With gigs and shows popping back onto calendars again over the last six months, bands and concert promoters have been forced to get creative to abide by COVID-19 restrictions. Local favourites have thrown seated gigs in small regional towns, performed to a sea of cars at drive-in concerts and are even set to take to revolving stages as part of NSW's first major music festival of 2021. Although gathering restrictions have begun to roll back and normalcy is beginning to return to the live music scene across the country, these unique opportunities to catch bands in unexpected locations don't seem to be going anywhere. Take Live At Last, for instance. It's the new live music series that will see fan-favourite Australian musicians perform at intimate venues across the country. In Sydney, it'll feature Hockey Dad, the band behind the aforementioned drive-in gigs, who'll perform in beloved bar Frankie's Pizza on Thursday, April 29. The show will be a unique chance enjoy Frankie's new Dan Pepperell-crafted pizza menu while catching the Wollongong surf-rock duo up close, with the CBD bar having a much smaller capacity than the 3000-person Big Top Luna Park the band recently sold out. A venue the size of Frankie's playing host a band of Hockey Dad's popularity could result in chaos, so you'll have to win tickets in order to get access to the gig. To go into the ballot to head along, you just need to hit up the Secret Sounds website and enter your details. Announced after the Hockey Dad show — but happening the day before — is Live At Last's Brisbane stopover. Last Dinosaurs and Dear Seattle will hit the stage at The Triffid on Wednesday, April 28. To head along, you'll also need to try to win tickets via the Secret Sounds website. Then, the series of gigs is set to move to other parts of the country. If you're wondering where else Live At Last will head, that's yet to be revealed. [caption id="attachment_772790" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Hockey Dad by Ian Laidlaw[/caption] Live At Last is set to kick off on Wednesday, April 28 with Last Dinosaurs and Dear Seattle at The Triffid in Brisbane — and then head to Frankie's Pizza on Thursday, April 29 with Hockey Dad. To win tickets and to keep an eye out for future events, head to the event's website. Top image: Frankie's Pizza by Katje Ford Updated April 16.
Many of us have had a first date on an old-school pedal boat, holding hands and having mundane conversations about the weather. And now you can relive that (but with better chat) when the recognisable boats return to Cockle Bay this summer. From January 4–28, you'll be able to hire one of the leg-powered vehicles for $30 a pop, which'll get you a whole 30 minutes on the water. If you think half-an-hour in the blistering Sydney sun sounds like a recipe for sunburn, you'd be right, but, thankfully, the boats come equipped with a shade to keep you cool. The pedal boats fit up to four people (so you can bring your mates or plan a double date) and you do have to wear a life jacket while cruising on Darling Harbour. You can't book online, and have to just rock up and hope that's one free, but if you do need to wait, there are plenty of places to eat and drink on the Wharf. Cockle Bay Wharf Pedal Boats are available from 11am–8.30pm daily.
In the canon of Star Wars movies, there are now essentially four chapters: The Originals, The Prequels, The Sequels and The Spinoffs. The Originals (Episodes IV-VI) are, and perhaps always will be, the best of the bunch; a genre-defining, special-effects revolutionizing space saga of such epic proportions they remain, to this day, some of the most spectacular blockbusters ever made. The Prequels (Episodes I-III) are, and hopefully always will be, the worst of the bunch; a childish, CGI-heavy money spinner that played more like hastily written video games than films worthy of their iconic opening credits and characters. The Sequels (Episode VI-IX) are only one film in (with the second now in post-production), but it's safe to say The Force Awakens gave us exactly what we needed; a thrilling if rather familiar-feeling reboot with a talented, multi-dimensional and engaging new trio of stars to pick up where Luke, Han and Leia left off. That brings us to The Spinoffs, beginning with Rogue One and soon to include the untitled Han Solo origin story. In a way, while it's not given its own Roman numeral, Rogue One is a sort of Episode III-point-V – a nifty prelude to one of the most iconic please explains in cinema history: the Death Star's infamous design flaw. In Rogue One, audiences get the answer to two important questions: why the moon-size battle station had such an exploitable Achilles' heel, and how the Rebel Alliance found out about it. The former and weaker of these two revelations occupies the first two-thirds of the movie, whilst the latter gives it its much needed closing momentum. Leading the film's magnificent ensemble is Felicity Jones as Jyn Erso, the abandoned daughter of Galen Erso (Mads Mikkelsen), a famed Imperial scientist whose work proves pivotal to both the inception and design of the Empire's new super weapon. Unfortunately, Jones's dialogue does little to showcase her ability – frankly, much of Rogue One's screenplay leaves a lot to be desired. The two big exceptions are Forest Whitaker's eccentric character Saw Gerrera, and the Alan Tudyk-voiced droid K-2SO. In particular, the latter character's deadpan honesty helps cut through the film's often overwhelming sense of gloom. On the positive side, though, we again find in the Star Wars universe a film where gender holds zero stock as either an insult or a differentiator. Whenever a character's abilities are called into question, it's because of their experience or upbringing, not their reproductive organs, and Jyn is no exception. Alongside her, Diego Luna plays a conflicted assassin whose scenes repeatedly address the film's preoccupation with the hazy moralities of war, whilst the villain in Rogue One is a ruthless egotist named Director Krennic – played magnificently by Australia's Ben Mendelsohn. Though the film's various additional characters are too numerous to mention, one does command further attention – although in the interest of avoiding spoilers, we won't mention them by name. Suffice it to say, Rogue One reintroduces a key figure from the original Star Wars film, and does so by digitally recreating the deceased actor's face and voicing him with an impersonator. Sadly, the momentary joy experienced upon first seeing this familiar face quickly gives way to disappointment as the CGI falls short. An ultimately needless piece of fan service, the character's depiction pulls you out of the moment with such intensity that it takes several minutes to draw you back in each time he appears. As The Force Awakens proved, a tangible, human actor will always be preferable to a computer-generated one, and actors should sleep soundly in that knowledge. Nevertheless, Rogue One is overall an impressive and engaging exercise in nostalgia, full of delightful nods to the original trilogy. The movie's pacing, especially at the beginning, feels well off, jumping from character to character and location to location with surprising clumsiness. Fortunately, spectacular action sequences largely make up for this issue, most notably the climactic final battle and the scenes showcasing the Death Star's destructive capabilities – which even on their lowest power setting prove legitimately unsettling. Many Bothans may have died to bring us word of Death Star 2.0, but now, at long last, we can give names to those who did the same for the original – and it's definitely worth the price of admission. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frdj1zb9sMY
Add another huge festival to your calendar, and thank Norwegian DJ Kygo in the process. Not only is the 'Stole the Show', 'Here for You', 'Stay' and 'It Ain't Me' talent one of the headliners at Palm Tree Music Festival when it makes its Australian debut in 2023 — the former bedroom producer is also behind the whole shindig, creating it with his manager Myles Shear. Until now, the fest has played The Hamptons, New York, Cabo, Mexico and Croatia, and proven a hit in the process. Next year, it'll add a trip Down Under to its itinerary for the first time ever, rolling into Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne in mid-March. While Kygo brings the fest some sizeable star power, he's not its only high-profile DJ doing the honours for the event's maiden Aussie run. Also hitting the decks is Tiësto, aka one of the biggest names in electronic music in the world for the past couple of decades. From initially getting mainstream attention back in 2000 with his remix of Delerium's 'Silence' through to his 2020 hit 'The Business' and 2022's Charlie XCX collaboration 'Hot In It' — and plenty in-between — the Dutch DJ will have quite the back catalogue of tracks to mix into his set. With its holiday-friendly name, it should come as no surprise that Palm Tree Music Festival takes inspiration from Kygo's stints touring the world. Expect a cruisy vibe set to EDM's greatest and latest, too. Also joining the bill so far, heading to Showgrounds Dome in Sydney, Brisbane's Riverstage and Melbourne Showgrounds: Lost Frequencies, Sam Feldt and Frank Walker. A lineup of local talent will be announced at a later date. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Palm Tree Music Festival (@palmtreefestival) PALM TREE MUSIC FESTIVAL 2023 AUSTRALIAN LINEUP: Tiësto Kygo Lost Frequencies Sam Feldt Frank Walker PALM TREE MUSIC FESTIVAL 2023 AUSTRALIAN DATES: Friday, March 10 — Showgrounds Dome, Sydney Saturday, March 11 — Riverstage, Brisbane Sunday, March 12 — Melbourne Showgrounds Palm Tree Music Festival heads to Australia in March 2023. Tickets presales start at 11am AEDT on Friday, October 14, with general sales from 10am AEDT on Thursday, October 20. For more information, head to the festival promoter's website. Top image: Ss279 via Wikimedia Commons.
The rise of White Lotus-esque luxury wellness escapes is in full swing this year, fuelled by the same energy driving members-only health clubs, At these retreats, the itinerary is slower, holiday-goers are excited to be rejuvenated by nature and eco-friendliness is a priority. The 2025 Spa & Wellness Awards have landed just in time for the holidays, spotlighting the best spa destinations and wellness centres around Australia and New Zealand. In the Travel section, sustainability takes centre stage — and Elements of Byron has just been crowned the Best Resort or Hotel Focused on Wellness, beating out other world-class stays such as Qualia and Kokomo Private Island. Anchored by the award-winning Osprey Spa, Elements of Byron stretches across 50 acres of rainforest, eucalypt, wetland and dune landscapes at the doorstep of Belongil Beach. The treatments foster have a deep connection to the natural world — the spa hosts rainforest walks led by its resident naturalist, in partnership with Vanessa Megan Skincare (who took Best Haircare at the awards). Guests can wander through banksia, Davidson plum, tea tree and lemon myrtle, all native botanicals found in Vanessa Megan concoctions that grow right on the property — it's the spa version of farm-to-table. Besides cultivating a love for land, the resort's green ethos includes solar-powered infrastructure, waste-minimising practices, culinary philosophies and partnering with local businesses. Spa Manager Amy Back says, "This award celebrates the passion and integrity behind everything we do, from sustainable operations to the way we source ingredients, train staff, and care for our guests and our environment." Wellness at Elements of Byron go beyond the Osprey Spa. Guests start their morning with yoga classes overlooking the ocean, ride through the forest on horseback (there's even a charming fairy trail for the kids) or unwind with self-guided meditation rituals. Or grab a cheeky spritz at the swim-up bar in the adults-only pool— because self-care comes in all forms. Find out more about the 2025 Spa & Wellness Awards. Images: Supplied
When Winnie-the-Pooh moseyed into a slasher movie in Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey, the film endeavoured to prove that there's room in the pop-culture honeypot for multiple takes on AA Milne's beloved bear. More horror flicks are coming, because of course they are. But, embracing the usually cuddly figure's sweet and innocent side, so is a supremely nostalgic, family-friendly stage musical from Disney. Winnie the Pooh: The New Stage Adaptation debuted back in 2021 Off-Broadway, then took the Hundred Acre Wood and its famous felt residents to Chicago, back to New York, on a tour of the US and to London. The next stop on the Mouse House-created show's itinerary: Australia, starting this winter, and playing capital cities and regional towns alike. Hailing from American Australian producer, writer and director Jonathan Rockefeller, Winnie the Pooh: The New Stage Adaptation brings Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore, Kanga, Roo, Rabbit, Owl and Tigger to life with puppets — life-sized versions, which look as cuddly and fuzzy as anthropomorphic stuffed toys should. Also joining them is Christopher Robin, in a production that brings together a heap of songs from past Winnie-the-Pooh movies. "The music, the spectacular life-size puppets and the charming performances are the perfect way to introduce (or re-introduce) audiences to live theatre, and this is a must-see show for Winnie-the-Pooh fans," said Rockefeller, announcing the show's Australian run. "We are excited to bring the Hundred Acre Wood to Australia so that audiences of all ages can join us for this heartwarming production." Winnie the Pooh: The New Stage Adaptation will play Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra and Hobart, and also has dates booked in everywhere from Dandenong and Bunbury to Launceston and Geelong. Again, this is a firmly all-ages affair, so expect plenty of young Winnie-the-Pooh devotees in attendance. For those keen to see a childhood favourite in a new format, Australia's stages have been delivering blasts from the pasts with frequency over the past few years, spanning Frozen the Musical, Shrek the Musical, Cinderella, Mary Poppins and the upcoming Beauty and the Beast musical in Sydney, just to name a few. WINNIE THE POOH: THE NEW STAGE ADAPTATION AUSTRALIAN TOUR 2023 DATES: July 7 — Drum Theatre, Dandenong July 12–16 — Brisbane Powerhouse, Brisbane July 20-23 — Sydney Opera House, Sydney July 26–27 — Princess Theatre, Launceston August 3–6 — Theatre Royal, Hobart August 9–10 — Hopgood Theatre, Noarlunga August 16–20 — Dunstan Playhouse, Adelaide Festival Centre, Adelaide August 23–24 — Mandurah Performing Arts Centre, Mandurah August 25–26 — Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre, Bunbury August 29–September 3 — Regal Theatre, Perth September 7–9 — Canberra Theatre, Canberra September 14–17 — Riverside Theatre Parramatta, Parramatta September 21–25 — Comedy Theatre, Melbourne September 27–28 — Geelong Arts Centre, Geelong September 30–October 1 — Albury Entertainment Centre, Albury Winnie the Pooh: The New Stage Adaptation tours Australia from July — for more information, and for tickets from Thursday, June 15, head to the production's website.
Whether or not you love the holiday season, you can't deny that it's the perfect time to get together with the people you love and celebrate the good times. If you're the one lumped with the unlucky task of finding the best place for everyone to let their hair down a little, finding a venue can be a little tricky, especially with a small army behind you hollering for drinks and canapés. In an effort to take some of this stress off your weary shoulders, we've had a good look at venues around town that can accommodate larger collections of people. We've looked at pubs, bars, restaurants and everything in between so you don't have to. In partnership with Oyster Bay Sparkling Cuvée, here are our picks of venues where you can sip on a glass of bubbly and chill en masse with your squad over the holidays. THE ROYAL HOTEL, PADDINGTON No one uses space quite like The Royal. Despite the fact that the hotel is the size of a standard Paddington terrace house, they've pulled off a trick that would have made Lewis Carroll jealous and filled the space with three completely unique levels. Whether it's the picturesque rooftop, the slick Elephant Bar, the historic terrace or the good ol' public bar, The Royal can cater for groups of any size, and is a great place to order a bucket of bubbly and split it amongst your friends. They also offer extensive functions packages so you can make the most of your Yuletide revelries. ESTER, CHIPPENDALE Perhaps this year you're not in the mood for a massive do with far too much booze and a high risk of a social faux pas. Should this be the case, perhaps living it large with dinner is a much better option, and Ester is well worth checking out. The menu is deliciously fresh and the wine list would make Bacchus blush. Plus, the setup of the restaurant is perfectly sized to cater for most groups. Rather than reliving hangovers of Christmas past, Ester will keep you classy this holiday season. INTERCONTINENTAL SYDNEY, CBD There's no reason your annual get together has to be tucked away in the beer garden at your local. Why not get all dressed up and try something a little fancier? The InterContinental is no stranger to catering for groups and, with their multiple functions areas and menus, they've got a portfolio diverse enough to provide whatever it is you need — whether it's a fancy to-do in The Cortile, or a sit down dinner at 117 Dining, the hotel has all bases covered. FOREST LODGE HOTEL, FOREST LODGE Taking all your best buds out for a Christmas catch-up doesn't necessarily mean dropping a hefty wad of cash. Sometimes all you need is a cosy garden, a cracking craft beer list and a good, old fashioned local pub. The Flodge has all these things in swathes, plus a pool table and a few arcade games smattered around the joint to encourage a healthy dose of competition. What says Christmas in Australia more than a few jugs of the finest local beers with your mates at the pub? 4FOURTEEN, SURRY HILLS This restaurant space is sneakily tucked away among endless shopfronts in Surry Hills, hiding the fact that there's oodles of space inside to host any end-of-year function you might care to organise. In addition to the delicious a la carte and drinks menu, the functions packages cover everything from a small group in for a sit down dinner, to complete conversion of the venue to suit the needs of groups of up to 120 people. Heck, the team at 4fourteen have even pulled off the odd wedding, so an office Christmas party should be an absolute breeze. COOGEE PAVILION, COOGEE Overlooking one of Sydney's most iconic beaches, Merivale's Coogee Pavilion is the perfect place to celebrate the Australian summer with the people you hold dearest. As well as the slick public bar with its oversized Jenga and table tennis, the Pav also offers an amazing terrace that's perfect for a group get-together. WEBSTERS BAR, NEWTOWN It's been a while now since this bar shucked its Zanzibar skin and greeted the world anew as Websters Bar. Included in the transformation were some wicked renovations in all areas of the venue, creating a whole new spot for punters to enjoy. Websters can cater for big groups on every level of the pub, so whether you want a few tables put together in the public bar, or you want your own private corner in the sleek Bourbon Bar, or you want to book the whole roof out for your revelries, Websters has got your back. THE NELSON HOTEL, BONDI JUNCTION Sometimes you just have to salute the people who've done what they've done well while the years have kept marching on. The Nelson has had its doors open since the days when there was only one world war, and the same friendly vibe of a classic local pub remains. The food is simple yet delicious, and there's a huge amount of space to bring all your pals for a feed and a few cold ones. So while Christmases come and go, The Nelo will host parties for all of them. THE BUCKET LIST, BONDI BEACH With the golden sands of Bondi Beach merely metres away, The Bucket List is the perfect spot to sink a few cold ones in the dying summer sunlight.The venue has a laidback vibe, where your party can mingle among the other revellers — or, if you can gather everyone on your Facebook friends list, you can book out the whole joint for up to 400 people. CLOVELLY BOWLING CLUB, CLOVELLY Just like the first time you tried asparagus as a kid, you're going to need to keep an open mind here. Although it's not the full service deal you get with a lot of other venues on this list, Clovelly Bowls is a spectacular place to get outdoors, fire up a barbecue you don't have to clean, and have a drink while playing some sports with friends and family. Add the Covelly cliffside location and you've got yourself a fine venue to muster up Christmas cheer in even the biggest Grinch. Celebrate this season with Oyster Bay Sparkling Cuvée — available at your local supermarket or liquor store. Top image: Coogee Pavilion.
