Clarence Street is set to welcome yet another exciting new dining destination, this time from one of Sydney's top hospitality teams, the Bentley Restaurant Group. Sydney's CBD has long been home to top-notch bars and restaurants but over the last couple of years it feels as if the scene has gained another level of momentum. Following the one-two punch to Sydney's nightlife that was the lockout laws and the pandemic, we've seen a wave of new venues contributing to a rebuilt and revived cultural boom — from additions to the now globally recognised YCK Precinct (see: Palazzo Salato, Pinky Ji, Ginny's Canoe Club), to new arrivals in Merviale's ivy precinct (Oti', MuMu) and lavish new hotels with adjoining bars and restaurants (Capella, Hotel Morris). Now the Bentley Group is adding to Clarence Street's slate of new openings with King Clarence. Set to open in October, King Clarence will be an expansive celebration of Asian cuisines taking inspiration from China, Korea and Japan, with co-owner and chef Brent Savage explaining that he wants the restaurant to be "fun, loud, and busy". The menu here is designed around the kitchen's custom-built barbecue and grill, as well as plans for substantial live seafood tanks. The Asian-inspired eats will be paired with an impressive drinks menu. Diners will be able to choose from 40 different wines by the glass and dip into the Bentley Wine Vault for rare drops. There will also be a robust selection of cocktails that play on the classics and are designed to pair with the eats on offer. Expect a welcoming 100-seat dining room designed by longtime Bentley collaborator, Pascale Gomes-McNabb, with help from New Zealand-based design studio Jasmax. King Clarence marks the second new opening the Bentley Group has brought to the CBD this year, joining Circular Quay's Brasserie 1930 in the city. This pair of fresh openings sit alongside Yellow, Monopole, Cirrus and Bentley Restaurant + Bar in the hospitality group's acclaimed collection of venues. [caption id="attachment_637790" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Monopole[/caption] "This is new and exciting territory for us. We think the dining experience at King Clarence will appeal to all, whether it be a celebration, a corporate lunch or a late-night snack," says co-owner and sommelier Nick Hildebrandt. "It's been a big year for us with the opening of Brasserie 1930 in March, and we look forward to rounding out the year opening a venue Brent and I have long been planning." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bentley Restaurant Group (@bentleyrestaurantgroup) King Clarence will open at 171 Clarence Street, Sydney in mid-October.
There's nothing small about Dark Mofo, the wintry music and arts festival hosted by the Museum of Old and New Art. With everything from rainbows to the Chernobyl score played live in an immersive industrial setting on its initial 2022 program — a doll house, The Kid LAROI, tunes from Candyman, Jónsi from Sigur Rós and 100 artists from 30 countries, too — that's definitely the case this year. But its hefty lineup so far just wasn't enough, it seems, so the fest has gone and added a slew of new shows. Among the newly announced additions: an afterparty following the Reclamation Walk on opening night, headlined by Briggs and Emma Donovan & The Putbacks; Japanese quartet Chai, busting out euphoric live tunes neo kawaii-style; queer dance party Club Mince, which'll take over two floors at Hobart's Altar; and three-night dance party Night Garden at the fest's In The Hanging Garden venue. [caption id="attachment_854706" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image courtesy of the artist, and Dark Mofo 2022.[/caption] Or, there's also a special tribute gig focusing on Ukraine — called With Ukraine, in fact — by musician and Mona's resident composer Dean Stevenson with his Arco Set Orchestra. It'll commit commit $10,000 of proceeds from the performance to charity Voices of Children, which assists Ukrainian children and families affected by the Russian invasion. And, the aforementioned Chernobyl score performances will also donate funds to the people of Ukraine, too. Other new highlights on the bill span more Mona Up Late, rapper Birdz sharing the stage with DENNI and her synth-driven hip hop, Shady Nasty with 208L Containers and Threats, and Import Export: The Dark Sessions — a showcase of Tassie talent presented by Ben Salter. [caption id="attachment_800593" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jesse Hunniford[/caption] Arriving unexpectedly — think of it as Dark Mofo bonus — this is the third batch of program announcements for the fest, after it dropped the first highlights for this year's fest back in March. Accordingly, all of the above also joins the previously announced Kim Gordon, who'll bust out songs from her 2019 solo release No Home Record; Berlin-based composer and producer Nils Frahm playing Music For Hobart; and Spiritualized, Deafheaven and American multi-instrumentalist Lingua Ignota. And yes, that's just a taste of what awaits at the Tasmanian festival. Dark Mofo will run from Wednesday, June 8–Wednesday, June 22 in Hobart, Tasmania. For more information or to buy tickets, head to the festival website. Top image: DarkLab/Jesse Hunniford, 2019. Image Courtesy DarkLab, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
Some love it, some hate it and others tolerate it, but there's one group that's pretty chuffed about the whole working from home lifestyle: our wet-nosed, four-legged housemates. With all that extra attention, pats on tap and probably a few more treats snuck in here and there, it's safe to say the dogs of Australia are now the number one advocates for WFH. Unfortunately for our furry mates, the dog days of WFH are almost over and those office desks are beckoning. But you can quit stressing — if you're looking for ways to keep pooch happy and stave off any separation anxiety niggles, you'll find a whole network of helping, dog-loving hands over at Dogshare. The brainchild of two busy working mums, Jessica Janson and Adriana Baron, this Aussie-born online community matches dogs with friendly, verified locals who can drop by for visits and walkies or take your pet to the vet and other appointments while you're at work. For a one-off $20 joining fee, followed by a $9 annual service cost, users can create a profile outlining their dog's size, energy levels and temperament, then search other member profiles to find a new human mate that suits their pooch's needs. All member applications are reviewed and approved before entering the system, so you know you can trust all your 'helper' picks. And you can easily pause and restart the service as you like — especially handy if Rover finds his paw-fect match straight off the bat. Dogshare's main aim is to boost meaningful connections between like-minded locals, and to foster a growing community of dogs and dog-lovers. If you and your pup are wanting a little more than an everyday dog-walker, this option is bound to impress. With any luck, a new dog-aunt or fur-uncle is just a few clicks away. Sign up to become a Dogshare member over at the website. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
When the Australian Open returns for 2023 with two jam-packed weeks of Grand Slam tennis action, it'll also be serving up a few aces for local music-lovers. Especially as part of the inaugural AO Finals Festival, which is set to treat punters to a program of live acts across the event's final three days, heating up Kia Arena from Friday, January 27–Sunday, January 29. The music fest is dishing up a ripper lineup for its debut run, too, featuring the likes of Vanessa Amorosi, Flight Facilities and Benee. Which doesn't come as too much of a surprise, given it's been curated with help from the respected music-heads at Untitled Group — the brains behind Pitch Music & Arts, For The Love, Grapevine Gathering and more. [caption id="attachment_789706" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Benee[/caption] The festival is kicking off with a bang, its first day coinciding with global LGBTQI+ event The Grand Slam, presented by Ralph Lauren. Legendary singer-songwriter and 'Absolutely Everybody' star Amorosi will help launch the musical offerings, joined by pop darling Montaigne and Melbourne-based DJ Bertie. Chasing that on January 28 (also the AO women's finals day) you'll catch New Zealand singer-songwriter Benee, renowned Gamilaraay artist Thelma Plum and party-starting six-piece Winston Surfshirt, along with dance favourite CC:DISCO! And wrapping things up on AO men's finals day you'll have electro duo Flight Facilities, backed by brother-and-sister act Lastlings, Sydney's Willo and emerging Melbourne star Forest Claudette. [caption id="attachment_842049" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Flight Facilities[/caption] The gigs will take place in Melbourne's Park Kia Arena, with tickets at $34 for each day. If you're already heading courtside during the AO, you'll just need to drop $5 to upgrade your existing ground pass or Rod Laver Arena stadium ticket to include entry to the AO Finals Festival on any given day. As always, there'll be scores of food and drink pop-ups scattered throughout Melbourne Park, as well as big screens showing all the on-court action. [caption id="attachment_872292" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Thelma Plum, by Georgia Wallace[/caption] The AO Finals Festival hits Kia Arena, Olympic Boulevard, Melbourne, from January 27–January 29. Tickets are $34 for each day session, available online.
The last thing any Australian wants this summer is to spend more time indoors, but it looks like the weather has other plans. It already appears that most of the east coast will see out spring with rain and clouds, and they're not the only wet conditions in much of the country's immediate future — with the Bureau of Meteorology's declaring that a La Niña weather event has developed in the Pacific Ocean. When the weather phenomenon hits Australia, it usually means soggier times — and that's what BOM is forecasting for eastern, northern and central parts of the country. And, cooler temperatures, too, so perhaps this won't be the hot vax summer we'd all been hoping for. (Obviously, exactly what constitutes 'cooler' needs to be put in context of Australia's usually toasty summer weather; we aren't quite in for frosty conditions.) In a statement, Bureau's Head of Operational Climate Services Dr Andrew Watkins explained that La Niña "increases the chance of cooler than average daytime temperatures for large parts of Australia and can increase the number of tropical cyclones that form." And, in a revelation that won't surprise anyone who's had a wet week or so — Sydney and Brisbane have both seen rain — Dr Watkins advises that "La Niña is also associated with earlier first rains of the northern wet season, as we've observed across much of tropical Australia this year." The Bureau has declared that a #LaNiña has developed in the tropical Pacific. Typically during La Niña, there is above average rainfall for eastern, northern and central parts of Australia. pic.twitter.com/4KJeKsVI6A — Bureau of Meteorology, Australia (@BOM_au) November 23, 2021 Australia last experienced La Niña last spring and summer, so we're getting back-to-back stints of sodden weather; however, that's not out of the ordinary. "Around half of all past events returning for a second year," Dr Watkins said. In good news, the 2021–22 La Niña might have a weaker effect locally than last year's event — and definitely isn't predicted to be as strong as the weather phenomenon proved between 2010–12. Having an umbrella handy is clearly smart advice over not just the coming days — with showers, rain and/or storms forecast for all Aussie capitals except Perth — but for the summer ahead. It's smart Aussie summer advice in general anyway, but particularly so this year. La Niña forms part of a naturally occurring shift in ocean temperatures and weather patterns along the equator in the Pacific Ocean — a cycle known as the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). When it occurs, waters in the central or eastern tropical parts of the Pacific become cooler than normal, and persistent southeast to northwesterly winds get stronger in the Pacific's tropical and equatorial regions. Also, clouds shift to the west — so, closer to Australia. For more information about the Bureau of Meteorology's La Nina declaration, head to the BOM website.
Riding bulls in Broome, empty pie shops, Western Sydney's total boss suit-wearing sapeur trend straight from the Democratic Republic of Congo — Australian life is pretty hard to pin down. Legendary Sydney artist Ken Done, The Messenger Group owner and creative director Lisa Messenger and award-winning Sydney photographer Stephen Dupont have come close to it, painstakingly trawled through a record 1250 entries in the City of Sydney’s 2014 Australian Life competition. Part of this year's Art & About program, the exhibition formerly known as Sydney Life has been expanded to include the whole country this time around — as well as Instagram. Unsurprisingly attracting a record wave of Australian photographers — both established and upcoming — Australian Life now has its 22 finalists, all of whom sought to capture their own little corner of Australia as intimately or vastly as possible. The resulting shortlist (notably mostly made up of NSW photographers) is a significantly diverse patchwork of Australian daily life in its weirdest, funniest and saddest moments. "We opened this iconic competition to all Australians for the first time and we are delighted with the result," Lord Mayor Clover Moore said. "We’ve received record numbers of entries providing unique glimpses into the lives of people from right across our country." The Australian Life competition is no small fry; the winner takes home a cheeky $10,000 prize. The top shot is set to be announced at Art & About Sydney’s free public launch party in Martin Place on Friday, September 19, after which you'll be able to stroll through Hyde Park's St James walkway and take in all 22 finalists in large-scale reproductions until October 12. Casual snappers, you've still got a shot at glory and fame. If you think you've nailed a moment of pure Australianness with one of your Instagrams, make sure you hashtag it #australianlife and enter the official Instagram part of the competition. Entries are open until September 18 and will be announced October 3. Australian Life 2014 finalists: Georgina Pope (Goulburn, NSW) — A great day for drying Berylouise Mitchell (Ashfield, NSW) — Anzac Day Tribute Godelieve Mols (Dee Why, NSW) — AFL Match in Ngukurr, Arnhem Land, NT Rodney Campbell (Lane Cove North, NSW) — Boarding Glenn Campbell (Darwin, NT) — Brothers in Boob Tubes Natalie Grono (Lennox Head, NSW) — Children of the tribe Rob Annesley (Lugarno, NSW) — ColourMeRad 5K Ivana Jovanovic (Botany, NSW) — Dinner Jon Lewis (Wombeyan Caves, NSW) — Farewelling Martin Sharp Desmond Kok Hui Ong (Redfern, NSW) — For Sale Paul Blackmore (Tamarama, NSW) — Icebergs Matthew Newton (Hobart, TAS) — I’m a fire starter Jewels Lynch (Tweed Heaqds, NSW) — Mutitjulu Dreaming Richard Payne (Manly, NSW) — PIES Brent Winstone (Bondi Beach, NSW) — Pondering in the tent of wonder Lisa Maree Williams (Bondi Junction, NSW) — Rio Station Warwick Kent (Crows Nest, NSW) — Rush Hour Tamara Voninski (Alexandria, NSW) — Saltwater Cowboys Louise Whelan (Avalon, NSW) — Sydney Sapeurs Dianne English (Round Corner, NSW) — The Doll House Andre Martin (Artarmon, NSW) — tin city John Goodridge (Newington, NSW) — Windbreak For more details and full stories behind the finalists visit Art & About.
