Just three weeks ago we mourned the loss of Freda's, with the beloved Chippendale nightclub closing its doors after a nine-year reign. But Owner David Abram hasn't been sitting on his proverbial hands these last 21 days. In fact, he's been busy preparing to open a brand-new venue in Taylor Square. As is clear from the name, Cafe Freda's isn't a nightclub. It's not just a cafe, either. It's a restaurant, neighbourhood bar and creative space — and it's launching this NYE with a party that runs until 2am. Okay, so maybe it's a little bit of a nightclub after all. As well as being one of the city's best spots for a spin on the dance floor, Chippendale's Freda's was a haven of expression, art and music, and Abram says this spirit will continue at the new venue. "Freda's more than anything was about creating a bar for like minded, creative and free spirited people, and Cafe Freda's allows us to continue to do this, albeit in a slightly different format," Abram said in a statement. "We may not operate a late night dance bar and venue for the time being however culture, music, and congregation is still central to our purpose and we are excited to be pairing these ideas with some delicious food and wine on one of the world's great night-life streets" [caption id="attachment_795167" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Xinyi Lim, Carla Uriarte and David Abram[/caption] In its location on Oxford Street, Cafe Freda's will be serving up food by Head Chef Xinyi Lim, who has worked at New York restaurants Marlow & Sons and Achilles Heel, and runs Megafauna, which combines food, art and social justice. The food will be reflective of Xinyi's Chinese Malaysian heritage and driven by seasonal and locally sourced produce. The wine list, by Restaurant Leo's Darcy Creenaune Ellis, will focus on minimal-intervention drops from smaller producers across Australia and the globe, and a cocktail list will star spritzes and margaritas. You'll be eating and drinking surrounded by playful hues, upcycled elements from the OG nightclub and handcrafted pieces by artist and Abram's partner Carla Uriarte. In her role as creative and marketing director, Uriarte will also help oversee the cafe's cultural program, which is set to feature DJs, live performances, readings and exhibitions. The new venue and its cultural program are launching in true Freda's fashion, with a late-night party on NYE. Tickets are on sale for $75, with the night set to star food from Xinyi, wine by Creenaune Ellis and tunes by the likes of DJ Crabby and DJ Salami. Once a bustling after-dark hub, Oxford Street was hit hard by the lockout laws and is currently a shell of its former self. But, it seems, that's all starting to change. Cafe Freda's will be joined in Taylor Square by a mega-venue that's set to takeover both the Kinsela and Courthouse Hotels, the City of Sydney has announced plans to reignite nightlife on the street and the NSW Government has scrapped several archaic laws surrounding liquor licences and live music. Oxford Street might just be getting its mojo back. Find Cafe Freda's at 191–195 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst from January 1. It's open 4pm–12am Wednesday–Thursday and 11–12am Friday–Sunday.
It's Australia's annual slice of Italian cinema, and it's back for 2018 in its usual jam-packed fashion. That'd be the Italian Film Festival, which not only returns for its 19th year, but does so with a hefty touring lineup of 37 features and two short films, including 33 Australian premieres. Bookending the festival are two movies that couldn't be more timely, one delving into a media tycoon who becomes a world leader (no, not that one), and the other a stone cold horror classic that has just been remade by one of today's best Italian filmmakers. Exploring the scandals surrounding former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, Loro kicks off this year's fest with an epic, nearly two-and-a-half hour drama from The Great Beauty and The Young Pope's Paolo Sorrentino. Then, at the other end of the event comes Dario Argento's original 1977 giallo masterpiece Suspiria — just weeks before the new Tilda Swinton and Dakota Johnson-starring version from Call Me By Your Name's Luca Guadagnino hits cinemas. Elsewhere, IFF also boasts three of the biggest Italian flicks doing the rounds of this year's international festival circuit, courtesy of Dogman, Happy as Lazzaro and Daughter of Mine. A diverse trio from a diverse range of Italian talents, the first sees Gomorrah's Matteo Garrone spin a story about a criminal who loves dogs (winning this year's Palm Dog Award at Cannes for its canine cast), the second unravels a time-bending fable from The Wonders' Alice Rohrwacher, and the third offers a devastating look at two mothers and the daughter they share courtesy of Sworn Virgin's Laura Bispuri. Other highlights range across the entire spectrum of Italian offerings — think comedies based on off-Broadway plays, such as My Big Gay Italian Wedding; underworld dramas like Boys Cry; and an amusing mystery about an inspector investigating the death of a local prosecco wine maker, as aptly called The Last Prosecco. Or, there's also detective thriller The Girl in the Fog, based on the best-selling novel and starring Italian veteran (and Loro actor) Toni Servillo; plus Italian box-office hit Couples Therapy for Cheaters, which focuses on exactly the narrative you think it does. And, looking back at cinema history as film festivals crucially do, this year's IFF retrospective will showcase the work of Italian-Turkish filmmaker Ferzan Özpetek. If his name sounds familiar, that's because he had a hand in movies such as Naples in Veils, Facing Windows and Ignorant Fairies — and if his name doesn't ring any bells, here's your chance to discover his celebrated filmography. The 2018 Italian Film Festival tours Australia between September 11 and October 24, screening at Sydney's Palace Norton Street, Palace Verona, Palace Central and Chauvel Cinemas from September 11 to October 7; Melbourne's Palace Cinema Como, Palace Westgarth, Palace Balwyn, Palace Brighton Bay, Kino Cinemas and The Astor Theatre from September 13 to October 7; and Brisbane's Palace Barracks and Palace Centro from September 19 to October 14. For more information and to buy tickets, visit the festival website.
In order to empower at-risk children, Spanish organisation Aid to Children and Adolescents at Risk Foundation has launched an anti-abuse advertising campaign embedded with a secret message. When the average adult views the bus stop billboard, they will only perceive a disheartened boy with the words "Sometimes, child abuse is only visible to the child suffering it." However, when viewed from below the height of the average 10-year-old, the boy's face appears bruised and the text now reads, "If somebody hurts you, phone us and we'll help you," alongside the number for their anti-abuse helpline. This feat of eye magic is achieved through a lenticular top layer, which displays different images at varying angles. While it is chilling to ponder that ANAR is targeting children travelling with their abusers, it is also inspiring that such innovation is stemming from the non-profit sector. And, thus, that the campaign aims to empower children, rather than sell them hamburgers or new phones. However, some fear that this will trigger new advertising strategies aiming to sell from the waist down — targeting kids into asking for specific brands upon seeing messages their parents have missed. As Gizmodo's Andrew Liszewski asks, "how long will it be before toy companies start doing to the same thing to hawk their products directly at kids?" (We give them three months.) It's still not as much of a worry as the Minority-Report-esque interactive billboards that IBM are reportedly developing. Apparently they could scream out our kid's name to tell them they could use a Guinness. Eeek.
UPDATE: APRIL 10, 2018 — If you've been missing the Hopper Kadé originals from their pop-up days, head on in from April 21 when the new brunch menu is launched. The fan-favourite, Aussie-inspired hoppers will make a return, including The Ozzie (poached egg with crispy bacon, sautéed spinach, mushrooms, caramelised onion relish and grilled tomato) and the Avo Smash (grilled haloumi, balsamic tomatoes and poached egg). For drinks, think iced lemongrass spritzers, coffees from The Black Lab and teas from Tea Craft. Brunch will be available every weekend from 8am–3pm. Sri Lankan hopper stall Hopper Kadé has found a permanent home along Darlinghurst's Crown Street. You've seen them slinging these curry-and-egg-filled, bowl-shaped crepes during popular residences at Tramsheds and Orange Grove Markets for two years. Now, lucky locals can nab their Lankan street food six days a week. The shop is brought to you by founders Ruvanie De Zoysa and Chris Goffin, who combine traditional Sri Lankan flavours with Australian influences. Take the fried chicken with spicy date and tamarind sauce, for example, or the bowl-shaped hopper filled with pulled pork and a free-range egg. Made in-house from fermented rice flour and coconut milk, hoppers are naturally dairy and gluten free, with their version available in white, red and rice noodle options. "We've decided to mix things up a bit — combining sub-continental dishes with Australian ingredients and flavour combinations to create a new style of cooking," says De Zoysa. "Lankan is the slang term for Sri Lanka used by the younger generation, which we feel is a nod to the modern take on the food at Hopper Kadé." To this end, head chef Diago Fernandez has expanded the menu to include brunch, lunch and dinner. Think spiced 12-hour beef brisket, fish and beetroot curry hoppers, along with coconut sambal-filled roti wraps and biriyani plate. The latter two are available from 8am, as are Lankan-style jaffles. For dinner, larger share plates include slow-cooked lamb ribs served with homemade pickle and coconut sambal, as well as cuttlefish salad with papaya, cashew curry leaf crumb and lime dressing. While the restaurant is currently BYO only, it offers non-alcoholic drinks like the house-made mango lassie, coffee by Byron Bay's The Black Lab and teas from Tea Craft, who have created a chai-turmeric blend specifically for Hopper Kadé. The space boasts a street-side takeaway bar trimmed with whitewashed wood and tropical greenery. An interior Singhalese script graffiti wall is paired with dark timber tables and low hanging lights, with shelves decorated with spices and mementos from the team's travels. Sri Lankan homewares will eventually be on sale as well, along with Hopper Kadé's house-made range of oils, curry pastes, spice rubs and sauces. These Lankan street snacks are really having their time in the Sydney spotlight and Darlinghurst is specifically getting a seemingly random influx of Sri Lankan hopper eateries — with Lankan Filling Station opening along Riley Street in late April. Hopper Kadé is now open at 253 Crown Street, Darlinghurst. Opening hours are Tue–Wed & Sun from 8am–3pm; and Thur–Sat from 8am–3pm & 5pm–10pm. Images: Kai Leishman
We've all known those couples who have so much in common they're perfectly suited in theory, and in practice an apocalyptic mess. That tenuous relationship has never been better recorded than by actor, playwright, wit, dandy, and logical Oscar Wilde successor Noel Coward in his 1930 play, Private Lives. Five years after his divorce, the terminally ironic, never dull Elyot (Toby Schmitz; Coward originally wrote the role for himself, which gives you a clue as to just how good the lines given to him are) is on honeymoon with his new wife, Sybil (Eloise Mignon), in a Normandy seaside resort. His similarly acid-tongued ex-wife, Amanda (Zahra Newman), is also on her honeymoon, to Victor (Toby Truslove), in — you guessed it, comedy fans — the exact same lodgings. As is not atypical of those stung by a challenging, equal romantic partnership, this time around, they've each chosen comfort. Sybil and Victor are idiots, and Amanda and Elyot will feel their mistake keenly when they're forced to meet again. Private Lives is fun and cannot be anything but, which makes it a good choice for set designer extraordinaire and Belvoir artistic head but first-time director Ralph Myers. It's forgivable that there's a whiff of unsureness about the opening scene, then, although oddly enough, it's not at all helped by the awkward, grandly minimal set, unclear on when it's a hallway or a terrace. After Amanda and Elyot retreat to her Parisian apartment, things get smoother — positively silky once an unexpected Phil Collins breakdown bonds both the actors and the audience. It's a shortcut to intimacy, but you really believe this and other moments that conjure a couple's private in-joke. Moreover, it's the first shot of modern, riotous energy in the production, and from here on in, the characters have a runaway chemistry that builds to a wickedly climactic reunion breakfast. Coward's barbs are still so sharp and rousing, and it's exciting to watch the two Tobys at the top of their — very different — comedic games. At the same time, it is getting a bit repetitive seeing Schmitz play the smartarse, Truslove the schmo, and Mignion the ingénue. Belvoir should be careful to keep challenging its fine recurring actors. In this case, Mignion is perhaps even miscast, seeming more lost and infantilised under a giant blonde wig than a daffy scene queen in her twenties could possibly be. There's one further oddity in Private Lives: It has a rather casual, even glamorising, approach to domestic violence, one that jars with the attempt to transplant it to an unspecific present. Other anachronisms may pass quietly by, but this comes as a jolt. Image by Heidrun Lohr.
