Following a disastrous farewell show in their hometown, Pulp move to London in search of success. They find fame on the world stage in the 1990s with anthems like 'Disco 2000' and, 25 years (and 10 million album sales) later, they return to Sheffield for their last UK concert. What could go wrong? In Pulp: A Film About Life, Death and Supermarkets, New Zealand director Florian Habicht (Love Story) weaves together the band's personal offerings with dream-like, specially staged tableaux featuring ordinary (you might even say 'common') people recruited on the streets of Sheffield. Plenty of platninum wigs, beef carcasses and pink eyeshadow help to unveil the genuine and deep affection that the inhabitants of Sheffield have for Pulp, and the formative effect the town has had on the band's music. This is a film about music, about pop, and about ambition. It's also about living and dying, about growing up and growing old, and it's unique in its capacity to draw these themes together in a way that's as visually beautiful as it is musically iconic. We got Habicht on the line to talk about how the unique music doco came to be. There have been a lot of gremlins tonight. Even my dog was against our interweb communion. I'm glad I've finally got you, because I bloody loved this film. There's this really existential charge to your film. I think that it's nice you picked up on that. Getting older happens to all of us. That was a theme and something I was aware of when I started filming. I was in that mode when I was filming. I got into that zone early on. Trying to make an honest film, I mean Pulp is a band that is older now, so it was really natural for those things to come out. I was incredibly moved by the fact that, twenty minutes in, you have Candida Doyle talking about the fact that she was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at the age of 16, and that at the time she was playing with Pulp it was kind of like the clock was ticking for her. What Candida gave in the film was such a huge thing for her and she's had to keep it a secret with the band for her whole career — which would be pretty damn hard. It just felt right for all of that to come out. Jarvis was surprised Candida talked about that. If she didn't have the band … I'm sure that being in PULP really helped her fight that. I love the way you chose to feature as many older and middle-aged people as you did younger and very young folk. The rendition of Help the Aged, by the aged, is really something. That's my favourite scene. And the Sheffield Harmony's version — there's something about middle-aged women singing hymn-style the lyrics "I want to sleep with common people like you/Well what else could I do/ I said I'll see what I can do" that really does it for me. I got to dance with them all at the afterparty. You know I never once got sick of 'Common People' through this film. Yeah, the band were really surprised. They kind of didn't want that song in the film at all because I guess they don't want to be seen as a one-hit wonder. They were glad the song was at the beginning, because they thought, great, we can get it over and done with, but they really loved how it all worked out. I thought maybe I'd get sick of it but you gave it so many different lives in this film. I think the fact there is no such thing as a common person, I think this message comes through. The film definitely veers away from stereotypes. What was the filming like? We filmed for ten days before the concert. I'd invited Jarvis to see my film Love Story at the London Film Festival, and when we met up we both had similar ideas about a film for Pulp. They'd been on this comeback tour but there was no record of it, they'd not done any interviews, and Jarvis thought it'd be nice to make a film ... We weren't total strangers but we'd never met before, so the fact we were able to lift the project off the ground in two months' time was pretty great. We had the same vision for the film. What was the concert like? It was such an amazing gig. Yeah, like the feeling in the room was incredible. Hard to describe. And it was a really long show. They played for two-and-a-half hours. We ran out of cards on our cameras. We had to get our laptops and go around rearranging memory cards to catch it, which was a bit daunting with Jarvis jumping up and down and not being able to back up footage. The concert was incredible. For myself, for my team, to have all access to the place was a buzz. Are you a fan? Yeah they're one of my favourite bands. In a documentary format like this, how much say do you have in terms of wardrobe and staging? Candida Doyle's first appearance is so totally perfect. Rio's T-shirt is spectacular and Liberty's multiple hair corrections straight down the barrel is just genius. I had no say whatsoever in any of that. We have about twenty seconds left you know. Anything else you want to jump in with? We were just in New York, after the launch of the film, and we had a Pulp karaoke contest judged by Jarvis, and a nine-year-old called Graeme won it. Oh nine-year-olds are such winners. It was pretty great. Hey thanks for the chat. Hey thanks to Concrete Playground for spreading the word. The film has a Facebook page, so your readers can check that out if they like. https://youtube.com/watch?v=jh3nleTUr_w Pulp: A Film About Life, Death and Supermarkets had its world premiere at SXSW 2014. It's available on now via digital download or on DVD from September 10.
Imagine a world where totalitarian forces rule the United States, women are subjugated to the point of being deemed property, protestors rally in response and the authorities try to keep everyone in line. Okay, imagine a fictionalised version of the above dystopian society — or let The Handmaid's Tale help you. Margaret Atwood's book has been doing just that since 1985, with a new Elisabeth Moss-starring Hulu series due to help come April. Now, large groups of red-clad ladies are also playing their part, freaking people out at Austin's South by Southwest in the process. They walk in pairs, don't say anything, and generally unnerve everyone around them. Yes, it's clearly a clever SXSW promo for the show, but it's an effectively creepy one. https://twitter.com/erica_grossman/status/840294583170936832 https://twitter.com/HandmaidsOnHulu/status/840288331250319360 https://twitter.com/HandmaidsOnHulu/status/840649469624377345 https://twitter.com/MargaretAtwood/status/840630956801327105 If you're up for even more anxiety-inducing tension, check out the trailer for the series below. The Handmaid's Tale screens on Hulu from April 26.
It's no secret that times are tough for the Australian textiles and manufacturing industry. Sadly, over the past decade or so, many local makers (often family businesses who have been in the industry for generations) have been forced to close up shop due to the increasing ease and cost effectiveness of offshore production. For those wonderful Australian designers passionate about supporting what is a rapidly declining local industry and community, it has become near impossible to continue to produce within this country. While a lower price point and greater accessibility to a revolving door of trends may seem attractive, it's important that as conscious consumers, we have an understanding of the negative environmental and social implications that are inextricably associated with offshore production. More importantly, we must have an appreciation for the incredible amount of time, love, energy and money that goes into producing within Australia as a result of our diminishing industry. Now more than ever is the time to support the network of extremely talented local designers who are doing their darndest to preserve the integrity and quality of the local industry. To further understand what it means to make within Australia, we spoke to some local designers about why it is so important to them. Kuwaii Kuwaii is well-known and loved for producing impeccably constructed garments, as well as nailing the near impossible balance between shoes that are more comfortable than slippers and totally appropriate for grown-up occasions. Designer Kristy Barber's ability to find a harmonious balance between intricate details and beautiful form is undoubtedly thanks in large part to Kuwaii's strong local base. Kuwaii on local industry: "It's important to preserve the knowledge and skillset of local artists and craftspeople. The more we manufacture off-shore, the quicker this will die out. Also, we believe shipping items across the world is a ridiculous concept and bad for the environment!" Dress Up Working out of a quiet little studio in the creative oasis of Collingwood on Melbourne's north-side, Stephanie Downey crafts impeccably tailored womenswear for a loyal audience of thoughtful consumers. Cutting her own patterns and consistently developing wardrobes' worth of instant classics, Downey credits the connection with her local makers, combined with the almost tangible levels of love she injects into Dress Up and the implicit trust and dedication she shares with her wearers. Dress Up on local industry: "I love being able to have close relationships with my makers — I've learned so much from them. They can see first-hand the love I put into my designs, and consequently they really care about the quality they provide. I think that my customer appreciates that integrity, and the story behind their purchase. We all celebrate local independent fashion brands, but it would be impossible for them to exist without the option to make in Australia." PER-TIM The lovechild of dream-team babes Bernadette Francis and Laura Albee Barton, Per-Tim hasn’t even released their first collection and are already attracting all the right kinds of attention for their considerate take on design and creative relationships. Approaching each collection as a project, Francis and Barton not only consider supporting local industry to be an integral aspect of their brand philosophy but also the ongoing collaboration with a range of different practitioners across a variety of creative fields. Their first collection, Club Bed, sits snugly within a gap in the market for innovative loungewear and bedding. PER-TIM on local industry: "It's very important for Per-Tim to oversee all manufacturing processes, to know that each item is made by hands that have been given a fair wage and to ensure that we are making product in a sustainable manner. Additionally, it is of great concern to us that our production industry is slowly dying, especially here in Melbourne, and we want to do all we can to maintain the many skilled workers and suppliers who are running out of work here as relatively lower costs continue to attract small labels to produce offshore." Kinoak Amie and Max Kohane's label Kinoak is like a stone to the heart for lovers of super steezey styles at the intersection of cool and kawaii. A perfect combination of high-quality casual wear, innovative silhouettes and references to a Japanese aesthetic, Kinoak hails FREE TIME (the name of their latest collection) as the Holy Grail. Having worked in the fashion industry for many years (namely, as production manager for P.A.M), Amie formed good working relationships with manufacturers and since starting her own label in 2011, has seen first-hand the rapid degradation of the industry. Kinoak on local industry: "If we can support what is left of the local manufacturing industry, we will always have creative, sustainable and independent fashion in Australia." Garth Cook Even before launching his label in 2009, Garth Cook believed in manufacturing locally in his hometown of Perth, or within Australia. Doing everything from the designing, fabric selection, pattern cutting and toiling for each collection, Cook works with one talented machinist who completes the sampling and production for each season. Finding strength in precise lines and celebrating the female form, it's clear that Cook's work is made with loving hands. Garth Cook on local industry: "I know that it would be much cheaper for my brand to produce in Bali, India or China but I know that I would not be able to meet the minimum order requirements. More importantly I would miss out of the consultation, advice, quality and genuine care that I receive from my one and only machinist. I know that we have a lot of talented pattern cutters, machinists and production facilities in Australia. I think it would benefit our micro industry immensely if larger fashion business produced here. But it also comes down to designers and retailers educating their clients about where and how fashion is made. Unfortunately most people don't think about the environmental impact of fast fashion and the conditions in which it is made." Top image: tsuacctnt via photopin cc.
