Sydney Opera House has furiously backpedalled after yesterday's Festival of Dangerous Ideas program release. Amongst the announcements of squeal-inducing names like Salman Rushdie and Pussy Riot, the announcement of a presentation playing devil's advocate to 'honour killings' was instead met with a collective WTF. Led by Sydney-based activist, writer and member of Islamic group Hizb ut-Tahrir, Uthman Badar, the speech titled 'Honour Killings Are Morally Justified' was scrapped by the Opera House last night. In a screenshot of Badar's abstract (nabbed by Pedestrian before the Opera House could sweep it under the rug) the speech was explained as an unpacking of Western bias, that 'honour killings' (when usually men kill their usually female family members for bringing shame on the family, most often for adultery, refusing an arranged marriage or finding themselves rape victims) could be seen as the West having a big ol' fist shake at cultures they don't understand. Yep. What. After angry social media posts, talkback radio rants and FODI boycotts were called, the cancellation was quietly announced on Facebook by the SOH last night. The team explained the speech was meant as a balance-finder — one that clearly missed the mark. "The Festival of Dangerous Ideas is intended to be a provocation to thought and discussion, rather than simply a provocation," said SOH's Facebook post. "It is always a matter of balance and judgement, and in this case a line has been crossed. Accordingly, we have decided not to proceed with the scheduled session with Uthman Badar. "It is clear from the public reaction that the title has given the wrong impression of what Mr Badar intended to discuss. Neither Mr Badar, the St James Ethics Centre, nor Sydney Opera House in any way advocates 'honour killings' or condones any form of violence against women." Find more information about the remaining FODI lineup over here. Via ABC, Pedestrian and SMH.
Sydney Writers' Festival last night launched its 2018 program at its new hub of Carriageworks, unveiling a powerful lineup of speakers and guests to match a very powerful theme. Artistic Director Michaela McGuire announced the festival's 21st edition, which runs from April 30 until May 6, will dive deep into an exploration of "power and its adjacent qualities, and its relationship to sex, money, politics, identity, and the state of the world". Headlining this year's impressive group of big-name guests are three international literary legends, including André Aciman — author of novel Call Me By Your Name, which inspired the coming-of-age big screen drama of the same title. He'll take the stage for a talk centred around ideas of power, along with Korean-American author Min Jin Lee, and Alexis Okeowo, who penned the award-winning A Moonless, Starless Sky. Other international heavyweights on the bill include Amy Bloom — discussing her bestselling story about the affair between First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and a journalist — as well as The New Yorker's Ben Taub on his time in Syria, and Robert E. Kelly, the 'BBC Dad' from that fateful TV interview. Meanwhile, Robert Drewe, Jane Harper, Helen Garner and The Slap's Christos Tsiolkas are just some of the talent flying the flag for Australia's literary scene. Festival goers will also have the chance to hear from a swag of politicians-turned-writers, including Jacqui Lambie, Sam Dastyari and former Prime Minister Julia Gillard. The hefty event program includes what promises to be a huge SWF Gala at Sydney Town Hall, an all-day YA literary festival and a host of great family-friendly events. Tickets to the 2018 Sydney Writers' Festival are on sale now and you can grab yours at swf.org.au. Images: Prudence Upton.
There's nothing quite as tranquil as a lake. There's something about the still water that forces your brain to relax — regardless of how wired you've been or for how long. Australia's massive open plains and long mountain ranges create plenty of space for lakes to form, from Western Australia's brilliant pink watery delights to Queensland's tropical swimming holes to the endless expanse of Kati Thanda–Lake Eyre. Been feeling a bit frazzled lately? It could be time to hit the road and spend a day or two beside one of these natural beauties. 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 restrictions on where you can go on holiday. Bookmark this for when you can explore once again. [caption id="attachment_741619" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Western Australia[/caption] HUTT LAGOON, WESTERN AUSTRALIA If you like your pink gin, flowers and homewares, you need to visit Hutt Lagoon. It's quite remote, being located on the Coral Coast, around 515 kilometres north of Perth, between Port Gregory and Kalbarri. If you're visiting on a road trip, you'll get the best views along Port Gregory Road. But do be tempted to see it from the air on a scenic flight. Hutt Lagoon's pink is always changing, with the most stunning shades usually on show at sunset. The lake gets its colour from dunaliella salina, which is an algae that produces caroteinoid. [caption id="attachment_741600" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism and Events Queensland[/caption] LAKE MCKENZIE, QUEENSLAND In sore need of some sand and sun? Make tracks to Fraser Island in Queensland, to visit Lake McKenzie. This natural phenomenon is a perched lake — that is, a special kind of lake that contains rainwater. And rainwater only. Unlike most other lakes, it's sealed off from groundwater and isn't connected with any streams or rivers. On top of that, the sand in and around Lake Mckenzie is made entirely of silica. All this means it's unbelievably clear, whether you're taking a dip or enjoying the views from the shore. [caption id="attachment_741605" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW[/caption] LAKE MUNGO, NEW SOUTH WALES Strictly speaking, Lake Mungo isn't a lake. But, it was one tens of thousands of years ago. And it's still one of the most important places to see in Australia because it's where the oldest human remains were found, being those of Mungo Man and Mungo Lady, who lived at least 40,000 years ago. If you're up for a road trip, take the 70-kilometre Mungo Track. There are also plenty of walking trails, including the ten-kilometre Zanci Pastoral Heritage Loop and a bunch of short strolls to lookouts and significant spots. [caption id="attachment_741602" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism and Events Queensland[/caption] LAKE EACHAM, QUEENSLAND Around 1400 kilometres north of Brisbane lies Crater Lakes National Park and, within it, you'll find Lake Eacham. This dreamy spot — formed by a volcanic crater — is encircled completely with rainforest. Spend your time in whatever way suits you, be it swimming, fishing, hiking, picnicking or jumping in a kayak (but note that motorboats aren't allowed). Both Lake Eacham and the forest in its vicinity are part of the World Heritage-listed Wet Tropics of Queensland, which means they're protected so tread with care. [caption id="attachment_690974" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jason Charles Hill via Tourism Tasmania[/caption] LAKE ST CLAIR, TASMANIA Lake St Clair — found in the southern section of Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park in Tassie — took two million years to form, via slow-moving glaciers. Of all the freshwater lakes in Australia, it's the deepest, at 160 metres. There are many ways to experience this watery wonder, from short walks to multi-day camping expeditions. If you like a little luxury with your wilderness experience, then a stay at Pumphouse Point or Lake St Clair Lodge might be the way to go. [caption id="attachment_741599" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Robert Blackburn via Visit Victoria[/caption] LAKE EILDON, VICTORIA Lake Eildon's claim to fame is the town of Bonnie Doon, where you'll find the Kerrigans' holiday home from 1997 film The Castle. These days, it's listed on Airbnb, so you can experience "the serenity" for yourself. But what's less known about Lake Eildon is its epic size. With 515 kilometres of shoreline, the lake is so big that it holds six times the water of Sydney Harbour. You won't run out of territory to explore, whether you spend your time kayaking around Eildon's many inlets or stick to picnicking on land. [caption id="attachment_741635" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ockert le Roux via South Australian Tourism Commission[/caption] BLUE LAKE, SOUTH AUSTRALIA Maybe Blue Lake should be called Blues Lake. That's because it changes colour. Visit between March and November, and you'll see a deep, dark, wintry blue. Change your schedule to sometime between November and March, and you'll be met with a striking turquoise. Either way, the best way to experience it is on foot via the 3.6-kilometre walking track that follows the shore. You can also go underground on an aquifer tour. Blue Lake is just outside of Mount Gambier, in South Australia's southeast, right near the state's border with Victoria. [caption id="attachment_741624" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jeffrey Drewitz via Destination NSW[/caption] BLUE LAKE, NEW SOUTH WALES One of the loveliest spots on the walk to the summit of Mount Kosciuszko is Blue Lake. It's a cirque lake, which means it was formed by glacial erosion during the Ice Age around 10,000 years ago. Though you can't tell when you're standing on the shore, Blue Lake is a whopping 28 metres deep. Plus, it contains the freshest water on the Australian mainland. Both the lake and the 320 hectares surrounding it were recognised as a Ramsar site in 1996, so they're protected under the Ramsar Convention on wetlands. [caption id="attachment_741634" align="alignnone" width="1920"] South Australian Tourism Commission[/caption] KATI THANDA-LAKE EYRE, SOUTH AUSTRALIA This extraordinary natural wonder is the most famous lake on this list for a few reasons. First up, it's the biggest lake in the country — at 9,500 square kilometres. Secondly, it's home to the lowest point on the Australian mainland, at 15 metres below sea level. Thirdly, when it's full of water, it's as salty as the sea. So don't arrive thirsty. Also, if you're keen to see the lake at its most dazzling, check on water levels before hitting the road. It's dry a lot of the time, with a large amount of water arriving just once every eight years. In fact, during the past 150 years, Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre has filled to capacity on only three occasions. [caption id="attachment_741617" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Western Australia[/caption] LAKE HILLIER, WESTERN AUSTRALIA Another of Western Australia's pink watery sights is Lake Hillier. When we say this lake is pink, we really mean it. We're not talking pale pastel, either — we're talking bright, brilliant, lollipop pink. And what makes the colour even more dramatic is Lake Hillier's location on Middle Island, where it's separated by a narrow strip of land from the deep blue of the Southern Ocean. To get there, you first need to get to Esperance, on Western Australia's southern coast, then catch a boat or plane. 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. Image: Hutt Lagoon via Tourism Western Australia. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
Settled into the upstairs space of The Warren View Hotel is another one of the Damianakis family's ventures, a cosy neighbourhood bar called Teddy's. Following a revamp, this elegant addition to the Enmore corner pub has an attractive fit-out with exposed brick walls, timber beams and mid-century design inspiration. The star of the upstairs space is a bar that runs the length of the room wall to wall, and a fireplace fit for braving chilly winter nights in the Inner West. Head in for a drink and you'll be met with a stellar lineup of independently-owned Australian beverages. The Teddy's menu features fresh, fruity takes on classic cocktails, as well as all-Australian beer and wine lists — supporting local is at the forefront of the venue's ethos — alongside an array of non-alcoholic beverages to pick from. For bites, you'll be able to pair your beverage of choice with a selection of elevated share plates. Take your pick from Aussie pub classics like calamari, sausage rolls and focaccia made in-house, as well as charred octopus, heirloom cherry tomato panisse and tuna crudo. And if you opt to swing by in a group of four or more, you'll be able to select the 'Feed Me' set menu for $55 per person to enjoy a no-fuss and no-thinking-required option that serves up the best that Teddy's has to offer. All in all, Teddy's makes for a great addition to the neighbourhood and a new treat for local punters who've been patronising the pub for years.
Sydney's latest food mecca is finally open, say hello to Steam Mill Lane. Situated within Darling Square's new 8000-square-metre retail space, the burgeoning laneway boasts top-notch restaurants, as well as a throng of emerging fashion and lifestyle retailers. It's ripe for exploration and offers everything, from cheap eats, to long lunches, to late-night noodle fixes. There's a chance you'll recognise more than a few vendors; Melbourne's famed burger joint 8bit, brought to you by hatted chef Shayne McCallum and Alan Sam, slings mega burgers, loaded hot dogs and over-the-top shakes via its 130-seat diner — while Belles Hot Chicken, its third Sydney outpost, doles out finger-lickin' fried chicken. Other big names include The Sandwich Shop, Edition Coffee Roasters, Marrickville Pork Roll, poke joint Fishbowl, Sichuan eatery Ricefields, modern Italian restaurant Il Bacio and bubble tea cafe Gong Cha. But it's not just food. You'll also find a few boutique retail shops, including travel and leisure store Alifehaus, streetwear brand Pict and barber Men's Culture. If that's not enough excitement, check out the permanent light installation by Adelaide-based artist Peta Kruger — the neon-lit artworks take inspiration from 'nightlife cityscapes' and illuminate the lane at night.
While the Gold Coast might be known for its beaches, you don't have to be an ocean person to enjoy the relaxation of the destination. Beyond the sand is a leader in Australia's booming health and wellness scene. Whether you're planning a dedicated wellness escape or weaving a little indulgence into a holiday itinerary, Get Up and Gold Coast to the destination's best spa and wellness experiences for slowing down and switching off. [caption id="attachment_1067919" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Native State[/caption] Bathhouses Bathhouses are all the rage at the moment, including on the Gold Coast. SOL Elements in Mount Tamborine is described as a transformative sanctuary where ancient healing meets modern-day wellness rituals. Enjoy the elemental bathhouse, float caves for weightless stillness, and hands-on massages and treatments. If you can make it midweek, SOL Elements offers a midweek bathhouse session and a private floatation cave session, with a wellness drink on arrival and robe hire, for $150. In Coolangatta, Native State is the Gold Coast's premier bathhouse, offering hydrothermal pools, steam rooms, and quiet spaces to boost your immune system, reduce stress, revitalise your body, and more. Its 90-minute bathhouse sessions are currently available for $49 with code 45ONUS. [caption id="attachment_1067921" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ground Bathhouse[/caption] Worth bookmarking for your hinterland escape are Ground Bathhouse in Currumbin and Greenhouse Bathhouse in Tallebudgera Valley. Both are known for their calming atmosphere, mineral pools, and community-driven approach to modern wellness. Ground Bathhouse offers bespoke facials, hydrotherapy spas, a traditional cedar hot tub, a large wood-fired hot stone sauna, and an outdoor infrared sauna. Greenhouse Bathhouse is the Gold Coast's original bathhouse, having been established in 2017. It offers massages, an on-site restaurant, a magnesium pool, a red cedar sauna, and more to help you unwind and relax in the hinterland. [caption id="attachment_1067922" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Spa by JW Marriott[/caption] Day Spas For those craving hands-on treatments and experiences, the Gold Coast's hotel spas deliver polished, high-end experiences that will have you feeling like a new person. Inside The Star Gold Coast, Azure Spa is a destination for moments of solitude, offering treatments that focus on relieving tension, rejuvenating the skin, and providing full-body restorative treatments. The Babor facial is $160 for 60 minutes, giving you an hour of indulgence and self-care. Over at The Langham, Chuan Spa blends traditional Chinese medicine philosophies with modern spa techniques. Restore your balance with massage, detoxifying face masks, and more. [caption id="attachment_1067923" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Chuan Spa[/caption] If you're looking for a spa destination for a bachelorette party or birthday, the Spa by JW Marriott at Surfers Paradise is ideal for groups. A four-hour pamper package comes to $539 (valued at $702) and includes a one-hour facial, a one-hour massage, high tea, sauna and steam shower, a glass of champagne and more. [caption id="attachment_1067924" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Gwinganna Retreat and Spa[/caption] Retreat-Style Wellness Escapes If you're ready to take the (cold) plunge and book an overnight retreat, the Gold Coast hinterland is the perfect place to escape and switch off. For two decades, Gwinganna Retreat and Spa in Tallebudgera Valley has been a leader in holistic wellness retreat experiences. With the principles of organic living, healing spa treatments, and restorative rest in nature, you're guaranteed to feel rejuvenated. Currently, guests can stay five nights and pay for only four, plus experience a massage, facial, $100 wellness therapy credit, and complimentary Gold Coast Airport transfers. Use the code GCSTAYS to redeem and prepare a schedule built around movement, nutrition, rest and reconnection. [caption id="attachment_1067925" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Eden Retreat[/caption] Eden Retreat in Currumbin Valley is designed for those looking to step away from everyday life in a secluded, nature-focused environment. The retreat offers stays that are focused on realignment through holistic wellbeing, meditation, nourishing food, and therapeutic treatments. If you want to experience Eden Retreat without staying overnight, its day spa is also open to guests seeking restorative treatments. Finally, On Eagle Wings Mountain Retreat & Spa in the hinterland is a relaxing retreat set in the rainforest. The two-and-a-half-hour soak spa package, which lets you recharge your body and take in the incredible skyline views from the infinity pool, is currently priced at $159 per person and includes infrared therapy and mineral spas. [caption id="attachment_1067926" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Eagle Wings Mountain Retreat & Spa[/caption] The Gold Coast's wellness scene proves that relaxation here goes far beyond the shoreline. From accessible bathhouse sessions to luxury spa treatments and immersive hinterland retreats, these experiences show just how zen a Gold Coast getaway can be. Image credit: Supplied
Erykah Badu has always been a good sign for me. Whether it's a cafe or a clothes shop, if I hear her music it's a sign that I'm in the right place at the right time. So, when it's a sparkler of a summer day at Bondi and I'm sat in front of the windows at Sean's Panorama, it was no surprise to hear Erykah's voice sliding out of the speakers, across the street and out over the waves crashing on Bondi Beach. As we ogle the view, a family walks in for lunch; one of the sons has bare feet. Next to us a trio of suited-up, male mid-life crises are talking 'big data' and 'synergies' (no joke). Outside, a young mother in Rick Owens sneakers whose toddler is sporting a Chicago Bulls jersey. This is how Bondi rolls. No one here is anyone but themselves because, as a Sydney institution, Sean's is nothing but itself. There are no pretensions and no shortcuts. The roses on the tables are from the garden. They have that long-forgotten scent. The waitstaff is the sort that does this because they want to, not because it's a job that will finance a ticket to somewhere else. What's also real is the house-made bread and butter. Both white and wholewheat come warm, and you desperately remind yourself of your mother's warning not to fill up on them before the mains. Judged as a blackboard listing alone, is a basic but delightful tomato, watermelon and feta salad. Perfection in the individual components on each of these dishes is anything but. Rough-cut, room-temperature tomatoes (Praise be!) in a thin, sunlight-coloured pool of oil are the answer to all your heirloom, vine-ripened tomato fantasies. Fat, hand-rolled ribbons of rocket-flavoured pasta have the same effect on your palate that the view of the Pacific sprawled before you has on your eyes. When the basics are this good, ordering the chicken main at Sean's begins to feel like an obligation. This logic is rewarded as breast, thigh and leg pieces congregate in holy, crisp-skinned communion. The accompanying creamed corn and slaw are nearly an insult to meat cooked this perfectly, but they definitely don't go astray. After this, dessert doesn't get any more basic than vanilla ice cream with raspberry jelly. You could almost laugh for the way the vivid jelly and first-kiss shock of vanilla ice cream conjure up all the joy of the packet stuff that made you so happy so long ago. Today though, you delicately pick at them with shards of the accompanying florentine to make it last as long as you can. I could have guessed, but I didn't, that the bill would be hand-written and our leftovers would be handed over wrapped in tin foil. As we leave, a kid outside rolls an esky atop a skateboard towards the beach and clouds roll in from the east. Sean has it good. Images: Enzo Amato and Sean's Panorama Instagram Appears in: The Best Restaurants in Sydney
Fans of glamping and remote cabins have a new luxurious retreat to look forward to as Cabn expands to Kangaroo Valley. Positioned as places to unplug and recharge, the off-grid accommodation launched its first eco-home in the Adelaide Hills back in 2017 and has now opened its second location — and it's fit for queens and kings. Despite some of the connotations the term 'off-grid' may have, this cabin is a far cry from roughing it. This solar-powered tiny house sits on 140-acres of bushland, on the site of a former dairy farm in the Cambewarra Range, just a 15-minute drive from Kangaroo Valley and about three hours south of Sydney. The secluded location is perched high above the valley and overlooks a sea of endless clouds, on certain days. The cleverly designed, timber fit-out includes a loft with king bed, a fully stocked kitchen, indoor gas heaters and built-in air con units. Plus large bi-fold glass doors and windows that offer views aplenty. A big draw is the glass-walled, 'outdoor' soaking tub, which is set in the bush adjacent to the house and offers a rare occasion to (sort of) bathe in the great outdoors — with all of the luxury of a five-star hotel, of course. Outdoor amenities include a gas barbecue and picnic area, as well as an adjacent fire pit that sits a few metres away from the house. And its dog-friendly to boot. Remember this place is all about 'digital detoxing', though, so expect limited cell service and absolutely no wifi to speak of — this is certainly not a working holiday type of place. The retreat is lovingly tucked away, so the only living beings you'll share the space with is the local wildlife. Think wombats, families of echidnas, kangaroos and a local Lyrebird, along with wandering sheep and cows from the nearby working farm. There are plenty of walking trails to explore, too. If you're strapped for time or just too lazy to pack your own esky for the trip, Cabn also offers a variety of food packages, which can be pre-ordered and picked up from the Hampden Deli in town. Options include grazing boards ($55) or breakfast, lunch and dinner packs ($35–45) — the latter of which includes the likes of curries, braised meats and salads. A second Kangaroo Valley Cabn location is set to launch later this year, too, along with several other sites around Australia, so keep an eye on this space for future updates. Kangaroo Valley rates start at $289 per night for two on weekdays and $325 on weekends. Rates start at $399 on public and NSW school holidays. The cabin can comfortably sleep two, with room for four if extra guests ($45 each per night) are happy to share a king single. To book, head over here. Looking for more to do around Kangaroo Valley? Check out our weekender's guide to the region.