If you consider yourself to be quite the foodie, then no doubt you've already made your way through most of the top restaurants around your favourite cities. So what now? One way to curb the food boredom blues is by escaping the humdrum urban life and heading to regional areas to feast on the best they have to offer. Travel and eating are delightfully intertwined (in our books, anyway) — and you don't even have to travel long distances to discover exciting new eats. One place to add to the bucket list is the picturesque NSW pocket of Orange, located just a four-hour drive from Sydney. The old mining town has transformed into a major foodie destination. Wine is the obvious go-to, with vineyards surrounding the region as far as the eye can see. On top of fine wine, there are cooking schools, a thriving festival calendar, abundant orchards and private fine dining events in luxe farmhouse stays. Plus, its neighbouring historic townships and friendly hospitality make it feel a world away from the hustle and bustle of city living. To help get you planning your next food-fuelled trip, we've teamed up with the folks at Orange360 to round up the very best of the region — from the must-visit restaurants to the lesser-known gems whatever time of year you visit. DINE AT THE VINES Orange is renowned for its cool-climate wines. And if there's one thing that oenophiles love it's food perfectly paired to their delicious drops. If you're heading to the rolling hills of Orange over the warmer months, one way to soak up the sunshine and clean, crisp country air is by having a picnic. Instead of rolling out the blanket in any old spot, though, head to a local winery and feast among the vines. If you're looking to go all out on an al fresco feast, head straight to Heifer Station. The stunning 130-acre winery, located on the slopes of Mount Canobolas, offers private picnics beneath willow trees all summer long but fireside wine tasting for those heading out in winter. Not content with having excellent wines and platters, they also have an animal farm out the back where you can visit alpacas, goats and ponies. Or, you can sit back and feast on local produce and freshly baked goods, while sipping minimal-intervention vino at family-run estate Swinging Bridge for the perfect encapsulation of Orange wines. To those venturing out during the cooler months, fret not, with a winter wine and food festival on the roster and year-round fantastic wineries and eateries available for being wined and dined, there's always something to enjoy at Orange. Check out the Orange Winter Fire Festival and enjoy a delicious meal under the stars while being warmed by a cosy fire and enjoying a glass of rich red wine. CHANNEL YOUR INNER SOMMELIER As you'll be in one of the country's top emerging wine regions, you'll want to sample as much of the nectar of the gods as possible. You'll have your work cut out for you though; Orange is home to more than 60 wineries and over 40 cellar doors. One must-visit vino stop is the award-winning Colmar Estate, run by Bill and Jane Shrapnel, where you'll sip everything from riesling to sparkling rosé from its cellar door overlooking its stunning vineyard. Then, make tracks to Nashdale Lane Wines to up your wine knowledge even more. Nashdale also has luxe glamping tents you can stay in, should you imbibe a little too much. You can then head to Slow Wine Co's cellar door in the historic town of Millthorpe, just 15 minutes from Orange. As the name suggests, Slow Wine Co's ethos is 'wines crafted by time', with each drop taking two years from budburst to bottling, and using only natural processes. After a guided tasting, you can enjoy a lunch cheese platter supplied by Millthorpe Providore or if you plan on being there later in the week, Slow Wine Co also opens as a Tapas Wine Bar from 5.30pm on Fridays and Saturdays. DISCOVER REGIONAL FINE DINING Food-wise, Orange pretty much has it all. There are bakeries, buzzing cafes, restaurants, izakayas, gelaterias and pubs — and you'll want to fit in at least one fine-dining experience while you're there. Orange's finer establishments are still relatively laidback. Here, it's all about celebrating the very best local produce. In Millthorpe, you cannot leave without visiting Tonic. Established in 2003 by owners Tony and Nicole Worland, the award-winning restaurant brings both locals and foodie pilgrims alike. Tony Worland boasts quite the resume, having worked beside the likes of Matt Moran, Michael Manners and Gordon Ramsay, so expect ambitious food, showcasing local producers, of course. If you can fit one more fancy feast in, Sister's Rock, situated at Borrodell Estate, is a must. The warm timber fit-out is welcoming and without pretension and the restaurant overlooks the vineyard, making it the perfect spot for a leisurely lunch. COOK WITH SOME OF THE REGION'S TOP CHEFS Eating food is one thing, but taking the time to cook your own next-level feast brings another kind of joy — no matter whether you're a bit of a novice or a wizard in the kitchen. So, on top of all the dining, you'll be doing, book yourself and your date or mates into a cooking workshop with one of the Orange region's leading culinary masters. Go-to cooking school Barrel & Larder at Ross Hill Wines runs a number of classes throughout the year, each with a different focus, from canapé courses to curry masterclasses and American-style barbecue sessions — all taught by a different local chef. You can also arrange your own private class with up to 12 people. After you whip up some nosh, you'll sit down and feast on your own dishes while drinking plenty of tasty wine. Or, if you'd rather kick back and relax, you can book your own private fine dining experience at Cadogan Country House. [caption id="attachment_786417" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW[/caption] HIT UP A FOOD FESTIVAL If you're serious about food, make sure you visit Orange in autumn. It's when the region throws its annual ten-day food party, F.O.O.D. (Food of Orange District) Week, which shows off the best fare from 'The Food Basket' of New South Wales, including top-quality local produce, chefs and restaurants, as well as cool-climate wines. Keep an eye on the website for the next program, which will be filled to the brim with big signature events and smaller more intimate events hosted at local restaurants and cellar doors. STOCK UP ON SUPPLIES BEFORE YOU HIT THE ROAD Before you hit the bitumen to make your way back to the big smoke, you'll want to stock up on all the gourmet goodies and fine wines you can stuff into your boot. For artisanal cheese, bread, hams, relishes, oils, jams and chocolates, head to Red Chilli Deli or, swing by The Agrestic Grocer for, well, anything that takes your fancy. The hub serves as a grocer specialising in local produce, as well as a cafe, bar, workshop space and live music venue. There's also the monthly Orange Farmers Market (on the second Saturday of each month), where you can support all the local growers, farmers and makers directly. For booze, stop in at Orange's top-notch bottle shop Lane Cellars. Here, you'll find a bunch of locally produced wines, craft beers and ciders, as well as drops from some of Australia's top winemakers and breweries. At wine bar and bottle shop Ferment, you'll find wines and spirits from small-time producers that don't have cellar doors themselves. And Orange Cellars stocks local vino, brews and spirits for you to take home and add to your bar cart. Want to gather your own produce and enjoy the fruits of your labour? Grab a basket and pick your own figs, berries and apples from the region's abundant orchards. Family-owned farm Hillside Harvest, located just ten kilometres out of town, grows everything from various apple varieties to cherries, berries, peaches, plums and nectarines. At Huntley Berry Farm you can pick 11 different berries over summer and autumn, while at Norland Fig Orchard you can pick delicious figs (naturally), plus purchase jams, pastes and chutney and even have a picnic lunch. Whether you're planning a springtime escape or a wintry weekend away, the Orange region has fine wine, good food and spectacular surroundings that make for a great city break — at any time of year. Start planning your trip here.
Already in 2022, Australian shoe brand Volley has given footwear fiends one type of sneaker inspired by a local icon, aka its ridiculous mullet kicks. Now, it's time for a new range that pays tribute to more homegrown favourites. No lengthy strips of hair are involved with these summery shoes, though — but you can expect to get ice cream cravings every time you look down. In its latest collaboration, Volley has teamed up with Streets on a line of sneakers that nod to three treats that help define summer in Australia: Bubble O'Bills, Paddle Pops and Splices. The new shoes take their colour cues from the ice creams, meaning that they come in a pale pink hue, yellow like banana Paddle Pops and light green to match pine-lime Splices. The word you're looking for? Sweet. Now, you just need to pick which ice cream you'd most like to think about all day. The Streets range is decking out Volley's heritage low sneakers — but if you'd like to celebrate Aussie desserts with a pair of heritage high kicks, there's a fourth pair, all in white with Streets colours on its collar and laces, on offer as well. The rest of the collab spans Streets socks and a Streets bucket hat, with prices starting at $19.99 (for the socks) and topping out at $89.99 (for the heritage high kicks). The Volley x Streets range is strictly a limited-time collection, which means ideally getting in faster than you can lick your way through a Paddle Pop — or blow a bubble from a Bubble O'Bill gumball. Wearing your ice cream-inspired sneakers while scenting your home with Streets' team up with Dusk, which includes Bubble O'Bill, Paddle Pop, Golden Gaytime and Splice Candles, is clearly recommended. The Volley x Streets range is on sale now — head to the Volley website for further details.
After seven years in their Devonshire Street digs, the team at The Book Kitchen will be switching gears in response to the South East Light Rail construction happening right outside their front door. Rather than take this long-term disruption lying down, owners Amelia and David Birch have decided to stand up and make lemonade of the situation — or something to that effect. They officially closed their kitchen over the weekend and today — Tuesday, March 28 — they've relaunched as a local hub and co-working space. "We started feeling the pinch of the light rail works already, but I figured we can just sit here and drown or we can do something about it," says Amelia Birch. "The disruptions were triggers for me to do something different and utilise the venture in a way that maximises the space." The venue will continue to serve coffee and tea, but their hot breakfast and lunch offering is no more. Instead, they will offer a takeaway window of grab-and-go breakfasts and, from 10.30am daily, will become Vini & Panini. "We spent time in Italy and love the way their culture embraces ordering through the window, standing at the bar and enjoying a glass of wine with some beautiful food before heading back to work," says Birch. The Vini & Panini window will work the same way — think traditional Italian paninis (like prosciutto with truffled cream cheese, and porchetta with roast capsicum) for $10, as well as a daily salad, $5 organic wines and Murray's beers and Aperol spritzes ($10). The rest of the venue will now operate as a co-working space for small businesses, freelancers, startups and entrepreneurs. They're currently taking bookings from their website for those interested in joining the space. "We have people come in to work and have meetings here every day, so I thought let's use the space to build a community for like-minded professionals, offering the chance for these little players to be able to network and have this collaborative hub," says Birch. Apart from meeting spaces, members will receive 20 percent off the cafe fare, as well as discounts at Surry Hills printers and other local businesses. With their existing, fully fitted commercial kitchen, they're also inviting chefs and caterers to hire the space out on an hourly basis through Sprout Kitchens. Luckily, The Grocer section is not changing and will still sell fresh produce from 8am through 5pm, seven days a week. The Book Kitchen is not the first in the area to be affected by the light rail construction; adjacent furniture shop MCM House has already relocated to Oxford Street and fashion boutique Kit and Ace closed in anticipation of the works as well. Bourke Street Bakery seems to still be going all guns blazing though (some things never change). The Book Kitchen is located at 255 Devonshire Street, Surry Hills. For more info or to book a working space visit thebookkitchen.com.au. Image: The Book Kitchen via Instagram.
The climate crisis can feel overwhelming at times. There's so much critical work to be done on our quest for a more sustainable future. To alleviate some of the existential helplessness, we've teamed up with our pals in Tropical North Queensland to come up with some practical ways we can give back to our beloved environment this Earth Day (April 22) and beyond. Whether you want to volunteer for a conservation organisation or you've been meaning to move your moolah to a financial institution that doesn't invest in fossil fuels, read on for practical ways you can show the environment some love. MOVE YOUR MONEY When it comes to helping the environment, money might not be the first thing you think of. But, if you take a moment to properly consider it, where your money is invested really matters. Some banks and superannuation funds invest their customers' cash into industries that are harmful to the environment — like fossil fuels. If you've been meaning to move your money to a more environmentally friendly financial institution — or to find out what industries your money is currently propping up — Earth Day seems like a timely reminder to do that bit of life admin. Not sure what industries your bank or superannuation fund invests your money in? Find out via the Market Forces website. HAVE MEAT-FREE MEALS It's no secret that mass meat production has a negative impact on the environment. According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, livestock farming is responsible for 14.5 percent of all anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. Want to reduce your intake of animal products? Consider opting for meat-free meals on Earth Day. Or, if you want to take it one step further, make meat-free meals part of your week, every week. There are plenty of plant-based menus to try in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Cairns. [caption id="attachment_844234" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Tropical North Queensland[/caption] TRAVEL RESPONSIBLY From offsetting flights to booking eco-certified experiences, trying to do your bit for the environment while expanding your horizons is a big help. One destination that's loaded with low-impact ways to explore the natural environment is Tropical North Queensland. In the tropics, you can stay in eco-certified accommodation, enjoy the Great Barrier Reef responsibly and explore the region's lush rainforest with minimal impact activities. Want to find out how? Check out the eco-certified experiences and accommodation via the website. SHOP LOCALLY Shopping within your local community has a few benefits. Firstly, it helps to boost the local economy. Plus, if you're buying products that have actually been produced in your local area, it helps to reduce carbon emissions. When you buy produce that is grown near to where you are, the food is only travelling a minimal distance to reach you. That means it takes less resources to transport and store the food after it leaves the farm. So, next time your want to fill up your fridge, head to your nearest farmer's market and grab your goodies from a local. [caption id="attachment_829895" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Tropical North Queensland[/caption] EAT SEASONALLY Eating with the seasons is another great way to cut back the travel miles on your food. Similar to shopping locally, when you consume food that flourishes in the season you're in, the transportation and storage resources required to get the produce from paddock to plate are reduced. Want to eat seasonally on your next trip away? Make sure you check in with the locals to see what's in season. If you're planning a trip to the tropics, hit this list to find the finest local produce that's in season. Spoiler alert: there's plenty grown up in this part of the world. If you dine at a Crystalbrook Collection venue, you can even find out how sustainable your food is via its new Climate Calorie concept. The hotel group have labelled its menus to tell you when your food is locally sourced, supplied in eco-friendly packaging, whether or not First Nations People were consulted in the food production and more. [caption id="attachment_793108" align="alignnone" width="1920"] PARKS AND RECREATION -- "Recall Vote" Episode 607 -- Pictured: (l-r) Adam Scott as Ben Wyatt, Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope -- (Photo by: Chris Haston/NBC)[/caption] TALK TO PEOPLE IN CHARGE One of the most impactful ways to have the environment's back is to tell people in power what you think needs to be done to protect it. While individual action can add up, it's the government that has the power to implement policy changes that'll have a much greater impact. Think we need better emission reduction targets? Reckon the government should stop subsidising the fossil fuel sector and invest in renewable energy instead? Get in touch with your local Member of Parliament to get it off your chest into action. And, of course, ensure your votes in upcoming elections aligns with your beliefs. [caption id="attachment_844433" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Tropical North Queensland[/caption] DONATE OR VOLUNTEER FOR LOCAL CONSERVATION PROJECTS If you've been putting off donating time or money to a local conservation project, but know it's something you want to do, Earth Day is an ideal time to finally make it happen. Most national park organisations have programs for volunteers to get involved in. Or, if you're keen to send some love to the Great Barrier Reef or rainforests of Tropical North Queensland, visit this website to find out how you can help. [caption id="attachment_851154" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Tropical North Queensland[/caption] GET INVOLVED WITH CITIZEN SCIENCE PROJECTS As the old saying goes: knowledge is power. So, to feel more equipped to make positive contributions to the environment, consider getting involved in a citizen science project. Wondering what that even means? Citizen science does what it says on the tin. It's all about getting everyday citizens involved in scientific projects. Our top picks to get among the action are Citizens of the Great Barrier Reef and Eye on the Reef. Want to find even more ways to give the environment some love this Earth Day? For more information, visit the Tropical North Queensland website.
Have you spent a lot of time playing mini-golf lately? The popularity of Holey Moley Golf Club would suggest so. Well, here's your chance to make back the money you've spent on 'practising': the inaugural (and, surprisingly, very lucrative) Holey Moley Masters. Holey Moley — which has eight mini-golf clubs across the East Coast, including one in Melbourne, one in Brisbane and two in Sydney — is launching what's set to be the country's biggest ever mini-golf competition. Kicking off with round one on March 28, the tournament will end with the best team from each Holey Moley venue battling it out for national glory and a cool $10k at a Melbourne final. A series of DJ-fuelled competition nights will be held to find the champion team from each Holey Moley course. Then, on April 19, the winners will be flown to Melbourne to represent their states at a huge final celebration, with the winners scoring their own 'Golden Jackets', a home-course party in their honour and, of course, that sweet, sweet cheque. It's all very official for something that is, at its core, a novelty. Nonetheless, it could be an easy way to make some cash. If you want a shot at victory, start working on your golf game and head here to register by March 18.
