Armchair economists, let alone real ones, received something of a nasty surprise today, as the RBA announced inflation figures climbed in the September quarter, with consumer prices rising at an annual pace of 3.2 percent. Considering the June quarter was measured at 2.1 percent, it's safe to say that anyone holding out for another interest rate cut (or cheaper groceries) in the near future has had their hopes dashed. Yet one piece of positive news headed our way could be the price of coffee. While it has felt like the cost has gone up and up over the last year or two, procurement experts at Proxima are predicting that coffee prices will stabilise, or even fall, in 2026. According to Proxima, arabica coffee futures have jumped 55 percent year-on-year. At the same time, the average caffeine hit in Australia has increased 37 percent since pre-pandemic lows of $5.50. Yet the "perfect storm of supply chain disruptions" is expected to ease soon. With global coffee stocks falling to 20-year lows, soaring coffee prices were partly caused by extreme weather events that slashed exports from Brazil and Vietnam by 30 percent. As Australia imports 90 percent of its beans, it's no surprise the cost at your local cafe took off. Although cafes still face major hurdles — rising rents, wages, operational costs and more — at least getting the beans in the grinder might be a little more affordable. Sure, it won't fix the cost-of-living crisis, but ordering a flat white that won't break the bank is a small win worth celebrating. Looking for a cheap meal? Check out the Ten Best Places to Dine Out Under $20 Right Now.
Hurricane Bianca is coming to town — to nine cities Down Under to liven up our winter and spring, in fact. The fabulously quick-witted RuPaul's Drag Race season-six winner heads our way on her fifth global comedy tour, fittingly called Unsanitized!. The also supremely apt tagline: "she's vaxxed, she's waxed and she has more attitude than ever". If anyone can help us all make sense of the past couple of years — and look devastating and sling cutting barbs while doing so, naturally — it's the drag queen that became a worldwide favourite back in 2013. She had fierce competition during her season of RuPaul's Drag Race, including from Australia's own Courtney Act; however, Del Rio's devilish snark and timing are clearly impossible to beat. First hitting Brisbane's QPAC Concert Hall on Wednesday, August 31, Del Rio will sling her cutting insults — and her larger-than-life persona in general — across big theatre gigs in both Australia and New Zealand. Her next stops: Sydney, Adelaide, Melbourne, Canberra, Perth, Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland, which'll take the Down Under leg of Unsanitized! through to mid-September. It's been a massive few years for the dimple-cheeked performer also known as Roy Haylock, with Unsanitized! following her last tour It's Jester Joke — which saw her become the first drag queen to headline Carnegie Hall and Wembley Arena. (Yes, she sold out both venues.) And, she hit the West End stage in the musical Everybody's Talking About Jamie, and also pops up in the film version as well. Watching that stage-to-screen flick, old Drag Race episodes, or 2016 comedy Hurricane Bianca and its 2018 sequel Hurricane Bianca: From Russia with Hate is obviously fantastic preparation for Unsanitized! — but, as you'll know if you've seen her live before, there's nothing like seeing Del Rio in the flesh. BIANCA DEL RIO'S UNSANITIZED! TOUR 2022 DATES: Wednesday, August 31 — QPAC Concert Hall, Brisbane Saturday, September 3 — State Theatre, Sydney Monday, September 5 — Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide Wednesday, September 7 — Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne Friday, September 9 — Canberra Theatre Centre, Canberra Saturday, September 10 — Astor Theatre, Perth Tuesday, September 13 — James Hay Theatre, Christchurch Wednesday, September 14 — The Opera House, Wellington Friday, September 16 — Auckland Town Hall, Auckland Bianca Del Rio's Unsanitized! tour heads around Australia and New Zealand in August and September 2022. For more information or to buy tickets from Friday, May 6, head to the tour website.
Feel so passionate about your Friday night pizza delivery that you want to wear it? Now you can. New Zealand fashion label YOUKNOW has teamed up with Pizza Hut to create a range of clothing dedicated to that controversial call: putting pineapple on pizza. If you're staunchly in the "it belongs" camp, you'll want to take a squiz at this limited-edition capsule collection inspired by the chain's Hawaiian Deluxe pizza. There aren't many (if any) dine-in Pizza Hut restaurants left around Australasia so this range is giving us a heap of nostalgia, thanks to the illustrations of the chain's iconic red roof and Hawaiian palm trees. The colours are all inspired by delicious pizza toppings like streaky bacon, pineapple and aioli. And now we're hungry. Designed and made over the ditch, YOUKNOW'S capsule range includes t-shirts, tote bags, shorts and bucket hats. Buy the items individually or get the whole damn 'fit for your next summer festival — according to the website, the label ships to Australia via DHS. YOUKNOW founder Joe Webb says the collaboration with Pizza Hut marks a "significant milestone" in the brand's journey. "It's a really special moment for us. It's amazing to see how this milestone translates over to the garments that we're super stoked to produce here in Aotearoa." It's not the first time we've seen a clothing line inspired by a classic takeaway feed. Who can forget this Big Mac-inspired 'fit or last year's ugly KFC Christmas jumpers? If you like to choose your clothing based on your weekend drive-thru order, you'll want to add one of these items to the current lineup. YOUKNOW's range is available to buy online now, with prices starting at $25 NZD — not including international shipping costs. Check out the full range here.
One day, in the not-so-distant future, perhaps Sydneysiders will take their pet puppers with them everywhere. For now, we'll all just have to grab our four-legged best friends and head to an International Dog Day-themed photo shoot — and take part in other celebratory shenanigans. The occasion itself falls on Wednesday, August 26; however at Darling Harbour, the fun is running across the weekend of Saturday, August 22–Sunday, August 23 as well. And, there's more than a few elements on offer each day. First, there's the pics. Head to the new Hachi Dog Boutique and Spa from 11am–4pm and your woofer can get snapped for free. And, your furry four-legged bestie can even sip some dog wine (shardognay or pupnoir) while they're getting the glamorous treatment, with a glass costing $5. Unsurprisingly, bookings are recommended as the photo sessions are expected to be popular. While you're in the vicinity, you can also drop by Iiko Mazesoba, too, which is serving up more than its usual range of food for humans. Here, you can grab a dog bandana, which'll also cost you $5 — or you can get one for free if you spend more than $50. Hachi's International Dog Day celebrations take place from 11am–4pm on Saturday, August 22–Sunday, August 23, and again on Wednesday, August 26.
After initially revealing parts of its 2025 lineup in late 2024, Sydney Opera House's annual All About Women festival has unveiled the full program of events that'll focus on gender, equality and justice in March. Across two days, more than 50 speakers, including artists, thinkers and storytellers from both Australia and overseas, will participate in sessions that span women in sport and the influence of the Matildas, racism and sexism in the music industry, the impacts of skincare routines, and plenty more. For 13 years, marking International Women's Day with talks, panels, workshops and performances has been as easy as attending this highlight of the cultural calendar — a must-attend event not only in Sydney, but also nationally in recent years, thanks to the streaming of sessions online (which continues in 2025). For this year, Kate Berlant and Gina Chick joined the All About Women bill first, as did the return of the Feminist Roast. Kara Swisher, Rachel House, Jaguar Jonze and Grace Tame are now among the folks joining them come Saturday, March 8–Sunday, March 9. As revealed last year, Berlant is making her first trip Down Under, with the comedian and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Don't Worry Darling and A League of Their Own actor set to debut a new stand-up show. Alone Australia's first-season winner Chick is on the bill fresh from releasing her memoir We Are the Stars in October, and will chat about following your own path, grief and resourcefulness. Among the latest additions on a lineup overseen by the Sydney Opera House Talks & Ideas team — as led by Chip Rolley, alongside 10 News First's Narelda Jacobs and actor and writer Michelle Law — journalist and Burn Book: A Tech Love Story author Swisher will dig into the social-media platform formerly known as Twitter, while Heartbreak High star and The Mountain director House will chat through the importance of community and her Māori culture in her career. Jonze is on the panel discussing the present state of the music industry, as is Barkaa. And Tame is part of the Feminist Roast alongside Michelle Brasier, Nakkiah Lui, Lucinda 'Froomes' Price and Steph Tisdell. The Tillies join the roster via former Matildas goalkeeper Lydia Williams, plus Football Australia, the Matildas and the ParaMatildas Media Manager Ann Odong, with their session exploring the current situation for women in sport. Elsewhere, Dr Michelle Wong, Jessica DeFino and Yumi Stynes — plus Price again — will examine the impacts of beauty standards, especially upon younger generations. All About Women's 2025 program also spans sessions on the women who gave testimony at the Ghislaine Maxwell trial, the rise of domestic violence-related deaths in Australia, systems that are meant to protect First Nations children, perimenopause and how women's health is being commercialised, tradwives, grief, motherhood, the nation's declining birth rate, bodily autonomy and abortion, and being friends for life. "There is so much power in women and non-binary folks coming together to talk about the issues we are facing, whether that's in our workplaces and homes, throughout our country or the world," said Jacobs back in 2024, when the lineup's first details were announced. "The events I've co-curated are inspired by hot topics that dominate conversations with the women in my life — from the transformations women undergo at pivotal points in their lives, to the ways modern culture rejigs and repeats old stereotypes. We'll be having some cracker discussions that I'm sure will continue beyond the steps of the Opera House!" added Law. All About Women 2025 takes place on Saturday, March 8–Sunday, March 9 at the Sydney Opera House, and streams online, with pre-sale tickets for the full program available from 9am on Tuesday, January 14 and general sales from 9am on Thursday, January 16. Head to the event's website for more details. All About Women images: Jaimi Joy, Jacquie Manning and Prudence Upton.