Sydney Fringe Festival is back for another year with 30 days of performances, exhibitions, music, theatre, comedy, visual arts, film, dance, circus, literature and poetry. Running throughout September, the program is absolutely jam-packed, which can be a little overwhelming — with multiple showstopping productions and performances popping up every single day of the festival. Thankfully, we've enlisted the help of the talented and ever-funny Jenna Suffern (Two Queers Walk Into a Bar, Hot Mess) to guide you through her picks for the program. Suffern is too humble to include herself in the picks, but her show It's Not Funny, It's Private is a must-catch at the festival. Running between Friday, September 1–Monday, September 11 at KXT Vault on Broadway, the show guides audiences through a turbulent time in Suffern's life. "It's Not Funny, It's Private is based on the very real week of my life where I performed my first stand-up gig on the Sunday (yay), was made redundant from my full-time job on the Monday (boo), then dumped by my girlfriend that I lived with on the Thursday (double boo)," says Suffern. "I've always been an oversharer and find it incredibly cathartic to get up on stage and make light of shitty situations that I've gone through." "Us humans are just little rats, stumbling through life, hoping that everyone else is going through the same shit. So what I hope from this show is that at least one person will go: 'damn, I've done that, I now feel less alone. I'm going to give Jenna one million dollars and a standing ovation'." Anyway, here are the Jenna Suffern-approved picks for the Sydney Fringe Festival 2023. BIG THICK ENERGY Saturday, September 16 — Riverside Parramatta Jenna: I would follow Demon Derriere to the pits of hell, and if you're not across everything they're doing, you better be now! Big Thick Energy is the brain-child of performance artist and booty manipulator Demon Derriere and has been curated to promote body positivity and liberation through movement, creativity and community. It's a jam-packed day involving pop-up markets from local businesses, workshops run by curvy babes and a wild night of badass performances from burlesque, drag, dancing, DJs and a whole lot of sweaty booty juice. BRIDGET HASSED: DUMBASS Wednesday, September 6 and Friday, September 8 — Factory Theatre Jenna: Bridget is one of those incredible humans whose dry, relatable humour can just tickle you in the exact spot you can't reach. Plus, this is their DEBUT solo show! J'adore. Dumbass is Bridget's work-in-progress show about existing in the world when you're a fricken idiot (but, rest assured, so is everybody else). [caption id="attachment_842389" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Rosie Hastie[/caption] COIL Thursday, September 7 and Friday, September 8 — Bondi Pavilion Theatre Jenna: Coil is a nostalgic homage to the glory days of the video store. It celebrates the communities that were made within these humble stores built around the wonders of videotapes. So like, obvi, all of us 90s kids have to see this one. ANGE LAVOIPIERRE AND JANE WATT: JAZZ OR A BUCKET OF BLOOD Tuesday, September 12, Thursday, September 16 and Saturday, September 16 — 107 Redfern Jenna: Currently charming audiences over at Edinburgh Fringe, Ange and Jane are a force to be reckoned with. Plus, they're super weird, which is a huge win in my books. The duo grew up as classic childhood frenemies in country NSW. Jazz or a Bucket of Blood sees them face off against each other as they look to entertain you, but can't agree on how. Blood, Billy Joel's 'Piano Man' and Bunnings — they all make appearances while Ange and Jane pit the entire genre of jazz against a bucket of very nice blood. Sydney Fringe Festival 2023 will take place from Friday, September 1–Saturday, September 30, with the event's full program set to be announced in the coming months. For further information in the interim, head to the fest's website.
For many designers, their work is developed through experimentation with new materials, while for others their entire body of work is dedicated to exploring the potential of only one. Jan Gunneweg falls into that latter category, and his material of choice is wood. Gunneweg's workshop in the Netherlands is filled with beautifully crafted traditional wooden objects, such as benches, desks and tables. However, it is also filled with some fairly non-traditional ones, including sunglasses, which he creates by hand. His wooden bicycles, though, have garnered Gunneweg the most attention of late. Gunneweg's bikes are both technically and aesthetically beautiful, as well as practical, and are made out of solid walnut or birchwood. And while Genneweg's has plans to produce bikes which are far easier (and cheaper) to make, assemble and ship overseas, at present he is only making to order. Understandably too, as each takes between 160 and 200 man hours to create. Quite an impressive labour of love, and a rather nice way to get around town this summer - especially if you can afford the matching sunglasses.
Mondays tend to be a day of rest for most restaurants in the Los Angeles area. But for friends Aliza Miner, Savita Ostendorf and Marjory Garrison it's the busiest night of the week. A few months ago the three girls combined their skills as a chef, graphic designer and PR activist for non-profits, respectively, to create Closed on Mondays, a business that hosts fundraiser dinners for charity at empty restaurants on Monday nights. They offer a fixed price menu at $35, hire waitstaff from the host restaurant and serve customers on a first come, first serve basis from 5 to 9p.m. The profits go directly to local food initiatives or community projects. They don't force-feed their guests with information about the charities, they just want people to come and eat. Better yet, the dishes offered will leave your taste-buds begging for more, with choices like Yucatan pulled pork, wild Mexican shrimp with pumpkin seed sauce and stuffed poblanos, kabocha squash and chihuahua cheese in romesco (each served with homemade tortillas). Yum. The first three dinners were hosted at L.A's Canele, which raised $7000 for the Micheltorena School Garden community project in Silver Lake. Although the girls realize that they still have a long way to go to build up the non-profit, other chefs in the area have already approached them about bringing Closed on Mondays to their restaurants. Mondays are soon to be the biggest night out of the week for good food and a good cause.
Fans of Trainspotting will probably want to check out Filth, the new film adaptation of the 1998 Irvine Welsh novel. Jon S. Baird directs James McAvoy as Bruce Robertson, a bipolar, misanthropic junkie detective (role of a lifetime) who, when he's not awash in drugs, alcohol and sex games, spends his time plotting the downfall of his fellow colleagues. In his quest to trump them and secure a coveted promotion, he stops at nothing — stealing their wives, exposing their darkest secrets. Oh, and there's a murder to be solved, too. Things escalate to the point of madness, with plenty of manipulation, hallucination and downright insanity. McAvoy won critical praise for his performance upon the film's UK release and is supported by some stellar UK actors including Jim Broadbent, Jamie Bell and Eddie Marsan (who was so good in Mike Leigh's Happy-Go-Lucky and Paddy Considine's Tyrannosaur). The film will no doubt give a typically Welsh-ian insight into the grim, violent underbelly of Edinburgh — with a few laughs. Filth is in cinemas on November 21, and thanks to Icon Films, we have ten double in-season passes to give away. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter (if you haven't already), then email us with your name and address. Sydney: win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.au Melbourne: win.melbourne@concreteplayground.com.au Brisbane: win.brisbane@concreteplayground.com.au
We're still a far cry from jetting off to the UK, but thankfully there are plenty of Brit-style pubs around town to pop into for a pint, nip of scotch or comforting pub feed. And now, you can head to The Duke of Clarence in the CBD for even cosier English tavern vibes thanks to its new Scotch Egg Club offering. Every weekend from Saturday, October 24 right up till the end of the year, the pub will be hosting a weekly whisky tasting, with a food pairing that's a little out of the ordinary — at least, it is for Sydney. For $60, you'll get a Dewar's whisky cocktail on arrival, followed by four 15ml serves of blended and single malt whiskies — Dewar's 12 year old, Aberfeldy 12 year old, Craigellachie 13 year old, and Royal Brackla 12 year old — with a good ol' fashioned scotch egg to scoff down. The bartender will talk through the scotch tasting and, for your snack, you can pick between traditional pork, fried chicken and even a vegetarian option. [caption id="attachment_663159" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Duke of Clarence, Kitti Gould[/caption] Scotch Egg Club will run from 3–7pm each Saturday, with bookings lasting up to one hour. Round up your mates for a top-notch scotch and snack session that'll have you dreaming of your next London trip. The Duke of Clarence's Scotch Egg Club will take place every Saturday from 3–7pm until December 19. To book your spot, head here.
In 1961, on an assignment from the New Yorker, superstar academic Hannah Arendt travelled to her native Germany to cover the trial of Adolf Eichmann, 'architect of the Holocaust'. Instead of being struck by his coldness or inhumanity at the trial, Arendt found Eichmann an "unimpressive" and "unremarkable" figure who presented himself a bureaucrat who merely followed orders. Her reaction was not the one she expected, nor one many people wanted to hear, but her bafflement went on to inform a work which helped readers understand how an almost unfathomably dark chapter in human history had unfolded. The main focus of the biopic Hannah Arendt is the fallout after that article (which was expanded into a book) was published. Many thought it a betrayal of her own Jewish heritage or a slanderous, self-serving provocation. The university where she once received gooey-eyed affection from her adoring students asks her to justify her continued employment there and social schisms spring up as former friends and allies turn against her. Directed in solid, determinedly no-frills style by Margarethe Von Trotta, Hannah Arendt is a reminder that a work which is now almost universally accepted as a key insight into the horrors of the Holocaust and the operation of a genocidal machine was considered incendiary and worse at the time of publication. Read our full review of Hannah Arendt here. Hannah Arendt is in cinemas on Thursday, March 13, and thanks to Curious Distribution, we have ten double in-season passes to give away. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter (if you haven't already), then email us with your name and address. Sydney: win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.au Melbourne: win.melbourne@concreteplayground.com.au Brisbane: win.brisbane@concreteplayground.com.au https://youtube.com/watch?v=WTQNWgZVctM
If you've ever looked askance at your cookbook collection and thought "this does not speak to me on an emotional level," you're not alone. New York-based artist Automne Zingg feels ya — so much so that the artist, musician, and illustrator has recently published two cookbooks inspired by the thick, syrupy sadness of Morrissey and Nick Cave. 'Defensive Eating with Morrissey' and 'Comfort Eating with Nick Cave' are full of gems like "Boy with the corn in his side" and "Peas let me get what I want". Which, yes, are two great recipes for corn and peas. Oh, and if you hadn't guessed, the cookbooks are vegan. Zingg has provided the illustrations of sad Morrissey and Cave eating food, with Joshua Ploeg, of The Touring Vegan Chef, responsible for the recipes. But it's not all corn and peas, thankfully. Ploeg has unveiled some pretty sick vegan treat recipes like ice cream, cookies and cheesecake. Morrissey and Nick Cave were both almost involved, but in the end declined for different reasons. Of course, don't let that stop you from enjoying the below kind of sexy picture of Morrissey eating corn. We said kind of, remember.
A Sydney institution has closed its doors. While Redfern Continental (and its cocktail bar GDR) are no more, we're happy to announce that a new venue has already taken its place, with Golden Gully owners Daniel McBride and Dynn Smulewicz opening a sister venue to their Leichhardt small bar last week. The new venue, like it's predecessor, is split in two. Out the front, you'll find casual restaurant The Sunshine Inn and, out the back in the old GDR space, is a degustation-only dining room dubbed DD's. Gully's Executive Chef Emma Evans (Alibi) is in the kitchen serving up elevated gastropub eats up front and a three-to-five course degustation menu out back — all of which is vegetarian and focused on locally sourced produce. While the front bar is bright and airy with a minimalist fit-out — think white walls with navy accents and natural timber furnishings — the back restaurant is dark and moody. The intimate space hosts two dinner sittings per night (with bookings essential), then turns into a cocktail lounge once the kitchen is done. It's looking to be one of Sydney's best priced degustation menus, too, ranging from a very reasonable $39–59 (for three-to-five courses, respectively). [caption id="attachment_784833" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cassandra Hannagan[/caption] Expect more refined fare here that's reminiscent of Gully's set menu. It will change regularly, but some of the dishes you're likely to find on the opening menu include turnip ravioli with strawberry gum, corn-crusted fennel served atop smoked chat potatoes and a decadent Ferrero Rocher pie. Also similar to the one at Gully, the cocktail menu focuses on Aussie spirits and native flavours — but The Sunshine Inn's list will include international booze, too. The 16-strong cocktail list includes The Cure All (a tequila and mezcal take on the penicillin, made with jalapeño and ginger syrup), an amaro spritz (made using Poor Toms' Imbroglio, strawberry gum syrup and prosecco) and the Aussie Amari Sour (all $18), which McBride described as "a grown-up version of an amaretto sour". The wine list takes cues from the Gully as well, focusing almost exclusively on Aussie drops while balancing the natural with the accessible. Local winemakers Eloquesta, La Violetta and Yetti and the Kokonut all represent, and brews from Sydney's Wildflower, Akasha and Grifter are pouring as well. Images: Cassandra Hannagan
Many would say trekking around an art gallery does not exactly count as a workout. I beg to differ. But it remains that art and exercise are worlds apart and I take my hat off to anyone who successfully manages to marry the two. Interactive collective YesYesNo has collaborated with sportswear giant Nike to develop software which integrates with Nike+GPS data to generate abstract digital artworks. Runners' routes are recorded by a Nike Sports Watch and, based on the speed, consistency and unique style of each person's run, dynamic formations are revealed. A two-day workshop was held to launch the Nike Free Run+ 2 City Pack, inviting runners to record their movements and use colours and composition to personalise their exercise artworks. They took home unique high resolution prints and a custom shoebox with their name, distance run and route laser-etched onto the surface. It's not quite the first project of its kind, with rock band OK Go! unveiling a similar idea in partnership with Range Rover recently. [Via Engadget]
Addams Family fans, it's time to get a witch's shawl on and a broomstick you can crawl on, because Netflix — and Tim Burton — are gonna pay a call on popular culture's most famous supernatural brood. Come November, the streaming platform will release Wednesday, the high school-set series about the eerie family's teenage daughter. And, in a way, there's more than one Wednesday on offer. To answer the obvious question, yes, the show will drop on a Wednesday: Wednesday, November 23, in fact. To answer your next two queries, yes, Christina Ricci is among the cast — but no, she isn't playing the titular role, because that honour goes to Jenna Ortega. Ortega is having quite the year, especially when it comes to horror. This new take on The Addams Family follows her roles in Scream, Studio 666 and X already in 2022. When she shares the screen with Ricci, as seen in the just-dropped new Wednesday trailer, the latter plays Nevermore Academy teacher Marilyn Thornill. As also shown in the initial teaser trailer from back in August, Wednesday obviously focuses on its namesake — aka the Addams' eldest child, who plenty of teenage girls with long black hair have been compared to for decades. Wednesday is indeed a teen in the new series, and she has been terrorising her way through schools, hopping through eight of them in five years. Now she's ended up at Nevermore Academy, where her mother introduces her with an apology: "please excuse Wednesday, she's allergic to colour". Morticia (Catherine Zeta-Jones, Prodigal Son) actually met Gomez (Luis Guzmán, Hightown) at the school, and they think that she'll love it — but clearly Wednesday's storyline isn't going to be that straightforward. While she's there, she'll have a monstrous killing spree to stop, and a supernatural mystery linked to her parents a quarter-century ago to solve. Sleuthing, high-school antics and all things Addams Family: that's the spell that Wednesday plans to cast. Also part of the series, as seen in the sneak peeks so far: a creepy, kooky, mysterious and spooky vibe, as befitting a family that has been around for 84 years now, and just keeps scampering around screens big and small like a mischievous severed limb. Wednesday treads in huge footsteps, given that this isn't the first time that The Addams Family has made the leap from a beloved cartoon in The New Yorker to the screen. The 1960s TV series is a gem of the era, and 1991's live-action film The Addams Family and its 1993 sequel Addams Family Values — starring Ricci as Wednesday — are two of the best movies of that decade. (The less said about the recent animated flick and its own follow-up, however, the better.) In Burton, the show boasts a director who could easily be one of the altogether-ooky crew's long-lost relatives, and has spent his entire career channelling their gothic aesthetic. In fact, the trailers look like Burton is filtering his Frankenweenie, Beetlejuice and Edward Scissorhands vibes through Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children — so, it looks exactly like a Tim Burton-directed version of The Addams Family was always going to. Netflix's eight-part series also stars Isaac Ordonez (A Wrinkle in Time) as Pugsley and George Burcea (Comrade Detective) as Lurch, while Game of Thrones' Gwendoline Christie is also set to pop up. And, in the latest trailer, the new Uncle Fester is revealed — as played by Fred Armisen (Los Espookys). Check out the full trailer for Wednesday below: Wednesday will stream via Netflix from Wednesday, November 23. Images: Courtesy of Netflix © 2022.