Things are changing at Central Station. If the multibillion-dollar tech towers and expansive rooftop renovations weren't enough, a new multi-dimensional precinct is taking over the northern end of the station. Opening on Thursday, November 24, EDDY will facilitate 13 new temporary tenants ranging from candlemakers and florists; to radio stations and a new neighbourhood bar from Golden Age. Nonna's Grocer is one of the many exciting tenants. For the uninitiated, the concept candle-maker creates highly sought-after candles that look wonderfully similar to fruits, vegetables and pantry items. Pick up a candle in the shape of an heirloom tomato or a stick of butter to spruce up your dining table. Other exciting local organisations taking over the shopfronts include musical tastemakers Nomad Radio, Condimental's flagship store Picnic Central, a lighting and furniture shop from Australian Design & Co, sneaker laundry service Shoebox, florist Dust Flowers and recording studio Planet Trip Records. [caption id="attachment_825044" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nonna's Grocer[/caption] Pop-up pizza party-starters Oltra Pizza will be serving up cheese rounds and Poor Toms gin in a new restaurant as part of EDDY as well. Named City Oltra, the pizza joint will feature hits from the Oltra team's many pop-ups that have previously included a Porcine pork special and thick bready tomato pies. As for the previously mentioned neighbourhood bar, SHADES is still a little while off, with a rough open day set for mid-December. As with the original Golden Age Cinema & Bar, food, wine, cocktails, music and film will all collide at the new venue. Here, the action will be spread across two areas, a 50-capacity front bar and a 100-person warehouse-style arts space. "It's rare and exciting to be opening this kind of experimental venue in a location like Central," says co-founder of Golden Age Cinema & Bar Chris Barton. "Cities are unique because of their different layers and this is a great opportunity to provide something that we feel is missing in this part of town." Behind the project is urban strategy organisation Right Angle, who have worked on projects like Paramount House, Sydney Olympic Park, Golden Age and Barangaroo South. "The purpose of EDDY is to reanimate Central Railway Station by using a dormant retail space and filling it with a great mix of local retail and cultural experiences," reads a statement on Right Angle's website. If you want to find out more about EDDY, the precinct is opening with a celebratory party this Thursday, November 24. The opening day will feature giveaways, discounts, demonstrations, music, food and drinks throughout the day including Nomad Radio DJs from 6–10pm and a pop-up bar from SHADES. [caption id="attachment_879237" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Saskia Wilson[/caption] EDDY is officially opening at Eddy Avenue on Thursday, November 24. Head along to the opening day to check it out. Images: Right Angle
When that sun's blasting and the mercury's peaking, it can be a tough decision between cooling down with an icy pint of beer or a scoop of your favourite frosty treat. But now, you can have the best of both worlds, thanks to the new limited-edition, dulce de leche-flavoured Gelato Ale, which is about to hit shelves and taps across New South Wales. This sweet beer is the result of a collaboration between Sydney's award-winning Australian Brewery and the ever-innovative dessert minds at Gelato Messina. And it's looking like it'll be the ultimate summer treat for beer-lovers and sweet-toothed folks alike. Crafted on-site at the Rouse Hill brewery, the beer has fruity malt flavours, backed by a smooth caramel hit of dulce de leche sweetness. If you're yet to get acquainted with the latter ingredient, it's a sticky Latin American caramel made from sweetened milk. The Messina team learned to make its own authentic dulce de leche from scratch after Australia banned imports of milk products from Argentina (because of a spate of foot and mouth disease cases), and have been whipping it up at its Rosebery HQ ever since. A long-time favourite on Messina's gelato menu and also available to purchase by the jar, the concoction now stars in this limited-edition Gelato Ale, though it complements those beer-y tones and stops short of making the drink too sweet. The beer's set to make its grand debut with a public launch party at Surry Hills' Royal Albert Hotel this Wednesday, November 27, kicking off from 5pm. Head along to be one of the first to sample it. After that, it'll be available at select pubs across Sydney, in all Dan Murphy's and select BWS stores. If you'd like to get your mitts on more Gelato Ale, it's hitting the taps at select Sydney pubs from December 1. It's also landing in all Dan Murphy's, select BWS stores and other leading liquor retailers across NSW.
If you've been saving your money the last couple months and are wondering where to spend it, head down to the Makers and Shakers Market on Saturday, October 6. Making its return to Sydney, it'll feature 60 high-quality stalls, so you'll definitely find something you like. The market provides an open platform for local makers to sell their handmade wares, gourmet foods and lifestyle products. Start your shopping at 10am with a kombucha from Mailer McGuire then wander to Clay Canoe for stunning ceramics and to Cardigan Threads for chunky, colourful jewellery. Finish up with a visit to Tiny Paradise to add a little plant life to your home — and that's just a taste of the goodies on offer. While you're wandering the stalls, tackle your post-shop hunger with some toasted sandwiches from Mister Toast, doughnuts from Nutie and Shortstop, plus many more delicious foods. The market will run from 9am–3pm, and tickets are $2 and kids under 12 are free. Image: Alana Dimou.
Thought you’d be eating vacuum packed meals in space? Think again. Fruit and veges could now be part of everyday space cuisine as part of EDEN’s (Evolution and Design of Environmentally-Closed Nutrition Sources) latest research initiative to grow fruit and veges in outer space with LED lights. The German Aerospace Centre (DRL) has picked up new Heliospectra LED lighting technology which the company has developed to help researchers explore conditions that can be used to grow fruit and veges in outer space. These space greenhouses could potentially function and feed a crew millions of miles above the clouds and prove particularly useful in harsh environments like a greenhouse module on Mars, or on slightly closer turf at the Neumayer Station III in Antarctica. One of the current projects at the German institute investigates testing the greenhouse module in the hostile Antarctica environment where a team lives in total isolation for nine months straight. Researchers hope to discover the ways whereby food could be produced for the crew and investigate how plants influence humans in isolation. [via inhabitat]
Local Newtown legends Young Henrys are taking their brewhouse to the next level — and it's all in the name of sustainability. The beer brand has added a glowing bioreactor among its tanks, which they hope will drastically reduce the brewery's carbon emissions. While the green tank may look like a radioactive science project, it's actually just a big ol' vat of microalgae. The single-celled organism is basically the super computer of photosynthesis and produces more than 50 percent of the world's oxygen. It does so by consuming CO2 (carbon dioxide) — one of the main byproducts of the brewing process — and produces O2 (oxygen) in its place. To give you a sense of the impact, it takes a tree 48 hours to absorb the CO2 emissions created from brewing just a single six-pack. Young Henrys' 400-litre bioreactor has the potential to produce as much oxygen as one hectare of Australian forest and to consume a lot of the brewery's CO2 byproduct in the process. If you're wondering why producing lots of CO2 is a bad thing, let us detour into some chemistry 101 for a hot minute. Carbon dioxide is a key greenhouse gas, which collectively trap heat from the sun and keep it close to the earth's surface. Initially that was great, it meant the earth was habitable for humans and animals — but, thanks primarily to the burning of fossil fuels, the earth's atmospheric levels of CO2 are the highest they've been in the past 400,000 years, which has lead to global warming and the increase in extreme weather events, ie. climate change. This project is partly funded an Innovation and Connections government grant and is in partnership with the scientists from the Climate Change Cluster (C3) at UTS. The group is working to find and develop uses for algae that can help combat climate change, and this project aims to pave a path for the wider brewing industry to become a carbon neutral process. Young Henrys' microalgae bioreactor is just the first phase of the partnership with C3. The second phase will involve a large biomass of algae that will provide even more carbon capture and help the brewery to eventually become carbon neutral — more details on this will be released later in the year, so keep an eye on this space. Find Young Henrys at 76 Wilford Street, Newtown.
You're in a rush trying to make it to work on time when you see them — that one acquaintance that just does not know when to stop talking. You try to duck into the nearest alleyway, but they've already spotted you. Cloak, a new app for the iPhone that calls itself "the antisocial network", can now help you avoid these situations. Cloak gathers location information from Instagram and Foursquare and uses this knowledge to create a map of where the user's 'friends' are currently based on places they have recently tagged as their location. It then creates a map that displays the distance between a user and their friends built around where the user is situated. Cloak allows users to flag particular people they are not especially keen to run into on the street, so when that person comes within a pre-determined radius, a notification is sent directly to the user's phone. Living in self-obsessed time, where friends are constantly sharing their latest haircut on Instagram, mundane thoughts on Twitter and relationship status on Facebook, more and more people are becoming fed up with the barrage of useless updates from friends, co-workers and acquaintances. This feeling of fatigue is met with the rise of the antisocial network. Instead of creating the next Facebook, app developers are more concerned with creating the complete antithesis to Facebook. Nextt is designed to help users plan in-person meet-ups with their friends, and Rando is a picture sharing site similar to Instagram, but users have no followers and no ability to like photos; instead, they randomly view photos from users all over the world. No stranger to antisocial networking, former creative director of BuzzFeed Chris Baker is one of the creators of Cloak. He has also developed apps like unbaby.me that replaced pictures of babies in your Facebook newsfeed with pictures of cats, which expanded into Rather, a Google Chrome extension that blocks unwanted Twitter and Facebook content. Hate with Friends, another app Baker created, allows the user to select Facebook friends they hate and will notify the user if the feeling is mutual between any of these "friends". Currently, the only apps Cloak collects location information from are Foursquare and Instagram, but the creators hope to eventually incorporate Facebook as well. Via Mashable.
When your nine-to-five plays out like a well-oiled machine, it can sometimes feel like each week is a little same-same. But Sydney is brimming with a fine bounty of things to experience and explore each and every day. So aside from casual laziness and a little lack of inspiration, there's really nothing stopping you from squeezing some adventure and spontaneity into your schedule. We've teamed up with Mazda3 to help you celebrate the little things that bring a sense of adventure to life. Shake things up, as we give you seven different detours to take each week in Sydney. From Monday to Sunday, enrich your everyday with one completely achievable activity that inspires you to take the scenic route as you go about your daily routine. This week, go to town on some bottomless mussels and frites, unleash your inner artists at a burlesque life drawing class and catch a flick followed by a Japanese degustation. Plus, we've got your future detours sorted for the next few weeks here. All require no more effort than a tiny break from the norm — what's your excuse for not trying them all?