"Hey Garth, I really think you should read this book." Audiences have those ten words, as sent to Australian filmmaker Garth Davis in an email, to thank for Foe. When the director behind Lion and Mary Magdalene received that recommendation, it was from someone in the film industry that he didn't know — "it was just random," Davis tells Concrete Playground — and it led to his third feature. It also gave the world the outstanding pairing of Irish actors Saoirse Ronan and Paul Mescal, aka two of today's best talents, playing a married couple in the year 2065 when the climate crisis has made the earth nearly unliveable. The novel: Canadian author Ian Reid's text that gives Foe its name. The plot: in that time to come, Junior (Mescal, Carmen) and Hen (Ronan, See How They Run) are etching out what life they still can on his family's wilting American midwest farm when government consultant Terrance (Aaron Pierre, Old) arrives in the night to change everything. On the page and on the screen, this tale enlists Junior on a two-year space mission to help build an installation that's part of the plan to sustain humanity away from its ravaged home planet. It also reassures the couple that Hen will have familiar company: a duplicate that'll look exactly like her husband, as designed to slide seamlessly into his place. "I bought the book pretty much straight away, and then I read it in one sitting. I just couldn't put it down. Then I went back and read it again a second time," Davis explains. He also stresses the "obvious reasons" for that instant revisit, as anyone who has also devoured Reid's book will know — and viewers, too, once they've seen the movie that the filmmaker and writer teamed up to pen the script for. "When I was reading the book, I didn't have any expectations to turn it into a film. But as I was reading it, the first thing I was struck with was that kind of Hitchcockian feel in the setup. The stranger arriving in the night, this couple living on an isolated farm — it just felt I was seeing the movie in my mind," Davis continues. "But then what really interested me was it just went against all my expectations. Suddenly I became fascinated by this relationship, this marriage on-screen, and very curious why the wife was behaving in strange ways, this hot and cold quality to her behaviour. This deep meditation on their relationship started to unfold, and I found that fascinating." "Then it goes down this glorious, feverish rabbit hole, and all of these things are revealed, which I found an amazing experience. All that aside, after going through the whole journey, what I felt in my heart was Hen, and I really aligned with what she was fighting for in her marriage and in her life. She had that curiosity for life. She had that hunger to live. She understood the preciousness of time and to not take things for granted, and I found that something I could really align with," Davis notes. Largely a three-hander that's primarily shot in Victoria's Winton Wetlands — doubling for the US as Ronan and Mescal sport the appropriate accents — Foe marks a change of big-screen pace for Davis. When the Brisbane-born filmmaker made his feature debut with Lion after directing episodes of Love My Way and Top of the Lake, he jumped between India and Australia to helm a movie that'd earn six Oscar nominations and win two BAFTAs, and starred a hefty cast including Dev Patel (The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar), Nicole Kidman (Special Ops: Lioness), Rooney Mara (Women Talking) and David Wenham (Elvis). Next, with biblical drama Mary Magdalene, shooting in Italy beckoned, also with ample on-screen names such as Mara again, Joaquin Phoenix (Beau Is Afraid) and Chiwetel Ejiofor (The Man Who Fell to Earth). The calibre of talents remains for Foe, clearly, but making something more intimate was firmly Davis' desire. Our wide-ranging conversation with the director about Foe, which is now in Australian cinemas, also spans that purposeful shift, the film's AI and environmental themes, humanity's approach to artificial intelligence, making a marriage drama first and foremost, the movie's stellar cast and Davis' learnings after Lion's huge success. ON FOE JOINING THE GROWING RANKS OF AI FILMS AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCI-FI "When we were looking at the book, it wasn't really in the vernacular at that point. It just wasn't happening. It wasn't in the zeitgeist. It wasn't until we started, at the end of the shooting, getting to editing where suddenly Starlink was in the sky, suddenly AI was — well, AI came quite late, but suddenly everything was coming alive. I just feel like we slipped right into the zeitgeist. I mean, I would think twice about doing it now because it is so saturated, but at the time, it just wasn't around. For me, this is not a film about that. This is a film about a relationship and that was my main interest. But what I did like about the AI and sci-fi device, it just created this super-exciting way to explore that human relationship in ways that you ordinarily couldn't. For Hen to be able to have a relationship with the version of her husband like when she first met him — I just love that proposition. I think that's really interesting. And how to navigate that in a believable way and a performance, I found even more challenging and interesting." ON FOE'S VISION OF THE FUTURE "I think this movie is very timely — and what I have witnessed is a lot of young people, maybe 16–25, in audiences really loving this movie and being alarmed by this movie for lots of reasons. They see it as their future, and they do identify with Hen because they feel they've been let down by my generation, who have basically not changed or done anything when the writing's on the wall. I guess what I love about the themes of this story is that it really explores stasis and our complacency — and when you take something for granted, you truly lose it, not just in ourselves but in the planet. I love all those aspects of the story, and it's something that I really felt we should be reminded of as we navigate into this technological future. I still think this question of what makes us feel fulfilled and how do we find a meaningful life, I think it's just going to get harder as we go along. And I guess the film is just reminding us not to keep looking outwards, to look inwards, and that we do have the power to make changes — we can stand up and say 'we don't want this' or 'I want to live my life and find my agency'. In a way, it's a kind of a wake-up call, this movie. It's a little bit of a call to arms — a call to arms to protect yourself and to fight for that, because that's what's precious and it's very vulnerable at the moment. I've got kids as well and they're all really pissed about the environment, and we've done nothing about it, and they're really annoyed. So when they when they see Saoirse Ronan, which is a human being that they all look up to as a good person, to see her playing a character that is frustrated by those very things and to want to have a justice for humanity, it's inspiring to these kids. They really love it." ON EXPLORING AI AS SOMETHING OTHER THAN AN ON-SCREEN VILLAIN "It's ironic that, in a way, the AI brought context and meaning to Hen's journey and helped her process a lot of things. So, yeah, you can definitely see the benefits of it. This is another way to look at: everyone talks about what AI's going do for them or take away from them, but have we ever thought for a moment about the ethics around creating sentient beings? Where do our ethics lie there? Because a lot of this artificial intelligence is being created to serve us — I guess it's a form of slavery in a way — and what happens when they do become sentient? What do we do then? Are they going to have rights or are they going be just used for our pleasure? So I don't know. I can see why people create it and I can see the positive aspects, but we do have responsibility, surely. We have responsibility in nature too, and we've fucked that up, so we're probably going to do the same with this." ON MAKING A MARRIAGE DRAMA FIRST AND FOREMOST "I think this couple is very relatable. I think everyone can attest to taking someone for granted over time, not even knowing so and finding you're in a very different point in the relationship. The actors bring their own understanding of that to the choices they make. Paul would have his own personal understanding of that, as would Saoirse — and that brings the richness through those choices. With this film, there's the story you think you're watching and the story that's really happening. And there's these delicious stakes, and all these wonderful riches to explore in the performance. The stakes change and build for all of the characters in different ways. We just have to drill down with all the actors in terms of preparation. We just made sure that we understood the real stakes of the characters at each of those points, so that we could bring something very believable through in the performances." ON CASTING SAOIRSE RONAN, PAUL MESCAL AND AARON PIERRE "You obviously look at a big list of people when you are working on the script — well for me anyway — and she was the person that I could feel the most in the room. I could almost feel her personality beside me and I could feel this curious human being, someone that had this inner light — I could really feel her. I took that feeling into the casting process and Saoirse was definitely right at the top of the list for that. She is an extraordinary actress, but she's just got this great personality that shines through all of her work. That's what I desperately wanted in the movie. It's what's precious. So we decided to start with her, and once she agreed to do it, then it's alchemy — it's like an emotional alchemy from there. You try to find people that you think could have a great chemistry with her and that led me to Paul Mescal. And what I loved about him, too, is that he had both alpha quality and that feminine quality. I thought he had emotional range to play the versions of himself that he needed to play, and he had such a deep love and respect for Saoirse — and their Irish heritage, of course. Then we did actually have Lakeith Stanfield cast as as Terence. We actually sold the movie with Saoirse, Paul and Lakeith Stanfield. That's what we took to the market. Then Lakeith Stanfield exited the project very, very late in the game, which was very distressing for me. But sometimes the universe intervenes in the right way — so it led me to Aaron Pierre. And I think we've been graced with this extraordinary performance from him. It it's so gorgeously nuanced and surprising and disorientating. So it was lucky — and it is so important that the film lives and dies on these actors because we've got nowhere to go. It's all about the psychology and the relationships on-screen, and I can't imagine it being anyone else really." ON AUSTRALIA STANDING IN FOR AMERICA'S MIDWEST "When I show the movie in America, they have no idea it's Australia. They actually go 'wow, that's a really haunting but scarily believable version of midwest'. So I think we did our job properly — I just had to avoid all the Australian tropes. It was really important for me that I wanted everyone to feel the earth dying and feel its distress, and its call for help. I really wanted to find landscapes that were real and I could put in camera, and Australia just delivered that feeling to me — and that was what was very exciting. The Winton Wetlands is where we built the set of the house, and it's haunting because there's a lot of death, obviously, with these dead trees, but you can really imagine what it would have been like when it was alive. It would have been the most beautiful farm. So I love all of that. I love that there's always beauty in our movie no matter how hard it gets — there's always a beauty in it and and I guess there's hope in that in a way. There's love in that. So I understand why he holds on to the farm. It would have been something that was loved and cherished, even though it may feel uninhabitable at this point. I can understand why we attach ourselves to these things. Everything was very deeply considered and chosen on a gut level to what we're trying to do on the story." ON MAKING A ONE-LOCATION FILM AFTER LION AND MARY MAGDALENE "It was actually a wish that I had. I've always done these super-ambitious, sprawling stories wrangling lots of cast, locations, traffic, chaos, extras. And I love all of that, don't get me wrong. But my absolute joy is when I when the camera's on that little boy's face and he does a performance that takes me away [in Lion], or Nicole Kidman in that scene with Dev, or Top of the Lake with Elisabeth Moss revealing this child that she has and the emotions. That's when I go 'I just want a whole movie full of that, how do that?'. So I guess I've always had this wish, like if there was the right material, I'd love to just just have a couple of actors in a room and go down that rabbit hole so. I guess this movie is partly serving that appetite for something more intimate". ON WHAT LION'S SUCCESS TAUGHT DAVIS ABOUT HIS CAREER "Lion, in a way, proved to me that you've just got to follow your instinct with what you want to make. Lion, I just fell in love with the story. I was passionate about it. I was very involved with with the script in many ways structurally, and in how we're going to tell the story. It just confirmed that I can follow my instinct and it can work out, and that was really exciting. I knew it was a story that people were going to love, and I would say that to my producers 'I think this is going be a really amazing movie' And of course [they'd reply] 'we hope so, we hope it works'. That was just a really great feeling to make something in such a pure way and for it to be accepted on such a scale. I approach all my projects like that now. I haven't changed. I have to feel it. I have to be excited about it, challenged by it. And I can be making things at any point, but I wouldn't be in alignment with my with myself. So I'm taking maybe a longer road or a different road, and just trying to just trying to make films that I care about. That's really, really what I'm doing." Foe opened in Australian cinemas on November 2. Read our review.
Update, June 28: Due to overwhelming demand, Childish Gambino has announced a second Sydney show. The singer will perform again at the Sydney Opera House Forecourt on Thursday, November 15 — following his first show on November 14. Tickets will go on sale at midday, Friday, June 29 (AKA tomorrow) and as tickets for the first show almost sold out at today's pre-sale, we suggest heading to buy them here right as the clock strikes 12. After announcing yesterday that Childish Gambino would be headlining Canberra's Spilt Milk, the US hip hop star has this morning released dates for his full Australian tour. Fresh off the back of a #1 Billboard Charts debut for his single "This Is America", he'll be hitting up Sydney on November 14, Melbourne on November 10, and Perth on November 8 — as well as the aforementioned Spilt Milk festival on November 17. After, he'll head over to New Zealand to perform his multi-sensory concert experience PHAROS. This will be Childish Gambino's — AKA Donald Glover, AKA writer/director/star of Atlanta, if you haven't already worked that out — first Aussie shows since performing at Falls Festival in 2016. The shows are announced ahead of the release of his highly anticipated fourth album, which is set to follow Camp, Because the Internet and Awaken, My Love!. While you're waiting for tickets to go on sale, watch (re-watch) that "This Is America" video — it has already racked up over 300M views. Tickets for the three shows will go on sale at midday on Friday, June 29. You can also register for pre-sale access here. Childish Gambino will perform at HBF Stadium, Perth on November 8; Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne on November 10; and the Sydney Opera House, Sydney on November 14 and November 15.
Add some magic to your Christmas shopping with the the Enchanted Christmas Markets. Organised by the market maestros at Cambridge Markets, who are putting on a slew of festive events throughout Sydney, the market will take over Level 6 of Westfield Bondi with various stalls and special experiences. Situated next to Santa's Grotto, you can expect a range of artisanal vendors at the four-week event. Stand out with your gift-giving this year with luxe solid perfumes from TARAF Perfumes, local paintings and prints at Emilio Frank Design, and personalised jewellery from AHHA Jewellery. Embrace the festive spirit with decorations from Merry & Bright and sustainable wrapping materials from Wrappsody, as you sip on Christmas cocktails from Bondi Liquor or wines and cider from Petersons Wines and Savannah Estate. From Thursday, November 28, to Sunday, December 1, the Enchanted Christmas Markets will open between 11am–7pm on Thursday–Friday and 11am–6pm on Saturday–Sunday. Find out more about the event and other Christmas markets at the Cambridge Markets website.
Just like those pesky, flimsy shopping bags that Australians no longer take home in bulk every time they buy groceries, plastic plates, cups, bowls, straws and cutlery now have an expiration date. In the country's next effort to give the environment a huge hug, Coles has announced that it'll stop selling single-use plastic tableware, taking all such products off its shelves by the middle of the year. Come July 1, you won't be able to buy something that's plastic and disposable to eat off of, drink out of or eat with at any Coles Supermarkets, Coles Express outlets and Coles Liquor stores, which spans the chain's 2500-plus sites. Instead, if you need something for a party or a picnic, there'll be paper products that use materials from responsibly managed forests, as well as reusable options. Coles expects that the move will stop 1.5 million kilograms of single-use plastic going to landfill each year. That's a huge number — and if you think it doesn't affect the kind of rubbish that gets left around in public spaces, Clean Up Australia Chairman Pip Kiernan notes that 18.5 percent of the garbage its volunteers collect come from single-use cups, plates, bowls, straws, stirrers and cutlery, which end up everywhere from parks and by the road to waterways and beaches. While Coles will ditch single-use plastic tableware from mid-year Australia-wide, it'll actually kick things off before then in South Australia, where legislation banning the products comes into effect on March 1. Queensland is also on the path to scrapping single-use plastic items, with a bill currently under consideration and a start date of September 1 mooted if the legislation is enacted. Over in Western Australia, it's working towards a 2023 date to start phasing out plastic plates, cutlery, stirrers, straws, thick plastic bags and polystyrene food containers. Coles isn't the first supermarket to get ahead of the legislation and ban single-use plastic tableware, with Aldi making the move in 2020. It has already stopped selling plastic straws, plastic disposable tableware and plastic-stemmed cotton buds. Coles will stop stocking single-use plastic tableware from March 1 in South Australia, and from July 1 around the rest of the country. For more information, visit the Coles Group's website.