How better to experience the fun, food and festivities of Chinese New Year, than on the back of a rickshaw? This year, Sydney's 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art is celebrating the annual cultural extravaganza with Rickshaw Tales, a series of rickshaw food tours, which'll see punters jump aboard their artist-commissioned vehicle for a roving foodie fest through Haymarket. Local multidisciplinary Chinese-Australian artist Louise Zhang is the talent behind the rickshaw's visually-arresting get-up, with her candy-coloured globular painting and sculpture style suggestive of vibrant Asian desserts and sweets. The highly visible rickshaw will be doing tours for two people at a time on weekends and Thursday nights across the CNY festival, from January 28 through to Tuesday, February 14, when they'll do a special Valentine's Day tour. For a very reasonable $33 per person, riders will be pedalled around Chinatown in style with commentary by 4A Director Mikala Tai via video. Participants will gain a swag of insight into the area's culinary offerings, with the ticket price inclusive of snacks at each restaurant, café, and hole-in-the-wall they stop at along the way. Prefer to experience it all on foot? Rickshaw Tales will also host a series of small group walking tours for $22, guided by 4A's team of Chinatown experts. Either way, you better get booking — the rickshaw rides will no doubt be snapped up quicker than a dozen Emperor Puffs.
University students might be accustomed to pairing their education with a few alcoholic beverages; however most don't expect their tertiary institution to have its own tipple. That rings particularly true when one of the most famous and prestigious universities in the world is involved — but, as well as teaching bright minds, Oxford University is bursting boundaries. The British uni has just added an official brand of gin to its list of achievements: Physic Gin, aka an especially aptly named juniper spirit. It's a product of The Oxford Artisan Distillery (TOAD), which is located in the same city, but is separate from the university. With their collaboration — the result of one of TOAD's distillers meeting one of Oxford's botany professors — they've created the first gin made for the university and bearing its name. Branding isn't Physic Gin's only Oxford connection. It's also flavoured using plants from the uni's botanic garden. Founded in 1621 to help teach herbal medicine, the patch of greenery in question is the oldest of its kind in the country. In total, 25 botanicals grown and foraged in Oxford's garden are used in the tipple, most of which were listed in a catalogue kept by its first keeper back in the 1640s. According to TOAD master distiller Cory Mason, anyone keen on a sip should expect a rich, earthy taste thanks to ingredients such as wormwood, rue and sweet woodruff — which "bring a deeply complex flavour to bear and take us back to the time when plants formed the base of all medicine." TOAD also use ancient, organic, super-sustainable grains in their production of Physic Gin, plus their original Oxford Dry Gin and Oxford Rye Vodka. For more information, visit www.spiritoftoad.com Via The Guardian. Image: The Oxford Artisan Distillery.
There is no shortage of hairdressing salons and barbershops in Sydney, but Rumbie & Co sets itself apart. Here, the team, led by Rumbie Mutsiwa, specialise in cutting, treating and styling wavy, curly and afro hair. After finishing her apprenticeship, Mutsiwa opened the salon in 2014 with a mission to help clients "embrace every curl". Unlike traditional salons, Rumbie & Co stylists cuts hair dry to "enhance the natural curl pattern". After the curls are looking well-defined and the client is happy with the shape, they are then treated to the usual shampoo, blow-dry and style. Rumbie & Co also offers specialty afro styling, including cornrows, dreadlocks, and weaves. Of course, the usual hairdressing services like colouring and treatments are available, too. To help with the upkeep, the salon also has its own range of products, including curl gels and silk pillowcases. Plus, it runs workshops on styling and caring for curly and afro hair on occasion.
If your life could use a bit more Pixar magic at the moment, then Disney is here to help, with the Mouse House rushing the beloved animation studio's latest film to Australian and New Zealand audiences via digital rental and its streaming platform Disney+. Featuring the voices of Chris Pratt, Tom Holland, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Octavia Spencer, Onward was originally slated to release on the big screen Down Under on Thursday, March 26; however those plans changed when cinemas were ordered to shut. While the movie did play in Australian theatres for a few days over the weekend immediately beforehand, giving dedicated audiences a sneak peek, cinemas were hardly packed at the time — so, if this elf-filled adventure is still on your must-watch list, you're not alone. Pixar fans will be able to get their animation fix via video on demand from Friday, April 3, which'll require paying separately to view the film. Or, if you're already a Disney+ subscriber — or you've been thinking of becoming one — you'll be able to watch Onward on the company's own streaming platform as part of its regular package from 6pm on Friday, April 24. Story-wise, Onward tells the tale of brothers Ian and Barley Lightfoot (Marvel co-stars Holland and Pratt), two teenage elves who've grown up without their dearly departed dad. Thanks to an unexpected flash of long-dormant magic, they're given the chance to spend one last day with their father — but, in order to do so, they'll have to undertake a perilous quest in Barley's rundown van Guinevere. From the above description, you might've noticed that Pixar's usual formula isn't at play here, with the company branching beyond the "what if toys/cars/rats/robots/monsters/feelings had feelings?" setup that's served it so well in everything from the Toy Story franchise to Inside Out. Rest assured, however, that Onward's central elf siblings do indeed experience a whole heap of emotions as they cast spells, try to decipher mysterious maps, endeavour to avoid curses, explore their complicated brotherly relationship and team up with a part-lion, part-bat, part-scorpion called The Manticore (Spencer). Fast-tracking Onward to digital platforms is the latest example of film industry's efforts to adapt to the changes forced by the spread of COVID-19. In Australia and New Zealand, Disney follows fellow distributor Roadshow's lead — with the latter also speeding up the online release of a number of its big titles as well. Check out the trailer for Onward below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxKXiQvyG_o Onward will be available to purchase separately on digital platforms in Australia and New Zealand from Friday, April 3, before hitting Disney's streaming platform Disney+ as part of its regular package at 6pm on Friday, April 24. Images: © 2019 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website. 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.
Your life is about to be filled with hand-knitted wine bags, minimalist bean bags and slick storage options. Japanese design and homewares retailer MUJI has opened its very first flagship store in New South Wales — the third MUJI in Australia. Opening at 500 George Street, the huge 1344sqm corner space is located on level one of The Galeries (where the old Freedom Furniture was) — counting Kinokuniya, Incu and Sushi Hotaru as friendly neighbours. If you're a bit vague on MUJI, they're a Japanese brand all up in simple, elegant homewares and consumer goods with an eco-friendly aim to reduce packaging. The company's Japanese name, 'Mujirushi Ryohin' means 'no brand quality goods', so we're talking no-name, minimal packaging products — everything from apparel and accessories, to furniture and homewares, stationery and skincare products, bedding and travel goods. Yep, they're into covering all bases with a stripped back simplicity similar to IKEA. This is the first NSW MUJI, following Australia's first at Chadstone Shopping Centre in November 2013 and Emporium Melbourne's store opening in April last year. MUJI plan to open more Australian stores, with the promise of an online store in the near future. But MUJI are no spring chickens, having started in 1980 as a private offshoot of SEIYU (one of Japan's bigwig retailers) and growing to a total 703 stores worldwide.
Everyone knows the protocol. You walk into the carriage, give everyone a passing acknowledgement as you look for a seat, then promptly settle in with your iPhone for the journey ahead. It doesn't matter if you don't have anyone to text. Your number one priority here is avoiding eye contact and blocking out the obnoxious, stinking presence of your fellow passengers. Now researchers in Queensland are seeking to undo all these social codes we've carefully put in place. Prepare yourself — they want us to actually talk to each other. Currently in its initial trials Train Yarn is a texting app developed by Tiago Camacho from the Queensland University of Technology. Using your phone's GPS data, the app only works on Brisbane's train network, and seeks to randomly connect you with your fellow passengers. With each user staying relatively anonymous, the app works in a similar way to Chatroulette: the infamous go-to platform for strangers' genitals on demand. Admittedly, the app developers have thought of these possible downfalls and maintain faith that the anonymity of the service will keep the messages clean (for some reason we can't totally figure out). However, it does help that the platform only supports text. At the very least we'll be saved from the dick pic the teenage boy vandalising the back of your seat was invariably going to send. Similar projects have been carried out around the world with mixed success. Last year, Virgin America implemented an online chat system for use on its domestic flights. Identified by seat number, passengers could chat to each other or send out messages to the whole plane. According to the Daily Mail it had some pretty amazing outcomes. It's hard to say if the same technology will take off on trains. After all, planes are the only mode of transport where we're cut off from our smartphones — in a way we're forced to interact with each other. Nonetheless the makers of Train Yarn stay optimistic. "Research has shown that while most people think they would rather sit in solitary than talk with a stranger, when tested, people who conversed with someone had a more positive experience than those who kept to themselves," said lead researcher Tiago Camacho. It's a nice, if not somewhat utopian vision that's definitely worth a go either way. The app is available for free download now, but beware — QUT will be watching your conversations for research purposes from July 3-16. We know it's hard, but try to fill it with something other than sexts and complaints. Via Brisbane Times.
Sometimes, you just need to get away from it all. And what better way to do that, than by escaping to your own private luxury villa, floating offshore from Sydney's famed Palm Beach? Lilypad is a lavish, resort-style escape that's right at home on the northern beaches, and it's just become a whole lot more accessible — while it was previously only available to members, bookings are now open to the public. Of course, it's much more than just a pretty face — the floating paradise has also been built with big respect for its natural environment, running entirely off solar power. And it's been cleverly engineered to remain stable, while still embracing the natural movements and rhythms of the water below. After all, a bout of seasickness doesn't exactly scream 'luxury'. This designer lilypad can only sleep two, but can also be used to host events with up to 16 of your friends and fam. It comes decked out with an on-board, 40-bottle wine cellar — which you have unlimited access to — and comes stocked with a handy array of water equipment, including paddleboards, snorkel gear, fishing rods and a floating daybed. Guests can expect even more luxury, with their own private concierge and a self-drive luxury personal vessel for exploring the surrounds, along with gourmet brekkie by The Boathouse Group and premium booze by Glenmorangie whisky throughout their stay. Throw down even more money if you fancy adding on upscale extras like a private chef, seaplane transfers and on-board spa treatments. To enjoy your slice of floating luxury, you'll need some big cash to splash — the nightly cost is set at $1650. But, if you can somehow splurge for two nights, the booking includes a complimentary meal for two at Barrenjoey House, with the private boat transfer included (naturally). Lilypad Palm Beach is now available for bookings, starting at $1650 per night. It's located off of Snappers Lane Wharf, Palm Beach. Updated: December 19, 2019.
As well as giving popular culture some of its most beloved characters of the past few decades, the Harry Potter franchise has also conjured up a whole heap of astonishing critters. The Boy Who Lived himself studied them at Hogwarts, all thanks to textbook Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Then, to the joy of Potter-loving muggles everywhere, that tome became an actual IRL text in 2001. Every Wizarding World fan knows that that book followed the original Harry Potter novels in making the leap from the page to the screen, resulting in a first film in 2016, then 2018 sequel Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald and also 2022's Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore. But if you're more interested in the actual fantastic beasts than a movie plot spun around them — and in natural history in general — exhibition Fantastic Beasts: The Wonder of Nature has you covered. First announced in 2020, then premiering at London's Natural History Museum, this is all about critters that fly, scamper and scurry through the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts realm on the page and screen; however, it's also about real-life creatures, specimens and artefacts, too. The exhibition combines beasts from the natural world, the mythical world and the Wizarding World, and was always slated for an international tour. Next, it's Australia's turn to see it, with the showcase displaying at Melbourne Museum from Friday, May 19–Sunday, October 8. Visitors to Fantastic Beasts: The Wonder of Nature will see legendary beasts placed alongside specimens and historic objects, while also venturing through elements from cinema's last two decades. Unsurprisingly, there'll also be a hefty focus on Newt Scamander, the Wizarding World's famed magizoologist as played Eddie Redmayne (The Good Nurse). Whether you're a Melbourne local or now planning a visit, you'll see items from the Natural History Museum's scientific collections, custom-made Wizarding World models, props from the flicks and original artworks from Bloomsbury Publishing. You'll also wander through a celebration of real-life scientists trying to understand the planet's animal inhabitants. In London, the exhibits included a tiger, a Galápagos marine iguana and a giant oarfish (the planet's longest bony fish) alongside an Erumpent horn and the dragon skull from Professor Lupin's classroom. Patrons were also able to compare the camouflage tactics of a jaguar to those of the Demiguise. Fantastic Beasts: The Wonder of Nature will display at Melbourne Museum from Friday, May 19–Sunday, October 8. Head to the exhibition's website for further details. Images: Trustees of the Natural History Museum London.