This part of the multiverse mightn't boast chefs controlled by raccoons, talking rocks and hot dog fingers, but it has turned a mind-bending movie spanning all of the above into one of the year's big awards contenders. Everything Everywhere All At Once is one 2022's very best movies, too, and it might soon have some shining trophies for its troubles from the 2023 Golden Globes. Awards season is upon us again, because the end of the year doesn't just mean all things jolly and merry — and the beginning of the new year isn't just about fresh starts and resolutions you likely won't keep, either. The Golden Globes will unveil its latest batch of winners on Wednesday, January 11 Australian and New Zealand time, but its just-announced list of nominees features plenty to get excited about, including a heap of 2022's must-see movies and TV shows. While the Oscars cover films and the Emmys focus on television, the Golden Globes spread its gongs across both formats, meaning that big-screen hits like Elvis and Top Gun: Maverick have scored some love, and so have small-screen favourites such as Severance and Wednesday. Topping the nominations on the movie side is standout Irish comedy The Banshees of Inisherin, including nods for stars Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson. School-set sitcom Abbott Elementary — think Parks and Recreation, but in a Philadelphia public school — leads the TV contenders. Reuniting Farrell, Gleeson and their In Bruges director Martin McDonagh, The Banshees of Inisherin nabbed eight noms, with Everything Everywhere All at Once picking up five, including for actors Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan and Jamie Lee Curtis. Next on the list, Damien Chazelle's Babylon and Steven Spielberg's The Fabelmans each turned their love letters to cinema into five nominations. On the small screen, Abbott Elementary picked up five nods, followed by The White Lotus, DAHMER — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, The Crown, Pam & Tommy and Only Murders in the Building with four each. Other highlights include Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery scoring a nomination for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, and Daniel Craig for Best Actor in the same category; Emma Thompson's Best Actress nod in the same genre for Good Luck to You, Leo Grande; both Decision to Leave and RRR among the non-English language picks; and Angela Bassett receiving some Best Supporting Actress love for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. And, there's The Bear picking up two noms (including for lead Jeremy Allen White) in the TV fields, Diego Luna's Andor nomination, Zendaya's Euphoria nod and Better Call Saul's final season being recognised, too. Although there's plenty to celebrate among this year's contenders — including a hefty showing for Australians, including Baz Luhrmann's Best Director nom for Elvis, and Cate Blanchett, Margot Robbie, Hugh Jackman and Elizabeth Debicki all picking up acting nominations (for Tár, Bablyon, The Son and The Crown, respectively) — the Globes are sadly back to ignoring women directors. If you're wondering what else is in the running, here's the full list of nominations: GOLDEN GLOBE NOMINEES: BEST MOTION PICTURE — DRAMA Avatar: The Way of Water Elvis The Fabelmans Tár Top Gun: Maverick BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE — DRAMA Cate Blanchett, Tár Olivia Colman, Empire of Light Viola Davis, The Woman King Ana de Armas, Blonde Michelle Williams, The Fabelmans BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE — DRAMA Austin Butler, Elvis Brendan Fraser, The Whale Hugh Jackman, The Son Bill Nighy, Living Jeremy Pope, The Inspection BEST MOTION PICTURE — MUSICAL OR COMEDY Babylon The Banshees of Inisherin Everything Everywhere All at Once Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery Triangle of Sadness BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE — MUSICAL OR COMEDY Lesley Manville, Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris Margot Robbie, Babylon Anya Taylor-Joy, The Menu Emma Thompson, Good Luck to You, Leo Grande Michelle Yeoh, Everything Everywhere All at Once BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE — MUSICAL OR COMEDY Diego Calva, Babylon Daniel Craig, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery Adam Driver, White Noise Colin Farrell, The Banshees of Inisherin Ralph Fiennes, The Menu BEST MOTION PICTURE — ANIMATED Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio Inu-Oh Marcel the Shell With Shoes On Puss in Boots: The Last Wish Turning Red BEST MOTION PICTURE — NON-ENGLISH LANGUAGE All Quiet on the Western Front Argentina, 1985 Close Decision to Leave RRR BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN ANY MOTION PICTURE Angela Bassett, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Kerry Condon, The Banshees of Inisherin Jamie Lee Curtis, Everything Everywhere All at Once Dolly De Leon, Triangle of Sadness Carey Mulligan, She Said BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN ANY MOTION PICTURE Brendan Gleeson, The Banshees of Inisherin Barry Keoghan, The Banshees of Inisherin Brad Pitt, Babylon Ke Huy Quan, Everything Everywhere All at Once Eddie Redmayne, The Good Nurse BEST DIRECTOR — MOTION PICTURE James Cameron, Avatar: The Way of Water Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, Everything Everywhere All at Once Baz Luhrmann, Elvis Martin McDonagh, The Banshees of Inisherin Steven Spielberg, The Fabelmans BEST SCREENPLAY — MOTION PICTURE Todd Field, Tár Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert, Everything Everywhere All at Once Martin McDonagh, The Banshees of Inisherin Sarah Polley, Women Talking Steven Spielberg, Tony Kushner, The Fabelmans BEST ORIGINAL SCORE — MOTION PICTURE Carter Burwell, The Banshees of Inisherin Alexandre Desplat, Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio Hildur Guðnadóttir, Women Talking Justin Hurwitz, Babylon John Williams, The Fabelmans BEST ORIGINAL SONG — MOTION PICTURE 'Carolina' by Taylor Swift, Where the Crawdads Sing 'Ciao Papa' by Alexandre Desplat, Guillermo del Toro, Roeban Katz, Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio 'Hold My Hand' by Lady Gaga, BloodPop, Benjamin Rice, Top Gun: Maverick 'Lift Me Up' by Tems, Rihanna, Ryan Coogler, Ludwig Göransson, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever 'Naatu Naatu' by Kala Bhairava, M.M. Keeravani, Kala Bhairava, Rahul Sipligunj, RRR BEST TELEVISION SERIES — DRAMA Better Call Saul The Crown House of the Dragon Ozark Severance BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES — DRAMA Emma D'Arcy, House of the Dragon Laura Linney, Ozark Imelda Staunton, The Crown Hilary Swank, Alaska Daily Zendaya, Euphoria BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES — DRAMA Jeff Bridges, The Old Man Kevin Costner, Yellowstone Diego Luna, Andor Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul Adam Scott, Severance BEST TELEVISION SERIES — MUSICAL OR COMEDY Abbott Elementary The Bear Hacks Only Murders in the Building Wednesday BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES — MUSICAL OR COMEDY Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary Kaley Cuoco, The Flight Attendant Selena Gomez, Only Murders in the Building Jenna Ortega, Wednesday Jean Smart, Hacks BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES — MUSICAL OR COMEDY Donald Glover, Atlanta Bill Hader, Barry Steve Martin, Only Murders in the Building Martin Short, Only Murders in the Building Jeremy Allen White, The Bear BEST TELEVISION LIMITED SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION Black Bird DAHMER — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story The Dropout Pam & Tommy The White Lotus BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR A MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION Jessica Chastain, George and Tammy Julia Garner, Inventing Anna Lily James, Pam & Tommy Julia Roberts, Gaslit Amanda Seyfried, The Dropout BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR A MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION Taron Egerton, Black Bird Colin Firth, The Staircase Andrew Garfield, Under the Banner of Heaven Evan Peters, Dahmer — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story Sebastian Stan, Pam & Tommy BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A LIMITED SERIES, ANTHOLOGY SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION Jennifer Coolidge, The White Lotus Claire Danes, Fleishman Is in Trouble Daisy Edgar-Jones, Under the Banner of Heaven Niecy Nash, Dahmer — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story Aubrey Plaza, The White Lotus BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A LIMITED SERIES, ANTHOLOGY SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION F. Murray Abraham, The White Lotus Domhnall Gleeson, The Patient Paul Walter Hauser, Black Bird Richard Jenkins, Dahmer — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story Seth Rogen, Pam & Tommy BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MUSICAL-COMEDY OR DRAMA TELEVISION SERIES Elizabeth Debicki, The Crown Hannah Einbinder, Hacks Julia Garner, Ozark Janelle James, Abbott Elementary Sheryl Lee Ralph, Abbott Elementary BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MUSICAL-COMEDY OR DRAMA TELEVISION SERIES John Lithgow, The Old Man Jonathan Pryce, The Crown John Turturro, Severance Tyler James Williams, Abbott Elementary Henry Winkler, Barry The 2023 Golden Globes will be announced on Wednesday, January 11 Australian and New Zealand time. For further details, head to the awards' website.
'Social distancing' isn't just a phrase that you might remember from watching Contagion years ago. As the world reacts to COVID-19, it's an important and crucial tactic to help stem the growing spread of the coronavirus. That means not only keeping your distance from other people if and when you do venture out of the house but, increasingly, staying home entirely. If communal viewing parties are part of your usual social routine, however, you don't have to completely adjust to watching Netflix alone. Thanks to a Google Chrome plug-in called Netflix Party, you can now stream movies and TV series on the platform simultaneously with your friends — with the browser extension synchronising everyone's playback so you're truly watching each and every frame at the same time. It also features an online chat function, allowing you to talk, laugh and otherwise comment while your film or show of choice plays. To use Netflix Party, everyone you'd like to watch with will need have their own Netflix account. They'll also need to use Google Chrome — and the plug-in is only available on desktop and laptop computers, so you won't be able to sync your television sets. After downloading the extension, you'll want to head to the Netflix website, select what you'd like to watch and hit the 'NP' button at the top of the browser next to the address bar. Then, select 'start the party', which'll create a URL for you to share with your mates. For those receiving a Netflix Party URL, you'll need to click on it to open it in Google Chrome, then hit the 'NP' button at the top of the browser next to the address bar. Once you've done that, it should automatically bring you into the communal viewing space. Of course, people have tried synchronising their streaming viewing manually ever since Netflix and other platforms emerged on the scene. If you've attempted that option, though, you'll now that it's tricky, involves a constant barrage of text messages asking "which part are you at now?", and just proves logistically frustrating. Netflix Party is available for Google Chrome on both desktop and laptop computers. To download the plug-in, visit the Netflix Party website. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website. Top image: Netflix.
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.
The pitching of the Spiegeltent at the Entertainment Quarter at Moore Park is the best thing that’s ever happened to the place. In between the cinemas and nondescript restaurants, the little tent with its creaky wooden floorboards and velvet drapery is a bohemian haven filled with roaming carnies. Spiegelworld's EMPIRE premiered in New York in 2012 in Times Square, and it's certainly an all-American circus, beginning with Miss A in a Bubble (Lucia Carbines) clad in stars and stripes doing illicit contortions within a treacherously split Perspex dome. If, like me, your nerves are about as steely as a feather duster, you'll be squirming with joyful terror from the start. Odd-pair hosts Fanny (Anne Goldmann) and Oscar (Jonathan Taylor) interrupt the string of terrifying acts with gauche antics that are mostly shocking and sometimes funny. They haul a lovely man up on stage and do things to him. If you have a meek, amiable face, either sit up the back or change it — unless, of course, you think you'll enjoy salacious entreaties from a pair of strangers in front of other strangers. The pair squabble throughout and reach their artistic pinnacle in an episode involving an unholy exchange of masticated banana. A trio of Gorilla Girls (Kateryna Rudenko, Alona Stekolnikova and Alina Reutska) transport acrobatics to the strip club, making Olympic rhythmic gymnasts look like a bunch of squares. A pair of rollerblading daredevils, Polka Dot Woman and Blue Tarpoleon (Mariia Beseimbetova and Denis Petaov) proves that it is in fact possible for a man to roller-skate at lightning speed in a small circle whilst a woman swings from him by the neck without anyone dying. Who knew? Accompanying the action on stage is the voluptuous Miss Purple (Casey Jamerson), who belts out pop ballad after pop ballad, all attended by her trusty Brooklyn hipster on guitar, Moondog (John Shannon). Her rendition of Leonard Cohen’s First we Take Manhattan is great. Empire is running until February 11 in Sydney before making its way down to Melbourne's Crown Rooftop. Book a ticket and brace yourself.
If a cheeky ancient spirit wanted to unleash their signature beverage, how would they go about it? Mix up some rum cocktails? Corral a bunch of bands and DJs? Take over some bars and pubs? In the case of Campari's new lip-smacking spirit Baron Samedi Spiced, all of the above proves true. To celebrate the launch of Baron Samedi Spiced — a Caribbean rum laced with spices such as vanilla, cacao, cinnamon and native Haitian spice Vetiver — the folklore villain is spreading his brand of mystery across Sydney and Melbourne. After all, you don't become a skull-faced underworld figure in Haitian Voodoo, leader of the Guédé, guardian of the afterlife (and general go-to dude whenever magic and death comes up) without causing a bit of mischief. If you're in NSW, you have a few options, starting with Baron Samedi Haitian Nights at Taylor's Rooftop from June 8 to July 7. If Sunday hangouts and tunes by Sydney hip hop legend Joyride north of the bridge take your fancy, there will also be heap of fun stuff taking place at Manly Wharf Hotel and Daniel San throughout June and July. Melburnians can head to Brunswick's Penny Black to get in on the action, with local band Dallas Frasca kicking things off with a live set on June 3. The venue will also offer nightly Baron Samedi drink specials until the end of July, as will Big Mouth St Kilda. So it's time to switch to rum for winter — it's one of the best ways to keep warm, after all.
Schmoopy woopy and bubba bear, lil' puffy wuffy, honey pie or spicy chilly philly. Maybe just the classic: babe. Regardless of whether you're coupled up or flying solo, pet names for partners can be divisive at the best of times. Whether you love them or loathe them, we've joined forces with Melbourne-based Grinders Coffee Roasters to make a case for sharing yours with the world. In anticipation of Valentine's Day, let's delight in (or cringe at) the pet names we use to refer to our nearest and dearest — and then send 40 of you honey pies on an all-out date. Simply tell us the delightfully soppy (or saucy) nickname you use on your lover (or bestie, cos we're into that platonic love too), and you and snookums could be scoring a $500 Mastercard e-gift card from Grinders Coffee — the grounds for a very good date. Maybe you wear your alter ego on your sleeve, having your barista prepare a double-shot cap for Sergeant Snuggles. Or maybe you save it for home time, downloading after a long day while bae strokes your forehead and calls you boo boo. Whatever your preference, we wanna know about it — and reward you for your honesty. From Monday, January 16 until Tuesday, February 14, someone will score the prize each and every day. And on that day of days? Ten extra winners will be selected. That's 40 stand-out dates with the bill taken care of. Red hot. To go in the draw, enter your details below. Top image: LanaStock
Sydneysiders venturing outdoors today could find the whole breathing thing a little less fun than usual — as you may have noticed, it's smoky out there. As the result of bushfires burning across both New South Wales and Queensland, a layer of smoke has made its way across the city and is expected to stick around for a few days. Needless to say, it's affecting air quality, with the NSW Government Department of Planning, Industry and Environment's air quality monitor giving a "poor" air quality forecast for Tuesday, November 19. Areas across the city and state are affected, with Sydney's northwest and southwest, as well as the Central Coast, Illawarra, Lower Hunter and Upper Hunter regions all experiencing "poor" air quality and visibility. Sydney's east, the Northern Tablelands and Northwest Slopes are "very poor". This is largely due to particles in the air. NSW RFS is predicting that the haze will begin to clear during the day, but, due to forecast northwesterly winds, smoke from the fires is likely to affect Sydney over coming days, too. https://twitter.com/NSWRFS/status/1196519613938356224 During periods of reduced air quality, NSW Health suggests that everyone cuts back on strenuous outdoor activities, as well as going outside in general — if you can. Those with chronic respiratory or heart conditions are especially advised to avoid all outdoor physical activity and stay indoors where possible. It's also recommended that you carry your inhaler, follow your Asthma Action Plan, and keep your other medication with you for all breathing-related conditions. If you start experiencing symptoms, even if you're otherwise fit and healthy, seek medical advice. For those staying indoors, NSW Health also suggests turning your air conditioner on — if you have one — and using it on recirculate mode to keep the particles from outside out. With Sydney firmly in the grip of warm end-of-year weather, and temperatures expected to reach 40 in some areas of the state today, residents are also advised to be wary of the heat, as well as its combination with the hazy air. Drinking plenty of fluids, taking cool showers to keep your temperature down, soaking your feet in water and draping a wet cloth around your neck are also recommended. A severe fire danger level (and total fire bans) declared across Greater Sydney, the Central Ranges, Illawarra, Greater Hunter and Southern Ranges areas for today — and the NSW Rural Fire Service continuing to battle 48 blazes across the state. So far this bushfire season, 530 homes have been destroyed — with 421 of those just in the past ten days. Hot, dry conditions, with very little rain, are forecast for the rest of the week, so dangerous bushfire conditions are expected to continue. https://twitter.com/NSWRFS/status/1196537412169666565 If you'd like to help out, Bunnings across the state are holding sausage sizzles to raise money for those impacted by the fires this Friday. You can also donate to the NSW RFS here. You can keep an eye on the fires burning across the state at the NSW Rural Fire Service website. For more tips on staying safe during smoky conditions, head to the NSW Health website. Image: NSW Rural Fire Service.
