First birthdays are not all pleasant. Banal observations like "I can't believe it's only been a year!" fly out of people's mouths as unwelcomely as the projectile vomit now covering your brand new button-up (thanks, birthday boy). But upon hearing that Spotify Australia turned one today, we couldn't help but join the chorus of disbelief. It's only been a year? Really? It's hard to remember life before Spotify. The days of trying to 'unmax out' your maxed-out credit card before clicking 'purchase'. Of artists watching through tears as their life's work is torrented to the masses. A year later, it's hard to imagine anything other than clicking that little green button to soak our ears in unlimited, legal music juice. We might not yet have struck the perfect balance between access for audiences versus payment for artists, but it feels like we're getting closer. So for that we'd like to say 'Happy Birthday, Spotify'. Now today, just like the last occasion on which you celebrated a first birthday, is all about gushing and goggling over pretty pictures. And, proud mother that she is, Spotify Australia has shared this super-amazing infographic which you just have to see. The stats are pretty friggen incredible — Australian Spotify users have streamed a mammoth 42.5 million hours of music and have created over 14 million playlists over the past 12 months. (That's over 4000 years of music — which, if played in order, would take about 50 generations to finish. We're talking 6013, guys.) Of those 14 million playlists, over 240,000 playlists have been created about love, romance and/or sex; 150,000 for exercise; and 65,000 for getting through the work day. Also, a whopping 230,000 were created for travel. So if you've ever wanted to scream, "I get it, arts student, your European experience makes you singularly unique", you at least have proof that their playlist probably wasn't. American duo Macklemore & Ryan Lewis and Icelandic indie-pop-folksters Of Monsters and Men dominated our listening habits, taking out Most Streamed Artist and Most Streamed Track/Album respectively. We can now also confirm that Australians like Flume. A lot. Not only was he the most streamed local artist, but he took out three of the top five local tracks of 2012/13. This had little to do with the Spotify habits of Prime Minister Julia Gillard, who eschewed the young producer for the likes of Bruce Springsteen and Midnight Oil. We can't confirm if Julia actually enjoys Midnight Oil or is just playlisting them for the unity of the federal front bench.
Yeah, so this happened. Wellington pub The Green Man decided to go ahead and serve locally-brewed stout beer featuring a cheeky little amount of stag semen. While we're half-heartedly reeling and equally intrigued, we have a lot of questions. Responsible for this drinkable abomination are local Wellington brewers Choice Bros, probably looking for a little free publicity pre-Beervana. Well, they certainly got that. We're assured that the deer semen is "export quality", however that was judged. The stag was apparently "milked" and had a restful sleep afterwards. Warning, you might grab a sick bag for this next bit. According to the brewers, the stout beer apparently has a "creamy" mouthfeel. Ugh. "Everyone so far has swallowed and not spat… The beer itself is excellent. It’s a creamy chocolate stout with coffee notes. The semen… well that’s something you’ve got to experience to describe," pub director Steve Drummond, a man who clearly knows his sexual innuendo, told BuzzFeed. If you can believe it, this is not The Green Man's first time serving semen-infused bevs. Stuff reported that "In 2011 its apple-infused horse semen shots proved popular with women, while 2013 saw syringes of stag semen on offer." God help us all. After doing the calculations of the novelty factor to lifelong trauma ratio, we'd love to hear of any brave, disgusting souls who head down to The Green Man on Victoria Street in Wellington to try this horrific cocktail out. Please, show yourselves. Via BuzzFeed.
The cinnamonny college-tastic whisky known as Fireball is under fire (#sorrynotsorry) this week after some pretty unwanted materials were discovered in a European shipment of the good stuff. According to The Daily Beast, it was revealed that Fireball whisky was being recalled in Finland, Norway and Sweden because the batch contains propylene glycol. Yep, that's a casual compound starring prominently in a little ol' thing called antifreeze. ANTIFREEZE. The chemical that helps protects your car's radiator and de-ices aircraft carriers. You won't be so quick to make a GoPro wedding video downing the spicy stuff now huh? European recipients of the batch in question were understandably unimpressed when the delivery rocked up; apparently the Fireball recipe with high levels of propylene glycol is aiiiight for America though. According to Huffington Post the propylene glycol is used to enhance flavour by absorbing water and is "generally recognized as safe" for use in food by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. But European (and Australian) regulations for food and drink ingredients are apparently tighter than the US — DB reminded us of the time Subway was all geared up to remove azodicarbonamide from its Australian and European bread (yeah, that's chemical commonly used in yoga mats, no biggie). Not in the States though, thing are more lax in the Yoo Ess of Ay. So, Fireball owners Sazerac are legally allowed to put more propylene glycol in their US/Canada bevvies. But don't grab your torches and pitchforks just yet. Sazerac were quick to make embers of this week's uproar, releasing a statement pointing out that propylene glycol is given the a-OK by the FDA in amounts up to 50 grams per kilogram — apparently that's about eight times the amount Fireball has hidden away in its party-starting belly. "Most people consume PG every day in soft drinks, sweeteners, some foods or alcoholic beverages," said the Fireball team, adding that "all Fireball formulas are absolutely safe to drink." "Unfortunately, Fireball shipped its North American formula to Europe and found that one ingredient is out of compliance with European regulations. Finland, Sweden and Norway have asked to recall those specific batches, which is what the brand is doing." Australian batches seem fine for now. Shots anyone? No? Fireball whiskey has antifreeze chemicals in it? So it tastes great and I won't freeze? Make mine a double! — Maddox (@maddoxrules) October 29, 2014 Via The Daily Beast and Huffington Post.
With the holidays just coming to an end, we're all now emerging from prime binge-watching season. So, if you feel like you've glued your eyes to every possible TV show and movie there is recently, that's completely understandable — but the great thing about streaming is that there's always something else popping up, demanding your attention and helping you maintain that comfy groove in your sofa. Returning series releasing their latest seasons, brand new shows that haven't been on your radar, recent favourites that you mightn't have seen, retro classics that are always worth a revisit, flicks that'll keep you talking — they're some of the fresh additions to the streaming world recently, and they're all ready to add to your 2021 watch list. If you're wondering where to start, we've teamed up with streaming platform Binge to pick five must-sees that'll help you start the year with some top-notch viewing. You can view them all on the Australian service, including via a 14-day free trial for new customers.
It might've taken three years, but Netflix has finally produced its first original Aussie series. Shot entirely in Queensland, and providing fuel for your summer binge-watch sessions, Tidelands is a supernatural crime drama series about a fictional fishing village, dubbed Orphelin Bay, with strange inhabitants: a group of dangerous half-Sirens, half-humans called 'Tidelanders'. Cal McTeer (Charlotte Best), a young women who returns to the small village after a stint in jail, discovers the body of a local fisherman and must navigate the town's drug smuggling history while also investigating the Tidelanders, who are led by Adrielle Cuthburt (Elsa Pataky). Eight episodes, each running for 50 minutes, have been made by Brisbane's Emmy Award-Winning production company Hoodlum Entertainment. Available on Netflix since Friday, December 14, Tidelands doesn't just gift Australian users with a new favourite series, with the show landing in all 190 countries that the streaming platform is available in. Thinking you've seen plenty of Aussie stuff on Netflix already? You're not wrong; however there's a difference between throwing old sitcoms and standup specials into a range inexplicably overflowing with new Adam Sandler movies, and actually funding brand new Australian material. Last year, it was announced that they'd join forces with the ABC to co-produce a second season of Glitch, which showed them dipping a toe in the water — but now they're completely diving in. Before watching the entire series, check out the full trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhsjoQLKaiY Tidelands is now available on Netflix.
Mulalo is the bright, bold and energetic Aussie rapper from the western suburbs of Naarm (Melbourne) whose music exploded onto the scene in 2021 with the release of her track 'M31 (Racing Down the Hume)'. What followed was a packed year of making and performing music: warming crowds up for Cakes Da Killa and Triple One, hitting the stage at Bendigo's Groovin the Moo and the release of her instant-hit 'Tracy Grimshaw'. Ahead of her appearing at The Kraken Black Spiced Rum's one-night-only underground Sydney gig, Subterranean Summer, taking place at Marrickville's The Great Club, Concrete Playground's Ben Hansen caught up with the artist to chat everything from collaboration and community in the hip hop scene, to her music's quintessentially Australian references and how she's feeling about sharing the stage with hardcore favourites SPEED and Posseshot. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjNDwcWqzWM If someone isn't a Mulalo fan, who is Mulalo? What's the vibe? If people don't know Mulalo, they're a bit late. Mulalo is me. I'm her. I'm just all about making music for the girls, making music to have fun to. That's who Mulalo is. There's been a lot of change in the local hip hop landscape in the last 10 years — how do you feel about hip hop in Australia right now? I feel like when people thought about rap music in Australia, they were thinking about a very specific type of genre of music, which is fine. But especially being a young immigrant who grew up in [Melbourne's] western suburbs, I see how diverse it is: that wasn't being represented in mainstream rap in Australia. Now it's like you're getting all these young people from all over that are just doing their thing. That's how I think it's changed. And now it's cool, 'cos the people that are actually doing it, I relate to. Do you feel like there's more community now that there's a lot more collaboration? Yes! Every time I go somewhere, I always post it on my Instagram. "People are like 'Oh my god, you're here! Let's meet up, let's hang out!' You get to meet all these people and make sick music." Who's your favourite collaborator to make music with? My two OGs: Nerve and Kuya Neil. Like, those are my boys. They're the best, 'cos they know me. Like, they're me, but in a man's body. Do you have any more songs coming out with them soon? Yes! I do! Like, literally my next few singles are produced by either or. Jumping to the lineup for next week's gig. There's Posseshot and SPEED — is there anyone else in the lineup that you're a fan of? Honestly, I've never seen Posseshot perform, but in my life — from my ex-boyfriend to my friends — they were always wearing the t-shirt. And I was like, who is this? So I'm so excited to see them perform. And I'm excited to see SPEED perform again — I'm gonna be in the mosh. We did a show once together and it was hectic. Were you in the mosh pit that time? I was very much sidestage. I couldn't do it. But you think you might jump in the mosh pit at The Kraken Subterranean Summer? Yeah, I'm gonna get into the crowd. Changing gears, hip hop and punk both came out of resistance and protest. Do you think there's a relationship between the two genres? One hundred percent. Just because people are delivering their message differently doesn't mean it's not an act of protest. I feel like SPEED's message, my message, Posseshot's message are kind of all the same. They're just all delivered differently. Do you see the fans of those genres are receptive to the different kinds of music in a really wide swathe of sounds? I often find that crowds are super receptive of more punk music, more hardcore music, 'cos you know, I turn it up every time. The boys from SPEED support me so much, like on a ground level, and even Posseshot, they've supported me on a ground level. So if the artists are like, 'We write for her', I know that the crowd is going to be open, and like, 'Let's give it a chance, open up our minds to something different'. Last time you played with SPEED, did it gel? Did their fans get around it? It was a very interesting show 'cos it was a hip hop versus rock kinda vibe. Nerve was on the lineup, Barkaa, me and SPEED. And honestly, it was lit. It went off. "The people that were in there were just so open to receiving. Which is what I love about fans of SPEED and Posseshot, they are just so open to receiving music and having a good time and turning it on." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q74Nz5RlG2Y You weave in a lot of local references in your music, whether it's 'Racing Down the Hume' or all the references in 'Tracy Grimshaw'. Is that something that, when you're writing a song, you're setting out to do because you want to make it relatable? Or does it just come naturally? I feel like people think that it's intentional, but anyone that knows me — and, like, talks to me for more than five minutes — knows that I love Australiana culture. I absolutely love it. You'll catch me at the RSL getting a chicken parma and a VB on a weekend. Like, that's my vibe. And then it's just like, why would I reference stuff that's not from where I'm from? Why would my song be called Katie Couric? Like, I watched Tracy Grimshaw and she's an icon. That track will be nice to perform at The Great Club cos it has an RSL, local-club energy. Are you excited to play here, at The Great Club, for The Kraken Subterranean Summer? Do you think your songs will translate well to this venue? I'm a bit nervous for The Kraken Subterranean Summer event at The Great Club cos I'm very different to everyone else that's on the lineup, and I don't know how the crowd will receive me. But I light it up every time. Like, I don't care, I'll light it up every time. When you're performing on a lineup with lots of different bands, are you chatting to other artists? Maybe hooking up collaborations? Or is it a bit nerve-wracking? I'm not going to lie to you, I'm shy. And I also have facial blindness. So when you know people through social media and you're like, 'Is that that person? Is that that person?' You should try this time! I always did say I wanted to do a song with SPEED. I feel like I would kill it. I think it needs to come together. We need to force them to do it. Are you excited when you're performing on a lineup like this that you might introduce someone to a type of music that they had kind of dismissed previously? Yes, definitely. It's good when you have opportunities, like this one with Kraken, where I know it's a challenge. Obviously my people are going to be there, the people that listen to my music are gonna be there, but they won't be most of the crowd. So it's going to be a good challenge. "And I'm doing it for the girls always. I'm gonna show the boys how the girls do it. You know what I mean? I turn it up." Do you ever consider just turning the bass or the 808s up a bit if you're at a heavier show to try and really get the crowd going? Oh, I am notorious for hitting the red. They say: 'Oh, it needs to be at this level'. Me when they walk away: 'Let's blow the speakers, what are we doing? Let's turn up.' Anything else you're really looking forward to at The Kraken Subterranean Summer? Drinking the Kraken! Seriously, for real. I was waiting for them to give me one to try, The Kraken Black Mojito: mint and lime, topped with soda water. I'm gonna get some ice, a nice glass — maybe I'll get one from behind the bar. Have it on stage. Honestly, I wanna reach final form [at The Kraken Subterranean Summer]. This is one of my last shows of the year before I go overseas to South Africa, and I wanna do this sick show. It's gonna be so cool and people are gonna be like, 'That was sick!' and I'm gonna be like, 'Yeah it was! Do you wanna go and get a Black Mojito?' And just turn it up, and see SPEED perform and see Posseshot perform. Hopefully they bring merch. Mulalo takes to the stage at The Kraken Subterranean Summer on Thursday, December 1, at Marrickville's The Great Club. To catch the interview in action, head to Instagram. Top image: Minori Ueda Interview: Ben Hansen
What microwaves did for heating, UK company Enviro-Cool is promising to do for cooling. They've created a drink cooler that takes bottles and cans from room temperature to 5 degrees celsius in just 45 seconds. There's every possibility that the invention, which uses 80 percent less energy than commercial refrigeration, could soon become commonplace in homes, shops and eateries all over the world. Envriro-Cool created the technology, which they've patented 'V-Tex', back in 2007. It's based on a sophisticated application of the 'Rankine Vortex'. A European Commission grant of 930,000 Euros enabled its development into a commercial product. According to the promo video, the EC "recognised that the energy used to constantly chill pre-packed beverages was enormous and an unsustainable strain on our depleting energy resources." Three types of coolers have been developed. There's one suitable to commercial use, powerful enough to replace high-energy use equipment, such as multi-deck open refrigerator, and two domestic-friendly units — one stand-alone and one that can be added to existing refrigerators. It's estimated that, for every fridge replaced, over $1000 in electricity will be saved annually. Trials begin in Holland next month. Via PSFK.