Music festival lineups are always cause for excitement, but sometimes spending a whole day at a fest doesn't fit into your schedule. Thankfully, life found a way to ensure that you can still see your favourite acts: festival sideshows, which a heap of talent on the 2024 Groovin the Moo lineup just announced. Can't head to Newcastle, Canberra, Bendigo, Adelaide Showground, the Sunshine Coast and Bunbury this April and May to catch GZA, Claire Rosinkranz, Kenya Grace, Stephen Sanchez and The Beaches? All five have announced their own gigs while they're Down Under. In great news for folks in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, they're all playing all three cities. Perth gets a few sideshows as well; however, if you're elsewhere, you'll have to travel. Wu-Tang Clan's GZA is taking to the stage with full live band The Phunky Nomads, on their Liquid Swords Live Australian tour — starting at Sydney's Liberty Hall, then heading to 170 Russell in Melbourne, The Triffid in Brisbane and Magnet House in Perth. And yes, the set usually includes a heap of the tunes that GZA is best-known for, because Wu-Tang Clan covers ain't nuthing ta f' wit. Rosinkranz has her debut 2023 album Just Because to play through at Max Watts in Melbourne, Oxford Art Factory in Sydney, The Zoo in Brisbane and Perth's Rosemount Hotel. Making her first trip to Australia, 'Strangers' artist Grace will play Melbourne's The Night Cat, Fremantle's Freo.Social, and also Oxford Art Factory and The Zoo just like Rosinkranz. After hitting our shores last year, Sanchez returns to bust out 'Until I Found You' again, this time at Enmore Theatre in Sydney, Forum Melbourne, The Tivoli in Brisbane and Perth's Astor Theatre. And Toronto's The Beaches have dates at The Lansdowne, The Zoo and Howler in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne, respectively. [caption id="attachment_939692" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Caity Krone[/caption] Groovin the Moo 2024 Sideshows: GZA + The Phunky Nomads Thursday, May 2 — Liberty Hall, Sydney Friday, May 3 — 170 Russell, Melbourne Tuesday, May 7 — The Triffid, Brisbane Friday, May 10 — Magnet House, Perth Claire Rosinkranz Tuesday, April 30 — Max Watts, Melbourne, Wednesday, May 1 — Oxford Art Factory, Sydney Tuesday, May 7 — The Zoo, Brisbane Friday, May 10 — Rosemount Hotel, Perth Kenya Grace Tuesday, April 30 — The Night Cat, Melbourne Thursday, May 2 — Oxford Art Factory, Sydney Wednesday, May 8 — The Zoo, Brisbane Saturday, May 11 — Freo.Social, Fremantle Stephen Sanchez Monday, April 29 — Enmore Theatre, Sydney Tuesday, April 30 — Forum Melbourne, Melbourne Monday, May 6 — The Tivoli, Brisbane Wednesday, May 8 — Astor Theatre, Perth The Beaches Wednesday, May 1 — The Lansdowne, Sydney Monday, May 6 — The Zoo, Brisbane Thursday, May 9 — Howler, Melbourne Groovin the Moo is touring Australia in April and May 2024. For tickets and more information, head to the festival's website. The festival's sideshows are touring across the same months, with presale and general sale dates varying — head to the tour pages for GZA, Claire Rosinkranz, Kenya Grace, Stephen Sanchez and The Beaches for all the details. Top image: Azuree Wiitala.
Good Food Month is nearly upon us and it's time to get those stomachs ready. A few weeks ago, we narrowed down the (frankly intimidating) list of events to our top ten favourites. But that wasn't the whole story. Good Food Month is also a chance for our lesser-known regional chefs, winemakers and producers to shine. From sustainable dining, farm and microbrewery tours to local farmers' markets, our regional foodie cousins are providing a host of events across NSW that are worth the day trip (or weekender). We've narrowed down the out-of-town events to five of the best. Pump up those gas tanks and ready yourself for a road trip. A Lunch in the Hothouse at Biota Voted by Good Food Guide as this year's Regional Restaurant of the Year and with two chef's hats under its belt, Biota Dining is gunning. Everything at Biota is done locally in Bowral — they have their own kitchen garden and source 60 percent of their produce from the surrounding area. For Good Food Month, they're hosting a languid 3.5hr lunch. For that little extra Biota twist, the chefs are employing primitive cooking techniques such as air-drying, charcoal-pit cooking and curing. October 25 from 11.30am-3pm, $160 ($45 extra with drinks). Reservations info@biotadining.com or phone (02) 4862 2005. Farm + Kitchen + Chef at Darling Mills Farm They've been behind some of Sydney's finest restaurants for the last 20 years. Darling Mills Farm supply produce — from salad leaves to microherbs — to top restaurants and have been a long-time staple at Growers' Markets. Now, owner Steve Adley is opening its doors for a chance to tour the greenhouses and walk along the farm's paddocks in Berrilee (near Berowra Waters). If the thought of all that exercise is making you hungry, well rejoice, because the tour is followed shortly by a three-course seasonal lunch. If this sounds totally up your alley, you might also want to check out Roberts Circa 1876's Spring Garden Party in Pokolbin, for a chance to tour the market garden and feast on three-courses of 'soul food' for just $75pp. October 3 & 5 from 11.30am-3.30pm, $125. Reservations (02) 9655 1339 or dmfarm@bigpond.com Orange Wine Festival Night Market If Sydney's Night Noodle Markets is anything to go by, Orange's Wine Festival Night Market is sure to be a triumph. Over 50 stalls will feature in Orange's biggest night market, in a collaborative effort from the area's winemakers, producers and chefs. Bask under the fairy lights and chill with some of the region's cool-climate wines, food and live music. October 24 from 5.30-9pm. Gold coin entry. Dishes and wine range from $6-10. Cider Sampler Lunch in Megalong It's hard to beat cider and pork when it comes to concocting a perfect marriage of flavours. Well, Blue Mountains' Cider Barn certainly got it right. As part of its launch, they're offering a chance to sample over 20 varieties of cider plus two courses of woodfired slow-cooked pork and pears poached in cider. Oh, and on top of that, there's also a cheese tasting. October 18 from 11.30am-2pm, $85 (including beverages and four cider samples). Reservations (02) 4787 8188, marketing@megalongcc.com.au or through the website. Dinner in the Brewery at Hopdog Touring a microbrewery isn't something you have the chance to do every week. Let alone dining while you're there. South Nowra's HopDog Beer — an ale-only producing brewery — is joining forces with chef Dave Campbell for a unique experience where you can do just that. Campbell, of Wharf Rd Restaurant, perhaps more known to the local crowd as the founder of Surry Hills' The Book Kitchen, has previously worked with Australian gastronomical trailblazers such as Neil Perry and Tetsuya Wakuda, while HopDog's Tim Thomas has over 13 years of professional brewing experience under his belt. October 10 from 6-9.30pm, $95. Reservations (02) 4422 6651 or enquiries@wharfrd.com.au. Top image: Roberts Circa 1876
They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. But during these pandemic times while scores of venues are closed, it might also be the only way to get your mitts on your favourite cult dish. Right now, dining out is off the cards and we're all inside racking up plenty of spare hours perfecting those kitchen skills. So, what better time for the minds behind some of the world's greatest cult dishes to share their culinary secrets? From Disneyland's sugar-dusted churro bites, to IKEA's much-loved meatballs, a bunch of famed spots have revealed their secret recipes for you to recreate at home. Add a few of these classics to your iso cooking repertoire. DISNEY'S CHURRO BITES AND MICKEY MOUSE-SHAPED BEIGNETS Disney's renowned collection of theme parks might be temporarily closed in a bid to curb the spread of COVID-19, but your inner child will be chuffed to hear it's simply relocating the magic...to your house. Along with virtual tours and new online offerings, the company's keeping that whimsical spirit alive by sharing some of its best-known recipes through its Disney Magic Moments series. Top of everyone's kitchen hit-list are the classic Disney churro bites, which are on the menu at every single Disney park across the globe. The recipe is fairly straightforward and if you've been lucky enough to wrangle some flour (if not, here's where you'll find some), you should already have most of the ingredients at home. Oh, and we're sure the four-person serving size is just a suggestion… Elsewhere on the site, you'll find recipes for its sugar-dusted Mickey Mouse-shaped beignets. PIZZA EXPRESS'S DOUGH BALLS Internationally loved, UK-born chain Pizza Express has done its many fans a solid, by releasing the recipe for its legendary dough balls into the world. While its restaurants are shut in accordance with public health measures, the group's fluffy, buttery snacks are yours for the making. Nab some yeast and flour, along with a few other pantry basics, and you could be pulling a tray of these beauties out of the oven in no time at all. Fancy something a little heartier? Pizza Express has also dropped the recipe for its classic margherita, so bring on the at-home pizza parties. https://twitter.com/PizzaExpress/status/1250363279945367553 IKEA'S MEATBALLS IKEA's Swedish meatballs have earned almost as much buzz for the furniture giant as its signature flatpack home accessories. And while those blessed balls are off the menu with the chain's in-store restaurants temporarily closed due to COVID-19, there's nothing stopping you recreating the goodness at home. IKEA has released its once-secret meatball recipe to the internet gods, complete with a handy, illustrated step-by-step guide. Each batch makes enough pork and beef meatballs — and matching rich cream sauce — to serve four. And chances are, you can knock it all together in less time than it takes to assemble one of IKEA's flatpack creations. DOUBLETREE BY HILTON'S CHOC CHIP COOKIES If you've ever stayed at a DoubleTree by Hilton hotel, chances are you're a sucker for the complimentary warm chocolate chip cookies the group serves each of its guests on arrival. But you no longer need to book in an overnight stay to sink your teeth into one of these cult baked goods — the recipe's now available online. With most travel plans on hold while the world's in pandemic fighting mode, Hilton has shared the blueprint for its covetable cookies so you can have a crack at baking them yourself. Whip up a batch of these minimal hassle treats and inject a little jet-setting, hotel-living style into your iso situation. [caption id="attachment_768714" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Flickr/Alpha[/caption] MCDONALD'S SAUSAGE & EGG MCMUFFIN Thanks to the magic of drive-through and delivery, there's pretty much no need to forego your Macca's fix here in Australia, even when self-isolating. But if you've jumped on the home cooking bandwagon hard, you can now have a go at perfecting your own version of the humble McDonald's sausage and egg McMuffin. After shutting all of its stores in response to the pandemic, McDonald's UK has gifted the world with the recipe for the brand's globally-loved breakfast treat. With just four ingredients and only a handful of steps, this one sure seems like a pretty easy culinary project and judging from the #McDonaldsAtHome feed on Twitter, has proved successful for plenty of folks. How will your DIY McMuffin stack up to the original? ACME-STYLE PASTA DISHES FROM MITCH ORR It was a sad day when Rushcutters Bay favourite ACME shut its doors for good last year. But the award-winning restaurant is back in spirit — kind of — to help cure those isolation blues and answer all your pasta cravings. Chef and co-owner Mitch Orr has taken to Instagram to share a slew of his own go-to recipes and it's about as close as you'll get to having ACME reincarnated, at your house. Jump over to his page for a step-by-step photo guide to dreamy dishes like pasta arrabbiata, creamy boscaiola, a classic bolognese and a 'turbo schnitty' featuring Lao Gan Ma chilli sauce.
During this summer's catastrophic bushfire season, flames encroached on Bundanon and Riversdale, the 1100-hectare properties that were gifted to the Australian public by by artist Arthur Boyd and his wife Yvonne Boyd back in 1993. Located in the Shoalhaven region on the New South Wales south coast, the heritage-listed sites were thankfully saved, as was the art collection within them — and now work is underway on their huge new bushland gallery. While the new addition to Riversdale was first announced back in 2018, this week marked the start of construction, with the gallery due for completion by the end of 2021 in time for an early 2022 opening. Well aware of its location and the climate conditions it faces, it'll welcome a purpose-built, 380-square-metre 'environmentally prepared gallery-of-the-future' — which'll be designed to ramp up the site's fire defenses, complete with a safe storage facility. With work underway — and new renders revealed, providing another glimpse of what the scenic spot will look like in two years — the Federal Government announced that it's also providing additional funding to help improve the properties' resilience. Specifically, it has earmarked $300,000 for the installation of an ember suppression system to protect the location's significant heritage-listed buildings. They include the Arthur Boyd Homestead, studio, artists-in-residence and musician cottages, and the art collection store. Costing $33 million in total, with $22 million supplied by the Australian Government and $8.6 million coming the NSW Government, the new site will house a huge art collection valued at $43 million. That hefty range spans around 4000 items, including more than 1300 works by Arthur Boyd himself. Pieces by Pablo Picasso, Francisco Goya and Brett Whiteley are also part of the collection — items that, at present, are on display in the existing Bundanon Homestead and in Arthur Boyd's studio, When the Boyds gave the rural site to the Australian public back more than a quarter-century ago, Bundanon and Riversdale became a haven for creativity, arts and education, as well as remaining a working farm. That's all remaining the same — just with the new addition built into the hillside. That said, although the new gallery is the main attraction — boasting windows that frame the artwork with glimpses of the natural splendour outside, it promises to provide quite the sight — that's not all that's being added to the property. Also under construction is a 140-metre-long by nine-metre-wide structure that'll branch out of the gallery, into a bridge spanning across the bushland and parkland, and across to 34 bedrooms, a teaching and dining space, and a public cafe. Stepped terraces, an openair arrival hall and an outdoor learning space are also planned. The Bundanon Trust's new gallery is due to open in early 2022 in Illaroo, New South Wales. For further information, visit the Bundanon Trust website. Images: Kerstin Thompson Architects.
There are plenty of ways to see out one year and welcome in the next. There are plenty of music festivals that offer that experience, too. But Woodford Folk Festival truly is an event like no other. When it sets up shop in southeast Queensland, it turns a patch of the Moreton Bay region into a thriving and heaving arts, music and culture village — and it's finally back to do it all again to farewell 2022 and greet 2023. Back in May, the festival announced that it would indeed return this year, hosting its first fest since 2019. And, it revealed its dates: Tuesday, December 27, 2022–Sunday, January 1, 2023. Now, it has also just locked in who'll be in the bill. It's an enormous lineup, as it always is — but it starts with Boy and Bear, Jaguar Jonze, Dani Im, John Butler and Electric Fields. Also on the program: The Black Seeds, The Black Sorrows, Gabriella Cohen, Spinifex Gum and Urthboy. Given that there's always around 2000 artists putting on 1600-plus shows across the festival's 25 stages, in venues that range from a 25,000-seat amphitheatre to chilled-out hangout spots, the list truly does go on. Whoever piques your interest, or even if you're just keen on a Woodford experience — for the first time, tenth or more — prepare to catch a heap of bands, wander between arts performances and get a little muddy, all around 90 minutes north of Brisbane. The festival will once again take over its Woodfordia parklands base, which now boasts a lake. And, as always, the fest's lineup spans everything from music, art, circus and cabaret to yoga, dance and comedy, plus spoken word, comedy, workshops, bars, cafes and restaurants. Tickets are already on sale, whether you'll be slumbering at one of the fest's multiple campgrounds or just heading along for the day. Whichever fits, you'll have company — more than 120,000 people attended and participated each year in pre-pandemic times. Find highlights from the 2022–23 lineup below, and check out the full list of acts and activities on the Woodford website. WOODFORD 2022–23 LINEUP HIGHLIGHTS: Alysha Brilla Andrew Small Anna Smyrk Ashley Watkins Band of Frequencies The Black Seeds The Black Sorrows Boy & Bear Catherine Britt Coterie Dami Im Dya Singh Electric Fields Electrik Lemonade Emma Donovan & The Putbacks Emily Lubitz Eric Bogle Fred Smith Gabriella Cohen Grace Petrie with Ben Moss Greg Sheehan Hello Tut Tut Hollow Coves Hot Potato Band Inn Echo Jacob Jolliff Band Jaguar Jonze The Jellyman's Daughter John Butler Keyim Ba Lior & Domini Liz Stringer Mama Kin Spender Marlon x Rulla Mia Wray The Monks of Tibet The Moving Stills Neil Murray Parvyn The Paul McKenna Band Rachel Bailman Rich Davies & The Low Road Sorong Samarai The Spooky Men's Chorale Spinifex Gum The Steele Syndicate Super Massive Tenzin Choegyal William Barton Urthboy Yirrmal The 2022–23 Woodford Folk Festival will run from Tuesday, December 27, 2022–Sunday, January 1, 2023 at Woodfordia on the Sunshine Coast. For more information, head to woodfordfolkfestival.com Images: Woodford Folk Festival via Flickr.