Enron is an epic play that covers an epic true story — the rise and fall of American energy giant Enron Corporation, which went bankrupt in 2001. British playwright Lucy Prebble has turned the tale into a comedy, but a pretty depressing one. The judiciously placed direct-to-audience narrations purport that Enron was not an aberration but the birth of modern business. The play is anti-capitalist, but in a soothing way. Aside from a few angry outbursts, it tells the story as a history lesson. This production at the New Theatre, directed by Louise Fischer, is generally entertaining, with the portrayal of the Lehman Brothers as sycophantic twins by Gareth Cruikshank and David Todd stealing the show. They embody one side of the confidence cycle that allowed Enron to succeed for as long as it did. Cassandra Lee-Heschl playing Claudia gives a poised explanation of this phenomenon, using the analogy of an aeroplane that will only fly if all the passengers believe it will. As soon as one person has a doubt, it will crash. Heschl is a strong performer with a good Southern accent and the rare ability to wear an insanely short skirt with dignity. Prebble uses a number of symbolic devices to explain the confusing world of finance. Chief financial officer Andy Fastow (Nick Curnow) describes the smaller companies created to consume Enron's debt as Raptors, which are played as masked, winged creatures by Lisa Fletcher, Jorjia Gillis and Paige Leacey. Their deterioration from debt-hungry to chronically ill is a clear, humorous hook for the audience to hold on to as things get complicated. Sound designer Mehran Mortezaei and costume designer Virág Dózsa haven’t quite managed to bring back the glorious '90s in full force, but watching Peter Flett dance to La Bouche's 'Sweet Dreams' during a set change was very wonderful. Enron's demise is satisfying to watch, as its story is one of just retribution. But this is not the message Prebble would have us walk away with. In the final sequence, the cast stands as a chorus and explains that as long as businesses are savvy to regulatory loop holes and ensure that they are too big to fail, they won't. It’s an entertaining depiction of an unwieldy and gloomy topic.
Kit Brookman’s Small and Tired is a gentle consideration of the Oresteia. Orestes (Luke Mullins) returns home for the funeral of his father, Agamemnon, to find his sister Electra (Susan Prior) has moved to the suburbs and his mother Clytemnestra (Sandy Gore) is cold as ever. In a current day Australian suburb, the blows of the ancient tragedy are meted out softly. In both his writing and direction, Brookman renders the epic quotidian, which makes the whole palaver all the more ruinous. Instead of grand gestures, fidelities and obligations simply erode between characters. Just as the play reaches a particularly suffocating moment, Orestes describes to Clytemnestra how as a child he had imagined breaking out into the sky flying in a train — the tension here between desire and reality is almost unbearable. Brookman’s script uses the train as metaphor for the long, chugging thing that is life and the cadence of his script echoes that of a train. Brookman’s words patter downwards, just as footsteps have worn paths in Mel Page's set of dried out lawn. Tom Hogan's sound design is irritatingly soft, which only enhances the sense that these people exist in a vacuum, where fate was decided long ago and everyone is indeed small and tired. Lighting designer Verity Hampson and set designer Page have captured the airlessness of an Australian summer, but here there are no big blue skies, only a low, dark horizon and a feeling of claustrophobia that Orestes very understandably tries to escape. Electra's histrionic crisis midway through the piece initially seems to be an unprepared dramatic climax until we realise that this is but one moment in a long line of disappointments. Gore playing Clytemnestra delivers a devastating glance of casual disdain towards her daughter in this scene. Gore has an amazing face — her performance is upright and brazen. Mullins' performance as Orestes is exquisite, and he and Conroy achieve a moving, humorous depiction of love. The only odd note is Electra’s hapless Aussie husband, Jim (Paul Gleeson), a keen gardener and hopeless bore. The character provides some comic relief and makes Electra more believable as a stir-crazy suburban housewife, but for the most part he sits outside the narrative. Brookman and the rest of the team have created something delicate and true to life. Small and Tired is one long exhalation that will leave you gasping for air, in a good, cathartic kind of way.
Plans, pathways, roadmaps, rollouts: no matter which state you live in, Australians have heard these terms more than a few times over the past year and a half. As the country has grappled with COVID-19, our state and federal leaders have unveiled all types of outlines that run through what we can do, what we can't do whenever restrictions are in place, how we're getting vaccinated, where we can travel and how life might someday return to normal. Following the latest National Cabinet meeting between state and territory leaders and Prime Minister Scott Morrison, which was held today, Friday, July 2, the latter has just announced a new plan — 'a National Plan to transition Australia's National COVID Response', to be precise. It steps through four phases that Australia will now work through to get life back to normal in this pandemic-affected world. Timeframes haven't been noted, so really it's just a list of things that should happen at some point; however, it's a plan nonetheless. Now 16 months since the country first introduced lockdowns and border restrictions due to the pandemic, Australia is currently in the first phase. Here, the aim is to suppress the virus to minimise community transmission, and much of it either sounds familiar or plans to tweak existing arrangements. Lockdowns will be used as a last resort, caps on incoming passenger arrivals will be cut in half to help stop the possible spread of the Delta variant, and the Commonwealth will run more repatriation flights to Howard Springs. Hotel quarantine is set to be reviewed, too, and alternative options — such as home quarantine for returning vaccinated travellers — will be trialled. In this first stage, everyone will be offered their chance to get vaccinated — which, given how slow the rollout has been progressing so far, might explain why no hard dates have been attached to this overall roadmap. Also in the initial phase, the Medicare Vaccination Certificate will be rolled out, Australia will work out how to authenticate digital vaccination status at our international borders and the vaccine booster program will be prepared. Whenever that's all achieved, the nation will move into phase two. That's when restrictions will be eased on folks who've had the jab — including around lockdowns and border controls. It's aimed that, by then, lockdowns will only happen "in extreme circumstances" if needed to prevent increasing hospitalisation rates and deaths. Also in phase two, inbound passenger cabs for unvaccinated returnees will go up, and more vaccinated returning travellers will be allowed to come home. If you're a vaccinated Aussie and you're coming back into the country, there'll be reduced quarantine arrangements. And, this is when the vaccine booster program should be rolled out, too. Up next: a third phase that has absolutely no lockdowns, and frees vaccinated Aussies from all domestic restrictions — and allows them to travel internationally as well. At this point in the plan, there'd be no caps on returning vaccinated travellers at all, and more travel bubbles, like the one floated with Singapore, would open. Also, vaccine boosters would keep being delivered. Finally, phase four sees COVID-19 just treated like other infectious diseases. It'd still be around, but it'd get the same kind of response as the flu. So, there'd be no lockdowns or domestic restrictions ever, vaccinated folks could come and go as they like, and non-vaccinated travellers would just have to get tested before they depart and when they arrive. Again, there are no timeframes attached to any of these phases as yet. That's dependent upon setting vaccination targets for each phase of the plan, based on modelling. And, if Australia's pandemic response so far is any guide, this could all change, take forever or simply not happen — but, if nothing else, it's the stated plan at the time of writing. For further details about the National Plan to transition Australia's National COVID Response, head to the Prime Minister's website.
Humans have made a pastime of staring up at the night sky for as long as history can tell us. Unfortunately, the amount of excess light that our big cities leak into the sky makes for pretty poor stargazing conditions on an average night in the inner city. With that in mind, we've scoped out the spots all around Australia where it's still possible to use one's telescope for its intended purpose. Stargazing, that is — not trying to peek at what your neighbours keep behind their curtains. So, find the closest stargazing spot (or book a flight ASAP) and take part in this time-honoured tradition. Sydney Observatory, NSW In terms of physical proximity to the night sky, Sydney Observatory is a pretty good starting point. One of the highest accessible points overlooking Sydney Harbour, its building houses three telescopes — including the oldest working telescope in Australia, which was acquired for the 1874 transit of Venus. The other two are a 42-centimetre computer-controlled lens and, for those of you who prefer gazing at the star closest to us, a telescope that lets you look at the sun. You can get a glimpse through the onsite telescopes on a ticketed guided tour. Otherwise, the Observatory is free to visit and open Wednesday–Saturday from 12–6pm. This is definitely the first step for every would-be Galileo. [caption id="attachment_730726" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Marc Aragnou via ASNSW[/caption] Wiruna, Blue Mountains, NSW Wiruna is the Astronomical Society of NSW's best-kept secret — if you go to its website, you'll see what we mean. Located on the outskirts of Wollemi National Park in the Blue Mountains, Wiruna is basically 107 acres of astronomy Christmas. Starry season's greetings, sky-lovers. The ASNSW holds a number of stargazing sessions on weekends throughout the year, and encourages amateurs and old hands alike to come and use the incredible array of equipment they've got stashed up there. The easiest way to get involved is to become a member of the ASNSW — it's a process that requires payments and applications — but allows you to visit this site and others with the group or on your own once you're accredited. [caption id="attachment_730730" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW[/caption] Warrumbungle National Park, Coonabarabran, NSW Warrumbungle National Park is a proper hike (read: a five or six hour drive from Sydney), but it's also a proper dark sky site. The National Parks and Wildlife Service has dedicated funds to limiting light pollution in and around the park and, with these measures in place, Warrumbungle joins the likes of Death Valley National Park in the US and Galloway Forest Park in Scotland as an official dark sky park — that is, one of the top places on the planet to revel in galactic goings-on. Warrumbungle does have its own observatory, but scientists and astronomers have the run of the place after sundown. Amateur astronomy in Warrumbungle is best performed the old-fashioned way, with the humble eyeball (and optional pince-nez). [caption id="attachment_730745" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Graham Hosking via the City of Greater Bendigo[/caption] Leon Mow Dark Sky Site, Heathcote, VIC Located just 1.5 hours drive north of Melbourne, the town of Heathcote boasts some incredibly beautiful skies — and heaps of bush walks, reserves and national parks from which to see it at night. If you take your astronomy very seriously, you can head to Heathcote's Leon Mow Dark Sky Site. The country estate is available for use by Astronomical Society of Victoria members at any time, and they're even welcomed to camp out overnight. Membership will set you back $80 a year or, for non-members, the site is open to the public for free during annual events and meet-ups (just check the website for details). You can BYO telescope or binoculars, or just gaze up — there's plenty of beauty to be seen by the naked eye. [caption id="attachment_730556" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Visit Victoria[/caption] Twelve Apostles, Great Ocean Road, VIC The breathtaking views to be had on any trip along the Great Ocean Road are hard to beat. But we bet you haven't considered taking this trip after dark. Turns out that the routes along these many rock formations offer a stunning view at night, too. This is especially true at the road's all-star site, the Twelve Apostles. On a clear night, the stargazing is truly awe-inspiring. It won't be the view of these golden cliffs and crumbling pillars that you're used to seeing in photos, but it offers something else altogether — and that a lot of people haven't seen. Look up, listen to the lapping waves and enjoy the rare peace and quiet here. Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium, Mt Coot-Tha, QLD Named after the soldier and astronomer who gave Brisbane its name, the Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium has been a favourite school tour spot since 1978. If you're a Queenslander, you've definitely been — and it's definitely worth another visit, even if you're well out of class. But unlike school, staring into space here is not only acceptable, it's mandatory. The Cosmic Skydome is the main attraction, under which you'll lean back and send your eyes skywards as informative films tell of black holes, the dark universe, moons and cosmic collisions. Once you've toured the stars, return to earth with a walk through the surrounding Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens. [caption id="attachment_730557" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism and Events Queensland[/caption] The Jump-Up Dark Sky Sanctuary, Winton, Queensland The sleepy town of Winton in northwest Queensland is perhaps the number-one stargazing destination in all of Australia — as of April 2019, the town received Australia's first of seven international certifications for a Dark Sky Sanctuary. There are only 22 certified sites worldwide, so it's a particularly impressive win for Aussie shores. The sanctuary is set within the Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum at its Jump-Up facility, which is free and open all year round. Here, you can view the spirals of the Milky Way and Orion Arm, as well as the collapse of nebulae and the birth of new stars. Bring along a telescope, binoculars and a picnic — you'll want to stick around for a while. [caption id="attachment_730555" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism and Events Queensland[/caption] Charleville Cosmos Centre, Charleville, QLD The tiny town of Charleville — situated a two-and-a-half-hour flight from Brisbane — is home to one of the few observatories where you can stargaze both day and night. When the sun is up, you can attend a range of astronomy tours at the Cosmos Centre, including the sun viewing, which uses a special telescope to let you gaze directly at the surface of our planet's closest star. At night, experiences range from $45 for an Aboriginal night sky story session, up to $130 for personal astronomy tours. Check out clusters, planets, nebulae and, on a good night, the Milky Way. Inside the centre, there are heaps of tours and events going on each day, plus some seriously impressive equipment to boot.
Dance Better at Parties is a play about loneliness, intimacy and tango. As the piece is directed by Chunky Move's Gideon Obarzanek, I expected an experiment in form; a contrast between dance and drama. But Dance Better at Parties is simply a play with lots of dancing in it. Its premise is plain — middle-aged dad Dave (Steve Rodgers) has signed up for his free introductory dance class, at an unspecified suburban studio with dance instructor Rachel (Elizabeth Nabben). After some hesitation and effective salesmanship from Rachel, he signs up for his 12-week course, "tailored" to his dance needs, which is to dance better at parties. Despite his simple request, he becomes pretty adept at flamenco and busts out some fierce Latin jazz. Obarzanek devised the piece with his two actors, and it is disarmingly uncomplicated. We're invited in to the fairly banal world of a dance studio, where we enjoy the pair's flirtations and spats in a homely, comfortable setting. Designer Renee Mulder's unadorned set evokes suburban isolation but also a feeling of privacy. Lighting designer Benjamin Cisterne has opted to leave the house lights on at the start of the show, which makes it feel more like hanging out in a rehearsal room than going to a play. The entire piece feels a bit like watching a rehearsal process. There is merit in this sort of simplicity, but it would seem to lend itself more to dance, where gesture and words can float around in the abstract. This is not a dance piece though; it is a drama with a 'real-life' narrative and the simplicity reads as incompleteness. The story also has a number of red herrings in it, such as Rachel's seemingly ominous request for Dave's bank details and a moment in the dark where Rachel appears to be terrified of him. Devising a piece is surely as much about editing as adding and the show would benefit from the omission of these deviations. The picture of an uncoordinated, lonely man dancing is powerful enough. Steve Rodgers would be captivating reading the proverbial phone book and he certainly makes the show; in fact, its success as a piece of entertainment relies on him. He is a natural clown and has a capacity for pathos that is remarkable. The closing sequence in which he artlessly stares at us in a moment of dejection is acting at its finest. His performance is a joy to watch, but directorially the piece is slightly weak.