The Olympic Games bring nations together in a worldwide contest of sport and competition. But the Olympics do much more than this too by providing an arena for remarkable triumphs, terrible failures, true perseverance and utter determination. Even through devastating wars, ongoing global conflicts, drastic terrorism acts and natural disasters, nations of the world have managed to unite (almost) every four years for over a century in a demonstration of friendly competition and unity. With the approaching London Olympics, it got us thinking about the spectacular images from past Olympic Games — photos that make you think, laugh, cringe or cry. Here is our pick of the best photographs from each summer Olympic Games throughout history. Athens 1896 - The Starting Gun Fires The first international Olympic Games to be held in the modern era. Being the 'birthplace of the Olympic Games', Athens was a suitable first venue. Athletics events obtained the most international field of the sports on offer, with the major highlight being the marathon; this was the first time the event had been held in international competition. Paris 1900 - Women Compete for the First Time Women donned their sporting caps and get-ups (apparently dresses in those days) for the first time at an international sporting event in Paris in 1900, with Charlotte Cooper being crowned the first female Olympic champion. 1000 competitors took part in 19 sports at these Games, which was held during the 1900 World's Fair. St. Louis 1904 - 3rd Time Not Such a Charm The St. Louis Olympic Games almost became the last due to such poor management. Making the same mistake as Paris did four years earlier, the World's Fair was run at the same time, causing audience members to be lost to other cultural exhibitions and events. Many athletes were also a no-show due to the Russo-Japanese War. London 1908 - Kings, Queens and Cramming London only had a short amount of time to ready themselves for these games as the original location, Rome, had to focus funds on restoring Naples following the destruction of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius two years earlier. The London games saw the setting of the new official distance for the marathon; in an attempt to restore the importance of the monarchy, British officials changed the track to start below the window of the Royal Nursery and finish in front of the King. Stockholm 1912 - Women's Gymnastics The Olympic Games in 1912 was the year of many firsts - and one last. The final Games to issue solid gold medals, Stockholm also held the first Olympics to have art competitions, the first to feature the decathlon and pentathlon, the first to have an Asian nation participate (Japan), and the first death during competition after Portuguese competitor, Francisco Lazaro, died from hyperthermia in the marathon. The Games also had a whopping 48 women compete (most of which appear to be in the Norwegian's Gymnastics team above). Berlin 1916 - A No-Show The Olympics were due to take place in Berlin in 1916, and it was expected to be a grand affair with the development of the new 'Deutsches Stadion'. The stadium was released with a parade, 10,000 pigeons and 60,000 people. If only they could get that many people to turn up to the real event though, because the Games didn't go ahead in this year due to the turmoil embroiling Europe at the time with the outbreak 0f the Second World War. Antwerp 1920 - Return to the Stadium The Games of the VII Olympiad were offered to Antwerp to honour the suffering the citizens had endured during World War I. The Games had originally been set to appear in Budapest, however as a German ally, Hungary, and many other nations such as Germany, Austria, Bulgaria and Turkey, was banned from competing. France appeared strong in the games, as is evident through Suzanne Lenglen's valiant effort on the tennis court. Paris 1924 - The Old Switcheroo Known as 'The Flying Scot', Britain's Golden Boy, Eric Liddell, stubbornly refused to take place in the 100m finals, as the event was to take place on a Sunday. The devout Christian thus decided to simply swap events in favour of the 400m sprint, ignoring the vast differences in distances and strategies. Despite the public's low expectations of his abilities, Liddell managed to not only win the competition, but also tied the Olympic record. Amsterdam 1928 - Jumping for Joy After being denied the ability to play host to the Games in both 1920 and 1924, the Olympics were finally celebrated in Holland in 1928. This was the first games to have an Olympic flame lit during the event and was also the first time that 400m athletics tracks were used. Los Angeles 1932 - Jumping Hurdles Mildred Zaharias wasn't the only one overcoming hurdles and breaking records in 1932, with California attempting to look past the worldwide Great Depression plaguing the globe at the time. These Summer Olympics held less than half the number of participants that competed in its previous location, Amsterdam, because many nations were unable to pay for the trip to Los Angeles. However, this didn't seem to impact the US too negatively as newspapers reported that the Games nevertheless reaped a profit of US$1,000,000. Berlin 1936 - Showing Off After being denied their chance to host the games in 1916, Berlin gained a second opportunity in 1936. The games were held on the eve of the Nazi Regime's rise to power in Germany, which occurred two years later. In an attempt to outdo the Los Angeles Olympics four years prior, the Nazis built a new 100,000 seat track and field stadium, six gymnasiums and many other small arenas. London 1948 - Third Time is a Charm After the Games were cancelled in Tokyo in 1940 and again London in 1944 (due to the Second World War), the Olympics finally returned to the world stage in 1948. Due to the destruction the war had caused in Europe, the games became known as the 'Austerity Games'. No new venues were built for the games and rather than being housed in an Olympic VIllage, athletes were housed in existing accommodation. Helsinki 1952 - A Record Breaking Event Known for being the games in which the most number of records were broken (until the 2008 Olympics in Beijing that is), Helsinki also saw the return and first appearance of a large number of nations. A total of 69 nations competed in the games, a figure 59 higher than that of the 1948 Games. Japan and Germany both appeared this time, along with 13 totally new nations such as The People's Republic of China and the USSR. Melbourne 1956 - Exceeding Expectations Melbourne was selected by a mere one vote margin and many were skeptical of its suitability as the reversal of seasons would mean that athletes would be unaccustomed to the wintery weather at the Summer Games. The Games proved to be a success and later became known as the 'Friendly Games'. Betty Cuthbert (above) was a star for the Australian nation by securing three gold medals, in the 100m, 200m & 4 x 100m sprint relay. Rome 1960 - Frozen in Time After emerging from the quarter and semi-finals of the 100m with the quickest times, German Armin Hary jumped the gun by false-starting twice in the finals. By the third, time, he seemed to have honed his panther-like reflexes to run a speedy 10.2 second and take out the Gold Medal. Tokyo 1964 - Savvy Games The Olympic Games held in the Tokyo in 1964 were the first Olympics to be telecast internationally without the need for tapes to be flown overseas, as was required previously. They were also the first games in which South Africa was barred from participating due to its apartheid system. Mexico City 1968 - Black Power Although you've probably seen this image a thousand times, the use of sport for making overt political statements and to become a vehicle for change, which is embodied in this photo, cannot be ignored. The Black Power Salute, made by African American athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos in the 1968, was a contentious gesture. Ostracised at the time, their demonstration only became recognised as a demonstration for dignity years later. Munich 1972 - Shadows The Games in Munich were largely overshadowed by the Munich Massacre, in which eleven Isreali athletes and coaches, a West German Police Officer and five terrorists were killed. Despite the event, the West German Government was determined to present a new democratic government, after the last games held in Germany was under the Nazi Regime. To this aim, the official motto of the games became 'the Happy Games'. Montreal 1976 - A Perfect Performance Romanian Gymnast Nadia Comaneci made Olympic history in the 1976 Olympics in Montreal by becoming the first female gymnast to ever be awarded a perfect score of 10 for her wondrous display on the uneven bars. Comaneci was also the the first Romanian gymnast to win the all-round event and was only 14 at the time - no wonder she appears to be floating on air. Moscow 1980 - Boycott Because of the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan, the United States and a number of other countries boycotted the games in Moscow. As a result the games garnered a mere 80 participating nations, the smallest number since the 1956 Olympics. All in all a fairly non-eventful Games evidently. Los Angeles 1984 - Yep, another Boycott In retaliation to America's boycott four years prior, this time the Eastern Bloc nations boycotted the games. Seems like the fighting fire with fire approach is being employed here. Seoul 1988 - Cracking Under Pressure In the 1988 Seoul Olympics, the world's best diver at the time. Greg Louganis seemed to crack under the pressure - and that's not the only thing he cracked. In his attempt to complete a reverse 2 and a 1/2 pike somersault, the diver didn't get enough distance from the board and hit his head on the board, requiring temporary sutures. Barcelona 1992 - A Family Affair Renowned 400 metre sprinter Derek Redmond tragically tore a hamstring in the middle of the semi-final race at the 1992 Games in Barcelona. However, after his father tore past the security to go to his son's aid, Redmond was able to fight through the pain to complete a full lap, finishing with a standing ovation from the crowd. Atlanta 1996 - A Bombshell of an Olympics In the middle of the Atlanta Games in 1996, Eric Rudolph conducted his first of four terrorist bombings, killing two people and injuring 111. Rudolph bombed the Centennial Olympic Park, which was designed as the 'town square' of the Olympics. Sydney 2000 - Controversial Cathy Making the history books, Freeman brought glory to the Australian population by claiming the title of winner of the 400m track event. She was only the second ever Australian Aboriginal Olympic Champion. Following the race, the sprinter proceeded to (somewhat controversially and against Olympic norms) take a victor lap carrying both the Aboriginal and Australian flags. Athens 2004 - Making Waves Charnvudth Saensri of Thailand made waves with his strong stroke in the men's swimming 1500 metre freestyle heat in Athens. (Ok he didn't do that well but you can't go past the beauty of the photograph and his sheer determination). Beijing 2008 - As Fast as a Bolt Despite unfavourable wind conditions, Usain Bolt smashed through the 100m sprint world record with a swift 9.69 seconds. If that wasn't enough Bolt then went on to win gold and set another world record in the 200m. This made Bolt the first sprinter to ever break both records at the same Olympics.
Fast-expanding hospitality collective The Point Group has added a spacious Greek restaurant and bar to its far-reaching catalogue of Sydney venues that already includes the beloved Dolphin Hotel and the multi-storey venue Shell House. "We're staying true to Greek cuisine, calling on traditional recipes, cooking techniques and flavours, combined with incredible Aussie produce to present our contemporary take on classic Greek dining," says The Point Group's Culinary Director Joel Bickford. "At the heart of the menu are the essentials; an olive oil program and house made pita, a simple base to build out our menu from." The menu takes full advantage of the restaurant's seasonal produce and both the charcoal grill and woodfire ovens that you'll find in the kitchen. Begin your night with selections from the meze menu. The options are designed to encourage shared dining, with favourites like oysters with greek yoghurt ($4 each) , taramasalata ($14), baby burrata ($10) and kingfish crudo ($18) all here. Other exciting additions you'll find across the menu include dry-aged pork souvlaki ($16), king prawn saganaki ($34), feta and sweet pepper filo pie ($18) and wood-fired beetroot with sumac and fargo ($18). As with all of The Point Group's venues, the drinks list is a main feature and not an afterthought. "We want to create the very best quality wine and cocktail bar whilst embracing the bohemian spirit of Bondi," says restaurateur Brett Robinson. Accompanying an exciting wine list are memorable cocktails like a baklava old fashioned ($23) and Topiko's iced coffee ($23). The expansive venue can seat over 200 people across the dining room, 100-seat bar and outdoor terrace. Open from midday to midnight, it offers a new spot in the bustling eastern suburbs suburb for a snack, a catch-up over a wine or a group feast. Robinson calls it: "The perfect social meeting point, a pre/post-lunch or dinner drink and reliable place for friends to relax or celebrate no matter what time of day or night".
Across six seasons, Netflix's Chef's Table added plenty of high-profile additions to everyone's culinary bucket lists, celebrating the stellar kitchen skills of talents such as Massimo Bottura, Francis Mallmann and even Attica's Ben Shewry. For the streaming platform's next delicious adventure, it's re-teaming with the documentary series' creators for another food excursion — this time focusing on both famous and lesser-known players in the global street food scene. Available to binge now, the aptly titled Street Food hops around the planet to showcase hawker stallholders, food carts and other folks making a big impact in their small street kitchens. In the show's first nine-episode season, Asian cuisine is on the menu. Get ready to get hungry for dishes from Thailand, Japan, India, Indonesia, Taiwan, South Korea, Vietnam, Singapore and The Philippines. Each country earns its own episode, focusing on various local street food heroes, their stories of hard work and perseverance, and the cultural context behind their cuisine. In Bangkok, the well-known Jay Fai takes viewers through her story, while Delhi's Mohamed Rehan whips up a buffalo stew that's been tempting tastebuds since the 1800s, and Chiayi's Uncle Goat cooks in a giant oven cave. Over in Osaka, Mr. Kita has one of the oldest takoyaki stalls in the city, and Singapore's 85-year-old Master Tang has been making wanton noodles since he was orphaned in World War II. Already feeling your stomach rumble? Check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eI_LjETc_Ak Street Food is available to stream on Netflix now. Images: Martin Westlake/Jisang Chung/M.Synchrony/Netflix. Updated: May 28, 2019.
Delicate jewellery and nostalgia-tinged womenswear is the department of designer Naomi Murrell, who works out of her studio in Adelaide. While her clothes are sold nationwide and have been featured in the pages of Frankie, Yen and Marie Claire, Naomi is a champion for her hometown and its vibrant, growing design and maker scene. In partnership with Pullman Hotels and Resorts, we're helping you explore more on your next holiday and make sure you get those experiences that the area's most switched-on residents wouldn't want their visitors to miss. In Adelaide, we've called in Naomi, whose favourite spots range from an artist-driven tattoo studio to a new retail and event space run by an indie rock power couple. A stay at Pullman Adelaide will not only put you in the thick of all this action, it will let you contemplate all you've seen in five-star luxury at the end of the day. Read on for Naomi's top Adelaide art and design hot spots in her own words, and check out the rest of our Explore More content series to hone your itinerary for some of Australia's best holiday destinations. NAOMI MURRELL Of course I'm biased, but our store is definitely the go if you're looking for a fun outfit or gift. We design minimal, on point yet irrepressibly playful womenswear and fine jewellery. Situated on a relaxed laneway in Adelaide's East End, we stock Naomi Murrell alongside a curated selection of awesome designer pieces including Kowtow, Vege Threads, Kester Black, Spring Court, Bonne Maison, W Pico and Julie White. ENSEMBLE Located on Gilles Street in the city, Ensemble is a collective of like-minded creatives on a mission to bring you beautiful, timeless, style-driven pieces and experiences. These gals have got you covered for hip sustainable threads by Good Studios (Anny Duff), organic bedding and loungewear by Weft Textiles (Samia Fisher), artisan footwear by BB Shoemaker (Beccy Bromilow), E-S-T (Emma Sadie Thomson) greenery and other bits and pieces of handmade designer awesomeness. Look out for pop-up art shows, creative workshops and yoga classes in their gallery space as well. AGOSTINO & BROWN Hidden down an undiscovered city laneway, this spacious warehouse furniture showroom housing the work of Sam Agostino (designer) and Gareth Brown (stellar furniture craftsman) is a very inviting place. Stunning modern, playful pieces with pops of colour and loads of timber await — all finished with impeccable quality. Pieces are made locally in their workshop and many styles are customisable for your own interior space, whether it is residential or commercial. These guys are at the top of many an Adelaide designer and architect wishlist. Agostino & Brown pieces feature in the interiors of both our shop and studio. CULT AND HARPER A new venture by an indie rockstar couple — visual artist Lisa King and musician Jarrad Jackson — Cult and Harper is many things: a retail store, a gallery, a cyclorama photo studio, a bar and event space, and a home to art and DJ types. It is 450 square metres of art, fashion and culture coming at you with a New York-inspired street art vibe. Giant fashion-influenced murals by Lisa collide with posters of Basquiat and Warhol, Keith Haring-esque murals, loads of neon, crimson velvet shell couches and a rad collection of vintage brass furniture. PUSH PIN BOUTIQUE Push Pin Boutique is a darling vintage store housed in the prettiest rustic old building right near the Adelaide Central Markets. It specialises in 1950s-era frocks but also stocks froth-worthy garments, footwear and accessories from the 1940s to 1980s in a great selection of sizes for contemporary women. Owner Clare Matthews has wonderful taste, and the pieces she curates are always perfect for pairing with current trends, whether it's a '70s denim button-through skirt, a white mohair sweater or a camel-coloured French trench. You can always find that special something to add to your collection here. JAMFACTORY A unique not-for-profit organisation housing ceramics, glass, furniture and metal design studios, plus a gallery and design store, JamFactory is dedicated to providing the skills and business training in craft and design to emerging practitioners through a rigorous two-year program. The gallery and store showcases quality contemporary Australian design wares, including works by respected local designers such as Daniel To and Emma Aiston of Daniel Emma, Alice Potter, Sarah Rothe and Peta Kruger. Well worth a look-see! AFRICOLA Strictly speaking, Africola is a restaurant. A very good one. But with an interior fit out designed by James Brown and the gang at Mash, it's more like an intimate gathering at the home of an idiosyncratic art dealer. A dizzying confection of colour, canvases, tiling, lighting and kitsch furniture is all squished together in one amazing experience that will get your tastebuds — and, in fact, all your senses — buzzing. The words emblazoned above the bar, 'Don't Worry It's Only a Dream', serve as reassurance that you are (probably) not tripping and as encouragement to relax and enjoy this culinary wonderland. HUGO MICHELL GALLERY Hugo Michell in Beulah Park is hands down the most refreshing contemporary gallery in town. These guys show a fantastic selection of art by the likes of Miso, Ghostpatrol, Amy Joy Watson, Trente Parke and Lucas Grogan, to name just a few of my personal favourite exhibitions. Hugo has an eye for curating engaging, visually arresting and often very beautiful art shows with an exciting roster of local and interstate professional artists, all at the top of their game. TREADLY BIKE SHOP Treadly is the place to go if you want to build a bike, service a bike, or buy a bike or accessory, if you ride a bike or just wanna talk bike. Sam Neeft and his team of cycling aficionados and mechanics are down to earth, helpful and very enthusiastic about helping anyone with pretty much anything bike related. They also organise fun events such as the Boucle de Burbs and other adventures to encourage the cycling community to hang out and go riding together. And they do it in style with some very attractive bicycles. XO L'AVANT @ THE MILL XO L'Avant is an artist-driven contemporary tattoo studio, run by the loveliest crew ever at The Mill (a CBD co-working space also home to many other talented creative types). Founded by the talented Jaya Suartika (@jayaism), and featuring other resident artists such as Kyle Woodman (@yeahdope), Alex Harris (@folkandpoke) and Nadia Suartika (@__nadika__), the diverse range of illustrative styles on offer are original, amusing, delicate and always on point. Explore more with Pullman. Book your next hotel stay with Pullman and enjoy a great breakfast for just $1.