Everything is coming up Lorde. Fresh off topping the US Billboard alternative songs chart and announcing that her highly anticipated debut LP, Pure Heroine, will be released on September 27, she has now announced an accompanying October tour of our shores that is set to sell out immediately. The teenage songstress from across the ditch has had a meteoric rise to fame in the past 12 months, with her EP The Love Club downloaded more then 60,000 times before hitting double platinum when available for sales, and her hit tracks 'Royals', 'Love Club' and 'Tennis Court' continue to dominate Australian airwaves. She is so popular here that she was given the formidable task of filling Frank Ocean's Splendour in the Grass shoes after his late withdrawal, and whilst this may have overwhelmed many 16-year-old musicians performing only their eighth gig, she did it with aplomb, performing one of the best sets of the festival. Her song 'Royals' begins "I've never seen a diamond in the flesh". Well this is your chance to see a musical diamond in the flesh, who, if she continues at this rate, will soon be joining Russell Crowe and Phar Lap on the list of Kiwis we wish to call our own. Get in quick though; the last time she was here she sold out immediately and tickets will certainly not be this cheap the next time she arrives. Tickets are on sale on Monday, 19 August. The full tour dates are: Wednesday, 16 October - The Zoo, Brisbane Tickets through 1300 762 545 or www.oztix.com.au Thursday, 17 October - Metro Theatre, Sydney Tickets through (02) 9550 3666 or www.metrotheatre.com.au Saturday, 19 October - Zierholz at UC, Canberra Tickets through 1300 762 545 or www.oztix.com.au Monday, 21 October - The Corner Hotel, Melbourne Tickets through (03) 9427 9198 or www.cornerhotel.com All tickets: $30.00 + BF (presales) $46.95 + BF (presales with digital album) $35.00 (door sales)
By now, there's no question that 400 Gradi is Melbourne pizza royalty. Back in 2014, owner and founder Johnny Di Francesco's margherita was famously crowned best in the world at the Campionato Mondiale Della Pizza (Pizza World Championship), beating 600 competitors from across the globe. And now, having added a swag more pizzerias to the family in the years since, 400 Gradi has claimed yet another huge glory, last night taking out the title of Best Pizza in Oceania at the second annual 50 Top Pizza Awards in Naples. The Melbourne pizzeria was secretly judged against almost 1000 others from across Italy and the globe, and secured both a place among the world's 50 best and reigned supreme over all other pizzerias in Oceania. "I am truly honoured, and almost speechless, to be honest," said Di Francesco at the event. "Never did I think that my beginnings in pizza as a twelve year old would lead me here." Other Aussie restaurants named finalists in the Oceania category include Sydney's Verace Pizzeria (Macquarie Park), La Disfida (Ashfield) and The Dolphin Hotel (Surry Hills), along with fellow Melburnian, Guy Grossi's Ombra. Best book a table now — we have a feeling these pizzas will be pretty darn popular in the coming weeks. You can check out the full lineup of award-winning pizzas here.
Four months after announcing that the Australian Aboriginal flag will get a permanent berth atop the country's most famous man-made structure — the Sydney Harbour Bridge — the New South Wales Government has committed to making that promise a reality by the end of 2022. A third flagpole will be added to the structure, giving the Aboriginal flag its own place to fly every single day of the year — instead of the current situation, where it is only on display for 19 days annually, for Australia Day, Sorry Day, Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC Week. The NSW Government will commit $25 million in the 2022–23 NSW budget to installing the third Harbour Bridge flagpole, and will do so before the year is out. The bridge's flagpoles stand around 20 metres high — the same height as a six-storey building — while the flags themselves measure around nine metres by four-and-a-half metres, which means they need a strong attachment that's able to hold in all weather conditions. "Our Indigenous history should be celebrated and acknowledged so young Australians understand the rich and enduring culture that we have here with our past," said NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet in a statement. "Installing the Aboriginal flag permanently on the Sydney Harbour Bridge will do just that and is a continuation of the healing process as part of the broader move towards reconciliation." [caption id="attachment_841961" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mary and Andrew via Flickr.[/caption] Back in February, when the Premier first revealed that a third flagpole would be erected, he advised that it'd happen "as soon as possible". On exactly what date before 2022 is out that'll become a reality hasn't been announced, however, but there's now a concrete timeframe. The Sydney Harbour Bridge currently has two flag poles, with one flying the Australian flag and, when the Aboriginal flag isn't on display on its allocated days, the other flying the NSW state flag. The move to fly the Aboriginal flag permanently follows a five-year-long campaign by Kamilaroi woman Cheree Toka, who also launched a Change.org campaign in 2020 to continue to call on the NSW government to make this exact move. "The Aboriginal flag is a reminder that the country has a history before European arrival," Toka said two years ago. "I think it's really important to have a symbolic gesture on the bridge that identifies the true history of Australia, which is a starting point for conversation around greater issues affecting the Indigenous population." After the first three years of Toka's campaign, she had amassed more than 157,000 digital signatures and the required 10,000 paper-based signatures to bring the issue to NSW parliament. However, when it was debated in the final NSW parliamentary session of 2019, the result then was that it would cost too much to construct a third flagpole to see the Aboriginal flag flying daily — which was what sparked her crowdfunding campaign to raise the $300,000 quoted by the government to 'fund the flag'. Also in Aboriginal flag news this year, the Australian Government unveiled a copyright deal at the end of January with Luritja artist Harold Thomas, who designed the symbol, to make it freely available for public use. The Aboriginal flag will start flying permanently on the Sydney Harbour Bridge by the end of 2022 — we'll update you when further details are announced. Top image: Boyd159 via Wikimedia Commons.
No matter who's starring in them, when and where they're set, and whether they're showing on the big or small screen, romantic comedies love telling tales about trying to hold onto a good thing. Two people meet, fall for each other — whether immediately or eventually — and do whatever it takes to enjoy their romantic bliss: that's it, that's the familiar rom-com formula. It's a setup that TV series Starstruck has been both adhering to and unpacking over the past two years, too, thanks to its glorious first season in 2021 and just-as-wonderful second run in 2022. And, because HBO knows that it should also hold onto a good thing, the Rose Matafeo-starring show has just been renewed for a third season. Instantly one of the best of new shows of last year — and already one of the best returning series of this year — Starstruck will continue its take on a trusty rom-com storyline over a third batch of episodes. That premise: falling for a stranger who happens to be a famous actor, then trying to make that fairy tale relationship work. And yes, Matafeo — who stars, writes and created the series — well and truly knows that Notting Hill got there first. She plays Jessie, a New Zealander in her lates twenties who's living in London and, when the show begins, is splitting her time between working in a cinema and nannying. Jessie (Matafeo, Baby Done) also isn't expecting much when her best friend and roommate Kate (Emma Sidi, Pls Like) drags her out to a bar on New Year's Eve. For most of the evening, that lack of enthusiasm proves accurate — but then she meets Tom (Nikesh Patel, Four Weddings and a Funeral). That night, she ends up back at his sprawling flat, only to realise the next morning that he's one of the world's biggest movie stars. In what's proven a wonderful showcase for Matafeo — and a savvily smart exploration of rom-com tropes as well, embracing and subverting them as needed — both Starstruck's first and second seasons have followed what happens next for Jessie and Tom. Obviously, their attempts to hold onto a good thing haven't flowed smoothly. Nodding to romantic comedies such as The Graduate, Love Actually and Bridget Jones' Diary has also come with the territory, amusingly, affectionately and astutely so. Announcing the renewal, Matafeo said "a third? Sure. Fine. I'm truly thrilled to bring this incredibly talented cast back for a third instalment, and equally excited to clamber into the director's seat alongside my nice friend Alice Snedden, who I cannot seem to get rid of." Matafeo co-writes Starstruck with fellow comedians Alice Snedden and Nic Sampson — and, yes, Matafeo and Snedden will also direct the third season. Exactly when the new episodes will arrive hasn't yet been revealed, but the turnaround between season one and two was quick. When they do drop, expect to see them Down Under via ABC iView in Australia and TVNZ OnDemand in New Zealand. In the interim, check out the trailer for Starstruck's second season below: Starstruck will return for a third season, with a release date yet to be announced. Starstruck's first and second seasons are available to stream in Australia via ABC iView and in New Zealand via TVNZ OnDemand. Read our full review of Starstruck's first season — and our full review of its second season, too. Images: Mark Johnson/HBO Max.
Since 2016's Suicide Squad, the DC Extended Universe has tasked Viola Davis with corralling super-powered folks, including villains forced to do the state's bidding (as also seen in The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker) and regular world-saving superheroes (the just-released Black Adam). In The Woman King, however, she's more formidable, powerful and magnificent than any spandex-wearing character she's ever shared a frame with — or ever will in that comic-to-screen realm. Here, she plays the dedicated and determined General Nanisca, leader of the Agojie circa 1823. This is an "inspired by true events" tale, and the all-female warrior troupe was very much real, protecting the now-defunct west African kingdom of Dahomey during its existence in what's now modern-day Benin. Suddenly thinking about a different superhero domain and its own redoubtable women-only army, aka the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Dora Milaje in Wakanda? Yes, Black Panther took inspiration from the Agojie. If you're thinking about Wonder Woman's Amazons, too, the Agojie obviously pre-dates them as well. Links to two huge franchises in various fashions aren't anywhere near The Woman King's main attraction, of course. Davis and her fellow exceptional cast members, such as Lashana Lynch (No Time to Die), Thuso Mbedu and Sheila Atim (both co-stars in The Underground Railroad); The Old Guard filmmaker Gina Prince-Bythewood and her grand and kinetic direction, especially in fight scenes; stunningly detailed costumes and production design that's both vibrant and textured; a story that still boasts humour and heart: they all rank far higher among this feature's drawcards. So does the fact that this is a lavish historical epic in the Braveheart and Gladiator mould, but about ass-kicking Black women badged "the bloodiest bitches in Africa". Also, while serving up an empowering vision, The Woman King also openly grapples with many difficulties inherent in Dahomey's IRL history (albeit in a mass consumption-friendly, picking-and-choosing manner). It's under the cover of night that Nanisca and the stealthy, feline-quick Agojie first show The Woman King's audience exactly what they're capable of, as camped-out male slavers from the rival Oyo Empire are swiftly and brutally dispensed with during a mission to free abducted Dahomean women. From that vivid opening, the female-led The Woman King on- and off-screen lets viewers know what it, Davis, Prince-Bythewood and their collaborators are capable of, too. Potent, ferocious, mighty: they all fit. When it comes to the film's protagonist, she's fierceness personified, yet also always nuanced. In a role that'll likely garner her award nominations at the very least, to go along with past Oscar nods for Doubt, The Help and Ma Rainey's Black Bottom — and her win for Fences — Davis is tremendous in the part, in battle and otherwise, exuding world-weariness, raw strength, and the kind of resilience that's only forged by navigating deep horrors. After the film's initial rescue gambit, the Agojie are down in number. Abandoned to Dahomey's King Ghezo (John Boyega, Small Axe) because she won't marry men who beat her, headstrong Nawi (Mbedu) becomes a new recruit. As the teen trains to become permanently accepted among them, including by the resolute and mischievous Izogie (Lynch) and Amenza (Atim), Nanisca endeavours to bend the ruler's ear about future battles and policies. The Oyo will keep attacking, and keep trying to trade Dahomey's populace into slavery. A Portuguese-Brazilian aristocrat (Hero Fiennes Tiffin, After Ever Happy) knows that he can profit off the Dahomey-Oyo tensions, and gain slaves to hawk along the way. Also, Dahomey itself isn't above selling Africans into subservience themselves. Nanisca has other concerns, too: getting revenge over a heartbreaking chapter of her past, the pain and sacrifice she still bears as a result, and instilling the Agojie's brand of sisterhood in Nawi. The Woman King's title isn't just another way to say 'queen'. Rather, it's a label given by Dahomey's male leader to the woman he sees as his equal in their lands. His preferred wife Shante (Jayme Lawson, The Batman) wants the designation in a firmly regal sense, but the conventions of storytelling and filmmaking mean there's zero doubt that Nanisca deserves the status. Bestowing the moniker is hardly the chief concern to her, Prince-Bythewood or screenwriter Dana Stevens (Fatherhood) — who also shares a story credit with actress Maria Bello (NCIS) — though. Nanisca is still the force to be reckoned with either way, and a compelling figure worthy of the movie's appreciation. So, in a feature about striving for freedom, fairness, parity, progress and justice, as well as countering misogyny, colonialism and greed, and also surviving trauma, consider that title a reminder about the fight for equality, and how female power is perceived and treated — two centuries ago and also now. Slavishly devoted to every single fact, Prince-Bythewood, Stevens and their film aren't. First and foremost, they're committed to their aims, themes and ideas — to being a rousing action flick about the Agojie, primarily; to delving into all that represents; to celebrating strong and skilled women; and to making a movie that truly doesn't otherwise exist — so thinking of its take on the truth as akin to Once Upon a Time in Hollywood's is wise. The Woman King doesn't hide this, given that it finds time for long-lost family connections that could've sprung straight from a soap opera, and for a romance between Nawi and the often-shirtless half-Dahomey slaver associate Malik (Jordan Bolger, Tom & Jerry). When everything else in the movie is so stirring, getting loose with reality and throwing in pure emotion-swelling Hollywood inclusions never drags The Woman King down. Indeed, not that they have to here, but the phenomenal quartet that is Davis, Lynch, Mbedu and Atim could lift any material. For all the mastery that ripples from Davis, she's in astonishing company, with all three of her key co-stars turning in weighty, resonant and career-cementing portrayals — Lynch with perceptiveness, Mbedu with volatility, and Atim with both wisdom and comfort. Not that they have to either, but Prince-Bythewood, cinematographer Polly Morgan (Where the Crawdads Sing) and the former's regular editor Terilyn A Shropshire (dating right back to 2000's Love & Basketball) could improve any fray-filled picture as well. When it's in full fight mode, with radiant lighting that adores its cast, plus sharp, visceral, muscular and balletic action choreography, The Woman King is not just electrifying but spectacular. That won't be a surprise to fans of The Old Guard, another riveting feature that saw Prince-Bythewood take on a familiar template, give it a female focus and reinvigorate it. That's a warrior's skill, too, and she's terrific at it.
