeles' premier culinary artist, but a decade working for a profit-focused restaurateur (Dustin Hoffman) sees his menus branded safe, not daring. A scathing review by a prominent food blogger (Oliver Platt) calls out his creative malaise, swirling into a storm of negative press and social media that ushers him out of a job. At first, Carl resists the encouragement of his ex-wife (Sofia Vergara) to start his own food van. Soon, he's rediscovering his passion for cooking and reconnecting with his ten-year-old son, Percy (Emjay Anthony), in a road trip across the continent. https://youtube.com/watch?v=PZ6e51-ie7w Favreau's offering proves appetising in the undemanding manner of the food trucks it covets — and repeatedly invites the comparison. Fine ingredients abound, including finessed visuals of enticing meals on par with the best food-centric efforts; however, poise and polish are swapped for a handmade feel and celebratory outcome. Chef (Film © Sous Chef, LLC. All Rights Reserved) is out on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital with Ultraviolet on September 4, and thanks to Universal Sony Pictures Home Entertainment and the release of Chef, you could win one of two Bodum EILEEN coffee press pack to deck out your kitchen. Included are: 1x Bodum 8 Cup Coffee Press 2x Bodum Pavina Glasses 1x Bodum Travel Press 1x Bodum Battery Operated Milk Frother 1x Bodum Vacum Travel Press 1x copy of Chef on DVD In addition, ten runners up will get copies of the Chef DVD. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter (if you haven't already), then email us with your name and address. Read our full review of the movie here. Sydney: win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.au Melbourne: win.melbourne@concreteplayground.com.au Brisbane: win.brisbane@concreteplayground.com.au
Victoria's Grampians National Park has long been home to world-class hiking trails, but it's just scored a giant new one that's a whole trip in itself. Start stretching, hikers, because this is a big one — a 160-kilometre trail that takes 13 days to traverse, in fact. Originally set to be completed in 2020, but finally officially opening to the public on Saturday, November 12 — just in time for summer, handily — the Grampians Peaks Trail connects some of the Grampians' best mountain peaks. If you start at Mount Zero in the north and start heading southwards, you'll pass over the summit of Gar (Mount Difficult), and then hit Halls Gap. You'll also mosey through and past Redman Bluff, Mount William, Major Mitchell Plateau, Signal Peak, Mount Abrupt and Mount Sturgeon en route to Dunkeld, spying panoramic views of the southern volcanic plains along the way, and winding through the park's low-lying greenery and waterfalls, too. Eleven hike-in campgrounds are situated along the trail, complete with raised tent pads and communal shelters, plus small huts at two sites. That said, the entire track has been designed so that everyone can get some use out of it — whether you're looking for a leisurely day trip or an overnight hike, or you're ready to commit to an epic two-week adventure. Gariwerd — as it's known by the land's Traditional Owners, the Jardwadjali and Djab Wurrung peoples — is more than just its rugged, sandstone mountains. The park is heritage-listed for its Indigenous significance, including its ancient rock art paintings and shelters, as well as for its abundance of animal and plant life, plus its damn spectacular views. For the new trail, Barengi Gadjin Land Council, Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation and Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation all worked with Parks Victoria to guide the path's route — and to also have input into visitor information and stories, in order to help promote awareness of and respect for the cultural landscape. If you're now raring to get started, there are one-day treks at Mount Stapylton, the lower waterfalls of Gar (Mount Difficult), the Lake Wartook lookout, Signal Peak and from Lake Wartook lookout to Halls Gap. Overnight treks come with stopovers at either the Barigar and Bugiga campgrounds, while suggested three-day itineraries span Gar and Werdug, Bugiga and Barri Yalug, Duwul and Durd Durd, Yarram and Wannon, and Djardji-djawara and Mud-dadjug. Grampians Peaks Trail was funded via a $33.2 million project, including $23.2 million from the Victorian Government and $10 million from the Commonwealth Government via Horsham Rural City Council. The Victorian Government has also committed cash to other parts of Grampians National Park, with $7.76 million earmarked for upgrading the MacKenzie Falls visitor area, $5.8 million for Brambuk — the National Park and Cultural Centre and $5.5 million to add more access points to the trail. The Grampians Peaks Trail is now open. For further information, head to the Parks Victoria website. Images: Parks Victoria.
Most of Australia might've spent the bulk of 2020 at home, but that doesn't mean that we didn't notice the temperature. And if you were feeling rather toasty across the 12 months, there's a reason for that — with the Bureau of Meteorology revealing in its just-released Annual Climate Statement 2020 that we just lived through one of country's warmest years since records started being kept. Only three years on record were hotter than 2020, with the past 12 months ranking fourth. Australia's warmest year on record came the year prior, in 2019, while 2013 ranks second. If you're wondering what that means for temperatures in 2020, the overall averaged mean temperature for the entire country across the year sat 1.15 degree above average. In all states in 2020, as well as the Northern Territory, both the mean maximum and minimum temperatures were also higher than average. BOM reports that days were especially warm in Sydney, Hobart and Darwin, and nights were toasty in the same three cities, plus Canberra and Brisbane. Yes, we know that Australia is a sunny place, and has sweltering summers. But that warmth was also spread across the year, with January, February, April, June, August, September and November sitting in the ten warmest on record when it comes to a variety of markers — such as the mean, maximum and minimum temperatures for those months. November 2020 was also the warmest November on record, before summer even hit, while the entirety of spring earned that status as well. If you noticed that the three of the top four warmest years listed above all fell in the last decade, there's a reason for that as well. "The mean temperature for the ten years from 2011 to 2020 was the highest on record, at 0.94 degrees above average and 0.33 degrees warmer than the previous ten years," said Senior Climatologist Dr Lynette Bettio. Dr Bettio also notes that increasing temperatures is a worldwide trend. "Globally, every year from 2013 onwards has been among the ten warmest on record, with 2016 and 2019 being the hottest," she says. "2020 was among the top three" on a global scale, she advises, which happened "despite the onset of La Niña, which has a suppressing effect on global temperatures". In Australia, La Niña usually means more rainfall, cooler daytime temperatures south of the tropics and warmer overnight temperatures in the north. In terms of rain, 2020 was actually close to average, BOM says; however, the western parts of Western Australia, southeastern Queensland and western Tasmania all received below average rainfall. For more information about the Bureau of Meteorology's Annual Climate Statement 2020, head to BOM's website.
When asked to sum up what 2020 has been like so far, Cottonmouth Records owner Zach Williams is dryly understated. "'Interesting' would be the best description of this year," he says. "Everyone's alcohol intake is definitely going up though, that's for sure." Cottonmouth Records, a bar meets record store, opened its doors in Enmore, Sydney, in 2019 and quickly grew a loyal following among local vinyl lovers and imbibers. The bar had just celebrated its first birthday in March before the coronavirus struck. Like other hospitality businesses, it was forced to close its doors for a few weeks but is now operating as close to normal as possible, with Williams and his teams adjusting to the new conditions. "It's difficult, I'm not going to lie," says Williams. "I mean, we went from a 60-person capacity, and having two staff manage that, to five staff managing 25 people. On top of that, there's all of the logistics. You're making less money and at the same time you're putting out more money." [caption id="attachment_781462" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Reuben Gibbes[/caption] Despite the challenges posed by COVID-19, Williams is grateful to the community for getting behind the business. "In a year, we've amassed a lot of local support, which is fantastic, and we can't thank our locals enough for all the support they've shown in this pretty dire time. So many locals have been there supporting us, and, at the beginning, lots of people were buying records online and saying 'I don't even have a record player; I just want you guys to stay open'." This sense of community is central to Cottonmouth Records' ethos, says Williams. "It gets me a bit emotional when I think about it. We aren't in this for accolades, we aren't in this to win bar awards. I don't care about being rewarded for what we do. Our reward is people coming in and enjoying our venue. You can't put a price on that as far as I'm concerned. Just having this place and people populating it is a big enough reward for me." Customer comfort has been front and centre for Williams and his team as they adapt to the new trading environment. "We've got a hygiene marshal and a security guard on at all times. The community is our highest priority and we just want to make sure everyone feels safe," he says. "We have enough sections to be able to spread everyone out, to adhere to that 1.5-metre distancing [rule] and to give everyone a section where they feel comfortable has been fairly easy for us." [caption id="attachment_781468" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Reuben Gibbes[/caption] The COVID-19 marshal is also responsible for making sure patrons don't get too carried away when Williams gets behind the decks. "People just want to dance as soon as the music comes on," says Williams, but for now such things are not allowed. Instead, there's "lots of chair dancing". Another thing that has kept the business ticking along for Williams is Square, the contactless payment system and online store used by Cottonmouth Records. "Square was with us from day dot," says Williams. "It was a completely blank canvas where I could input every single thing I wanted and build it from the ground up. Now it's at a point where it perfectly runs itself." "It makes things so much easier for us, just being able to let the customer do their thing," he says. "They put in their payment, put in their tips and they can just do it all themselves." For Williams, another handy thing about Square is the integration between the in-store and online shop. "If I sell something on Square in store, within two seconds it's been taken off the website as sold. It's just fantastic. It's great functionality." While it may take a while for business to return to what we knew before COVID-19, Williams is grateful to be able to bring some cheer to Enmore and hopes the bar and record shop will be there for many years to come, chair-dancing or otherwise. Find out more about Square and how it's supporting small businesses in Australia, here. Images: Reuben Gibbes
UPDATE, MAY 2, 2020: The Australian Lockdown Comedy Festival has announced its full lineup and its premiere date. This article has been updated to reflect these changes. When COVID-19 started having an impact on Australian events, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival was one of the first to scrap its plans for 2020. The Brisbane Comedy Festival, which was already underway, also cancelled its final week — and in New South Wales, the Sydney Comedy Festival completely shuttered its event for this year, too. That means that the country's funniest folks now have some extra time on their hands — indoors, while social distancing, of course. And, they still have plenty of jokes to tell, which is exactly what Stan's new Australian Lockdown Comedy Festival is aiming to capitalise upon. Heading to the platform weekly from 7pm on Saturday, May 9 — dropping four episodes in total — the streaming-only laughfest will feature lockdown sets from comedians such as Wil Anderson, Cal Wilson, Nazeem Hussain, Dave Hughes and Zoe Coombs Marr, who'll all share material from their planned 2020 gigs. Also on the lineup: Tommy Little, Geraldine Hickey, Dilruk Jayasinha, Steph Tisdell, Aaron Chen, Sam Campbell, Michelle Brasier and Nath Valvo, as well as Tom Ballard, Randy Feltface, Claire Hooper, Becky Lucas, Sam Taunton, Nikki Britton, Demi Lardner and Tom Walker. Yes, it's a hefty list, and also features Lauren Bonner, Oliver Twist, Blake Freeman and Bec Charlwood. Each comedian has recorded their set from their homes, so expect jokes told in their kitchens, bedrooms, lounge rooms and even bathrooms. They've also be handled all the tech requirements themselves, such as setting up and operating their own cameras, in order to abide by social-distancing requirements. That said, they did have access to a director via video conferencing. Every Australian Lockdown Comedy Festival episode will feature at least six different comedians performing short standup comedy spots — including one MCing the episode. And if you're looking for some local laughs before the fest starts streaming, Amazon Prime Video has just dropped ten comedy specials from MICF stars, too. The Australian Lockdown Comedy Festival hits Stan weekly for four weeks from 7pm on Saturday, May 9.