As the NSW bushfire tragedy continues, a number of articles have appeared discussing the various ways a home may be fireproofed. There are miraculous treatments such as this fire-retardant gel, but how do you build for the bush? It's certainly possible. Incredibly, in the 1970s Sydney architect Glenn Murcutt designed a house so safe that its owner moved many actual drums of petrol from the garage into it before a bushfire surrounded the property. In the States an extremely old, fire-safe construction method is currently trending: the rural Japanese tradition of shou-sugi-ban. Roughly translated as 'burnt cedar board', shou-sugi-ban supposedly dates back to the 1700s, when it was used primarily to safeguard against fire and to preserve the wood against rot. So how does shou-sugi-ban work? The reasoning goes, if wood has already been charcoaled, it's unlikely to catch fire a second time. Similar in principle to the weathering of steel, where oxidisation creates a protective barrier, wood is first scorched with a controlled method of burning then brushed with a stiff broom to remove excess soot. Next it's washed and dried, and finally treated with an oil like Penofin Verde. It just happens to look fantastic, with many shades and finishes achievable, depending on how long the wood is burned. Usually a paint or a stain is required to darken wood to an attractive chocolate hue with rustic texture, and both methods are subject to fading and degradation. But not shou-sugi-ban. Apart from providing resistance to flames, the charred wood also repels insects and rot. This makes it durable and long-lasting. A standard cedar might decay after five years, whereas the owner of a low-maintenance shou-sugi-ban wall or fence could expect 30 years without decay, which is a pretty dramatic difference. For this reason, as well as its visual attractiveness, lately it's appearing in many restaurants around the Bay Area in California. Companies like Shou-Sugi-Ban in the UK and Delta Millworks in Austin, Texas (a land where it is said that cowboys mingle with punks) have mastered how to artfully scorch reclaimed wood for beautiful and practical built spaces. We hope to see more of it popping up on our shores. Via PSFK
What is more real and more hilarious than life experience? Nothing. Which is why Sydney should brace itself for The Horse's Mouth. For the second time ever, Tamarama Rock Surfers Theatre Company has secured a killer group of local, interstate and international artists for the return of Sydney's only festival of autobiographical performance. Packed full of weird and wonderful tales, the festival will showcase the (sometimes) deeply personal and (usually) hilarious genre, at the Rock Surfers' home, The Bondi Pavilion. Perhaps the most anticipated performance of the festival will be Nassim Soleimanpour's White Rabbit Red Rabbit: a show performed cold, by a different actor each night. That's right, each ballsy actor will open the script for the very first time in front of an audience, with talent such as Alan Flower, Zoe Norton Lodge and Sopa Enari set to take on the challenge. A fascinating concept? Or a disaster waiting to happen? "I actually have no idea what this play is about. Absolutely no idea," says Norton Lodge, who'll be performing on Saturday 7th. "I have an intense child in me who wants to Google the shit out of it, but I haven't." Preparing for the play you're not allowed to prepare for can be pretty absurd. "I don't even know what I should wear," she says. "My method so far has been to have a protracted panic attack. But that's pretty stupid. It’s very pointless to worry about something you cannot control or prepare for in anyway. So that brings me to phase two. Sweep it under the rug and pretend it's not there." And really, what's the worst that could happen? "I come from a comedy background, so I'm a bit worried about having to get mega in touch with some serious feelings. But who knows, it could be racist. That would be worse. Why am I doing this...?" And with The Horse's Mouth marking its Sydney premiere, White Rabbit Red Rabbit is sure to deliver, having already received rave reviews worldwide. But it certainly won't be the only work exploding onto the Bondi stage. Award-winning comic David Quirk presents his part-tribute, part-confessional Shaking Hands with Danger, and The Wild Finish is a mesmerising work from New York theatre-maker Monica Hunken. Ado Saves the Gay World is an intimate musical comedy by Adriano Cappelletta, while Jimmy Dalton delivers All Made Up, an unusual show performed backstage in the Pavilion dressing room. "I am really looking forward to seeing Bron Batten's Sweet Child of Mine," says Norton Lodge. "It's amazing. It's got everything. Dancing. Extreme Braveness. Actual Parents. Actual Butt. I am really excited to see it again." Batten's play — which sees the artist's 60-year-old father appear on the stage with her — is among the six fresh and highly unique pieces on offer over the two-week period. In Norton's words, "There is only really one story you can tell better than anyone else. It's yours, baby ... All the crippling feelings, mangled memories and intricate detail are all there in your brain, waiting to blossom out of the caterpillar of your mind into the butterfly of your play." And who doesn't want to watch that happen?
UPDATE March 14, 2017: We'll admit when we're duped. We done got duped. The Frango's Delivery Service Facebook page has revealed their true colours as an unofficial, fake page. Frango's is tragically not offering delivery. Unleash the hounds, we can take it. Have you crossed the city for Frango's? You've crossed the city for Frango's. This Sydney institution's celebrated charcoal Portuguese chicken is the juiciest around and their ever-bustling, no-nonsense stores have one of the biggest cult followings in the city. Their secret sauce haunts our food dreams, and a mere mention of a Frango's chicken burger can trigger unstoppable, ranting praise. Now, to further fuel the mad ravings of Frango's fanatics, they're starting their own delivery service. Seriously. Frango's. Delivered. The first post to the Frango's Delivery Service Facebook page was only two days ago and yet the page already has over 1200 likes. Sydneysiders are losing their collective shit over this news, sharing on social by the handful, and we're right there with them. Delivery will gloriously run seven days a week, but only out of their Petersham shop for the time being. Before you rush to the phone, though, you'll have to wait a little longer to dig in at your desk — delivery services won't start until the beginning of April, so watch this space for the green light. Top image: Emmy Smith. Featured image: @ajsastulanovic via Instagram.
Those who are familiar with the Zetland log cabin-style eatery will be delighted to hear that it has finally made its way to the north shore, taking up residence in the dining strip of Willoughby Road. In its own words, the second outpost is 'more restaurant like', with the bright, airy interior once again brought to life by Otto Design Interiors. If you're craving a simple (but delicious) meal at a reasonable price, you'll want to make tracks here. Practically all bases are covered with offerings of seafood, salads, steaks, burgers, tacos and poke bowls on the menu. Standouts include the classic fish and chips, fish pie and the Ora King salmon. Featuring a concise list of mostly Australian wines and beers, as well as a solid children's menu, it's a great spot for a family meal out.
You've heard the old adage that it's the little things in life that make us happy, right? Well, something as simple as a cheap but damn fine coffee certainly fits that bill — and given that new cafe Little Evie Redfern roasts theirs in house and charges an affordable $3 per cup, they must agree. Setting up shop on Bourke Street, the inner west's latest boutique coffee spot will satisfy your daytime caffeine cravings every day or the week. They'll also serve up homemade cakes to go with it, because taking care of business on the premises is what this new eatery is all about. Fancy a just-baked peanut butter cookie with your fresh-roasted cuppa, anyone? If you're after something more substantial food-wise, expect banana bread with ricotta and strawberry, breakfast bruschetta with horizon and haloumi, and lemon myrtle-cured salmon with scrambled eggs on Little Evie's all-day brekkie menu. Lunchtime options include sandwiches, salads, burgers and soups, aka the perfect kind of homemade fare. And if you're not a coffee fiend — because they do exist — then jugs of house-made soda, six types of cold-pressed juices, a range of shakes and smoothies, a sizeable wine and choice of four Aussie beers should satisfy your thirst.
Conversation Piece directed and choreographed by Lucy Guerin, begins with an improvised conversation between three dancers, Alisdair Macindoe, Harriet Ritchie, and Rennie McDougall. The quotidian chat is recorded on iPhones and used as base material for the performance that follows. The exchange is different each night. Joining the dancers on stage are three actors: Alison Bell, Megan Holloway, and Matthew Whittet. The show is something of an experiment. Guerin devised the work in collaboration with the performers, and the result isn't so much a blend between dance and theatre as a meeting. The contrast between the dancers and actors is clear and at times hilarious. Bell and Holloway try to follow a choreographed routine at one point with comic results, and Whittet's attempt to resist the lyrical advances of Macindoe is wickedly funny. Conversation Piece is a bit empty as a play and indeed makes more sense as a dance piece or even perhaps anti-theatre. The language used in this show is abstracted and words are almost treated as found objects. The show has much in common with Peter Handke's 'Sprechstücke' or 'speak-ins', which use words to form language criticism rather than well-made plays. As with Handke’s works, Conversation Piece uses words as toys to be played with rather than vessels of expression or description. In fact, there couldn't be a better example to support the argument that words do not hold meaning; rather, it is their use that is meaningful. Bell rendering some of Ritchie's banal comments into vicious condemnations is a prime example. The music created by the performers with their iPhones is hugely enjoyable, and Robin Fox's sound design mostly supports the action on stage. A few of her choices seem an odd fit though, such as Johnny Cash's version of The Mercy Seat playing during a choreographed sequence. The song is extremely lovely, but stands out as a grand emotional wash against the otherwise very detailed production. Other than this moment, the piece never hands us grand narratives or sentimentality. Instead, we're treated to a joyful string of conversations between technology, language, and movement.
There are a lot of things to like about The Dock, and this is the first. I walked in on a Monday night, ordered a Stevie Nicks and was charged $10. I looked at the bartender with an expression of great confusion until he explained it was $10 cocktails Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. Hoorah! The Stevie Nicks is a mixture of Amaretto, Carter Premium lager and Coke. I know it sounds odd, but it's surprisingly tasty and nothing else tastes quite like it. This cocktail is also served with the remainder of the beer on the side, so you can top it up if it's too sweet for your liking. After we sat down on the comfortable high tables, we were delivered a bowl of free popcorn. In my opinion, this salty snack should replace gross bar nuts the world over. Next cocktail was the Rusty Nipple, the house cocktail invented by Jed Clarke (formerly the infamous Beer Baron) who runs the joint. It's made up of rum, whiskey, ginger ale and a few other secret ingredients. The result tastes almost like an iced tea with a citrus tang. It goes down very easily - a good choice if you don't like tasting the alcohol in your drink. Next in line, The Bloody Mary, was expertly made with a cornichon, floating pickled onions and just the right amount of spice. If you've downed a few cocktails and decided your self-imposed 10pm curfew needs to be thrown out the window, try one of their shots. With titles like Flamin' Moes (a concoction of absinthe and a some other unnameables which is served burning like the devil's favourite tipple), you know you're in for a good night that you'll only have hazy memories of tomorrow. With Sinatra crooning in the background and super personable bartenders, it's equally the kind of place you could go for a quiet night, sipping on the excellent Carter lager (if you find a great bottled beer for $7 anywhere else I'll buy it for you), and maybe a Whiskey Sour or an Old-Fashioned as a night cap. If they decided to replace the 'vintage' beer posters, this place would be just about the perfect local watering hole to drink good alcohol without paying an arm and a foot. Watch this space, we hear talk of a regular fashion market on Saturdays with $10 cocktails on offer. Images: Katje Ford.
Sydney is set for a new dose of traditional Cantonese cooking next month when Canton! Canton! opens in the CBD. The restaurant is by the Jewel Pantry Group, a dining group focusing on cuisines from the Asia-Pacific, which launched just last October. And it has taken over the old Tim Ho Wan Sydney outposts (and nabbed its chef) on George Street and Pitt Street Mall. Tim Ho Wan — the world's cheapest Michelin-starred restaurant — launched in Sydney in late-2015, before suddenly closing last year. While the Jewel Pantry Group has taken over the chain's former CBD outposts, there's no word yet on what will happen to Tim Ho Wan's Chatswood's store, which is also closed. The first of the dining group's venues to launch will be Canton! Canton!, which will take over the George Street site in mid-February. The 68-seater will have Executive Chef Jacky Chan at the helm, who used to run the kitchen at Sydney's Tim Ho Wans. He boasts 28 years' experience cooking Chinese fare, with a special career focus on dim sum — he's trained with top Hong Kong chefs and held the title of head dim sum chef at Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore, too. Patrons can expect yum cha, barbecue pork buns and Chinese teas from 11am, followed by barbecued duck, pork and chicken, roasted in-house daily. For dinner, there'll be mains like braised pork belly with preserved veggies, alongside an extensive wine list and a signature Hong Kong-style caramelised Malay cake for dessert. Three banquet menus will also be on offer. [caption id="attachment_518017" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Shumai at Tim Ho Wan.[/caption] The fit-out is courtesy of interior designer Dorian McCartney (Hydra Design) and architect Raymond Teo. The design is inspired by the street markets of Canton, with 'opium bed' booths and antique tea crates previously used by Chinese shipping merchants. The hospitality group's second venue, Mr. Fatt, will open in the Pitt Street Mall site later this year as a 12-seat takeaway joint. While Canton! Canton! leans towards tradition, Mr. Fatt will instead offer a modern fusion of Singaporean and Malaysian fare. And you can expect more restaurants to join The Jewel Pantry Group's portfolio in coming months, with a Hainan rice specialty on the menu. Canton! Canton! will open mid-February at Shop GD004, 580 George Street, Sydney, with Pitt Street Mall's Mr. Fatt to follow later this year. Keep an eye on this space for opening date and hours. Image: Executive Chef Jacky Chan.
If you've heard all the fuss about The Dolar Shop, you'll be happy to know the Chinese/Macanese hot pot empire is on our shores. With 53 global restaurants under its belt, the group chose Market City's 1909 Dining Precinct for its flagship Australian store. Joining Chongqing noodle spot Mr Meng, DIY Korean barbecue joint Kogi, sushi burger joint Gojima and Ashfield's Beijing Impression in the fancy food hall, the 200-seat eatery is serving up an authentic taste of Macanese fare. For the uninitiated, that's a bold blend of Portuguese and Cantonese cuisines. It's a venue primed for big share feasts, with the menu filled with options for customising your ideal hot pot banquet. Once you've selected the various elements, a pot of stock arrives at your table, to then simmer on the hot plate while you cook your chosen ingredients. Base broth varieties run from a light chicken consommé, to the gutsy Szchuan 'hot & spicy' number, both to be teamed with various cuts of premium meats, fresh seafood and vegetables. You'll find top-quality wagyu, fresh noodles, signature dumplings and just about every type of mushroom you've ever heard of. And the seafood offering is huge, with options like Tasmanian red lobster, blue swimmer crab, live prawns and local abalone making for some pretty pimped-out seafood hot pots. Before you start cooking, hit The Dolar Shop's dedicated sauce bar to get creative with the condiments, or let the menu guide you towards one of the suggested sauce pairings. The space itself is elegant, decked out with a healthy dose of marble and metallics, and there's even a trio of sleek private dining rooms for those who want to take their hot pot experience to the next level. Images: Anna Kucera.