A beloved staple of the meeting point between Marrickville, Enmore and St Peters in Sydney's Inner West, West Juliett shut its doors in 2023. Luckily for all of the fans of this corner cafe, the original founders were already cooking up something big, opening Agnes a five-minute drive away. John and Kathryn Stavropoulos swung open the doors to their new cafe on Meeks Road and for the new venture the duo enlisted an all-star crew, with Agnes team members repping experience from Flour and Stone, Black Star Pastry and Cross Eatery. The cafe offers White Horse coffee, plenty of baked treats, and a hefty breakfast and lunch menu which can be taken away, enjoyed inside or paired with some Vitamin D out on the laidback al fresco tables. Pastry chef Etta Napier's focaccia features heavily throughout the menu. For breakfast, you can order it with a simple spread, stacked with avocado and feta, or as the basis for a loaded breakfast sandwich. Come 11am, there are five sandwiches on offer including a sensational charred miso eggplant with crunchy slaw and pickled red onion, or a classic crumbed chicken sambo partnered with nori and fermented chilli mayo. And it's only right to treat yourself to a little something sweet. Expect blueberry, lime and cheesecake tarts, plus West Juliett's famous pink salt chocolate-chip cookies that have made a comeback (or protests may have been arranged). The Agnes team is also committed to keeping things local and in-house, with the honey, jams, pickles and milkshake syrups all made right there at the cafe, or at John and Kathryn's apiary. Even the bacon is smoked locally.
Powerhouse Museum Ultimo is set to look a whole lot different thanks to a $500-million makeover — and the design for the revamp has just been revealed. Celebrating the current strengths of the building while providing it with a major transformation, the concept has been designed by Australian team Architectus, Durbach Block Jaggers Architects, Tyrrell Studio, Youssofzay + Hart, Akira Isogawa, Yerrabingin, Finding Infinity and Arup. This team's design was unanimously selected by the jury following a design competition. Included in the transformation are expanded exhibition spaces, a new urban space connected to the neighbouring Goods Line that will work as a public square, revitalised creative studios at the Harris Street end of the building and increased outdoor spaces throughout the museum. "The new building casts a reimagined lens on the heritage fabrics and cityscapes from multiple levels of this escarpment – from uses, circulation, terraces and gardens," said Design Director Camilla Block. "Respectful and immediate, the reimagined building lives alongside the Powerhouse core, a powerful embodiment of both geography and backdrop." Aesthetically, the renders reveal a new facade of concrete and red brick emerging from the heritage-listed elements of the museum. "Congratulations to the team for their deeply considered response to the Ultimo site, honouring the history and heritage of the Powerhouse museum whilst simultaneously reimagining how we can continue to engage our communities into the future," Powerhouse Chief Executive Lisa Havilah said. The revamped museum will also feature a new rooftop learning camp called Powerhouse Academy. This space will offer secondary and tertiary students from regional NSW and around the country the opportunity to come to Sydney and participate in immersive learning experiences. The project has undergone a rocky history to get to this point. Back in 2015, Powerhouse Museum Ultimo was earmarked for closure, as part of a move to shift the entire facility to Parramatta. Then, when that idea didn't prove popular, the New South Wales Government committed to revamping and revitalising the existing site, allocating $480–500 million to the makeover. The other Powerhouse Museum location will still be established in Parramatta and is under construction at the moment. Head to the Powerhouse Museum Ultimo's renewal homepage for all the information on the site's transformation.
Some scents will always stay with you — and for anyone who grew up eating as many rainbow Paddle Pops as they could manage whenever the weather was warm, that sweet treat's caramel-meets-vanilla aroma is the scent of summer. Now, it can be the fragrance that wafts through your home no matter the season, too, all thanks to a new range of ice cream-flavoured candles and other scented items. The company that's helping turn your home into an ice cream-scented dream: Dusk. Adding to its range of enticingly scented goods, it's now trying to conjure up dessert cravings. Teaming up with Streets, the chain is releasing four different lines all inspired by ice creams, with the full range hitting shelves in-store from Thursday, August 11, and available online now. Obviously, one batch of items is scented like rainbow Paddle Pops, the go-to gem of supermarket freezers. You can choose between two types of candles — one with three wicks, one with two (none with John), and also some misting oil, all of which smells like vanilla bean, strawberry and caramel. Three fellow classic sweet treats are getting the same treatment, too: Golden Gaytime, Bubble O'Bill and Splice. Yes, it's a big time for getting your Golden Gaytime fix in multiple ways, given that Streets has also just paired up with Oak on an Oak chocolate milk-flavoured Golden Gaytime as well. The Golden Gaytime candles smell like toffee, vanilla and chocolate, while the Bubble O'Bill versions will emit the scent of strawberries and raspberries — not bubblegum. As for the Splice, the aroma of pine lime and vanilla will be floating through your home. Dusk's Streets line also includes assorted tealights and melts smelling like all of the above, with prices starting at $14.99 (for a ten-pack of tealights or a four-pack of melts). The oil costs $24.99, the two-wick candles $49.99 and the three-wick candles $59.99. Constantly being hungry for ice cream is about to become your new reality, clearly — and if you also decked out your abode with Gelato Messina candles a few years back, and Tim Tam candles as well, consider this your latest sweet-smelling must-have. Dusk's range of Paddle Pop, Golden Gaytime, Splice and Bubble O'Bill candles, tealights and other scented item hit stores from Thursday, August 11, and are available online now. Head to the company's website for further information.
Passion is a pivotal part of every cocktail enjoyed at the end of a long week, every glass of wine sipped with dinner and every cold brew cracked open just because. If you've made the choice to drink a particular tipple, you should be passionate about it. Life's just too short to waste it on average drops. Unsurprisingly, passion is also one of the driving forces behind every spirit, vino and beer before it even reaches your lips. No one dedicates their life to making standout beverages if they're not devoted to the field. And that passion has been particularly important in 2020, with drinks brands everywhere forced to adapt to quite the challenging year — as South Australia's Never Never Distilling Co, Paracombe Wines and Little Bang Brewing Company can attest. For the past few months, BWS has tapped into both of the aforementioned sources of passion — into the enthusiasm of Aussie drinkers, and into the excitement of those responsible for the country's favourite bevvies. Via its Local Luvvas initiative, the bottle shop retailer asked the nation to pick its top local drinks, with the three chosen companies receiving an extra helping hand with getting their products stocked in more BWS stores. That means you now have more excuses to pick up Never Never, Paracombe and Little Bang's wares. To celebrate the news, and the passion behind it, we've chatted to the committed folks behind the scenes at each. [caption id="attachment_789218" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Meaghan Coles[/caption] A PASSION FOR COMPLEXITY When you're pouring yourself some gin, then adding tonic and whichever garnishes you prefer, it all seems so simple and straightforward. But the juniper-based spirit delivers a complicated array of flavours — and it's that complexity, as well as a "huge passion for South Australia's incredible food and beverage industry", that actually sparked Never Never Distilling Co co-founder and managing director George Georgiadis to start the business in the first place. His fellow co-founders Tim Boast and Sean Baxter share that passion, obviously. Boast, who is also Never Never's head distiller, is a staunch believer in tipples made with purpose, too. "Assuming you can get the fundamentals right and build from a strong foundation, a spirit crafted with a purpose in mind for the end product will ultimately deliver a better liquid," he explains. If you need an example, he suggests Never Never's Triple Juniper Gin, which was specifically designed to be the best gin possible for classic cocktails and G&Ts. A drink made with passion — and complexity and purpose — inspires the same in return. Awards bodies have shown that by showering the McLaren Vale-based distillery with accolades, including in this difficult year. In March, Never Never picked up the Best Regular Gin prize at the San Francisco World Spirit Awards, in fact. But it's the passion of the brand's local supporters that has helped immensely in a period where the company has been forced to "quickly take stock of our focuses, and be brave in what our strategies needed to be," says Baxter. "South Australians are probably some of the most discerning drinkers — you look at the history of wine in SA and the producers who put Australian wine on the map. We're seeing it now in SA gin, where local punters have access to so many incredible smaller producers that they'll actively seek out what's new and what's the best". A PASSION FOR HISTORY When Kathy and Paul Drogemuller bought an old dairy farm in the Adelaide Hills more than three decades ago, they were clearly fond of a good drop. Neither had a background in growing grapes or making wine, but they decided to plant a vineyard at their property at Paracombe, which had been burnt out by the Ash Wednesday bushfires in 1983. They still kept full-time jobs outside of the farm; however, when they did some research on the area, they found a significant source of inspiration for their hobby. "We discovered that Paracombe had a history of wine going back to the mid-1800s," says Kathy. "There was a vineyard and operational winery exporting wine to England, and the first vintages of Penfolds Grange came from Paracombe. All this valuable history had died out, so we made it our mission to revive the district, raise it back from the ashes and put Paracombe back on the map." From there, the Drogemullers infused their passion into making the very best wine — and making the very best of their location in the process. "Great wine happens in the vineyard and should reflect a sense of place," notes Kathy, explaining how Paracombe Wines capitalises upon the area's ironstone, buckshot gravel and quartz-layered soils, as well as its cooler climate. The result, all these years later, is a range of wines across both whites and reds that locals love. "To start something from nothing, be involved in every process — growing, making, bottling, storing and distributing — all from our property and vineyard, and to produce a product that connects and brings people together around a table with food and family: that is a joy," says Kathy. And if anything was going to help Paracombe Wines "rise above adversity", as Kathy describes the company's journey in 2020, it's that local love. "We have seen that in these difficult times, people seek out to support local more than ever," she says. A PASSION FOR DELICIOUS AND CREATIVE BEER Asked how Little Bang Brewing Company came about, cofounder Ryan Davidson gives the most honest answer there is: "making things is fun, beer is delicious, beer costs money and we were unemployed," he says. But that was just the beginning of his beer-making journey with co-founder and head brewer Fil Kemp, with whom he worked in the games industry prior to starting their Adelaide brewery. "It was once we started brewing together that the fervour really kicked in. We're both rather obsessive when it comes to learning something new, and we encouraged each other a lot in those early days, seeking out every little bit of knowledge, history and expertise we could lay our hands on." That passion for learning has played a big part in Little Bang's 2020 journey, too, and in the kind of year that Davidson could never have imagined back when the company launched in 2014. "We've pivoted so much, we're getting dizzy. It's been a lesson in agility, that's for sure — keeping a constant eye on the news and being ready to redefine what we do, in almost every way, and at a moment's notice," he says. To the surprise of no one, Ryan notes that it has been exhausting. Still, he also says 2020 has been "extremely informative". He continues: "we've learned a lot about our customers, our business and ourselves that we wouldn't have had the chance to know otherwise". All those lessons — the early learnings when the brewery was starting out, and the new gleanings over the past ten months — help shape Little Bang's beverages. Davidson is passionate about something else, though. Naturally, he's still keen on free beer, but he's also enthusiastic about the local community that has blossomed around the company's brews. "We don't see Little Bang as just our business," he says. "It's just as much a creation of the day-to-day attitudes and ideas of all the staff here, and the huge variety of people who spend time at the taproom. We're just lucky enough to work here." To find these or other South Australian drinks as part of the BWS Local Luvva's initiative, head to your nearest BWS store.