When long-running live jazz spot The Basement announced it was closing in March last year, a wave of sadness rippled through the Sydney live music community. It seemed the Circular Quay venue was set to be another empty space. But then Mary's hospo duo Jake Smyth and Kenny Graham (also responsible for resurrecting The Lansdowne and The Unicorn) stepped in, announcing they would take over space and reopen it as Mary's Underground. And this week, the venue officially opened to the public It's probably not what you expected from the Mary's crew. There are no burgers on the menu (though you can find them upstairs at Mary's CBD) and it's more of an eat-with-cutlery situation. Smyth and Graham have diverted slightly down the bistro route for Mary's Underground — making it a place where you can do dinner and a show as well as just a drop-in drink on a rowdy night out. As promised back in February, the venue will keep The Basement's commitment to live music going, with gigs running every night except Sunday (when the bar is closed). To give you an idea of what the programming has in store, this week's schedule includes a six-piece Afro-Cuban band, a ten-piece South London jazz performance and a New Orleans-inspired house brass band. [caption id="attachment_723873" align="alignnone" width="1920"] James Adams[/caption] But apart from the focus on live music, the venue isn't going for a theme other than "Sydney 2019". According to Smyth, he and his team — which consists of award-winning sommelier Caitlyn Rees (ex-Fred's), bar manager Karl Coombe and head chef Joel Wootten (both ex-Rockpool) — "aren't trying to recreate another time or another feeling", wanting the venue to instead "scream 'now'". Still, the menu has a distinct French vibe that's hard to ignore (and similar to that of Restaurant Hubert around the corner). Think caviar, oysters, lobster and a $300 seafood tower. Unlike at Mary's, you won't be able to get a meal for less than 20 bucks here. But if money is no object, the gents suggest trying the a serve of the Tasmanian sea urchin, the rock lobster potato salad and the Spanish tortilla (with the addition of blue swimmer crab, naturally). For mains, the French-style breaded whiting and the rotisserie duck with persimmon and star anise ($70 half, $140 whole) are Smyth's go-to. He also suggests ordering all of the seven sides — which include hasselback carrots and a parsnip and macadamia gratin — and finishing off with rhubarb and rosella mille-feuille for dessert. Yeah, you'll need to bring a few mates along if you're planning to follow in these footsteps. If you're just after some seafood, find a spot at The Clam Bar, a 30-seat wine and oyster bar down the back. This has a dedicated chef shucking, slicing and plating fresh market seafood before your eyes. If you'd rather something quick and casual — or vegan — you can always pop up to Mary's Circular Quay upstairs. As well its cult fave beef burgs, the bar also serves Mary's first ever completely plant-based burger. [caption id="attachment_723871" align="alignnone" width="1920"] James Adams[/caption] On the wine side of things, Rees — whose accolades include the 2018 Gourmet Traveller Sommelier of the Year — has designed an extensive eight-page wine booklet (which includes a whopping 37 bottles of chardonnay) and every bit of it is organic or biodynamic. She's working towards keeping the list at half-Australian and half-international producers, the latter being mainly Italian and French varietals. Offsetting the enormous wine list is a succinct list of six cocktails — three specialty and three lesser known classics — that will change monthly. The list, according to bar manager Coombe, will showcase the bar team's tastes, as well as classics that it feels have "been overlooked or underrated by the hospitality community". Those include the Rum Uppercut (a mix of smoked rum and Plantation overproof rum with amaro, spiced pineapple syrup, bitters and Young Henrys cloudy cider) and Coombe's version of a Lychburg Lemonade (Jack Daniel's No. 7, Cointreau, lemon and soda). A regular classic is set to be the Filth and Fury, which is the venue's signature dirty martini. It infuses Poor Toms gin with Adelaide Hills Distillery dry vermouth, Australian bush tomato and edible seaweed. While certainly a more grown-up venture than the group's previous venues, you can still expect Mary's usual party vibes to prevail. "Our target market is people who want to feel like they are appreciated — people who want to spill wine on their dress while dancing, and people who don't give a fuck about being seen doing so," Graham says. "We want people to come and celebrate and connect and revel and party and forget the bullshit." Find Mary's Underground at 7 Macquarie Place, Sydney. It's open Monday to Thursday from 5pm–1am and Friday to Saturday from 5pm–3am. Images: James Adams.
A place where you can create art instead of just enjoying it is Parramatta Clay and Arts. If you're not ready to commit to a course, begin with a weekend workshop. Over three hours, you'll get to create a work of your own, like a teapot, or learn a skill, like Japanese Raku firing. Should that whet your appetite, you can then sign up to a term's worth of weekly lessons. Another option is to become a member, which gives you independent studio access, the possibility of exhibiting in Hunter Street Gallery of Fine Arts and, once you're an expert, opportunities to teach.
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.
Kick off your New Year's resolution to see more art with a visit to this massive Margaret Olley exhibition. Being held at S.H. Ervin Gallery from until March 26, it's a celebration of her 60-plus-year career, with a focus on her influences, inspirations and legacy. Guest curator Renee Porter has selected more than 80 works. You'll get to see Olley's paintings alongside those of her mentors Caroline Barker and Jean Bellette, and those of her closest friends, including Mitty Lee-Brown, Margaret Cilento, William Dobell, Russell Drysdale, Moya Dyring, Donald Friend, Jeffrey Smart, David Strachan and Anne Weinholt. There's also a bunch of pieces by younger artists to whom Olley gave her passionate support. Among them are Robert Barnes, Criss Canning, Cressida Campbell, Nicholas Harding and Ben Quilty. "Margaret was a frequent visitor and supporter of the Gallery and in this show we wanted to present the spirit and vigour of this grand woman in Australian art," said Jane Watters, director at S.H. Ervin. "In many ways the show completes the circle of her championing the talents of her peers and friends which she undertook with such vivacity throughout her life." Margaret Olley: painter, peer, mentor, muse is the first exhibition in the three-show Margaret Olley Series, supported by the Margaret Olley Art Trust. Image: Margaret Olley, Portrait in the mirror (1948), oil on canvas, AGNSW.
Tramsheds' Sir Chapel Bistro and Brewery has closed its doors, but Forest Lodge beer lovers need not fear — it's been replaced by yet another brewpub, though one with a decidedly different slant. Redline Taphouse and Kitchen is the new venue from chef Joe Slakey (Flying Fajita Sisters), who combines his passions for food and craft beer in one venue, which boasts ten rotating taps, a menu of Southern-style American eats and an outdoor beer garden to boot. An avid home brewer, Slakey will make his professional beer debut with Redline. He's brewing on-site using the SmartBrew system, which takes about half the work of a pro brewery — this means Slakey isn't exactly brewing each batch from start-to-finish, but it's still notable. Redline's house lager will remain on tap and will be joined by special and seasonal releases that mainly stick to the American theme but include some Aussie and international beer styles as well. Current beers include the Mississippi pale ale and South Pacific lager, with a pilsner next up. Some of the taps will be allocated to guest brews too, and they'll focus on Sydney-based breweries — especially those from their inner west circle, like Wayward, Young Henrys and Frenchies. The list will rotate every month based on customer feedback, with interstate and overseas names making their way on occasionally. Slakey is a Seattle native, and the menu is a compilation of his favourite dishes from around the States, with a strong focus on the Deep South. Mains include Cajun jambalaya, crispy soft shell crab and grits, biscuits and sausage gravy and St. Louis-style pork ribs. Add on classic sides like Creole red beans and rice, bacon fat-fried green tomatoes and cheddar cheese hush puppies. "I'm really excited to see Sydney's reaction to our food," says Slakey. "As a chef, you always want to be able serve up the dishes you enjoy the most and opening Redline is an opportunity for me to do that. It's real, down to earth American food and we think people will love it." The fit-out is designed by Sonnet, who also took care of the interior for Bang Street Food. Think Americana meets Aussie pub, with the brew kit on front-and-centre display and a beer garden rounding out the offering. Redline Taphouse and Kitchen is now open at Tramsheds Harold Park, 1 Dalgal Way, Forest Lodge. It's open Monday to Friday from 11.30am until late and Saturday and Sunday from 9am until late. For more info, visit redlinebrewingco.com.au.
Marrickville Bowlo combines bowling with live music — and is a bona fide inner west institution. Gigs are held most Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights and run the gauntlet from local rock to blues and soul to DJs that get the whole venue having a boogie. During the day, it's all about the bowls. While it does host competitions, the venue's barefoot bowls is a more casual affair, and costs just $15 per person for around two hours of game time. Instructions are even thrown in. Should your sweet victory (or close losses) make you hungry, pop into the bowlo's bistro for a feed. The menu includes hearty pub classics like burgers, nachos, steaks and potato wedges. The kitchen stays open until 8.30pm, so you can grab a snack before a gig, too. Image: Kate Murphy.
Every music festival has its own distinctive traits and drawcards, no matter who happens to be hitting the stage. Held on the banks of the Murray River, Strawberry Fields is no different. Fancy escaping into nature to listen to live and electronic acts, wander through art installations and hit up a bush spa? That's all on this fest's bill. Taking place across the weekend of Friday, November 17–Sunday, November 19 in Tocumwal, New South Wales, this year's Strawberry Fields has just unveiled its lineup, and it's full of impressive names. DJ Seinfeld, Denis Sulta, Todd Terje, Moodymann, Ezra Collective, Booka Shade Moktar and Barkaa are just some of the talents on the list — and yes, it goes on. Fred again's besties and frequent collaborators Joy Anonymous are on the lineup to bring that same brand of euphoric dance music to the regional weekend-long party. Plus, Strawberry Fields' range of extra-curricular activities will be returning. You'll be able to soak away your stresses — not that you should have any at a music fest — at the bush spa. The Moroccan Bedouin lounges and tea ceremonies will be running in the festival's Mirage Motel space, plus the glamping options are back to make your weekend as lavish and as low-maintenance as possible. Also, if you happen to be born on this year's festival dates, you can register to score a free ticket. Happy birthday to you indeed. Strawberry Fields lays claim to being one of the country's most sustainable festivals. It is powered by biodiesel fuel as well as solar power, its rewash revolution system has diverted over 100,000 single-use plastics from landfill, composting toilets are provided and all transport is carbon offset via Treecreds. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Zh_5l4SgXk STRAWBERRY FIELDS 2023 LINEUP: DJ Acid Pauli Adam Pits B2b Lisene Baby G Bini Bria b2b Evie Claire Morgan Darcy Justice Dee Diggs Deepa Denis Sulta DJ Bone DJ Fuckoff DJ Mell G DJ Pgz DJ Seinfeld DJ Vm Doppel Eli & Fur Elli Acula Handsdown Hausm8s In2stellar Jamz Supernova Jazmine Nikitta Kerry Wallace Kia Manami Moktar Montana Moodymann Muska Jen Mzrizk Other Worlds Other Sounds Phil Stroud Pretty Girl Roza Terenzi b2b D Tiffany Sam Shure Stüm Todd Terje Uone Wax'o Paradiso b2b Lauren Hansom Yi Lum Yikes Live Amadou Suso Barkaa Big Wett Booka Shade Bricky B Carissa Nyalu Children Of Zeus Cinta Close Counters Denni Ezra Collective First Beige Flewnt Foshe Jesswar Jitwam Joy (Anonymous)) Just Emma Kerala Dust Kyoshi Mindy Meng Wang 王萌 (Solo) Mindy Meng Wang 王萌 & Tim Shiel Minyerra Oden & Fatzo Quarter Street Radhey Gupta Roy Blues Sleep D Slowmango Snow Bros Squid Nebula Sweely The Lahaar Vv Pete Wulumbarra Showcases Still Here @ The Grove Bricky B Dj Vm Denni Flewnt Wulumbarra Minyerra Carissa Nyalu Strawberry Fields takes place at Tocumwal, New South Wales, from Friday, November 17–Sunday, November 19. The final release of tickets go on sale at 9am on Friday, July 18. Head to the festival website for further details. Images: Duncographic
The focus of yoga trends seems to be constantly changing — from beer yoga to hip hop yoga and rooftop yoga to farmside yoga, we thought we'd seen it all. Now, Dubai's Atlantis The Palm is bringing 'underwater' yoga onto the scene. Before you think about holding your breath while doing a submerged upward dog, the class isn't quite as complicated — or as cool — as it sounds. The yoga course is not held in the water, but instead it takes place inside a tank-like room called the Ambassador Lagoon. The Lagoon sits within the resort's Lost Chambers Aquarium, a 17-hectare openair marine habitat that boasts over 65,000 sea creatures within a massive maze of underwater corridors and passageways. The 250-plus salt and fresh water species include sharks, eels, rays and piranhas, as well as hundreds of exotic fish. That's a whole lot of marine life on call to sit audience to your meditation. The all-levels, 20-person class runs every Tuesday and Friday. Each ticket includes a yoga mat, bottle of water and valet parking, which we guess is what puts the price up at 120 Dirham (around $44 AUD). The lavishness of the course is no surprise coming from this 46-hectare luxury resort. Being in a darkened room surrounded by shimmering water and peacefully floating sea animals does sound quite relaxing, and, although there won't be any actual underwater feats involved, we don't think it would be quite as calming in practice anyway. Post-yoga, there's always the 18 million litres of fresh water which powers waterslides, river rides, tidal waves and pools to entertain yourself with. Underwater yoga is held at Atlantis, The Palm in Dubai. If you're heading there any time soon, visit their website for more information and bookings.