Situated on the ground floor of Western Sydney University, relaxed eatery Mikazuki is popular for its extensive menu of Japanese favourites, ranging from udon and ramen to sushi and tempura. When all other mid-study lunch options fail to inspire, you can always find a certified winner here. For a quick lunch between meetings or classes, opt for a yuzu avocado salad topped with sliced salmon sashimi; the rainbow roll with salmon, kingfish, tuna, ebi, avocado and crab mix; the chicken katsu curry; or a poke bowl. If you're after something more substantial, Mikazuki's specialty dishes include a wagyu beef bowl with crispy onion, salmon roe and an onsen egg; baked scallop and rice in a creamy, spicy sauce; the fiery volcano ramen; and the chef's omakase sushi and sashimi platters to split among your crew (or just attack solo, if you're so inclined). The venue serves lunch between 11.30am and 3pm every day and reopens for dinner at 5pm or 5.30pm on Saturdays. With outposts in Eastwood, Chatswood, Strathfield, Riverside, Parramatta and Haymarket, Mikazuki has really stretched its presence across Sydney, serving up casual Japanese fare to all and sundry.
The Christmas decorations are up and All I Want For Christmas Is You has crawled its way back to the top of Mariah Carey's most popular songs on Spotify. That can only mean one thing – the most wonderful time of the year is almost here. And though it may be daunting to start thinking of the holiday already in November, the fact that you are thinking about it means you can be prepared this year. Every year you promise yourself you'll start your Chrissy shopping earlier, and this year the gift-giving gurus at hardtofind are going to help you finally follow through. Curated marketplace hardtofind offers genuinely different gifts, homewares and fashion online, but now they're bringing their market to the real world. Teaming up with EQ Moore Park, hardtofind is kicking off a new monthly market just in time for Christmas, bringing their wares for Sydneysiders to peruse in real life. Think artworks, jewellery, home and garden accessories, clothing, knick-knacks and do-dads — you name it, they've probably got it. And the best part is, heaps of the gifts can be personalised with a name, monogram, message or date for that extra-special touch. With two pre-Christmas markets and a return in early 2018, the hardtofind market will run on Sunday, November 26 and Sunday, December 17. So, whether you're a super-organised elf or a last-minute Scrooge, you have plenty of chances to get your Chrissy shopping wrapped up.
If you've been dreaming of that perfect European summer, or have had your feed flooded with uber-popular and super-trendy French pastries, then this brand-new boutique bakery-slash-cafe is calling your name. Frenchies Bakery & Pâtisserie is the new venture from the team at Frenchies Bistro & Brewery, arriving with handcrafted French delights to the streets of Rosebery. Following the success of the team's original brewery and its attached dining room, the Frenchies team has traded craft beers for flaky croissants at its new venture — located just two doors down from the OG venue in the suburb's The Cannery building. "We developed a reputation for our bakery items during the lockdowns, so much so that even after they ended, we were often asked when these products were coming back," said Thomas Cauquil, co-owner of the new locale. "So, it's this demand for French-style bakery products in the area, paired with our passion for baking, that ultimately inspired the launch of Frenchies Bakery & Pâtisserie." The stylish newcomer is serving up freshly baked treats daily from an inviting cafe-style bakery space. Take your pick from the sweet and savoury selections on offer, which are created utilising classic French baking techniques with a modern flare and using only the best of fresh, local produce. At Frenchies Bakery & Pâtisserie, you can expect to find an array of classic French viennoiseries (baked goods) like crispy kouign-amann and warm, buttery pain au chocolates — so you can have your very own Emily in Paris moment — alongside gorgeous pâtisseries including the pistachio and raspberry religieuse, and chocolate, hazelnut and vanilla entremet. Plus, there is sourdough aplenty and some hefty lunch options. Think baguette sandwiches featuring house-made pork rillettes, hearty pies and specialty coffee from The Little Marionette. To top off the offerings, there is a selection of handcrafted cakes designed specifically for events. If you've wanted a millefeuille for your birthday, a croquembouche for a christening or a fruit-forward pavlova fit for any occasion, you'll find them all here. You'll find Frenchies Bakery & Pâtisserie at 4/61–71 Mentmore Ave, Rosebery. It's open 7am–3pm Wednesday–Sunday.
Whether it's in the insect-dappled heat of an outdoor cinema or in the sweet smack of an airconditioned theatre, summer is the season of movies. We just have more time for leisure this time of year, and not all of it can be spent running and swimming around. Many of the year's biggest releases are coming out in the next three balmy months. These are the ones you should start getting excited for now. https://youtube.com/watch?v=wceaLzbtuDY The Spectacular Now Out: Now A teen movie about a cool guy and a dorky girl falling in love that's somehow real and honest? It's a Christmas miracle. https://youtube.com/watch?v=WRY2ogQpbvg Kill Your Darlings Out: Now Daniel Radcliffe kills off the memory of Harry Potter with a convincing portrayal of US beat poet Allen Ginsberg for which he has a heady trinity of straight sex, gay sex and self-sex. https://youtube.com/watch?v=h5Cb4SFt7gE American Hustle Out: December 12 Clearly knowing he was on to a good thing, Silver Linings Playbook director David O. Russell reunites Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper and adds Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Robert De Niro and Louis CK. Other good omens: this screenplay once made the famous 'Black List' of unproduced screenplays and used to be more blatantly titled 'American Bullshit'. https://youtube.com/watch?v=Elczv0ghqw0 Anchorman 2 Out: December 19 If that maxim about the strength of the marketing being inversely proportional to the quality of the film holds true, Anchorman 2 will be the worst movie ever. Still, we've got our fingers crossed for this sequel ten years in the making. https://youtube.com/watch?v=OPVWy1tFXuc The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Out: December 26 There's nothing like Boxing Day tradition, and Peter Jackson and Warner Bros. Pictures are hoping that yours only grows stronger with a fifth year of epic Tolkien adventure. It's a no brainer. https://youtube.com/watch?v=ksrkKXoEJbM The Railway Man Out: December 26 The combination of Colin Firth and Burning Man director Jonathan Teplitzky make The Railway Man worth seeing. It's also the go-to Boxing Day film for people who like crying and catharsis around the holidays. https://youtube.com/watch?v=0XBPEUXMtMw The Secret Life of Walter Mitty Out: December 26 The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is Hollywood at its best. Deeply funny, optimistic, life-affirming and full of pretty pictures, the film follows a quiet LIFE magazine staffer, played by Ben Stiller, who learns to seize the day. Kristen Wiig is in it, too, so yay. https://youtube.com/watch?v=rETaWDZ57v0 Short Term 12 Out: December 26 Hot for: This is all a bit deep and wounded for a Boxing Day release, but try it, okay? With one of those hard-to-summarise plots centring around the kids and their barely adult supervisors at a temporary foster care facility, it's compulsively watchable and super emotional. https://youtube.com/watch?v=rD8f9kn7D2U Philomena Out: December 26. On the one hand, Philomena looks a bit fusty and British. On the other, it's written by Steve Coogan, directed by the indomitable Stephen Frears (The Queen, High Fidelity, Dangerous Liaisons, etc etc), stars Dame Judi Dench and will probably kick arse if you give it a chance. https://youtube.com/watch?v=9Hd_uO72h1s August: Osage County Out: January 1 This may look like blatant Oscar bait, but it's too fucked up for that. Which isn't to say it won't win anyway, with incredible performances from Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts, among a star-studded ensemble cast. Based on probably the best play of the last decade, it's genius-level hilarious. https://youtube.com/watch?v=6dRuGwS1gWU The Book Thief Out: January 9 Your favourite adorable Nazi Germany bibliophilic bildungsroman has been made into a film. Now with extra adorableness thanks to the girl child from Monsieur Lazhar. Saving Mr Banks Out: January 9 Disney engages in a spot of personal myth-making with a story about the meeting of Walt Disney and PL 'Mary Poppins' Travers. A bit off-putting, but it involves Emma Thompson being excellent as the steely Travers. https://youtube.com/watch?v=ne6p6MfLBxc Her Out: January 16 Anticipation is through the roof for this, the dystopic love story from cult filmmaker Spike Jonze (Where the Wild Things Are, Being John Malkovich). Joaquin Phoenix is the brooding protagonist, and Scarlett Johansson is the operating system he falls in love with. https://youtube.com/watch?v=fmyglO2Zr0E Inside Llewyn Davis Out: January 16 You can't not pay attention to a Coen Brothers release. It's not heavy on plot, but proceedings definitely include a '60s folk singer, a cat and Carey Mulligan. https://youtube.com/watch?v=iszwuX1AK6A The Wolf of Wall Street Out: January 23 If you thought Leonardo DiCaprio was draped in obscene riches in Gatsby, you ain't seen nothing yet. This three-hour Martin Scorsese comedy, of sorts, is based on a real person's memoir of pre-recession fraud and fun times. The Great Beauty Out: January 23 On the one hand, this is an unassuming Italian number about a one-hit wonder novelist coming down to earth in a beautiful way. On the other, it's made a lot of international critics' top ten lists for the year, so we're all ears. https://youtube.com/watch?v=1bQSOBJCPQE Grudge Match Out: January 30 We're not necessarily recommending you should see this. But you should most definitely be aware that a movie exists in which Sly 'Rocky' Stallone and Robert 'Raging Bull' De Niro fight each other. https://youtube.com/watch?v=z02Ie8wKKRg 12 Years a Slave Out:January 30 Splashed on best-of lists the globe over, 12 Years a Slave is the third film from the unflinching director of Hunger and Shame, Steve McQueen. The wonderful Chiwetel Ejiofor stars in this surely harrowing slavery story you just have to sit through. https://youtube.com/watch?v=xPLSpmAtc1Q Robocop Out: February 6 Look, this could go either way. It's summer, so let's be optimists. https://youtube.com/watch?v=GAglZjX3HOk Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom Out: February 6 Reviews haven't been all positive, but it can only be worthwhile spending time with such an incredible life story. Universally praised at least is Idris Elba's performance in the lead role. https://youtube.com/watch?v=U8utPuIFVnU Dallas Buyers Club Out: February 13 Matthew McConaughey gets skinny and gives a performance that no one can pay him out for. His Ron Woodroof, an '80s cowboy diagnosed with AIDS who takes to smuggling the pharmaceuticals he wants, has some cut-through lessons about the medical profession. https://youtube.com/watch?v=s4bqeT5edbs Wolf Creek 2 Out: February 20 It's been nearly ten years since the first instalment of this Australian 'torture porn' flick. And because its iconic status just seems to keep on building, we may as well have another. https://youtube.com/watch?v=UT5tqPojMtg Nebraska Out: February 20 You can tell it's the end of summer, because, like the fashion, the movies get more monochrome. Nebraska is the latest from Alexander Payne, director of The Descendants and Sideways, and follows a quirky father-and-son road trip.
Update: December 11, 2018 — Summer can get expensive. You're splashing out on presents for friends and fam, and the number of parties going on has increased tenfold. So, we're big fans of happy hours during this season — especially when they go for three hours. Bistro Rex has just launched l'aperitif, which run from 3.30–6.30pm every day at the Potts Point restaurant and features $5 wines (white, red and rosé), $5 Young Henrys natural lagers, $10 cocktails — including negronis and a spritzy chamomile number — and a range of $10 snacks. Bistro Rex, the latest French dining room to hit Potts Point, is hard to fault. More than that, it offers a casual alternative to some of Sydney's more theatrical restaurants: an unpretentious space serving timeless French food on simple white plates. The eatery doesn't feel a need to distract diners with design, but the space is still impressive. You're dining in Macleay Street's former Commonwealth Bank building, so there are large pillars between the tables, marble accents, and wood-framed mirrors high on the walls. It's all pretty luxurious — especially with the Chesterfield booths in the corner — but there's more than enough casual seating to balance it out, with rows of wooden tables and a few spots to dine at the bar. Because you're in a French restaurant, order the chicken liver parfait ($21). It's not particularly rich here; instead it's light, creamy, and served with sweet and sour jelly. The scallops with cashew and curry leaf ($26) are silky and complemented by the sweetness of leek on the plate. Chefs Jo Ward and Michelle Powell obviously know what they're doing with seafood, because the market fish of the day (on our visit, it's snapper) is perfect, flaking easily when the cutlery hits and swimming in just the right amount of sauce. The steak frites with Café de Paris ($39) is served spot-on medium-rare and drenched in butter — it's a classic combination, and why would you alter it? Main meals are on the heavier side, so order the Nashi pear salad with celery, chicory and hazelnuts ($16) to lighten things up a bit, and match your dish to a glass off the predominantly French wine list (the front page can be ordered by the glass, carafe or bottle). On the pass there's a single truffle in a glass dome — ask for it to be shaved over anything and everything. . None of the four options on the dessert menu are particularly eye-catching on paper, but all are delicious once they arrive — and are an unexpected highlight of the meal. Skip the cheese course and order the hazelnut parfait with dacquoise banana cream ($14); it's served with a chocolate biscuit shard and topped with banana cream, which balances the sweet and slightly savoury. The apple tarte Tatin ($14) arrives warm, sweet and sticky – there's a refreshing quenelle of choc-mint ice cream on the side. If you're not a dessert person, try the old-fashioned that's been lightly stirred with cold-brew coffee ($14). You could take your parents, friends, love interest or colleagues to Bistro Rex. Come for lunch on the weekend. Come for dinner on a Tuesday. Bring everyone. Order dessert.