Sydney Cellar Door wants you to curl up under the shade of a Moreton Bay fig and imagine yourself among the vines of Mudgee as Hyde Park is transformed yet again for Sydney Cellar Door, a part of NSW Food and Wine Festival 2015. Featuring the best winemakers, growers, artisans and restaurants from across NSW, this year's Sydney Cellar Door is filled with particularly lovely and intimate touches. You can wander through an urban vineyard as you sample wines and produce and build your perfect picnic basket of fresh bread, Pukara Estate olive oil and Brilliant Food smoked fish in the Producer's Picnic Tent. Along with favourites from past years, including Salt Meats Cheese, Porteno and Bodega, this year brings some new restaurants to the fold, including burger boss Mary's and Rosebery's Clubhouse Bar and Restaurant. But all that you really need to know is that there will be wine and there will be cheese. We know those are your favourite things. Friday 4pm - 10pm, Saturday 11am - 9pm, Sundays 11am - 6pm
Cave hotels, tree-house hotels, and hotels next to natural wonders: the bedroom-pros at Mr & Mrs Smith have seen it all (well, we’re still waiting for our first spaceship hotel, but hey). Here are 10 of Smith’s most interesting places to pass a night, picked just for Concrete Playground. 1. LONGITUDE 131° by VOYAGES, AUSTRALIA What: Safari-style desert campWhere: Up close to Uluru What could possibly be any more awe-inspiring than waking up to views of the world’s biggest monolith, Uluru? It’s remote, for sure, but Longitude 131° by Voyages can be reached via a flight to Yulara, where guests are greeted by a member of staff in a four-wheel drive. The villas are called ‘tents’, but you can banish memories of uncomfortable camping trips from your school days. These impressive specimens are on stilts, with ensuite bathrooms and fully automated blinds. Tours of the national park are included in the rates and the curvy pool is kept ice-cold at all times – perfectly refreshing after unforgettable treks up Uluru. 2. HAPUKU LODGE AND TREE HOUSES, NEW ZEALAND What: Architectural meets arborealWhere: Deer-dotted pastures and peaks Simultaneous views of mountains, the sea, olive grove and a deer-park… where else other than New Zealand? A top-spot for whale-watching, Hapuku Lodge and Tree Houses is a true get-away, with fully equipped villas nestled high amongst the tree-tops, so you can coo at the local birds (or just kiss your lovebird). The lodge’s knockout 600-hectare grounds, between the towering Kaikoura Seaward Mountains and surf-lashed Mangamaunu Bay, include the family farm’s oil-producing olive grove and deer stud. For a cool canopy experience, the modern, wood-clad Tree House Rooms, set in a manuka grove remote from the main lodge, are a must. 3. SIX SENSES YAO NOI, THAILAND What: Rustic-chic castawayWhere: Yao Noi island hillside Perched on a cliff-side over-looking Phang Nga Bay, Six Senses Yao Noi makes each night feel like an adventure. A selection of nine different types of villa are available, each with stylish interiors, some with pools, and every one offering the best views we’ve ever clapped eyes on. Privacy-seeking couples or families would do well to book a Hideaway Two-bedroom Pool Villa, which has two levels, an open-air bathroom, private ensuite and its own infinity pool. 4. OHLA, BARCELONA What: Classic Catalan coolWhere: Beside Barrio Gotico With a neoclassical exterior but minimalistic interiors, Ohla Hotel in Barcelona never quite makes up its mind. Originally the palace of the first Count of Barcelona, then a department store and police office, and now a hotel renovated with assistance from artist and sculptor Frederic Amat, Ohla is an eclectic mix of history. Hundreds of ceramic eyeballs adorn the outside walls of the hotel, thanks to Amat. The rooms have wooden floors and refrain from over-decoration; in-room massages are available on request. 5. GORAH ELEPHANT CAMP, SOUTH AFRICA What: Bastion of imperial glamourWhere: Stunning South African savannah The wilderness of Addo Elephant National Park is right on the doorstep of Gorah Elephant Camp. Combining Victorian colonial style with classy mod cons, the tent-like suites have thatched canopies, four-poster beds, private deck and panoramic views of the savannah. The Gorah house itself is a mid-18th-century heritage manor, and serves as the main building on the site. Unabashed luxury abounds in the tents themselves: expect silk-soft Egyptian cotton linen and glossy toffee wooden floorboards. 6. SAFFIRE, TASMANIA What: Elemental sanctuaryWhere: Curving Coles Bay coastline Saffire must confuse the seagulls swooping overhead: is it a giant starfish? A huge silver oil spill? A resting spaceship? If only we could tell them: no, it’s a stingray-shaped sanctuary with eye-widening architecture, an excellent restaurant, a pampering spa and a prime natural location (iconic Wineglass Bay is just minutes away). If you fancy your own private courtyard plunge pool, snaffle one of the four Private Pavilions (rooms 1 to 4, aka Mayson, Amos, Dove or Baudin), which include cat-swingingly spacious living and bedroom areas, a kitchen, dining zone and front deck. Saffire's chef can even come and cook for you in-room. 7. GILI LANKANFUSHI, MALDIVES What: Water worldWhere: Lapis lazuli lagoon Be prepared to come home feeling lonely, or with a Mr Friday stuffed illegally in your suitcase: this hotel’s service is flawless, and every villa comes with a Ms/Mr Friday who will look after you so well, you won’t want to leave them behind. You’re not allowed shoes here, and you won’t find any newspapers, but these are the only limits at this beautiful beachside hotel, which must prompt proposals left, right and centre. Gili Lankanfushi’s villas are all overwater: we like the 210sq m Villa Suites best. They’re open-air, apart from the bedroom (which is also the only bit with air-con; everywhere else gets a sea breeze) and have a large living room with day beds and an overwater sundeck with stairs leading to the ocean. 8. QT SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA What: Theatrical temptressWhere: Sydney's happening heart This super-central design diva is carved out of the historic State Theatre and Gowings department store buildings, blending Gothic, art deco and Italianate architecture with quirky-but-cool interiors. Door gals dressed in saucy uniforms, buzzy drinking and dining, and a hip day spa? We're smitten. Sexy, sassy and stylish, QT Sydney has her party shoes on and is ready to dance. Helmed by chef Paul Easson under the creative direction of Sydney restaurateur Robert Marchetti, Gowings Bar & Grill is an edgy, European-style all-day brasserie, which lures diners with its fresh Australian produce (sourced from artisan providores), so-now culinary techniques (we're talking wood-fired rotisseries and ovens) and smart list of up-and-coming wines. 9. SEXTANTIO LE GROTTE DELLA CIVITA, ITALY What: Boutique BedrockWhere: Matera’s grand canyon If Fred Flintstone were looking for a romantic crash-pad for him and Wilma, he could do a lot worse than check into this cave hotel, set in the ancient stassi (stone settlement) of Matera, a mysterious, overlooked patch of Basilicata in southern Italy, flanked by the Ionian and Tyrrhenian seas. Sextantio le Grotte della Civita has a prehistoric birthday and old-world charm: bed sheets and furniture are antique; candles flicker in corners; bath products feature olive oil and packaged simply, and there’s a tasting room set in the old church. Whole families once bedded down in each cave, so expect buckets of space. 10. SAMODE PALACE, INDIA What: All that glittersWhere: Fairytale desert fort Mirror-tiled walls, mural-lined walls, marble swimming pools and antique-filled suites: Samode Palace in the heart of Rajasthan, Jaipur, sounds like the stuff of far-flung fairy tales, but it’s deliciously real. This blue-blooded getaway began life 300 years ago as a maharaja's mansion, so it’s had a while to perfect its poise; modern additions include a gym, sauna, steam room, day spa and boutique. (Of course, kings and queens need to keep in touch with their subjects, so there’s free WiFi in the central courtyard and business centre.) Wander through the Sheesh Mahal, a series of glittering rooms, each more breath-snatching than the last. Once a royal reception space, it's now used for chichi cocktail sessions.
Until recently, unless you were after a grade A cup of joe from Coffee Alchemy or had a hankering for Sunday market corn fritters, Addison Road was not a destination for a hot injection of food. But since Bazaari opened its ornate doors a few months ago, that lowly road in Marrickville is finally worth the hike. Tucked away between industrial laundries and seafood wholesalers, the new Cypriot-Australian eatery is the joint venture of ex-Quay chef Darryl Martin and host Andrew Jordanou. The two have curated an intimate dining experience serving up a particularly adventurous menu of modernised Greek, Cyrpiot, Turkish and Lebanese cuisines. The modern fit-out is welcoming with exposed brick, low lighting and a wood fire in the centre of the open plan kitchen. It's here at the oven where meats are roasted for hours and chewy pita breads studded with nigella seeds are made to order. Like all eateries opened in the last few years, the chefs at Barzaari serve up dishes designed to share, but thankfully the portions are on the generous side, so it's safe to take even your hungriest of friends. If you're keen to start your meal sipping on something a little fancy, the Marrickville Sunrise is a sweet liquid nod to the neighbourhood, and nicely complements the powerful flavours that characterise the entree dishes. The tiropitakia ($14) — impossibly crisp little cylinders stuffed with feta and spinach — arrive drizzled with honey, while the lamb breast is slow-cooked until tender and wrapped in the thinnest pastry, like some sort of delicious novelty meat cigar. The real highlight, however, is the piles of slow-roasted pork neck ($33) and lamb shoulder ($38). Although the wood-fired dishes are a little on the pricey side, the servings resemble meat mountains, served juicy with a decent slab of piping hot pita and a wedge of lemon. These dishes are so simple yet totally moreish — perfect for those who like to use copious amounts of bread to craft their own little makeshift meat sandwiches. As for sides, the tender mograbieh (a giant type of couscous) served with half a wood-fired butternut pumpkin ($15) is particularly hearty and would suit vegetarians in lieu of the aforementioned piles of meat. But our highlight was the classic kipfler potatoes ($11), cooked until crispy and golden and dusted with salt and rosemary — because at the end of the day, there's really no going past a giant bowl of roasted potatoes to accompany a heap of wood-fired meats. If you manage to save room for dessert, it's hard to pass up the impossibly smooth buttermilk custard ($14) cloaked with an anise syrup and a fresh scoop of apple tea sorbet. Barzaari is the perfect location for a Mediterranean feast with a group of pals or a romantic dinner for two providing you're both wearing elasticised eating pants. Fingers crossed the restaurant sets a trend for new little eateries emerging from the Addison Road culinary black hole.
A few months back, US TV network NBC announced news that definitely wasn't noice, tight or cool cool cool: that Brooklyn Nine-Nine would end after its next (and eighth) season. That revelation sparked plenty of questions, all of varying degrees of importance. How will it all wrap up? What does this last batch of ten episodes have in store for Brooklyn's fictional 99th police precinct? How many more times will Jake Peralta (Andy Samberg) say "title of your sex tape"? Will Gina Linetti (Chelsea Peretti) make a final appearance? And how much more yoghurt can Terry Jeffords (Terry Crews) eat? Come August in America, all those queries will be answered. Earlier this month, NBC announced that Brooklyn Nine-Nine's last season would launch following the Tokyo Olympics — and, via a just-dropped first teaser trailer, it has revealed that that'll start happening from August 12. Based on the past few seasons, it's hopeful that viewers Down Under will be able to watch the police-focused comedy come to an end at the same time. In Australia, SBS has fast-tracked recent seasons, so fingers crossed that that happens again. The first sneak peek at the new season doesn't reveal much else, though. It's more of a sizzle reel for the show's last hurrah — but it does remind us that there have been seven Halloween heists and 32 sex tape titles so far, information that every B99 devotee needs to know. Something that it doesn't tell us: how many times Die Hard will get a mention before the series says "yippee-ki-yay" for the last time. Whatever else Peralta, Jeffords (Terry Crews), Amy Santiago (Melissa Fumero), Rosa Diaz (Stephanie Beatriz), Charles Boyle (Joe Lo Truglio), Raymond Holt (Andre Braugher), and Hitchcock (Dirk Blocker) and Scully (Joel McKinnon Miller) get up to, we're guessing that the final season will direct even more love towards the 80s action flick that Peralta so openly adores. As the season seven finale revealed, the show's latest character is named after the Bruce Willis movie, after all. Check out the teaser trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRFDHqFiYoE&t=3s Brooklyn Nine-Nine's eighth and final season is set to start in the US on August 12. We'll update you when an air date Down Under is confirmed.
When an arts festival gifts its chosen city with shows, it also brightens up the darkness whenever its program spills into venues and spaces around town after night falls. Many such fests like taking that idea literally. At Brisbane Festival, for example, after-dark light event Lightscape was on the lineup in 2023 and 2024, getting the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens glowing. The same fest is heading to the same place in 2025, but with something different: the fiery Afterglow. Brisbane is hosting the world-premiere run of this luminous experience, which is part of the 2025 Brisbane Festival program. Across Friday, September 5–Saturday, September 27, Afterglow will fill one of the River City CBD's leafiest parts with fire sculptures and candlelit installations, and also live performances. If you want to be among the first on the planet to enjoy it, you'll need to be in the Queensland capital. At Afterglow, you'll wander. You'll follow the flame-lined 1.4-kilometre path through an inner-city patch of greenery. You'll soak in the work of fire artists, too, and you'll watch the evening blaze away in the process. "Across time and cultures, people have always felt a connection to fire — as an element of nature, a force of renewal, or a symbol of ceremony and ritual," said Brisbane Festival Artistic Director Louise Bezzina, announcing Afterglow as part of 2025's lineup. "Afterglow is a slow-burn experience, an invitation to deliberately and respectfully engage with the artistry and power of fire." [caption id="attachment_1008781" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Markus Ravik[/caption] If this sounds familiar, that might be because you're thinking of Fire Gardens, another installation event with flames at its centre. It was last in Australia in 2024 for Illuminate Adelaide — and back in 2019, it was meant to also be part of the Brisbane Festival program. A hit everywhere from Stonehenge to the Pont du Gard before it began making stops Down Under, Fire Gardens hails from French art collective Compagnie Carabosse, a group that has been starting fires professionally for more than two decades. Its planned Brisbane trip six years ago didn't eventuate, however, due to devastating bushfires carving a destructive path across the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast at the time, plus a total fire ban that was put in place across southeast Queensland as a result. Afterglow is completely separate to Fire Gardens, though — and will run every 15 minutes each evening across its dates from 5.45pm. The trail is family friendly, and also accessible. The event falls within the jam-packed 2025 Brisbane Festival program, which also includes a Gatsby-themed show and pop-up club, turning some of the city's pedestrian bridges into an art trail, a tribute to beloved restaurant Sultan's Kitchen, and a world-premiere dance work by acclaimed choreographer Benjamin Millepied and LA Dance Project, to name just a few of its 106 productions and 1069 performances. [caption id="attachment_1008784" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Andrew Ogilvy[/caption] Afterglow will take over the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens, Alice Street, Brisbane between Friday, September 5–Saturday, September 27, 2025 during Brisbane Festival. For more information and tickets, head to the fest's website. Brisbane Festival 2025 runs from Friday, September 5–Saturday, September 27 at various venues around Brisbane. Head to the fest's website for tickets and further details. Top image: Mellumae and Sean Dowling. All images: Sony Music Entertainment.
Australia has more than 47,000 kilometres of coastline and 11,761 beaches, according to those who've somehow managed to count them all. And there's no better way to get to know them than an adventure with your mates and a night within the thin walls of a tent. With the waves just a stumble away and surrounded by kangaroos, wombats and echidnas, beach camping is a great way to immerse yourselves in all the best Australia has to offer, the kind of serenity that's best enjoyed together. To get you started, we teamed up with Jim Beam to find the spots where we reckon you'll get some of the nation's optimum beach camping conditions. Recommended reads: The Best Beach Camping Spots in Victoria The Best Beach Camping Spots in Queensland The Best Beach Camping Spots in NSW The Best Glamping Sites in Australia [caption id="attachment_807772" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism and Events Queensland[/caption] Noah Beach, Daintree National Park, Queensland Sir David Attenborough called the Daintree Rainforest "the most extraordinary place on earth" and Noah Beach sits right among it. Found about 80 kilometres north of Port Douglas, there are few places in the world where you can camp between a reef and a World Heritage-listed rainforest. Here in the Daintree, you'll find never-ending treetop canopies and animals found nowhere else in the world. The campground is just 50 metres from the beach, and facilities are basic, limited to tap water and composting toilets. With no mobile coverage, it's the perfect place to disconnect from the world. Advance bookings are essential for this beach campsite. [caption id="attachment_807796" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Discover Jervis Bay[/caption] Jervis Bay, Booderee National Park, NSW Residents of Lucky Bay, WA, might tell you that their sand is the whitest in Australia (if not the world), but Jervis Bay's locals will argue otherwise. Found 200 kilometres south of Sydney, Jervis Bay is home to bottlenose dolphins, fur seals, penguins and 20 kilometres of unspoilt shoreline, protected for the most part by Booderee National Park. There are three beachside campsites to choose from — and for still water, go for Green Patch; if you're taking your surfboard, opt for Caves Beach. Bookings, available online, are essential. And for things to do and places to eat (and, most importantly, drink), check out our weekender's guide to Jervis Bay. [caption id="attachment_807799" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Western Australia[/caption] Lucky Bay, Cape Le Grand National Park, Western Australia Forty minutes southeast of Esperance, in Le Grand National Park, sits five kilometres of sparkling shoreline known as Lucky Bay. And, with tent in hand, you can sleep just metres from its pristine, white sand. When you're done with sunbathing alongside kangaroos, conquer the 15-kilometre coastal track, which takes you to Rossiter Bay via Hellfire Bay — or the three-kilometre Frenchman Peak trail, which gives you epic panoramas. The campsite has 56 spots, as well as a camp kitchen, toilets and hot showers, but make sure to pack your own fresh water. Bookings are essential. [caption id="attachment_807803" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mark Watson[/caption] Tidal River, Wilsons Promontory, Victoria Wilsons Promontory National Park covers more than 50,000 hectares of rugged mountains, empty beaches and rainforest at the southernmost point of the Australian mainland. One of the best campsites here is Tidal River, which puts you on the edge of both Norman Beach and the river, among wallabies, echidnas and wombats. The massive campground has nearly 500 campsites, toilets, hot showers and an open air cinema, which has been showing flicks since the 1960s. Campsites are divvied up via a ballot in the summertime, with advance bookings essential at all other times. [caption id="attachment_714492" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Robert Blackburn/Visit Victoria[/caption] Johanna Beach, Great Otway National Park, Victoria This is a popular one for hikers along the Great Ocean Walk, a 100-kilometre journey from Apollo Bay to Port Campbell. The site is nestled among sand dunes, behind spectacular Johanna Beach. Spend your days surfing, strolling and relaxing on the sand, and use your tent as a launching pad for day trips into Great Otway National Park. Its 103,000 hectares are home to lots of walks, koalas, pretty bays and spots for whale watching. Johanna Beach campsite has room for 25 tents and dogs on leads are permitted. [caption id="attachment_807805" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Brad Griffin Photography[/caption] Memory Cove, Lincoln National Park, South Australia You'll find this precious piece of wilderness about 50 kilometres southwest of Port Lincoln (across the Spencer and St Vincent Gulfs from Adelaide). The campsite looks directly over the white sand and turquoise water of Memory Cove, from the shade of coastal mallees, and is limited to 15 cars per day to maintain the wilderness. When you're not lazing about, go adventuring in Lincoln National Park, where you'll experience some of South Australia's most beautiful coastline. There's a bunch of lovely walks, from the 2.7-kilometre Stamford Hill hike, which gives you excellent views, to the 12-hour Investigator Trail, which takes in many bays and beaches on its way to Cape Donington. Bookings at Memory Cove campsite are crucial — you can't get in without a key. [caption id="attachment_807807" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Tasmania and Peter Bellingham[/caption] Richardsons Beach, Freycinet National Park, Tasmania Freycinet National Park, which covers a peninsula on Tassie's East Coast, is famous for its striking, pink granite and numerous tranquil beaches, including Instagram star Wineglass Bay. The campground stretches along a stunning coastal strip, behind Richardsons Beach and overlooking Honeymoon Bay. If you're heading during the summer season, a ballot is drawn in mid-August in order to nab on of the 52 spots, or else you can book through the visitor centre. If you find yourself feeling social or thirsty, there's a brewery and shops just up the road. Alternatively, if you want to experience this part of Tasmania in pure luxury — taking a break from the tent — then check out Saffire Freycinet. [caption id="attachment_807810" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism and Events Queensland[/caption] Crayfish Beach, Hook Island, Whitsunday Islands National Park, Queensland If your idea of idyllic beach camping doesn't involve crowds, then pitch at Crayfish Beach, on Hook Island's eastern shore. The pocket-sized campground has space for only 12 people, the only way you can get there is by boat, and there's no mobile coverage. So, there'll be no way of telling the world you're surrounded by forest-covered mountains and snorkelling among some of The Whitsundays' best-looking underwater communities. Facilities are limited to composting toilets. Be prepared to carry in everything with you, including drinking water. [caption id="attachment_807811" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jess Bonde[/caption] Cloudy Bay, Bruny Island, Tasmania Bruny Island is just a 40-minute drive and 15-minute ferry ride from Hobart, yet it feels like it's a million miles away. There are loads of camping spots (including many free ones) all over the island, but one of the loveliest is Cloudy Corner, in the eastern corner of Cloudy Bay in South Bruny National Park. Getting there involves a three-kilometre drive along the beach at low tide. No bookings are taken, with campsites being allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Make sure to bring cash with you, too, as payment is taken via self-registration deposit boxes. While you're on the island, find the best whisky, oysters and outdoor activities via our 48 Hours on Bruny Island guide. [caption id="attachment_874853" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sal Salis in Western Australia - the best glamping in Australia.[/caption] Ningaloo Reef, Cape Range National Park, Western Australia There are a few road trip-worthy campsites scattered around Cape Range National Park for those looking for access to Australia's lesser-known yet nonetheless extraordinary reef, Ningaloo. The UNESCO Heritage-listed wonder hugs the Western Australian coast 1200 kilometres north of Perth and contains hundreds of fish and coral species. Ned's Camp is tucked away behind dunes, right next to a calm, white-sanded beach, which is lovely for swimming, snorkelling and paddling — and is an affordable spot with just ten non-powered campsites. If you're looking to take your holiday up a notch, you could also head to Sal Salis' eco-luxe cabins. Just 15 minutes down the road from Ned's, they're not cheap, but they're located just by the reef and come with meals and drinks, as well as kayaking, paddleboarding and snorkelling gear. Like Jim Beam, surfing and other outdoor adventures are all about bringing people together, so get out there this summer and find your tribe in the great outdoors. Top image: Lucky Bay, Tourism Western Australia
The intentions of this venue are clear: a bar, a wide open space (soon to be dance floor) and an empty stage. If you arrive early, it may all feel a little bare, but this only means more room for shenanigans later on. Live music is the core of the Factory's operation, with acts as diverse as Ratcat, the Herd, Holly Throsby and Jamie Lidell. There's plenty of other good options to look out for as well, as this venue also plays host to unique events like the Sydney Underground Film Festival.