Newtown's 28-seat no fuss cafe One Another has garnered quite the following since opening back in March. Its casual 'non-trendy' vibes are matched by an accessible menu that locals can't seem to get enough of — the place is packed most weekends. "We want it to be a place with quality food where everyone can find something to eat, but without slavishly following trends," says co-owner and chef Louis Spangaro-McAllan, who jokes he's cooked at over 40 cafes in Sydney. He's joined by Mitchell Antman, who has made the rounds through some of the best cafes in the city, including Fleetwood Macchiato, Cornersmith and Sample Coffee — which now supplies the coffee for One Another. The duo has been through the ringer trying to open this joint, having first shown interest in the building back in early 2016. Both owners live nearby, and saw this as an opportunity to open a quiet neighbourhood spot on the back streets of Newtown, tucked away from bustling King Street. Though the cafe's '$20-and-under' menu has received much press, it is by no means a mantra at One Another. [caption id="attachment_744215" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The breakfast burger.[/caption] "We're lucky enough to have Mr. Shane Roberts as our veg merchant, which allows us to get away with serving a vegetable-heavy menu without compromising quality, and this has kept the price point below $20 so far," says Spangaro-McAllan. "But this is by no means our mission statement and I'm sure at some point there will be dishes over $20." At the moment, that menu includes regularly changing weekend specials. Take the wild asparagus — it's pan-roasted in miso butter and tarragon oil, paired with crispy potatoes and a poached egg, then sprinkled with pretty purple chive flowers. Other specialties include the burrata with cavolo nero salsa and chickpea pangritata, and the lamb sausage with roasted dutch carrots, black barley and a poached egg. The cafe's signature hot-smoked ocean trout can become a protein accompaniment to any dish — the gents recommend adding it to the potato croquettes with charred brussels sprouts, capers and anchovy dressing. Staples that have stood the test of the cafe's (short) time include bacon and egg rolls, silken tofu rolls and smashed avo on toast, topped with granny smith apples, pickled ginger and coriander. Simple comfort dishes like the cheese and pickle sandwich also makes the cut. One Another's version is stuffed with melted maffra cheddar and swiss cheese, piled high with bread and butter pickles and schmeared in house mustard. The attractive tables, chairs and stools have been lovingly made from recycled Australian hardwood, sourced from old warehouses down the coast. "Apart from that, we used a whole bunch of cheap and nasty Ikea stuff, but you almost can't tell when it's juxtaposed against the timber," says Spangaro-McAllan. No fuss, indeed. One Another is located at 131 Wilson Street, Newtown. It's open Monday through Friday 7am–3.30pm and Saturday through Sunday 8am–3.30pm. Images: Kimberley Low.
When it comes to beautiful vistas, heart-pumping stair climbs and aquamarine beaches, this ten-kilometre walk gets top marks. If you haven't tackled the Manly to Spit (or Spit to Manly) walking trail before, prepare for winding stretches of bush, rocky headlands and unbeatable beaches, all along an easy-to-follow path. If you have, you'll know it's well worth spending half a day exploring the area. To help you make a day of it, we've partnered with Adidas to bring you seven prime pit stops along the way, starting from Manly walking towards Spit Bridge. Take a look, then plan your own adventure using the map below. [caption id="attachment_717602" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kitt Gould[/caption] ROLLERS BAKEHOUSE Before you get started, you'll want to make sure you've had a decent cup of coffee and a feed. This modern bakehouse, located just back from Manly Corso, is the ideal spot to fuel up. Wander down Rialto Lane to find buttery, house-baked croissants like the Croque, with layers of creamy bechamel, manchego, swiss cheese, wholegrain mustard and ham. Or, try the Reuben, with pastrami, swiss cheese, sauerkraut, russian dressing and cornichons. For the sweet of tooth, there's a decadent Sticky Oat Chai, filled with chai-spiked frangipane, vanilla mascarpone and rich caramel. Order a filter coffee or cappuccino made with Okay Coffee beans, so you're caffeinated and ready to head off on your walk. [caption id="attachment_801551" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kevin McGrath/DPIE[/caption] REEF BEACH Four kilometres, or an hour or so later, you may want to stop for a water break. Make Reef Beach your first pit stop for emerald waters and shade. It's worth packing your swimmers so you can take a quick dip and enjoy the stretching views back to Manly. On your way back to the track, keep your eyes peeled for wildflowers, like bright yellow and red parrot peas, fuchsia heath and sweet-smelling fluffy wattle. [caption id="attachment_801468" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Australia[/caption] ARABANOO LOOKOUT This lookout point at Dobroyd Head will easily catch your eye thanks to its panoramic views, where you can see both North and South Heads, and where Sydney Harbour turns into the Pacific Ocean. Stretch your limbs as you impress your friends with some prior knowledge, like the fact that Sydney Harbour is considered the world's deepest natural harbour, or that this lookout point is named after Arabanoo, an Aboriginal man who was captured at Manly by Governor Arthur Phillip in 1788. [caption id="attachment_801227" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW[/caption] GROTTO POINT ABORIGINAL ROCK ENGRAVINGS Less than a kilometre from Arabanoo Lookout, you'll be working up a sweat on the highest point of the climb. Take a break and seek out these rock engravings, one of Sydney Harbour National Park's most well-known historical sites. You can see a giant kangaroo, boomerangs, a whale and several small fish etched into the sandstone, each a snapshot of how the traditional owners' of the land, the Gayemagal/Cammeraygal peoples, communicated and lived in the area. You'll see signs for Grotto Point on the pathway. [caption id="attachment_801469" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Australia[/caption] CASTLE ROCK BEACH Fifteen minutes away, this beach will not only catch your eye, but also tempt you back into your swimmers. Castle Rock Beach is only accessible by foot or boat, and more often than not you'll have this sandy pocket to yourself. You're past the halfway point here, so this is a nice spot to relax before finishing your journey. Take the opportunity to get your feet wet or, if you haven't finished your croissant, reward yourself with a private picnic. [caption id="attachment_802870" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Emily Schacher[/caption] THE SANDY BEAR Stepping onto Clontarf Beach is a reward in itself, but rather than stopping off here, make tracks around to Clontarf Marina to seek out this waterfront cafe. The Sandy Bear is perched on the marina, overlooking the sparkling waters of Sandy Bay. Watch boats and yachts breeze in and out and dogs frolic in the shallow bay, all while enjoying a smoothie (choose from banana, mango or mixed berry) or an icy pole as a cooling reward for your walking efforts. CHIOSCO BY ORMEGGIO You made it! Pat yourself on the back and head over Spit Bridge to find the ideal finishing location. Alessandro Pavoni's classic Seaforth restaurant got a makeover in 2020, and its casual, seafood-focused vibe makes this waterfront trattoria a fitting reward. Opt for a takeaway serve of calamari fritti with lemony mayonnaise and Sydney rock oysters with a zesty mignonette dressing. Or, dine in and explore the full menu by young head chef Gianmarco Pardini. Dishes like tagliolino polpo e cozze (egg pasta with a red wine octopus ragout and local mussels) and risotto alla marinara e scampi (with seafood ragout, scampi and parsley) will replenish you with carbs, locally sourced seafood and, of course, plenty of flavour. In need of a new pair of runners? Take a look at the new Adidas Ultraboost 21 runners here. Launch the map below to start plotting your own running adventure in and around Sydney. Top image: Destination NSW
Sometime next year, we can expect Marty McFly and Dr. Emmett Brown to cruise in on their DeLorean, looking to save McFly’s future offspring from incarceration, according to the Back to the Future timeline. So, 26 years later, how does Robert Zemeckis’s vision of 2015 shape up? Ubiquitous cameras? Check. Video chat? Check. The explosion of plastic surgery? Check. Flying cars? They’re not exactly part of the furniture, but they're on their way. How about self-tying sneakers? Well, according to Nike designer Tinker Hatfield, their ascent to the market is set to coincide with McFly’s fantastical arrival. “Are we gonna see power laces in 2015? To that, I say YES!” he said during an appearance at Jordan Brand’s Flight Lab Space in New Orleans. On September 8, 2011, Nike unexpectedly released a limited-edition version of McFly’s high-top, named the MAG. Complete with electroluminescent strap and LED panelling, it was a striking replica. It was also Nike's first-ever rechargeable shoe, with every charge providing five hours’ worth of glow. 'Power laces' were, however, conspicuously absent. Still, that didn’t stop all 1,500 pairs of MAGs released on eBay from auctioning to the tune of US$6 million. Footwear fanatics, sci-fi fans and celebrities spent up big, with prices starting at $10,000 and ending at $90,000+. Every cent went to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for research into Parkinson's Disease. We know that Nike bought an auto-lacing patent back in 2010, but we’ve no idea how the next round of Back to the Future-inspired sneakers will look. To find out whether or not they’ll come attached to another edition of MAGs, modelled by McFly as he makes his descent, or built into an altogether new model, you’ll have to keep an eye out for the next instalment. Via SlashFilm.
Sydney lost a long-time legend of the Kings Cross nightclub scene when Hugos closed its doors back in 2015. But when locals banded together to revitalise the area's nightlife, the space was reborn as Flamingo Lounge, courtesy of the team behind Double Bay's now-closed Casablanca Bar and Restaurant. And yes, Sneaky Sundays are back. Flashing a brand new Miami-inspired fit-out along with a 3am license and late-night pizza offering, the venue was initially intended to be a pop-up. But the team — who closed Casablanca earlier this month — has decided to go full steam ahead and make it permanent. "We knew we'd have to close Casablanca [due to commercial development] and this was the best venue to buy because of its position and history in Kings Cross," managing partner Poata Okeroa told Concrete Playground back in June. "The space is a progression from Casablanca for us." The new digs are decidedly different from Hugos, going for a 1980s vibe that combines Miami glamour with art. Think pink neon lights, a retractable DJ stage, plush lounges and mixed-media wall collages. "The artwork and ceiling details pays homage to the art walls of downtown Miami," explained designer Josh Clapp. "The lighting has a bit of Las Vegas and Caribbean flare, but we're moving away from that 'New York speakeasy' vibe you see everywhere." The space has been designed to be much moodier and darker than Hugos, with deep shades of burgundy acting as the main colour scheme. The entire venue has also been expertly soundproofed to make the internal sound quality top-notch — plus it has the added benefit of keeping the peace with neighbours. As a small homage to the venue's past, the leather from the existing lounges of Hugos has been repurposed as ceiling and wall panels. While the main club is meant to focus on the DJ booth, the adjoining terrace bar offers a more sophisticated cocktail lounge with table service and secluded booth. In all, the Flamingo Lounge will house four bars, and host three distinct nightly offerings. Flamingo Fridays will be lead by former Backroom and House of Luis Tans owner Raul Gonzales, and feature house music inspired by 1980s classic Miami disco glamour. Flamingo Saturdays will take their cues from Casablanca, with a bottle service-driven offering accompanied by hip hop and R&B. Finally, Sneaky Sundays — complete with Connie Mitchell and Black Angus — will make a triumphant return to Bayswater Road on the last night of the week, from 8pm till late. This will launch on October 1, which is on the Labour Day weekend. "We are extremely excited to be the ones pioneering the area post lockouts," said co-owner Sid Pierucci on the eve of Flamingo Lounge's launch. "Potts Point has always been a hotspot — arguably the epicentre — of Sydney's nightlife. Since the lockouts back in February 2014 the area's overall demographic has significantly altered the character of the area which is now needy of an upper class late night venue. We ultimately hope to add vibrancy to a city that currently needs it." Flamingo Lounge will soon be joined by Chula, a new Mexican restaurant from the Barrio Chino team, that will open next door before the end of the year. Words: Marissa Ciampi and Tom Clift. Images: Letícia Almeida.