UPDATE, April 24, 2021: Parasite is available to stream via Stan, Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Amazon Video. When writer-director Bong Joon-ho lets two families roam around and unleash their best and worst in an opulent South Korean mansion, he couldn't have placed them in a better spot. The kind of house that anyone would dream of living in, Parasite's main setting is a multi-storey playground filled with wide-open spaces, gleaming surfaces and modernist decor, all opening out onto a grassy, leafy backyard. A real estate agent's fantasy as well, this not-so-humble abode is the bricks-and-mortar pinnacle of success and wealth. As created by production designer Lee Ha-jun to meet Bong's specific vision (a real house that matched the filmmaker's needs simply didn't exist), the labyrinthine structure is a puzzle box, too. Within its walls, mysteries linger. Here, anything and everything could happen. Parasite proves exceptional in every single frame and detail that it flicks onto the screen — but the way that this sprawling central home encapsulates the movie's very essence is a towering feat. Already lauded and applauded, not to mention awarded the top prizes at both the Cannes and Sydney film festivals, Parasite isn't short on achievements. Internationally renowned and beloved as the auteur behind The Host, Snowpiercer and Okja, Bong has crafted a bleak, twisty blend of black tragi-comedy, pulsating thrills and socially relevant horror — a movie that's such a phenomenal example of all that cinema can and should be that you'll want to high-five the filmmaker after watching it. Parasite possesses a pitch-perfect cast of both veteran and up-and-coming actors, all playing their parts with devastating precision. It's scripted, with Okja assistant director turned first-time co-writer Han Jin-won, to tease, mesmerise, infuriate, satirise and amuse in equal measures. And its look and pace, courtesy of the finessed work of cinematographer Hong Kyung-pyo (Bong's Mother) and editor Yang Jin-mo (Bong's Okja), is as polished and probing as its all-important setting. When viewers first meet Ki-taek (Song Kang-ho), his wife Chung-sook (Chang Hyae-jin), and their young but grown-up children Ki-woo (Choi Woo-shik) and Ki-jung (Park So-dam), they're dwelling in a damp, cockroach-infested basement apartment. They're also all out of work. Piggybacking whichever unlocked wi-fi network they can find keeps them going — and, when the streets outside are being fumigated, the family isn't opposed to keeping the windows open to take advantage of the free pest control (health consequences be damned). Combined, their only regular source of income comes from folding pizza boxes, with zero other prospects on the horizon. Then Ki-woo's former classmate Min (Park Seo-joon) asks if he'll fill in at a lucrative private tutoring gig. While Ki-woo doesn't have the requisite university degree such a position usually needs, it's easy to manufacture thanks to Ki-jung's impressive photoshop skills. Taking plenty of cues from this early bit of subterfuge, Parasite could be dubbed the ultimate 'fake it till you make it' movie. Stepping foot inside the film's main setting, Ki-Woo wows not only his new, quickly love-struck teenage pupil Da-hye (Jung Ziso), but her flighty mother Yeon-kyo (Cho Yeo-jeong) too. He's soon part of the household, which also includes tech entrepreneur patriarch Park (Lee Sun-kyun), pre-adolescent son Da-song (Jung Hyeon-jun) and their housekeeper (Lee Jeong-eun). With Ki-woo eager to bring his own family into this rich, luxurious orbit, an underhanded plan emerges. Without spoiling any specifics from this narrative juncture onwards, Bong was inspired to write Parasite after spotting a smudge on his pants. This intriguing tidbit gives very little away, although corrupting an otherwise pristine environment — and pondering whether a splatter of disarray makes supposed perfection and privilege better or worse — is the film's thematic stomping ground. The movie's lush locale draws viewers in, all so that it can shatter the allure. Slippery performances, with seemingly clear-cut characters becoming anything but, do the same. So too does Bong and his crew's exacting craftsmanship, which keeps audiences both immersed and guessing. Add shifting tones and changing genres to the fold as well, because evolution and elusiveness are among the movie's most crucial tools. Indeed, from sets and actors to framing and mood, every element of Parasite is weaponised. More than that, it's all calibrated and wielded for maximum impact. This isn't just a killer picture on all of the standard levels, however. Contemplating society's growing class collisions and inequities, Parasite also makes a killer statement. It shouldn't escape attention that three of the past year's absolute best and most astute works, all from South Korean or Japanese filmmakers, have taken aim at the increasing gap between the haves and the have nots. Or, looking to America as well, that one of 2019's great horror releases plays in the same terrain while also bringing race into the equation. Parasite shares its grifting, struggling family with Hirokazu Kore-eda's Shoplifters, its tonal flips and wiliness with Lee Chang-dong's Burning, and its malevolent tone with Jordan Peele's Us, adding to a blossoming field of urgent, intense and diverse cinema that interrogates the societal status quo with a rightfully scathing eye. That said, there's no mistaking Bong's dark, devious and delightful thriller for any other film — or for anything but a hands-down masterpiece. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_0KJAzyUJc
IKEA's blue-and-yellow Frakta bag has been a shop staple for 30 years. It has helped carry your purchases of (too many) tea light candles, has been an integral part of moving house, has been used to make everything from masks to boots and has even inspired a $2000 Balenciaga knockoff. And now, it's getting a (temporary) new colourway. IKEA has just dropped a limited-edition rainbow version of the instantly recognisable, and super versatile bag, and it's available at all Aussie stores. The multi-coloured Kvanting — with six stripes of purple, blue, green, yellow orange and red, and yellow handles — was first released in the US at the start of June to coincide with Pride Month, with 100 percent of profits from the bag going to the Human Rights Campaign. In Australia, IKEA has decided to make a one-off $20,000 donation to ACON, a NSW organisation that works in HIV prevention and LGBTQI+ health, instead. https://www.instagram.com/p/ByLAEnWAJh9/ Kvanting is available to purchase in-store at all Aussie IKEAs now for just $1.99. It'll be available online from August, too. Kvanting is now available for $1.99 at all IKEA stores across Australia. To find your closest, head to the IKEA website.
Elton John summed it up perfectly: when Marilyn Monroe died in 1962, her candle burned out long before her legend ever would. Six decades since her passing, the actor remains a Hollywood icon. Like Elvis, she may as well be mononymic. Her face is instantly recognisable, and still everywhere. Ana de Armas just received an Oscar nomination for playing her, after Michelle Williams earned one back in 2012 for also stepping into her shoes. And, the Some Like It Hot, Gentleman Prefer Blondes and How to Marry a Millionaire star is also the subject of a sizeable exhibition heading to Australia for the first time: Marilyn: The Woman Behind the Icon. This Marilyn celebration will make its Aussie premiere at Sydney Town Hall, in the Lower Town Hall, from Saturday, July 1–Sunday, September 24. On display: more than 200 artefacts spanning Monroe's life, including handwritten notes, personal letters and other possessions. [caption id="attachment_905883" align="alignnone" width="1920"] New York Sunday News via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] This is the largest Marilyn collection of its kind. Indeed, the objects set to grace the showcase stem from Ted Stampfer, owner the world's largest range of Marilyn items. With Marilyn: The Woman Behind the Icon, he's aiming to share insights into Monroe as a person, not just a celebrity — spanning her time in the spotlight, of course, but also back when she was Norma Jeane Mortenson. Stampfer will be on hand on opening day providing a curator's tour, as part of an events program accompanying the three-month memorabilia exhibition. Friday-night sessions will feature music and entertainment, and film screenings will also be part of the lineup, letting attendees experience Marilyn's movie magic for themselves. [caption id="attachment_905881" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Joseph Jasgur, Ted Stampfer[/caption] As it celebrates the woman who scaled the heights of fame, became a household name, but received horrific scrutiny for her sex-symbol status and her love life — focusing on her hard work, not the stories spun about her — this'll be the only time that Marilyn: The Woman Behind the Icon will open to the public in this form. "With rare insights and exclusive access to Marilyn's personal belongings, this exhibition offers a unique glimpse into the private world of this cultural icon," said Stampfer. "From humble beginnings to Hollywood stardom, Marilyn Monroe remains an enduring cultural icon, whose life continues to fascinate and intrigue us to this day." [caption id="attachment_905878" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ted Stampfer[/caption] Marilyn: The Woman Behind the Icon will display at Lower Town Hall, Sydney Town Hall, 483 George Street, Sydney, from Saturday, July 1–Sunday, September 24 — head to the exhibition website for further details.
They can't all be good ones: Baz Luhrmann movies, that is, although almost all of them are. There's one outlier on his resume, though — one film that definitely doesn't live up to the others. That flick: Australia. Strictly Ballroom, Romeo + Juliet, Moulin Rouge!, The Great Gatsby and Elvis are all spectacular. Despite combining two of the nation's biggest actors with one of its biggest filmmakers, 2008's Nicole Kidman- and Hugh Jackman-starring Australia definitely isn't. But if you ever wondered what it might look like with a bit of tinkering — actually, a lot of re-cutting and re-imagining — you're about to find out. Faraway Downs will be the end result, a six-part miniseries that's destined for streaming queues in the near future. It's set to drop in the US via Hulu sometime during America's winter, which means that it'll hit Disney+ Down Under — at around the same time, hopefully. "I originally set out to take the notion of the sweeping, Gone With the Wind-style epic and turn it on its head — a way of using romance and epic drama to shine a light on the roles of First Nations people and the painful scar in Australian history of the Stolen Generations," said Luhrmann in a statement, as per The Hollywood Reporter. "While Australia the film has its own life, there was another telling of this story; one with different layers, nuances and even alternative plot twists that an episodic format has allowed us to explore. Drawn from the same material, Faraway Downs is a new variation on Australia for audiences to discover." If you need a refresher on Australia's plot — and therefore Faraway Downs's plot, too — it follows English aristocrat Lady Sarah Ashley (Kidman, The Northman) after she comes into possession of an Aussie cattle ranch. To save it from cattle barons, she enlists the help of a drover (Jackman, Reminiscence). That's just the overall gist, however, given that the sprawling movie also spans World War II and its impact, as well as the country's historical treatment of Indigenous Australians. Fittingly given the name — and as usually proves the case with Luhrmann's flicks — the cast includes a who's who of homegrown talent. As well as Kidman and Jackman, plus Brandon Walters (Mystery Road) as Nullah, everyone from Essie Davis (Nitram), Bryan Brown (Hungry Ghosts) and John Jarratt (Wolf Creek) to Ben Mendelsohn (Cyrano), Jack Thompson (High Ground) and David Wenham (Elvis) features, as does the now-late David Gulpilil (Storm Boy) and Bill Hunter (The Cup). Exactly how long each episode of Faraway Downs will run for hasn't yet been revealed — but at 165 minutes, the movie it's remixing wasn't short. Check out the original trailer for Australia below: Faraway Downs is due to hit Hulu in the US sometime in America's winter — and Disney+ Down Under. We'll update you with an exact date when it announced. Via The Hollywood Reporter.
Beloved Sydney-based pastry chef Andy Bowdy is no stranger to big and bold flavours, with his imaginative cakes and desserts earning him a stellar reputation both in the culinary world and with online onlookers. With a host of standout collaborations under his belt, his latest arrives just in time for Easter, as he's teamed up with local whisky distillery Starward on a boozy holiday treat. For four days only, the boutique surrounds of Ace Hotel Sydney will play host to an adults-only experience that sees Andy's exclusive hot cross buns elevated with a citrus and whisky twist. Available only at Good Chemistry – Ace Hotel Sydney's laneway cafe – getting your hands on one is bound to make your Easter celebration even better. Bowdy has cooked up these limited-edition hot cross buns by soaking top-quality fruit in Starward Two-Fold Wheat and Single Malt Whisky. Baked to perfection, they make an outstanding pairing with another Starward tipple – the (New) Old Fashioned – a thoughtfully infused blend of whisky, orange bitters, and wattleseed and demerara syrup. "At Starward, we have always hung our hats on creating an accessible and versatile whisky for everyone, and this collaboration does exactly that. When fluffy hot cross buns meet our fruit-forward, Australian-made whisky, it's an unexpected match made in heaven. But this is what gets us out of bed every morning, pushing the boundaries of flavour to create something truly magical," says Dave Vitale, founder of Starward Whisky. The luxe location for this special event is no coincidence, with Bowdy serving as the current pastry chef at the Ace Hotel's rooftop restaurant, Kiln. While he famously never intended to become a pastry chef, it's safe to say he's made a good go of it. Available from Wednesday, April 16–Saturday, April 19, Bowdy's limited-run hot cross buns will be served at Good Chemistry from 7am until sold out. Take home a pack, eat in with a coffee, or enjoy with something stronger. If you're keen to sample Starward's wares, purchasing two or more buns comes with a voucher for a complimentary (New) Old Fashioned cocktail at Ace Hotel's Lobby Bar. Level up to six buns to redeem a complimentary 500ml bottle of the (New) Old Fashioned from Starward's website. Starward Whisky and Andy Bowdy's hot cross buns are available from Wednesday, April 16–Saturday, April 19 at Ace Hotel Sydney, 47-53 Wentworth Avenue, Sydney. Head to the website for more information. Images: Jiwon Kim.
If you're in Byron Bay right now, looking forward to this year's Splendour in the Grass — or you're on your way — then you'll already know that it's mighty wet in the region at the moment. In fact, it has been so soggy that campsites have been flooded, lines to get in have taken all night, there's even more mud than usual and the past 24 hours have been filled with chaos. And with more rainy weather due for the rest of the day, the fest's organisers have pulled the plug on all main stage gigs today, Friday, July 22. "A significant weather system is currently sitting off the east coast and may reach land later today bringing more rainfall. In the interest of patron safety and in consultation with all relevant emergency services, we have decided to err on the side of caution and cancel performances on the main stages today only — Amphitheatre, Mix Up, GW McLennan and Park(lands) stages," said the Splendour crew in a statement. "All of our destination spaces (Global Village, Tipi Forest, Forum, Comedy and Science tents, etc) will remain open today for patrons who are already onsite as well as those at our satellite campground at Byron Events Farm. Please relax and enjoy what is open." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Splendour in the Grass (@splendourinthegrass) From the fest's hefty lineup, Gorillaz, The Avalanches, DMA's, Dillon Frances, Kacey Musgraves and Orville Peck are among the acts that were due to perform today, but won't now. Organisers also advised that SITG looks forward "to Saturday and Sunday programming moving ahead as planned". So, fingers crossed that The Strokes, Glass Animals, Jack Harlow, Violent Soho, Tim Minchin and more will hit the stage on Saturday — and Tyler, The Creator, Liam Gallagher, Bad//Dreems, Mura Masa and others on Sunday. More rain is forecast by the Bureau of Meteorology for Byron Bay today, with showers and wind expected on Saturday, plus possible showers on Sunday. Affected ticketholders will be contacted by Moshtix in the coming week, via the email address you used to buy your ticket, with further information on refunds. Today's cancellation comes in Splendour's big comeback year, after two winters without live tunes at North Byron Parklands due to the pandemic. Splendour in the Grass runs until Sunday, July 24 at North Byron Parklands. For further information, head to the festival's website and Facebook page. Images: Ben Hansen.
We love our friends. Really, we do. But sometimes we just need a little me time. And when the urge for a few solitary hours strikes, one of our favourite things to do is take ourselves out on a little solo lunch or dinner date. But, with many restaurants and bars set up for dates or groups, finding a place to go solito can often be a bit of a challenge, tempting you to get that alone time by skipping lunch with the colleagues to eat a wilted salad at your desk or holing up at home with takeout and a series. To make sure that doesn't happen, American Express has helped us find nine spots, all Amex-accepting, where eating by yourself is both totally acceptable and incredibly fun. Equipped with single tables or bar seating, and with food so good you wouldn't want to share it anyways, these places make solo dining perfectly, deliciously comfortable. Whether you want a quiet break from the office during a particularly hectic day or are on the hunt for a bar you can go to when you don't feel like being with the mates, we've found the perfect place. Bring a book and you'll be well-prepared to linger over dessert and a few glasses of vino. Got yourself in another dining situation and need some guidance? Whatever it is, we know a place. Visit The Shortlist and we'll sort you out.