The Rover has returned — dropping its "wild" moniker and with it, the jungle wallpaper — emerging as a sophisticated Surry Hills dining and drink destination tucked behind the same green door at the end of Campbell Street. It may have shed its dive bar energy but there are still hints of its Irish-themed past remaining with a plethora of whiskies on the drinks list, freshly shucked oysters, the repurposed train board listing and the Irish coffee on the dessert menu. The wine list — curated by Liquid & Larder head sommelier Kyle Poole — features over 50 interesting drops, highlighting complex but approachable organic and biodynamic wines. Seasonal cocktails join the drinks list curated by 2019 Australian Bartender of the Year Alex Gondzioulis. Plus, the aforementioned plethora of whiskies includes drams from America, Ireland, Scotland, Japan and, of course, Australia. It doesn't stop at the extensive drinks menu. In addition to the freshly shucked oysters, famous lamb sausage roll and fish finger sandwich on the New-England-inspired bar food menu on the ground level, you'll find a refined seafood bistro upstairs — the brainchild of British-born executive chef Pip Pratt. He explains "We wanted to elevate the restaurant experience for our guests with dishes that let seafood shine. This is fresh and fuss-free coastal fare best enjoyed with friends and great drinks in hand." Highlights of the menu include a daily rotation of crustaceans, a whole flathead served with lashings of garlic and clams, Nick's fisherman's pie with smoked trout and potato gratin and eel pate served with horseradish jelly and a glazed crumpet — a modern take on a traditional East London dish dating back to the 18th century when jellied eels were once a primary source for the city's working class. The revamped Rover is part of the Liquid & Larder hospitality group along with Grandma's, Bistecca and The Gidley. Reservations for the seafood bistro are available between 5–9pm, Monday–Saturday, as well as from 12pm for lunch on Saturday. Reservations can be made through the website or phone. Updated May 2, 2023. Images: Dominic Lonergan
Newtown's newest ice cream joint is scooping quality gelato with a focus on sustainable ingredients. Italian-born owner Matteo Pochintesta is an architect-turned-gelato maker who trained under the owner of Milan's gelateria Ciacco — and recently returned to Sydney to put his skills to the test. Sure, there are plenty of gelato shops along King Street, but Pochintesta is bringing a purist's sensibility to the local ice cream game. That means he's not turning out complicated flavour creations. Instead, Pochintesta is focusing on using the highest quality ingredients and all seasonal fruit. Signature flavours include the pistachio, made with certified premium Sicilian nuts, and the single-origin chocolate gianduja — both are vegan. Other traditional Italian flavours include the fior di latte and the stracciatella (chocolate chip), both made with Barambah organic milk. Flavours are limited to 12–14 at a time, with plenty of specials on offer. As the choices are quite straightforward, it's suggested you mix two — and, with the 'one scoop with two flavours' option only costing 50 cents extra, there's really no excuse not to. Images: Kitti Gould.
Sorry coffee lovers, becoming an adult is realising that water is actually the ultimate drink. And for one day only at Yo-Chi stores around the country, you can fill up for free and score yourself a sweet two-for-one treat at the same time. Taking place on Wednesday, March 25, Yo-Chi is inviting everyone to fill a reusable bottle or vessel at each store's free water station. Sparkling or still, the choice is yours. But just know plastic isn't accepted — this promo is all about saying goodbye to single-use bottles. View this post on Instagram As your reward for getting hydrated and making an eco-friendly move, the free froyo that comes with your feel-good refill is more than a small bonus. It's buy-one-get-one-free, with the Yo-Chi of lesser value complimentary up to $12. Back in 2022, Yo-Chi stopped selling bottled water, recognising its significant environmental impact. Despite up to $10 million in lost sales, the company turned to free water stations, where every refill means less plastic waste going to landfills. Like what you see? Subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter to get stories just like these straight to your inbox.
Looking for a cheap and tasty meal to kick your week off? Bankstown's Mt Lewis Pizzeria has you covered with its $1 Manoush Mondays. Every Monday from March 27, the Wattle Street restaurant is offering za'atar manoush for just $1. Mt Lewis Pizzeria is a family-run eatery founded in 2005. The manoush recipe has been passed down from generation to generation, and now you can come in and experience it for just $1. The promotion is limited to three servings of manoush per customer and can be teamed up with full-priced menu items such as chicken and mushroom or haloumi pide, Italian-style pizza, sambousik and vegetarian rolls depending on how hungry you are. Manoush is typically eaten for breakfast in Lebanon, so it's perfect if you're looking to head in early and start your week with a carby treat that won't break the bank. That said, the cheap-as-chips manoush is available all day from 5am until 11pm — so you can order one for breakfast, lunch or dinner. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mount Lewis Pizzeria (@mtlewispizzeria)
Despite her painting career lasting just eight years, late Aboriginal artist Emily Kame Kngwarreye smashed another art record this week, as her piece Earth's Creation I again fetched the highest price at auction for an Australian female artist. The contemporary piece went under the hammer for a huge $2.1 million, breaking its own 2007 record, having sold back then for $1.05 million. This time, it's been snapped up by art dealer Tim Olsen for his recently opened New York gallery, in an online auction headed up by Sydney's Cooee Art Marketplace and Fine Art Bourse. The sale of the acclaimed work, which has previously been on show at the likes of the National Museum of Art in Osaka, the National Museum of Australia and the National Gallery of Victoria, is also a big win for Australian Indigenous art, with Fine Art Bourse auctioneer Tim Goodman telling SBS: "this sale will go a long way to breathing life back into the Aboriginal art market." Hope you managed to get a look at it while it was in the country. Kngwarreye's painting is also not that far off the auction record for an Aboriginal artist, which was set by a Clifford Possum piece that sold for $2.4 million back in 2007. By contrast, the last known painting by Leonardo di Vinci, Salvator Mundi, just sold at auction for around $AUD590 million — making it history's most expensive artwork by far. Via SBS. Image: Emily Kame Kngwarreye (c.1910–1996) painting Earth's Creation I (1994).
This is one of the most recognisable dumpling haunts in Haymarket. Many would attribute this to the plastic grapes drooling from the ceiling, but we reckon it's got something to do with this place's authenticity. As classic as you'll get, Chinese Noodle Restaurant serves up fast and almost unchallengeable pork and cabbage dumplings ($8.80 for 12), while the miniature maitre d' flits around giving commands to her staff. The handmade Xinjiang stir-fried noodles with beef ($9.50) are a definite must, too; the product of the noodle aficionado on display behind a glass window who slaps and wraps the fresh dough for your viewing pleasure.
Set on a serene peninsula surrounded by Lake Wakatipu, the Queenstown Gardens boasts stunning lake and alpine views as well as a beautiful collection of blooms. Frequented by locals and visitors alike, the gardens' tranquil setting is the perfect refuge from the hustle and bustle of the city. As the gardens are conveniently located a short walk from downtown Queenstown, many community activities are held within the grounds. We suggest taking a rug, a picnic and some friends, kicking back and enjoy the views of the lake through the Douglas Firs. Once you're sufficiently relaxed, stretch your legs and take a stroll around the beautiful lawns. Be sure to check out the water feature and rose garden for an added bit of pretty.
In this age of seemingly endless streaming platforms, there's never a shortage of things to watch. New movies hit the likes of Netflix, Stan, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Apple TV+ and DocPlay all the time, as well as the plethora of other online viewing services that just keep popping up, especially in 2020 — and they're all ready to be viewed and enjoyed by your ravenous eyeballs. With such an ongoing onslaught of content fighting for everyone's attention, there's always a new highlight. This year has been full of them, in fact, and we've been rounding up the best streaming standouts each and every month. But, with 2020 now almost at a close, we're in reflective mode — so, from a 12-month period that saw us all glued to our screens at home far more than we ever dreamed of back in January, we've picked the 12 very best straight-to-streaming flicks from the past year. These movies didn't play in local cinemas, even for just a short period, but they're all absolute must-sees. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcqItifbNUA SMALL AXE British filmmaker Steve McQueen hasn't directed a bad movie — and, dropping five new features as part of the Small Axe anthology, that isn't changing now. The director of Hunger, Shame, 12 Years a Slave and Widows gifts viewers a quintet of films that are as exceptional as anything he's ever made, with every entry in this new series taking place in England, in the 60s, 70s and 80s, with London's West Indian community at its centre. The first, Mangrove, tells an infuriating true tale about a police campaign to target a Caribbean restaurant in Notting Hill. From there, Lovers Rock spends time at a house party as two attendees dance into each other's orbits, and Red, White and Blue follows a young forensic scientist who decides to join the force to change it from the inside. Next, Alex Wheatle explores the life of the award-winning writer of the same name, while Education unpacks unofficial moves to segregate children of colour in schools. There's no weak link here — only stunning, stirring, standout cinema that tells blistering tales about Black London residents doing everything it takes to resist their racist treatment. Every film is sumptuously shot, too, thanks to cinematographer Shabier Kirchner (Bull), and the cast spans everyone from Lost in Space's Shaun Parkes and Black Panther's Letitia Wright to Star Wars' John Boyega. All five Small Axe films are available to stream via Binge. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ord7gP151vk MA RAINEY'S BLACK BOTTOM Chadwick Boseman, Oscar-winner. That combination of words is very likely to become a posthumous reality for the late, great actor, thanks to his last screen role. Boseman is just that phenomenal in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom. He has earned that term before in Get on Up, Black Panther and Da 5 Bloods, but his performance in this stage-to-screen production is such a powerhouse effort that it's like watching a cascading waterfall drown out almost everything around it. He plays trumpeter Levee Green, who is part of the eponymous Ma Rainey's (Viola Davis, Widows) band. On a 1920s day, the always-nattering, big-dreaming musician joins Ma — who isn't just a fictional character, and was known as the Mother of Blues — and the rest of his colleagues for a recording session. Temperatures and tempers rise in tandem in the Chicago studio, with Levee and Ma rarely seeing eye to eye on any topic. Davis is in thundering, hot-blooded form, while Colman Domingo (If Beale Street Could Talk) and Glynn Turman (Fargo) also leave a firm impression. It's impossible take your eyes off of the slinkily magnetic Boseman though, as would prove the case even if he was still alive to see the film's release. Adapting the play of the same name by August Wilson (Fences), director George C. Wolfe (The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks) lets Boseman farewell the screen with one helluva bang. Ma Rainey's Black Bottom is available to stream via Netflix. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTfJp2Ts9X8 UNCUT GEMS The best film of 2020, based on Australian release dates, might only screen on Netflix on our shores. That might seem a big call, but the anxiety-dripping, riveting Uncut Gems is a stone-cold masterpiece, complete with one of the greatest performances of Adam Sandler's career (alongside Punch-Drunk Love and The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected)). Far, far removed from his Netflix comedies of late, the actor is all hustle and bustle as Jewish American diamond-district jeweller Howard Ratner. A compulsive gambler who is deeply in debt, about to get divorced and being shaken down by a loan shark (Eric Bogosian) he's related to by marriage, he's always trying to lure in high-profile clientele. When he comes into possession of a rare black opal — the uncut gem of the title — basketballer Kevin Garnett becomes interested, sparking a wild chain of events. Writer/directors Josh and Benny Safdie last worked their gritty, vivid and relentlessly tense magic with the Robert Pattinson-starring Good Time to exhilarating and mesmerising effect, and this uncompromisingly chaotic thriller and all-round exceptional character study is even better. Uncut Gems is available to stream via Netflix. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5RDTPfsLAI DA 5 BLOODS A fiery examination of both the Vietnam War and US race relations, Da 5 Bloods is a Spike Lee film through and through. It nods liberally to its influences, such as Apocalypse Now, but only the acclaimed Do the Right Thing and BlacKkKlansman filmmaker could've made a war movie this affecting, incisive, entertaining and politically astute — especially given its focus on African American men expected to fight and die for the same country that still struggles to treat them equally. Plot-wise, the part combat drama, part heist thriller, part history lesson follows four ex-soldiers (Delroy Lindo, Clarke Peters, Norm Lewis and Isiah Whitlock Jr) who make the trip back to Ho Chi Minh City decades after the conflict. They're searching for buried gold, as well as for the remains of their beloved squad leader (Chadwick Boseman, as seen in flashbacks). In Lee's hands, and with Lindo taking charge as a PTSD-afflicted, MAGA hat-wearing veteran, the results are energetic, passionate, and both intellectually and emotionally stunning. Da 5 Bloods is available to stream via Netflix. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7X0O9lZ_jQ WOLFWALKERS From FernGully: the Last Rainforest to Moana — and including everything from Studio Ghibli's Pom Poko and Princess Mononoke to Pixar's Wall-E, too — many an animated movie has combined eye-catching frames with an important message about the environment. Irish film Wolfwalkers joins the pile and rockets to the top, thanks to one of the most visually and emotionally enchanting features of the year. Story-wise, it follows young wannabe hunter Robyn Goodfellowe (Honor Kneafsey, The Bookshop). In a tale set centuries ago, she moves to Ireland with her father Bill (Sean Bean, Snowpiercer) when he's hired to eradicate the last wolf pack lurking in the woods. The locals, as overseen by an English Lord Protector (Simon McBurney, The Loudest Voice), want to wipe out the wolves so that they can tear down the forest in the name of progress. But, after sneaking out to go exploring, Robyn befriends a girl called Mebh (feature first-timer Eva Whittaker) who just might be a member of a mythical tribe that's able to shapeshift into the creatures while they're dreaming. As well as a rousing eco-conscious narrative, Wolfwalkers delivers distinctive and delightful animation. Expect earthy, natural colours, with greens, browns, oranges and yellows dancing across the screen. Expect a line-heavy visual style, too, which is almost reminiscent of woodblock prints. And, expect another all-round beauty from co-director Tomm Moore, who also helmed the Oscar-nominated and equally beautiful duo The Secret of Kells and Song of the Sea. Wolfwalkers is available to stream via Apple TV+. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gs--6c7Hn_A SOUL Released earlier in 2020, Onward definitely wasn't Pixar's best film — but Soul, its straight-to-streaming latest movie, instantly contends for the title. The beloved animation studio has always excelled when it takes big leaps. Especially now, 25 years into its filmmaking tenure, its features prove particularly enchanting when they're filled with surprises (viewers have become accustomed to seeing toys, fish, rats and robots have feelings, after all). On paper, Soul initially seems similar to Inside Out, but switching in souls for emotions. It swaps in voice work by Tina Fey for Amy Poehler, too, and both movies are helmed by director Peter Docter, so there's more than one reason for the comparison. But to the delight of viewers of all ages, Soul is a smart, tender and contemplative piece of stunning filmmaking all on its own terms. It's Pixar at its most existential, and with a strikingly percussive soundtrack by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross to further help it stand out. At its centre sits aspiring jazz musician-turned-music teacher Joe (Jamie Foxx, Just Mercy). Just as he's about to get his big break, he falls down a manhole, his soul leaves his body, and he's desperate to get back to chase his dreams. But that's not how things work, and he's saddled with mentoring apathetic and cynical soul 22 (the always hilarious Fey) in his quest to reclaim his life. Soul is available to stream via Disney+ from Friday, December 25. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAveuCPBYSw I'M YOUR WOMAN Normally, when a criminal's latest job takes a turn for the worst for whatever reason, the film that tells their tale follows their part in the aftermath. I'm Your Woman isn't that movie. It looks like that kind of feature. It resembles one with exacting precision. But that isn't the narrative that's on offer here, and refreshingly so. Directed and co-written by Julia Hart (Fast Colour) with such a supreme handling of style, story and genre, this is a 70s-esque crime affair, but it focuses on Jean (Rachel Brosnahan, The Marvelous Mrs Maisel), the wife of a thief who has gone missing after a big score goes south. The aggrieved gangsters chasing her husband are also unlikely to be kind to Jean and her baby, so she's whisked off into hiding in the middle of the night with zero notice. That's a drastic change that she's unprepared to cope with — but, with help from the her spouse's ex-acquaintance Cal (Arinzé Kene, How to Build a Girl), she also discovers that she's far more resilient than she thinks. Compelling from the moment it opens with Jean clad in a magenta robe, add I'm Your Woman to the pile of movies that serves up a big shift in a familiar genre (see also: Sylvie's Love below), and does so in a spectacular fashion. I'm Your Woman is available to stream via Amazon Prime Video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDTg62vsV4U I'M THINKING OF ENDING THINGS For much of I'm Thinking of Ending Things two-hour-plus running time, the film's characters sit and talk as discomfort fills the space around them. The movie's protagonist (Wild Rose's Jessie Buckley) and her boyfriend Jake (Jesse Plemons) awkwardly chat as they drive through the snow to the Oklahoma farm where the latter grew up. They both endure several seesawing conversations with Jake's erratic and eccentric mother (Toni Collette) and father (David Thewlis) once they arrive. And, steam-of-consciousness narration also provides a soundtrack. But given this feature is written and directed by Being John Malkovich and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind screenwriter Charlie Kaufman, it was never going to be a straightforward flick about meeting the parents. Instead, it's a purposely ambiguous and complex exploration of identity, choice and the very nature of human existence — complete with sudden ballet dances, strange overnight stops at deserted dessert stands and flashes to an unhappy janitor (Guy Boyd) — and it's a fascinating, challenging, visually stunning trip the entire way. I'm Thinking of Ending Things is available to stream via Netflix. