If you haven't sorted yourself any out-of-town plans for this weekend, here's an idea. On Easter Sunday, UNDR ctrl will host the fourth incarnation of Strictly Vinyl at The Cliff Dive in Darlinghurst. It's been a while since the last event, so to refresh your memory: it's nothing but vinyl, all night long. Throwing down the party in the basement bar are three local artists with three of the biggest record collections in town, each spinning for two hours non-stop. First up, there's Donny Benet, who returns to Australia after playing SXSW with Jack Ladder and Kirin J Callinan. The trio collaborated (along with a bunch of other local talents) on Benet's 2014 release Weekend at Donny's. Then there's Steele Bonus, who makes up one half of Heartbeat DJs, and the Soul of Sydney DJs, who've lately been responsible for mad block parties and warehouse jams all over the city. Whether you want soul, jazz, funk, afro-beat, boogie, Latin and disco, you got it. Strictly Vinyl starts at 9pm and doesn't slow down until 3am. Get there before 11pm for free entry or turn up with a tenner.
In a year that saw Sydney's cultural ecosystem and the legislative shackling of certain elements of it become a more polarising subject than ever before, the city's most innovative, forward-thinking residents have made outstanding lemonade. Some get up earlier than most, Sydney's cafe crowd, who continue to cultivate compelling coffee breaks and brunches for locals, building neighbourhood haunts from pop-up to permanency, championing local producers and turning old bowling clubs into urban farms. At Concrete Playground we encourage exploration and showcase innovation in our city every day, so we thought it fitting to reward those most talented whippersnappers pushing Sydney to be a better, braver city. And so, these six new cafes, opened in 2016, have been nominated for Best New Cafe in Concrete Playground's Best of 2016 Awards. Vote for your favourite.
The future of one of Sydney's most beloved green spaces has finally been secured. After a concerted effort by local campaigners, the NSW government has agreed to lease the patch of harbourfront land known as Wendy's Secret Garden to the North Sydney Council on a 30-year renewable lease, confirming its position as a public garden for future generations. "Wendy has poured her blood, sweat and tears into the garden," said Transport and Infrastructure Minister Andrew Constance at the announcement on Friday. "She, along with the people of Sydney, deserve certainty that it will be here for years to come. Our announcement today ends the question mark over the garden’s future." The widow and muse of celebrated artist Brett Whiteley, for the last two decades Wendy Whiteley has tended to the government-owned land behind her Lavender Bay home, transforming it from an unofficial rubbish dump into a beautiful leafy oasis. Brett's ashes are buried in the garden, as are those of their daughter, actress Arkie Whiteley. The history of the garden was recently recorded in the book Wendy Whiteley and the Secret Garden, whose author Janet Hawley helped lead the push to ensure the space remained open for public enjoyment. "People wrongly assume the council or the government pays for Wendy’s Secret Garden and wrongly assume it is permanent and secure," said Hawley last month. "But Wendy has paid for everything, and, alongside her four gardeners, done all the work from day one." "I can't quite grasp it yet. It's still a bit unreal," the 74-year-old Whiteley told reporters in the wake of yesterday's announcement. "It will become a collaboration now, instead of there being the slightly worrying feeling that somebody could arrive with a bulldozer one day, or a chainsaw or something, and it would all be gone overnight." Via The Guardian.
Movie lovers, prepare to lose your shit. Roadshow Films have confirmed that acclaimed writer-director Quentin Tarantino will visit Australia in January to promote his latest film, the star-studded, blood-soaked western The Hateful Eight. Details on the visit are still pretty scarce, with more information expected to drop in the coming months. What we do know is that Tarantino will attend a premiere in Sydney along with a "fan event" in Melbourne ahead of the movie's staggered theatrical release. The film is currently slated to debut in select cinemas in 70mm on January 14, followed by a wide release on January 21. Set on the western frontier shortly after the end of the American Civil War, The Hateful Eight revolves around eight strangers, played by Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Samuel L. Jackson, Walton Goggins, Demián Bachir, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen and Bruce Dern, who become snowed in at a stagecoach stopover during a fearsome blizzard. This being a film from the guy behind Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Inglourious Basterds and Django Unchained, we're guessing things don't exactly go smoothly from there. Aside from the cast, one of the most noteworthy things about The Hateful Eight is Tarantino's decision to shoot and release the movie on 70mm film. The rarely utilised format allows filmmakers to capture images in greater detail, but is much more expensive than shooting a movie digitally or using standard 35mm film. "If we do our jobs right by making this film a 70mm event, we will remind people why this is something you can't see on television and how this is an experience you can't have when you watch movies in your apartment, your man cave or your iPhone or iPad," said Tarantino at the American Film Market earlier this year. "You'll see 24 frames per second play out, all these wonderfully painted pictures create the illusion of movement. I'm hoping it's going to stop the momentum of the digital stuff, and that people will hopefully go, 'man, that is going to the movies, and that is worth saving, and we need to see more of that.'" The issue is somewhat complicated by the fact that very few cinemas still have the equipment to project 70mm film prints — hence The Hateful Eight's two part release strategy. The Astor in Melbourne is one of the only theatres in the country that still regularly screens movies in the 70mm format, and shapes up as one likely venue for Tarantino's Australian visit.
Paddington's Sherman Contemporary Art Foundation is going green with the final installation in their Fugitive Structures temporary pavilion series. Running since 2013, the series was the first of its kind in Australia to use temporary pavilions as a tool for exploring new architectural concepts. For the finale of this awesome series, SCAF has teamed up with award-winning architect Vo Trong Nghia to create Green Ladder, to be installed next month. The pavilion structure is made entirely from bamboo, "the steel of the 21st century" according to Nghia. The temporary pavilion will be on public display at SCAF from July 7 to December 10 and aims to raise awareness of bamboo's strength as a 'green steel' building material. Green Ladder aims to resemble a dense bamboo forest and visitors will be able to move through the graceful grid at their leisure — entry is completely free. In general, Nghia's a really switched on guy. His firm, Vo Trong Nghia Architects, has won numerous awards throughout the Asia-Pacific region. His offices are based in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City and his work philosophy includes a mandatory two hours of daily meditation for all employees, as well as frequent silent meditation retreats. Nghia's goal is to green up the urban world and bring the environment back into city life. But he has his work cut out for him, with green space at a minuscule 0.25 percent in these major Vietnamese cities of 10 million people. In partnership with this philosophy, SCAF has organised a series of talks and events in association with Green Ladder throughout its six-month run, including meditation and yoga programs. If you want to hear from this legend directly, Nghia will give an architect's talk on Thursday, July 7 at 5pm. Entry to the pavilion is free and open to the public from July 7 to December 10 on Wednesdays to Saturday, 11am to 5pm. Details available at the SCAF website. Image: Vo Trong Nghia Architects, Green Ladder, 2016 commissioned by Sherman Contemporary Art Foundation Fugitive Structures.
Hitting New Zealand for the weekend isn't as much of a faraway adventure as it seems — the flight's just over three hours from Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane. That's almost similar to visiting Canberra or Byron, and there's better wine at the end. New Zealand's capital is brimming with more contemporary, creative restaurants, microroasteries, buzzing cafes and of course, craft breweries than you can poke a wizard's staff at. Every (outrageously friendly) taxi driver will tell you that that city has more cafes, bars and restaurants per capita than New York City — and they're on the money. Hop an easy flight from Melbourne/Sydney to the Harbour Capital and spend an easy weekend on the waterfront, wandering through street art-filled laneways, tasting the world's most gloriously creative craft beer, learning up on ever-fascinating Māori history, and feasting on some serious food. EAT You'd have to try pretty hard to find a bad coffee in Wellington. The city runs rife with microroasteries and no-nonsense baristas churning out killer coffees by the minute. Wander down the street art-plastered areas of Eva Street and Hannah's Factory Laneway in search of a freshly brewed cup o' joe. Stop by Leeds Street Bakery, a teeny tiny glass-and-brick-walled joint for a piccolo from their mates Red Rabbit Coffee Co., and do not leave here without snapping up one of their famously insane salted caramel cookies. They're not pretty but they'll make you involuntarily make noises at strangers. Look at this: Locals will constantly send you to a formerly dreary multi-car garage that's now a bustling corner cafe, dubbed The Hangar. Run by local coffee roasters Flight Coffee, The Hangar serves up kickass coffee made from Costa Rican beans from the family-run Herbazu estate. Huddle over your own cup of joe and take in the ahmbiahnce, or get pesky and ask the crew about the roasting process. Ghuznee Street's Milk Crate and Customs Brew Bar are also worth visiting, as are our six favourite coffee bars on Concrete Playground Wellington. Now you're well caffeinated, let's head for something a little more hearty. Wellington has one heck of a dining scene, a combination of perpetually high quality produce and young, dynamic restaurateurs. Try your luck and wait for a table at Charley Noble in Post Office Square. A seafood bar and steak specialist with a penchant for woodfired cooking ('Charley Noble' was the sailors' name for the ship's galley chimney), this busy, busy restaurant has been the talk of the town since opening in 2014 — and features New Zealand's first Zesti woodfired chargrill and rotisserie. Looking for something a little more modern and fusion-based? Head for Egmont Street Eatery. Tucked down a regular ol' laneway off Dixon Street, this former carpark space does modern New Zealand/Asian fusion with a fresh, seasonal approach and casually excellent service — and they won Wellington on a Plate's highly coveted Burger Wellington comp in 2015. They'll happily match your lunch with one of Wellington's top notch craft beers or a slam dunk of a New Zealand wine. Try the miso salmon salad with cos, nam jim (a traditional Thai sauce) and herbs ($25), and wash it down with 'The Don', a hefty, sediment-filled white that your waiter will probably recommend you try before you buy. The Don doesn't suit every palate. Also worth visiting? Mark Keddell and chef Sean Marshall's The Matterhorn on buzzy Cuba Street, seasonally-focused (and wine-happy) restaurant Floraditas, wholesome, hearty brunch spot Loretta, award-winning chef Mark Limacher's Ortega fish shack, the Boon brothers' beloved Manners Street cafe/bar Crumpet, New York-inspired deli/diner Five Boroughs, and Eastern Asian modern dining spot and cocktail bar Ancestral. Eating on a budget? Check out our feature on seven days of cheap eats in Wellington. DRINK Let's test out that theory, the big bragging right that the city has more bars per capita than New York City. If you head into the city's nightlife/entertainment district, Courtenay Place on a Friday night, you'll find the area packed with young'uns heading to the area's rowdy Irish pubs, rock and roll bars and licensed late-night eateries. But Wellington's not just serving up any ol' tipples in its plethora of watering holes. Let's start with something for the beer lovers — Wellington is New Zealand's craft beer capital after all. Find your way to an old petrol station in Aro Valley that's now brimming with award-winning beer. You've found one of Wellington's very best craft breweries, The Garage Project. Since 2011, this well-publicised crew have gained the rep as the rock stars of the NZ craft beer scene. They gained quite the hype early on when they released 24 beers in 24 weeks, and have been working just as boldly and experimentally since. They opened their own cellar door within the brewery in March 2013, where you can have a mad chat and taste the latest batches on tap — everything from the best-selling (and bloody delicious) Garagista, to the out-there Umami Monster, Cereal Milk Stout and Ziggy's Carrot Cake. They've even just opened their own bar, GP 91 Aro, just down the road. To keep on the craft beer trail, head for the Parrotdog and Black Dog Brew Co. breweries or head for craft beer bars like Fork & Brewer, Little Beer Quarter, Golding's Free Dive, The Rogue and Vagabond, Bebemos, Hop Garden, The Malthouse or Hashigo Zake. [caption id="attachment_572288" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Hawthorn Lounge.[/caption] Finished your beer? Let's get a little more botanical with your next beverage. Wellington's home to one heck of a mixologist population, with some of the best cocktail bars in the global game. Head to Hawthorn Lounge if you really want to get straight to the good stuff. Managed by all round legend Peter Lowry, this cosy little '30s-style speakeasy is hidden away from rowdy Courtenay Place. Snuggle into a Chesterfield lounge by the fireplace, or pull up a pew at the dimly lit bar and choose from one of the bar's staples — up high for a Chocolate Negroni — or roll the dice on a special edition experiment — bar wizard Jamie co-curates this with Peter. If you're a cocktail fiend, also worth checking out are cocktail bar/alchemist den CGR (Cocktails Gin Rum) on Courtenay Place, Te Aro's award-winning Cuban bar and tapas hideaway Havana Bar, Tory Street's Spanish-inspired Poquito, and beloved Leeds Street cocktail haven Hanging Ditch. Wine runs rampant in Wellington, thanks to the world-famous wine regions surrounding the city — you'll find most Wellington restaurants brimming with local drops on the menu. If you're looking for something entirely non-alcoholic though, pay Six Barrel Soda Co. a visit in Hannah's Laneway. Want more? Check out our round-up of Wellington's best secret bars or best craft beer bars. DO Wellington's a highly walkable city, so lace up your booties and let's go 'sploring. Wandering along Wellington's straight-up beautiful waterfront is a must for first-timers, a stroll you can pair with a visit to the city's mighty Te Papa Tongarewa museum. It's been named one of Lonely Planet's 'Top 500 Places on the Planet' and for good reason. Over six floors, you can get a real sense of New Zealand's past, present and future, through gloriously well-curated exhibitions and a seriously epic collection. Follow NZ's passion for art around the city — there's a smorgasbord of street art and laneway murals around town (you just have to be ready to follow a boring looking backstreet every so often). For film fans, obviously New Zealand has its fair share of pop culture-related tourist Meccas. Let's face it, Wellington airport is home to giant, giant hanging statues of Gollum and Gandalf, so for Lord of the Rings fans, New Zealand is still the damn king of must-visit locations. Before you visit the home of the One Ring in Nelson, no self-respecting movie buff would leave Wellington without a visit to the Weta Cave and Workshop. One of the must-do film studio tours in the world, Weta will put you right up close to the props, costumes and hallowed halls of creativity behind The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, Mad Max: Fury Road, District 9, King Kong, The Chronicles of Narnia, Avatar, District 9 and more. You might hold an alien assault rifle from District 9, swing an orc mace from The Hobbit, or hold incredibly detailed chain mail worn by Frodo Baggins. Shell out for a Prancing Pony fridge magnet and head back to the city with a hobbity spring in your step. If we told you that you could spend an afternoon in Wellington cuddling up to, say, four red pandas, would you pop this on your to-do list? Worth every dime of a on-holiday splurge, Wellington Zoo offers some pretty kickass 'Animal Encounters'. Being red panda enthusiasts, we skipped the cheetahs and the meerkats to snuggle up to the zoo's four straight-up adorable pandas. You can pat them. And feed them grapes. Because they're gods amongst men. Also recommended is a stroll around the Botanic Garden, and if you're looking for one of the best views in town, set aside $7.50 for a return trip on the Wellington Cable Car. [caption id="attachment_572305" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Intercontinetal.[/caption] STAY Depending on your budget, Wellington's got a pretty wide range of accommodation options. If you've got a little dosh to burn on your well-earned weekend away, we stayed right in the city at the Intercontinental Wellington. Sitting right near the harbour waterfront and a very easy walk to Wellington's main galleries and Te Papa, Courtenay Place, Cuba Street and Hannah's Laneway, this slick inner city hotel will make a Kevin Macallister out of you in minutes. Don a fluffy white robe and make yourself at home in one of 232 contemporary guest rooms, equipped with extra large towels, giant, giant shower heads and — wait for it — a pillow menu. For something equally opulent, check out the award-winning ten-room boutique hotel Ohtel, sitting in the swanky seaside neighbourhood of Oriental Bay. Each room looks straight out of a design magazine shoot, decked out by owner/designer Alan Blundell with his own collected treasures, clocks, ceramics and individual chairs. It's pretty close to Wellington's main entertainment precinct too. Rooms come equipped with two-person baths, podcast facilities, natural toiletries, free wifi and oversized showers. There's plenty of budget accommodation and B&Bs in Wellington too, check out WellingtonNZ.com for a bunch of great options. LET'S DO THIS, HOW DO I GET THERE? Flights to Wellington from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane are super short — around 3.5 hours on average. Jetstar have just launched a direct route from Melbourne to Wellington (from $159) and Queenslanders can fly direct from the Gold Coast (from $169). Air New Zealand fly direct from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane to Wellington (from $297). Next weekend, we hop on a 45 minute flight out of Wellington to the pretty city of Nelson for some of New Zealand's best contemporary art, insanely good (and globally renowned) wine region and some of the world's most beautiful outdoor adventuring.> Shannon Connellan travelled as a guest of WellingtonNZ.com. Top image: Egmont Street Eatery. All other images SC unless otherwise specified.