If social distancing and isolation has seen you clocking up bulk hours in the kitchen this year, we're betting you've chewed through quite the recipe collection — and, as a result, that you're now in need of some new culinary projects to have a crack at. Your mates at KFC are happy to help, releasing the recipe for a dish you never knew you wanted: hot and spicy mac 'n' cheese, as topped with fried chicken of course. Destined to warm some cockles and answer a few carb cravings this season, the revamped comfort food classic stars KFC's Hot & Spicy chook, which is back on the restaurant chain's menu until Monday, August 10 only. To make the recipe at home, you'll need to nip to your local KFC to stock up on the hero ingredient. But the rest of the lineup is pretty simple, mostly featuring stuff you'll probably already have in the pantry and fridge — like cheese, milk, spices and dried pasta. Here's the recipe — sort out a bowl, a whisk and a saucepan and getting cooking: HOT AND SPICY MAC 'N' CHEESE Serves one KFC Hot & Spicy chicken 150 grams pasta 3/4 cup milk 1 tablespoon plain flour 100 grams grated cheese Fresh herbs 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon paprika 1/4 teaspoon cayenne powder 1/4 teaspoon mustard powder If you can't be bothered with the spices, you can just substitute your favourite hot sauce as an alternative. Method: Cook pasta until al dente, then drain and set aside. Place 1/4 cup of milk in a small bowl, then whisk in flour until all the lumps are gone. Place the other 1/2 cup of milk in a small saucepan over medium heat, then mix in the spices/hot sauce. Yo can adjust the amount of spices/sauce based on your preference. Once steam starts rising from the milk, whisk in the milk and flour mixture until the sauce thickens (which should take around four minutes). Turn heat down to low, then mix in the cheese gradually until it has all melted. Remove from heat, stir in the pasta and fresh herbs, then serve in a bowl. Top with Hot & Spicy chicken.
After seven years of loading up smashed beef patties onto buns, Burger Head — one of the best spots for burgers in Sydney — is shutting up shop. The team has announced that the remaining pair of Burger Head stores in Penrith and Botany will both be hosting their last day of service on Sunday, October 29. "The past seven years have been nothing shy of an incredible journey of ups, downs, and everything in-between but unfortunately, we've decided to hang up the apron," owners Tim Rosenstrauss and Joshua DeLuca said in a lengthy statement on the Burger Head Instagram. But, never fear — this won't be your last chance to get your hands around the duo's famous stacks of goodness. Over the years, Burger Head has also hit the road, travelling around as a food truck — and, following the closing of the brick-and-mortar venues, the duo will be turning their attention to running Burger Head as a food truck permanently. "I want to make it clear that this is not the death of Burger Head but merely a major pivot for us," continues the statement. "To be honest, we thought we wouldn't make it past one year in business, so to say we got into our seventh year is fucking amazing! What started as a marquee pop-up in a three-by-three-metre tent grew into a network of four restaurants, three trucks and a production kitchen." The hugely popular burger business launched in January of 2017, drawing people in with simple burgers done right alongside extravagant inventions like the cult-famous Twisties burger. The resume of the chefs at the helm also had people flocking, with DeLuca coming over from Quay, Rosenstrauss from the now-closed Masters and former owner Richard Borg (Smoking Gringos) boasting time in the Momofuku kitchen. The Burger Head team is currently providing a daily breakdown of the journey that's led them to close the stores including expanding too quickly and interest rates. If you want a deep dive into what they are calling "The Downfall of Burger Head", follow along over on Instagram. View this post on Instagram A post shared by 🍔BURGER HEAD🍔 (@theburgerhead) Your last chance to visit Burger Head at either 17/98 Henry Street, Penrith or 1427 Botany Road, Botany will be on Sunday, October 29. Top image: Jason Denison.
Have you ever dreamed of spending the night in a giant transparent bubble, with the twinkling stars in full view above you? Well, now you can, thanks to Bubbletent's Aussie-first inflatable glamping tent, which sits in a remote pocket of a working farm, between Mudgee and Lithgow. Overlooking the Capertee Valley, this hi-tech bubble tent has a zero carbon footprint. But while it's off-grid, it certainly doesn't skimp on comfort, boasting a plush queen-sized bed, cooking facilities and a separate bathroom area complete with compost toilet and a sink with pump water. There's even a telescope for late-night stargazing sessions from the comfort of your bed. Getting a booking might be tricky though — so good luck. [caption id="attachment_830260" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW[/caption] Images: Destination NSW
Spring has only just begun, but Sydneysiders can be forgiven for thinking that it already feels like summer. An unseasonably warm day was predicted for Saturday, September 15 — and it has not only come to fruition, but seen the day rank among the hottest temperatures ever recorded in early September. Some parts of the Sydney area reached 34 degrees, with the airport topping out at 33.3 degrees and Penrith hitting 33.2. As Weatherzone noted on September 12, Penrith and Richmond had already recorded their earliest September day when temperatures hit 30.2 and 30.7 respectively — figures they've now both beaten. And the Sydney Morning Herald reports that these widespread 30-plus figures mark just the tenth time in 160 years that the city has exceeded 30 degrees prior to or on September 15. The hottest September day on record actually reached 34.6 back in 1965; however to put that and today's temps in context, the average for the month is a very mild 21.2. It seems that the weather is starting this warm season as it finished the last, with autumn seeing a wave of late heat take the March mercury past 40 degrees. And, of course, the 2017–18 summer saw the city experience its second hottest day ever, so sunny, sultry days have been proving a trend. At present, this scorcher will be short-lived. While it's still over 30 degrees at the time of writing, a cool change is expected, with temperatures plummeting sharply. On Sunday, September 16, the sun will be out but a maximum of just 17 degrees is forecast, with the coming week climbing up to 25 degrees before dropping down to a top of 18 on Friday. Via Sydney Morning Herald / Weatherzone.
The service industry has really been through some things lately. 'Shake up' doesn't even come close. Crowd-sourcing, app-ification, and hyper-localisation mean that the service industry we enjoy looks nothing like what our parents knew. And the latest offering from the team behind Paramount Coffee Project, Reuben Hills and Melbourne's Seven Seeds is a testament to this brave new world. When it was announced back in August, Paramount House Hotel promised it wouldn't be a hotel in the traditional sense of the word — a promise which it most certainly kept. It's not a glitzy chain where everything looks and feels the same no matter which country you're visiting. It's more of an immersive local experience which gives visitors a genuine slice of life in Surry Hills. The hotel is part of Paramount House, which currently houses Paramount Coffee, a co-working space and Golden Age Cinema. The downstairs cafe acts as the entrance to the new hotel lobby, and a two-storey extension houses the 29 suites. The hotel also contains a rooftop gym and outdoor cafe — dubbed Paramount Recreation Club — and a brand new restaurant from Ester named Poly. (Yes, it does room service.) "We hope to encapsulate the spirit of Surry Hills and offer the guest an immersive local community experience," said Ping Jin Ng, who co-owns the hotel along with Russell Beard and Mark Dundon. "We are considered but not staged, generous but not lavish and we will offer a memorable and inspiring stay — not just comfortable and slick." The vision for the hotel has been realised by Melbourne architecture firm, Breathe. You may know them for their work on Seven Seeds, Brother Baba Budan, Host, the Collingwood Arts Precinct, The Commons and Transformer. It's connected two buildings on Commonwealth Street, added a copper-clad extension to the roof and decked it out with little luxuries like private terraces and generous spots of greenery. Rooms start at $225 a night, and have a mini bar stocked with snacks from LP's Quality Meats and Tom Shobbrook wines, and Aesop products in all the bathrooms — of course. Images: Tom Ross and Sharon Cairns.
When was the last time you scrolled through someone else's social media feed, ogled their happy snaps, envied their existence and felt bad about your own life choices? However honestly you choose to answer that question, we know you know the feeling. You've been there and done that, and probably more than once. What we'll assume you haven't done is move across the country to stalk your Insta girl crush, and then changed your entire identity in order to become their BFF. In a nutshell, that's the story of Ingrid Goes West, a caustic yet relatable comedy that blends a portrait of today's #nofilter world with some Black Mirror-style social satire. It's a film that's all-too-aware that measuring self-worth through likes, follows and shares has become the norm, and is well and truly committed to probing and satirising that fact. If, like most of us, you live large parts of your life online, then you're likely to find this darkly comic tale insightful, amusing and unnerving — not to mention a little close to home. When we first meet Ingrid Thorburn (Aubrey Plaza), she's trawling through a woman's wedding posts while driving to the reception. She wasn't invited, she's furious and the fact that she's only really an Instagram acquaintance of the bride doesn't matter to her one bit. A meltdown, a short stint in a psychiatric hospital and a modest inheritance later, and Ingrid finds herself alone, cashed up and looking for a new pal. Enter LA influencer Taylor Sloane (Elizabeth Olsen), who Ingrid spies in a magazine and reaches out to online, eventually abducting her dog in order to spark a connection. Remaking herself in her new bestie's image, Ingrid's efforts initially pay off. Soon she's having dinner with Taylor and her artist husband Ezra (Wyatt Russell), going to parties with the duo, enjoying girls-only road trips to Joshua Tree and filling her own social media feed with proof of her glamorous new life. But then Taylor's snarky, smarmy brother (Billy Magnussen) shows up, and quickly sees through Ingrid's Single White Female-esque obsession. In their first feature film, writer-director Matt Spicer and co-scribe David Branson Smith find plenty of material to work with, both in Ingrid's delusional deception and her inevitable unravelling. In the process, they contemplate and skewer a culture that enables her behaviour with the tap of a screen, and then judges, denigrates and condemns with the press of a few more buttons. It might all seem quite obvious to anyone with a smartphone, but that doesn't make it any less humorous, perceptive or effective. Spicer also deserves credit for finding the right stars for the job, particularly his leading lady. With her expressive eyes working overtime, Plaza flits between sincere, ironic, vulnerable and vapid in an instant, all while making viewers understand Ingrid when they might otherwise just feel derision or pity. Olsen, meanwhile, nails her role as a bohemian social media star, so much so that you'll think you're actually following her on Instagram yourself. Of course, that's the point: the most astute and accurate parodies are often only a step or two away from the real thing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n83Za_7AiyY
There's never a bad time for a piece of cake, particularly when it's made by one of the best dessert chefs in Sydney. We're talking about Andy Bowdy, of course — and come November, the online operation run by the former Hartsyard pastry chef will be expanding his knee-weakening range, both in terms of the types of delicious morsels available and just where the hungry masses can get them. First things first: yes, Andrew Bowden is opening a cafe, called Saga, much to the delight of his ever-growing number of Instagram followers. As Good Food reports, expect to be flocking to Enmore as soon as the eatery's first wondrous creations come out of the oven. If you like decadent, delectable sweet treats like chocolate fudge cake with Milo mousse, Malteasers and torched meringue or banana cake with peanut butter, dulce de leche, passionfruit and caramelised popcorn, then you know it's a sugar coma waiting to happen. That's not the only exciting news, though. What's a pâtissier to do when he's mastered his art — and won over tastebuds all around town, including in collaboration with Gelato Messina? Start whipping up other sweet pastries, epic pies, American deli-style sandwiches, alcoholic thickshakes and brunch-appropriate cocktails as well, obviously. Basically, Bowden's new offering will be serving up amazing food fare for all occasions — and all times of the day too. Bowden and his partner — and current Hartsyard manager — Maddison Howes have dubbed this Saga, we're guessing because opening your own cafe is indeed that. Given how creative their cakes are, we're sure this saga will be a long and delightful one. Find Andy Bowdy's Saga at 178 Enmore Road, Enmore from February/March 2017. For more details, keep an eye on Facebook and Instagram. Via Good Food.
If you’re a vegetarian, stop reading. You'll have more fun over here. If, however, you're a caring carnivore with a penchant for environmental protection, stay with us. A pop-up shop in New York City is helping to make your meaty inclinations more sustainable, by turning byproducts into fashion items. You'll find the Marlow Goods temporary store next door to the Reynard Restaurant, within the Wythe Hotel in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. It's the creation of husband and wife team Andrew Tarlow and Kate Huling — Tarlow takes care of Reynard’s culinary offerings, while Huling turns the restaurant’s waste into clothing, bags and accessories. 'Waste' refers to the parts of an animal left at the abattoir once the meat’s been extracted – leather and wool, mainly. Even though this is the duo's first pop-up, they've been doing the farm-to-table-to-fashion thing under the Marlow Goods label since 2008. Tarlow heads up several other popular Brooklyn eateries, including Diner, Roman's, cocktail bar Achilles and She Wolf Bakery. "When we thought of it, I don’t think we saw anyone else who was connecting restaurants and grass-fed meat and fashion," Huling told Vogue. "That was kind of a eureka moment." Huling also explained that her unique designs and Tarlow's restaurant aesthetics are mutually complementary. "I'm always driven to find styles that are as simple and as useful as possible," she says. "In many ways, my aesthetic is the same as that of Andrew's restaurants. We're very nostalgic for the way things used to be — the classic look of old fashion houses like Louis Vuitton and Hermès, or the feeling of living in a village and selling your goods and wares." The Marlow Goods shop is popping up until December 31, 2014. Via Springwise.