Whether you're spending this year's Melbourne Cup with your mates, office crew or loved ones, you've got to plan in advance. With so many spots offering up ticketed events, set menus and parties, choosing can easily take the fun out of the day before it even begins. Luckily, hospitality group Merivale has you covered, with happenings going down at 70 of its venues. It's got it all — from just a few cheeky pints, fancy hats and champagne or all-out party vibes. But we don't blame you if 70 venues is just too much to sort through. That's why we've chosen just a few of our favourites for you to check out — and book immediately. KEEP IT CASUAL AT THE VIC ON THE PARK The Vic on the Park has all the makings for a rowdy Melbourne Cup Day at the pub. This year, it's not just taking walk-ins — for $45, you can nab a table on the deck or in the bistro and settle in for the afternoon with a three-course set menu and a schooey of Furphy (or glass of Chandon Brut for the traditional types). The share menu is served 'family style' and starts with a Mediterranean dip platter (baba ganoush, tarama, beetroot and labne) along with falafel, pickled veg and pita chips. For mains, think rump steak with salsa verde and rotisserie chicken with gravy, plus a wood-grilled veggie side and strawberry cheesecake dessert for all. DJs will spin classic vinyl to keep the atmosphere alive well into the night. GET INTO THE PARTY SPIRIT AT MS G'S MsG's regular party vibes make it a Melbourne Cup go-to, and the team has created an eight-course banquet menu just for the occasion. The venue's famed cheeseburger spring rolls sit alongside crumbed pink ling banh mi, albacore tuna tartare with rendang dressing and tamarind-caramel pork ribs. Dessert brings you the inventive Thai milk tea custard tart with burnt lemongrass cream and milo crumbs to boot. It'll cost you $95 per person, and also comes with a glass of Chandon Brut or Furphy beer. GO ALL OUT AT BERT'S BAR AND BRASSERIE If a fine and fancy Melbourne Cup is what you're after, then you deserve waterfront views to accompany your Champagne sipping. Look no further than Bert's, with its sparkling Pittwater outlook and a brasserie set menu for the finest of dining. For $185, guests will begin with a glass of Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label and canapés, which include fresh oysters with a chardonnay mignonette and marinated trout roe with chicken butter on brioche toast. It'll be followed by a three-course feast by executive chef, Jordan Toft — from king prawn and crudo entrees to vine-leaf snapper and wild mint vinaigrette spatchcock for mains, plus three vegetable sides and peach melba for dessert. It's definitely a dressed-to-the-nines affair, and prizes will go out to the best of the bunch. For a full list of Merivale's Melbourne Cup happenings around the city, head over here.
Australia should've given rise to The Moogai before 2024, and prior to the SXSW Midnight Shorts Grand Jury Award-winning short of the same name four years earlier as well. An Aussie horror film born out of the Stolen Generations where the monsters of colonisation, White Australia policies and attitudes since remain inescapable, and where Indigenous children today are also snatched away by a literal monster, is a brilliant idea — one that instantly feels as if it needed to have been made decades back. But writer/director Jon Bell and his stars Shari Sebbens and Meyne Wyatt appreciate how deeply that this is a movie for now. Indeed, The Moogai doesn't just explore the direct ramifications of the Stolen Generations; it proves as clear-eyed about the reality for First Nations Australians today. This is not the only recent Australian film to grapple with the nation's past. Sweet Country, The Nightingale, The Drover's Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson, The New Boy, The Furnace and High Ground have all stepped into the same terrain. The Mystery Road franchise, including the initial movie's big-screen sequel Goldstone and then three seasons of TV, feels the echoes that the country's history has now and, when the saga jumps backwards, not that long ago. Making his first feature after creating The Gods of Wheat Street, developing Cleverman, and also penning episodes of Redfern Now, Black Comedy, Mystery Road and more, Bell was sparked by the inhumanity of taking children away from their parents — not only when forced child removals were the abhorrent policy in Australia, but as the trauma from that practice remains a presence. The Moogai begins on the Red River Aborigines Mission in 1969, where two sisters (debutants Aisha Alma May and Precious Ann) attempt to avoid being separated from their family by white men, only for one to be spirited away instead by the picture's namesake. When it jumps to half a century later, the film spends its time with Indigenous couple Sarah (Sebbens, The Office) and Fergus (Wyatt, Strife). A lawyer and a carpenter, and parents to six-year-old Chloe (newcomer Jahdeana Mary) with a new baby on the way, they each possess different ties to their heritage. Sarah was taken from her birth mother Ruth (Tessa Rose, Firebite) not long after her first breath, then adopted by white parents (While the Men Are Away's Tara Morice and Plum's Nicholas Cassim). Newly reconnected with the woman that gave her life, she's cautious, while Fergus heartily welcomes his mother-in-law. When the Moogai enters Sarah and Fergus' lives, Sarah's fears of the malevolent force impact her every moment. Her agitated state is dismissed by doctors, however, who think that she's simply struggling after a difficult birth. Painting anything but the portrait of a perfect family also immediately earns attention from anyone watching on, medical professionals, Chloe's teachers and the police included. Alongside Australia's history that constantly demands confronting, Bell was inspired by his and his wife's anxieties when his grandchildren were born, knowing how quickly that judgements can be made in a hospital situation. Australia's past haunts its present on- and off-screen, then, in this powerful picture — a movie that was labelled "Australia's Get Out" when it made its world premiere at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, ahead of charting the Aussie fest circuit, then hitting local cinemas in general release on Halloween. "It is a good comparison, because Jordan Peele, through his sketch-comedy career, too, the amount of story you have generate to be able to do that sort of stuff — no wonder Get Out was such a success and so on-point," Bell tells Concrete Playground. "And so in those terms, that's a good touchstone for us, because we're certainly trying to bridge those same audiences: people who are going to come see something, and see that it's got something to say, but it's also going to give you the genre stuff that you need. There's scares in this, but it's not grotesque and gruesome. There are also some laughs in there, which Get Out has as well. And I think there's a message in there, too, and there's a lot of heart." "I think as an artist, I don't particularly love comparisons in that way, but I absolutely understand why they're useful for audiences and for people to grasp onto something and have a quick point of reference," notes Sebbens, who also starred in the short alongside Wyatt. "But I will say it's a valid comparison and that it's Jon very much writing from a place of culture, very much writing from a place of Blackness — and employing elements of comedy. I wouldn't call this a comedy-horror by any means, but it is a psychological horror with just moments of comedy peppered throughout, and I totally understand why it reminds people of something like Jordan Peele's Get Out. Also, I'm like, man, if you're going to be compared to any director, that's the one," she tells us. Wyatt advises that he's excited about "what indigenous people will think about the film here in Australia, particularly, because I think it's a film for them in a lot of ways." He continues: "Aboriginal people love horror films, and there's a lot of humour in there as well. And I think there's something that you can claim and take ownership of, being that Jon is the writer and the director, Mitchell Stanley's the producer, Shari and I are acting, and Tessa Rose. It's got a cast of Indigenous filmmakers, this is one of our stories that we can tell and it has been authored by First Nations people." We also chatted with Bell, Sebbens and Wyatt about the fact that the film's premise feels like it should've been explored before, their journey with The Moogai from short to feature and ensuring that it comments on today's reality as much as the past — and more. On How Writing the Short as Proof of Concept for the Feature Helped Shape The Moogai Jon: "It's a good process to go through. I'd encourage anybody to do that, because trying to tell your story in different lengths really highlights structure in a lot of ways. It also gives the feature, if there's any flab, that will get cut off. Because with the short, you're so focused on everything having to earn its place because you've got very little time. And then with the feature, I think this is certainly under 90 minutes — I think it might be 86 or 87. And in trying to get that narrative drive, the script at a certain point, I think it might have got up to 114 pages, and then I cut it down before we started shooting. Then we just cut, cut, cut to try and get narrative pace, because these days people don't give too much time to anything. It's not even change the channel, they can just click off so easily. So you've got to get an audience and you've got to keep them. And writing the two lengths brought some of those issues into sharp focus." On Sebbens and Wyatt Both Starring in the Short as Well as the Feature — and How the Former Helped Them Prepare for the Latter Shari: "Definitely as an actor, you secretly hope, but it's also so completely out of your control. And I know that that's something that Meyne and I'm just so thankful for, is a chance to come back and play in the feature. Because it's really rare, actually, that actors get to be involved in the proof of concept in the short and then make it to the big screen. So it's definitely a hope that we were holding out on. But you can't ever say it out loud. I don't know, you probably can say it out loud — there probably are actors that go 'I want to be in this'. But I guess there's also an element of still being blackfullas, we're a bit ashamed to do that stuff. But it was definitely something we both really wanted. And when it came about, we were just over the moon. It's a dream come true to get to follow the story from that concept size all the way to its full fruition. Meyne: "For me, if it was offered to me, I was always going to go from the short to the feature. But I don't know how Jon feels about it or the production house. What was in the short was a good encapsulation of the feel of what the feature is and where the film gets to go. And I think I certainly jumped at the opportunity to be a part of the feature because I feel like Fergus, in particular, had been fleshed out in a very nuanced and interesting, juicy role that had come to life in the feature. So I was always excited to be involved. And I think that the short is probably a different film to the feature in some ways. One gives you the feeling and then the next, I think they're telling a different story. And I think that's a good thing. You're able to explore something in the feature that in short-form storytelling you won't be able to, and that was always an exciting thing to jump into." Shari: "I think the biggest thing was I've never done genre before. I've never done horror before as a as a genre specifically. So it was a great exercise in knowing the mental and emotional stamina it takes to maintain a taught psychological wire for an extended period of time, but still look after yourself, and still be able to exit and enter a process every day as an artist. It also just meant that we had a really great understanding of how to work with Jon, what he wanted to say and what he wanted to do. We had a shorthand with him, which was really useful for us on set." On How the Concept for the Film Came About for Bell Jon: "Part of the initial inception, the first time I had some of those ideas was when my oldest grandson, he's a teenager now, but when he was born, me and my missus throughout all of our grandkids, when they were born we were nervous about hospitals making a judgement — as we've worked with DoCs trying to reunite families. We had seen how easily from the government's point of view reports and judgments could be made. And then we also had our own experiences, our own family experiences with close calls, and I had an uncle who was part of Stolen Generations and stuff. So we had some personal experience. But when the grandkids came along, that was another thing that brought it into sharp contrast again, because one would think that we were past this in our history, but the fear that was inside us and the way, not anxiety, but the way we were just on our toes — we were on our toes the night before, for perceptions and judgments. We were just very aware of that stuff, and we didn't want any of our grandkids to be in the system. As soon as you're in the system, then another government department pulls something up and then bam, all the stuff comes up. So we were super watchful. In a lot of ways, that was probably the initial idea. That fear just followed us. It didn't matter how many generations deep we were, this fear just followed us." On The Moogai's Premise Instantly Standing Out Shari: "I say this a lot, but I came across Jon's writing in 2012 when we did The Gods of Wheat Street together, and I was like 'oh my god, who is this person writing such rich, incredible tapestry of black lives and family on screen, and on top of that, black women?'. I was convinced that a woman had written The Gods of Wheat Street, actually. And so when I found out it was a man, I was like 'what? This brotherboy's got such a beautiful respect and understanding of women'. And so when I came across that Jon was doing a horror, and he had such great ambition and vision for it — I've trusted this man and admired this man's work for years, of course I want to be a part of that. He's someone that pushes his boundaries and his own abilities, and what he thinks he's capable of himself, so I knew that this was going to be an ambitious project and actually be — I think I'm safe in saying this — the first Aboriginal-produced directed horror film, and will stand as the first in what I hope is a long line, a huge canon of horror works to come from First Nations artists. But just the fact that it was Jon who had written it is what absolutely drew me to it in the first place. And we're very close with Mitchell Stanley, one of the co-producers as well. So it felt immediately that there was a group of Black people that wanted to reach and try something new that traditionally we've been kept out of. Because yeah, people love gritty Indigenous drama in this country, like contemporary gritty indigenous drama, and that has a place, absolutely, to speak to who we are here and now as a nation. But there's no reason why we shouldn't get to play with form and genre and style as well, like every other artist." Meyne: "One, it's a genre film, so that was always exciting. And I think that's a rare opportunity to in Australia, I think, to be involved — and particularly a First Nations genre film, a horror, psychological thriller. That was always exciting. I think what Jon's able to do is Trojan horse this social commentary. You think it's one thing and then there's something else going on entirely. I think going away with the audience, coming up with their interpretation of what's going on, and showing people rather than knocking them on their head — it's allowing you to go away and have those conversations with the people that you go 'what about that bit?'. I feel like those are always the films that I enjoy and I'm entertained by, so I always wanted to be a part of a film that allowed for that opportunity. And in the same token when you talk about Get Out, those social thrillers, horrors, it's in the social consciousness at the moment, and they are all touching on something that's saying two things at once. And I think in an Australian context, I feel like this is the right time to do it. Like you were saying before that it should have been a film that had been made — but I don't think it would have been made until Jon, a First Nations writer/director, could make that film. That was always an exciting thing to have the privilege to be involved in." On Whether There's a Sense of Responsibility in Making a First Nations Film That Treads New Ground Shari: "Oh big time. Yeah, it's something that, to be honest, it's something that you're all-too-keenly aware of every time you're taking on a role as an Aboriginal actor, because you're so aware that no matter what you do, you are seen to be representing your entire people. And it's an impossible weight and an impossible job. You can't represent every blackfulla. So I think in terms of Jon and Meyne and Mitchell, all the Aboriginal creatives around it, it's a responsibility and a weight that we were all familiar with. It wasn't a new experience to us to feel that. But I think you turn that fear into excitement, and you turn that into a challenge, and you turn that into 'well, how can we keep pushing boundaries and showing people that not one person can be responsible for an entire race of people and a representation of entire people, but that a group of us working together will bring complexity and nuance that is so often afforded to non-Indigenous stories and artists?'." On the Importance of the Movie's Connection Between Past and Present Jon: "That was one of the things that was very important to me. After Kevin Rudd made his apologies, it feels like that people are just being like 'okay, well he said sorry, can we just move on now?'. No. People are still living with this pain. And those kinds of White Australia policies, they are, probably under the United Nations definition, they are in fact genocide. Those are genocidal practices. Just trying to wrap your head around that, that's of vital importance. But at the same time, I think that this film is very much a horror film, and the horror or fear that plagues your family can absolutely be a universal thing. We've all got stuff in our past —that saying 'you don't grow out of your childhood, you escape it' — we've all got stuff that we're probably hanging on to, all of the things that have affected us. So in that sense, it's very much a universal story. You could say that the Moogai for someone else means a different thing. But in terms of where I was coming from, it was absolutely there." Shari: "I think there's no way to tell it without that, without being truthful to what the reality is for us mob, for our families, for our communities. I think there would have been absolutely — I'm just spitballing and projecting onto Jon — but I imagine for a writer/director, there are moments where it's like 'well, yeah, how much do I delve into Fergus' moment with the police?'. I think for Jon, I imagine it's what I feel, which is if your projects don't have an element of reality in them — I guess that's the scariest thing about the horror, is that the reality and the history and the current situation for so many Black people is far scarier than what you can put on-screen ever. But I think he would probably feel a bit inauthentic if that scene with Fergus and the police wasn't in there, just because that's Jon's experience as a Black man. It's Meyne's experience as a Black man. It's so many people's experience as Black people in this country. It's not saying that you have to always put these things in there as a political statement, but actually the personal is political in that way. So what they're really doing — what we're all doing — is just trying to recount things in an authentic, genuine way to get people to understand what the hell is still happening here." On Sebbens Playing Someone Who Is Devoted to Her Family, But Also Cautious About Her Heritage — And Navigating Coping with a New Baby While Also Certain that the Moogai Is Taunting Her Shari: "It's mad when you say it all out straight like that. It's like 'oh yes, that is a lot of things, isn't it, to happen to someone'. Jon and I would talk a lot, Meyne and I would talk a lot, about backstory and history — and certainly for Sarah, that's on the screen. The history of her Aboriginality that she has been denied through government policy, and that she has also denied herself because of adopted ways of thinking and shame and, I guess, internalised racism. But also Sarah is someone that wants to deeply belong, which I think is why she seeks out an Aboriginal partner in Fergus. And so in that sense, we could load ourselves up — and I did load myself up with all this history and backstory — but at the end of the day, also you just have to let it go and play what's on the page, and be present with those words and those scenes. All that work hopefully informs the weight that you bring into scenes, and it informs choices you make. But for me particularly, I was just like 'if I keep getting bogged down on this, I'm going to try and play all of those things at once'. And actually, if I just play what's on the page, it felt like the clearest way through for me." On Wyatt Stepping Into the Role of the Worried Husband and Father Who Wants to Believe Sarah, But Is Also Concerned with How She's Coping Meyne: "I think Fergus is, at one point, he should be the perspective of the audience. And you should be concerned and worried about what's going on with Sarah. There's a fine balance with him that he has to believe her, but then there has to be that skepticism. And I think he makes some decisions that are questionable and maybe problematic, but I think that's nuanced character. With Jon, there were conversations about trying to find that balance with Fergus and making sure that he's being supportive, but also touching on the trope of being the husband that isn't quite believing the wife — and as a horror film, making sure you're ticking off those boxes and those touchstones, but making sure that he isn't a complete arsehole and that it's coming from a real place, and this is a real person and it's nuanced. And someone who possibly doesn't know how to deal with, one, a malevolent spirit, but two, mental health — and not having the tools to be able to deal with somebody. I think that can always be trying for anybody, having that for the first time, especially a loved one, because it's a delicate line you're toeing." The Moogai released in Australian cinemas on Thursday, October 31, 2024. Images: Elise Lockwood / Sean Ryan.