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSCKfXpAGHc HAMILTON If you haven't been lucky enough to catch Hamilton on the stage — and, let's face it, most of us haven't — a filmed "live capture" version of the popular hip hop musical here to fill the gap. The story, for those who aren't intimately acquainted with US revolutionary history, chronicles the Caribbean-born eponymous "bastard, orphan, son of a whore and a Scotsman" from his arrival in New York in the early 1770s. As the informative opening number explains, Alexander Hamilton will go on to become "the ten-dollar Founding Father without a father", with the production charting how he "got a lot farther by working a lot harder, by being a lot smarter and by being a self-starter". And, as shot on Broadway back in 2016, the results really are as phenomenal as we've all been hearing for the past five years. The entire cast, including not only creator, writer and star Lin-Manuel Miranda but Tony-winners Daveed Diggs (Snowpiercer) and Leslie Odom Jr (Murder on the Orient Express), Mindhunter's Jonathan Groff and Waves' Renee Elise Goldsberry, is superb, as is every element of the production. Infectiously exuberant from its first moments, and not only lively but frequently funny, Miranda's rich, dense but always accessible words and songs interrogate US history with passion, intelligence and energy. They'll also become firmly lodged in your head, too, so don't say we didn't warn you. The filmed version of Hamilton is available to stream via Disney+. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7QpnvmMmag&feature=emb_logo PALM SPRINGS It wasn't the first movie to play with temporal trickery; however, Groundhog Day has a lot to answer for. Films about folks stuck in a loop, repeating the same day or events over and over, now almost comprise their own genre — but, wearing its allegiance to the aforementioned Bill Murray-starring comedy on its sleeves, Palm Springs is one of the best of them. Here, Brooklyn Nine-Nine's Andy Samberg plays Nyles, who has ventured to the titular location with his girlfriend Misty (Meredith Hagner, Brightburn) to attend a friend's nuptials. He gets drunk, makes a speech and a scene, befriends fellow wedding guest Sarah (Cristin Milioti, Modern Love) and disappears into a cave, warning the latter not to follow. When dawn breaks, it's the same day again. Then variations on the same events happen once more, and they just keep repeating over and over. Also featuring an initially intense JK Simmons (21 Bridges) as another ceremony attendee, Palm Springs has a wealth of fun with its concept, and becomes one of the year's most enjoyable movies in the process. Produced by Samberg alongside his Lonely Island colleagues Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone, directed by feature first-timer Max Barbakow and written by Lodge 49's Andy Siara, it also finds its own way to grapple with the time-loop genre's usual elements — the repetition that feels like being stuck in purgatory, and the existential malaise that comes with it — in a smart and funny rom-com that boasts particularly great performances from Samberg and Milioti. Palm Springs is available to stream via Amazon Prime Video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfTmT6C5DnM DICK JOHNSON IS DEAD Mortality is no one's favourite subject. Confronting the certainty of our own demise is so difficult, we all just generally carry on as though it won't happen. And the reality that everyone we know and love will die, including our parents, is just as tough to deal with. Facing not only the fact that her father is advancing in age, but that he's suffering dementia — meaning that she'll lose him mentally before he passes away physically — cinematographer and documentarian Kirsten Johnson (Cameraperson) conjured up a playful and poignant project. In Dick Johnson Is Dead, she stages her dad's death over and over. He's very much alive and he takes part, with the father-daughter duo bonding during what time they have left together in the process. While it might sound morbid, this moving movie is anything but. As well as the scenes that give the film its title, it also provides an insightful chronicle of the Johnsons' lives. Tender, thoughtful, personal and intimate, and driven by both Dick and Kirsten's presence, the result is perhaps the most affecting feature of the year — and a very worth winner of the Special Jury Award for Innovation in Non-Fiction Storytelling at this year's Sundance Film Festival. Dick Johnson Is Dead is available to stream now via Netflix. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGvYFB6GHRY SPACESHIP EARTH When it premiered at Sundance in January this year, Spaceship Earth wouldn't and couldn't have seemed as topical as it does at present. The documentary's subject: Biosphere 2, the biodome in the Arizona desert that played host to eight inhabitants for two years in the early 90s — all isolating themselves from the world by choice, in the name of science, to see if a closed-off, fully self-sustaining vivarium could work if/when humanity ever ventures beyond the earth. It sounds like pure sci-fi, but this is 100-percent reality. With the help of a treasure trove of archival material as well as present-day interviews from many of the folks involved at the time, filmmaker Matt Wolf takes viewers through the unusual and fascinating experiment. While it would've been very easy to play up the outlandishness of the whole project (indeed, as seen in media clips from the time, many an onlooker did), this doco approaches Biosphere 2 and the passionate people who made it happen with thoughtfulness and appreciation, in what proves a supremely mesmerising, engaging and intelligent film. Spaceship Earth is available to stream via DocPlay.
Not all that long ago, the idea of getting cosy on your couch, clicking a few buttons, and having thousands of films and television shows at your fingertips seemed like something out of science fiction. Now, it's just an ordinary night — whether you're virtually gathering the gang to text along, cuddling up to your significant other or shutting the world out for some much needed me-time. Of course, given the wealth of options to choose from, there's nothing ordinary about making a date with your chosen streaming platform. The question isn't "should I watch something?" — it's "what on earth should I choose?". Hundreds of titles are added to Australia's online viewing services each and every month, all vying for a spot on your must-see list. And, so you don't spend 45 minutes scrolling and then being too tired to actually commit to watching anything, we're here to help. From the latest and greatest to old favourites, here are our picks for your streaming queue for October — and yes, we're guessing you've already hit up The Trial of the Chicago 7, Rebecca and On the Rocks. NEW STUFF TO WATCH NOW https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Rsa4U8mqkw BORAT SUBSEQUENT MOVIEFILM Of all that twists and turns that 2020 has delivered, the arrival of a new Borat movie ranks among the most unexpected. Watching Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, however, it's obvious why the famed fictional Kazakh journalist is making a comeback at this very moment — that is, just before the US election. Once again, Borat travels to America. Once again, he traverses the country, interviewing everyday people and exposing the abhorrent views that have become engrained in US society. Where its 2006 predecessor had everyone laughing along with it, though, there's also an uneasy and even angry undercurrent to Borat Subsequent Moviefilm that's reflective of these especially polarised times. It's worth noting that Sacha Baron Cohen's last project, 2018 TV series Who Is America?, also used the comedian's usual interview technique to paint a picture of the US today, and the results were as astute as they were horrifying. There are plenty of jokes in Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, which bases its narrative around Borat's attempt to gift his 15-year-old daughter (instant scene-stealer Maria Bakalova) to Vice President Mike Pence and then ex-New York mayor Rudy Giuliani to help get Kazakhstan's own leader into President Donald Trump's good graces, but this is the unflinching work of a star passionate about making a statement. Borat Subsequent Moviefilm is available to stream now via Amazon Prime Video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-Tm63y-S4s THE GOOD LORD BIRD In The Good Lord Bird's opening moments, the new seven-part mini-series tells viewers what'll happen to 19th-century US abolitionist John Brown (Ethan Hawke), its central figure. The audience sees Brown approach the gallows, with narration making plain that he's about to meet his end. Given that Brown was a real figure, the show is merely outlining his history in this regard. But even with the knowledge of his character's ultimate fate lodged firmly in viewers' minds from the outset, Hawke turns in a riveting performance every time he's on-screen. Brown not only opposed slavery, but was driven to use violence to liberate enslaved Black Americans — and the power of his conviction shines through in Hawke's blistering portrayal, as it does throughout the engaging series overall. The Good Lord Bird's voiceover and perspective comes from the fictional Henry 'Onion' Shackleford (Joshua Caleb Johnson), a boy that Brown saves but mistakes for a girl, and who also crosses paths with other historical personalities such as fellow reformer Frederick Douglass (Hamilton's Daveed Diggs) and Confederate general JEB Stuart (Wyatt Russell). As for this smart, irreverent, bold and vehement take on America's troubled past in general, it stems from the pages of James McBride's 2013 novel of the same name. The first three episodes of The Good Lord Bird are available to stream now via Stan, with new episodes added weekly. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeYWT7CnFK0 SCARE ME Written and directed by Josh Ruben, and starring him also, Scare Me doesn't just like scary movies — it loves scary stories. Indeed, this pared-back horror film understands that sometimes all that's needed to keep an audience on the edge of their seats is a great tale told well. Its characters, both writers, are all about unfurling creepy narratives. Fred (Ruben) falls into the aspiring category, while Fanny (You're the Worst and The Boys' Aya Cash) has an acclaimed best-seller to her name. With each taking time out in the mountains to get some work done, these two strangers end up in Fred's cabin telling each other disturbing stories when the power goes out (and trying to one-up each other). For its first two-thirds, Scare Me makes the most of that basic concept. Fred and Fanny perform their tales, sound effects and ominous lighting kicks in — it's a stormy night, of course — and the mood is suitably perturbing. The film also demonstrates its self-awareness, namedropping other genre titles with frequency and sending in a pizza from the Overlook. When this Sundance-premiering feature decides to ponder real-life horrors as part of its layered stories, however, it proves especially potent. Scare Me is available to stream now via Shudder. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10dsDHszrcY TOTALLY UNDER CONTROL Perhaps the most frightening film of 2020, Totally Under Control isn't a horror movie filled with traditional bumps and jumps. For anyone who has been keeping a close eye on the constantly unnerving news served up by this hectic year, it also doesn't tell viewers anything that isn't already known. But this US-focused documentary unsettles from start to finish, all by exploring the American response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Comparisons with other countries — including South Korea, which initially had a similar caseload back at the beginning of the year — are particularly effective. To-camera interviews by officials involved in the Trump administration's response to the coronavirus, and from one volunteer given far too much responsibility for solving crucial PPE shortages, are just as telling. This isn't the first doco about COVID-19 and it won't be the last; however, as co-directed by Oscar-winning documentarian Alex Gibney (Taxi to the Dark Side, We Steal Secrets: The Story of Wikileaks, Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief) with Ophelia Harutyunyan and Suzanne Hillinger, it's absolutely essential viewing. Totally Under Control is available to stream now via DocPlay. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWoiNlLqLR8 THE UNDOING If it was made less than a decade ago instead of now, The Undoing likely would've followed Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train to cinemas. This page-to-screen adaptation certainly has the cast for it — Nicole Kidman, Hugh Grant, Donald Sutherland, A Quiet Place's Noah Jupe and Edgar Ramirez — as well as a knotty mystery premise and a tension-dripping tone. But hot on the heels of Big Little Lies, The Undoing is actually HBO's latest big-name mini-series. Kidman returns, obviously, as does well-known TV writer David E Kelley (LA Law, Ally McBeal, The Practice). The former plays a successful therapist, Grace Fraser, whose seemingly happy home life and marriage to Grant's paediatric oncologist Jonathan starts to collapse when someone linked to her son's ultra-wealthy private school turns up dead. Based on Jean Hanff Korelitz's novel You Should Have Known and directed by The Night Manager's Susanne Bier, this six-part series is the epitome of #richpeopleproblems — but whether exploring heated moments in lush surroundings, or noting the type of emotions and behaviours status and standing can both encourage and hide, it's firmly aware of that fact. Thanks to a twist at the end of each episode, it's also very addictive, even when it's predictable. The first episode of The Undoing is available to stream now via Binge, with new episodes added weekly. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfTmT6C5DnM DICK JOHNSON IS DEAD Mortality is no one's favourite subject. Confronting the certainty of our own demise is so difficult, we all just generally carry on as though it won't happen. And the reality that everyone we know and love will die, including our parents, is just as tough to deal with. Facing not only the fact that her father is advancing in age, but that he's suffering dementia — meaning that she'll lose him mentally before he passes away physically — cinematographer and documentarian Kirsten Johnson (Cameraperson) conjured up a playful and poignant project. In Dick Johnson Is Dead, she stages her dad's death over and over. He's very much alive and he takes part, with the father-daughter duo bonding during what time they have left together in the process. While it might sound morbid, this moving movie is anything but. As well as the scenes that give the film its title, it also provides an insightful chronicle of the Johnsons' lives. Tender, thoughtful, personal and intimate, and driven by both Dick and Kirsten's presence, the result is perhaps the most affecting feature of the year — and a very worth winner of the Special Jury Award for Innovation in Non-Fiction Storytelling at this year's Sundance Film Festival. Dick Johnson Is Dead is available to stream now via Netflix. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WHZM-gDONo FEELS GOOD MAN If you've somehow managed to avoid Pepe the Frog over the past decade, then you clearly haven't spent enough time on the internet during that period. The green character became an online meme back in the 2000s, popping up on message boards and earning users' devotion. It was then was co-opted by the alt-right movement, not only becoming its symbol but getting quite a workout in the lead up to the 2016 US Presidential election. That's not how Pepe started out, however, as Arthur Jones' documentary Feels Good Man shows. Originally, Pepe was created by artist Matt Furie and featured in his Boys Club comics — and the kindly illustrator definitely didn't intend for his cute critter to become associated with prejudice, hate and offensive viewpoints. In addition to charting the history of Pepe, Feels Good Man works through Furie's ongoing fight to reclaim his creation. As you might expect given the above description, this is the type of tale that can only be true, and is also best understood by watching it unfurl. Feels Good Man does something else, though, documenting how online content can take on a life far beyond that initially envisaged, as well as offering a pivotal snapshot of how politicised every facet of American life seems to have become. Feels Good Man is available to stream now via DocPlay. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4ISTHi45_s FARGO Last month, SBS added the first three seasons of Fargo to its streaming platform, in preparation for the long-awaited fourth season's arrival. Based on the Oscar-winning Coen brothers' film of the same name, this is an anthology series, so watching previous seasons before starting the new one isn't essential — but, as the latest batch of episodes demonstrates, soaking in all things Fargo is highly recommended. Dropping fresh instalments weekly, Fargo season four is easy to devour. Set in 1950 in Kansas City, Missouri, it steps into its favourite territory: a turf war. While the first episode explains that different groups have been fighting to control the city's underworld for decades, this time it's Loy Cannon (Chris Rock) and his fellow Black Americans' turn to challenge the Italian crime syndicate led by Josto Fadda (Jason Schwartzman). As always, the story from there proves both twisty and blackly comedic, and appears on-track to deliver yet another cautionary tale about the perils of underhanded and illicit activities. There's gravitas to Rock's portrayal of a man trying to carve out his place, and he's joined by a similarly top-notch cast including Jessie Buckley (I'm Thinking of Ending Things) as a nurse with a secret and Ben Whishaw (No Time to Die) as one of Fadda's put-upon offsiders. The first five episodes of Fargo's fourth season are available to stream now via SBS On Demand, with new episodes added weekly. ONES TO WATCH OUT FOR https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eW7Twd85m2g THE MANDALORIAN Travelling to a galaxy far, far away sounds rather nice at this point in 2020. If you're a Star Wars fan, that's actually quite easy, too. While this year won't deliver a new movie in the franchise for the first time since 2014, the second season of TV spinoff The Mandalorian is heading to Disney+ from Friday, October 30. For those that missed it or need a refresher — the Star Wars universe certainly does sprawl far and wide, both within its tales and in its many different movies, shows, books and games — the Emmy-nominated show follows the titular bounty hunter (Pedro Pascal). In the series' first season, which was set five years after Star Wars: Episode VI — Return of the Jedi and aired last year, that meant tracking his latest gigs. And, it also involved charting his encounter with a fuzzy little creature officially known as The Child, but affectionately named Baby Yoda by everyone watching. Also on offer the first time around: Breaking Bad's Giancarlo Esposito playing villain Moff Gideon, aka the ex-Galactic Empire security officer determined to capture The Child; everyone from Carl Weathers and Taika Waititi to Werner Herzog playing ex-magistrates, droids and enigmatic strangers; and plenty of planet-hopping. Yes, it was firmly a Star Wars TV series, and yes, it plans to continue in the same manner. The Mandalorian's second season starts streaming via Disney+ from Friday, October 30, CULT CLASSICS TO REVISIT AND REDISCOVER https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ob_Sq__g01E THE HITCHCOCK COLLECTION Fans of thrillers, and of the filmmaker who became a legend by directing them, have two choices this month. Eighty years after Alfred Hitchcock first brought the story to the screen, Netflix has produced a lavish-looking new adaptation of Rebecca — a movie that intoxicates visually, but doesn't ever quite match the heights reached by the Master of Suspense's Oscar-winning version all those decades ago. But for those who'd rather luxuriate in all things Hitch, Stan is streaming a collection of his greatest hits. It doesn't include Rebecca, but when you're watching classics such as Psycho, The Birds and Rear Window — and Rope and Saboteur, too — you aren't likely to mind. All five will always stand the test of time, but Psycho's tale of a troubled man obsessed with his mother and the unfortunate woman who crosses his path has always been innately unnerving. When you're not revelling in its twists, and its famed screech-heavy shower scene, Rear Window's voyeurism-fuelled storyline (and the fact that its protagonist, played by a commanding James Stewart, is stuck at home) feels particularly relevant this year. Stan's Hitchcock collection is available to stream now. Top images: Borat Subsequent Moviefilm courtesy of Amazon Studios.