Going back to uni after an extended break can be an intimidating prospect. But, the stereotype of all students as bright-eyed eighteen-year-olds fresh out of high school is outdated. While it's true that a large number of students (670,000) in Australia are in the 18–22 years age bracket, the latest available figures from 2015 show that there were over 270,000 students aged 30–49. This means that thousands of Australians know the mixed feelings associated with returning to uni but also ultimately feel the rewards of finishing a degree they really want. Some study on campus, others study online; whichever you prefer, here are five hacks to help get you back into the rhythm of uni life. START WITH THE SUBJECTS THAT INTRIGUE YOU MOST Make it fun. If you know what degree you want to do, but are worried about finding that initial drive to kickstart that self-motivated study mindset, start off with the subjects that seem the most engaging to get back in the swing of things. Alternatively, if you're not set on doing a whole degree, you can take a single subject with no entry requirements. Seriously. Try studying in a particular area and see if online study suits you, or upskill in a specific career-related subject or two. Head to the single subjects and degrees page at Open Universities Australia and start perusing. CHOOSE A DEGREE YOU'RE REALLY PASSIONATE ABOUT The number one way to make uni work for you is to pick a course that excites you. So select something you like regardless of whether or not it's in fashion or earns you status points from your extended family. Maybe the first time you went to uni, you picked law or commerce because it sounded 'good'. Or dentistry, because that's what your parents did and you frankly didn't have a clue what to do straight out of school. Fair — but this time around, find something that fits more with your true passions. Because, at the end of the day, it's you doing the degree, not anyone else. GO PART-TIME AND STUDY ONLINE Going back to uni doesn't have to mean fully adopting the classic student identity of all study, endless caffeine and extreme budgeting. If you love your current job and want to keep one toe in the workforce, but also want to finish a degree, why not have the best of both worlds? Instead of going back to full-time student status, opt for part-time and study online. Take your degree at your own pace outside work hours, and enjoy a bit more flexibility when it comes to studying and completing assignments. Plus, you'll get the exact same degree that you'd get on campus. IDENTIFY ANY CREDITS THAT COULD CARRY INTO YOUR NEW DEGREE If you've started a course in the past, but didn't end up finishing for whatever reason, all is not lost. You may very well be able to count some of your previous study towards completing your new choice. If a previous course is related to your chosen degree, you can potentially use these as credits to reduce the number of subjects you will need to complete. And even if you don't have any previous study that relates to your new degree, you may be able to use those credits toward elective and non-core subjects. Being able to use previous credits will help you finish your studies faster. You can identify any potential credits you may already have here. CONNECT WITH OTHER STUDENTS IN THE SAME SITUATION AS YOU Solidarity is crucial for getting through any experience. University is meant to be challenging — that's where the growth is — but not to the point of feeling so tough you can't get through it. Connecting with other students via Facebook groups and IRL is key to building a support system. Even if your squad is just you and one other person to talk over assignments with, having that help can change the game. There are so many other people also feeling that mixture of excitement and trepidation about going back to uni — you're not alone! Take the plunge and explore all the degrees on offer from leading Australian unis, online through Open Universities Australia. You've got this.
It's hard to get a true snapshot of a place you're holidaying in when you don't know a resident who can show you around. It can take years to truly get to know a place, and while tourist spots are the obvious starting point, they can also leave you wanting to dig deeper. We've teamed up with Pullman Hotels and Resorts to bring you a guide to Brisbane's less obvious but obviously fabulous experiences. It's not exactly a local's guide, because visitors are not exactly locals and we all want to treat ourselves while on vacay. But it is a round-up of the best of the best art, food and fun found in Brisbane — and given the city offers an abundance of each, it was not easy to whittle it down. Putting our heads together with Mark Wayper, marketing and loyalty executive at Pullman Brisbane King George Square, we've curated a list of must-dos that will leave you wanting more of Brisbane. A former musician and Disney Cruise Line staffer who regularly volunteers for arts festivals, Mark's stayed in the service industry for the pure love of bantz with guests. Let our joint recommendations guide you to the perfect day out in Brisbane, and check out the rest of our Explore More content series to hone your itinerary for some of Australia's best holiday destinations. FOOD & DRINK DOO BOP JAZZ BAR His excellency Sir Howard Moon once said "Never disturb a man when he's in a jazz trance". At Doo Bop Jazz Bar, you'll be surrounded by like-minded soul brothers and sisters soaking in the live sounds of both local and interstate talent (no trance interruptions allowed!). The two-level live music venue in the heart of Brisbane's CBD features a jazz bar, piano bar and late-night jam sessions for those itching to get on stage. Need some liquid courage? No problem! Their extensive and sophisticated wine list will have you scatting up a storm in no time. Don't miss: The late-night jam sessions, at least from the spectator's side. CREOLE SOUL KITCHEN Brisbane is full of surprises. What visitor would guess, for instance, that it's home to some of the most delicious gumbo? Southern hospitality is well and truly alive and thriving in Creole Soul Kitchen. This cosy Spring Hill eatery is well worth the visit for its charming service alone. If seafood isn't your thing, then it also offers a "create your own" pasta menu, paying homage to New Orleans' Italian influence. Don't miss: The gumbo. SANTA MONICA PIZZA AND BURGER BAR Across the road from Central Station, Santa Monica Pizza and Burger Bar is right on one of the busiest crossings in the CBD. Few places manage to channel the character of Brissie itself, but — laidback, casual and ever so stylish — this place manages to do just that. Grab yourself a booth, kick back with a burger and a craft beer, and enjoy the ample people-watching opportunities. Don't miss: The Cajun chicken burger THE GRESHAM If you feel the need to mix a bit history and architecture with some of the highest-quality rum (let's face it, who doesn't?) then visiting The Gresham is a must. Initially designed for the Queensland National Bank in 1881, The Gresham building is now the only heritage bar in Queensland. Think sandstone walls, dim lighting, a vintage piano and an open fireplace. Don't miss: Their signature Sunnyboy cocktail is a nod to the nostalgic childhood treat, with passionfruit, coconut, butter and vodka — an obvious adulthood essential. CONTEMPORARY ART & DESIGN [caption id="attachment_643158" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] by Mick Richards[/caption] METRO ARTS The search for contemporary art in Brisbane shouldn't necessarily default to visiting the popular QAGOMA. It's understandable to want to escape the crowds and look for something a little more intimate (without making the trek out to the suburban galleries). Metro Arts ticks all the boxes. A buzzing CBD hub of all things contemporary art, Metro Arts is a community-based venue with no shortage of exhibitions, performances, poetry readings, workshops and independent film screenings. Its exhibition program showcases a new artist every nine days. Don't miss: Check out the gallery on level two for works by artists ranging from graduates to established professionals in an array of mediums. PIGEONHOLE It may sound like the perfect hiding spot for the CBD's most populous bird, but in fact, Pigeonhole is the perfect place to find a souvenir for the person that has everything. Just like the bird itself — friendly, a little bit quirky and a little adorable — here you'll find personality-driven clothing, novelty gifts, statement pieces and local designer homewares. You won't have to travel too far either, as Pigeonhole is tucked away in the centrally located Wintergarden Shopping Centre. Don't miss: Keep an eye out for hard-to-find brands like Concept Japan as well as Aussie favourite Able and Game. ARTISAN A centre for craft and design, Artisan is a space much like the makers that frequent it — unconventional and completely charming. The store shelves are full of ceramics, jewellery and textiles to purchase, while interactive exhibitions reflect the diversity of Brisbane's contemporary arts community. Don't miss: Their workshops, which range from spoon carving to textile design and life drawing. LEISURE & WELLBEING [caption id="attachment_643146" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] by Tatiana Gerus[/caption] MT COOT-THA They say it's lonely at the top, and boy, they couldn't be more wrong. Standing at the lookout of Mount Coot-tha will have you surrounded by an epic 360-view of the always gorgeous Brisbane city, as well as fellow hikers and foodies. Choose between the 30-minute Summit Walking Track if you're a beginner, or the 1.5-hour Eugenia Circuit trail, which takes in the eucalypt woodlands across to the Simpson Falls viewing deck. Don't miss: Reward yourself with a post-hike lunch at the Summit Restaurant. The pressed pork belly with braised cabbage and jamon is a winner. The best part about ordering multiple desserts? You'll burn it all off on the way back down. JAMES STREET Quite possibly the most glamorous street in Brisbane, James Street has evolved into the city's ultimate fashion and lifestyle mecca – with not a shopping centre in sight. The beautiful, tree-lined precinct is filled with al fresco dining options, a cinema and more than 130 specialty stores stocking sought-after labels. Drop into Calexico for key pieces from Rag & Bone, Camargue for eclectic threads from Dries Van Noten, and Optiko for a pair of killer shades to get you through Brissie's enviable sunshine. Don't miss: Look out for James Street Up Late events throughout the year to snap up bargains while taking in cocktails, street food and live music. SAKURA DAY SPA NEW FARM PSA: Explorer exhaustion is a real thing. All that walking, shopping, eating and drinking your way around the city is bound to take a toll. Kick up those tired feet and pop into Sakura Day Spa, just minutes from the city yet far enough to feel like you've just entered your very own Japanese sanctuary. A massage or facial here will have you finish your holiday feelings actually rested for a change. Don't miss: Sakura's signature body treatment — 120 minutes of dessert-inspired bliss that includes a vanilla salt scrub and chocolate body wrap, followed by a refreshing Vichy shower. Explore more with Pullman. Book your next hotel stay with Pullman and enjoy a great breakfast for just $1.
Designed by Sydney-based architects Nettleton Tribe, this warmly lit, timber-filled restaurant feels like a treehouse for grown-ups. It's the on-site restaurant for guests staying at Paperbark Camp — a luxury glamping experience — but you don't need to be staying the night to enjoy a feast in this elevated eatery. The Gunyah, which means 'meeting place' in the local Indigenous language, is built on stilts and positioned just under the canopy — perfect for spotting possums and stars. The menu is a set, three-course affair and Sundays are paella night. It's open every day of the week during the summer months (September to May) with reduced hours in the cooler months. We suggest making a reservation before you travel to Jervis Bay as the restaurant tends to book out with accommodation guests well in advance. You'll find Paperbark Camp just east of Huskisson in the pint-sized village of Woollamia, on the banks of Currambene Creek. Image: Hutchings Camps Pty Ltd.
Winter might not seem like the time to be hanging out atop CBD rooftops. But, perched on the 14th floor of Darling Harbour's Vibe Hotel, Above 319 is proving that a few cosy additions make it easy to embrace the cold season — with the views and atmosphere to match. Put together a group of six to 16 pals, as the SkyCube Experience transforms this bustling inner-city bar into a private rooftop igloo escape. Situated inside a massive dome adorned with twinkling fairy lights, thick blankets and comfy furniture, this inviting pod also comes with a dedicated host to make sure your night goes off without a hitch. Above 319 has also curated a special menu for the event, with dining packages starting from $55 per guest. Over two hours, you'll sip a welcome cocktail and dine on a stacked grazing board teeming with hot calamari, charred corn, olives, flatbread and more. Bookable from Wednesday–Sunday, the SkyCube Experience is the ideal way to celebrate a winter birthday or organise a unique catch-up. If you want to level up your evening, upgrade to the $75 per person package, adding a two-hour beverage lineup. For $100 per person, your visit will reach unmatched heights, featuring three hours of bottomless winter-themed cocktails alongside sweet and savoury canapes, like tomato arancini and goat cheese tartlets.
Each time we experience another lockdown, we're left with a big ol' pub-sized hole in our lives. The parma nights, the midweek trivia sessions and those freshly poured pints are dearly missed while we're stuck inside. Luckily, there are a few Sydney venues serving up the next best thing — a pub fix you can enjoy from the comfort of home, socially distanced with zero cooking effort required. From takeaway pub feeds to home-delivered brews, these local joints are dishing up the pub experience, to-go. Dial in to order and transform your living room into a front bar tonight. PUB LIFE KITCHEN, ULTIMO After closing down in 2017, one of Sydney's most beloved burger joints has reopened inside The Lord Wolseley Hotel. Pub Life Kitchen has brought its fan-favourite burgers back to Ultimo alongside a whole range of pub classics. On the new-look menu, you can pick up a parmi with chips and salad, rump steak, braised eggplant with XO sauce, hot and sticky wings and of course, PLK's OG beef or TLC fried chicken burgers. The inner-city spot has also collaborated with Drnks and is delivering a fry it yourself at-home burger kits featuring OG burger patties, buns and sauce. PETERSHAM PUBLIC HOUSE, PETERSHAM This sunny neighbourhood pub is turning into a pop-up bottle shop and pizza restaurant for the duration of lockdown with natty wines, craft beers, bottled cocktails and the venue's pizza menu available for pickup. You can nab two pizzas and a bottle of wine for $59 or two pizzas and a 500ml cocktail bottle for $79. Pair a prawn and artichoke or leek and mushroom pizza with a bottle of Alpha Box and Dice wine or a margarita. COOGEE PAVILION, COOGEE The Coogee Pavilion has just about everything you need for an at-home pub feast during lockdown. Whether you're a rump steak and shoestring fries or a salt and pepper squid kind of enthusiast, you'll find it on this massive takeaway menu. Completing the pub feed, you can pick up a selection from the Pav's bottle shop which includes bottled Totti's cocktails, beers, seltzers and champagne. THE TAPHOUSE, DARLINGHURST Darlinghurst favourite The Taphouse is bringing its famous Sunday roast into your home. You can pick up pork belly, beef brisket or veggie loaf paired with veggies, gravy and Yorkshire puffing for $25 any day this week, and if you live within one kilometre of the venue you can score free delivery of your roast right to your door. Craft beer lovers can also rejoice as The Taphouse has a huge range of canned beers on offer as well as cheeky Jameson shots to enjoy with your roast. THE OXFORD TAVERN, PETERSHAM The Oxford Tavern's lockdown takeaway menu has returned to put other at-home pub menus to shame. Beef brisket, pulled pork, a selection of schnitzels and parmis, cauliflower steak, and fried chicken burgers are all on offer at this beloved Petersham spot. And of course a pub feed wouldn't be complete without an accompanying drink which here includes an endless variety of craft beers, wines, cocktails and spirits. BELLA VISTA HOTEL, BELLA VISTA Northwest Sydney stalwart Bella Vista Hotel is offering up a whole heap of at-home goodies via its new lockdown drive-through. Locals can pick up bottled cocktails pantry essentials and a whole heap of pub classics to enjoy at the dining table. On the menu you'll find at home chicken parmigiana and burger packs ready for a pub feast as well as takeaway pizzas and loaded doughnuts. You can find our updated list of Sydney restaurants doing takeaway during lockdown here.