Brisbane's Premiership win over Geelong didn't just light up the MCG — it also dominated Australian screens, drawing more than 6.1 million viewers across broadcast and streaming. According to figures released by the Seven Network, Saturday's Grand Final reached a national total TV audience of 4.08 million, up on last year's numbers, with a further 969,000 streaming the match on 7plus Sport — a 48 percent increase year-on-year. The post-match presentations pulled in 5.5 million viewers, while 3.9 million tuned in for the pre-game show. The result makes the AFL Grand Final 2025's most-watched program so far, surpassing the NRL's State of Origin decider, which reached 5.7 million Australians. Seven's Head of AFL and Sport Innovation, Gary O'Keeffe, said the numbers reinforced the sport's unrivalled pull. "We want to thank every viewer who has joined us across the season. From the opening bounce at the SCG, right through to the Grand Final post-match celebrations, Australians have embraced Seven and 7plus in record numbers," he said. Chris Jones, Seven's Director of Sport, called the audience record "a fitting end" to an incredible season. With an 81.1 percent share of commercial audiences on Saturday, plus 90.9 percent in live streaming and 86.7 percent in BVOD, the AFL Grand Final sets a high bar for Seven as it moves into a stacked summer schedule that includes the Bathurst 1000, Spring Racing Carnival, AFLW Finals and a home Ashes series. You can watch the 2025 AFL Grand Final back now via 7plus. Images: Getty Images
There is a clear marking of time in Penrith — BHSD (Before High Street Depot) and AHSD (After High Street Depot). When these guys set up shop it was a sign Penrith had reached maturity. Operated by husband-and-wife team Tim and Noreen Bryan, who met while working at Matt Moran's Aria, High Street Depot was the cafe we'd all been waiting for and desperately needed, serving up perfected classics like eggs benny and smashed avo, made a little more adult with a sprinkle of nuts and creamy feta. The food is as consistent as the service, which is excellent, and you'll never be disappointed with your Single Origin coffee.
Since late in 2019, when Disney launched its own streaming platform, fans of its animated classics, beloved hits and many, many super-popular franchises have been able to binge their way through the Mouse House's back catalogue from the comfort of their couch. Later this year, however, movie buffs will be asked to leave their houses to check out a selection of the company's famed titles — all thanks to the new pop-up Disney+ Drive-In that's coming to Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. Yes, a streaming service is running a drive-in. Or, to put it another way, a product designed to get everyone watching on small screens at home is now endeavouring to lure viewers out to watch its flicks on a big screen from their cars. That's a very 2020 situation, with Disney+ teaming up with Openair Cinemas to make it happen. The drive-in will kick off in Brisbane, at Northshore Hamilton — in the event space next to the Brisbane Cruise Terminal, to be specific — on Thursday, September 17, screening films every night (except Tuesdays) until Sunday, October 18. Brisbanites with a long memory might remember that the stretch along the river has been used as a drive-in before, with the Brisbane International Film Festival doing so back in 2011 and Eat Street Northshore also screening movies. As for what'll be screening, the Disney+ Drive-In is theming its various evenings, with double features on offer on most nights. That means on 'Star Wars Wednesday' you'll catch The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi, The Rise of Skywalker and Rogue One; and on 'Throwback Thursday' there'll be a focus on nostalgic movies like 10 Things I Hate About You, Mrs Doubtfire, Mighty Ducks and Edward Scissorhands. Then there's 'Disney Super Fan Friday', serving up both live-action and animated versions of Aladdin, The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast; and 'Sing Along Saturday', where Moana, The Greatest Showman, The Little Mermaid and both Frozen films will screen. Next comes 'Pixar Sunday', including everything from Cars and Ratatouille to Inside Out and Wall-E — and, finally, 'Marvel Monday' will feature the likes of Black Panther, Thor: Ragnarok and Captain Marvel. The pop-up will then head to Sydney from Thursday, October 22–Sunday, November 15, with both its program and its location yet to be revealed. Lastly, it'll hit up Melbourne, too, with both dates and the venue still under wraps. Folks interested in either season can sign up for updates via the drive-in's website. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ue80QwXMRHg Popcorn, snacks and drinks will be available onsite — or you can bring your own. It's strictly a no-alcohol affair, though. And, ticket-wise, you'll be paying per car; however, prices vary depending on a number of factors. For a single film, you'll pay $42.53 if there's one or two people in your car, and $52.75 if there is three or more. For a double feature, that changes to $73.74 and $84.51. Disney+ Drive-In presented by Openair Cinemas kicks off in Brisbane, at Northshore Hamilton, on Thursday, September 17 — with its season running until Sunday, October 18. It'll then head to Sydney, at a yet-to-be-disclosed location, from Thursday, October 22–Sunday, November 15. Lastly, it'll hit up Melbourne, with both dates and the venue still under wraps.
For those of us who aren't anthropologists, a 'cargo cult' is a kind of ritual practice that emerges in some tribal societies following contact with a 'technologically advanced' culture. Participants, believing that the 'cargo' (or materials possessed by the foreigners) is actually intended for them by their gods or ancestors, invent rituals to ensure that this cargo is properly delivered to them. Possibly the most famous of these is the John Frum Movement, which is still alive and kicking on Tanna island in Vanuatu. In response to American presence on the island, in the '40s the cult built imitation landing strips and control towers from available materials (wood, tin, bamboo and rope). These were manned and 'operated' in the same way that locals had observed American officers doing and were intended to lure the planes which would deliver their cargo to them. February 15 in Vanuatu is still John Frum Day and religious practices involve (among other things) an enaction of American history through music and dance. All this is rich material for Mike Daisey, the theatrical version of Michael Moore, who recounts his experience of John Frum Day in monologue format. Playing on a looser definition of a cargo cult as an imitation of superficial elements without comprehension of deeper meaning, Daisey links these seemingly bizarre practices with our own 'technologically advanced' faith in a financial system which most of us have little or no understanding of.
Lately Tasmania has been at the top of our list of destinations where food, wine, spirits and scenery are at the heart of the holiday. It is, after all, home to many of Australia's finest producers and makers. In fact, we've been so inspired that we've curated a special travel package to Hobart that's dedicated to culinary indulgence — and you can snap it up now at Concrete Playground Trips. Alternatively, you can just win your way there. All you need to do is enter below right now. We're giving away this fantastic holiday for two in beautiful south Tassie and its many wineries, distilleries and farms (flights excluded). The itinerary includes a tasting experience at Ewenique Tasting House, a signature wine, cider, beer and whiskey tour of the Huon and Coal River Valleys, and a full-day tour sampling your way around Bruny Island, known for producing world-class seafood, cheese, honey and spectacular views. You'll also score four nights' accommodation at the impressive Vibe Hotel Hobart, as well as all-inclusive car rental to make getting around a breeze. Want to win a holiday in Tasmania for you and your best mate, partner or parent? Enter below. [competition]873504[/competition]
Well folks, it turns out we've officially arrived at the future — someone has created the world's first holographic smartphone and it's set to hit the market in a matter of months. Dubbed the Hydrogen One, this'll be the first phone offering from camera company Red, and it's being launched by US telecommunications giants AT&T and Verizon. So what kind of magical functions does it have? According to a statement by AT&T spokesman Kevin Petersen, "when the Hydrogen One launches, you'll be able to look around, below and into your screen's image with a four-view holographic display, which is even better than 3D." Apparently, it'll have multi-dimensional surround sound and loads of expansion capabilities, making it a primo tool for anyone using their phone to create content. "This revolutionary smartphone will provide you with significant advancements in the way you create and view content on the leading network for entertainment," he said. The public will be able to get its first glance of the Hydrogen One on June 2 and 3, when it's shown off at AT&T's Shape exhibit at Warner Bros. Studio in Los Angeles. The smartphone will then be available to purchase in the USA by the end of their 2018 summer. Image: RED via PR Newswire.