Leave a message for your family or roommate without having to scramble for a pen on your way out the door. Luc van Hoeckel's 'Record me' allows you to leave a personalised voice message as opposed to a haphazardly scribbled note. 'Record me' is wall-mountable and can save up to 12 messages at a time. To use, simply turn the dial to a free 'station', press the button, record your message, and press it once more. Messages may be deleted by holding down the same button. Leaving voice messages gives you the chance to be both fun and informative, allowing a quick 'I love you' to a significant other, or a reminder to your roommate get dinner started. 'Record me' ensures that you never have to ask "Did you get my note?" again. [via PSFK]
2021 gave the world many great things to watch, whether you like movies or TV shows — or direct-to-streaming flicks and specials, too. But only one summed up exactly how the last few years have felt as life as we all knew it changed due to the pandemic, spending all of our time at home became the norm, and everything was more than a little uncanny. That'd be Bo Burnham's sublime Inside. Watching along, a stunning fact became evident — a life-changing realisation, really. During a period when most people tried to make sourdough, pieced together jigsaws and spent too much time on Zoom, Burnham created a comedy masterpiece. And, he managed to capture the entire planet's feelings in some of the smartest and catchiest songs that'll ever echo from a screen. If you've seen it, even just thinking about it while reading this at the moment will mean that you currently have 'White Woman's Instagram', 'Welcome to the Internet' or 'That Funny Feeling' stuck in your head (or any of the special's other earworm tunes). Well, well, look who's inside again now — because Burnham isn't done with Inside yet. To mark exactly a year since the special was originally released on Netflix, the comedian has gifted the world with more. This time, he's dropped 63 minutes of outtakes that didn't initially make the cut. Yep, that's your viewing plans for this evening sorted. a year ago today, i released a special called inside. i've spent the last two months editing together material that i shot for the special but didn't end up using. it will be on my youtube channel in one hour. i hope you enjoy it. — Bo Burnham (@boburnham) May 31, 2022 To head back into Inside again — tiny pumpkins and avocados optional, and odes to Jeffrey Bezos as well — you'll need to hit up Burnham's YouTube channel, which is where the extra footage is now available. And yes, while wondering how the comedian — or anyone — could ever top a special this raw, insightful, funny, clever and of the moment has been a big part of the past year, more of anything to do with Inside and its 90-minute musical-comedy whirlwind is always going to be a good thing. The Promising Young Woman star and Eighth Grade filmmaker won Emmys for Outstanding Directing for a Variety Special, Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special, and Outstanding Music Direction for his efforts — plus a Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media for 'All Eyes On Me'. Check out the trailer for Bo Burnham: Inside below: To watch The Inside Outtakes, head to Bo Burnham's YouTube channel. Bo Burnham: Inside is available to stream via Netflix. Images: courtesy of Netflix.
We've almost made it to the end of this chaotic year. Holidays are looming ever closer, and it's time to hang out with friends and fam, recharge and reflect — potentially doing so at beaches, in ocean pools, while hiking or chilling out in parks — and maybe logoff from social media for a bit. And Pantone is suggesting we do so surrounded by 'life-affirming' coral. Living Coral (PANTONE 16-1546) has just been named as Pantone's 2019 Colour of the Year. The energising — and appropriately summery — shade was chosen by Pantone's colour experts not only because it "provide[s] comfort and buoyancy in our continually shifting environment", but because it encourages lighthearted activity and pursuit of fun — exactly what we're all hoping to do over the next couple of months (and, ideally, throughout the New Year). Of course, coral is associated with nature, too, in animals (like flamingos) and in Australia's famous Great Barrier Reef. While we doubt it was on the minds of Pantone's colour experts, the colour is timely due to the recent, reinvigorated fight for emergency action on climate change in Australia. Hundreds of school students, just this Wednesday, descended on Canberra's Parliament House to demand action on climate change and to stop the Adani coal mine — a proposed Queensland mine, which, if it goes ahead, could have huge impacts on the Great Barrier Reef. Then there's Living Coral's reinvigorating nature — it's said to energise and enliven. So paint your room in it, cover your body in it or just buy some snazzy coral socks — it might help you get through this crazy messed up world in 2019.
We all live in the moment. That's not to say we're spontaneous — few of us are that — but we don't see the many iterations of ourselves that have been and will be when we're so thoroughly immersed in the present. We can't see the loves that come and go, the failures that dissolve to nothing, the great pains that, tarnished, become part of the furniture in our cluttered personal hallways. That's what we tend to experience in the theatre, too: a single point on the chart, surveyed, studied, and mined for meaning. But perspective comes with its own truth. To have the whole of a life slapped down before us can be an innately powerful, piercing thing, and it's this that Belvoir's Strange Interlude harnesses so well. Constantly heartbreaking, relentlessly funny, and goddamn beautiful, it covers some 25 years in the life of Nina Leeds (Emily Barclay) and those close to her, starting with her bereavement, at 19, for fiance Gordon (Akos Armont), killed in war. It takes a long time for things to look up for Nina, and she begins to think happiness is just something not meant for her. She blames herself and her professorial father (Anthony Phelan) for her pointless sexual abstinence, wishing she had a baby whose face would remind her of Gordon's. Taking up a nursing position, she instead sees his visage and suffering in those of wounded soldiers and tries to give them everything she'd previously withheld. Her plummet to rock bottom is diverted by Sam (Toby Truslove), an ingenuous schmo who is utterly devoted to her, while her friends Ned (Toby Schmitz) and 'Uncle' Charles (Mitchell Butel), both in love with her in their own fashion, support the union. It's a match that, tragically, can never give Nina what she really needs and will saddle the group with devastating secrets. So far, so soap opera. But Strange Interlude has a few heavy weapons in its arsenal. The divisive classic, written by American Eugene O'Neill and first staged in 1928, has been massively reworked by writer/director Simon Stone (Thyestes, The Wild Duck) into a modern, crisply unsentimental vernacular that's believable and charming. The play is famous for its use of asides, where the characters convey their innermost thoughts to the audience, and those that have been kept in as the play was whittled down to less than two hours (the original is five — five!) are welcome intrusions that either deepen the stakes of the drama or gratifyingly flip the meaning of actions and words spoken. It's great spending any amount of time with Nina Leeds — strange, flawed, ordinary, special Nina Leeds — when she's brought to life by one of the country's best young actors. Barclay doesn't just act, she reacts, and it's mesmerising to watch. You empathise with her no matter whether she's breaking down with her whole body, betraying a strong facade with a glistening eye, or being bratty because sometimes there's those moods, too, okay? She steals every scene she's in, as she should. Thoughtful touches to the staging and costume complete the piece. Two contrasting shower scenes stand out as revealing so much about the emotional world of the people in them, while the costumes easily communicate ageing in character as university prep evolves into unironic captains' blazers and op-shop tea dresses and flats become flowing silk blouses with a sensible heel. Likely to move you to tears of several different kinds, Strange Interlude is a must-see. It's a play that says, "Don't be ridiculous; you've got years of love and heartbreak ahead of you still," and it says it both in its words and in its heart.
While seeing fruit mince pies in your local shopping centre in October feels downright disturbing, there's one Christmas treat that no one ever minds arriving early: Four Pillars annual Christmas Gin. The latest iteration of the Healesville distillery's seasonal sip is coming in strong, set to hit shelves on Saturday, October 31. It's the delicious result of a yearly tradition that sees a bunch of Christmas puddings handmade with distiller Cameron Mackenzie's mother's recipe — the 1968 Australian Women's Weekly recipe, in fact — distilled with various festive botanicals to create a sought-after tipple that pretty much screams December 25. The flavours of an Aussie Christmas are captured in notes of cinnamon, star anise, juniper, coriander and angelica. The Christmas gin is then blended with some earlier gin that's been carefully ageing in 80-year-old muscat barrels. It's all finished with a hit of Rutherglen muscat for a bit of added richness and complexity. [caption id="attachment_785822" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The last five years of Four Pillars Christmas gin.[/caption] Each year, a new unique label is chosen to wrap up this Christmas creation, setting out to evoke that same festive spirit. The 2020's bottle design is the work of Melbourne-born artist Lucy Dyson, who has created a whimsical collage of a traditional Christmas day celebration happening in a surreal Aussie landscape of giant flowers and floating puddings. The distillers recommend you sip the limited-edition gin neat, mix it with ginger ale or whip up a Colada Punch with the festive gin, coconut water, sparkling wine and pineapple and lime juice. Or you can just splash a bit of it on your own Christmas pudding. If you want to nab a bottle, have your fingers poised over the 'buy' button when they go on sale online on October 31. Alternatively, you can stop by the Four Pillars HQ in Healesville, Victoria (if restrictions allow, of course) or the new Surry Hills shop. Bottles are $100 a pop and would make stellar Chrissy pressies, if you're already thinking about that. Four Pillars Christmas Gin is available to buy online, from the Healesville distillery and Surry Hills shop from Saturday, October 31. But you'd best be quick — there's only a limited amount of bottles.
The transfixing terrain of Mads Mikkelsen's face has been cast against formidably frosty and inhospitable climes before, weathering mirroring weathering. Sporting a piercing and determined glint in his eye, the Danish acting great has previously surveyed the Scandinavian landscape, too, seeing possibility where others spot peril. It was true in Arctic, in Valhalla Rising and now in The Promised Land: there's no stare as mesmerisingly resolute as his. When Ludvig Kahlen, Mikkelsen's latest character, insists that he can do what no one else has done — to begin with: settling the heath on the heather-covered Jutland moorland and building a colony for the king, a feat considered virtually impossible in the mid-18th century — doubting him isn't a possibility for anyone in the movie's audience. The BAFTA-nominated Another Round star has danced in historical drama territory for his countryman director Nikolaj Arcel in the past as well, with the pair reteaming after 2012's Oscar-nominated A Royal Affair. A different king sits on the throne in this film, Frederick V instead of Christian VII; however, the regal shadow remains inescapable. This time, Mikkelsen and Arcel tell not of a doctor influencing a monarch and a country, but of a soldier aligning his quest for a better future with a sovereign's wish, and learning what it means to chase a dream only to realise that you need something less tangible. Kahlen's attempt to farm land considered barren is equally a battle against entitlement and arrogance thanks to his clash with Frederik de Schinkel (Simon Bennebjerg, Borgen), a cruel local magistrate who contends that the king's land is his own — and feels far enough away from Copenhagen for there not to be any consequences for his claim. A survivalist story, an underdog tale, an eat-the-rich narrative, a fierce repudiation of ill-earned senses of superiority, a journey of discovery: they all fertilise this potent Nordic picture, as do all of the hallmarks of a western. Jutland provides the plains. Kahlen and de Schinkel tussle over their conquering — one with what's best for the community in mind, the other only seeking their own power and glory. Based on Ida Jessen's 2020 book The Captain and Ann Barbara, The Promised Land isn't so simplistic as to make Kahlen the portrait of selflessness. Indeed, this isn't a naive film for a second. Instead, even with renown also on the line for its protagonist, it spies the vast chasm between the illegitimate son of a landowner and a servant who toiled in the military for 25 years to receive the title of captain and is now willing to keep scrapping to secure his lot in life, and the born-to-money and -means pomposity lorded over everyone in reach by someone that knows nothing of hard work, struggle and duty, and only of selfishly getting their own way. (Bastarden aka The Bastard is the movie's original Danish-language moniker.) The year is 1755 when Kahlen petitions Frederick V for the right to make what he can of the moors, a request only granted by the royal underlings because they think that the task is unattainable but it'll appease the king that an effort is being made. On the land itself, doubt also reigns supreme. Only the resident clergyman (Gustav Lindh, The Northman) shows any faith in Kahlen's mission. Finding workers to assist is also virtually impossible due to de Schinkel, who has the county cloaked in fear and its peasants indentured on his own turf. It's illegal for anyone to take on those who have fled the tyrant, but in the married Johannes (Morten Hee Andersen, Carmen Curlers) and Ann Barbara (Amanda Collin, Raised by Wolves), Kahlen takes a chance anyway. While it's also forbidden to enlist the Romani people, who first send the young Anmai Mus (debutant Melina Hagberg) to get pilfering on Kahlen's patch, that's another gambit soon made. Arcel has much to dig through in Anders Thomas Jensen's latest screenplay to star Mikkelsen — see also: Flickering Lights, Adam's Apples, After the Wedding, The Salvation, Men & Chicken and Riders of Justice — especially as de Schinkel keeps throwing his weight around as egotistical manchildren do, and as the ways in which exploitation, classism and racism shape the societal status quo push to the fore. With Kahlen, including as he gets caught between his new nemesis and the latter's Norwegian cousin Edel Helene (Kristine Kujath Thorp, Sick of Myself), the filmmaker makes a crucial storytelling choice, though: rarely peering far away from either Mikkelsen or the Danish scenery. Westerns fix their eyes on faces and frontiers because they're each sights that can unfurl an entire history in a mere look; in this feature's majestic imagery, which spans sweeping vistas and soulful close-ups alike, nothing says more than intently scrutinising its star and his surroundings. As classical as The Promised Land feels in an old-school, they-don't-often-make-them-like-this-anymore fashion — and with the route there proving more of a surprise than the destination as well — there's a slipperiness to Mikkelsen's involvement, too, thanks to a career spent playing everything from Bond antagonists and Hannibal Lecter to The Hunt's persecuted teacher. Even in a film with a clear villain that isn't his character, he isn't in the business of painting solely in black and white. In fact, nor should he when Kahlen can be stubborn, stern, beyond stoic, and quick to cast others aside in the name of settling the hearth and taking potato farming nearly as seriously as in The Martian at almost any cost. Absolutely nothing is formulaic about the feeling and complexity that Mikkelsen brings to a role, including this, one of his best performances — and again and again, he gives the screen the epitome of what a layered and complicated portrayal should be. With Collin and scene-stealing first-timer Hagberg especially, The Promised Land's lead has excellent on-screen company. In smaller but no less pivotal parts, each conveys perseverance and strength to match Kahlen's, as tinted with the added weight of being women, peasants and Romani in a time and place with no care for any of the above. This film's main trio, its makeshift family, inhabit an existence where little sprouts for those beyond the one percent that isn't tended to fastidiously, furiously and like their very being depended upon it. Among its many highlights, stepping reflecting the present bears plenty of fruit for this grand and gripping picture.
Want to relive the glory days of the Marvel franchise? Or perhaps you've got a mate with an affinity for DC Comics? Let your inner comic nerd loose at Kings Comics, a hub for books, collectibles and all things pop culture. Since opening its doors in 1986, the store has been renowned for its offering of books, graphic novels, comics, action figurines and merch. Its shelves are donned with all your favourite characters, from the Hulk to Batman and everything in between. Our tip? Be prepared for a trip down nostalgia lane and come with plenty of time to spare. Kings Comics is currently in a temporary site in The Dymocks Building and is set to move to a more permanent home on Clarence Street by the end of the year.