Unstoppable burger warlock Jovan Curic has struck again, bringing his own brand of meaty magic to Wakeley. After more than successful outings with the Pub Life Kitchen brand in Ultimo and Rozelle, Curic is branching out to Sydney's west with his newest venture Superior Burger. The onslaught of burger mayhem continues to grow in this city, with restaurants, pubs and pop-ups all competing to bring the public the greatest combinations of meat, cheese and bread imaginable. As the competition heats up, two clear schools of burgerology (yep, real word) are developing. The first takes the approach of perfecting the simplistic (see: Cheekyburger, who are one of the ventures taking their cues from American burger joints); the second school of thought whips up eclectic combinations, creating the most unique burger possible. It's pretty obvious Curic belongs to the latter (Dorito crumbed chicken, anyone?) — and Superior Burger looks like the logical continuation of his craft. Opening today, Monday, October 31, in an old mixed business site, Superior Burger is Curic's first solo venture. Rather than just opening another of his successful PLK restaurants, Curic has created a brand new concept that matches the suburban shopfront setting on on Wakeley's Bulls Road. "I've been searching for a site in the West for ages, an area that's often overlooked, and what we've found is perfect," says Curic. "It ticks all the right boxes. Put simply, what we won't be is just another burger joint. But, what we will be is a conscious burger joint that is all about locally-sourced produce, house-made sauces, glorious beef that is dry-aged and turned into fresh patties by my old man every day." Said beef will come straight from the Hunter and served medium in three types of burgers. We're assured they'll be top quality — pasture-fed, salt-aged and hormone and antibiotic free. Other produce will be sourced locally too, with the bulk of it coming from farmers and backyard growers in the Liverpool basin. The menu has taken a distinct suburban fish and chip shop slant, with potato scallops, snack packs, post-mix soft drinks and milkshakes joining the burger offering. Plus, fried chicken — because it'd be weird not to. The west is taking up the mantle of decadent gastronomy of late, especially where delicious burgers are concerned — as the city continues to sprawl inland, so do the burger joints. Last week saw the opening of Hashtag Burgers' In-N-Out-inspired pop-up burger bar in Penrith, proving that no matter where you live in this city, you can't escape the burger. Superior Burger is open from midday until 10pm seven days a week at 5/25 Bulls Road, Wakeley. For more info, visit superiorburger.com. Image: Mark Sherborne.
Stay tuned. More info on its way. Images: Nikki To
Year after year, we unthinkingly trod along to Tropfest and the Alliance Francaise Alliance French Film Festival. But what about something different, huh? Australia's first annual African Film Festival is here in Sydney. It will showcase some enlightening, thought-provoking and diverse African features, documentaries, animation, shorts, experimental films and classics to audiences across Australia. The opening night features the Australian premiere of Restless City. A visually stunning tribute to New York City, the film had its global premiere at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival. Nigerian director Andrew Dosunmu creates a kaleidoscope of colour and print as he tells the story of an African immigrant living on the fringes of American society and trying to realise his dreams. When he falls in love with a beautiful prostitute, his life becomes extremely complicated. The opening night will also feature a spectacular dance performance by SAEA Banyana (South Africa, Ethiopia and Angola). The 'SAEA' represents the African nations that these young women hail from, and 'Banyana' means 'the girls' in Nguni. These girls will stomp and shake up a storm as they fuse African roots, Afrofunk and beat, RnB, dancehall and hip hop into an explosive interpretation. Ugandan film Kengere, which features as part of the African Shorts Session, explores many tense political issues through the medium of puppetry. Director Peter Muhumuza Tukei unravels the black history the governments attempted to erase, including a bizarre ruse to justify the murder of an entire village. Liberia 77, filmed in Liberia and Canada, shows the stark changes that have occurred across recent decades in this challenged nation. For director Jeff Topham and his brother Andrew, 1970s Liberia was a childhood paradise of endless beaches, thick jungle — even a pet chimp. Thirty years later, Jeff and Andrew return to Liberia, but what starts as a personal journey, quickly evolves into something they didn't expect. Closing the festival is the Australian premiere of Kinshasa Symphony, the Democratic Republic of the Congo's only symphony orchestra. The film follows the determined, captivating and inspiring members of the orchestra as they overcome daily struggles and celebrate life through the power of music. Image: Restless City.
UPDATE: MAY 3, 2019 — While Freda's new licence allows trading till 4am, no new patrons will be allowed inside the venue from 3am. Revellers inside the venue will be able to continue partying till 4am and continue using the outdoor smoking Two years ago, Sydney bar-goers rejoiced when Chippendale favourite Freda's got the approval to stay open until 2am on Friday and Saturday nights. Now, seemingly against all odds — with pro-lockout law NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian reelected just this March — Freda's has just received the go-ahead for a 4am close on weekends. Plus, its hours from Sunday through Thursday will be extended until 2am. It's a huge win. And not just for Freda's and its punters, but for Sydney's live music scene in general. In the four years since the lockout laws were introduced to curb alcohol-fuelled violence, a reported 176 venues have closed. A year-long parliamentary inquiry into the state of Sydney's music and nightlife economy also found that the industry was in "peril" due to the NSW Government's history of neglect, and lack of funding. Hopefully, we're about to see this (slowly) reversed. Freda's opened nine years ago — long before the lockouts and Sydney's subsequent cultural crisis. Envisioned by owner David Abram, the bar came about from Abram's desire to create a diverse, safe and cultured space where likeminded folk could get together. Since then, it's opened underground Down Under exhibition space and hosted a slew of bands and DJs, and countless events. While Chippendale isn't in the lockout zone, its bars have still been impacted by the State Government's strict late-night and live music policies. [caption id="attachment_652651" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kitti Gould[/caption] So, although the Berejiklian Government remains, could this grant mean more than just Freda's future? "We have seen Sydney's nightlife go through a sad and painful decline over the last 6 years. However, this is an important turning point in Sydney reaching its immense potential as a late-night city," said Freda's owner David Abram in a statement. Since the introduction of the lockout laws, there has been some relaxing of restrictions. More than 20 venues have been granted half-an-hour live entertainment extensions, and Oxford Street, and the surrounding area, has gone lockout-free for Mardi Gras the past two years. And now, the Liquor & Gaming NSW — which comes under State Government jurisdiction — has approved Freda's new two-hour extension, which means it can further its already stellar showcasing of some of Sydney's best and emerging creative talent. It's a serious cultural win. Despite this being a singular victory, it looks like the government's vice-like grip could be loosening. Freda's new licence comes into effect immediately so, if you want to celebrate, we suspect the place will be a hubbub of celebration this weekend, with the official 'launch' party next Friday, May 10. We'll keep you updated with what that'll entail. Freda's hours will be extended until 4am on Fridays and Saturdays and until 2am Sunday through Thursday, effective immediately. To celebrate, Freda's is hosting an official launch party next Friday, May 10.
Powerhouse Museum Ultimo is just a few months away from undergoing its massive $250-million makeover (originally planned as a $500-million project). The beloved cultural hub will officially shut its doors on Monday, February 5, 2024, and may not reopen until 2027, with the full-venue transformation set to take up to three years to complete. The final design for the ambitious renovation has been unveiled, with a new outdoor public square sitting at the centre of the museum. Expanded exhibition spaces, a new urban space connected to the neighbouring Goods Line, fresh creative studios, and a sleek modern design that maintains and highlights the original 1899 facade are all also part of the revitalisation plan. According to the Powerhouse team, a full-venue shutdown has been opted for over a staggered shutdown in order to save money, protect the museum's collection and ensure minimal impact on surrounding communities. The new Powerhouse Museum Ultimo entrance will face the Goods Line, and will reveal the historic details of the building's original power station and turbine hall. The century-old post office building will play a larger role in the updated version of the museum as well. The revamped museum will also feature a purpose-built learning camp called Powerhouse Academy. This space will offer secondary and tertiary students from regional New South Wales and around the country the opportunity to come to Sydney to participate in immersive learning experiences. The Powerhouse Museum Ultimo project has undergone a rocky history to get to this point. Back in 2015, Powerhouse Museum Ultimo was earmarked for closure as part of a move to shift the entire facility to Parramatta. Then, when that idea didn't prove popular, the New South Wales Government committed to revamping and revitalising the existing site, allocating $480–500 million to the makeover. That figure has since been reduced to $250 million, with the Powerhouse Museum Ultimo also adopting a $50-million philanthropy target. The other Powerhouse Museum location will still be established in Parramatta and is under construction at the moment. Powerhouse Museum Ultimo will close on Monday, February 5, 2024 for the site's transformation — head to the Powerhouse Museum Ultimo's website for further information.
If you're an iced coffee aficionado, you'll know it's very important to have one within arm's reach at all times — which can be tough on summer sojourns to beaches, parks and picnics. Well, New Zealand roastery (and firm Concrete Playground fave) Coffee Supreme has really come to the party with its latest release: a range of grab-and-go canned coffees (and one fancy-schmancy tea). The cans hit Australian cafes on Thursday, May 11 and come in three varietals: an iced long black, an iced oat latte and an iced Cascara fizz. The first two are fairly self-explanatory but if the fizz has spiked your interest, we've got the details. This coffee cherry-flavoured tea is made from the dried skins of coffee cherries and has a sweet, fruity taste with notes of rosehip, hibiscus and cherry. It's, of course, fizzy and a little lower on caffeine if you've already hit your coffee limit that day. The new cans are only available online and at your local Supreme-using cafe, so stock up on a few to pop in the fridge for caffeine emergencies this summer. We see them being crucial when en route to a morning gym class, packed into the chiller for a picnic, or perhaps necking back as you get ready for a big night out. If you want to get your hands on a free sample of the new range, Coffee Supreme's Abbotsford and Brookvale cafes, and Make My Day Brisbane are giving out 200 free cans from 9am on Friday, May 19. Plus, Coffee Supreme fridges are popping up across Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, offering more cans free of charge. From Monday, May 15–Sunday, May 21 you'll find the fridge at FluidForm Studio in Sydney, Up There Athletics in Melbourne and Double Double in Brisbane. The following week, across Monday, May 22–Sunday, May 28, you can grab a free iced coffee at Sydney's Deus ex Machina, Melbourne's MAAP or Brisbane's Range Brewing. And, rounding out the tour will be DRNKS in Sydney, Blackhearts & Sparrows in Melbourne and Your Local Film Lab in Brisbane from Monday, May 29–Sunday, June 4. Coffee Supreme's new range of canned iced coffee is available online and in cafes around Australia. Follow along with the freebies the brand is giving out at the Supreme Australia Instagram account.
Dot Lee and Jarrod Walsh have done it again. The crew behind Hartsyard now resides in Chippendale, taking over the food and drink operations at The Old Clare Hotel and impressing with an adjoining seafood restaurant and wine bar, Longshore. Taking over Automata's previous digs, the team's revamp is all about stunning produce and top-notch wines. The 80-seat bar and restaurant is adorned with a refined coastal-inspired fitout. Brought to life by Guru Design, the outpost is filled with warm lighting, textured ceilings, hints of blue and olive green embellishments and sandy terrazzo at the front of the long open kitchen. An Automata favourite as well, this peak behind the scenes allows diners to marvel at Walsh and the team at work as they tuck into what Longshore has to offer. [caption id="attachment_905601" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jason Loucas[/caption] Open for long business lunches or intimate dinners, the many dining options allow for a variety of ways to explore the various eats. Take your pick from the five-course tasting menu, available with or without wine pairings; the experimental ten-course snack flight for a journey through the restaurant's best mouthfuls; or choices of your own from the a la carte offerings. The crunchy baby turnips with sesame taramasalata, abalone party pies, marinated octopus skewers and pickled Jervis Bay mussels are all ideal places to start at Longshore. Seafood lovers also mustn't miss the Skull Island tiger prawn which is served with habanero paste in a taco-like wrap of fragrant leaves. As for the mains, the roasted dry-aged lamb rump and crispy belly accompanied by pumpkin koi and black garlic will rival any cut of meat you've had around Sydney. Other options include tempura blue oyster mushrooms and swordfish steak on the bone. Partner your meal with a drop from the wine list that offers up both established classics to newcomers. The whites are fresh and ready to pair with the many seafood menu items, there's chilled red to accompany your lamb and if you're a fan of a natty, that's on offer too. Adding to the charm of Longshore is the venue's zero-waste policy, with every part of the abalone used for the pies and a cocktail menu that incorporates leftovers from the kitchen.
Usually, Betty's Burgers serves up exactly what its name suggests. Sometimes, though, the chain adds something a little different to its menu. Both last year and this year, it has whipped up indulgent but affordable lobster rolls. For Easter 2020, it went with a prawn roll. Now, it's cooking up a limited-edition steak sanga. Combining a piece of wagyu steak, cheese, lettuce, onions, pickles and the chain's in-house sauce — as made from onion relish and sriracha mayonnaise — all on a long bun, Betty's new steak sandwich is available for dine-in (where open), takeaway and delivery from its restaurants spotted across Australia. If your stomach is already rumbling, you can tuck into one for $16 — or order a 'steak night' package and get two sangas, two serves of fries and a bottle of shiraz for $55. You'll need to get in quickly, though — while Betty's hasn't provided an end date for its latest addition to its menu, it's definitely a short-term affair that's only available until stocks last. And, if it's anything like the aforementioned lobster roll, expect it to sell-out — fast. When it isn't making steak sangas, Betty's is known for its Shake Shack-style burgs and frozen custard desserts (called concretes). While you can now grab one of the chain's burgers at over 20 locations across Australia, including six Sydney outlets, four Melbourne spots, four Brisbane outposts, one Toowoomba eatery and one location in Adelaide, the company first began in Noosa, and then expanded to the Gold Coast. With the chain's stores open for takeaway and most of them offering delivery via UberEats and Deliveroo, you can get your steak sandwich to pick-up or brought to your door. To check which options your local has, head to the Betty's Burgers' website or download the app for iOS or Google Play. Betty's Burgers' steak sandwich is available at all Australian stores for a limited time. To order, download the Betty's Burgers app for iOS or Google Play.