UPDATE, December 4, 2020: Sound of Metal opened in select Sydney cinemas on Thursday, December 3, and also streams on Amazon Prime Video from Friday, December 4. When Sound of Metal begins just as its title intimates, it does so with the banging and clashing of drummer Ruben Stone (Riz Ahmed, Venom) as his arms flail above his chosen instrument. He's playing a gig with his girlfriend and bandmate Lou (Olivia Cooke, Ready Player One), and he's caught up in the rattling and clattering as her guttural voice and thrashing guitar offers the pitch-perfect accompaniment. But for viewers listening along, it doesn't quite echo the way it should. For the bleached-blonde, tattooed, shirtless and sweaty Ruben, that's the case, too. Sound of Metal's expert and exacting sound design mimics his experience, as his hearing fades rapidly and traumatically over the course of a few short days — a scenario that no one wants, let alone a musician with more that a few magazine covers to his band's name, who motors between shows in the cosy Airstream he lives in with his other half and is about to embark upon a new tour. 'Heavy metal drummer loses his hearing' is the six-word way to sum up Sound of Metal, but that's not all the film is about. Ruben's ability to listen to the world around him begins to dip out quickly and early — a scene where he's driving is methodically crafted to convey to the audience just how out of the blue and jarring it is — leaving him struggling to cope. It's how he grapples with the abrupt change, and with being forced to sit with his own company without a constant onslaught of aural interruptions distracting him from his thoughts, that the movie is most interested in, however. Ruben feels a sense of loss and also feels lost. As the awards-worthy soundscape makes plain, he feels both cast adrift and assaulted. With apologies to cinema's blockbusters (which usually monopolise the sound categories come Oscars time), no other feature this year mixes its acoustics together in as stunning and stirring a fashion, and also bakes every single noise heard into its script, and its protagonist's journey, as well. Reluctantly, Ruben takes up residence at a rural community for addicts who are deaf; he's four years clean himself, but the turn of events has Lou worried. While he's in the care of the soulful Joe (Paul Raci, Baskets), an ex-soldier and ex-alcoholic with kindness seeping from his pores, Ruben must move in alone — farewelling the love of his life and their shiny caravan. Again, he's unmoored, even as he's welcomed in by other residents and the children at the school where he's taught sign language. Although Joe stresses that deafness isn't something that needs to be fixed, Ruben is obsessed with rustling up the cash for a surgically inserted cochlear implant. The movie's most telling sequence, though, comes when Joe notices that Ruben literally can't sit still or stand his own company, and tasks him with spending his days in a quiet room unburdening his angst onto a piece of paper. On the first go, he's so distraught and so desperate to escape his brain that he smashes a doughnut as if he was beating a snare in an intense solo. 'Intense' is the word for Sound of Metal, and for its decision to express Ruben's distress as immersively as possible. It's also a term that doesn't completely do the movie justice. Making his feature directing debut, and co-writing another screenplay with filmmaker Derek Cianfrance as he did with 2012's The Place Beyond the Pines, Darius Marder turns his picture into a masterful exploration and skilled evocation of the kind of anxiety that's drummed deep into a person's darkest recesses. Viewers don't just hear what Ruben hears, but also feel what he feels as he rages and rallies against a twist of fate that he so vehemently doesn't want yet has to live with. While the film specifically depicts hearing loss, it's so detailed and empathetic in conveying Ruben's shock, denial, anger and hard-fought process of adjustment that it also proves an astute rendering of illness and impairment in general. That's Ahmed's recent niche; in two consecutive roles in just the past year, the always-excellent actor has played musicians who are blindsided by their health and the impact of a sudden affliction on their future. This year's Berlinale-premiering Mogul Mowgli, where he steps into the shoes of a British Pakistani rapper with an autoimmune condition, doesn't just pair perfectly with Sound of Metal. Together, the two movies demonstrate how committed Ahmed is to telling such tales in a piercing, probing, visceral and lived-in way. Here, he learned to play the drums and American Sign Language. What resonates as persistently as the muffled buzz that replaces Ruben's ability to discern ordinary sounds, though, is how affectingly and attentively his on-edge but also vulnerable portrayal is attuned to the everyday grief that comes with his character's situation. Losing a part of yourself, whether it's an actual sense or the sense that you'll always be healthy, is dispiritingly tough. Accepting and making the most of that scenario is just as difficult. Being deaf shouldn't be considered a state that needs to be cured, as Joe rightly espouses, so Ahmed's powerfully physicalised performance shows the fight and fortitude it takes to get to that place mentally and emotionally. From the exceptional work of supervising sound editor Nicolas Becker (Suspiria, American Honey, Gravity) to the urgent, in-the-moment cinematography favoured by Daniël Bouquet (Elektro Mathematrix), every choice made under the talented Marder's guidance has the same outcome as well. Indeed, when Sound of Metal ends — not with a bang, nor a whimper, but with a quiet yet potent moment — it has taken its audience deep into Ruben's journey, made those on- and off-screen confront both specific and existential anxiety, and rousingly, movingly and sensitively challenged traditional depictions of and attitudes towards disability in the process. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFOrGkAvjAE
Fancy an art experience that extends beyond looking at works on a wall? Then prepare to be impressed by Melbourne's new 3000-square-metre, 11-metre-high immersive digital art gallery. Originally set to open in late 2020, then postponed till autumn 2021, and now finally set to launch when the first day of spring hits — so, Wednesday, September 1 — The Lume will make its home permanently at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC). The big drawcard: projections of some of the world's most celebrated artworks, which will be splashed across various surfaces. Those luminous displays will be backed by powerful musical soundtracks, too, and even complemented by aromas. The inaugural exhibition at The Lume will celebrate the works and life of Vincent van Gogh. So, you'll be able to walk through artworks like The Starry Night and Sunflowers while listening to a classical music score. If you were lucky enough to make it up to Sydney last year for Van Gogh Alive, expect something very similar. The project is the brainchild of Melbourne-based Grande Experiences, which, for the past 15 years, has hosted immersive exhibitions and gallery experiences in over 130 cities across the world — and is taking Van Gogh Alive around Australia this year, too. The company also owns and operates Rome's Museo Leonardo da Vinci. The Lume will open at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on Wednesday, September 1. General public tickets go on sale at 12pm on Thursday, June 3 — with wait list pre-sales from Monday, May 31.
UPDATE, October 19, 2020: Climax is available to stream via SBS On Demand, Google Play, YouTube, iTunes and Amazon Video. A bowl of LSD-laced sangria. A thumping soundtrack. Dancers at the top of their game. With the lurid and kinetic Climax, Gaspar Noé takes a trip into a memorable, manic and murderous all-night party. Loosely based on a true story that dates back to the 90s, it starts with a troupe busting moves, downing beverages and blowing off steam after rehearsals, then discovering that their drinks have been spiked. That said, 'discover' isn't really the best word to describe folks realising that their nightmare is real. It's wholly accurate, however it can't completely convey Selva (Sofia Boutella) and her crew's horrific predicament. Writing as well as directing and co-editing, Noé isn't interested in explaining or describing, so that's about as far as his narrative goes. But, as the Argentine-born, French-based provocateur keeps demonstrating with each successive picture, he loves plunging audiences into hallucinatory and immersive worlds. From I Stand Alone and Irreversible to Enter the Void and Love, every movie on his resume involves a straightforward set-up, followed by a descent into chaos and mayhem of varying kinds. That said, Climax's might just be the most literal. One moment, everyone is eagerly strutting their stuff in a seemingly safe space. The next, an orgy of screams, tears, paranoia, sex, blood and death is the new normal. From a largely non-professional cast that numbers 24, all trapped in a remote hall as snow falls outside, connective threads emerge. Selva isn't particularly happy with anyone, and David (Romain Guillermic) considers himself the ladies man of the gang. Emmanuelle (Claude Gajan Maull) is trying to balance her career with being a mother to the young Tito (Vince Galliot Cumant), while everyone just wants to let loose as Daddy the DJ (Kiddy Smile) hits the decks. Personal squabbles, petty grievances and plenty of baggage all add to a jittery, claustrophobic mood, and that's before the acid takes effect. When the drugs kick in, so too do the group's fears and insecurities, the competitive vibe that comes with performing for a living, and the emotional and physical slaughter. Epitomising the idea that style can equal substance (as he has across his entire filmography), it's how Noé spins this story that mesmerises. Whether he's watching the troupe unleash their stellar dance skills in Climax's hypnotic first half, or charting carnage in its second, there's never a dull moment. There's never an average or unengaging moment either, or one that doesn't want to get a rise out of viewers. All of the director's usual traits are on display, from the propulsive tunes that set a distinctive rhythm, to the fluid and floating camerawork by his now four-time cinematographer Benoît Debie, to his penchant for evocative red lighting. And yet, pairing them with dance is a masterstroke. Noé already has a handful of music videos to his name, including for Nick Cave, Placebo and Daft Punk's Thomas Bangalter (who contributes a new song to Climax's soundtrack), but in mixing fancy footwork and horror, he might've found his true calling. That's not to say that Climax doesn't have thematic bite as it both revels in and dissects hedonism, and posits that creation and destruction are two sides of the same coin. Nor does it mean that Noé isn't up to his usual tongue-in-cheek tricks (he introduces his main players via video auditions screened on a TV, with VHS tapes of boundary-pushing classics like Suspiria and Salò underneath). But the film is an experience above all else. Purposefully overwhelming the senses — and trying to shatter them, too — it pulls you in with a lengthy sequence of astonishing choreography. It gets your toes tapping until they can't stop. Then, it forces its pulsating frenzy into your soul. The result is Noé at his best, and is best summarised by a song by his regular collaborator Bangalter. In a sea of sweat and terror, Climax loses itself, its characters and its audience to dance in the most bold, unhinged and thrilling way. https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=-ydNrDCw58c
It can sometimes be hard for cafes to stand out in this city. With so many places peddling their wares, it's not the easiest thing for operators to find their niche — the one little difference that puts them before the rest. I mean, something as simple as geographic location is usually the clincher when I decide where to eat in the morning. At Sticky Fingers, which is nestled in the backstreets of Surry Hills, they've gone for a strongly Asian-influenced menu for both brunch and lunch that tends towards a sweet Sunday morning decadence. The fit-out in the café is a classic, semi-industrial chic that shows off the history of the building and the suburb. There's a communal table and plenty of space for a few groups, but the option for more intimate dining is there as well. It's a place that caters for everyone, and this is obvious from the menu, as well as the décor. Look out for breakfast items like the pulled pork Benedict, served on a soft bun and garnished with a forest of fried sweet potato shavings ($18). The pork itself is lovely, not too dry and not too salty, and the overall dish a massive undertaking — perfect for a hungover or famished patron. The lunch menu takes the Asian influence a bit more seriously, with the inclusion of dishes like a succulent duck stir fry ($17). The duck, which can be so easy to overcook, is soft and delicious; a sharp sauce with a subtle umami binds protein, rice and crisp vegetables together. As is the norm, the coffee rotates regularly (depending on how you take your Joe), and comes from Marrickville's Golden Cobra. It's tops and the Bloody Marys are incredible. All in all, it's a comfortable, welcoming joint with a varied menu that caters for everyone without ever compromising the cafe's brand.
Blessed be the TV screens — because on April 26, The Handmaid's Tale is back. After becoming 2017's number one must-watch show with its compelling first season, everyone's favourite dystopian drama returns for a new 13-episode round of bleakness. Yes, that means more time trawling through the oppressive society of Gilead and watching women forced into child-bearing servitude, thanks to this grim but gripping adaptation of Margaret Atwood's iconic 1985 novel. It also means once again trying to shake the feeling that this fictional future really isn't all that hard to imagine. Elisabeth Moss putting in another fierce performance, Alexis Bledel stealing every scene she's in, the all-round stacked cast showing why the series won eight Emmys and two Golden Globes: yep, that's all on the agenda as well. It's enough to make you cancel your plans every Thursday night for the next 12 weeks, with this season airing weekly on SBS and SBS On Demand after the two-part premiere. Sure, that means that you can't binge it all in one sitting — but, it also means that your time with Offred and company will last even longer. If you're eager to extend the experience further still, then get a jump start by working through our five pieces of Handmaid's homework. Praise be, obviously. RE-BINGE THE FIRST SEASON It's an easy starting point, we know, but the best way to prepare for the new season is by rewatching the first. Also, it's something else for you to watch if you've already replayed the season two trailer over and over and over again. Scour for clues about what might come next, and come up with theories about Offred's fate; given that the show left audiences with a cliffhanger, there's plenty of questions to ponder. Or, see if there's anything you missed the first time around (like Atwood's early cameo), or introduce all things Handmaid's to your friends that were clearly hiding under a rock last year and somehow haven't seen the show. They're all great reasons to dive back in again, not that you need them when a program is as engrossing as this. As it was last year, the full first season is currently available on SBS On Demand. READ (OR RE-READ) THE NOVEL Maybe you were already a fan of Atwood's 33-year-old book long before the TV version was announced. Maybe you segued from watching the first season of The Handmaid's Tale to devouring the novel. Maybe you meant to get around to pouring over the text (you really, truly did mean to), but life just got in the way. Whichever category you fall into, now is the perfect time to read or re-read the piece of fiction that started it all — and, to set the scene for what might happen in the television program's second outing. As thorough as the first series was, it doesn't include everything that Atwood initially dreamed up. We won't spoil the details, but if you don't have time to stick your nose in the printed tome, here's a rundown. There's also an audiobook version too, if you'd rather listen, as read by Claire Danes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTnhx_N7nro WATCH A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT TAKE ON THE TALE The Handmaid's Tale that we know and love isn't the only screen version of the story. In fact, if the timeliness, insightfulness and hugely enthralling nature of the show got you thinking "why hasn't the book been adapted before?", well, the short answer is: it has. Back in 1990, German filmmaker Volker Schlöndorff joined forces with poet and Nobel laureate Harold Pinter on an American film based on the novel, starring Natasha Richardson at Offred, Faye Dunaway as Serena Joy and Robert Duvall as Fred. Saying that it's completely different to the current take is quite the understatement, right up there with saying that Gilead isn't the best place to live if you're female. If you're keen to seek it out, it's available to watch on Stan. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-fofQ9VpPQ SEEK OUT LAST YEAR'S OTHER GREAT ATWOOD ADAPTATION 2017 didn't just deliver one adaptation of Atwood's work, but two. Yep, when it rains, it pours, as the saying goes. While Alias Grace didn't attract anywhere near as much attention as The Handmaid's Tale, the Netflix miniseries is definitely well worth your time. Directed by American Psycho's Mary Harron and starring Sarah Gadon (11.22.63), Zachary Levi (Chuck), Anna Paquin (True Blood) and legendary The Fly filmmaker David Cronenberg, the six-part show takes inspiration from famous 19th-century murders. Gadon plays the real-life figure of Grace Marks in this somewhat fictionalised version of true events, with the series exploring a question that has been pondered for nearly two centuries: what was Marks' actual involvement in the crime? GET COOKING Food has special significance in The Handmaid's Tale. No, we're not talking about the "blessed be the fruit" greetings exchanged by handmaids — it refers to the children they're supposed to be bearing, rather than the goods they're often seen shopping for — but, rather, the way it's used to denote status. Handmaids buy it for the household, Marthas prepare meals and the Gilead elite eat fancy spreads while everyone else tucks into something much less appetising. In one first-season episode, for example, a macaron is used to signify the divisive role that food plays, with Serena Joy (Yvonne Strahovski) offering Offred a rare treat. There are plenty more instances where that came from, and it's enough to make you both horrified and hungry. Unsurprisingly, there's no shortage of Handmaid's-themed party menus floating around, but if you whip up something crimson red (cupcakes with red icing are a favourite), then you're on the right track. Or, you could turn your hand to something particularly elaborate. When season two started filming, Elisabeth Moss received a cookie shaped like a music box — something else of significance within the series.
Subscriptions services have taken off over the last few years and for good reason. Whether it's for craft beers and natty wines, house plants or colourful socks, it's like giving yourself a little gift every month. If you're a caffeine enthusiast and you enjoy brewing your own cuppas at home or you're looking to cut down on your trip to the cafe, Thieves Coffee is the subscription service for you — and it's just introduced a new coffee pod option to its range so all home brewers can get involved. Thieves Coffee drops you off a different bag of coffee beans or set of pods from a new roaster each month. You can expect choice selections from small independent coffee companies like Stella or Criteria Coffee, through to larger beloved brands like Rumble and Industry Beans. If you're the kind of coffee drinker who enjoys branching out and trying different makers and flavours in your morning cup o' joe, your subscription will provide you with a regular rotation of top-quality varieties that the Thieves team has hand selected. Originally focusing on beans, Thieves has now added the option to have selections of pods for your pod-based coffee machine dropped to you each month. Plenty of popular and boundary-pushing brewers have expanded to offering compatible coffee pods recently, including local favourites like Stitch and ST. ALi, as well as the sustainability-minded Tripod. With your daily flat white or oat cap hitting upwards of $5 at cafes right now, Thieves is also a penny-pinching alternative. If you go the bean route, you have the option to order between 250 grams of beans each month, all the way up to three kilograms. If you want just one bag delivered each month, that will set you back $25 including shipping Australia-wide, or you can up your delivery to two bags (500g) for $40 or four bags (1kg) for $60. This means each cup of coffee will cost you as little as $1. These beans can be ordered either for espresso machines or for simpler filter or Aeropress coffee — plus you can choose between whole beans or pre-ground coffee depending on if you have your own grinder. As for the pods, subscriptions start from $15 for 10 pods and go up to $255 for 300 pods which can be ordered on a monthly basis or once every two or three months. Head to the Thieves Coffee website to check out all the options and treat yourself to a monthly coffee surprise. 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.