Sometimes the only way to break the chaotic cycle of inner city living is to ditch it all for a weekend away in nature. Whether you're after a coastal getaway or a hinterland escape, camping is your answer to a rejuvenating, back-to-basics holiday. Though you'll be swapping solid bed for solid ground, camping doesn't mean you have to rough it. In fact, you can take a little bit of home comfort with you without disturbing the wildlife or ruining the fun. To help inspire you, we've partnered with Jim Beam to bring you three camping must-haves to make your nights under the stars all the more special. UPGRADE YOUR BREKKIE WITH A WAFFLE MAKER Gone are the days of charring a piece of bread on a stick and calling it breakfast. When you're next setting off on a canvas adventure, pack a Davis & Waddell Square Waffle Maker (available from Bunnings for $29.95) and you'll really impress your camping buddies come sunrise. The waffle maker is best used on gas or electric cooking tops, and you don't have to stick to the recipes included in the pack. If waffles aren't your thing, use it to heat up banana bread or get creative come dinner time with this recipe for pizza. The waffle maker's compact size makes it a handy cooking device without taking up too much space in your snack compartment. BRING THE TUNES, WITHOUT BRINGING DOWN THE VIBE Yes, looking out over serene landscapes and settling into a good book by a campfire are all part of the appeal of camping. But sometimes you want to soundtrack that natural setting with a few sweet tunes of your own. No camping trip would be complete without a bluetooth speaker and a banging summer camp playlist. We think this mini bluetooth speaker by Lexon ($59.94 from Top3 by Design) is just the right size to fit into your tent for listening to spooky mystery podcasts or placed on a small camping table for when you're cooking over flames. It's rechargeable with a USB and you can control it via bluetooth up to ten metres away. Pro tip: download your playlists and podcasts before heading to your campsite, in case you're caught with patchy wifi reception. [caption id="attachment_796860" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Andrea Piacquadio; Pexels[/caption] PACK A QUICK AND EASY DRINK FOR SUNSET SESSIONS Refreshments are essential to a good camping trip, and after drinking agua all day you'll want to enjoy something a little stronger come sundown. Bring a bottle of Bickford's Peach Iced Tea cordial, a bottle of Jim Beam and soda water and you'll have the necessary ingredients to whip up a quick beverage for the whole crew when you're relaxing by the campfire. It's super simple, perfectly balances the flavours of the bourbon and you don't need to haul any fancy equipment with you. Each Jim Beam and Peach Iced Tea is made with 15ml of cordial, 30ml of bourbon and topped up with soda. If you're fancy enough to be camping with a bag of ice, add it to your cup before topping up with soda and give it a quick swirl. Otherwise, it's ready to enjoy, fireside. Top image: Unsplash
UPDATE, July 16, 2021: The Favourite is available to stream via Disney+, Google Play, YouTube Movies and Amazon Video. Whenever Yorgos Lanthimos' name comes up in film-related chatter, it's usually accompanied by the words 'Greek Weird Wave'. Since Dogtooth earned an Oscar nomination, the director has become synonymous with the offbeat cinema coming out of his homeland — movies that, like the filmmaker's grief-focused Alps, proudly explore life with more than a dash of absurdity. He's since moved on to English-language productions with high-profile stars, but the same strange sensibilities remain baked into his work. That said, perhaps Lanthimos' movies aren't all that odd. Perhaps he's simply stripping away the social niceties that we've all been taught to accept, and exposing human interaction for the transactional exchange that it is. If The Lobster's vision of love or The Killing of a Sacred Deer's tale of a family facing tragedy didn't already make it plain, Lanthimos' films present the world as a constant fight between giving and taking. Rarely has that been more apparent than in The Favourite, where a monarch's lackeys view friendship with a royal as a path to personal glory. So, Sarah Churchill (Rachel Weisz) gives the needy, gout-stricken, often bedridden Queen Anne (Olivia Colman) everything she wants: companionship, love, sex, an ear to hear all of her worries and a steady hand to help rule the kingdom. Well, almost everything. She can't abide the 17 rabbits that Anne treats as her surrogate children for a very sad reason, and she's not afraid to tell the sovereign when her makeup makes her look like a badger. But Sarah also takes, elevating her own power as the country tries to survive the War of Spanish Succession, and then flouting her status over the rest of the scheming court. Into an ostensibly comfortable situation arrives Abigail Hill (Emma Stone), a cousin of Sarah's who has fallen upon hard times. The newcomer's request for a servant job goes smoothly enough, but here's the catch when life is a perpetual tug-of-war: everyone only wants to give if they're going to get something in return. Oozing ruthlessness and cunning despite her innocent facade, Abigail makes herself indispensable to the Queen. Soon, it's the younger woman who's always by the ruler's side. The equally calculating Sarah might be trying to oversee England's military strategies against the French and keep an influential landowner (Nicholas Hoult) in his place, however she still has time to battle it out for Anne's attention and affection. The savage dialogue, each line wittier, bleaker and yet still funnier than the next. The gleeful abandon of polite, ordinary behaviour. The acerbic insights that prove equal parts perceptive and awkward. Thanks to all three — plus an utter disdain for meeting anyone's expectations — being an actor in Lanthimos' films seems like one of the best jobs in the world. Working with a script by first-timer Deborah Davis and Australian screenwriter Tony McNamara (Puberty Blues), Colman, Weisz and Stone all lap up their parts. Colman might've been deemed the lead for awards consideration (and may very well win a deserved Oscar as a result), but this is a stellar three-hander. The trio of talents relish Lanthimos' usual penchant for stilted conversations, as well as his foray into new territory. While a politically charged, 19th century, somewhat slapstick comedy isn't the filmmaker's usual wheelhouse, maybe it should be. As fantastic a director as Lanthimos is of actors, he's also an auteur with a distinctive eye. His movies resemble no one else's — and when he's satirising history in a lavish period picture that also keenly reflects today's political chaos, that fact is blatantly apparent. The Favourite looks the part, with its action largely confined to the Queen's ornately appointed castle, and with its characters donning decadent dresses and powdered wigs. But, using fish-eye lenses to literally give a different perspective, plus wide shots to emphasise the stifling nature of the palace's empty spaces, Robbie Ryan's (American Honey) cinematography is anything but stiff and formal. There's a bite to Lanthimos' approach, of course, as there always is. He isn't just interested in depicting the selfishness and arrogance behind Anne, Sarah and Abigail's twisted triangle. As one hell of a final shot hammers home, he's all about the cost. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2G8SetsNM4
Warm. Dry. Temperatures above average, and rainfall below usual levels. That's been the trend across 2019 so far, thanks to a record-breaking summer, a hotter-than-standard autumn and a toastier-than-normal winter, so it should come as no surprise that the Bureau of Meteorology expects the pattern to continue for the rest of the year. Releasing its latest climate outlooks — which focus on spring, while also looking ahead to December and January, too — BOM doesn't have great news if you were hoping for an average end to 2019. Well, as average as this traditional warmer period can be. Instead, below average rainfall is forecast around most of the country, as well as above average temps. In other words, if you call mainland Australia home, there's a very good chance that you'll experience spring and summer temperatures that are toastier than the median. Apart from Tasmania and the absolute lower edges of South Australia and Victoria, the whole country is tipped to endure maximums at least 80 percent higher than normal. That includes the entirety of Queensland and New South Wales. While the peak time for particularly hot temperatures will kick in from October onwards, September is also expected to weather an extended warm spell, with the mercury reaching two–to–three degrees above where it usually sits at this time of year in central and eastern Australia. If you're wondering exactly what's in store, then it's worth keeping the usual daily temps across the period in mind — and remembering that they'll be exceeded. In Sydney, that means the mercury will soar above a 20.1-degree maximum in September, a 22.2 top in October, a 23.7 max in November and a 25.2 high in December, while Melbourne can expect temps above 16.8, 19.4, 21.9 and 24.6 in the same months. In Brisbane, the standard tops range between 25.6–29.5, and in Perth it spans 20.3–29.1. Yet again, farmers are in for not-so-great news. The rest of the year is predicted to be drier than average everywhere other than northern Western Australian and western Tasmania. Yes, it's a familiar story. Let's not forget that in 2018, overall, Australia copped its third-warmest year ever. If it isn't part of your end-of-year routine already, we suggest planning plenty of time in the coolest places you can find — beaches, pools, rivers or anywhere with a refreshing swimming spot — this spring and summer. Images: Bureau of Meteorology.
In a Powerhouse Museum first, this new exhibition will focus on rarely-seen artefacts from 19th- and 20th-century Persia. Iranzamin will feature ceramics, tiles, embroidery, carpets, armour, textiles and other hand-woven crafts from the Powerhouse Collection to tell the story of the people and culture of Persia through to modern day Iran. The temporary exhibition will look at how traditional objects have influenced Australian artists, such as textile designer Florence Broadhurst. The opening also coincides with Nowrouz (Iranian New Year), and so there'll be a special celebration to mark the day on March 20. There'll also be an event on April 3 to mark Sizdehbehdar: the Persian national day for celebrating Mother Nature. Image: War Amulet, 1800s, Persia, Powerhouse Collection
You may have noticed, dear readers, that things look a little different here at Concrete Playground today. Indeed, our troop of absurdly brilliant writers, coordinators, editors, designers and developers have been working tirelessly over the last few months, preparing to make Swiss cheese of the stratosphere with the launch of a new and much improved website. We've nipped, tucked and delivered Concrete Playground to you in a shiny new package, re-imagining everything from the ground up. So, what exactly has changed? For starters, we'll be introducing a few of our new favourite toys... We have developed a custom Facebook application that lets you seamlessly integrate your new Concrete Playground user profile with the world's biggest social network, mapping out your social schedule to share with friends in just one click of a button. We have also created a shortlist of the city's best restaurants and bars, reviewed by some of this town's most fervent foodies, which includes a fancy geolocation tool that allows you to choose a place to dine or drink based on your current location or the place's proximity to an event you are planning to attend. And we have created some entirely new types of content, which will appear with daily regularity in our new News & Features, Featured Video and Galleries sections. Of course, you can expect the carefully and lovingly selected event coverage you have come to know — only more of it, and with things like dynamic event calendars and tailored recommendations to help you find what you are looking for. We're opening our doors in Brisbane today, and will be launching editions in Melbourne and Auckland in the next few weeks. We are big believers in design and functionality, and were very fortunate to find world class creative partners in Canvas Group and Etc Etc Awesome who designed and coded, respectively, the bejesus out of this thing. We have also received some very useful feedback from our readers and writers over the 18 months since our launch, and this redesign represents a consolidated viewpoint on exactly how best to publish an entirely online (for the moment, anyhow) cultural publication. This is not the end of our design process, but the beginning. We will be adding new features and optimising existing ones as we go to make the user experience a more dynamic, alive and intuitive one. Your feedback has been and will continue to be of great value, so please let us know what you think via Facebook, Twitter or Email. And last of all, a big thank you to everyone who has contributed - particularly the editorial team led by our wonderful head honcho, Anna Harrison - and to you, our readers, for your loyal and passionate support and advocacy. Please continue to spread the word and help an independent group of writers and editors start something big.
"For me, photography is the foundation of human freedom," says Rina Vukobratovic, the Serbian photographer and visual artist behind the series A Girl Who Sees the Lyrics. It may sound grandiose at first, but take a look at her work and you will see what she is getting at — it's a free fall through association, imagination and thought; photography of permission. There is a gentle poetic sensibility steering this series, as though adult and child artist are whispering stories to each other, or perhaps, comparing recollections. The artist has constructed each image with explicit reference to verses from her own haiku poetry written as a girl. In 1991, the idea for this series took root after she read an article published about her childhood poems, and to prove it she used the article's name. Although she has switched the pen for the camera, Vukobratovic has sustained a through line of imagery from her initial artistic impulse to her current one, resulting in a gentle poetic dialogue between a child's imagination and an adult's understanding. Or maybe it is the other way round. "I try to give answers [about] who I am, and why I am," she explains. This lyricism endows her images with a dynamic energy that is simply captivating — music manuscripts burst into spontaneous bloom about a mini-grand. Battle-scarred sailing ships charge towards the windswept freedom of the household window, all on the high seas of the living room. It is easy to see why someone creating these images would say that they "will never get tired of photography, because it contains a secret." These are images of awe, nonsense and wonder captured by a filter of love — first the child's love of the world and then the adult's love of the child. A Girl Who Sees the Lyrics is on show at the MiCK Gallery until June 23 as part of this year's Head On Photo Festival. See more of Rina's photography at her website.
He has serenaded Laura Dern with an Elvis song, swooned over Cher, swapped faces with John Travolta, voiced a version of Spider-Man and won an Oscar for playing an alcoholic. He's appeared on-screen as brothers, professed his love for milking alpacas and fought ninjas from outer space, too. We're talking about Nicolas Cage, of course, and the list of amazing inclusions on his resume just goes on. Indeed, he's about to step into Joe Exotic's shoes — and, via a new Netflix series, teach the world about the history of swear words as well. Nicolas Cage's History of Swear Words is a very real series that definitely exists, and will hit the streaming platform on Tuesday, January 5. So yes, if you were hoping that 2021 would be better than 2020, we can think of one very good reason why that's likely to prove the case. The concept behind the show is extremely self-explanatory, so Netflix hasn't released too many details — but Cage will definitely be having fun with the concept, as the just-released trailer for the series makes clear. Paintbrush in hand, he's at his OTT best as he waxes lyrical about one particular word. You don't get the actor to take on this particular task and then ask him to dial it back, of course. In fact, the whole program looks set to have fun with Cage, with a painting of a peach appearing behind him in the first moments of the trailer — something Face/Off fans will particularly appreciate. As for whatever else is in store, consider that 2021's first big gift. Happy new year indeed. Check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4argVWl8AAE Nicolas Cage's History of Swear Words hits Netflix on Tuesday, January 5.