When a relationship fails, sometimes it ends with fiery passion. Sometimes, love's spark fades slowly. And sometimes, the dying embers scorch the earth. Wildlife charts the downfall of a marriage that flirts with all three phases, all while forest fires rage on the outskirts of a small Montana town. As the physical flames carve a path of destruction, Jeanette (Carey Mulligan) and Jerry Brinson (Jake Gyllenhaal) let years of resentment, frustration and disappointment ignite into a heated blaze that threatens their family. As far as metaphors go, Wildlife's is certainly appropriate. Contrary to how it might sound on the page — obvious, or even clumsy — it's also delicately deployed. Adapting Richard Ford's 1990 novel, actor-turned-writer/director Paul Dano and his co-scribe Zoe Kazan make every moment of this portrait of domestic disharmony blister with aching sadness. Wildlife is a film of haunting pain that's often left unspoken, but that crackles with inescapable force and feeling. It's 1960 when the movie introduces its unhappily wedded couple, as well as their teenage son Joe (Ed Oxenbould). The trio has moved to Great Falls for Jerry's new job as a golf pro at a country club, although any hopes of a blissful fresh start dissipate when he's swiftly fired. Drinking away his discontent and rejecting any work that comes his way, he instead volunteers to fight the flames, leaving his wife and boy at home. Joe waits for his father's hopefully safe return, but Jeanette starts blazing her own trail. First, she gets a job as a swimming instructor to make ends meet; then, she openly has an affair with one of her students, car salesman Warren Miller (Bill Camp). There's another metaphor at Wildlife's core, stemming from its title. Often, the casualties of an inferno decimating bushland aren't human — they're the smaller creatures that get caught in its way. Dano paints all three of the film's key characters as scurrying victims engulfed by a roaring disaster, however he also makes plain that Jeanette and Jerry started this all-consuming emotional fire themselves. Stepping behind the lens for the first time, the Love & Mercy and There Will Be Blood star also extracts all-consuming performances from his actors. Gyllenhaal is a ball of tortured angst, desolated by failing to realise his dreams as a man, a husband and a father, while young Australian actor Oxenbould more than holds his own as the son who can only observe as his family turns to ash. But it's Mulligan, segueing from quietly bearing a life filled with emptiness to wilfully indulging her desires, that burns brightest, and hurts and seethes hardest. Alongside her efforts in acclaimed stage production Skylight, it's finely wrought, career-best work. Indeed, Mulligan's is the kind of performance that helps Wildlife conquer what could've been its biggest obstacle: that scenes from a crumbling marriage have been splashed across the screen many times before. There's such a spark to her portrayal, even when she's in tense and restrained mode, that earns the film its own place alongside greats of the marital woe genre like Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Blue Valentine and Revolutionary Road. That said, the same description also fits Dano's filmmaking, as he crafts a movie that overflows with emotion even when it couldn't feel more careful and meticulous. Just looking at its artful frames gives that very impression, with each deliberate, patient, mostly still image of nondescript interiors, smoke-filled skies and struggling faces proving as sweeping as the film's simmering sentiments. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00tyPOTDCG8
Sydney Opera House has furiously backpedalled after yesterday's Festival of Dangerous Ideas program release. Amongst the announcements of squeal-inducing names like Salman Rushdie and Pussy Riot, the announcement of a presentation playing devil's advocate to 'honour killings' was instead met with a collective WTF. Led by Sydney-based activist, writer and member of Islamic group Hizb ut-Tahrir, Uthman Badar, the speech titled 'Honour Killings Are Morally Justified' was scrapped by the Opera House last night. In a screenshot of Badar's abstract (nabbed by Pedestrian before the Opera House could sweep it under the rug) the speech was explained as an unpacking of Western bias, that 'honour killings' (when usually men kill their usually female family members for bringing shame on the family, most often for adultery, refusing an arranged marriage or finding themselves rape victims) could be seen as the West having a big ol' fist shake at cultures they don't understand. Yep. What. After angry social media posts, talkback radio rants and FODI boycotts were called, the cancellation was quietly announced on Facebook by the SOH last night. The team explained the speech was meant as a balance-finder — one that clearly missed the mark. "The Festival of Dangerous Ideas is intended to be a provocation to thought and discussion, rather than simply a provocation," said SOH's Facebook post. "It is always a matter of balance and judgement, and in this case a line has been crossed. Accordingly, we have decided not to proceed with the scheduled session with Uthman Badar. "It is clear from the public reaction that the title has given the wrong impression of what Mr Badar intended to discuss. Neither Mr Badar, the St James Ethics Centre, nor Sydney Opera House in any way advocates 'honour killings' or condones any form of violence against women." Find more information about the remaining FODI lineup over here. Via ABC, Pedestrian and SMH.
In the event that, for any reason whatsoever, a winner does not take an element of the prize at the time stipulated by Vibe then that element of the prize will be forfeited by the winner and cash will not be awarded in lieu of that element. Prize is not refundable, non-endorsable or non-transferable. Vibe Hotels Prize is for overnight accommodation for two adults in a guest room at Vibe Hotel Rushcutters (Sydney TropFest) or Vibe Hotel Savoy Melbourne (Melbourne Tropfest) and does not include any extra charges (i.e., mini-bar, in-house movie, telephone usage, etc). All prizes are subject to availability. Additional spending money, meals, insurance, taxes, passports, visas, travel to and from Vibe and all other ancillary costs are the responsibility of the winner. Unless expressly stated, all other expenses become the responsibility of the winner. A valid credit card is required at check-in to cover any incidentals incurred throughout the stay.
What do you want for your birthday, never mind Christmas? Consider this: tickets to a cool indie send-up of modern military ruthlessness that easily checks in as one of the best plays of 2011. Can’t bear the idea of another heavy-handed hostage drama that bludgeons you over the head with a “war-is-baaad” sledgehammer? Relax, The Birthday Boys is surprisingly hilarious: placing $100 bets about who will piss their pants first, pledging eternal devotion to the pursuit of post-war pussy, and parodying Braveheart’s cry of “FREEDOM!” is the only thing keeping these U.S. Marines together. There are three of them, blindfolded and bound. Sprawled on the floor of a supply warehouse, they brace themselves for imminent interrogation and torture by their Iraqi captors. All lowly Privates without the brains, ambition or balls to rank any higher, the three Marines have little in common beyond shared experience of sentry duty. Lance is an unabashed playboy who gets all the best one-liners, Carney is an annoying sci-fi nerd who thinks they’re only stuck in this mess because the U.S. military hasn’t yet implanted computer chips inside troops to track them via satellite, and Guillette plays reluctant big brother to the two younger men whilst pining for his heavily pregnant wife. Following a few failed escape attempts and some competitively crude banter, we meet their captors: big, menacing, brutal-booted men headed by a shark-smiled leader who explains to the captives that they must make filmed messages calling for the unilateral withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq. When they refuse to cooperate, both the terrorists and the audience begin the countdown to their executions. Who will go first? What’s most interesting here is how Lance, Carney and Guillette react to stress; extreme stress, like having AK-47s jammed inside their mouths and electrodes attached to their nipples. Ion Nibiru, a consciously experimental production company, has delivered here a definitive dark comedy about the warped role that honour, dignity and desensitisation play at a military base in the modern age. Director Darren Gilshenan contrasts the locker room humour with lots of cringeworthy scenes of coercion and abuse, then tops it all off with a cleverly-crafted twist. It’s one you’ll wish you had a $100 bet riding on. This play is called “The Birthday Boys” for a bloody good reason, but you won’t hear it from me. Go treat yourself like it’s your own birthday.
Maybe you were a big fan of Moon Park. Maybe you've been in for brunch. Maybe its shrimp-brined fried chicken gave you life on more than a few occasions. Whatever the reason you frequent Paper Bird, your days for popping in for tasty Korean-Japanese-Chinese snacks and wine are (very sadly) numbered. After opening in the Potts Point spot a bit over two years ago, its owners today announced that it will close its door forever on the first weekend of August. In an Instagram post this morning, the team confirmed that Paper Bird's last day of service will be Saturday, August 3. It has not given a specific reason for the closure. View this post on Instagram Sad but true, our last service will be Saturday August the 3rd. It's been a pleasure serving you all for the last 2 years and we're hoping you can make it in for a last visit in our remaining weeks. We'll be bringing back some old favourites from both Paper Bird and Moon Park, come in and say bye... A post shared by Paper Bird (@paperbirdpottspoint) on Jun 23, 2019 at 6:58pm PDT Fans of the Paper Bird team will be feeling a sense of déjà vu — its previous restaurant Moon Park closed its doors in 2016. Luckily, it looks set to bring back some favourites from both the Paper Bird and Moon Park menus during its final weeks of service. Best make a booking now and cross your fingers for some of that fried chicken. The restaurant was initially opened in July 2017 by Ned Brooks, Ben Sears and Eun Hee An as an all-day diner. Since then, it had dropped down to dinner service only with lunch on weekends. The closure of Paper Bird is, sadly, not an isolated incident. Newtown fine diner Oscillate Wildly recently announced it will close its doors soon, as will Billy Kwong. On top of that, Sydney favourites Longrain and Acme are both in their last week of service. Paper Bird will continue trading at 46A MacLeay Street, Potts Point until Saturday, August 3. Make a booking here. Image: Katje Ford.
After nearly a decade of Westerosi power struggles, obsessed fans and soaring ratings, HBO found itself with a Game of Thrones-sized gap to fill last year. The network isn't completely saying goodbye to the world created by George RR Martin, with at least one spinoff in the works — but it's also eager for something else to help pick up where GoT left off, fantasy-wise. First debuting late in 2019, and due to return for a second season in November, His Dark Materials is one of the US network's prime candidates. It's based on Philip Pullman's award-winning young adult trilogy of books of the same name: The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass. And if it sounds familiar — and not just because you watched the initial batch of episodes — that's because one of the tomes, The Golden Compass, was already turned into a movie back in 2007. HBO is keeping things simple with its adaptation by sticking with the franchise name, other than individual book monikers — hence the His Dark Materials title. It has also bet big on star power, with the series boasting a hefty cast. James McAvoy, Ruth Wilson, Hamilton's Lin-Manuel Miranda, Da 5 Bloods' Clarke Peters and Logan's Dafne Keen all feature, while Fleabag's Andrew Scott and Phoebe Waller-Bridge will also pop up in the second season. Yes, it'll be a reunion for the two series newcomers, although you'll be seeing Scott on-screen as Colonel John Parry and hearing Waller-Bridge's voice as Parry's daemon. What's a daemon? It's one of the key parts of His Dark Materials. Here, Keen plays an orphan by the name of Lyra Belacqua — who seems just like everyone else, but hails from an alternate universe where a person's soul manifests as a shape-shifting animal called a daemon. In the show's first season, as Lyra looks for a kidnapped friend in the Arctic, she discovers a church-run stolen children ring, learns about mysterious particles known as Dust and ventures through different worlds, including the one we all know. McAvoy pops up as a powerful aristocrat, Wilson is his ex, and Miranda plays a balloonist and adventurer. If you're eager for the next season, HBO dropped its first sneak peek a few months back, releasing a trailer as part of this year's Comic-Con at Home — and it has just revealed a new trailer as well. As for when you'll be watching it, it returns to screens on Tuesday, November 17, Australian and New Zealand time. In Australia, it airs on Foxtel. Check out the latest trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CdQm6gLHUM His Dark Materials' second season will start airing from Tuesday, November 17 on Foxtel in Australia, and will also be available to view on-demand. Images: HBO.
Ventura Brewing isn't your typical brewery. Why? Well, there's absolutely no beer to be found here. What you can expect, however, is a refreshing craft alcoholic kombucha made my two mates, Dom and Shanu, just outside the Tweed Valley town of Murwillumbah. The pair can make the claim of creating Australia's first craft hard kombucha — an award winning artisanal drop made from premium natural ingredients and brewed in small batches with fresh herbs and botanicals for a clean, fresh taste with a light fizz. In early 2023 the Ventura team opened a taproom at the brewery where kombucha enthusiasts can roll in, kick back with a few mates while enjoying bevs on tap along with pastural sunset views of Wollumbin (Mt Warning).
Gonna get 90s-style comedic pop tunes stuck in your head forever, again — or five-ever, to be precise. After proving one of the best new shows of 2021, Tina Fey-executive produced sitcom Girls5eva returns in May with a new season of sitcom antics about a former one-hit-wonder girl group who get back together to chase stardom again decades later. You know, that ol' situation. Fingers crossed that a whole heap of catchy songs are in the returning show's future, too. Its first season was filled with them, and wonderfully so. If you quickly binged its initial eight episodes, you instantly got its tracks lodged in your brain. In fact, even just reading the show's name now will have brought them all back. And, odds are there'll be more gems on the way given that Girls5eva's second season sees the group recording a new album. The setup, if you're a newcomer: more than 20 years after they split up, the four remaining members of a late 90s girl group decide that it's time to get the band back together. Now in their forties, they're all at different points in their lives, but rekindling their dreams is too enticing to ignore. Sara Bareilles (Broadway's Waitress), Busy Philipps (I Feel Pretty), Renée Elise Goldsberry (Hamilton) and the great Paula Pell (AP Bio) play Girls5eva's reunited members, while Fey pops up as a fantasy version of Dolly Parton — and yes, the latter is as glorious as it sounds. Also, the comic takes on 90s pop tunes are all 100-percent spot on. Just as pitch-perfect: everything about this immensely funny take on stardom, fame and the way that women beyond their twenties are treated. In season two, which hits Stan in Australia on Friday, May 6, the Girls5eva crew are still chasing their comeback — but they're determined to make their new album on their own terms. As the just-dropped trailer shows, that's an eventful quest, even spanning knee replacements. Even just from the brief sneak peek so far, expect more wannabe popstar chaos, more gags about the entertainment industry and more thoughtful jokes about the way both the music scene and the world in general regard women. Of course, Tina Fey hasn't starred in, created or executive produced a bad sitcom yet — and when the first season of Girls5eva arrived last year, it continued that trend. In its own way, it's another workplace comedy like 30 Rock, Great News and Mr Mayor, after all. And, albeit in a completely different manner to Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, it also follows a group of women trying to navigate new lives years after they were thrust together under extreme circumstances. Check out the trailer for Girls5eva season two below: Girls5eva's second season will be available to stream via Stan on Friday, May 6. Read our full review of season one.