For most folks, starring in one of the best new shows of 2022 so far would be the highlight of their resume for the year. But, of course, most folks aren't Taika Waititi. After getting streaming viewers swooning over warm-hearted pirate comedy Our Flag Means Death, he's about to unleash a little movie called Thor: Love and Thunder upon cinemas. And, based on the just-dropped first teaser trailer for his second contribution to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as a director, the goofy vibes, old-school rock tunes and delight that is Chris Hemsworth firmly in comedic mode are all back this time around. In fact, if you watched Thor: Ragnarok, laughed along heartily, lapped up the looser mood and instantly wanted more of Waititi's take on the MCU, you're in luck — because he also co-wrote the script for Thor: Love and Thunder with Jennifer Kaytin Robinson (Sweet/Vicious). In the trailer, that results in a comic look at Thor (Hemsworth, Extraction) dealing with the aftermath of Avengers: Endgame by reassessing his future and opting for retirement. But, if that was all there was to the story, it wouldn't be a Marvel movie. As shot in Australia, Thor: Love and Thunder sees its namesake come up against Gorr the God Butcher (Christian Bale, Ford v Ferrari), a galactic killer with a world-changing plan: eradicating the gods. So, Thor has to give up his search for inner peace, and call upon help from King Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson, Passing) and Korg (Waititi, doing triple duty) — and his ex-girlfriend Jane Foster (Natalie Portman, Vox Lux), who is now in possession of Mjolnir. Thor: Love and Thunder marks Portman's return to the MCU after appearing in the first Thor flick back in 2011, but sitting out the rest. Given the path her character has taken, it's easy to see why she's back. As set to the sounds of Guns 'N Roses' 'Sweet Child 'O Mine', the trailer makes the most of her new ownership of the god of thunder's magical hammer — understandably. Also popping up in the initial sneak peek for the fourth Thor flick: the Guardians of the Galaxy crew (as played and/or voiced by Chris Pratt, Pom Klementieff, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel), and a lightning-bolt wielding figure who it's safe to expect is Russell Crowe (Unhinged) as Zeus. When it hits cinemas Down Under on Thursday, July 7, following Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness in early May, Thor: Love and Thunder will mark the 29th MCU movie overall. And, it mightn't be the last big-screen release Waititi has for us this year, either, with his documentary-to-feature adaptation of soccer story Next Goal Wins also in the pipeline. Check out the teaser trailer for Thor: Love and Thunder below: Thor: Love and Thunder opens in cinemas Down Under on Thursday, July 7.
Beloved character actor Patricia Clarkson (High Art, Pieces of April, The Station Agent) finally steps onto centre stage in Ruba Nadda's luscious Egyptian love story. Actually 'love story' doesn't do Nadda's screenplay nearly enough justice, for what she creates is a mature and sophisticated portrait of an affair, and one that is exquisite in its restraint. Clarkson plays Juliette Grant, an American magazine editor and wife of a United Nations refugee worker who travels to Cairo in order to reunite with her long absent husband Mark (Tom McCamus) and visit the pyramids. Waylaid in Gaza, Mark sends his friend and former colleague Tareq (Alexander Siddig) to collect Juliette and play tour guide, but now thrown together, the pair develop an attraction that deepens into the heady question mark of an affair. Nadda is truly spoiled for choice in both her setting and the performances of Clarkson and Siddig. She cannily embraces a certain postcard exoticism in her visuals, but then knowingly uses Alexandria and its ancient pyramids to achieve the film's emotional climax. It's a masterful mix, which also makes the most of Clarkson's graceful good looks and her wonderful comic timing. With echoes of the classic Roman Holiday, Cairo Time is a must see for armchair travelers and lovers of romantic dramas alike. Shining its titular city to a high gloss but providing dramatic substance (and the superb Clarkson) to boot, this is a film to fall in love with. https://youtube.com/watch?v=orXcdLwtVRY
Do you adore greenery, wish your house could be filled with blossoming petals and gorgeous leaves, but don't have the greenest of thumbs? That's a hugely relatable predicament. Now, a second question: do you firmly think that you never grow out of Lego, and also find building with the plastic bricks peaceful? The toy brand's latest range has answers to both queries. At the beginning of 2021, Lego unleashed its new Botanical Collection — part of its growing range for adults, because we're all well past pretending that Lego is just for kids. Back then, it boasted a flower bouquet and a bonsai, letting you add both to your home without worry about care, water, wilting or the expiry date that always comes with cut florals. Or, they made great gifts to your nearest and dearest for all of the same reasons. The two latest items in the range also tick those boxes. If you're terrible with keeping greenery alive, they're ideal for you, too. And no, even you can't kill these succulents or orchids — from under- or overwatering, not enough sun or too much, or the usual long list of things that can go wrong when you become a plant parent. The 771-piece succulent kit features nine different Lego cacti and the like in different shapes, sizes and hues, all in their own separate containers. Connect them together for one striking piece, or keep them apart and place them in different spots — the choice is obviously yours. As for the 608-piece orchid set, it'll see you build a towering bloom with six large flowers and two newly opened flowers, all in a blue fluted vase. And it really isn't small, measuring 39 centimetres in height. Available now in Australia and New Zealand, both kits are customisable, and also based on actual plants — so they look as lifelike as Lego succulents and orchids can. Sure, fake flowers exist, but they're nowhere near as engaging to put together as this build-your-own low-maintenance option. As well as catching the eye and adding some splashes of green to your decor, Lego's newest products are designed to help you destress and get mindful — something that the brand has been promoting for adults for a few years now. Both kits cost $89.99 each in Australia and $99.99 each in New Zealand. And if you're keen on more, the original two sets are still available, as is a bird of paradise in a pot, plus small sunflower, rose and tulip kits. For more information about Lego's new Botanical Collection, including the flower bouquet and bonsai tree kits, head to the company's website.
Sydney's most famous zoo is now extending its after-dark offerings with an exclusive adults-only stay that will get you up close with the animals while you drink wine. Taronga Zoo's brand-new after-dark adventure is an 18+ edition of the zoo's existing Roar and Snore experience, which leads visitors on a tour of the zoo led by its experts and includes a harbourside dinner with an overnight stay in the zoo's luxury Wildlife Retreat. Running for just two nights — Wednesday, November 29, and Wednesday, December 13 — the Wine Safari will add a special wine tasting led by an award-winning sommelier from onsite restaurant Me-Gal to an itinerary that includes a buffet-style dinner, canapés and the chance to get up close and personal with Taronga's big ticket residents. For those willing to splash some cash, this limited-edition experience is a genuine one-off way to spend one of your summer nights. It will set you back $570 or more per person or from $870 for two guests. You can find further details about the 'Adult-Only Roar and Snore: Wine Safari Experience' at the event's page.
Always dreamed of visiting the Mediterranean island of Sicily? Then you might want to bump it to the top of your post-COVID-19 travel plans. If you do, you could score some handy financial help — with the Sicilian government offering to cover some travel expenses once Italy is out of lockdown. As first reported by The Times, the regional government is offering to pay a portion of flight costs and accommodation expenses — covering half the price of airfares to and from the island, and paying for one in every three hotel nights. It'll also stump up the entire cost for tickets to museums and archaeological sites, so that visitors can do plenty of sightseeing. At present, few other details have been revealed, such as when it'll come into effect, when eager tourists will be able to start booking, who the scheme will apply to and where in the world you'll be able to fly in from. That said, when the plan is implemented, it'll be done via vouchers available from the Visit Sicily website — so you might want to bookmark it for future reference. The Sicilian government will spend €50 million (AU$86.4 million) on the scheme to revive its tourism industry — which, with not only the country but most of the world enforcing restrictions to help contain the spread of COVID-19, has understandably taken a battering in recent months. Italy has been in lockdown nationwide since Sunday, March 10, but announced on Sunday, April 26 that it would enter 'phase two' from Monday, May 4. That'll involve the slow easing of current restrictions, including allowing Italians to travel within their regions to visit relatives. Factories, parks and public gardens will also reopen, with museums, galleries, libraries and shops able to open their doors from Monday, May 18, then bars, restaurants and hairdressers from Monday, June 1. For further details about the Sicilian government's tourism scheme, keep an eye on the Visit Sicily website. Via The Times.
There are a lot of reasons to get your passport out and make the short trip across the ocean to Singapore — Universal Studios, Gardens by the Bay and the cuisine (several of its hawker stalls are Michelin-recommended). But perhaps the most exciting is the nightlife. To give you a little taste of what's on offer, Singapore Tourism is taking over a Sydney bar for two nights and transforming it into a hub of Singaporean after-dark culture with world-class cocktails, food and music. The Rooftop Sydney will play host to the Singapore Social for two blasts on Wednesday, February 20 and Thursday, February 21. Stop by at lunch to sample some flavour-packed street food prepared by Masterchef 2018 winner Sashi Chelliah. Alongside chicken rendang ($20) or crispy-skin pork ($20), you can sip cocktails from two of Singapore's (and the world's) best bars. Vijay Mudaliar, owner of Native (ranked 13th in the world), and Luke Whearty, founder of Operation Dagger (ranked 23rd), have been flown out specially for this pop-up and will be slinging inventive mixes for $16 each. Head back after clock-off time when these culinary and beverage wizards will be supplying the goods once again for a five-course dinner degustation. For $99 per person, you'll dine on a selection of small plates, with each matched to a special tipple — think chilli crab sliders with Native's Forager's Garden (gin, blue pea flowers, pandan kombucha and ginger) and crispy-skin pork with Operation Dagger's Pork Soda (vodka, roast pork belly, apple and creamed soda). If you're not up for the full menu, the dishes will also be available a la carte until sold out. Plus, don't think you'll be leaving without hearing some Singaporean bops — DJ KoFlow and singer Tabitha Nauser will provide the beats to accompany your eats. Singapore Social will be open from 12pm for lunch and 5pm for dinner. Walk-ins are welcome for a la carte dining, but booking is essential for the degustation. To make a reservation, head this way.