Move aside turmeric, matcha and beetroot — the next controversial coffee trend to look out for involves an unassuming little veggie called broccoli. Yep, the green stuff could soon star on coffee menus across the country, thanks to an innovative broccoli powder created by teams at Hort Innovation and the CSIRO. The product is crafted from those imperfect-looking vegetables that would otherwise be binned, and is designed to help everyday Aussies infuse more nutrients into their diets. Packed full of fibre, protein and phytochemicals, the 100 percent broccoli powder also sounds like a pretty nifty way to sneak some greens onto your kids plates. As well as being used as a key ingredient for a range of packaged snacks unveiled during last year's National Science Week, the powder also looks set to elbow its way onto the Australian coffee scene. It was recently trialled at Mornington's Commonfolk — a sustainability focused coffee roaster and cafe that's aiming towards a zero-waste existence — though, with mixed response from customers. Image credit: CSIRO
For the third time in the 2020s, Fatboy Slim is heading to Australia to break out 'Right Here, Right Now', 'The Rockafeller Skank', 'Praise You' and plenty more dance-floor fillers. After touring the country in 2020 and 2023, the dance music legend is returning in March 2025 on a five-stop trip, four of which will get him spinning tunes in wineries. "Like the crazy drunk uncle who turns up every Christmas, I'm coming back to my Aussie fam once again. Expect the usual inappropriate behaviour and interpretational dancing," said Fatboy Slim, aka Norman Cook, announcing his latest Down Under visit. [caption id="attachment_975623" align="alignnone" width="1920"] neal whitehouse piper via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] Trying to dance like Christopher Walken, pretending you're in Cruel Intentions, being transported back to the late 90s and early 00s: that's all on the agenda again. So is making shapes to DJ Seinfeld, CC:DISCO! and Jennifer Loveless, who'll be supporting the British legend at all five gigs. The tour is kicking off in Perth, at the only show that isn't at a vineyard, on Friday, March 14. From there, Fatboy Slim has a date with Centennial Vineyards in Bowral, Peter Lehmann Wines in the Barossa Valley, Mt Duneed Estate in Geelong and Sirromet Wines in Mount Cotton. [caption id="attachment_878696" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Carlos Luna / Secretaría de Cultura CDMX via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] Cook has been making music since the 80s, but took on the name Fatboy Slim in the mid-90s, starting with 1996 record Better Living Through Chemistry. His 1998 album You've Come a Long Way, Baby was the club soundtrack to end the 20th century — a staple of every 90s teen's CD collection, too. As for 2000's Halfway Between the Gutter and the Stars, it gave the world 'Weapon of Choice' and its iconic Walken-starring (and Spike Jonze-directed) video. Fatboy Slim's discography also spans 2004 album Palookaville and 2013 single 'Eat, Sleep, Rave, Repeat'. [caption id="attachment_878697" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Secretaría de Cultura de la Ciudad de México via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] You might not be able to dance along the walls when Cook hits the decks — but you'll want to thanks to his big beat sound. Indeed, alongside the Chemical Brothers, The Prodigy, Basement Jaxx, The Propellerheads and Crystal Method, he helped bring the style to mainstream fame. If you've seen Cook live before — or the epic live video from his 2020 Melbourne gig at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl that's notched up more than 3.2-million views — then you'll know that any Fatboy Slim tour is always news to get excited about right about now. Fatboy Slim 2025 Australian Tour Friday, March 14 — Langley Park, Perth Saturday, March 15 — Centennial Vineyards, Bowral Friday, March 21 — Peter Lehmann Wines, Barossa Valley Saturday, March 22 — Mt Duneed Estate, Geelong Sunday, March 23 — Sirromet Wines, Mount Cotton Fatboy Slim is touring Australia in March 2025. Early-bird tickets start from 1pm local time on Friday, October 11, 2024, then presales from 2pm on Tuesday, October 15, then general sales from 10am on Friday, October 18. Head to the tour website for more details. Top image: Selbymay via Wikimedia Commons.
UPDATE, July 29, 2020: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is available to stream via Amazon Prime Video, Foxtel Now, Google Play, YouTube and iTunes. Sharing his name with six live-action films in 16 years, Spider-Man is no stranger to the big screen. Since 2002, he's saved New York from disaster again and again, kissed his sweetheart while hanging upside down, and turned evil and danced down the sidewalk. The friendly neighbourhood web-slinger has ripped off his mask to reveal the faces of Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield and Tom Holland, gotten cosy with Kirsten Dunst, Emma Stone and Zendaya, and eventually joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe. And yet, the best Spider-Man movie doesn't involve most of the above. It's not just about Spider-Man, but spider-men. It also features a spider-woman, spider-robot and spider-pig, as well as Nicolas Cage as a 30s-era spider-vigilante. In other words, it's the animated delight that is Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Returning Spidey to his cartoon roots — his first screen appearance came via the animated 60s TV series with that catchy theme tune — this addition to the fold isn't your regular take on Stan Lee and Steve Ditko's iconic character. Rather, it recognises that a wealth of different spider-figures have swung through the comic book realm, because Spider-Man really could be anyone. Radioactive arachnids don't discriminate. They just sink their fangs into whoever's in their path. In Into the Spider-Verse, it's Brooklyn high-schooler Miles Morales (voiced by Shameik Moore) who's on the receiving end of a tiny but monumental bite. When he's not feeling like he's disappointing his cop dad (Brian Tyree Henry) and wishing he could spend more time with his outcast uncle (Mahershala Ali), Miles is also a rather big fan of the established Spider-Man, Peter Parker (Chris Pine). Two people donning the famous red and blue costume? With nefarious crime kingpin Wilson Fisk (Liev Schreiber) tearing a hole through multiple universes using a supercollider, two are just the beginning. The uncertain Miles is soon buddying up with Peter B. Parker (Jake Johnson), who's more than a little over being Spider-Man — consider him an on-screen avatar for spider-fatigued audiences. Like filtering all things Spidey through an episode of Rick and Morty, they're joined by other web-slingers, including Peter Porker (John Mulaney), Spider-Gwen (Hailee Steinfeld), Spider-Man Noir (Cage), and Peni Parker (Kimiko Glenn) and her mechanical offsider SP//dr. The fate of several worlds is at stake, and the futures of several spider-people (and spider-animals) too. Arriving at a time when superhero movies (let alone Spider-Man flicks) are no longer a special event, Into the Spider-Verse offers what so few caped crusaders can muster these days: an endless array of surprises. It also serves up jokes about whether Spidey could or should wear a cape, although it's the film's ability to astonish that sticks firmer than Spider-Man's web. Who knew that a character who's been seen on screen over and over again for decades — and one who sports a 56-year history on the page as well — could seem so vibrant, thrilling and fresh? That's not a knock on the various live-action iterations, which have each boasted their own appeal, even if some fare better than others. But in embracing the entire big, bustling and diverse spider-world, Into the Spider-Verse genuinely feels new. In recent years, only Black Panther has bounced through cinemas with the same kind of vibe, feeding viewers' eagerness to finally watch something different. Into the Spider-Verse ramps that idea up a few notches, not only showcasing the first Afro-Lantino Spider-Man alongside a number of other interpretations, but playing with superhero and storytelling conventions. While good-versus-evil plots and coming-of-age themes are engrained in Spidey lore, neither notion bows to formula in the hands of filmmakers Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey (Rise of the Guardians) and Rodney Rothman. Instead, this adventure spins tales upon tales at a mile-a-minute pace — with a healthy dash of irreverence and amusement, ample nods to past comics and flicks, plus a warm-hearted willingness to make fun of the whole spider-shebang. That Rothman co-wrote the script with The Lego Movie's Phil Lord, and that Lord produced the picture with his usual directing partner Christopher Miller, partly explains Into the Spider-Verse's immense charms. Led by the soulful Moore as Morales, and peppered with hilarious work by Cage and Mulaney, the excellent voice cast also plays a part in making this the new high point for Spider-Man films. That said, Into the Spider-Verse could've dispensed with dialogue altogether and it'd still mesmerise. We mean that literally, because the standard and style of animation on display, and the action scenes and sight gags that go with it, resembles nothing else that's been beamed into cinemas before. Fast, bright, imaginative and often even abstract, it blends a hand-drawn feel with the most inventive visuals that computer-generated imagery can deliver. In this vivid, kaleidoscopic world, Spider-Ham's Looney Tunes aesthetic, Peni Parker and SP//dr's anime look, and Spider-Man Noir's dark approach all fit in perfectly. So too does a new plucky school kid who embodies the most important spider-fact of all: that everyone can do whatever a spider can. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbfIIGRfRJg
Every one of QT Sydney's guest suites have been carefully crafted to reflect and honour the historic Gowings and State Theatre buildings in which it resides. QT's exterior sports a striking blend of gothic, art deco, and Italianate-influenced architecture — and inside, the luxurious rooms carry through that art deco-meets-gothic aesthetic to quite the striking degree. Plus, thanks to its location right in the centre of the CBD — and alongside one of the city's most famous theatres — it's a great pick for out-of-towners, while locals can often be found making the best of its various bars, bistros and restaurants. And if you're looking to bring your pooch along, you're in luck. The QT pup fur-endly rooms come with an in-room menu specifically for woofers, a pooch-friendly mini bar offering and designer canine bedding. The doggy food range is overseen by the brand's head of treats — Nic Wood in Australia and Jiwon Do in NZ — and includes steak tartare with raw beef, mushrooms and egg yolk; bone marrow risotto with bone broth and crispy pigs ears; and chicken livers and pork necks on wholemeal toast with chicken gravy. Fancy a doggy dessert for your pooch? There's also a bacon ice cream sandwich, made from bacon ice cream, dried liver and oat biscuits. es, this is incredibly silly. But why not treat your pup, while you're treating yourself? Aussie pet lovers are lucky to have QT Sydney, for it is one of the top dog-friendly hotels in the country. Just nearby, you'll find Sammy Junior, Glass Brasserie and The Grounds of the City; however, if you don't feel like leaving your hotel, you're in luck. The QT Sydney hosts the renowned Gowings Bar & Grill, too. Want to stay a little closer to the beach? Hop over to the QT Bondi for a coastal escape. It's one of Sydney's best hotels, for sure.
For more than two decades, acclaimed New York artist Spencer Tunick has been staging mass nude photographs in Australia — and he isn't done yet. Sydneysiders, or anyone who's keen to disrobe for a new piece of art, you'll want to be in the Harbour City at the end of November. Your destination: a yet-to-be-disclosed beach. It's been 21 years since the country's first taste of the internationally famed talent's work, when 4500 naked volunteers posed for a snap near Federation Square in Melbourne as part of the 2001 Fringe Festival. Tunick then photographed around 5000 nude people in front of the Sydney Opera House during the 2010 Mardi Gras, headed back to Melbourne in 2018 shoot over 800 Melburnians in the rooftop carpark of a Prahran Woolworths, and went to the Whitsundays with almost 100 Aussies in 2019. Elsewhere, he's photographed the public painted red and gold outside Munich's Bavarian State Opera, covered in veils in the Nevada desert and covered in blue in Hull in the UK. But with his new Aussie installation, he's getting sandy and raising funds for — and awareness about — skin cancer. Saturday, November 26 is the date earmarked for the shoot, with Sunday, November 27 on hold in case the weather isn't quite right for naked folks on the beach. Tunick is hoping to amass around 2500 volunteers, with each participant honouring one of the 2000-plus Aussies who pass away each year due to skin cancer. "Skin unites us and protects us. It's an honour to be a part of an art mission to raise awareness of the importance of skin checks. I use the amazing array of body types and skin tones to create my work, so it feels perfectly appropriate to take part in this effort in that my medium is the nude human form," said Tunick, announcing his new installation. "It is only fitting that I use my platform to urge people to get regular check-ups to prevent skin cancer. I have not had a skin check in ten years, so I am one of the many who have wrongly ignored getting them regularly. One can say I am traveling all the way to Australia to get one!", Tunick continued. Dubbed Strip Off for Skin Cancer, the artist's latest work is timed to coincide with National Skin Cancer Action Week, which runs from Monday, November 21–Sunday, November 27 — and it is looking for volunteers. Tunick hopes to have a diverse mix of bodies in the shoot, with participants each getting a print of the photograph and, we're sure, a big boost of body confidence. The catch here is, of course, the location. Exact details of where the shoot is taking place will only be given to folks signing up — but if you're not usually located in Sydney, you will need to travel there at your expense. Those that do will not only be part of a piece art, but will also help a great cause. Strip Off for Skin Cancer will be shot on Saturday, November 26 on a Sydney beach. Head to the installation's website to register to take part. Images: Spencer Tunick.
He's had his heart broken during a lusty Italian summer, romanced Saoirse Ronan in a Greta Gerwig film not once but twice, spiced up his life in a sci-fi saga and sported a taste for human flesh. The next addition to Timothée Chalamet's resume: a sweet time worshipping chocolate. Get ready for a big Timmy end of 2023, with Dune: Part Two hitting cinemas Down Under in November, then Wonka giving Roald Dahl's famous factory owner and candy man a Chalamet-starring origin story. First gracing the page almost six decades back, in 1964 when Charlie and the Chocolate Factory initially hit print, Willy Wonka has made the leap to cinemas with Gene Wilder playing the part in 1971, then Johnny Depp in 2005. The difference this time: not just Chalamet plunging into a world of pure imagination, but a film that swirls in the details of Wonka's life before the events that've already been laid out in books and filled two movies. As the just-dropped first trailer for Wonka shows, the picture's main man has a dream — and, after spending the past seven years travelling the world perfect his craft, he's willing to get inventive to make it come true. Starting a chocolate business isn't easy, especially when the chocolate cartel doesn't take kindly to newcomers. "You can't get a shop without selling chocolate, and you can't sell chocolate without a shop," the bright-eyed Willy is told early in the debut sneak peek. From there, brainwaves, optimism, determination and life-changing choices all spring, plus big vats of chocolate, chocolate that makes you fly — "nothing to see here, just a small group of people defying the laws of gravity," comments a police officer — and Willy's dedication to making "the greatest chocolate shop the world has ever seen". Also accounted for: a mood of wonder, and not just due to the umbrella-twirling dream sequences and cane-whirling dance scenes, or the leaps through fairy floss and chats with Hugh Grant (Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves) as an Ooompa-Loompa. Indeed, the magical tone doesn't just fit the tale; it's exactly what writer/director Paul King and his co-scribe Simon Farnaby have become known for on the Paddington films. King helmed and penned both, while Farnaby also did the latter on the second (and acted in each). The duo also worked together on wonderful and underseen 2009 film Bunny and the Bull, and on The Mighty Boosh, of which King directed 20 episodes. On-screen, Wonka's cast is as jam-packed as a lolly bag, with Chalamet and Grant joined by Farnaby (The Phantom of the Open), as well as Olivia Colman (Secret Invasion), Sally Hawkins (The Lost King), Keegan-Michael Key (The Super Mario Bros Movie), Rowan Atkinson (Man vs Bee), Jim Carter (Downton Abbey: A New Era) and Natasha Rothwell (Sonic the Hedgehog 2). Yes, you'll want a golden ticket to this. Check out the first trailer for Wonka below: Wonka releases in cinemas Down Under on December 14, 2023.