If you can't choose between spending your spare time hitting up a music festival or enjoying a Sunshine State getaway, then Queensland Music Trails likely became your favourite event when it first held a trial run back in 2021. This statewide festival turns heading to see live music into a massive road trip, with different legs sprawling through different parts of the state — and it'll be back in 2023. The fest's big return this year was announced back in 2022, which was already excellent news. Now, event organisers are getting to the even better stuff, aka lineup details. Among the first contingent: Lime Cordiale, CW Stoneking & His Primitive Horn Orchestra, Hatchie, Emma Donovan & The Putbacks and Sycco. [caption id="attachment_814672" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism and Events Queensland[/caption] Queensland Music Trails' bill so far covers trails in the outback, Scenic Rim and southern Queensland, including stops everywhere from St George and Charleville to Canungra and Jimbour. While the full details for each leg haven't yet been unveiled, each route varies in length — the outback trail running for nine days from Thursday, April 13–Friday, April 21; Scenic Rim's for three days across Friday, April 28–Sunday, April 30; and the southern leg for three days from Friday, May 5–Sunday, May 7. Keen on heading to Queensland's west? Then you can choose between Hussy Hicks, Karl S Williams and Jem Cassar-Daley at Oasis Afternoon in St George — or Emma Donavan & the Putbacks and Alice Skye at the Outback River Lights Festival in Cunnamulla. There's also C.W. Stoneking & His Primitive Horn Orchestra, Everybody NOW! and The Pacific Belles at The Big Base Party in Charleville; Harry James Angus and The Barleyshakes Duo at The Sundowner in Tambo; and a whole on-the-road series of gigs with The Barleyshakes Duo, too. So far, the Scenic Rim trail will welcome back The Long Sunset for a second year, hitting up Canungra on Saturday, April 29 with Lime Cordiale, Hatchie, Sycco and Tia Gostelow — and more to be announced. And, on the southern trail, there's the also-returning Opera at Jimbour for three days, featuring talent from Opera Queensland, Ensemble Q and the Griffith University Conservatorium of Music Orchestra. Still on opera, an entire festival dedicated to it — the Festival of Outback Opera, in fact — returns from Tuesday, May 16–Monday, May 22. At present, it features a long lunch and dark-sky serenade in Winton, plus an evening of singing and an opera ball in Longreach. This fest within the fest hasn't been put in a specific trail, but journeying to Winton and Longreach (and between them) works as its own route. More details, acts and events are still to be announced, as part of a fest that was initially slated to cover huge music gigs and festivals held at 25 locations around Queensland — also heading to Quilpie, Toowoomba, Roma and Blackall, Longreach and Winton. Now expected to arrive further down the road, with no further specifics so far, are trails in the far north, along the reef, in Brisbane, and through both the Gold and Sunshine Coasts. If 2022's plans stick, the first will span Paronella Park, Yarrabah, Cairns, Barron Gorge, Kuranda and Mossman/Port Douglas, while the second will hit up Mackay, Proserpine, Airlie Beach, Hamilton Island, Bowen and Townsville. And, the Brisbane, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast trails are obviously self-explanatory. [caption id="attachment_857800" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mitch Lowe[/caption] An initiative of QMF (Queensland Music Festival), Queensland Music Trails is returning thanks to a $20-million investment by the Queensland Government over the first three years. "The Queensland Music Trails are a key step to building Queensland's cultural events so we are ready to host the world in 2032 for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games," said Queensland Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe. "It's exciting to see QMF partner with key Queensland artists and arts organisations to collaborate on signature cultural events that will be integrated into Qld Music Trails, including a visual arts tour with Arts Queensland funded Flying Arts Alliance, and Festival of Outback Opera and Opera at Jimbour with Opera Queensland who are also supported through the arts portfolio," added Minister for the Arts Leeanne Enoch. [caption id="attachment_887098" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Big Red Bash[/caption] Queensland Music Trails return for 2023 from April — head to the event's website for more information. Images: Katrina Lehmann / Mitch Lowe.
The cold weather won't stop many from scoring a scoop of ice cream, but sometimes, a warmer bite just feels right. With this in mind, it's a good thing Gelato Messina is back with a new edition of its cult-favourite cookie pie. Made in collaboration with Tony's Chocolonely, this is the ideal chance to discover the brand's mission to end exploitation in the cocoa industry. Designed to be baked fresh at home, this feel-good cookie pie offers the ultimate treat for when you're rugged up on the couch. Plus, this inventive dessert hits all the marks of a winter treat: golden on the outside, gooey on the inside, and loaded with Tony's beloved milk and dark chocolate pieces. Crafted in-house by Messina's pastry team, expect each pie to resonate with the same thought and care as the brand's top-notch gelato. Speaking of, this molten delight is best served with a scoop of your go-to Messina flavour on top, helping to create your dream combination. Available from all Messina stores and for delivery from Monday, July 7, these limited-edition treats are served first-come, first-served. Just don't expect them to last long. Priced at $25 each, you're welcome to bundle with 500ml, 1L or 1.5L tubs of Messina gelato, so you can scoop at home until your heart and tastebuds are content. If you're keen to brave the cold weather, single-serve cookie pies will be served in all Messina stores (except Circular Quay and The Star) from Monday, July 14. Available from 5pm every Monday–Thursday throughout winter, these smaller portions are priced at $12, with your choice of gelato scoop making your after-dark adventure more than worth it. Plus, the team is getting in the mood by launching Brownie Points, a limited-edition flavour created to pair with your pie. Think salted milk chocolate gelato, lashings of caramel and Tony's double-choc brownie rolled into a toothsome scoop. It's available from all Messina stores from Saturday, July 12–Saturday, July 19, or until sold out. Tony's Chocolonely and Gelato Messina's cookie pie is available from all locations and for online delivery from Monday, July 7. Head to the website for more information.
Steve Costi's Seafood is now taking online orders and delivering fresh seafood, ready-made meals and luxe platters across the Sydney metro area. Costi's has been a go-to for Sydneysiders since the first store opened in the David Jones food hall in the CBD, back in 1985. Now, even more seafood lovers can order from Costi's with ease. There is a full range of seafood on offer via the online store including fish fillets, prawns, crabs, scallops, octopus and mussels. You can also order whole fish from rainbow trout ($11.50), through to whole Tasmanian salmon ($85). For those planning a bit of a fancy night, cooked western and eastern rock lobsters are both available, or you can have oysters delivered to your door, with a dozen Sydney rock oysters available for $24. If you're looking to put on a spread at your next picnic or for your household with minimum effort, you can order both seafood and sashimi platters. The seafood platter for four ($175) comes packed with a kilogram of tiger prawns, 18 Sydney rock oysters, four Moreton Bay bugs, smoked salmon, bread rolls and cocktail sauce; while the sashimi platter includes salmon, tuna, kingfish, scampi, scallops, salmon caviar and black lumpfish. Alongside the seafood choices, you can order ready-made meals like a deluxe fish pie meal for two ($45) which comes with minted baby potatoes, parsley, fennel and citrus salad, broccolini with Pepe Saya butter and heirloom roasted beetroot. Other ready-made options include a salmon wellington meal, fish tacos and a classic fish and potato scallop combo. The minimum spend on delivery is $50 and it costs $15 as a flat rate across Sydney metro. You can check if your suburb is included in the delivery area via this list. Steve Costi's Seafood delivery is available via Costi's website.
Face it. There's nothing, nothing more heartbreaking than going out for a casual walkie with your beloved dog, grabbing a cheeky gelato cup at the beach and not being able to share it with your pooch. Much whimper. Such fail. Too long, too long have pups been shunned from ice creameries simply because the pockets in their dog hoodies rarely hold money and dairy products make them incredibly ill. Enough! No longer will this integral gelato market and prime branding opportunity be ignored. Gelatissimo are stepping up and doing what should have been done years ago (because trending topics). They're releasing a range of doggie gelato that can be enjoyed by both pets and owners alike — please avoid sharing though. Please. Importantly, the gelato is gluten free and flavoured peanut nougat (which is a dogwide favourite ice cream flavour, apparently) and gentle on puppy tums. From March 26, you can grab a scoop from 18 Gelatissimo stores (including Balmain, Bondi Beach, Central Park, Coogee, Cronulla, Newtown, Watsons Bay, Wagga, Manuka, Lane Cove, Lygon Street, Coolangatta, Mackay, Mooloolaba, Noosa, Toowoomba, Norwood and Surfers Paradise). Alright we so know it's a bit much and most of us don't have a weekly budget for dog iced treats, but think of it more as a treat for yourself that you can share with your pupper (if they whimper at you enough). Image: Mochi and Miranda @justanotherdogblog.
One, two, three, four: Sex Bob-Omb! are back, and everything Scott Pilgrim with them, thanks to upcoming Netflix animated series Scott Pilgrim Takes Off. First announced earlier in 2023, the new take on a bass player fighting the object of his affection's seven evil exes is hitting the small screen as a streaming series, with the entire Scott Pilgrim vs the World cast returning to their roles. And if you're wondering what that all looks like, the show has just dropped its first teaser trailer. Obviously, a lot can happen in 13 years — and for the cast of 2010's page-to-screen favourite Scott Pilgrim vs the World, much has before Scott Pilgrim Takes Off reaches screens. Michael Cera kept returning to Arrested Development's George Michael, made a stunning appearance in the Twin Peaks revival and featured in Barbie. Mary Elizabeth Winstead added everything from Fargo and 10 Cloverfield Lane to Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) to her resume. Chris Evans became Captain America, Kieran Culkin killed it with insults in Succession and Anna Kendrick had the whole Pitch Perfect franchise. Brie Larson slipping into Captain Marvel's shoes, Aubrey Plaza's The White Lotus stint, Jason Schwartzman still showing up in Wes Anderson films aplenty — that's all occurred as well. Now, more Scott Pilgrim has come all of the above actors' way, too. The movie that started off as a series of graphic novels by Bryan Lee O'Malley, and also hit video games, will live on again from Friday, November 17. And, once more, Scott (Cera) will fall for Ramona Flowers (Winstead), and face off against her past loves. When a film becomes a streaming series, that doesn't always mean that the OG stars return with it — but it does in this case. As well as Cera and Winstead, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off boasts Culkin as Wallace Wells, Kendrick as Stacey Pilgrim, Larson as Envy Adams and Plaza as Julie Powers. And, yes, Evans, Schwartzman, Satya Bhabha (Sense8), Brandon Routh (The Flash) and Mae Whitman (Good Girls) are all back as Ramona's evil exes. The list doesn't stop there. Alison Pill (Hello Tomorrow!) as Kim Pine, Johnny Simmons (Girlboss) as young Neil, Mark Webber (SMILF) as Stephen Stills, Ellen Wong (Best Sellers) as Knives Chau are reprising their roles as well. While Scott Pilgrim Takes Off still sees its namesake swoon over Ramona, then tussle with her former paramours, this is more than just a do-over. "I knew that a live action sequel was unlikely, but I would usually defer by suggesting that perhaps an anime adaptation was an interesting way to go," the original film's director Edgar Wright told Netflix back when the series was first announced. "And then, lo and behold, one day Netflix got in touch to ask about this exact idea. But even better, our brilliant creator Bryan Lee O'Malley had an idea that was way more adventurous than just a straight adaptation of the original books," Wright continued — and he's back as an executive producer. Check out the first teaser trailer for Scott Pilgrim Takes Off below: Scott Pilgrim Takes Off will be available to stream via Neflix on Friday, November 17.