Arguably Australia's most scenic zoo, Taronga Zoo is a popular spot for families and tourists alike. Officially opening as Taronga Zoo Sydney back in 1916, it is now home to 4000 animals from over 350 species. Head here and you'll encounter giraffes, elephants, tigers, sun bears, meerkats, lion cubs, chimps, gorillas and more — all while overlooking Sydney Harbour. Apart from seeing all the adorable animals, critters and creatures, you can also stay the night at the on-site Wildlife Retreat at Taronga: a 62-room eco-luxe hotel located smack-bang in the middle of the zoo. If the idea of a zoo sleepover appeals to you, you can skip the luxe hotel and opt for its Roar and Snore experience instead. At this overnight adventure, you'll stay in safari-style tents (complete with bathroom facilities) as well as get to know some of the zoo's cuddlier residents, go on an exclusive night tour of after-dark animal parties, catch animal feedings and tour some of the enclosures. The zoo also hosts an annual summer gig series in its grounds. Dubbed Twilight at Taronga, the live music events runs in January and February, and sees many people descent upon the zoo's natural amphitheatre backdropped to some of the most impressive views around town. In short, whether you're an animal lover, music fan or just keen to live it up in a luxe hotel, Taronga Zoo Sydney is as much for adults as it is for kids. [caption id="attachment_830236" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Taronga Zoo via DNSW[/caption] Taronga Zoo Sydney is open from 9.30am–5pm daily. Top image: Destination NSW
Maybe you first saw Mad Max: Fury Road in a cinema, with engine roars echoing through the theatre, and cars racing and crashing across the big screen. Perhaps you initially watched the exceptional Aussie flick — the best action movie of this century, and the best Australian film of the same period as well — at home. So, you felt all that revving reverberating through your lounge room. Whichever fits, there's no way that you can ever forget the experience. Fury Road arrived after three decades of anticipation, and it well and truly delivered beyond everyone's wildest dreams. There's zero chance that you've forgotten its many vehicles, either, because this is a film that knows how to get fast and furious (yes, even more so than that other franchise). Can't get those cars out of your head? Love movie history, and keen to own a piece of it? Lloyds Auctioneers and Valuers have just the thing for you, then, with 13 vehicles from Fury Road going under the hammer. Yes, if you need new ride that's all shiny and chrome, you can get your hands on the Nux car, the Doof Wagon, the War Rig, the Pole Car, the Fire Car and more. Read those names, and you already know which vehicles we're talking about. When the great George Miller, Fury Road's director — and the filmmaker behind the entire Mad Max franchise — dreamed up these sets of wheels, he truly came up with movie cars for the ages. Obviously, the Fury Road vehicles aren't going to come cheap. But if you somehow have the necessary cash, they'll be up for auction across the weekend of Saturday, September 25–Sunday, September 26 — and, as they're part of a tender, you'll need to submit an expression of interest first. Clearly, they're the best things to drive if you find yourself in a desertscape that's part of a post-apocalyptic wasteland — or if you want to pretend that's the case. And, they're something Mad Max-related to get pumped about until the next movie in the franchise, Furiosa, hits cinemas. Need a reminder of just how all the vehicles look in the film? Check out the Fury Road trailer below: Thirteen cars from Mad Max: Fury Road will be up for auction across the weekend of Saturday, September 25–Sunday, September 26. For further information, head to the Lloyds Auctioneers and Valuers website.
Since winding up the breakfast show at Triple J last year, comedian Tom Ballard has not slowed down in the slightest. Sure, he might not have to get up so early every weekday morning, but in between nationally touring his stand-up comedy shows, writing op-eds and returning to radio for a six-week Chatback stint, Ballard is one busy lad. Now he's set to launch and host his own show on ABC TV called Reality Check, which will look exclusively at the bizarre world of reality TV. Before that all happens, we were lucky enough to pull him over for a quick chat about his stand-up comedy career, Dry July, Thorpie and RuPaul's Drag Race. Congrats on the new show. What made you want to explore the world of reality TV? Ahhh, the money? Since I left Triple J breakfast I'm destitute and living on the street, so having a regular paycheck is pretty good! But it's also a bonus that it's a really fascinating topic that we don't talk about enough, and I get to do it with CJZ [the merger of Cordell Jigsaw Productions and Zapruder's Other Films, independently responsible for shows such as The Gruen Transfer and Go Back to Where You Came From] and ABC who make pretty awesome TV together. There is a wealth of material that hasn't been mined yet, there's a shitload of really important, moving stuff, but there's obviously a ton of jokes as well. It's the perfect sweet spot for me. You'll be joined by previous reality TV 'stars' — I use that term very loosely! Who are you most excited to have on the panel? (Slyly giggles to himself) Well, I have to be a bit boring and tell you we're keeping that one close to our chest at the moment. We've had a bunch of producers whose names you may not know, but they're actually responsible for huge reality TV hits, as well as previous judges and contestants. We've spoken to some people who have been the voice of Big Brother, some people who have won a major series, and people who have worked in the UK and America who have batshit crazy shows so it's really fascinating talking to them. Every week there will be names who are very familiar to reality TV addicts but also people who only follow it on the periphery. We worked really hard on getting some good names who can give us a lot of insight on the shows and the issues we want to talk about. https://youtube.com/watch?v=RmfHMNkhtn8 What reality TV shows did you watch growing up? Or are there still some that you watch now? Australian Idol was huge for me. I watched the first series. I was a big MasterChef head as well. I love RuPaul's Drag Race as well, and that is a really funny show. Come Dine With Me, and just stupid shit like the Kardashians. For this show we've watched a shit-ton of stuff and looking at the crazy moments that have happened in other countries like Nigeria's Got Talent and China's Got Talent, Big Brother Houses in other countries, one which was full of short-statured people. There's a UK show called Tourettes: Let Me Entertain You, which was basically a talent search for young people with Tourettes, just insane shit like that. I'm really excited about bringing that to the fore and laughing and celebrating all that stuff we get to see. You have just wound up your return to Triple J with Chatback: What was it like being back? It was great. It was really lovely, I was starting to miss everyone quite a lot so I got to go in on Thursdays and say hello to everyone. It reminded me how much I love radio and all the cool and crazy stuff that station does. There were also a few of your famous friends calling in under aliases, did any of them give you a heads up about their characters, or did they just let you have it? Yeah, we workshopped them all, a lot of that stuff was pre-recorded. We went back and forth with a few ideas, and then characters that people really liked, like Rebecca or Dr Jangles, came back in later weeks. It was really fun to have a character on twice because people were really keen to hear more from them and find out how their lives are going. I just think radio like this is underutilised. At the BBC in the UK the amount of comedy radio out there is amazing and I'd love to see more of that in Australia, because there's just so much fun you can have on a very low budget. It's just messing with peoples minds. That's what Chatback was — it was funny how worked up people got who thought they were real people. You also wrote a great op-ed recently about Thorpie coming out and why that was so important. It's no secret you're an opinionated young man, but what has to happen for you to decide, right, I'm going to write an op-ed about this? Well, to be honest a friend of mine who works at Fairfax called me and they wanted a young gay person's perspective on the issue. But honestly I did think about it, because there were a million think pieces and even for the next two days everyone and his dog had an opinion on the whole situation. I felt like I had something to say that I hadn't seen in many other media outlets so I thought that was a good chance. I want to be a comedian, that's what I want people to think of me as so I don't want to get on my high horse too often, but it is something that's really important to me. I'm really passionate about the mental health of young queer kids, and I wanted to remind people that when someone comes out, we should be happy. Yes we can have our criticisms about it, but ultimately it's a good news story. Have you enjoyed having more time to focus on your stand-up comedy this year? Although to be fair, it looks like you've had a million other side projects going. The first six months of the year had a lot of touring, so I wasn't being very visible on other media. It was all about getting out there and doing a whole bunch of stand up which was really fun. The truth of the matter is if you want to make a living from being a stand-up comic in this country you do need to push your media profile to make sure people are aware of you from other areas. It's kind of a balancing act. I am really excited about this show, I think it's going to be super fun, but I'm also excited about the fact that hopefully more people will come see me live and laugh at my jokes in front of me. Finally, how did your Dry July go? [Tom was on a team called 'Alco-Hellllll No!' with Megan Washington, and Triple J staff including Zan Rowe and Kyran Wheatly] Hahaha! Ummm…. Bad? I've raised money and it's been great not drinking, I feel a bit healthier and it's for an awesome cause, but it's much tougher than I thought it would be! Reality Check premieres on ABC TV on Wednesday, August 13, at 9pm.
While most Australian states and territories shiver their way through winter, the Top End becomes an ideal vacay destination thanks to its balmy dry season (which runs from May–October). And, if you needed even more reason to escape the winter chill, the region is turning up the heat this season with a stack of arts and cultural events. Sure, Australian cities are in no short supply of creative endeavours. But Darwin is different. Billing itself as the beating heart of First Nations culture and creativity, the Northern Territory's capital has long-recognised the traditional custodians of the land, specifically the Larrakia people. Fittingly, this August, it's got an epic month-long lineup of First Nations-focused exhibitions, runway shows, art fairs and a one-night music celebration. In partnership with Darwin Festival and its Beating Heart of First Nations Culture events series, we've rounded up seven must-see gigs that are not only worth the plane trip, but also represent Australia's past, present and future. So go on — book that flight. [caption id="attachment_817479" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Elise Derwin[/caption] DARWIN FESTIVAL August 5–22 Darwin's annual winter party is not shy of events this year, with music, dance, theatre, cabaret and comedy performances popping up across a whole host of Top End locations. Naturally, the three-week fest is championing First Nations performers. You can catch openair concert Buŋgul on opening night (more about this later) and the world-premiere of intercultural dance troupe Marrugeku's provocative new production Jurrungu Ngan-ga (Straight Talk) (August 13–14). The stirring show combines dance and theatre, and is inspired by both Yawuru leader Patrick Dodson and Kurdish-Iranian writer Behrouz Boochani's perspectives on incarceration. Ilbijerri Theatre Company's Heart is a Wasteland (August 11–15) — a play and (whisky-fuelled) live music show of First Nations storytelling — is one you won't want to miss. Also on the bill is singer-songwriter Sycco, of Torres Strait Islander heritage, who's playing alongside Confidence Man and Flight Facilities (August 13). To check out the full program, head to the festival's website. BUŊGUL August 5 We promised you we'd talk more about this one. Kicking off Darwin Festival is this free, openair concert celebrating the music of Gurrumul and the people of North East Arnhem Land. Born blind, proud Galiwin'ku man and award-winning musician Gurrumul (AKA Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupiŋu) was a member of Yothu Yindi and Saltwater Band, and had a successful solo career. Dubbed 'Australia's most important voice' by Rolling Stone Australia, he remains one of the most celebrated — and commercially successful — First Nations musicians. His impact is still deeply felt and Buŋgul is set to shine a light on his genius. Featuring Yolŋu dancers, songmen and the Darwin Symphony Orchestra, the opening night event will be held at Darwin Amphitheatre at George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens — we recommend getting in early for this one, as spaces are limited. While the concert is free, registration is required. NATIONAL INDIGENOUS MUSIC AWARDS August 7 The music at the Botanic Gardens continues on August 7 with the National Indigenous Music Awards (NIMA). The event has been celebrating Aussie music for 16 years, and every year it recognises the stellar tunes coming from First Nations musicians from every corner of the country. From emerging artists to those of international acclaim, past awards have been picked up by the likes of Archie Roach, Baker Boy, Emma Donovan, Dan Sultan, Gurrumul and JK-47. Get in on all the action and head to Darwin Amphitheatre to see who will add their names to the honour roll and catch a heap of live acts including Baker Boy, Miiesha, Electric Fields, King Stingray, Alice Skye, and Dallas Woods and Kee'ahn. [caption id="attachment_814319" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dylan Buckee[/caption] DARWIN ABORIGINAL ART FAIR August 6–8 On the visual arts front, the first weekend of August will see the return of the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair (DAAF). Showcasing more than 70 Indigenous-owned galleries under one roof, the fair is a unique opportunity for you to purchase artworks directly from the source. Misrepresentation of First Nations artists is not uncommon, so if you want to pick up authentic Indigenous artworks in an ethical fashion, DAAF is a surefire bet — 100 percent of sales to date go back into First Nations creative communities. The fair always has an exciting entertainment program, with this year promising dance performances, workshops, material demonstrations and artist talks, as well as food, film and fashion. You can check out the full program on the DAAF website. [caption id="attachment_814321" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Charlie Bliss[/caption] TELSTRA NATIONAL ABORIGINAL & TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER AWARDS August 2021–February 2022 The Telstra National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Awards (NATSIAA), presented by the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory in Darwin, is the longest-running and most prestigious art awards program for First Nations artists. For 37 years, it has celebrated contemporary artworks from around the nation across a broad range of disciplines — from paintings to photography and textile works. What makes the awards so special is the diversity in storytelling; here, you can explore perspectives from coastal regions, desert towns, cities and everywhere between. Can't make it to the Top End this season? The exhibition is running right through to next year. Otherwise, you catch it from your couch thanks to the virtual gallery. [caption id="attachment_814318" align="alignnone" width="1920"] George F Photography[/caption] COUNTRY TO COUTURE August 4 Missed seeing Australian Fashion Week make history with its all-Indigenous fashion showcase this year? No worries — you can still get your fashion fix in the NT this August. Falling under the umbrella of DAAF, the National Indigenous Fashion Awards (NIFA) are set to return on August 3. Launched only last year, the awards are a celebration of the innovative, diverse and ethical practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and fashion designers. DAAF even has its own runway show, dubbed Country to Couture, set to take over Darwin Convention Centre on August 4. The stylish show has run alongside the annual DAAF since 2016 and champions First Nations contemporary fine art, textiles and high-end fashion. For tickets, head to the event website. [caption id="attachment_817282" align="alignnone" width="1920"] 'Ngayuku Ngura – My Country' by Barbara Moore, acrylic on linen. Photo: Elise Derwin[/caption] SALON DES REFUSÉS August 5–September 25 Rounding out the stacked events calendar is Salon des Refusés, presented by Salon Art Projects. This year, the organisation is presenting seven Indigenous art exhibitions across five local galleries from July to September. But it's the much-anticipated aforementioned show, running from August 5 to September 25, that you'll most want to check out. Held in Charles Darwin University Art Gallery, the exhibition showcases works submitted but not accepted into NATSIAA. The high quality of works on display showcase First Nations artists from around Australia, while shining a light on the current state of Indigenous art and what its future might look like. Now in its ninth year, the event is also hosting an opening night shindig on Wednesday, August 4. Time to start planning that trip north? Darwin Festival — and its Beating Heart events — runs from Thursday, August 5–Sunday, August 22. For the full program of events, head to the website. Top image: Elise Derwin
Right now (in case you haven't been hanging on every tweet), the Consumer Technology Association is holding a huge conference in Las Vegas — CES 2017 — and while that might sound kind of abstract, it's an internationally-watched event with reams of huge new product announcements that are relevant to the everyday tech user (that's you!). The Consumer Technology Association (acronymed to CES, not CTA, for unfathomable reasons) is a trade union that promotes and standardises widely used technology, meaning high-end tech gets into your life sooner. This year has already been pretty epic. Here's a breakdown of some of the best tech reveals (so far), coming soon to a smart household near you. A SMART COLLAR FOR YOUR POOCH Now, this is a nifty little device for lucky, lucky pet owners. Whistle 3 is a new pet tracking collar that lets you monitor your puppo's or catto's daily activity levels and track them on your smartphone. It's the third iteration of the product and reports from CES indicate this time they've nailed it. Whistle 3 is compact, waterproof, clips to your pet's collar and syncs to an app on your phone. At the moment, it's only available in the US but we'll keep you updated on developments. In the meantime, remember to get your precious furbabies microchipped. AN AI-FITTED TOYOTA What business Toyota has building an AI, we don't know. But they have. Its name is Yui (pronounced you-ee) and, yes, we expect it will allow us to become best friends with our car like Shia Lebeouf and Bumblebee. No, but really. AI in a car is about risk assessment and will work in tandem with what they called 'human driving'. So it's not exactly automated but it will allow certain elements of automation when it's safe to do so. Yui warns the driver about potential hazards and can automate corrections to prevent them. But most importantly, it's super-duper cute and futuristic. A RELATIVELY FAST SCOOTER THAT CAN CHARGE YOUR DEVICES The URB-E might look a little goofy (like its Segway and Hoverboard brothers) but this compact little electric scooter could be the future of travel. Give up any dreams of your kids buying their first banged up Holden Commodore, the next generation will be driving these 30-pound scooties to school. Three years ago, the URB-E was debuted at CES. This year, they've revealed four new, updated models and a range of accessories. To fill you in, the URB-E is a foldable scooter/bicycle hybrid out of America. The cheapest, the URB-E Sport, retails for US$899 and can reach a top speed of 22 kilometres. A fully-charged URB-E Sport can travel up to 25 kilometres before needing a recharge. And you can charge your phone off it too. Damn. These iterations of the URB-E are more affordable and more powerful than ever, so you might as well embrace these tiny, goofy scooters because they ain't leaving anytime soon. A CASUALLY POWERFUL, 92-MEGAPIXEL, VR-SUPPORTING PHONE While we're not sold on the name ZenFone (imagine the roundtable on that decision), the newest phone out of the Asus camp is exciting for multiple reasons. First, it's built to support virtual and augmented reality technology (the future is here!) which means it's packing a considerable amount of processing power for such a little thing. Its three cameras (the most powerful of which takes 92-megapixel images and 4K videos) enables 3D mapping technology. Yeah. Your selfie game just jumped up a level. It's expected for release midway through this year. UH... A SMART HAIRBRUSH? Yeah, so L'Oreal has designed a smart hairbrush. Rejoice for now every part of your daily routine will be watched over by machines. The Keratase Hair Coach uses sensors, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, and a microphone to spy on you and determine a) how healthy your hair is b) whether your hair is wet or dry c) whether you're brushing too hard or too much and d) how many Keratase products you need in your life right now. Guive Balooch, the vice president of L'Oreal's Technology Incubator, said to Fortune the brush will also try to smooth your hair. All of this for under $200? Woah. The future really is stupid. Via IB Times, The Verge and Gizmodo.