It would be pretty excellent if there was some kind of magical way to view the entirety of Vivid Sydney over the city from one vantage point. It'd be even better if there was some way you could do it with a group of friends, while busting out slick dance moves on an illuminated dance floor suspended from the lofty heights of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. BridgeClimb has created exactly the circumstances described above. During the annual festival of lights in Sydney, you can climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge and proceed to a dance floor, which will be welcoming groups of up to 14. Spend three and a half hours climbing one of our most recognisable symbols, only to throw a wicked, incandescent dance party at the summit. This rave that's literally on another level is happening exclusively during Vivid Sydney — from Friday, May 26 to Saturday, June 17 — and we've got two double passes to give away. Pop your details in below to enter, or if you don't win, head here to grab a ticket. [competition]619795[/competition]
Christmas shopping needn't be a chore. It's your chance to think about a person you care about, think about what element you and only you bring to their lives, mix it all up, and then pop a bow on that beautiful creation. Or, at the very least, make sure it's a good scented candle. Need some inspiration to start you off? Here's a leg up from the Concrete Playground team. It's only the products we've been eyeing off all year. These are the gifts we'd want under our tree, and to leave under others'. For the style savants A maximally minimal watch from The Horse No one does a wrist-dwarfing yet understated watch quite like The Horse. Japanese quartz movement meets gently grainy Italian leather at their Sydney studio, resulting in 12 highly Instagrammable timepieces. $129 from www.thehorse.com.au. Karen Walker's bold gold sunnies To mark ten unconventional years in the eyewear game, NZ designer Karen Walker has released the 'Celebrate' collection, entirely done in gold. This is for loved ones comfortable taking risks on their faces. NZ$399 at www.karenwalkereyewear.com. A reworked vintage Eames chair It's the kind of chair you get and then keep for life, and few do them better than Cast + Crew, who keep the classic shell and upholstery and add new custom legs in neon colours. From $395 at castandcrew.bigcartel.com/products (only some products ship to Australia). This completely perfect water bottle Ignore the gushy high-fashion crap all over the BKR website; these are just the best water bottles, period. They feel good to hold, they feel good to drink from, they're dishwashable and (since they're made of glass with a silicon sleeve) BPA free. US$30 at www.mybkr.com. The Lucy Folk 'Aphrodisiac' necklace It's a pearl. In its natural home. Much harmony, so wow. $750-$850 at lucyfolk.com/shop/. A custom wood keyboard by Oree For the design nerd who has it all: wooden tech. This portable wireless keyboard is made from single piece of wood (maple, walnut or wild cherry), and is customisable down to the key font. £150 from oreeartisans.com. For the food fiends The tiny woodfired pizza oven Yes, this is a legitimate option available to you. Tiny oven, full-size woodfired pizza. Just imagine the camping trip. The Uuni 2 oven is $399 from au.uuni.net. The Thug Kitchen cookbook If only all health food advocates were this sweary. We might be well detoxed by now. The Thug Kitchen cookbook is the perfect gift for friends, lovers, relatives, anyone in the MA15+ bracket. $23.95 at booktopia.com.au. Eau de Vie's small batch cocktails The only acceptable premix to put under someone's tree, from the cocktail masters at Sydney and Melbourne's Eau de Vie. $15 each from www.experimentalspiritsco.com.au. Cornersmith Hamper Hampers can be old hat, but not when they're full of goodies from Sydney's home of pickling, baking and cheese making. If you get the Workshop Wonder hamper, which comes with a class voucher, your giftee can learn to make the whole lot themselves. $40-195 at www.cornersmith.com.au. For the culture munchers The beautiful hardcover Wes Anderson Collection Film critic Matt Zoller Seitz dissects Anderson's aesthetic and idiosyncratic characters over 335 whimsical pages. If you think your giftee already has this one, there are 54 pages of lovingly made Wes Anderson tchotchkes on Etsy. $38.25 at www.booktopia.com.au. A dancing baby Groot Marvel is finally officially licensing these babies — the possible best thing from their possible best movie, Guardians of the Galaxy. The dancing baby Groot boogies in its pot while Jackson 5's 'I Want You Back' plays from the speaker. Stockists are as yet unknown, but Mashable says they'll be on shelves by Christmas. Tickets to one wild outdoor concert The new bookers at Taronga and Melbourne Zoos are magicians; they've got the likes of Bright Eyes' soul-searching dreamboat Conor Oberst, twee monarchs Belle and Sebastian and the one and only Rufus Wainwright playing their summer Twilight series. Tickets from $69 at twilightattaronga.org.au and www.zoo.org.au/melbourne/twilights. This portable speaker that looks like a big iPhone Portable speakers are almost as ubiquitous as soy candles this time of year, but the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay A2 speaker stands out for its omnidirectional sound, 24-hour battery life and crazy-good looks. For the fidelity geek $479 at www.beoplay.com. Sydney Festival tickets If your giftee is in Sydney, give them the gift of a dazzlingly cultured January. We've rounded up some of our favourite and most giftable shows over here. From $29 at www.sydneyfestival.org.au. For the sun junkies This meta picnic blanket The seagulls are dive-bombing for your chips forever on this genius 'Mine Mine' picnic blanket. Trust Gorman. $99 at www.gormanshop.com.au A very clever beach bag Beach bags full of stray sand are just a summer reality, right? Wrong. The Shake Tote has a little flap that opens out to ditch those little grains, easy. US$29.99 from www.quirky.com. This semi-sensible rash vest Safety up top, party down the bottom with this cute rashie from new swimwear brand Neon Cactus. Octopus print and maroon are a sincerely underrated combo. $145 from www.neoncactus.com.au. These thongs with built-in bottle opener Look, this isn't the handsomest shoe, even among that dubious category know as 'mandals'. But that moment when your giftee takes off their thong and uses it to open a beer? That will make it all worth it. $69.99 at www.reef.com/au The Phantom 2 camera drone Twenty years ago, a camcorder was a cool thing to take on holiday. Now it's this: a rugged little quadcopter designed for videography whose flight path you can precisely program from your iPad. US$959 at store.dji.com For the stocking Underwater Puppies: The Book Is your giftee the Grinch? Because only the Grinch would fail to enjoy 128 pages of underwater puppy photos. Everyone else: loves them, loves you, loves everything forevermore. $23.95 from www.booktopia.com.au. The Sunscreen Flask Suddenly that extended family gathering is looking a lot more survivable, thanks to this innocuous-looking flask. US$16.99 at www.thisiswhyimbroke.com. The World's Largest Gummi Bear 24cm and 2kg of pure gummi, this is the perfect gift for that friend in your life (rightly) bemoaning the new reduced size of Killer Pythons. US$29.95 from giantgummybears.com. A mould to turn hard-boiled eggs into tiny skulls Who doesn't need this in their life? There's also one for giftees who prefer their eggs sunny side up. US$9.99 at www.amazon.com. Super Soakers Give someone in your life the gift of a very Leo DiCaprio summer by sticking a Nerf Super Soaker in their stocking. Hint to self: make sure you have one of your own to fire back at them. From $7.99 at www.toysrus.com.au.
Maverick music family UNDR ctrl love a vast number of things. Two of those are quality beats and Christmas, and this year, they're curating a glorious mashup to spread the cheer. The Xmas All-Dayer kicks off on the roof at the Captain Cook Hotel, and continues at Freda's, with the shindig aiming to go all night. In that spirit, UNDR ctrl are pledging all the proceeds of the event to Keep Sydney Open, our resident saviours of nightlife. The sunny portion of the party features sets from Shantan Wantan Ichiban, Set Mo and a sneaky Shannon Noll tribute from yeah sure DJs, and acts including Kato, LUEN and World Champion DJs will keep the tunes flowing until the wee small hours. Tickets are $25 online for both events, or $15 a pop at the door. Celebrate Christmas, help out our nightlife and get down like nobody's business? See you there. Image: World Champion, who'll be manning the decks at Freda's.
During the working week, time away from your desk is a rare and precious commodity. We're all guilty of killing time mindlessly trawling the web, but as excellent as cat GIFs may be there's far more exciting things we could be doing on our coffee break. Make even the shortest of respites count and carve out time in your day for a bit of adventure, whether it's a morning mission or an after-work moment to blow off steam. Take the break you, as a hardworking human being, deserve. LEARN TO PAINT AND DRAW If your 9-to-5 lacks a creative outlet, it's worth checking out the Friday Express Art Class at The Harry Jensen Centre in Millers Point. The class runs from 10.30am to 1.30pm, but you can join in for as long as you want. If you're more of a paint by numbers kind of person, there's the option to be guided through a specific project over a couple of weeks. But, if you consider yourself a budding artistic talent, you can equally go rogue with your own idea. Whichever option you choose, artist Lisa Bergan will instruct on specific skills and techniques. It is a community centre, so you can expect the class to be quite social — and if you're lucky, there may even be a quintessential iced vovo on offer. [caption id="attachment_583603" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Josh Willink.[/caption] ORGANISE A MEETUP Regardless of how weird and wonderful your interests may be — apparently there's such a thing as extreme ironing — you're likely to find someone on Meetup who shares them. A break from the office is a precious commodity, so you don't want to waste it and do something you think you should (treadmilling) instead of something that genuinely interests you (shooting hoops). The way Meetups work is that you can start your own group or join one of the existing ones listed on the website. Everything is covered, from walking groups, to language Meetups and even a 1300 strong posse of 'baddicts' – badminton addicts. WORK ON YOUR DOWNWARD DOG AT AN URBAN FARM A fully functioning organic farm is a surprising find in any major city, let alone one that plays host to lunchtime yoga classes. But if it was going to happen anywhere, what's not surprising is that it happened in Sydney. Pocket City Farms is a not-for-profit that turns neglected land and rooftops into urban farms — with their first completed site being the former and abandoned Camperdown Bowling Club. It's a rare and welcomed opportunity to get some fresh air and a 45-minute nature hit without even leaving the city. TAKE A GUIDED GALLERY TOUR Rather than staring at a piece of art pretending you're deep in intelligent thought — we've all done it — join a guided tour and have someone do the thinking for you. Running throughout the day at the MCA and the Art Gallery of New South Wales (as well as many other awesome institutions across the city), volunteer guides will lead you through an exhibition, sharing stories of the artist and giving insight into what the big red canvas really means. At MCA, the tours run for around 45 minutes, so if you have a generous lunch break head up to the rooftop and take in the views. And if you really want to immerse yourself in an artist's work, the MCA cafe serves specials inspired by the exhibitions. As good to look at as it is to eat, they're currently serving Restaurant Kim's version of Korean fried chicken. TRY NEXT-LEVEL PILATES Want to try something new to report back to the water cooler about? KX takes pilates to another level, combining high-intensity training with traditional reformer pilates moves. While some pilates classes can seem like an extended stretching session, this definitely isn't one of those. The music is loud and they set a fast pace, so not only are you getting a good workout, you'll feel like you've been able to truly escape. For every move they give beginner to advanced options, but regardless, by the end of the 50-minute session you'll definitely be bypassing the stairs and catching the lift.
Over the past five years, Melbourne's Hiatus Kaiyote has scored two Grammy nominations, recorded two full-length albums and toured the world — from Tokyo's Blue Note to London's o2 Forum. Along the way, they've attracted the approval of Erykah Badu, Questlove and Prince. Now, they're bringing their self-described "multi-dimensional polyrhythmic gangster" to the Opera House for the first time. For the first time. How has this taken so long? Joining on the night will be Timeboy, who'll be sorting out visuals, and one of our favourites, Sydney by way of Zambia MC, poet and singer-songwriter Sampa the Great, who recently supported Kendrick Lamar, after collaborating with Urthboy and Okenyo on 'Second Heartbeat' and with Remi on 'For Good'. We physically can't stop playing Sampa's The Great Mixtape, help. This is one our our top ten picks of Vivid gigs you should buy tickets to right now. Check out the whole list.