A new series of advertisements by Education First, a language-school network based in over fifty countries, makes the case for learning another language in a wonderfully unique light. Not a single word is spoken in the ads, nor do they pitch the school. Instead, you follow the adventures of four students touching down in Paris, Barcelona, London and Beijing respectively. Without speech, they manage to express perfectly how learning a new language helps you experience it. Specially-designed typography accompanies the film, accompanied by phonetic pronunciation underneath, and while there is no translation, they work perfectly. Niklas Johansson's cinematography envelops you in the adventures of the protagonists as they wander through the cities, while Albin Holmqvist's deftly designed original typography and typefaces beautifully reflect the languages of Paris, Barcelona, Beijing and London, and tell you more about the words than dull verb charts ever could. The films don't belabour the process of learning a language, but the benefits of being able to lose yourself in a different culture - the things you discover, the different things to see and do, and the attractive strangers that may or may not come your way. If these films don't make you want to jump on a plane straight away, I don't know what will. https://youtube.com/watch?v=1_QO8LoGNpc https://youtube.com/watch?v=p9isboDgxMM https://youtube.com/watch?v=Nr3gdVkkWzc https://youtube.com/watch?v=QLluxHOOXSw [Via ModCloth]
Harvard physicist Ludovico Cademartiri and a team of researchers have made headway in the discovery of an alternative to fire hydrants and fire-extinguishers in putting out flames: electricity. The goal of the research team was to find a way for firefighters to squash fiesty flames without water or foam, methods that completely destroy any salvageable objects that escape a fire's path and take a great deal of time. The concept behind using electricity instead, although not fully developed or tested, is based on the fact that flames contain soot particles that become electrically charged and react to electrical fields. Charging flames with a strong enough beam of electricity has the potential to completely extinguish a fire without firefighters putting a finger on a fire-extinguisher or hose. Cademartiri and crew have just stumbled upon this new development, but Harvard hopes they will be sharing more successful news in the near future. [via engadget]
It's back, it's big and it's heading around Australia in February 2023: St Jerome's Laneway Festival and its impressive lineup, that is. Returning for the first time since 2020 — since celebrating 15 years since Danny Rogers and Jerome Borazio first decided to fill a Melbourne alleyway with tunes — the beloved fest boasts a phenomenal list of talent taking to its stages for its huge and eagerly awaited comeback tour. Here are three names to get you started: HAIM, Joji and Phoebe Bridgers. Laneway has been teasing its 2023 return since earlier this year, and locked in dates and venues mere days ago — but now exactly who you'll be dancing to in Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth has been announced. Also on the bill: Finneas, Fontaines DC, Fred again..., Girl in Red, slowthai and Turnstile, as well as 100 Gecs, Chaos in the CBD, Knucks and Mallrat. Yes, the lineup goes on from there. In Australia, the festival will kick off at Brisbane Showgrounds on Saturday, February 4, then head to Sydney Showground on Sunday, February 5 — one of Laneway's new 2023 venues. From there, it's off to Adelaide CBD's Bonython Park on Friday, February 10; Melbourne's The Park in Flemington on Saturday, February 11; and Perth's Wellington Square on Sunday, February 12. Clearly, there's a whole heap of reasons to be excited — from HAIM's first Australian tour since 2017 (and definitely the first since Alana killed it on the big screen in Licorice Pizza) to Bridgers' return after a huge few years, just to name a couple. Also on the list: just Laneway being back and livening up late summer in general. [caption id="attachment_742169" align="alignnone" width="1920"] BCS Imaging[/caption] Enough preamble; here's what you're after — the full 2023 lineup: ST JEROME'S LANEWAY FESTIVAL 2023 DATES AND VENUES: Saturday, February 4 — Brisbane Showgrounds, Brisbane / Turrbal Sunday, February 5 — Sydney Showground, Sydney / Burramattagal and Wangal Friday, February 10 — Bonython Park, Adelaide / Kaurna Saturday, February 11 — The Park, Flemington, Melbourne / Wurundjeri Sunday, February 12 — Wellington Square, Perth / Whadjuk ST JEROME'S LANEWAY FESTIVAL 2023 LINEUP: Haim Joii Phoebe Bridgers Finneas Fontaines DC Fred again... Girl in Red slowthai Turnstile 100 Gecs Chaos in the CBD Knucks Mallrat Ross From Friends The Beths Yard Act Adam Newling The Backseat Lovers Harvey Sutherland Jacoténe Jamesjamesjames Logic1000 Sycco Tasman Keith The Lazy Eyes St Jerome's Laneway Festival will return to Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide, Melbourne and Perth between Saturday, February 4—Sunday, February 12. For more information, including registering for ticket pre-sales until 11.59pm on Sunday, September 25‚ with general sales from 9am on Thursday, September 29 — head to the festival's website.
Pare back the impressive special effects and constant wisecracking in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and you soon come to realise...there's not a great deal of story to speak of. After a lifetime of searching, Peter Quill aka Star-Lord (Chris Pratt) finally finds himself face to face with his estranged father, Ego (Kurt Russell), from whom he quickly learns the truth about both the power and importance of his lineage. The question, though, is what's driving Ego's sudden appearance in Quill's life after such a long absence? Beyond that, there's actually very little going on in the film, aside from an entirely superfluous secondary plot involving a genetically-engineered race of conceited aliens (led by a gilded Elizabeth Debicki) who are hell-bent on killing the Guardians over a tiny spat from the opening scene. In the absence of plot, then, what drives this film and keeps it (for the most part) engaging are the relationships. For Quill, that means both a developing closeness with his father and an ongoing attempt to progress what he terms his 'unspoken thing' with the green-skinned warrior Gamora (Zoe Saldana). Gamora, in turn, is preoccupied with the increasingly complex and fractious relationship she has with her vengeful sister Nebula (Karen Gillan) – by far the movie's most compelling and nuanced dynamic. Close behind that comes the foul-mouthed Rocket Raccoon (Bradley Cooper), whose proclivity for sabotaging friendships and avoiding emotional closeness comes under the microscope in a surprisingly tender way. Less moving, but always entertaining, are the two remaining Guardians: Drax, the forever-literal powerhouse (Dave Bautista) and Groot, the tree creature turned sapling (voiced by Vin Diesel). Groot proved a fan favourite in the first Guardians film, so naturally he has a bigger role here. With those enlarged Disney ™ eyes and a propensity for dancing at inopportune moments, Groot represents at once the film's most consistent comedic device and tweaker of heart strings. To say his merchandise will sell well after the film's release might prove the single largest understatement of 2017. Of course, a review of a Guardians movie wouldn't be complete without mentioning its soundtrack. As in the first film, here we find a compilation of '80s tracks that well and truly earns the 'Awesome Mix Tape' tag. 'Mr. Blue Sky' by ELO, 'The Chain' by Fleetwood Mac and 'Surrender' by Cheap Trick are just some of the album's top-to-bottom highlights, used throughout the movie with such design that it's almost a character unto itself. Then there's Cat Stevens' 'Father and Son'. Already one of last century's most moving ballads, its deployment in the final stages of the film hits you in the feels so hard that you stand zero chance of wrenching your tear ducts shut in time. Admittedly, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 feels less innovative than its predecessor, with writer-director James Gunn mostly expanding upon existing plot lines, jokes and action sequences rather than inventing new ones. Still, it's an enjoyable ride, and there's clearly more to come (be sure to stay through to the end of the credits through which you'll catch a full five additional scenes and teasers). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hdv_6gl4gk
Just days after confirming that picnics are a permitted form of outdoor recreation — and after hitting the six-million-jab threshold, too — New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian has today, Thursday, August 26, announced that folks in much of NSW will soon be able to gather outdoors in larger groups in the very near future. Greater Sydney remains under lockdown until the end of September; however, the Premier had previously announced that NSW residents would see at least one rule loosen once six million doses of the COVID-19 vaccination had been administered statewide. So, from 12.01am Monday, September 13, that's exactly what'll occur. Residents who live outside of Sydney's Local Government Areas of concern will be able to enjoy outdoor recreation in groups of five, as long as all adults are fully vaccinated. That means that as long as you and four of your friends have all had both of your jabs, you will be able to gather outside for recreation — so, for "sitting for relaxation, or to eat, drink or read outdoors", as defined by the NSW Government rules — within your LGA or within five kilometres from home. That cap includes children, but only the adults must be fully vaxxed given that Australia's vaccination campaign hasn't opened to kids yet. And, all those adults came come from different households. "It means that if you have friends or relatives within your LGA or within the five kilometres, you will be able to congregate together in an outdoor gathering of five, as opposed to just two from different households," said the Premier. "We know people coming together is what people miss the most. From the various options we looked at, that was the option that met the mental health needs and wellbeing of our community, but also provided the lowest-risk setting," she continued. Live inside one of the LGAs of concern (so, in the Bayside, Blacktown, Burwood, Campbelltown, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Fairfield, Georges River, Liverpool, Parramatta and Strathfield LGAs, as well as 12 suburbs in the Penrith)? Change is coming there, too. Outdoor recreation currently isn't allowed at all; however, it'll be back on the cards from the same date. From that point onwards, families with fully vaccinated adults in LGAs of concern will be able to go out together for an hour of outdoor recreation — and that's in addition to your one hour of exercise each day — although it'll have to be between 5am–9pm given the nighttime curfew. Because there's a strict five-kilometre rule in place in these LGAs, you'll need to abide by that requirement for your picnics there as well. NSW recorded 1,029 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night. Of these locally acquired cases, 185 are linked to a known case or cluster – 160 are household contacts and 25 are close contacts – source of infection for 844 cases under investigation pic.twitter.com/6VcaKAXjno — NSW Health (@NSWHealth) August 26, 2021 The announcement comes as NSW recorded 1029 new locally acquired COVID-19 cases in the 24 hours to 8pm on Wednesday, August 25 — and yes, it does feel strange to hear about restrictions easing when case numbers have hit their highest levels so far during the pandemic. That said, the NSW Government sees hitting the six-million-jab vaccination milestone as the first step in easing the Greater Sydney region out of its current lengthy lockdown. After that, when NSW reaches 70-percent and 80-percent vaccination rates, restrictions are meant to loosen even further — including allowing restaurants and bars to reopen to fully vaccinated patrons at the 70-percent mark — which falls in line with the country's new overall 'National Plan to transition Australia's National COVID Response' that was announced in July. "I also want to strongly message today that New South Wales is calling on industry and citizens to get ready for when we are 70-percent double-vaccinated. That's when things will start to open," said the Premier. "The New South Wales Government will start conversations with industry, but we do say that the condition of you participating in what will be reopening is on you being vaccinated. Because when you start opening at 70 precent, there are certain activities only vaccinated people can do — because we know that whilst a certain portion of the population is unvaccinated, that poses a risk to many people." This isn't quite the full roadmap out of lockdown that Berejiklian promised in mid-July and is still yet to announce, but a few further details were provided. At the 70-percent full vaccination mark, a range of yet-t0-be-revealed family, industry, community and economic restrictions will be lifted for jabbed folks — and at 80 per-cent, restrictions will be further eased when it comes to industry, the community and the economy. The Premier has previously advised that the NSW Government does expect case numbers to remain high in September and October; however, she expects that there'll still be scope to ease some rules for vaccinated people — with encouraging folks to get vaccinated obviously a very big part of the strategy moving forward. If you're wondering were you can get vaccinated, there's a handy online map that helps you find your nearest clinic. Australia's vaccination campaign is also expected to get a boost from Monday, August 30 once the Pfizer jab opens to under 40s around the country — and from September as well, which is when the Moderna vaccine has been approved for use and will join the rollout. Fully vaccinated adults in much of NSW will be able to gather in groups of five outdoors for outdoor recreation from 12.01am on Monday, September 13. Families in Sydney's LGAs of concern will be go outside for recreation for an hour a day from the same date. For more information about the changes, head to the NSW Government website. For further details about the status of COVID-19 in NSW, head to the NSW Health website. Top image: Destination NSW.