The Kooks were back in Sydney last week at the tail end of their Australian tour. We spoke with band member, Hugh Harris, about bringing in the New Year at Falls, cooking spag bol and retracing his roots in his spiritual homeland, Sydney. Hey Hugh, thanks for chatting with me today. So you have just landed in Sydney ready for the gig tonight? Well, we arrived last night but I have family in Sydney so we had dinner plans and then after dinner plans. Hopefully I will have time to have a rest today before the gig. But it is great to be in Sydney. I was down in Tassie for Falls so I saw you guys ring in the New Year! Oh, that's great, yeah, I think that was one of the best gigs we played, in Tasmania. And we managed to get the countdown right which was a bonus. Yeah, I was speaking to Alex Turner [Arctic Monkeys] the other day and he was a bit miffed that the countdown didn't really work out at Falls in Lorne when they were playing for NYE? Yeah, well I think in Tasmania it was OK because we had the big screen so it was pretty hard to mess up. In Lorne, there was no TV screen so it would've been hard for the Arctic Monkeys to count down. Have you played a summer NYE gig before? No, no summer NYE before, not on stage. I always think it is better just to have a party, then there is no pressure on anyone to provide the fun. But we have always wanted to do it and the opportunity came up so now we have. And did you get to see Pnau come on after you guys? Pnau? No. I stuck around for a bit. I had my cousins there from the countryside. My sheep shearing cousins. But it is hard you know when you are working, it is hard to know when the partying starts, but we just partied afterwards. Do you guys like playing festivals as compared to standard gigs? Yeah, I mean I think we are a festival band in a way. And it is a happier vibe. You get to play to people who aren't necessarily fans and that is an exciting prospect, you know, to gather a larger following. And you get that at festivals, everyone's drunk and they don't have a choice but to listen! You've been to Sydney a lot and having family here is there anything you really look forward to doing whilst you are here? Yeah, I have this nostalgia route that I take. We used to come here for Christmas because my grandmother was here. And one Christmas I got a skateboard and I used to take this route around Rushcutters Bay. So I will do that. On your skateboard? No, those days are past! I just walk it now. So I start at Rushcutters and then walk up the hill and go to No Frills [an offshoot of the supermarket chain Franklins that no longer exists] in the Edgecliff Centre and get a cake. It's where I used to buy my holiday cakes. And then I will head down to the Golden Sheaf and try and get a beer. And then a swim at that harbour pool. Redleaf? Yeah, Redleaf. So I will try and do that today. I think perhaps the Sheaf might have changed a bit since you were last there.. Yeah, I've heard that. What happened? Well, it is pretty much an empire now. When did you last go? Well, my Dad was here in the 1970s. Yeah, well it is not the Sheaf of the '70s! And neither of us was around then! You guys have been playing now for 7 years and you were only 18 when The Kooks signed to Virgin – did you always want to be in a band? No, absolutely not. I actually wanted to be in espionage, I always wanted to be a spy. And then second I wanted to be in a band. Well, maybe you could be a spy in your thirties? No, I think that might be too late. You know you have to do all this training, martial arts training; I think the dream is over. And maybe it will be too hard, you know needing to be inconspicuous and all? No, I'll shave my head that will be fine! And what do you guys get up to in your free time whilst you are on tour? Do you get into sightseeing or art galleries or whatever? Yeah, art galleries for sure. You hit the nail on the head. I love art galleries and try and go as much as possible. Modern art galleries. And cooking. I really love cooking, but mostly when I get home. I find it really relaxing and I cook a mean spaghetti bolognaise. Like all good boys! All boys have the staple spag bol! Yeah, but I would like to say that I think mine is better than anyone else's! You know, I leave it for a really long time, even cooking overnight, and it just comes alive. Well, not with bacteria hopefully. And other stuff? I like tennis. My favourite colour is yellow. And… Ok, just one more question. Your new clip for Is it me is particularly nostalgic with the typewriter and the 1960s primary colours – considering your musical influences how do The Kooks feel about nostalgia and looking back at the past? Yeah, we love the past. I love my past. And yeah, we are influenced by a lot of music from the past. But I think when we were young we used to go through our parents' record collections and just sift through, you know. But also I like that things from the past are spun and renewed and regurgitated. It's a blending of the past. Like with our new album, you know it is a bit of a bridge. It is The Kooks staple sound but then there are all these warm synthesisers in there so it blends the past and the present. That's what we do.
If your daily life consists of more screen time than time spent outdoors, you're probably itching for a next-level escape — somewhere you can truly disconnect. With such a diverse and lush landscape right at our fingertips in NSW, why not switch up your daily routine, switch off your devices and get off the grid in the great outdoors? We've highlighted some top-notch experiences across the state where you can achieve a true sense of freedom. We're talking floating high above the Byron Bay hinterland as day breaks and hanging out with sea life on the far south coast. Your digital detox starts here.
You might think you know Richard Ayoade from his time as Maurice Moss in the British comedy The IT Crowd. But did you know he's also an acclaimed director of quirky indie films full of deadpan humour? After smashing it with his debut feature, Submarine, Ayoade's now back with The Double. Based on the novel by Fyodor Dostoyevsky, The Double follows Simon James, the timid and nerdy office clerk whose life is completely unenviable. Played by Jesse Eisenberg (The Social Network), Simon reaches breaking point when new co-worker James Simon appears on the scene. Also played by Eisenberg, James excels in all the ways that Simon cannot, being a daring extrovert with confidence and charm. Simon is both James's double, and as it turns out, his polar opposite. Also starring Aussie actor Mia Wasikowska (Alice in Wonderland, Stoker, The Kids are Alright) and Wallace Shawn (Clueless), The Double premiered at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival and went on to Sundance. It's been praised in early reviews, including by the Playlist, who wrote: "Totally bonkers, hilarious and wickedly clever, The Double is special and singular filmmaking at its best." The Double is in cinemas on Thursday, May 8, and thanks to Madman Films, we have 15 double in-season passes to give away. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter (if you haven't already), then email us with your name and address. Sydney: win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.au Melbourne: win.melbourne@concreteplayground.com.au Brisbane: win.brisbane@concreteplayground.com.au https://youtube.com/watch?v=_klCoDTHKGg ',width:'1150',height:'700'" width="1150" height="700" align="" />
The last time that Alien and Ghostbusters legend Sigourney Weaver appeared on-screen, she played a 14-year-old Na'vi girl in Avatar: The Way of Water. The next time that the iconic actor pops up, she'll be in Australia, in a seven-part streaming drama. That series: The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart, which sees Holly Ringland's 2018 novel get the miniseries treatment, and casts Weaver as the grandmother to the titular nine-year-old, who has just lost her parents in mysterious circumstances. On the page and on Prime Video — where The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart will debut on Friday, August 4 — Alice moves to Thornfield flower farm after the life-changing tragedy, and starts to find solace among its wildflower blooms. But her new home is also the place where secrets about her family and their past start to blossom. The just-dropped first teaser trailer for the series emphasises that it hails from the producers of Big Little Lies and Nine Perfect Strangers, if you're wondering about the show's mood. Lambs of God's Sarah Lambert, Mustang FC's Kirsty Fisher and A League of Their Own's Kim Wilson penned the scripts, while Penguin Bloom's Glendyn Ivin directs every instalment. As well as Weaver as Alice's grandmother, The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart stars Alycia Debnam-Carey (Fear the Walking Dead) as its namesake, plus Ayla Browne (Nine Perfect Strangers) as the younger version. The cast from there is a who's who of homegrown talent, including fellow Nine Perfect Strangers alum Asher Keddie, Leah Purcell (The Drover's Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson), Tilda Cobham-Hervey (Hotel Mumbai), Xavier Samuel (The Clearing) and Alexander England (Black Snow). Frankie Adams (The Expanse), Charlie Vickers (The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power) and Sebastián Zurita (How to Survive Being Single) also feature, and the first glimpse at the show unsurprisingly highlights the Aussie backdrop, all the swirling lies and its big-name stars. When it hits Prime Video, The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart will join the streaming platform's growing Australian-made lineup, which keeps dropping local fare in 2023. Already in queues: Class of '07, about the mayhem that follows when an apocalyptic tidal wave hits during an all-girls college's ten-year reunion; and the exceptional Deadloch, a Tasmania-set murder-mystery comedy from The Kates. Check out the first teaser trailer for The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart below: The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart will start streaming via Prime Video from Friday, August 4.
Peruse the Tim Tam section of an Australian supermarket and more than just the classic version of the chocolate biscuits await. Arnott's has even done Gelato Messina-inspired Tim Tams in the past. So, adding a new flavour to sit alongside current specials like coconut cream, Murray River salted caramel, and butterscotch and cream isn't a surprise — but turning an April Fool's joke into a real bikkie is a first. It was back in 2023, on the day that no news can be trusted, that Arnott's revealed a Jatz-inspired Tim Tam for when you can't choose between crackers and chocolate biscuits. It was a prank then, but the brand's customers didn't want to to remain just a gag. So, Tim Tam inspired by Jatz will hit Coles around Australia from late April. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tim Tam (@timtam) "Following the overwhelming number of comments and requests, we knew we had to bring Tim Tam inspired by Jatz to the shelf and make it available for every Aussie to enjoy," said Tim Tam Marketing Manager Rebecca Chan. One important caveat, though: Tim Tam inspired by Jatz don't actually include any Jatz, but feature their salty taste — and have "cracker notes", Arnott's advises. A packet will set you back $5 when they reach the shelves. Also, more surprising flavours might be in store across the year, with Tim Tams turning 60 in 2024. In the future, you might want to pay attention to Arnott's April Fool's Day jokes to come, too, in case they actually sound like something you'd like — and become a reality a year later. Tim Tam inspired by Jatz will hit Coles supermarkets around Australia from late April 2024. Head to the Arnott's website for more details.
Taylor Swift is inviting fans around the world to step inside her new era with Taylor Swift: The Official Release Party of a Showgirl, an 89-minute cinematic event celebrating the launch of her 12th studio album The Life of a Showgirl. The feature offers a mix of firsts — including the debut of the 'The Fate of Ophelia' music video, new lyric videos, behind-the-scenes footage and personal reflections from Swift herself. The global release kicks off at 3pm US time on Friday, October 3, which translates to early morning on Saturday, October 4 in Australia. Screenings will run nationwide across the long weekend, from Saturday through Monday, October 6. Australian Swifties can catch the film at Event Cinemas, Hoyts, Dendy, Village Cinemas and Palace Cinemas, with both city and regional locations taking part. Demand has been so high that Event Cinemas has already added extra sessions. "We've got our Swifties covered with screenings of Taylor Swift: The Life of a Showgirl across our Event Cinemas in both Australia and New Zealand this coming weekend," a spokesperson said. "Tickets are flying faster than a Reputation track drop, with presale numbers already at number one for the upcoming long weekend." It follows the blockbuster success of The Eras Tour film, which became the highest-grossing concert film of all time after earning more than £260 million globally. Find your nearest screening and tickets to Taylor Swift: The Official Release Party of a Showgirl Images: Getty Images
The future is here and all our problems are solved. Or, more accurately, one specific problem that bugs us a bit. Three engineering students from the US have created a device that harnesses energy from your everyday activities to charge your phone on the go. No more crouching next to power points or annoyingly asking bartenders to pop your phone behind the bar. With this, you can genuinely re-charge your battery by dancing. This kind of technology has been around for a while now, but never in such a convenient form. Fitting in the palm of your hand, Ampy is a little power pack that can easily be strapped to your arm or popped in your pocket. Each of your movements are then used to power the lithium ion battery inside and that in turn is used to charge your phone when hooked up via a USB cord. Though you don't need to use the energy right away, a 30-minute run supposedly keeps your phone on for three hours. Understandably, people are already crazy excited for this thing. A Kickstarter campaign was launched to get production underway, and it reached its $100,000 target within three days. By the end of the 30 day funding period, it will have basically taken over the world. Of course, there are a number of reasons why this thing is great. Yes, it offers convenient power for when you're out and about, but it also encourages you to get off your butt and move. Prompting you to take the stairs instead of the elevator or ride your bike into the city, this tricky device may be the best health initiative we've ever seen. It also has the added benefit of using 100 per cent renewable energy. Forget coal mining and big electricity bills; pop on some Beyonce and dance yourself into some power. Either that, or cheat and clip it to your dog. Ampy won't be available in stores until June 2015, but you can grab yourself a discounted product from the first shipment by backing their Kickstarter now. A US$75 pledge (plus $15 delivery fee) will get you the device itself, or you can grab a full accessory pack as well for US$95. Via Buzzfeed and Forbes.
Adjacent to the ivy's rooftop pool, Uccello is an Italian-inspired diner for the city worker looking to capture those European long lunch vibes. The menu, designed by head chef Ben Sitton (ex-Rockpool Bar & Grill and The Savoy Grill, London), is fresh, flavoursome and brings together some of Italy's best dishes in a relaxed Australian atmosphere. There are antipasti aplenty, with cold and wood-fired offerings ranging from a house-made buffalo ricotta with asparagus and basil to split Yamba prawns with chilli. While Pasta lovers will find solace in the spaghettini with clams and mussels and potato gnocchi with tomato, stracciatella and basil. Plus, the restaurant's stone oven is put to good use, cooking New England lamb saddle with white asparagus and salsa verde, Burrawong chicken with salt-baked heirloom carrots and pistachio and market fish of the day served with smoked pepper trapanese and pipis. If dessert is in order, you'll find the classics, including pannacotta (with strawberry and salted caramel almonds), semifreddo (with passionfruit and salted caramel macadamias) and tiramisu on the menu. Otherwise, grab something exciting off the highly extensive wine list, and head out to the pool to enjoy it in the sunshine.