Looking to escape the city for an afternoon? This might be one of the best ways to do it. The Central Coast's newest restaurant boasts fresh flaky pastries, dishes made with local produce and a deck that lets you enjoy the two in a seriously serene bush setting. Set on the site of a former nursery on a 28-acre Mount White estate, Saddles is a project of John Singleton — known for reinventing Icebergs in the 90s — and Andrew Dickson Architects. From the outset it replicates an Australian homestead setting, particularly with the sprawling deck that sits over the property's glassy dam. These sensibilities are carried on inside by Michelle Leslie of MLD and some stunning features from local craftsman Heath Harris. He designed the brass-scalloped bar provided his master saddler artistry for the bespoke saddle bar stools — which is where the restaurant gets its name. Other components of the Saddles property include a dining area overlooking a waterfall feature, a sandstone fireplace, a piano bar and indoor Moreton Bay fig plants to green the interior. The venue is run by chef Cameron Cansdell alongside his business partner and wine Hayley, who together own Avoca's Bombini. Cameron pulls from Saddles' on-site kitchen garden, committing to a "simple and ethical" menu, featuring a reasonably priced menu of things like barbecue sand whiting and Little Hill Farm chicken with pickled cumquats. And when it comes to drinks, the list consists of exclusively Australian wine and spirits. Saddles is also a bakehouse — so even if you don't want to do a full sit-down lunch, you can stop in for breakfast or a coffee and some fresh sourdough, beef and mushroom pies, pork and fennel sausage rolls, honey cream rolls, custard tarts and lamingtons served with raspberry cream. In the future, the restaurant hopes to increase its activities for visitors to enjoy, and it plans to open a garden centre by 2018. When everything is in full swing, it'll make for the perfect Sunday activity — especially as it's only about an hour from the city. Saddles is now open daily from 8am–5pm (and until 8pm on Fridays) at 20 Ashbrookes Road, Mount White. You can book at saddlesmtwhite.com.au.
2023 marks a mere five years since Netflix released its first-ever Australian original series, with Tidelands hitting the streaming service three years after it officially launched Down Under. That supernatural drama didn't usher in a non-stop influx of new Aussie content. While older local titles sit among the platform's catalogue, freshly commissioned fare such as Heartbreak High and Wellmania is still fairly rare. But Netflix's small pool of homegrown Australian projects has locked in a few more additions, with four just-announced newcomers on their way. The novel-to-screen adaptation of Boy Swallows Universe is also in the works, but that was initially revealed almost 18 months back. Following it to your queue will be another book-to-TV effort, an outback family-feud tale and two movies — one starring Delta Goodrem and the other a documentary about ONEFOUR. First, your future binges: The Survivors and Desert King (although they're just working titles, so those monikers might change). The first is heading to Netflix from the pages of Jane Harper's text of the same name, while the second sounds like it wants to give Succession-meets-Yellowstone a Top End spin. Neither have casts as yet, or release dates. [caption id="attachment_905971" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Force of Nature, Narelle Portanier[/caption] Yes, Australia's screen industry currently loves bringing Harper's works to the screen. The Dry proved a massive smash, after all, and that flick's sequel Force of Nature will hit cinemas when Hollywood's actors' strike is over. The Survivors isn't linked to either movie by anything but author, so there's no Aaron Falk this time. Instead, the Tasmanian-set story follows families still coping with the loss caused by a massive storm in their seaside town 15 years earlier, then faced with a new murder. As for Desert King, it will be set on the world's largest cattle station, which the Lawson family runs. When the property is left without a firm successor, the fights start — and everyone from billionaire miners and desert gangsters to Indigenous elders and other cattle barons get involved. Netflix will get bonus points from audiences if they manage to get Sarah Snook to star. [caption id="attachment_914014" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Courtesy of Netflix © 2023[/caption] With the streamer's upcoming Aussie movies, Goodrem has been born to give her acting chops another try, this time in a romance called Love Is in the Air. There's no word on whether the film will feature Delta singing John Paul Young's Aussie song of the same name, which first released in the 70s and became a hit again in the 90s thanks to Strictly Ballroom. What is known, however, is that the flick is about a seaplane pilot who falls for the man who's meant to be tanking her business — and that it'll be filmed in the Whitsundays. ONEFOUR: Against All Odds will tell its namesake's story, including the drill rap group's huge popularity and the police taskforce attempting to stop them performing. "The story of ONEFOUR is one of the most significant cultural moments in recent Australian history. It's about the changing face of this country and who gets to have a voice in it," said writer/director Gabriel Gasparinatos. "Australia markets this sunkissed image of itself and it's so important to show it's not all like that, and that there is another side to this country the world is only just starting to see. I'm so grateful to ONEFOUR for trusting us with their story and to Netflix for bringing it to the global audience it deserves." Announced previously, Netflix is also making a second season of its Heartbreak High revival, as well as Surviving Summer. The former is due in 2024 and the latter this September. And, for kids, Eddie's Lil Homies is on its way, based on childrens' books by former AFL superstar Eddie Betts, and following an eight-year-old Eddie and his friends. Netflix's just-announced new Australian projects don't yet have release dates — we'll update you when more information is announced. Top image: The Dry.
Just about every video clip Mumford & Sons have ever made follows a fairly predictable pattern, and their latest for 'Hopeless Wanderer' isn't much different. Mottled light shining through golden leaves? Check. Impossibly whimsical vests? Check. Banjo-led hoedowns in Ye Olde Barns? Check. Jason Bateman and SNL's Will Forte wearing fake beards and thrusting their crotches at each other? Check. Hang on. What? That's right — Mumford & Sons have procured the services of some of the world's funniest comic actors for a pitch-perfect parody of their own pastoral proclivities in a move that suggests M&S might not take themselves too seriously after all. Jason Sudeikis, Will Forte, Jason Bateman and Ed Helms go all out here, and their utterly straight-faced commitment to the bit is amazing. I couldn't keep a straight face watching it, so goodness knows how they were able to while filming. Truly, you haven't lived until you've seen Sudeikis fall to his knees on a dusty road because of all the feelz, and Bateman's furious banjo shredding is the most metal thing you'll ever see. https://youtube.com/watch?v=rId6PKlDXeU
UPDATE, April 30, 2021: Nomadland is available to stream via Disney+ — and it's still screening in cinemas, too. Frances McDormand is a gift of an actor. Point a camera her way, and a performance so rich that it feels not just believable but tangible floats across the screen. That's true whether she's playing overt or understated characters, or balancing those two extremes. In Fargo, the first film that earned her an Oscar, McDormand is distinctive but grounded, spouting midwestern phrases like "you betcha" but inhabiting her part with texture and sincerity. In Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, her next Academy Award-winning role, she's an impassioned mother crusading for justice and vengeance, and she ripples with deep-seated sorrow mixed with anger so fiery that it may as well be burning away her insides. Now, in Nomadland, McDormand feels stripped bare and still a commanding force to be reckoned with. She's tasked with a plucky but struggling part — defiant and determined, too; knocked around by life's ups and downs, noticeably; and, crucially, cognisant that valuing the small pleasures is the hardest but most rewarding feat. It'll earn her another Oscar nomination. It could see her nab a third shiny statuette just three years after her last. Both are highly deserved outcomes because hers is an exceptional performance, and this is 2020's best film. Here, McDormand plays the widowed Fern — a woman who takes to the road, and to the nomad life, after the small middle-America spot where she spent her married years turns into a ghost town when the local mine is shuttered due to the global financial crisis. A slab of on-screen text explains her predicament, with the film then jumping into the aftermath. Fern lives in a van that has seen better days, but she's spent so much effort customising the inside that she's reluctant to part with it. She works hard wherever she can, be it an Amazon warehouse in the pre-Christmas rush, a trailer park over its busy summer season, or a restaurant job she lucks into thanks to a new friend (David Strathairn, Godzilla: King of the Monsters). She's qualified to do far more employment-wise, but the post-GFC recession has wiped out most options, so she's doing her best to get by as she can. She drives wherever she has to in order to earn the most modest of livings, and returns to any gig possible when the time cycles around. This isn't the life she dreamed of, but it's the one she has. Nomadland follows Fern over the course of more than a year, chronicling the 60-something's travels — the jobs, the places and the people she meets. When asked, she's quick to stress that she isn't destitute, and that not having a house isn't the same as being homeless. Based on Jessica Bruder's 2017 non-fiction book Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century, that's one of the film's most valued ideas. Indeed, while McDormand convincingly steps into the fictional Fern's shoes, she also leads a cast that includes real folks experiencing the existence portrayed within Nomadland's narrative. Seen on-screen as themselves, Linda May, Swankie and Bob Wells couldn't be more organic and authentic as a result, but this movie earns those terms several times over anyway. Writer/director Chloé Zhao is known for this approach, using non-professional actors in 2015's Songs My Brothers Taught Me and 2017's The Rider as well. She's also known for making movies driven by pure empathy and compassion, and Nomadland's observational portrait of those that society happily overlooks overwhelmingly fits the bill. A deeply humanist road trip drama that ponders home, identity and community, Nomadland is intimate and almost disarmingly tender and thoughtful, as every movie made by Zhao proves. Those traits mightn't carry over to her next release — 2021's Marvel flick Eternals, which'll see her operating on a much different scale — but they're the reason that she's the filmmaker she is. No one else could've made this movie, even with McDormand as its lead. The cinema industry isn't lacking in talented directors, but no one else would've seen Fern, her transient life, and the ebbs and flows she navigates in the same way. Zhao truly sees everyone in her frames, be they fictional or real. She understands their plights, and ensures her audience understands them as well. Actually, one other filmmaker would've likely done as superb a job, because Debra Granik's 2018 drama Leave No Trace is the perfect companion piece to Nomadland — but Zhao's almost documentary-esque contemplation is all her own. One shot, lensed as gorgeously and naturalistically as everything else within the film by Zhao's now three-time cinematographer Joshua James Richards, typifies this knockout movie's charms. Fern has to be coaxed into attending a meet-up with other nomads but, once there, she fits in with her fellow drifters as they attend informal outdoor seminars about vehicle maintenance and faeces disposal, share stories and swap unneeded belongings. One morning, Fern walks through the makeshift camp, and the camera follows her. It sits at shoulder level, so McDormand's face monopolises the centre of the frame, but her surroundings still peek in at the sun-dappled edges. It's a sublime example of visual storytelling, and a sequence so in tune with the figure it's gazing at that it's virtually staring into her soul. It instantly conveys how Fern holds herself as she makes her way through the world, too. Meticulously crafted, filmed and performed — and with a resonant score by composer Ludovico Einaudi (The Third Murder) that lingers just as potently — Nomadland overflows with these types of moments. Each scene, no matter how routine Fern's acts and deeds might seem at any given second, unearths another sliver of her essence. Every sight, including all the natural wonders that America's sprawling expanse can serve up, has the same effect. Gleaming sunsets, winding roads, otherworldly rock formations, peaceful streams and various critters sighted aren't just background fodder here. Rather, they're used to relay Fern's inner radiance, twisty complexities, fluidity and adaptability, and unwavering strength. That's how layered Nomadland is, because its protagonist, those around her and their lives earn the same term — and Zhao never forgets that, or lets her viewers either. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSFpK34lfv0&feature=youtu.be Nomadland screened in Sydney cinemas during a two-week preview season in 2020, starting Saturday, December 26. From Thursday, March 4, 2021, it's back on the big screen for its general release season.