Sydney-based art collective Alaska Projects have revealed their 2016 program, and hot damn is it impressive. The artist-run initiative, which recently celebrated its fourth birthday, will once again shine a spotlight on new and exciting works from dozens of Australian artists, across mediums including painting, sculpture, video, photography, performance and more. Among the group of artists listed in today's initial announcement, standout names include celebrated multidisciplinary artist Shaun Gladwell, provocative art collective Soda_Jerk, sibling duo nova Milne, and filmmaker and visual artist Angela Tiatia. The program was curated by gallery director Bradley Vincent and Alaska Projects founder Sebastian Goldspin. "There is a breadth of scope to the program but also a commonality," says Vincent. "Each of these artists represents the kind of questioning and open process that will deliver a year of exhibitions that look outward, delivering exciting and unpredictable works that embrace the full poetic potential of the Alaska Projects space." "Every new year of Alaska Projects brings growth but also an ongoing excitement to be working with artists at the coalface of emerging practice," added Goldspin. Check out the full list of ALASKA Projects artists, below. Alice Babidge Angela Tiatia Ash Keating Bridie Connell Catherine Clayton-Smith Daniel Mudie Cunningham Eugene Choi Harrison Witsey James Tylor Jason Wing Julia Bavyka Joe Pol Julian Hocking Kate Scardifield Lauren Berkowitz Lottie Consalvo Luke Sales Nicole Breedon nova Milne Samuel Hodge Shaun Gladwell Soda_Jerk Tarik Ahlip + more to be announced For more information about ALASKA Projects, visit their website and Facebook page.
The world of creativity thrives on the fringes of the known, always teasing the boundaries of familiarity, and facilitating the realm of new experiences. The NOW Now Festival, hosted by Redfern's 107 Projects, will bring this world of experimental musicians, artists and performers into our sensory sphere for a whole weekend. The riotous revelries kick off on Thursday, January 19 and run until January 22. It'll be four days of local and international performers turning convention on its head, from solo percussive acts like Norway's Ingar Zach, to the Sydney-based political punk outfit DISPOSSESSED. The festival also extends this exploration of newness to contemporary art, with 107 Projects' gallery remaining open throughout the festival, showcasing the musings of artists from our own backyard and from all over the globe.
When your last festival screened 48 films to 168,000 people around Australia, what comes next? It's a problem many events wish they had, however, in their 28th year, the Alliance Française French Film Festival is on the case. With the massive celebration of Gallic cinema continuing to draw huge crowds, the beloved annual festival is offering up more of the same — and we're giving away tickets. Kicking off on March 7 in Sydney before touring to Melbourne, Canberra, Perth, Brisbane, Adelaide, Hobart, Parramatta and Casula until April 9, the 2017 program begins and ends with a bang — or, with two very different journeys. In pole position at the start of the fest sits The Odyssey, an adventure-filled biopic focused on famous oceanographer Jacques Cousteau, and co-starring Audrey Tautou as Cousteau's wife Simone. Then, after running through the bulk of its 45-film selection, the fest comes to a close with maternal comedy A Bun in the Oven, featuring The Bélier Family's Karin Viard as an unexpectedly expectant 49-year old. In between, the AFFFF delivers on two fronts: stars and a vibrant array of big screen stories. There's plenty of both. The former includes 2017 Oscar-nominees Isabelle Huppert and Natalie Portman, with Huppert showing up twice — playing a woman with a secret past in the rom-com Souvenir, and a philosophy professor in Things to Come — and Portman joining forces with Lily-Rose Depp (yes, Johnny's daughter) in Planetarium. Depp also stars with French singer-actress Soko in The Dancer, while Marion Cotillard does double duty too in romance From the Land of the Moon and the Xavier Dolan-directed family drama It's Only the End of the World. Inglourious Basterds actress Mélanie Laurent co-directs environmental doco Tomorrow, the great Gérard Depardieu takes a road trip in Saint Amour, and one of the last roles played by Amour's Emmanuelle Riva, as an elderly aunt in Lost in Paris, also features. Elsewhere, the 2017 fest tells the tale of the first popular Afro-Cuban artist of the French stage in Monsieur Chocolate starring The Intouchables' Omar Sy opposite James Thierrée (aka Charlie Chaplin's grandson), examines the real-life circumstances surrounding a pregnant nun in The Innocents, dives into coming-of-age affections with Being 17 and gets ghostly with the haunting Daguerrotype. Or, viewers can catch Juliette Binoche at her most slapstick in farcical detective effort Slack Bay, and enjoy the kind of moral dilemmas the Dardenne brothers explore so well in The Unknown Girl. Looking back as well as forwards, a two-movie retrospective steps into the court of Versailles courtesy of the Marie Antoinette-centric Farewell, My Queen and music drama Mozart's Sister. Plus, if all of the above isn't enough for the most eager film buffs, dedicated cinephiles can take A Journey Through French Cinema for 191 minutes of movie history. [competition]611799[/competition]
Heading to Byron Bay this July to flail around to The Cure, be obliterated by sound of The Avalanches and burl the words to The Strokes? You can't do all that without a little pre-game with your mates, preferably at a stunning beach house right on the ocean, with some of Australia's best upcoming artists playing sets just for you. Luckily for you, Concrete Playground has teamed up with Sonos to throw one heck of a beach party — and you could be on the guest list. We're putting on an intimate pre-festival gathering at one of Byron Bay's most iconic locations. It's called Beach Break (because you need one, we need one, everyone needs one). You could be joining mates CP and Sonos for a big ol' warm-up on Saturday, July 23, to be held at a secret location which only the guest list will know. You'll be kicking back at our Byron beach house with a cocktail, catching sets from Australia's one-to-watch artists Kllo and Banoffee, and listening to Sonos-curated party playlists. Register your interest and we could be seeing you at our pretty little beach house. ENTER HERE. This event is independently presented by Concrete Playground and Sonos, and is not associated with Splendour in the Grass or Secret Sounds.
Incredible works of literature, illustration, photography and design are currently on display at the State Library of NSW, as part of a free exhibition in partnership with London's Victoria and Albert Museum. Running until September 27, Inspiration by Design: Word and Image from the Victoria and Albert Museum London showcases some of the most unique and valuable objects from the V&A's National Art Library, from rare medieval manuscripts to fashion sketches by Dior – and everything imaginable in between. Complementing the exhibition is Australian Inspiration, featuring iconic Australian treasures from the State Library's collection own, including rare sketches of local flora and fauna and the early design plans for the Sydney opera house. With 100+ items on display, you certainly won't run out of things to discover. Nevertheless, we've put together a list of a few highlights that are definitely worth keeping an eye out for. ILLUMINATED BOOK OF HOURS Amongst the V&A collection you'll find some of the most significant surviving artworks and manuscripts of the Renaissance period. This Illuminated Book of Hours — an intricately illustrated book of Christian psalms and prayers — is one of the older pieces to make the trip from London to Australia, dating all the way back to the 1490s. MORTE D'ARTHUR We all know the story of King Arthur and Excalibur, mostly from having watched Disney's The Sword in the Stone. But Mickey Mouse isn't the only one to take a stab at this particular tale. Sir Thomas Malory's compilation of Arthurian legends Morte d'Arthur was first published in 1485, and is brought vividly to life in this late 19th century edition with intricate ink illustrations by artist Aubrey Beardsley. THE TALE OF PETER RABBIT This handdrawn sketch comes from Beatrix Potter's The Tale of Peter Rabbit, first published in 1901. In fact, Peter first appeared almost a decade earlier, in letters sent by Potter to the sickly young son of her former governess. After expanding these correspondences into a manuscript, Potter was turned down by six different publishers — all of whom presumably regretted their decision after the book went on to become one of the most iconic children's stories of all time. TOMMY BEAR AND THE ZOOKIES Speaking of iconic children's stories, there are few more beloved by Australians than Dorothy Wall's Blinky Bill. Above, we can see the mischievous koala's predecessor, Tommy Bear, from Tommy Bear and the Zookies. The story was first published in 1920, 13 years before Blinky's first appearance. Incidentally, Blinky himself is set to make something of a return this year, in his first ever computer animated film. AUSTRALIA'S ROUND THE WORLD AIRLINES The world's love affair with the koala isn't limited to picture books. This cuddly little marsupial has played a key part in attracting tourists to our shores for decades – try and think of the last time a famous celebrity visited Australia and wasn't photographed holding a koala. Qantas, in particular, has often turned to the koala to help sell its brand overseas, whether in posters like the one above or its famous TV spots from the 1970s. JAMES SOWERBY'S WARATAH Early European settlers in Australia were understandably fascinated by the country's unique flora and fauna, the likes of which they would have never seen before. The Australian Inspiration exhibition includes some of the earliest known sketches of native plant and animal life, including this illustration of a waratah by James Sowerby that appeared in James Edward Smith's A Specimen of the Botany of New Holland. More than two centuries later, the flower remains a national cultural icon, and has even been immortalised as the NSW state flower. SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE DESIGNS Still, when it comes to national symbols, they don't get much bigger or more significant than the Sydney Opera House. Danish architect Jorn Oberg Utzon won an international competition with his bold and visionary design, which was purportedly inspired by the peeling of an orange. These early sketches may not look like much, but the building's iconic status is a testament to the strength of his ideas. Inspiration by Design and Australian Inspiration will be on display at the State Library of NSW until September 27. For more information visit the State Library website. Top image: Koala & Young, John Lewin (1803)
It was the hit of Cannes, a highlight at both Sydney and Melbourne's film festivals, and has been selected as Germany's entry in the best foreign-language category at next year's Academy Awards. It's none other than Toni Erdmann, the almost three-hour German comedy about a father trying to spend time with his adult daughter. The memorable movie can't really be described accurately — it has to be experienced, trust us — and now, thanks to the just-announced German Film Fest Australia program, it's making its way around the country. The critical smash is just one of the highlights of the annual showcase German cinema, which notches up its 15th year in 2016. It sits amidst a packed lineup that boasts 31 features, five documentaries and more than 25 Australian premieres, and will tour Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Canberra from November 15 to 30. Other standouts include opening night's road trip drama Goodbye Berlin, box office smash The Most Beautiful Day, a factual look at a young Burmese music fan in My Buddha is Punk, and tragicomedy Me and Kaminski, with Captain America: Civil War's Daniel Brühl as journalist doing whatever it takes to get ahead. Everything Will Be Fine, the latest effort from veteran director Wim Wenders, also pops up — in 3D and featuring James Franco, Rachel McAdams and Charlotte Gainsbourg. Yep, variety is the spice of German cinema as well as life (and James Franco has to pop up just about everywhere). Of course, great film fests look at ace flicks from years gone by, as well as new hits, adding another reason to get excited about GFFA's picks. Nodding to the nation's movie-making past, the festival closes with a restoration of silent trapeze artist drama Varieté from 1925, which stars the first-ever Oscar winner Emil Jannings. Elsewhere, doco Fassbinder explores the work and impact of New German Cinema pioneer Rainer Werner Fassbinder, while the director's legendary love story Ali: Fear Eats The Soul will also screen. The German Film Fest Australia tours the country from November 15, screening at Sydney's Chauvel Cinema and Palace Norton Street from November 15 to 29, Melbourne's Palace Cinema Como, Kino Cinemas and Palace Westgarth from November 17 to 30, and Brisbane's Palace Barracks and Palace Centro from November 25 to 30. For more information, visit the festival website.
After spending so much time indoors in 2020, we're all keen to be outdoors as much as possible (while the good weather lasts). And one spot you can soak up the good vibes is Federation Square, which is transforming into a garden oasis this season. On January 15, the CBD space will unveil new grass zones, deck chairs, colourful beanbags and a jam-packed program of free happenings to keep you entertained (and comfy) for those lazy summer afternoons and evenings ahead. The roster of events includes live music, wellbeing classes — think yoga, cooking demos and life drawing — plus screenings of major sports events and an outdoor cinema screening classics like Muriel's Wedding, The Great Gatsby and Red Dog. In collaboration with ACMI, Fed Square will screen a silent film on the digital facade with a live score accompaniment on selected evenings, too. And, when you get hungry, you can get food delivered from any of the surrounding Fed Square restaurants and bars, including Riverland, Mama's Canteen and Atiyah Lebanese Kitchen. Image: Liam Neal
Celebrate Oktoberfest like any good German: with beer, pretzels and tiny little sausage dogs racing for glory and gold. That's right everyone: Hophaus Bier Bar are hosting their inaugural Oktoberfest Teckelrennen, also known as the most adorable dog race ever. Never mind the running of the bulls. This is the running of the wieners. Schnell! The high stakes (not really) dachshund race will be held in the Southbank Podium Courtyard on Saturday, September 19. Racer registration is already closed, with organisers reportedly overwhelmed by the number of entries. You can, however, still enter your pooch in the Best Costume Contest — how willingly they'll participate is another matter entirely. Spectator entry to the event is free, while all racer entry fees will be donated to Dachshund Rescue Australia. Those wanting to make a day of it can head back to Hophaus after the race for more Oktoberfest-themed activities, including live German music and a sausage eating competition. Although to be honest, the idea of eating sausages after watching a sausage dog race just doesn't sit right with us. We know they're not actually made of dachshund, but still. And now, as a reward for making it to the end of this story, enjoy these GIFs of dachshunds being awesome. As if they know any other way to be. For more information about the Hophaus Inaugural Dachshund Race, visit their website. Via Beat.