Cider and tinnies are inherently Aussie. A bottle shop dedicated to the two? Now that's a gap begging to be filled. To right this wrong, Medhurst & Sons – Cider & Tinnies recently opened its doors, creating a new niche in the craft bottle-o scene. Owner Kieran Medhurst is a lover of everything craft. A long-time seller for Beer Cartel and brainchild of Pixel Brewing Co., this guy knows what he's doing. "I realised there are no other bottle shops dedicated to cider in Sydney, nor have I found any in the whole of Australia," Medhurst says. "It made me realise it was a good niche that hadn't yet been filled". An inner-westie himself, Medhurst felt Glebe was the perfect location for the shop as the suburb continues to boom with all things craft beverage. Medhurst's hand-selected stock is Australian focused, but you'll also find international all-stars on the shelves. His favourite of the moment is Two Metre Tall, an independent and sustainable farmhouse brewery based in southern Tasmania. He also has the range of Napoleone ciders available, which will be featured in this weekends' tasting. Adding tinnies to the mix just came along naturally as "it's another point of difference, and is also the way the craft beer industry is going in terms of cans being better for the beer, more compact, and smash-proof". With nearly 80 ciders on the shelves now, Medhurst plans to exceed 100 shortly, as well as to double the number of tinnies currently available. He's also stocking an impressive range of alcoholic ginger beers and is planning a two-tap growler station for the near future. With 10% off on Tinnie Tuesdays, weekend tastings, and a cider club, Cider & Tinnies is sure to be a Glebe go-to. Don't live in the area or too lazy to walk? Check out their website for delivery. Medhurst & Sons — Cider & Tinnies is located at 166 St Johns Road, Glebe and is open Tuesday to Friday from 12-7pm, and Saturdays 10am – 7pm, with all-day tastings on Friday and Saturday. Images: Marissa Ciampi.
No glamorous party invites for New Year's Eve? The fear of God creeping upon you? Papa Gede understands and he takes mercy on ye fearful with the bar's 'No-Pressure New Year's Eve Solution.' The Kent Street bar has done you an end-of-year favour and abated the perils of New Year's in the CBD. Implausibly high cover charges. Solved. Queues that make you feel like an extra in Ben-Hur. Solved. The enormous responsibility of hosting an insane New Year's party in your crap shack. Solved. 'No-Pressure New Year's Eve Solution' offers no cover charge, delicious cocktails and a most excellent theme: James Bond's Live and Let Die — meaning "'70s glam, blaxploitation, voodoo facepaint andNew Orleans mardi gras style" according to the team. This little laneway bar isn't huge, so you'll need to balance up the draws of a cozy place to spend the night and your chances of catching a spot on the couches. Disclaimer: The night wraps up at 2am, so if you plan to kick on be prepared to spend the rest of your night in tight white flares and hopefully inoffensive Cajun-inspired costuming. You're welcome. – Papa Gede (direct quote)
Is there anything better than getting together with friends to watch a film? How about getting together with friends to watch a bunch of international and local films at a casual pop-up film festival in, say a backyard or a secret warehouse or a brewery. Alright, alright you might be wondering why on earth one would bother arranging screens, projectors, and fiddling around with all that palaver when you can just pop down to the local cinema and catch Bridget Jones's Baby if you're keen. But what if you're after more of a party? More of a shindig, some live music, art and some of the best new short films from international and local directors? Australia's newest pop-up film event Freshflix do just that. We caught up with co-founders Jess Hamilton and Claudia Pickering for a chat about how these two local Sydney ladies started a sold-out event from scratch. After taking over unconventional spaces like a secret warehouse in Redfern and a Sydney brewery, their homegrown film festival is now gearing up for its fourth season over summer. We've teamed up with Rekorderlig Cider, and we're digging into just how to make a pop-up film festival in your own backyard. [caption id="attachment_594861" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Michael Wickham.[/caption] DON'T KNOW WHERE TO START? JUST GIVE IT A CRACK It sounds cliche, but often the biggest barrier for getting something done is, you guessed it, yourself. But enough of that self-doubt, you've got to start somewhere. Hamilton and Pickering's own project, Freshflix, grew quite innocently from wanting to screen a film that Pickering had made. From there, things snowballed in the best possible way. "We hand-built a screen for the event, figured things out there, and then borrowed a projector from a mate. As we went, we realised we were planning a party and kind of got carried away. Before we knew it we had opened up the event for submissions from other people and we soon had 300 films submitted." From there, the ambitious pair roped in a band, made a website and the requisite Facebook page, got themselves a local brewery on board, and launched their own film festival – they created a 'media wall' for mad paparazzi shots from a red plastic table cloth, complete with handpainted branding. Yep, handpainted. Handmade awards gave an official flavour to the evening. For decoration, there was nothing like fairy lights, and the team set out cushions and rugs for lounging on — turning your regular cinema setting into a friendly hangout. To begin with, Pickering and Hamilton point out that they got by with a little (or a lot of) help from their friends, who came on board to help plan the event, but once their idea was unleashed, new people were very willing to get involved. So, if you're willing to put on a great party, creative, supportive people are usually (if not always) keen to get on board — especially if there's a cheeky bev in it for them. [caption id="attachment_593024" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Tristan Fitzherbert-Smith.[/caption] SORT OUT THE ENTERTAINMENT Most film buffs will happily come along to a film festival and sit through three-plus hours of screenings. Alternatively, there are people who are pretty into films but also don't mind having a bit of a boogie. The solution? Combine music and film, like Freshflix does. At their most recent festival in Sydney, Freshflix guests were treated to local artists creating live artworks throughout the evening, combined with live bands and music, as well as the cornerstone lineup of Aussie and international films. The end result? One unique, memorable night with a highly diverse crowd — not your stock standard screening indeed. GET FOOD AND DRINKS SORTED Movies = snacks. We know this, and the choc-top lovers of the world certainly know this. Freshflix, like all great pop-up cinema events, doesn't scrimp on the snacks and neither should you. Why not hire an industrial popcorn machine and make a truly elephantine amount of popcorn? Freshflix hand-stamped their own bags. Or better yet, call up some local food trucks to feed the masses. Know anyone who's a dab hand at brewing their own beer? Sure you do! Get them on board, they might just to create a special brew for your event. Otherwise stock the fridge full of refreshing bevs like Rekorderlig Cider and keep the good times flowing into the night. If there are a bunch of people coming along, you might coordinate with a few culinary-minded mates to get on board with baking treats or supplying snacks. Just put the word out there — people might come out of the woodwork with snackery. [caption id="attachment_594860" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Michael Wickham.[/caption] MANAGE LOGISTICS (AND HAVE A RAINY DAY PLAN) It might seem like a colossal undertaking to organise a huge lineup of films, to coordinate the drinks and bands, to manage the people, and you're right — it bloody well is. But this juice is definitely worth the squeeze. Plus, you don't have to be too gung-ho about it — anything can happen on the night. Hamilton and Pickering admitted to fine-tuning their events mere hours before — they even managed to pull off postponing one showing due to bad weather. "Even though we first planned it for one weekend we had to push it back, and it was fine." So, even if rain does interrupt your plans you can get creative. Rig up a tarp, change the venue or move the date. Stay flexible and remember your end goal is one helluva party. "We did [Freshflix] because it was something we wished that other people were doing for us: putting on a great party. So, instead, we just did it ourselves." Well played, ladies.
BABS are back at it, again — the beloved hospitality duo has expanded their 'good food, good booze' ethos to collaborate with an array of female-forward creatives, hospitality giants and friends old and new in celebration of the women who are pushing the envelope within the industry. Following the success of its 3-month residence in Enmore, BABS has now joined the exciting lineup of local talent set to take over UNO Studios in honour of International Women's Day. For one day only, you'll be able to enjoy an exclusive menu of enticing bites and tipples supplied by BABS before partaking in a discussion on creativity, connection, collaboration and innovation. Keen to catch this exclusive women-focused event? Head over to 23 McCauley Street in Alexandria on Wednesday, March 27. On offer from 5:30pm, expect to indulge in the likes of Ellie Hayes O'Brien's signature soft challah buns accompanied by whipped butter, as well as BABS classics like the pickled sardines and the pancetta arrotolata paired with Earl Grey-soaked prunes. For drinks, Bec Shave has teamed up with leading female winemakers to compile a list of stellar wines featuring Parley, Little Frances, Meredith and plenty more. Plus, the first 50 guests will score a complimentary cocktail and snack pairing of the 'Midnight Spritz' starring Parley Wines' Midnight Disco pét-nat alongside the caviar- and creme fraiche-topped 'BABS blini'. The upcoming panel, starting at 7:45pm, is looking to shine a spotlight on women within the industry, curating a panel of four female juggernauts based in Sydney to chat through themes surrounding this year's IWD as part of UNO Studios' 'Creative Odyssey' series. To top things off, the event is entirely free. Secure your spot via the Humanitix event page. Photo credit: Lily Austin.
Playing Glastonbury; sharing a stage with Foo Fighters, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and The Smashing Pumpkins; making the leap from a regional town to touring the globe: Amyl and The Sniffers frontwoman Amy Taylor has done it all. And, if you'd like to hear more about that journey, Taylor is also getting behind the microphone at 2024's BIGSOUND when it returns to Brisbane from Tuesday, September 3–Friday, September 6. The huge music event, which combines a conference with live gigs in Fortitude Valley, has enlisted Taylor to give a keynote address at this year's fest. Her involvement is part of the first lineup announcement for 2024, which also includes London-based DJ, artist manager and Butterz co-founder Elijah — and Korda Marshall, who started his record label career in 1983 making coffee and scouting talent at RCA. Casper Mills from independent record label 4AD is also on the speaker roster, as is Naomie Abergel, fka Mark Johns. When AEG/Goldenvoice Concerts Vice President Elliott Lefko gets chatting, too, there'll be Coachella and Stagecoach to talk about. "This announcement is really a calling card of what BIGSOUND represents," said Conference Programmer Tom Larkin, revealing the first 2024 details. "The cross section of global industry that will be on ground is a testament to BIGSOUND as a vehicle for connecting artists locally and internationally, and we recognise that in 2024 the need for this is greater than ever." "We're thrilled to go out of the gates with Amy Taylor as a keynote speaker as she will no doubt give a robust insight from many angles." [caption id="attachment_861894" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lachlan Douglas[/caption] As always, BIGSOUND drops its details in stages. So, more speakers will join the bill — and the full music lineup is still to come. But organisers have revealed some of the folks who'll be scoping out acts while they're here, such as Adam Ryan (The Great Escape, Lovebox and Wilderness Festival), Patrick Daniel (Reeperbahn Festival, Inferno Events) and Dev Sherlock (SXSW), plus Ben Buchanan from Creative Artists Agency and Roxane Dumoulin from ATC Live Agency. This is BIGSOUND's 23rd year, with the festival continuing to welcome in international and national buyers, agents, music supervisors, bookers and other industry decision makers to take over Brisbane. Its commitment to showcasing impressive acts, artists and bands usually sees more than 150 talents hit its stages at 20-plus River City venues. If you're a BIGSOUND regular, you'll know that this entails filling as many spaces as possible with musos, industry folks and music-loving punters, all enjoying the latest and greatest tunes and talent the country has to offer. [caption id="attachment_907800" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Simone Gorman-Clark[/caption] [caption id="attachment_851422" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lachlan Douglas[/caption] [caption id="attachment_907799" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Simone Gorman-Clark[/caption] BIGSOUND 2024 will take place between Tuesday, September 3–Friday, September 6 in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane. For more information, visit the event's website. Top image: Ralph_PH via Wikimedia Commons.
The dining room at Icebergs undeniably has one of the best views in Sydney. But the blissful Bondi views usually come at a pretty steep cost, considering that, for the best seats in the house, you have to fork out for a lavish feed in the two-hatted fine dining restaurant. But this summer, you can soak up that scenery without burning through too much of the budget (and with better views than at the bar) at a returning pop-up on the Icebergs Terrace. The bar — which is a collaboration with Ketel One Botanical — first took over the space last summer. Now that the season is officially upon us for another year, it's back. Once again, the Bondi venue's outdoor area has been transformed into a lush, flower-filled oasis that serves cocktails and snacks from the Icebergs bar. Like last year, the terrace is also sporting a verdant fit-out designed by local landscape architects and horticulturalists Secret Gardens. They've decked out the place with stacks of native Australian flora — in case you need something to look at other than those primo views of Bondi Beach. As the name suggests, the cocktail list is based around Ketel One Botanical, a low-alcohol vodka that's been distilled with botanicals and infused with fruit essences. It's available in three flavours — grapefruit and rose, peach and orange blossom, and a crisp cucumber and mint — and is being served with Santa Vittoria soda ($14 each). Or, you can opt for a mixed vodka cocktail, including an espresso variety ($18). Otherwise, there are a few wines, a couple of beers and two ready-to-drink cocktails on the menu, too. To match the botanically driven boozing, a selection of bites from the Icebergs menu will make their way outside. You can stay light with oysters ($6.50); opt for prosciutto, wasabi melon and cucumber ($28); or go all in with a toastie ($22) or the Icebergs burger ($22). Icebergs Terrace x Ketel One Botanical pop-up bar is open from 12–8pm Friday–Sunday all summer.