Sixteen films in, the Marvel Cinematic Universe shows no signs of stopping, with eight more already in the works. Add their growing list of television series, the comics they're all based on, plenty of merchandise and an Australian gallery exhibition, and Marvel mania is difficult to escape. In fact, soon you'll be able to sleep in a hotel dedicated to the company's caped crusaders. Disney has announced that Disneyland Paris will become the home of the world's first Marvel hotel, reimagining an existing site into a superhero-themed wonderland. The park's Disney's Hotel New York will become known as Disney's Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel — and yes, we do think that a Parisian place with New York in its name has the potential to be confusing, but that's not likely to stop Avengers fans. Details are currently thin on the ground; however the hotel will feature nods to everyone from Iron Man to Spider-Man — and we're hoping some of the brand's female superheroes too. And, in what's shaping up to be a great time to be a pop culture fan, the news comes hot on the heels of another huge Disney hotel, with a Stars Wars-theme site slated to debut as part of Walt Disney World's new 360 vacation concept in Orlando. Image: Disney/Marvel via Disney Parks Blog.
Sydney's lockout laws have kept the city talking since they were first announced; however, there have been more than a few reasons for discussion in the past few days. In what has proven a tumultuous week, Keep Sydney Open announced a new rally for January 21, a last-minute Supreme Court ruling stopped their plans, and three venues received a 30-minute extension to current cutoff times. Now, KSO have pledged to stage their third anti-lockouts protest on Saturday, February 18. "We are announcing that the rally will go ahead at a later date, and it will be bigger, louder and stronger than the one originally scheduled," said KSO in a statement, which also highlights a second reason for the peaceful gathering. "This time we're not just protesting to draw attention to the lockouts, but we're fighting for our very right as citizens of NSW to gather on the streets and express ourselves politically." Further details, including a venue, have yet to be revealed, but yesterday's cancelled event was due to team up with Sydney's ARIA-winning duo Flight Facilities. As fans would know, Flight Facilities has been continually outspoken in their opposition to the lockouts. After all, the duo played some of its first gigs after 3am at now-closed Kings Cross venues, including Hugo's, Soho, Tank Room and the Piano Room. Flight Facilities were included in a group of artists commemorated recently in a KSO project, which paid tribute to closed Sydney venues and the artists who cut their teeth there. Flight Facilities have long been associated with Kings Cross's now-closed Piano Room, where Jimmy and Hugo met. Keep Sydney Open does not see the 30-minute extension as a solution. Instead, the organisation wants to work with the NSW Government to implement a seven-point plan, as follows: Developing best-practice policing strategies; Investing in 24/7 public transport; Implementing integrated urban planning reform; Encouraging diversification of after-dark activities; Establishing anti-violence education and intervention campaigns; Incentivising well-run venues; and Appointing a Night Mayor or office charged with managing Sydneyʼs night-time economy. "A 30-minute extension will not be enough to reverse the damage being done to the cultural areas and small businesses that make Sydney an exciting place to be," said Tyson Koh, director of Keep Sydney Open. "Itʼs barely enough time to line up for the bathroom or get a kebab. "For too long the debate about our city and how we live our lives has been dominated by misinformation and fear-mongering. We call on the lobby groups who support the lockout laws to enter the conversation about smart solutions, instead of clearing people off the streets." The rally will be Keep Sydney Open's third. To keep up to date with developments, follow the event page over here. By Jasmine Crittenden and Sarah Ward. Image: Kimberley Low.
FBi Radio's boots are getting bigger, better and shinier by the day —for the first time ever, Sydney's independent radio legends are launching an Australia-wide competition. Extending their Northern Lights competition nationwide — in which FBi flies two above-and-beyond newbies to Iceland Airwaves Festival in Reykjavik — FBi are looking for talent across Australia this time. A hotly-anticipated date on the music festival calendar, Iceland Airwaves has seen everyone from Bjork to Omar Souleyman, Savages to Harpa Silfurberg playing to packed halls of Icelandic and international fans. FBi competition's now in its third year, offer two winning spots to join the Airwaves lineup — one solo producer/artist, one band. With the help of philanthropist Mitchel Martin-Weber, this marks one of FBi's biggest-scale competitions to date, kicking another goal after yesterday's FBi Click launch. Winners of the first Northern Lights, Oliver Tank and Rainbow Chan, have seen super success following their Icelandic escapade (with Tank supporting Lorde on her recent national tour and Chan joining the lineup for Vivid LIVE's recent Avalanches tribute Since I Left You, no biggie). "It really changed my life that whole trip. It was so incredible," says Tank. "I got to play music overseas before I’d even done that many gigs in Australia. And there were people over there that were interested in my music and that just blew my mind. It was like a dream come true. It was such an experience." A national callout means a national road trip for FBi, taking their Music Open Day (a monthly staple event for FBi where new bands/artists can meet FBi music director Stephen Goodhew and learn how to get their music on radio) to community stations around the country. "Over 300 artists have been to Music Open Day in the last 12 months," says Goodhew. "Oliver Tank, Cloud Control, Gang of Youths, Movement are all examples of the kind of talent that have responded to and engaged with our Music Open Day in the past and gone on to establish themselves as prominent figures in the Australian music scene. It’s a great way to discover new talent and give emerging musicians some valuable advice about the industry." To apply for a spot at Iceland Airwaves and enter FBi Radio's Northern Lights competition, you simply have to be an emerging solo artist/producer or band (and an Australian resident). Head to FBi's website to throw your name in the ring from June 26 - July 21. Music Open Day is on the road from July 11-18. 11 July - Brisbane's 4ZZZ 15 July - Adelaide's Fresh FM 16 July - Perth's RTR FM
It's television's greatest tragedy, and one that's been more than a decade in the making. Watching Better Call Saul, it's impossible not to think about the route its protagonist takes through Breaking Bad. We already know how Saul Goodman's (Bob Odenkirk) story ends, so as we explore his pre-Walter White life — when he was known by his birth name of Jimmy McGill and genuinely wanted to be a legitimate lawyer — the feeling is bittersweet, to say the least. The same sensation applies to former cop Mike Ehrmantrout (Jonathan Banks), whose Breaking Bad fate is also already known. Before getting caught up with Gus Fring (Giancarlo Esposito), he first crossed Jimmy's path as a car park attendant at the Albuquerque court house — and Better Call Saul tells his tale as much as its namesake's For four seasons since 2015, the Breaking Bad prequel has stepped through the earlier existence of these two characters, as well as others in their orbit — such as Jimmy's successful older brother Chuck (Michael McKean), his girlfriend and fellow lawyer Kim Wexler (Rhea Seehorn), and Mike's widowed daughter-in-law Stacey (Kerry Condon) and granddaughter Kaylee (Abigail Zoe Lewis). As the episodes pass, the two central figures slowly start inching towards their Breaking Bad lives. Familiar faces, such as Fring and Hector Salamanca (Mark Margolis) also pop up. The result: a series that's as excellent as its predecessor, and one that provides another excuse to spend more time in Breaking Bad's world. After last airing episodes in 2018, it's returning for a fifth season this year — and if you can't wait until February 24 to see what comes next, a pair of sneak peeks have dropped. The teasers are incredibly brief, as proved the case when glimpses of 2019's El Camino — A Breaking Bad Movie first started releasing. Still, they show what we all knew was coming: that Jimmy McGill is slipping further away — and Saul Goodman is emerging. Check out the teasers below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULZVGONrfuw&feature=youtu.be https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqopNXmg3x0 Better Call Saul's fifth season starts streaming on Stan from Monday, February 24.
In Stay of the Week, we explore some of the world's best and most unique accommodations — giving you a little inspiration for your next trip. In this instalment, we take you to Monte Pacis in Lithuania, an outrageously grand monastery that's been partly transformed into a luxury hotel. If you're planning a big European getaway this summer, think about spending a few nights here. WHAT'S SO SPECIAL? It's a 17th century monastery located on a gorgeous lagoon surrounded by nature — need we say more? THE ROOMS The 13 rooms and apartments at Monte Pacis are decorated in baroque style, each complete with a minibar and private bathroom. Large canopy beds sit in rooms with double-vaulted ceilings and chandeliers dripping from large wooden beams. Ornately decorated and grand in scale, it feels more like a royal castle than the home of monks. And with so few people staying here at one time, you are almost guaranteed peace and quiet. FOOD AND DRINK The restaurant at Monte Pacis is known as one of the very best places to eat in the Baltics. It offers a four- or six-course tasting menu that changes seasonally (notably, much of the produce comes from the monastery grounds). Head chef Raimundas Dambrauskas is known for creating challenging dishes that rival Michelin-starred restaurants. On the booze front? The team has won awards for the extensive wine list, with some wines coming from other monasteries in the region. Be sure to add the (very) reasonably priced wine pairings onto your tasting menu experience. THE LOCAL AREA The hotel sits on the bank of Lithuania's Kaunas Lagoon, where you can swim and sail during summer and take wintery walks in the colder months — you might even be able to walk across some of the frozen parts. If that sounds too risky, you can simply stick to some of the many hiking trails that wind around the protected forests. The local city of Kaunas must be explored too. In 2022, it was named the European Capital of Culture thanks to the abundance of galleries, festivals and dining venues. There's stacks going on in this little known city — both ancient and modern. Next time you go gallivanting around Europe, be sure to add Lithuania to your list of must-visit countries. THE EXTRAS When staying at Monte Pacis, you are surrounded by history and tradition. That's why it's imperative you take a tour of the monastery and its grounds — seeing how monks, both past and present, use the space while marvelling at all the baroque artworks. The hotel's residents even have access to the historical literature library and spiritual literature room. Either attempt to read something from the shelves or bring your own book to enjoy within the staggering space. Feeling inspired to book a truly unique getaway? Head to Concrete Playground Trips to explore a range of holidays curated by our editorial team. We've teamed up with all the best providers of flights, stays and experiences to bring you a series of unforgettable trips in destinations all over the world.
If there's one thing Sydney has a lot of, it's water. Whether it's the gobsmackingly beautiful harbour, the many rivers snaking their way to the sea from the west or the scores of pristine white sand beaches that stretch along the city's giant coastline, this whole place is full of H2-oh-wow moments. They're basically at every turn. But sometimes heading to Bondi Beach for the umpteenth time just won't cut it. So here are a few ideas to help you get wet, steal some sea spray and cool down creatively. [caption id="attachment_556149" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Jason James via Flickr[/caption] STAND UP PADDLEBOARDING AT BALMORAL BEACH There are a heap of places to rent a paddleboard in Sydney, but head northside to the stunning harbour beach of Balmoral to be rewarded with calm waters, beautiful views of the bay and island and several options for top-notch coffee when you've conquered the board. Hit up Balmoral Boatshed on The Esplanade, where you can hire a board and get taught the basics before being sent out on your own. It's $30 for the first hour, with discounted rates for subsequent hours. [caption id="attachment_545050" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Andrew JWC via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] GRAB A KAYAK AT ROSE BAY If you've accidentally skipped arm day at the gym, a session in a kayak at one of Sydney's eastern suburb beaches will help you even things out. The folks at Rose Bay Aquatic Hire will fit you out with a life jacket, paddle and your choice of a one- or two-man kayak for around $25 an hour per person. The lightweight boats are surprisingly easy to manoeuvre and, once you get the hang of it, you'll be able to explore a pretty large section of the bay and harbour. Kayak out to Shark Island (if you buy entry first) or pull up at Milk Beach for a little rest and/or lunch break. They don't require a hefty deposit either — just some photo ID to be left behind as security. And if you're keen for more kayak time, check out our other favourite places to kayak in Sydney. [caption id="attachment_551558" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Dollar Photo Club[/caption] TAKE A SURFING LESSON AT MAROUBRA Maroubra is one of the most underrated beaches in Sydney's east. The parking is considerably easier and cheaper than Bondi or Bronte, and the waves are consistently good. It's the perfect spot to try your hand (or feet) on a surfboard. A two-hour beginner's lesson with Let's Go Surfing is only $60 and includes all equipment and instruction. Classes are kept to a maximum of six people too, so you'll get plenty of one-on-one help — and if you want to keep practicing after class, board hire is available for around $20 an hour. And if you can't get to Maroubra, try one of these prime surfing spots for beginners. [caption id="attachment_556134" align="alignnone" width="1280"] EastSail[/caption] HIRE A BOAT AND EXPLORE SYDNEY HARBOUR You do need a boat license for this one — so if you don't have the paperwork, find a mate who does. It'll be totally worth it — because once you've got control of the boat, you'll have the freedom of exploring all the amazing nooks and crannies of Sydney Harbour. Spend a few hours cruising around the eastern suburbs playing 'which waterfront house would I buy if I won Lotto?', and then head to a secluded inlet like Milk Beach or Chinamans Beach to drop anchor and have a swim. There are a heap of places around Sydney that will rent you a vessel, but we like EastSail at Rushcutters Bay, which is reasonably priced and has a good selection to choose from. [caption id="attachment_556132" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Dollar Photo Club[/caption] RIDE THE FERRY TO MANLY This one might not be that exciting for those who do it as part of their commute every day, but it's a classic Sydney experience for a reason. There aren't many views of the harbour city more beautiful than from the deck of a giant yellow (or green) ferry as it glides past the Opera House and under the Harbour Bridge. Pack a picnic and take it to Manly; Little Manly Cove is perfect for a quiet afternoon, otherwise smash some fish and chips on Manly Beach and have a quick dip before jumping on a ferry home. Hot tip: make it a Sunday journey and you'll pay only $2.50 on your Opal card for the entire return trip. [caption id="attachment_556135" align="alignnone" width="1280"] phonetography101 via Flickr[/caption] TAKE THE RIVERCAT UP THE PARRAMATTA RIVER For a unique look at Sydney that you may not have yet considered, jump on a RiverCat and make the trip west without having to deal with traffic, freeways and the endless car yards that line Parramatta Road. The catamaran hits decent speeds on the way, and the journey takes about 45-minutes from Circular Quay. Once you arrive, head into Parramatta's CBD to explore an area that is bustling with great cafes, bars and restaurants. There's even a Gelato Messina. The Village People were right – 'Go West', life is peaceful there. [caption id="attachment_556136" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Thunder Jet Boat[/caption] GET YOUR HEART PUMPING ON A JET BOAT You might dismiss this as a tourist trap, but the Sydney Harbour jet boat rides are actually pretty fun. You'll hit high speeds, get spun in circles all over the place, and the ratio of splashes to enjoyment is pretty high. Add in the incredible views you'll get of Sydney Harbour and you've got yourself a pretty sweet little ride. Thunder Jet Boat and Harbour Jet are both good options. Book online for better deals. [caption id="attachment_556137" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Sydney Seaplanes[/caption] GET A BIRD'S EYE VIEW FROM A SEA PLANE Yes, we're moving into seriously luxe, seriously expensive territory here — but if you have the funds, the opportunity to see the city from above is totally worth it. Taking off in a sea plane is unlike anything you'll have ever experienced — it's sort of a cross between a speedboat and a go-kart. But then, all of a sudden you'll lift up and above what is arguably the world's greatest harbour. Go all out and book a fly-and-dine package at Jonah's through Sydney Seaplanes for a harbour tour followed by a fabulous meal and a view of Whale Beach. It's certainly not cheap — but for an anniversary or special occasion, it will be utterly unforgettable. EXPLORE CLARK ISLAND If it's a picnic with extremely good views of the water you're after, pack your rug and basket and head to one of Sydney's islands and most unique national parks. You can get to Clark Island either by water taxi, private boat or kayak — just note that a $7 landing fee applies. There are gorgeous shaded gazebos dotted about the island, and plenty of places for a swim. You'll just need to book your trip in advance through the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. TAKE A SAILING LESSON Sailing has so many excellent words: Dinghy! Starboard! Ahoy! Use them with confidence after you've felt the sea spray in your face and the wind through your hair. Sydney By Sail offers one-off day cruise sailing trips where they'll show you the ropes (quite literally in this case), or you can sign up for an intensive two-day 'Introduction to Yachting' course that will build you some serious sea legs. They're located right near the Maritime Museum as well, for more #boatspiration. Top image: Visit St. Pete/Clearwater via Flickr