Virtual reality may finally be about to hit the mainstream, with Sony announcing that PlayStation VR will be on the market by the end of the year. Compatible with the PS4, the long-awaited virtual reality headset will go on sale in October, and is now available for preorder from the PlayStation website for the surprisingly accessible price of AUD $549.95. Expensive gimmick or the future of gaming? Suppose we'll have to wait and see. The company made the announcement at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco this morning. According to Sony Computer Entertainment CEO Andrew House, more than 230 developers are working on VR games, including a VR version of Star Wars: Battlefront. House expects there will be more than 50 games available by the end of the year, many of which will incorporate both the VR headset and a TV screen, allowing for multiplayer experiences that don't require multiple headsets. While there are still some doubts about the mass marketability of VR technology, Sony's announcement undoubtedly marks a significant step forward — not least because of its relative affordability. When accounting for shipping, both the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift — which both require a high-powered desktop computer to operate — are expected to cost more than double that of the PlayStation headset. Although, as the guys at Lifehacker have predicted, to use PlayStation VR to its full capabilities you'll probably need to purchase a PlayStation Camera and a Move controller or two, which will bring the price closer to $700. Those after a bargain basement alternative can always go with Google Cardboard, but we suspect that won't be compatible with your PS4. Via Wired.
Forget space travel, the internet and the mapping of the human genome. Our greatest technological achievements pale in comparison to the one unveiled by Dominos (yes, that Dominos) in Brisbane last night. Developed by the pizza chain in partnership with technology startup Marathon Robotics, the Dominos Robotic Unit, or DRU, is a fully functioning autonomous vehicle built for the sole purpose of delivering pizza. The future is here. Designed to travel along footpaths, DRU weighs 190kg, can reach speeds of up to 20km per hour, and navigates unassisted using GPS. It is also capable of navigating around obstacles, ensuring your food arrives unscathed. Once DRU rolls up outside your house, you simple enter a unique mobile code and the heated storage compartment opens right up to reveal the sweet, sweet pizza within. Sadly, Dominos expects it'll be at least another two years until DRUs are ready to begin regular service, as there are still various technological and regulatory hurdles to overcome. Turns out the government is a little tetchy when it comes to unsupervised robots roaming the streets... which is probably fair enough. Dominos also acknowledges that there could be problems with vandalism and theft. DRU is worth around $30,000, making it a prime target for unscrupulous robot-nappers. Of course, that pales in comparison to the real danger that no one seems to want to talk about. We've seen enough dystopian science fiction films to know the beginnings of a robot uprising when we see one. Pretty sure Skynet started out as a pizza delivery system, too. Just sayin... [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqzLoXjFT34[/embed] Via Lifehacker. Image: Marathon Robotics.
As if alcohol alone doesn't do enough to unleash your inner, six-year-old self, you can now embrace it shamelessly — that's if you happen to be in San Francisco and anywhere near that city's latest thing: a pop-up ball pit in your local bar. Yep, you read that right. A brilliantly regressive-thinking organisation by the name of Forward Motion has turned every kidult's dream into a reality. The team is heading into willing bars and nightclubs, setting up enormous pits, and filling them to the brim with balls of all colours. And you're welcome to jump straight in — even if, or especially if, you're armed with a cocktail. Forward Motion held its first pop-up on Saturday, March 19 and Sunday, March 20 at San Francisco's Romper Room. "It took a little over a year to actually make it happen, as the biggest obstacle was trying to raise enough money to purchase 40,000 ball pit balls," Forward Motion founder Ryan Lum told Mashable. "After several failed crowdfunding attempts, I decided to just start selling tickets to [the] event that didn't even exist. It took a long time trying to raise the money but it was all worth it in the end." Not only did stacks of people attend, they made the most of it. Some dressed as brides and one as a kangaroo. There were ball fights, conga lines, limbo matches and Macarena displays. The bar staff got on the bandwagon, too, throwing a plastic green turtle into the pit and offering a free shot to the first person to find it. Forward Motion, you are hereby officially invited to Australia. In the meantime, readers can cry with envy at ball pits happening on the other side of the Pacific by following announcements on Facebook. Via First We Feast and Mashable. Images: Dollar Photo Club and Miracles Ramirez/Forward Motion.
Danny Boyle’s iconic 1996 film Trainspotting is finally getting the sequel you kind of don’t want to see but can’t look away from. Boyle officially confirmed the news an interview with Deadline — the sequel has a script and is definitely going ahead. The only problem is coordinating the schedules of the now-famous OG actors. The sequel will be based on Irvine Welsh’s 2002 novel Porno, which was released six years after the film of Trainspotting. The film version of Porno will pick up eight years after Trainspotting left off, with the same crew. But the biggest difference is in the title — obviously, this one is about porn. While Trainspotting was perhaps the most effective campaign against shooting up heroin (and the need to learn the dialect and slang of Edinburgh youth), Porno may well do the same for the amateur porn industry. Don’t worry, there'll probably still be gratuitous drug use. Boyle told Complex that Porno will bring back the “four main actors” which the Internet has interpreted to mean Ewan McGregor, Jonny Lee Miller, Robert Carlyle and Kevin McKidd. Even John Hodge, the screenwriter of Trainspotting, is working on the sequel. There has been no confirmation whether Ewan Bremner or Kelly Macdonald will be included, however the plot of Porno has a sizeable role for Bremner’s character 'Spud', so we’re cautiously optimistic. For those of you wanting to read the book before seeing the film, be warned: the plot might be changed when it goes to the silver screen. The project has been in the works for the while now and author Irvine Welsh told The Big Issue two years ago that, "The sequel I wrote — Porno — is already ten years old, so I don't think you can just use the book as the source for the script. You need other stuff that makes it more fresh and contemporary. The porno stuff might feel a bit passé now after Fifty Shades of Grey." It would seem that Welsh and Boyle have some (probably not very) sexy surprises in store for us. Via Deadline and Complex.
From the Matilda's success in the FIFA Women's World Cup to Michelle Payne's historic win at last year's Melbourne Cup, national interest in women's sports is at an all time high – and it looks like the media is finally paying attention. In an awesome development, albeit one that probably should have happened a hell of a lot sooner, Australia is getting its first major website dedicated to women's sports. Operated by SBS with The World Game host Lucy Zelic at the helm, Zela is being spruiked as an online community, complete with "a strong presence in social media feeds with the latest video, highlights, news and views delivered straight to followers." The site will feature profiles of established and emerging female athletes across a wide array of sporting codes, as well as coverage of the wider sporting world from a female perspective. Zelic and company also plan to establish connections and syndication deals with existing networks and blogs. The launch was driven in part by the success of SBS's Women's World Cup coverage, which attracted more than 2.6 million viewers. "The Women’s World Cup went so well that we began to explore what else we could do to service women’s sport, a badly neglected area of the current media landscape, especially in the mainstream media," said Zelic. "With Zela, I hope to lead the way, to prove the audience is out there if you provide them with interesting and engaging content," added editor Danielle Warby. Visit Zela at www.sbs.com.au/topics/zela. You can also check them out on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Yes, Rhianna snuffed Big Bird and made an omelette out of him. Yes, Solange looked like she was wearing a Sliders portal. But there were more than just celebrity fashion moments happening at yesterday's 2015 Met Gala — something only the likes of Humans of New York founder Brandon Stanton would make you appreciate. Making ordinary people of celebs and stars out of ordinary people, the HONY photographer took the best snaps of the night; bringing that tried and true human interest formula to the most star-studded event on the damn calendar. Waiters become stars, pop singers become regular folk. Slam dunk, HONY. “I tried to prank him one time by putting a tuna fish sandwich in his bedside drawer. But the prank ended up being on both of us because I forgot about it for weeks.” “There’s a secret addict in me that I’m always trying to tame.” “I was too hard on my son because I couldn’t understand why he didn’t love to compete as much as I do.” “I hope to be as selfless as my mother. My father died when I was seven months old. She had to raise five kids on her own, but she made time for all of us. We used to have these days called ‘Mommy Holidays.’ She’d choose a normal school day, wake us up, have us get ready for school, cook breakfast in a hurry, and right before we walked out the door, she’d scream ‘Mommy Holiday!,’ and she’d let us skip school and go somewhere fun.” “They forced me into having an Instagram.” "I'm trying to look at my phone less." “We managed to raise two teenage girls and not get divorced.” “It was hard to see my father not become all that he wanted to be. He brought my family here from Trinidad. He really believed in the marketing of the American dream, and he thought that he’d become a DJ on the radio. He loved music and had the gift of gab. But he didn’t understand the system and he came too late in life to make the proper connections. So he ended up using his gift of gab to sell cars.” “What’s your favorite thing about each other?” “We’re fine with just a picture, thanks.” Images: Brandon Stanton/Vogue.
Victoria's newest boutique hotel is set to take a weekend on the Mornington Peninsula to a new level of luxury. Opening to guests on Saturday, April 1, Jackalope Hotel is smack-bang in the middle of the Peninsula's wine region in Merricks North, just next to Red Hill. The hotel is the 'passion project' of 28-year-old entrepreneur Louis Li, who worked with architecture firm Carr Design Group and Fabio Ongarato Design studio to design the hotel, which is his first. From what we've seen, the exterior is quite impressive and maintains a modern austerity while naturally fitting into the rolling landscape. At the entrance to the hotel, guests will be greeted by a seven-metre-tall sculpture of a Jackalope, the mythical horned rabbit of North American folklore the hotel is named after, which does seem overdone — but then, that also seems to be the point of the hotel's 'extravagance to surreal proportions' mindset. The 46 rooms offer terrace or vineyard views, with their double-the-size 'lair' suites offering the best views in the house. Each room boasts floor-to-ceiling windows, private terraces and hand-crafted bespoke furnishings. If you're one for a good bath, the deep-soak, black Japanese tubs and exclusive Hunter Lab bath products will keep you utterly relaxed while you admire your fabulous self in the double vanities. It's a bathroom well deserving of a nice glass (or bottle) of local wine, that's for sure. If your private bath isn't quite enough, the landscaped gardens include a black 30-metre infinity pool with an adjacent pavilion for spa treatments. The hotel also houses an extensive art collection, commissioned and installed specifically for the space for anyone looking to soak up some culture instead of sun. Yes, it's incredibly luxe. And to be certain they are not outdone, Jackalope is also home to not one, but two restaurants, headed by chef Guy Stanaway. The fine dining option, oddly named Doot Doot Doot, centres around a menu of seasonal, local produce, while the cellar door, Rare Hare, is set amongst the hotel's winery and offers the requisite wine and food pairing. If you somehow get bored in this lap of luxury, the Peninsula is already home to over 50 cellar doors and restaurants, not to mention golf courses, natural hot springs, national parks and bay beaches. You can use our weekender's guide to the area to navigate. Of course, all this will cost you a pretty penny — rooms start at around $650 and go up to over $1000 per night. But for those looking to give themselves a little (or a lot) of pampering, Jackalope sounds like it'll be the ideal spot for it. Jackalope Hotel will open on Saturday, April 1 at 166 Balnarring Road, Merricks North. For more info or to book a room, visit jackalopehotels.com.
Trying to stay healthy while eating the food you love can sometimes feel like an exercise in futility. Basically, we want to have our cake, and eat it too, but to also have that cake not ruin any chance at being healthy as blazes. Luckily, the good folk at food delivery service Youfoodz have put together a couple of recipes that offer unexpectedly healthy takes on some of our all time culinary favourites. Say goodbye to the grease-sodden offerings from your local fish and chip shop because, for dinner, they suggest a healthy, homemade alternative, that subs out those deep-fried chippies for baked roast veggie chips and a good-for-you superseed crust instead of batter. Alternatively, if you've got a hectic sweet tooth, they've got the perfect protein packed recipe for blueberry pancakes with a light honey ricotta that looks every bit as good as it sounds. Add some extra berries on top for added antioxidants and deliciousness. Healthy eating ain't so bad after all. Check 'em out and enjoy the spoils. FISH AND CHIPS Ingredients (fish) 120g cod 1tbs almond meal 1tbs slivered almonds 1tbs quinoa 5g chia seeds 5g sesame seeds Lemon wedges Salt Ingredients (chips) 60g sweet potato 60g carrot 60g potato Paprika Ingredients (tartare sauce) 2-3 tbs of your favourite prepared aioli 2 large Gherkins (chopped) 1tbs Capers (chopped) Juice of 1 lemon Zest of 1 lemon 2tbs fresh dill (chopped) 2tbs continental Parsley (chopped) Method 1) Pre heat oven to 180 degrees. 2) Cut vegetables into chip shapes and sizes and combine with some paprika. Bake in oven until roasted and delicious. 3) Combine almond meal, nuts and seeds and mix well, sprinkle heavily on top of cod and bake for 12-15 minutes or until cooked. 4) Add chopped gherkins, capers, dill, lemon juice and zest and parsley to prepared aioli and mix well. 5) Garnish with lemon wedges and a sprinkle of sea salt. BLUEBERRY BAKED PANCAKES AND HONEY RICOTTA Ingredients (pancake mix) 4 eggs 1 cup almond meal Half cup gluten free flour 100g protein powder Lemon zest of 2 lemons 1.5 cups natural yoghurt Quarter cup white sugar 1tsp bi carb soda 1 cup blueberries Ingredients (ricotta and honey mix) Ricotta cheese Honey Method 1) Lightly beat eggs with sugar till combined well. 2) Add almond meal, gluten free flour, protein powder and bi carb soda and mix well. 3) Add yoghurt, blueberries and lemon zest, combine all ingredients and cook in medium hot non stick fry pan till risen and golden. Combine ricotta and honey, spoon over cooked pancakes with additional berries and honey. Want someone else to cook these for you? Youfoodz will bring them right to your door. To view the full menu, head to youfoodz.com.