For almost 18 months, there's been no time for No Time to Die. Originally slated to hit cinemas worldwide back in April 2020, the 25th official film featuring Bond, James Bond has suffered from more than a few delays due to the pandemic — and was one of the first movies to initially move its release date, in fact. Yes, you could say the feature's plans have been both shaken and stirred, and multiple times. In Australia, they've just been given another push. In most of the world, lovers of both martinis and spy films will finally get their latest fix of suave secret agents, sinister plots to destroy the world and big-screen espionage thrills from the end of September; however, that's no longer the case in Australia. With cinemas in New South Wales and Victoria closed for the foreseeable future due to lockdowns in both states, and reopening dates not yet announced, No Time to Die's Aussie debut has been shifted from Thursday, September 30 to Thursday, November 11. Movie buffs can expect this to keep happening — although, unlike in 2020 and earlier in 2021 when film release dates kept being swapped around due to COVID-19, now it's just occurring in Australia. And yes, No Time to Die is delaying its release countrywide, even though cinemas in Queensland, Tasmania, Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory currently remain open. Need a reminder of what to look forward to, Bond-wise? A new trailer for No Time to Die has also just dropped, following a first sneak peek all the way back in 2019 and a more recent trailer in 2020. Obviously, all the franchise staples are covered in the clips so far, including world-in-peril action, savvy ladies, plenty of gadgets, eye-popping stunts and spectacles, and an Aston Martin. And, because no Bond movie would be complete without a formidable villain, this flick serves up two: an unhinged, mask-wearing new adversary called Safin (Bohemian Rhapsody Oscar-winner Rami Malek), plus imprisoned ex-opponent Blofeld (Christoph Waltz, Alita: Battle Angel). Daniel Craig returns as 007, marking not only his fifth stint as the spy since 2006's Casino Royale, but his last — and he has company in the 00 stakes. Following the events of 2015's Spectre, Bond has left active service and started a new life in Jamaica, causing MI6 to recruit someone else to cover his turf. That'd be new agent Nomi (Captain Marvel's Lashana Lynch), and you can obviously expect the pair to cross paths. Bond being Bond, he was never going to be able to escape his line of work easily, after all. Here, he's brought back in by CIA agent Felix Leiter (Jeffrey Wright, Westworld) to help with a mission to rescue a kidnapped scientist. Directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga (True Detective, Maniac) and penned by a team that includes Fukunaga, The Report director Scott Z Burns and Fleabag's Phoebe Waller-Bridge, this Bond instalment also brings back all the usual offsiders. Ralph Fiennes (The Dig) returns as M, alongside Naomie Harris (The Third Day) as Eve Moneypenny, Ben Whishaw (Little Joe) as Q and Rory Kinnear (Peterloo) as MI6 head Bill Tanner. Lea Seydoux (Kursk) is back as psychiatrist Dr Madeleine Swan, too — and, reuniting with Craig after co-starring in the fabulously entertaining Knives Out, Ana de Armas also joins the cast. Watch the final No Time to Die trailer below: No Time to Die will release in Australian cinemas on November 11, 2021.
It's likely safe to say that no one IRL has met their significant other via the unique combination of a flashed nipple, a dog on the street, then strangers coming together not only to ensure that an injured pooch gets the medical treatment that it needs, but to care for the cute pup together from that instant forwards. It's the type of situation that screenwriters conjure up. In this case, writers and actors Harriet Dyer and Patrick Brammall have done just that. But one of the charms of Colin From Accounts from its first scenes back when its initial season arrived at the end of 2022 is the fact that it takes an only-on-TV (or in the movies) kind of meet-cute and makes everything about it, and also all that's followed between its protagonists, feel authentic. The charisma between Dyer and Brammall was always going to radiate a genuine vibe. They're married. They're also no strangers to working together on an Aussie comedy series where sparks fly between their characters. The now-American Auto and Evil stars, respectively, also teamed up on the two homegrown seasons of No Activity across 2015–16 (they each appeared in the show's US remake as well, which ran for four seasons across 2017–21, and preceded both versions of the show with A Moody Christmas and Ruben Guthrie). To watch, even playing folks who wouldn't have any awareness of each other if it wasn't for an impossible-to-predict series of events as in Colin From Accounts, their shared presence couldn't be more comfortable. [caption id="attachment_881020" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lisa Tomasetti[/caption] There's an ease to Colin From Accounts that spans far beyond its on- and off-screen driving forces, though, and a relatability. Even the sequence that gets Ashley and Gordon, aka Dyer's medical student and Brammall's microbrewery owner, crossing paths unfurls with a sense that each step along the way isn't out of the question. In fact, it all begins as everyone watching has experienced themselves: with two people not knowing what to do when they literally cross each other's path in the street. Kicking off as you mean to go on — with amusing and insightful comedy that manages not to seem too far from reality when it's at its most heightened, with a new couple and their adorable pet, and with a winning sense of humour — is firmly Dyer and Brammall's approach with Colin From Accounts.facc Accordingly, it's been no wonder that the Binge series has proved a viewer favourite at home and overseas, and earned renewal for a second season. It wasn't a surprise, either, when it started collecting a swag of awards — AACTAs and Logies in Australia, also gongs from the nation's writers' and casting guilds, plus the Breakthrough Comedy Series accolade alongside the Outstanding Performance in a Comedy Series prize for Dyer at the first-ever Gotham TV Awards in the US. Speaking with Concrete Playground about season two, which is streaming for Aussie audiences via Binge, Dyer and Brammall give the series the sheen of a miracle, however, thanks to sharing a simple fact: that Colin From Accounts began as a fun thing for the pair to write for themselves, including to act in, but without thinking that anything more would come of it. [caption id="attachment_881024" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tony Mott[/caption] For most, that'll be the least-relatable thing about the hit series: that something this delightful can spring from merely "bouncing an idea around", as Brammall describes it, without having confidence that it'd find its way to the screen. With the pair's resumes — Dyer's also includes Down Under, Killing Ground, Love Child, The Other Guy, The Invisible Man and Wakefield, while Brammall's sports Home and Away, Griff the Invisible, The Moodys, Offspring, Upper Middle Bogan, Glitch, Overlord and Lodge 49, to name just a few other credits for both — the least-believable aspect might be that there was ever any question that the project would, could and should make it to fruition. Season two of Colin From Accounts doesn't dare feel like an easy repeat of the first. Ashley and Gordon are past the will-they-won't-they stage, but now they have the next question to ponder: should've they? The season picks up with them still regretting giving Colin away, so much so that they're desperate to get him back to the point of popping up in the park where he's playing with his new owners, becoming a big part of Colin's new humans' lives — much to the latter's chagrin — and doing whatever it takes to bring their dog back home. But that's just the opening storyline, and something to distract a no-longer-new duo from whether they really are right for each other. From there, the season digs into their romantic histories, approaches to self-pleasure and miscommunication, then what happens when meeting the parents doesn't quite gel and how they might want different things for the future. In addition to the show's original idea and sliding-door moment, we also chatted with Dyer and Brammall about their starting point for the second season, plans for Ashley and Gordon across the series' latest eight instalments, and veering down a new route in its fifth episode. If you've ever wondered how difficult it is to come up with a name that'll work for both a dog and a TV show, we plunged into that as well, then explored the naturalism of Colin From Accounts' dialogue — another factor that makes it feel so authentic — including both when it's scripted and improvised. [caption id="attachment_881023" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tony Mott[/caption] On the Original Idea for Colin From Accounts Springing From a Nipple Flash, a Dog and Strangers Committing to Take Care of a Cute Injured Pooch Together Harriet: "We just made it up." Patrick: "We were just bouncing an idea around, really. I mean, we didn't think it would get made. It was just like 'hey, this would be fun to write something for us to act in because we're actors'." Harriet: "We wanted two people that only had chemistry. They didn't know each other, they didn't have ..." Patrick: "Anything in common." [caption id="attachment_881021" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lisa Tomasetti[/caption] Harriet: "They were not expecting to see each other beyond that moment. It could have been a sliding-door situation where the postman didn't let the dog out, and she just flashes her nipple and he keeps driving and goes 'who was that woman?', and tells his friends at work and that's it." Patrick: "Yeah, that's right." Harriet: "But because the man didn't close the gate properly, then you've got a dog. And that's the kind of magical bit." [caption id="attachment_881022" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lisa Tomasetti[/caption] On the Deliberation That Went Giving a Dog That Name That Also Doubled as the Moniker for a TV Series Harriet: "It's interesting. I never actually loved the name Colin From Accounts as a TV show. I didn't know what else to call it, but I thought it sounded a bit broad, but it's working. It's worked. I can't note it now." Patrick: "Are you kidding? I loved it always." Harriet: "You did." Patrick: "Yes." Harriet: "Yes." Patrick: "We did talk — Binge at one point were like 'hey, do we love the title? Do we think it should be something else?'. And we had a think and the best we could come up with was Dog with Wheels." [caption id="attachment_952631" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lisa Tomasetti[/caption] Harriet: "Dog with Wheels is a different kind of broad." Patrick: "Yeah, yeah. No, not good." Harriet: "It's neither better nor worse, though." Patrick: "Colin From Accounts, I love it cause it's a good misdirect." Harriet: "People think it's about Patty." [caption id="attachment_964082" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Joel Pratley[/caption] Patrick: "Yeah, and that my name's Colin. But it comes from real life because we, a few years ago, fostered a dog for a short time, and he had a name we didn't like. It was Minshu. Like, well done, but we just didn't he looked like a Minshu. And so we literally that conversation we have in episode one season one, pretty much verbatim ..." Harriet: "Airlifted, yeah." Patrick: "... a conversation that we had in life. 'What does he look like? He looks like a Colin. He looks like Colin from accounts'. And we did that, and it amused us to call a dog Colin From Accounts. And so because these two characters, they meet on the same frequency. That's what turns each other on about the other. So that made sense to make that the name of the show, because that's a weird thing when they meet." [caption id="attachment_952629" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lisa Tomasetti[/caption] On the Starting Point for Season Two as Writers, and Diving Further Into Ashley and Gordon's Lives and Relationship Harriet: "We knew that we had to get the dog back, otherwise no one would forgive us. But we knew that it couldn't be that simple —we had to give them obstacles. They couldn't just be like 'oh, here you go'. And so it did feel a little hijinks-y trying to give them — they try, it's blocked, they try, it's blocked, but ultimately, they got him. We just had to get him back. And then once we solved that — we wanted to solve that nicely by the end of the first episode, because we didn't want to spend a lot of time on what felt pretty obvious — but then it was like 'okay, so we got him'. We also talked about do we work without him? We opened the curtain of that, and then we got him back. So that kind of curtain is still a little open, because well, now we've got him, but should we still stay together?" [caption id="attachment_964083" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Joel Pratley[/caption] Patrick: "That's right, because just before that moment happens in episode one, Gordon's like 'you know, let's just see what we're like without him, just us'." Harriet: "And then: knock, knock, knock." Patrick: "And then: knock, knock, knock — and things take over. But really, what we knew we wanted to explore in this season was the baggage that people bring to a relationship. And it's a little bit more Gordon's baggage because he's been a single pants man for so many years. He's in his 40s, and he's just never had a long, meaningful relationship." Harriet: "And he's less front-footed about his stuff. I think Ashley wears her heart and all her BS on her sleeve, whereas he's kind of tucking it away into weird corners. And trying to present this clean guy. And then she finds that box of beers and is like 'what? Just be open about whatever you are'." [caption id="attachment_952630" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lisa Tomasetti[/caption] Patrick: "That's right. So we knew we wanted to open doors in each of them. Now that they're together, what does that mean? So that's what we did. And then we just thought about what do we want the other characters to do?. And we thought of some setpieces in episode four — at the start of episode four, there's a funny kind of moment in our new relationship, which we thought was funny, a bit sexy, and also a bit cringy and real. And we thought that's not only funny, it could be a great conversation-starter for people in relationships to talk about their sexuality." Harriet: "And what their sexuality means to them, and what does it look like when they're by themselves, and habits and all that kind of stuff." [caption id="attachment_964084" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Joel Pratley[/caption] Patrick: "And in episode five, we changed the format of the show a little bit, just to play with something, a particular idea. And the idea we had for that is something that happens to Ashley, and that dictated the form of that show. It's quite different to the other episodes." Harriet: "Yeah, five is a bit different." Patrick: "And then we wanted to meet Gordon's family. And so these things kind of presented themselves, and we placed them around the season where we felt it was appropriate for them to come up." Harriet: "Yep." Patrick: "And then before you know it, you've got a season, you've got eight shows." On Ensuring That the Show's Dialogue Sounds Authentic — Both as Writers and as Actors Harriet: "Because we wrote it, we have a healthy disrespect for it. Learning lines is very easy when you or he wrote it. And also, it's funny, our script supervisor, they're the ones that come over and go 'it's actually and not but' — and we had to pretty quickly go 'we're probably not going to say what we wrote'. But sometimes we have to because we're hitting points. And also sometimes the joke is written so well that you do have to learn exactly the rhythm of it." Patrick: "Yeah." Harriet: "But there's definitely moments that ad-lib happened, and we just always left space for that. And our director Trent O'Donnell [who also directed No Activity] was so good at that. He'd give you a bit to riff on — like that whole bit with the unicycle that was so kind of iconic in season one, 'was this yours? How long have you been single?', that was a bit that he just called out from behind the camera because the props and art department put a unicycle there. That wasn't in the script, but then it ended up in the trailer. So the show is just the sum of its parts like that. Because Patty said ' hey, I want Gordy's house to be filled with half-completed hobbies'. So they had there like herbs, a punching bag ..." Patrick: "A drum kit." Harriet: "Drums, the unicycle. And it was just like this man has so many hobbies and he's not seeing any of them through." Patrick: "That's right, because it speaks to character." [caption id="attachment_964086" align="alignnone" width="1917"] Lisa Tomesetti[/caption] Harriet: "And so that realism that you're talking about, every department delivers on that, and then we just play with all the world." Patrick: "And we always, we're never too strict about the script. As Harry just said, we leave about ten percent for play, because you might find some magic there." Harriet: "And if you've got time, we go 'let's do a fun run', and that's all the characters. Just say your favourite bits of the script, but if there's something else that's popping into your head, say that." Patrick: "Or if the line isn't working for an actor, we'll just go 'don't worry about that. What do you want to say instead?'." Harriet: "But sometimes if the pitch doesn't feel right — especially some day players, they'll have an idea of what Colin From Account is, and so they'll pitch a joke that's just not it. And we'll be like 'oh my god, it's so good, but not that'. But also 'have a go, let's do that, and then we'll just do one as a script because we need it for the big guys upstairs, they're asking for it'." Patrick: "But equally, some people are great at improvising in that way. But the thing to make it feel like 'oh, this does not feel like this is the scripted bit and this is the improvised bit'. It's all got to feel real." Harriet: "Yes, yes." Patrick: "And when we're writing, that's very much one of our primary things is to make it feel like something that humans would actually say, rather than a bit of exposition." Harriet: "That's right. So some of the stuff that is definitely scripted feels improv because it's just a bit throwaway — it's not overly worked." Colin From Accounts streams via Binge, with both season one and season two available now. Read our reviews of season one and season two. Top image: Joel Pratley.
Enter one of Yayoi Kusama's infinity rooms, including the Japanese icon's brand-new Infinity Mirrored Room–My Heart is Filled to the Brim with Sparkling Light at the National Gallery of Victoria, and it appears as if the artist's work goes on forever. A great exhibition dedicated to Kusama evokes the same sensation. Accordingly, when you're not staring at a seemingly endless celestial universe while enjoying a world-premiere piece from the talent that's been unveiled for the first time ever in Melbourne, you'll still feel as if Kusama's touches are everywhere around you. Simply titled Yayoi Kusama, NGV International's big summer 2024–25 showcase features 200 works, so there really is enough Kusama art to envelop attendees in dots, mirrors, balls, tentacles, pumpkins, flowers, rainbow hues and her other beloved flourishes. With ten immersive installations, the exhibition breaks the world record for the number of such pieces by the artist assembled in one spot. The showcase is also the largest-ever Kusama retrospective that Australia has ever seen. Open since Sunday, December 15, 2024 and running until Monday, April 21, 2025, Yayoi Kusama has taken over the St Kilda Road gallery's entire ground floor with a childhood-to-now survey of its subject's creative output. With the artist reaching 95 years of age in March 2024, there's eight decades of art on display. Some pieces have never been seen Down Under until now. Some are sourced from private collections, and others from Kusama's own personal stash. In advance of the exhibition's launch, Melbourne welcomed Kusama's five-metre-tall dot-covered Dancing Pumpkin sculpture in NGV International's Federation Court. Outside the gallery, Kusama's Ascension of Polka Dots on the Trees wrapped the trunks of more than 60 trees in pink-and-white polka-dotted material before Yayoi Kusama opened its doors, too. Now comes the chance to explore the complete showcase, which is also one of the most-comprehensive retrospectives devoted to the artist to be staged globally. Forget booking in a trip to Kusama's Tokyo museum for the next few months, then — all that Melburnians need to do is stay local, and Australians elsewhere just need to head to the Victorian capital. Other highlights include NGV International's glass waterwall going pink, but with black rather than white dots; Kusama's new version of Narcissus Garden, which dates back to 1966 and features 1400 30-centimetre-diameter silver balls this time around, sitting in front of the waterwall and in parts of Federation Court; and the yellow-and-black spheres of Dots Obsession hanging over the Great Hall. Then there's the artist's sticker-fuelled, all-ages-friendly The Obliteration Room, where audiences young and old pop coloured dots everywhere — 'obliterating', as Kusama calls it — to cover an apartment interior that's completely white otherwise. Flower Obsession is another participatory piece, returning from the 2017 NGV Triennial. Again, you're asked to add to the work. Here, red flowers are applied to a domestic space — and again, obliterating it is the mission. If you adore the artist's way with mirrors, you'll want to see 2016's Chandelier of Grief, which features baroque-style chandelier spinning within a hexagon of mirrors; 2013's Love Is Calling, where tentacles in different colours spring from both the floor and the ceiling; and 2017's The Spirits of the Pumpkins Descended into the Heavens, which gets viewers peering at glowing pumpkins as far as the eye can see through a small peephole. In Invisible Life, convex mirrors line a twisting and multi-hued corridor. With its six-metre-tall tendrils — which are covered in polka dots, naturally — the yellow-and-black The Hope of the Polka Dots Buried in Infinity Will Eternally Cover the Universe from 2019 is striking without using a looking glass (or several), and makes its Australian premiere. Prefer flowers instead? Set within a dotted space, All My Love for the Tulips, I Pray Forever from 2013 sees a trio of giant tulips loom over audiences. Overall, Yayoi Kusama steps through the artist's 80-plus years of making art via a thematic chronology. While a number of pieces hail from her childhood, others are far more recent. Her output in her hometown of Matsumoto from the late 30s–50s; the results of relocating to America in 1957; archival materials covering her performances and activities in her studios, especially with a political charge, in the 60s and 70s; plenty from the past four decades: they all appear. Any chance to see Yayoi Kusama's work in Australia is huge news, and reason to make a date — including travel plans, if needed. Here's another drawcard: the NGV has also added Friday-night parties to the mix, kicking off on Friday, December 20, 2024 for some pre-Christmas fun, then running for 18 weeks until Friday, April 18, 2025. Yayoi Kusama displays at NGV International, St Kilda Road, Melbourne until Monday, April 21, 2025 — and NGV Friday Nights: Yayoi Kusama runs each Friday night from 6–10pm between Friday, December 20, 2024–Friday, April 18, 2025. Head to the NGV website for more details and tickets. Images: Visitors and artworks in the Yayoi Kusama exhibition at NGV International, Melbourne until 21 April 2025. © YAYOI KUSAMA. Photos: Danielle Castano, Sean Fennessy, Tobias Titz and Kate Shannassy.