Built in 1898, The Bristol Arms (also formerly known as the Retro Hotel) was as quintessential a Sydney pub as you could imagine. It had no-frills interiors, a gastro-pub menu and a melting pot of patrons, from white-collar workers and construction tradies to curious tourists and pint-sipping geezers. What set it apart from other city hotels was its expansive roof terraces — plural. While these two large decks, dotted with sun umbrellas and patio furniture, didn't offer the most remarkable views, such an impressive swathe of al fresco space made The Bristol Arms a go-to for sunny afternoon hangs and after-work beers. However, in 2019, the historic pub became one of the many hospitality businesses forced to close permanently as a result of the national shutdown during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the five years since the venue has remained dormant, but it will soon be reborn as the latest addition to Sydney's boom in multi-venue hospitality hubs. [caption id="attachment_679745" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Bristol Arms Hotel's original roof terrace.[/caption] The Bristol will offer a complete night out. At The Rooftop, guests will enjoy a relaxed sun-downer before heading down to Ela Ela, a Mediterranean restaurant. After dining, it's on to the luxurious cocktail lounge for after-dinner drinks and should the vibes demand it, there will even be a nightclub venue so patrons can party into the early hours. There will also be a sport bar and a casual bar on the ground floor, making a nod to the venue's pub heritage. The decor will be a major departure from the traditional look of The Bristol's previous iteration, with the tartan carpets and wood panelling of the original pub replaced with sleek, modern decor, giving each level its own distinctive aesthetic. The developers are keeping some details about the new hospitality haven a secret for the time being, including the name of the revered chef helming the venue's main dining space, Ela Ela. However, Sydneysiders won't have to wait long to discover what The Bristol has to offer, with the ground floor bars, The Rooftop and the nightclub set to open before the end of the month, and the cocktail lounge soon after. Find The Bristol at 81 Sussex Street in the CBD. Follow The Bristol on Instagram for more updates.
A fully mobile food forest, urban-produced honey, raised beds packed with organic veggies, worm farms and vertical gardens are just some of the plans in store for a brand new rooftop garden, currently in progress above 107 Projects. The artist-run space is already one of Sydney's favourite community gathering spots. Now it's set to become a greener and leafier one with permaculture gurus Milkwood "dead set on creating a super urban permaculture garden that will be an amazing community resource" and currently crowdfunding through Pozible. The team is hard at work, laying down bricks, shifting soil and setting up irrigation systems. A bunch of local organisations have had input, including Fresh Landscape Design, Free Range Food Gardens, Meanwhile Outside, Urban Growers, Select Water Tanks and Atlantis. With three days to go, the 107 Rooftop Garden Pozible campaign has exceeded its target of $5000. With 80 supporters pledging over a total $7,000, a stretch goal is on the horizon. Creating a garden from scratch — especially on a rooftop — is no cheapie, so mustering as many pennies as possible is the order of the day. "We’re really excited about it," says director Nick Ritar. "When we first started we were overcome with enthusiasm, but we weren’t thinking so much about the costs ... We have lots of volunteers, but we also need professional labour to help with installation and the more expensive bits and pieces." But crowdfunding isn’t just about the money. It's also about spreading awareness and encouraging interaction. "We want people to be introduced to the space," Ritar continues. "[The Pozible campaign] is as much about raising funds as it is about raising awareness and giving people ownership. We want the community to be involved ... The more people who contribute, the better we can make it.” Once the flowers are a-blooming and the bees are a-buzzing, the garden will provide a place for all manner of green-thumbed activity, including providing free cuttings and veggie seedlings for the Redfern community. “It will allow Milkwood and 107 to run a whole bunch of accessible programmes about sustainability," says Ritar. "There’ll be public talks and workshops and a consistent schedule of free and low-cost events. It’s such a central location ... and being that little bit removed [on the rooftop], it’s a bit like a secret garden." Contribute to the 107 Rooftop Garden via their Pozible page. $40 will fund a shiitake log, the perfect nurturing spot for organic mushies, while $1200 funds a giant woven willow shade arch, to shelter gardeners from sunburn. Images courtesy of Milkwood Permaculture.
Joining the mish-mash of psychedelic vintage and art books that is Surry Hills on the first Saturday of the month, and the furniture and jewellery delights of Rozelle, and the deeply incredible things you can buy to eat at the Orange Grove Markets — smart money plays Sonoma, fruit and veg bargains and the green olives stuffed with almonds — and the sporadic record fair that happens near the Broadway shops, new(ish) kid on the market roster is the Young Australian Designers Market, a second and third Saturdays of the month affair at Paddington Town Hall. More markets! Yes! This one's 'thing' is fairly evident from its name: it is a market, at which young Australians sell things that they've designed; things that you can wear, or at least carry. It's a fashion and accessories for boys and girls kind of a deal, predominantly new stuff but with some curated vintage and a growing focus on things for those even younger than these young designers, so you can distract yourself by looking at teeny-tiny baby clothes and wonder exactly where the ethical line lies in dressing a child, because you probably shouldn't put them in costumes all the time, right, but, on the other hand, babies in costumes! Anyhow, it is official that I know about fashion because the shirt that I am wearing right now used to belong to a friend of mine who used to be a model and now hangs out in New York doing art and being amazing, so I bring to be bear upon this topic of a fashion market my weighty fashion opinion that you have a good chance of getting fashionable fashion bargains at this particular fashion market.
SXSW Sydney's big 2024 return is only days away — and it's still expanding its already jam-packed lineup. If you're a fan of both movies and TV, the event's Screen Festival has been stacking its program for months, but it isn't done yet. Newly added to the bill across Monday, October 14–Sunday, October 20: a 90s-set disaster comedy on opening night, television sneak peeks and world premieres, Japan's submission for 2025's Best International Feature Film category at the Oscars and plenty more. When the SXSW Sydney Screen Festival kicks off for this year, it'll do so with a movie that bowed at its Austin counterpart, heads back to the 90s, sports a Saturday Night Live alum behind the lens and boasts plenty of well-known faces on-screen, including the Harbour City event's music keynote speaker for 2024. The film: A24's Y2K, the directorial debut of Kyle Mooney (No Hard Feelings), with Rachel Zegler (The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes), Julian Dennison (Uproar), Jaeden Martell (Arcadian) and The Kid LAROI starring. The storyline: it's New Year's Eve in 1999, a heap of folks are at a high-school party and the Y2K bug strikes. The fest's new small-screen highlights span debuting and returning fare, as well as a new show that's the latest version of a popular hit that just keeps being remade. Plum, which stars Brendan Cowell (The Twelve) as a footballer who learns that his concussions have led to a brain disorder, and also features Asher Keddie (Fake) and Jemaine Clement (Time Bandits), is premiering at SXSW Sydney before airing on ABC. Apple TV+ delight Shrinking with Jason Segel (Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty) and Harrison Ford (Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny) is showing a sneak peek of its second season, and the new Australian take on The Office joins the program via a panel discussion featuring lead Felicity Ward (Time Bandits) with executive producers and writers Jackie van Beek (Nude Tuesday) and Julie De Fina (Aftertaste). Back on movies, Matt Damon (The Instigators)- and Ben Affleck (The Flash)-produced sports drama Unstoppable will enjoy its Australian premiere. Telling Anthony Robles' true tale, it stars Jharrel Jerome (I'm a Virgo) as the wrestler born with one leg — plus Bobby Cannavale (MaXXXine), Michael Peña (A Million Miles Away), Don Cheadle (Fight Night) and Jennifer Lopez (Atlas). Also on the film list: the world premiere of the Chicago-set Pools, which features Odessa A'zion (Ghosts) as a college sophomore at summer school; Messy, another summer-set flick, this time featuring Alexi Wasser (Poker Face), Ione Skye (Beef) Adam Goldberg (The Exorcism); First Nations coming-of-age tale Jazzy, with Lily Gladstone (Fancy Dance) as a star and executive producer; and They're Here, a documentary about UFO fanatics. Or, from acclaimed Japanese filmmaker Kiyoshi Kurosawa (Before We Vanish) comes both Cloud and Serpent's Path — the first of which is Japan's aforementioned Oscar entry, with the second remaking the director's own 1998 revenge film in French. The new additions join already-revealed headliners Saturday Night, Smile 2, Nightbitch, The Front Room and Pavements — and, as seen in other past lineup announcements, everything from cults, cat-loving animation and Christmas carnage thanks to Azrael, Ghost Cat Anzu and Carnage for Christmas. Movie buffs can also look forward to Ilana Glazer (The Afterparty)-led mom-com Babes; the maximum-security prison-set Sing Sing with Colman Domingo (Drive-Away Dolls); and Inside, which features Guy Pearce (The Clearing), Cosmo Jarvis (Shōgun) and Toby Wallace (The Bikeriders). There's also doco Omar and Cedric: If This Ever Gets Weird, spending time with At the Drive-In and The Mars Volta's Omar Rodriguez-Lopez and Cedric Bixler-Zavala; Teaches of Peaches, which goes on tour with its namesake; the Lucy Lawless (My Life Is Murder)-directed doco Never Look Away about CNN camerawoman Margaret Moth; Peter Dinklage (Unfrosted) and Juliette Lewis (Yellowjackets) lead western-thriller The Thicket; and Aussie documentary Like My Brother, about four aspiring AFLW players from the Tiwi Islands. The list goes on, with The Most Australian Band Ever! about the Hard-Ons, That Sugar Film and 2040 filmmaker Damon Gameau's Future Council, and Slice of Life: The American Dream. In Former Pizza Huts from Barbecue and We Don't Deserve Dogs' Matthew Salleh and Rose Tucker also set to screen. SXSW Sydney 2024, including the SXSW Sydney Screen Festival, runs from Monday, October 14–Sunday, October 20 at various Sydney venues. Head to the SXSW Sydney website for further details.
Before you complete that huge spring clean, chucking out all the 'useless junk' that is taking up space, stop and think for a second if it could be transformed into something of use. Upcycling is all about using old materials to create new, useful and often beautiful products. These pieces of upcycled furniture have taken pieces of trash and turned them into treasure, with inventive designs that will be sure to get you rummaging through your storage or local warehouses. Milk Crate Staircase Danish architecture firm Lendager Arkitekter created this milk crate staircase as a key feature of their million dollar 'Upcycled House', and is made entirely from milk boxes and OBD boards. Washing Machine Drum Stools Knit Knacks is the new range from the designers Junk Munkez - creative designers with a green conscience - located in Beirut. These nifty little creations emerged from washing machine drums to create colourful and fun embroidered stools. Ski Chandelier Helsinki-based travel agency Elamysmatkat were searching for an interior design that reflected their philosophy that snow travel should be fun and daring. Enter Dutch designer Willem Heeffer, who created this chandelier, created from skis donated by Heeffer's Facebook friends and fans. Magazine Stool This innovative design, The Hockenheimer by German company NJU Studio, provides an original piece of seating from a stack of old magazines. Sea Chair British designers Studio Swine collect plastic from the UK's most polluted beach, Porthtowan, and compress this waste to create a series of beautiful and functional Sea Chairs. Nautical Mat Sophie Aschauer founded SerpentSea in 2011 after a sailing trip in which she started weaving mats by hand out of reclaimed marine ropes. The mats use four style of knots each named after the most infamous pirates from the 17th Century - Bonnie, Drake, Morgan and Killigrew. Suitcase Medicine Cabinet Give an old suitcase new purpose by hanging one up on your bathroom wall and transforming it into a medicine cabinet. Add some shelves inside and a mirror on the outside and you've got yourself a fancy wall feature to store your toiletries in. Watering Can Shower Jazz up your shower to make the daily ritual more exciting with an old watering can. The Interweb Chair The Interweb Chair comes from BRC Designs, a studio in South Carolina fronted by mastermind Benjamin Rollins Caldwell. The 1cm blue plastic sheets that frame the chair were originally bathroom dividers in an old mill. Binary Table The Binary Table is an assemblage of old computer and electronic parts that were discarded in a warehouse and rendered obsolete. The table is decked out with motherboards, CDs, computer chips, hard disc drives and LED screens held together by sheet metal screws.
In 2011, in this very country and galaxy, a pop culture favourite gained a singing, stripping burlesque parody. It's the mash-up that was bound to happen. Who hasn't looked at George Lucas' space opera, its sprawling drama and ample spectacle, and wondered what a steamier, funnier version with more visible butt cheeks would look like? Russall S. Beattie clearly did, and had a good feeling that other people would give it a shot. The Empire Strips Back was the end result. It became a hit around Australia, then took itself overseas to much acclaim. Now it's returning home for a 2019 tour — once again showing local audiences that lightsabers aren't the hottest thing in the Star Wars galaxy. The saucy show promises "seriously sexy stormtroopers, a dangerously seductive Boba Fett, some tantalising Twi'leks, a delightfully lukewarm Taun Taun, a lady-like Skywalker [and] the droids you are looking for", according to its website. Apparently Yoda doesn't get the sexed-up treatment, but there is plenty of song, dance, acrobatics and — because it's burlesque — the removal of clothing. A dancing Chewie and Han is just the beginning of this cheeky take on Star Wars cosplay. Given that it's got an upbeat soundtrack, the costumes are extremely detailed and the show throws out lots of references to George Lucas' original plot, it's not surprising that local audiences — presumably the same ones that pack out Star Wars parties and large-scale screenings with a live orchestra — have latched onto the production. Heading to the Enmore on Friday, February 15 and Saturday, February 16, The Empire Strips Back sits alongside Dame of Thrones in Beattie's pop culture parody stable — so if you've already seen one of your fantastical screen obsessions get the burlesque treatment, then you know what you're in for. If you're super keen, you can also nab a Wookieerotica magazine online: a 116-page, 70s-style men's mag, just casually featuring all of your favourite jedis, siths, ewoks and other Star Wars characters. Either way, it could be a great introduction to burlesque or Star Wars, depending on which way you're coming at it. Images: Jon Bauer, Leslie Liu and Josh Groom.