YCK Laneways, a new cultural precinct that launched in 2021 encompassing the CBD laneways in York Street, Clarence Street and Kent Street, is currently in the swing of six week cultural festival titled YCK Intersections. The festival's lineup of live music, workshops and pop-ups is taking over venues across the three CBD streets including Since I Left You, Esteban, PS40, The Duke of Clarence, Stitch Bar, Uncle Ming's, Prince of York and many more. Alongside these activations, the YCK team is throwing a three-day party called Master the Art, which stretches over the ANZAC Day long week at Barrack Street — and features a stacked lineup of live sets and cooking masterclasses. Heading up the music bill over the three days from Friday, April 22–Sunday, April 24 are Wafia, Sneaky Sound System and Day1, with support from the likes of Ula, Kota Banks, A.Girl, B Wise and East Av3, just to name a few. As for the food and drink masterclasses, you'll find Sydney favourites like Maybe Sammy, Cantina OK!, Hickson House and Sydney Oyster Farm Tours running you through skills ranging from crafting the perfect margarita to upping your oyster game. Tickets to each night of the gigs and each masterclass are available for $60 a pop — with masterclasses available in discounted bundles — however, we have 150 passes to give away to Concrete Playground readers. If you want to head along and upgrade your cocktail-making skills or hit the dance floor to 'UFO' this weekend, just use the code 'CPSHOUT' at the checkout to secure a free pass. If you've left your long-weekend plans until the last minute, you can thank us later for setting you up with a top-notch experience free of charge. But hurry, as those 150 passes are sure to be snatched up quickly. Check out the lineup for the Barrack Street party and YCK Intersection's full program at the YCK Laneways website. [caption id="attachment_836314" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Hickson House[/caption] YCK Intersections: Master the Art takes place at Barrack Street, Sydney between Friday, April 22–Sunday, April 24. If you're keen to head along, use the code 'CPSHOUT' at checkout to score free tickets.
When New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced the two-way trans-Tasman bubble back in April — allowing Australians to travel to NZ without quarantining upon arrival — she noted that it could and would be paused if and when outbreaks occur. Accordingly, with Sydney identifying two locally acquired COVID-19 cases this week, and implementing restrictions and a mask mandate in response, the NZ Government has advised that it's stopping its arrangement with New South Wales for the time being. Today, Thursday, May 6, the NZ Government advised that the quarantine-free travel between NZ and NSW is being suspended, effective from 11.59pm NZ time. "Officials have assessed that with several outstanding unknowns in the situation in Sydney it is safest to pause the quarantine-free travel," it announced in a statement. The NZ Government hasn't specified a timeframe for the pause, but its statement notes that "this will be under constant review". The aim: to give NSW authorities time to investigate the source of the two cases, which have been linked via genome sequencing to a returned overseas traveller — but no physical connection between the current cases and the recent returnee has been identified as yet. Whether you're a Sydneysider on holiday in NZ or a New Zealander who has recently returned from across the ditch, anyone now in NZ who has been at one of the locations of interest in Sydney is required to isolate, then call NZ's Healthline on 0800 358 5453 to obtain advice about getting tested for COVID-19. And, if you're currently in Australia and you've been to one of the Sydney venues identified, you should not travel to NZ. https://twitter.com/covid19nz/status/1390189898209001475 This isn't the first time that the trans-Tasman bubble has been paused, with NZ suspending flights from Western Australia at the beginning of May in response to Perth's recent cases. Flights between NZ and WA were given the all-clear to resume just a day later. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in NSW, head to the NSW Health website. To find out more about the virus and travel restrictions in New Zealand, head over to the NZ Government's COVID-19 hub.
If part of you loves the long-haul flights of fancy of Discworld and the dynastic intrigue of The Bold and the Beautiful, chances are, you also love some Gabriel Garcia Marquez. But the author of classic Latin American epics Love in the Time of Cholera and One Hundred Years of Solitude has a stash of lesser-known short fiction you may not have yet uncovered, and fortunately, director Netta Yashchin has dug out one fine example, I Only Came to Use the Phone, and brushed it up for a dashing public outing. Set in the dying years of Franco's Spain, the story homes in on a woman, Maria (Annabelle Stephenson), who is left trying to phone her husband, shelter from the rain and anxiously light damp cigarettes at a rest stop after her car breaks down. Dejected and drawn to join the shrouded women on a passing bus, she winds up inadvertently dispatched to a psychiatric institution, where, of course, no-one believes she only came to use the phone. Her path to escape — or acquiescence — makes up a wry and touching tale that captures the feeling of dislocation and parallels the very real experience of arbitrary imprisonment found under Fascism. Unusually, the story isn't adapted into a play; instead, the original text, rich and written in the third person, is delivered by an ensemble cast while they embody the characters to which the words pertain. The tack itself adds interest, and the result is surprisingly engaging. Stephensen, Julia Billington, David Hansen, Dorje Swallow, Fayssal Bazzi and (only occasionally appearing) Yashchin are all excellent and ultra-committed as they shift into their various roles, including those of inpatients, wardens, a magician and a house cat. It's a world away from a mere dramatic reading, as the story is completely brought to life through the depth of characterisation and physicality, the rich dialogueishness brought to the text, and a set (by Charlotte Lane) that breathes the scungy romance of Catalonia, even in confinement. Most brilliantly, this approach has allowed Yaschin to add cheeky inflections of irony and heighten dark subtexts that aren't the characters' own or aren't present in a surface reading of the material. Throw in the constant serenade of a live Spanish guitar (Damian Wright), and you've got a bewitching night of independent theatre.
Life hack: pretending that you're still on your best-ever Tokyo getaway (or the dream one you plan to go on when Japan fully reopens to international travel) is a perfectly acceptable way to get through the daily grind. Eating Pocky as a snack works. Hitting up your favourite ramen joint for lunch does, too. Going home to a few post-work cans of -196 — aka the premix from the makers of Strong Zero — definitely fits the bill as well. The ready-to-drink -196 launched in Australia in 2021, with a double lemon variety that you probably sipped ASAP — it sold out when it first arrived. What's better than one such tipple, which hails from Japanese brewing and distilling company Suntory? Two, naturally. Prepare to start knocking back -196 in double grape, again blending shochu, vodka and soda — but with a whole lot of grape flavour. Wondering about the name? That's because the fruit for both varieties is frozen at -196 degrees Celsius, then crushed, powderised and infused with spirits. In Japan, Strong Zero comes in double grapefruit, double ume and double shekwasha, if you're holding out hope for more flavours in the future. For now, you'll be able to pick up -196's double grape variety from the end of October, available in bottle-os nationwide. Suntory's -196 double grape will hit bottle shops across Australia at the end of October.
The Hills is getting a luxurious new rooftop restaurant with the arrival of Ciel in 2024. Chef Joshua Mason, the mind behind Baulkam Hills' acclaimed French restaurant Quoi Dining, will lead the charge at this lush new opening in Sydney's northwest. Translating to "sky" in French, Ciel will take over half of the seventh floor at Infinity Park, a new development that will boast 287 apartments by the time it's completed in 2025. The dining room will boast views of the neighbouring Castle Hill Country Club and the Sydney city skyline in the distance. Mason describes the soon-to-open restaurant as: "A woodfired-inspired dining experience honouring the south of France and the light finesse of the Mediterranean cuisine." "Ciel is inspired by my Sicilian heritage, celebrating a seafood-forward menu. There will be an ice well at the front of the restaurant featuring an array of fresh oysters, lobsters, crustaceans and Australian fish." A custom-made grill built in Barcelona has been shipped in to ensure the seafood is given the exact woodfired touch that Mason has envisioned, and the green stone bar has been imported from Argentina. Ciel will bolster the Hills District's fine dining chops, joining Mason's Quoi Dining and the Mullane's Hotel's Italian diner Sarino's in a neighbourhood more known for casual eateries and takeaway favourites like Frango, El Jannah and Good Fella Coffee. If you want to stay up-to-date with the restaurant you can sign up for the Ciel mailing list, or learn more about Norwest's massive new residential development at the Infinity Park website. Ciel is set to open inside Infinity Park, Norwest in mid-2024.
If spending a couple of sunny days immersed in live tunes at Falls Festival is part of your summer ritual, we come bearing sad news: the end-of-year music fest won't take place over the 2023–24 season. The event's organisers have announced that they're sitting out this year after a chaotic period — including the festival's pandemic cancellations between 2019–2021, returning in a big way at the end of 2022 and beginning of 2023, and also hosting a Melbourne edition. While the fest's team has announced the event's hiatus as "a year off", whether it will return for the summer of 2024–25, what the festival might look like and where it will take place hasn't yet been revealed. "The past few years has seen unprecedented change in the live music space, both front of house and behind the scenes. While Falls' reboot in 2022–23 was full of amazing moments and we were thrilled to reconnect with our Falls fam, our team needs a break, so this year we'll take time off to enjoy the holiday period and allow some space to re-imagine how Falls will look in the future," said Secret Sounds co-CEO and Falls producer Jessica Ducrou, announcing the news. "We send huge love and appreciation to all our patrons for their ongoing support and for the great vibes they brought to the 2022–23 events. You really are the heart and soul of Falls and we look forward to updating you with our plans when the time is right." "We also want to send our love and thanks to our extended Falls team including staff, contractors, volunteers, sponsors, partners, suppliers, stakeholders and key agencies that we work with each year, for their enduring passion, dedication and support" Ducrou continued. Falls Festival has spent 28 years celebrating each new year with a hefty array of acts, including Arctic Monkeys, Lil Nas X, Peggy Gou, Jamie xx, Chvrches and The Wiggles to see out 2022 and welcome 2023. For its 2022–23 run, Falls took place in Pennyroyal Plains in Colac in Victoria, North Byron Parklands in Yelgun in New South Wales and Fremantle Park in Fremantle. It's been an eventful few years for the fest beyond the pandemic mayhem, too; back in 2021, Falls announced that it was saying goodbye to its usual Tasmanian leg in Marion Bay after 17 years, and also moving from Lorne in Victoria after a 27-year stint. Falls Festival won't return over the 2023–24 summer season. We'll update you when the event's comeback plans are announced. For more information in the interim visit the festival's website. Images: Charlie Hardy / Ash Westwood.
Walking through stunning lights as far as the eye can see, moseying beneath a canopy of glowing multi-coloured trees, wandering between ribbons of flashing beams, taking the most luminous 2.1-kilometre stroll through nature that you can imagine — you'll be able to do all of this when Lightscape heads to Sydney for the first time in 2023. Already a hit in Melbourne, the after-dark light festival will be taking over the the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney from Friday, May 26–Saturday, June 17, beaming away from 5.30pm each night as part of another dazzling Sydney event: Vivid. While the leafy spot is already extremely scenic, and Sydney's annual lights, music and ideas festival is already vibrant to look at as well, saying that Lightscape will be brightening up both is quite the understatement. Prepare to see the garden illuminated by immersive and large-scale installations scattered along that 2.1-kilometre route, including sparkling trees, luminous walkways and bursts of colour that look like fireworks. A big highlight: large-scale works like giant flowers and glowing tunnels, both of which will make you feel like you're being bathed in radiance. Lightscape first hit Australia in 2022 after first taking over gardens across the United Kingdom and the United States. Developed by Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in the UK, it's understandably proven a huge success — and more than two-million people wandered along its glowing trails in a season overseas. Fingers crossed for pop-up food and drink stalls scattered throughout Lightscape in Sydney — selling, we hope, mulled wine to keep hands warm during the chilly winter nights. Lightscape sits on a Vivid Sydney bill that'll also see the event host its first-ever food fest, and also feature plenty of other lit-up spaces around the Harbour City. The Vivid Sydney Light Walk is back for 2023, this time with 49-plus light installations and 3D projections along its illuminated eight-kilometre stretch; Barerarerungar from First Nations artist Maree Clarke will be projected across the Museum of Contemporary Art; and Jen Lewin's The Last Ocean will also be a highlight, hitting Sydney after premiering at Burning Man in 2022. Lightscape will light up the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, Queen Elizabeth II Gates, from Friday, May 26–Saturday, June 17. For more information or to buy tickets, head to the Vivid Sydney website.