A new 94-seat bar and restaurant serving Mediterranean eats and oysters with ocean views has officially opened its doors in Bondi. Lola's Level 1 is the venture of Sydney hospitality mainstays Marco Ambrosino (Fratelli Paradiso) and Manny Spinola, and will serve a mix of small and large plates along with a cocktail and wine-heavy drinks menu, breathing delicious new life into Bondi's Pacific Building. Ambrosino and Spinola have pulled together an all-star team for Lola's. Running the pass is head chef Paula Pantano, who has previously played a key role in the kitchen at five-star hotels like Crown Sydney and the Mandarin Oriental Group. To quench your thirst, Louis West (Bentley Restaurant Group) and Mon Ditbunjong (Dear Sainte Eloise and Ragazzi) are joining forces as sommeliers. "Lola's is all about fun and we've assembled one of the best restaurant teams in Sydney that will be able to deliver that," Ambrosino says. "We want Lola's to be approachable – a place where you can drop in for a drink and some oysters; a place for a dinner with the family; or a long lunch on the balcony overlooking Bondi." Oysters ($6.50) are a big focus of the menu, with three types on the menu (natural, with vermouth granita or with Lola's mignonette), all shucked at the bar. If you're dropping in for a drink and you're looking for a snack, you'll find citrus and basil burrata ($21), pan tumaca ($15), and Pioik sourdough with 25-year aged balsamic vinegar and Alro Evoo olive oil ($7.50) on the small plates menu. For more filling feeds, spiced lamb skewers ($15 each) and peri-peri chicken ($34) prepared on the plancha grill can satisfy your carnivorous yearnings, and large plates like saffron socarrat ($30) and lasagnetta topped with osso buco ragu and gremolata ($29). A tightly edited wine list mixes artisanal producers from warmer European climates alongside local Australian drops. And those looking for something stronger can hit the cocktail list which features two type of martinis ($23) and twists on the Bloody Mary and Rosita ($22). Lola's location in the Pacific Building means balcony-seating promises a panoramic view of Bondi Beach and the surrounding park. So, come summer, its sure to be a hit with beachgoers for a pre- or post-swim drink (and then some).
When Taika Waititi directed both Thor: Ragnarok and Thor: Love and Thunder, he brought a touch of New Zealand's sense of humour to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Now Marvel is bringing an exhibition showcasing its hefty history to Aotearoa. Making its public debut, the brand-new Marvel: Earth's Mightiest Exhibition will world-premiere in Wellington in December. MCU fans of NZ and Australia: if you're keen, you'll need to head to Te Whanganui-a-Tara this summer and autumn. On offer across a huge five-month stint is a big celebration of Marvel's 85-year run so far, from its days on the page only to its current big- and small-screen domination. Running from Thursday, December 14, 2023–Sunday, April 28, 2024, this is the type of showcase that's bound to be filled with costumes — on the walls and on attendees. If you live and breathe all things superhero, a visit is a must. If this sounds familiar, Australia hosted its a massive Marvel exhibition, Brisbane's Marvel: Creating the Cinematic Universe at the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art, back in 2017 — but Marvel: Earth's Mightiest Exhibition is its own new thing. It'll display at Tākina, Wellington Convention and Exhibition Centre for its first-ever unveiling, and as an exclusive. If there'll be any future stops down the line hasn't been announced. MCU aficionados can look forward to a hefty array of original comic art, props from the films and rare artifacts. Designs, memorabilia, those costumes: they're all included as well. So are behind-the-scenes glimpses that'll span space, New York City and everywhere in-between, plus chances to get up close to Marvel's characters — although exactly what the latter means also hasn't been revealed. Whatever you're looking at while wandering through Marvel: Earth's Mightiest Exhibition, you'll be surveying more than eight decades of caped crusaders — and, because the exhibition arrives after The Marvels will hit cinemas, the MCU's 33-movies-and-counting run to-date, too. "We are very excited to welcome comic fans and film buffs to the capital," said Warrick Dent, tourism body WellingtonNZ's General Manager for Events and Experiences. "Our small but mighty city is home to a thriving film industry that's behind some of the biggest-ever movie blockbusters; the countdown is on until the world's newest Marvel exhibition opens its doors." Marvel: Earth's Mightiest Exhibition will run from Thursday, December 14, 2023–Sunday, April 28, 2024 at Tākina, Wellington Convention and Exhibition Centre, 50 Cable Street, Te Aro, Wellington, New Zealand — head to the venue's website for further details and tickets.
Sculptors from around the world have resumed their annual pilgrimage for Sculpture by the Sea, with a selection of local and international sculpture prettily dividing sea from land along the coast walk between Bondi and Tamarama Beach. Among the fresh in situ sculpture this year Stuart Couzens' matryoshka ('russian doll') presents a satisfying nest of wooden containers within containers within containers, while James Hallberg and René Dybdahl's how close we are is a giant eye of a matching needle outside the Aarhaus Town Hall in Denmark, which blinks a light as people are invited to jump up and pass through the eye of its Australian twin. A sign in front of it says "please do not touch this artwork. Along the walk between Mark's Park and Tamarama Bay Paul Kaptein's and in the endless pauses, there came a sound is a satyr sound recordist carved out of wood, with a huge microphone, headphones, and visibly absent pants. Gillie and Marc Schattner's the travellers have arrived carves out some reciprocal nudity and animal heads, while Dave Mercer's View TM gives the vista towards Clovelly cemetery a branded makeover. Tamarama Beach resumes its obligatory, not unwelcome, theme of giant beach things this year, with Carl Tindall, Carly Buteux, and Grahame Tindall's half-buried sunglasses *lost in the glare*, an oversized oversize Tonka truck, and Adam Hill and Will Coles' really bins last seen on Macquarie Street in the Aboriginal Art Prize Best in show plaudits were pointed at US sculptor Peter Lundberg, who won the Balnaves Foundation Sculpture prize for his Barrell Roll. His win was not from lack of competition. Competitors were well suited to their surroundings, such as the pleasing cacophony of Cave Urban's multiple, wooden wind-chime piece mengenang (memory) or its nearby contemplative companion in Stephen Marr's camouflage piece the optimist. Image: Stephen Marr's the optimist.
Late on a midwinter night in St Petersburg, Rhys returns to his freezing apartment to find his brother-in-law, Ben, unconscious and a naked woman about to jump out the window. This is the tantilising teaser from the upcoming play One Scientific Mystery or Why Did the Aborigines Eat Captain Cook?, a title adapted from a song by Russian musician Vladimir Vysotsky. The emotionally explorative play relocates midwinter Russia into the Upstairs Theatre of TAP Gallery and sees renowned director Iain Sinclair take the reins directing Russian-born Victoria Haralabidou's playwriting debut. Her deep and controlled depiction of romance, personal loss and the intense intricacies of intimacy is being produced by VHS Productions, a new theatre company promoting work by a diverse cultural range of female artists. Two-time Logie Award-winning actor Aaron Jeffery and debutant Dallas Bigelow join Haralabidou herself as two Australians, and all captivate their audience with their tale of translation from within the confines of a freezing St Petersburg apartment for six nights only, from Tuesday, April 9, until Sunday, April 14.
Worlds have collided and a few of your favourite chocolate and booze brands have come together in snack-friendly harmony. Renowned chocolate maker Haigh's has rallied three top Aussie gin distilleries to create one of the year's dream collaborations — a series of boozy chocolates. Fusing smooth Haigh's chocolate with artisanal spirits and boasting a careful marriage of botanicals, the limited-edition trio is known simply as The Collaboration. Not just a celebration of local produce and Aussie craftsmanship, it also makes for one pretty swanky gift, packaged in a handmade navy and copper embossed box, and complete with tasting notes. On the lineup, you'll find a dark chocolate creation crafted with Archie Rose's Signature Dry Gin, studded with pieces of macadamia and sandalwood nut, and infused with peppermint gum and mountain pepper leaf. Then, there's a milk chocolate number enveloping a white chocolate ganache centre, which pairs the bitter orange aperitif and 78° classic gin from Adelaide Hills Distillery with real honey and peach. And flying the flag for Victoria is a milk chocolate fudge treat made on Melbourne Gin Company's Melbourne dry gin and finished with an extra sprinkle of juniper. The gift box comes packed with four of each chocolate variety (so 12 in total) and tasting notes for $49.90, or you can buy them by the individual piece. Stay tuned also for details of an exclusive virtual chocolate and gin tasting flight, presented by Haigh's Chocolates Product Manager Ben Kolly, along with guests from each gin distillery. We'll let you know more about that closer to the date. The Collaboration chocolates are available now to buy individually, or as part of a $49.90 gift box. Find them online and in Haigh's stores.