As you travel down King Street you will notice the focus shifts away from eateries and clothing shops. In a small pocket at the south end, vintage and second-hand stores abound. Offering antiques, recycled goods and interesting one-of-a-kind items, a visit to these stores will give allow you to inject some signature pieces into your apartment and avoid it becoming an IKEA catalogue rip-off. Some of our favourites are Bloodworth Bellamy, Envision54 and the enormous Newtown Furniture Haven. Image: Bloodworth Bellamy
Sure, going back to the office has its perks — you get to catch up with your work pals and help yourself to the free coffee. But, for some, it can also be a bit of a drag. After all, we've just spent months gussying up our WFH offices, spending more time with our pets and, let's face it, not having to commute was pretty dreamy. And sometimes you just want to be living your best working life in track pants, we get it. To help get you excited about being back in the physical rat race, we've teamed up with Australian Cocktail Month to bring you seven after-work activities that'll get you through the nine to five. From knock-off drinks to cheese-making workshops and letting lose in a dance class, these are sure to beat any back-to-office blues. SIP A-CLASS TIPPLES Enjoy a well-earned drink after work? Then head to the inaugural Australian Cocktail Month to support local bartenders and bars who've had it pretty rough over the past year. Running throughout May, the event is taking over 72 bars across Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide — you can find out your locals over here. Australian Cocktail Month is partnering with liquor brands to serve up speciality cocktails for $14 a pop, plus non-alcoholic drinks for a tenner. But first you must get yourself a $20 ticket, which unlocks the entire month of offers. Then, head on down to a participating bar and show your ticket. After that? Well, bottoms up and cheers to Australia's hospitality industry. [caption id="attachment_791359" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Omnom[/caption] LIVE OUT YOUR WILDEST CHEESE DREAMS WITH A CHEESE-MAKING CLASS If you're a hardcore cheese lover, no doubt you've tucked in to a wheel of brie or stinky gorgonzola after a hard day's work. Instead of simply buying — and eating — your one true cheesy love, why not book yourself in to a cheese-making workshop? With help from experts, you'll get your hands into the dairy and learn the basics, such as how to prepare and curdle the milk, cut the curd and salt the cheese. In Sydney, Rosebery's Omnom hosts regular classes on making ricotta, haloumi and a standout burrata and bocconcini one. The aptly named Cheesemaking offers intensive workshops around the country and will show you how to make various gourmet dairy delights. And, in Melbourne, CERES runs a heap of workshops throughout the year, including classes where you'll make vegan, cheddar and blue cheese. [caption id="attachment_723106" align="alignnone" width="1920"] MYST Escape[/caption] BOND WITH YOUR COWORKERS IN AN ESCAPE ROOM What could bring coworkers closer together than solving puzzles to escape to your freedom? These interactive experiences will transport you through films, history, space and time — and it's up to your team to make it back to reality. So, we'd say it's a pretty good bonding experience. If you're a Sydneysider, you can check out our top nine picks here or make a beeline to Glebe's MYST Escape, which claims to be 'Australia's largest escape room complex'. In Brisbane, the CBD's Fox in a Box is home to themed rooms like prison cells, war bunkers and zombie labs. Or, you can become a spy, pirate or detective at Escape Hunt Brisbane. For Melburnians, head to TRAPT Bar & Escape Rooms to find your way back to Kansas in a Wizard of Oz game, or enter the school of magic at the Harry Potter-inspired Mystery Rooms, with locations in Fitzroy and Collingwood. [caption id="attachment_689129" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cork & Chroma[/caption] CHANNEL YOUR INNER ARTIST AT A PAINT AND SIP SESSION Yes, we've seen the trend of painting while sipping wine grow in the past few years — and it looks like it's here to stay. After all, who doesn't want to channel their inner Picasso? Plus, it's a great way to unwind and forget about the day that's been. Cork & Chroma has locations across Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne and is one of the more popular studios around. Or, attempt your own rendition of Gogh's 'The Starry Night' at Life with Paint, which also has studio spaces across Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne. [caption id="attachment_785738" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Crossover Dance[/caption] SHAKE OFF THE WORK WOES BY DANCING Make like Taylor Swift and shake off any work stresses by heading to an after-work dance class. Not only will you cut some serious shapes, but you'll also get some sweet endorphins from all that moving and shaking. If you'd rather bust moves in your own home, we recommend 80s-themed online dance workouts from Retrosweat — just be sure to put on your leotard and leg warmers. Sydneysiders are lucky enough to be able to attend Retrosweat's IRL classes, too. Or, you can head over to inner city K-pop studio Crossover Dance. In Brisbane, get your hips moving in a 50-minute class at Rio Rhythmics or give ballet a go at Mad Dance House. Melburnians can get down with a casual jazz or hip hop class at the Dance Factory or try some burlesque at Bottoms Up studio. HAVE A SUNSET PICNIC For those who like the great outdoors, picnics are no doubt a favourite pastime. And, in our opinion, there's no better time to have one than at twilight. So pack the snacks and a few cold ones, grab your mates and head to a picturesque spot to watch the sun go down — just be sure to bring some cosy clothes. There are plenty of good picnic spots no matter what city you live in. In fact, we've rounded up our go-to spots in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, should you need any inspiration. CATCH A LOCAL COMEDY SHOW They say laughter is the best medicine, so why not catch a local comedy show? Whether you're a fan of watching live comedy or dabble in stand-up yourself, it's likely to cure those back-to-office woes. In Sydney, you can check out Underground Comedy Club at queer-friendly pub The Imperial Hotel, or hit up comedy-centric theatre Giant Dwarf at its new Surry Hills digs. In Brisbane, catch regular improv and sketch comedy nights at Big Fork Theatre or head to Sit Down Comedy Club to see some big names in the stand-up game. And Melburnians can catch some late-night laughs at Spleen Bar, stand-up at Lido Comedy or comedic quizzes at Comedy Republic. Australian Cocktail Month is taking over top bars across the Australia from May 1–31. To buy your ticket, and for the full list of participating bars, head here. Top image: Double Deuce Lounge, Kimberley Low
Born out of a dislike for sexy cabaret shows, Circa's Peepshow isn't quite what it seems on the surface. Its posters suggest seduction and saucy movement, but creative director Yaron Lifschitz says it's part of the company's "post-cabaret" work, which takes cabaret motifs and ideas and runs them through a circus filter, turning it on its head. "My theory has been that cabaret has been stealing from circus for many years, so we're stealing back," he says, over the phone from Brisbane, where Circa is based. Peepshow isn't Circa's first work in this style — and it's not a new show, either — but it is making its Sydney Opera House debut right now, running until February 14. We spoke with Lifschitz to find out what audiences can expect from the 80-minute performance. And what surprises they might encounter, too. [caption id="attachment_798985" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Prudence Upton[/caption] IT'S NOT YOUR STEREOTYPICAL CABARET SHOW Peepshow was created for a six-month run in Berlin and the show is divided into two parts: "The first half is set within this post-cabaret world and the second half is like a nightclub," says Lifschitz. It begins with the voyeurism expected from a cabaret show. "For the first half, everyone and every act is acutely conscious of — and distorted by — the act of looking and knowing you're being looked at and being seen," he says. Then, after the interval, the show becomes more like an "ecstatic rave". "Lights move in and out, no one is performing for anyone, and they're just moving with the gritty abandon of performance and of the true body." [caption id="attachment_798993" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Prudence Upton[/caption] IT'LL MAKE YOU WANT TO MOVE Lifschitz tells us audiences are taken on a journey from acting and responding to what's on stage like they're in a cabaret to "being filled with music and body, light and smoke, and energy and skill. It almost bypasses their eyes and talks directly to their guts and their bloodstream," he says. So you might find yourself moving along to the music from your chair. "Almost the whole second act is one continual mixed track by an Israeli DJ. It doesn't apologise for going to the ends of bodies and energy — and I love that about it." [caption id="attachment_798988" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Prudence Upton[/caption] IT HAS HUMAN CONNECTION AT ITS CORE "Going from a sexy, cool exterior to something with authenticity and emotion is the exciting journey of the show," says the creator. Yes, you can expect exceptional circus skills — from aerial and tissue sequences to group acrobatics — but human connection is what makes Circa's work stand out from the pack. "The revelation for me during Covid times was that I don't go to the theatre to be entertained. I hope it does entertain me, but I go to the theatre for meaning and connection. Entertainment for me is like the function of skills in circus: it's the thing you do to be able to connect with the audience. It's like the price of admission, not the ultimate pay off." And its sexiness isn't all lingerie and lipstick either: "I think sexiness is not young people grinding against each other; I think it comes from confidence and strength and authenticity of the body." [caption id="attachment_798987" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Prudence Upton[/caption] IT'S NEVER BORING As a circus maker, Lifschitz and his team have a mantra: 'thou shalt not bore'. "I would say this show takes audiences into some very unexpected places," he says. "The show is overtly fun, because it talks directly to its audience. It plays with the audience. You get to clap. And we allow release, whereas in most of our stage shows we try to hold a lot of tension in and on stage." And, like in all circus shows, bodies morph and connect with each other in different ways. "The line between skill and presence is constantly blurred and challenged," he says. [caption id="attachment_798986" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Prudence Upton[/caption] IT'S SURPRISINGLY FAMILY FRIENDLY "Teenagers would blush, for sure," says Lifschitz. "But grown ups will be fine." Peepshow is suitable for ages 15-plus, which means it's both a show you can take a date to and and night out for families. In its six-month run in Berlin, Lifschitz tells us they performed for families and hens parties alike. "We're all united by the fact we have bodies, which is one of the powerful things the show reminds us," he says. "It's a great date show, partly because it'll give you a lot to talk about. It's sexy, it's playful, it's funny. And on the other hand, it takes something you admire from the outside and then you internalise it; you move and groove with it, too" 'Peepshow' is running at Sydney Opera House from February 2–14. Tickets start from $49. Find out more and book your tickets, here. Top images: Prudence Upton
Concrete Playground recently caught up with David Stewart, one of England's most respected photographers. He started off capturing punk bands like The Clash and The Ramones, as well as the colourful characters of Morecambe Promenade, from which he developed a distinctive style of portraiture. Often eerie, funny, creepy and touching (sometimes at the same time), his photos incite curiosity at what imagines to be a fascinating back story. He also directed and produced a film in 1995 called 'Cabbage' with a series of surrealist photographic images to accompany in homage to the often misunderstood vegetable. He is currently working on a series called 'Teenage Pre-occupation' about what teenagers go through growing up, and will have some new work on show in Australia as part of an Olympus ad campaign. Fingers crossed an exhibition of his will travel down under soon. How did your time growing up as a child and teenager in Lancaster influence your work? Growing up in the North of England definitely gives you a different view on life and maybe it is this that causes me to see things with the sense of humour. Northern people are very funny and straight to the point. There is an element of telling it how it is. You started photographing famous rock bands, which for some photographers is a topic they stick with for their whole career. What made you decide to stop photographing people in the music industry? The band photography was what got me interested in photography but, when I was at college, I realised I was more interested in constructing images from scratch which gave me the opportunity to put forward a thought or point of view of my own. The band thing was something that could not be controlled and so, after a while, became routine. What does camouflage symbolise to you? Hiding and trying to fit in while there may be a more sinister message. When looking at your photos, I am sometimes torn between laughing and feeling extremely uncomfortable. Why do you use humour in the depiction of very dark scenes? Humour acts as a way of grabbing people's attention and then, in turn, leads them to a thought if they stay with the image long enough. It's like music where you like the tune but you're unaware the lyrics are telling a darker story. Do you think your characters are representative of the real folk of England? Are the characters who seem threatening or malicious actually harmless or are your exposing their true nature? I think the characters do represent real people – everyday people or situations you might be familiar with - but when presented as photography, the character or situation becomes heightened. There is an element of exposing the true nature of people to provoke a thought. Can you tell me about the upcoming series 'Teenage Pre-occupation?' How did you choose your subjects? The series again draws on observations I have made. The changes that the digital age have created, especially with regards to young people, is very relevant at the moment. The subjects in 'Teenage Pre-occupation' are all chosen as they portray something I have noticed about being a teenager in the current cultural climate. Again, this becomes more noticeable when presented as a piece of photography.