First, her milkshake brought all the boys to the yard. Now, a couple of Brisbane events — BIGSOUND and Sweet Relief! — are bringing Kelis to Brisbane in 2024. The thinking: why get the R&B talent to hit up one festival in the Sunshine State capital when she can take to the stage at two? Damn right, this plan is better than yours. At BIGSOUND, Kelis joins the conference lineup at the huge music event, which combines plenty of discussions with live gigs in Fortitude Valley, and returns to Brisbane from Tuesday, September 3–Friday, September 6 for its 23rd year. Then, on Saturday, September 7, Kelis will be part of Sweet Relief!'s 2024 bill. Accordingly, BIGSOUND attendees can expect to hear about her experiences in music — and maybe as a fashion icon, muse for designers, and a Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef with her own Netflix several cooking specials and cookbook My Life on a Plate to her name. At Sweet Relief!, in an exclusive show, Kelis will bust out not just 'Milkshake' and 'Bossy' but more tunes from her catalogue at the fest's second year. For company at the event, which moves to Ballymore Stadium for 2024 after debuting at Northshore Brisbane in 2023, she'll be joined by The Presets, 2024 Eurovision contestants Electric Fields, Haiku Hands, Dameeeela and Juno so far, with more to be announced. 2024 marks a quarter century since Kelis' first record Kaleidoscope and also 21 years since Tasty — featuring 'Milkshake', 'Trick Me' and 'Millionaire' — became such a hit. The singer's spot on both the BIGSOUND and Sweet Relief! is the result of a partnership between BIGSOUND and QLD Music Trails, the latter of which Sweet Relief! forms part of. [caption id="attachment_959285" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The James Adams[/caption] [caption id="attachment_861894" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lachlan Douglas[/caption] [caption id="attachment_959282" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The James Adams[/caption] [caption id="attachment_851424" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lachlan Douglas[/caption] BIGSOUND 2024 will take place between Tuesday, September 3–Friday, September 6 in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane. For more information, visit the event's website. Sweet Relief! 2024 will take place at Ballymore Stadium, 91 Clyde Road, Herston, on Saturday, September 7, with presales from 11am local time on Tuesday, June 4 and general sales from 11am local time on Friday, June 7 — head to the event's website for more details.
Australians, it's finally time to drop it like it's hot again — because Snoop Dogg is coming back to our shores. For the first time since 2014, the rapper is hitting stages Down Under as part of this new 'I Wanna Thank Me' tour, which'll be playing arenas in Perth, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide in February and March 2023. If this sounds familiar, that's because this tour was initially due to happen in 2022, only to be postponed. Now, Snoop Dogg has locked in the rescheduled dates, complete with extra shows in both Sydney and Melbourne — and adding Adelaide to his tour itinerary. Clearly, fans of the musician/actor/cook book author/wrestling MC/wine brand owner will be breaking out the gin and juice as he raps his way through the RAC Arena, Qudos Bank Arena, Rod Laver Arena, Brisbane Entertainment Centre and Adelaide Entertainment Centre. Snoop will also be inspiring hip hop aficionados to be the life of the party and, if you can remember his time as Snoop Doggy Dog and Snoop Lion across his career, to ask about his name as well. Yes, you can expect to hear singles such as 'What's My Name?', 'Gin and Juice', 'Drop It Like It's Hot' and 'Snoop's Upside Ya Head', as well as tracks from his last few albums — with his 17th record from 2019, I Wanna Thank Me, sharing its moniker with the tour. Since then, he's also dropped two more albums: From tha Streets 2 tha Suites in 2021 and BODR in 2022, with another, Missionary, also in the works. SNOOP DOGG 'I WANNA THANK ME' 2023 AUSTRALIAN TOUR DATES Monday, February 27 — RAC Arena, Perth Wednesday, March 1–Thursday, March 2 — Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Saturday, March 4–Sunday, March 5 — Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Tuesday, March 7 — Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane Wednesday, March 8 — Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide Snoop Dogg is touring Australia in February and March 2023 — visit the tour website for tickets and further details.
Thinking about UK cinema's biggest names brings a wealth of famous talents to mind. Odds are that they're on the 2023 British Film Festival program in one way or another. When the Australia-wide cinema celebration returns for its latest tour, it'll do so with Olivia Colman's latest movie, Ian McKellen's as well, what might be Michael Caine's final role and an Alfred Hitchcock documentary. Ken Loach, Liam Neeson, Helen Mirren, Anthony Hopkins, Richard E Grant, Timothy Spall, Helena Bonham Carter, Gemma Arterton, Maggie Smith: they're all covered, too. In total, 28 films are on the British Film Festival's 2023 lineup, including both brand-new flicks and retrospective screenings. Audiences can see the results throughout November, with the festival kicking off on Wednesday, November 1 in Sydney — at Palace Norton St, Palace Verona, Chauvel Cinema and Palace Central — and keeping its projectors whirring for four weeks until Wednesday, November 29. Opening night's One Life will begin the 2023 fest, with the Hopkins (The Son)-starring biopic coming to Australia after premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival. It tells the tale of Sir Nicholas Winton, whose World War II story includes assisting in the rescue of hundreds of Jewish children, earning him the label of the 'British Schindler'. Johnny Flynn (Operation Mincemeat) plays the humanitarian in his younger years, with Bonham Carter (Nolly) also co-starring. Still on BFF's big festival slots, the Colman- (Heartstopper) and Jessie Buckley (Women Talking)-led Wicked Little Letters will close out the 2023 event. The two actors reunite after both featuring in The Lost Daughter, although this time they aren't playing the same character. Instead, they're in a mystery-comedy that's based on a real-life scandal dating back 100 years And, playing as BFF's centrepiece is The Critic, which is where McKellan (Cats) and Arterton (Funny Woman) come in, and Mark Strong (Tár), Lesley Manville (The Crown) and Nikesh Patel (Starstruck) as well. As the name makes plain, it does involve a critic — a theatre specialist, in a whodunnit that's based on the novel Curtain Call by Anthony Quinn. Also a huge inclusion: My Name Is Alfred Hitchcock, the new documentary from The Story of Film's Mark Cousins. This time, the filmmaker turns his meticulous attention to a director like no other, and to plenty of suspense, including featuring footage from the bulk of Hitchcock's classic films. Among the other highlights, war veteran tale The Great Escaper could be Caine's (Best Sellers) last performance; The Old Oak marks the latest from iconic filmmaker Loach (I, Daniel Blake, Sorry We Missed You); The Lesson features Grant (Persuasion), Julie Delpy (On the Verge) and Daryl McCormack (Bad Sisters) in a literary thriller; and musical Greatest Days features Take That's songs. Or, there's Sweet Sue from Leo Leigh, son of Peterloo and Mr Turner director Mike Leigh; the Irish village-set In the Land of Saints and Sinners, which features Neeson (Retribution), Kerry Condon (The Banshees of Inisherin) and Jack Gleeson (Game of Thrones, and also Sex Education); Samuel Beckett biopic Dance First, with Gabriel Byrne (War of the Worlds) as the playwright; Golda, starring Mirren (Barbie) as Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir; Mad About the Boy, a doco about Noël Coward; and Pretty Red Dress, which is set to the songs of Tina Turner. Plus, fans of movies about music can add Squaring the Circle (The Story of Hipgnosis), which hails from Control's Anton Corbijn and hones in on the titular photo-design company and its contribution to record cover art, to their BFF schedule. And, among the retrospective titles, the Mirren-starring Caligula, rock opera Tommy and drama Howard's End are all playing in 4K restorations — with Smith's (The Miracle Club) Oscar-winning performance in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, plus The Remains of the Day, Women in Love and Morgan — A Suitable Case for Treatment also on the classics list.
Catering to our fierce love of seafood over the holiday period, Sydney Fish Market is once again pulling its annual all-nighter so you can get your hands on the freshest ocean treats for Christmas lunch. Each year, the Fish Market — which will be relocated to a $250 million new site come 2023 — capably serves over 100,000 buyers looking to snag a deal. Between 5am on Monday, December 23 and 5pm on Tuesday, December 24, the market is yours to scout out the most sumptuous fish, king prawns, oysters and calamari. The best news is that it's all Australian-sourced, with half of it from New South Wales. It's not only fish here, though. You can also peruse cold meats and cheeses at the deli for a grand charcuterie platter or stop by the on-site bakery and greengrocer. Or, if you're more of a Northern Hemisphere traditionalist, you can even pick up a turkey from the butcher. They sell basically everything here. If you're stuck for gifts, there are plenty of opportunities for that last-minute find. Head to the gift shop, florist, bottle shop or even grab a voucher for a cooking class at the popular Sydney Seafood School.
No matter how gorgeous the surroundings, how lavish the place you're staying and how blissful everyone wants things to be, life's chaos doesn't magically disappear just because you're on holidays. That's one of The White Lotus' key ideas, which it played out to spectacular results in the show's Hawaii-set first season — making it the best new show on TV in 2021, in fact — and which it is currently unpacking again in its Sicily-set second season. Get ready for that concept to get a third go-around as well. In unsurprising but still extremely welcome news, HBO has just announced that it is bringing The White Lotus back for season three — news it revealed just three episodes into season two. Once again, it'll be a case of new year, new vacation season, new gorgeous destination, new cast, keeping the series' anthology format. "Reflecting on The White Lotus' humble, run-and-gun origin as a contained pandemic production, it's impossible not to be awestruck by how Mike [White, the series' creator] orchestrated one of the buzziest and most critically acclaimed shows," said Francesca Orsi, Executive Vice President, HBO Programming, Head of HBO Drama Series and Films, announcing the series' season-three renewal. "And yet, he's only continued to reach new heights in season two, which is the ultimate testament to Mike's raw, unparalleled vision. His courage to explore the uncharted waters of the human psyche, paired with his signature irreverent humor and buoyant directing style, have us all dreaming of more vacation days at the resort we've come to adore. We couldn't be more thrilled to get the chance to collaborate on a third season together." The news comes after The White Lotus hit an all-time ratings high in the US with its third episode of season three — although, given how ace the series is, and how widely loved by both viewers and critics (season one picked up a swag of Emmys just a month before season two premiered), bringing it back for more was always highly likely. HBO and creator/writer/director Mike White (Brad's Status) haven't announced if any of the current characters — or season one's — might return in season three, as Jennifer Coolidge's Tanya McQuoid-Hunt has across its first two batches of episodes. Obviously, before any familiar faces can check into another White Lotus property somewhere else in the world (the location of which also hasn't yet been unveiled), we'll need to see who survives season two first. The show's second season is currently diving into plenty of drama in a stunning setting, with Tanya travelling to the White Lotus hotel in Sicily with her husband Greg (Jon Gries, Dream Corp LLC) and assistant Portia (Haley Lu Richardson, After Yang) — however the former isn't happy that the latter is with them. Plus, Tanya thinks that Greg might be cheating. Also checking in for season two's biting satire of the one percent and class divides: F Murray Abraham (Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities), Michael Imperioli (The Many Saints of Newark) and Adam DiMarco (The Order) as three generations of Di Grasso men, who are on a family holiday to connect with their roots; Aubrey Plaza (Best Sellers) and Will Sharpe (Defending the Guilty) as newly wealthy couple Harper and Ethan, who are vacationing with pals Cameron (Theo James, The Time Traveller's Wife) and Daphne (Meghann Fahy, The Bold Type); and Tom Hollander (The King's Man) as English expat Quentin, who's away with his nephew Jack (Leo Woodall, Cherry). And, there's also Beatrice Grannò (Security) and Simona Tabasco (The Ties) as locals Mia and Lucia; plus Sabrina Impacciatore (Across the River and Into the Trees) as this White Lotus' manager Valentina. There's obviously no trailer yet for The White Lotus season three, but you can check out the trailer for season two below: The White Lotus' third season doesn't yet have a release date — we'll update you when one is announced. The second season of The White Lotus is currently streaming via Binge in Australia and Neon in New Zealand, dropping new episodes weekly. Read our full review.