Back in January, the City of Sydney ran a four-week festival that saw it shut down inner-city streets for al fresco dining pop-ups. The Summer Streets saw waves of Sydneysiders soak in some sun and support local businesses on bustling streets across Redfern, Glebe, Surry Hills, Darlinghurst and Pyrmont. With spring currently in full swing, the minds behind Summer Streets have brought the program back for a six-week run throughout October and the start of November. Now labelled Sydney Streets, the run of street parties will be popping up on busy thoroughfares across Surry Hills, Pyrmont, Redfern, Haymarket, Glebe, Potts Point and the Sydney CBD from Saturday, October 1 — with the first event taking over Surry Hills' Crown Street. From there, a different City of Sydney suburb will be given the street party experience each Saturday until the program finishes up with a blockbuster event spread across Darlinghurst Road and Macleay Street in Potts Point. Also getting involved in the festival: Harris Street, Stanley Street, Redfern Street and Glebe Point Road. [caption id="attachment_869982" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Katherine Griffiths[/caption] Each weekend's event will see these spots trade traffic for outdoor dining, shopping and live entertainment from 11am until 10pm. The City of Sydney hopes this initiative will help businesses to continue to bounce back after an extremely tough couple of COVID- and rain-affected years. "We're closing our main streets to traffic and making it safe so locals can shop, dine or drink on our footpaths and roadways in a Covid-safe way," City of Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore said. "Our first series of Sydney Streets parties through the last summer was a huge success and well received by residents and businesses alike. We want to see more people get out and about and enjoy what their neighbourhoods have to offer." Alongside Sydney Streets, the council is also fast-tracking outdoor dining permits and waiving outdoor dining fees until mid-2023. In June, more than $6.2-million in cash grants and in-kind contributions were approved for local businesses, community groups and cultural programs across the City of Sydney. Following this upcoming spring edition, another run of Sydney Streets will be taking place at the beginning of 2023 between January and April. [caption id="attachment_648852" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Leticia Almeida.[/caption] Sydney Streets will close down streets in Surry Hills, Pyrmont, Redfern, Haymarket, Glebe, Potts Point and the Sydney CBD between Saturday, October 1—Saturday, November 12. Top image: Katherine Griffiths
Surfers of Melbourne — all 300,000 of you — don't go anywhere. Come Easter, the first waves will be rolling through Australia's very first surf park. And, no, you won't have to drive all the way out to Torquay or the Peninsula. Instead, Urbnsurf Melbourne will be located on a huge site in Tullamarine, just near the airport. Plans for the park first surfaced way back in 2016, and Urbnsurf has today announced that the park has installed its wave generator. That means it will be pumping out surf by April, with a view to be open to the public by spring this year. At the moment, the site is still a hole in the ground — but when it opens, the two-hectare lagoon will power up to 1000 waves per hour, day and night. And you'll get a choice of waves. Want to ride nothing but perfectly-formed right-handers for an hour? Or would you prefer a random selection, like what you'd experience in the ocean? You'll be able to take your pick. According to Urbnsurf founder Andrew Ross, "every wave has six different take-off spots", which equates to 3600 surfable positions every hour. The waves are created by Wavegarden technology, which was developed by a Spanish engineering firm of the same name. So how does it work? Basically, the waves come from an 85-metre pier that runs down the centre of the lagoon (which you can see in the image below). A series of pistons located on the pier then push the water to the left, then to the right, to create the waves. Ross likens the movement to "moving your hand back and forward like a shark's tail". [caption id="attachment_707250" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Urbnsurf lagoon under construction.[/caption] If you're worried about the amount of energy needed to drive such an operation, take comfort in the fact that Urbnsurf aims to run on 100 percent renewables within the first 12 months of opening. From the get-go, the rest of the facility's built environment — which includes a beach club, loads of eateries and a retail space — will be partially solar powered (with the rest sourced from renewable sources), and water will be sourced from storm water stores near the airport before being treated and filtered. Once the lagoon is filled, the team will then enter a testing period — if you're a keen surfer, you can sign up to give it a test drive before the park opens to the public in spring this year. The ability to create waves means that the park will be built for both pros who are looking for steep, barrelling waves and novices looking for a safe place to get their start in the surf. "Becoming a great surfer is all about getting waves under your feet," says Ross. "But, in Melbourne, the nearest waves are over an hour away. Unless you set up your life so you can get down there regularly, it's difficult to progress as a surfer, without dedicating decades of your life to it." At Urbnsurf, Ross predicts, most novices will stand on their board within an hour and ride across the green face within two. And not only will you get guaranteed waves — you won't be fighting for them. The park holds 84 riders per hour. And, should you get seriously hooked, you'll be able to enter amateur competitions, maybe with (or against) your mates. When completed, it will be the fourth commercial wave park in the world, and the first in Australia. But not for long. Urbnsurf has already has plans for a Sydney park approved, and it's also lodging a development application for a site in Perth. Another park has also been proposed for regional Queensland. https://vimeo.com/256710737 Urbnsurf is due to open in spring 2019 near Melbourne Airport. You can sign up to test out the surf park before it opens on the website. Top image: Wavegarden San Sebastian, by Ed Sloane. All images courtesy Urbnsurf.
This May, Darling Quarter is teaming up with Two Good Co — a social enterprise that supports, empowers and employs women who have experienced homelessness, domestic abuse and complex trauma — to present Change The Course, a long lunch that aims to have a lasting impact. The event will welcome 120 foodies to enjoy dishes by some of Australia's best chefs in this feel-good highlight of American Express delicious. Month Out. The three-course menu includes dishes by Maggie Beer, Mike McEnearney and Alanna Sapwell-Stone, prepared by Two Good Co and Darling Quarter retailers, and selected from Two Good Co's cookbook Change The Course. There'll also be matched organic and biodynamic wines from Mudgee's Lowe Family Wine Co, while teetotallers can quaff zero-alc wine alternatives by NON. The day will also feature roving entertainers and plenty of photo ops, as well as a panel discussion exploring the power of food and social enterprises. The ticket price also incudes a copy of Two Good Co's Change The Course cookbook, and will also help provide a meal for a person in refuge.
Bundeena, the quaint peninsula suburb located across the water from Cronulla, is accessible via only two routes: a winding drive through the Royal National Park, or a ferry trip from Cronulla Wharf. There's something so charming about the Bundeena Ferry. Which makes sense, considering it has been in operation since 1939, making it the oldest ferry running to a timetable in Australia. If you grow up in the Shire, it is iconic — you'll no doubt spend many weekends making the journey only to spend the day jumping into the water from Bundeena Wharf. For the less adventurous, the 20-minute trip, which costs $7.40 for adults and $3.70 for kids, will take you on a pleasant tour of Cronulla's waterways (including the opportunity to check out the locals' boats) and then deposit you in sleepy Bundeena, where you can spend the day swimming, bush walking and keeping an eye out for the local deer population. If you're planning a hiking trip in the Royal National Park, take the train to your starting point and hike north to Bundeena to include a ferry trip in your outdoor adventure and your ride home. Images: Mel Koutchavlis
Bangarra Dance Theatre's new work Dark Emu is an exploration of the relationship between Australia's Aboriginal people and the land — and their extraordinary knowledge of Australia's plants, animals, landforms and climate. It's also a portrait of the harrowing impact European settlement had on this bond. The show takes inspiration from Bruce Pascoe's nonfiction book of the same name, which covers the complexities of indigenous farming, fishing and landcare techniques. "Before colonisation, Aboriginal people were one with the land and respect for earth, sky and ocean was central to life," says director Stephen Page. "We want to make people aware of the strength and resilience of Aboriginal people and celebrate their profound knowledge of agriculture and aquiculture, which belongs at the epicentre of Australian history." Premiering at Sydney Opera House between June 12 and July 14, Dark Emu is Page's 25th project for Bangarra. In putting together the 70-minute, four-part show, he worked closely with dancers and collaborators Yolande Brown and Daniel Riley, as well as the Bangarra troupe. Image: Daniel Boud.
One of Sydney's most stunning spots for a picnic is Vaucluse's Parsley Bay. The reserve is specifically set up for picnicking, with tables and plenty of grassy areas to settle into. Plus, there's a 15-minute bushwalk circuit to enjoy pre- or post-picnic, which includes waterfall views. Or trek up to the headland bridge, which offers panoramic views of the bay. During summer, you can take a dip in the harbour to cool off in after the walk, too. Summertime also welcomes Australian water dragons — they can be seen sunning themselves along the water. No doggos are allowed here, so be sure to leave your furry friend at home. [caption id="attachment_754226" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW[/caption] Image: Destination NSW
It has been a couple of years since The Jungle Collective first started taking over Australian warehouses and slinging plenty of plants, all thanks to its huge sales in Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney. These leafy excuses to fill your home with greenery always have a bit of a celebratory vibe, and they just keep coming, with the outfit's next New South Wales outing happening across the weekend of Saturday, November 16 and Sunday, November 17. Gorgeous green babies are the main attraction — and more than 170 varieties of them, too. You'll pick up everything from fiddle leafs and monsteras to giant birds of paradise and rubber trees, as well as oh-so-many ferns and hanging plants. You'll also be able to shop for designer pots, get expert advice from the horticulturalists onsite and receive $5 off your purchase if you wear a jungle print. It's all happening at Precinct 75, at 75 Mary Street, St Peters, with sessions held at 8am, 10am, 12pm and 2pm on Saturday, plus 10am and 12pm on Sunday.