Find true love without ever lifting a finger. A brand new smart watch app is eliminating the most physically arduous part of Tinder by selecting your matches for you based on the beating of your heart. Yep, it swipes right for you. This is isn't just like putting your Tinder profile on auto-swipe (actual thing). Developed by American creative agency T3, Hands-Free Tinder works by measuring your pulse rate. According to T3, "The heart doesn't lie." The display on your smartwatch will show you a potential date’s profile picture and then gauges your physiological reaction. If your heartbeat quickens, it may well be true love/casual sex time. If it slows, it clearly wasn’t meant to be. Check out their classy, classy promotional video, below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkVLJiJj7qQ We’re not buying the whole ‘always listen to your heart’ shtick, but you’ve got to give the company credit for really boiling Tinder down to its bare essentials. You literally have to press one button, and everything else is taken care of. This is especially great news for frequent and/or desperate Tinder users, many of whom have begun to experience the symptoms of repetitive strain injury as a result of too much right swiping. The hands-free functionality also has the added benefit of removing any lingering traces of guilt you might feel for snap-judging a potential match based solely on their physical appearance. After all, it’s not like you can control your heart rate. Just don’t use the app while you’re on the treadmill. Could lead to some pretty awkward, terribly-matched first dates. While the concept video makes specific mention of the Apple Watch, the agency claims the app will be available via both Google Play and the Apple App Store, although no word yet as to when. It’s also worth pointing out that the app isn’t actually affiliated with the creators of Tinder, so there may be some rebranding before it hits stores. In the meantime, we’ll be huddled around our phones, swiping like a bunch of soulmate-seeking Neanderthals. Via Mashable. Image: Dollar Photo Club.
Heineken are celebrating the launch of the new low-carb Heineken 3, by hosting a few free Sunday sessions across Sydney this summer called (Music + Art + Play)3. At The Port in Darling Harbour on December 4, Flight Facilities touring vocalist Michaela Baranov, DJ Matty Saville and GodWolf will perform a set together, which will be documented in artistic form by a portrait artist and photographer. It's all about three hours of art, music and play. But most importantly, there will be beer. Heineken 3 buckets are available to purchase, and some may be given out for free along with Heineken 3 merch by brand ambassadors.
Most filmmakers are considered prolific if they make a movie every two years. Since leaping onto the scene in 2005, Joe Swanberg has made 18. One of the leading figures of the mumblecore movement (an American indie film subgenre characterised by microscopic budgets and heavily improvised dialogue), Swanberg most recently earned plaudits for his charming romantic dramedy Drinking Buddies, starring Olivia Wilde and Anna Kendrick. We now know Drinking Buddies was scarcely in theatres before Swanberg began work on his next project, one that sees him re-team with Kendrick, along with New Zealand actress Melanie Lynskey and Girls creator Lena Dunham. Shot in Swanberg's cosy Chicago home, Happy Christmas chronicles the rocky yuletide holidays of new parents Jeff and Kelly (Swanberg and Lynskey) after Jeff's irresponsible sister Jenny (Kendrick) comes to stay. As with most of Swanberg's movies, the film had almost no scripted dialogue, and relied instead on the improvisational talents of the cast. Read our interview with Joe Swanberg.
Surry Hills mainstay Bitter Phew is bringing you the classier side of craft beer this year for Sydney Craft Beer Week. The tap list for this event will include barrel-aged beers from an international powerhouse of brewers including the Netherlands' Brouwerij de Molen, Norway's Nøgne and a smoked saison collab between Nomad and US-based Jester King that we're especially keen to try. From whiskey to bourbon and shiraz to chardonnay, you'll surely feel spoilt for decadence at this one.
Team Zissou, pack your vintage suitcase and meet us in Italy. Wes Anderson has designed a bar/cafe in Milan. Snuggled inside Prada's new art and culture complex, Fondazione Prada, set to open this weekend, Bar Luce has been designed by the baron of twee himself — and it predictably looks straight out of one of his films. As if planning a theme park with Devo's Mark Mothersbaugh wasn't enough work. Resembling some kind of Grand Budapest Hotel lobby cafe, Anderson's cafe is filled with pastel Formica furniture, faux-cornice patterned wallpaper, veneered wood wall panels and terrazzo flooring — an attempt to recreate the vibe of a typical Milanese cafe. The aesthetic, according to Fondazione Prada, is reminiscent of '50s and '60s Italian popular culture; something Anderson actually employed for his Prada short film Castello Cavalcanti, starring (as always) the excellent Jason Schwartzman. Anderson's also given aesthetic nods to Italian neorealist cinema classics like 1951's Miracolo a Milano (Miracle in Milan) and 1960's Rocco e i suoi fratelli (Rocco and His Brothers), both set in Milan. But for modern Anderson fans, there's even a Zissou pinball machine. One to usually keep things symmetrical, Anderson told Fondazione Prada, "There is no ideal angle for this space. It is for real life, and ought to have numerous good spots for eating, drinking, talking, reading, etc. While I do think it would make a pretty good movie set, I think it would be an even better place to write a movie. I tried to make it a bar I would want to spend my own non-fictional afternoons in." The Bar Luce menu is yet to be revealed, but we're going to hope there's a few Anderson references in there; perhaps sweet lime drinks, Mendl's Courtesan au Chocolats, or Red Remarkable winter apples. If you're stopping Milan, Bar Luce is open to the public and can be accessed from Via Orobia, Prada. It's open from May 9, from 9am to 10pm. Via Wired. Images: Candy, Prada and Fondazione Prada.
Sydney Festival has revealed its massive 2017 program, with a renewed focus on dance and theatre along with bold new works from Australian artists. Running from January 7-29, the lineup is comprised of 150 events, almost half of which are free. From sensory installations to shows in Parramatta Lebanese restaurants and performances by iconic musicians, your dose of summertime culture is basically sorted. Most visually, the city will also play host to a number of major installations, including The Beach by Snarkitecture at Barangaroo — a ball pit made up of 1.1 million recyclable polyethylene balls that you can jump into — and House of Mirrors in Hyde Park, which comes from Hobart's Dark MOFO (and most recently Brisbane), and and is more or less what it sounds like. Treading the boards at this year's festival are some of the country's most celebrated stage companies, including Brisbane's La Boite Theatre Company — who'll present the four-time Helpmann nominated play Prize Fighter — and Australia's longest running Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander theatre company, who've teamed with writer-performer Katie Beckett on her play Which Way Home. They'll be joined by an impressive international contingent, including the London-based Complicite company, whose play The Encounter arrives direct from Broadway; Pushkin Theatre Moscow, whose co-production of Shakespeare's Measure for Measure with the UK's Cheek by Jowl also stands out as another surefire festival highlight. Immersing you further in this year's festivities are a number of works that play upon the senses. Cat Jones' Scent of Sydney is a free immersive exhibition based on — you guessed it — smell, while Imagined Touch, by deafblind artists Heather Lawson and Michelle Stevens, lets audiences experience the world without vision or sound. Musical highlights include live performances from PJ Harvey and Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, as well as an Opera House performance of 1967 Music in the Key of Yes, a concert of remembrance on the 50 year anniversary of the Indigenous rights referendum. You'll also be able to catch free tunes every night at the Meriton Festival Village in Hyde Park. Sydney Festival also revealed its complete program for Western Sydney, which includes an interactive 'Circus City' and the first posthumous exhibition of works by Myuran Sukumaran. Image: The Beach, Snarkitecture. Shot by Noah Kalina.
The globe can now melt into a solid savasana, with thousands of International Yoga Day sessions finishing up worldwide today. From New Delhi's 35,000-strong Guinness World Record-breaking session to a bright yellow-themed session beneath the Eiffel Tower and early morning lawn sessions at Sydney's Museum of Contemporary Art, yoga newcomers and hardcore yogis alike found a moment of peace and flexibility this Sunday, June 21 for the official day of yoga. It's a UN-approved international day, introduced by Indian prime minister Narendra Modi last year after he convinced the UN to dedicate a public day to yoga — a move that hasn't come without controversy. But aside from the religious debate, corporate piggybacking and general eye-rolling surrounding the event, International Yoga Day saw hundreds of thousands of yoga enthusiasts taking part in both epic public classes and smaller private sessions, from the record-setting session on Delhi's ceremonial Rajpath boulevard, to a rainy Times Square event to seaside solo ventures. Take a peruse at these early-rising, flexible fiends. DELHI, INDIA TIMES SQUARE, NEW YORK CITY Time Square shut down for yoga! So amazing! #SolsticeTSq #yoga #yogaday #Bellavita #centerpfitall #timesquare #NYC #namaste A photo posted by 161 w 22nd street, NYC (@bellavita_wellness) on Jun 21, 2015 at 5:21pm PDT Celebrating #internationalyogaday in Times Square which ended with a very satisfying torrential downpour and a free yoga mat ?????????????? #NYC #yoga A photo posted by Anna Jordan (@ajhealth) on Jun 21, 2015 at 7:59pm PDT EIFFEL TOWER, PARIS Today, is many things. For those in the Northern Hemisphere, it’s #SummerSolstice. For those in the U.S. and U.K., it’s #FathersDay. And for all those around the world, it just so happens to be #InternationalYogaDay. #Yoga-fans took part globally, with people in more than 192 countries said to have taken to the mat. Click the link in our profile to see more striking images of record setting yoga classes around the world. #Paris #YogaDay (Image: AP Photo, Kamil Zihnioglu) A photo posted by Mashable (@mashable) on Jun 21, 2015 at 5:05pm PDT Today was the first #InternationalYogaDay! Hundreds of people practiced #yoga under the #EiffelTower. Wish we could have been there. (Pic: Getty Images) A photo posted by Huffington Post (@huffingtonpost) on Jun 21, 2015 at 7:27pm PDT SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA And.... it's a wrap! G'day everyone and thank you to all the participants of #YokoOnoPeace this morning! @lululemonausnz #yoga #Sydney A photo posted by MCA Australia (@mca_australia_now) on Jun 20, 2015 at 9:05pm PDT Namaste, world!! Sydney says good morning to @themuseumofmodernart and all #YokoOnoPeace participants around the world. Kicking off the festivities with Vinyasa #yoga courtesy of @lululemonausnz, facing the Harbour Bridge and Opera House A photo posted by MCA Australia (@mca_australia_now) on Jun 20, 2015 at 5:03pm PDT UNITED NATIONS, GENEVA VARANASI, INDIA HANOI, VIETNAM TORONTO, CANADA #internationalyogaday #summersolstice #yoga #yogaday #love #loveeverydamnday #namaste #namastebitches #lalala #bums ???? #distillerydistrict #toronto #yyz #together #the6 #6ix #mylife #life #live #livehard #bekind #kindawesome #summer #yogaoutside #everyday #peace #trueloveisbluelove #grateful #balance A photo posted by Ruby Fra (@rubytues101) on Jun 21, 2015 at 6:45pm PDT INDIAN NAVY, INS VIRAAT REDONDO BEACH, CALIFORNIA Taken at @redondopier 3rd Saturdays monthly free yoga class yesterday with @theflybuddha benefiting #cscrb #internationalyogaday #yoga #redondopier #visitredondo A photo posted by Redondo Beach Pier (@redondopier) on Jun 21, 2015 at 6:06pm PDT GANGTOK, INDIA ??????Yoga is the journey of the self through the self to the self?????? #yesterday#internationalyogaday#instagram A photo posted by Sangay Diki Bhutia ???? (@_to_the_universe) on Jun 21, 2015 at 6:36pm PDT BOARDMAN, OHIO My @puryoga family #summersolstice #108sunsalutations #internationalyogaday A photo posted by Alexa Marie (@howdoyoueatanelephant) on Jun 21, 2015 at 6:35pm PDT PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI International Yoga Day celebrated at the Oxygen Health & Fitness Expo at the Karibe Convention Center. #oxygenexpo #Motivation #yoga #internationalyogaday #michellelewin #enjoy #motion #fit #igfit #FitFam #fitspo #fitness #HaitiFIT #haiti #openair #nature #stretch #yogis #international #caribbean A photo posted by FloM???? (@fitness__flo) on Jun 21, 2015 at 10:43am PDT VERACRUZ, MEXICO Grabación del evento por el día internacional del #yoga con @studioyogaenequilibrio e Israel Chiang. ???????? #namaste #veracruz A photo posted by José Alfredo Zayas Rodríguez (@zayas04) on Jun 21, 2015 at 7:49pm PDT EDMONTON, CANADA Early morning yoga with this one? Not a bad way to start the day. #sunrisesolsticenamaskar #sunrise #yoga #yegyoga #edmontonyoga Thanks to @sattvamisle for leading the class and to @robindra for the sick beats. A photo posted by deantumibay (@deantumibay) on Jun 21, 2015 at 7:57pm PDT MONUMENT CIRCLE, INDIANAPOLIS Today was the first International Day of Yoga, on the Summer Solstice. Indianapolis was one of four cities given a grant to celebrate! Got to practice yoga on Monument Circle downtown. #Indy #Indianapolis #yoga #internationalyogaday #yogi #health #SummerSolstice #namaste #outdooryogis A photo posted by Eric Gettelfinger (@egettelfinger) on Jun 21, 2015 at 6:14pm PDT JAMAICA What a dream come true it was tonight to see 580 Jamaicans, from all walks of life, practicing Yoga in honor of the first ever UN designated International Day of Yoga! My heart is full. Changing Jamaica one Breath at a Time! #livefitlivelifelivelove #everythingispossible #internationaldayofyoga #yoga #jamaica A photo posted by Sharon Feanny (@sharonfeanny) on Jun 21, 2015 at 7:54pm PDT One Love. One Yoga. One Jamaica. 580 souls practicing together in honor of International Day of Yoga. So much Love Peace and Understanding tonight. This, more than anything is what Jamaica needs now! #internationaldayofyoga #everythingispossible #yoga #jamaica #livefitlivelifelivelove A photo posted by Sharon Feanny (@sharonfeanny) on Jun 21, 2015 at 8:02pm PDT TWIN FALLS, WASHINGTON Celebrating Summer Solstice with a dip in Twin Falls! ???? Connect to the light within you and around you. Share the joy of this life with each other! #aloha #spirit #dailybliss #yoga #retreat #yogamusewest #muktiyoga #dream #believe #move #unite #strengthen #evolve #manifest #magic #divine #connection #earth #sun #love #light #namaste A photo posted by Heather Archer (@heathernamaste) on Jun 21, 2015 at 7:56pm PDT BHARATPUR, INDIA #yoga #day #morning #policeparedground #bharatpur #21june #sunday #people #photography #mobilephotography #htc #health #yogaday #uniformity #instanaturefriends #india #psxxo A photo posted by Glory (@gloryxxo) on Jun 21, 2015 at 7:57pm PDT MEDAN, INDONESIA #internationaldayofyoga #medan #yogamedan #yoga A photo posted by Kamalini Yoga Studio (@kamaliniyoga) on Jun 21, 2015 at 7:55pm PDT AUSTIN, TEXAS #YogaMob #Unify #Yoga #ATX #Austin #Texas #NationalYogaDay A photo posted by Maria Lucente (@mariaisinverted) on Jun 21, 2015 at 7:47pm PDT ANAMAYA, COSTA RICA Happy International Yoga Day from all these Beautiful Souls || Surrender to the Love and Happy Summer Solstice?? #AnamayaResort #CostaRica #Montezuma #Yoga #YogaInspiration #YogaEveryDamnDay #YTT #YogaTeacherTraining #Namaste #SummerSolstice #YogaLove #InternationalYogaDay A photo posted by Anamaya (@anamayaresort) on Jun 21, 2015 at 7:43pm PDT VALENCIA, SPAIN Otra hermosa toma de este Día Internacional del Yoga. Juntos bajo el samán. Felices y plenos. NAMASTE. #Yoga #Yoga24horas #ViveEnYoga #Valencia #YogaValencia #diainternacionaldelyoga #internationalyogaday #internationalyogaday2015 A photo posted by ? Uma Devi ? (@climbyogagirl) on Jun 21, 2015 at 5:18pm PDT
Honestly, how does this not officially exist already? Tokyo's seen its fair share of Hello Kitty pop-up restaurants in the past, but now China's making things permanent with Sanrio's feline monarch. The world's first Hello Kitty dim sum restaurant is about to open in Hong Kong, bringing with it possibly the most Instagrammable menu this side of a Pikachu pop-up. Set to swing open its adorable doors on June 1, Sanrio's first Hello Kitty restaurant would have presumably opened in Japan, Ms Kitty's birthplace. But restaurant owner Man Kwong told TIME that Hello Kitty was much more popular in Hong Kong. Kwong spent a year negotiating with Sanrio developing each adorable dish — that individually had to be given the thumbs up by Sanrio executives. So what's going to be filling Instagram feeds and HelloKitty-loving bellies? The menu includes 37squealworthy dim sum items, from Hello Kitty-shaped noodle dishes to shrimp buns, made from all-natural ingredients (Kwong is the founder of a Chinese health magazine, so he's practicing what he preaches). Just look at these outrageously cute buns (that have 17 steps each to make, including making the beetroot-coloured bow and dotting squid ink for the eyes): Kitty's first restaurant will open in the traditional Yau Ma Tei neighborhood on the Kowloon peninsula. Though we predicted a garish, cartoon-like interior, Kwongs' chosen a more modern, tasteful approach in theming. The pink-bowed mogul is splashed everywhere, from the teapots and chopstick holders to the restaurant mirrors and window panes — featuring Kitty as the Four Beauties of ancient China. Even Kitty's taken a modern revamp for the menu and website design, happy to serve her own face in a dumpling steamer, what a champ. The world's first Hello Kitty restaurant will open on June 1. Charge your phones and book that flight, Kitty fans. Via TIME. Images: TIME/Man Kwong.