More than just a culinary fad, the trend towards eating locally grown produce serves a number of important purposes. Fresher ingredients, supporting producers in the region, reducing the work and toll required to transport food, eating seasonal fare — the list goes on. They're some of the motivations behind Grown Local, a dinner shining a spotlight on New South Wales' finest with a food and drink menu completely sourced from within the state. Every dish eaten and beverage consumed at the Newtown dinner, which takes place at Bloodwood Restaurant & Bar at 7pm on October 24, will be made from NSW-grown ingredients. Yes, every single one. Leading the charge is Wildflower Brewing & Blending, who'll be pouring a beer made especially for the event. A collaboration tipple brewed at Batch Brewing in Marrickville, everything in their new beverage comes from the state, including malt from the Voyager Craft Malt in the Riverina, hops from Ryefield Hops in Bemboka and yeast harvested by Wildflower. Unsurprisingly, it's the first beer that's ever been brewed with all NSW ingredients. Food-wise, the NSW brew will help wash down dishes made with seasonal, NSW-grown produce, as well as kangaroo sausages from The Sausage Factory. With Bloodwood's team doing the honours and whipping everything up into a feast, a delicious, locally minded dinner is certain to be the end result. Tickets cost $65 per person. That sense of homegrown pride you'll feel is an added bonus. Image: Sarah-Jane Edis
Samsara provides a great counterpoint to the usual summer blockbusters at cinemas. For those who are overfed on the sugar and fat of blockbusters, prepare to cleanse your mind and heart with another kind of richness. This latest film by director Ron Fricke and producer Mark Magidson (previously partnered in 1992's Baraka) is a non-verbal meditation on our planet and the billions who share it with us, and while only 99 minutes long, Samsara stares you in the eye for longer than most find comfortable. Casually moonlighting as the name of an exotic scent or clothing range, samsara is Sanskrit for "the ever-turning wheel of life", and it is this motif that led Fricke and Magidson through a five-year shoot in twenty-five countries on five continents. Samsara is the wheel of life, death and rebirth, but it is also the grinding wheels of commercial labour, of fickle trends, and of the literal vehicles that the production crew commandeered in their often gruelling efforts to obtain 70mm footage for a few seconds of screen time. This herculean dedication to cinematography has certainly returned great wonders. Samsara flows from one luscious image to the next, carried by intuitive editing rather than plot, and is supported by an original score. Concrete Playground has five in-season double passes to give away to Samsara. To be in the running, make sure you're subscribed to our newsletter and then email hello@concreteplayground.com.au with your name and address. You can read our full review of the film here. https://youtube.com/watch?v=qp967YAAdNk
If you like celebrating October German-style, a trip to Europe at the right time of year is likely on your must-do list. For those who can't take a boozy overseas holiday this year, Oktoberfest in the Gardens has you covered. There'll be steins. There'll be schnitties. There'll be lederhosen-wearing revellers — and if you're keen to dress the part as well, that's up to you. The Australian Oktoberfest event has been in the Bavarian-themed game for 14 years now, with its 2024 run in seven cities solely taking place in October. Clear a Saturday, whether you live in Perth or Adelaide, where the fest will kick off on Saturday, October 5; on the Gold Coast or in Melbourne, where it's time to say "prost!" on Saturday, October 12; Brisbane or Newcastle, which'll be downing brews on Saturday, October 19; or Sydney, where the tour wraps up on Saturday, October 26. This series of German shindigs isn't small, with 65,000 people expected to attend across the full slate of events this year. At each, the kind of beer- and bratwurst-fuelled shenanigans that Germany has become so famous for at this time of year are on offer. So, if you have a hankering for doppelbock and dancing to polka, it really is the next best thing to heading to Europe. Oktoberfest in the Gardens boasts a crucial attraction, too: as well as serving a variety of pilsners, ciders, wine and non-alcoholic beverages, it constructs huge beer halls to house the boozy merriment. When you're not raising a stein — or several — at the day-long event, you can tuck into pretzels and other traditional snacks at food stalls, or check out the hefty array of entertainment. Live music, roving performers, a silent disco, rides and a sideshow alley are all on the agenda. "We say it every year, but this year's Oktoberfest celebrations will be bigger than ever before. It's amazing how this event has continued to grow across the country," said Ross Drennan, co-founder of Nokturnl Events, which runs Oktoberfest in the Gardens. "Last year, we added additional cities to the tour and introduced even more fun activations. The response was overwhelming, with record-breaking sales." Oktoberfest in the Gardens 2024 Dates and Venues: Saturday, October 5 — Langley Park, Perth Saturday, October 5 — Pinky Flat, Adelaide Saturday, October 12 — Broadwater Parklands, Gold Coast Saturday, October 12 — Catani Gardens, St Kilda, Melbourne Saturday, October 19 — Brisbane Showgrounds, Brisbane Saturday, October 19 — The Station, Newcastle Saturday, October 26 — The Domain, Sydney Oktoberfest in the Gardens tours Australia in October 2024 — head to the event's website for further details, plus tickets from Wednesday, July 31.
Dracula's castle is the place that nightmares are made of, as anyone who has read Bram Stoker's iconic 1897 gothic novel or seen a vampire flick knows. Nestled in the Carpathian mountains in the heart of Transylvania, it's also a place you can actually spend a night in. Well, it's a 14th century mountain-top manor that served as the inspiration for the creepy dwelling in the book, but you get the picture. Close enough, right? No, the fictional master of the undead isn't pulling his own What We Do in the Shadows-style caper; it's not a share house, and there won't be a doco crew there filming everything. And no, you don't have to willingly get lured in by a charismatic recluse who can turn into a bat, or turn up to help him with legal matters (but hey, if you want to pretend that you're Keanu Reeves in the 1992 movie, go for it). Instead, it's as simple as hitting up Airbnb to win a chance to stay at Bran Castle in Romania. The accommodation-sharing service has offered up shark tanks, van Gogh's bedroom, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' secret lair and an Abbey Road slumber party with Mark Ronson before, so you shouldn't be surprised. Now that's how you celebrate halloween. Plus, the evening will be hosted by the great grand-nephew of Bram Stoker himself, Dacre Stoker, who actually wrote a sequel to the bloodsucking classic in 2009. After riding in a horse-drawn carriage at sunset, probably seeing swooping bats and hearing howling wolves, he'll answer your knock at the door — and once he does, you're trapped until dawn. As an expert on Transylvanian lore, he'll guide you through lamp-lit corridors, creepy nooks, squeaky staircases and secret passages. There's 57 rooms in total, including lofty tower lookouts, deep dark crypts, a grand dining room perfect for an intimate candlelit dinner, and luxurious velvet-trimmed coffins to sleep in. Entrants must be 18 and over, and it goes without saying that anyone who is easily frightened shouldn't bother. For more information, visit the castle's listing on Airbnb.
Catering to our fierce love of seafood over the holiday period, Sydney Fish Market is once again pulling its annual all-nighter so you can get your hands on the freshest ocean treats for Christmas lunch. Each year, the Fish Market — which will be relocated to a $250 million new site come 2023 — capably serves over 100,000 buyers looking to snag a deal. Between 5am on Thursday, December 23–5pm on Friday, December 24, the market is yours to scout out the most sumptuous fish, king prawns, oysters and calamari. It's not only fish here, though. You can also peruse cold meats and cheeses at the deli for a grand charcuterie platter or stop by the onsite bakery and greengrocer. Or, if you're more of a Northern Hemisphere traditionalist, you can even pick up a turkey from the butcher. They sell basically everything here. If you're stuck for gifts, there are plenty of opportunities for that last-minute find. Head to the gift shop, florist or bottle shop. "We're proud to be a part of the holiday tradition for so many Sydneysiders," Sydney Fish Market CEO Greg Dyer says. Like most things in the past two years, the seafood marathon will be a little different. To keep things COVID-19-safe, you'll need to register upon arrival via QR code, social distancing will be enforced including controlled queuing and there will be a limit on how many people can be in the market at any one time. "We expect visitor numbers to be high and urge customers to plan ahead by allowing extra time for arrival, shopping and celebrating," says Dyer.
In the Annex is proof that Forest Lodge — that half suburb in between Annandale and Glebe, whose main drag Ross Street left much to be desired until now — is slowly catching up to its neighbours. The 30-seater joint's got the cafe trifecta: a bang on coffee dispensary manned by barista babes, a compact menu based on fresh, seasonal produce and conversation-worthy decor. And if our recent visit was anything to go by, we're not the only ones who've been charmed. Flodge's newest kid on the coffee shop block's got it going on in large part due to the beans — Umami beans. A blend is used for milk-based coffee while a single origin, roasted slightly lighter, is used for black. The delivery of your morning pick-me-up is just as considered — flats and caps come in teacups while lattes come in science beakers. And while we're on the liquids, there's plenty more worth noting. In the Annex offers a colourful selection of freshly squeezed juice, frappes and smoothies with unique flavour combos akin to those you'd expect to find at some dreamy beachside resort. Try the grapefruit, ginger, tonic and honey frappe ($8) for fresh citric goodness; the kale, banana, coconut and chia smoothie ($8) for a taste of suburban Tropicana; or the almond, macadamia, cinnamon and rice milk smoothie ($9) for nutty indulgence. And who's banging about the pans? That's a certain Joey Astorga (ex El Capo) whose seasonal menu caters for a number of tastes. Astorga's dishes are well executed and demonstrate a great understanding of portion control and ethical food processes — all eggs are free range and meats sustainably farmed. The best part? Chef's food is delivered by only the most amicable service. Win win. The breaky burrito ($10) — scrambled egg, rice 'n' beans with guac and jalapenos — is perhaps the least inventive on the menu, but caught my eye nonetheless. For something more carnivorous, go for the cured duck, roasted Brussels sprouts, brioche and duck egg ($16). This baby looks like something you'd see served in a hatted restaurant and clearly demonstrates chef's inventive presentation, but the best part? You're free to dig in sans any obligation to do so with the refined poise often expected at aforementioned swank fest. Then there's the crumbed egg with bubble and squeek ($14), which is the hero dish in my opinion. Slice into the crumbed egg and warm yolk oozes out to provide the desired mess — a yolky mess to be mopped up by remaining mash, whole baby potatoes, peas, green beans and heirloom carrots. Lest we forget to mention one more thing. It's a must you check out the In the Annex's goodie cabinet up front. A selection of sambos and sweet treats are readily available for those on the go. And if you're lucky, you might catch a glimpse of a few Hubba Bubba-flavoured lamingtons. Yeah, that's right. I just said Hubba Bubba-flavoured lamingtons. Do it. Alas, no longer is Ross Street a cultural wasteland swarming with vacant shopfronts and barefooted students. In the Annex has amped things up and seems to be vibing on something along the lines of, "I've done this before, I know how to please you and I'm doing it for your own good." And to that I say thank you. Cue In the Annex: You're welcome.
Despite the public holiday, Sydney's got plenty of cafes, bars and restaurants that are opening their doors to help make your first day of the year a great one. Perhaps you had an especially celebratory New Year's Eve and a swift recovery is at the top of your to-do list. Or, maybe you're just keen to start off 2022 how you wish to continue it — with good mates, a solid soundtrack, and some top-notch eats and drinks. Either way, outsourcing your January 1 festivities — and the associated cleanup — is always a good idea. Here are all the Sydney spots open and serving up the goods on New Year's Day. CAFES [caption id="attachment_659265" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Artificer, by L. Almeida[/caption] The Mayflower, Darlinghurst: 7am–3.30pm Ona, Marrickville: 9am–2pm (takeaway only) Artificer Specialty Coffee Bar & Roastery, Surry Hills: 8am–12pm (outdoor service only) RESTAURANTS [caption id="attachment_702835" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Alberto Lounge, by Kitti Gould[/caption] Nour, Surry Hills: 5.30–10pm Alberto Lounge, Sydney: from 12pm Cirrus Dining, Barangaroo: from 12pm for lunch and dinner Sinaloa, Double Bay: 12–10pm Yulli's, Surry Hills: from 5pm Pilu at Freshwater, Freshwater: from 6pm Sokyo, Pyrmont: from 7am for breakfast, lunch and dinner BARS [caption id="attachment_714411" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Untied, by Daniele Massacci[/caption] Bondi Beach Public Bar, Bondi: 10.30am–late Archie Rose Distillery, Rosebery: 12–10pm Continental Deli, Newtown: 12pm–late Untied, Barangaroo: from 12pm (Brunch with Soul, featuring entertainment and bottomless sips — book one of two sessions here) The Baxter Inn, CBD: 4pm–3am Bucketty's Brewing Co, Brookvale: 12–10pm (blues jam session at 3pm) Wharf Bar, Manly: 3pm–12am (day party with tunes by Winston Surfshirt and others — grab tickets here) Tap Rooms, The Rocks: 12pm–late Beer Deluxe, Darling Harbour: 12pm–late (New Year's Brunch with bottomless pizza — book here) The Winery, Surry Hills: 12pm–late PUBS [caption id="attachment_731751" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Public House Petersham[/caption] Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel, Watsons Bay: (day party with bottomless drinks and DJ tunes from Touch Sensitive, Yolanda Be Cool and more — book here) Hotel Rose Bay, Rose Bay: 12–10pm The Duke of Enmore, Enmore: 11am–late Public House Petersham, Petersham: 12pm–late (day party with DJ sets, cocktails and tinny buckets — book here) Woolwich Pier Hotel, Woolwich: 11am–late Hotel Ravesis, Bondi: normal hours Barangaroo House, Barangaroo: 12pm–12am The Royal Hotel, Paddington: 11am–12am (day party with bottomless brunch sessions also running) Top Image: Barangaroo House
Out in the California High Desert last month, people saw a mysterious apparition: a transparent log cabin named Lucid Stead, the latest installation by artist Phillip K Smith III. At first glance the structure doesn't look real. Is it a mirage, a vision, a portal to another world? The structure's Pre-Romanesque stripes are no hallucination: Smith achieved the optical illusion of transparency by inlaying lengths of mirror between the splintery old wood planks of a 70-year-old homesteader shack in Joshua Tree national park. When the artwork was unveiled, he was surprised by an influx over two days of 400 visitors who'd gotten word of the magical cabin. Search #lucidstead on Instagram and you'll see many photographic perspectives on what they saw. (And riddle me this: how come we can't see any trace of a photographer reflected in these images? Witchcraft.) Like Lucy Humphrey's Horizon in this year's Sculpture by the Sea, here is an artwork that uses its surrounding environment to fill its own canvas, seamlessly melding the natural and manmade. Smith likes to make artworks that appear to breathe and move, blurring the border between geometric rigidity and the organic; he says he is attracted to the idea of "something that you cannot hold on to... That slips between your fingers." As the day progresses, Lucid Stead's appearance changes completely, reflecting the different colours of dawn to dusk. After-hours, it takes on a new role, generating its own light rather than merely reflecting it; the windows become vivid, floating blocks of coloured LED illumination. In the pictures below you'll notice the LEDs brighten the surrounding shrubbery in an unearthly rainbow, not unlike the surrealist nighttime photography of Gregory Crewdson. These colours change, controlled by an Arduino computer system, in a continuous flow that's all part of making the viewer look twice. Smith explains: "The color of the door and window openings are set at a pace of change where one might question whether they are actually changing colors." Check out the video below to see a before-and-after view of the shack, and to hear Lucid Stead's creator talk about his interest in the basic elements of light and change. Images by Stephen King for Royale Projects. Story via Colossal.
If Audrey Horne, Lula Pace Fortune or Lady Jessica decided to head downtown for some yoga, David Lynch has them covered for threads. In one of the most unexpected endeavours from the director yet, Lynch has designed a brand new sportswear collection for women. Seems the man who recorded tunes with Karen O, opened his own whimsical Parisian nightclub and exhibits photographs of dissected chickens as art (among many other wonderful, weird and WTF Lynchian things), can still surprise us. A paired-down, monochrome collection of threads we'd absolutely prance to the gym in, Lynch's fitness line whips up floral geometric design (a collaboration with New York artist Jason Woodside), grey marle and flattering seams in a truly great assortment of basic gymwear. Lynch's activewear line includes corset and scoop bras, geometric leggings and bike shorts all sporting the special edition Lynch Floral print, going for around $100 — $200 a piece. There's more afoot than mere fashion here; Lynch is working in collaboration with Live the Process, an online hub self-described as "a guide to wellness and holistic health from a curated group of experts in beauty, fitness, meditation, nutrition, energy therapies and quantum physics, as seen through a modernist lens." It's a thing, quantum physics included. But fashion isn't where the collab ends for Lynch, really teaming up with Live the Process for a good cause — with some of the proceeds going to victims of abuse. Teaming up with Live the Process shouldn't come as a surprise for those in the Lynch-know. The Twin Peaks creator is a big meditator, having practiced for over 40 years. His method of choice, transcendental meditation, is his pet awareness project with his namesake charity, The David Lynch Foundation. He even penned a book about it. "I have experienced many benefits: more happiness within, more energy, more love of life, more understanding and more of a flow of ideas and intuition," he says. "I see people as friends not enemies. I feel and understand a bigger and bigger picture forming, and experience life as more of a great game than a great torment. For me, TM serves my work and life. It cleans the machine of garbage and brings in pure gold." Shop the David Lynch collection at Live the Process. Go for a scroll here: Via Dazed.