When you're looking for basics made with luxury fabrics, Jac+ Jack is where you'll find the most consistent, neutral designs. Its men's and women's ranges of cashmere jumpers can be seen on Sydneysiders up and down the coast, and its collection of breathable cotton and linen tees are made for lasting from Australia's hot summer days through to its cooler nights. The brand was launched by Jacqueline 'Jac' Hunt and Lisa 'Jack' Dempsey in 2004, and since then it's opened six stores in Australia. This Mary Street shop is different in that it's not about the latest releases, instead it has a rolling selection of past season styles marked down for clearance. And, as Jac+ Jack is all about timeless style and muted, block colours, it's an excellent place to bag a bargain, so long as you're happy to buy cashmere in summer and racerbacks in winter.
In December, Stills Gallery displays a selection of their artists in a group exhibition — and being Stills, it's some group. The 12 artists, each using photography as their main medium, come together in Season 14, which is themed around "continuity and divergence" and tracks developments in photography over the last 20 years. Take a trip down memory lane with Steven Lojewski's black-and-white street photography, and segue into the work of Garry Trinh — Lojewski's contemporary counterpart — with his vibrant shots of New York. Focus in on the ghostly white images of fictitious plant forms that feature in Beverley Veasey's work, and switch your camera settings to 'record' with Kawita Vatanajyankur's modern video loops featuring a young woman in unlikely predicaments. Sure to teach you a thing or two about the many facets of photography, the exhibition also features seasoned Stills exhibitors Megan Jenkinson, Justine Varga, Deb Mansfield, Trent Parke, Narelle Autio, Polixeni Papapetrou and Michael Light. Attend the opening night on Wednesday, December 3, from 6-8pm. Image: The Ice Shaver [video still], 2013, by Kawita Vatanajyankur.
There is not much that could make much-loved ButterBoy cookies better, except perhaps if they were free. This Father's Day, head to Pitt Street Mall from 10am, and see if you can get to the front of the queue before the free cookies vanish. In collaboration with Snapchat and cookbook author Jasmin Weston (better known as @jasmineats on Instagram), ButterBoy has created four new cookie flavours for the giveaway event. Designed to share with a friend (or perhaps the father figure in your life, considering it is Father's Day), each cookie is baked as a combination of two special flavours, designed to be snapped in half and shared. The cookies will be given away in blind boxes, so you won't know what flavours you've been lucky enough to land until you unbox the goods. The flavours are designed based on a Snapchat survey about how Aussie Gen Zs find joy in everyday moments and how they tend to connect over the shared experience of food. The special fairy bread flavour, which plays into the joy of nostalgia, combines vanilla dough with caramelised white chocolate chunks and 100s and 1000s. The marshmallow crunch special has chocolate chips, marshmallows and pretzels, and is reminiscent of school canteen treats. Based on identifying that both Japanese and Mexican cuisines are favourites to share amongst friends, they have also designed matcha and white chocolate, and chilli choc special flavours. Jasmin says, "These flavour pairings are super fun and give me all the feels." For your chance to try these limited edition specials head to the Snapchat x ButterBoy event on Sunday, September 7, and ensure you have the Snapchat app on your phone to collect your blind box. And remember, it's first-come, first-served, so be quick. Images: Supplied. The Snapchat x ButterBoy blind box event is popping up at Pitt Street Mall on Sunday, September 7, from 10am until sold out.
A mega-venue has opened in the heart of Sydney's Circular Quay, adding four unique venues to the harbourside CBD suburb. The new Hinchcliff House has overtaken the heritage Hinchcliff Wool Store, a huge sandstone structure dating back to the 1860's that has been restored and revived as part of the ever-evolving Quay Quarter. Two of the Hinchcliff House's four venues are now open to the public, with the other two set to follow suit in May. Grana, located on the ground floor of the former wool store, is an all-day Italian restaurant and bakery, while Apollonia is a low-light cocktail bar in the venue's lower ground. Head to Grana early for a taste of its breakfast treats. Think blue swimmer crab omelette ($23) or a classic bacon and egg roll on schiacciata with chilli mayo and a hash brown ($18), alongside a selection of breakfast cocktails. All of Grana's bread is made at its onsite mill, providing fresh morning pastries, or ideal starters come dinner. Once breakfast is finished, turn your attention to Grana's standard menu. On the bread and dairy section, sourdough is served alongside a rich macadamia butter ($4 per person) and cheese is wrapped in thin and flaky house-made focaccia ($16). While it would be easy to fill up on bread, make sure you leave room for the cauliflower cotoletta ($24) or market fish tartar with trout roe ($26). Of course, a healthy selection of pasta is available including ricotta and pumpkin occhi, swimming in a lemon balm and served with pickled pumpkin ($25), or a seaweed gigli paired with Moreton Bay bug ($34). All four of the venues at Hinchcliff House are the creation of prolific New Zealand restauranteur Scott Brown (Amano) alongside the team at House Made Hospitality. Brown has been running restaurants across the Tasman for over a decade, founding Auckland's Hipgroup in 2004, responsible for venues like seasonal Spanish restaurant Alma. Images: Jiwon Kim
Matt Galea has been professionally interpreting the stars for eight years — though the calling, he says, first came to him at about five years old. One day, when he was working as a baby journo at Dolly Magazine (dream job alert), he asked his editor if he could write the horoscopes, got a yes ... and has pretty much done it at every job since. Now he's a journalist and astrologer with a two-book deal to show for it: A-Zzz of Dreams, an illustrated dream decoder (out now through Hardie Grant), and 111 Ways to Manifest Good Sh*t Into Your Life (arriving in September). We sat down with him to talk about what your nightmares are actually telling you, why you can't micromanage the universe, and the breakup that led to the book deal. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Matt Galea (@mattygaleax) CP: You started writing horocopes at Dolly almost a decade ago — how has the reception of astrology changed since? Matt: What's been so interesting is watching the shift in attitudes over the last decade. When I first started, maybe sixty percent of comments were like, you guys have lost the plot. And now I'm getting messages from scientists, from people who would never in a million years call themselves into the occult, saying you actually kind of nailed it. Even straight men. Both of those categories — usually not into it. But they read it and they're like, okay, you're proving the theory true. CP: Both new books sit in a similar space to astrology — dreams, manifestation — but they're a bit different, aren't they? Matt: Yeah, so the way I see it: astrology is a form of figuring yourself out, dreams are also a form of figuring yourself out, but manifestation is about summoning what you want and making things happen. What I find really interesting about both dreams and manifestation — and this is different to astrology — is that they're the only two areas of mysticism where science and the metaphysical actually agree. Neuroscience backs the core pillars of manifestation. Psychology backs it. Positive thinking, visualisation, goal setting, rewiring your brain to subconsciously pursue what you want — psychologists literally prescribe that stuff. CP: You've said both books came out of a pretty rough period — what happened? Matt: I went through a really bad breakup just before all of this kind of happened. I was feeling a bit lost, and I ended up going to see a psychic — I know, very on brand — and she told me I had advanced manifestation abilities and that I needed to start using them. I'd been sitting on both book ideas since 2022 and just hadn't done anything with them. That was the push. I went away, pitched them, and got a two-book deal. So yeah. I fully believe in the manifestation. CP: What's the most misread dream you come across? Matt: Death. Anytime someone has a death dream, I get panicked texts — I dreamt my mum died, should I be worried? And just like the tarot, death is almost never literal. It's a chapter closing. It's a sign you're on the verge of change and need to release something in order to transform. Honestly, whenever I get a death dream, I take it as a good sign. Change is usually good, even when it feels scary. CP: What about nightmares generally? Matt: Nightmares are basically a manifestation of stress. When you sleep, your brain doesn't switch off — your thoughts convert into dreams. If you're stressed during the day, that's going to translate into stressful dreams. It doesn't mean a monster is coming for you. It just means there's a lot going on and your subconscious is cluing you in. Which is not super fun information, but it's also not something to be afraid of. CP: What should people never ignore? Matt: A recurring dream. If the same dream — or even just the same symbol or person — keeps showing up, your subconscious is trying to tell you something and you're not getting the message, so it tells you again and again. It's like when you miss a rent payment and they keep sending letters. Until you address it, it's not going away. CP: If someone's in that place right now — where everything's going wrong — where do they start? Matt: The biggest thing, and it's what people forget, is that when we go through it, we automatically succumb to the negative thoughts. Our internal dialogue gets really dark — is that going to happen for me, I suck — and that wires your brain into a space of lack, which only reinforces that things aren't going to happen for you. So the first thing I try to do is step out of that and think: there's a reason this happened. There's a lesson here. Something good is going to come from this. The breakup happened, and then the books happened. If I'd stayed in that negative headspace, I probably would have kept sitting on those ideas. But I also genuinely believe the universe wasn't going to let me stay down forever. At the same time, I don't believe in toxic positivity. You've got to feel the emotions. Just don't let yourself live there. CP: It's not just vibes, though — there's an action component? Matt: Yes, this is so important. There are twelve universal laws of manifestation. The one everyone knows is the law of attraction — what you put out, you get back. But you can't have that without the law of inspired action, which comes right after it. You have to get off your arse and go and get it. Mindset and action, both, equally. It's not about waving a magic wand. It's about changing how you think so you can believe it's possible, and then actually doing the work. CP: Last one — what's something that might be secretly blocking people? Matt: Obsessing over the outcome. You can't micromanage the universe. Sometimes you're manifesting something specific and the universe gives it to you differently, because it knows the specific thing you wanted? You actually would have hated it. You see this with breakups — you're devastated, you wanted this whole future with this person, and then later you look back and you're like, yeah okay, that would have been terrible. Same with jobs. Same with anything. So be specific about what you want, but stay open to how it comes. Trust that what arrives is what was actually meant for you. A-Zzz of Dreams is out now through Hardie Grant — grab a copy here. 111 Ways to Manifest Good Sh*t Into Your Life arrives in September and is available to pre-order now. Like what you see? Subscribe to the Concrete Playground Newsletter to get stories just like these straight to your inbox. Top image: Supplied
A decade ago, the co-founders of The Commons co-working space, Cliff Ho and Tom Ye, saw the writing on the wall. The way we worked was changing. From tech start-ups scaling with nimble teams to the beginnings of the booming content creation industry, the 2020s have revealed that more people are craving autonomy over their work days. Fast forward to 2026, and The Commons isn't just a co-working space with 19 locations, but a representation of the way we work today. From exercise and wellbeing to aligned work and socialising with ease, The Commons helps to blend it all seamlessly. At the two new Melbourne health clubs in Richmond and South Yarra, members can enjoy yoga and reformer pilates at 7am, a warm-down in the Bathhouse, followed by a 9am meeting in the cafe over coffee (or a healthy smoothie), and work in The Commons' meeting rooms. Other locations, such as The Commons in Martin Place and Collins Street offer a wine bar that pours signature cocktails and local drops, making it easy to transition from work to off-the-clock socialising. "People aren't coming in five days a week, and they're not coming in just to sit at a desk. They're using the space more intentionally, for collaboration, for connection, for meetings, and for moments where being around others adds real value," says The Commons' Head of Marketing Angelique Musico. The collaboration doesn't only exist through work but also The Commons' weekly events planned by the staff. This includes meditation, spritz afternoons, and team coffee runs to a local cafe. Each fosters a sense of community and a broader shift in the way people want to work in the 2020s and beyond. [caption id="attachment_1087710" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Commons Castlereagh[/caption] Design-Forward Spaces As more people start their own businesses or work for themselves, it's easy to simply log in from the comfort of your home. But, The Commons' spaces are also focused on design. "Design underpins everything," says Angelique. The locations across Melbourne and Sydney take inspiration from the places people already love but may not associate with the traditional office. "The Commons atmosphere is inspired by places you'd naturally want to spend time in outside of work, like your local cafe, wine bar, bookstore or art gallery. It's a design intent that really resonates with creatives and start-ups." [caption id="attachment_1087711" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Commons Martin Place[/caption] The brand also works with the existing elements of a space's legacy. For example, in Collins Street, the former ANZ bank vault has been transformed into a sensory meditation space, complete with the building's metal door. The team has worked with renowned local design studios, including Flack Studio, DesignOffice, and Foolscap, to ensure each space has its own identity. "We believe workspaces should feel closer to hospitality environments: beautifully designed, welcoming and social," says Angelique. "When people enjoy being somewhere, the quality of work and collaboration naturally improve." This is also reflected in the spaces "third spaces", AKA, golf simulators, bowling alleys and massage chairs. Beyond the atmosphere and interior design, the spaces are literally designed for collaborative work. "The spaces are designed for people who value a workplace they can identify with and feel energised in, spaces where you can quickly jump on a large comfy couch for a brainstorm or step out for a coffee meeting at a moment's notice." Ultimately, The Commons' success lies in its holistic experience that reflects how people and businesses are working and building through the late 2020s. [caption id="attachment_1087708" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Commons Collins Street[/caption] The Natural Evolution The Commons recently stepped into a new era. Inspired by the post-COVID wellness and bathhouse movements, The Commons Health Clubs in Melbourne's Richmond and South Yarra are a natural extension of the company's holistic experience. Featuring a state-of-the-art gym, studio classes including reformer pilates, and a luxe bathhouse, sauna and red light therapy room, The Commons Health Club is redefining wellness and work in Australia. It was also born from being highly tuned to what its members needed day-to-day. "Many members were leaving the building to go to the gym or attend fitness classes. Work and wellness were already part of the same daily routine, they were just happening in different places," says Angelique. [caption id="attachment_1079582" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Commons Health Club Richmond[/caption] The question became: what if the building supported that rhythm instead of interrupting it? "Our first integrated health club in Richmond, and our upcoming second health club in South Yarra, bring wellbeing into the everyday experience of work, creating a more complete routine where work sits alongside life. It's based on our belief that we do our best work when we're well." [caption id="attachment_1073141" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Commons Health Club Richmond[/caption] As our idea of work and work-life balance continues to evolve, The Commons aims to push beyond traditional (and often rigid) boundaries. From design-forward layouts, central locations, useful amenities, and an atmosphere that fosters a sense of community, The Commons' success comes down to creating spaces where work, connection and wellbeing coexist with ease. Schedule a tour to experience The Commons Health Club.
Legendary London bar Dandelyan and Paddington's Charlie Parker's are joining forces this winter to bring you an evening of genius mixology and extreme botany. Think never-before-tasted cocktails infused with unexpected ingredients, put together by some of the world's best bartenders. Having recently added World's Best Cocktail Menu 2018 to its bevy of awards — which also includes World's Best Cocktail Bar at the 2017 Spirited Awards and ranking second on the World's 50 Best Bars 2017 list — Dandelyan certainly knows a thing or two about mixing. It will be represented Down Under by cracking team James Wheeler and Will Meredith. They'll be working with Charlie Parker's trio Sam Egerton, Mario la Pietra and Tim LaFerla. We can't give you details of the concoctions you'll be sampling, as they'll remain top secret until you arrive at the bar. We can tell you, however, that months and months of thinking, experimenting and mixing have gone into their making. But, to give you an idea of Dandelyan's imaginative powers, the bar's current menu features the BC3 Negroni (with gin, Dandelyan pollen vermouth, propolis, Sri Lankan coconut flower spirit Ceylon Arrack, Campari and aged honey) and Settling Stones (Maker's Mark, bitter aperitif, vermouth and 'coastal' fig). "Given that our drinks are led by stories, the strength of the story tends to dictate which way the drink will go," says Meredith. "If a cocktail can hold an identity or personality whilst appealing to as many people as possible, then you're on to a winner." Beam Suntory is presenting the event, so you can count on the involvement of some of its award-winning spirits, including the Japanese craft gin ROKU, Auchentoshan American Oak, Canadian Club 1858, Jim Beam Double Oak and Maker's Mark. The Dandelyan x Charlie Parker's collaboration will take place over two evenings: Tuesday, August 28 and Wednesday, August 29. Each night will have two sittings (6pm and 8.30pm, and you'll be given the choice of just having drinks (two for $30 per person) or going all in, with three drinks and a selection of food by Danielle Alvarez of Fred's, for $80 per person. In case you won't be in Sydney in August, you might be excited to know that Dandelyan duo will also be sharing their wondrous skills at Maybe Mae in Adelaide, and Tiny's in Perth. It's not every day that two of the world's most applauded cocktail-makers breeze into town, so, chances are, spots will fill up pretty fast. To make a booking, contact Charlie Parker's via phone or website.