For all of those aspiring blacksmiths out there, the Australia Technology Park hears you. That's why, as of April, the site is going back to its 130-year-old roots and workshop and opening a blacksmithing and traditional craft school. Before it was Carriageworks and the Australian Technology Park, the heritage-listed site was once the Eveleigh Locomotive Workshops, a 19th century hub for building and maintaining the steam trains that serviced Sydney between 1887 until 1987. Now revamped and reinvigorated into Eveleigh Works, the school will run weekly short courses in metal sculpture, hand forging, knife-making and traditional tool-making. Their first course, starting this weekend, is a two-day introduction to blacksmithing. To celebrate, the young creatives behind the launch are throwing a party on Sunday, April 2 from 1–5pm. It's a free entry, all-ages event which will include glass blowing, foraging and tool-making demonstrations, as well as live music from local acts The Sweet Jelly Rolls and Indigo Rising. They're also keeping it local with booze and food by Newtowners Young Henrys and Rising Sun Workshop, respectively. While you may not have considered blacksmithing as a career choice, Eveleigh Works may change your mind — or at least allow you to add some metal skills to your repertoire. We'll definitely be getting in on that glass blowing demonstration. Eveleigh Works kicks off its classes this weekend, with the opening party to be held on Sunday, April 2 from 1pm. For more info, visit the Facebook event and eveleigh.works. Interested in learning new life skills? See our pick of Sydney's best short courses.
When most people think of Father Christmas, a very particular image comes to mind. We're talking about a jolly, roly poly man with a red and white suit and a twinkle in his eye. He's got a whole fleet of reindeer, a workshop full of elves, and brings joy and yuletide spirit to children around the world. He's been described as a lot of things, but chic has never been one of them. That is, until now. Presenting Fashion Santa: Dayummmm. We suddenly know what we want for Christmas. Setting up shop in Toronto's Yorkdale Shopping Centre, Fashion Santa is part of the mall's annual holiday campaign. Decked out in only the finest of menswear, this stylish Saint Nick, played by model Paul Mason, has been hanging at the centre snapping selfies with shoppers, offering beard primping tips and generally looking fabulous. The best thing about Fashion Santa, aside from his steely blue eyes, perfectly manicured whiskers and strong, strong arms... ...sorry, lost our train of thought there for a moment. Let's try that again. The best thing about Fashion Santa is that he's out raising money for sick kids. For every selfie with Fashion Santa posted online using the hashtag #YorkdaleFashionSanta, the shopping centre will donate $1 to Canada's Sick Kids Foundation. It's a pretty awesome initiative, one that more countries should get on board with. And we're not just saying that because we want to sit on Santa's lap. Via QZ.
Since relaunching in 2016, Stockade Brew Co has made some waves in the craft brewing industry, having won over 50 Australian beer awards in the last two years and turning out some of the Great Australiasian Beer Spectapular's wackier drops. Now, it's finally opening its own joint in Sydney's booming craft beer suburb on Thursday, June 14. Located in an old factory space in Marrickville, the production brewery and bar boasts a communal dining space for 250 punters, plus a 14-person tasting room for private parties. Designed by RAD Studios, the fit-out includes terracotta tiles and blackbutt timber furniture that gives the industrial space an art deco feel, plus a custom-built bar made with up-cycled barrels and lightbox menu boards. Stockade's sessionable core five beers will be poured alongside the brewery's out-there seasonal releases. The maple syrup-infused imperial stout will be available exclusively at the venue and the award-winning imperial stout Old Money will be on tap for the launch. The Stockade brews will sit next to guest taps pouring the likes of Marrickville locals Bucket Boys and Melbourne's Hop Nation. Patrons can also expect wines from Urban Winery Sydney blended on-site in Stockade barrels and hop-infused cocktails using spirits from Australian craft distilleries. Hop Dreams, for example, will feature a combination of gin and house-made citrus liqueur. For beer nibbles, the team has gone down the food truck route, and will be teaming up with Eat Drink Collective for an offering that changes each month. American burger truck Baby Rey's will kick things off when the brewpub opens, before pan-Asian Tsuru takes over in August, Grease 'n' Grind in September and La Raza Mexican Cantina in October. Tasting sessions, brewery tours, butchery and cocktail masterclasses and beer and cheese pairings will round out this massive offering later in the year, too. Stockade Brew Co brewery and bar will open on Thursday, June 14 25 Cadagon Street, Marrickville.
When it comes to versatile foods that the large majority loves and is highly unlikely to get sick of, pizza really is worth its weight in gold. At Sydney's Pizza Design Co, they're taking that idea literally. That's right, the Parramatta dough-slingers are topping their latest creation in actual, edible, 23-carat gold. In an Australian first, that slice of 'za you're always hankering for just got a whole lot more valuable. Going on sale via Menulog from October 13, the limited-time-only pizza in question is called the Golden Margherita, of course. And, given that it's a classic margherita pizza topped with gold leaf, it really is just what it sounds like. Whoever knew that your favourite meal could be so shiny and laughably decadent? Or, if you get in early, shiny, laughably decadent and free? Not only does the Golden Margherita apparently reflect the evolving tastes of the area, but it's all yours for zilch if you're one of the first 100 preorders made from midday on the day that they're launched. Normally, they'll be $50 a pop (hey, gold doesn't come cheap), and will come with a certificate of authenticity — yeah, that's piece of paper saying that you ate gold. Straight to the pool room. Pizza Design Co's Golden Margherita is available from October 13, and can be ordered via Menulog.
They say daylight savings stole an hour, but it feels like it robbed us of three months because it's already October and the Night Noodle Markets are back for another year. If you haven't already marked it in your diary, the markets will run for a whopping 18 nights from Thursday, October 5. Over 40 stalls will converge on Hyde Park, bringing all manner of noodles, dumplings and other delights with them. Favourites like Mr Bao, House of Crabs and Gelato Messina will be among the diverse team of chefs, restaurateurs and entrepreneurial cooks setting up shop every weeknight from 5pm and 4pm on weekends. And just in case you're starting to get palpitations remembering the huge array of choice (and crowds) from last year, fear not. We've put together our top picks of the eats pushing conventional flavour boundaries — in addition to suggested drink pairings from Beer The Beautiful Truth — to make your Night Noodle Markets trip simply spectacular. Prepare yourself for deep-fried panko-crumbed ice cream 'katsu' sandwiches and cheesy waffle cones filled with bulgogi beef. GELATO MESSINA'S KAMIKAZE KATSU WITH HAHN SUPERDRY Just when you thought Gelato Messina couldn't possibly think up another weird and wacky flavour combo they come out with the Kamikaze Katsu. This deep-fried gelato creation is posing as a savoury sandwich, but is indeed a mish-mash of sweet flavours. Sudachi lime gelato is coated in red velvet cake and panko crumbs before being sandwiched in fluffy white bread with yuzu sauce and deep fried for a truly unique dessert. This sticky, sweet exploding mess will dribble down your chin and get stuck between your fingers so we suggest cleaning it up with a Hahn Superdry. The crisp beer will reset your tastebuds — so you're free to take a second bite/lick/slurp of your erupting Kamikaze Katsu. POKLOL'S CHICHI FRIES WITH LITTLE CREATURES PILSNER Who knew that when the original snack-pack came into the Australian food encyclopedia it would transform into such a versatile cuisine? Poklol has been a frontrunner of this trend with its Chichi fries, which will be served up at the Night Noodle Markets. The team has perfected the art of making their beer-battered fries super crunchy and are topping them with cheese, kimchi, shallots, Japanese mayo and sweet Korean BBQ sauce to fuse what seems like an uncountable number of cuisines into one beautiful bowl of goodness. Just to make sure you cover every taste category, grab a Little Creatures Pilsner. Its crisp bitterness and lightness pairs well with the explosion of flavours in the fries. LITTLE KYOTO'S PHORRITO WITH XXXX GOLD Two of the freshest summer go-to cuisines — Vietnamese and Mexican — have been combined to produce a knockout creation: the 'phorrito'. As the name suggests, classic flour tortillas are stuffed with thinly-sliced rib eye, bean sprouts, cilantro, onion, Thai basil, jalapeño, lime juice and pho noodles and served with Sriracha and hoisin. You'll be able to get your little mitts around this happy (albeit unusual) union from the team behind Little Kyoto. To make a meal out of it, we suggest you go for a XXXX GOLD. The mild hoppy taste with the subtly sweet flavour of the beer works well with the fresh basil and lime without overpowering the crisp pho flavours. PUFFLE'S BULGOGI BEEF AND PHILLY CHEESESTEAK WITH TOOHEYS NEW Before this week, if someone had asked us what a puffle was, we would have said a bird. Turns out it's a kind of waffle cone made from cheese and the guys behind it are educating the masses about their namesake's deliciousness. They'll be showcasing this indulgent savoury cone at the markets by filling the cheesy waffle with Korean marinated bulgogi beef and Philly cheesesteak, topping it with Japanese mayo and shallots. This is sure to be a messy handful of crunchy, gooey goodness, so it'd be best to opt for an easy-drinking, smooth malt lager to help wash it down. Tooheys New is the one, as its balanced body will cut through the cheesy, meaty mess of the puffle so you can lick every finger clean and even think about seconds. ONE TEA LOUNGE'S SLIDER SET WITH JAMES SQUIRE ONE FIFTY LASHES Sometimes choosing what to eat at the Night Noodle Markets is the hardest task you'll face all week — and it only gets harder when there is a toss-up between two types of mini burgers. One Tea Lounge has taken action to remedy this issue by creating a slider set. Instead of choosing between the ramen burger (with a noodle bun and beef patty) and a pillowy matcha 'boager', One Tea Lounge has combined the two in a three-slider set. And if you have an obsession with making things even, you can ask for miso tofu in the third slider — just so you have one of each. With these burgs waiting to meet your lips, don't opt for a boring beer. Go for James Squire One Fifty Lashes Pale Ale — its fruity tones and crisp finish makes this beverage a cracking refreshment to pair with your sliders. INDU'S SMOKED GOAT DOSA WITH JAMES SQUIRE ONE FIFTY LASHES We know Sydney's Asian food like the back of our hands, but on rare occasions someone will present a dish that stands out from the rest. Indu is one such restaurant and their smoked goat's leg dosa is one such dish. An increasingly popular offering at the Night Noodle Markets, the morsel involves a pancake-style dosa loaded with marinated smoked goat, zucchini ribbon raita, pomegranate, chilli and bacon jam. Smoky, sweet, tangy, smooth and crunchy with a little bit of heat, you'd be best to pair this morsel with a James Squire One Fifty Lashes Pale Ale. The light fruitiness and crisp finish will balance the complexity of the dosa's rich filling. HOUSE OF CRABS' LOADED FRIES WITH JAMES SQUIRE ONE FIFTY LASHES Chippies, fries, crisps, wedges — there are many names attributed to the stalwart favourite of the cooked potato category. But when 'loaded' is the chosen adjective to describe the House of Crabs chip offering, you know you're in for a good time. The House of Crabs version is a conglomeration of crunchy-on-the-outside, pillowy-on-the-inside potato fries topped with crispy bacon, gooey cheese, sweet corn and rich lobster gravy. A mouthful of adjectives never sounds so appetising. Crack open a cold James Squire One Fifty Lashes Pale Ale and let the citrus and passionfruit flavours complete your contentedness. WATERMAN'S LOBSTER CO.'S WASA-BAE WITH KIRIN MEGUMI Ahh the versatility of 'bae'. Spanning across cuisines the enigmatic 'bae' has found a home at Waterman's Lobster Co. The Wasa-Bae is a brioche roll filled with lobster, wasabi, mayo, celery, pickled ginger and black sesame. The team will be serving this up at the markets and we suggest setting it up with another bae: Kirin Megumi. This Japanese lager is made with a unique brewing method called First Press which ensures only the purest liquid is extracted from the malt and that the lager complements the Wasa-Bae in the way all good partners do. Plus, Waterman's closed its Potts Point shop in May, so it'll be a good chance to get your hands on one of their lobster rolls. POKLOL'S KOREAN BARBECUE TACOS WITH JAMES SQUIRE ONE FIFTY LASHES All good things come in threes, right? In the case of Poklol's barbecue tacos that is certainly the case. The Poklol team will be offering an almighty trio of bulgogi beef, chilli chicken and chilli pork tacos with pickled carrots, kimchi slaw, cucumbers, shallots topped with their secret Pokky sauce at this year's markets. To make things clear, bulgogi means 'fire meat' and is a style of Korean cooking in which the meat is marinated and then barbecued. Not everything has to be clear though, and that's why we suggest you pair this trio with a cloudy James Squire One Fifty Lashes Pale Ale. The mild bitterness and fruity aroma works well with the smokiness of the meat. HARAJUKU GYOZA'S RAINDROP CAKE WITH HAHN SUPERDRY It took Sydney's Asian dessert scene a little while to catch up to it's savoury counterpart but, boy, is it making up for it now. The raindrop cake is a famed Japanese dessert and Harajuku Gyoza will be championing the little blob of sweet clear jelly at this year's markets. This gelatin-like cake will be served with soybean powder, black sugar syrup, and green tea cream. An interesting mix of flavours to say the least, but we suggest you add just one more: Hahn Superdry. The sticky sweetness of the dessert benefits from the crisp lightness of the easy-drinking beer. And don't worry, Hahn Superdry has a long fermentation process that breaks down natural sugars so you won't be getting a sugar high from this duo. Hungry for more? Feed all your cravings at the Sydney Night Noodle Markets with expert beer pairings presented by Beer The Beautiful Truth from October 5–22. It will be open Monday and Tuesday 5–9pm, Wednesday and Thursday 5–10pm, Friday 5–11pm, Saturday 4–10pm, and Sunday 4–9pm. Entry is free.