You scream, I scream we all scream for Gelato Messina. But just how do you choose from the 40-plus flavours on offer? We like to view the specials board as our own personal to-do list. Why limit yourself? With Penrith reaching over 30 degrees more often than any other suburb in Sydney, you will want to make Gelato Messina your regular and there are egg, dairy and nut free as well as vegan options to keep all of the squad happy. And yes, you should get the take home pack. Images: Katrina James.
Filling your house with Swedish furniture is already a wallet-friendly affair, much to the joy of anyone who likes nice homewares but also likes sticking to a budget. Come 2020, however, it'll also be an environmentally-friendly choice, with IKEA announcing plans to ramp up its sustainability measures. Over the next two years, the furniture retailer will phase out all single-use plastic products from both its range and its restaurants all around the globe. That's right — you won't find all those Allen keys in tiny plastic bags taped to your Billy bookshelves, or whatever other flat-packed wares you're fond of. And you won't be taking any frozen meatballs home in throwaway plastic bags either. IKEA has also pledged to only use renewable and recycled materials in all of its products by 2030, alongside a range of other initiatives — upping its plant-based menu items from this year, reducing its home delivery emissions to zero by 2025 and expanding its range of solar offerings to more countries by the same year. It's all part of the company's goal to abide by 'circular principles'. As IKEA's Sustainability Manager Lena Pripp-Kovac explains, "becoming truly circular means meeting people's changing lifestyles, prolonging the life of products and materials and using resources in a smarter way." Accordingly, they'll be designing "all products from the very beginning to be repurposed, repaired, reused, resold and recycled." It's not IKEA's first attempt to shake off its 'fast furniture' reputation, with the brand unveiling a non-disposable collection with Danish designers HAY last year. Still, the announcement brings the company into line with the growing movement towards ecologically conscious packaging and products, as seen in supermarkets and other businesses around both Australia and the globe — eradicating singe-use plastic bags, straws, takeaway containers and more, and working towards banning non-recyclable packaging outright.
The cliche saying that the greatest things come in the smallest packages isn't always proven true, but it seems to be the case for a new musical development in nanotechnology, the Nano Guitar. Researchers at Cornell University, Dustin W Carr and Professor Harold G Craighead launched the project in order to show skeptics how advanced and precise (and cool) nanotechnology is. The microscopic instrument is made of crystalline silicon and is 10,000 nanometres long, which is about the size of a single human red blood cell or one-twentieth the size of the width of a strand of hair. Can it be played like a full-sized guitar? Well, its six strings are each only 100 atoms wide, so tiny that they can only be plucked by sending miniature lasers through an atomic force microscope to produce one of the highest pitches to ever be recorded. The sound is a 40 megahertz signal 130,000 times higher than that of a regular guitar, unable to be picked up by the even most sensitive microphones. The Nano Guitar has sparked new discoveries in nanotechnology, including a new method of manipulating laser beams to aid in fibre optic communications. Big things do come in small packages.
Sydneysiders, summer is in full swing — and you would pity the fool who wasted these glorious days. While in winter we may huddle in dark corners, like underground bars, cradling a mulled wine and some form of hot comfort food, summer nights are about seasides and sunsets, cocktails and cool breezes. Whether you want to sip a spritz next to the beach or get into a bottle of something crisp by the Harbour, these are the best waterside bars to grab a cold one and settle in for a splendid summer afternoon or evening.
Norwest locals: if you haven't already started counting down the days until the arrival of Ciel Restaurant, you should start now. Following its initial announcement back in November of last year, the new venue is just a couple of months away from opening, with a confirmed opening slated for August of 2024. This upcoming venture from renowned Aussie chef Joshua Mason is set to star upscale dining in The Hills District — and with over 500 bookings already secured, the venue's arrival has already stirred up excitement among the locals. "Ciel Restaurant is poised to be the most sought-after premium rooftop in the area, and we're meticulously crafting every detail," said chef Joshua Mason. "For instance, our lavish balcony lounge features a customised DJ booth, adding a unique jazzy-party vibe to the venue." With its name derived from the French word for 'sky', the rooftop venue promises stunning views over the Castle Hill Country Club from a spacious sky-high spot. The elegant restaurant is hoping to redefine social dining in The Hills by injecting a touch of luxury into the district's food and drink scene. The 120-seat venue is set to showcase a sophisticated approach to fine dining, with luxe design elements that recall the likes of New York's Eleven Madison Park and California's The French Laundry. Expect brass and marble tones, comfortable seating, a green-hued stone bar as the centrepiece and a sophisticated ambience. There'll be both indoor and al fresco dining available, as well as a private room for events and occasion-based group bookings. "Our venue will offer a sophisticated yet 'vibe-y' atmosphere, perfect for enjoying a delightful meal and drinks with friends," said Mason. "As my second venture in the northwest, I'm deeply grateful for the opportunity to continue investing in this vibrant community." Mason – whose impressive CV includes stints at Michelin-starred San Francisco institutions Atelier Crenn and Coi — has taken inspiration from his Sicilian to craft the Mediterranean-leaning menu. Seafood is a particular focus, so expect the likes of an ice well filled with oysters, lobsters and locally sourced fish, alongside charcoal-grilled dishes and a woodfired selection cooked on a custom-made grill and charcoal oven that draw on French and Mediterranean techniques — perfect to pair with an ice-cold dirty martini or glass of champagne. Ciel Restaurant plans to open sometime in August at 7 Maitland Place in Norwest, seven days a week. Bookings are now open — and you can secure a spot at the venue's reservations page.
There's escaping the city for an afternoon, and then there's driving 20 minutes down a dirt road to a secluded river and hopping into a canoe. In this canoe, it's quiet, very still. The Kangaroo Valley's bushland surrounds you, ascending on either side of the waterway, creating a landscape that's punctuated only by the occasional kingfisher flapping by or a solitary trout breaking the surface with a small splash. And I haven't even mentioned the best bit: this canoe is filled with wine. And snacks. So as you're floating down the river — minimal paddling is necessary — you'll be able to pop a bottle of local sparkling and tuck into a few canapés. Maybe you'll try a glass of top-notch sparkling Riesling from Mittagong's Artemis Wines and a yabby roll with native lime mayo supplied by The Loch in nearby Berrima. As you might have guessed, this isn't an ordinary off-you-go oar-bearing experience. This one is part of WildFEST, a new three-day celebration of the food, drink and wilderness of NSW's Southern Highlands. Led by experienced paddler Travis Frenay, the Canoes, Champagne and Canapés experience will lead you along the Kangaroo River in a custom-built double canoe, through the sunken forest and past a convict-built sandstone wall. Travis has an insane amount of knowledge on the area and will be able to answer pretty much anything you throw at him. There will be three sessions a day (9am, noon and 3pm) on October 27, 28 and 29. The whole thing sets off from Beehive Point and takes around two to three hours. Prices are on the heftier side at $195 each, but includes all food, wine and equipment. Plus, this part of the Valley isn't highly accessible for people without their own gear, so it's a great (and bloody delightful) way to explore the area on the water. Note: if weather conditions suggest your rusty old sedan won't make it there and back, the organisers may provide transport down the dirt road. But if it's dry, you're all good. It's part of the adventure. Canoes, Champagne and Canapés will run on October 27–29 from Beehive Point, Kangaroo Valley. For more info and to buy tickets, visit wildfest.com.au.
Imagine if you could see a full lifetime's ageing process happen before your very eyes, sped up just enough that its imperceptible changes became perceptible. But not in an Indiana Jones Nazi uber ageing kind of way; rather, in a tasteful, filmmaker Anthony Cerniello kind of way. In the video below, Danielle, a tiny girl looks at us with a bored-yet-slightly-curious gaze, blinking occasionally. A few seconds later she's changed, only we can't quite tell how — a little broader in the forehead, a little more space between her eyes and eyebrows, maybe? You'll find yourself looking for those minute changes throughout the video. Don't skip through, though — the illusion will be totally ruined. This is because what looks like a lifelong timelapse of one woman's face is actually a very clever and meticulous blending of a whole collection of different portraits, all taken from a single family. Cerniello used faces from the family of his friend Danielle and employed high-tech methods throughout the process: after having photographer Keith Sirchio take shots of all the young cousins and relatives of different generations who looked alike, Cerniello scanned them using a drum scanner and selected those whose bone structure was most similar. Next he enlisted the talents of animators Nathan Meier, Edmund Earle and George Cuddy to meld the shots together, complete with realistic blinking and a convincing suggestion of breathing. Mark Reveley created the musical score, which adds a feeling of depth to the visuals; what we're witnessing, after all, is a whole life passing by. As the signs of ageing appear in faint traces of strain and wrinkles, we can't help but imagine the ups and downs of this virtual person's existence, and sympathise. It's a beautiful short film and a very cool use of technology to assist in making art. Via Colossal
In 1948, Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh bet a bunch of local actors in a Sydney pub that they could recite Australian poetry as good as any local. To prove it they went to a radio station and recorded Banjo Patterson’s Last Week and Clancy of the Overflow. The recording was marked ‘not for broadcast’ and has, until now, sat in the National Film and Sound Archive gathering dust. On Wednesday evening the dust is coming off and legendary Australian actor Jack Thompson is taking on the Oliviers in a bout of Banjo balladeering in the Mitchell wing of the State Library. This is a serious clash of past and present – kind of momentous I reckon.It’s also the launch of Kathy Leahy’s new book Lords and Larrikins: The Actor’s Role in the Making of Australia. Leahy and Thompson will be on hand to chat about the book, and discuss such topics as why in Australia we still call for control of the public artist.
When Sydney Film Festival arrives each year, do you spend all of your time seeing flicks in the Sounds on Screen strand, the event's home for movies about music? If so, then you also need to make a date with Strobe Music Film Festival. Now in its fifth year, the latter takes place out of Golden Age Cinema and Bar — and it's back for 2025 with a six-film lineup. Kicking off on Friday, August 29 at Surry Hills' beloved boutique cinema — and playing flicks that all boast impressive soundtracks — Strobe is opening with Goddess of Slide: The Forgotten Story of Ellen McIlwaine, about the Canadian slide guitarist and singer who opened for the likes of Odetta and Jimi Hendrix. Dates vary until Sunday, September 7, but Electronic Body Music will take you inside industrial music's evolution through post-punk to dance floors, I Can't Be Anyone But Me is all about on Big Mama Thornton and Oscar Peterson: Black + White puts the eponymous jazz pianist in the spotlight. If you missed the Conway Brothers-focused Whoopee Blues at the 2025 Antenna Film Festival, this is your next chance to see it. And, you can also catch Radio On, showing 45 years after its initial Sydney screening back in 1980.