Newly hatched Newtown bar Tandem lives up to its moniker in a multitude of ways, but, mainly, it speaks to the coming together of community that really makes a neighbourhood bar your local. "I was inspired by the level of togetherness I felt during my time working in bars in Copenhagen," explains owner Peter Lynn. "Something about riding your bike to a friendly café and having someone remember your order is both wholesome and satisfying." To that effect, the intimate Scandi-influenced cocktail bar boasts four distinct spaces, designed to feel cosy no matter how many people they're holding. There's the main bar, a comfy lounge dubbed the 'living room', an outdoor courtyard complete with fairy lights and an roomy upstairs 'loft'. Its vibe is comparable with that of Corridor, which sits just a few doors down on King Street. The thoughtful approach and community vibe extends its reach to the drinks offering, which shines a spotlight on passionate local businesses and producers. An environmentally conscious cocktail lineup features sips like the Lightly Buzzed, blending Adelaide Hills sparkling wine, Sydney's own Poor Toms Gin and eco-friendly sorbet from Gelato Blue down the street. Most of the bar's perishable ingredients get a second life, thanks to some clever upcycling in cocktails like the Thrift Shop Fizz, crafted with Scandinavian spirit Aquavit, lemon, tonic and a foam made of recycled rosemary and orange garnishes. Overall, it's a drinks list designed to inspire a sense of adventure and break you out of the ol' comfort zone. You'll find beers from female-led Two Birds Brewing on tap, an all Aussie selection of wines, and drink specials favouring the obscure over the tried-and-true. And things are sure to get extra interesting with the rotating Tandem Bike Crash cocktail, featuring some of the staff's favourite liquid experiments — head in now to try a questionable concoction of Monkey Shoulder Scotch and Mountain Dew reduction. Tandem is now open Wednesday to Sunday at 127 King Street, Newtown. Images: Newtown Photography.
World Chocolate Day (Wednesday, July 7) is on the horizon, so what better excuse for two of the country's top dessert masters to join forces? Aussie chocolate brand Koko Black and the ever-innovative, Sydney-born cake maestros Black Star Pastry have dreamed up some sweet-toothed magic, available for one day only this July. The Meteor Cake is the brainchild of Koko Black Head Chocolatier Remco Brigou and Black Star's Group Head Pastry Chef Arnaud Vodounou — some might say that this once-off dessert is 'out of this world'. It's here for a good time, but a very fleeting one, hitting stores for one day only on (you guessed it) Wednesday, July 7. The limited-edition cake is up there with some of the more extravagant treats you'll try this year. First up, there are the neat layers of dark chocolate financier, caramel-infused chocolate, muscovado sponge, dense hazelnut cremeux, choccy mousse and praline. Crowning that delicious tower is a flying 'meteor' — a hazelnut truffle coated in black cocoa nibs — trailing a blazing edible flame crafted from luxe Sao Thome chocolate. There's even a pile of meteor 'rubble', made of crumbled cocoa nibs. The Meteor Cake comes in at $15 a slice, available to purchase only from select Koko Black stores in Sydney (Strand Arcade) and Koko Black stores in Melbourne. You can also grab the takeaway treat from Black Star's Rosebery and Newtown outposts. Given the current lockdown and restrictions, Sydneysiders will also be able to pre-order here from July 2 to score a $55 four-pack that'll be delivered on World Chocolate Day. After the first half of this year, you bloody well deserve it. The Meteor Cake will be available from select Koko Black and Black Star stores, on Wednesday, July 7. Head to either website for further details.
2021 marks 23 years since '...Baby One More Time' rocketed up Australia's charts, and made sure that everyone in the country knew who Britney Spears was. In the decades since, the singer has enjoyed a slew of other hits, thanks to everything from 'Sometimes', '(You Drive Me) Crazy' and 'Oops!... I Did It Again' to 'Toxic', 'Everytime' and 'If U Seek Amy'. Yes, you now have at least one of these songs stuck in your head (or, let's be honest, a medley of all them). This year also marks the arrival of a must-see documentary about the pop star, which Aussies have heard plenty about but have been unable to watch for the past month. Part of The New York Times Presents series that streams in the US via Hulu, Framing Britney Spears examines not only the singer's life since she was a child — going back to before her first hit single, and before her time on The All-New Mickey Mouse Club in the early 90s, too — but also the way she has been treated in the press, the fact that she has been under a conservatorship since 2008 and the #FreeBritney movement that's sprung up in response to the latter. Not by her own choice, Spears has been an almost-constant presence in the tabloid media for nearly quarter-century. The paparazzi has covered her every move and career with disturbing intensity, in fact. Everyone knows the details, because they've been plastered all over magazine front pages and internet headlines for years and years, to the point that they've been impossible to avoid. And, as this doco ponders, it's easy to join the dots between the relentless hounding by photographers, the endless mentions in gossip columns, the ridiculous way Americans reacted when she didn't meet their idea of what a 'girl next door'-style pop star should be, how she has been regarded by pop culture in general and how the US legal system has stripped away her right to control her own life for more than a decade. The film makes for important and grim viewing — and, although it premiered in the US in early February, Channel 9 just aired the Hulu doco this past week, and has also made it available on its online service, 9 Now. So, you can now spend 71 minutes stepping through a story that hasn't ended yet and doesn't wrap up happily in the movie, but is rightly sparking a reassessment of how female celebrities — and young women in the spotlight in particular — are treated, Spears included. Check out the Framing Britney Spears trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GEa844LCoI Framing Britney Spears is now available to stream on 9 Now.
Turning traditional painting into modern dance, Briwyant draws on bir'yun as a resource in the work. This form of Yolngu traditional painting works with intricate crosshatching patterns, creating a shimmering sense of movement on its surface. This movement is representative of ancestral forces, subtle yet woven throughout. It all sounds conveniently appropriate for transformation into movement. The collaborative team, with Vicki Van Hout at the helm, plays on the tensions between personal and community knowledge, light and shadow, and changes over time. In short, Briwyant is a uniquely creative take on traditional knowledge, meaning and spirit. Image: photo by Marion Abboud
Even when there isn't a cost of living crisis tightening our collective belts, the Christmas and New Year period can be eye-wateringly expensive. So, it's very welcome news that Concrete Playground's official pick for Sydney's best bar right now is launching one of the most generous happy hour deals in the city, just in time for the silly season. Golden Hour at Bobbie's in Double Bay will be available every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday night from 4–5.30pm. Guests can enjoy $10 cocktails — yes, just $10, you read that correctly — and better yet, there are also complimentary bar snacks to accompany your beverage including olives, nuts and Neil Perry's famous chicken Waldorf sandwiches. The discounted drinks menu, crafted by internationally revered bar tender Linden Pride, includes several signature mixes including Dante's Negroni, a mingle of Tanqueray 10, a blend of Italian vermouths and a splash of Campari; and Bamboo, a refreshing eastern-inspired sip combing Manzanilla, Dolin Blanc, Noilly Pratt, olive bitters and Fever Tree's Mediterranean tonic. For those who prefer bubbles — and after all, 'tis the season for popping corks — there's also the Sunrise Spritz, featuring Aperol, sunshine cordial and passionfruit, topped off with prosecco; and the Sbagliato Romano starring Campari, Aperol, Davidson's plum, dry vermouth and blood orange syrup, also finished with a fizzy hit of prosecco. Martini lovers are also well served with Bobbie's singular take on a dirty martini, featuring olive-oil-washed Absolut Elyx, Noilly Pratt, cerignola olive, elderflower and the surprising savoury tang of blue cheese-stuffed olives. Hopping on the ascendant trend, the New York mini martini is a small but mighty pour of Ketel Vodka, Noilly Prat, 50/50, orange bitters and a choice of garnishes. While we recommend booking to avoid disappointment, Bobbie's also welcomes walk-ins, so do your wallet a favour and enjoy a scenic stroll to Double Bay. Images: Yusuke Oba
For five hours on Sunday, March 20, restaurant Baba's Place in Marrickville will be transformed into a gallery. On display: Suburban Ghosts, an original photo series that tackles topics such as immigration, suburban beauty and cultural resilience. All photos — framed and unframed — will be available to purchase, and the images will also be printed in the first issue of Baba's new zine, which will be available to buy as well. The issue will also include other works, including an essay on the doily, plus half of the restaurant's recipe for its bouillabaisse bolognese. In addition to all those pics to peruse — and the zine to read — the event will also feature an exclusive range of t-shirts, a special Solo-inspired cocktail and the one-day-only return of Baba's cherry kofta wrap. Head along from 1–6pm, with Munasib and 700Feel providing the soundtrack to get you on the dance floor.