If you've been looking for a reason to go away for the weekend, block off a couple of days in March and head to Canberra for Enlighten 2017. Touted as the original Vivid, Enlighten celebrates art, culture, music, performance and innovation. Held in Canberra's iconic Parliamentary Triangle, the event site is transformed into a buzzing hub of activity, with spectacular architectural projections on iconic national attractions and a programme of free and ticketed interactive performance and installation works. Over each weekend from March 3-12, the city will light up with live music, performances, events and exclusive exhibitions. Large-scale projections will bring to life Canberra icons including the National Portrait Gallery, Australian Parliament House, National Library of Australia, National Gallery of Australia and Questacon. Highlight events from the programme include Pedaleando Hacia El Cielo by Theatre Tol (a large-scale aerial act featuring performers, singers, video imagery and pyrotechnics), the amazing, interactive digital architectural projections splashed across the National Portrait Gallery, the pop-up wine bars, roving entertainment and Enlighten Night Noodle Markets (which based on Canberra's population should be significantly less hectic than the Sydney version, meaning you'll be able to jump in and eat as many dumplings as you can). There's also Sunset on the Roof — drinks, music and snacks at the Australian Parliament House's rooftop bar for two nights only (March 3 and 11). The festival's live music line-up features indie band Tigertown, Australian singer/songwriter Cleopold and electronic duo Mondecreen, as well as Cookin' On 3 Burners and Bustamento, who will bring the funk vibes to the stage. A glowing, black-light, industrial 'dance zone' is popping up in a high-security factory production corridor on March 3. DJ Robot Citizen will lead the charge in showcasing Canberra's underground dark-electronic music scene on the night (who knew), and high-vis vests and glow-sticks will be supplied. Visit Enlighten 2017 and delve into the whole programme.
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 on May 14 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 new 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. We're keen on their Body Fit Cushion for autumn snuggling: And MUJI's classic crisp-as-furk weekendy fashion ranges: And these cute as hell 2009 MUJI penguin bowling pins clearly made for children but shoosh y'face you're not the boss of us: 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. It isn't the only opening planned for The Galeries this year either, with more yet-to-be-revealed international and local retailers set to open throughout the year. Find MUJI at Level One, The Galeries at 500 George Street, Sydney CBD. Open from May 14.
Australia has some highly reputable wine regions producing top-notch whites and reds that give their European and American counterparts a run for their money. The Barossa, Hunter Valley, Margaret River — we all know and love these esteemed regions, but what about the lesser-known regions also killing it on the Australian viticulture scene? Unless you're a bona fide wine buff or a local of the region, we're assuming your Australian wine knowledge may not stretch past the ever-popular ones. So, we're here to broaden your knowledge of Australian wine. Here are five alternative wine regions in our fair country — may we suggest you tour them with a juicy red or crisp white (Australian, of course) in hand? From pristine beaches and bountiful wine regions to alpine hideaways and bustling country towns, Australia has a wealth of places to explore at any time of year. We've partnered with Tourism Australia to help you plan your road trips, weekend detours and summer getaways so that when you're ready to hit the road you can Holiday Here This Year. Under current COVID-19 restrictions in Australia, there are some restrictions on where you can go on a holiday. But, you can start dreaming. Bookmark this for when you can explore once again. [caption id="attachment_735941" align="alignnone" width="1920"] David Flanagan via VisitCanberra[/caption] IF YOU LIKE THE HUNTER VALLEY: DISCOVER THE CANBERRA DISTRICT Instead of heading three-ish hours north of Sydney to the historic Hunter Valley, why not use that time to head southeast to Canberra to discover a well-kept secret of award-winning wineries? Not just a region of politicians and government types, the Canberra District is also home to 140 vineyards, boasting a tight group of 40 wineries all within 35 minutes of the capital city. While in the Hunter you find savoury shiraz and dry semillon, in Canberra, wineries present their own take on shiraz by adding some spice — best represented by Clonakilla's shiraz viognier — and deliver dry whites in the form of touted crisp rieslings, like those from Helm Wines. Plus, these ACT wineries expand their offering to several other delicious cool-climate reds and whites including viognier, pinot noir and chardonnay. In early 2020, Samuel Leyshon from Mallaluka Wines was named in Young Gun of Wine's top 50 winemakers, so be sure to add his family-run boutique winery to your hit-list. [caption id="attachment_706722" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Visit Victoria[/caption] IF YOU LIKE THE YARRA VALLEY: DISCOVER THE KING VALLEY The Yarra Valley is known and loved for its cooler-climate wines, celebrated vineyards and attractive sites that lure many visitors to the area. But off the beaten wine trail, northeast of the Yarra and away from the crowds, you'll find the 'Little Italy' of Australian wine production. King Valley is the epicentre of Italian farming and grape growing in Australia, and the resulting wine varieties, along with the surrounding Italian heritage, make the region a top spot to visit. Sangiovese and prosecco are the key players here, thanks to the strong Italian influence. With all this Italian epicurean culture around, it's incredibly easy to find a delicious meal to pair with these local wines. Take a trip down Prosecco Road and discover bubbles (and great eats) from the likes of Chrismont, with its cellar door and restaurant overlooking rolling vineyards, the famed Brown Brothers and its top-rated restaurant Patricia's Table, and Dal Zotto, run by Otto Dal Zotto, who first introduced prosecco to Australia. [caption id="attachment_617800" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Delinquente Wines[/caption] IF YOU LIKE THE BAROSSA: DISCOVER THE RIVERLAND With the largest collection of old vines in Australia, there's no doubt the prestigious Barossa is up there with the most impressive wine regions. But for those on the hunt for something edgy and truly different, neighbouring Riverland is one to watch. Think of Riverland as the hipster hub of Australian winemaking — it's known for organic drops and challenging those Aussie wine norms. Riverland growers and producers are working to change opinions on the region — it's long been associated with mediocre wines and bulk commercial sales. There's been a shift from your classic cabernet sauvignon, merlot, shiraz and chardonnay to lesser-known varieties, especially those that thrive in Riverland's warmer climate, like Sardinian vermentino, Sicilian nero d'avola and Abruzzan montepulciano. Along with alternative varieties, growers and producers have increased their organic output, quickly transforming the region into the place for organic viticulture. Leading the charge are wineries like small batch, handmade, vegan-friendly Delinquente (whose winemaker Con-Greg Grigoriou also made the Young Gun of Wine 2020 list), Whistling Kite with its award-winning montepulciano and Ricca Terra, which helped establish the Riverland Alternative Wine Group. It's time to jump on the Riverland bandwagon now, so you can say you were drinking its wines before it was cool. [caption id="attachment_617587" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Forest Hill Winery via Tourism Western Australia[/caption] IF YOU LIKE THE MARGARET RIVER: DISCOVER THE GREAT SOUTHERN Founded in the 70s around the same time as neighbouring Margaret River, the Great Southern region has struggled to gain recognition like that of its celebrated sister region. It doesn't help that the region is pretty remote — and that it's massive — but you'd be a fool not to plan an adventure to the Great Southern, dubbed the most ideal wine-growing region in Western Australia. With many pockets of small, revered wineries producing some of the finest WA wines, not to mention visually stunning surrounds in every direction, the region is worth using up your precious annual leave for a proper visit. The Great Southern is so large that it's divided into sub-regions — Albany, Denmark, Frankland River, Mount Barker and Porongurup — with varied terroir allowing for a spectrum of wines. While its nearby sissy mainly grows bordeaux and chardonnay grapes, the Great Southern's repertoire extends to fantastic shiraz, cabernet sauvignon, merlot, riesling and a rare full-bodied sauvignon blanc. There's also a young but rich history in the region with the Great Southern vineyard pioneers still shining bright today, including Plantagenet Wines, Alkoomi, Galafrey and Forest Hill, the winery that planted the very first vineyard in the area. [caption id="attachment_769768" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Courabyra Wines via Destination NSW[/caption] IF YOU LIKE TASMANIA: DISCOVER TUMBARUMBA Established only in the early 80s, Tumbarumba's vines are new kids on the block in comparison to Tasmania, a more established and sought-after sparkling wine region. But thanks to its cool climate and pure mountain air, the region produces some standout chardonnays (2016 was a good year) and pinot noirs — the two key grapes for good sparkling wines. Some oenophiles even go as far as drawing comparisons between the NSW region and France's Burgundy and Champagne. So, in case you haven't cottoned on, Tumbarumba is a region for those who love white, and especially those who love bubbles. However, there are still a few reds grabbing some much-deserved attention like Excelsior Peak's pinot noir. And though the fine Tumbarumba grapes are often sold to bigger wineries, there are still some producers keeping things local and opening their own cellar doors at the foot of the Snowy Mountains. Courabyra Wines is a favourite, winning best small cellar door in Gourmet Traveller Wine's 2019 awards. Tumbarumba, with Snowy Mountains peeking in the distance, gurgling streams and picturesque greenery, is a wine lover's fairy tale with crisp days, beautiful sights and remarkable wines. Whether you're planning to travel for a couple of nights or a couple of weeks, Holiday Here This Year and you'll be supporting Australian businesses while you explore the best of our country's diverse landscapes and attractions. Top image: Brown Brothers, King Valley
There are so many cafes, restaurants and bars in Melbourne that it's easy to be overwhelmed with choice. You put yourself under so much pressure to impress your friends, and yourself, by always choosing the best coffee, the best place for drinks, or the most decadent and delicious fancy dinner in the area. We've decided that we're going to make it extremely easy for you to feel like a local, with the first of our neighbourhood guides we're producing with Adina Apartments. Have a read of our picks for St Kilda, and the next time you're staying in the area consult this list for a reliable, local option for a coffee. We promise that none of these options will disappoint. BEST PLACE FOR A COFFEE Hannah Hannah serves Proud Mary Coffee, which is juicy and full of flavour — just as it should be. The cafe prides itself on a well-considered approach to coffee, food and interior design. Vinyl records provide the soundtrack, while ferns pepper the interior. The all day brunch features porridge with date jam and hazelnuts ($11) and coconut pancakes with pink peppered berries and vanilla mascarpone ($16.50), while lunch is a mouth-watering selection including the likes of smoked trout, cavolo nero, witlof, radicchio, poached egg and samphire salsa ($19) and octopus salad with silverbeet, watercress, purple congos, capers and marjoram salmoriglio ($18.50). BEST PLACE TO GRAB BREAKFAST Matcha Mylkbar St Kilda is home to Melbourne's most popular and Instagrammable vegan eatery, which is fuelled by matcha. The plant-based café comes from the same people that brought you (and basically every cafe in Australia) Matcha Maiden. Dubbed Matcha Mylkbar, the cafe serves the regulars like smashed avocado with heirloom tomatoes and corn fritters, but then there's the coconut bacon and the matcha pancakes with dark chocolate sorbet. There are also the famous mushroom lattes, and beetroot lattes. BEST SPOT FOR FISH & CHIPS Paper Fish A kickass fish and chippery is located right off the St Kilda Beach boardwalk. Paper Fish offers sustainable, healthy(ish) eat-in and takeaway options all throughout summer. Open noon until late seven days a week, now until the end of daylight savings, Paper Fish will serve up sustainable seafood and fresh quality produce in environmentally friendly packaging. Menu items include flathead, blue grenadier, salmon or gummy served grilled or tempura fried, as well as fritto misto (small fried bits of seafood), sweet potato cakes and crinkle-cut chips in a cone. BEST PLACE TO GRAB A BEER Freddie Wimpoles Freddie Wimpoles features 13 taps pouring a rotating lineup of local and international craft brews, as well as additional beers by the bottle and can. They also have a number of wines, plus more than 180 premium spirits and a selection of classic cocktails. The food is inspired by corner delis in NYC – think hot dogs, beef jerky, pickled vegetables and slow-cooked meat subs. BEST PLACE FOR A CHEESEBOARD Milk the Cow You don't just go to Milk the Cow for fresh mozzarella and just-made ricotta — you go for the selection of over 150 cheeses. There is cheese that's been imported from France, Ireland and Norway as well as the Yarra Valley; cheese that's been washed in chai, paprika and cognac; aged in caves and sat ripening out the back until just the right time to eat. There's all sorts of soft, hard and in-between cheese — all curated on a rotating basis by head cheesemonger Laura Lown. This, and Milk the Cow's Carlton location, is the best place for cheese in all of Melbourne, not just St Kilda. BEST ROOFTOP BAR Captain Baxter St Kilda Sea Baths may not be Melbourne's Mecca of fine dining, but in a city convinced they are starved of sun, you can rarely beat a seat at a beachfront venue once the weather warms up. The same could be said about Captain Baxter. Nestled in with Republica at the baths, its large upstairs dining room and looming facade is the perfect place for a beer, a cocktail and a bowl of hand-cut fries. BEST WEEKEND FOOD MARKET Hank Marvin Market Over 40 street food vendors set up shop at Hank Marvin Market, a street food market on every Saturday at Alma Park in St Kilda East, transforming it into a hub of fresh produce, food trucks and street food stalls. Old favourites Overdosa, Hammer & Tong, Happy Camper Pizza and the Little Mushroom Co. are generally there, along with artisan doughnuts from Cobb Lane Bakery and traditional wood-fired bagels from Shtetl Bagels. BEST SPOT FOR A FANCY DINNER Cafe Di Stasio The upper echelons of elegance, service and rich Italian food. If we're talking about institutions, Cafe di Stasio is right at the top of the list. After 26 years on Fitzroy Street, the restaurant and bar still exudes elegance, sophisticated service and decadent Italian food. Here the lunches are long, the wine is expensive and the atmosphere is right on point. There's a place for old-school, classy dining and this is it. BEST SPOT TO PACK A PICNIC Catani Gardens For the discerning picnicker with a preference for a cool sea breeze, St Kilda's Catani Gardens is an idyllic fusion between urban and ocean. One of the only places in Melbourne where it is acceptable to find a palm tree lined avenue, six hectares of brilliantly landscaped gardens hugging both the city and the sea is located right on the St Kilda foreshore. While not as secluded as other options, the boardwalk setting provides the perfect vantage point of ample amounts of people watching, as well as immediate access to a host of fancy fish and chips shops. Extra points will be given for those who rollerblade with basket in hand to picnic point of choice. Book yourself in at an Adina Apartment Hotel and have a St Kilda staycation — it's the easiest way to tick all these off.