You probably already know about New York's reputation for top-quality digs, so you'll be pleased to learn these high standards extend well beyond the city limits. If you're considering venturing upstate — which you absolutely should be — idyllic retreats abound. Not only will the New York holiday of your dreams have the fabulous accommodation to match, but you'll also have direct access to some of the state's underrated gems: its charming small-town communities and boundless outdoor and cultural adventures. We've teamed up with New York State to present some of the most stellar accommodation throughout the state. From scenic summer camps to beachfront escapes, here are our picks to make your next New York adventure even more special. [caption id="attachment_851092" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Brooke O'Neil - Courtesy of Franklin County[/caption] WHITE PINE CAMP, PAUL SMITHS If it's good enough for a president then it's good enough for you. Set in Paul Smiths, in the heart of the Adirondacks region, White Pine Camp is the former holiday home of President Calvin Coolidge. Nowadays, it's a year-round getaway that places you right in nature's beauty. You'll have 13 stately cabins and cottages to choose from, each featuring handcrafted furnishings, stone fireplaces and stunning views. This provincial wonderland is one of the region's 'Great Camps' — a label reserved for the remarkable lakeside homes built by wealthy 19th-century families. There are endless activities to experience during your stay. You can enjoy boating, hiking, fishing and bowling. Then, when you're ready to unwind, head to the camp's Japanese tea house for a cocktail. [caption id="attachment_851090" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Visit Buffalo Niagara, Kim Smith,[/caption] THE MANSION ON DELAWARE AVENUE, BUFFALO Buffalo is one of the most captivating cities in the United States. From the recently restored 19th- and early 20th-century architectural gems and picturesque gardens to the thriving entertainment and nightlife scenes, there are many things that make the city well worth a visit. Located in the heart of the city, The Mansion on Delaware offers an up-close glimpse of the aforementioned 19th-century grandeur. The elegance of the property is undeniable from the moment you step inside, with 15-foot ceilings and handcrafted details that ooze class. You can live out all your upper-class fantasies here, too. To complement the venue's grand allure, a team of "new-fashioned butlers" are waiting at your beck and call, whether you need the ideal restaurant reservation, day-trip suggestions or even a personal driver to whisk you to a nearby landmark. [caption id="attachment_844998" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Phillip Ennis, Courtesy of Oheka Castle[/caption] OHEKA CASTLE, HUNTINGTON Oheka Castle is believed to have inspired The Great Gatsby, so booking a stay in this sprawling mansion ensures you get the chance to live out your Roaring Twenties fantasies. Here, at the highest point of Long Island, luxury is the name of the game, with a selection of sophisticated suites offering opulent decor alongside views stretching across the pristine grounds. Downstairs, the OHK Bar and Restaurant is open for brunch, lunch and dinner, and has a distinctly European atmosphere. You're also welcome to explore the gardens, order an in-room massage, hit the gym or even attend a daily tour of this storied mansion. [caption id="attachment_851095" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Courtesy of Dutchess Tourism[/caption] THE ROUNDHOUSE, BEACON The charming town of Beacon makes for the ideal artsy escape, as this former industrial hub has evolved into a cultural destination over the last 20 years. The Roundhouse embodies this rejuvenation perfectly. The historic mill was transformed into a boutique hotel and restaurant in 2010, but many of the property's refined architectural details were preserved. The Roundhouse is perched on the edge of the fast-flowing Fishkill Creek, offering views of the adjacent Beacon Falls. This easy-on-the-eye spot has 51 guestrooms decked out with mid-century decor. Meanwhile, the acclaimed restaurant showcases goods from local farms, wineries and distilleries. [caption id="attachment_844992" align="alignnone" width="1920"] NYSDED, Darren McGee[/caption] MOHONK MOUNTAIN HOUSE, NEW PALTZ Mohonk Mountain House is another majestic stay that'll see you surrounded by the Hudson Valley's incredible scenery. This early 20th-century estate is based on the edge of Lake Mohonk and is surrounded by 40,000 acres of forest. You won't be left looking for ways to fill your time either. First of all, there are some 85 miles of hiking trails to explore. You can also go kayaking and fly fishing on the lake that sits next to the estate, or make the most of the estate's award-winning spa and top-notch recreational facilities, including tennis courts, an indoor pool, a golf course and more. Mohonk Mountain House is also known for its farm-to-table cuisine, which is served throughout its many venues. [caption id="attachment_851104" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Courtesy of Greene County Tourism & Film Office[/caption] EASTWIND HOTEL AND BAR, WINDHAM When your main priority is reconnecting with nature, eco-conscious glamping in the rugged countryside is bound to fit the bill. Eastwind Hotel and Bar, overlooking the Catskill Mountains, is a fantastic choice. The property's A-frame glamping tents and cabins will level up your outdoor encounters with their Scandinavian-style architecture and amenities. Here, you don't need to forgo the creature comforts during your stay — even the basic offering comes with wifi, lush robes and private bathrooms. Opting for an upgraded hut, meanwhile, will score you a cosy lounge area, writing nook, outdoor fire pit and shower, and a private deck to appreciate the views. Throw in a visit to the hotel's trendy cocktail bar and a sweat sesh in the wood-barrelled sauna, and this out-of-town haunt won't disappoint. THE LAKE HOUSE ON CANANDAIGUA, CANANDAIGUA The Finger Lakes is one of upstate New York's top destinations, known for its picturesque lakes, wineries and top-class recreational facilities. Sound like your sort of place? The Lake House on Canandaigua is where you should stay. Modern yet flourished with old-world charm, this peaceful location is the perfect place to base yourself when exploring the surrounding landscapes. Alongside the 125 picture-perfect rooms, dining is a clear focus at the hotel. The Sand Bar offers a laidback atmosphere and colourful cocktails overlooking the water, while Rose Tavern levels up the class with rustic decor and hearth-cooked cuisine. For activities, there's a fully kitted day spa, ice skating in winter, morning meditation sessions and much more. STARLITE MOTEL, KERHONKSON The Starlite Motel is a 1960s motor lodge that has been lovingly restored to its former glory through modern updates and fashionable touches, ranging from a kitschy pink exterior and retro tiling to vintage appliances that instantly transport you to a bygone age. When you're not exploring the many nearby hiking, biking and climbing locations, you're invited to make the most of an outdoor pool and communal firepits. There's also a lo-fi canteen serving local drinks and snacks, while a selection of barbecue grills means you can whip up your own feast beneath the stars. [caption id="attachment_851100" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Courtesy of Ulster County Tourism/Film[/caption] WOODSTOCK WAY HOTEL, WOODSTOCK Inspired by the music and counterculture that made its namesake community so famous, Woodstock Way Hotel invites guests to experience this history through rustic-chic architecture and enchanting gardens. The rooms, suites and cottages are adorned with vintage decor and artwork, so expect to feel immersed in the lush outdoors through balconies and private gardens. Although there's no on-site restaurant, the communal area offers snacks and drinks. You're also just a quick walk from the centre of town, meaning you can experience Woodstock's wealth of stylish restaurants, bars and fashion boutiques with ease. To start planning your trip to New York State, head to iloveny.com. Also, be sure to check out our recommendations for the best food and drink stops, cultural experiences, outdoor adventures and day trips from NYC. Top image: Courtesy of Oheka Castle
Judena Hair has garnered a reputation for being one of the top-rated salons in Bondi. Owner Kylie opened the salon seven years ago with the aim to create a space that prioritises customer service and uses top-tier products to respect the quality of the hair. Today, the Judena experience always starts with a thorough consultation where your stylist will take into account your face shape, hair colour and even eye colour, ensuring every client receives a specialised service that leaves them confident and happy. A wash and blow-dry starts at $50 for short hair, but if you're after something a little more special, Judena also does hair extensions. You can also go the whole hog and get your makeup done while you're there ($45–120). The best part? New clients receive $30 off on their first visit.
If you are local to the northern beaches, you'll know the style is all about minimal clothing in soft fabrics to make transitioning from beach to bar a breeze. Roze & Thorn offers local and international designers that do this with ease; there's floaty, floral dresses from the likes of Auguste The Label and Talulah; chilled-denim brands One Teaspoon, Rollas and Neuw; and uber-cool sunglasses label Valley Eyewear. The boutique also stocks cutting edge activewear brand Jaggad, delicate jewellery from Deer Ruby and Love Isabelle, Suboo swimmers and plenty of shoes and handbags to tie it all together. Images: Trent van der Jagt.
It has seen plenty in its almost two centuries of life, but The Royal Richmond Hotel has just enjoyed one of its biggest shake-ups yet. Located in the heart of Richmond, at the foot of the Blue Mountains in the Hawkesbury region, the 170-year-old pub has unveiled an extensive makeover at the hands of new Peter Wynne and Karen Anderson (Martin Place Bar). A major revamp has transformed the long-standing boozer, giving it a new bistro complete with an open kitchen and light-filled atrium-style dining room — and a dapper cocktail lounge and refurbished sports bar. The spaces give a firm nod to eras past, thanks to original Oregon timber beams, walls of recycled brick, generous tables crafted from reclaimed timber and plenty of historic photos. Headed up by General Manager Todd Garratt (Fish Butchery, Wine Library, Balcon by Tapavino), the bistro offering champions local Hawkesbury produce and ingredients wherever possible, while also delivering a strong focus on an in-house program of charcuterie and dry-aged meats. On the menu, you'll find a lineup of classic pizzas and share snacks — think: twice-cooked chicken wings and a country-style pork terrine — alongside pasta dishes like a braised lamb bolognese pappardelle. There are burgers, a share-friendly rotisserie lamb shoulder and dry-aged steaks aplenty. House-made pork snags are teamed with mash and a cider gravy, while a hero dish of cauliflower is cooked on the rotisserie and finished with almonds, currants and a red pepper sauce. With its tartan carpet, double fireplaces and premium spirits lineup, the new cocktail lounge is set to become a favourite winter haunt. And the new-look front bar proves a cosy spot to enjoy pints and some big-screen footy action, matched to the likes of a ploughman's platter, potato skins or a serve of the kitchen's cheeseburger spring rolls. There's more to come, too, with The Royal Richmond's second stage of renovations set to deliver a roomy, all-weather beer garden that'll play host to a program of music and other live entertainment. That's on track to be completed some time next year. Find The Royal Richmond Hotel at 163 Windsor Street, Richmond. It's open 10am–3am Monday to Saturday, and 10am–12am Sunday.
Following years of successful pop-ups, Baba's Place finally took the plunge and opened a permanent restaurant in a Marrickville last year. With a huge community atmosphere, impromptu DJ sets, cultural activations and a menu that's the talk of the town, the warehouse venue has already become an inner-west favourite. Continuing the spirit of the popular the pop-ups, the venue doesn't shy away from special one-off events. This Sunday, May 1, the Baba's Place team is hosting a deep dive into interesting natural wines from Eastern and Central Europe. Expect pét-nats from Slovenia's Heaps Good Co, fruity rosé from Austria's Christina, and selections from local importers like Fox Wine Company and Vivant Wines. Accompanying the wine tasting will be a surprise Baltic-inspired feast cooked up by the Baba's Place chefs. While the menu is yet to be revealed, you can expect the restaurant's signature playful and homely take on European dishes. Tickets are $115 for the four-hour affair and include entry, food and four glasses of wine. If you have more drops that you want to try, you can then buy additional glasses on top of that. Images: Cordelia Williamson.
Cakes get smashed, biscuits are catapulted, lipstick is smeared and someone urinates — symptoms of the trapped and fearful mind. Sisters Brida (Odile LeClezio), Ada (Jane Phegan) and Clara (Genevieve Mooy) are holed up in a small cottage, shielding themselves from the harsh outside world, a seaside village in Western Ireland where the streets are narrow and the houses lean in on one another so they squeeze you. The suffocating pressure of the town is felt as the cast is packed onto the tiny tin-box stage. In their bland, curtain-fabric dresses and matronly buns and rollers, the sisters play with the innate Irish aptitude for storytelling, delivered with a whipper-snipper race of words down a rabbit warren of memories. We are left reeling, dizzy and ill after being dragged through spirals of rote-learned stories: Brida and Clara's single night of disappointment at the New Electric Ballroom, a virginity never lost and the realisation at 40 of never being properly kissed (only once mauled in the car park by a fishmonger). Their dashed hopes apparently justify their self-imprisonment. With The New Electric Ballroom, playwright Enda Walsh (The Walworth Farce) is successfully externalising the cyclic thought patterns of madness that whine at us all, that we carry around inside our skulls but hate to admit ownership of. The message comes out loud and clear; it's just a question of whether you want to sit through it blaring for 90 minutes. Their memories, madness and desperate wailing for cups of tea are pleasantly interrupted by the mad fishmonger Patsy (Justin Smith), who delivers fresh fish and comic streams of consciousness on a daily basis. Though he bores them, Patsy surprises all, exchanging his humble fisherman clothes for a flashy gold Elvis suit, crooning a love song to Ada and beckoning her to join him in the outside world. Knowing what we know of the Irish literary lineage, however, this note of optimism can't be expected to hold. The proffering of a slice of delicious coffee cake in conclusion was a decent compensation — but no tea!
Gaffa has built a solid name for itself on the Sydney gallery trail over the last few years. Perched atop the one and only Ding Dong Dang Karaoke Bar, this artist-run space held consistently innovative exhibitions showcasing the work of emerging artists and designers. Now it has seriously outdone itself with an uptown relocation and huge expansion. Spread over three levels, the new Gaffa is more a CBD art precinct than conventional gallery. On the ground floor is a coffee shop and a space for rotating temporary art and design stalls. Three galleries occupy the first level and several studios and jewellery/object design workshops make up the second. It's all launching on 11 February from 6pm with the new exhibition Fidelity, featuring work the likes of Ella Barclay, Sumugan Sivanesan, Mark Gerada, Sean O’Connell, Marcelle Robbins, Ben Backhouse, Geoffrey Farquhar-Still, Andrew Lavery, Melinda Young, Zoe Brand and Kath Fries. Keep an eye on Gaffa's website for details of future jewellery workshops and other events.
Even if you're not much of an opera connoisseur, this iconic Sydney Festival event is a must. Each year, Opera in the Domain brings some of opera's biggest hits to thousands of Sydneysiders under the starry night sky. Bring a blanket and a picnic basket and lose yourself in the marvel that is the human voice. No time to pack food? Never fear: there will be bars and food stalls aplenty.