Famous for its 55-minute workouts and worldwide following, Barry's Bootcamp has become a fitness heavyweight since first setting up shop in West Hollywood back in 1998 — and now it's brought its studios to Australia. Since September 2018, Sydneysiders have been putting themselves through Barry's high-intensity interval training sessions in Surry Hills and at its flagship in Martin Place. If you're a gym junkie, celebrity obsessive or just familiar with the term "Barry's body", then you'll have heard of Barry's. Already active in 18 cities around the globe — including Los Angeles, New York, Milan, London and Dubai — it's claimed that the studio's sessions burn over 4000 kilojoules. That's thanks to a regimented program that incorporates 25 minutes of treadmill work, 25 minutes of strength and conditioning with free weights and resistance bands, and then a five-minute cool-down. The focus of each class changes daily across Barry's weekly schedule, with each session targeting a different muscle group. As extra motivation, Barry's classes are held in high-energy red rooms, complete with mood lighting and the kind of music you're more likely to hear in a nightclub. Adding to the vibe, each location features its own bar serving up locally designed shakes and smoothies — and patrons can buy workout outfits onsite. It's a full 'concept gym'. As expected, the world-renowned bootcamp class comes with hefty price tag — $36 a pop. You could, alternatively, purchase a 50-class pack for $1550, which works out at $31 a class.
This is karaoke attached to ten-pin bowling, and possibly a spot of laser skirmish if you're keen. Strike charges per room, as opposed to per person, so it works out well if you're in a big group. All the rooms are immaculately themed and clean - there's the polka dot room, the Victorian boudoir, the executive party room, and there's a pretty flash touch screen to order your songs, but sadly no soft-filter video clips to accompany your choices. Moreover, there's a prop box with wigs and over-sized glasses to enhance your performance, and a couple of tambourines and maracas to add a bit of pizzazz to your performance. They've also got an excellent menu of snacks and a decent bar serving cocktails for your tipsy lady-friends.
Hop on this train, it's smaller than your thumb but the destination is bigger than all the days of your life combined. At least that is what the Barumpool Film Museum wants you to believe. Childhood dreams of tourist traps are the fodder of this Imperial Panda gem, devised and built by Rhubarb Rhubarb, the team behind film re-dub masterpieces Wonka and Mad Max Remix. Some Film Museums I Have Known is the culmination of three years worth of body fluids, craft liquids and VHS material, with input from some of Sydney's top performance makers: Eddie Sharp (Erotic Fan Fiction), Kenzie Larsen, Natalie Randall (Team MESS) and Nick Coyle (Pig Island). Following a season at Melbourne's NextWave Festival in 2010, Some Film Museums I Have Known is one of the must-see shows of the 2011 Imperial Panda Festival. Grab a beer and laksa at the Old Fitz, then regress to either infantile make-believe or deranged atavism in this dark fantasy about two brothers, a crusty museum and the devilish power that G-rated films will forever hold over pre-teens.
Always wanted to be in a music video but don't play an instrument? Or think your voice might frighten the neighbours away? Here's your chance. Dutch design studio Moniker has created an interactive clip that records the movement of your cursor as you watch. Achieved through crowd-funding and titled Do Not Touch, it's the second Moniker project in a series celebrating the "humble cursor", whose demise may well be nigh, and was designed to accompany 'Kilo', the new single from Dutch folk noir/sleazerock supergroup Light Light. Since its launch on April 16, the clip has racked up over 1 million hits. To be a part of its rapidly growing cast, all you have to do is visit the Do Not Touch site and move your cursor according to the onscreen instructions. You'll have the chance to acknowledge your geographical origins and sexual preference, fight a rather fit female boxer, avoid touching a naked model and play the bass. Your browser records your cursor's movement and the information is uploaded to Amazon S3. Once an hour, the data gained from new visitors is added to the video and an updated version appears. Jonathan Puckey, one of Moniker's three key movers and shakers, told Creative Applications Network that one of the exciting aspects of Do Not Touch is its unpredictability: "We do not know what will happen with this project. Will people care? Will they follow our instructions? Will patterns emerge which we had not predicted? How many cursors will be too many? A thousand? Ten thousand? Fifty thousand?"
Take a must-visit Paris art museum, an acclaimed Victorian gallery, an iconic French painter and one of the world's most influential architects, mix them all together, and Australia's latest huge exhibition is the end result. So is something unsurprisingly stunning: the world premiere of Pierre Bonnard: Designed by India Mahdavi at the NGV International in Melbourne. The National Gallery of Victoria's revolving door of blockbuster exhibitions shows no sign of slowing, with this exceptional meeting of creative minds announced earlier in 2023, and now gracing its halls from Friday, June 9–Sunday, October 8. When the temperature dips each year, the Melbourne Winter Masterpieces series kicks in — and, as created in collaboration with the Musée d'Orsay, home to the world's largest collection of Bonnard works, this ode to Bonnard and Mahdavi is the current centrepiece. On display: more than 100 pieces by the famed French artist, but seen through a fresh lens. Helping provide that new perspective is scenography by internationally renowned architect and designer Mahdavi, in a major showcase that was originally slated to debut in 2020 before the pandemic did its thing. An icon of late 19th- and early 20th-century art, and a good mate of Henri Matisse, Bonnard is known for his colourful, textural depictions of French life, offering stylised yet subtle glimpses of intimate domestic scenes, urban backdrops and natural landscapes. Pierre Bonnard: Designed by India Mahdavi includes a hefty collection of the artist's own paintings, drawings, photographs, prints and other decorative objects, alongside works from his contemporaries — including Édouard Vuillard, Maurice Denis, Félix Vallotton and cinematic pioneers the Lumière brothers. Attendees can expect to step through Bonnard's early artistic days in the 1890s, highlighting his focus on Parisian street life; his evolution from there, including when he started focusing on more domestic scenes as inspired by his relationship with his companion Marthe Bonnard; and his love of landscape, especially from 1910 onwards, and as influenced by his fellow pal Claude Monet. Numerous pieces are on loan from the Musée d'Orsay, as well as other museums and private collections in Europe, Australia and the USA. The NGV's own collection also includes significant works, however, including Bonnard's 1900 painting La Sieste (Siesta). Considered one of the world's most influential architects, multi-award-winning Mahdavi has been commissioned to help bring the historic pieces to life via her scenography, tasked with creating a setting that complements Bonnard's signature use of colour and light. The results aren't just spectacular — they're dreamy. "Monsieur Bonnard and I share the same passion: colour," Mahdavi explains of the exhibition. "I love his subjective perception of colour — the way he transforms the intimacy of everyday life into something sublime." "Pierre Bonnard is one of the most captivating artists of the post-impressionist movement. This exhibition offers a rare opportunity to experience his work within a vivid scenography designed by India Mahdavi, one of the world's leading designers working today. Both the artist and the designer are celebrated for their ingenious use of colour, which made them a natural and authentic pairing for this NGV-exclusive exhibition," adds Tony Ellwood AM, the NGV's director. Pierre Bonnard: Designed by India Mahdavi runs at the NGV International, St Kilda Road, Melbourne from Friday, June 9–Sunday, October 8. For more information, see the venue's website. Images: Installation view of Pierre Bonnard: Designed by India Mahdavi, on display from June 9–October 8, 2023 at NGV International, Melbourne. Photos: Lillie Thompson.
A cocktail bar and restaurant honouring Taylor Square's designer has opened up in — you guessed it, Taylor Square. Founded by ardent Sydney restaurateur, Benny Sweeten, Sir Allen Taylor & Co. pays homage to the Sydney politician who made much-needed improvements to Oxford Street and redesigned the area around Taylor Square to improve traffic flow. Stationed right on the intersection, it opens early every day for coffee drinkers and stays open late on the weekends for evening cocktail fans. There's a full cafe menu — 'easy eats', consisting of banana bread, eggs on toast and smashed avocado; 'gangsta eats' which includes a Southern fried chicken burger, smoked beef brisket waffles, and leek and potato croquettes; and 'funky beats', offering sweet Tahitian vanilla crêpes, steamed salmon salad and a medley of mushrooms with poached eggs. After 3pm, the menu gets shorter, but there's definitely something substantial on offer to pair with a drink. Cocktails are served from 10am, perfect for the boozy brunch hunters. A particular standout is the espresso martini, which will come as no surprise to anyone considering that Sweeten opened Sydney's first espresso martini-focused bar. Sir Allen Taylor & Co. will also be hosting cocktail masterclasses, where you can learn how to perfect your martini or simply discover the basics of mixology. And if Sweeten's Kansas City Shuffle is anything to go by, your coffee will be made to meticulous standards. A convenient cart stationed out front pours your caffeine and also offers turmeric, matcha and red velvet lattes. Find Sir Allen Taylor & Co. on Oxford Street, Darlinghurst, every day until 3pm, and until midnight on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. For more information, visit their website.
Some days, we all just want to want to wander through a vibrant, inflatable, lit-up dreamscape filled with billowing shapes. Sydneysiders, the time to do that is now with this collection of colourful inflatable characters popping up at Tumbalong Park as part of Sydney Festival. Created by Melbourne-based art and technology studio ENESS, Airship Orchestra is bringing sixteen bulbous shapes that glow, reach up to six metres in height, and come complete with a choir score. So, you'll be mesmerised by their appearance and their sounds alike. ENESS are the team behind the previous occupant of Tumbalong Park, Sky Castle. Both of these inflatable activations previously amazed Brisbanites as part of Brisbane Festival in 2021, with Airship Orchestra also being displayed in Melbourne, Shanghai and Washington D.C. Now in Sydney, the outdoor exhibition is free and running in Darling Harbour from Thursday, January 6 until Sunday, January 30. Top image: Ben Weinstein.