Get ready to unleash your inner Keanu Reeves or Kate Bosworth: the largest surf park in the southern hemisphere is on its way. Western Australia is already home to top-notch beaches, including the third-best beach in the world for 2023, Australia's best beach for 2022 and the best beach in the South Pacific for last year as well — plus all that coastline and plenty of beloved sandy spots, of course — but global surf park brand Aventuur has earmarked it for a massive site in Perth, too. And that site has just received official development approval. Going as big as possible with its $100-million WA venture — which will feature 25 different types of waves, and is forecast to welcome in a million visitors a year — Aventuur's plans were first announced in 2022. Now, however, Perth Surf Park has one round of go-aheads, thanks to the Metro Outer Joint Development Assessment Panel (JDAP). The project also received a decision by the Western Australian Environmental Protection Authority that it didn't need EPA assessment because it won't have a significant impact on the environment. More regulatory approvals are needed, but the venue is now another step closer to starting construction in late 2023, working towards a late-2025 opening. "This is an incredibly exciting day for Western Australians, and for the Aventuur team," said Aventuur Chairman and Chief Development Officer Andrew Ross, announcing the development approval. "We've been working closely with the WA Government and the City of Cockburn to design an authentic, inclusive and sustainable surf park, and I couldn't be more stoked that we're one step closer to delivering a new community asset for Perth." Clearly, providing breaks and barrels that everyone can surf — no matter your skill level — is one of big aims of Aventuur's Perth Surf Park, which'll take over a 5.8-hectare site on Prinsep Road in Jandakot, adjacent to the Kwinana Freeway and the Cockburn Central train station. That'll include what it's calling a Wavegarden Cove, aka the huge 56-module surfing lagoon that'll be the key drawcard — and will constantly whip up perfect waves. Also set to feature: accommodation, which'll be handy for anyone making the trip west just for some manmade surf action; a beach club; and bars and restaurants. A wellness and recovery centre and a fitness studio will feature as well, and so will a co-working lounge and spaces for functions with waves as a backdrop. Plus, out-of-the-water facilities also include a skate park, pump track and gardens. Start looking forward to for personalised coaching, fitness and surf skate programs as well, and regular events such as outdoor surf movie nights and photography exhibitions. Yoga and meditation retreats will also make the most of the site, as will live music and cultural festivals — and, naturally, professional surfing competitions. Already an avid surfer? Know someone who might be the next Mick Fanning or Stephanie Gilmore? Then get excited about Perth Surf Park's high-performance surf academy. Whether you're a future superstar or just learning, there'll also be a hire store doing board, wetsuit and equipment rentals — so you won't have to bring your own gear with you. While surfers won't be able to live out their Point Break and Blue Crush dreams until the summer 2025, Aventuur signed a long-term ground lease with the Western Australian Planning Commission for its Perth Surf Park site in 2022. With approval now granted by the JDAP, it'll keep progressing towards starting work to transform the Cockburn Gateway precinct into a hub for tourism, sport and entertainment. The venue will also feature five-star Green Star-rated buildings, which'll help it notch up another achievement: being the first surf park in the world with that classification. Manmade waves have been having their moment Down Under of late. Urbnsurf opened Australia's first inland surf park near the Melbourne Airport in 2020, then revealed plans for Brisbane, Sydney and Perth sites. New South Wales' Hawkesbury region is also getting a giant wave pool and luxury resort, the Sunshine Coast is due to welcome Kelly Slater's second surf ranch, and the Gold Coast has been earmarked for an Endless Surf wave pool. And if you're wondering why surf parks keep popping up — especially in a country girt by sea, and therefore surrounded by so many glorious beaches — they're able to provide controlled and reliable conditions, including waves that aren't daunting for newcomers. Perth Surf Park will feature knee-high whitewater for beginners, for instance, as well as ideal waves for experienced surfers. Aventuur's Perth Surf Park is due to open on Prinsep Road in Jandakot, Perth, Western Australia, in 2025. For more information, head to the venue's website.
When the 21st Biennale spreads its artistic arsenal across seven venues in Sydney this March, we plan to be ready. 70 artists from across the globe will be exhibiting their eclectic works under the theme of Superposition: Equilibrium & Engagement in celebration of the 45th anniversary of this explosive festival. In partnership with the Biennale of Sydney, we've curated three different itineraries to arm you with everything you need to navigate this vast and varied program. But let's not forget that an inquisitive, creative-focused brain needs nourishment, so we've thrown in some top food and drink joints nearby as well. The Biennale and the Sydney Opera House have been firm friends since the first festival in 1973, and this year, it's where the magic is set to begin again. Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei will present his keynote speech here, and the iconic building will be the focus of the innovative events within. This itinerary also takes in the Art Gallery of NSW and ends in Woolloomooloo at Artspace in the historic Gunnery Building. THE OPERA HOUSE [caption id="attachment_646890" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ai Weiwei in Human Flow, 2017.[/caption] AI WEIWEI'S KEYNOTE SPEECH Known for his gutsy fusion of art and activism, Ai Weiwei is one of the world's most spoken about artists and a huge coup for the 21st Biennale. In conversation with festival director Mami Kataoka, Weiwei will speak about how his work has changed since he left his native China, his artistic focus on forced migration and much more. A screening of his Oscar-nominated newest film Human Flow will follow, which features 23 countries shot over one year in a powerful exploration of the refugee crisis that is gripping the globe. [caption id="attachment_654211" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Rayanne Tabet: The Dead Sea in Three Parts, 2013. Photograph: Sebastiano Pellion.[/caption] WORKS BY OLIVER BEER AND RAYANNE TABET In a series of original performances, Sydney's most iconic building will become part of the art program — in rather unusual ways. British artist Oliver Beer has utilised his orchestral training and has been researching the building with a peculiar method: by getting the building to sing back to him. He will enlist local vocalists to sing at the building in spaces where it will then sing back to them. And those who love a good mystery can join Lebanese architect Rayyane Tabet as he tells some of the unresolved mysteries of the Sydney Opera House through performance. PITSTOP: POOLSIDE CAFE AT ANDREW (BOY) CHARLTON POOL After a saunter along the water's edge and through the Royal Botanic Gardens — keeping an eye out for the rare White Pied Currawong along the way — take a poolside pitstop for a quick refresh. A swim, a smoothie or a sneaky sip of wine may be just the trick to keep your artful eye astute. The menu at Poolside Cafe is fresh and appetising and served alongside some killer views. Tucked into the back of The Domain, the pool boasts sights of the Woolloomooloo Finger Wharf, and from here, you'll only have a mere hop and skip along a leafy path to your next stop at the Art Gallery of NSW. ART GALLERY OF NSW [caption id="attachment_654219" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Semiconductor: Earthworks, 2016. Photograph: Semiconductor.[/caption] THE BIENNALE ARCHIVE It may be the 21st Biennale, but given it is on every two years, it has been kickin' up the Sydney art dust for 45 years. (We're questioning the maths, too.) Either way, that's a lot of creative events and exhibitions, especially given its nature to expand out into many venues across the city. This year, the Art Gallery of NSW will house a fascinating archival retrospective on the history of the Biennale, showing off more than four decades of worldwide works that have come to Sydney. The venue is especially fitting for such a display, given the AGNSW first partnered with the Biennale in 1976. [caption id="attachment_654212" align="alignnone" width="1920"] CATPC (Congolese Plantation Workers art League) with Baloji and Renzo Martens: The ceremony celebrating the repatriation of the White Cube in Lusanga, 2017. Photograph: Thomas Nolf.[/caption] WORKS BY 17 ARTISTS 17 artists will be on display throughout the gallery. Painter and Wathaurung elder Marlene Gilson sheds light on the indigenous connection to famed historic events like the Eureka Stockade and Melbourne Cup. Cambodian art collective Sa Sa Art Projects takes a look into the history of Phnom Penh's destroyed White Building, while Indian artist N.S. Harsha is behind a twelve-metre-long mirrored display made of cardboard and teak elephants, sure to be an Instagram favourite. PITSTOP: FRISCO HOTEL As you make your way from AGNSW to Artspace, just around the corner from your next stop, you'll find this brightly renovated hotel with an ace balcony overlooking the street and with views of Woolloomooloo Wharf. Like any good nautical-styled bar, rum-based drinks keep the theme alive, with cheeky cocktails like the Sailors Mistress, Summer Fling and Frisco's Spiced Lemonade. Frisco Hotel has a casual menu of pub greats. And if you're just stopping in for a pre-show snack, you'll struggle to decide what to order with the grazing board, pumpkin arancini and chicken tulips with smoked chipotle aioli and slaw all on the menu. ARTSPACE [caption id="attachment_654214" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tiffany Chung: water dreamscape — the gangster named Jacky, the sleepers, and the exodus, 2017.[/caption] AI WEIWEI AND FOUR INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS You wouldn't be blamed for heading to Artspace on a direct mission to check out Ai Weiwei's Crystal Ball, focused on looking smack into the future we could be facing on the other side of our current humanitarian crisis. But while you're there, discover some other works created using polar media and by four other artists. There are the frescoes of Indian painter Tanya Goel, an embroidered textile map of diaspora by Vietnamese creative Tiffany Chung and video projects by Belgian artist Michael Borremans and China's Geng Xue who will present Poetry of Michelangelo, 2015. The 21st Biennale of Sydney sets up across the city on March 16 and will run until June 11. Find out more about the program here, and check out our guides from the MCA to Cockatoo Island and Haymarket's 4A to Carriageworks. Lead image: Ai Weiwei: Law of the Journey, 2017. Photograph: Ai Weiwei Studio.
How does life go on after not just a global Cordyceps infection, but the chaos that the first season of The Last of Us brought? In 2025, viewers will find out. While the hit HBO series isn't returning until next year, the US network has given fans a glimpse in the interim via the initial two images from the new season. Yes, Joel and Ellie are back — and, in their shoes, so are Pedro Pascal (The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent) and Bella Ramsey (Catherine Called Birdy). The pair of first pictures doesn't give away much; however, Ellie has a rifle in hand and Joel is looking as serious as ever, but with longer hair. The Last of Us made the leap from video games to TV in 2023, and was swiftly renewed after proving a massive smash instantly. The series gave HBO its most-watched debut season of a show ever — and its first episode was also the network's second-largest debut of all time. Locking in a second season was also hardly surprising because the 2013 game inspired a 2014 expansion pack and 2020 sequel. For newcomers to the franchise on consoles and as a TV series, it's set 20 years after modern civilisation as we know it has been toppled by a parasitic fungal infection that turns the afflicted into shuffling hordes. Pascal plays Joel, who gets saddled with smuggling 14-year-old Ellie (his Game of Thrones co-star Ramsey) out of a strict quarantine zone to help possibly save humanity's last remnants. There wouldn't be a game, let alone a television version, if that was an easy task, of course — and if the pair didn't need to weather quite the brutal journey. [caption id="attachment_932860" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Last of Us season one[/caption] As a television series, The Last of Us hails from co-creator, executive producer, writer and director Craig Mazin, who already brought a hellscape to HBO (and to everyone's must-watch list) thanks to the haunting and horrifying Chernobyl. He teams up here with Neil Druckmann from Naughty Dog, who also penned and directed The Last of Us games. In season two, Rutina Wesley (Queen Sugar) will also return to the cast alongside Pascal and Ramsey. Kaitlyn Dever (Good Grief), Isabela Merced (Madame Web), Young Mazino (Beef), Ariela Barer (How to Blow Up a Pipeline), Tati Gabrielle (Kaleidoscope), Spencer Lord (Family Law) and Danny Ramirez (Black Mirror) are the season's newcomers, as is Catherine O'Hara (Argylle) as a guest star. There's no clips from The Last of Us season two yet, but check out the trailer for season one below: The Last of Us season two doesn't yet have a release date, other than sometime in 2025. When it returns, it'll stream via Binge in Australia and on Neon in New Zealand. Read our review of the first season. Images: HBO.