Helping kick off 2019's host-free Emmy awards, Bryan Cranston might've uttered the most obvious line of the night: "television has never been this damn good". You'd expect an event dedicated to celebrating and rewarding the year's best TV shows to make that claim, of course — that's really the whole message behind the glittering annual gala. Still, it doesn't render the Breaking Bad star's statement any less accurate. This year's newly minted crop of Emmy winners definitely make that point, and what a crop they are. Sure, the ceremony itself always serves up plenty of its own highlights — Phoebe Waller-Bridge's complete and utter shock at winning not once, not twice, but three times; Jharrel Jerome's earnest excitement at winning over his big-name fellow nominees; and Michelle Williams' impassioned and inspiring speech about women being respected in their profession, for example — but it's their TV programs that we'll all be talking about for years to come. Indeed, from hitman comedies, to multiple depictions of historical tragedies, to everyone's favourite dragon-filled epic fantasy series, this year's winners are reason enough to spend a week or several on your couch. Or, to be more realistic, to add all of the below shows to your various streaming queues and eventually work your way through them. (We haven't told you to watch 2019 Drama Series recipient Game of Thrones, though, because we're sure you've already done that.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aX2ViKQFL_k FLEABAG What it's about: When Fleabag's eponymous London resident turns to the camera, talks about her messy life and just generally looks exasperated, she's one of the most relatable characters ever committed to the screen. Unhappy, uncertain and surrounded by chaos in all of her relationships — romantic, platonic and with her family members — she's the complicated, charismatic protagonist for today's frenzied times. Not only creating and writing the series based on her one-woman Edinburgh Festival show, but starring as Fleabag as well, Phoebe Waller-Bridge is simply revelatory. And while the British comedy only spans two six-episode seasons, it packs more into its short run than most shows manage with twice, thrice or even ten times as many instalments. Won: Comedy Series, Lead Actress in a Comedy Series (Phoebe Waller-Bridge), Writing for a Comedy Series (Phoebe Waller-Bridge), Directing for a Comedy Series (Harry Bradbeer). Where to watch it: Amazon Prime. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9APLXM9Ei8 CHERNOBYL What it's about: Venturing back 33 years to the worst nuclear disaster the world has ever seen, Chernobyl is a horror story of the most gripping and galvanising kind. The central explosion, caused when the titular power plant's reactor became unstable, is terrifying. The fallout — both in terms of radioactive debris falling from the sky, and the intangible ramifications — is just as fear-inducing. What truly cuts to the bone in this exceptional miniseries, however, is the bureaucratic arrogance and wilful ignorance that follows. There's nothing more chilling than seeing people hold others' lives in their hands and choose to do absolutely nothing. To convey that message, the five-part series also benefits from superb writing, direction and performances, including from Jared Harris, Stellan Skarsgård and Emily Watson. Won: Limited Series; Directing for a Limited Series, Movie or a Dramatic Special (Johan Renck); Writing for a Limited Series, Movie or a Dramatic Special (Craig Mazin). Where to watch it: Foxtel Now. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3F9n_smGWY WHEN THEY SEE US What it's about: Another huge true tale. Another huge cast, including Emmy-winner Jharrel Jerome, Michael K. Williams, Joshua Jackson, Blair Underwood, Vera Farmiga and John Leguizamo. Another powerful mini-series. When They See Us steps through the story of Central Park Five — a case that's endlessly infuriating and shocking. In April 1989, Trisha Meili was raped while jogging, while eight other people were attacked across New York. In the aftermath, five African American and Hispanic American teenagers were prosecuted, convicted and jailed, only for their charges to be vacated when the real culprit confessed more than a decade later. From Selma to 13th, director Ava DuVernay has become one of the most crucial voices in interrogating America's oppressive and unjust past, and this stellar drama proves a worthy addition to her resume. Won: Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie (Jharrel Jerome). Where to watch it: Netflix. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ir1_hjemxNA BARRY What it's about: Airing its second season this year — and thankfully already renewed for a third — Barry boasts one of the best comedy premises on television. An ex-soldier and sharpshooter still haunted by his overseas military experience, Bill Hader's titular character has been putting his skills to use as a hitman since he returned from active duty. It's a natural fit, but then he heads to Los Angeles and discovers acting. Watching Barry try to leave his death-dealing past behind, and watching the chaos that springs for both his new thespian pals (including Henry Winkler) and his old gangster contacts (such as scene-stealer Anthony Carrigan) continually makes for both hilarious and dramatic viewing. Won: Lead Actor in a Comedy Series (Bill Hader). Where to watch it: Foxtel Now. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVTZhOLpXjI KILLING EVE What it's about: At the Golden Globes back in January, Sandra Oh picked up a shiny prize for British spy thriller Killing Eve. At the Emmys, it was her co-lead Jodie Comer's turn to nab a gong. One plays an MI5 investigator charged with tracking down a psychopathic killer, while the other portrays the seductive assassin that she's chasing — and where their interactions go from there is best discovered by watching. Twisty, innovative and unafraid to do what it damn well likes with a well-worn genre, the highly acclaimed adaptation of Luke Jennings' Codename Villanelle novellas is also the second of this year's winning shows to bear Phoebe Waller-Bridge's fingerprints (she's an executive producer, and wrote four of the first season's episodes). Won: Lead Actress in a Drama Series (Jodie Comer). Where to watch it: Stan (season one) and ABC iView (season two). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_5fqDZCjQo THE ACT What it's about: Perhaps you've heard about Dee Dee Blanchard and her daughter Gypsy Rose. Perhaps you even read Buzzfeed's piece about them, 'Dee Dee Wanted Her Daughter To Be Sick, Gypsy Wanted Her Mom To Be Murdered'. You'd remember if you have — while true-crime tales are far from uncommon at the moment, especially on-screen, this one definitely stands out. Drawing upon on the aforementioned article for its first season, The Act steps into a story of abuse, death and Munchausen syndrome by proxy that really has to be seen to be believed. Patricia Arquette picked up an Emmy for playing the abusive Dee Dee; however, she's in exceptional company, with the series also starring Joey King, AnnaSophia Robb, Chloë Sevigny and Calum Worthy. Won: Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie (Patricia Arquette). Where to watch it: Google Play. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hAXVqrljbs OZARK What it's about: Just a couple of months ago, when the final batch of episodes from Arrested Development's fifth season dropped, no one really cared. That might sound harsh; however, it's a case of sad but true. Don't worry — star Jason Bateman certainly has enough to keep him busy elsewhere. Since 2017, he's been leading, executive producing and sometimes even directing Netflix crime drama Ozark. In fact, he just won an Emmy for the latter. Following a financial advisor who moves his family from Chicago to a quiet Missouri town after a money-laundering scheme goes wrong, this is one of Netflix's quiet achievers. That it also features the always-exceptional Laura Linney, as well as this year's Supporting Actress in a Drama Series winner Julia Garner, also helps. Won: Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (Julia Garner), Directing for a Drama Series (Jason Bateman). Where to watch it: Netflix. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXd_1FXw6TI POSE What it's about: New York's drag ballroom scene comes to the small screen in Pose, and the result is one of the liveliest shows on television. As energetic and inclusive as you'd expect given its setting, it's the latest series created by Nip/Tuck, Glee and American Horror Story's Ryan Murphy — although it clearly owes its biggest debt to seminal 1990 documentary Paris Is Burning. Story-wise, Pose follows a motley crew of queer and nonconforming African American and Latin American characters as they they vogue, dance and pose their way through performances, with each competitor vying for glory for their house. After diving into the community during the 80s in its debut run, the show's second season jumped forward to the 90s. No matter what decade he's in, as the resident emcee, Tony winner and now Emmy recipient Billy Porter continually steals the show. Won: Lead Actor in a Drama Series (Billy Porter). Where to watch it: Foxtel Now. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9TKHvvaMfE SUCCESSION What it's about: Meet the Roy family. Patriarch Logan (Brian Cox) started a media and entertainment conglomerate, turned it into a huge success and now wields considerable wealth and power; however, his health is failing. Because this is a family business, his children Siobhan (Aussie actor Sarah Snook), Roman (Kieran Culkin), Kendall (Jeremy Strong) and Connor (Alan Ruck) are all waiting in the wings — although Logan still needs to work out who'll do what when he's no longer working. If this sounds more than a little like the real-life Murdochs, well, you won't be the first to make that connection. Satirical as well as dramatic (and a compelling example of both genres, too), it's the latest series from Peep Show, The Thick of It and Black Mirror writer Jesse Armstrong. Won: Writing for a Drama Series (Jesse Armstrong). Where to watch it: Foxtel Now. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_w3UNHPIXQ FOSSE/VERDON What it's about: It might be based on the biography Fosse by Sam Wasson, but this eight-part series focuses on two pivotal real-life figures, as the show's different moniker makes plain. It's impossible to explore the career of director and choreographer Bob Fosse without telling the tale of actor and dancer Gwen Verdon, after all, with their lives linked both professionally and personally. The ups, the downs, the enormous commitment to their work, and the huge productions such as Cabaret, Chicago and All That Jazz — they all form part of Fosse/Verdon. So do exceptional performances by Sam Rockwell as Fosse and Michelle Williams as Verdon, as well as Once Upon a Time in Hollywood standout Margaret Qualley as another dancer pivotal to their stories. Won: Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie (Michelle Williams). Where to watch it: Foxtel Now.
Five years in the making, the Art Gallery of NSW's new Sydney Modern Project is finally here, opening its doors to the public on Saturday, December 3. The ambitious four-level, $344-million project is filled with breathtaking works of art. Wonder through the gallery and you'll discover fully immersive exhibition spaces, vibrant works from world-renowned artists, and huge sculptures welcoming you into the building or looking out onto the harbour. The gallery will welcome art lovers in with a hefty free program of events in and around the venue. It's a significant lineup, running until Sunday, December 11 and spanning everything from art and music to talks and performances. For starters, Sydney Modern will be giving Sydneysiders every chance to explore its multi-storey haven of expression with extended opening hours during the nine-day opening program. Whether you're an early riser or a late-night art enthusiast, you'll have more opportunities to check out the gallery as it'll be open from 10am–10pm each day. UK pop star Ellie Goulding will headline a free concert at The Domain on Saturday, December 10, as supported by Meg Mac and Electric Fields. Called Art for All, the show will see the Grammy-winner play opposite AGNSW and is a one-night-only affair, with free tickets available. Spanning the whole length of the celebrations is Art Up, which will see Kamilaroi artist Reko Rennie unleash a stunning sight. He's creating a massive drone show that'll hover over Woolloomooloo Bay every evening, with 400 drones used to animate artworks in the sky over AGNSW and Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. There'll also be a soundtrack to go with it. Conversation series Art Exchange will similarly span the nine days, bringing together artists, creatives and thought leaders from across the globe. Their overall topic: art and culture today, and its current ideas, innovations and struggles. Attendees will be able to hear from Reko Rennie and fellow artists Lisa Reihana, Howie Tsui and Adrián Villar Rojas. Also on the bill: Suhanya Raffel, director of M+ in Hong Kong; chefs Adam Liaw, Christine Manfield, Matt Moran and Clayton Wells; human rights barrister Geoffrey Robertson; and comedian Steven Oliver. The workshop lineup will see artists from Milingimbi Art and Culture centre in northeast Arnhem Land lead the charge, conducting a weaving session that responds to some of Sydney Modern Project's artworks. In the new building's first gallery, the Yiribana Gallery, a series of naturally dyed woven artworks will be on display as part of a focus on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art — which the workshop will tie into. And, the performance roster includes, GABAN by Wiradjuri Nation interdisciplinary artist Brook Andrew; RITUAL from actor, filmmaker and martial artist Maria Tran; and disability-led choreographic work Animate Loading by Riana Head-Toussaint. [caption id="attachment_880678" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Installation view of the Dreamhome: Stories of Art and Shelter exhibition in the new building at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, featuring works by Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran © Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran, photo © Art Gallery of New South Wales, Zan Wimberley[/caption]
Paisano & Daughters' Australia Street precinct has seen a lot of action in recent times, with all-day vegetarian diner Flora and seafood bar Mister Grotto launching in February. And now, the fourth and final restaurant in this long-envisioned hub, Osteria Mucca, has opened alongside the venue that started it all, Continental Deli. This latest venture is a 50-seat Italian restaurant celebrating regional classics, family recipes and the beauty of traditional craftsmanship. Paying homage to the storefront's legacy as a former butcher shop, Osteria Mucca showcases refined meat-centred dishes, charcuterie and handmade pasta — after all, 'mucca' is the Italian word for 'cow'. Leading this kitchen concept is head chef Janina Allende (Alberto's Lounge, Pellegrino 2000), whose menu serves as a love letter to old-world Italian techniques and recipes. Expect hearty, flavour-forward dishes like gnudi with brown butter and sage; lamb tartare with rocket and pecorino; veal tongue with salsa verde; and house-made sausage. With the grill roaring every night of the week, one standout dish will be the 800-gram T-bone steak. Prepared for two, it's served with pickled vegetables and fava bean puree to bring a bright, fresh element to the plate. With sweet treats almost as important as the main event in Italian cuisine, Lauren Eldridge, the hospitality group's award-winning head pastry chef, has reimagined simple, traditional flavours. Highlights include zabaglione with coffee granita and almond biscotti and cassata with ricotta, chocolate and candied fruit. There'll also be a daily-rotating flavour of house-made gelato. The drinks menu is a similarly thoughtful, down-to-earth affair. Here, the list covers a selection of small, family-run vineyards situated throughout Italy's finest winemaking regions, from Tuscany to Piemonte and Veneto to Sicily. The menu also features a collection of aperitivo and digestivo cocktails, made for bookending a long and boisterous Italian feast. While the opening of Osteria Mucca means Paisano & Daughters' Australia Street dining offering is complete, there's still one more launch to keep your eyes on. In the near future, Australia Street Suites, a series of boutique accommodations designed as a stylish launching pad for the Inner West, will join this hospitality hub, so watch this space. Osteria Mucca is now open seven days from 5.30–11pm, as well as Saturday–Sunday from 12–3pm, at 212 Australia Street, Newtown. Head to the venue's website for more information.
Not a company to stick strictly to the confines of the theatre, Urban Theatre Projects has launched a new immersive arts event that takes you on an adventure through Blacktown. Dubbed Right Here. Right Now., the unique experience is set to run from 6pm on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from November 1 to 17, delivering a smorgasbord of art, performance, film, music and food in the spirit of sharing contemporary Australian stories. The 'show' goes for 3.5 hours and will take you on a roving showcase of this dynamic pocket of Sydney, enjoying various local works and performances displayed across restaurants, arcades and public spaces throughout Blacktown's colourful Main Street. As part of the experience, you'll sit down to a communal feast, enjoyed side by side with a table full of strangers — or new friends, depending how you look at it — at some of the strip's best-loved eateries. Persian restaurant Dark Blue plates up a parade of Irani favourites, Abyssina Ethiopian Restaurant promises to impress with its authentic coffee ceremony, and Pameer Afghan Restaurant and Bakery delivers signature Afghani dishes against a backdrop of classic Afghani art. Tickets are $59 and include both show and dinner.
Sure, we're all feeling a little less than impressed that summer is drawing to an (already rainy) close. But Newtown Hotel is one venue determined not to give up on its summer vibin'. In a first for the Newie, it will hold a one-day Cider Fair, a celebration of the humble apple brew. Making a name for itself as the I-dub's 'home of cider', Newtown Hotel will transform its outdoor Cider Yard into a playground for both connoisseur and novice, with stalls and samples aplenty. The Cider Fair is an opportunity to meet the makers and taste over 25 different ciders, with featured brands including Bilpin, Batlow, Kopparberg, Strongbow and the local Young Henrys, as well as several other delicious drops. With live tunes provided by the likes of Achoo Bless You and Betty & Oswald and coal-roasted pig rolls courtesy of The Animal, the Newtown Hotel Cider Fair is set to be an afternoon of beautiful folk music and educated inebriation. Free entry will be provided all day, with tokens for tastings to be purchased inside.