UPDATE: FEBRUARY 10, 2020 — Due to popular demand, The Fork Festival has extended for three weeks, which means you have until Saturday, February 29 to snag a tidy 50 percent off your total food bill. It also means this deal is sticking around for Valentine's Day — you know what to do. When Christmas and New Year are over, the temptation to hibernate grows pretty strong — so, you're probably going to need a little something extra to tempt you off the couch. Handily, online reservation platform The Fork has a winning idea up its sleeve: it's offering a huge eight weeks of dining specials nationwide. Kicking off on Monday, January 6, the second ever The Fork Festival will see top restaurants across the country offering sit-down meals for half the usual price. Yep, 50 percent off your total food bill, folks — think of it as the proverbial carrot luring you out of the house. So far, 300 restaurants have signed up, but The Fork is expecting this number to grow. To snag a half-price meal, you just need to make a reservation through The Fork website or app at one of the participating eateries for any service (breakfast, lunch or dinner) during the five weeks. [caption id="attachment_653288" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Boathouse at Blackwattle Bay by Kitti Gould.[/caption] There are some great venues coming to the party, too. In Sydney, you'll find discounted eats at the likes of Eliza Food and Wine, Uccello, The Boathouse on Blackwattle Bay, Harajuku Gyoza Beer Stadium, Berowra Waters Inn, The Greens, Olio, Butcher and the Farmer and Little Jean. You might want to revisit an old favourite or you could get a little adventurous and road-test somewhere new. Either way, there's ample time to squeeze in a fair few discount feasts before the festival wraps up on February 29. You can check out the full list of participating restaurants on the website. Top image: Eliza Food and Wine
In Locke, the improbable proves possible — and in more ways than one. The second film from director Steven Knight (best known as the screenwriter of Dirty Pretty Things, Eastern Promises and The Hundred-Foot Journey) takes the simple and routine and turns it into the complex and compelling. Never before has a one-man effort, set solely in a car, structured around a series of phone calls and ostensibly concerning the machinations of the largest concrete pour in history become so engaging and immersive. As the titular figure and only on-screen presence, Ivan Locke (Tom Hardy) is the lynchpin in the spoken drama. He leaves work one evening, but rather than head for a home that boasts a wife (Ruth Wilson) and two sons (Tom Holland and Bill Miner) waiting to watch a soccer match with him, or even for a good night's rest before the important day that awaits, the building site foreman drives away from his usual responsibilities. Conversations crystalise the details, sentiments escalating as he informs all those relying upon his dependable nature of the departure from his duties as an employee, husband and father. Increasingly upset altercations with a co-worker (Olivia Colman) in hospital are revelatory, as Locke faces the repercussions of an ill-thought-out act from his past. Of course, the central conceit of a single protagonist within a lone location is far from new; however, Knight does more than merely follow a formula. Avoiding easy comparisons with the likes of classics Lifeboat, Rope and Rear Window and recent thrillers Cube, Phone Booth and Buried, the filmmaker explores a situation marked by its modesty rather than its gimmick. The stakes are far from life and death, the crux of the story is akin to those seen in a soap opera, but tension radiates from the mundane and relatable. What results is the juxtaposition of several layers of confinement: physically, in a car careening towards London; emotionally, amid the reactions of all immersed in the mess; morally, in doing the right thing in the wrong circumstances Accordingly, Locke succeeds via the astute intersection of terse scripting, inventive filming and an exceptional performance. Knight's war of words never falls victim to complacency, every exchange adding to the pile of punishing problems and pulsating pressure. Cinematographer Haris Zambarloukos's (Thor) slick gaze offers a shiny veneer peppered with imperfections, creating imagery that matches the film's thematic thrust. But it is Hardy, Welsh-accented and stone-faced, that makes the scenario leap from the screen as he simmers under the strain of his character's choices. The feature's greatest achievement may stem from eliciting interest from its story, style and structure; however, it is its lead that sears its exploration of the inescapable inexplicably into memory. https://youtube.com/watch?v=HxLPXMEYGeI
This year, Moonlight Cinema isn't just returning to Centennial Park. The always-popular outdoor cinema is also heading to western Sydney for the first time. Taking over the Lizard Log Amphitheatre from January 1–February 2, it'll be screening new flicks, retro favourites and some of the best films from 2019. So, roll out your picnic blanket, sit under the stars and stare up at the big screen to watch newly released movies like Rocketman, Hustlers, Joker, Ford v Ferrari, Knives Out, Cats, Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker and Charlie's Angels. Going retro, the outdoor cinema will revisit last year's A Star Is Born and 90s perennial favourite 10 Things I Hate About You. Dirty Dancing is also on the bill, like it is at all its pop-ups every year — it wouldn't be a Moonlight without it. [caption id="attachment_697750" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Moonlight Cinema Sydney[/caption] You can bring your pooch to the openair cinema (but they need to remain on a leash at all times) and BYO food and drink (yes, including booze) is OK, too. If you forget, there's also a licenced bar and candy shop on site stocked with all the classic cinema treats. Gates open at 7pm with movies starting at sundown (around 8.30pm).
If you love hummus, you're probably happy to sit at home with a one-kilo tub of Yumi's and whatever you can find to dip in it. But you could also not do that and get your daily dose of chickpeas at this hummus-laden pop-up bar in Bondi. On Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights throughout February, the team behind Darlinghurst's Simply Hummus Bar take its dishes to Bondi Road, taking over Up South once its done with lunch service. From 5.30pm, the cafe's menu will be replaces with an Israeli-style snack menu that also happens to be completely vegan. Simply Hummus Bar's signature hummus — served with pillowy pita and falafel — is, of course, the main drawcard, but we recommend you also try the whole roasted cauliflower topped with tahini, herbs and almonds. Also on the menu is some fried cauli bites, grilled peppers, and a bowl that has it all: hummus, falafel, salad, tahini and pita. Unlike the Darlo eatery, this pop-up is licensed and serving beers, a few wines and arak. The bar is now open from 5.30–9.30pm Wednesday to Saturday until the end of February. Images: Trent van der Jagt.
"For traditionalists, Gelato Messina has all the staples of the classic gelato repertoire. There's vanilla bean, chocolate and all manner of fruit sorbets. But for the daring, the store's real specialty is it's conceptual ice cream flavours," says Gelato Messina's co-owner, Declan Lee. Conceptual ice cream flavours? It sounds like crazy talk, some kind of inner city, performance art hijinx, right? In fact, it's the perfect fusion of creativity and logic. Once Donato Toce (head chef) and Nick Palumbo (head gelato science guy) think of a theme, they then negotiate the complex gastronomical terrain of proteins, fat and flavour to create the smooth, creamy milk confection we know as gelato. It's this Heston Blumenthal-style art/science nexus that has resulted in the genius combos of Number Two (peanut butter gelato, dulce de leche and chocolate brownie), Nacho Libre (avocado cream, salsa and crushed corn chips) and Porky's Revenge (pancake-flavoured gelato with maple syrup and bacon). This week's special, Spider (vanilla cream and creaming soda sorbet) is right on, fizzy and creamy, as if a gourmet grown-up hijacked my primary school tuck shop. What's next? Penne Napolitana sorbet? Notions of Australian Landscape? One of Messina's best sellers is 'Salted Caramel and White Chocolate'. And it is pretty spectacular - that precarious balance of creamy, salty, sweet, crunchy and nutty. "This week's special is Melba's Peachy," says Declan, "It's our take on the old peach melba: raspberry coulis, vanilla cream, peaches and meringue. All of us come up with the flavours. We have a list of specials that we roll out that we know are great - about five hundred that we've done over the years. This is one of them. And every week we add another two specials. With a flavour like Nacho Libre, you need to work out a way to keep the corn chips crunchy. So we covered it in cocoa butter." Tradition be damned — we're converts.
Does your breakfast involve a slice of toast slathered with Vegemite, plus a serving of baked beans? Have you ever had a cheeky mouthful of both at the same time and found the combination to your liking? Is a tin of Vegemite-flavoured baked beans now your fantasy idea of brekkie heaven? If you've answered yes to these questions, prepare to have your tastebuds well and truly tempted. Because simply scraping Vegemite across bread is boring, it seems, the yeasty Australian staple has worked its way into plenty of other food items — such chocolate, milk shakes, icy poles, ice creams, burgers, popcorn, booze and pizza, just to name a few examples. So, SPC's decision to add Vegemite to baked beans isn't all that surprising. And, like all culinary mashups that call upon the famed spread, you'll either be ridiculously excited or so put off that you may never eat baked beans or Vegemite ever again. Inspired? Gross? Only you know the answer — because the response is different for all of us. And yes, you and your stomach are definitely allowed to feel confused about the whole concept. View this post on Instagram A post shared by SPC (@spcgloballtd) Wondering how it tastes? SPC's Baked Beans & Vegemite still has a cheesy tomato sauce, but with Vegemite added. So, the whole combo is Vegemite, cheese, tomato and baked beans. For some, that'll make it better. For others, it'll make it worse. If you're nonetheless keen, the new product is being sold in two ways — as single 425-gram tins of SPC Baked Beans & Vegemite in Rich Tomato (RRP$1.70) and in four-packs of 220-gram tins (RRP $5.00). Breakfast, brunch or whatever meal you feel like pairing baked beans and Vegemite for will never look the same. SPC's Baked Beans & Vegemite tins are available in supermarkets now.
In the lead-up to Sydney's inevitable lockdown extension, the New South Wales and Federal Government announced new financial support packages to assist individuals and businesses impacted by the lockdown. The packages included assistance for individuals, small businesses and sole traders who have lost income, as well as renters struggling to pay their bills. While the financial support on offer is quite far-reaching, it can feel a little daunting deciphering if (and where) you fit into it all. So, here's an easy-to-read overview of all the support on offer across NSW and Greater Sydney if you've been financially impacted by the latest lockdown. EMPLOYEES Individuals can apply for COVID-19 Disaster Payments through the Services Australia website as of Wednesday, July 13. The joint plan between the federal and state government means individuals who have lost between eight and 20 hours of work due to stay-home orders can access recurring payments of $375 a week from July 15 for parts of Sydney, and July 18 onwards for people in Greater Sydney. Those who have lost more than 20 hours can access payments of up to $600. There are a few eligibility rules, for example, you must be an Australian resident or on an eligible work visa, over the age of 17 and not on an income support payment like JobSeeker or Youth Allowance. Head to Services Australia for more information, but keep in mind that the opportunity to submit your first period of claims (July 1–July 7) closes on Wednesday, July 28. [caption id="attachment_817711" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Arvin Prem Kumar[/caption] SMALL BUSINESSES From Monday, July 19 businesses, sole traders and not-for-profits can apply for grants of up to $15,000. There are three grants available, $7,500 for a decline in revenue of 30 percent or more, $10,500 for a decline of 50 percent or more, or $15,000 for a decline of 70% or more. The full eligibility for these grants will be available later in the week. Microbusinesses with a revenue of between $30,00–75,000 that have seen a loss of at least 30 percent are eligible for up to $1500 a fortnight, applicable from the beginning of lockdown. Applications for these support payments will open from Monday, July 26. On the same day, the Saving Jobs scheme designed to minimise jobs and hours lost to the lockdown will also be rolled out. The scheme will offer businesses with a turnover of between $75,000 and $50 million payments of $1500–10,000 to keep people in jobs if they've experienced a downturn in profits of 30 percent or more. If you run a business that doesn't employ others, you may be eligible for payments of $1000 a week to keep you afloat. RENTERS AND HOMEOWNERS Renters are being given greater protection during Sydney's lockdown, in an attempt to soften the blow of lost hours and jobs. A freeze on evictions has been implemented — meaning nobody can be evicted between now and Saturday, September 11. Services NSW has a series of resources for struggling tenants that may need a rent reduction or a pause on any evictions due to income loss. Landlords have also been provided with an incentive to lower rent prices during the lockdown, with residential landlords that lower the price of rent for tenants impacted by the lockdown eligible to apply for grants of up to $1500 or reduced land taxes, equal to the value of rent reductions provided to tenants. The full details of this grant will be available soon on the NSW Government website. [caption id="attachment_720224" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Daniel Boud[/caption] THE ARTS INDUSTRY The NSW Government has announced a $75 million support package for the performing arts and live music industry. Applications will be open from Thursday, July 23 through the Create NSW website for not-for-profit and commercial performing arts organisations, as well as live music organisations that have been impacted by canceled shows. The funding is designed to keep people in the sector employed and help organisations keep the lights on. It will be delivered in two stages, an initial immediate relief payment to any organisation that had shows or performances booked during the lockdown, and a secondary package to help organisations reschedule shows. Any artist or crew worker who has lost work due to the lockdown, not-for-profit Support Act is also offering a helping hand. Support Act is offering one-off grants of $2000, or $2700 to families with dependant children, to musicians and crew members that have been financially impacted by the lockdown in order to help soften the blow of lost gigs and shifts. The organisation also offers financial relief to members of the music and arts community that are unable to work due to injury or illness, and a Mental Health First Aid program to assist those struggling with their mental health. If you're still confused, we recommend heading to the Service NSW website where you can look around the 2021 COVID-19 Support Package page or input your details into the COVID-19 Assistance Finder. Member for Sydney Alex Greenwich also has a page full of helpful resources. Top image: Cassandra Hannagan