There's an intrinsic connection between emerging bands and pubs. The neighbourhood pub is a testing ground; the crucible where garage bands find out whether they've got what it takes to make it in front of a crowd. Who better to help these local legends get their start in the live performing world than Rolling Stone? A household name in music. Rolling Stone AU/NZ has teamed up with Keno for Local Legends, a multi-state gig series that pairs up-and-coming bands with great pubs. There are two gigs going down in May: the first at the Stock Exchange Hotel in Brisbane on Saturday, May 24, and the second at Hotel Steyne in Sydney on Saturday, May 31. Both events are free, with doors opening at 4pm before you wrap your ears around of a lineup of tunes from bands from all over Australia. When the series comes to Manly's The Steyne, get in early for the 5pm opener — indie rock group MARVELL has been selling out shows and sharing stages with the likes of Lime Cordiale and The Grogans, so you won't want to miss it. Things will chill a bit from 6pm, with an acoustic-style set from local indie pop star Charli Lucas and Central Coast-born pop artist Molly Millington. The 7.15 support act will bring the energy back up as New Zealand pop rock trio BORDERLINE take the stage. Having debuted in 2023, BORDERLINE brings a sound that takes inspiration from The 1975 and Coldplay, with pop tunes that often spin into rock and funk territory through their discography. Then the headline act, Melbourne-based pop trio Blusher, will close the night with high-energy sounds that fit right in with A-listers like Sabrina Carpenter and Charli XCX. But unlike seething crowds and pricey tickets to see those two, Rolling Stone Local Legends is free entry, so you've got no reason not to check it out. Rolling Stone Local Legends will take place at Hotel Steyne on Saturday, May 31, from 4pm. For more information, visit the Rolling Stone website. Gamble Responsibly. Think! About your choices. Help is close at hand. Call Gambler's Help, ACT Gambling Counselling and Support Service or GambleAware 1800 858 858 gambleaware.nsw.gov.au or www.gamblinghelponline.org.au.
In 1977, Robyn Davidson decided she would walk west from Alice Springs until she hit the Indian Ocean, taking with her only her beloved dog and four camels. She was determined to do this alone, but, finding herself in need of money, was forced to allow National Geographic photographer Rick Smolan to document her journey. Davidson was told the trek would be suicide, but, undeterred, she set out anyway on her perilous, eventful journey. Filmmakers have been trying to adapt Tracks since the early 1980s, with even Julia Roberts attached in 1993. This is the sixth (and, clearly, the only successful) attempt to bring Davidson's story to the screen, and one has to wonder: what's with all the fuss? Davidson's story is certainly remarkable in terms of human achievement, but given our cinema is notoriously awash with characters undertaking dangerous walks across the unforgiving Australian landscape, do we really need one more? 'Need' is probably too strong a word. It's made. It's here. And all told, it's pretty good. Mia Wasikowska is especially impressive as Davidson, imbuing her with a determination required to sell the character. She delivers lines with a certain brand of confidence so rare in Australian acting. Lines of dialogue that would clearly clang noisily to the ground when delivered by others float effortlessly from Wasikowska's mouth. It's pretty clear why she's enjoyed such international success. Adam Driver, best known from Lena Dunham's Girls, is equally superb as Smolan. Driver is a compelling presence, and though his character is an irritant to Davidson, he is a welcome presence to us whenever he appears. The film's biggest problem is the lack of motivation. Davidson may have felt a compulsion apropos of nothing, but the rules of film are different. If we're to invest in this journey, feel sympathy for our heroine, we need to feel some portion of what she feels. We need to care. And "I felt like it" doesn't quite get us there. This, naturally, almost undermines the entire movie. It's difficult to relate to someone doing something seemingly pointless the hard way, for the sake of doing it the hard way. I suspect Davidson's memoir does a better job selling us on this, but the audience should not be expected to read the book first. That said, it's a testament to the film that it can survive this misstep so well. John Curran's direction is effective and tangible, and Marion Nelson's screenplay depicts Davidson's isolation particularly well. Mandy Walker's superb cinematography makes the landscape seem terrifying and seductive all at once. Title cards at the end inform us what happened next, and give the proceedings an annoying retroactive feeling of unearned worthiness, souring this reviewer at the worst possible moment. Despite this, Tracks is an engaging, beautiful film that overcomes its flaws impressively. https://youtube.com/watch?v=RyDCfuYTX_U
Each month, Netflix adds a whole heap of new movies, shows and specials to its lineup. It's impossible to watch all of them, and if you tend to gravitate towards its big series and films — Stranger Things and The Witcher, plus features such as Marriage Story and The Trial of the Chicago 7 , for instance — that's understandable. But don't scroll your way past the service's comedy offerings. As with everything on every streaming platform, the selection can be a bit hit and miss; however, Netflix was responsible for one of the best sketch comedies of 2019, aka the sidesplitting I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson. In 2020, Netflix is hoping that its latest addition to the genre will also strike a chord, this time with Aussie comedians Aunty Donna at its centre. The troupe's absurdist gags, satire and wordplay is heading to the streamer via the six-part Aunty Donna's Big House of Fun, which'll be available to watch from Wednesday, November 11. As the just-released first trailer shows, viewers are in for silliness galore, as led by Aunty Donna's Mark Samual Bonanno, Broden Kelly and Zachary Ruane. The Office star Ed Helms also pops up, and executive produces the series — with Comedy Bang! Bang!'s Scott Aukerman and David Jargowsky also falling into the latter category. Since forming in 2011, Aunty Donna just keeps expanding its resume. It has played gigs everywhere from the Melbourne International Comedy Festival to Edinburgh Festival Fringe, toured the country several times, made a number of web series and released an album. In a year where we could all use a genuine reason to laugh, Aunty Donna's Big House of Fun adds to that list. Check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BVoYKwTc4E Aunty Donna's Big House of Fun will be available via Netflix from Wednesday, November 11.
Despite their appearance as a fairly humble food item, sandwiches are, in fact, highly contentious. Twitter battles have erupted over whether they should be cut diagonally or straight down the middle (diagonally, of course). Physical fights occurred during 2019's 'chicken sandwich war'. And sambo fans are known to regularly line up for hours to try Katz's Delicatessen's legendary pastrami sandwich in New York City. With that in mind, we've taken the following task very seriously. To help ensure your midweek lunch is significantly more impressive than that sad dask salad you're contemplating for the third day in a row, we've scoured the city to find the tastiest things between two slices of bread. Together with American Express, we've rounded up six OTT sandwiches, from a sky-high chilli chicken sambo to a roll filled with gravy and golden-roasted pork belly.
Mary's monthly hospo party is back for 2019. Jump in the Fire sees Australia's best chefs and sommeliers put their mark on the Mary's brand with one-off food and wine pairings. It all goes down on the last Monday of each month — coinciding with the start of the weekend for many industry workers, but open to one and all. This year's event series kicks off on January 28, when renowned vegan chef Shannon Martinez of Melbourne's Smith & Daughters and Smith & Deli is in the house. She'll be slinging a range of vegan treats from the Mary's kitchen, including a meat-free version of the oh-so popular Mary's burger, vegan fried 'chicken', mash and plant-based gravy and rueben-loaded fries. For drinks, Liz Carey from Wine & Food Solutions will be pouring rare minimal intervention drops from around the world. Some of these special bottles include a pét-nat from Germany, a small-batch red blend from Catalunya and a biodynamic white from Austria. And, of course, there will be raucous tunes blasting, curated by local musicians and mates. To give you a sense of the vibe, the song 'Jump in the Fire' is a track off of Metallica's first album Kill 'Em All — a go-to at the venue. The monthly event remains free of charge, but remember it's a small joint, so get in early to nab a table for your crew.
A boat sails across the ceiling, down the wall and across the crisp white hotel bed, into the carpet. This is no projection, no Photoshop and no witchcraft, but the aquarium-like effect of acclaimed photographer Robyn Stacey's recent experiments with a 5th-century BC technology: camera obscura. During a residency at Melbourne's Sofitel on Collins Street and visits to hotels in other cities, Stacey photographed scenes of exterior cityscapes imposed onto hotel interiors using tools from opposite ends of the technological spectrum, a simple camera obscura and a high-tech Hasselblad DSLR. The result is Guest Relations, a new series on show now at Sydney's Stills Gallery. What can you expect to see? Mysterious people, supposedly guests of the hotel, caught in moments of contemplation while the city hangs suspended above their heads or washes over the walls around them in startlingly sharp definition, suggesting a collision of public and private life. During her residency, Stacey recognised that just a photo of the hotel's famous views would constitute nothing more than a postcard. So she turned to camera obscura to solve the creative problem. "I like layers in work," she says. "The room sort of reveals itself to you." Because of the technical constraints of camera obscura — sometimes there'd only be a 40-minute window to shoot a long exposure of a motionless, torch-lit human subject while the sun was in the right spot — surprises would emerge. For example, in one image, there's "the way the war memorial comes in, the angle it comes in, and how [the female subject] is lying under it. So there's all that thing about, what does a war memorial signify, and what about the fact that she's female? It's open then, for people to read into it how they might." Stacey likes the film-still sense of narrative in the tableaux, raising questions of "What's happened in that room, or why are [these people] there?" The beauty of camera obscura, which she's only been working with since February this year, is that "it's magical. Turn on the light and it’s not there. It only happens in the dark." While hers required a laser-cut hole and a diopter lens, she points out that anyone could make one with black cardboard and a pen to punch the hole through it. She hopes to progress to filming these interiorscapes. "What you get in the room that you don’t get in a still image is movement. Sometimes you get these fantastic cloudscapes. They’re just rolling toward you, and they go all over the bed and the floor. It's like you're in the clouds." Stacey's advice to aspiring artists? She cites the quote often attributed to Goethe: Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. "[There can be] too much thinking and not enough doing. But they have to come together. If you have an idea, don't wait, do it now. It might not come out how you wanted, but it will open into something else. The work will lead you, but you've gotta go into it. You can't stand back from it." Robyn Stacey's Guest Relations is on at the Stills Gallery in Sydney until November 9. See more of her photography in her online portfolio.
Working from home has its perks, like more snacks on-hand and wearing your comfy clothes. By now though, wearing the same baggy tee and pyjama pants day-in, day-out might be growing a little old. Plus, as we move into cooler autumn days, a new cosy jumper and some non-threadbare trackies are pretty much essentials. Online shopping go-to The Iconic has put together a collection of its best loungewear and accessories, so you can upgrade your wardrobe without leaving the house. Because dressing up with nowhere to go is the new norm — and you might as well be comfy. For clothes, you'll find a bunch of Aussie labels all known for their super-comfy athleisure and loungewear. Camilla and Marc and its elevated streetwear label C&M currently have some super-warm knitwear and pullovers available via The Iconic, alongside wardrobe staples such as t-shirts, denim and tailored pants. Sustainable brand AERE has a bunch of flowy linen items for both men and women, including shorts, shirts and dresses. And menswear labels Staple Superior and Academy Brand have a range of hoodies, tees, chinos and track pants. If you're wanting to stock up your own balcony-gym or living room-yoga wardrobe (or another WFH outfit, if we're totally honest), you'll also find a bunch of fashionable activewear. Expect leggings, shorts, crops and more from local labels such as P.E. Nation, eco-conscious label Nimble, Jaggad and Cotton On Body, plus international brands Champion and Puma. And, if you've recently taken up running (or plan to), you can buy some running shoes here. You'll also find everything from slippers to sleek sneakers. Ultimate cosy shoe brand UGG has several styles of slippers, including some extra-fluffy yellow ones, as does Birkenstock. Sneaker-wise, there's an extensive selection of Veja and Puma designs, from simple white leather to multicoloured ones. Or, if you feel like walking around in a pair of stilletos for whatever reason, there are those, too. Best of all, The Iconic is giving Concrete Playground readers $30 off on all orders of $120 or more. All you have to do is head here then enter CPLOUNGE at checkout. The Iconic's loungewear range can be found here. For $30 off your order, enter CPLOUNGE at checkout (offer available until Sunday, April 26). FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