Forget those floury and dry monstrosities — Opus Coffee Brewers' muffins are glorious and come in flavours like strawberries and cream or caramelised peach, almond and white chocolate. The hip local coffee spot opened on Keira Street in 2016. Fair warning: seating is limited, so be prepared to wait. There's a communal table out the back and a few bench seats, too. Or takeaway — most of the menu is easily transportable. Opus uses Single O for its house blend for milk coffees and rotates its black coffee roast weekly. Tuck in to a hearty meal from the vegetarian-friendly menu, including a house-made bagel topped with Nutella and sea salt or haloumi, fried egg, jalapeño jam and green; a brekkie bowl with poached eggs, sesame black rice and kimchi; or, gluten free granola with coconut yoghurt. Images: Melanie Cox
Should you trip up and graze your knee, First Aid Kit will numb the pain. In fact, the mesmerising voices of these Scandinavian sisters could act as an alternative painkiller for any of the aches and grumbles that come from staring at a computer screen too long or hugging your iPhone to sleep. Johanna and Klara Soderberg, aged just 20 and 17, are creators of an enchanting collection of country-folk songs that have drawn comparisons with everyone from Joanna Newsom to Bon Iver and Laura Marling. These cute-as-a-button sisters, who grew up in the suburbs of Stockholm, initially turned to music through their love of pop princesses Britney and Beyonce. But after a friend recommended they turned their ears to Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen, the Soderberg sisters endeavored to learn guitar and pen some folk music. Their YouTube video cover of Tiger Mountain Peasant Song by the Fleet Foxes caught the world's attention (one-and-a-half million hits — that's ten times more than the original), including a nod from the Foxes themselves. They were quickly signed to Rabid Records, the record label run by fellow Swedes The Knife. Now signed to London label Wichita, First Aid Kit have just released their debut album The Big Black and The Blue; an album that is both sophisticated and naive, dark and light all at once, with the quirk that comes from a Swedish tongue twisted into English. If you believe that music really does heal, let the girls work their powers on you when the duo play the Oxford Art Factory on September 9. They may just cure that funny rash or the wart on your big toe. https://youtube.com/watch?v=0VUIwtE8edY
A food truck park with laid-back summer vibes, games and mini-festivals is about to land in the northern beaches. Sydney's first permanent food truck destination, Truck Stop is set to makes its home inside Mona Vale's sprawling food and entertainment hot spot Park House. Opening just in time for Father's Day (on Sunday, September 2, FYI), Truck Stop will be home to a rotating lineup of food trucks as well as some pretty impressive permanent features — including a bar in an old-school 50s Airstream, a pizza kitchen and a taco truck in a vintage school bus. In between eating and drinking, if you get sick of doing only that, you'll be able to listen to live music, on a stage made from an old flatbed pickup truck, and play a round of hand ball, croquet or ping pong. On top of all that, the food truck park will also play host to a series of pop-up events, including Craftoberfest (September 28–October 7) and Pound Paws Doggy Day (November 3). So there's already a fair bit on the agenda to draw you north of the bridge (if you're not already there). Truck Stop will open on Sunday, September 2. It will be from Friday to Sunday throughout the summer.
I am yet to grasp the unending desire for converting plays/films/books/discographies into musicals. Though there are a few pieces of musical theatre that really excite me, I've sadly found that many are the theatrical equivalent of a mother bird eating and then regurgitating worms into the mouths of her squawking babies. Music as a medium can produce some of the most profound and moving experiences — whether in the nightclub or behind a red curtain — and so it disappoints me when good ideas are digested down into a sugar pop format. I am not a fan of Steven Sater's adaptation of Frank Wedekind's passionate caveat to nineteenth-century German parents and teachers. Sater has rendered down Wedekind's dark, provocative piece into something as confronting as the underwear section of a Target catalogue. Yes, they sing about rape, yes, they sing about masturbation and, yes, there is an abortion, but these issues appear and scatter across the stage quicker than cockroaches. Gone is the harsh act of fourteen-year-old Melchior raping Wendla (now they are little more than a self-aware Romeo and Juliet, cursing their fuddy-duddy elders), and the evolution of Hanschen and Ernst's homosexual affair is replaced instead with some limp wrists, a throw-away expository line and a "daring" kiss. The original Wedekind was banned numerous times throughout its 120 year history and only then it was performed after heavy censoring. I would argue that this melodious conversion happily upholds that tradition. How then has director Geordie Brookman (Baghdad Wedding) dealt with Sater's honeyed libretto? First, he's assembled an attractive cast that'll ensure a boom in opera glass sales amongst peeping toms. Second, he's cast performers who are primarily singers — a mixed bag of a decision, given that there are some long sequences of straight dialogue throughout the play. Third, and most brilliantly, Brookman has had lighting designer Niklas Pajanti create a frozen shower of countless naked light bulbs, all winking in and out of intensity as if communicating the true story of this tragedy via Morse code. Out of the leads, Akos Armont's Moritz Stiefel presents the most unique energy, creating a boy who is always on the verge of explosion from the pressures of his erupting pubescence. In contrast, Andrew Hazzard's Melchior and Clare Bowen's Wendla tend to err on the side of down tempo, giving their performances a very Home and Away feel, rather than that of an off-Broadway musical. Ultimately, Spring Awakening is going to appeal to a wide audience of music and dance lovers, especially those either in their teens or still connected to that adolescent essence. However, anyone anticipating the shock of Wedekind's words would be better off watching Harmony Korine's Ken Park. Image by Brett Boardman https://youtube.com/watch?v=nrc5c5tjWSw
Ruby's Diner is a thought-provoking stylistic mashup. By name and laminate tabletops, it’s definitely a diner. With tolix stools, small potted succulents and denim waiter aprons, it’s very on-trend too. The menu points to some healthy leanings and a giant tattoo-style mural is a stroke of swashbuckling pirate art. Yar me hearties, I had trouble with the elevator pitch for this one. The mix of influences makes it hard to know which way the wind is blowing at Ruby’s, but they are held together in an open, sun-flooded space in the quiet, gumtree-padded backstreets of Waverley. The crowd on Sunday is just as mixed — lots of pregnant women, smart-caj thirty-somethings and post-yoga soy latte drinkers. Happily, these pirates have a much more easygoing health food charter than than the paleo commandos down the road at Bondi. So there’s gluten-free banana bread, sugar-free (read: maple syrup sweetened) muffins, five grain this and quinoa that as well as brioche french toast. If your body is the temple you worship, there is also kale breakfast salad. Sinners that we are, we order the five grain porridge with quince and the poached eggs with house-made baked beans on an oat and wholegrain waffle instead. The Single Origin coffee is excellent; it’s speedily dispatched and breakfast sails over soon afterwards. I know we’re supposed to be in a diner, but a waffle is not the best raft for beans and poached eggs. ‘Things on bread’ dishes require an inverse relationship between the thickness of the topping and the carbohydrate on which they sit. So despite the perfectly poached eggs and brightly flavoured beans, the whole is an unbalanced ballast, that for $20, doesn’t sail. The porridge is a silky gloop of five-grain goodness where I suspect much quinoa lurks. Candied nuts on top provide texture rescue but the slivers of quince are are a little too few and too small. Again, without a leading flavour or spice it was likeable, but no hidden treasure. All hands are on deck for a fairly busy Sunday brunch. They are a merry crew, but a bit too swift. The bill is offered with a full coffee on the table (and no queue at the door) and as soon as we’re done the bill is offered again. This time we walk the plank, Sunday castaways.
Catering to our fierce love of seafood over the holiday period, Sydney Fish Market is once again pulling its annual all-nighter so you can get your hands on the freshest ocean treats for Christmas lunch. Each year, the Fish Market — which will be relocated to a $250 million new site come 2023 — capably serves over 100,000 buyers looking to snag a deal. Between 5am on Sunday, December 23 and 5pm on Monday, December 24, the market is yours to scout out the most sumptuous fish, king prawns, oysters and calamari. The best news is that it's all Australian-sourced, with half of it from New South Wales. It's not only fish here, though. You can also peruse cold meats and cheeses at the deli for a grand charcuterie platter or stop by the on-site bakery and greengrocer. Or, if you're more of a Northern Hemisphere traditionalist, you can even pick up a turkey from the butcher. They sell basically everything here. If you're stuck for gifts, there are plenty of opportunities for that last-minute find. Head to the gift shop, florist, bottle shop or even grab a voucher for a cooking class at the popular Sydney Seafood School.
If someone's trying to tell me to get a move on and they say "on your bike", I feel like popping them one to the jaw. However, if the bike on offer were an Original DM4 from Deus Ex Machina, I'd probably thank them kindly and be on my way. Those similarly reverent about nice bikes can get their fix (ha) at the 4th Deus Bicycle Swap Meet. There will be 10% off all cycle gear in the Deus store, as well as a lot of bike-related entertainment, trading and selling and a roller race.