Another year of the craft beer overload that is the Great Australasian Beer SpecTAPular has come and gone and many of us are still feeling the aftermath of the Sydney and Melbourne sessions. This year was a strange one, with a beer made from in-house smoked bone marrow, two purple beers, a whopping three Thai inspired beers and a lot of dessert beers. Some were surprisingly tasty and on-point, others were over-the-top flops. Alas, many of the weird and wonderful GABS brews never hit pubs or bottle shop shelves, but a lucky selection of the 146 festival beers do make it to market. Here are five strange, yet peculiarly palatable, new brews to try post-GABS and where to find them around town. PIRATE LIFE BREWING — VANILLA MALT THICKSHAKE SWEET STOUT (7% ABV) Adelaide favourite, Pirate Life, is better known for their big IPAs, but they took a decidedly sweet turn for GABS. A beer thickshake sounds, well, disgusting, but this brew tastes much more like a milkshake than a beer, which is actually pretty impressive. It's cloudy, sweet and creamy with a distinct thickness from the truckload of added lactose. The use of rich Munich malts and real vanilla beans only heightens the decadence of this luscious brew. This is another beer that is only available in limited quantities on tap, so grab some while you still can. Where to get it: On tap at The Quarrymans, The Royal Albert and The Grain Store (Newcastle). BIG SHED BREWING CONCERN — #63 THAI GREEN CURRY SPICED HERBAL BEER (5.5% ABV) There were, somehow, three Thai-inspired beers at this year's GABS, but Big Shed's version, Thai Green Curry, really lives up to its name. The Adelaide-based brewery's pale ale is layered with Thai spices, from basil, coriander and lemongrass to cumin, chili, garlic and lime leaf. The bright chilli and kaffir lime on the nose gives way to a herbal creaminess on the palate, giving the illusion of actually tucking into a steaming bowl of curry. We heard this separately from multiple punters, so we know it wasn't just the sinking-beers-all-day haze talking. It helps that the beer also has a slightly green tint. This one will only be available at Hotel Sweeney's Rooftop, though, so get at it before it's all gone. Where to get it: On tap at Hotel Sweeney's Rooftop. BATCH BREWING CO — A CURRANT STATE OF INFUSION DARK SOUR ALE (6% ABV) This beer is such a mish-mash of styles and flavours that it's a true wonder the Batch boys pulled it off. The brew was first cold-steeped with Campos-sourced, Ethiopian coffee beans that give the beer its deep hue, while also imparting citrus and stonefruit notes. The team punched up the sour, fruity element by adding fresh blackcurrants, giving the brew a slight cherry tinge while still maintaining its rich, malty backbone. The finished product is a well balanced beer of complimentary elements. If you're looking for an extra special taste of it, the beer is also available in nitro cans, but only at the brewery and in very limited quantity. Where to get it: In bottles at Bucket Boys, Steve's Cool Booze, Beer Cartel and Oak Barrel; on tap at The Local Taphouse, Carlisle Castle Hotel, and Petersham Bowling Club (to name a few — check with the brewery for full list). MERCHANT BREWING CO. — FRUIT TINGLE KETTLE SOUR ALE (5.7% ABV) Merchant Brewing Co.'s kettle-soured ale made headlines this year thanks to its purple hue — seriously, it's a violet beer. Named after those bright blue, fruity cocktails, the beer is kettle-soured and infused with raspberry, citrus and pea flower, then dry-hopped to amp up the fruity notes. It's tart and wild — and surprisingly pleasant, with some punters calling it the best sour of the night. We wouldn't go that far, but it's definitely worth a try, or at the very least worth enjoying that surprised look on your friend's face. Where to get it: In bottles at Bucket Boys, Camperdown Cellars on Kingston Road, and The Henson bottle shop, on tap at The Quarrymans. HOPDOG BEERWORKS — PANDAPOPPINFAIRYTURKISHFLOSS BELGIAN IMPERIAL STOUT (7.5% ABV) Man is that a mouthful. HopDog BeerWorks is known for its weirdo beers but this one might take the cake. Despite being brewed with popcorn kernels, fairy floss and Turkish delight, the beer is not overly sweet and takes on more of a chocolaty, malty characteristic. This Belgian imperial stout gains its creaminess from the added lactose, with a deep colour and a roasted, toasty finish. It was a polarising GABS beer, with punters very staunchly on the love or hate spectrum. Lucky for those that missed out, it will be available across Sydney so there's still time to see which side you're on. Where to get it: In bottles at Bucket Boys, Oak Barrel, Camperdown Cellars (Parramatta Road and Kingston Road), Oldfield Cellars and Porter's Balgowlah; on tap at the Basement Brewhouse (to name a few — check with the brewery for full list).
We get it. Everyone loves an espresso 'tini. We've got a bar that even does them on tap — and Sydney recently got a whole venue dedicated to that God-sent concoction of chilled coffee and vodka. And now — not to be outdone by Sydney — Melbourne is getting the country's very first espresso martini festival. Sleep, who needs it? The festival, to be held on Saturday, November 5, is being gifted to our espresso-loving, cocktail-filled city by the fine boozehounds at Mr Black, a NSW-based cold-pressed (and damn fine) coffee liqueur. In short, they know how to capitalise on our weaknesses and we're not even mad about it. The affair will involve some of Australia's best coffee suppliers, cafes and bars, and will come together to create a beautiful array of alcoholic caffienated beverages. As with any festival of this kind, there will be an array of food trucks as well as a game or two of coffee pong (whatever that is). The festival is to be held at North Melbourne's Meat Market and tickets will set you back $25 a pop, which includes an espresso martini and a try of Mr Black's coffee liqueur (yum!), free tastings (yay!) and license to drink espresso martinis to your heart's content (yeah!). The Mr Black Espresso Martini Festival will take place on Saturday, November 5 at Meat Market in North Melbourne. For more info and to buy tickets, visit espressomartinifest.com. Image: Alana Dimou.
Hankering for a visit to Europe this year, but don't have the cash? Skip the plane trip and head along to The Rocks' French-inspired Christmas in July Markets, set to coincide with Circular Quay's Bastille Festival. The market will take over Argyle Street for four days and nights, from Thursday, July 12 until Sunday, July 15. To make it feel as authentic as possible, twelve wooden chalets will be shipped in from France. These little shacks will be set up around the area, with vendors serving up heart-warming snacks, mulled wine and Christmasy creations. The markets will open at 11am each day, but it's when the sun goes down that things will really get magical. With the obvious absence of snow, the markets will get European with a blanket of fairy lights and a soundtrack of English and French Christmas carols. The Christmas in July Markets will take place over four nights, from from 11am–10pm each night except Sunday, which will wrap up at 6.30pm. If you can't wait till then, then visit the regular Friday Foodie Markets that take place in the Rocks every week from 9am–3pm.
The historic space at 10 Neild Avenue has left a bit of a black mark on the Sydney restaurant scene, with both celebrity chef Robert Marchetti's Neild Avenue and Keystone Group's Rushcutters closing after just brief stints in the location. The owners behind the CBD establishment Machiavelli Ristorante are hoping to change this losing streak with Bar Machiavelli, their new Italian bar and diner which opened in the Rushcutters Bay space last week. The large cocktail bar and dining room will seat 160, with the menu featuring the Italian snacks, antipasti and homemade pastas that Machiavelli Ristorante is known for. Expect the rotating selection of antipasti to include dishes like tomato and mozzarella caprese and a fig, prosciutto and fresh mozzarella entree. The pastas will be made not only in-house, but more specifically inside a pasta viewing room. That's right, pasta mamas (and possibly papas) will make your linguine right in front of your eyes, so it's sure to be fresh, just like Nonna makes it. Apart from Machiavelli owner Paola Toppi, the management team will include Tatiana Simplicio (ex-Fei Jai) and Matteo Belkeziz (ex-The Barber Shop, Rockpool Bar & Grill and Palmer & Co). Belkeziz's cocktail list is inspired by Italian classics and uses seasonal, Mediterranean ingredients – think signature drinks like a barrel-aged Negroni with grappa (Italian grape brandy) and 'La Dolce Vita', a concoction of prosecco and a trio of strawberry, orange and lychee. A monthly Bellini special and dessert cocktails are also on the menu, starting with the Tiramisu Martini. They've even got Australian designer Jason Mowen on board for his his first commercial project in Australia. He's got 14 years' experience in London and Madrid and has clearly brought his European-influenced stylings to the space. Working with the building's industrial history as a tyre factory, Mowen accentuated the high ceilings and maintained the exposed beams and brick walls. Yet, with its deep colours and metallic, gold-clad bar, the interior is more reminiscent of a grand banquette hall than a warehouse. While the rotating projections of classic Italian imagery against the exposed brick walls sounds gimmicky, this place otherwise has all of the ingredients for one classy evening out. Bar Machiavelli is located at 10 Neild Avenue, Rushcutters Bay and opens Monday to Friday from 6pm to midght and Saturday from 4pm to midnight. Images: Nikki To.
In recent years, we've encountered the likes of the cronut, the cruffin and even the macanut. Now, joining this ever-growing foodie family of hybrid frankenpastries is the baklava muffin, an outrageously logical invention by chef Peter Conistis for Sydney's acclaimed Alpha restaurant. Featuring a honey-spiced batter with roasted walnuts, hazelnuts, sesame seeds, cinnamon and dark chocolate, the muffin is topped with Alpha's signature chocolate hazelnut baklava, baked in filo pastry and drizzled with spiced honey syrup. What do we call you? A 'bakluffin'? A 'mufflava'? A 'bluffin'? Conistis' creation is a contemporary interpretation of traditional Greek food. "I wanted to create muffins for our Alpha Foodstore that are synonymous with Greek cuisine," he says. "They're an indulgent reflection of the dishes we serve at Alpha." Featuring on Alpha's breakfast menu alongside the already crowd-pleasing spanakopita muffin, the baklava muffin is bound to become a favourite amongst Sydney food lovers, so expect to see it all over your Instagram feed very soon. Find Alpha at 238 Castlereagh Street, Sydney. Open Monday to Sunday, 7.30–10.30am for baklava muffins, then 12–3pm, 6–9pm.
Watching the sun go down over Manly Beach is pretty special. They make postcards about that kind of stuff. And while it's certainly a lovely thing to do when you find yourself in the Northern Beaches, we recommend you stray away from the beachfront and make your way to Pittwater Road for a sundown of a different kind — a sushi sunset. At Sunset Sabi, food is done in a Japanese izakaya style, but it sure ain't traditional. Ingredients like chilli crunch, roasted peppers, whipped tofu and garlic all make their way into sushi rolls and other bite-sized morsels. It's more of an LA take on Japanese food, if anything — not that that's a bad thing. It just means you get those bold, unabashed flavour clashes alongside fancy cocktails, high bar seating and a wall display of illuminated Japanese advertisements. Instead of being garish, these kitschy cultural tokens give the bar a good glow. The signage is interestingly (if not coincidentally) a little reminiscent of Melbourne's Supernormal. Try fried potato with whipped karasumi and salmon roe for something unlike anything you've had before, or look towards the traditional dishes like gyoza and edamame. The raw stuff keeps it interesting — think Sydney rock oysters with a cucumber shallot vinaigrette, a sashimi plate with 12 pieces of mixed sashimi and a nigiri plate with salmon aburi, tuna negi and kingfish salsa criolla. Sunset Sabi knows exactly what it's doing when it comes to serving up top-notch Japanese eats — there's absolutely no doubt about that.