Upon immediately entering Stills Gallery, there is a full-length portrait of a schoolgirl, chequered uniform and white socks. However, the grainy texture of the photograph blurs her face beyond recognition. She is an ethereal presence — a mass of soft shadows and overlapping outlines. Photographer Trent Parke is always pushing at the parameters of the form. Fresh from premiering in the 2014 Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art, his latest venture is a series of anonymous street portraits titled The Camera Is God. Setting up his equipment at a pedestrian crossing in Adelaide, he photographed passers-by on the go. Installed as a grid of black-and-white images, these unknowing subjects are rendered as indistinct 'types'. On first impression, it appears as if Parke is exploring the dynamic of the crowd rather than plundering the depths of the individual. In observing these 'candid portraits', various levels of exposure means various levels of clarity. Parke has captured some faces mid-movement. Consequently, they blur and duplicate, seemingly bursting out of the frame. The temporal aspect of these images produces a painterly quality, rendering the subjects eerily angelic. In this way, the mundane bustle of urban existence becomes poignant. Other portraits are more static, which has the effect of accentuating every contour. Yet there is still a level of obscurity, eyes are hollow pits and mouths are gaping holes. Though haunting and melancholy, there is a compositional beauty that is achieved through Parke's masterful handling of light and shadow. It should also be said that discerning detail is a matter of perspective. Stand back a few metres and facial features tend to emerge more clearly, while close up they dissolve into a grey fuzz. Through his guerrilla style of photography, Parke is able to capture the subtle oscillations between moments of private thought and public interaction. There is an expressiveness that seeps through what would ordinarily be labelled as 'imperfections'. In this way, the productive power of error makes way for formal innovations and conceptual breakthroughs.
Sailing across Sydney Harbour is already something special. But charting a course with an Australian culinary legend and feasting on standout local seafood? Now that's our idea of a good time. Opening for bookings at 12pm on Friday, April 10, the Booking.com Seafood Sail invites a pair of lucky guests to board their own private houseboat — the 72-foot Sir Thomas Sopwith — for a unique culinary escape guided by chef Peter Gilmore. However, before you settle into the yacht for a two-night stay, this seafaring adventure begins on land at the recently revealed and long-awaited Sydney Fish Market. Just named by Time as one of the World's Greatest Places for 2026, Gilmore will take you on a private behind-the-scenes tour of this world-class facility. Plus, he'll help select a catch of the day, ready to be elegantly served on board when the time is right. "As a chef, I've always believed the best way to understand a place is through its markets — it's where a destination's true flavours live. Showcasing my home city at the new Sydney Fish Market is something I'm genuinely excited about. After so many years at Bennelong and Quay, I've spent countless hours choosing seafood and learning what makes each species special, so sharing that process firsthand feels incredibly personal," says Gilmore. Leaving behind the market, you'll saunter onto this beautiful vessel, complete with private cabins, bathrooms and shower facilities, plus a spacious saloon and full galley kitchen. Meanwhile, a generous deck is primed for seafood dining with unbeatable harbour views. With that in mind, Gilmore will join the guests on board to guide them through a refined cooking session, teaching fin-to-tail techniques, before unveiling a five-course feast. Think a sampling of Sydney's finest seasonal picks, including Sydney Rock Oysters, half shell scallops with XO sauce, and yellow fin tuna sashimi. Then, once you're stuffed from lunch, you'll have plenty of time to unwind as your personal skipper navigates the harbour's famed sights. Onwards along the coastline, you'll moor at Jones Bay Wharf in Pyrmont to embark on an unforgettable two-night stay. Ready to voyage in luxury? The Booking.com Seafood Sail will be listed as a two-night stay on Sydney Harbour and will be bookable on a first-come, first-served basis for a Booking.com Genius traveller and a guest. Priced at $19.74, this symbolic price is a simple nod to the year that the Sir Thomas Sopwith hit the high seas for the first time. Booking.com's Seafood Sail is available for reservations from 12pm on Friday, April 10, on a first-come, first-served basis. Head to the website for more information. Like what you see? Subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter to get stories just like these straight to your inbox.
Sydney's love affair with burgers is in no danger of slowing down. Yet another American-style burger joint has opened in Balmain. Meet Burgerhood — the new venture from the team behind popular Sydney haunts Grandma's Bar, The Wild Rover and Wilhelmina's, and their first step into the burger business. Located on a familiar Darling Street spot, they've split the space that Wilhelmina's wine bar currently occupies in half. On one side, Wilhelmina's will continue to serve the seasonal share plates and boutique wines that it's known for. On the other, Burgerhood will focus on the ever-popular American fare, complete with potato buns. The menu features a flagship American-style 'Hood Burger', as well as an intriguing Bloody Mary burger, fries, shakes and two salads. That all sounds fairly standard, but the team are confident they can deliver what they're dubbing "the best burger in Sydney, let alone Balmain". Big call, but they've done their research, feasting for months on burgers from here to Chicago (lucky them). There's also vegan, fish and gluten-free options, plus soda, beer and wine. To hit the post-burger sweet spot, Pats and Sticks Ice Cream will be on offer, but there's also an enticing alternative. Harping back to those golden Happy Meal days, every dine-in customer will also receive a free soft serve cone that you pour yourself on your way out. For a gold coin donation, you can double it, with the proceeds donated to nearby primary school Nicholson Street Public. Well, if it's for the kids… Images: Letícia Almeida.
March in Sydney brings plenty of reasons to book a table, with a calendar stacked with limited-time menus worth planning around. From luxe champagne and fried chicken menus to rooftop spritz sessions and taco takeovers direct from Mexico City, this month's specials board is big on flavour and light on excuses. Here's what to eat and drink in Sydney right now — get in while it's good. [caption id="attachment_1077996" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Front of House[/caption] The Chicken & Champagne Club arrives at Barangaroo House Throughout March, Barangaroo House is going high-low with its month-long Chicken & Champagne Club. Available across House Bar, Rekōdo and Smoke Bar, the limited-time menu pairs Japanese fried chicken — think: togarashi fried chicken buckets, lobster-stuffed wings and karaage topped with caviar — with pours of Moët & Chandon, Veuve Clicquot and Dom Pérignon by the glass or bottle. It runs from March 5–31, just ahead of Australian Venue Company's takeover of the three-level landmark in April. Find out more here. Mushroom pizza takeover at Gigi's This month, celebrated Balmain pizzeria Gigi's is putting mushrooms front and centre with a limited-time menu designed to prove they're the true heroes of pizza. Chef-owner Daniel Semrani — whose pies have earned praise from Jamie Oliver — is swapping tomato bases for whipped mushroom butter and topping slices with seared, steak-style Swiss browns for a juicy, umami-packed bite. Highlights include the prosciutto-topped Mushroom Whip and the marinara-inspired Umamified (both available until March 6) and the rich and creamy Mushroom Royale — so popular it's joining the permanent menu. Philthy Chapel: 20 Chapel takes over the Philter Brewing kitchen On Sunday, March 8, Marrickville favourites 20 Chapel and Philter Brewing join forces for a one-day collab dubbed Philthy Chapel. Corey Costelloe and his team will take over the brewery kitchen with a fire-led lineup including barbecue octopus with romesco, leek and hazelnut, grilled Mooloolaba prawn skewers and exclusive 20 Chapel snack packs, in which the restaurant's cult-fave wagyu fat wedges are topped with Blackmore wagyu, CopperTree Farms crème fraiche and housemade chilli jam — with Philter beers pouring all day long. It all kicks off at 11.30am and runs until sold out. Book your table here. Ramadan Nights at IFTAR Merrylands hotspot IFTAR returns with its Ramadan Nights series, extending into evening service this month with a dedicated post-sunset menu. Served at 7.30pm nightly throughout Ramadan, the shared menu moves from dates and lentil soup into generous plates of kibbeh nayyeh, lamb shish and mujadara rice, alongside new additions like burning cheese made for tearing and dipping, golden sambousek cigars and a fried fish sando. It's a warm, communal shift for the daytime cafe — and one of Sydney's most meaningful seasonal tables. Book your table here. Michelin-recommended Mexico City taqueria El Vilsito lands at Manly Wharf Michelin Guide-recommended taqueria El Vilsito is heading to Sydney for the first time this March, taking over Manly Wharf. Across two weekends (March 19–22 and 26–29), visiting chefs will recreate the Mexico City institution's famed tacos al pastor — marinated pork shaved from the spit and tucked into corn tortillas — exactly as they're served back home. The pop-up runs alongside Margarita Week, so expect plenty of Patrón-fuelled riffs on the classic cocktail. Find out more here. [caption id="attachment_1078711" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nick De Lorenzo[/caption] Aperol Long Lunch Sessions at Shaffa Weekends in March are spritz o'clock at Shaffa, Surry Hills' vibey Middle Eastern dining room. From 12pm Saturdays and Sundays, an eight-course grazing menu ($79pp) — with dishes like eggplant labneh, octopus al ha'esh and fire-roasted cabbage with thyme, sage and cumin — comes with the option to add 90 minutes of bottomless Apérol spritz, margaritas, beer, wine or sparkling wine for $49. Plus, Saturdays come soundtracked by guest DJs from midday. Find out more here. Nat Thaipun takes over Pullman Hotels with Thai-inspired snacks Chef Nat Thaipun is taking over bars at Pullman Hotels & Resorts with a bold, snack-led menu designed for drinks-hour dining. Expect punchy Thai flavours — from silky crab and egg custard with roasted chilli oil to Panang curry-glazed lamb ribs and mango sticky rice with coconut sorbet — made for sharing between rounds. The rollout kicks off in Sydney at Acapulco El Vista, before extending to participating Pullman properties in Australia, New Zealand and Asia through to October, with dishes adapted for each venue along the way. Ovata Sundays at Arturo's Rooftop Perched atop the historic Woolly Bay Hotel, Arturo's Rooftop is popping corks with Ovata Sundays — a limited-time takeover in partnership with Yarra Valley sparkling label Ovata by Oakridge. Running every Sunday until April 19 (excluding March 29), the 90-minute session pairs free-flowing sparkling and spritzes with roaming canapés and DJs, all set against sweeping harbour and skyline views. Expect luxe bites like wagyu katsu sandos and jamon croquettes, plus optional South Coast rock oysters and tempura Yamba prawns to level up your afternoon. Tickets are $75 per person, with seatings from midday. Find out more here. Top image: Front of House.
Last year's The Old Man and the Gun and Clint Eastwood's new film The Mule share three things in common. First, they both star Hollywood octogenarian greats Robert Redford (82) and Eastwood (88). Second, they're both based on real life stories of unlikely elderly criminals and the men who pursued them. Thirdly, they share a pronounced nostalgia for civility; a yearning for a bygone era where nothing, not even law-breaking, should come at the cost of common decency. But where Redford's film maintained a light and tender tone throughout, Eastwood's latest lacks consistency, veering from awkward cynicism to thin familial sentimentality. As a vehicle for Eastwood's first on-screen role in six years, The Mule seems perfect. Written by Nick Schenk, who previously worked alongside Eastwood on Gran Torino, the film tells the fascinating true tale of Leo Sharp (named Earl Stone here), a 90 year-old WWII veteran and award-winning horticulturalist who became a big-time drug runner for a Mexican cartel after his own business ran into financial trouble. Stone is grizzled, bitter, grumpy and a little bit racist. In short, Eastwood embodies the look and feel of the man immediately. When Stone agrees to run a package across the country, no questions asked, he reveals himself to be the perfect mule for Andy Garcia's cartel, and as his illicit load increases with each new run, so too does his reward. Accompanied throughout by cartel minders, the setup is perfect for a black comedy. But whilst there are a few terrific moments (a carpool karaoke version of 'Ain't That A Kick In The Head' being the best), too much of the film falls flat, lacking the full lighthearted touch but at the same time failing to follow the darker path it also could have taken. In supporting roles, Eastwood brings back some of his recent regulars, including Bradley Cooper and Michael Pêna as the DEA agents charged with tracking Stone down and bringing him to justice. As with The Old Man and the Gun, it takes some time to dawn on the authorities that they're pursuing a man in his 80s – which of course was precisely why the Cartel went that direction in the beginning. Eastwood has always been impressive in his embracing of ageing, even tabling Unforgiven for over a decade until he felt he was old enough to do the role justice. Here in The Mule, though, the age card offers so many tantalising possibilities for the story, yet is used far too sparingly and too easily, resorting to mostly tired tropes like technological dyslexia (wait, how do you text again?). Moreover, while Stone is a remorseful man insofar as his troubled family history goes, he shows none for his part in supporting a violent and brutal cartel (at least not until the film's final stages). The end result is a film that looks great (it's Eastwood in the chair, after all), but feels like a middle child of genre; funny but not a comedy, dark but not a thriller, on the road but not a road movie and moving but not fully a drama. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_QksSzK7sI
The North Shore's after-dark credentials have been further bolstered with the arrival of Loom Lounge, a sleek listening lounge that's landed in Crows Nest. Brought to life by the teams behind Li'l Darlin (with which it shares its home) and Sydney party-starters Sultry & Sample, Loom Lounge promises an atmospheric blend of curated music, a snappy, snacky menu and a whole lot of mood lighting designed to shape the experience from start to finish. The venue's programming is overseen by Sultry & Sample and features a lineup of DJs, selectors and live musicians there to set the atmosphere, rather than dominate it. The music unfolds as the night does, becoming a carefully woven part of the experience that encourages conversation and connection over chaos. Drinks lean into familiar flavours with a twist here and there — think Aperol margaritas, pinot noir negronis and a cola-infused riff on an espresso martini. Half of the twelve-strong wine list is available by the glass, with drops sourced from three continents. You can pair your pour with a selection from a tight food menu that's built for sharing and slow grazing, with options ranging from guac and chips or truffle fries to duck pancakes, chicken tacos and pizettas in flavours like margherita, chorizo and truffle and cheese. Almost all dishes sit between $9–$19, making it an easy go-to for a late-night snack and sip or a casual date night. The space, designed by Obi Kyei, favours texture over flash, featuring velvet seating, sculptural lighting and a patchworked textile installation made from salvaged fabric offcuts. It's soft, low-lit and deliberately layered, designed to weave music, people and mood into a night that unfolds at its own pace. Images: Supplied.
All the elements of this cafe, an award-winning Surry Hills stalwart, make it a pretty ace place to drink coffee and eat some lunch, if you don't think too carefully about it. The first is the million-dollar fit-out. The site looks like a studio apartment of a graphic designer with lots and lots of money, with timber floors, exposed brick, a garage roller-door at one end and a semi-circular cut out of the ceiling so you can see the level above. The food is definitely not your run-of-the-mill Surry Hills fare either. With influences from South America, it has a Baleada (a Honduran tortilla), Ceviche and Empanadas for choice. The Baleada was a little salty (as was the Avocado on Toast, though this was nicely tangy), and didn't reach its full potential in terms of flavour. The Baked Eggs, however, had a rich, flavoursome tomato sauce and would be good to share. The Figs on Sourdough with Goat's Curd was perfect, with the warm comfort of the cheese and bread perfectly balanced by fresh figs and rocket. The coffee is hands down great. A few of their house roasts are always on offer, which are creamy and rich. Eating the Dogg's Breakfast, an ice cream sandwich with salted caramel, will conjure memories of your five-year-old self, sneaking past your mum for a cheeky breakfast. It's tasty in the 'oh my god, junk fooood' kind of way but again, I think they could have done something a little more exciting - as they do with the flavours of the milkshakes (black sesame, espresso and wattle seed). That's where I baulk at claiming it's the bee's knees. Eating in such an amazing space, I kind of expect the food to surprise and impress me a little more. There's nothing wrong with having a beautiful premise and keeping things low key, some of Sydney's most exciting new restaurants are utilising this combination with fantastic results, but add on a 15 minute wait on busy (read: most) days, I expect the food to be well worth it. The place lacks the personality and charm that was once the trademark of Surry Hills. Gentrification will always change the essence of a place so perhaps it's useless to be nostalgic, but Reuben Hills seems like it's trying just a little too hard to fit into what people expect it to be: a cookie-cutter version of inner city slick/cool, without striving to be individual. [nggallery id=149]
It has been a whole year since The Dolphin Hotel threw open its revamped doors, which can only mean one thing. Yes, a first birthday calls for a first birthday party — and, given the Surry Hills pub is quite the stylish joint inside, it's marking the occasion in a fittingly ace manner. First up, the music. Get 'Out of Mind, Out of Sight' with '80s rockers The Models, who'll be strutting their stuff live. They'll have support from a back-to-back DJ lineup, including The Original Roman, Ben Fester, Kali, Adi Toohey, Andy Webb, Ariane, Mike Sydney, Dj Salami, Dreamcatcher, Jimmy Sing, Michelle Owen, Parihaka, Physique and Keep Sydney Open's Tyson Koh. So, you know why you're celebrating on August 3, and what you're partying to — but does this shindig have food and drinks to match? If you've been to The Dolphin before, then you already know the answer, with Maurice Terzini and Monty Koludrovic taking care of the nosh and James Hird on beverage duty. As far as eating up a storm is concerned, expect to munch through a few greatest hits menus of the venue's faves, such as sandwiches, pies, and freshly roasted and carved porchetta panini in the public bar; pizza slices, burrata and Afghan bread in the dining room; and a separate mortadella and natural wine party in the wine room. Drinks will range from Negronis to gin and tonics to champers, draft beer and tinnies, plus the usual menu. And, if all that doesn't sound like enough fun, tickets only cost $20. That includes food, plus a cash entry donation to Crown St Public School.
